My highly modified RD/TZ 250 based E-Superbike class racer
Built by Duncan Paul from a 1975 RD 250 Yamaha and using a TZ 250 F model water cooled top end ported to Irv Kanemoto's specifications that I added and using a set of radical expansion chambers, H2 Kawasaki hydralic steering damper, hand built radiator, Lectron Power Jet carbs, TZ CDI ignition and TZ sixth gear set, this was my most successful road racer. I do not have the fairing on at this race as the class became "Clubman" in 1986 and fairings were forbidden. The bars are K&N superbike, the swingarm a box section steel unit with needle bearing pivot taken from an old TD3 Yamaha roadracer, the wheels are cast of pure magnesium and were very light. The tires were Dunlop K291R DOT racing compound tires. The rear brake is a Honda CB 125 mechanical actuated disc and the front is a drilled stock RD unit. The bike weighed about 250 lbs dry and made probably 60+ or - horsepower at the rear wheel. It sits here with a much lighter and younger me on its rear wheel TZ stand in the Texas World Speedway pit area after it's usual race winning day. The reason I look beat is because I am. One hundred degree Texas days in full race leathers will do that to you.
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I jumped back into roadracing in 1999 on a more fun level in the sportsman heavyweight and classic classes in CMRA. I bought a Yamaha SRX 600, highly modified for road racing with many engine mods bringing it up to around 60 horsepower on a rear wheel dyno. The frame has been modified with linkage and single shock swingarm from a FZR600 Yamaha and front brakes and wheel from an '89 TZ250 Yamaha. There is an Ohlins gas shock at the rear and the forks have been tuned by Noleen Racing. It's not quite the motor that the TZ/RD had, but it's close and has more torque in tight corners and the bike has a more advanced suspension, though it is heavier. All this is moot anyway as GP type 250cc engines have been outlawed in the class, which does keep the costs down. The TZ stuff required a lot of money between races to keep going. It was a fun year in '99.
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The clubman SRX600 Yamaha racer.
Me and the SRX at TWS.
Some recent CMRA roadracing action at Texas World Speedway
The SRX and me in action at Texas World Speedway in Y2K
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In 2000 I bought a Yamaha TZ125, a 95 model. A race weekend at Texas World Speedway in October, 2000 convinced me that this was a good decision. I had a fun 2001 season on the bike, finished fourth in the RPM series, though I never had a finish higher than fifth. The bike was a little down on power to the RS125 Hondas and I have aquired a '95 Honda RS125 to run the 2002 season. But, the TZ handled well, was reliable, and got me back into the GP wars. I did manage a second on it in the CORC class (crusty old racer's class for 40 year olds and up) against a pack of GSXR750s and one GSXR1100. That was fun!
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The TZ in action in 2001
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