Subject: Mid-Ohio trip report - Long (maybe too long)!
Author: Charles D. Mullendore
Date: Jul 22, 2003, 3:35 PM
Post ID: 1713871019
Hi all,
Well, here's my trip report. Just delete if it gets too boring!
Hoping to get out to VMD earlier than last year, I intended to saddle up
and head out by 6:30 a.m. Friday. But, the monkey wrench flew in from
the start. When I hit the starter button, all I got was an
unenthusiastic groan from the starter. The battery being only a year old
was not the immediate suspect so I jumped the terminals on the starter
with a brass pipe and got the same response. Okay, borrowed my bro's
battery tester and hooked it up - down in the red zone under load! Not
having a good battery around, I decided to jump start it off of my
Gravely tractor and replace it if needed on the road. At the first gas
stop the bike started right back up, but at the second in Morgantown, WV
it did not. The gas station dudes jump started the bike and mentioned
that since it was an Auto Advantage battery, maybe I could get it
replaced under warranty at the store just down the street. No dice - one
year warranty - one year old, oh well only $24.95 for a 365CCA battery.
With an hour lost by now, I was really cranking into it. That is until
the road the construction backup starting just outside Washington, PA on
I-79 and lasting to just before city limits on I-70 west. Another 30
mins. lost there. Finally, though I got off of the "big roads" and onto
US250 at Bridgeport, OH - what a relief! Traffic was fairly light and
with the extra power the Ambo has since the top-end rebuild, passing and
hills were no problem. Just outside of Coshocton, OH a thunderstorm
decided to drench me, three miles from where I got soaked the year
before. Next year a different route maybe? Made into Mt. Vernon and
checked into the Super8 a full hour and a half later than last year.
Arriving at the track, I decided to park up near the entrance the same
as last year and hit the swapmeet first. So, I'm stopped and looking
around and suddenly see the familiar faces of Lynn Crowley and his son
behind me. Lynn tells me to park in front of his Tahoe, which I do, and
gives me a water to drink. What a guy! There's two other Guzzis (a
Jackal and a Cal III dresser) parked next to me and as I'm ready to head
into the swapmeet, up walks Joe Eish and another guy. Good to see them
both. Already it's apparent that there's more Guzzis in attendance than
last year. In the swapmeet I head first to a vendor out of WV who
usually has some good stuff and find a bucket with an Ambo rear drive in
it. The pinion gear comes out easily and I look for pits on the teeth.
There's one about 1/8'' long so it goes back together and into the
bucket. Looking in the back of the program, I find Joe Kenny has a space
down near the hospitality tent set up by the Arnolds (OH Reps.) and the
Szostaks (MI Reps.). Joe has a good generator belt cover for $5 so I buy
that and then shoot the breeze for a while. At the hospitality tent I
donate a buck and get some nice cold iced tea, sit a spell and shoot the
breeze some more. Paul Szostak has an assortment of key blanks for $3 a
piece and for some reason I didn't buy any. After a bit I wander down to
the lower corner near the parking area where a vendor has a NOS
Stornello seat for $75 and some other assorted NOS Loop bits. I leave
there with only a Eldo generator pulley assembly for $20. Things are
kind of winding down, so I browse some more then head back into Mt.
Vernon for supper and then the Super8 for the night. 450 miles for the
day and I don't feel achy but am rather tired.
Saturday, I get up early and have a delicious "Continental" breakfast
(two bowls of cold cereal and a cup of o.j.) then mount up and trek
north to the track. It's about 10 a.m. when I finally get there and
already things are a hoppin'. Once again I head into the swapmeet area
and start an "organized sweep" of the vendors to search out some things
I'd like to find. At first I don't find anything, but have fun looking
and meeting other Loopers (Roberto & his wife Sara, Mike Skaggs). During
another stop at the hospitality tent, someone mentions other vendors
with Loop stuff that I hadn't checked out yet so I head up that way. So
much for the "organized sweep" strategy. At one of the vendors I buy a
pair of NOS clutch and brake levers ($20 for the pair) and at the other
a taillight bracket, heel-toe shift lever and a pair of the rubber
sleeves that go around V7 Sport instruments ($15 for all). Unable now to
remember where I left off, I randomly pick a row. Did I already do this
one? Yes? No? Buggers! I can't remember! So I walk down that one anyway.
Near the end a vendor has lots of parts for the small BSA singles, but
something catches my eye. Upon closer inspection, it turns out to be the
most elusive part for my Stornello, the taillight/bracket assy. Later I
find Roberto buying a semi-rolling (the front wheel was missing)
Stornello chassis and he tries unsuccessfully to convince me to let him
have the taillight. As much as I appreciate him sending me an
air/battery box back in the winter, the taillight stays with me. At this
point lunch is the only thing on my mind. Afterwards, satisfied with my
purchases, I head over into the pits and check out what's racing this
year. There's a particularly beautiful (and fast with two second places)
Benelli 250 single racebike (who knew a Wards Riverside could morph into
something this wonderful?), a Guzzi LeMans III racer (Andrew Murray),
Charlie Cole's excellent racebike, a Benelli 250 four racer, Aermacchis
and lots of other interesting machinery to ogle. Since my feet are
killing me, I head back to the bike and ride over into the infield and
park close to the area for the later Loop gathering. The "Wall of Death"
shows are going on and a live band is playing nearby. The museum tent
was a bit underwhelming - I thought it would be a better display of
vintage H-Ds than was present. There was a nice selection of bikes up
for auction and the "Ride'm Don't Hide'm" show was pretty cool - there
was a nice Loop and a GTW single amongst the MV Agusta and Egli-Vincent.
Checked out the infield vendors, but not needing any more riding gear or
sunglasses, it was pretty quick going. Until time for the get-together,
I relaxed and watched some racing from the keyhole area.
The Loop gathering was the most enjoyable part of the weekend! Good to
see everyone and their bikes. Mike's t-shirts are fantastic and much
appreciated. There was lots of Loop talk and general socializing. Nice
to see you again Bob, what a surprise! Finally got to see Paul's V700
too. More than a few attendees finally got to meet Gordon from MG Cycle
and place a face with the name. Another ride back to the Super8 through
Amish farmlands was a tranquil ending to a great day.
Sunday, I slept in a bit, had another yummy "Continental" breakfast
(waffles this time) and made it up to the track around 10:30. I wanted
to see the Benelli single race, but arrived to late. So, I hung around
the pits and start/finish tower area enjoying the breeze and an empty
bench to watch from. Kinda' bummed that the weekend was rapidly coming
to and end for me, I had lunch then headed east towards home around 2
p.m. The sound of the Ambos engine rising and falling as I crossed Ohio
was comforting and I wished that I could ride forever. Over the
mountains of western Maryland around dusk, I dialed the speed back a
notch, running an indicated 72 mph or so the rest of the way home.
Pulled in the garage at 10 pm and hoped that the following days would
pass quickly so I could once again hit the road. North Carolina here I
come! Ride safe,
Charlie