PIT STOP - JB from "Cant Stop Racing"

The open road demands respect, but a vintage oval track demands a unique kind of madness. For most riders, modern motorcycling is an exercise in absolute control, finely tuned machines pinned to the absolute limit of what they are capable of.

But for JB, the thrill of the ride starts where the safety nets end: combining a 1942 WLA, and his absolute refusal to use brakes.

Welcome back to Pit Stop, the corner of American Moto Co. where we pull over to explore the craft, the culture, and the creators who keep the raw, unfiltered soul of motorcycling alive. Today, we’re catching up with JB, who I initially met at the Sons of Speed race in March.

To look at JB’s 1942 WLA is to look at a time capsule that has seen its fair share of dirt and asphalt. "She’s pretty rusty." JB says with a laugh. But I have seen JBs bike in shows, in fact his ride was parked at Black Bike Week and there was the same amount of people crowding the showroom bikes as were dissecting JB’s 42.

JB didn't grow up on vintage iron, he started out riding sport bikes and a modern Harley, shifting to vintage racing meant completely rewriting his internal programming. Now, he lives life almost entirely in second and third gear, throwing his weight around corners on a machine that relies on a kill switch and a set of Indie Ridge boots as its only real safety net.

While some racers rely purely on instinct, JB bridges the gap between modern data and old-school grit. Every race weekend, he tracks the variables on a custom spreadsheet: track temperatures, tire pressures, and entry and exit speeds. But when the flag drops, the numbers fade into the background.

"My main things now are how the bike is actually feeling and performing versus what the numbers say," he explains. When it comes to a pre-ride ritual, JB keeps it beautifully simple: "Just clear your mind and hope for the best, man."

JB reiterated, "You have to really, really just run your race. You can’t worry about anybody else on the track. You’ve got to just stick to your game plan."

Behind the grit of a brakeless racer lies a striking contrast that defines who JB is off the track. On the day of our interview, JB surprised his 90-year-old grandmother with a card and fresh flowers. It’s that grounded perspective that keeps him anchored in a highly niche community. Vintage racing isn't a massive mainstream movement; it’s an intimate, passionate circle. While his friend Detroit represents a deep legacy in the community, JB notes that finding peers with a genuine obsession for ancient iron is rare.

"They see it and they think it's cool, cheering me on, but they have no interest in doing it," JB says of his broader circle. "You really have to have an individual passion for old bikes to want to do this, honestly."

For now, JB is focused on dialing in his WLA for upcoming races in Tennessee, keeping a sharp eye out for anything out of place and keeping the history of the 45 alive. He stopped the interview halfway to tell me a story of a bent axle adjuster bolt he had recently found, something both of us marveled at with wonder about how on earth it could have happened. 

While he loves the WLA, his ultimate dream is to build and race a true, early-era board track racer, the machines that started it all. Engines strapped to bicycle frames, built on narrow bicycle tires. Something that some of the racers at the Sons of Speed (LINK) have the pleasure of being able to race, Billy Lane being one of them. 

(yes that Billy Lane) 

See, both JB & myself grew up with Billy Lane being an idol, he ruled the 90s discovery channel motorcycle scene. Now JB shares space with him trading notes at four in the morning about motorcycles nearing 100 years old. 

I encourage you to read the story of the Sons of Speed, a race ironically less about speed, and more about old steel, an open track, and the guts to send it. If you happen to be there, look for the man racing on the 42 WLA, mention I sent you and he might just toss you a shirt. 

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With every interview I always ask if the rider is working on something and JB was quick to mention that he is dedicating his time to Park Circle Cares, a charity dedicated to fighting food insecurity in the Charleston area.