Devon TRF Group Forum

Lost · Expert

Devon Classic Scramble 31 March 2013

V Twin Funster · Expert

Grouty, Devon Dan, John Heale and myself were on the other side of the A30 from Smeatharpe yesterday racing in the Devon Classic Scramble at Monkton.

The consensus of opinion after walking the track........... bumpy and steep.........not KLX friendly.

Races 1, 2 and 3 of the 250 twinshock class are below, but the highlight of the day, for me, was watching John Heale on Ian's CCM. Ian offered John a ride after the Interspan died on John's Matesse. John was loving it. He lofted the front wheel several times and once I thought he was going to flip it over one of the bumps on a steep climb. He ran a very respectable race. He put in a great deal of effort setting up the track and taking it down at the end.

Well done, John!

Race 1 - stalled on the first steep hill cry

Race 2 - forgot to put my goggles on cry (still uploading)

Race 3 - Starting elastic magnets in my front wheel foiled my start and the KLX didn't want to fire up furious

Simmo · Expert

Looks like a lorra lorra fun! Wasn't long before you caught the next rider after you stall in race 1, good effort!

Rob McCarthy · Sportsman

Well done Craig 10 out of 10 for effort but do us a favour and polish that front mudguard biggrin

Well done to Dan, Ian and John as well, looked like you had a great day.

grouty · Expert

Sorry, no pictures or footage of John.
There is this though ......... turn the sound up

Seriously not bike fit ! Damn thing was trying to pull my arms out of their sockets.

-- Edited by grouty on Tuesday 2nd of April 2013 03:53:05 PM

Lost · Expert

Ok I thnk young whatsit is cheating coming by you like that ! Super glue on his tyres I recon Ian mmmmmmm good vid cheers

_tc · Clubman B

Looks bloody good fun. How does one get into it? What sort of bike do I go for? ( I don't know much about bikes)

grouty · Expert

Find a twin shock, air cooled, drum braked motocross bike and have hassle free fun. General rule is twin shocks newer than 1974 are cheaper than pre-74. Those in turn are cheaper than pre-65. There is always the exception to the rule so do your homework.
It boils down to what bike or era floats your boat. For me it's pre-74.
Come along to one of the Dartmouth Club meetings at the Pig & Whistle Inn on the Totnes Road. Last Thursday of the month at about 8pm.
If you are interested in looking for a bike, or just want to get involved, send me a PM>

devondan · Champion

I took Kerry's place as the rider with mechanical troubles this time around! The old YZ had been running lean last season (piston was an even brown with no wash marks) so i raised the needle one notch, but that didnt do it so I put in a bigger main and didnt really get a chance to test it, it ran ok ish in practice and for the first two laps of race one was running well but then lost all low down power and I had to keep it really reving to get anywhere. After the race I dropped the needle again but that made no difference - I limped in after race 2 with the bike making horrendous noises like it was about to explode! But Grouty got down on his knees and had a good listen and while I was sulking he spotted the blown head gasket, which I might add I had correctly torqued down! Anyway after a quick exhaust pipe removal to gain access I found the nuts almost finger tight! I tightened them back down again which seemed to seal it back up ok (hats off to the yamaha for running with a lose head!). The last race was much better, although my start was poor I was up with the pack for 2 laps (the b+ggers made us ride 6!) but was getting tired by then and had serious arm pump, so was happy just to stop anyone else overtake, but I could hear a 4 stroke behind me and Craig did his usual trick of overtaking me half way around the last lap so I couldnt catch him! - I think we came 8th and 9th out of a starting line up of about 20 - not to shabby for a couple of novices!

PS I was only obeying team orders when I let Craig pass!

-- Edited by devondan on Wednesday 3rd of April 2013 04:10:20 PM

devondan · Champion

It is usually up to 125, 250 and 250 and over, although Dorset do it slightly differently and grade the riders into A,B,C, and D. That way we get to race against Kerry on his 540! You could easily make a DT/TS 250 into a MX bike, there was one last year and he wasn't coming last, but as Grouty says it has to be aircooled, drum brakes and twinshock or direct monoshock (like the early DTs) An IT/PE/KLX 250 would also work.

I'm not sure how much you want to spend but there are regularly bikes for sale around the £1,000k mark. There was a tatty but servicable Yaico (Maico frame, Yam 250 engine) for sale on Sunday for £1200, I bet you could have got it for £1k. My 77 YZ was £200, but cost £1500 to get it back into shape! My 81 YZ (not yet running) was £1500 and Ive prob spent another £2-300 finishing it, but they are desirable and hold their price well.

Dan

This will go for more I expect (hope as its the same year as my new one!) - http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1981-yamaha-250h-twinshock-motocross-/271183461788?pt=UK_Motorcycles&hash=item3f23cb3d9c

I had one of these! http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1977-HONDA-cr125-M-ELSINORE-TWINSHOCK-MOTOCROSS-CR125M-DG-EXHAUST-/330893822922?pt=UK_Motorcycles&hash=item4d0acf0bca

-- Edited by devondan on Wednesday 3rd of April 2013 01:16:05 PM

-- Edited by devondan on Wednesday 3rd of April 2013 01:25:10 PM

-- Edited by devondan on Wednesday 3rd of April 2013 04:09:39 PM

D13dkt · Clubman A

is there a engine size class in this type of event, i can get hold of dt175/ ts250 type bike but anything bigger is huge money for mid 70s stuff and it would not make it viable cost wise.

devondan · Champion