Be careful what you wish for. We have all been working hard to get machines ready for the 5th Symposium. This is our Team Leoni reunion. We are trying to revive and bring to the Loudon racetrack in New Hampshire as many machines built by Reno Leoni and raced by the late Jimmy Adamo. It is sadly the 20th year since Jimmy's tragic death at Daytona. I think it is important to preserve the past, that being said, I think events like this help us to work towards that goal. Bill Swenson is working on Team Leoni's first 4 valve 851, Ralph Stechow has already restored the Cagiva 500 GP bike and is also working on one of the all conquering big bevels. Jeff Nash owns another team Leoni pantah I restored a few years ago, Bar Hodgeson will give Steve Munro another of the big bevels to bring down from Canada. I am hoping to talk some people into bringing a few more. Fritz Augustine has the old Moto Guzzi that Reno built for Kurt Liebman, Jack Silverman has my old Team Leoni TT1 raced by Pablo Real, Chris Jensen is still racing a single Reno built and will be bringing it as well. Jim Hunter will be asked to bring a beautiful short stroke Imola stye bevel that Reno built years ago with many corsa parts. I will bring my Team Leoni 83 twins champ TT2/1 as well. Brian Brown in California had the last TT built by Reno and raced by Jimmy, and later Pablo Real. I was hoping he would also be able to restore it and bring it to our event. Now you know why I started this post with 'be careful what you wish for'. A friend bought the bike from Brian and had it shipped to me to get ready for the Symposium! It is a bit of a mess! It all happened a little too quick for me to think it through. I really want as many bikes at the event as possible I just didn't expect to have to work on another one. My Adamo bike is not finished yet either. The day (two days ago) it came off the truck, I stripped it down to the bare frame and started work on the fairing to get a jump on the paint. Wish me luck guys. If any of you find yourselves in the NYC area please stop by, and if possible bring work clothes! Lou

Lou my first Arai was a Jimmy Replica. A all time hero of mine. If I was closer I wouldn't hesitate to lend a hand. Good luck. Boucher.

Hey Lou. You never thought about the "oily rag" method of restoration. Pat might know something of this. MikeV

Hi Mike, I agree this is always my first choice. My Harris TT will look great with an oily rag resto. I just spent the past 2 days removing layer after layer of paint and bondo from the Adamo fairing. All of the painting and disassembly was done after it's glory days. I am just trying to bring it back. No better no worse. The upper fairing was about a pound lighter when I was done with the DA sander. Now to glass all the cracks. It would have been easier to buy a new fairing, but I try, when I can to keep it original. Restoration is a tricky thing. Most people have a tendency to make things 'better' than new. I've been guilty of this at times but I promise you it was unintentional. I did not have an original piece to use as a 'standard' for what was correct. Things look a lot better in old photos than they probably looked in person. With every restoration we learn and figure out what will do a better job the next time. That is one of the reasons I have done my red/silver TT1 over a number of times and if you look closely at some of the pictures you will see things that change. That bike is my pride and joy, but it is also my 'standard' so I always try to improve on her. Thanks Boucher, I still have my old Adamo helmet! Lou

Hello Lou, I'm perfectly okay with you, We must try to preserve the original components, of course within the limits of the possible, and in complete safety.

Even if I had bought a new tank I had saved a lot of money and a lot of time working, but when you reach the bottom of your restoration, your satisfaction is rewarded better than with the money!

Lou Bravissimo!


carlo

I've been enjoying looking at the old war horses in pretty much 'as raced' condition - especially the Harris examples and the Jimmi bike you picked up earlier. Can't wait to hear 'em run.

Regards,

The pictures make the tank look good. The strange looking rod with the ball on the end is for knocking out dents on the inside. This tank was last used during the World Cup! You know football. Lou

Just a quick update. The parts are all at the painters! Finished stripping the frame yesterday, what a job. Orange powder coat, man that stripper is toxic! Lou

Hello Lou,

I have to get the powder coat (should only be used for garden furniture) off a single frame.
What did you use?

Graeme

Hi Graeme, I scuffed it with scotch brite so the stripper could dig in. Aircraft Stripper is the name on the can. You must use this with a lot of open air ventilation. Just opening the can will let out a cloud of toxic stink, and you must wear protective gloves. Gauntlet type would be best, and goggles. When it gets on your skin you will know why it works so well, it burns. Lou