New Blaine ISDT helmet camera

[brian kirby]

Here are the clips I got from last weekend. Sorry, only one of them is good all the way through, there is something wrong with my camera and if I hit a tree limb a certain way it garbles the picture. One was really bad so I clipped it short, the other one you could still see some of the trail OK so I left it the whole way.

http://www.motionbox.com/filings?folder_id=78293313

One note, I hurt my knees two weeks ago on my modern bike. I could not walk a week ago. By this weekend I felt good enough to ride but I could not stand while riding so in the fast sections I had to be extremely careful so as not to hit a bump and have to put too much force on my knees. Because of my knees I could also not plant my foot if I hit a rock or root and had to catch the bike so I had to really slow down. There were many places that I would normally hit in 3rd where I slowed to 1st to make sure I didnt have to put my foot down. Even with not being able to stand and riding injured I still put in some respectable test times, I even beat Jack in one test. Sure, he missed a turn and stalled his engine, but I'll take 'em any way I can get 'em. :-)

The 400 ran great and the shifting was perfect, you will hear a few times where I missed a shift, but that was because it hurt my knee to pull up on the shifter. As a result I was not making a sharp positive shift and missed a few, but it was not the bike's fault.

Brian

'72 Berkshire

[JCHubbard]

Brian,

That 400 motor sounds good. I guess the tranny problems are fixed now?...It sounded like it was shifting smoothly this time. So how do you like the 400 motor in the woods? I ride 400's in the woods and find that in the tighter eastcoast stuff it can be slightly cumbersome when negotiating really, really tight stuff when compared to riding a 250.

Sorry to hear about the knee injuries. Hopefully you'll heal up completely before the next race.

Thanks for the videos.

John

[brian kirby]

John,

Yup, I fixed the shifting problem. The 400 is still a beast, but I've worked very hard to get it dialed in just to my liking. I've got the chassis handling like a dream. When I got it the pilot was way too rich and it would load up down low. I've got the jetting dialed so it will pull clean from really low RPM, I can lug it in the tight sections to keep it out of that big midrange hit. Its a good compromise to a heavier flywheel because when I want it to launch like a top fuel dragster it still has that brute acceleration yet is very manageable in tight stuff.

Brian

'72 Berkshire

[JCHubbard]

I agree -- your engine sounds very crisp!...I took the MINT out down at Murphy's house a couple of weekends ago -- you're right that 400 motor (technically 352) is an absolute beautiful and amazing beast.

[Joe Murphy]

The video makes me realize just how slow I am in the woods.  The only reason you miss the arrows is that they are hard to see at 60 mph.

[MikeMurphy]

Brian,
From what I am reading you had a good ride against Jack. Being the Old Man that I am and growing up in W.PA/E.Ohio brings me to tell you that I have been chasing him for over 30+ years and never even got close to him other than one time.I passed him in the PITS !!!. That was my glory. He is still one of the smoothest riders I have ever seen and it's great to have him ride these events. Glad everyone had a good time and I will for sure see you soon since "Jack Is Back".


Michael Murphy
1976 250 MC-5
And how many ROKONS can I sell you ?

[brian kirby]

Mike,

The rest of the tests the closest I got was 10 seconds behind, some others he beat me by a ton. One test he beat me by more than a minute and they were only 3 miles long. Even with healed knees I ain't gonna be 20 seconds faster per mile. The only reason I beat Jack that one test was he went through that big mudhole and killed the engine, but like your story in the pits, I'll take 'em any way I can get 'em.

And really, how bad can a "never-was" like me feel about getting beat by a legend? I was happy just to share the woods with him.

Brian

'72 Berkshire

[brian kirby]

Here is a picture of the bike after two days in the Arkansas hills.



Brian

'72 Berkshire

[slvrbrdfxr]

Brian,
Great videos and thanks for posting them. In the day 2 test 1, you had alot of company (including me) who missed the right turn just prior to the mudhole. When I saw the mudhole coming on the video I started yelling turn...turn...turn but you didn't listen . I guess we and everybody else who made that boo-boo were just too focused on traversing the mudhole and completely missed seeing the arrow. All told it was a very enjoyable weekend of racing and visiting with everyone. Not only was it a blast watching the the "Flying Squirrels" in action once again, it was a pleasure sharing a pit space next to you, Ernie, Christopher and Art. I sure am glad you guys didn't shun Mike Husted and I for riding our Yamaha IT200's instead of our usual brand. Talk to you later and take it easy on those knees so they will heal up.

[pketchum]

"Baby Brian" Kirby's + Jack Penton's moto at New Blaine, Arkansas this weekend.  Jack had a problem on the long straightaway's because at WFO he would actually drain the float bowl of gas and had to back off so the bike would keep running.  Apparently, he forgot to on one lap.  Also, keep an eye on Ernie "Hot Dawg" Phillips who almost loops out while showing off for the crowd!

http://www.motionbox.com/videos/1c99d2ba1910ebcc94

Please forgive my non-existant video editing skills!


Phil

[pketchum]

Pictures from New Blaine, Arkansas ride this past weekend.  Special thanks to the Arkansas Trail Riders, Lynn Burton (TrailMaster) and Teddy/Rosemary Landers (National Off-Road Director) and everyone else who had a hand in planning/registration & pulling this event off so smoothly.  It's always a GREAT time and a GREAT ride.

http://tinyurl.com/ycemw7f



Phil

[David Laite]

Great photos looks like a good time! Thanks for posting the link. The Husqvarna WR (#3) looks familiar.

1973 Penton Six Day
1973 Penton Jackpiner
1982 Yamaha XT200
1982 Yamaha XJ650J Maxim
1984 Husqvarna 400WR
1987 Yamaha YZ490
2005 Honda CRF450R

[wfopete]

So the knees are your Achilles' heal, eh?  Look out! It could be 1994 all over again (Tanya Harding/Nancy Kerrigan) .

Good ride Brian and good to see 'ya in AR.  Hope to join in on the fun soon. I worked an Arkansas hare scramble about 30 miles from there that weekend so I was a no show.

But I got a T-shirt Saturday!

Pete Petrick
175 Jackpiner
Slow but Good

[Ernie Phillips]

Phil,

Thanks for the video and photos.   I remember when we first met at Combs 2007 – me & Christopher's first vintage race.    And, about that wheelie, that is no hot-doggin'. It's  a combination of a fresh MT16,  Penton Power and a tired rider who slid a little too far back in the saddle.   Ride safe and keep your bikes locked up!  -EP


Ernie P.
Chattanooga, TN

[garrettccovington]

Great pics.  I love looking at this stuff
G

72 six-day
79 KTM MC80 250