DEUS STREET TRACKER

Sweet street tracker from the land down under. Here is the Deus Triumph. While this bike has made the rounds on internet forums and other blogs I thought we had to show it off here. Check out other Deus creations on their website. Happy New Year!

SOLD ***TRIUMPH 650 ENGINE FOR SALE*** SOLD

Listed 12/24 on VFT:


1964 Triumph 650 Engine TR6SS DU 6146
Turns over easily, 34MM Mikunis included. Located in Riverside, CA 92503
$900

Please email for additional images and questions.
dennis@ninefiftyone.com

AMA ANNOUNCES REVISED 2010 GNC SCHEDULE

AMA Press Release:

DAYTONA BEACH, FL (December 23, 2009) - AMA Pro Racing announced today the revised 2010 AMA Pro Flat Track Grand National Championship schedule, featuring $850,000 in purse money and 21 events. In addition, a Short Track National will replace the originally scheduled TT at the opening round in Daytona Beach, Florida on March 3rd.

Two events back on the schedule for 2010 are a TT on July 25th at the Castle Rock Fairgrounds in Castle Rock, WA and a Half Mile on September 18th at Knoxville Raceway in Knoxville, IA.

Castle Rock has a long history of AMA Pro TT National Championship events dating back to 1965 with events on and off the schedule since the Mount St. Helens catastrophic volcano eruption in 1980. National Champions who have won the Castle Rock TT include; Mert Lawwill, Gary Scott, Dick Mann, Jay Springsteen, Chris Carr and Jake Johnson. The last TT National was held at the circuit in 2007 and was won by Sammy Halbert.

Knoxville Raceway is known as the sprint car capital of the world, which has earned the track a solid reputation as the fastest half-mile dirt track in the nation. The last AMA Pro Half Mile National Championship was held in 1996 and won by Nine-Time Grand National Champion Scott Parker.

Due to construction and time concerns the opening round in Daytona Beach originally scheduled as a TT event has been replaced with a Short Track National. The all new quarter-mile dirt track at Daytona International Speedway located outside NASCAR turns 1 & 2 will have seating for more than 5,000 spectators and will have lighting provided by Musco Lighting.

"Since we released the first 2010 AMA Pro Flat Track Grand National Championship schedule, we've received even more interest to be part of our growing series," said Mike Kidd, Director of AMA Pro Flat Track. "The addition of Castle Rock helps our mid-season west coast swing and including Knoxville is certainly going to enhance the series."

So the 2010 GNC schedule currently looks like this:

March 3 DAYTONA® Flat Track (Daytona Beach, Florida) Short Track*
March 4 DAYTONA® Flat Track (Daytona Beach, Florida) Short Track*
May 1 Yavapai Downs (Prescott, Arizona) Mile
May 29 Illinois State Fairgrounds (Springfield, Illinois) TT*
May 30 Illinois State Fairgrounds (Springfield, Illinois) Mile
June 5 Gas City I-69 Speedway (Gas City, Indiana) Short Track*
June 19 The Red Mile (Lexington, Kentucky) Mile
June 26 Allen County Fairgrounds (Lima, Ohio) Half-Mile
July 10 I-96 Speedway (Lake Odessa, Michigan) Half-Mile
July 25 Castle Rock Fairgrounds (Castle Rock, Washington) TT*
July 31 Calistoga Fairgrounds (Calistoga, California) Half-Mile
August 7 Hagerstown Speedway (Hagerstown, Maryland) Half-Mile
August 14 Beulah Park (Grove City, Ohio) Mile
August 22 Peoria Race Park (Peoria, Illinois) TT*
August 28 Indiana State Fairgrounds (Indianapolis, Indiana) Mile
September 4 Illinois State Fairgrounds (Springfield, Illinois) Short Track*
September 5 Illinois State Fairgrounds (Springfield, Illinois) Mile
September 11 Canterbury Park (Minneapolis, Minnesota) Mile
September 18 Knoxville Speedway (Knoxville, IA) Half-Mile
October 9 Yavapai Downs (Prescott, Arizona) Short Track*
October 10 Yavapai Downs (Prescott, Arizona) Mile

* = GNC Singles race

RESPONSE TO SCOOTER VERNON POST

I received a few responses to the post regarding Scooter Vernon on board a modern Hinckley Triumph at Springfield last year.

Walt Metzler sent me a note with some additional photos:

"I believe the bike that Scooter Vernon is riding at Springfield is the same bike I sent you pictures of when it was painted blue. It belongs to D&D Cycles in Pensacola, Florida. I helped out Rob with a lot of the original set up of the bike. Then later I made the billet primary and did the conversion to right foot shift. AMA DMG rules have pretty much killed any chance of it being competitive."

Indeed the bike does belong to Rob Mclendon from D&D Triumph in Pensacola, Florida...Rob got in touch both by email and in a posted response to a question I left on Flattrack.com. Rob shared some info on the bike, it's current situation, and his hopes for the future. Here are the highlights...

"Its actually my triumph that I built a few years back with the help of Walt Metzler. He built many one off neat pieces for this bike including the primary cover. It is a completely ground up build and makes 96 hp and the rear wheel and handles like a dream.

I rode it at a few races, developed the engine, worked on the chassis(C&J) and then Triumph got me hooked up with road racing so I sent the bike to dallas and the Prez worked his beauty wand on it. He took it all apart, removed the balance shafts, made some chassis modifications to allow the cylinder head easily removed, and shaved some weight, made a new exhaust and lots of other stuff.

The blow by issues were caused by the balance shafts being removed and thus having 4 large holes in the middle of the cases allowing oil to slosh around and get into the breather system.

Myself and Dan Gedeon put our Triumphs for the first time in a main event at the Volusia Hot Shoe race I believe 3 years ago.

Jason Tyer and Scooter Vernon have also ridden the bike in the past. I would entertain campaigning it at a few races with a fast rider. I would love to see a fast guy on it as I believe that my limits were long ago met on a dirt track bike.

As of right now, it sits in the showroom of my dealership getting lots of looks and admiration every day.

Many thanks to:
Triumph Motorcycles America
The Prez
Walt Metzler"

BONNEVILLE PERFORMANCE FRAMES

Received an email from Bill Gately at Bonneville Performance the other day regarding his Bonneville Performance Flat Track Frames for modern Triumph twins. These frames sell for $2600.00 and include the following components:

- Frame
- Front (2) motor mounts
- Rear motor mount bolt and spacers
- Sub-frame
- Swing arm
- Swing arm pivot bolt
- Swing arm inner and outer bushings
- Chain adjusters
- Rear axle

Find yourself a salvage motor and get going on your new winter project.

Check out the Bonneville Performance website for more info.

MORE INFO ON GREG ROVETTA'S 1968 TRIUMPH TT

From Greg:

My girlfriend found this website, and we were both very pleased to see a site dedicated soley to Triumphs. The mastermind for this build is my friend "Steve Perez", with me doing the slave labor. I bought it in 1984. This was the 3rd ground-up rebuild. The frame and casings were in pieces in his back yard for over ten years. I was then reunited with my frame after not seeing my friend for ten years and slowly built it into what it is today.

Morgo big bore kit 750
Dual 34 cfm Mikuni carbs
ARD CDI Magneto
Megacycle cams
Excell Rims 2.15 x 19" Front and Rear
Brembo calipers 32mm 2 piston
11.5" wave rotors
Maxxis DTR-1 27.0x 7.0x 19" front and rear
A&A racing triple clamps to Ciriani forks

MAYBE IF YOU'RE LUCKY...

...You'll find one of these under the Christmas tree. If not you can always order one from the guys at Sideburn Magazine.

GREG ROVETTA'S 1968 TRIUMPH TT

Beautiful 1968 Triumph street tracker. Photos submitted by Greg Rovetta and his girlfriend Denise.


We'll get more info on the bike soon.

SOLD***1965 TRACKMASTER T120R FOR SALE***SOLD

Bike for sale from Don Lindfors in Orange, CA:

This is a Trackmaster frame with a 1965 Bonneville T120R motor. It is the real deal race bike, perfect for Racing or nice enough to stare at in your Man Cave. All the right and rare parts:

Original Trackmaster Frame, Barnes Script Primary cover, Hurst Airheart Disc Brakes, Betor Forks, Girling Shocks, TT Pipes, Genuine Bates Seat & Pillion, Wassell Fender, Borrani Rims, Pirelli Tires, Barnes Quick Change Rear Hub, Amal MonoBloc carbs with K&N filters.

I bought this about 7 or 8 years ago with the intention of Vintage Racing it, but an injury on my KTM prevented that. So mostly I've just stared at it while enjoying a glass of Whisky. I got it from a guy that I've done a few bike deals with and he had just restored it when I got it. The motor was completly gone through and he said it has a 750 kit and a set of Race Cams. (I've never opened it up to verify, but I have no reason to doubt him) The frame was replated and all the aluminum was polished. It looked better than new when I got it. It is starting to show that it could use a good detailing again.

It's time for me to send it to a new home - either someone that wants to go Vintage Dirt Track Racing or to a collector that will appreciate the beauty of it. I have not run it in about 5 years. One of the carbs hangs up a little. I did drain the gas when it was parked so that tank and carbs are clean. I would like to see $7500.00 for it, might take a partial trade - try me.

Don Lindfors 909 912-2156, 1dynodon@sbcglobal.net

CHUCK PALMGREN HALL OF FAME CEREMONY PHOTOS

Here are some photos from the AMA Hall of Fame induction a few weeks ago. Thanks to Bob Neilson for sending in these photos.

(One of the Melba Murphy 1970 prints)

OFFICIAL TRIUMPH YOUTUBE CHANNEL

Just found out about this the other day from Bill Gately...apparently Triumph has put up it's own YouTube channel. Here's a history lesson for you:



Hopefully we'll see some flat track footage on there soon.

OfficialTriumph's Channel

SOLD***TRIUMPH TRACKMASTER FRAME FOR SALE***SOLD

From the VFT ads:

750 Triumph Trackmaster frame for sale in Lakeland, FL. $1500 obo.
For more info contact: jgately2@tampabay.rr.com

1950 THUNDERBIRD

From the VFT site:

Anyone got any info on this bike? Very cool!

REDESIGN NEARLY COMPLETE

Well as you can see the site has been overhauled. We've gone to a three column format, changed the colors up, added some new graphics, and cleaned up the right side column by adding buttons to alleviate some of the clutter. There will be more updates in the coming weeks as we try to work out the kinks. Perhaps the most obvious addition are the ads on the left side of the page. As we have always stated, this site is not for profit and is done for fun and to share info on the history and future of Triumphs in flat track racing. So we are excited to say that all proceeds from ads placed on the site will go directly to some sponsorship programs we are currently putting together. While these are modest contributions, in these times every penny counts. We hope to help those giving it a go aboard Triumphs in both the AMA GNC series as well as the various vintage racing series throughout the nation. We will be getting info out as soon as we iron out all the wrinkles. Stay tuned.

Let us know what you think about the new format: triumphflattrack@yahoo.com

CHUCK PALMGREN PHOTOS

AMA Motorcycle Hall of Famer Chuck Palmgren:

Winner's circle @ 1969 Sacramento Mile

#99s CHRIS KLINEFELTER

Here's a nice shot sent in by Tim White....

Chris Klinefelter at the Timonium, MD Short Track - August 2009.

ANOTHER TRIUMPH FOR SALE

This time it's one you can ride to the races...

Selling my baby to finance my flattrack project, I don't ride it enough and have no where to store it any more. 1966 Triumph t120r with a bolt on hardtail, era correct parts, new pistons, rings, wrinkle finish engine paint, powdercoated frame, pwdercoated carbs, beautiful custom tank and paint, 34mm mikunis, mighty max ignition, polished everything, new buchanan spokes, new tires, sweet ride for someone! $5800.00 or part trade for the right 500 honda tracker Washington State, Seattle area

Jim @ 253-632-5285
jrs1cycle@comcast.net

PHILLIPS AT LABOR DAY SPRINGFIELD MILE

Here's a Brian Phillips photo from Larry Lawrence that can be found on his very cool blog The Rider Files.

MORE TRIUMPHS FOR SALE ON VFT

Here are some more Triumphs listed on the VFT "For Sale" page.

From December 4:


A racing Triumph with extensive race history! 750cc Triumph, Trackmaster Frame, Knock off wheels, Ceriani Forks, S&W shocks. Ready for Daytona Bike Week! Asking $10,000. obo.
Email questions or interest to jgately2@tampabay.rr.com


From December 1:

(SOLD SOLD SOLD SOLD SOLD)

This bike has been in the back of my shed for almost 20 years, it's time for me to let go! I don't know the history on it, other than it came from the Los Angeles area. It's a TR6R, vin DU9541. So I think 1964. Engine turns over, and the back tire still holds air! I've got plenty of pictures to email, bike is in Reno, NV. Price? Don't know- best offer?
Contact: kevinjohnson1@charter.net

(SOLD SOLD SOLD SOLD SOLD)

CHUCK PALMGREN'S AMA HALL OF FAME INFO

Tomorrow is the day Triumph legend Chuck Palmgren AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame. Here is his bio as it appears on the Hall of Fame website...

Chuck Palmgren won five AMA Grand National dirt track races between the late-1960s and early 1970s, had numerous top-10 finishes on the national circuit, and ranked in the top-10 in points in 1968-70, 1972 and 1974. He was known as an innovator of the Yamaha 750cc motor and frame design. During his competitive years, Palmgren was well-respected by his peers, and was always ready to help a fellow racer or sign an autograph for a fan.

Born in 1944 in Colby, Kan., Palmgren started racing as an amateur in 1960. By 1965 he was the top-ranked amateur rider in the country. He entered the 1966 season as a first-year expert rider, but his racing career was largely put on hold while he served in the U.S. Army for the next two years. He managed to enter the 1966 Springfield Mile while on leave, and finished in eighth-place.

In 1968 Palmgren teamed with fellow AMA Motorcycle Hall of Famer Gary Nixon to race for Triumph, finishing the AMA Grand National Championship ninth in the points ranking. He remained with Triumph in 1969 and enjoyed an impressive season, earning wins at the Santa Rosa and Sacramento, Calif., mile events, and ranking fifth in the Grand National series.

Palmgren raced with Yamaha in 1970 and won the mile event in Nazareth, Pa., becoming the first AMA racer to win aboard a twin-cylinder Yamaha. He finished the 1970 season ranked eighth in points while competing against some of AMA dirt track’s most legendary racers. Palmgren endured an injury-plagued 1971 season, fracturing his collarbone twice. The injuries and subsequent recovery time forced him to contest a limited race schedule and he finished the season ranked 18th.

In 1972, Palmgren raced while working to develop the engine and chassis of the Yamaha with help from Dan Gurney’s All American Racers. The effort earned wins at the Westbury, N.Y., half-mile, and the famed Indianapolis, Ind., Mile, and Palmgren finished the 1972 campaign ranked fifth.

Regarding Palmgren’s mechanical acumen, Hall of Fame member and fellow tuner Bill Werner remarked, "Chuck was a consummate professional, not only in how he rode, but in terms of his skill in building machinery. His dirt trackers were custom bikes made to complement how he wanted to ride. They didn't come off the assembly line. His race bikes were built to his vision.”

Palmgren and Gurney continued developing Yamaha-powered dirt-track and road-race machines for the 1973 AMA Grand National season. He entered the 1973 Daytona 200 and made the main event at nine Grand National dirt-track events, but finished the season winless and outside of the top-10. The 1974 season saw Palmgren return to the AMA Grand National top-10, where he finished the season ranked sixth.

Palmgren said that of all his racing memories, two stand out: his wins at the Sacramento Mile and the Indy Mile.

"Indy was a bit different than Sacramento," he remembered. "Indianapolis took a lot of commitment, whereas Sacramento was a slick groove, and you could race the racetrack. Indianapolis let you go other places, and that made it more wide-open, speed-wise. It was a lot quicker. There were a lot of places I liked to race, but Indy was a whole lot of fun."

Chuck’s older brother Larry Palmgren was also an AMA Grand National racer and took two wins during the 1969 season aboard a Triumph.

At the time of his induction into the Motorcycle Hall of Fame, Chuck lived in Calif. He remarked: “I'm happy to see dirt track represented along with the other great areas of motorcycling, from those who protect our rights to those who promote the sport and help open it up to others.”

Palmgren was inducted into the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame in 2009.

MORE TRIUMPHS FOR SALE

More from the VFT Classifieds:

1969 Tiger Cub $1800

1966 Triumph T-120 with TR6 head. $5,500

Have collection of Triumphs and parts. Call Stu for more details - (831) 277-8087

#68A MARK FILLEBROWN

A few weeks back I saw posts on Poppa Wheelie and the Sideburn blog regarding Mark Fillebrown finishing 6th on a Triumph at Pomona in the Saddleman Vintage Class. I sent Mark an email to get the scoop on the bike and his racing efforts. Here is what he had to say...

Thanks for contacting me...The bike is owned by a friend and sponsor back home in Pa named Tommy Johnson. Its a very strong running bike with a Strain cycle equipted motor. I headed west to pre-run and race the Baja 1000 & always wanted to race Pomona. Since the dates were relatively close I had no excuse not to go. Unfortunately I had a few mechanical issues arise on the bike during my first practice session that kept me from running up front. Then in the main event I lost second gear coming off the line so I played catch up for the remainder of the race but had a great time and feel that I have gained some valuable knowledge of the track and its surface and will be that much further prepared for next year. I raced bicycles growing up in both the NBL and ABA mostly East Coast events. I have been racing flat track for the past 7 years. I started in Daytona on a 500 brakeless Triumph in the AHRMA nationals and have been hooked ever since Hope this helps.

Thanks,
Mark Fillebrown

Photos are from the Poppa Wheelie blog and are featured in this post:
http://pwheelie.blogspot.com/2009_11_01_archive.html#6526335517455954685