Blog archives for June, 2009

Windsor’s Bruce Parker Of Joe Rocket Starts Speed And Strenght

The creator of Joe Rocket, Bruce Parker, now behind Parker Synergies, has joined forces with Tucker Rocky to create a new brand, called Speed and Strength.
Video here http://www.americanrider.magnify.net/video/Speed-And-Strength-Clothing

Speed And Strenght Site Here http://www.ssgear.com/catalog.html

His Bike http://www.motorcyclespecs.co.za/model/Custom%20Bikes/honda_cbr_1000rr_roaring_toyz.htm

First Look: 2010 Kawasaki KX MXers

Check out the latest KX450F, KX250F and KX85

http://www.cyclenews.com/articles/new-bikes/2009/06/16/first-look-2010-kawasaki-kx-mxers

CMA Hare Scrambles – Burnt River

Click On The Slide show For Full Size Images

Race 3/ Burnt River- once again we had great weather for a race and we all knew that Burnt River would be a challenge as the course runs thru trails that are covered in rocks and there a some really challenging up hills on Hamburger hill & the trails in the lower levels are full of water at some points likely 2 to 3 feet deep but this is what makes Hare scrambles fun and we were all looking forward to the challenge.
The Eire Ramblers had not only the usual suspects including myself (Jeff Pillon) pro class #15, Macker pro class #64, Franck Cantin expert class #104 we were joined by Victor Gagnier Intermediate class and Payton Gagnier expert class and they were both ready to put there off-road skills to the test. Bill Amlin Nov A #380 ( working on becoming a Rambler ) was unable to attend due to injuries from last week’s race but hopes to back for Vienna this week, Blain Amlin ( also working on becoming a Rambler ) Nov A #418 was there and road a great race he was in the top 5 at times during the race and unfortunately there was some problems with the course as so many of the morning riders were getting stuck they changed the course to cut out the deep water but when Blain went thru that area as there was no one there to waive him past and others were taking the road next to the trail and passing him he seemed a little angry at the end of the race but he finished 7th and will be back this Sunday.
I had the best the race of the year so far my 2009 KTM250xc worked great in these extreme conditions and I got off to a good start I like to pit early and with ½ hour lap times I came in at the end of the 2nd lap and as I did not have anyone there to help in the pits it was not the fastest pit stop of the year and Macker and Payton soon went by as I was pitting I got back out there behind them and the 3 off us chased each other for a couple laps exchanging positions and about ½ way thru the 4th lap Macker decided to try to break from the group and he turned it on I followed closely behind and he was on the gas unfortunately he did not have gas (in his bike that is) to make it the complete lap and this was a major setback as he had to borrow a bike to get back to the pits and get his gas can, it was a lot of fun to be see the 3 of us chasing each other and pushing each other, at the end of the 2½ hours I came thru at 2:25 and had to do a 6th lap I still felt great at that point likely the best I had felt all day and I turned it on the last lap, I managed to catch and pass 2 riders in my class that lap and the 2nd I caught one corner before the finish line and charged so hard to the finish line that I took out one of the barrels and was hooting and hollering as I went thru the crowd at the finish line loved it you would of thought it was for 1st place the way I was yelling and charging but it was for a hard earned 8th place.
Macker also rode a great race and as I mentioned above was pushing me and Payton for much of the race if it was not for him running out of gas I am betting that it would of being a 3 way battle in that last corner, Macker still finished 13th even with running out of gas.
Frank Cantin ( also on a 2009 KTM 250xc) rode a great race finishing 4th in the expert class, Frank said he rode a smooth racing and sort of took it easy as he did not want to crash at this course as a fell at Burnt River will hurt, he enjoyed the steep hill climbs and will be ready to go this Sunday.
Victor Gagnier raced the intermediate class and had a pretty ugly looking cut on his big toe from earlier in the week and I am sure this did not help his efforts but he toughed it out and finished in 8th place, good riding and we are hoping to see Victor in Vienna on Sunday.

Payton Gagnier was on the gas and adapted to the extreme conditions of Burnt River quickly and looked smooth, he had lead the Expert class for much of the race but had a fall on one of the steep hill climbs near the end of the race that cost him a position leaving him in 2nd place in the expert class not a small feat, Payton is planning to race at Vienna and I think the expert class may be in for a battle as Payton is surely going to wick it up for this one.

There were also other local riders there including Dennis Imeson & Jeff Golden see Dennis Imeson’s race report below.

Again race day started out pretty good for me, off to a slow start, but work my way into 3 rd place. After 1 hr of racing through the rocks and water I drown out at the longest water crossing, pretty sure sucking water through my vent hoses, and just plain going to fast through the water. Totally my own fault, but a lessoned learned here. I proceed to start the bike, but no luck! I tip the bike upside down on its seat pushing the kick starter down to drain the water I sucked up. Still, the bike won’t fire. Air filter out, gas cap off trying to get some air flow here….still not starting! I’m here in frustration for 20 minutes…finally we have fire. Back on the race track I try my best to finish with a positive attitude, not giving up rewards me with a 6th place finish and 5 more points to add to my season. I must admit it was tough to see the nice trophy’s pass me by on this one, as I believe I had 3rd place in check. I’m now ready and prepped for Vienna next week!
On a side note here, my riding partner and travelling companion Jeff Golden, had the opportunity to camp at the race track the night before. Here we had a chance to hang out with some of the other riders and their family’s over a friendly drink by campfire and listen to some great conversations/stories…there are so many benefits from this sport/hobby that I continue to enjoy, in short a fun filled pack weekend!!!
keeping it on 2 wheels……..Dennis
One last quick story I came across this week is Cory Graffunder getting 5th at Red Bulls Erzberg Enduro this is really cool to see a Canadian in the top 5 of such a major international event.

See the link below for the story about Cory Graffunder Takes Fifth at Erzberg!

http://www.directmotocross.com/news/features/2009/06/track-cory-graffunder-takes-fifth-erzberg

Zero Electric Motorcycles Launches MX Version – LOL

CMA Hare Scrambles Round 2 – Barrie

Click on slideshow for full sized images
By Jeff Pillon
Race 2/ Barrie– the stars were aligned for us as far as weather as you could not ask for better conditions it rained the night before and stopped or at least let up to just a bit of drizzle at times as the racing started. My 2009 KTM 250xc worked perfect and I had a good start and I was charging hard, on the 1st lap, myself and another rider tried to ride 2 wide down some single track in the woods and I hit a pine tree hard enough to rip my shoulder pad but managed to not fall. There was a good turnout for the Master/Pro class and everyone seemed to be on their game the pace was quick as the riding conditions were great, the track did get rough near the end and the breaking and acceleration bumps took their toll on us. I pitted early in the race after only 2 laps and was running in 8th place near the end of the race and Macker was on my tail, he had gotten by me a couple laps earlier and luckily for me he had not pitted yet so I was able to get back by him when he stopped to pit. If we had came in on our 5th lap just minutes earlier there would have been 1 more lap and it would have been a battle to end between myself & Macker, that is the way racing should be when it comes down to the very end like that it makes the entire race exciting, at the end I managed to hang on to 8th place.
Once again Eire Ramblers were there in full force we had a great turn out and I am still hoping to see even more Rambles at some of the coming races, Burnt River is next weekend June 14th and Vienna is the following week Vienna is a short drive only about ½ hour from London and will be at an all new location.

Macker also racing the Master/pro class #64 had a hard time getting his bike to fire on the line losing some valuable time when at the end it came down to just a few short minutes between the two of us, Macker charged hard the entire race and I could see him as we came thru some of the open GP sections and knew he was on the gas and I am sure he was hoping when we hit the barrels on the 5th lap that we would be under the 2.5 hour mark as he would have one more lap to chase me down, he finished 9th place. He will be looking to get me at Brunt River and I am sure it will be another good race.

Franck Cantin expert class #104 rode a great race and was consistent the entire race and managed to get 3rd place with a flat tire for the last 2 laps that’s impressive.

Nov A #380, Blain Amlin on his KTM250SX ( working on becoming a Rambler ) finished just outside the top ten but rode a great race, blain looked smooth when coming thru the mx sections and will surely have some better finishes as the season progresses.
Blains brother Bill Amlin who has got his 3 meetings in and looking forward to being voted in as a probationary member at the club rode Nov A as well and was in the top 5 when near the end of the 1st lap but was involved in a crash on the mx track, the crash was bad enough that Bill had to leave and go to the hospital to get checked out, at this point it looks like there should be no long term damage maybe a couple cracked ribs and bruised pride but he will be back on the bike and the gas soon

Dennis Imeson, Jeff Golden and Ron Golden, all frequent guests at the Ramblers clubgrounds raced as well.
Dennis Imeson had a flat once again as this was his second race in a row with a flat,
This is his race report below.

My race day started out challenging as it was rare the little smoker didn’t start on the line, putting me back at the end of my class. No big deal, just put my head down and start to dig in. Half way through the first lap a small bottle neck occurred, some guy waves me through a new line…this trail is great, one problem there’s no tire tracks. Dam I’m off course, back I go and I find myself in a less than ideal place…smack in the middle of Novice A,a pack of 10. Nobody is letting anybody pass in the woods here, and my speed in the grass track was not great, but good in the woods. I did my best for 2 1/2 laps to get by, but to no avail. My plan was to pit for gas at loop 3,but seeing the pack of 10 at the barrels(novice a) I gambled and waltzed by the vet barrels as I was the only one going through. Lap 4 was my best lap time, shaving a huge 7 minutes off from the 1st loop, and pulling enough time in the woods to keep the other guy’s at bay when I hit the grass track. As I came into the barrels I had 20 seconds to spare to stay on the leed lap(with a rear flat),finishing a respectable hard earned 1point (10th place
finish) in a ultra competitive class…after 2 1/2 hrs of racing I felt really good in comparison to last year…my new training program is starting to show benefit here.In all likely hood I see Conestoga to be my next ride…here is where I aim to podium…just have to keep positive and keep training/riding.

check the cma web site in the near future for all the results http://www.canmocycle.ca/

Road Racer Makes A Great Save