New Ulm...even more

Still more pictures from New Ulm. The first two are for Kawa:

A nice little Tiger Cub:

Here's a little James Military Model that was restored by the owner and looks gorgeous:

And a few other interesting ones:

That'll have to do for now I'm afraid; other things need to get donee for the now while there is time before heading back to Ye Olde Salt Mines next week.

New Ulm Rallye 2012; Been there, done that, got the t-shirt and now the write-up!

Well, another BMOA New Ulm Rallye has been attended and again, there were some nice bikes and good people there. Met up with Buck and Mike Carson who own Carson Classic Motors near Houston. They restore bikes out in the local area and from some of the bikes they had there at the rally, they do some nice work. Buck, the son, is taking part in the Motorcycle Cannonball Run in September and will be riding a 1927 BSA Model S27 from Newburgh, New York to San Francisco, California. The trip is to be over two weeks with average speeds being about 40-45mph or thereabouts. From the time I spent with them, Buck seems to be very passionate about motorcycles and is quite knowledgable about the old vintage relics such as the BSA. This is a rare thing as he's 20 years old and most kids this age didn't really have any idea what they're even doing

Here's a few pictures taken while going walkabout at the rally. There's a few interesting ones that haven't been seen there in the past.

That was just a small sampling of what was on hand; the wee Gilera and the Jawa were unexpected and the RE towards the end was in beautiful condition. The last one, the BSA S27 that Buck will be riding in the Motorcycle Cannonball in Septemember. The reprobate on the bike somehow managed to latch onto a "Cub Mag" t-shirt and waas showing it off at the rally. When approached, he scarpered, not to be caught. There will be another posting with some more pics, one that Kawa will like I'm sure and one for GBC to want!

Case splitting

A few posts back Bodger took "Vicky's" lower half (the motor, the motor) over to SOS Motorcycles to have Stu split the cases as the appropriate tools weren't available. Just to remind you of what the lower half looked like before, take a peek here:

Stu had to take quite a while to get these blighters apart. But it wasn't the actual separating of them, it was the removing of the clutch hub thingy that took a while. Seems that with an extractor on it it didn't want to budge, so a great deal of heat was put on to help it break loose. So with the help of the heat and a good wallop with a rawhide mallet, it came off and then with a couple of thumps with the mallet, the cases split apart to reveal their secrets. And now, have a butchers at the inside of the cases after being split:

Not a pretty sight is it?!? This boys and girls is the result of hamfisted neglect of the first order. The pictures you see were taken using a flash so this tends to "lighten" things up a wee bit and puts things in a more favorable light, no puns intended at all. To see the halves in the flesh will really give a better idea of the total disregard for even basic maintenance concepts. But this like all else on this poor creature will be overcome. At least now there's better access to the sludge trap which I am now 100% certain will need to be opened up and thoroughly cleaned out, if for nothing else than peace of mind. Anyways, enough editorializing, with the cases now split and the sludge trap now accessible, the bearings and seals are accessibas well and will definitely be replaced. By the time Bodger has this completed and on the road sometime in the next century, it will be for all intents and purposes, a brand new machine with 0 miles on the speedo, when I get that as well. Hopefully it'll go together a lot better than it came apart with no complications. Until then............

TT Sidecar racers

Guess you're only as old as you feel......and they probably don't feel old. http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scottish-news/2012/05/16/meet-the-scottish-oaps-who-spend-their-retirement-racing-in-a-motorcycle-and-sidecar-86908-23860964/ After reading this I was pretty much amazed, for the most part that the TT bigwigs would let them race at their ages, thought there might've been an age limit in place, but guess not. Anyways, congrats to them both for getting out there and doing it instead of doing sod all! As always, if the link doesn't work, type it in............

Upcoming rally

It's been a long years wait, but the annual New Ulm Rallye put on by the British Motorcycle Owners of America (BMOA) based in Houston is now upon us and Bodger will be making an appearance there once again. Every year that Bodger has been, there have been some nice looking exmples of machinery that was put out by the British motorcycle industry. Luckily, compared to that once great industry, these have survived to still be ridden and admired (or not in some cases). In the past there have been some examples, both gorgeous and not so gorgeous, of Triumphs wee Tiger Cub and pics of them will be taken and sent off to GBC for use in her still new to the subscribing public, the "Cub Mag". Plus pics will be taken of any interesting rides that are seen. About two years back there was a nice looking example of a Norton 750 Interpol in attendence. Also, there is one old boy from McAllen, south near the border down Mexico way, who has a Matchless that is in just about original condition that once belonged to his father from new. Pictures of that will be taken if it's there. Though vendors aren't that many there, Bodger will see about possible getting a few in-line fuel filters for his two examples of Best Scrap Available. Aluminum and fiberglass don't rust this is true, but besides this corn based additive that is now in the Devils Brew being passed off as fuel, there's no telling what else is in there. So better to be safe. A full report will be forthcoming in a few dayss so stand by. Good thing Bodger is on vacation so there's plenty of time to get it written up and more importantly, proof-read. I know some have spotted the word "rally" in the title and "rallye" in the first sentence being different. The second one is their spelling. Plus, with arthritis getting wors, Bodgers typing skills are getting bad as well. Until then...................

SOS and Vale-Onslow

A few posts back there was one concerning SOS Motorcycles here in the sunny area known as San Antonio. Something that was forgotten until mentioned by Hairy Larry was the SOS make of motorcycle that came about through the work of one Len Vale-Onslow, MBE. Below is a link addy that will take you to the Vale-Onslow website and history of this unique man and his brainchild. Mr. Vale-Onlsow has since passed on a few years back at age 104, yes, 104 years old and apparently was still active with motorcycles up until his death. Anyway, go to the site and read up on this interesting individual. http://www.vale-onslow.co.uk/ By the by.......this is just my opinion and an observation, but this new Blogger set-up is not really an improvement and and actual addy shows up when cutting-and-pasting a link or address. Maybe it's Bodger being cack handed and semi computer literate, but things like the linky thing and the new set up make it harder to be 'puter savvy. Just saying!

A flurry of activity

The next few weeks will be a flurry of activity at Casa Bodger and Thrash 'em Motorcycles/Piston Broke Pub.....either Bodger will be in a manical hurry such as this:

.....or will be in such a state and will be like this, not knowing which direction to go:

The annual New Ulm Rallye is coming up and is to be attended... The location for the Pub and all is to change once again for a few reasons; closer to both the Postal Salt mine as well as the Salt Mine HQ where secondment occurs on occasion and the bigger one being closer to the lass. The secondment (or assignment) thing is up at the Salt Mine HQ aka the Main Post Office where newly hired persons or people changing jobs within the PO or transferees from another area have to be trained on Postal driving and the vehicles they may use. This is for vehicles from small mail trucks the mailman might use up to the big 'uns. Bodger has been up there since last week, all this week and all of next week and is thoroughly enjoying himself. And then Bodger will be on vacation for a fortnight at the end of next week. But this is good as it'll give Bodger time to do the things he needs for the change in locale. Work on the two trusty occupants of the garage cum shed is still a work in progress, parts are still being acquired. So until the next time...........................