Billy Lane’s SONS OF SPEED by Miserable George

Well, once again, Old Man Weather put the “blocks” to us as far as HEAT was concerned. Sat., Oct. 16 was BRUTAL at New Smyrna Speedway in Samsula, Fl. for Billy Lane’s 2021 Biketoberfest edition of the Sons of Speed Old Time Motorcycle Races!! Nice crowd on hand for a Biketoberfest event.

Rev, Al gave the Invocation, we pledged allegiance to the flag, and, they were off. I tried my best to keep up with scoring, but didn’t do a very good job!!! There was just one mishap as the riders were returning to the pits after a heat. Jody Perewitz was bumped by another rider, and she went down. Thank the Lord, she was OK, but her bike was damaged to the point where she couldn’t continue…the throttle control cables were rendered useless. She told me…”That’s Racing…!!” What a girl…!!!!The program ran straight through without an intermission, and these were the results as I got them: Michael Lange-Stock 45…EBay Jake-Hot 45…Single-Winner-take-all-Billy Lane…Stock 61-Michael Lange….Hot 61-Michael Lange…Wildcard-Winner take all-Michael Lange . So, that was IT!!!! Race was over just after 4PM. I was BEAT…had to have help getting up the high bank on turn 4 to get through the gate!!! I think next race, I’ll just sit in the Grandstand and do what I can from there!!

Thanks Billy Lane for your hospitality…Miserable George

BILLY LANE’S SONS OF SPEED by Miserable George

The action at this year’s Biketoberfest Billy Lane’s Sons of Speed vintage Motorcycle Races, at New Smyrna Speedway, began on a note of sadness, at the announcement of the passing of racer Mark Hanna this past June…the race was dedicated to Mark…

This race was held under the lights, which caused a “slight” problem for me, in as much as I didn’t want to use my camera flash shooting the riders in action on the track. Making adjustments to the different race situations proved to be quite a chore, so I set what I figured would be a good “mean” setting…BUT…I was wrong, so some of the action is a bit blurred…please bear with me…OK?

There was yet another touch of sadness at the news of Brittney Olsen’s retirement from active motorcycle racing…always loved to watch that little girl race…she was GOOD too, although this last time out…she failed to score a final win. Good luck, Brittney…!!!

It was touch and go with the weather all evening, as we experienced some drizzle during the race…an all-out shower coming just after the final lap!!!!

The winners were:

45” Class…E-bay Jake
Stock 61” Class…ROXY HANNA!!!
Hot 61” Class…E-bay Jake.

It was a safe event…no spills. Air was a bit cooler, so the bikes ran a bit better too.

AS always, I wanna thank Billy Lane and his wife Erin for their awesome hospitality, as well as some of the crew members for their information during the action. Looking forward to Bike Week, 2020 and the next Sons of Speed event…

Miserable George

Billy Lane’s SONS OF SPEED by Miserable George

I gotta admit, THIS is the event I always really get very excited over…the Billy Lane-Sons of Speed old time board-tracker style bike races, at New Smyrna Speedway, in Samsula, Fl…held at both Biketoberfest, and Bike Week.

Our report doesn’t even scratch the surface of the action at the track. You gotta BE THERE, to take in the sounds and smells, as well as the images, created by these awesome machines, some of them nearly 100 years old!!!

Due to some sprinkles early in the day, the track had to be dried off to make it safe for the action later in the day. That being accomplished, the warm-ups and tune-up runs began. What a rush to watch and listen to those old machines, wingin’ it around the racing oval..! Luckily…no mishaps on the track, however, one machine blew a cylinder head clean off…!! Crazy!!!

After all the qualifying and the heats,

the final results were:

1st. place-45’s…DougYoung….
1st. Place stock ‘61’s…Jody Perewitz….
1st. Place Hot 61’s…Tod Cochran

All in all, a fabulous day at the track. I gotta thank Billy Lane for his unmatched hospitality, and the Score Girls for putting up with me!!! Hey, stand up for your country, and, GOD bless our Vets…they made all this possible…

Miserable George

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Billy Lane’s Sons of Speed by Miserable George

Ever since I saw the first Sons of Speed Race, I been chompin’ at the bit for the next one, and this past Oct. 21, 2017, out at NSB Speedway…it happened!!!

We got there early, went over to the pit area, and were amazed at the array of old school Board-track racing machines…a few, almost 100 years old..!!! I noticed Harley’s and Indians, if there were other makes…well, I missed them.

It was an absolute joy to watch the warm-ups and tuning of these legendary machines!! Some of the riders even wore suits that made them look like they just stepped out of the past!! Billy Lane himself, wore an old-time leather helmet!!

These bikes have no clutch, no tranny, and, NO BRAKES!! Put ‘em up on a stand, and yank on the rear wheel, and mostly, they will sputter to life; or get a push, or coast down from the edge of the high bank on turn-4!!!

They call it “Sons of Speed”, BUT, there are several “Daughters” of Speed running as well, including Shelly Rossmeyer, and Roxie….(just Roxie, was all I got!!), and last races’ winner, Brittney Olsen. She was ready to ride, but, her bike wasn’t completed as yet, but, she didn’t exactly “sit” it out…she was running all over the grounds, sporting a cute little cheerleader type outfit. Roxie was a rookie, but finished 2nd. in a heat, and was giving Billy Lane a run for his money!!

A rider named Jake, #13 , was the eventual winner for the day. He received a beautiful hand tooled trophy.

We had the pleasure of meeting Roxie, along with Rick Petko from Orange Co. Choppers, plus MC Bubba Blackwell!!

All in all, it was a fantastic day!

I wanna thank Billy Lane for his hospitality, and NSB Speedway for a fine facility. Looking forward to Bike Week, 2018 for the next Sons of Speed event!!! Stay tuned….

Miserable George

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BILLY LANE’S “SONS OF SPEED” Daytona Bike Week 2017 by Miserable George and ValGal

I’ve always been a great fan of half-mile motorcycle racing…both dirt, and asphalt, but, I had never seen the old “Board Trackers”…

that is until Sat. Mar. 18, at New Smyrna Speedway, in Samsula, Fl. True, they didn’t run on the boards like back in the teens and twenties…BUT…they ran, on the asphalt at New Smyrna.

Although, the old board trackers ran at speeds in excess of 100MPH, the Sons of Speed machines clocked in at between 65 and 70 MPH, but, still gave the nearly packed house of avid fans, a very exciting day of racing!!

Yes, there were a few “first time gliches”, but, this is to be expected for an inaugural event. Despite some minor setbacks with the machines….EVERYONE was given an opportunity to get out on the track…much to the satisfaction of the fans…!!

Those bikes have a sound all their own; it kinda took ya back a few years, to the thrilling days of the Boarders..!! I was high up in the grand-stand, and, ValGal covered the pit area, so, we hope we’ve given you an interesting view of the event…as we saw it…!!

Brittany Olsen…yes, a lady rider, was the over-all winner. Heat winners were: Billy Lane, Buzz Kanter, Brittany Olsen, and Shelly Rossmeyer. If I missed anyone, I ‘m sorry.

A big THANKS to Billy Lane and the Sons of Speed for a truly outstanding first-time event. Be careful out there…

Miserable George & ValGal