81-year-old Tony Serra clinched his sixth club level class championship at Willow Springs on November 26^th, concluding a racing career that spanned seven decades.

Part one of Serra’s career started in 1964 with the Association of American Motorcycle Road Racers and concluded in 1970. A highlight for Serra was racing in the Junior Class of the 1968 Canadian GP at Mosport.

Part two of Serra’s career began in 2008 at the age of 68 when he rented a 250 Ninja from Race Bike Rentals for track days and Willow Springs Motorcycle Club races.  Serra purchased that motorcycle and hired Lindemann Engineering’s Ed Sorbo as his Crew Chief & Coach.  Serra is heavier than the kids he raced against and wanted more power for his 250 Ninja. Because adding a turbo to a 250 Ninja is impractical Sorbo offered his 1990 TZ 250.  Serra used it to earn his first club level championship.  In the 2010 WSMC Novice 250 GP Class, thus, becoming the world’s oldest motorcycle club level class champion at 71.  In 2011 Serra earned both the Novice 250 GP and Novice Ninja Cup Championships with WSMC. By 2013 Serra was an expert and clinched the Moto West GP Lindemann Engineering 250 Ninja Cup Championship.  In 2019 Serra earned the WERA West F Super Sport Expert Championship and in 2020 he concluded his second career by again earning the WERA West F Super Sport Expert Championship.

Of note:  Serra’s best TZ lap at Willow Springs is 1.44 and his best 250 Ninja lap is 1.47.  Serra’s racing accomplishments are unlikely to be matched however he wants to encourage everyone to pursue their dreams. The Serra Challenge does not require extraordinary skills. Tony Serra encourages you to do the thing that challenges you regardless of age and if it’s motorcycling, all you have to do to join Tony is go racing anytime between the ages of 68 and 81 years young.

Lindemann Engineering has been racing and enabling dreamers since 1982.

For the weekend at Willow:

3.5 seconds faster than the last time I raced here, 1.31.86

Two wins in Lightweight SS.

Two 2nd place finishes in Lightweight SB.

Two 2nd places finishes in F-2.

For the season with WERA West:

First in Lightweight SS.

3rd in Lightweight SB.

3rd in F-2.

On the 81st different motorcycle I’ve raced. Starting my 5th consecutive decade racing and winning on motorcycles.

It’s time to add a Race Car Department to Lindemann Engineering. I’m looking for shop space in the Coachella Valley. If you have a Project Car Build, I’ll discount my labor rate in exchange for a nice deposit.

After a full day of Coaching & Crew Chief work, this guy took 4 seconds off his PB.  Loading up is easier after a successful day.  A big part of that improvement came after I took his bike for a lap and recommended a number of ergonomic changes.

I could not find a steering damper kit for my SV so I made one. # More Old School

While I was busy earning another $500 from Suzuki on my SV650 this weekend @ Buttonwillow with WERA, I picked up my 2019 Championship Plaque earned with my 1988 CBR600F1 that has already been sold to Kent. Yet more proof that he got a good bike.

On the right is the base with rebound adjuster knob. The shaft is on the top. Notice the hole just bellow the shoulder. Inside the shaft is a rod to move the needle, the rebound needle and the check valve. Oil passes the needle by flowing into the shaft through the hole below the shoulder, past the needle and out the check valve. The piston with compression and rebound stacks rest on the shoulder.