Red Returns!  Part 1
Part 2   Part 3

While shopping for computer books I got "the call". This call was about to change my plans for the next year. Beth was on the line and told me a blind gentleman named Moses Brown was at the shop and wanted to talk to me. I didn't know what to say. Totally shocked, I waited while she put him on the phone. He wasn't blind the last time I had spoken to him. It had been quite a while ago though. I heard the same pleasant voice I had always known on the other end. After a few minutes I had learned that he had Diabetes and had lost his sight several years ago. I had ridden Moses' bike at Prostar events in 1993 & 1994 earning the #2 and #7 plates respectively in Pro ET. Moses went on to tell me no one had ridden the bike since I had returned it to him in December 1994. He explained how just looking at "Red" sitting in the garage used to bring a smile to his face. Now, he was denied even this simple pleasure. I knew exactly where this was going by now. I told him I would come by the next day. Moses led me back to the garage exchanging memories along the way. There it was! I was amazed at how "Red" looked just like when I had seen it last, only a little dustier!  I had no real plans to go racing again, but the wheels sure were turning now. My daughter is 17 now and can stay on her own. I have a wonderful girlfriend who likes to travel with me. The more I thought about it, the better it was all sounding. Yeah, Moses would love that the bike was restored and raced again. All you old timers know that I love to bracket race. So..I paid him and loaded it up!

 

Since that day, I have learned that I dearly missed racing a bike! I was Inspired! I started stripping all the old electronics off and fabricating all new mounts for the new MC-4 Ignition, nitrous components, air bottle, air distribution block and all the air valves. After making sure all the new parts were mounted correctly, I tore the bike apart to the bare frame. I remembered how much of a pain in the ass the fiberglass fuel tank used to be and wanted to have a backbone fuel tank installed. The nitrous bottle mount was not very nice and needed redone. The battery box wasn't equipped for the new FBG Pro Battery and was in need of upgrading as well. This called for a master fabricator. I called Dave Scaggs at D&G Chassis to check his schedule. He told me he could have a backbone tank and other modifications done in two weeks. I drove the chassis to Largo the next morning.

 

I figured I had a few weeks to get the other aluminum parts cleaned and all polished up. So, just in case you wondered what I did on my Christmas vacation. Now you know. I am not really that fond of polishing. But, the considerable effort yields a lot of cool shiny parts. Now the parts are all starting to look pretty good. I really like the double weld spoke rear wheel. I look at that wheel and see an awful lot of time. They were made with one 3.5" wide Akront wheel. The wheel was cut into three pieces then welded back together with a 1" band of aluminum welded between the bead an the spoke holes on each side of the wheel yielding a 5 1/2" wide wheel. All the aluminum parts were hand made back then too. Most were cut out on a band saw. Every effort was made to keep all the "retro parts" if they didn't effect the ability of the bike to win races.

 

Dave Scaggs called to let me know the chassis was finished two weeks to the day from the day I left it. So, off I went to D&G in the morning. Now the front end and wheels can be temporarily re installed. The Mickey Thompson rear 7" tire replaces the old Goodyear 3341 tire that had been mounted for ten plus years. The Mickey is a taller tire and requires re gearing as well as lowering the wheelie bar, which I couldn't do. I was out of the original adjustment range and needed to shorten the bottom wheelie bar supports. I added coil mounts and dzus fasteners for the side covers. With those jobs complete it all could be disassembled again. The frame and bodywork is all taken to R&D Autoworks to be prepped and painted. The frame was painted basic black with a generous coat of clear and all the body parts are to be shot pearl white. The frame comes back from R&D Autoworks in just two days! Wow, that's service! Now it's time to start the final assembly.  Stay tuned for the next installment.

All parts sold by MPS are for off road closed course use. They are not intended for use on public streets or highways.

Motorcycle Performance Specialties
5350 McIntosh Point #132 - Sanford, Florida - 32773
Phone: (407)330-9727 - Fax: (407) 322-8632
Sales E-Mail: sales@mpsracing.com