Motoroco Wood Rotax

Go to our STORIES section to read the story and see more photos and details of this Wood Rotax that has been rebuilt and subtly tweaked by Motoroco in the Netherlands.

Kocinski's Wood Rotax

Is this the prettiest Wood Rotax ever? So beautifully put together. The exhaust has that unusual run, along the right hand lower frame rail, because this is one of Ron Wood's monoshocks with the RSU under the engine, early-Buell -style.

It belongs to former 250 grand prix world champion and multiple 500 GP racewinner, John Kocinski. He holds a couple of outright lap records on short tracks, set within the last few years, not in his racing heyday.

I interviewed him at Pomona a while ago, for a major motorcycle title who made a clichéd dog's dinner of it and I was embarrassed at the outcome. Maybe it's time to put it in Sideburn and make it sing... G

Gauthier and Wood BMW at the Arizona Mile

The footage of the Law Tigers Arizona Mile race is up online at fanshoice.tv
I was looking forward to this because SPOILER ALERT Dalton Gauthier won the GNC2 race on Ron Wood BMW F800. We'd already reported on this, so I'm not worried about saying it. The fanchoice website also caption the result, which is a bit daft, but perhaps they think everyone has seen the result on social media.

BUT... there are still a lot of reasons to watch the race. Chris Carr's commentary, for one. From an amateur racer point of view it is interesting to watch passes on what is basically a one-line groove in the corners. Also, in the first half of the race the leader, McGrane isn't tucking nearly as much as Gauthier. The commentators say because he wears glasses and can't see if he tucks in and cranes his head up. McGrane is also very tall for a bike racer, so that must have something to do with it.
I also noticed that Gauthier has the typical racer's body english, right elbow up high through the turns, McGrane's is held lower. We have a great Get Schooled piece by Chris Carr in the next Sideburn on body english.
Also, see how the track decomposes through the race, especially on corner exit. So, even if you know the result, if you're any level of racer there's still a lot to pick up.

If you just want to watch the race, it's from around 7 mins to 17 mins. Watch Arizona Mile GNC2 Main.

Also, the Sacramento Mile will be shown live on Fanschoice.tv later today. G

Wood BMW wins GNC2 Main in Arizona

History was made at yesterday's Arizona Mile GNC race when Dalton Gauthier won the GNC2* main on a Ron Wood BMW.

Ron has, as I understood it, had finally retired from the motorcycle industry and has sold the rights to the famous frame business, but he was at this race (in the chair in the photo below), so I need to find out more.

I interviewed Ron for issue 3, back in 2009, not long after this bike had been built. Ron was very disappointed with the lack of support BMW gave him (none) when he built this F800-powered twin. It showed massive potential at the time, but Wood Racing was unwilling or unable to mount a full season challenge, so it would turn up at local racers with skilled journeyman riders on board, like Matt Weidman, who would jump on the unfamiliar bike and put in solid performances, showing what the bike could do. But BMW USA weren't interested. Ron converted the fuel-injected 798cc parallel twin to carbs to allow him to tun it with his particular skill set. Of all the other modern twins racing the GNC, which now includes Ducati, Kawasaki, Yamaha, KTM and BMW, I think only the Bonneville Performance Triumph has been converted to carbs. Understanding of EFi is so much greater now, that even eight years ago when this BMW was built.

You can see from this photos (taken from the always on the ball flattracklive) that the BMW logo the bike originally wore is covered up with a Rotax logo. BMW developed this twin engine in conjunction with Rotax, the Austrian specialists (Aprilia, Buell and others have used Rotax to develop engines for them, too) and Wood Racing obviously have a very long history with Rotax.

This is the first ever pro dirt track win for a BMW in the sport's history. Gauthier came from the back row to win. As soon as there is footage of the win on Fans Choice TV I'll put a link up. G

* Jargon Buster
GNC2 is the support class, the Moto2 of GNC flat tracking. It's for younger riders on their way up. Most GNC2 races are competed on 450 singles. There was a push to have the GNC2 riders race on twins at all the bigger races, but it fizzled out, after many riders and their mom and pop teams had spent $10,000-plus on building bikes. It was a shambles. Hopefully AMA Pro Racing have got it right now.

Mint Wood Rotax For Sale in UK

UPDATE: SOLD
The Wood Rotax we used as the subject for Sideburn 22's blueprint feature is up for sale on UK eBay. This is what the advert says (it's well worth reading)...

Professionally built by Dale Lineaweaver in the early nineties from new parts. The frame is a Wood Rotax, which has never been stripped, blasted or re-powder coated. The engine is a Ron Wood Rotax, as is the exhaust and bodywork. The bike was built as a street tracker and saw very little use, as it was bump-start only. 

These bikes have fast become the choice bike for the DTRA series and for good reason. They’re light, fast and reliable. Jolly good fun. And this is the best preserved example I have ever seen. 

I bought the bike two years ago from Goodman Reed in California. I have a huge file and magazine feature from the mid nineties, which explains in detail about the bikes build. The body-work was repainted, by The Paintbox, who also altered the fuel outlet, so that it had quick (dry) release, all on the left, so the tank can be taken off without splitting fuel lines. The round slide carb was swapped for a flat slide, which has been dyno set up. I went through the bike replacing the serviceable items, such as the chain, oil and filter. I also made a few adjustments to make it race ready, such as the MV throttle, which allows slow tick over in the pit lane, then a twist of the tiny choke lever, ups the throttle to prevent stalling in the corners, when I panic brake. I also re-installed the kicker. Bump starting a bike is bad enough, but far worse with a hot shoe on. 

The bike comes with all the right parts and is in fantastic unrestored condition, which is unusual for a dirt track bike. I would consider selling without the PM Chicane wheels, because it’s taken 5 years for me to find these. 
£7500 Or £6000 without the wheels. 

The bike needs nothing but riding, racing and enjoying. I know some ebayers, like to ask crazy questions, so I've taken the liberty of guessing what they might be. 

1, Nice bike mate, do you have a buy it now price? 
Thank you for your interest and kind words. It's not an auction though, so yes there is a buy it now. Just click the button and it's yours, once you've paid. 

2, Can you make a street legal for me? Does it have a log book? 
Yes I could and have done it in the past, but I do not want to this time. And no, there is no log book. It's a race bike, but should you wish to ride on the street it's entirely doable. 

3, My Grandad had one like that, is it a Harley? 
Did he, good. No. 

4, Would you take part exchange for a Game boy? 
No, even though he sounds like a lot of fun. 

5, Can you deliver it to (add where you live here)? 
Potentially, but why can't you collect? You're going to need a van or a trailer anyway. Or if you are miles away, then I could arrange transport at cost. But you can find that cost out yourself, can't you? If all this makes me sound jaded, miserable and generally downbeat then I have given you the wrong impression. I am in fact so utterly happy all the time that people sometimes think I'm a homosexual! I'm perhaps the only bloke in the world that has had to come out as straight.

Ricky Graham & the Wood Racing XR750

Ron Wood, better known for the big tube Norton and Wood Rotax racers, built this fantastic XR750 for Ricky Graham before the rider went on to be a champion with Honda. G

Sideburn 13: Pre-order

To help us deal with the rush of orders and get magazines out to you as soon as possible we put new issues up for pre-order. That's what we're doing right now with SB13.
It's a beauty.
Pre-order at the Sideburn Webshop and your magazine will be sent out as soon to the March 22 published date as possible.
If you're a subscriber who has moved in the last four months, you better tell us your new address by emailing dirt at sideburnmagazine.com
Thanks for buying Sideburn. G

UPDATE:
Greetings. I took this photo on 27, Feb. at the barn, so you can guess my surprise at seeing the cover for Sideburn 13. This is one of the next projects on the table. Subscriber Jeff Ellison has finished his Ossa DMR, now it is time for him to tackle a #44 rep.
Cheers Bob Metz Minnesota

Wood Rotax Street Tracker

From Ed (who also owns this Harley KH)...

Thought you might like to see my Wood street tracker. Ron originally built this one as a playbike, and the large tank, kick starter, long travel suspension and front brake are all original. So are the thick padded seat and passenger pegs. I've spruced it up a bit, and added the lights and a Phil Darcy built Mikuni HSR42 carb, but it was already in fine shape, having played around on fire roads in Northern Arizona for it's entire life. Metzeler street tires got it through its inspection, but I reckon they will be coming off soon.
Happy Holidays, Ed

Read the Ron Wood story in Sideburn 3.

Wood-Rotax Next Generation

This is Matt Weidman on the Wood Rotax twin. Yes, it used to wear a roundel, but the engine was made by Rotax in Austria and the chassis by Ron Wood in California, so it's a Wood Rotax and that's the name it entered the first GNC twins race of 2010 under. Weidman rode the bike for the first time on the Friday of the Yavapai, Arizona round and made the main the next day. That is pretty incredible.
BMW? Nein, nein, nein (not till they give Ron some support). GI
Read Ron Wood's story in Sideburn 3

Yavapai Action

Arizona yesterday.
Your winner, Joe Kopp on the eni-supported Lloyd Brothers Ducati 1000
Wiles, Carr, Pearson, Schnabel. All on XR750s.
Cheza (star of Sideburn 5), Bryan Smith (who made the main on his 650 Kawasaki) and Matt Weidman. The official results say Weidmann was on a Wood Rotax, but I'm pretty sure that's the Wood-BMW 800. And that motor is made by Rotax for BMW, so I guess it is a Wood-Rotax. He made the main but DNF'd, don't know why. (Tead more about flat track chassis genius Ron Wood in SB3).
Coolbeth and Mees finished third and fourth.

That's what 24-hundredths of a second looks like. Kopp from S. Halbert. Sammy won the Dash for Cash (and its bonus points). He was also fastest qualifier and lap leader, so after one twins race that he didn't win, he's leading the championship. Interesting...

Photos: AMA Pro Racing

Wood Rotax Road Racer

Lovely DOHC Wood Rotax road racer shot at the Barber museum in 'bama and sent in by Dan Alexander. Thanks Dan.

Wood Honda/Yam

Does anyone own, or know someone who owns, a modern underslung shock Wood 450? We need a high quality shot (at least 7MB and in focus) of one parked up preferably. Let us know please. I know Mr Girdler's got one. Anyone know who did the shots for Cycle World? And anyone notice that Ron seems to be so disillusioned with the whole scene he doesn't even have flat trackers on his website any more, just quads? That's sad. GI

We heart framers

So does Tim White, the great up and coming photographer who took this shot.
Tim says 'Aside from the performance advantages, I know the racers like 'em for the ease of maintenance and tuning. I like 'em cuz they look cool as hell. Oh well...'
Expect some more of Tim's work in SB3. Yes, we've started work on it. God help us.

Too much, is sometimes too much

Ricky Graham and his high-flying Wood Rotax. Sponsored by Alphabet. Now Ricky, can you spell 'dislocation'?

Scunthorpe practice

We started the frantic ringing round and web checking on Saturday night, after the cancelation, of the race. And we found out there was a practice day at Scunthorpe speedway track - the Eddie Wright Raceway, a small oval on a former piece of wasteland, in the industrial north of England. I took my Wood Rotax, Randal and Steve brought their old XR750s, Jason turned up on his newly finished SR and Colin brought his CCM FT35.
Steve even let me have session on his XR. Thanks Steve. Great day.
These photos are by Rach.
I shot it all on film (not digi) so more pics soon.
Gary

Sideburn stickers in situ

On the Sideburn lap-top and the Sideburn Wood Rotax. Looking good.
Get your sticker sheet for £2/$4/€2.50 (free postage if you buy them at the same time as a mag or T-shirt) at www.Sideburnmagazine.com

Not for aircraft use

The Sideburn/Skooter Farm Racing Wood Rotax's Mikuni. Fuel injection doesn't come with stickers like this. Hail, hail Mikuni-san.

Spot the Difference

The top picture is Marco Belli on his Wood Rotax. He's the UK champion and consistently one of the top 3 flat trackers in Europe.
The bottom picture is me, Sideburn's Gary, on my Wood Rotax. I'm not in the top three of anything very often.
Both shots are taken on the same turn (turn 1 at Middlesbrough). Marco has about 20bhp more, but he could probably still win on my bike.
His bars are bigger (I've swapped mine). He's sat further back. I'm going to try that. Wonder if it'll make any difference.

Orange Blossom Special

This is the first of roughly one million snaps sent in by Rich of Mule Motorcycles. The bike belongs to American author and journalist Allan Girdler. It's a Wood Honda CRF450. Allan used to ride Harley XRs, and wrote a book about racing Harleys you can still pick up (Harley-Davidson Racing 1934-86), then decided he wanted something lighter and more reliable to race. So he flogged the 750 and built this. It’s neat. Wood make a lovely frame and the personalised 70s tinged paint and signwriting is dead right.
Check out Mule's own cool stuff at www.mulemotorcycles.net