Noot

Lee Wickstrom

That's a (slightly younger) Lee Wickstrom (right). Lee is still drag racing, and building Harley-Davidson motors after all these years. He's made a lot of 1/4 Mile passes for sure . . .

Movie Marketing

Has anyone ever seen this version? Is there English sub-titles, or do their lips move with a voice over like the Godzilla movies?

Paul Benassi - 1949 Panhead

. . . in North St. Paul leaving Neumann's Bar . . . On the move !

Caddies, Wolves, Watermelons & Kevin

RACE Oriented

Lee will most likely run his drag bike (above) again this year during the Meltdown Drags in Byron, Illinois. I think it was the fastest Harley there? . . . and the oldest !

Hangin' with Soh at the AMCA Viking Chapter Meet in St. Paul, MN on last Friday & Saturday. He bought a Harley KK, a couple panheads, a boat load of parts . . . all shipping back to be restored and ran daily in the land-of-the-rising-sun. Nice to meet you dude. We drank a few Red Dogs and broke the language barrier many times. Ride on !

Viking Chapter AMCA Meet

This is the stuff you'll see at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds (off Snelling Ave.) on Friday and Saturday this weekend. It's a good swap and show - worth the trip.

Good News ! Morty Update:

I brought Morty home from the Vet last night, and he's doing really good. He's been sleeping in my main television chair (now covered with freakin' cat hairs), but I think I can get him to have a full recovery. He's got a funny, little twitch or "tick" with his head every few minutes, but that's going away. Thanks for the thoughts dudes. Just a cat to some people, but Mort's a really great friend to me - and I felt terrible yesterday. Damn cats anyway . . . I could have bought a Sportster front end with the Vet bill.
NOTE: Upon further investigation, you could see where Morty was trying to get his cat-door open while standing in a pool of raw fuel, from his paw prints and face smears on the cat door. He can get out if he really wants to, during storms or to confront trespassing cats. His fur and feet were wet with gasoline, plus the fumes. He was trying and finally just overcome.
Remember, check your fuel, anti-freeze and dangerous chemicals around your pets.
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Gas Fumes

If you have pets near gasoline - use CAUTION. If you smell fumes, check it out immediately. Last night I ran my '64 Sportster and worked on it. I smelled gas, and noticed I had left my fuel (Pingel) on - so I shut it off. I checked the tank quickly with a flashlight. Seemed ok. This morning when I went to let Morty out, I was overwhelmed with gas fumes. The crossover had leaked about 4 gallons out . . . The garage was full of deadly fumes! Morty was lying near a small air hole at the garage door gasket - convulsing and shaking. I was horrified. I picked him up, took him outside and started trying to revive him, get him to move, splashing cool water on him, prying his mouth open and trying to get fresh air in there. It was one of the worst feelings I've ever had - someone(my pet cat) who you are trying to save. He wreaked like gas. I got him to the local Vet, and they put him in an oxygen chamber. That was 8:00am. He "meowed" at about 9:30am and when I went to check on him at 11:30am - they said he actually stood up. His back feet are still shaking a bit . . . and time will tell. I feel terrible - and I hope he comes out ok, 'cause we're the best of friends and work together about every night.

Pick Up Sticks and Lay Them Straight

"Didn't your mother ever read you those rhymes?" Mine did. Real live Sifton Minus Minus Cams and very solid transmission components. We'll build it back to be a runner . . .

"R" Pump: Harley-Davidson Racing

This extra passage(thin slot) bleeds oil to the backside check ball and spring. Sorta like a pressure relief? Hmmm?

Chris' 1958 Stroker Motor

Chris had the Chinese (aftermarket) primary chain tensioner that tends to break off and bust the cases. The (above left) heavy-duty oem type is correct. It will be out-fitted with a new-old-stock shoe, and retainer. Genuine Harley-Davidson parts.
H-D Part No. 39978-58 Primary Chain Shoe

Randy's WR is Ready-To-Fire

Me and dad had lots of time, working, thinking and meticulously building the motor for this thing. I hope it runs awesome and sounds ridiculously bad freaking ass !

Poker Run: THURSDAY - Swap: SATURDAY

Yak yak yak , , , ,

. . . Talkin' Harley-Davidsons !

Chasing Steve and Renee - They go like hell !

Steve's '72 FLH is a runner . . .

Hardcore 'Nam Vet Gordy rides a '48 Panhead.

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FRIDAY . . . I loaded the super Dodge with the WLA, boxes of parts, and hit the road for the Anamosa Vintage Meet at the National Museum.

Hot(95+) and windy, but who cares?
I had a cooler of A&W, water and a few Summer Shantys.

Booth Cost = $30.00

Gas: 45.00

Food: $8.00 (chopped brisket, slaw, pickle)

Bag o' Doritos: $2.50

Parts Sold: $240.00

Original Parts Cost: $160.00

Deal of the Day: 48 qts of H-D Oil for about $50.00

ABOVE: This '67 XLCH was about as original as it could get . . .

I stay at the same place each year(Alva's) with the owner of this knucklehead - and I never knew he owned it ? Wow !

He owns this panhead too . . . Double Wow !

One of my favorites . . .

Dave Ohrt(left) stopped by too . . . He asked me a few questions about my Harley 45, since he's building one for a television show episode of American Pickers (or his own show) not sure? Lots of cell-phone pics. People kept asking him, "Hey, you're that guy . . ." Anyway, I hope my fuel line, transmission, linkage, etc. is correctly done, 'cause he's doing it like my bike . . . so stay tuned ! Dave's got my number, so if he needs help, I said call me up . . . I can see it now, my name on the dressing room trailer door . . . groupies, Betty Ford Clinic. . . .

Competition Tires: Goodyear Grasshoppers

In the days of scrambles racing - the Goodyear Grasshopper tread design was a proven winner. They came factory on the early XLCH models. Restoration guys are known to fight over these. Like any old part, once it's reproduced, the originals aren't worth quite as much, 'cause some guys don't really care. Plus, used tires are usually hard and weather checked.

Coker Tire Company produced a reproduction version, but I'll have to see their website for details and specifications.

Schwinn offered their own version of Grasshoppers - with slicks, and front runners in green and black. I have a set of green ones - and I've heard they're worth about $250 each, so I try to keep them out of the sun . . . I should sell them and take a trip !?!?!

Vintage Show & Swap Meet this Saturday

. . . at The National Motorcycle Museum in Anamosa, Iowa. If you haven't been to the museum, this is a great opportunity to check it out ! I'll be vending with used and abused parts under my EZ-Up Tent with a cold cooler of ice water, ready for the 95+ degree heat. Vintage Parts, Bike Show, Vendors . . . then slip into the museum and see some race bikes, dragsters, relics, choppers . . . and more historic memorabilia than you can image - all assembled by our late, great and never forget him ever - John Parham that put together one of the best collections in the world. Jump on a bike (or in the car) and come and see us !
Respectfully,
Noot

Month of May Photos . . .

Above: Nate's Bike

Above: Aztec Gold (I want some of this color on my latest build)

Above: The '64 is ready for a run !

Above: Sore knuckles after workin' on a knuckle . . .

Nicky Hayden(69) Chris Carr(20) Scott Parker(2)

This blog is Harley Country . . . if you don't like it . . .

stick around - you might start to like it ?

Mees ain't the only one . . .

. . . who likes to jam it in there !

North Iowa / Southern Minnesota

My camera stopped working? So this is the only photo that came out. Maybe it was the "12 mile gravel road detour" I took that didn't look too bad at first - but then turned into the Mojave desert, complete with water ruts and huge rocks. It shook me - but nothin' fell off !
Chopper motocross . . .
200+ miles = 60 interstate, 130 two-lanes, 12 gravel, 2 farm field fence line, 1 mile cow path and only (1)PBR.