"Because It's There"

In March 1923 British Mountain Climber George Leigh Mallory was asked why he wanted to climb Mount Everest. To Mallory it was a dumb question. His simple reply, “Because it’s there” .

Why would a successful 52 year old British businessman want to risk all at the highest level in the AMA Super Sport race at Daytona? If you know Pat Mooney you would not have to ask—but if you did, his answer would probably be the same as Mallory’s- “Because it’s there”.

Veteran privateer Pat Mooney challenges the young guns of AMA Super Sport at Daytona 2013




Money #41 races with Jason DeSalvo # 40

March 4, 2013: This afternoon I caught up with Pat Mooney at Pat’s Auto Sales in Sorrento, FL. He is preparing the #54 Buell 1125R for Daytona.

Pat will run in the highly competitive AMA Pro Motorcycle-Super Store Super Sport Class. He is one of 60 entrants. He will also probably be the oldest guy in the race at 52; most of the competitors will be less than half his age. Qualifying is set for Thursday March 14 at 4:45 PM. The two races are scheduled for Friday 3/15 at 3 PM and Saturday morning 3/16 at 10 AM.

Pat told me the story behind his 2013 assault on the high banks and twisting infield of Daytona. “The 200 was a bucket list and I’ve run it 2 years in a row with good results. Then the 200 entry had become very expensive. $200 per person just for crew credentials. With the 200 I would have $1200 just for my 6 over the wall crew for tire changes and fuel.

The twin Super Sport 10 lap sprint races seemed the way to go. In the 200 I was on the track with seasoned veterans. Here I’ll race with many of the fearless young guns of AMA Road Racing. It will be a real challenge. I’m hoping for a top 20 finish, but that could be tough to achieve with 60  hard charging young guns. My Buell 1125 cc twin will be the most powerful bike in the race. Also the heaviest with terrible aero dynamics. I’ll have to make the most of the draft and make up ground through the road course. The competition is mostly 600 cc Japanese bikes, the Yamaha YZF R6, Suzuki GSX-R600, Kawasaki ZX-6R, and HondaCBR600RR. Others will include Triumph Daytona 675, and Ducati 848.

In the 200 last year I was 9 MPHslower than the top runners when drafting and 20 MPHslower on my own.

I have another English chap from Palm Bay, Paul Brown, a good mechanic as my crew chief. My long time friend and crew chief John Cronshaw had trouble with flight scheduling from the UK. He actually arrives Sunday after the race and we’re headed for New Orleans for AHRMA racing the next week end. I’m excited and ready to go. I am proud to carry the Union Jack at Daytona on the Eric Buell designed American motorcycle. Thanks to all my fans, supporters and sponsors Pats Auto Sales, Arai Helmets, Vanson Leathers, Dunlop, Classicbikebooks.com, Works Performance, R.C. Barker Engineering, L.P. Racing.”

photo Michael Rovnyak - www.MJRPHOTO.NET

SuperSport Facts

 

Engine Displacement: 600cc-675cc-848cc-1000cc-1125cc  -   Horsepower 110 hp to 130 hp

 

Minimum Weights: 4 cyl-335 lbs; 3 cyl-360 lbs; 2 cyl-375 lbs  -  Top Speed: 165 MPH  -  0-60 MPH: 3 seconds

 

1/4 Mile Acceleration: 10 seconds  -  Tires: Dunlop SportMax GPA Front (120/70R-17) Rear (190/55ZR-17)

Eligible Bikes: Aprilia RSV1000R/RSV1000R Factory; Buell 1125R; Ducati 848; Honda CBR 600RR ABS;

Kawasaki ZX-6R; KTM 990 SuperDuke; Suzuki GSX-R600; Triumph Daytona 675/675R; Yamaha YZF-R6

 

FRIDAY March 15 - 10 AM: Mooney runs with the leaders, qualifies 7th fastest of 60 entrants.

Thomas Puerta put his Yamah YZF-R6 on the pole with at time of 1:54.097-Pats time of 1:55:910 puts him in the 7th position on the starting grid. Look out Daytona, here comes Mr. Mooney!

 

FINAL RESULTS: AMA Super Sport at Daytona 2013

Pat can be proud of a great performance against all odds. When it came to race time some bad luck plagued Pat in the two races. On Friday he missed the sighting lap and rather than start at the rear of the 60 rider pack he did not run. Then in race 2 on Saturday he was running 4th when an oil pressure problem forced an early withdrawal.

 

In Pat's own words: "On Saturday at the start of the race, just before the lights went out for the start of the race I looked at the temp gauge to check engine temp, which was good BUT I saw the oil pressure light was on solid! Got through the first two turns and it was back on again...... So I had no choice but to pull off the track.

 

A weekend racing that had some big up's a down's I'm afraid. It was nice to see I could run with and ahead of some of the factory teams though."

 

Learn more about Pat Money racing at this site: http://patmooneyracing.blogspot.com/    

Riding Into History 2013



Motorcycle artist Don Bradley honors 3 time Daytona 200 winner Brad Andres
with his art work featuring #4,  Andres' 1953 Harley Davidson “KR”,
45 c.i. (750c.c.), SV V-twin.

It all started 14 years ago with a bunch of vintage and antique motorcycle guys who were having so much fun that they wanted to give something back to the community. Builders, riders, racers, restorers & enthusiasts jumped on board. Billy Aldrich & William Robinson where there at the beginning, with lots of help along the way from hundreds of volunteers. The world renowned motorcycle artist, builder & restorer Don Bradley became involved some 8 years ago. Champion racers Kevin Schwantz and Mert Lawill have served as Grand Marshalls. World class race tuner Nobby Clark has been a faithful contributor over the years. No one connected with this event is paid, put on entirely by volunteers, the Riding Into History has provided 14 years of motorcycling fun, enjoyment and excitement while contributing over $300,000 to charity. The current well deserved beneficiary is the Wounded Warrior Project (http://www.woundedwarriorproject.org/).
It has been my great pleasure & honor to participate in many of these events as a journalist and motorcyclist. I salute the Riding Into History, Florida's truly world class motorcycle event with a few photos from 2013.



     #71 Bobby Hill road this 1954 BSA Star Twin 200 miles to victory in the 1954
Daytona 200 on the sands of  Daytona Beach. #64 is a Daytona Gold Star
500 cc single replica of Dick Mann's  ride for the 1960 200 miler.

 



Mr. BSA Harris Turner & collector Mike Crone visit with David Ashenbrener
of Legendary Motorcycles (www.legendary-motorcycles.com/)‎

 

The Good Humor Man delivered ice cream to the kids with a Cushman in the 40s!

1936 DKW

 

Go Gators!



 

 

Indian

Riding Into History 2016

The 2001 BSA gathers attention, a great motorcycle and a
great story!

 Riding Into History – America’s Premier Motorcycle Event

Riding Into History is America’s premier motorcycle event. The format has changed very little over the 17 years since its inception in 1999. You can’t argue with success.  It is basically a one day event, the Concours d’Elegance, featuring over 300 antique, vintage, classic and custom motorcycles on display along a ½ mile walkway encircling the lake and fountains at the center of the World Golf Village. It is a World Class event, always the same and always different enough that you never get tired of coming back year after year.  There are some other great activities tied into Saturday’s main event. The Grand Marshal’s Historic Ride is held on Friday prior to the show. The ride is led by the current years Grand Marshall, traveling at a leisurely pace on the back roads of North Central Florida, some 50 miles for lunch at one of the area's great restaurants. Saturday evening the Concours d’Elegance is followed by the Grand Marshall’s Dinner. It is a whole lot of motorcycling packed into a few hours.

Alan Berras of Leeds, UK is riding his 1932 Triumph CD 500

What is truly remarkable about all of this is that the Ride into History was begun and continues to be operated by a bunch of motorcycle guys, all volunteers, no paid professionals. All of the proceeds go to the charity of choice, the K9s for Warriors. Since inception the Ride into History has contributed over $400,000 dollars to charities! Many legendary icons of motorcycling have participated in past events and many remain a part of Riding Into History by serving on the advisory board. These include journalist Dave Despain, master tuner Nobby Clark, and Hall of Fame racers Kevin Schwantz and Mert Lawill. This years Grand Marshal is Malcolm Smith, living motorcycling legend and star of the movie, "On Any Sunday".

The world renowned motorsport artist Don Bradley passed away earlier this year. However, his art work from past events as well as this years poster print continue as a feature of the event.



1956 BSA Goldstar 500ccOHV single
original art by Don Bradley



Author visits with Hall of Fame racing champion David Aldana. David served as the Grand Marshal for the 2015 Riding Into History

Riding into History is traditionally held in May each year at the World Golf Village near St. Augustine, FL. This years date is Saturday May 21, 2016. It should be a must do on your motorsports calendar. For full event info check the web site: http://www.ridingintohistory.org/home/

Visiting with Hall of Fame
Tuner Nobby Clark

The late Don Bradley began this artwork "After the Sunset" prior to his death last year, it was

finished with love by his daughter Roni Bradley Naas 

The BSA Girl, Laura Allen shows off
her daily ride, a '67 BSA Thunderbolt

Artist/restorer Don Bradley Riding Into History on his
'52 Vinvent Black Shadow with his daughter Roni

2018 Preservation Award winner

1940 Triumph Tiger restored & presented by Mike Crone of Mt. Dora, Fl. 

John Rose of Orange Park, FL admires BSA Thunderbolt at the 2018 RIH

Matchless shown in 2018

Harris Turner Riding Into History on the extremely rare 2001 BSA  (who said BSA died in 1971?!?)

Daytona 200 2012 - # 9 Lives On!

18 year old Elena Myers a SuperSport race winner!

Daytona 2012 went a long way toward erasing memories of the great Daytona disaster of 2011 (major tire failure, lengthly delays, questionable rule enforcment). NASCAR wishes they could have a race week-end like this. Near perfect weather, virtually incident free racing, a comeback for the legendary Triumph marquee and a major race victory for a charming teen age girl.

THE 200: With sunny skies and the temperature in the 70s Joey Pascarella rode the Yamaha YZF-R6 to the winners circle just a split second ahead of runner up Jason Disalvo aboard a Triumph Daytona 675. The #9 Triumph was a tribute to recently deceased Triumph racer Gary Nixon. Nixon took the checkerer flag on a Triumph at Daytona in 1967.

#9 Disalvo honors Nixon

Elena Myers was shuffeled to back to 6th place in the highly competitive 1st Super Sport race on Friday. However, the fast California teen ager was not to be denied in race #2 to become the first woman to win a major motor sports race at Daytona.

Pat Moony has stellar privateer performance.

Another highlight was privater Pat Mooney's performance on the Buell 1125R. Pat qualified 41st, then used all the skill of the seasoned veteran to move up through the field to finish 27th.

Beach racer Billy "Ace" Myers fires '60 BSA Gold Star at the Monument

It all started with Ed Kretz and his Indian on the beach in 1937. In keeping with the tradition of the "beach racers" I began my Daytona 2012 on the beach. I had lunch courtsey of Dick Klamfoth at the Monument which recognizes the past winners. Dick won 3 times on the grueling beach/road course, earning him the title of "King of The Beach".

Check out my photos of

Daytona 2012 on Webshots: http://sports.webshots.com/album/582510236LmaBtO

Daytona Ride – The Florida Black Bear Scenic Byway

Don’t waste another Bike Week in the bars and taverns of Daytona’s Main Street. The true motorcyclist wants to get out and see the real Florida. The only way to do that is get on the bike and ride. There is a world class ride that begins just a stone’s throw from Daytona that will get you into the Florida that Ponce de Leon discovered some 500 years ago.

The Florida Black Bear Scenic Byway, a National Scenic Byway begins just North of Daytona at Ormond Beach and follows State Road 40 east to Silver Springs. The North/South portion begins at Umatilla and follows State Road 19 North to Palatka. There are a couple of loops and side routs within this main corridor.  In all about 140 miles of picturesque roads through the Ocala National Forest.

 World Class Ride, The Florida Black Bear Scenic Byway

From Daytona go North to Ormond Beach and head west on SR 40 to US 17, head north to Crescent City, then east on 308/309 to the Ft. Gates Ferry. The ferry operates daily except Tuesday ($5.00 motorcycle). It is a 10 minute boat ride across a pristine remote section of the St. Johns River into the Ocala National Forest. You’re following a route taken by travelers for over 150 years. The ferry consists of a small barge pushed by a small tug boat. It is the oldest continuously operated ferry in the state. Once you make the crossing we separate the men from the boys with 7 miles of dirt and gravel road on Forest Road 29/62 into Salt Springs on State Road 19. There you are on the main North/ South Corridor and you have your choice of scenic rides, lakes and springs, camping, canoeing, hunting, fishing. You can learn more about all the Florida Black Bear Scenic Byway has to offer through the following links:

Fort Gates Ferry, Crossing the St. Johns River,
The Old Time Way

Tom Rose’s article in October 2010 Rider Magazine: http://www.ridermagazine.com/travel-features/florida-black-bear-scenic-byway-motorcycle-ride.htm

Florida Black Bear Scenic Byway: ttp://floridablackbearscenicbyway.org/welcome/

Don’t leave Florida with nothing to show for it but an empty wallet and a hangover, take a REAL MOTORCYCLE RIDE through the REAL FLORIDA!

Magnum Studio-The Sound of The South

Jacksonville, FL in 1960 was a sleepy southern town of 200,000 presided over by Mayor Hayden Burns. The dirty, rat infested downtown was situated on the banks of the St. Johns River. The riverfront was dominated by rundown wharfs and dilapidated warehouses. If you worked at minimum wage (and a lot of us did) you earned $1.00 and hour. You could buy a loaf of bread for .20, a gallon of gas for .30 and a BSA Super Rocket for less than $1,000. Less than 4 miles to the south, across the river sat a 20 X 40 frame building, yellow with brown trim. An unlikely location for history making music to be created, but this was a creative center for rock & roll, country, bluegrass & blues. Magnum Studios, home of Magnum Records was right there with industry giants like Sam Phillips's Sun Records, Detroit’s Motown and Nashville’s Bradley’s Barn. The great, near great and could be great passed through the modest portals of Magnum.

 If there were a Magnum Hall of Fame, the names listed could include:

Slim Whitman, Johnny Folkston, Tom Shealy, Carter & Ralph Stanley and the Clinch Mountain Boys, Dave Meadows & the Neanderthals, Hoot Gibson, The King Crooners, Art Schill,
Rabbi Leftiwhitz, Johnny Tillotson, Ken Clark, Jim Sutton, Blair Springer, Elton Sewell, Jim Atkins, Harris The Welder, John Strickland, Franky Preston, Marvin Von Deck, John Rose, Godfrey McGiffin, Phil Cay & the Blue Notes, Lewis Weber, Ken Hodges, Charley Horton, Gertrude Doro, Little Junior Ace, Melanie Williams, Hoot Gibson, Bud Morrison, Helmet Ising, Robert "Ace" Lewis, Bob Newsome, Johnny Scoates, Mae Axton, Victor Ziggler, Red Henry.  

The engineering genius behind Magnum’s “Sound of The South” was Tom Markham who surpassed the rich sounds of the big NY, Hollywood and Nashville studios with real echo from “the tank out back”. Tom Rose was the chief financial officer behind it all with his pay less, get more dollar leveraging system.

Probably the best way to relive that time and place is through the sounds that came out of the little studio on Lovegrove Rd. in South Jacksonville.

The King Crooners: The King Crooners visited Magnum often, just to drop by and hang out. Believe me it was a special time when those guys came by. From just standing around in a normal conversation they would break into a song, complete with dance steps and perfect doo-wop harmony. A sleepy summer day turned into a Broadway musical! Great stuff!

The Last Day of School, this song shows off the Crooners acapella doo-wop style.

Ken Clark: If Ken Clark had not been so dedicated to his day job as a dispatcher for the Great Southern Trucking Company he would be a country music icon today. He was a combination of Bill Monroe & Ernest Tubb. You would have to say a little Hank Williams too be cause of his song writing talents. Ken wrote over 300 songs. Ken Clark and his band, The Merry Mountain Boys played lots of shows and recorded for Starday Records in Nashville. He had his own recording studio but many of his records were recorded at Magnum. His signature song was Buckskin Coat which tells a tragic story of a girl who gave up the true love of a country boy for the money and prestige of a boy from town—bad decision. In Ken’s unique writing style he weaves several sub plots into the main story—it could have been a novel.

Buckskin Coat, Ken Clark & The Merry Mountain Boys

The Neanderthals made their debut April 11, 1960 with the release of Magnum Records Mag41160 45 RPM Angel. The song was written and recorded by Jacksonville's own Dave Meadows with backing and unique sound of the lead guitar of Blair Springer, rhythm guitar Jim "Big Jim" Sutton and the stand up base fiddle of Ken Hodges.  The recording soared high on the charts, particularly in Jacksonville and the South. It was favorably reviewed by Billboard and featured on a national telecast of Dick Clark's Dance Party. Magnum partnered with the National Recording Company of Atlanta, GA for distribution. Listen to the echo on this tune, provided by funnelling the sound through the "tank out back" with compliments to Harris the Welder. The Welding Shop on Wheels, $5.00 double or nothing. Yes, Angel truly exemplified the Sound of The South, the Magnum sound and Jacksonville, Fl in the 1950s.

Angel, Dave Meadows and the Neanderthals

Lewis Weber wrote and recorded another tune that was significant in the Magnum history book and symbolic of the times. Jean and Sweater of Love was the only Magnum production not recorded at the South Jacksonville studio. With the generous backing of Gertrude Doro Weber and Tom Markham traveled to Nashville to record at Owen Bradley's famous Bradley Barn (Deca Studio).  The band was one of the icon studio bands of the time, the Harold Bradley Orchestra which combined musicians from the Nashville Symphony Orchestra with country music greats like Floyd Crammer, Hank Garland and Lightning Chance. Arrangement by Cliff Parman. Published by Southern Bell Music. Released August 22nd 1960

Jean, Lewis Weber & The Harold Bradley Orchaster

Carter and Ralph Stanley began their career as old time musical performers right after WWII, known as The Stanley Brothers & The Clinch Mountain Clan, they were one of many bluegrass and country bands working show dates, radio, TV and recording in the 50s. When they scheduled their Magnum sessions who could have guessed that the Stanley's would become recognized as the premier example of the old time bluegrass and country music of the mountains. The Magnum sessions have become recognized as perhaps the finest recordings of the brothers and their band before the untimely passing of Carter in 1966. Here is one of the best known tunes to come from those historic Magnum Sessions, Rank Stranger

Rank Stranger. Recording Date:1960-05   Composer:York; Starday, BMI
Place:Magnum Studio, Jacksonville, FL  Master:3338 Instruments:Carter Stanley-g;
Ralph Stanley-bj; Curley Lambert-m; Ralph Mayo-g; Audie Webster-bs  Vocals:C. Stanley-L; R. Stanley-T; C. Lambert-B

The Beachcomber captured the very essence of Jacksonville Beach in the 50s.  The bar was patronized by a mixture of sailors from Jacksonville’s 3 Navy bases and the young civilian crowd. Live music and dancing, one of the most popular featured bands was Frankie Preston & the Beachcombers. Frankie and his group recorded at Magnum and their sessions were financed by record sales at the bar. The Magnum owners were frequent visitors and were always introduced as recording executives. It was a great atmosphere. Listen to a couple of their most popular recordings and relive a 50s Saturday night at The Beachcomber with Frankie Preston.

                                                                                   

The Wall of Death-Part II

The Wall of Death - American Motor Drome Co. - "a motorcycle thrill show caught in a time warp!"- (Leesburg Bikefest – April 2015), story and photos by motorsport journalist Tom Rose 

note: I first wrote about the Wall of Death in 2008 and that article can be found elsewhere in this blog and in the Oct 2008 issue of Road Bike Magazine

The Wall of Death is a motorcycle thrill show that began appearing at traveling carnivals and fairs about 100 years ago. The riders perform on the inside vertical wall of a large wooden barrel. Spectators view the show from a platform around the top of the barrel, looking down into the barrel to see the show.

Author H.G. Wells published his science fiction classic The Time Machine in 1895. Through the novel and later the movie millions became captivated by the idea time travel. Of course, the whole premise is just as categorized, “science fiction”.   However, the idea is indeed intriguing. There are a few instances where it is actually possible to go back to an earlier time and relive history.






Jay Lightnin' Bentley tells the story of his
American Motor Drome Co.

I had the unique opportunity for time travel at the 2015 Leesburg Bikefest, drifting back through the past 100 years talking with Jay “Lightnin’ Bentley about his American Motor Drome Company and the Wall of Death. The show has not changed. It is the same show your father and grandfather saw at the traveling carnivals of the 20s, 30s and 40s. It is the same 1928 101 Indian Scout motorcycle. The same wooden barrel motor drome. A real live time capsule right there in Leesburg, FL. A motorcycle thrill show caught in a time warp!

Jay Lightnin’ Bentley began riding the wall with traveling carnivals over 45 years ago. After 25 years riding for other shows Jay decided it was time to go into business for himself. He took out a 2^nd mortgage to buy materials and went to work in his back yard. His neighbors thought he was building an ark.  No plans or blueprints, it was all in his head. The primary material is Douglas fir. It took 2 years but from Jay’s dream and hard work the American Motor Drome Co. was born.

Once completed Jay took the show on the road to bike shows, fairs, carnivals and race tracks. Crossing the continent keeping the tradition alive. Jay puts 2 riders on the wall at the same time, crisscrossing, requiring the ultimate in skill, precision and concentration.  He used have 3 riders on the wall but a tragic accident resulted in the death of a rider and Jay cut the 3^rd rider from his shows. “Too dangerous!” says Jay. Over the years there have been accidents and injuries to riders. Wall of Death riders are not eligible for insurance. Bentley maintains a fund for injured riders financed by donations from spectators. During the show riders race within inches of the top of the wall and pluck donations for the fund from the hands of spectators in their teeth! He has been at it with his wall for some 20 years now. It is a dieing from of entertainment. His American Motor Drome is one of only 2 that work full time. In total only 4 such shows exist (once there were over 40).  

 

“We’re here to keep the Wall of Death tradition alive. When old timers show up with kids and grandkids memories are made that will last a lifetime. That’s why we are here. That is why we do it. To preserve history and let the youngsters of today see just what it was like in the 20s at the county fair.” Jay Lightnin’ Bentley

And that’s the way it was in Leesburg last week-end. Among all the rock bands, bikinis,  tattoo artists, and Harley-Davidsons…..Jay Bentley’s American Motor Drome time warp, a history lesson, physics class (centrifugal force) and a very entertaining thrill show all for on $5.00 ticket. Long live The Wall of Death!