Milwaukee sites, sounds, and a groovy dinner . . .

Below: Pete is still in a trance from meeting Doc Brown . . .

Michael contemplates his next build . . . 
or should he get fried ice cream?

Mama Tried 2016 was crazy good . . .

Mama Tried Show - Milwaukee 2016

I got there early, early early . . . 

This is the 3rd year for this show.  Excellent venue (the best so far).  The lighting in this old warehouse (top floor) would vary throughout the day and give some awesome lighting to the motorcycles.  It was so cool.  The best was after the sun went down - and the room lit up with chrome & candy !  Scott and Warren know how to do a weekend of racing, shows, party, food . . . great beer choices . . . holy shit this was just sensory overload everywhere.  Killer weekend in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

 

I just kept making a big circle, going around and around - and I'd see something different everytime.  I was at the show from about 8:45am until they kicked us out at 10:00pm.  I looked at absolutely every single bike, artwork, photo, paintjob . . . and talked to all the builders, vendors and friends I could, to find how they did it.  I didn't want to go home and miss some of the best people I've ever met in this huge family of custom motorcycle enthusiasts - with a racer and a party animal thrown in here & there . . . This show kicks ass !

 

Chopper Dave ON THE ICE !

I never met a guy from sunny California who wished to ride his motorcycle on the ice with such eager enthusiasm as Dave had on Friday . . . (and it looked grim with all the warm temps).  Calm, tranquil Lake Lily had enough for the Lovely Loser . . . Fuckin' awesome dude !  

 Go see the Racing Exhibit at the H-D Museum now.  Never before seen factory racing motorcycles, racing notes, drawings, tools, memorabilia . . . Very nicely done with a little help from Bill & crew . . . nice job !

 Cal Rayborn's KR was a heavy moment  . . . and the trophy from the 1969 Daytona 200 that he hoisted high into the air - Anything Rayborn or Reiman is almost mythical . . . Resweber's No.1 Plate . . . IronXRTT . . . More sensory overload ! 

Buchanan's Spoke & Rim

Kenny Buchanan (and Angel too) helped me out (via phone) to get my 19" rear rim laced properly.  I can't thank Buchanan's enough for their excellent custom service.  I was frustrated I could NOT get this thing right . . . .  I've laced and trued a few wheels in my day . . . but, this damn thing - I had attempted every possible combination.  Kenny got me to view this project from a different perspective, and I laced the rim in a "different order" - an almost reverse-combination of steps.  It worked !  An improved wheel with increased strength, over the factory spoke pattern. Now crossing 3 on the brake-side, with stainless spokes.
  

Panhead Dishes

My wife notices I never do the dishes . . . BUT, I have this overwhelming enthusiasm to wash motorcycle parts in the kitchen.  (my special plastic tub with hot, sudsy Dawn & Ivory combo, with hot water rinse)
Priorities !  ( Toby Davis parts . .  )

Indoor Racing Tricks

1. WD-40 or Pink traction compound every couple days on your tires about 2 weeks before event.  Especially on the middle of tire (to the left edge) Goodyears, Maxxis, Sticky Dunlops . . . some old-time racers say those "trials type" tires worked good . . . whatever is clean & sticky like spilled soda pop.

2. Duct tape on your left boot (running the same direction as your boot sole) if you don't have a steel shoe?

3. Off the line in 2nd gear - Dive to the inside - Leave throttle on a bit longer through the first turn (since you're not goin' quite a fast as from a straight.

4. Keep your tires clean (use tire wraps or carpet strips with tape when not on the track)

5. Zip-tie your fuel petcock open ( especially if a body part could hit it and turn off your fuel )

6. Use a wood rasp (or aggressive file ) to remove the hardened, caramelized dried syrup off your tires after each time on the track.  The hardened syrup is really slippery !  You'll have no traction !

7. Wear an elbow pad (especially on the left ) so you don't get that elbow injury that lasts a lifetime when you low-side and go down.

8. Don't high-side - Not an option.

9. Keep your foot up if at all possible - When your foot is down, it's just that much LESS pressure on your front wheel for traction.  If you push the front - Accelerate a little to regain traction.

10. Don't hit anyone on the inside, anywhere behind their footpeg . . . possible high-side ?!
11. Roll On - Roll Off the throttle.  Stay inside - Stay smooth.
12. Don't look back til' after the Checkers !

Kung Fu Tap & Taco

Whenever I go to this place with someone who's never been there . . . they always get all excited like it's this wonderfully awesome bar that's gonna be so cool . . . and you get to chow tacos and drink Hamms beer (or Old Mill) and just check out all the biker stuff on the walls, and meet all these people who are really cool and see some bikes out front or hot rods or hot chics or gray beards . . . and it's just so awesome.  It really is a fun place.  Kung Fu Tap & Taco - Des Moines, Iowa USA
(Thanks for goin' Brandon - Fun Times)

Old Milwaukee

Best consumed Ice Cold !
When in Milwaukee . . . soon.

The future of the Basket Case ?

It started with bushel baskets . . .

Then, years of cardboard boxes and milk crates . . .

The plastic tub is here today . . .

What does our " future hold " for vintage parts ????

Des Moines

Took Brandon to DSM for the swap, Kung Fu . . . met up with DA and Gilly . . . good times.  DA had this "Blast from the Past" in his swap booth.  Tator Gilmore's first real drag frame . . . later raced by Mark "Grizz" Huxsol.

Lines & Letters

Fun with One Shot . . .

94 chasin' 4

"No brakes is best."  Resweber and others said (brakes) screwed up flat track.  It rutted up the tracks and put everyone in different lines with different speeds . . . different brake points.  He'd run the same tires for many races.

Roeder

That KR 94 is gonna pull out and zap those two Brits . . .

Robby Krieger - Surf Ballroom March 26th

Get lost in The Doors original guitar riffs & runs from the original hands that held the pencil that wrote the music and created many of the songs . . . crazy heavy moods will be generated with visions of the eternal spirit of Morrison and all that encompassed one of (if not "the") most cutting-edge, influential band ever formed . . . They created a genre of their very own.  Robby Krieger brings the music to Iowa.

Des Moines Swap Meet this Saturday - It's a Gas !

It's gonna be a colder one . . . sometimes it's a warmer one (motorcycles parked out front).  Go see Fatty, Darrell, Tator, Gilly, Biggs, Charles, Pete, Sully, DA, House, Cyn . . . stop by Cyclepedia and see Dennis . . . then to Kung Fu and see Maggie . . . then to GT and see more bike and hot-rod stuff . . . then home to see my cat Morty, and we'll look at all the junk I bought that I didn't really need.  Valentine's Day on Sunday (Don't forget your sweetie !)

Rich King

I heard he may come "out-of-retirement" (if he's ever really been retired???) and run a few more races in 2016.  King and Hawbaker teamed up for the Kansas Flat Track Series last year and won convincingly.  I watched King race at Des Moines back in the late 70s, and I've been a fan ever since. George Garvis backed him up with Honda power for many years.  Craig Rogers, Sam . . . Bill Werner . . . but, Rich knows how to set up a bike - what works for him . . . and if he's on his game on race day, you about have to be the national champion to have a shot at beating him. 

XLCH Oil Tank Mounting Plates and Bolts

I recently purchased an XLCH Oil Tank(No.25)  My first tank came with my 1961 XLCH, so the cost was included with the purchase price of the motorcycle.  I bought a 2nd tank for my '52K project around the year 1995 (at the Farmington AMCA Swap Meet) for $75.00, and I remember the guy didn't really want to sell it (I had offered $50).  I bought my 3rd tank(for the Iron XR project) in Florida for $75.00 and ended up with about $175.00 in it.  I just bought my 4th tank in a 'round about way, magneto parts trade and cash . . . and I'll have about $300.00 in this thing, and I don't even have it yet.  Prices have gone way-up on these things.  They are golden all of a sudden.  H-D manufactured 3 different XLCH versions, and this is the First Version -52 part number.  There's a -52A and a -52B also.  Now that you know the story of my oil tanks, I'd like to tell you my real reason for this post.

The price a person pays for vintage parts, or things you want, is a funny thing to me.  If you really want it, you'll do anything to get it.  Sell stuff.  Work overtime.  Trade, Sacrifice, Loans, Etc . . . or if you have the skills - You'll make the part.  I've made a lot of little parts, since I didn't always have money.  As a guy gets older, more financially secure and possibly (and most likely) more lazy . . . it's easy to just pay the extra and BUY IT NOW.  Why go though all the fuss?  Just buy it.  That's what I've done here, and I feel kinda like a wanna-be fake bike builder.  I feel I didn't wait or sacrifice enough to get this.  Just got it too easy.  I don't know why, but I'm anxiously waiting for this thing to arrive, and hoping I don't have to do too much work to make it correct (since it's rusty, dented, and needs the chrome stripped), but I may feel better about it . . . if I have to work to make it right, other than just buying a perfect, whatever I want. 

I need No.29 and No.31 too.  These parts are special mounting plates with bevels, countersinking, and special bolts with special heads and diameters. Should I make them?  Get some steel?  Take the time . . . but I see this guy on the internet has beautifully made plates and bolt kits, Parkerized, ready to go for $49.99 + Shipping.  BUY IT NOW ?

 These things really are beautiful !
(Tank No. 3)

Travelin'

This thing really ain't that bad to ride long distances.  You get a little sore (like any long bike trip) . . . but, it's kinda relaxing just buzzin' along at 65mph and stopping every 150 miles for fuel . .  and maybe a cookie? Maybe some water?  Maybe a beer?  Maybe not.