OnlineRaceDriver goes ‘Back to the 50’s’

Once again it was, “Back to the 50’s” this past weekend at the MSRA “Back to the 50’s” 37^th annual car show in St. Paul Minnesota. With 11,795 cars on display only the State fairgrounds is large enough to handle this record setting outdoor summer event. In fact, this is the largest 3 day rod and custom car show in the world! 125,000 spectators were drawn in this year. The only restriction to be in the show, is to have a 1964 or older car.

My own entry is a candy apple green 1955 Chevy, originally purchased new by my grandfather in 1955. With 120,000 original miles on its 265cid V8, and 3-speed manual transmission, it still glides over bumps like it has four over inflated inner tubes, rather than tires. Driving the old car is a real step back in time as it has no power brakes or steering. Everything happens in a kind of ‘take your time’ slow motion whether turning or braking. Acceleration provided by its approximate 165hp small block V8 is merely average in these modern times, but was actually above average in 1955. Maybe that’s why seat belts were only an option. Gas mileage for the first OHV V8 Chevy ever produced, is about 25mpg on the highway thanks in part to a manual overdrive, and not a single pollution control device. Not bad for a 3600lb car that turned 55 years old this year!

Without further ado, I give you, “Back to the 50’s!”

Full throttle!

GTDon

ORD on the road: Dulano’s bike night

If you ever find yourself roaming the summer roads of the Upper Midwest on a Thursday night, be sure to stop at, “Dulono’s Pizza” on West Lake Street in South Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA. It has become a weekly motorcycle congregation of no particular brand, making it the most eclectic collection of bikers and bikes you are likely to see.

Over 2,000 bikes migrate to this four city block square area every Thursday night, not for the pizza, but for the camaraderie, and destination. Of the, “Twin Cities” (as they are known), Minneapolis is the more upscale urbane of the two rather easy going cities. St Paul, (the other Twin) has its riches, but nothing comparable to Thursday night at, “Dulono’s Pizza.”

Although currently bike-less myself, my good friend (gamer tag, “Cuda500” otherwise known as Warren) just happens to have two seriously fast motorcycles available. Since he can’t ride both down to “Dulono’s” he invited me to take his second favorite bike on the 30 minute ride to experience what he calls an amazing gathering of two wheeled characters. His bike of choice is a 2009 V-Max, piped, chipped, and extended to the tune of about 200hp. His backup bike and my ride for the evening, a silver 2008 Kawasaki ZX-14 similarly endowed.

Having owned a stock ZX-14, I knew what to expect, and was pleasantly surprised to find this extended swing arm, geared down version, very easy to adjust to. Such bikes are actually very docile with a respectful wrist, but you need to be ever vigilant as it begs you to flick the throttle to the stops the whole time you ride her. Warren’s V-Max is little different, except for the sound. It’s the only bike that sounds like a muscle car (if you don’t include the “Boss Hoss”), and causes involuntary gawking as it rumbles by.

The event itself was true to the billing, an untold number of bikes and styles converging on a few city blocks. As crammed as it was, the turnout was light due to sprinkles in the forecast. These are hardcore dedicated bikers nonetheless, and weren’t going to let a few rain drops ruin the meet.

Every type of bike was represented; sport bikes, race bikes, stunt bikes, enduros, cruisers, customs, classics, two-strokes, turbos, and sidecars were all there. On occasion even a licensed MotoGP 500 and 250 with lights has been known to show up.

So rather than waste time reading when pictures are worth thousands of

words, I give you bike night at “Dulono’s Pizza!”

Full throttle,

GTDon