TRI-Z Q&A with driscoll

[Kintore]

Sweet your coming to Trikefest! Cant wait to meet you!

[radrandy2001]

Brett, I am 49 years old now and a fan from way back. I have owned many Tri Z's and currently on a 1986. I agree with your post about the Tri Z being the best short track/flat track trike. My Avatar shows me racing mine with the Missile Engineering Go Cart Tire Kit on a 1/8th mile clay oval about 10 years ago.

My question(s) have to do with the Factory Yamaha race pipes and your Factory Tri Pipe. Here is what I remember. Back in the day, you could order a race pipe from Yamaha. In the early 1990's I called a old Factory Tri ad in a old 3 Wheeling Mag and got you at the shirt store (same number). You told me that the Factory Tri pipes were long gone. I then attempted to order from Yamaha the race pipe listed in the parts books. Those were discontinued. I then called someone at Yamaha themselves and after getting bounced around with a few phone transfers, I did talk to someone that told me that the factory Yamaha race pipes were supcontracted by Cobra and Cobra was still making them. I was able to order one and was very happy with the results. Later on in a buy out deal, I ended up with one of your Factory Tri pipes that a buddy had bought new. In switching back and forth, I couldn't tell much if any difference as both ran well and provided a broader power band than another buddies FMF pipe. My main question is, did your pipe and the Cobra have anything to do with each other or do you know of the Yamaha and Cobra connection?

My second question is in regard to the long rod engines. I remember Marine Craft selling Tri Z long rod kits. Do you remember any of the differences in those kits or was everyone selling the same thing?

The coolest thing I remember reading about you back in the day was racing in some other Country, Holland I think, and you racing down the steps or bleachers.

Thanks for posting here.
Rad Randy

[zmpolaristech]

WOW!!! I just read through all 17 pages.... WOW!!! just amazing. gives me chills to see and here (read) from LEGENDS like youself. I grew up on trikes, but haven't had one for QUITE some time. i have been riding quads (stroked 400 banshee...SWEET!) for the past 12 years, but just yesterday i picked up two running 85 tri-zs and a spare 86 engine for $1500. now i just have to go to Maine to pick them up. I can't wait. I'll be taking the 'shee and both tri-zs to trike fest this year. hope to see you there...I'll be looking for the 33. LONG LIVE THE TRIKES!!!

[3WW Star-driscoll333]

randy, thanks for supporting me from way back . my pipe {factory-tri}, was designed by yamaha USA. i had lots of problems getting the most power out of my motors. kieth mccarty and his in-house mechanics created magic with that pipe. i do believe cobra might have been my source. it was all secretive at the time. i think only 200-300 made? the same pipe was used in my long rods.

[3WW Star-driscoll333]

i never ran any other long rods, other than yamaha USA. i let yamaha do all the technical stuff. i asked questions, but they would just laugh and tell me not to worry. just ride it and go fast. haha

[3WW Star-driscoll333]

ZM, legend? ok i got a swelled head now. haha. banshees a bad animals!!! i loved all of mine. congrats on the 85.

[radrandy2001]

randy, thanks for supporting me from way back . my pipe {factory-tri}, was designed by yamaha USA. i had lots of problems getting the most power out of my motors. kieth mccarty and his in-house mechanics created magic with that pipe. i do believe cobra might have been my source. it was all secretive at the time. i think only 200-300 made? the same pipe was used in my long rods.

Brett, thanks for the reply. That is what I was remembering on the pipes. Its been a few years as you know. I have 3 of the Cobra pipes as I started gathering them up when I ran across them over the last several years. You can't order up a pipe like you used to.

I have been looking through old 1982-1983 3 Wheeling mags this past week and just spotted a small black & white picture of a big race and your machine is flipping through the air. I think it was in the Husky days. I can scan it if you want. Just let me know.
Thanks again!
Randy

[tjsb1]

Hi Brett, great to have you on board. I have a question from back in the day. I used to race with a guy who claimed to have rode with you and raced dessert with you. Does the name Danny Ortega ring a bell? Danny lives in Idaho now and has a heating and cooling business. Hope you don't mind me asking, just always had alot of fun racing with Danny and reading the post reminded me of him.

Thanks.

[3WW Star-driscoll333]

randy, post that pic on here , so everyone can see what happens when a rookie rides over his head. haha..that crash hurt . i can still feel it

[3WW Star-driscoll333]

tj, danny is my best friend. and he is always fun to be around. i see him quite a bit. hes always flying into san diego and hel centro. he is still fast. he is living most of the time in show low AZ.

[dannyortega117]

tjsb1 hey this is danny ortega brett driscoll and i were talking sounds i know you but who are you? Iam in az but going to mccall in a couple days .....dano

[Bryan Raffa]

hey brett hows it going ,, do you have any pic's with that pipe in it ,, what did it look like? was this before the klemm pipes?

[dannyortega117]

since thee fun old days of racing 3 wheelers i have been racing jet skis snowmobiles flying airplanes off-road trucks......whatever puts a grin on your face dano

[Bryan Raffa]

danny whens the last time you were on a trike?

[3WW Star-driscoll333]

brian, the klem pipes sucked. especially on the long rods. the only pipe that really worked was factory tri. (yamaha USA) spechs.. the klem pipe had no top end.