FOUR-STROKE OWNERS CLUB

JACK ROBINSON, FSSNOC #000 / Director

OUR DIRECTOR'S PAGE....  (now updated weekly - via  "Dear Mr. Thumper")

Welcome to the FSSNOC WEBSITE! I hope you'll enjoy what you see and read at this site.   This site is not designed to replace our THUMPER NEWS magazine-style newsletter, however it is a companion vehicle thatis used to inform you about who we are, what we're up to, and how you may join us.  We are a National Club and we are here to enjoy one another and to  enjoy our Single Cylinder Four-Stroke motorcycles. If you view this site and like what you see, please join and support us with your membership. Tell others about us. Sign-up your friends and family. Help us to KEEP ON THUMPIN' .....   ( NOTE:  If you're new to our Site , be sure to scroll down to the bottom of this Director's Page for our mission statement and other fun stuff.... cool.

        This is an Online On-going Rolling Newsletter that we all call the Thursday Thumper Show.  It is not designed to replace our THUMPER NEWS Quarterly, of course ... no way we'd do that ... but it does give us all a weekly venue with constantly changing information and conversation ... and it's all about THUMPERS!

        Here's how "Dear Mr. Thumper" works...  Do you have a thumper or club related question or comment?  Do you have something thumper-related to sell?  Are you wanting to locate and purchase a thumper or some thumper-related part or accessory?  Do you have a short story or some tips that we'd all enjoy or could benefit from reading?  Do you have details of an event in your area to share with us?

       Send your thoughts via the US Mail,  or call our humble Director at 620-663-1869,  or e-mail our club e-mail address at   fssnoc@yahoo.com  where our club Electro-Media Correspondent (EMC), "Motor Mike", is standing by to respond back to you...

        Be sure to put your FSSNOC member number on your subject line and indicate your first name and state.  Please preface the items intended for use on the website with the phrase, "Dear Mr. Thumper:". 

       Should your needs or question require a contact back by our Director, please include your current phone number in the text.  FSSNOC does reserve the right to respond via phone, mail, or on the website ... or to not respond at all if the subject matter is inappropriate.  Any/all subject matter and information may be used in-part or edited and will become the property of the Club.

        NOW - FOR YOUR LISTENING PLEASURE...    (...your host is Mr. Thumper)

                                                   -FEBRUARY 01, 2012-   65 degrees here in ThumperVille!-

     GREETINGS FROM THE THURSDAY THUMPER SHOW... 

     Let's get that phone answered and see who's callin'...  

     DEAR MR. THUMPER...   (Hi, Wayne!)

     Seems like every time I open a new bike magazine, there is either a picture of a FSSNOC club member enjoying some great adventure on two wheels or a mention of FSSNOC itself. 

     Take a look at the March 2012 RIDER Issue and check out what Clement Salvadori has to say about our club.  I always read his articles first.  It starts on page 17...    Keep Thumpin',  Wayne, #3242  (FL).

      P.S.  I keep hearing about snow and ice and temperatures near zero and not being able to ride because of the weather.  Y'all need to move south.  We ride all year long.

     REPLY TO WAYNE... 

     Yeah, It is fun to see our name and our game in print, isn't it?    Should you belong to the Ohio Valley BSA Owners Club, you'd also see our member #3288, Steve (CO.) on the cover of their newsletter/magazine, January/February, 2012.  His BSA won a trophy at the Moto GP Show in Indianapolis this past summer ... Congratulations to ya', Steve! ... the next step (and don't miss this part!), is for all you members to respond back to RIDER magazine in the letters department and Thank them for the blurb about our club and while you're doing that, you might sing some praises of FSSNOC, you never know who might be listening...  Thanks, Wayne!  Tell your bride "Howdy", okay?  We here at FSSNOC always enjoy hearing from you two...    - #000.  P.S.  See you soon.  (That was an invitation for us all to visit, wasn't it??? - #000)

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     DEAR MR. THUMPER...  (Hey, Cool!  It's "Three Fenders", #0162 (OK.)

     I'm watching the Director's Page!  I'm ready for the Coast-to-Coast ride (in 2013)!!!!!!  One of the threads said something about Vintage Bikes up to 500cc ... that sounds even better!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!    Thump-Thump!  Phil, #162  (OK.)

     REPLY TO #162...

     Joe and Wayne are headin' up this event.  Should you or anyone else have a question about it, you are invited to make a note of the e-mail address that Joe gave us last week:    joe.gilmore1@gmail.com   (put C2CTT as the subject).   Original posting on this subject was December 8th here on our site. 

     In a later e-mail to FSSNOC, Joe gave us some additional information (tentative) as follows:

Subject is:  Coast-to-Coast Tiddler Tour     Tentative date listed is Sunday, June 16, 2013, leaving Ocean City, MD. and using (mostly) Route 50 to Point Arena, CA.   Possibly Route 6 on the return trip ... too soon to tell.

First and foremost ... we want the ride to be a challenge.  We hope to encourage small and/or older bikes to make the trip (as opposed to a Gold Wing, etc.).

Tiddler Class:  250cc or less 4-stroke singles ... "Thumpers".   (May also include Thumpers built in 1984 and newer...)

Dinosaur Class:  Thumpers built prior to 1984 ... no displacement limit.

Red-Headed Step-Child Class:  Older bikes ... 1979 and older ... and 550cc or smaller. 

Candy-Arse Class:  Anything of special interest ... must be submitted for permission to the Entry Committee (see e-mail above).

T-Shirts ... for anyone who pre-registers and starts in Ocean City, MD.  Cheap trophies awarded if you make it to the California coast.  No entrance fee (for this event).  You must be willing to sign a waiver.

Hard-Luck trophy ... awarded to whomever shoulda just stayed at home, as per 20/20 hindsight at ride's end.

Motels ... rather than camping.  250-300 mile days, should you care to do some touristy things as well.

Chase Vehicle ... with space for "rent" for your gear, etc ... just conjecture/vague plans at the moment.  Volunteers?

Please give us a "heads-up" if you think you might be interested ... or you are welcome to sign-up for the e-mails and live vicariously through the CRCTT group's adventures.

     REMINDER TO YOU, THE READER OF THIS INFORMATION ... on the Coast-to-Coast Tiddler Tour. 

This event is NOT sponsored or endorsed in any way by the Four-Stroke Singles National Owners Club or FSSNOC, INC. or this website.

     REPLY TO JOE...

     Sounds like you and Wayne have been busy!  It's a big task and one that will require a lot of detail work ... but, knowing both of you guys, I'm sure that you'll commit to the event and have fun doing it... 

     Personal note:   Thanks for the info by the way, keep us in the information loop and put me down personally as a player, though it'll take a fair amount of planning on my part to make it happen. 

     My suggestion remains for 200-225 mile days max if the overnight stops are pre-scheduled and I hope they are.  I generally "average" about 40-45mph on a full-size Thumper while on a trip using "blue highways and back-road blacktops" X 9 to10 hours of riding (or less... I like to smell the roses.) = 400/450 miles per day, in fact I actually plan for 350 mile days and they usually turnout to be more than that despite the planning due to road construction, wrong turns, etc.  Factor in that on this trip, I might be on a CB125 Honda or whatever, that "average" wouldn't be more than 25/30 miles per hour X 8 hours (remember those Tiddler saddles!) = 200 miles per day.  Anything more than that and it'll be torture.  Total time for the whole trip for the participant is a secondary issue compared to being able to enjoy the ride each day.  

     Another point that I'd like to make (as a resident on Hwy50 and a seasoned motorcycle traveler utilizing Hwy 50 on a fairly common basis) is this ... in the Spring of the year, and always in June ... you can count on dealing with a considerable amount of headwind going west, case in point was Motor Mike and I on the way to Olanca, CA. in 2011.  Mike has said several times that he chose to run the KLR650 a gear down for miles at a time and that he'd never experienced that before.  Also our gas mileage went off-the-chart (!) with a low on my S-40 of 36mpg and a high of 70mpg on the flip-flop.  Mike's KLR was 37mpg when I got the 36mpg figure.  Keep in mind that this severely affects how far one can go on a tank of fuel and in a days time plus, under these conditions, the higher speeds necessary for a 250-300 mile day would be brutal on a small displacement older machine. 

     As a sidenote to the reader here:  What do I do when I hit such a wind situation?    Answer ... Slow down.  I drop a gear if the bike won't accelerate upon a quick twist of the throttle.  10 to 15 miles per hour slower speed reduces the impact of the wind by that same amount ... I learned to deal with the wind ("my friend, the wind...") during my thirty year career in distance bicycling where it was slow down or die ... my top miles-ridden for one year was 6000 and my best in one day was 202 miles ... talk about wasted! (grin)

     And, since opinions are like cell phones, every one has one ... I'll continue with this thought ... that there are so many older bikes (and older riders, too?) that might venture out if the miles were lower and the challenge a bit less ... and so many of those older smaller bikes are two-strokes, why not let them come along?  We all rode two-strokes back in the day and we had a great time ... so lighten-up and at least invite these guys, eh?  What could it hurt ... share the love?

     Last thing, I promise ... will you have an alternate route that doesn't go through all those huge cities with freeways and such and fast traffic all driven by mad city-dwellers texting each other while driving 80 per?   Perhaps the Planning committee could select an alternate more Tiddler-friendly launch point with a low-traffic count route to get us headed west without hearing redlights and seeing sirens while getting a up-close and personal view of the undercarriage of a 2013 Camry?  I put 5000 miles on my CRF230 Honda Tiddler  (- see the May calendar page) in 2011 and if one thinks that traffic isn't an issue, check the rearview mirror and remember, "Objects (could they mean cars?) are closed than they appear"...  

     Thanks for listenin'!  You guys are the best!  The views above ... cash, stash or trash, ya' won't hurt my feelin's!  CIAO  - #000.

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     DEAR MR. THUMPER...  (In answer to Fred's posting last week ... and nice to hear from you, Terry, #4953 (OH)...)

     Hello, Fred...

     I'm enjoying the fact that I know at least three people here who are riding the GZ's ... counting myself.  I think this small standard bike is kind of over-looked by many ... really a great "bang-for-the-buck".  Between my TU250X, 2009, and the GZ250, 2008 ... I've rediscovered the FUN factor in thumping.

     Glad to see you on this site, join-up with us, Fred.  It's worth every penny.  Maybe we can find more GZ pilots.  - Terry, #4953 (OH).

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     HEY, WE'RE OUTTA TIME!   Thanks for tunin'-in on this week's edition of  THE THUMPER THURSDAY SHOW. 

     Thump When You Can ... Hope to see YOU at a ThumperCafe in 2012.  Sign-Up a new member, we need YOUR help to go and grow!

     Best Wishes...  Jack, FSSNOC #000/Director of FSSNOC.   

     Give us a shout?     FSSNOC@yahoo.com   or   620-663-1869  or drop us a line at  FSSNOC   P.O. Box 1809,  Hutchinson, Ks. 67504-1809    

                                                   -JANUARY 26, 2012-                     IT'S THE THUMPER THURSDAY SHOW!

     AND IT'S THURSDAY!  

     WELCOME...   (and here we go!) 

     DEAR MR. THUMPER...  (We hear from John of "Little Red Racer" fame ... see posting of January 18th.)

     Barber Motorsports Park ... Vintage Motorcycle Festival ... AHRMA Races are in the plans, but we need to run two AHRMA races to qualify.  Those will be at Willow Springs and Miller.  If we hold our own at these races, we will try for Barber.   John, FSSNOC #0704 (NM)

     REPLY TO JOHN...  Awesome!  Keep us posted on your race results.  Hope it all works out for you!   It would really add to the excitement to have a FSSNOC racer there in Alabama to cheer for, eh?  

     Good Racin',  - #000.

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     DEAR MR. THUMPER... 

     (We hear from Joe and Wayne, the powers-that-be behind the 2013 Coast-to-Coast "Tiddler Tour" event.)

     Hello!  Wayne and I are still working on plans for the Coast-to-Coast "Tiddler Tour" in 2013.  There will be a couple of other classes as well.  Please let everyone know that if they're interested in more details, they can e-mail me at:  joe.gilmore1@gmail.com   and put  C2CTT in the subject line of their e-mail.  I'll send them info when I reply...   

     Once we develop a route (mostly RT50) and other info, we'll submit it to FSSNOC for possible publication in Thumper News. 

     Thanks!  Joe, FSSNOC #661 (MD).

     REPLY TO JOE...   Works for us.  What a magnificent project, planning that would be great fun ... as well as taking part in the event.  Have fun and Keep On Thumpin' - #000.

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     REPLY TO THREE FENDERS (phone call ... I must have been ridin' - #000)

     Yo Phil...  My reference for you to "watch this website" was in anticipation of our site posting periodical information about the Coast-to-Coast Tiddler Tour that you expressed an interest in ... check out Joe's e-mail address above should you have questions about the 2013 event in the meantime. 

     It's been a pleasant "winter" here in ThumperVille and probably even nicer in Tulsa, bet you're getting in some miles on  the CBR250.

     Best Wishes...  - #000.

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     DEAR MR. THUMPER...   (We hear from John, FSSNOC #5141 (NM) - what say you, John?

     FOR SALE:   I have a 2009 Kawasaki KLR650 I'd like to sell.  It is in excellent condition with only 2825 actual miles.  Adult owned, well-cared for and always garaged. 

     Almost $1800.00 worth of accessories installed including a Sargent "Low" seat, SW Motech crash-bars, a Thermo-Bob cooling system upgrade, TCI Products Denali rear-luggage rack, Rox aluminum handlebar risers, Zero Gravity tall windscreen, off-road foot pegs, a long-folding shift lever, Acerbis hand-guards w/mounting kit, Vista Cruise, sub-frame connector kit, Hornet deer-alert, LED tail-light conversion, and more...

     Located in Alto, New Mexico.   Ask for John at  1-575-336-1891  home          or         1-575-93-5217 cell.  

     REPLY TO JOHN...   Wow, John!  Nice ride!  Your cell phone number didn't have the normal number of digits, can you get us a correction if what we have is in error? 

     Thanks to ya', John.  Good Selling!  (Are you sure you want to do this?  That sounds like a cool Thumper! ) - #000.

      P.S.  Your ad arrived too late to put it in the upcoming Thumper News, #106, mailing-out in early February.  TN#107 will may in early May, but I can't believe this bike will still be for sale by then, nice bike. - #000.

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     DEAR MR. THUMPER...   (Lloyd from just down the hill and around the corner sends us a note...)

     Thanks for the postcard reminder/invite to ThumperCafe #29 in Gilead, Nebraska.  I almost went but I let the weatherman fake me out!  My Brother and I were sowing wheat but we easily could have let it go for another day or so.  The write-up in Thumper News and what everyone was saying about it indicates that I shouldn't have missed it.  Hope everything is still going well for you...   Lloyd, FSSNOC #2368 (KS).

     REPLY TO LLOYD...   It was a hoot!   However, I do know about the "pressure" to get that wheat in the ground, having been raised on a farm not too far from your farm ... so if it helps, I do understand.           Best Wishes, Lloyd - #000.

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     FYI, from the FSSNOC Mailbox...

     The 15th Annual OKLAHOMA MOTORCYCLE SHOW in OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA .      FEBRUARY 18 & 19, 2012    Held at State Fair Park.      Pre-register by mail:  P.O. Box 543, Blue Springs, MO. 64013        More info at:   www.JWSWAPMEET..com   or call  816-228-5811   or   816-456-4415.

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     DEAR MR. THUMPER...  (We hear from Fred in Southern California about winter riding on his GZ250 Suzuki ... the following is an abbreviated account of his correspondence. - #000.)

     I occasionally surf over to the www.fssnoc.org website. Not a member tho ... I saw where you requested feedback from winter riders who are still riding.   Here in So. California, we can tell it is winter when some of the trees lose their leaves, like my apple and apricot, due to less light.  I woke-up this morning to 60F and a few clouds...

     My GZ250 Suzuki Thumper is no longer imported to the USA after 2010, I suspect because it has a standard carburetor, not fuel-injection.  It has been replaced by the TU250 Suzuki, also a single-cylinder, with old-school BSA/NORTON/TRIUMPH/UJM standard moto-stying.  It looks great (except for those awful colors for 2011-2012).  Unfortunately, the TU250X is a 49 state model, even with fuel-injection, Suzuki chose not to get CA. CARB approvals. 

     So, for now, the only single-cylinder near-standard bike in California is the Suzuki Boulevard S40 at 652cc.  This is a nice Thumper, but you have to mind the cam-chain adjustment and maybe modify the carb to avoid backfires (set lean from the factory to pass CA CARB law).  I suspect Suzuki may not sell the S40 in 2013 as CARB politicians expand their kingdom.  There's not much profit in small-medium cc street bikes.  The only other medium cc standard model available in California is the Royal Enfield at 500cc, but sadly with no better stock performance than my stock GZ250.  Don't take them on the freeways. 

     Too bad Triumph doesn't reintroduce their old 500cc single set up for 70mph cruising.  Probably more profit than their longitudinal 3-cylinder monster!

     I'm very familiar with most of the "backroads" in my area.  I can get anywhere within 50 miles of home, maybe farther, on the GZ250 Tiddler without using a freeway and I don't need a map, internet, or GPS (grin).  My GZ250 is fairly well broken-in now with just over 1000 miles and I'm comfortable cruising at 60mph periodically.

     It would be fun to participate in a group tour on the GZ to meet other FSSNOC.org thumper drivers.

     Fred

     REPLY TO FRED...

     Fun read, Fred.  You make winter in California sound pretty tempting, for sure!  Enjoy those backroads and the GZ250.  Of note, at the last group event we had (ThumperCafe #29 in rural Nebraska - Oct. 2011), a FSSNOC member rode his GZ250 Suzuki from Galveston, Texas to attend and then rode back home, stopping by here in ThumperVille for a donut.  I look forward to receiving your membership application soon, it'd be cool to have yet another mighty GZ250 in our ranks.

      Best Wishes, Fred ... and Thanks again for your response. - Thump On! - #000.

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     THUMPER NEWS #106 - Spring 2012 Issue - mails soon...  (Reminder)

     Is your address updated?   If you have moved and haven't updated your mailing address with FSSNOC, your prized Thumper News will not be coming to your new address ... instead, it'll go to the P.O. dead-mail office and then to some landfill. 

     Not good.   Send your new address to:

     FSSNOC  P.O. Box 1809,  Hutchinson, KS. 67504-1809     OR    e-mail to:    FSSNOC@yahoo.com     OR   call  620-663-1869   Thank You!

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     Thanks for tunin' in!     It's winter, Thump When Ya' Can!         

     See you next week, same time, same place...

      - #000/Jack  FSSNOC Director

                                          -JANUARY 18, 2012-               WELCOME TO THE THURSDAY THUMPER SHOW!

     WINTER ... has returned here in ThumperVille, at least in the temperature department anyway ... 11 degrees this AM.  Didn't keep us away from the Donut Shop...

     I took my Issue of CITY BIKE newspaper with me to read over my coffee.  Make that my "mocha" or whatever, I always ask the attendant girl to put in half-coffee and half-hot chocolate, makes a delightful way to greet the morning.  And, if you are detail-oriented as I am (grin), hot chocolate goes in first...

     CITY BIKE (   www.citybike.com   )  did a really good article on the CBR250 vs. the 250 Ninja.  Good comparo, written by a guy that "lives in the Santa Cruz mountains and goes really fast on small green motorcycles", or so said the comments about the author at the end of the article.  I may try to get permission to reprint in Thumper News, we'll see. 

     Speaking of THUMPER NEWS, it went to the Printer on the 17th, one day ahead of schedule, much to my surprise.  This Issue was an interesting project taking in excess of 50 hours to complete.  I hope you all will enjoy it, it should mail-out in early February as normal.  Be advised that the P.O. has modified the way it processes mail now, might take a wee bit longer to get to you, depending on how many stops/stations it goes through to get from ThumperVille to your mail-box.

      Also, along with the announcement of "less efficient" service came another price increase.  I don't have the complete breakdown yet, I think that first class is only going up one cent on the first ounce, but to my dismay, postcards are going up about 3 cents, which is about a 11% raise.  Not sure what they will do with large package mail, which is what we use for t-shirts. 

     No whining here, just reality.  Still a deal, no doubt!   Perhaps someday one will be able to use the internet to physically send packages, but for now, the good ole P.O. works pretty good.

     One thing that made this Issue of TN take a bit longer, quite a bit of planning for the ThumperCafes in 2012 had to be done. 

     I can tell you the dates today:    

     March 30/31, 2012 (a two-parter, Part "A" on Friday PM and Part "B" on Saturday beginning at 10AM)  is T/C#30 in the central zone.   

     June 23, 2012 is T/C#31 in the western zone.   

     August 8/9, 2012, also a two-parter (which means one part on the 8th, then part "B" on the 9th) is T/C#32 is in Ohio, our eastern zone.    

     October 10, 2012 is way down south in the central zone, and, yes, it is on a Wednesday and is T/C#33...

     Many other sites for ThumperCafes were submitted and suggested and they were all, each and everyone, considered.   Thanks to all who made suggestions and repeated contacts back to FSSNOC to answer my questions.  This isn't wasted time, all this goes into a file for future events.  That all-important ground work is the most difficult part of the planning and that has been done now for several more events in the future.

     I do hope that each and everyone of you clubmembers will consider attempting to attend a ThumperCafe.  It is a funtastic experience to get to meet other members who live and love Thumpers like you and I ... it is the ultimate in a support group. 

     I know that this time of the year, it is easy to get off on other things, other projects, whatever ... but the Summer riding season is coming fast. It is almost February, then March, then ... no, wait!  We have an event in March!!!  ThumperCafe #30 in the central zone.  Uhhhhhhh...

     Okay, okay.  I'm gonna spill the "beans" here. 

     It is in KANSAS and it is a celebration that has been years in the making and will never come this way again.  It is a "Part A"  and  a "Part B" event, hopefully you will attend both as "A" is on Friday afternoon/early evening and "B" is the next day in a nearby location, be there mid-morning through mid-afternoon, leaving you Saturday late-afternoon and Sunday to travel if need be...  

     Due to the time of year, known as Spring, you know... birds singing, blue skies, light breezes, etc ... please make your plans wisely as to what transport you use to get to the event.  "Better to haul, than to not be there at all!"

       We are planning, for that event, a Participants (FSSNOC) Bike Show with even more classes than in the past, and by the way, there are still three or four classes that are open for 2012 annual member sponsorship.  Just $50.00 donated buys the trophies for 2012 in the class, in your name unless you desire otherwise.  Note that these are modest trophies and the spirit of the competition is light-hearted fun.  It is a "Grime is no crime" kinda show, as well.

     Classes in need of sponsorship trophies are:  Favorite High Fender Class 251cc+.       Favorite Low Fender Class 251cc+.      ThumperCafe-Racer Class.     and    Antique Thumper Class which may actually become oldest thumper present, we'll see on that one. 

     Drop your check in the mail and/or if you'd like to know more, give FSSNOC a call at 620-663-1869 or e-mail Motor Mike and he'll pass on your message containing your questions to me here in the Oval Office. 

     This is a inexpensive way for you to have a very positive effect on our club.  As Ben Franklin said, "A penny saved is a penny earned...", still true in 2012. 

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      In past postings here on THURSDAY THUMPER THEATRE ... hey, that has a nice ring to it, eh?

     Anyway, we've been talking about some sort of trans-continental ride for Tiddlers that is to happen in 2013 according to its sponsors and planners.   Loosely labeled the "Cannonball" Run or something to that affect, you can scroll down in our past posting and bring yourself up to date.

     And, admittedly, all this does sound really cool.  Imagine riding a 250cc OR LESS, yes ... they are talking Tiddles here, any Tiddler, across this great land of ours. 

     Well, the thing appears almost ready to fly on its own.  E-mails, etc indicate a structure of management and related manpower is being, or has been, put into place that will provide the tools with which to make an event of this magnitude happen...

     At this time, I am not at liberty to pass on a website or an e-mail address but should such an opportunity be afforded us, we'll happily extend that information on to you clubmembers. 

     Basic coffee-shop type conversation, a considerable amount here on our website, has apparently been ramped-up to nut-and-bolts planning, or so our sources indicate. 

     As a Tiddler, that being a four-stroke single cylinder powered motorcycle, will be the planned major player in this Coast-to-Coast endeavor, we here at FSSNOC do have an ongoing interest in this event.  While not connected by sponsorship or in any other way,  it definitely is of interest and we'd welcome ongoing comment for future postings.

     On such posting comes from Ron, #2485 (IL), in part:

     The ISDT Reunion Ride uses Special tests that consist of timed sections ... works good off-road, but not a great idea for public roads.  (The planning information for the Cannonball Run above is indicating the likely possibility of the route being Highway 50... #000)  Time and mileage penalty points could be used to keep the "Racers" and "Speeders" at bay  and/or the awards given could have less emphasis on "first" place, such as:  Gold award goes to top 0ne-third.  Silver goes to second-third to finish.  Bronze goes to final third to finish.  (No awards to non-finishers or maybe a Participant decal or something? ...  this is an excellent idea, Ron! - #000.)

     Motor Mike's comment back to Ron after reading Ron's e-mail went something like this:  "If this ride get too difficult, I won't be smart enough to ride in it..."  :)

     Ron back to MM:   "I hear what you are saying..."  :)     At the ISDT Reunion Ride, I just enjoy the ride and try to make the checks on time and let the points fall where they may, the best part is riding with old and new friends anyway.

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     DEAR MR. THUMPER...

     Well, the second year of running "THE LITTLE RED RACER", a 1964 Ducati  (featured in Thumper News about 7 or 8 Issues back - was pictured on back cover - #000.), has come and gone, so I'm providing an update for 2011.

     Our racing season out here (ALBQ, NM.) is 7 races long and we were able to make 5.  We scored 3 "First", 1 "Second", and a 4th to finish third in points for the season ... not bad for an old rider and machine.

     We are getting ready for 2012 and along with the local races, we hope to make the Willow Springs and Miller AHRMA races.

     John, FSSNOC #0704 (NM).

     REPLY TO JOHN...

     Congratulations, John!!  You know what would be major cool?   At the Barber Museum down in Alabama, they do a Vintage Festival, a three day deal annually, the 12-13-14 of October this year, I'm told, and they do vintage bike stuff all weekend from Trials to Road-races.  The facility is absolutely first-class!   The driveway would make an awesome road-course!  Anyway, I hope to be there this year and I'm sure that FSSNOC members from across the USA will be there as well. 

     Here's my thought...   Get someone to water your plants and feed the dog ... and ... come down and race?   It'd be lots of fun to cheer you on!  Better contact them at Barber's Museum to confirm that they'd offer your class, but doesn't that sound like a hoot?  Hey, everyone needs to get outta Dodge sometime, right?  Let us know? 

     I've already got my gate pass ... let me know if I (or we...) should be watchin' for the LITTLE RED RACER, okay? --- #000.

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     REMEMBER ERGOS?   Those little plastic blocks that hook together to make things.  I made my first car outta those! 

     Anyway, we hear from Ken Conrad, FSSNOC #4800 (MT):     "Found this on  the ST1100/1300 Owners website ... pretty neat."

     (     http://cycle-ergo.com/   )    REPLY:   Mike and I looked it up on his computer the other day.  You gotta see Motor Mike on a Yamaha Vino 50, looks like a monkey on a ... can I say that on TV? ... #000.   Thanks, Ken!

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     Wanta post this?   (I haven't read this ... is supposed to be a Vintage Bike event in Mt. Vernon, WA. - #000)   Anyway, it goes like this...

     http://www.washingtonvintagemotorcyclists.org/index.html         Thanks, Mark.  In return, tell all those Thumper riders to join FSSNOC, okay?

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     HEY THREE FENDERS, FSSNOC #162 (OK) ...  hope your watchin' this website ... 'cause we be watchin' YOU!  - #000.

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      DEAR MR. THUMPER...

     A HAPPY NEW YEAR to you.  WA. is unseasonable warm but work stands in the way of a good "t-h-u-m-p".  Speaking of work, and the need to plan well ahead for any time off - any news on the dates of a T-Cafe in the West yet?    TY, FSSNOC #4929

     REPLY TO TY...

     Ty, you've possibly read about that earlier in this very post ... but feel free to give me a call at 620-663-1869 with questions if need be.  Thanks for asking and we are looking forward to the ThumperCafe schedule this year, it looks like a good one! - #000.

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     DEAR FSSNOC...

     I'd like to renew my membership but don't have a form or an address to send it to (plus what amount I need to pay...).  Could you help me out here?    Thanks!  Chris, FSSNOC #4807

     REPLY TO CHRIS...

     Hi Chris!  Thanks for the shout.  According to this end, you were mailed a card in early December for your January renewal.  It is now WHITE, instead of the old yellow card, and it is a little easier to get lost in your other mail, which in most cases is white.  The reason we went to the white card was because it is a little thicker gauge and doesn't get so beat-up in the mail machines. 

     The dues are now $36 per 12 month year, up from $34.   And, for "Out-of-USA" it is now $44.   

     Three year bargain rates are as follows:

     Three years (USA address) is $99.   Out-of-USA addresses three year plan is $123. 

     Chris ... when I pulled your file, seems like that there was an address change not too long ago.  Sometimes things go amiss due to the address so this could be why you didn't receive your renewal card.  I so appreciate your desire to get paid-up.  Thank You very much! - #000.

     Mail to:   FSSNOC   P.O. Box 1809,  Hutchinson, Ks.  67504-1809   Make check out to:   FSSNOC  or  FSSNOC, INC.   Thanx! - #000.

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     HEY, FRED ... We got your e-mail and I plan to get it put on our site ... but we do favor member mail over non-member mail ... so I have been waiting on time and space to get it on ... be patient ... might be next week, okay?  You really should join us, you know, right?  Members are the only way we have to make all this happen and we need your input, your enthusiasm, and your membership.

     Thanks, Fred... - #000.

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     That's it for THUMPER THURSDAY THEATRE ... all new episodes, always about Thumpers!  Until next week, Keep On Thumpin'

      Jack, FSSNOC #000  -  Director of Four-Stroke Singles National Owners Club          See  Ya'!                 

                         -JANUARY 12, 2012-     GOOD MORNING ... ALL YOU FIZZ-KNOCKERS!

     IT'S TIME FOR THE THURSDAY THUMPER SHOW...

     Tell you what I'm going to have to do today.  Regretfully, this post is going to be brief.  So how come, you might ask?

     Well ... for the last several days, I've been burning the thumper-candle on both ends.  The deadline for Thumper News #106 is coming at me like a speeding bullet and I'm not where I need to be.  This particular issue, besides having the usual 35 to 40 pages of thumper-stuff,  needs to have the information for our ThumperCafe program for 2012. 

     This calls for some extensive planning that involves thousands of miles, several time zones, and sometimes up to ten or twelve different contacts, and considerable gazing into our thumper-crystal ball.  Don't worry ... it is coming together, in fact, 2012 is shaping-up to perhaps be a banner year for these exciting events as you read in last weeks post below. 

     So why the rush?  It, the ThumperCafe Program, requires planning on my end, sure ... but it also needs to be available to you members in a timely manner so that you can do your planning.  We live in a scheduled world nowdays.  Notice has to be given, things have to be in order, in short, you need to know about the dates, states, and details as soon as possible.  It is to that end that I've been burning rubber in the FSSNOC World Headquarters office ... for example, until 1AM last night.

     Don't get me wrong.  I do not mind all this ... in fact, the truth is, as any "planner" person will tell you, it is in the planning where the fun actually begins.  Planning adds another dimension to the ride, already a three dimensional activity, now it becomes four dimensional, and, writing an article for Thumper News after the event adds a fifth dimension ... don't believe me?  Give it a try. 

     It is great fun to put all the puzzle pieces together and then see how it all turns out, sometimes it works great as planned, sometimes things come apart at the seams ... but these ThumperCafes are always a hoot!  I love doing this...

     SCHREEECCCHHHH...  (brakes)    I'm going to stop now ... and get back to the grindstone.  I wish you all a beautiful week.  Ride that Thumper when you can.  I am so looking forward to this ThumperCafe season and the opportunity to see all of you again or for the first time.  You/we are a thumper family and to get together with one another is an awesome experience in which I hope we, YOU and I ,will be able to share in 2012. 

     Thank You for your attention and patience. Tune-In next week for another chapter of The World of Thumpers.

      Bye for now...    Jack R.,  FSSNOC #000 - Director   (Hey, I might have just a FEW minutes to slide by the Donut Shop!  Yeah!)

                         - JANUARY 04, 2012 -   YEE HAW!   HAPPY NEW YEAR, INDEED...

     WELCOME TO THE THURSDAY THUMPER SHOW ... brought to you be the Four-Stroke Singles National Owners Club (FSSNOC).  This is Jack Robinson, FSSNOC #000 and Director of FSSNOC.  Thanks for slidin' by ... before we get to the good stuff, I've a few words:

     WOW ... AM I FIRED-UP!  Hard-core planning is now underway for perhaps the grandest ThumperCafe series in our 25 year history! 

     We are actively working on potential event sites in almost every area of the lower-48 states.  Extra activities, multiple days, related tours, rallies, and museums ... all kinds of possibilities are being considered. 

     Use these winter months to get your Thumper ready to "thump"!  ThumperCafe season will be here before we know it... 

     We plan to make 2012 a year to remember within the ranks of FSSNOC ... keep your dance card open!!  Let this new year be the year that YOU attend a ThumperCafe ... again ... and again.

     ALSO OF NOTE:  THUMPER NEWS #106 ... is in the build process now and should mail approximately early February.  If you want to sell anything, trade for something, submit an thumper-related article or photo, whatever ... give it a shot ... we need to hear from you ASAP. 

     Articles can be "in the rough" or finished projects, we consider and attempt to publish input from our members.  Remember this - as professional as THUMPER NEWS may or may not be to you as an individual member, it is our ongoing desire that FSSNOC and THUMPER NEWS remain "grass-roots" in nature and that we may continue to utilize an old-school approach to the appreciation of Four-Stroke Single Cylinder motorcycling ... in other words, your stuff doesn't have to be fancy ... even diamonds come in a cardboard box! 

     Send those articles or want ads by mail to:  FSSNOC  P.O. Box 1809, Hutchinson, Ks  67504-1809  or by e-mail to:  FSSNOC@yahoo.com  and if you have questions and/or comments, ideas, suggestions, don't hesitate to call us at:  620-663-1869  where you'll get a real person that can take your call ... unless you get my message machine ... then leave me your name, FSSNOC number (or your home state) and your phone number ... tell me your needs ... and it'd be my honor to respond back to you at the earliest opportunity.

     LASTLY ... 2012 IS A YEAR FOR PLANNED GROWTH ... for our club.  We need and require YOUR help to make this happen.  A big percentage of our ongoing membership comes from current members suggesting to thumper-riding friends that they join-in on the fun.  We are what could be referred to as a "niche" club, for example, how many Thumpers are present at any motorcycling event such as a Poker Run or perhaps Sturgis compared to big V-Twins, Gold Wings, etc?  Care to guess? 

     Is it 10 to 1?   20 to 1?   50 to 1?  See what I mean ... a niche.  We need people that are a good fit for our niche, and trust me, you know several potential members, all you gotta do is make it happen.   We want members who love Thumpers as you and I do, members who will be "in it" for the long haul ... and those members can come from you. 

     FSSNOC and THUMPER NEWS are counting on you...  Don't buy your buddy a New Years lunch, buy him a FSSNOC membership and it'll change all our lives.  

     THANKS ... for tunin'-in tonight!  Lets open that first letter (or e-mail)...     

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     DEAR MR. THUMPER...  (from our good friend and member #3242 (FL.) Wayne English.  You might remember him and his BMW F650GS being present at many ThumperCafes, often winning Long Distance Thumped.  What say you, Wayne? - #000)

     I just received my February Issue of Motorcyclist Magazine.  The first article that caught my eye was "Coast-to-Coast on Century Cycles" found on page 24.  The photo on the opening page shows a familiar face in the bottom left-hand corner. This is the same gentlemen who rode the 1915 Harley-Davidson to our ThumperCafe in Indiana last August and who gave a nice talk over lunch about being prepared for such a ride.  How cool is that?  Small world.   Wayne English, #3242 (FL).

     REPLY TO WAYNE...  Several FSSNOCers were at the local Donut Shop a few days ago and Motor Mike had his copy of Motorcyclist magazine on hand.  We all enjoyed reading your e-mail to   FSSNOC@yahoo.com  , which he had also brought to the Donut Shop (we call it "The Office"...), and we were equally impressed and surprised to see a familiar face in a major publication ... always fun!  Hope you and your bride are enjoying the New Year, Wayne ... and we're looking forward to seeing you and the BMW later in the year at one (or more...) ThumperCafe(s). - #000.

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     DEAR MR. THUMPER...  (we hear from ATP, Ace Thumper Pilot, if you will...) #4681 (KS)

     I had something happen on my annual New Years Eve ride ... and decided to share it with you all.  During my ride, the bolt on my front brake came loose and caused my front brake to lock-up ... and down I went.  (ATP ... Is that what they mean by "ending the year with a bang"? - #000)

     My get-off was at slow speed, thankfully, glad I wasn't flying down the highway, don't think it would have turned out so good.    I'm sure I may not be the only Thumper Pilot out there who doesn't check out bolts as often as he should.  You can bet I will have all three of my Thumpers in my Shop on Monday and I'll be checking them all!  This is a good time of the year for maintenance.  Hope that this account will motivate others in ThumperLand to do likewise. 

      Having Fun on Two Wheels...  Ace Thumper Pilot, #4681 (KS).

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     DEAR MR. THUMPER...  (from Ron Sutton, #2485...)

      Jack ... Great enduro story, by the way (see posting on 12-28-11 immediately below - #000).  As per the Cannonball Coast-to-Coast Run that we talked about on December 28, 2011 and other recent posts...

     I just reread the Moto Giro rules and the time checks they use are more like the old ISDT format instead of the Enduro rules.  A rider can arrive early (without penalty) but he doesn't clock through the checkpoint until his minute ... if he is late, he gets penalty points.  So there is no need to keep the check location secret.

     These are the same type of checks currently used on the ISDT Reunion Ride every year now.  The average speed is kept really low so that most can arrive before their minute comes around and it is time to ride again.  That's a great time to socialize and compare notes on the trails, bikes, etc.

     This kind of check would be good for getting everyone to the check (Lunch?) on time and everyone could have a get-together over lunch.  If a person decided on a POI (Point Of Interest) Bonus, it could make getting to the check on time more challenging.  A 10 point POI bonus could be wiped-out if one arrived 10 minutes late to the noon check.

     A rider could do a reset of his odometer/timepiece and if he left lunch before 1:00, he would get double penalty points.

     Just a few more thoughts,  Ron Sutton, #2485

     REPLY TO RON...     

     Good Stuff, Ron!  I must have misunderstood how the old time ISDT checks worked.  I was sure that their checkpoints, or at least some checks, were hidden to trap the wayward competitor.

     I do like how that type of check that you describe (known check as you describe above) would work with this kind of event.  More to re-group than to increase the level of competition.  Actually, as I get it, one could arrive anytime before his "arrival" time without penalty and penalty would only come if he failed to be there to "leave" at the pre-designated time.  

     Good to hear from you again, Ron!  Have an awesome year and we'll hope to cross paths in 2012, yes? - #000.

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     DEAR MR. THUMPER...  (Actually, Joe asked Motor Mike to let #000 know that he and Wayne English have been reading the Director's Page and the comments from fellow members in FSSNOC.  We hear from Joe, #661 (MD), the origin of this CannonBall Coast-to-Coast Ride topic of discussion, at least for us here at FSSNOC anyway...  below is his update. - #000)

     Just a brief update regarding the multiple e-mail discussions that Wayne, #3242 (FL) and I, Joe, #661 (MD), have been having:

     We (Joe and Wayne) are actively planning a "RT.50 Coast-to-Coast Tiddler Tour" for mid-June, 2013.  We are using Jack Robinson's definition of a Tiddler - a 250cc or smaller Thumper.  But we also plan to invite larger Thumpers from the Vintage ranks -1979 and older.  We'll be starting in Ocean City, MD. around June 16th and, utilizing easy days (we hope) of 300 miles or less, riding RT.50 across this great country of ours to Sacramento, CA. where RT.50 ends.  Then we'll take backroads to the Pacific Ocean, probably the Point Arena area.

     We hope to coordinate with at least one ThumperCafe' during this ride ... and also meet other FSSNOC members along the way who aren't able to devote the time and $$$ to a long ride like this.  Even though we plan on keeping this whole adventure as simple as we possibly can, there is still a ton of planning and preparation to do.  It's only 17 & 1/2 months away!!!     Lots more info to follow...    Joe, #661 (MD)

     REPLY TO JOE AND WAYNE.....

     What a grand project, Joe and Wayne!  Enjoy the planning, you two ... it is a very real part of any adventure.

      I, as Director of FSSNOC, should likely comment here that this prior-discussed and probable future endeavor is not connected to or sponsored by the Four-Stroke Singles National Owners Club (FSSNOC) and any related comments, both past, present, and future, within this website are for conversation and entertainment only.

     Thanks much for the update, Joe ... and, yes, we would be happy to post an e-mail address should anyone reading this site wish to express an interest in your event or has related questions.  The Coast-to-Coast ride for antique bikes held last year that we talked about earlier on this post looked like a blast and I see no reason why your run couldn't be its equal.  Keep us posted...   #000

     P.S.  -  Did you consider RT.6, the longest transcontinental route in the USA? (grin)

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     BACKFIRE! (Our last entry for tonight...)  

     Little known fact (?)...  Deodorant has played an important part in the perpetuation of the human race.  Yep.  I read it. It must be true. 

     Discovering this, I began to think back... 

     Sure enough.  My Grandpa, my Dad's Dad, used Old Spice.  I remember the white glass container with the Ship on the front on his bureau.

     I was a small child.  My sister and I once drank some Old Spice while we were playing "Cowboys in a Saloon".  Only one time...

     We also smoked some cigarette-length pieces of some sweet-smelling bush that was outside my bedroom window.  Again, only once.

     Then, returning to memory lane, I recalled seeing that same familiar glass container in my Dad's room.

      As I set here quietly, I can remember that clean fresh fancy smell on my Dad, but only on Sundays.

     Today, I used the last of my own deodorant. I studied the empty glide-on container for a moment.  The familiar label read ... Old Spice Classic.

      Original Scent.  Now in a new oval bright red container with a Ship on the front. Original round stick formula ... in smaller letters.

      I'm not sure why ... but in the soft light of early morning, sun rays dancing across the room to the floor, I turned the container over.

     In bold letters, it read:  IF YOUR GRANDFATHER HADN'T WORN IT, YOU WOULDN'T EXIST.

     I offer you a profound thought. 

      If my Grandfather hadn't used Old Spice, YOU wouldn't be reading this.

      Fact.         

     Have a humble day...     Jack, #000/Director     (And next time we meet, enjoy the clean, masculine scent of OLD SPICE!

                        -DECEMBER 28, 2011-   HAPPY NEW YEAR in 2012!

     And, as it turned out, December 21st wasn't the shortest day in this particular year ... it was December 22nd, sorry 'bout that.

     Welcome to THE THURSDAY THUMPER SHOW ... brought to you by the Four-Stroke Singles National Owners Club (FSSNOC).

Let us get right to it...

     DEAR MR. THUMPER...  (we are hearing from Ron Sutton, FSSNOC #2485 who has some input for our friend and fellow FSSNOCer, Joe, #0661 - Joe has been enjoying the idea of a possible "Cannonball" Coast-to-Coast Ride for Tiddlers.  This topic started on the Dec. 8 posting.  We addressed some of the various facets of the potential event last week on the December 21st posting and today Ron joins in on the conversation, welcome, Ron! - #000)

     Ron says:  Check out the Moto Giro USA web-page for some ideas for the Tiddler Tour.  http://motogiro-usa.com/?page_id=95  

     Ron continues:  Time checks could be as simple as meeting for lunch at a specified restaurant (for that day) at 12:00PM to 12:05PM - riders that are early or late for that window of time get points added to their score.  End of the day, dinner is 6:00PM, etc.

     Agility tests:  set up some cones or ride around the block, building, parking lot, whatever...  Start the stop watch, grade on the curve, fast to slowest time averaged would establish a target time.  Faster or Slower participants would get points.  Do this before taking off in the AM, or at the Lunch Stop and/or at the end of the day. 

     Riding extra miles could factor in a bonus, like taking a photo of various available points of interest (World's Largest Porch Swing in Hebron, NE ... as an example).  The farther off the original route the point of interest was ... the bigger the bonus ... like they do in the Iron Butt

     Just some Tiddler Tour ideas.   Ron, #2485.

     REPLY (some general input... - #000):     This concerns the subject of those checkpoints that you've suggested, Ron. 

     Some years hence, I did some "enduro" competition.  I had built-up a Yamaha 360cc frame with Yamaha 175cc suspension and motor/gearbox.  In short, it worked quite well due to the lighter weight of the 175's components coupled with the longer wheelbase and roomier design of the 360 frame.

      In the Enduro arena of that time, the location of the checks was generally a secret.  The unknown location made it possible for riders to arrive too early and receive penalty points.  If a timed checkpoint is known as above in Ron's excellent comments ... if early, all one need do is set down the road a bit until the correct time window, then simply ride in to "zero" the check.  Same thing goes for arriving late ... without knowledge of the location, seemed like I usually loafed at the wrong time and therefore often was late to a check.

      Also of note, to arrive early was double the penalty as arriving late, with the idea of encouraging a slower pace.

     Often that given pace, of which competitors were told prior to the ride, was 24 miles per hour (average) ... which is one mile every 2.5 minutes ... or two miles every 5 minutes, whichever seemed easier for a given rider. 

     My time-keeping was state-of-art for the day.  It amounted to a wind-up pocket-watch that I'd bought for one dollar and had mounted to the left-side of the handlebar.  My plan of action was to set the clock at straight-up 12 o'clock at the exact time I was flagged-off from the start.  This made it much easier to read the face of the watch while I was bouncing and careening through the trees and up the rocky and leaf covered slopes. 

     For example, when the clock read 12:30 I knew my odometer (which I had zeroed at the startline - if I didn't forget (!)...) should read 12 miles.  How did I know this?  Simple in-your-head math.  12:30 on the clock means 30 minutes have passed since the start, okay?  Remember that 24 mph is two miles every 5 minutes and 5 divided into the 30 minutes passed = 6 X the two miles = 12 ... all this while dodging some 35 and 45 mph trees!

     Another way was the route sheet.  This usually came to the competitor in the form of a 81/2" x 11" sheet of paper with a series of 2" vertical columns ... these columns were filled with information that was crucial if one was to ever see friends and family again.  Things like:  Start - 0.00mi.

     Next entry might read:  St. - 4.0mi. - 4.0mi.       Then:  Lt. - 2.6mi - 6.6mi.       Rt. - .5mi - 7.1mi.     In these examples, the left function was what you were to do, such as turn LT (left) or RT (right) or ST (straight).  The second function (the middle of the column) was the distance to travel before the next entry on the route sheet.  The third function was the total distance traveled from the start-line to the upcoming next entry. 

     All this information was held by a Route Chart Holder (if you were so fortunate) that was also mounted on your handlebar.  Those 2" strips had to be cut from the 81/2x11 paper and taped together to form a 2" wide paper strip that was in turn taped upon a spool that fit into the Holder. A small plastic window was provided to show each individual entry, though it was often hard to read due to mud and/or surface scratches. As the Rider approached the next opportunity for instruction, he would scroll the spool of paper via a small knurled knob on the left (clutch side) side of the Holder.  Some competitors made their own Route Holders out of toilet paper holders are whatever ... however, it was a rare day to see one of these guys with a trophy at days end!   If time allowed before my leave time, I calculated and wrote the proper arrival time at each entry on my route sheet ... assuming that the paper visible through the little window on the Holder would allow it, which it , many times, would not...

     Sounds easy, doesn't it?  It was common to have a hundred mile Enduro ...of trails, back-roads, hills, and forests.  As an example of that route sheet above, a couple of years ago I rode across Oklahoma on the Trans America Trail (TAT) which utilizes mostly dirt roads (from TN to OR!).  Each day is based on approximately 200 miles and each day has such a sheet of columns.  To put these into my own Route Holder, rather than cut and paste, I purchased a roll of register tape that was the correct width for my Holder.  I then wrote the directions for Oklahoma, about 700+ miles, as I recall ... one at a time on this roll of paper and installed it into my Holder as planned ... of note, I did it in my basement and before I rolled it up, that tape stretched from one end of my basement to the other (!). Back to the Enduro... 

     A 30 mph average was much easier ... two minutes per mile ridden, so in the above example, it'd be 30 minutes divide by two = 15 miles.  

     Another way to do this was to determine how far I could go for each minute passing ... 24 mph average is 2.5 minutes per mile or .4 mile per minute.  Using this mile-per-minute method, when my clock read 12:30 I knew I'd been riding for 30 minutes X .4  miles per minute = 12.0 (careful with those decimal points!). At that time, 12 miles should be showing on my odometer. If it was less than that, I was running late and needed to pickup my pace.  If my odometer read more than 12 miles, I was early ... this called for a decision ... do I keep rolling and risk arriving at a check too early or do I slow or stop to get back on the exact time.  Hummm...

      Sometimes I used the 30mph average even on a 24 mph average event as it was usually much more likely that I'd be running late rather than early if conditions were less than perfect, which in most cases, they were.  Unlike with today's motorcycle competition which usually happens in the Spring-Summer-Fall, our dirt events were held throughout the Fall-Winter-Early Spring so snow, cold rain, whatever - no matter, we ran.

     It was in October, toward the end of the month.  1972 ... and it was a rainy season.  I had driven my Ford Van north nearly to Topeka to compete in an Enduro held at Carbondale, Ks.  When I arrived early that morning, I witnessed an eerie sight.  One of those huge bent-in-the-middle Farm Tractors was pulling each vehicle into the parking lot, one-by-one.  I awaited my turn, all the while worrying that the cable would pull off my bumper or scratch the paint.  All too soon, it was my turn...

     As I attempted to step-out of my Van's driver door, the muddy, goopy wet soil was just inches from the bottom door sill.  I quickly changed my mind and crawled back over the seat and motor cover to get into the rear of the Van.  I put on my riding clothes and boots in the cramped space available alongside my bike then opened the back doors and stepped-out into the deep muck.  The suction of the thick mud hardly allowed me to walk...

     At the Rider Meeting I learned that there were more than 170 entries in the (my) 200cc class alone.  Wow!  This is a big time event!!!  I unloaded the Yamaha (described above) and moved it to high ground.  The parking lot was an old mine area and had fell victim to a soaking rain throughout the night.  The soil content and the total lack of vegetation and draining had created an ugly mess!  I hoped the Enduro route would be better.

     Finally ... it was my turn to approach the start line.  I zeroed my odometer.  I reset my trusty pocket-watch.  " GO", screamed the Time-Keeper!

     What a terrible and fun day!  It was now late afternoon.  I was tired, soaking wet, covered with mud ... and the only ride-able route was smack-dab in the middle of a running creek (!).  It was a ruddy reddish-brown color as I remember it, and way up on the side of the Yamaha.  I had done my water-proofing best I could ... would it be good enough?  Would I make it to the end?

     It was ... and I did.  By now the parking lot had improved some, I rode across it to my Van, which was still mired in the now-drying mud.  It was a relatively short distance to the floor of the Van but the bike weighed a ton or more, finally it was loaded.  I lay across the Van floor in full-body fatigue.  I could hear the loud speaker of the trophy presentation but gave it little mind.

     "Jack Robinson".    Huh?    "Jack Robinson, Hutchinson, Ks."  Was I dreaming?  I jumped out of the Van and bolted for the Presentation Area, my heart beating like a freight train ... "Here I am...", I shouted.  The crowd parted and I approached the guy with the microphone.

     First Place!  In the 200cc class!  Unbelievable...

     The trophy was huge!  I returned to the Van in shock.  It was after sundown when that big Tractor hooked onto my Van and pulled me to the road.  I began the long drive home in the dark.  I can remember screaming at the top of my lungs, my arms flailing about as I drove.

     So ... there within lies the case for undisclosed checkpoints ... somewhere. 

     Thanks, Ron ... for your comments.  It was great to hear from you - hope to see you at a ThumperCafe again this year, eh?  And, Joe ... by-the-way ... Ron suggests that should this Cannonball Coast-to-Coast Run come about, you make a class of up to 400cc so he can ride his Suzuki DRZ400 instead of having to buy a new smaller bike ... and he signs his request with a smiley-face.

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     Best Wishes to all who read this ... for an awesome year in 2012 ... one of good health and adequate wealth.  We here at FSSNOC hope you'll be able to Come Meet, Come Greet, and Come Eat with your fellow clubmembers at a ThumperCafe.  Jack, #000/Director   CIAO

                        -DECEMBER 21, 2011-----------------------------------------------------------------------

     The shortest day in the year, eh?...

     CHRISTMAS GREETINGS TO ALL YOU FSSNOC FOLKS!   NICE OF YOU TO COME BY OUR PLACE...  It's time for the THURSDAY THUMPER SHOW.   Thanks for tunin'-in...

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     Note to Doug, #2566 - Thank You for your comments on the proposed site of a ThumperCafe in 2012.  I really like the location in the State.  Would it be possible for you to e-mail your personal phone to FSSNOC@yahoo.com and also include the best times for me to give you to call.  I'd enjoying talking with you more on the possibility of this ThumperCafe site.  That is the one good thing about winter, it is an excellent time to plan for Summer and Autumn.  Be thinking about when in the year is a good time to visit that area as I'll be asking that question as well as others...   Looking forward to our visit if you can spare the time at some point.  Thanks, Doug!  ....#000.

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     DEAR MR. THUMPER...

     This is a Urasaki KLR650 Hack Update (See TN99-Charlie Whittle, #2810 - VA.)   I installed a Progressive Spring set, a Fork Brace, and Metzler ME880 tires prior to the ThumperCafe #24 in Burkes Garden, VA ... but I considered a Leading-link front end.  Next I mounted a thermo-bob unit (to the cooling system - #000) and oil consumption is not an issue. (Charlie - Was oil consumption an issue prior to the thermo-bob? - #000)

     So far, the rig has performed quite well.  Mileage averages 43mpg.  Tire wear is a minor issue but Sidecar rigs are heavy and wear the center.  I expect about 4000 miles out of the current set.

     I will be installing the Leading-link (power steering) in January.  While looking back in back-issue TN#96, I viewed another award winning KLR Hack owned by Walter Able, #4827, with the Leading-link front end.  How many more FSSNOCers have Hacks?

     I hope to ride the Rig to another ThumperCafe in 2012. 

     After I do the front end conversion, I'll have a Front end, Progressive springs, and a Fork Brace available For Sale.

     cwhitjr@embarqmail.com      Best Wishes for Christmas and the New Year! - Charlie Whittle, #2810 VA.    

     (Of note here ... Charlie's KLR650 is a 2009 model ... just in case you'd like to take advantage of those For Sale items.  - #000.   Nice to hear from you, Charlie,  I hope to see you at a ThumperCafe in 2012!)

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     IN RESPONSE TO AN E-MAIL FROM JOE, FSSNOC #661...

     Hi Joe!  (For the benefit of our listeners, this conversation started back with a posting here on this site on December 8, 2011 ... as I write this, it is still there.  It concerned the possibility of a Cross-County Tour on Tiddlers, bikes of 250cc or less, in 2012... )

     A ride such as this isn't a new concept in the world of motorcycling, but I must confess it is an interesting one!

     But first, this rabbit trail: 

     My first "Road Trip" was in 1967.  I rode a Harley-Davidson Sprint 250cc  (Yes - a Tiddler...) on a self-led tour that included roads in Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, and New Mexico.  I was a bushy-tailed young man of 24 years at the time.  I recall that the trip was 2400 miles in length and that  I spent $12.00 in fuel, even ran out of gas once.  My Sprint was the model that utilized the Italian-styled tank, think Ducati 250 if you will.  My guess would be that it, the gastank, may have held between three and four gallons, not sure just how I ran out, but I remember I did.

     We, my wife of the time and I, rode the machine double without a shadow of a doubt and nary a question.  It never occurred to us that 250cc was a small bike, it was a real motorcycle to us and we treated it that way.  We rode about 60 mph and had a great trip (which is code for "we made it home"!). 

     The local Harley dealer was named "Swede" and was cut of old school cloth!   Back in that day, I had a Honda S90 that was stripped-down for serious (?) off-road use but it still had a legal tag so I used it about town as well.  I made the mistake of riding it to "Swede's Harley-Davidson" one day.  It, the S90, had a four-inch megaphone pipe without any packing or baffle and it sounded really good to me back in those days ... I  genuinely thought of this bike as a small version of BSA's famed Gold Star!

     Anyway, Swede must have heard me pull into his parking lot.  Of course, I didn't have a clue about what was to unfold in the next few minutes.  Swede wasn't much of a talker and he wasn't exactly out-going or friendly to the public at large, and speaking of large ... his arms were as big as most men's thighs ... it was rumored that he could load a Sportster into a Pickup truck without a ramp!  I guess I must have been in the small Shop for two or three minutes when he finally spoke, come to think of it, I may have went in to look at the Sprint on the Showroom floor.

     "Get that Honda off my property and never ride it to my Shop again...", he said in a very cool authoritative tone, not turning from his task or even looking up from his work on a customer's Harley.  I don't remember being scared but I knew better than to give Swede any smart mouth, that's for sure.  I waited a minute or so, then...

     "Is it okay for me to come in the Shop if I don't ride my Honda?", I asked quietly.

     "I didn't say that you couldn't come in the Shop but you better NOT get that Honda within a block of my parking lot!", he answered.

     "I can do that.", I replied. 

     I went outside, grasped my "Gold Star" by the 29" wide cross-bar type bars and pushed it off down the street, the only sound audible above my running footsteps was a gentle whirling of the chain and a soft high-pitch moan of the big lugs on the over-sized tires as they kissed the asphalt.  At exactly one block, I fired-up the (big) Single and motored-off. 

     So did I go back?  You bet ... but I would park the Honda against a tree or whatever (no kickstand or centerstand), and always at least a block away. I can remember smiling, as I walked down the edge of the street headed for Swede's Shop, in anticipation of the sights and sounds and smells of his Shop.  To me, it was a magic place...

     At some point, I made my purchase of the Sprint, it was the only motorcycle that I bought on time payments.  Each month, without fail, I paid not the $26 that was due, but twice that, $52.00 or more ... until one day it was mine ... and no more payments ... ever.  I loved that Sprint, still do.  Man-size grips, rubber-mounted bars (that I broke off once during a Hare Scramble race!), and what a sweet throb that motor had ... the exhaust note was almost as throaty as the beating of my own heart after I finally got it started (kick-starter, you know?).  I remember that one of the hot tips to make starting the bike less of a chore was to take out the sparkplug, put it in your wife's oven, get it too hot to touch, screw it back into the bike ... now kick!

     It wasn't but a few days, or so I recall, before I began to have my way with the bike, removing the nice black shiny fender and tail-light, replacing it with one that was sawed-off (to save weight, of course...).  I didn't stop there.  Off came the Louisville-Slugger of a muffler, leaving an abbreviated headpipe that dumped spent exhaust out at about the footpeg.  First time I started it with no muffler I was in my garage.  I forget how many times I had to kick it, in fact, in my mind now, I can hardly recall all those kicks ... so no harm, no foul.  When it lit off, I revved it joyously, what a moment!  Tools fell off the garage walls!  Neighbors called their young daughters inside.  Dogs howled and cats ran for wherever cats go ... and they didn't come back for days ... it was awesome.

     Everyone else in town had a Honda Scrambler 305 ... but I had a Sprint!  A real Thumper!  No one could figure out why I wanted that Italian Single, but I knew...

     Back to the trip, by this time my relationship with Swede was much better, not yet warm, but at least, he would acknowledge my presence when I came into the Shop as I often did.  As I talked of the upcoming trip, he seemed to pay little attention, responding only when I asked a direct question, all the while his wrenches never stopped moving.  To this day, I don't think I've ever seen a better motorcycle mechanic ... I don't recall him ever dropping a single wrench, not one.

     "We're leaving on Friday!", I told Swede, "We're headed for New Mexico..."  

     Strange thing ... he stopped wrenching.  He picked-up a red rag and wiped his hands as he spoke, "See my 74 over there?  Look in the right-hand saddlebag. Should be a couple of rainsuits in there..."

     My legs would hardly work as I walked carefully over to the two-tone Harley 74.  Never had I been this close to Swede's 74 as I was right now ... and never would I have thought I could be so bold as to touch it!  I inhaled the edgy scent of gasoline and oil, of rubber tires on concrete.  My nervous fingers fumbled with the latch on the saddlebag lid.  I carefully removed the army-green rainsuits from the saddlebag and so carefully closed the lid, making double sure that I did it right. 

     "Take those with you. You might run into some rain (that thought hadn't occurred to me yet...) and you'll be glad that you have them. Just be sure to bring them back when you return.".    

     "Okay ... Uhhhh ... Thank You.", I stuttered as I walked out the door of the Shop, the rubber rainsuits clutched tightly in my arms.   I was in shock. It was at that moment that I realized that I had just entered a space that few experienced ... Swede's inner-circle.  I won't say that he "liked" me or that he wanted us to be "Buds" ... but I did at that moment realize that I had earned his respect and regard ... and it felt real good!

     And, yes, we did have occasion to use those rainsuits, though to this day, I think we were wetter on the inside than the outside!  That rubber didn't breathe at all!

     Looking back on this, after all these years, I realize now that few have been the times that I have received a better gift than on that day ... the use of Swede's personal rainsuits.

     Regretfully, Swede and his wife, Charlie (short for Charlene...) were killed on that 74 as they rode through a small town in Nebraska.  An elderly local man turned abruptly (left) in front of them and both were fatally injured.  Godspeed, Swede and Charlie...

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     SO ... JOE.  About that Tiddler Tour idea.  You gotta know that it sounds GREAT to me.  I can ride slow. I can ride fast. But I think slow is more fun and more, uhhhh ... motorcycling. 

     A couple of weeks ago at out local club's annual Christmas Party, we were to expound a bit on our favorite ride of the year (2011).  I chose to talk about the ride to Nebraska on the Honda CRF230M, not because I liked it best, but because Carrie went with me on her Piaggio 150 Scooter and she was seated beside me at the dinner ... it was the perfect time to up the anty in my brownie-point jar.

     For those of you who have our 2012 club calendar, check out the image on the month of May.  You see the mighty Honda, not so very far removed from the S90 "Gold Star" Honda above...  youthful, but not childish, these bikes are a hoot.  I so appreciate the fact that I can enjoy the day while riding a Tiddler.  Now, Joe, to address your event...  (and this is just conversation, okay?... input, if you will.)

     "Coast-to-Coast" ... it does have a nice ring!  But it will reduce your attendance by about 80 to 90%.  Why?  Because now the trip becomes 6000 miles instead of 3000 miles.  Unless, of course, you plan to use a "sag" car to follow as you ride ... no, no, don't tell me that! ... and that car can haul you home from California.  Lame?  Well, maybe...

     400 to 500 miles a day ... on a Tiddler?  Wow, that'd be smokin' ... but way too mileage happy for another 50% of your riders.  For example, do the math ...  At a 40mph average, even 400 miles is 10 hours of non-stop riding, plus a couple hours to do maintenance and eat meals, a 12 to 14 hour day doesn't appeal to very many riders ... not day after day ... and when you get there you're still 3000 miles from home.

     All bikes Thumpers?  Why?

     Okay ... some food for thought:   (ie. some suggestions to consider...) 

A)   Could this "un-ridgid-style (I agree, by the way...) route be some version of a circle, in other words, we now only have to get to one spot to participate as opposed to two spots that are 3000 miles apart and both 1500 miles each from ThumperVille, for instance.  We no longer need a second person to be a truck driver or to come fetch us from the left coast.  The route now begins and ends at the same spot on the map ... and that is where the Pickup truck can be parked for the duration of the event, supposing that someone would actually haul-in to the event, eh? (grin)     A initial idea might be to go inland a ways and do a big circumbendibus route that can be started from any point on the circle (kinda like a bunch of kids getting on a Merry-Go-Round) ... this makes it much more convenient (and cheaper) to attend and participate.  One could setup suggested lodging on the circular route to be utilized on certain days, such as at "Whatever" City ... be there on a certain date ... and so on around the complete route.  At a particular motel it may be day four for some and it could be day two for others, even day one for some.  Some would get back to their start point on Friday, some might not get to their own start/end point until Sunday ...make sense?  With this being the computer age, all could be tracked and monitored via the electronic media. It'd be great fun to meet up with new people at the night stops due to new people beginning their adventure at that point.

      Another option could be the use of a (again - "un-rigid style) route such as the one above but have the start/end point be in the very center.  That way all could start the same time and should end the same time as well to allow for a celebration/awards event at "Trails End".  This still saves many, many hours and miles of travel before and after the ride itself and the cost thereof. 

B)   400 - 500 mile days?  Perhaps this may be too many miles ... to tough ... to allow a sense of recreation?   Of note, the successful Trans-America Trail allows any size bike but still limits most days to approximately 200 miles.  What about a 200-250 mile day that would allow a casual gathering of the participants each evening?  It might be fun to have a "test" series each evening for bonus points?  Sorta like the old ISDT days, remember those?  Maybe the "tests" could be verbal questions about motorcycling or what they've seen that day ... instead of tire changes, speed trials, and endurance events.  (And maybe the title, "ISDTT" could be coined to mean:  International Six Days Tiddler Tour. (WOW!) How do I do this stuff???

C)  I love Thumpers ... but keeping it all Thumpers (or any particular type motor) may narrow the focus to the point where the event might lose potential attendees and/or nullify competition and interest between participants?  I do agree with the premise of the use of smaller motorcycles and scooters.  As for classes, I personally think three simple classes would do the trick.  Maybe something like "Up to 175cc" - "176cc to 250cc" - "251cc to 370cc".   And if the powers-that-be are trophy-rich, they could split these classes into Vintage and Modern if you wanted ... such as "1876 to 1989" and "1990 to present", giving six classes within which to compete.

      There, my friend Joe (and you, too, Wayne, #3242 - FL.)   ... some ideas ... to do with what you like ... as they say, stash'em or trash'em.  It's been fun thinking about all this, please keep me informed and I'd enjoy your response to these ideas, both aye or nay. - next time I'll tell you about the concept I considered back in the '70s.    #000.

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     And ... that. Ladies and Germs ... is our Show for tonight.  Go out into the world in peace...

     Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!       ......Jack, FSSNOC #000/Director    Thump on!

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                        -DECEMBER 15, 2011-

     GREETINGS FROM THUMPERVILLE and WELCOME TO THE THUMPER THURSDAY SHOW!

     Not sure what is happening!  62 degrees and sunny yesterday ... and it's almost 50 degrees and sunny today - Wow!   Should make for a good day for everyone to get their motorbikes out and get in some miles and smiles. 

     Very little salt on the roadways at this point ... but I'm sure that is about to change.  This area is known for the salt deposits about 650 feet below the surface ... more than enough to run the whole world for years to come, or so I'm told.  This, of course, drives a huge salt industry, such as Morton Salt ( "When It Rains ... It Pours" slogan on the blue and white container on your grocery shelf...) and this may be why our City and County seems to be the first (and the last...) to put that ugly white stuff on the roads. 

     It IS a mixed-bag, however ... as it does help with making the roads more drivable ... but it plays havoc with aluminum and steel that it encounters!  The last few years the preferred way to apply it is in the form of a liquid brine (so it appears to my eye...).  I generally lighty-pickle most of my motorcycles and let them set in the garage through those months to lessen the effects of the road-salt on the cases, etc.  

     In fact, I took advantage of the nice day yesterday to do just that to a couple more ... only one left!

     If YOU live in an area where you can ride through these  winter months, send us a description of what you are riding and where ... it might let all those in our club who can't ride due to the winter weather ride along with YOU ... via this website.   You may e-mail us at:  FSSNOC@yahoo.com   or  drop us a letter via the Post Office (USPS) and share your ride with us, eh?

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     DEAR MR. THUMPER...   When I saw a wooden Elk as I was leaving Cripple Creek, Colorado ... I thought it would make a good picture with my 2004 Kawasaki KLR650!!    ...Bob Jordan, #5177  (CO.)

     REPLY TO BOB...  Hey, Bob!  Thanks for the note via our e-mail.  Nice to hear from you.   By the way, that KLR650 looks pretty well set-up for some serious travel use.  How about telling us what you've done, where you purchased the item(s), and how you would rate the improvements on a satisfaction scale of 1-to-10?  

     As you may know, Bob, the KLR650 remains one of the most popular machines in FSSNOC and the world of "Adventure/Dual-Sport" bikes.   The Issue of Thumper News that you received when you joined is #105.  You might enjoy Issue #103 ... that is the Issue that featured a detailed service record from my 2000 KLR650 for the 122,000+ miles that I enjoyed it before handing it over to my step-son.  Interesting stuff!

     Back-Issues of Thumper News ...  are a great way to get some quality armchair-thumpin'-time in during the winter months.  Back-Issues are available through the home office of FSSNOC  ,  P.O. Box 1809,  Hutchinson, Ks. 67504-1809     The cost is $4.00 each plus $1 post  or take advantage of our winter-time deal:  Five Back-Issues for only $4.00 each and you get FREE freight ... that's a savings of $5.00!  My suggestion to you, Bob ... as you are a recently-joined member, just start backwards from TN#104 inclusive and work your way through the Issues until Spring!

     It'll be a GREAT ride! - #000.

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     DEAR MR. THUMPER... 

     Hi to all you Thumper Fans in the USA from a fellow enthusiast in the UK.  (This is Tony Sharp and he needs our help... #000)  He owns a 1987 Honda XBR500H which was only available for two or three years there in the United Kingdom.  He needs to find an exhaust system and if any of you Thumper-guys can help, Tony would be grateful!       tonyandalana@btinternet.com    

     REPLY TO TONY:   Tony ...  I seem to recall that the XBR500H was very similar to the GB500 Honda that came to the States in 1990 & 1991.  Would you do a bit of checking and let us know if that exhaust on the GB500 will fit on the XBR500?  If that is indeed the case, it is likely that an exhaust system could be found and sent to you ... let us know, okay?

     In Tony's e-mail, he states that he also owns a  1959 Velocette Venom in Mark 1 Semi-Clubman trim and uses it for fun riding at every opportunity.  "It is not my first Velocette, I bought my first when I was 17 and I'm now 62!"

     We would invite you to join our club, Tony.  It is a small investment and you would enjoy your experience.  $44.00 USA dollars and you're in!  Let us know ... all you need do is download and complete an application off this website and send us the funds in US dollars ... this is an excellent time of the year to join-up as the first Thumper News that you will receive, if you hurry*, contains a full-blown Thumper Calendar for 2012 ... now that would get your membership off to a good start, yes?    *We have a limited supply of these Issue #105 publications so don't delay...

     Keep On Thumpin'...  - #000.

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     DEAR MR. THUMPER...

      I thought I would mention a book that I recently picked-up entitled "Bikes of Burden" ... by Hans Kemp,  ISBN 978-962-85637-3-9.  Each page features a great photo of a small displacement (tiddler - if under 250cc) Honda50cc-style motorcycle carrying just about every imaginable type of cargo.

     Photographed in Saigon, oops ... Ho Chi Min City ... it is an amazing bunch of good images, I think you might enjoy it. 

     Jack ... Since most of these bikes are four-stroke singles, this just might be a well-spring of potential new FSSNOC members...

     Ken Conrad, #4800 (MT)

     REPLY TO KEN...   Tell you what, Ken.  (That phrase always casts an ominous introduction to a comment, eh? - #000 - grin!)  The next ThumperCafe that you attend, leave your more traditional Thumper-mount at home and do so on your Honda Passport 70.  Load it up to resemble the bikes in the photos of your book.  They say a picture is worth a thousand words ... well, a live-size-example should be worth the whole book!  Dare ya'...!  - #000.

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      ...THAT IS IT FOR THIS RENDITION OF THE THURSDAY THUMPER SHOW. 

     Take advantage of these long evenings and cold days - let us hear from you?  

     Please note that it isn't necessary to send us a long-drawn-out disorientation of your life.

     Think of us sorta-like your Mom ... "We just want to hear from you once in a while, you know?  Is that so much to ask?"  I fondly recall my Mom telling me that at various times in my life.  Kinda miss hearing it now...

     Oh ... And don't show-up here in ThumperVille with your sea-bag full of dirty laundry either!

     Best Wishes to you all!  It is the Christmas season, may we bring joy and happiness to others... 

      FSSNOC #000/Director    ...     Jack and Carrie                              Thump When Ya' Can!!!

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                           - DECEMBER 8, 2011- 

                   WELCOME TO THIS EDITION OF THE THURSDAY THUMPER SHOW!

     It's a quiet day here at the Library.  It's so quiet you can hear a (ink) pen drop!

     Perhaps everyone is out at the motorcycle shops buying things for the Thumper Rider on their list, eh? 

     Yesterday.   I had occasion to be down by the old Sears Plaza area here in ThumperVille.  As I motored down the adjacent avenue,  Adams street,  I was somewhat surprised, perhaps even astonished, to see a brightly colored umbrella flapping about in the early afternoon breeze.  Under that umbrella was a New York-style hot dog stand, you know, the ones that are on wheels and made of stainless steel ... and have lids to open to get to the products inside ... t'was certainly not something we see every day in our town.

      I  quickly turned-in at the next driveway, bumping carefully over the broken and aged concrete into the parking lot and rolled alongside the vendor. After a quick assessment, I ordered a New York Sidewalk Lunch:  Hot Dog - bag of Cheetos - a bottled water ... all for the princely amount of $5.00. 

     We chatted a bit, the vendor chap and I...

     Seems that hot dog had came all the way from New York City!  Wow - I'm impressed.  As I balanced my lunch in one hand, I took note of the shear weight of it ... this is one meaty wiener.  I had requested onions and mustard, how can one go wrong with that?  He, the somewhat weathered  40-something vendor, had coughed lightly into his hand as he took my order.  Not a good sign...

     However, to his credit, he donned a pair of thin plastic bags over his hand and preceded to make my meal ... much to my relief, those plastic bags.  When he lifted the square metallic lid, a puff of feathery steam rolled out into the cool air of the winter's day.  

     As he cheerfully handed me my lunch, I noticed and appreciated his sense of  pride.

     I, in return, handed him six one dollar bills.

     "Wait - one too many bills here..", he stated, trying to hand me back the extra bill. 

     "It's for you", I explained.  

     "Okay...", he said, with a big smile. 

     "That's for your college education...", I laughed, "I didn't get through college myself...". 

     "Neither did I", he exclaimed, with a hearty laugh.

     As I rolled away to eat my tasty prize, he shouted out... "Tell your friends about me?"

     I just did, my friend ... I just did.

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     DEAR MR. THUMPER...

     Here is one sweet SR ... constructed for Billy Joel:

     http://au.deuscustoms.com/motorcycles/bikes/venicesr.html

     Be sure and check out the great photography (with zoom) of all the details.  Might be worth sharing the link with the club for inspiration.

     Vince T., FSSNOC #0133 (MA)

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          DEAR MR. THUMPER ... received a rather lengthy notice of an event in March...  It reads below in part:

     March 24, 2012 - New Orleans, Louisiana.  The 22nd Annual British Car Day at Delgado City Park Campus.  All Brit. Cars and Bikes are welcome.  Register between 9AM and Noon.  Host Hotel is the Hampton Inn , Elmwood, 504-733-5646   You may visit the sponsoring club's website at:

     http://www.bmcno.org  or you may call:  Rick at 225-926-6946    The event had 143 cars last year but only 5 British bikes ... they are looking to better both numbers in 2012.  Tell your friends and wear your FSSNOC shirt...

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     NOTE TO JOE AND CAROL, #0661 AND #0661 1/2 (MD):

     Howdy, You Two!!!  Thanks for the conversation on the possible Cannonball Cross-the-USA run in 2013 for Tiddlers.  Keep us informed on this interesting concept as and if it becomes a reality...   Keep On Thumpin!  - #000.

     DEAR MR. THUMPER...

     Been "thumpin" quite a bit here in the mountains of Colorado on my 250cc four-stroke two-wheeler -----  my Ariens Snow-Blower!  :(  

     Sigh.

     This too shall pass...   Kerry B, FSSNOC #4543 (CO) ... (hope I got my number right!)

     REPLY to Kerry:

     As for that FSSNOC number, have you considered a tattoo?  ... It'd be cheaper than a brain transplant.  ...  See?  That's why they call me "the Problem-Solver!  - #000.

                                    ...........................................................................................................................................

     ALL FOR NOW ... BEST WISHES AND HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO YOU ALL!   KEEP ON THUMPIN! ... #000/Jack, FSSNOC Director.

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                             DECEMBER ONE (ALMOST) ... I Can't believe it!

                       WELCOME TO THE THUMPER THURSDAY SHOW!

     What is it I can't believe?   I was over at our local Ford dealership having my yearly oil change on my Ford Ranger, somehow I'd managed to drive it over 1800 miles this year.  Anyway, as I was killing time while they did the service, I decided to check out a really tough-looking bright red Mustang 5.0.  It even had a floor-mounted stick shift!  Really nice, those new Mustangs.

     Then I noticed it.  Made in China!!!  There it was ... on the side glass:  That transmission, that cool five speed manual gearbox ... was made in China.  I was floored, haven't got over it yet.  Also most vehicles I looked at were made in Canada with the motor being built in Mexico!  Wow!  I now see a Mustang, even Ford Motor Company in general, in a different light ... too bad. - #000.

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     Ken Conrad, FSSNOC # 4800 (MT) called today with some really good stories and some input for possible ThumperCafe sites for 2012 or beyond.  As always, it was fun to visit with Ken and within our conversation he recalled an ad in his local newspaper, the Helena Independent Record.  It was a FOR SALE ad for a Yamaha TT500 for only $800.00.  Ken hadn't checked out the bike so we have no idea of its condition or value.  The phone number for the owner of the TT500 as relayed to me through Ken is 406-495-1821.  If you are in the market for this increasingly rare bike, this ad and this bike just might be of interest to you ... but remember, as always, "let the buyer beware", eh? - #000.

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     Max Morley, FSSNOC #3608 (WA) sent us an e-mail via FSSNOC@yahoo.com  and Motor Mike, our E.M.C -

     Max writes:   I was reading a British Cycle Magazine, "Motorcycle Sport and Leisure" and good ole Jack (that be me, #000 ... Thank You, Max.) is mentioned on page 77.  A good bio and his shared experiences with his KLR (was the content).  If you need a copy of the article, let me know and I'll scan it and send it.

     REPLY to Max:   Thanks a million, Max!  I appreciate the heads-up.  A local FSSNOCer, #018 who lives near ThumperVille, sometimes brings his copy of that particular magazine to the local morning gatherings at Wileys and/or the Donut Shop.  I may be able to read his copy ... if not, I'll ask Motor Mike to e-mail you that I do need you to do the scan and send for me ... if you don't hear from me ... I'm good.  Thanks for your thoughtfulness!  Anything new with your Suzuki Savage-S40 fleet?  I've been expecting salt on the highways hereabouts any day now so I've did the garage-pickle thing on my own S-40.  Why I don't live somewhere that they do NOT salt the roads through the winter months is beyond me... Keep Thumpin! - #000.

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     FSSNOC received a postcard from Steven R, #0783 (CT) ...  It read like this:

     And now for something different ... check out the following:   www.derringercycles.com     A modern reincarnation of a 1920's Board-Track Racer, powered by a 49cc Honda Industrial motor.  I could sure use this to head down the hill to the Post Office!

      REPLY:  Hi, Steven!  Hey, you can run but you can't hide!  I found some of your work and wisdom in the Antique Automobile magazine.  Really cool to see you in there.  It was a pleasant surprise and I felt immediately at home with the magazine after seeing that you are a contributor.

     Anyway, my question is this?  A 49cc Honda Industrial engine surely doesn't put out more than a few horsepower ... you might be okay riding DOWN the hill to the Post Office ... but you might have to call home for a ride back UP the hill.   Best Wishes, Steve! - #000.

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     E-mail from Maynard, #1196 (CO.) - 

     I've just read Jack's old bench-racing story  (See "Ring-Ring-Ring" posting in the November 16th T.T. Show, below...) and remembered that I too raced a Hodaka Ace 90 and was passed by an airborne motorcycle.  In my case, it was a Bultaco.  All I really saw was the bottom of the cases.  We were approaching a right-hand turn with a fence just beyond it.  As I watched, open-mouthed, the Bultaco and its rider landed on two wheels, then immediately crashed and slid out to the fence.  I continued at my snail-like pace.  Must have been in '66 or '67 ... could it have been the same Sunday?

     Jack, you must have a million of those stories that you share with the guys at the Donut Shop.  How 'bout sharing them with us on Thursdays?

     REPLY:  Yo Maynard!  Nice to hear from you...  Fun to hear that you rode a Hodaka!

     Hodakas were sold by many shops in those days.  No one sold very many but everyone sold a few.  They were often over in the back corner of the Shop, and I say "They" in humor, because Pabatco (Pacific Basin Trading Company - maybe out of Oregon?) only had one model, one color, and one way ... ala Henry Ford? ... so other than the fact that the bikes came two to a crate, all a dealer needed to have on the floor was one ... in sparkling chrome and red, of course ... and usually covered with a light dusting of shop dust. 

     Interesting enough, I remember that the Hodaka used a unique transmission that was shifted by a corn-cob looking hollow barrel with balls that were pushed out into the gear that was machined with a square hole that the balls were pushed out into - thus locking the tranny in that particular gear and propelling the motorcycle.  As I recall, there was no such thing as grinding gears.  I know my explanation on how the transmission shifted isn't worded very well but hopefully you all can get the concept. 

     We worked on our Hodakas every  night and every week because we broke something almost every week at the races or we had some new porting idea, or whatever.   I can remember doing a lot of work to keep that gearbox shifting but it did seem to be a good design and it was very service and repair friendly, which was great for us!  We lived, ate, breathed racing and motorcycles ... we never missed going to a race come the weekend.  My Ace90 was the slowest of our stable at the Psycho Shop ... I used the old pistons, head, pipes, etc that the other guys took off to install the latest and greatest hop-up item which seemed to be in endless supply. The lowly Hodaka was an aftermarket company's dream because change at the factory was rare and they were so basic and easy to modify and to be raced they needed upgrading in almost every aspect from motor hop-up stuff to larger rims and tires.  I can remember running a "G" pipe after my friend and partner, Wes, tossed it in the corner in favor of the hotter version, the "F" pipe.  I can't remember if I paid him for that pipe or not...  I do remember clowning with it before I mounted it on my bike.  I put it up to my lips and made a noise like a speeding racebike through the pipe (which was an expansion chamber design - we're talking two-stroke here.).  Later that night, I also remember discovering that no one at the Shop had told me that I had a huge oily black ring on my mouth from the headpipe of that pipe! 

     Anyway, I was reading an article not too long ago that Honda is reportably going to use a transmission that was based on the same design of the ole Hodaka gearbox ... that really cracked me up.  Small world, eh?

     Enjoy the winter, friend Maynard ... and keep in touch - #000.

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     MOTARD FANS ...    Any interest in a DR650-based Motard?  Check out www.southlandcyclessuzuki.com  or call 714-893-5091 for more information.  I read about these folks in a magazine that didn't have a cover so this could be old-news ... - #000.

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     Note to Craig Y., FSSNOC #4899 ... yes, the latest issue of Thumper News was mailed to your address.  Hopefully, it is already there or will arrive before too long.  This is the calendar issue (TN#105) and, in my somewhat-jaded opinion, it came out really well due to the input and efforts of all you clubmembers who contributed.    Enjoy, Craig! - #000.

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     Hi, David, FSSNOC #3388 (IL) ... Six Issues of the latest Thumper News/FSSNOC Thumper Calendar would be 6 x $5.00 = $30.00 plus probably about $5.00 postage = $35.00.  Better hurry, 'cause one of the ways we've attempted to save the Club money is to reduce the number of extra copies printed...  Thanks for asking and thanks for your support and friendship, David.  Let me know... 

     P.S. - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nz6-Ei4tSMA    is a link that shows a friend of David's on his FT500 Honda in Tennessee.  David says that he has ridden this bike and it runs great.  

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     THIS IS A RESPONSE TO "RING, RING, RING" ... a posting from November 16th, below.  (My friend from the Old Days - #000) 

     DEAR MR. THUMPER:

     The Journey Has Started...

     A huge red ball crept up from the distant horizon as I left ThumperVille, headed east in my old T100 Toyota Pickup on Sunday morning, November 13th, at 6:30AM.  It was but one gas stop and three chicken strips later that I arrived in Hammond, Indiana.  Early the next morning I was at Mike's door - 8:00AM.

     Mike was dragging an old rusty motorcycle frame across his backyard, intent upon his task.  My voice broke the morning stillness, "Hi Mike ... I'm Dwain ... and I'm here to pickup the Yamaha stuff that we talked about on the phone."

     Mike, startled by my enthusiastic greeting, glances toward the driveway and says somewhat dryly, "Ya' didn't bring a big enough truck..."

     Mike's backyard garage was just what you would imagine.  Motorcycles, tools, parts and pieces as far as I could see, a 750cc Triumph atop a factory-type motorcycle lift.  Only he knows what everything is and where it goes...

     Mike and I loaded the Yamaha SR-XT-TT frames, wheels, engine parts (no complete engines) into the Toyota ... and it all fit, but only because NOTHING was in one piece. 

     10:00AM.  After leaving Mike's place, I stopped for gas and purchased a tall Mountain Dew, gotta have that energy for the long drive home.  At noon the next day, I pulled into my driveway.  I proudly showed my wife of 49 years my newly acquired "stuff"...

    She looks, shakes her head, and silently goes back into the house.

     I slowly unload the Pickup.

     I look at it all ... and mutter softly to myself, "Now what?"...

              Dwain Hiebert, FSSNOC #5174 (KS)

     REPLY:   Hey, Dwain ... I'll be givin' ya' a call soon ... can't wait to see your stash of goodies, or should I say, your "new" Yamaha?

      Welcome to the club!  It is great to have you back in the loop (er ... at least ... in our loop)!  For all you clubmembers out there, if you have anything SR-XT-TT that Dwain might need or use to construct his "Cafe" SR500 Yamaha, give us a shout here at FSSNOC@yahoo.com and we'll pass the word on to Dwain on your behalf.  Thanks for your response, Dwain - Keep us posted.   - #000.

     And ... yes, Mike, FSSNOC #4561 ... your dues are overdue.  Send us some bucks, we don't want to lose you!  Thump-Thump... - #000.

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     FOR SALE:   Stock Seat for a Suzuki DR650 - is as new and in perfect condition for $75.00.   45 tooth rear sprocket, steel, new - $40.00.  If you ride trails, this sprocket will give you a lower first gear which is easy on the clutch.   Rear Fender piece with license plate lamp - $10.00.

V-Strom 650 Exhaust system in good condition ... a good buy if one wants to play with mufflers - $35.00.

All shipping of these items will be actual cost.

Brian Slark, Technical Consultant at Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum (FSSNOC #3853 - AL.)

Brianslark@gmail.com   or call:   205-527-1040   FAX is 205-702-8700  and desk is 205-702-8733

         ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

      .......OUR  MISSION STATEMENT AND OTHER FUN STUFF....  ( SEE BELOW ) JACK ROBINSON,#000  DIRECTOR.......

     Various updates, bits of sage wisdom, whatever, may appear on this page. Ideas, Tips, etc can be mailed to: Director's Page c/o FSSNOC, P.O. BOX 1809, Hutchinson, KS 67504-1809 or you may use our E-Mail Correspondent at FSSNOC@yahoo.com or you may call 620-663-1869. Your comments and suggestions will be welcomed, appreciated, and encouraged. While I have you attention, here are a few details about our club:

MISSION STATEMENT ... Dedicated to the appreciation and utilization of the Four-Stroke Single Cylinder Motorcycle

THUMPER NEWS ... is a quarterly publication generally mailed in February-May-August-November. The deadline for submitted material is the 10th of each month just prior to mail date. Any  material contained within cannot be reproduced in any manner without prior written permission from FSSNOC. Any opinion expressed or implied by contributors does not constitute the opinion of FSSNOC, INC. or FSSNOC staff or FSSNOC membership. The content of THUMPER NEWS is solely for entertainment and is NOT to be considered as advice.

ADVERTISING ... in THUMPER NEWS is available on a limited basis. Please request a rate quote from FSSNOC. Personal club member ads in the Buy & Sell section are free. Non-member ads are $25 per insertion. FSSNOC,INC. cannot be responsible for any products or services advertised or mentioned in THUMPER NEWS.

FSSNOC, INC. ... does not and cannot assume any responsibility for your personal safety or sanity before, during, or after you have read THUMPER NEWS or have associated with a FSSNOC member or staff. No Insurances are offered or maintained or provided for any club member or non-club member. FSSNOC (FOUR-STROKE SINGLES NATIONAL OWNERS CLUB) and THUMPER NEWS are the property of FSSNOC, INC. at P.O. BOX 1809, HUTCHINSON, KS 67504-1809  Phone: 620-663-1869

FSSNOC E.M.C. ... (Electro-Media Correspondent) ... is "Motor Mike" at FSSNOC@yahoo.com - give us a shout!

Thank you for reading the Director's Page. Please tell others about this site and about FSSNOC. If you are presently a member, we thank you for your ongoing support. If you aren't currently a member, we encourage you to join our ranks

Jack Robinson,
FSSNOC #000