O'Keefe's was much smaller this year. When I arrived on Friday evening, Donovan, Kurt and John (Chopperman from Quesnel) were there. A few Harley guys and a couple other racers and that was about it. The British Club contingent of Bulldog, Larry, Bruce, Clay and Tina showed up later that night. By 8:00 there was much speculation about why the poor turn out; Disaster Daze was the same weekend and many of the Vancouver chopper guys (the Scorpians) were likely there; the weather; the Kelowna fires; who knows, but the campground was not at all crowded like previous years (the first year I went we all had to camp in horse paddock because the rest of the camping spots were full).
By Saturday morning Jeff arrived, and later Paul who was starting a big road trip through Manitoba and down to the Dakotas. The local racers showed up Saturday morning. I took a complete inventory of the race bikes (I missed the Whizzer 'cause I didn't know he was going to race it). The photos should provide some inspiration; it doesn't take much to build a flat tracker.
I took some photos of the bike show also, but not everything, just the ones I liked:
...and my favorite.
I got highlights of some of the best races ... meaning races where people we know are at it.
Jeff coming up behind Roger Goldhammer (the local favorite)
and taking him on the inside ...
and holding the lead. Ask Jeff about it.
John comfortably in first.
Clay holding his own.
as was Kurt.
This kind of racing can be done by all ages. There is the young girl in the photos above (I forget her name). This is a photo of Chris who's racing very competitively at 65
The fellow on the black xt500 (passing) is 68. The guy he's passing is way younger.
Paul left Prince George and didn't remember until he was in Quesnel that he hadn't changed his tires. He was not about to ride 5,000 km on bald tires, so he had Lynn send them to Vernon. When the rest of the group was drinking beer. Paul, Donovan and I pulled the wheels on his bike and changed the tires. Well actually, I drank beer and watched Paul change his tires, but its the moral support that counts.
I think Paul's way of breaking the bead is ingenious.
The little air compressor is part of his road kit.
I did not get photos of the coolest bike at the show. I wish I had because it was quite inspiring. At one point on Saturday night, an almost silent chopper/pit bike whizzed by. We chased down the own later to check it out up close. It is a 48 volt, electric bike based and a Harley Davidson golf cart engine. Very simple build. I'm inspired to do some research on home made electric motorcycles, because this one looked so simple.
I left right after the Memorial ride on Sunday. There were more races and trophies etc after. I think racing on the Sunday may also have deterred some attendees who'd have to travel long distances. Taking a Friday (or part of) off work to get there is easier than having to take the Monday off to get home or otherwise recuperate from getting home in the middle of the night.
All good fun though, and I am still planning on have a new flat tracker for my wife for next year's.
Peace & Grease, Dennis
