Utah British Motorcycle Club

Utah British Motorcycle Club

Last Thursday, March 19th, a group of well-mounted riders from BMW Triumph of Salt Lake crashed the Utah British Motorcycle Club’s monthly meeting at the South Fork Diner on 39th South, between Main and 1st West. It’s a great location for any club’s meetings. The food is excellent, and the meeting room can comfortably seat 50 people. The dealer’s intent was to let the club know they are willing to support them any way possible. Jeremy Kanter the general manager of Triumph of Salt Lake even offered the facility for future meetings and extended an invitation for an onsite luncheon to be scheduled in the future.

It was my first meeting with the club and I learned a few things. First they are a real fun group and were pleased with our visit. Second they have a great schedule of events for the summer. I hope a few of us will be able to make a ride or two with them this summer.

I also learned that several club members are working on restoration project and involved in part manufacturing. I have to say that it was the only meeting of motorcyclists I’ve ever attended where a great deal of the time was spent talking about motorcycles that don’t run. Best wishes to those people looking for old obsolete British Motorcycle parts. The new Triumphs are nothing like the old ones and parts don’t interchange. When I worked on the parts counter at the dealership, one of the hardest things I had to do was explain to some desperate British biker that even though we are the Triumph dealer there is nothing we can to about finding a generator or gasket set for a 1954 Triumph Tiger Cub. We just don’t have those resources. Triumph has moved to the modern era of motorcycle manufacturing. The new ones have electric starters, dependable electrical systems, and fuel injection. Lucas the Prince of Darkness doesn’t ever visit our shop.

Cow Dung Run

Cow Dung Run
A Smarter Race

Renn Charlesworth in another great finish made the comment, “I ran a much smarter race this time. I’m not nearly as beat up as I was at the Rhino Rally two weeks ago. Granted it’s a shorter course, but I learned a lot at the Rhino and I feel great.”

And he should feel great. This time Renn finished third in his class as he crossed the finish line in front of a tight group of other racers. It’s a provisional finish based on the rider’s board, but the official results that will be out in two weeks will not change his final standing.

When he found a quicksand bog on one of the many river crossings Renn almost buried the G450X. He said, “I almost lost my ride when I hit that quicksand, and it took four other racers to help me pull the bike out. I didn’t think there was any quicksand out there. At least nobody said there was. I lost over 20-minutes on that fall.”

Just before the finish line and only a few feet from the end of the race Renn took his last fall of the day when he dropped the G450X in an otherwise error free run through the manmade rock garden that put many of the competition on their butts and a few out of the race. The rock garden designed to test the skills of the contestants seem to be built for nothing more than the amusement of the spectators. Placed just before the finish line the utility poles, boulders, rocks, and heavy equipment tires gave the course an appearance of being designed by a masochist. It was too much for some and challenging to all. A few of the riders commented on it’s difficulty and one dropped out right behind a string of vulgarity as he pulled his bike under the flagging before riding back to pit row. He wasn’t even a candidate for the sportsmanship trophy.

On the bright side it was a perfect weather day and the event was well organization. Hats off to everyone involved.

Rhino Desert Race

I had more fun than usual on the last day of February, when I worked support crew for my friend Renn at the Rhino Rally Desert Race in Arizona. Renn captured 6th place in a strong finish in front of a large support group of friends waiting for him to end the race.

Renn rode the new G450X in the Z novice class. It’s a great bike with lots of new innovations and the race proved its durability. The course was 55 miles of brutal terrain that challenged the most seasoned veterans, and dished out more than some of the riders could handle. Considering it was only Renn’s second desert race he finished much stronger than expected.

The next desert race will be March 28th in Delta, Utah, with Jeremy Kanter in the pilot’s seat. The 450 flies.