In the 70's and 80's I used to be an avid spectator at the local races in Sao Paulo, Brazil, but I was never able to race at the time, firstly I needed my parents' written consent to be able to race, secondly and most importantly, I did not have a proper racing bike, no money and no clue on how to start.  

It was in the 70’s that the CB750Fours were the king and the dream bikes.  By mid 70’ I bought a Yamaha RD50.  What a bike !  For that time, it was a cool little bike, specially because it was a racing looking bike, with clipons, racing exhaust, solo seat, no fenders and that sound of a two stroke was great.   I used and abused of that little bike for a couple of years and by late 70’s I managed to buy a 1977 Suzuki GT380.  It was not the king of the road, but it was pretty close. The GT380 was a really “cool” bike and that two-stroke engine really sounded good too.  

By late 70’s, import of motorcycles in Brazil was forbidden, so we had to either get used foreign bikes or wait for the motorcycle factories to get established locally and manufacture their bikes in Brazil.  

Honda was the first and during early 80’s the new Honda CB400 got into the market. I sold my GT380 and saved money for my new bike: the CB400.   My boss, at the time, bought one and as he was not an avid rider, he occasionally offered the bike to me, so it would “run” more often.  Unfortunately, I crashed his bike while riding in the rain coming back home from work.  I dislocated my collarbone.  My boss was understanding enough not to be too much mad, and he also paid for most of the damages.    By 1984 I finally bought a brand new Honda CB400 -  we did not have a garage for the bike and I used to park it in the middle of my mother's living room... sorry!...  Anyway, that CB400 I rode quite often, as it was pretty much my daily commute transportation.  

Mid 80's I owned a couple of Yamaha DT180 and I did some off road riding, although the pictures below are with a borrowed Honda XL250 . Riding off road was fun and very "educating". 

In 1988 my company transferred me from my hometown of Sao Paulo to work overseas, more precisely in England, and I sold my motorcycle and did not have one until 1994. 

Because Brazilian import regulations were still very strict, I did not have much contact with the modern superbikes until I moved to England in 1988.  I was really amused to see the superbikes on the streets of London. I recall looking at a Yamaha 750 Deltabox chassis, what a huge tires these superbikes had – I thought.  

In 1990 I was transferred to the United States and in 1994 I bought my “dream“ bike, a brand new Kawasaki ZX7.   It was green and really beautiful.  However I was not used of such machinery, so much power and nowhere to use it.  At the time,  I was too much involved in personal matters and in my work so the beautiful ZX7 lasted only few months as I sold it. I then decided to stay away from motorcycles, probably “forever”. 

Staying “forever away” from motorcycles lasted less than 2 years, when I decided to buy the real “king” of the motorcycles, a CB750Four.  I searched the Internet and adds and I finally found one in Houston, Texas from a collector; it was a 1975 - K5  model.  I called the gentleman and I was informed that the bike was clean and in perfect conditions. I received pictures of the bike and it looked great.   I thought:  “Well, I hope the owner has been honest and I do not end up with a piece of junk…”.  I trusted the gentleman, sent him a check and got the bike shipped to New York.   A week later, the bike arrived and it was really nice, although pretty dusty.  I spend the following winter months cleaning and replacing small bolts and rusted parts.  The bike was very good overall, but I wanted it perfect.    My CB750Four, the real dream bike, was something I looked forward every weekend. 

By 1997 I wanted something newer and more powerful, but comfortable for riding with two up. I purchased a Suzuki Bandit 1200 to complement my garage with the CB750 Four. I rode most of 1997 with the Bandit 1200, but on the back of my mind I missed that “racing bike”, the ZX7 that I had sold in 1994.   By late 1997 while visiting my Honda/Suzuki dealer, I got a good deal on a brand new 1997 Honda CBR900RR.  It was black and red – Erion Racing replica.   I could not resist and I traded in the Bandit 1200.   I just loved the CBR900RR, which is still parked in my garage. 

Now “what next” I thought.   I have the king CB750Four, and super cool racing replica, the CBR900RR, something was still missing, but what? 

During 1998 I rode with friends though the back roads of New York.  It was fun and I truly enjoyed the rides on the streets with my friends, but I felt something was still missing.  During one of the visits to my Honda dealer, my sales friend had just returned from New Hampshire Speedway and he told me about his experience with a School called “Penguin Racing School”.  I thought it was very interesting, but I did pay too much attention to the place called Loudon in NH. 

Christmas of 1998 we had visitors from overseas, a friend who was racing RS125 in Brazil.   During the winter cold days, we went for a couple of rides in the back roads upstate New York, with my CBR900RR and my Classic CB750Four.  Talking to him I found out what was missing:  RACING MOTORCYCLES. 

Winter 1998/1999 was over and I started planning going to the racetrack.  I recalled the name “Penguin Racing School” and I called them.  Jeff Wood answered the phone and helped me to understand better what Penguin Racing offered.   I was to call him back within few weeks when I had my work schedule organized (and had made my mind too).   By July 1999 I was traveling at Lake George in NY, about 150 miles to Loudon/NH.  I called Jeff Wood again and asked if he had any opening for the school late July 1999.  He had not, but I decided to go to the track and see what it was all about and take the opportunity to meet Jeff.   I got there and there was no rental bikes available for the weekend, but since I was there, I did the corner worker class and learned some track etiquette and flag meaning. I worked as cornerworker that day and I signed up the school with Jeff for September 03, 1999.  
 

September 03, 1999:  I went to the track with a friend and for the first time I rode a Kawasaki EX500.   I was used of riding the CBR900RR and big bikes only, so my first impression was not that good about the “little” EX500.  Anyway, I thought, it is a rental bike for the day only.   I did the Penguin Racing School, learned a lot about actually riding a motorcycle at the limits.   Well, at first you think there are no limits, that you can ride as fast as the bike can.  After riding at the racetrack, you realize your limits are much narrower than you thought, and that riding or racing a bike to the limits is a much harder job, even with the “little” EX500. 

The very first race: I was quite anxious at the grid, I managed to get 16th place and had lots of fun. 

I was hooked ! Not only by the racing experience, but also by the excellent EX500.  I just loved the bike.   By late 1999 I started looking for an EX500 and prepare it for the 2000 Racing Season at Loudon Speedway in New Hampshire.   I end up buying a new 1999 EX500, put 1,000 street miles during the winter 1999/2000 and got it ready and safety wired for the season opening in April 2000.  

The 2000 season was a great experience in motorcycling, something completely different than anything I had experienced with motorcycles.  I learned a lot about mechanics, setup of the bike, physical preparation and concentration, racing in the rain and something that we hope not to happen, but we know it will happen, dealing with crashes.    I also met lots of people and made lots of friends.   Friendship and mutual cooperation is something special among racers, with very few exceptions, there is a great sense of cooperation among racers.  

I spend the year of 2000 as Amateur. My first race of the season (my second race as amateur) I got 3rd place and I thought that I had some chances to do well.  I did well in 2000, with several third and second places and by the end of the year, in the very last race of the year, the so waited first place.  I was then more than ready to move up to Junior Classes.   By then, I was not riding on the streets as I used to, my CBR900RR and my CB750K5 were parked in the garage most of time, as I had very little time and not a particular desire to ride on the streets, although I did miss the great riders with my friends. 

For the 2000 season I had a little tent near the garages where my bike and tools would stay during the weekend event.  It was okay as long as it did not rain.  It was a real drag when it rained, as the bike, the tools and everything else got wet. 

By the end of 2000 I bought a 2001 Suzuki SV650 as I wanted to race both bikes, the EX500 and the SV650.   Winter of 2000/2001 I got the SV650 prepared and ready for the 2001 season.  I also worked a bit on the EX500, as to fix the results of the few crashes of 2000  - I crashed 3 times in 2000, being one occasion during the rain (pictures below). 

The 2001 season:  I was really looking for the 2001 season and to race the new SV650.   Racing with two bikes, I had more tools and additional parts to carry with me and worry about.  So I got an enclosed trailer to put all my stuff in and save some money with hotels, as I could sleep in the trailer.    I also got a garage for the 2001 season, so avoiding the trouble of letting all my stuff in the rain, or cold or heat during the events. The garage and the enclosed trailer really got things more comfortable.

My goal was to get Expert Racing License by the end of the 2001 season, which I was able to accomplish.

Opening 2002 Season. Cold, freezing rain, even snow...   The creation of Team SpeedBike Racing.   A real great season with lots of improvements.   Click here for 2002 season start page.

2003 Season. Refreshed bike for 2003 and planning to be back racing with one bike; which I believe will make things simpler and more efficient. I expect lots more improvements in terms of bike preparation and riding techniques.  Click here for 2003 season start page.

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