Sunday, November 18, 2012

World Trials and AMA National to East Tn in 2013!

 MARK YOUR CALENDERS NOW!!   2013 is going to be a GREAT year for watching top level motorcycle competition in East Tenn. It has just been announced that a round of the FIM World Trials Championship will be returning to the Trials Training Center in Sequatchie Tn (just outside Chattanooga) on May 25th and 26th. I was able to attend the last time the world guys came here in 2006, and can tell you first hand this is one of the absolute coolest things you can go watch. Bring the kids, and stand back and try to figure out how these guys did the things you just saw them do. The Trials Training Center is an easy drive from Knoxville, and just right for a day trip. Their website www.trialstrainingcenter.com will have more details on tickets and schedules as they develop.
The next great announcement is that East Tennessee is going to get an AMA OUTDOOR NATIONAL!!  The NEXT WEEKEND! June 1st will be a new round of the AMA Series, called the "Bristol National", held at Muddy Creek Raceway in Blountville. My prediction is that this race will have an incredible turnout. For years me and riding buddies have wondered why their weren't any AMA outdoor races in the South, or at least within reasonable driving distance. Now we have one! Finally! An opportunity to see the fast guys go real fast on a big track.  No information yet on tickets or camping, but my guess is this will be an event where you either get there very early in the morning, or camp the night before. 
 **Yeah, I know these are Supercross photos. It's because I've never been to an outdoor National!


I guess the only way 2013 could be looking better is if we can get another Flat Track National back to Bulls Gap. Let's keep our fingers crossed!







Friday, November 9, 2012

Garage Tip - Shotgun Brushes


Recently I was helping a friend do some loooong overdue maintenance on a dirt bike that had evidently lived its whole life without getting near a tube of grease or a can of WD-40. The front axle was stuck in the wheel, which meant we had to take the fork tubes loose to get the wheel off, but after a good soaking with Liquid Wrench, and some gentle persuasion with a hammer, we got the axle out.The next issue was how to clean out the light rust from inside the wheel. It turns out that a 12 Gauge Shotgun barrel cleaning brush works great!. Fits right in, tough enough to get the grime out, and cheap.