King Kenny and the Corkscrew

[kangaroo]

With the recent Motogp fresh in our minds, a coworker dug up some old pics for me to enjoy. Thought I'd share...

 

[weak_link]

Nice pics but what's up with the pink splooge?

 

[kangaroo]

flash and a dying camera.

 

[Johndicezx9]

Scan them like I did for my pics in this thread:

http://www.bayarearidersforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=112357

(They look too good not to have a digital copy.)

 

[kangaroo]

He's going to look for the negatives.

 

[russ69]

You missed the real action shot. Kenny would lift the front wheel and transition into the corkscrew on one wheel. Nobody did it like King Kenny, the greatest rider I've ever seen.

Thanx, Russ

 

[louemc]

You missed the real action shot. Kenny would lift the front wheel and transition into the corkscrew on one wheel. Nobody did it like King Kenny, the greatest rider I've ever seen.

Thanx, Russ

Now That's what I'm Talkin About

And....a hard core showed me how to get to the far side of the corkscrew and at the up-hill leading to the corkscrew.

Where Kenny would come over the up-hill jump, fully airborne, when landing, front wheel brake, carrying it that way, on up the approach, then off the brake, and as you describe, loft the front (actually just prevent it from staying on the ground as the ground falls away) and toss the bike down into that turn.

 

[Removed 4]

Funny to see hay bales all stacked up around the edges.

 

[JakesKTM]

those pics are the real deal alright.....cocaine was laced with pink food coloring back then too.

 

[rsrider]

You missed the real action shot. Kenny would lift the front wheel and transition into the corkscrew on one wheel. Nobody did it like King Kenny, the greatest rider I've ever seen.

Thanx, Russ

I forgot what year it was, but at a WSBK event, there was this guy riding a motard (before it was hip), and he would lift a the front insanely high at the top, then drop it down for a straight shot through the bottom turn. I talked to him about it and he said it was just easier to get the bike turned that way. I think he was an Islander, but can't remember his name.......

 

[ST Guy]

You missed the real action shot. Kenny would lift the front wheel and transition into the corkscrew on one wheel. Nobody did it like King Kenny, the greatest rider I've ever seen.

Thanx, Russ

Randy would do the same thing. Actually, the best action shot is the two of them, practically side by side, both lifting the front wheel through the transition between 8 and 8a, the bikes pretty much horizontal.

 

[ST Guy]

Y'all will love these:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J7_WAeCe8oE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dVTO387oaiQ

Note that it's the old track and also note the lack of run-off room all around the track.

 

[Go2Trackdays]

I was wondering why he was so far out from the apex of that right hander I did see Kenny's last race at Laguna and every lap exiting Rainy curve he would have the rear end spinning/oscillating back and forth all the way to turn 10 without throwing it on the ground.

I was watching this past weekend's Laguna Seca races and they stay right next to the curbing until a bit farther down the track.


I've never seen so many WHEELIES in a race... whoa !!! ( thanks for the links ST Guy )

 

[wussboy]

Y'all will love these:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J7_WAeCe8oE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dVTO387oaiQ

Note that it's the old track and also note the lack of run-off room all around the track.

Weren't those more or less exhibition races? They are popping wheelies all over the place, letting others pass, and Kenny even says in heat 2 that he'd "rather have fun and take 2nd than win".

Still cool though.

 

[ST Guy]

No, not an exhibition race. However, the rest of the field was so outclassed by Roberts and Mamola that they just had fun. It was awesome to see. I remember it like it was yesterday.

 

[DataDan]

Weren't those more or less exhibition races? They are popping wheelies all over the place, letting others pass, and Kenny even says in heat 2 that he'd "rather have fun and take 2nd than win".

At the time, the race was a championship round of AMA's Formula 1 class, which allowed bikes up to 750cc. AMA regulars rode the Yamaha TZ750, a production racebike powered by a 2-stroke four. Roberts, Mamola, and others (including in earlier years Freddie Spencer, who in 1985 was busy winning both the 250cc and 500cc GP championships) would show up for Laguna on 500GP bikes that walked away from the AMA bikes.

It was a huge PR opportunity for the factories because of all the exposure they would get via their GP stars, and their participation turned it into a truly special event. Next to Daytona, it was the biggest event on the US roadracing calendar and got lots of attention from the mostly LA-based industry and media, not to mention fans from all over California.

Those videos dramatically show how dangerous the track was in those days (though no worse than others). Embankments (protected by hay bales) were just a few yards from the track, even at turn 2, then a high-speed left-hander.

 

[clutchslip]

Those videos dramatically show how dangerous the track was in those days (though no worse than others). Embankments (protected by hay bales) were just a few yards from the track, even at turn 2, then a high-speed left-hander.

Yeah, but look at 1. I almost forgot how close the dirt was before, hmmm...3 or 4 changes ago? Scary stuff. Those videos don't do justice to the top of the hill. (Now turn 6.) Man, the speeds were high and there wasn't much to stop a fast bike from going over the edge. Everyone has gingerly taking (current turn 11). That wall was a death trap. It was the fast cars that got that sucker moved back, then they changed the whole thing to slow things down a bit.

Seeing Chandler out there, just reminded me of how many years he raced.

Thanks for the links.

 

[R3DS!X]

if my front wheel came up while falling into the corkscrew im sure i would shit myself inside out.

my dad idolizes kenny roberts and he has a tshirt with his autograph on it. he wears if if we start talking about bike a lot .

 

[russ69]

Kenny always put on a good show. He knew exactly what he was doing by adding interest to what would have been a very boring race. He, more than anybody created the American interest in motorcycle roadracing. He was as good a promoter as he was a racer. He knew the sport and what it needed to grow and he was a significant contributor to that cause. Just watching Kenny was good enough for me, nobody ever rode a bike as well as he did. Yes, I'm a KR fanboy, whatever that is!

Thanx, Russ

 

[mean dad]

fucking awesome. man, i liked the days before electronic controls. men were motherfuckin MEN, yo.

only reason i bought my rz350 was king kenny.