current build

[RogerMason]

Well hoof, make sure somebody takes pictures of you when you are there, and post your winning times and speed... And I mean lots of pictures..

[Hoofhearted]

Been meaning to get back here. The 544 Weslake is together. It didn't put up a great fight. Narrowing the small end of the rod was the tricky part. The rest of the assembly was straightforward. I haven't fired it up yet. Each time I'd do something I'd find two things that needed to be done first. The salt is a killer on parts. Rear brake seized solid. Soaked it. Nothing. Heat did the trick. then its clean out everything. And you realize that the adjusters etc. now look scruffy and they have to be cleaned and painted. One night went on the clutch. Strip it right down and clean and grease everything. Its really a futile attempt to stay the rust. I'm going through the electrics right now. After the kill switch proved faulty.

Now. If I could be allowed to wander somewhat. A friend has a little hole-in-the wall shop. Specializing in Triumphs, Nortons and old Brits. In the corner of the shop is an old drag bike. Stretched featherbed with two Commandos in it. No Known history per se. Bits are missing but the bones look good. Over the past couple of years we have talked about the possibility of turning it into a land speed bike. The Triumph in the background was a customers. It now resides in San Francisco.


By weslake at 2012-04-05

I was tied up with the Norton and then the sidecar I put it into the back of my mind. A friend in Ohio is building a twin Triumph for Bonneville. It brought the twin Norton back to the forefront of my feeble mind.

On another forum I spotted this photo. Ok the image is reversed but damn! I know that bike.



By weslake at 2012-04-05

Can't be two stretched featherbeds with two Commandos. Its Preniss Perry's old fuel drag bike. I remember seeing him at Fontana and the Beach as a kid. He ran a single and double triumphs then.


By weslake at 2012-04-06

I was up with him a couple of days ago and we were talking about land speed racing again. I said I'd love to bring the bike back to life and run it on the salt. He made a suggestion that I build the bike and he supply the parts. And parts he has plenty of. It can't be done this year as I'm committed to running the sidecar. But after Bonneville I'd be free to start on it.

The first photo was when it was all nice and clean. This is it as it sits now. I hope he goes along with his suggestion I really want to pull the trigger on it at Bonneville and see what happens. The tank on top of it is not original to it and is just butt ugly.


By weslake at 2009-03-17

[RogerMason]

Cool when ya get it going on the flats make sure ya get some pic's. Sounds like a cool next project, keep us posted when ya start it..

[Big D]

Originally Posted by Hoofhearted

Been meaning to get back here. The 544 Weslake is together. It didn't put up a great fight. Narrowing the small end of the rod was the tricky part. The rest of the assembly was straightforward. I haven't fired it up yet. Each time I'd do something I'd find two things that needed to be done first. The salt is a killer on parts. Rear brake seized solid. Soaked it. Nothing. Heat did the trick. then its clean out everything. And you realize that the adjusters etc. now look scruffy and they have to be cleaned and painted. One night went on the clutch. Strip it right down and clean and grease everything. Its really a futile attempt to stay the rust. I'm going through the electrics right now. After the kill switch proved faulty.

Now. If I could be allowed to wander somewhat. A friend has a little hole-in-the wall shop. Specializing in Triumphs, Nortons and old Brits. In the corner of the shop is an old drag bike. Stretched featherbed with two Commandos in it. No Known history per se. Bits are missing but the bones look good. Over the past couple of years we have talked about the possibility of turning it into a land speed bike. The Triumph in the background was a customers. It now resides in San Francisco.


By weslake at 2012-04-05

I was tied up with the Norton and then the sidecar I put it into the back of my mind. A friend in Ohio is building a twin Triumph for Bonneville. It brought the twin Norton back to the forefront of my feeble mind.

On another forum I spotted this photo. Ok the image is reversed but damn! I know that bike.



By weslake at 2012-04-05

Can't be two stretched featherbeds with two Commandos. Its Preniss Perry's old fuel drag bike. I remember seeing him at Fontana and the Beach as a kid. He ran a single and double triumphs then.


By weslake at 2012-04-06

I was up with him a couple of days ago and we were talking about land speed racing again. I said I'd love to bring the bike back to life and run it on the salt. He made a suggestion that I build the bike and he supply the parts. And parts he has plenty of. It can't be done this year as I'm committed to running the sidecar. But after Bonneville I'd be free to start on it.

The first photo was when it was all nice and clean. This is it as it sits now. I hope he goes along with his suggestion I really want to pull the trigger on it at Bonneville and see what happens. The tank on top of it is not original to it and is just butt ugly.


By weslake at 2009-03-17

Wow!!! Way cool!

[LouEvo XL]

just when i thought i had seen it all...that is a cool looking oldie.

[jerseymutt]

Don't remember Perry from back in the day (but I don;t remember a lot from back in the day) but get a kick out of the pic of him racing in full leathers and sneakers in both pics. Cool bike though.

Mutt