Money Down . . .

I guess whether it's a motorcycle OR a bicycle . . . "money down" is going away from us.  It's all about financing and interest rate now.  I do agree with Norm, it's a really neat bike - nice story.

Prohibition Trip

I like history.  When I heard a prohibition traveling exhibit was at the Minnesota Historical Society, I made plans to see it . . . Packed with original documents (from Capone & Ness), artifacts (real iron knuckles, Thompsons, boot razors) it has a timeline that takes you through this period of time that was tough and tumble. Good times were well deserved.  Life wasn't as easy, yet many times it appears to be more fulfilling - the 20s and 30s in America. 

In the beginning . . . a Motley pan

 " . . . and it has been written, that those who have the youth have the future - so come now children of the beast, be strong -
and Shout At The Devil !

Joey's raked neck wishbone . . .

This was a custom bike years ago . .  it ran knuckles and pans.  Now he's brazed, welded and molding the frame again at his home shop in Vegas. (it's 3rd from left above)

Don Castro #11

Don Castro's No. 11 . . . it started it.   It's possible other riders chose "11" after Castro.  To honor a racer they respected . . . Steve Eklund, Scott Parker, Bryan Bigelow . . . plus, if they win the title, they can just take a 1 off their leathers.

"Soup'R Sunday" Food Selfies !

. . . every Sunday night we have homemade soup & sandwich 

over the winter months.

92%

I really need to see some nitro racing in 2014.

Santa's Workshop

This will be a good engine.  It's like I've been to the H-D School of Hard Knocks on this one.  The flywheels were fighting us.  We got them right - then they didn't like it in their new home inside the cases.  Then the gear cover syndrome.  Then we learn about center-to-center distance - and the ability to identify sounds such as; whirring, clicking, ticking, oftentimes grinding . . . as you grasp the open ends of the connecting rods and listen.  Turn off the music, turn off the TV, turn off everything and LISTEN.  What is that?  Listen to the "mechanicalness" of a panhead motor. I went as far as to bolt on the generator (and it's a good thing I did) because it needed the right idler gear.  Eliminate parts and measure other parts . . . Finally after shimming, micrometers, calipers, dial-indicators . . . and this powerful, lighted magnifying glass - it's quiet now.  Even with the generator - It's quieter than the elves sneaking into your house on Xmas Eve.  All you here now is the perfect mesh and pitch of proper alignment.  Gears that love each other.  It spins free - and wants to keep spinning !  It's right now.  I feel like a worker elf, perfecting a toy for a kid who's been good all year.  That kid is me . . .

Cope with it . . .

Does anyone still use a coping saw to make custom chopper parts . . . ?  Or has everyone bought a band saw by now, but me . . . ?

Chris' 1963 FLH

I like how on a panhead motor you can leave the covers off and slowly turn it over by hand to check the rotation, watch the rockers move, make sure nothing's binding . . . and listen to hear any clicks or ticks.  This thing is nice and quiet - just the way we like it !

Give Thanks . . .

 

. . . for up-sweeps, cast pan covers, marble paint

and chics with chains . . .

Baker & Atherton sign with Harley-Davidson

Brad Baker will take his #1 Plate and ride for HD in 2014.  He'll bring along the crew and his steel shoe.
Former factory rider Kenny Coolbeth will take his 3 championships and many wins and go for a ride with Zanotti Racing.

Cedar River Ice

I walked on the edge (down by the sandbar) and I'd say it's 2" thick.  Perfect conditions for Kold Kutters !
Another couple inches and it'll be perfect for a bucket, a pole and a bottle o' schnapps.

Give Thanks . . .

. . . for panheads, molded frames, candy paint . . . 

and cutoffs with nice legs.

American Motors Gucci Option

A lady at the grocery store opened her door - and when the dome light came on, I was like, wow !  Cool interior.  I thought maybe it was Tijuana?  She said it was Gucci.  I guess AMC had this option on the AMC Hornets?  This car had rusty metal - but, righteously mod threads !

Indoor Rumble in Mason City

Support Your Local Racetrack !

Words you might overhear at an indoor racing event:

1. coke

2. transponder

3. CD5

4. rasp

5.Krug

6. no nitro

7. (coughing)

8. Brad Baker

9. Bugs

10. 2 grand !
The carts were so fast - I never would have guessed a cart could make a lap in 4 sec . . . sometimes I was nervous standing so close to the rail that a cart could lose it and take out the spectators.  Some drivers did not appear to move the steering wheel at all as they kept the throttle pinned.  The bikes went very low - pegs dragging - tires drifting.  I raced a few times on syrup, but don't remember the carts being this quick . . . Good Stuff Maynard . . .

Hot & Sticky

Indoor Short Track Friday Nite !

Hux & myself will be attending the Friday Nite events at the North Iowa Fairgrounds.  It appears the newly crowned 2013 AMA National Dirt Track Motorcycle Champion Brad Baker will be bangin' bars with any local boys brave enough to show their stuff on the syrup.  Bring your air horns and attitudes and check out the carts & bikes if you dare . . .  it's like a hockey game with noise and smoke !

Pee Wee Gleason

These motorcycle companies would do a test with the rider Pee Wee Gleason at the drag strip.  (This guy can get a lot out of a motorcycle)  Then they'd advertise the time slips.  10.50s !  On the new Sabre or Seca or KZ . . . whatever they were testing.  A normal rider might get a 11.20 . . . but, Pee Wee could make it a bullit !

Race advice . . .

Freddie's dad would tell him to win the race with the slowest time possible.  Just fast enough to win.  I suppose his thinking was to take less risk, save equipment, etc.?

+.020 from the deck

. . . for the Felpro 1094

'46 @ Dave's

Cool driver - still out on a rainy November day . . .

Movie Review: RUSH

Our hometown, classic, art-deco Charles Theatre is currently showing Rush, directed by Ron Howard.  I went last night hoping for a new LeMans-type movie, and I didn't get one.  However, this movie was not disappointing, just not what I wanted.  I am a former "fan-product" of Formula 1 Racing.  I followed the series closely from 1977 to about 1982.  I was a teen, and knew the correct pronunciations of racing names such as Jabouille, Depailler, Ligier, Tyrrell . . . and my favorite drivers?  Gilles Villeneuve and Niki Lauda.

I would have enjoyed seeing more of the "tech-type" nuances in Rush that only a true motorsport fan or former racer would understand.  It portrayed James Hunt as a total party boy (which he kinda was), but it took away from the serious rivalry between these two drivers.  It appeared they pulled a couple original cars from museums or collections and filmed stunt drivers (or slow, aged former drivers) for race footage.  It looked staged.  The last 15 minutes of film is the best part of the movie - The Japanese GP rain race - and whereas both drivers meet next to Lauda's aircraft and reflect on their racing and life differences.  Actual stills and historical data on both men end this movie and form a lasting impression on one of the greatest seasons in any type of motor racing.  The 1976 F1 World Championship and the storyline that went with it.

Rod Straightness 101

This test for rod straightness always seems rather mundane.  

If your motor was running ok, why check it? 

Here's why:

Especially, if you are building an engine from a variety of parts - this is a very important step in the process.  S&S Cycle and Jims both offer a long "precision pin" which you can insert in your bushing, and run down to the cylinder base.  You can use a feeler gauge (I use a thin piece of carbon-type paper) and determine if your connecting rods are slightly bent.  The pin should hold your paper between the pin and the base on each side - you should feel a drag on the paper . . . On my engine, the front rod was perfect.  The rear rod was off (+.016) which is quite a bit !  I bolted my lower in the stand, C-clamped it to the bench, and using the special tool the boys made years ago . . . proceeded to bend my rod back for straightness.  Do a little at a time.  First, I got to +.006, then +.004, then .000 (perfect).  However, the rod may "relax" a bit back to a positive reading . . . so you may want to go beyond (-.001 or so . . ) and it will relax back to a zero reading.  It sounds crazy - but, this is the way you do it.  S&S has full instructions how to make a tool.  Now you have the best chance for less drag, better ring seating, better compression, increased power and longer engine life. 

Carroll Resweber

Don't mess with Texas flat-trackers . . .

Factory Racer - 883cc

Danny Lyon emailed me . . . (self portrait shown)

I sent an email to the publisher for Danny Lyon, and he (himself) emailed me back.  I asked him if he knew what ever happened to Brucie?  (I thought I might try to contact him and do an interview.)  Danny doesn't know what ever became of most of the subjects in Bikeriders . . . and suspects many are unfortunately now deceased.  It was very nice of him to respond - and probably wonders why all these "new" kids are hip to his book, you see?  Thanks again Danny !