Today we went from Nags Head, NC to Apex, NC. It was 245 miles, plus some if you got lost. In the beginning I was leading, and I gave up after seeing some turns too late and having to turn around.
However, We all made it in!
We started at 0700. That was an early rise. They wanted us to be at the pier at 0615. Mostly to get everyone there to take a picture. Pretty much at sunrise.
Scott and Jerry drove to the pier where the rest of us had kept our bikes in the trailer. I am glad, it was dark. For some reason they thought I should lead. We stopped pretty quickly as we needed to fill on gas. As we were driving the 10 miles I noticed that my front wheel was wiggly. It ended up that we needed to tighten the nuts on the axel.
Nothing overly exciting happened. Mike is getting used to his Henderson. He said it is a challenging ride. And if you know Mike, you know that that is serious business. The back highways and county roads were smooth sailing, but in town with traffic sucks.
Jerry was having some problems with power. When we got back he redid it his throttle cable that they adjusted the day before. He adjusted his chain and brakes. Worked on wiring with his Stryker.
Mike drained and replaced oil. Checked all the bolts, several being loose. Wrapped the exhaust with heat tape.
Scott didn’t do anything to his bike.
Larry adjusting his valves and chain.
I checked on my chain- back one was slightly loose so I tightened it. Checked my spark plugs and tightened my front wheel.
It was cool going on these roads that are surrounded by water. The worst part about these old bikes is riding them in the towns especially when there is a lot of traffic. Obviously this is unavoidable, but I will still complain about it. We had 54 miles left to go, and they felt like the longest due to the traffic and stop lights. We sat at a light for 3 rounds. It was terrible.
Quote from Larry “it takes big nuts to ride this bike”
Mark Z came up to Dave C saying "What are you wearing Dave? A training bra?
I laughed for a long time.
Shout out to Nick Kara Presley and Gwennie for sending the most adorable picture
I found Bucky!
Checking our oil...in the shade
Team Butts <3
Tomorrow we head to Statesville, NC. I've heard that it is a shorter day. I'm not complaining and neither is my butt. We were able to get our maintenance done at a good hour, about 8:30. We will be starting every day at 0700 so early nights seem appropriate
Can also check out the TransAm's blog! Also follow them on facebook -- I think they are doing live updates at times.
Today was a low key day. At 0900 Kelsey and Sean came around to write down our vin numbers. To assure we keep the same one, and that it's an appropriate year. As you know these bikes have to be 100+ years old.
At this time, Jerry was working on his valve. Him and Scott got up early and hit the NAPA store for whatever they need. When I came out, Jerry quickly said "we need Joe, lets go wake him up." I reassured him that Joe wouldn't be far behind me as we just had breakfast. Jerry thanked Joe probably close to 10 times today. I am not 100% sure what they did, but they needed Joe and his fabrication skills.
Mike told me the things I should do. I checked to make sure I had enough oil in my tranny. Then he thought I should change my chains. You'd think we would have put new chains on right away when we put chains on the bike when we were putting it all together. I guess that is my bad, because we didn't do that. Instead we put the same chains that Mike used on the 2021 Motorcycle Cannonball, where again, it went across the country. So, I learned how to do that.
If you haven't ever put a chain on an old motorcycle... let me tell you, it is a long process. I kind of thought you'd just put it on and you'd be good to go. BOY was I wrong. First you have to take the primary cover off. But before you do that, you have to detach the clutch link, and then the floor board. THEN after that you can remove the primary cover. I tried to keep all of the washers, pins and nuts in a correct formation so I'd place them in the correct spot when I put it back together - well, it worked slightly, but things still got a little messed up.
After the primary cover is off, you have to remove the old chains. You have to master the master link. See what I did there? Hardy har har. We loosened the tranny, because we usually have to adjust that to get the correct "snugness". Then we get the new ones out, and you have to measure them. You can't really explain the exact point of how loose you want it, but how tight you want it. It's a feel. So, we do the best guess of where we want it to be. Then we have to grind down the poker things, then poke out the links. Then we put it on! Writing it, it doesn't seem like it should take that long, but it does. We then adjust it with the tranny and bolt that down again.
Then it's on to the back chain. Measure it, loosing then wheel and the thingers to move it backward and forward. grind, poke. Once you get the chain at the tightness you want it at, then you make sure that both sides of the wheel are equal so that your tire isn't wheeling weird. In other words, making sure that your back wheel is in proper alinement. Then you tighten everything back up.
I put the primary cover back on. Then connect the foot board, Reconnect the clutch.
BUT now I have to make sure that I can shift okay. You know that thing that Joe and I worked on the day before? Yea ... we now had to do that again. I have become a professional on this. Mike didn't believe me when I said I knew what I was doing. But I did. We did have to adjust it a little. And then also make sure the brake still works good enough.
I don't think Larry had to do much to his bike. Nor did Scott or Mike.
By that time, I needed a break. I needed to hydrate.
The guys went to do a practice route. They went to Jeannette's pier took some old time pictures. I decided to stay back, practice my stopping to go. I feel slightly more comfortable with that. Then I took a trip to the beach because I hadn't been there yet. I read a little bit, then got distracted by crabs. See video below for some greatness.
We had the beginning banquet this evening. We headed there. I learned the North Caroline uses waaaaaay more vinegar on their BBQ pork than I have ever known. We got to see some of the people we haven't gotten to see because we are at different hotels.
Sean told a great story about Avis and Effie Hotchkiss and mother daughter duo who took some water from the ocean and brought it across the United States in 1915. I think they dumped the water in the other side of the ocean when they got there. So, they gave us a small jar and we put ocean water into it.
I could go on a little bit more about things that happened, maybe I will tomorrow if I have time. You aren't missing too much. But we have to be up EXTREMELY early. Like 430 am to ride.
"Groupie"
Mike is special, he wears his helmet when he's not riding
Team Butts all made it to the start of the TransAm. Everyone but mom and I drove to North Carolina. Mom and I got to be princess's and fly. I mean our flight was delayed, does that make it okay?
Joe, one of our support crew members, flew from Oklahoma to Minnesota then drove along to North Carolina. They did stop in Springfield for the Springfield Mile, it's a flat track race.
We started the day with breakfast at the hotel. Jerry was struggling with getting Facebook on his phone and blah blah blah. I tried to help and only got more irritated. I got so close to figuring it out - I did not succeed. Naturally we went and worked on some motorcycles. Jerry had to look for a gas leak, however, ended up figuring out it is leaking from the petcock. He also noticed that his valve was stuck.
It was hot but not as hot as Virginia beach where we started last time.
Larry changed out his petcock. The transmission was leaking so he put cotton piker spindle grease in it. It looks like "green poo" according to Larry. I did not see this goo, but it was described and compared to other things many times.
Mike finished up the wiring for the battery. At the end of the day I asked him what he worked on, reminding him it was something to do with wiring. He responded by saying "yeah, I did some wiring". Joe confirmed that they wired a switch for his headlight. He also mounted his fire extinguisher and mirrors.
What did Scott do? Nothing, because his bike is "F***king awesome!". I shouldn't say nothing, he helped everyone else.
I set up my bike some more, placing items that I want in my bike, adjusted my kickstand (Joe did this part) and mirrors, put a red blinky light on the back. I also cut my new chaps, Scott now has cool armbands.
At one point Mom was standing next to a trunk/pole, she all of a sudden was like "is this a real tree?" It definitely was a pole for a light.
We road the bikes to Outer Banks Harley Davidson. It was only about 6 miles. We didn't have any issues, getting there or back (besides me struggling with getting going on a hill I stalled it three times, not to call myself out or anything). We already knew Jerry was having issues with his valve. Oh, and to point out, Joe was riding the Honda CRF behind us, and all of a sudden it stopped working. We didn't think we had to worry about him on our ride over. He thought he ran out of gas, but also knew that there had been a good amount in it. It turns out he accidentally hit the kill shift.
When we got back, I worked on my kickstand because it leaned too far over for my comfort. Along with getting third gear to shift smoothly, and emptying my oil. We want the amount in the transmission about 4 oz- I was slightly over - but essentially nailed it.
The guys were working on Jerry's bike, figuring out that the valve guide was stuck to the valve. It is apart waiting on parts to repair it. We were putting the bikes away and smartaleck Scott asked if we had to put the bike into the trailer if the bike doesn't run. Scott will be seeing some karma I am sure.
Although it may seem like we didn't do a lot, the day flew by!
So, I met a guy...
Discussing how I was going to handle getting out of the parking lot.
A nice little jot from Kitty Hawk NC to Point Harbor NC
All tucked in for the night. Yes, Jerry's bike is in there. But the Henderson has its own support van.
FYI, I decided I am going to go around to our support crew in the morning and take their pictures so ya'll can know who I am talking about, and put names to faces.
Oh and also - they will have a blog going from the TransAm coordinators - check them out!
