My Old Basement
My (very old) real estate abstract shows a "building foundation" permit issued in 1873. Another permit issued in 1876 and one in 1899. This place has been here a long time, since the founding. Wild Bill was still alive when they broke ground. One of the first homes of the city. The basement has no drain. It stays dry unless we have 8+ inches of rain in 24hrs, then it can get damp. It's always cold down here, and very quiet.
It has a certain historical vibe to it. It took years of conditions to get this vibe.
I was going to mud and paint the walls - seal it all up - but, that would: A. Require me to do a lot of work and B. Take away the feeling and the look. It gives the spiders and millipedes a place to hide. Maybe a colored light in a corner, with a bar stool ?
Rat Fink Ring
Hey Kids ! My wife found this in an antique store and bought it for me. $1.00 I looked in my Big Daddy Roth book, and there it was ! "You too can be a Rat Fink !"
1966 Malibu
Some guy told me this was one of the first (if not thee first), Sony cassette deck and receiver for autos. I thought about yankin' it out a couple times, but it works perfect - and my Maxell UDXLII chrome tapes still work great with my recorded 80s rock hits ! Get's AM stations decent too . . .
60s Chevrolets are the best
Dick O'Brien (left)
Nobody did more for Harley-Davidson Racing than O'Brien as far as I'm concerned. Sure, the racers did their jobs too . . . but, O'Brien got the money and used his know-how to make those motorcycles faster and win races, when Harleys weren't the fastest. He got that aluminum XR built, he kept the factory race team going . . . and convinced the execs to Win on Sunday, and Sell on Monday. He was tough, and liked to win, but I heard he congratulated the competition when it was due . . . but, came back and beat 'em the next time.
An Orange and Black stampede from the 50's through the 70s with Dick O'Brien at the reigns.
Photo: O'Brien and Cal Rayborn
An Orange and Black stampede from the 50's through the 70s with Dick O'Brien at the reigns.
Photo: O'Brien and Cal Rayborn
Lance Jones 23c
Above: Jones being interviewed by Dave Despain
Lance Jones of Gadsden, Alabama has been a life long motorcycle racer. His early years saw victories on all types of dirt tracks at Junior and Pro levels . . . all across our great country. Jones is always a threat to win. He's still known to participate in "legends" competition. Lance is a member of The Class of '79 with notables as Wayne Rainey and Scott Parker, an organization that raises funds for currently injured racers and their families.
FLAT TRACK: Bore X Stroke
88 X 61.5mm Indian
76 X 97mm Sportster XLR 900
76 X 81mm Iron XR
79 X 76mm Aluminum XR
83 X 60mm Kawasaki
I threw the XLR in there for reference !
I threw the XLR in there for reference !
Mouse Trap
This thing was a mess - hopefully usable now? I want to try and get it to function just perfect someday - so when you pull the clutch lever, it almost stays in - on it's own. Low clutch lever force. Clutch assist. It's kinda neat when they work as intended.
Rigid Horseshoe
I pressure tested it, and it leaks out a weld on the bottom. Mount tab is broken too. Some people are sure hard on parts . . . call it "use" or "just abuse?"
I'm thinking about this . . . uh, oh.
How about we make a plug - slightly thread it in, just below the surface - leave a little bevel at the end - weld it in, and hopefully not get it too hot and warp the shit out of the mating surface. Wiley says to warm it in the oven first, then weld it - then back in the oven to cool off. Sound like a plan ?
The Good: Sunday Ride
It was a beautiful day . . . except for the occasional attack of Asian Beetles and No-See-Um bugs . . .
The farmers in the fields. Harvest in full swing. Watch out for combines and grain wagons !
Moments in Time
Brad Baker's 450 before he crashed out of the lead . . .
Springfield All-Star Short Track 2016
'64 XLH and Jeremiah Armenta at Davenport, Iowa
Buchanan's Spoke debacle
My great uncle, Billy Strauser of Wolf Point, Montana
Ken Pressgrove and H-D KR750
Gary Nixon and tuner . . . and a cigarette
Wrong manifold for this ULH
Preserving American Heritage !
Clifford Vaughs in white pants (photo by Danny Lyon)
CHVRCH of Choppers
My dad must really like his COC shirt? He wears it quite a bit. My COC "Champion" shirts have a letter U, and are an older logo version. I somehow ended up with 3ea of these . . I can wear them all week, and folks think I'm still wearing the same shirt. One time, we each had on these shirts out in the shop, when this guy took me aside and asked, "What's Church Street Bikes?" I told him. Then, I saw him a different day and he said he went to the library and looked them up. I'm thinking, "Card Catalog? Books?" I forgot they have computers at the library . . .
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