Rugged Royal Enfield "The Badger" rides again in film

"Made in Trenton" marks this Royal Enfield Bullet as a tough underdog.

The idea was to enter three different kinds of races, using the same Royal Enfield Bullet — and do it all inside one month.

It was such a crazy idea they made a film about it.

"The Badger — Made in Trenton" debuts on Vimeo on Demand Monday, Feb. 29, 2016. Here's the pitch:

"Can builder Leon Stanley and Team Badger Corse’s cadre of riders take an unlikely Royal Enfield... and hit the track as a road racer, then chase four land speed records and finally go flat tracking, all on the same bike, all in one month?"

The Badger at speed.

The only question they're answering is that whatever happened, it made a pretty good film. An unfinished cut of "The Badger — Made in Trenton" was shown at the 2014 Motorcycle Film Festival in New York City and took the Audience Choice Award.

Why is the fact that Stanley and team were based in Trenton important?

Trenton is a once great industrial center and the capital of the state of New Jersey, neither much of a claim to fame in the United States. So "Made in Trenton" is a thumb-in-your-eye show of gumption in the face of adversity.

Racing a Royal Enfield Bullet is a suitably defiant act.

"It's like a motorcycle," one competitor says of Stanley's Badger. "Only slower."

I've seen the finished film. To my surprise it's not the motorcycle that stars. It's Leon Stanley. Half way through the hour long film you find yourself rooting for him. He's determined, but likable.

"Here's the $64,000 question," he tells one rider: "Was it at least fun?"

Film maker Drue Pennella has produced a beautifully photographed movie. You can watch the trailer now. It will whet your appetite.

The Badger: Made in Trenton from Pure Motion Pictures on Vimeo.

Racing a Royal Enfield against the odds and the clock

This video takes us road racing on the Royal Enfield Badger.

With its "Autumn Blitz" of three races in 30 days on one Royal Enfield motorcycle complete, it's now a season of reflection for Leon Stanley, builder of the Badger.

The Badger went road racing Sept. 22 at Summit Point in West Virginia, chased a land speed record Sept. 30 in Wilmington, Ohio, and sought flat track glory Oct. 31 in Cuddebackville, N.Y.

With cameras following him every step of the way, reality television style, Leon found himself considering not only how things are going, but about what he is trying to prove.

"Nothing in the end," he concludes, on his Badger Corse blog. "Sometimes it's just the simple joy of getting lost in something that gives you pleasure and satisfaction. An end unto itself. Secondly, I've long believed, now more then ever, that what ever the pursuit, much of our effort is not about the activity itself, but rather the people we meet along the way."

We'll find out how things went in "The Badger, Made in Trenton" documentary when it emerges from production at Pure Motion Pictures.

To tease us in the meantime, Leon posted videos of Badger in action on YouTube. I found the video of Joe Clancy on Badger at Summit Point most stirring, even though it shows only a practice run.

It's hard for me to imagine pushing my gentle Royal Enfield Bullet into corners knowing something could break. Hell, Leon noted, Badger's tachometer was broken before Clancy's ride began.

Check out the video.

This Royal Enfield is proudly 'Made in Trenton'

The motto on this Royal Enfield motorcycle reveals its upstart origin.

UPDATE: Badger is in another race, and you can help. The proposed documentary film is up for "Project of the Week" on Indiewire.com Cast your vote here. It's fast and painless (no registration required).

Film makers documenting the racing campaign of a Royal Enfield Bullet dubbed The Badger have released a new "teaser" that captures the appeal of this scrappy motorcycle.

Builder Leon Stanley of Trenton, N.J., is the human face in the teaser, but the real star is the Royal Enfield motorcycle itself. My favorite shot is the proud "Made in Trenton" on the front downtube.

It's obviously a tribute to the out-sized "Made in Britain" decals that appeared on British motorcycles in the 1970s (as the motorcycle industry in Britain died out), and it's even more ironic.

For the benefit of foreign readers, you have to understand that Trenton is the capital of the state of New Jersey. Both the city and state have underdog reputations as fading industrial centers in the shadow of cosmopolitan New York City.

The long-ago demolition of two historic opera houses in Trenton (they were replaced by parking lots) crippled the opportunity to become a cultural center. The mayor of Trenton was arrested in September by agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation on corruption charges.

So "Made in Trenton" has the same ring to American ears as "Made in Detroit" has on Chrysler cars. It's a gritty show of gumption in the face of adversity.

Film maker Drue Pennella of Pure Motion Pictures plans a short documentary on Badger's fall racing season. He asks you to contribute to help fund the film through the online "crowdfunding" platform Indiegogo.com

You can contribute any amount, but for $10 you'll get a link to prescreen the film before it is released to the public.

For $500 you get to ride the Badger. Meanwhile, watch the inspiring new teaser:

Royal Enfield racers are betting on you to watch Badger

Royal Enfield Badger took on the track at Summit Point last weekend.

We know the Royal Enfield racing team called Badger Corse plans to takes its Royal Enfield Bullet racing again this fall. A group of film makers invites you to come along and watch.

Film maker Drue Pennella of Pure Motion Pictures plans a short documentary on Badger's successful (they hope) fall season. He asks you to contribute to the film through the online "crowdfunding" platform Indiegogo.com

You can contribute any amount. For $10 you'll get a link to prescreen the film before it is released to the public. For $500 you'll get to ride the Badger.

"I’m a sucker for vintage British bikes and have come to hold a special place in my heart for the brand Royal Enfield," Pennella says in a short video promoting the campaign.

Film maker Drue Pennella plans to document a Royal Enfield  racing season.

With Pennella's camera watching, builder Leon Stanley plans to take the Badger road racing, record setting and flat tracking.

The challenge is "One bike. One Month. Three Races."

The program:

• Summit Point, W.Va. Sept. 22 for the Western Eastern Roadracing Association (WERA) event. 
• The Ohio Mile near Wilmington, Ohio Sept. 29-30 to run faired and non-faired, in both gas and fuel classes (shooting for four new class records).
• Oakland Valley Raceway Park in Cuddebackville, N.Y. Oct. 21 for flat track action.

The Indiegogo.com campaign urges supporters to contribute money at different levels. Contributors receive increasing "perks" in return. Pure's goal is $7,200. The campaign receives the money raised, minus a fee of 4 per cent if the goal of is met, 9 per cent if it is not. Contributions are not refunded in any case.

"Can someone through grit and determination take a humble Royal Enfield from street to track; chasing racing glory in three different racing disciplines? That’s what we are going to find out!" Pennella says  in the video.

We'll be watching. Here's video of Badger heading to Summit Point Sept. 22:

Royal Enfield racer named Badger faces new challenges

Leon Stanley and the Royal Enfield motorcycle named Badger aren't done yet.

What's next for Badger Corse, the Royal Enfield Bullet racing team that has sampled three varieties of racing this year under the direction of builder Leon Stanley?

This single Royal Enfield Bullet has been a circuit racer, a flat tracker, and a land speed-record machine. Will there be a fourth round?

After filming a segment on the Badger for Cafe Racer TV, Badger Corse might have called it a year.

Instead, Stanley hopes to challenge Badger (and himself) with three more competitions.

His plans:

• Summit Point, W.Va. Sept. 22 for the Western Eastern Roadracing Association (WERA) event. 
• The Ohio Mile near Wilmington, Ohio Sept. 29-30 to run faired and non-faired, in both gas and fuel classes (shooting for four new class records).
• Oakland Valley Raceway Park in Cuddebackville, N.Y. Oct. 21 for flat track action.

"All of this, is based of course, on scaring up the dough to make it happen," Stanley admits.

How fast can a Royal Enfield Bullet named Badger go?

Rider Chris Hook aboard the Badger Corse Royal Enfield.

Builder Leon Stanley didn't feel at liberty to reveal how fast his Royal Enfield Badger ran in the flying mile July 9 at Airborne Park in Wilmington, Ohio. He'd rather we tune in to the upcoming episode of Cafe Racer TV featuring Badger's run.

But, if you are really, really curious whether the Badger — a 500cc Royal Enfield Bullet — did "the Ton," you could just look it up.

The Badger's run is listed in the July 2012 Records for the Ohio Mile conducted by the East Coast Timing Association.

Flying mile events are held at Airborne Park, Wilmington, Ohio. The track at the former airport and Army Air Force airfield is 9,000 feet long but the start and finish lines are just one mile apart. Competitors are timed in a 132-foot trap that ends at the finish line.

The track is at 1,077 feet above sea level.

The airport opened in 1929. During World War II it was used for glider research, training and development. The Air Force finally left in 1971. The airport was used for a time by Airborne Express, which is why it is named Airborne Airpark.

The Badger Corse team and rider Chris Hook competed in the MPS/PG-500/4 class for push rod motorcycles.

Did they do 100 mph (the Ton)? Not quite.

But 98.134 mph was still a class record.

Royal Enfield Badger racer back at track in run for record

The Royal Enfield Badger took on the Flying Mile.

A Royal Enfield cafe racer, then a flat track racer, the Royal Enfield Bullet known as the Badger  is now shooting for land speed records.

Badger 3.0, as builder Leon Stanley calls, it has been reconfigured as a speed trials bike, with the goal of racing it to a class speed record with the East Coast Timing Association.

Stanley writes the amusing story of the Badger's Flying Mile attempt the weekend of July 7-8 in Ohio on the Badger Corse  blog.

But he doesn't reveal how fast Badger went, or whether it set any records. That's because the attempt was captured for an upcoming episode of Cafe Racer TV.  It wouldn't do to give away the ending.

Team Badger originally hoped to race a Royal Enfield motorcycle the way it was done in the old days: after first riding the motorcycle to the track. Because of the commitment to TV, this time Badger got to the track in the back of a pickup truck.

Rider Chris Hook encountered brutal temperatures the first day, well over 100 degrees. Luckily Team Badger had mid-80s on Sunday.

We'll have to wait for the television program to learn how well Badger ran. But you can follow updates on Badger Corse.

Royal Enfield racer makes it all the way to the track

Royal Enfield Badger looks strong in practice.

Project Badger's Royal Enfield Bullet made its debut as a flat-track racer Sept. 18 at Oakland Valley Speedway in Cuddebackville, N.Y.

It made it all the way to the race track.

Project Badger is a team effort to race a Royal Enfield the way it was done in the old days: after first riding the motorcycle to the track. The ride to the track would start at 6 a.m. after a sleepless night preparing the motorcycle.

Once there, builder Leon Stanley stripped the lights and side stand from the bike. It was entered in the "750 Ironman Brakeless" category, so brake cable and pedal came off, too.

The Badger circled the track in practice but didn't make the first race, because the clutch disappeared.

"I'm thinking between no brakes and no clutch... that's a little much to deal with. We're done for the day," Leon wrote on his Project Badger blog.

An autopsy showed that the clutch had burned up. The ACE Fireball motor apparently earns its name when it comes to getting power to the clutch.

What's next for Badger?

"We were giving serious thought to going to the Barber vintage festival for some more road racing," Leon wrote me.

"The next event that has really captured my imagination is the Maxton Mile: speed trials on a retired airstrip in Maxton, N.C. Something completely different, yet again, that I think would be too cool. They have one more meet the end of October.

"If we haven't had enough by then, there is indoor short track racing at Timonium, Md.

"Sponsors? Man, wouldn't that be nice!"

Sponsorship information is on the Bulletproof Badger site, where you'll find updates on racing plans as well.
.

Royal Enfield racer not beautiful, but is it beastly?

The Badger, a Royal Enfield built to ride and then race.

The Badger, a Royal Enfield that raced at Mid-Ohio after being ridden there on its own two wheels, is the subject of an article in the well regarded Bike EXIF blog.

The author details the history of this experiment in riding and racing and calls the Badger a "raw and curiously appealing machine."

Judging by the comments, some readers found it raw and distinctly unappealing. One wrote that it "it looks to be done with scraps and rattle cans. Not that that's a bad thing. It has its place, for sure."

To which another responded that "It has a place on the scrap heap."

That seems pretty harsh, especially in light of the lovely photographs on Bike EXIF. That naked steel tank bearing the Badger logo earns some praise from other readers.

The Badger was the brainchild of Leon Stanley of Cycle Icons, in Trenton, N.J. But the plan to ride it to races and then compete on the track has brought together a whole team (including a film crew) built around the Badger.

Bike EXIF is the work of Chris Hunter, a Brit who lives in Sydney, Australia. EXIF stands for Exchangeable Image File format, the data captured by a digital camera when a photo is taken. Not surprisingly, the blog features a seemingly endless stream of lovely pictures.

Of which The Badger is only the latest. What do you think?

Royal Enfield Badger rides to the track, then races

A Royal Enfield café racer successfully rode to the track and competed in two races at the Mid-Ohio event this weekend. "Project Badger" is a success, Tom Lyons reported to readers on his Ace Performance Bullets forum.

"This isn't to say that there weren't any trials and tribulations, because there were some. Particularly related to the heat wave when we were making this attempt. It's difficult to break in a brand new air cooled performance engine at 108 degrees when you have to roll a brand new engine with zero hours on it out on the Interstate highway and ride for 11-plus hours to the track. So, the trip had some delays for letting the bike cool down, and for changing the oil, and fixing a couple of oil leaks that showed up along the way.

"But, nothing broke," Lyons wrote.

You can read his account of the adventure and its credible racing results in the competition for "vintage" (but still very fast) motorcycles on the Ace Performance Bullets forum. Lyons' is just the first account I've seen posted on the Internet, but I expect to read updates from the others at the Badger website and Facebook page.

"The guys from Team Badger are riding back home today, and I see no reason why they would have any problems with that. They endured the difficult stuff, and they can take their time on the way home," Lyons said.

Ace designed the Fireball motor that is the heart of the Badger. Lyons credits his associate Sumanth "Chumma" Janardhan with making the motor work for the Badger. The motorcycle itself was built by Leon Stanley of Cycle Icons in New Jersey, who dreamed up the whole Badger project.

It was piloted on the track by Stu Carter.

"The project did what it was intended to do. They rode a street bike to the track and raced it," Lyons wrote.

Royal Enfield racer on the road to vintage speed event

The Badger is on the road, from Trenton, N.J. to Lexington, Ohio.

UPDATE: "We just finished our first race. The Badger did it. 2:11 fastest lap time, Stu Carter did a great job piloting, we have one more race to go. What a ride. Videos and pics soon. We didn't come even close to a win, but the Badger finished its first race! Nobody got hurt, and lap times came down by 2.5 seconds for each lap of the race. Progress." — 1:30 p.m. Sunday

UPDATE: "We arrived at the track at 1:07 p.m. Saturday and Leon triumphantly rode the bike into the park gates. We quickly went to work setting up the garage and preparing for tech check. What a crazy 24 hours. Big day tomorrow and the journey has proven to be a pretty incredible experience so far." — 6:59 p.m. Saturday

UPDATE: "4:30 a.m., motor buttoned back up, and back on the road. Getting through Pennsey is starting to feel like driving across Texas. Long. Badgering on." — 4:30 a.m. Saturday

UPDATE: "We are in PA making it along in 105 degree heat. This is one hell of a test for the bike and team." —Peter E. Raymond, 6:06 p.m. Friday

The effort to ride a powerful, reliable Royal Enfield Bullet from New Jersey to Ohio and then race it there is on the road. That is, if everything is still going according to plan.

Project Badger builder-in-chief Leon Stanley wrote in his on-line Diary that "the road part of the Mission begins this morning. Can't wait. But man, it is going to be Hot! What a great day for a 450-mile bike ride!"

Leon Stanley watches as the Badger goes for a run.

He advises that "We had a long ass day(s) in the shop yesterday; but the Team was focused and the energy in the shop was fantastic, with everyone hanging in, and despite whatever the bike threw at us we were never going to take no for an answer. Though at times the Badger was a harsh taskmaster, we finally beat it into submission.

"The bike looks and sounds absolutely fantastic."

Also on the way to the Mid-Ohio track is Tom Lyons of Ace Performance Bullets, which created the Badger's Ace Fireball motor.

Lyons explained on Ace's Yahoo message group that the Badger "will ride to the track (about 10-12 hours) on the Interstate highways, pass tech inspection and race in the 500GP class in the AMA Vintage Race Days event, and then ride back home again (10-12 more hours) on the Interstate highways back to New Jersey home base.

"Clubman Style.

"To our knowledge, this is the most grueling test ever undertaken by an Enfield, because it includes both long-term riding on highways and hard all-out racing on the track against trailered-in race bikes in competition."

The Badger takes shape at Stanley's Cycle Icons shop in Trenton, N.J.

Going to Mid-Ohio too is Peter E. Raymond and his Project Badger-The Movie crew. Filming is going ahead, Raymond said, although an attempt to raise money for the film through the Kickstarter web site is stalled at only about 10 percent of what was needed with just a day left for pledges to come in.

It's worth taking a look at Badger's Kickstarter video clip to see how exciting this film could be once completed.

Updates on the Badger's racing results should appear on the Bulletproof Badger site.