But I must do a little research on your ex Merkel bike, because I thought it was the ex rainey bike he won superbike title on. Now you got me thinking???

Jim,

It's actually the same Merkel/Rainey bike/s.  Since in '87 Honda only imported the 700 version, plus Honda was phasing out their racing program at the time and wasn't putting money into new race bikes every year.

Merkel went to Europe (year before WSB was started) after being sacked by Honda, and Rainey was just coming back from his first stint in Europe riding King Kennys start up team in the 250's.

You want to see some good racing, watch the last 3 years of the Trans Atlantic races and the racing between Merkel/Schwantz, then Rainey/Schwantz....just awesome racing.

To answer your questions, I didn't look it up, it's all in my head.......LOL!

not the racing buff you guys are but did loudon every 5 yr or so from the mid 70's on. it was sad to be there this year, racing was fun to watch and i like the motard stuff, but that stadium feels empty and depressing with 1500 people there, seems like more in the pits than in the stands. prolly has a lot to to with the ama pulling their show, do you think it will ever come back the way it was? just curious.

thanks, ken

Michelle and I use to go up every year, she loves watching the racing as well, What a girl. She loves being on the back, leaning with me in the twisties, just with 4 kids and all, it hard to get out together.

Tim, Im not sure I can stump you, ( Eric's easier :) ) I knew you came up with that answer in your head.

Back in mid 90's Cycle World use to have a chat room, and I started the racing trivia posts, I use to stump everyone, of course it was 70's-80's ama, and gp stuff.

My garage was full of motorcycle mags, I had thousands of them, My wife alway thougth it was useless info, reading all those mags over and over again. To bad I tossed them all, just couldnt move the 26 banna boxes full of them to the new house, Damm I wish I had them now.

Stay tunned, I post one a week, and no cheating !!!

Ken,

I missed seeing the old track by one year, but have seen old pics, I would have liked it a lot better.  They pissed the AMA off pretty good with the token mods to the track for safety, but after they lost them they made the changes they requested, but it was way too late.  So I haven't been to a race there since '01 the last time the AMA came.

I'm just hoping they do though!

Jim,

The 70's stuff is hard for me since I was just out of diapers, but still know a few things.

Got 2 questions for you:

1.  Who was the first American bike champion in Europe and what short lived class?

2.  Who was the Flying Pig Farmer?

My collection is/was like yours.....LOL!  I also collect motorcycle history books, mostly Kawasaki related.  If I need to find something I know where to look............that's using the old internet,,,,,,,called a book..........LOL!  Some people don't know about or do  that anymore.  Were you so bad, that you could remember the cover of the mag that had the article you were looking  for?

If you did, you're definitely as bad as I am!

gotta think about the other one, are we talking after 1971 ?

Ill go with baker in 78

Your good!

Jim,

Steve Baker is right, but the year is '77 in the short lived Formula 750 2-stroke class.  King Kenny won the 500 GP title '78, '79, & '80.....almost '83.

OK.....did the NR500 ever win a "race"

What track

What was special about the NR500