What The Hell Have I Got Here?

Thx, good security advice, but it would be impossible for any asshat thief to find, its in a shop associated with an estate I’m working with...

And thx for the confirmation, its getting clearer!

 

thx again Adie, I appreciate your exchange and information. The more I read the more thrilled I am by this bike, its like finding a needle in a haystack!

David

 

Sorry to sound dense, but whats a “Wasp” frame?

 

Thx Rocker, great link

 

Bingo fellas,

The Internet comes to the rescue again!

Rod Lake “Rod Lake Racing” - The Cat That Built My 750 Triumph Called Me Today from So Cal;

FB Pg; https://www.facebook.com/r.l.lake.lake

i took notes while his ran through the background of the bike, per Rod Lake;

“I’m 65 Yrs old an old racer, I have about 250 race bikes in my current collection, and bikes in Museums all over the world.

I built that bike to race in the early days of the AHMRA circuits.I saw the Pic’s you posted, Its still carrying my number designation with AHMRA, 98.

That bikes “well known”, I was out surfing this morning, and when I got out of the water, I had 12 Txts this morning from all over the country, telling me you posted my old bike on VMX, with links to your post.

it was very a competitive bike in the AHMRA circuit. I Won a AHMRA National Championship Race on that bike, another big race in Ohio, and raced it all over the Country; Daytona...

Me and Frank Nye built that bike in about 1988 / 89, I was living in San Jose at the time.

I had the frame hand built by a famous frame builder Harry Hindall, he was the best frame builder in So Cal.

Harry’s well known in the racing community, google him. He was a genius. He probably only built 50 frames for racers around the world, no production frames for the general public.

I had that Triumph 750 built for the bike, the builder stamped blank cases DRF 100129

I built the 2-1 exhaust for that bike, the Pipe took 3 Tries

Hindall supplied his frames with an plastic tank and seat, I fitted it with the 70’s CCM Alum Tank, and built that Seat cause I was smashing my balls at every race.

There just weren’t any shocks Avail out of the box In that era suitable for a heavy 750 Triumph AHMRA racer, they were all designed around the popular light weight Japanese bikes being raced in the era.

I designed and patented the shocks on that bike that would be suitable for that heavy platform, then created a company to build it “American Made Suspension”.

That bike and the company I started to produce the rear shocks, changed the trajectory of my life, I eventually sold AMS to Harley Davidson / Buell and moved to Southern CA.

Now I’m a TV Film Producer”

I feel like a kid who woke up Xmass Morning to find the bike he always wanted under the tree!

Life takes some funny turns, now I get to be the conservator of a bike with some AHMRA racing pedigree, built by a Dream Team in Racing Hx.

 

Thx Fellas

Glad to be able to share a good story, ...and I just got a lil update!

For kicks and giggles,

Butch Cochran called 2-11-21 with a little more background corroboration.

We Spoke for 40 Min, I took notes:

“I saw your bike posted on VMX, I can tell you the history of it.

I knew Rod hanging out in San Jose, riding Modified Twins.

Rod Sponsored me for a while. We rode and raced AHMRA MX races in CA together. We practiced at Gambini Ranch in Marin Co, raced Northern CA to LA Co Raceway. Rod took his bike all over the country.

Harry Hindall Built The Frame in So Cal
- He was Building Desert Racers at the time
- Rod’s bike was raked out cause it was a Hindall “Desert Racer” frame

Rod and Frank Nye built the bike / engine in his shop “Engines Only” in San Jose for AHMRA MX racing.”

“Butch talked about the Worx Shocks Rod had on his bike”,

“Your bikes got a CZ Rear Hub, and a Yamaha Front Hub.”

I asked Butch about what appeared to be an unmodified Thor Swing-arm
- “Yep thats a period correct “Thor Diamond”

“Hindall delivered that frame to Rod with a Plastic Tank and Seat Pan that looked like a Rickman.
- Frank Nye and Rod replaced it with a Clew CCM Tank.”

I asked Butch about the Custom Seat;
- “Rod used a Yamaha seat pan, had the foam cut, and the seat cover made with the Dinosaur Racing logo”

I askd Butch about “Dinosaur Racing”;

I noted I’d found the same logo on the Cheney ISDT Prototype with the same Dinosaur Racing log on the Tank;
- “I don’t know whether Cheney or Rod came up with the Dinosaur Racing Logo?
- We started printing it up t-shirts, and Banners and stickers for bikes in 84 when we were hanging out with Dick Mann.”

“i’ve still got my bike I was racing with Rod tucked away at a buddy’s shop (its got the Dinosaur Racing logo on the seat too),

I’ve got a buddy that posted film of us both racing on Youtube titled; “1988 CZ World Championships at DeAnza Cycle Park” CA, Raw Footage”
- We were racing in the Modified Twins Division.
- Rod’s bike had white Acerbis fenders.
- My bike had red fenders.



Check Footage starting at;
- 25:40 Wer’re coming off the starting line.
- 26:15 Commentator announces “Butch has a Pretty good lead, there Rod Lake’s in second”.
- 28:30 Great Solo Shot of Rod Straight on #98.”

Anywho, Butch was a generous feller on the Ph

So I called “Engines Only” (still in business in San Jose) on 2-12-21 looking for Frank Nye who Butch said built Built Rod’s bike / engine in his shop;
- I asked if this business was still Assoc with Frank Nye;
“That’s me”
- I told Frank the story about my bike, asked him if it sounded familiar to him;
“I remember Rod Lake, but; I’ve built allot of engines and drank allot of beer since then, I don’t remember anything about that engine in particular”
- I let Frank know I was looking for someone to refresh the Eng, asked him if it was still in his wheelhouse?
“No”
- I asked him if he could recommend anyone that would be competent with an old Triumph?
“Not Really, good luck”

He wasn’t not much for small talk! But that’s OK, He all but confirmed the story I had to work with.

So now its up to me to conserve this old racer. since I’m no museum, and Indon’t intend to race it MX, I think the best way for me to keep to keep the cobwebs off it, and preserve it as a running bike for the next generation, is to give it a good a thorough “Prep to Start”;
- Split the cases and change the oil sludge trap tube
- Check the seals
- Replace the fluids
... add some period complimentary baja lights that are easily removed (to revert to its original condition when needed), and use the frame for intended purpose as a desert racer!

i bought a nice set of used Triumph Speed Triple 5 3/4” headlights in chrome buckets I think will look boss on it, and give it a new lease on life so I can give it an occasional easy victory run in the dirt!

Thats my story and I’m sticking to it!

 

Thanks Adie,

Thats great, thanks for the referral!

Thats not too far to drive at all! I’m looking for contact information online now...

I’ll let John know the referral was from you!