Ricky @ The Anchor Motorcycle Shop

I met Ricky a few years ago at DICE Des Moines.  Since then, I've watched him build 2 bikes to my 1 . . . he's very good at coming up with neat ideas and innovations using stock parts.  When you don't have the money to just hit "Buy-It-Now" . . . you are like the true builders of our heritage.  To build a custom, you must first buy a stock motorcycle.  I'm sure his S&S Backing Plate Air Scoop and Open Back Primary may have been done before - but, I never thought of it - and Ricky actually did it . .  along with a whole slug of other custom touches that are everywhere - on everyone of his builds. (He may have hit Buy-It-Now on the enrichener knob (hee, hee, ha ha ha )

JEFF IS GONE . . .

. . . but, his pinstriping and influence will live on forever.   I read many books on the subject of pinstriping, just trying to learn how to do it.   I'd see neat ideas and designs from different artists - and think "this guy" has great ideas.  Then, I'd discover a pic of Dean Jeffries (and he already did that).  He was very careful, neat and his own worst critic.  He was born in Osage, Iowa (about 12 miles from here) and moved to California (thank God for that . . . ) - and helped start a revolution in custom design and paint.  Cool cat that Deano.

Shae's Sportster Chop

Czech doze foark wegs . . . daze wibbed !

June 8th - Anamosa, Iowa VINTAGE EVENT at the National Motorcycle Museum !

A Vintage Bike Show, Swap Meet, Museum Admission with Ticket, Meet dirt track heros Bubba Shobert, Bobby Hill, Jay Springsteen . . . even Bill Werner will be there . . . (pick his brain for speed secrets) . . . If you're coming from the south, this will be an excellent stop on your way to the Knuckle Shuffle in Yuba, Wisconsin which is this same weekend.   See the J&P website for more info . . .

Memorial Weekend Running of "The Mile"

If you have never seen a mile race . . . this is the one.  The fastest mile event in motorcycle dirt track racing.
Faster than Indy, Faster than Sacto, Faster than Del Mar . . . one of the fastest dirt tracks in the world.  It was built from special dirt from the Sangamon River Valley - and through-out the years of packing, racing, motor oils and tire rubber it has created a very unique track surface.

Facts:

Engines are 45 cu in and can reach speeds 
of 135mph on the straights . . .

4 to 5 lead changes per lap is not uncommon

Jockey size men with nerves of steel

All the greats have raced at Springfield including:

Kenny Roberts, Wayne Rainey, Scott Parker, Nicky Hayden, 
Gary Nixon, David Aldana, Ricky Graham, Jimmy Felice, 
Bubba Shobert, Jay Springsteen, Carrol Resweber, Chris Carr  
as well as A.J. Foyt, Al Unser and Mario Andretti have USAC auto 
victories here . .   . . . the list goes on and on. . . .

It's been prone to rain in the past (more so than the Fall event - also at this same venue)  So, be prepared. TT racing Friday & Saturday nite too . . .

Vintage Show = Vintage Awards

I guess the trophies were purchased from some dude who had these bike awards from way back when . . .
So cool . . . At the shop, I noticed an area with all kinds of old cams, gears, rusty car and bike parts . . . it looked like a bunch of junk for scrap to me.  However, It's what (and where) they make all the neato trophies for the car club awards - hey - Bitchin' !  I just love my plaque. 

Kansas City Royalty - 1ST ANNUAL VINTAGE IRON SHOW & SWAP

Threw the digger in the van with some parts, brushed off the snow and headed to KC, MO for the Vinatge Iron Show in Platte City.  Old fairgrounds (this year's site for Greaserama), totally cool people and a fun time was had by all.  These guys build some of the baddest ass chops & rods I've ever seen.  Ricky gave me the grand tour of the shop - located in the seedy, industrial sections on lower Kansas City.  We are talkin' ol' school gangster hoods of the 1920s, 30s and 40s . . . and their shop is right in the middle of it.  So rad.

Make sure you zoom-in on Michael Geltz' totally retro white flake job on Shae's chopped Ranchero.  Gassers, wagons, wheelie trucks . . . skate ramp in the back.  What about that Caddy powered Ford Sedan???? Bonnie & Clyde would still be on the run if they had it back then . . . .

I really liked the bike show and the quality of iron that was present . . . with 45 degrees and misty rain, I heard a raaap raaappp of exhaust note as a dual carb '47 knuck came ridin' in . . . then another knuckle bobber.  Tony's motorcycles are always flawlessly prepared . . . and I liked all the Honda, Suzuki and Kawasaki Fours that showed . . .

  . . . oh, and I can't forget the full out race bikes.  The KR was one of the nicest and most authentic I've seen - a very correct restoration (just ask the owner) . . . and that Triumph "Show Stopper" Drag Bike was like a piece of fine jewelry.  Kaw with Turbo?  Let's race !  Maybe not.  All in the details and I just wish you could have all been there - very cool machinery, cool people - Very professional event.  Even if you couldn't make it - they printed up 100 shirts - and you can get one by contacting Ricky at the ANCHOR blog.   Ricky's family is so cool . . . Shae, you are my bro now !  See ya'll real soon . . . 
don't forget . . .  Mini Sturgis is the plan !

Crazy Weather

This is no shit . . . One day it was almost 80 degrees, riding motorcycles with my Church of Choppers shirt and Oakley Monster Dogs.  Had a refreshing fountain Coca-Cola on ice. 

About 24 hours later, a long sleeved sweatshirt, with a Dickies coat, Kinco gloves, Arctic Cat hat and Georgia Boots walking in 8" deep snow . . . waving at my buddy driving a city snow plow.
Snow blowing . . . ice everywhere . . .
Had a hot Aroma's coffee with extra sugar . . .

Elvis

This photo is so cool.  Suppose that's his dad?  He's got quite the kickin' style going on there !  Elvis is right up on it . . . givin' it all he's got.  That had to be easy to start - but, when you're not used to it . . . He did get the hang of it as we all know Elvis had lots o' motorcycles, and hits, and chics, and guitars, and pills.
He was only 42 when he passed - he'd be 78 today and still riding that bike if he would've taken care of himself better . . . all that money doesn't really matter if you don't use it right.

Power Robbing Automatic Transmissions

I'm attempting to rebuild a vintage Hurst Super Shifter.  What a mess.  I got it painted black and cast gray and have to test it each time.  In my research, I found an old transmission article on "Power Robbing Automatics" and the benefits of the manual gear box in racing.

Did you know it takes quite a bit of horsepower to 
spin these automatics???

General Motors

Powerglide = 17 to 18 hp

Turbo 350 = 35 hp

Turbo 400 = 45 hp (holy shit)

Ford

C4 = 27 hp

C6 = 55 hp (damn)

Dodge/Chrysler

904 = 25 hp

727 = 45 hp (what the?)

Manual Muncie / Borg Warner =  I can spin it through all the 
gears with my hand . . .  

With this baby 283 build - I need all the help I can get !