Team Old and Oily is:
Keith Bennett, #797
Jack Houman, #796
Charlie Young, #798
Alec Harper the Wrench / pit crew
David Brock, our corner worker / safety rep.

It's been a great season! Can't think of a better way to spend several weekends throughout the year. Here are some team stats:
• 2nd place in the nation, WERA 500GP class
• Southeastern Regional Champ, WERA 500GP class
• Only 1 non-podium finish out of a dozen races
• 2 Blown Honda 350 motors
• 1 Blown 750 Norton motor.
• 4 crashes
o Bent fork tubes, footpegs, dented exhaust (repair by Josh Mills, Mills and Co), Scuffed leathers, banged up helmets, and a nap on the track for my buddy Jack….twice!!
• 2 Ambulance rides
• 1 hospital visit
• LOTS OF FUN!!

I can say for my teammates Jack Houman, Keith Bennett, and our honary crewmember Alec, that it was a successful year. Our three Hondas sometimes made up half the field, normally with about 10 bikes total in our region. The Honda 350s appear to be more popular up north.

Alec came to the first Barber Motorsports Park race as a spectator, saw Keith’s English flag flying, and struck up a conversation. He eventually showed up for almost every other race and wrenched on every bike we had! Great to have along, ‘preciate his time.

We made a lot of friends, including Doug Bowie, #150 and National Champ 350GP and V5 classes. Russel Baggett, National Champ V1 class on a Honda 350, Stan Keyes Norton 750 racer, And Mike Ewer, Runner up to Russel. I cant forget our Norton Club brothers, who provided moral support all year! Then of course our wives and familys….who are probably glad to get rid of us for awhile, as long as we come back in one piece!!

Here’s some details from the last 3 races, Nashville Superspeedway, Road Atlanta WERA Grand National finals, and the AHRMA race at Barber Motorsports Park Vintage Vestival.

Nashville, 9/16/2006: This one started off rough for me a couple days before. Fuel issues (rusty tank, chunks in carbs) had caused problems the previous race. I decided to fix them once and for all. My friend David Brock coated the tank, new petcock configuration, and rebuilt carbs. I got it all done, road test went great…but thought I was a little lean, went up a lot on jets, still lean.

Typically with my FXR, this would lead me to the intake gasket, so I went there with this honda…….and snapped a bolt off in the head!!!! SNAP! In reflection I was lucky to get three out of four out. They were in bad shape.

So day before the race, drill the bolt…motor still in place… get an easy-out in and SNAP!....broken easy out!...long story short, also wound up cracking the head at the pad, BUT got a tap and Heli-coil in it. Inserted a stud and some JB Weld, and crossed my fingers!! Got the manifolds on, carbs on, bike ran. Drove 4 hrs, Alec and I got to the hotel near the track after midnight….up at 5:00, headed to the track.

Jack was at the hotel when we arrived. He had his Honda #796. Keith nor his bike made this race…still fixing his blown up motor!

Practice and Jack is flying!....I’m running like crap….just junk, terrible! Jack has an extra set of carbs, and they work better, but still not right. My first race, we changed needles on the first set of carbs and ran them…..still terrible.

Long story short….Jack wasn’t racing the second race, so I ran the carbs off his bike and did great.

Jack's carbs let me clinch the Regional Championship….Thanx Teammate!!

Nashville was a BIG BULLET…and I dodged it! Had a good time. My niece and her hubby came over and took these pics.

WERA Grand National Final, Road Atlanta, Oct 11-15, 2006:

We had three Hondas on track, it felt good! I ran the optional practice day on wed. Pulled into the pits and saw a friend's rig, Stan Keyes, owner of Cyco Cycles in Jacksonville Fl. He had his Norton there, and extra pit space, so I pitted with him and saved room for my teamates arriving tommorow. Stan and his wife Dee were all set up and ready to run.

Their son Derick Keyes, just landed a Kawasaki Factory test rider job, and would be riding the AMA 8 hr endurance race in Daytona during Biketoberfest, on the brand new EX650 “vertical twin” Ninja. He finished 2nd in class.

I had someone to beat for the National Championship…..Steven Barber, #106 bike, from Roanoke, Va. I had to finish first….If he finished 2nd, we tied, 3rd, I win. I had to go for it.

My friend and fellow racer Doug Bowie, who has been racing for over 30 years, ex-AMA Pro, was feeding me pointers….”Charlie, I’ve followed him before, he’s “Digital” / squared off, not smooth, and he brakes early….you can do it….Go out there in practice and follow him….Look for his weakness and your strength….don't make your move till late in the race…”

Doug is good….watching him ride that F1 “big” Ducati is like magic. Multiple WERA class champ, including one of my classes on a Duc 250. The guy is a great rider.

This guy Steven Barber was fast! He would leave me on the long back straight at Rd Atl. One fast bike! I got by him once, but he took it back….I made him earn the championship though!

Old and Oily scrambled in the pits at Road Atlanta. Keith and Jack were up late finishing and installing Keith's motor. He puked a quart of oil in the first practice….they fixed the leak and he ran well. I broke my 2 into 1 exhaust in half at the collector….alum strap splints and hose clamps baby!! I also lost a footpeg bolt and couldn’t shift for half the last lap…still finished good though! Foot hangin off in thin air!!

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