Lee Marvin

Lee was born in New York City.  He served in the Marines in WWII.  Marvin was a democrat and against the war in Vietnam.  He moved to Hollywood around 1950, and got the part of Chino in the movie "The Wild One" along-side Marlon Brando just 2 years later.  Married and divorced and then sued by a girlfriend (he didn't do so well with relationships with women). Later in life he moved to Arizona and died there in 1987. 

Marvin was in many many movies, and starred in many more.  But it's him as Chino that I always think of when the name Lee Marvin comes up . . . and his panhead motorcycle is the style which thousands were stripped to resemble . . . 'til this very day.

Kansas City Long Weekend

Hangin' with Ricky Anchor at the shop in KC.  Doing some sales, welding, junk shopping, great food, the full downtown tour of West Bottoms . . . and the show and swap in Lawrence.  Good times.  A big thanks to Ricky, Amber (and Dozer too).  Always make me feel welcome and showin' me a good time - You guys rock. Your friend -Noot

Blip Roasters has damn good coffee - for two-wheeled  enthusiasts.

Thai food anyone?
 

The best choppers for us "irregular dudes" come from Anchor Moto.

Lot's of history on these walls . . .
Chopper Dave's frame/panhead build above ( for Fuel Cleveland)

 

 No more Japanese

Anchor Moto went full on American Muscle ONLY

 

 

This customer drew up his bike build . . .

I dig the bitch bar/seat detach combo. 

Shea did all that work on this crazy fender - and here it sits

So crazy sad . . . (Crazy frown face)

________________________________________________________________________

 

 B I K E  S H O W  T I M E - Lawrence, Kansas

 

 He loaded the stroker, and we headed west. 

This motor runs the same flywheels and cams as Noot's old XLCR café racer -

and Ricky says it totally rips !

Looks decent in photos - but you have to see it in the flesh sometime -

- Original Hot Wheels Green -

______________________________________________________________

Lots of nice iron at this show - with a few of my favorites:

Like this Rickman Matchless

 

Above: Someone's imagination was workin' overtime - Big time.

I liked it.  It was professionally built and clean.

Only one like it on planet earth for sure . . .

Magnetos are great on these things - then no battery woes.

My favorite row.

I might have to go back for the Vintage Iron Show in May?

I like Kansas City - Missouri and Kansas.

His new band demo  NO QTR(No Quarter)

Blew my mind,

Blew wax from my ears,

(and almost) Blew my speakers. 

 A Gnarly Hard Screamin' Jam this is . . .

 

 

Portland, Oregon - Every February

I just met a guy passin' through who's goin' to this show,

the party . . .

the races . . .

sounds like fun ! 

Cold enough today to talk race sleds . . .

I know the shortest guy is Brad Hulings, behind him is Eastman

and Jerry Bunke (pronounced "bunky") far right.

No. 874 Jerry Bunke of Rushford, Minnesota. 

It only took him a few years to win about everything, make a huge impact on the sport and tragically get killed in a racing accident.  His death was such a blow to the sport, the Polaris factory quit (if not because of Bunke, it didn't help matters . . .) 

Jerry Bunke with the No.1



Bore It, Stroke It . . .

 . . . you may go all the way to 999.9 with 44mm throttle body if needed?  If I read it correct - that's legal now?  This (not real competitive race bike) situation hasn't happened with H-D since 1970, or maybe when those RS750s came around . . . Then Parker & Werner stopped 'em.  Now who's gonna do it? 

Nights You Remember

Fresh gas.  I had a small screwdriver in my pocket, so I adjusted the carb and idle, and the motor was running perfectly.  I rode around for about 3 hours that night, hardly stopping.  The weather was perfect.  Nobody around at 11:30pm - just me and the city lights - and a 1965 XLCH.

Trips You Remember

The South Dakota DOT applied a tar sealer to Hwy 44, and it hadn't rained all summer until we came through on our way to Sturgis.  There was watery tar-like stains all over our bikes.  I never really got it all off until I disassembled the entire motorcycle and bead blasted it off and repainted it.  Joe and John(pictured) traded their bikes off, and unless the new owners did the same thing - it's still on there in places for sure.

Drank too much (Trips You Remember)

I over did it, and just wanted a nap.  I learned my lesson and never did that again.  Let me sleep.

Rebuilt for: Ethomoto (of Portland, Oregon)

This needs a ride to Portland . . .

Anyone coming for Mama Tried, etc. 
I'm sure he'd help with some gas money . . .
I've got an aluminum stand (easier to carry) and will shrink wrap it, etc.

Fix it and forget it.

Repaired my upper tree, lowered oil holes, painted cylinders, fixed my risers, fixed the fork caps, fixed the rocker screw threads . . . all misfit parts.  More fixes needed.

Crazy with Fire in Their Eyes !

It's been a few months with no swap meets, 3 months since Davenport . . . and when the doors open at 9:00am for the Early Bird on Sunday in Rock Island, Illinois . . . they run in like crazed zombies, saliva dripping from their mouths, all pumped up on morning black coffee.  They push, slide and jockey for position, eyes moving to find the booth with the most rust, to start digging frantically though boxes (oil soaked are the best) and finding parts and pieces, thrusting the parts high in the air, trying to find the vendor for a price, How much?  This your shit?  What ya gotta have for this?  Deals are made.  Green, American dollars are pulled from leather chain-drive wallets with snaps, sealed envelopes, inside coat pockets, front denim pockets . . . many are crumpled, $100 bills so fresh - they're stuck together, crisp and new - exchanged for rusty metal or heavy cast iron.  What a zoo of emotions.  It's nuts.  All this happening inside, aisles filling, while the rest of the penny-pinchers line up outside.  They wait for the actual 10:00am Opening time and save a whole $5 bucks, but stand in line, in the cold, talking and smoking cigarettes.  I finally show up 4 hours later and get right in . . . like a cat picking through scraps.

Dean Hummer of Omaha, Nebraska

The story goes that Dean Hummer bought an H-D dealership and sold so many 125cc lightweights he got a call from "the factory" about this . . . They wanted him to come to Milwaukee for a meeting (or maybe it was a scheduled dealer meeting?)  He knew something was up . . . hoped he wasn't in trouble, or maybe they wanted to know his sales strategies???  Anyway, they asked if they could name the Model after him . . . after that day, they were christened The Harley Hummer ! 

Hey Noot . . . Harley called,

 "They want to name their new bike The Nootster

What do ya think?

Choppers as Weapons

 William Smith (in this one)has been in over 300 movies.

HEAVY HIT

This is heavy snow when it's barely 32F  - and it's ain't done yet.

I'm movin' to Florala, Navarre, Luverne, Paducah, Weeki Wachee, Homosassa or Anna Maria or Isla Mujeres . . . which are all options for my future hangouts.

The Digger

This bike gets ridden the least.  It usually needs gas.  It's kinda fast, and can surprise you with bursts of power at higher rpms - and actually handles pretty good.  It's tough to kickstart ( I run it a bit late in the season, after my right leg is built up )  No high speed wobbles, but if the tank is too full, raw fuel can bubble and spurt out the cap at high revs . . . drenching your crotch and shirt with gasoline.  On a hot day, with a magneto - this could be dangerous?  The L-Series carb spits gas when starting, and it gets on the pipes.  Performance can be messy.

It's loud, it's got muscle, it's everything an ironhead stroker is supposed to be. Even at over 50+ years old - and still a formidable ride which can draw the attention over almost any motorcycle I'm riding with . . . I often think of selling it - then I take it for one last ride and change my mind.  Everytime so far . . .

Panhead Rear Hub and Brake Set-Up

I want to get this rear axle, brakes and backing plate the best I can.  It's better to check it out this way before you get the wheel all done.  You can feel and check it more accurately.

Now I can check the drum, dust ring clearance and backing plate anchor tab.  All original parts !  It sure makes a difference, with fit.  H-D really had some quality control I've got to say. 

I snug up everything, and there's no binding.  Just a little drag from my new(kinda stiff) star hub cork seals.  The frame is straight in the back.  Axle right in the center of the slot.  No twist.  Now comes the hard part - riveting on my NOS sprocket and NOS dust ring - a two-man job.