Dodgin' the Venolias

By Jeffrey Howe

Most of the old tracks had a bump in 'em. I'm told that if you could time it right, the chassis flex trick would get the wheels up goin' into the lights. We (King and Marshall FED) were at New York National on a Sunday after two previous races Friday night and Saturday and we were damn near out of parts. They were playin' with the front air plates on the front axle. I said I'd watch the run from the dirt pile on the big end and observe the attitude of the adjustment. 

Well here comes King bookin' big time, front end doin' a dance just right and he waves (I thought) to me as he roars by, spittin' shiny stuff out. When I finally got to him, he was drippin' with foamed oil. The crank was in the dirt with its attachments hanging on oddly. I asked, "What were you waving at in the lights?" His "I shouldn't have asked" comment was, "The damn pistons were hitting me!" Sure as hell, he had a dent in the front of the Bell from one of Venolia's best. (Wasn't sitting low enough, I guess) and it ended up in his lap! It was a long, quiet ride home, too!

Jeffrey Howe
JEFF50@HOME.NET