More Meltdown Drag pics . . .

Drag Racing makes America the greatest place to live.  Bringing back the glory days of real Detroit muscle machines.

 The Chizler

 Jet Powered track dryer (don't wear your sandals) and watch your toes !

Best Tow Vehicle Award

 

Support Your Local Motorcycle Dealership

 . . . and use only genuine Harley-Davidson parts.  I try to support our local dealer (The Cedar River Harley-Davidson Shop: Phone: 641-228-2192)  I buy all my oil from them, and promote motorcycle, parts and service sales to many who ask me . . . ( wish the oil still came in these orange and black cans !

Before you buy your next bike, see their inventory online, or call them for availability on new or used models.  Cedar River has a great crew - and they sell many motorcycles to customers all over the country.  Tell 'em Noot sent ya . . .

Just a chirp . .

Project '54 Panhead Motor

I've been checkin' out all my endplay, bushing fit, magneto gear mesh distance . . . oh, and my generator gear lash. 

Made some gear cover dowel pins, fitted my cyl. base studs and drilled my case for 5/16" generator bolts.  New idler gear bushing and everything looks good considering this thing was a mess . . .

Hey Wiley . . . I got some shit done ! 

My cylinders are over at McFarland's (he's using Noot's live center cone) to turn about .100 off the bases to get my pistons up a bit more where we want 'em.  Always something . . . .

TECH: Lil' Chris' Stroker Motor

 This tool has a special "step" to install the Torringtons the correct depth.

 

I did get a few things done before I left to go play . . .

I sourced these special copper washers to get my installed spring correct if needed . . .

They fit perfectly over the guides (and under the lower collar)

Auveco Part No. 14869 (box of 25ea)

 

400+ Chopper Miles . . .

Stopped at Nate's in Dubuque for a carbon flavored water . . . His shop is cool.

Meltdown Drags in Byron, Illinois - Epic Event

A couple cars rans in the 7s with vintage equipment . . .

Incredible how fast some of the full-size gassers were . . .

Hartman gave me a ride back on in the return lane in

The Abomination

It's gettin' popular - Lots more people this year . . .

It's fun . . . but a hard ride, party with Ryan, Drew, Luke and the gang - then up-at-6am and head home a different way . . . over the Mississippi to Anamosa, Iowa.



Fun times - wish the dudes lived closer - Good friends for life .

A trip to clear your mind and regroup . . .

Hope you all can get away now and then  -Noot

Iron & Orange

45 Cu. In.

Skip Van Leeuwen

Did you know Skip was born in Orange City, Iowa? (a huge Dutch population) His family moved to Southern California and Skip took up motorcycles.  His early days were spent racing with his friend Dick Hammer.  Both riders improved and soon became top expert racers.

Skip appears in On Any Sunday and On Any Sunday Part 2.  Skip's mother hated that he raced motorcycles, and he told her, he'd quit once he made the "Expert" ranking.  Van won his first expert race against all his heros . . and was hooked.  He won at Castle Rock and Ascot.  A favorite among riders due to his friendly on (and off) the track personality.

Van Leeuwen preferred TTs, Short Tracks, Scrambles and the tight turns of a road race over dirt miles.  He went on to form his own motorcycle parts company.

Skip was inducted into the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame.

Thin is Still In . . .

Kenda Challenger 18"

Way back when I decided to build a real chopper . . . I had "old biker dudes" selling me parts (at reasonable rates) and giving me stuff.  One guy donated a rear fender to my project - the trailer style flat fender off his old chopper.  I had a 16" wheel all set up to go, until I realized the arc of the fender fit an 18" wheel.  If you run a 16" rear wheel, you have a choice of around 150 different tires.  If you run an 18" rear, you have a choice of about 3 good tires.  I first ran a Continental ($150.00 Retail) - and the last two tires have been these Kenda Challengers ($85.00 Retail) and they work great !  I get more miles, they grip, they're a heavy 4 ply with a good 3 ply sidewall.  I've run air pressure from 15 to 35lbs. and these tires hold up, decent ride all around. 

This latest tire I just received looks to be manufactured just last month !  They're a popular tire, so they sell well, and you should always get a fairly fresh one . . .

Steve G.

Steve is a local guy(and friend of ours) who's been around for as long as I can remember.  Back in the late 70s, early 80s, he'd come up to our house and my dad (Noot)would help with his motorcycle, the same bike he's still riding in the photo I took a couple weeks ago.  After the early years, Steve did all his own work.  Built his own bike and ran it hard.  Rebuilt things, and ran it hard again.  I've seen him spin this big FLH around like a dirt bike.  You see, he found out he had the cancer, over a year ago, the doc gave him months, and Steve went almost a couple years.  Tough dude with a strong will, but always generous and ready to help.  He had the best stories that you just can't make up.  We'll all miss him around town - on his front fender-less, rebel ride shovelhead with loud pipes, wide bars, all black, gangster whites . . . In the wind forever & ever - never stopping again . . .

Terry Poovey #18

Poovey rode XR750s for a few years and actually did pretty darn good on 'em . . . but he had his biggest wins on Hondas.  Ride Red. 

A few miles 'o gravel . . .

I don't think my '61 has ever been this dusty?  Had some fun at Chad's in Clear Lake, then after a car wash - I took the long way home.  Beautiful day and my bike was rippin' . . .

Karata Pressure Plate

If you have an aluminum pressure plate with a steel, threaded insert (for the clutch adjuster screw), you may want to run a washer under the center lock-nut.  This will keep the insert from pulling through.  Just in case it spins or comes loose from the aluminum plate . . .