Frank Palmeri
6995 Suzanne Lane
Schenectady,  NY  12303
518-275-1442
   

Hi, my name is Frank L. "Cranky Frankie" Palmeri, and I live in Guilderland, NY. I came to British bikes in a kind of roundabout way.   My first bike was a Honda 450 Nighthawk. I quickly outgrew that and moved up to a Honda Sabre. This hi-tech V4 was great, but early Honda V4s had top end oiling problems, and my bike died with only 20K miles.   It would have cost twice it's book value to get it repaired!   Serendipitously I wound up getting a Norton Commando, and, while low tech compared to the Sabre, it got me into the wonderful world of British bikes. I learned all about tickling carbs, Lucas electrics, and shimming Isolastic bushings. I put well over 30K miles on the Commando, and currently it's sitting awaiting some long overdue TLC.   In the meantime I've been riding a 1992 Yamaha TDM850, a water cooled parallel twin, very much like what the Commando or any classic British bike would have become had the British bike industry stayed alive. I also have a 1969 BSA B44VS Victor Special that I've just completed restoring. This little thumper is light, torquey, and a blast on the kinds of twisty back roads all motorcyclists love.  

I've been attending the Jampot Rallye for around 20 years, and I'm truly honored to be chosen as the new Kahuna. My goal is to keep the best things about the Jampot that we all know and love, and tweak it every so slightly to make it even better. The Jampot Rallye is very much like my beloved Norton Commando - whether in Roadster, Interstate, Hi-Rider, or John Player Special guise, it's still an awesome bike. Similarly, whether it's hot or cool, dry or rainy, well or not so well attended, the annual AJS/Matchless Jampot Rallye is always the best rally of the year.   Speaking of AJS/Matchless: while I've never had the pleasure of owing one of these true classics, I've always had a deep respect and admiration for these regal machines, and you can be sure that their exalted status at the rally will remain under my watch. Just hearing a big single come to life and feeling the thunderous exhaust pulses and the ground shaking is something that any motorcycle lover must experience, hopefully on a regular basis if you're so lucky!

I look forward to seeing you at the 31st annual AJL/Matchless Jampot Rallye.

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