A Flying Squirrel, a Cannonball, and Klotz

T.J. Jackson is a longtime motorcycle mechanic, engineer, and racer. He founded Eastside Performance Motorcycles in Mesa, Arizona around 1981. He sold this speed shop in 2014 and now devotes his time to restoring vintage motorcycles.

In 2000, Jackson purchased a 1929 Scott “Flying Squirrel” motorcycle from an auction. The Scott Motorcycle Company built the Flying Squirrel in Great Britain from 1926 through 1950 (although production stopped for several years while the country was embroiled in World War II). These bikes were powered by either a 496cc or 596cc water-cooled, two-stroke parallel twin engine with two overhanging rod crankshafts mated to a three-speed gearbox. The specific motorcycle that Jackson purchased was originally shipped to New Zealand where it was first sold as new.

Jackson quickly discovered that his Flying Squirrel had undergone a cosmetic, but not a mechanical, restoration by the previous owner. He spent many years refurbishing or replacing every mechanical component. The fully restored motorcycle now performs so well that Jackson entered it in the 2023 Motorcycle Cannonball.

The Motorcycle Cannonball is a cross-country endurance event that is open to motorcycles built in 1933 or earlier. Each rider is expected to cover over two-hundred and fifty miles per day for a total of sixteen days. It starts in Virginia Beach, Virginia and ends in Oceanside, California. Riders receive points for reaching checkpoints within specified time windows. This point system is handicapped based on the age of the motorcycle, the age of the rider, and the displacement of the motorcycle’s engine. Riders are prohibited from receiving mechanical assistance during the day, and support can only be provided by team mechanics at each day’s scheduled end point.

Motorcycle Cannonball rules require the use of a handlebar-mounted scroll map instead of a modern GPS system. The rules also allow for bike modifications that improve safety, so Jackson updated the wheels, brakes, seat, handlebars, electrical system, and lights of his Flying Squirrel.

The Flying Squirrel was originally equipped with a Pilgrim-style oiling device that metered drips of oil in the engine via the two main bearing feeds. Jackson’s bike has been modified to now utilize two oiling methods. The primary lubrication system uses a tank of premixed gasoline and oil at a ratio of 60:1. The secondary lubrication system drips oil on the two inboard main bearings at a frequency of four drops per minute. Jackson uses Klotz R-50 Racing Techniplate in both systems to maximize hardware protection and reliability. The bike’s three chains (final drive, primary, and magneto) are lubricated with Klotz Aerosol Chain Lube. All metal surfaces are cleaned using Klotz Plug & Contact Cleaner.

Participating in an event as grueling as the Motorcycle Cannonball requires extensive mechanical testing of the bike and physical conditioning for the rider. Jackson has already accumulated almost three-thousand miles of testing, with countless hours of additional testing planned over the next five months. Klotz will be posting regular updates on LinkedIn to track his progress.

Please message me if you have any questions about the three Klotz products discussed in this article.