VFR Discussion Group -> Sandia Motorcycle Classic

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Three New Videos

My local riding email list put out a call for member to road trip down to New Mexico to go see the Third Annual Sandia Classic Motorcycle event in Albuquerque, New Mexico this past weekend. Only three of us went myself, Willy Gonnason (WillyG), and Jason Summers (JAS). Of the Three of us I am probably the least addicted to Motorcycles. I will explain later!! So you must understand I was in the company of two of the most Enthusiastic Motorcycle nuts you can ever meet - probably along the lines of our very own BusyLittleShop. As a matter of fact Larry has met both of them, small world eh!!

Any"who" I meet WillyG at a local coffee shop on his daily rider an FJR and he tells me that he has to clear space in case JAS has to ride "BiT&@". He then explains to me that Jason is driving down to New Mexico with his Mother so that he can pick up a Used Kawasaki Ninja 9x from somebody in Santa Fe, in case the deal fell through Willy was dusting off his pillion seat! Hey its a Corbin with a Back Rest so I doubt it would have been too uncomfortable. Thankfully Jason sealed the deal!!

Willy and I rode to New Mexico and I gave him the Grand Tour of Cimmaron Canyon, Penasco, Tesuque and more for some interesting back-roads he has not been on. No filming just enjoying.

Sandia Motor Speedway

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Sandia Classic

I thought it was gonna be $5 bucks and thats all I brought so I had to turn around and find an ATM cause I am "The Dumb-ass" after all. After returning with the money I was pleased to see 3 VFR's parked in the motorcycle section, well worn in too.

The Classic is the third annual event held in Albuquerque's Speedway since the place is only 3 years old. The event is sanctioned by the AHRMA and there is Motocross, Trials, Vintage Racing, a bike show, and a Swap Meet. But the real reason we went was to see this!!!

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Britten The last bike built by John Britten the precursor to much of todays MotoGP technology, this bike was years in advance of its time. Motorcycle Number Ten of Ten Owned by Michael Iannuccilli. Las Vegas, USA. On Loan to the Solvang Motorcycle Museum.

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Ram Air Willy behind the bike

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How close have YOU been to a Britten??

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Rear View

Apparently the owner has the bike on loan to the Solvang Museum who contracted to have the bike shipped to the event, as a courtesy to the Sandia Classic. The bike is so much more impressive that any photo I have ever seen of one.

Britten Motorcycle Company Click here for more information.

Solvang Motorcycle Museum

Then of course there was the event itself!!

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Vinatage Racing Action


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Honda CBX Row 1000 to 350cc

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1925 Douglas

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Douglas 1925 The Magneto is almost as big as the motor!!

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Honda

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Honda

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Harley Davidson yea they USED to race!

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Bultaco a very clean two stroke!

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Norton with disk brakes

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Honda Racer

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CBX a little work done to the suspension?

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Honda CBX 6 cylinders!

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Moto Parilla

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Moto Parilla The owners Brother Hand Hammered the Aluminum Front Fairing

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Moto Parilla

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Sandia Classic Third Annual Event

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Trimphs Answer To the VFR?

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Busa Killer??


Just in case you don't believe me about the two nuts I rode with!!

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OH they guys are bona fide!! WillyG owns the Duc 750 and JAS owns that NR!! I was in the company of the addicted!!


Video one of three
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Sanida Motorcycle Classic - this is a video of the event 15mb and about 5 minutes long. 768k/s wmv

Part Two, the Return Home

I know a fair bit of Northern New Mexico's Best Roads and so I decided to take WillyG, and JAS and his new bike on a little tour of some great roads.

Hwy 4 through Jemez Canyon to Bandelier!!

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Jemez Springs To Bandelier National Monument New Mexico Highway 4 - route of the second video

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Bandeleir National Monument Rounding A Corner

In the Video I follow as JAS takes us through the fast sweepers of Jemez Canyon and then the tighter turns of Bandelier National Monument! Its gets good!!
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Video Two Bandelier National Monument

I follow Jas on his Ninja for ten minutes begining with some fast sweepers and 768k/sec wmv, it gets tight in the middle!!

Hwy 64 Tres Peidras to Tierra Amrilla

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Forest Fire As seen from the Cross Roads at Tres Piedras

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Tres Piedres Taos off in the distance is engulfed in smoke from a prescribed burn in Carson National Forest courtesy of the Forest Service.

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Video Screen Shot Heading out on Hwy 64 in the wake of a forest fire

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Decending 64 to Tierra Amarilla


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Tres Piedras to Tierra Amrilla

Some of the fastest sweepers in New Mexico, I have to really pin it to keep up that liter Ninja and the GT class FJR!! Its all in good fun 11 min run time 768k/s wmv.

The entire trip was 500 miles and I got home by the light of the full moon around 10pm!!

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Our entire Route From Sandia Raceway to Colorado Springs 500 miles

Attached is the streets and trips file

I have the official video about the making of the Britten V1000. He cast the crankcases & cylinder heads etc. himself in his garage. He made his own carbon fibre wheels all those years ago. The bike had home made electronic fuel injection. Video is called 'One Man's Dream'. If you are at all technically inquisitive see this vid if you ever get the chance. The highlight is the V1000 pulling a wheely next to a 916 at the Atlanta Battle of the Twins during the race.

Hi All

Yes I have even sat on a Britten in the Britten Musem in Christchurch, New Zealand. I thinks it is #1 owned by the Britten Estate and Cardenal Networks. Also on desplay was the 1100cc Aero which was before the current Britten.

I have also meet the gentleman that owns the only working Britten in New Zealand. This was the bike demoed at the Isle of Man this year by Hugh Anderson.

I have also seen the Britten that is on desplay in the Mesum of New Zealand (Te Papa)

It is a neat bike but would like to hear it under its own power.

Cheers

Wayne
in New Zealand

Thanks for the post, HS! I've always been a big fan of Britten. Wish I could have been there.

I've been having a problem with playback of the videos in your posts, but only for the past week or two. Before that they were fine. Has the new editing program done something? Am I the only one with problems viewing these? The audio's fine but the video stops and starts very jarringly.

Awesome videos Slammer! It must really suck to be you! :thumbsup:

Magellin, the sample rate is probably too high for you, 768k/s is LAN quality, but my DSL can handle it. Try dl the whole thing first then playback. right click the link and "Save Target As" if its still choppy then your computer could use an upgrade.

Nice roads. Especailly the first one with you following "Jas".....Looked like fun......he looks like he comes from a dirt riding background?

I don't know hes been riding most of his life. I thought he was riding pretty darn good since thats the first time he has ever ridden that bike!!

VFR_NZ, Sep 20 2005, 07:14 PMYes I have even sat on a Britten in the Britten Musem in Christchurch, New Zealand. I thinks it is #1 owned by the Britten Estate and Cardenal Networks. Also on desplay was the 1100cc Aero which was before the current Britten.

When I lived in Christchurch, I had the pleasure of attending the NZ GP, where there were three (3!) Brittens competing. They finished 1st, 2nd and fourth, and the highlight was seeing them wheelie the length of the finishaing straight, side-by-side. Awesome!
Also, my wife worked across the road from the Britten workshops - when the weather was fine, they used to wheel the bikes outside onto the footpath. So kewl!

VFR_NZI have also seen the Britten that is on desplay in the Mesum of New Zealand (Te Papa)

It is a neat bike but would like to hear it under its own power.

There's a bit of controversy surrounding that one. Apparently the museum paid a premium, believing they were getting the exact same bike that had one several significant events. But some ex-employee recently mentioned that the bike had been pilfered of a few critical parts, and others substituted.

By the way, HS - you should see pictures of the original Brittens - the headerwork is an absolutely brilliant piece of pipe-bending and welding. I'll see if I can dig up a picture.

Douglas 1925 The Magneto is almost as big as the motor!!

Isn't that an external flywheel? ???

Slammer.. I wish I woulda known you were gonna be there. I was there too. Wonder if you saw my 02. Good time for sure. Glad you took 4. We usually take i40-N14 to Santa Fe. From there we take 285 to Los Alamos down through the Jemez. AKA the Jemez Loop. Kind of the way you went but the other direction. Great ride if your ever in town again. Have you ever ridden the crest road?

Good stuff as usual HS. Love the Britten too ! :beer: