Stupid Sayings
in [ATVs]
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From: Tim H on 22 Feb 2010 11:23 On Feb 20, 7:21 pm, "Whelan - '02 200exc (x2) & '04 MTD 38" <yo...(a)sisna.com> wrote: > > "The only thing I need to worry about if I run out of gas is whether > > you catch up to me before dark." Tim H, Shelton Valley Enduro, 1988 > > (I then ran out of gas 2 miles before the gas stop, Joe caught up to > > me long before dark...and stopped to give me gas anyway) > > > Tim H > > Thanks, Joe. > > Gosh, if I remember correctly (big "if") you'd brought home your '88 > ATK 250 that prior week. Air intake up at the steering stem. > Countershaft-mounted rear disc brake. Single linkage-less rear > shock. Real, genuine cartridge forks with that beautiful front disc > brake. 6-speed air-cooled Rotax 2-stroke with the kickstarter on the > correct side. The front tire was to prove less than stellar as I > recall... > > Did it come with aluminum bars? > > It was also supposed to have something like a 3.2-gallon gas tank, > which should have solved a long running problem, i.e., it seemed that > EVERY time we went riding, Tim ran out of gas. > > The very first time Tim and I went out on a real trail ride (day after > he and I followed the BEMC'ers, most of whom were riding 3-wheelers, > on a half logging road half jeep trail circus), Tim ran out of gas > TWICE. Anyways, back to that fateful week... > > As I recall, we broke in your new ATK with a Saturday ride at Belfair > where I witnessed the effectiveness of the ATK's extra chain sprockets > above and below the swingarm when we were heading down this very fast > section that had suckered me more than once with its huge whoops. > That section was well-lit (not in dense forest) and we'd top the bikes > out then pass into dense woods & darkness where we'd suddenly find > ourselves launching off the first huge whoop into the series. > > I, anticipating the whoops, hit the brakes and watched you, I was sure > you'd forgotten about the whoops, head into the whoops at a pace I was > sure would, at best, result in spectacular crash and, at worst, damage > you and/or the ATK. > > I only clearly saw you go through the first few whoops (it was dark > and you were pulling away FAST) and the bike stayed absolutely level - > like it was smooth trail. I was sure I wasn't seeing correctly and > would quickly encounter the results of the inevitable crash. When I > saw you'd made it, I was impressed. > > So we take my truck to the Shelton Valley Enduro the next day (Sunday) > and at the riders' meeting Dave Bowers says the first loop is 45 miles > so they have to have a fuel available and anyone concerned they can't > make 45 miles on a tank should put a gas can in such-and-such pickup. > > Back at my truck I pull out my 1-gallon gas jug (my '83 KDX250 was so > stingy on fuel I mixed gas one gallon at a time) and held it out to > you saying "You can use my gas jug to put in the truck if you like." > Wereupon you said, "Dowd, if I run out of gas the only thing I'll be > worried about is whether you catch up to me before dark." > > I shrugged and put my jug back in the truck bed. > > I was doing well that first loop. I'd dropped some points but I could > tell we were getting near the start to end the loop and I was *just* > catching back up to our minute thinking "wow, I keep this up I might > get a SILVER Shelton Valley medal (I already had bronze and really > lusted for the beautiful silver custom medals with my class and > position engraved on the back). > > Then I see a rider standing next to his bike next to the trail. IT'S > TIM!!! Well, there certainly doesn't seem to be anything wrong with your memory...(I'll never forget that first whoop section on that bike; it was the first time I'd EVER blitzed whoops like that. The GasGas does that extremely well too). That day at Shelton was NOT one of my prouder moments. I'd like to think I learned a valuable lesson about shooting my mouth off that day. I usually remember it these days. Thanks again, Joe. You're the best. Oh, yeah, the ATK did have aluminum bars. The stock tank was "only" about 2.9 gallons, I later bought the bigger 3.4 gallon tank (and STILL ran out all of the time). In full enduro trim the bike weighed 211 pounds without gas. I loved that bike, aside from a little bit of a mileage problem. Tim H A man with GOOD friends
From: Dennis Kennedy on 22 Feb 2010 19:58
On Feb 20, 7:21 pm, "Whelan - '02 200exc (x2) & '04 MTD 38" <yo...(a)sisna.com> wrote: .... > > So we take my truck to the Shelton Valley Enduro the next day (Sunday) > and at the riders' meeting Dave Bowers says the first loop is 45 miles > so they have to have a fuel available and anyone concerned they can't > make 45 miles on a tank should put a gas can in such-and-such pickup. > > Back at my truck I pull out my 1-gallon gas jug (my '83 KDX250 was so > stingy on fuel I mixed gas one gallon at a time) and held it out to > you saying "You can use my gas jug to put in the truck if you like." > Wereupon you said, "Dowd, if I run out of gas the only thing I'll be > worried about is whether you catch up to me before dark." > ..... > Then I see a rider standing next to his bike next to the trail. IT'S > TIM!!! Great story Joe. Thanks for posting that. Dennis |