"Me and my RZ"
My First time out on the track on my very own race bike.
(Putnam park hairpin)
Photo courtesy of "Speedy" Pete Smakula
I couldn't have asked for a better first race bike than this RZ you see here. I bought it from a guy who was a machinist and a fanatic about this bike. It was his "TZ Wannabe". The whole bike was an excercise in overkill. The motor was basically stock except for a trued and welded crank, Mikuni flatslides, and Toomey pipes, but maaaaan was it fast! The chassis was where things got really wild. All the stock suspension and brakes were gone in favor of bigger and burlier stuff. White Power inverted forks in billet triple clamps held the FZR600 front wheel. Stopping power came from a pair of FZR1000 four piston calipers, clamping down on 12" Performance Machine cast iron rotors, with a GSXR750 master cylinder for motivation!! It was a stoppie waiting to happen. The FZ600 swingarm held an FZR400 rear wheel and brake assembly. The biggest problem was that the suspension was stiffer than the frame. Another machinist friend hepled me fix that with a whole lot of gussetting. Same guy made the aluminum clip-ons and those bitchin' rearsets you see in the photo! I called it the flying purple FZR400 eater. I miss that bike to this day, and probably always will.
My first race as a WERA expert.
Gingerman Raceway
Photo courtesy of "Speedy" Pete Smakula
