2025 PPIR Hill Climb Top 5

Rnd 1 and 2 of Colorado Hill Climb Racing update.

 The count down to the beginning of the 2025 race season went from months, to weeks, to finally days. Having finished the past two races with a 3rd and then a 2nd had me eager. The first practice run had the car feeling a bit like a ride on Elvira's vibrator from hell at anything over 4th gear. An inspection found the rear center spool axle was wearing out. It had lasted most of the 2024 season after the first one wore out quicker than a pair of flea market chuck taylers. (After only one race.) It sure would have been cool if it had failed at the end of the 24 season with time to re-engineer a better rear end but me and my honky ass pto tractor shaft rear end... Im sure there is a pun there somewhere... Anyhoo, I skipped a practice run on the motorcycle and found a nice fella with a welder to tack weld the rear end back together with a hope and a prayer. It managed to do the job and I ended up getting my first Super Sprint class win. Even better yet I got the Motorcycle class win on the ol trusty XR650R tracker, setting a new class record and the only record set that weekend. One month later and I had a new rear end put back in the Hayabusa Homebrew with parts from Protolite Racing, my first car sponsor. Woo-hoo! Rnd 2 was at Pikes Peak International Raceway where I ended the season last year. It is not so much a proper hill climb on an actual road but a 3.5 mile dirt road race style course. It is very tight and seems to cater to the small cross karts and dirtbikes. In saturdays practice/ qualifying runs I managed to break the Motorcycle class record twice and first in class in Homebrew by only a couple seconds in fornt of an Aussy engineered Baracuda cross kart and a very poper put togethter cross kart driven by Ryan Cheek who was in the neighbor hood getting ready for Pikes Peak. In Sunday's first run I broke the Super Sprint class course record and on my second Motorcycle run I managed to break the course record again. Two class wins and 2nd overall vehicle a few seconds behind the legend Spencer Steel and his V8 powered Wells Coyote. Leaving me on father's day with my daughter feeling more proud than fat bastard leaving the pie eating contest.

The Rangely hill climb course is my favorite with it's high speed flowing sections.

Imagine something I engineered and built failing...

Racing is loud. I love sharing it with my little one. She loves her race friends. The Colorado Hill Climb Association is like our 2nd family.

For Rnd 2 at Pikes Peak International Raceway. I opted to race my good ol trail bike Molly.

I love flogging Molly

Building this car from scratch and finishing 2nd overall is a huge accomplishment for me. Time to find some sponsors and go tackle Pikes Peak Hill Climb on four wheels....?

Meow Meow Massacre 2025

 Over a month ago many great friends made the pilgrimage to what has become an annual damn mighty fine fun time. This year there were not even any casualties, bikes or bodies. The prayers to the moto gods were granted. We even had a cute little kitty cat pinata that we didn't end up smashing so next year we will sacrifice it. Until then I will fill it with various paraphernalia. Mark your 2026 calendars now around the first of May and may all your dreams be fruitful.

Meow

Age and the lack of wisdom that comes with it.

 In 2010 I almost won the Pro class overall championship. Almost only counts with horse shoes and hand grenades though. With my deflated head and empty tank of motivation I took a break from hair scrambles. I raced the occasional one, mostly the fun Grand Prix ones like the Oklahoma Gold Rush or the Florance Grand Prix in Kansas, But I thought it might be fun to return to the WEBE Racing series that I chased with such vigor nearly 15 years ago. Why not the sand whoop strewn season opener in Farmington New Mexico. It was always one of if not always the toughest track in the series. Maybe a soft return in the  open A class or hell why not the 40+ class and bring my big ol XR650R for laughs. After a whiskey and a brief talk with my wife about not being a sand bagging bitch I found myself signed up in the Pro class but somehow I was still thinking I was going to race the big red pig. I have just recently got the ol beast back in order after it was last raced in 2006 in the Baja 1000 where we finished after 32 hours. It was then left derelict  and disassembled outside for many years before finding its way into my care. So there I was lined up on the front row with all the young fit pro riders on a bike/rider combo with 100+ pounds over the rest of em when the green flag waved signaling the start of the dead engine start. By the time my big ol kickstarter was through it's stroke most of the electric start modern zippity do da pros were off in front of me but I took a wide line on the first turn swooping across a 30 yard wide flat groomed sand wash and passed a handfull and then I sent the big red pig into orbit: smashing whoops, galloping across the rock gardens, and completely  engulfing the large sand dune hills. Of course I did some big fat spread eagle no-footers over the jumps near the spectators as usual. The 30 minute lap times had me planing to make a pit stop on the 3rd lap. I had fitted my ol quick fill dry break fuel tank receiver into the stock XR650R tank, requiring much mesaging with a heat gun and my big fucking hammer (Just the handle). This is a mod I have always wanted to do since I hate the the feel of the big oversize tanks on the allready oversized BRP.  My out of shape and over eager ass found a rhythm after the stomach cramp side ache went away I was in the top 10 over all at the half way point about ready to make my much awaited pit stop when I felt the dreaded rear end slug squirrel wiggle that can mean only one thing; A flat tire....  10 hours of drive time, weeks of anxious, race prepping, only to have a failure that could have easily been prevented. I knew that rim lock was not holding but I hoped the new rear tire would not let it slip. As Mr. Know-It-All used to say: "You really should have known. " 

It was pretty fun though.

Not this time Jesus

FAME!

 

After 15 years of tiresome word belching and random self involved rants this blog has finally hit the big time! I made the "Top 30 Dirt Bike blogs"! I am tearing up. Ok now I better give them money...

Pikes Peak Hill Climb | Full TV Show

2007. I started in 2008. It was a good time to be there.

Lands End Hill Climb 1941

Now known as the 3rd oldest continuing race in the USA behind Pikes Peak and the Indy 500, The Lands End Hill Climb was a big deal. And it still is; to people like me it is the highlight of my year. Not just because of all the Motorcycle class wins or the champaign spray podium celebrations alongside legends like Zwart and Dallenbach. It is in the decomposing volcanic gravel, the dust, and the twisting turning road itself. It is the best race course I have ever known. Unlike Pikes Peak and the Indy 500, there is very little material about the race. I have found zero info at the local Grand Junction Museum of the West. Despite being won by Louis Unser, there is little to be found on Google. The race was a huge race but WWII put it on hold and the Colorado Hill Climb Association didn't bring it back until the 1980's. My good buddy Peter told me he had a friend who had some old photos and programs. I asked and was so very fortunate enough to have them lent to me. Today peter dropped off a manila envelop with these photographs inside, along with the 1940,1941 programs and other interesting bits. I will scan them and share them here with all as I hope to not only preserve such outstanding history but hopefully inspire a younger generation to build some race shit and keep this awesome past time alive.

The owner of the photograph's grandmother posing next to the 2nd place finisher car. Check the penmanship written on the back of the photo below. Amazing. These building's concrete foundation's still stand at the start line. No more big cottonwood trees though.

 

Age cage, caged rage

 This weekend was the one year anniversary of bringing this Wells Coyote serial number 13 home. If you remember I traded a bike from my boneyard for it about the time my homebrew race car was completed. I have managed to keep it under tarp and out of mind (for the most part), but unlike a catholic altar boy; its been untouched. Though the car has a vast history of being fondled, flogged, and unfortunately even molested; I rescued it from a trailer park in arizona from some wheeling dealing cousins, where it was being sold for dune buggy sand rail scrap. before that the O'Maley brothers Rodney and Earl bought it for cheap only to rob it of all of it's good bits for their own Coyote cars. The Johnson brothers raced it in CHCA before that but they never did well and are no longer on talking terms with one another. Ownership before that is not clear but it was raced at Pikes Peak in brilliant shape by the one and only Martini Racing Steven. And more that several others before that.  I will have to post some pictures because it was a beautiful car. Anyhoo, It is just another refugee project in my yard among many but worthy as all hell and get up and go. Especially after taking my homebrew out to my back roads yesterday and having a proper go at driving the Homebrew Hayabusa car. I saw 165 mph on the highly inaccurate speedometer, I floated connecting corners like a drifter's dream, and probably lived more in 15 minutes than the I have in the past few months. The chase of thrill and ability to harness a machine is something that fails to dwindle in my increasing age. The excitement of driving a vehicle of construction more or less of my own is beyond words. It is my life's manifest from an early age. A dream chassed many an entry fee over. Many miles and broken down vans, sponsor paid air fair, bride's maid to a championship, and dreary daunt of task completed no matter the danger at hand. I live the life best liven given my place in this universe. Best I know to anyhow. I often wonder what for and I don't know any answers but I know it sure is fun seeing my little one wonder what she will do...

WWBHD

What would Bob Hannah do?

He has a way of telling it straight. He probably does not have a colorful group of friends, though I could be wrong. Opinionated people are engaging to be around when they share the same opinions as our self. Different opinions are like different periodic elements. Some do interesting things when mixed. Without all the elements we wouldn't exist. And isn't it truly interesting to learn. To leave your comfort zone. To expand your understandings and grow as a human. It is but I will probably just stick with fixing up pieces of junk and racing them.
 

It is a good thing this picture is blurry because my welding can hurt your eyes with or without an arc flash. I stay true to my nature: It is better to be more go than show.

After 25 plus years of welding and preaching about learning and growing I still have not learned how to weld as good as I want. Mostly because I lack patience in the preparation phase. But I can fill gaps with the best of them!

Life is full of rot. Rotten sumbitches are everywhere. Hell, most of our great green planet is rot of one kind or another. Maybe the most important thing I have learned is to pay little attention to the negative rotten crap and instead invest your energy and attention to what is positive. Cut out the rot and find the good. Have a little faith in the universe providing whatever it is you need. You might have to look far or work hard but if you focus your energy and hold the cigarette lighter just right, you can light farts like a flame thrower.

Pic of a cool photo I saw hanging in a barn full of motorbike engines I found.

2024 Colorado hill climb racing. 3rd in Super Spring with the Homebrew car and another Motorcycle class championship.

Peace be with you all.

Roosevelt Sykes Kickin' Motor Scooter (1963)

Captain's log. Steamy hot peanut log.

 Whenever I get bored and find myself a project it seems like multiple geysers erupt like a drunken game of Whack-a -Mole at the bowling alley arcade. The 1976 YZ125 was an unnecessary task to take on with all the race cars and motorbikes I have kicking around like a heard of hungry cats scratching at the door of the crazy ol cat lady, never mind the customer's proper bikes that pay my bills. Fuck I'll be damned if I ever give in to the conformity that is modern capitalism. My punk rock has become my bastard shop projects and the old wreck of a YZ125 is as good of protest as anything else I can conjure up. Frank showed up and built me a stairway. That re-instilled my faith in fellow man. John showed up to sort out his Champion XS650 that he lovingly lay in my deadbeat hands for a five year plan some couple years ago without any progress. The only expectations are for it to be an operating race bike again and today I did manage put some head wind in between the fork tubes. It will be spinning laps in no time now. Thanks John. He also set me straight on getting the SonicWeld framer back to semblance with a air cooled 250cc form my bone yard in lue of the XS650 I comically envisioned shoehorning into the little frame. And yes the fuckedalltohell YZ125 engine is back together. But will it run....

Frank Lambick; He has built more stairs than anyone I've ever known. ...That I know of. Thanks amigo. Sidenote: I have the Xr650R performing hideously well. I am dreaming of an off road race near you...

I tried out a SKF Speedi Sleeve to repair the pitted crank shaft surface but it caused excessive drag on the seal. Might be a good fix for a bigger displacement bike but I need this lil' bitch to scream like a mad banshee so I found a seal with a 1mm smaller ID and turned the crank down.

The Head was wicked pitted and squish was .060" so carved a bunch off and eyeballed my own ideal dome.

The 1mm smaller diameter crank shaft seal surface, nice and smooth.

John opted to not run one of my 750cc built engines since he allready had a nice 700cc engine. He wanted to go electric ignition so we fitted up this sleek setup. Did a rattle can job on the gas tank and all of a sudded we got a race bike in the shop that I am giddy to spin some laps on. It ran pretty darn not bad up and down the old highway in front of the shop today :)

The next itch to scratch...

Dumb and Dumber

 Well, It is project season. Not unlike any other season around here but project season for sure non the less. A very nice customer donated me a cool old Sonic Weld that he saved form the scrap. It belonged to a fellow who bought it new and lived it's whole life in the same little north west colorado valley I grew up in which is cool since there is no such thing as flattrack up there. Nor here for that matter. nearest track is 5hrs away. And that is just the short track at IMI. Kansas. some 10 hrs away... or Californa.... To be honest I don't know how much flattrack racing I am going to be doing in the for seen future. Who knows? God knows? Greg T Nelson knows! Ride With The Wind mother fuckers! Maybe it is movie night.... Anyhoo, digressing, degreasing, as always... What the fuck to do with this peice of proper flattrack machiner? I have some air cooled 250cc lumps out in my bone yard. Or even a liquid cooled on to continue on my treck of sacrilege. Fucking hell! Why not see if an XS650 would fit in it... Ah... what am I doing? Not what so much as why. WHY?

Maybe I'll drag something else out of my bone yard. I'd like to save the ol 1976 YZ125 from another cold season out in the elements. I think it has only been sitting out side with out a spark plug in it for maybe 30 years...

I do enjoy a challange and I must admit a little pain with my pleasure goes a long way. Lets break out the nipple clamps and bend over for a flog. How bad could it be...

HA! I've sledge hammered out pistons way worse! Lets start with some melting wax and a bit of blow torch! 

Ok, a lot of blow torch and maybe it is time for a re-hydration beverage. I think I can only take about an hour on the tower of power before I need a little golden shower.  Jeesus dick. It will run again. It is just a little old dirt bike engine. It will run again...

OOOO, this is fun. Somebody welded the kick starter onto the shaft. More whips and chains, please don't stop!

This is getting out of hand. I forgot to make a safe word. Knuckle down. Buckle down....

When the going get tough- the tough get going...

At this point I walked away. I just left the shop. It was time to go pick up the little one from day care and meet mom for pizza. return to the real world and forget all about the filthy little hobby of mine.   Tomorrow morning I am going to come into the shop to make some money doing honest work but first I am going to have to face up to my affliction to pain, mop up the mess, and throw a towel over it until I feel ready for more...

But in less questionable news I have made some pregress with the dyno so there is some hope for wholesome things to come about. In the mean time: Happy holidays, hail satan, watch out for santa and krampus, they are all probably one and the same. As the old Cosmic Cowboy, 5 years gone now, would always say: FAST AND CARELESS!!!!