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Boomslang
10/31/2021 1:34pm
10/31/2021 1:34pm
Edited Date/Time
11/2/2021 12:44pm
Tomorrow I'll unpack everything. I have so much shit that I had stashed and forgotten about.
Here is my Green Wrench Award from my time wreching for a young James Stewart. We won everything in 99.
I worked for FMF but was assigned to the Stewart family on big James' request.
Next year I'm gonna try and get even with James on the Golf course.
Ill post more pics and stuff as I pull it all out.
Here is my Green Wrench Award from my time wreching for a young James Stewart. We won everything in 99.
I worked for FMF but was assigned to the Stewart family on big James' request.
Next year I'm gonna try and get even with James on the Golf course.
Ill post more pics and stuff as I pull it all out.
Was mostly on the road with James and when I wasnt, i was bounced inhouse between grinding cylinders, boring carbs, cutting heads and refreshing suspension for the race team. Spent hours with Raul, Donny and Varner running team engines, James' Ben Riddles and Andrew Shorts on the dyno.
An interesting titbit and I'm still convinced that James' supermini was a rocket...faster than the 125s. He easily had Vohland, Gosseler, Smith and Sellards covered one day at a private track. The boys were dejected that day and I guess they knew that once James moved up it was game over.
There were plenty of times that I'd jump in and help build race bikes. Also took one of Vohlands bikes and taylor built it to suit Bob Moore for his two appearances, Glen Helen and Mount Morris. (Gosseler was out with two broken ankles)
Got to help DV12's oldman build two bikes for David when he first came to hit SX. Strange dudes them frogs...i can recall that David's setup was effing weird but it worked for him.
Danny Smith was my side kick. We had a warehouse in (i think Cadiz, Ohio) a satellite race shop when we raced back East. Both semis would just drive straight in and we'd roll the doors shut. We had cubicle rooms to sleep in and each bike had its own work bay.
There were a few redneck hill billy dudes that knew about the race shop. No one ever let them know when we would be coming but somehow they'd always be waiting. Great guys and took us hunting sometimes.
I was under pressure back then. The boys loved my South African cuisine and I often had to cook for them all then get back to building motors late at night.
We had ropes hanging from the rafters which gave us much entertainment swinging off the
top of the semis and a basket ball hoop....i learnt to play cat there.
Those were the days...we had a CR500 and attached a shopping trolly to the 500 with a long rope. Brent was the victim and suffered the strangest road rash one has ever seen. When the 500 hit 3rd gear the trolly flipped, Brent locked himself inside the trolly. The road rash was lots of little square blocks..wish i could find pics of that incident
Danny and myself spent hours playing cards for dolla bills...man i took alot of cash off him. Everytime see him I always start off with, " loan me a buck mate"
.
Great memories and today ill dig into my garage and look for long forgotten stuff.
The Shop
Can't promise anything but I'm pretty sure Danny will dig up a set. I know they archive old product and there were literally 100's of those official team sets made.
Ill shoot for the the official race team graphics and seat cover.
Always felt intimidated by Danny but he really is a great guy...down to earth.
You won't owe me anything. If Danny has a set he will give it to me and then it becomes a gift from him to me then to you.
Fingers crossed.
Been a rough week for me but a chinwag with Sumdood about body parts, hardware and XRays sent me to my garage to look for my piles of XRays, instead i found boxes that havent been opened for 15 plus years.
We had regional Voting today so ill dig in the garage tomorrow and see what pops up.
I gifted my very first RacerX mag with McGrath on the cover to a member here named Colonel. If he see this maybe he can post a pic of the unicorn.
Addition #1
The white rectangle on the cover actually had writing which if i recall correctly said Industry Copy. DC can varify that.
Also know his son Sed Zember and Catharina. Wrenched for him.on amature day two years ago at Washougal.
Edit. For some reason im thinking Plano Honda or was he with Planet? Old age...memory loss...
You're a legend, so much awesome in these posts. I appreciate you and your posts. Keep your chin up!
Pit Row
I was also fortunate to find Vital years ago but due to uncalled for and disrespectful behavior, Gibby took his big stick out...or a Mod or two and gave me a well deserved hiding....sent me to the sinbin.
Since then I've learnt to treat people how I'd like them to treat me.
I've made some awesome friends here on Vital and have still to meet most in person. It happens, just not fast enough.
Great community here with a few dudes with bent noses but remember, it is never too late to change.
We share much of the same interests with the exception of the dude who wishes to wash stinking boots and gear...for free.
Thank you all.....
Ol Emig turned up though....I'm convinced i have all the single digit RacerX Illustrated rags....gotta keep diggin man.
FMF wanted to keep him until he turned Pro and then he would have been a Honda rider.
I admit he had special treatment. Team Green would haul his 85s around whilst my babies where his super minis. At events id have say over both the 85s and the Super Minis
Id take him to test at various tracks out West in our box van. Same in the East. Big James was meticulous which made me up my game. I could have gone with him to PC and then into Pro. The idea of an South African Caucasian working for a African American was a great idea...a type of reconciliation thing. I adore the Stewart family and just spoke to Big James the other day.
I left MX to persue a career in aviation. In hindsite i should have stuck with James.
Post a reply to: Sumdood got me inspired to look for my XRays, instead I found a little treasure trove