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He has a strange way of making decisions. Perhaps that’s one of the reasons behind five wives and changing motorcycles every year. He strolled in from the shop, eyed the tattered Top Hat full of business cards, poured a rattlecan cap full of gas in the hat, struck a match and our votes went up in flames, “Call Lee at Departure Bikes Works, in Richmond and give him the assignment. He’s about to have his right knee operated on.”
The Bikernet staff was stunned. How could he be so cruel? “Goddamnit,” Bandit said. “If Andrew and the Hull Street Meanies, don’t have a major project, they’ll fuck-off during his hospital stay. But don’t tell them that.”
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There you have it. The Learning Channel Biker Build-off set in motion. Brenda took the whimpering Colonel Lee Clemens to the hospital and the build began with Andrew grinding and welding a frame to mate the chopper lifestyle with a race ready package. Then Hugh called, “Sorry guys,” The King said snickering. “We gotta remove two weeks from your shooting schedule. You have four weeks before we storm your shop and overload your electrical circuits with our equipment. You can have a frame ready and a set of wheels, but that’s it.
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“I went to work on the frame,” Andrew said, “while Lee hunted for a project sponsor. My chopper/race configuration became a tribute to a match made in heaven.” Lee discussed the project with Wes Wolf, the owner of Paradise Road Speed & Custom, in Richmond. Wes owned and restored the historic 1965 Altered Funny Car, the Virginian. He offered to sponsor the project, if he could buy the bike once completed. “It became a huge connection to build the bike/brother to the famous funny car,” Andrew said and dove under his welding hood.
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A film crew for the Discovery Channel packed up its cameras for the evening and left the sprawling custom motorcycle shop at 5216 Hull Street Road in South Richmond.
It’s been another long day — the ninth in a row — of cutting, welding, bolting and wiring for the Learning Channel’s “Biker Build-Off” program.
Only one day left.”We’re nearly buttoned up,” the ponytailed chief designer and fabricator, Andrew Williams, said.”All we need are the pipes, some top-end lines and some fuel, and the windows will be rattling,” notes Ernie Coates, Departure’s service manager.
Williams’ wife, Drenda, pops in to say she’s heading to the evening service at the nearby Richmond Outreach Center, a popular South Side church that has more than a few bikers among the brethren.
”Pray for this motorcycle,” Coates calls out. As she leaves, he adds: “She is turning into the mother of this group of misfits.”
The heart of the project, a monster 103-cubic-inch, Departure-built Harley-Davidson panhead motor, squats in the handmade frame like a gleaming question mark.
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After all, their hand-built Harley will be racing a high-revving Japanese bike custom-crafted by a Texas motorcycle shop for the Discovery Channel program. The crew knows its Harley — “The Virginian” — will have to claw off the starting line like an angry cheetah to stand a chance.
Billy Wheatley, Departure’s engine builder who looks as if he should be wearing a white smock in a science lab, has assured the crew the new-old motor is race-ready.
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The film crew is not present to chronicle what comes next.
Mechanic Steve Hodges rolls in with what looks like a hospital IV stand, topped with a little lawn mower gas tank and dangling fuel lines. Hodges has already hacked off some temporary exhaust pipes on the shop’s trundling band saw and bolted them up, one of them pointing forward like a unicorn’s horn. It’s enough for the test blast.
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Williams pushes the electric starter — ignition off — to pre-lube the engine.
Everyone seems to hold his breath. Ignition on. Williams hits the starter.
The motor speaks once — one deep boom that sounds like a muffled shotgun blast.The panhead’s single bark just means it’s primed and ready to roar, Coates says confidently.
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The crew swarms over the throbbing bike, checking head temperatures with an electronic sensor and their bare hands, watching the oil return to the tank, tweaking the carburetor, sniffing the motor’s break-in scent as if it were a new perfume.
Once the Panhead reaches the optimal temperature for its first break-in, heat-cycling run, Williams shuts it down. The ensuing silence is deafening.
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The next day, the crew bolts on the custom tanks and exhaust pipes as the cameras roll.
Friends have gathered, including some teens from the Richmond Outreach Center. It’s a happy moment.
They’ve met the deadline. They’re ready for Saturday’s race against the Texas crew in Louisiana, which will air on the Discovery Channel in February.
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Coates estimated the one-of-a-kind, handmade motorcycle is worth between $50,000 and $60,000. The Virginian is beautiful, everyone agrees.
But not completely finished, Drenda Williams reminds them.
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Williams and Coates slide it on the fuel line that feeds the carburetor and tighten it.
The clamp came off Travis Clemens’ Harley, Drenda says to the camera.
He may be departed, but the Departure crew knows he’ll be along for the ride.
That’s the way they roll.
Here’s how Sean put it 24 hours later, “We just got it back together after a little incident on the dyno. Seems that the front cylinder had a defect around the skirt and broke off, blowing the cases apart Thursday morning. Billy put it back together with another set of original H-D cases that had been lying around the shop for decades. It fired up Saturday surrounded by a crowd in the shop, and will be loaded on the trailer Monday for Louisiana… Right down to the wire… I am sure the film crew will be depressed to know that they missed out on the drama.”
By this time Lee escaped the hospital to hobble around the shop on crutches. The Learning Channel Build-off experience motivated him to rehab as quickly as possible. Everyday he healed and worked his knees until he was standing alongside his staff and ready to load himself into the truck for the drive from Richmond to Morgan City on the 90 west out of New Orleans where they were scheduled to compete on the No Problem Raceway in Donaldsonville, LA. “We had a large time,” Lee said, “with James Compton our competitor with his super clean drag GSXR 1000 motor in his hand-built frame. Good people.”
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Andrew had never drag raced although several members of the staff are strip veterans. The stripped race machine wasn’t loaded down the a shift light or even a tack. “He had to feel the engine’s need for throttle and gears,” Lee said. He made two ¼-mile warm-up passes and was ready to rock. “We owned the holeshot,” Lee said. “The first 1/8 mile was our and James had to work and catching up with the Suzuki, but he kicked our asses with mid 10-second passes, whereas we pull consistent mid 12s. The track was so sticky that if you stood still for five minutes you’d leave your shoes behind.”
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Lee, his operated knee quivering wanted to make sure that Andrew, Brenda and his entire staff knew how proud he was of their efforts and success on the track. “That bike made pass after pass without a hiccup,” Lee said. “It made three passes without ever shutting the engine down.
Don’t miss all the live action on The Learning Channel. This episode will be aired March 15th on the Learning Channel at 10:00 p.m. Thursday night.
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Owner: Wes Wolf
City/State: Richmond/ VA
Builder: Andrew Williams
City/state ( or company contact info): Departure Bike Works, Richmond, VA
Fabrication: Departure Bike Works- Andrew Williams
Manufacturing: Departure Bike Works- Andrew Williams
Welding: Andrew Williams
Machining: Andrew Williams, Billy Wheatley, Sean Higgins & J. E. Fifer Sheet Metal Fabricators, Inc
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Year: 2007
Make: Harley-Davidson
Model: Custom
Displacement: 103ci
Builder or Rebuilder: Billy Wheatley of Departure Bike Works
Cases: ’69 Panhead
Case finish: Polished
Barrels: S&S
Bore: 3 & 5/8”
Pistons: S&S
Barrel finish: Black Powder Coat
Lower end: S&S
Stroke: 5”
Rods: S&S
Heads: STD- Ported & Polished by Departure’s Billy Wheatley
Head finish: Natural
Valves and springs: Black Diamond Valves/ S&S Springs
Pushrods: Jims
Cams: S&S
Lifters: S&S
Carburetion: S&S “D”
Other:
- EVO style oiling through the pushrods to the top end.
- Accurate Engineering Roller Rocker Arms.
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Year: ‘06
Make: Rivera Primo- Special Construction
Gear configuration: 6-speed
Final drive: Chain
Primary: 3” Open Belt- Rivera Primo
Clutch: Pro Clutch
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Year: ‘07
Make: Departure Bike Works
Style or Model: Andrew Williams- “Speed Star”
Stretch: 6” Up & 4” Rear
Rake: 30 degrees
Modifications: Other than the fact that it was made from scratch on the frame table Andrew designed and made…?
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Make: Departure Bike Works/ Showa
Model: Narrow
Year: ‘07
Length: +4”
Mods:
- Turned Lower Legs- Andrew Williams
- Custom Triple Trees: Departure Bike Works- Andrew Williams
Sheet metalTanks: Split Racers: Departure Bike Works- Andrew Williams & Ernie Coates
Fenders: What?
Panels: Rear Cowl: Departure Bike Works- Andrew Williams & Ernie Coates
Oil tank: Departure Bike Works- Andrew Williams
Other: PaintSheet metal: Danny Riddle & Riddle Sign
Molding: yep
Base coat: yep
Graphics: Old School Lettering & Paint to Match Wes Wolf’s Virginian Hot Rod
Frame: Power & Performance- Richmond, VA
Molding: Powder & Performance
Base coat: Black Powder Coat
Graphics or art: yep
Special effects: Simple… that is special
Pinstriping: Danny Riddle WheelsFront
Make: Akront
Size: 19”
Brake calipers: What?
Brake rotor(s): Don’t need em’
Tire: MetzlerRear
Make: Akront
Size: 18”
Brake calipers: Performance Machine, Inc.
Brake rotor: EBC
Pulley: Sprocket- yea
Tire: MetzlerControls
Foot controls: Departure Bike Works- Andrew Williams
Finish: Polished Stainless Steel
Master cylinder: Grimeca
Brake lines: Russell
Handlebar controls: Brimbo
Finish: Brushed Aluminum
Clutch Cable: Barnett
Brake Lines: Russell
Shifting: Foot (Departure Bike Works- Andrew Williams Controls) ElectricalIgnition: Compu-Fire
Ignition switch: Toggle
Coils: Twin Tech
Regulator: Cycle Electric
Charging: Cycle Electric
Wiring: Departure Bike Works- Andrew Williams & Ernie Coates
Harness: Departure Bike Works- Andrew Williams & Ernie Coates
Headlight: Harley-Davidson Spotlight
Taillight: LED Bullet Style
Accessory lights: come on now…
Electrical accessories: it works…
Switches: Toggle & Kill
Battery: Deka What’s LeftSeat:
- Seat Pan: Departure Bike Works- Andrew Williams
- Leather Work: Paul Cox
- Pipes: Departure Bike Works- Andrew Williams
Mufflers: I can’t hear you… what?
Exhaust finish: Polished Stainless Steel
Gas caps: yep
Handlebars: Departure Bike Works- Andrew Williams
Grips: Pingel
Pegs & Mounts: Departure Bike Works- Sean Higgins
Oil filter: Perform
Oil cooler: Perform
Oil lines: Departure Bike Works- Special Rubber Extruded From Andrew’s Anus
Fuel filter: yep
Fuel Lines: Departure Bike Works
Throttle: Barnett/ Pingel
Throttle cables: Barnett
Fasteners: Chrome Credits:Special thanks to everyone who supported the project… you know who you are.-Ride Forever Travis Bikernet sent a couple of GOB girls out to guard the Departure bike.