The Official 2017 Barber Thread

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Dances with Shrapnel said:
swooshdave said:
Getting on the plane tomorrow on the way out! I probably overpacked but that's ok!
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What!?!?! You're not driving your Commando out?
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Yes, flying to NC again and then riding a Commando down.
 
swooshdave said:
Getting on the plane tomorrow on the way out! I probably overpacked but that's ok!
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Early bird! Defixione and I are leaving Wed morning from Lawrence KS for the drive down.
 
cyclegeezer said:
swooshdave said:
Getting on the plane tomorrow on the way out! I probably overpacked but that's ok!
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Early bird! Defixione and I are leaving Wed morning from Lawrence KS for the drive down.
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We fly in NC on Tuesday then start riding on Weds. Get to Barber on Thursday. Should be in Lot C unless we get in early enough to grab a hilltop spot.

You have about about 200 more miles that we do. Drive safe!
 
The Official 2017 Barber Thread
Untitled by swooshdave, on Flickr

Got to NC on Tuesday. We had to move two of the Nortons from my brother’s place to my dad’s which gave me a chance to remember which side to shift on. I only stepped on the brake pedal once and that was the first time I tried to put it in gear. :roll: Other than that I was fine.

We’ll set off this morning and probably end up somewhere in Georgia.
 
I'm camping in lot B. Bringing the SS clone and a pitbike, since the Titanic is not quite finished. Looking forward to putting some names to faces of some of the great folks I've conversed and traded with around here.

My friend Arthur Kowitz is running for AHMRA trustee, so any of you guys who are members, please vote for Arthur.
 
Danno said:
My friend Arthur Kowitz is running for AHMRA trustee, so any of you guys who are members, please vote for Arthur.
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I met Arthur in 2008 at many of the tracks, we pitted next to each other in the garages at Grattan. Very nice guy.
 
He's a hoot. When the youngsters at last year's 200 made light of the large windscreen on his M4 Suzuli ASRA racer, he threatened to put a cupholder on it.
 
Birmingham International Airport Thursday Oct 5 2017
Today Sunny, with a high near 85. East wind around 5 mph.
Tonight Clear, with a low around 62. East wind around 5 mph.
Friday Sunny, with a high near 87. East wind around 5 mph.
Friday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 68. East wind around 5 mph.
Saturday A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 85. South wind 5 to 10 mph.
Saturday Night A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 73.
Sunday Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm. Cloudy, with a high near 82. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Sunday Night Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 72. Windy. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
 
We’re going to hit the museum in the morning, I should be at the show at 10am, and then we’re going to have to bail in the afternoon to try and get ahead of Nate. We’ll cut it a day short but that’s what you do with a hurricane on your tail. Got to see Kenny on Thursday but still need to stop and see Matt. Rumor has it that Comstock is sneaking around too.
 
Off-loaded VTR1000, Triumph race bike, Rokon w/ sidecar, and SL350 in parts, all in the museum parking lot in about 1-1/2 hours, and headed for dinner then the hotel. Heading to Memphis in about an hour.

Kinda sorry about the whole deal, and will greatly miss racing.
 
We left Barber around 3pm and they apparently canceled the rest of the festival around 6pm. Everything closed on Sunday.

We made it near Road Atlanta tonight. Just a few showers but we expect more tomorrow. We still have 280 miles of interstate to get back to Greensboro.

We spotted Comstock on Norton Hill as we rode past on the tram. We was surrounded by groupies so didn’t say hi.

Chatted with Matt just before we left. It was great to talk with him again.

Tons of pictures later. Hope everyone else got out safely.

Oh, the forum meetup didn’t quite go as expected. I talked to cyclegeezer before the show but then forgot to actually come out of the museum on time. Got a little distracted by all the bikes. I talked to him around lunchtime and no one else apparently showed up either.

It’s hard to find people at such a large event. I was texting with one of my friends from Oregon and never did see him. We were always on opposite sides of the park.
 
swooshdave said:
It’s hard to find people at such a large event.
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Yep, that's it in a nutshell.

I was hoping to meet folks from AccessNorton, BritBike.com, several facebook groups, DoTheTon, CafeRacer.Net, BritIron Rebels, and several off-line friends.

All in all, I met 2 people I already knew that picked up bikes, and met one new guy that picked up a bike in Barber's parking lot, and one other guy at my hotel parking lot. That's it for this trip. At least when I was racing, I'd meet a dozen people per hour in my pit, every hour of every day, from Thursday to Sunday, except when I was on the track.

After every event, the following week, I'd hear from another few dozen folks that they came by, but I was on the track, or just left my pit.

It's gotten to be a real circus, but supposedly that's a good thing...
 
The biggest problem both in USA and OZ is that most of the chains sold are Japanese. Nothing
wrong with except that many old Brit biked need cranks links in primary and rear chain and on
some such as ES2s a very narrow chain is needed and Jap chain will cause problems.

I have offered my services to Barber and have been ignored at every attempt.

I have no desire to sell vast quantities of chain, I am trying to reduce business, but the endless
talk of trying to fit 520 chains to Brit that need narrow 530 (5/8 x 3/8) is boring as even jap
520 chain do not have cranks. Commandos for instance need on most models a 99 limk chain.
Without 99 you will not get adjustment or full use of chain.

I have offered to talks on chains and have been blanked by Barber........so be it, all I want to
do is educate not sell. I hope one day the classic bike clubs will club together and get me to
the USA, those who doubt me look at TT Engines in USA or ring Bill and ask about my credentials.

BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE.

Andy
 
Not going to leave this one on a dour note.

It was a great weekend and although it was cut short by a day due to weather, it was an excellent call by whomever made the call. The weather was excellent Thursday, Friday and most of Saturday. To the best of my knowledge there were no serious incidents on the track.

Good to see the usual suspects.
 
Met a few people sporting Access Norton T shirts on Saturday, sorry I'm so poor remembering names. We had a great turnout of Nortons in the bike show at the Motorcycle Classics booth. Everyone was stressed out over Nate and hurrying to get out as early as possible on Saturday. Well, with it being the 13th annual event you had to expect some form of bad luck. Wes Cooley was on hand to help with the awards ceremony at the end of the bike show, what a pleasure to meet him and hear his stories.
 
The Official 2017 Barber Thread


Here’s the Norton lineup at the show that cyclegeezer helped organize. Some great Nortons there.

The Official 2017 Barber Thread
 
Had a great time camping in Lot B. Hobbled around in a walking boot and used the Spree as a powered wheelchair. Dude on the tram asked me how I could ride with that thing on my left foot and I told him, "It shifts on the right, or it doesn't shift at all" Too bad about the early cancellation. Sunday was going to be the day I checked out the new addition to the museum.
 
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