Ride, Drink, Rock, Eat . . . Repeat

Me & Joey fueled up for the Cycle Source Ride . . . and Chris, Mike & crew always do a great job with this one. It's super cool to ride the hills in a big group of vintage choppers.  Nice to meet Noah(Hawaii) again and the beer was cold !   After a soaker rain on the way back . . . we went down and got all wet and wild in the rain with Hells Belles . . . who double rocked us 2 nites in a row !  We Salute You !  With the buzz goin' good - the night life had just begun . . . then I got the munchies !

Sturgis " Here We Come ! "

My rigid pan is untested, packed with shit . . . 60+ years old with a 48 year old pilot.  We ran out on two-lanes, through small towns with broken down buildings, trashy bars and depression.  Dodging holes on Hwy 18, tryin' to keep my position on the seat and pegs.  My pack movin' around - situating itself between my maze of bungees.  The wind at our back.  Stops in Everly, Iowa and Tripp, Platte, White River, Wanblee(Pine Ridge Reservation) highlighted the "way out."  The long hills through Buffalo Gap, while challenging on the '64 Sportster, the '52 panhead chugged up to 3000 feet like a vintage tractor.  It's heavy flywheels carrying the load.  I'm now becoming more confidant.  My anxiety going away with a couple PBRs in my system.  I'm twisting the throttle a bit more and more. We're runnin' 75mph quite often, through a land with possible drunk Indians in pick-up trucks.  That smell of those pines is what always tells me we made it - Sturgis, South Dakota.  Let the party begin !

Once we got set up . . . Big Noot joined me, and we headed out to Buffalo Chip for the "Built For Speed" opening night and banquet Michael Lichter so graciously invited me to . . . Thanks Mike !  Motorcycles, Art, Food and Good Times were had by all.  For nightly entertainment we hit Easyriders Saloon for Eve 6 . . . and an awesome show from Dave Pirner and Soul Asylum (who went into a punk-rock inspired frenzy mid way through their hits . . . he totally lit up that Fender Telecaster with blazin' riff runs . . . Hell Yeah ! 

UL Chopper

Star Hubs

Internal Throttle

Relay
Add 4" Downs
Radius Rods

Side Car Loops

Etc.

Authentic Custom

The sport was Formal . . .

I like the "formality" of early motorcycling.  The whole idea of presentation and recognition with: pins, patches, plaques, and the best award of all - a gleaming trophy of silver & gold !
It gave you a goal, an accomplishment, a place in history on what you've done with your cycle.  You were either a racer, a road rider, entertainer, spokesman . . . etc.  Clubs are still here in this day and age - Long may they prosper. It recognizes you among your peers . . . fellow riders.  It's an important aspect of motorcycling.

 "Did you hear . . . he was awarded his 50,000 mile pin ?!"

The "Chip"

This is a similar crowd like Dylan / Kid Rock a few years back.  You look back and hope nothing crazy happens . . . 'cause, how are you going to get out ?

The bike that won the war . . .

The Koreans were advancing . . . I need to get out fast.  My trusty 1952 WLA has lead me through countless battles as I relay information from the front lines to an army outpost at the beach-head.  My Firestones have the perfect tread pattern for speed and stability on these sandy, island roads (more like paths).  The torque of my flathead carries heavy loads, and seems unaffected by intense island heat. As sounds of gunfire became crisp to my ears - I had to get moving to relay important information back at camp. I let the clutch out in 1st gear . . . and the bike kinda jumped, stuttered, jumped ahead again.  I rock'd the clutch back, rev'd the engine and somehow kept the motor running.  I tried again - and the bike took off.  I shifted to 2nd and away I went - WHEN SUDDENLY - the motorcycle surged - jumped out of gear - and the rear wheel locked up, killing the engine.  SHIT !  I almost went down !  One kick and the WLA was running again.  I nervously took off -and it was a repeat.  DAMMIT !  When I shift to 2nd gear - this thing surges . . . then the motor dies and locks up the rear wheel - it dug deep into the packed sand.  I can hear machine gun rounds singing through the trees . . . time is wasting.  I fire it up, again - jam it in 1st - let the clutch fly and I'm off.  I build the revs and this time SLAM THE TANK SHIFT Past 2nd - into high gear !
I'm suddenly building speed to 40,45,50,55mph - pulling away from the advancing enemy.  All they can hear is the sound of my cigar muffler straight in their faces.  In broken English I hear a Korean solder screamin' FROCKN HAWREY DAV'SOMS . . . bam bam bam bam bam bam.

In reality - it blew out leaving Casey's General Store with a tall can of Miller Lite 
in my back pocket.

XLR - Front

Factory Ported - Ductile Iron

The Bostroms at Sturgis this year . . .

I see Eric and Ben Bostrom have a charity ride this year.  Both these boys were quite the hard chargers in their day on ovals and pavement.  Could you imagine these little guys on a Wood Rotax !  They were so fast around that Gypsy Bowl . . .

Black Hills Rally - early years

Always dress for the occasion . . . Always.

Sebastian Bach 2014 Concert Review at Surf Ballroom - Give 'Em Hell

After 25 years . . . Bach still has that great voice, the showmanship and the rock in his blood to give his audience what they want - to get their ass rocked off !  He's not just a singer - He's a rock-n-roll machine.  It's all he's ever known.  But, there's always something more with Bach - he's a rolling history of a type of music teenage kids, like myself, got hooked on and never looked back.  A reminder of our Youth Gone Wild- Bach is on the radio everyday, social media, Metal Sludge, New York Times, even national television . . . on tour, making records with new musicians that can tolerate the demanding energy he still has after all these years.  A master of self promotion, he fronts huge arenas and . . . small ballrooms - like the Surf Ballroom last night where Sebastian Bach and his band totally blew us away the minute they hit the stage.  Spinning mics, head bangin' frenzies . . . like a heavy-metal conductor - he treats you to his god gifted, now 45+ year old voice that let's you know that was him on the cassette, him in the videos, and he sounds just the same.  Bach also did something that surprised me . . . something I rarely hear or see from musicians at the Surf . . . He recognized the significance of this hallowed building.  The ballroom itself.  The many great performers that have stood right where he was - now.  At one point, he motioned the audience to 3 giant, lighted art works that hang on the back wall of the dance floor - those of JP. Big Bopper Richardson, Buddy Holly and Ritchie Valens.  The entire audience turned to look and listen.  After some historic notes - Bach's band then broke into La Bamba . . . and you could just feel a presence, an excitement, you got what he felt from performing there tonight - and he was taking us along for the ride !  I like all good music.  But a metal rock concert, done right with fists in the air - that's it man.  Big smiles - and eyes watering with delight.  Me and Cheryl had a blast !  Thanks Baz !

Elmer Trett's First Real Drag Bike

This bike is so neat.  Damn.  When I saw this picture, I just had to copy it.  So cool.  Hey Wiley, What type of cams are those???  I can't make out the brand.  Sweet bike.

'68 or '69 CH

Gas, Alcohol, Stroked, Dytch'd

XLR pipes

S&S L

Slick

Struts, Cable Tach, fender chopped . . .

Buddy seat bracket to hold you on . . . ! 

Throw it in the truck and drive up to Cedar Rapids, Iowa . . .
run around - lookin' for some guy named Payne?

#14 Hank Scott . . . and some Black Hills history

The races and rally in Sturgis, SD could be one of the most important aspects in the history of two wheels in America.  In a way, it brought the Midwestern US motorcycle enthusiasts together.  Racers from the coasts first traveled to national events starting in Dodge City, Kansas.  This let the "coasts" know these midwest boys could ride.  The unique racing aspect of the Black Hills is the altitude and the dirt itself.  The tuning of carburetor jetting, traction and suspension set a level playing field.  Local riders often beat seasoned pros.  I always go see a race.  Support the fearless men who can throw that bike sideways in unfamiliar territory.  This year an AMA National comes back to Rapid City.  If mother nature can just hold off her weather for a week . . . ?

Photo Above:  Corky Keener(62) on the outside of this cushion, loose track (note the dirt streak on his shield from his own front wheel) as the one and only, Hank Scott(14) sets up early for the straight.  You can see Aldana(10) in the back struggling with his set-up . . . too little - too late.

Wayne Gardner