This story is true. The names and exact locations have been changed to protect the innocent—or guilty—depending upon your personal ideas of justice. It must be considered that this event took place in 1979…things were different then.

It was springtime and the sky was deep blue and cloudless as the Superglide pounded its fateful rhythm against the northbound Texas pavement of I-35. As the warm sunshine beat down upon the face of the lone rider his mind began to wander over events of the recent past. Times had been tough, at least from his way of thinking.

Although only 21, Little John stood six two and weighed 240-pounds, most of which was hard muscle. His basic nature had always been that of a gentle giant, and his natural levels of patience and tolerance were, according to almost all who knew him, far above that of the average person. There was, however, one inconsistency: Little John had a snapping point—it was like a switch—and anyone who pushed him beyond it quickly found themselves facing a very different man from the gentle giant they’d first met. Fortunately however, John’s immense size and kind nature had repeatedly saved him from those scrapes throughout his relatively short time on this earth.

His family life had been as good as any and he loved his folks well enough. But eventually all boys grow up and, at the age of 18, Little John had known it was time to leave the nest.

Aside from a natural mechanical ability, yet to be properly honed, the young man possessed no real marketable skills. Many of his friends had done well in the Armed Forces and John had just figured, as many young men do, that a beginning in the military would gain him a trade as well as an opportunity to strike out on his own. After a year of technical training at Lowery Air Force Base in Colorado, he’d been stationed at Bergstrom, which was located just south of Austin Texas.

Yet try to control himself as he might, the service had offered what John considered a much larger serving of bullshit than he’d deserved. There had been trouble. Although other incidents had occurred, the bacon fight was the final straw.

Behind a face chiseled with bad attitude had been a pair of laughing eyes that obviously enjoyed the privilege to wield small power. While standing over a large pan of well-done bacon, the mess-cook refused John anything but a plate of raw pig meat, and the big man snapped. The force of the metal plate and raw meat smashing into the cook's face, first broke his nose before sending him toppling over a hot stove to land in an unconscious heap on the cement floor.

Upon his release from the brig and, after serving three-and- a-half of a four-year hitch, John was discharged under a section eight. They’d said he was mentally unstable.

But that was behind him now and, as the Superglide pulled strong against the pavement of that sunny day, John felt as though he’d been released from the gates of hell to enjoy something like real freedom once again. Momentarily his grin broadened and the young rider found relief in a moment of great belly laughter.

Little John decided to make a road-trip of the journey home. He’d give the wind ample time to blow the cobwebs from his brain while enjoying the ride north along I-35. Somewhere ahead he’d turn west then ride into the Rocky Mountains. Eventually he’d find the roads that led to his hometown of Tucson, Arizona. John had $1,500, a sleeping bag, and the trusty Superglide. It was a good day indeed.

As the Oklahoma state line drew near Little John remembered rumors of the state’s backwoods, and redneck cops. He watched the movie Easy Rider and wanted no trouble like that.

After pulling to roadside John removed the combat knife (two inches over the legal limit) from his belt. He then unrolled his sleeping bag. Dropping the knife—sheath and all—into the bottom of the bag he thought, That's better. Shouldn't provoke no trouble in there.

The Oklahoma state line came and went while the rhythm of the country road soothed the big man's spirit. Two hours passed when John took notice of the state trooper’s red lights flashing in his rearview mirror.

Even though his paperwork was in order, John soon stood at curbside while a porky, stone-faced cop riffled through his belongings.

As the illegal search continued to bare no fruit, the officer’s attitude steadily degraded. Truly he was pissed. Eventually the cop got around to the sleeping bag.

Upon finding the knife he said, “Well what have we here? A concealed weapon huh? Alright hippie; turn around, hands against the car and spread ’em!”

Shortly after the tow truck had hitched up his bike, John found himself cuffed and staring at the fine countryside from the backseat of a cruiser. Before long the car was bouncing down a tiny, pot-holed, road.

The town could have been Mayberry, John thought, had it been slightly bigger and a whole lot friendlier. On the right sat a run down Texaco station, and he could see the chain link fence that encircled the police impound-lot behind as they passed. On the left sat a general store—the only other business in town. Beyond that lay only trees and a few old houses.

The cruiser stopped at the general store and John was escorted inside. As they crossed the wooden floor of its dingy interior, John caught sight of an old man sitting behind the counter in a wooden recliner.

Glancing down the cop said, “Afternoon Ben.”

“Bobby. What yuh got there?”

The Sheriff set the knife on the table, “Found this on ‘im Ben. Concealed weapon.”

The old man reached forward to flip the small sign atop his desk that read ‘Proprietor”. The other side said ‘Municipal Judge’. Little John could hardly believe his eyes. This wasn’t really happening…was it?

The body search back on the highway had revealed Little Johns net worth. The Judge fined him 1,450 of his 1,500 dollars, then passed a sentence of six-months at the county work farm. Embarrassment had prompted John to refuse his phone call. First, his discharge from the military and now this. He prayed his folks would never find out.

Ten minutes after he’d arrived, Little John, still cuffed behind his back, stepped from the porch and back into the squad car.

Outside the main body of the county jail rested a series of rundown metal-buildings surrounded by a tall chain link fence topped with razor wire. An occasional gun tower was thrown in for good measure. This steadily decaying environment served as home to the working prisoners.

Dressed in black and white stripes and shackled at the ankle to the men who worked beside him, John spent his days digging ditches, slinging a sickle, moving rock or whatever other job was assigned. On the perimeter of every work-detail, a handful of pudgy cops sat on their horses with shotguns held across their laps. Little John thought that this sort of thing only happened in the movies. And with each swing of his sickle the big man’s resentment grew.

Serving as a model prisoner had earned “time off” for good behavior and John was finally released after what had seemed like the longest three months of his life.

John thought first of his bike. Fifty dollars would not touch the impound fees and had probably only been left him with bus-fare in mind. They’d robed him then used him as slave labor. Now they would take his ride as well.

Little John had other ideas.

All seemed quiet inside the beat up Texaco station as John slipped unnoticed along the building’s side. Ahead he saw a dirt trail that ran along the impound lot perimeter. To his right grew a wall of thick trees, while his left offered a tall chain-link fence with wooden slats slipped between the links to help deter prying eyes.

Was the Superglide still here? John’s heart pumped a little harder as he slid quietly past the building. The guard-dog’s menacing stare was the first thing Little John saw as he lifted his eyes above the fence. It was an older Shepherd, heavily scared from street fights. He was mean. But it was not his nature to bark and the dog only growled a warning. John saw that he meant business. But the dog was only an inconvenience.

Little John had come for his bike.

Casting a gaze across the lot, he soon spotted her. His gear was still packed exactly as it had been on the day this nightmare began! The dog had gnawed the seat and his gear. John’s anger intensified.

Stealthily, he slipped away.

It was three a.m. and aside from a single streetlight adjacent to the general store, the little town of Mayberry seemed deserted. In the Texaco parking lot sat a single tow-truck. With violent intent obvious in his stride, Little John walked to it. His only plan had been to hot-wire the vehicle then ram the gate. After that, he didn’t know?

Bits of shattered glass flew across the bench seat as a large rock smashed the driver’s window. Next, a work-callused hand reached for the door-lock. A quick search of the truck revealed a set of bolt-cutters stashed behind the seat. “How convenient,” the big man thought. Moments later Little John cut the lock from the impound gate then slid it open.

Again the dog was there. It snarled and attacked.

There was a single yelp as the business end of the bolt-cutters came down on the dog’s skull. In an instant the animal lay unconscious upon the ground. One hind-leg still twitched. John hit him again and the dog lay still.

Five minutes later John pushed the motorcycle to the street then turned left and headed out of town. The bike was heavy, but Little John continued for another 1/8th mile before deciding it was probably safe to try the engine.

After inserting the spare key he always carried, John hit the button. The starter didn’t even click. As he’d feared, the battery had gone dead over his three months of incarceration. Thank god for kickers, he thought. But the spark was weak and still she did not start. He worked hard…still nothing. Desperation gripped him as the sweat began to flow from his body. And still he worked. Finally she fired…but only once, then again, and again. Eventually the old engine came to life and it was with a great sigh of relief that Little John threw a leg over the bike, then dropped her into gear.

It had been three long months since he’d felt the wind in his face and in the wee hours of that late summer morning the quiet country road supplied him with only a warm breeze as he rode free again. Looking to the black velvet sky it occurred to him that all the stars of the universe had come to offer their misty milk-light in a ritual of surreal blessing cast down upon his escape.

But he was afraid. He’d killed an officer—a police dog! If they caught him now, by law, they could send him up for murder. Fear. It seemed a weak word now, for what John really felt was something more like terror. His mind raced for a plan. They know I’m moving west because of my Arizona license. It’s certainly fortunate that the address is wrong. Think I’ll go east. It wasn't much of a plan. But it was all he had.

Once the adrenaline had washed from his veins a horrible anxiety took its place and, stopping only for gas and an occasional catnap at the ground beside his bike, John rode for two solid days. Eventually the North Carolina coastline stopped him. With no interest in the southern route, as it passed entirely to close to Oklahoma, Little John turned the Superglide north.

Somewhere in Virginia the money ran out and John found himself pushing what had begun to feel like two tons of cold steel. Eventually he brought the motorcycle into a small Sinclair Station. The young man approached the proprietor then and offered his labor. “Any kind of work at all,” he’d said, “in trade for a tank of gas.” It was a very embarrassing moment indeed.

The wiry old man looked him over thoughtfully for a moment. His sudden grin revealed two missing teeth. “Know how to operate a broom?” he said. But John knew more, and by that very afternoon his face was buried under the hood of an aging Chevrolet as his hand worked diligentlywith a 9/16 box-wrench. The old man let him sleep behind the station. On the sixth day Little John collected his pay then headed up I-17 once again.

As the Canadian border drew near it was decided to pick up I-90 and start west. The highway now offered some semblance of security in the fact that Oklahoma had been given the widest berth possible and again the ride brought great contentment to the big man’s spirit.

Twice more the motorcycle was pushed into gas stations—intentionally—for John now sought employment before his wallet ran dry. Twice again he found work.

From Washington, Little John rode I-5 south to Portland before turning west for the coast. Now this is truly living, he thought as giant redwood forests dazzled him, and impossibly green landscapes made candy for his eyes, while stunning seascapes filled his lungs with fresh ocean air. It was without doubt the height of his short life on this earth.

A week later Little John pulled into Los Angeles. From there he picked up I-10 east and began the last 500-mile stretch of his long journey home.

As the familiar desert opened up ahead, John began to rehearse the lies he’d tell friends and, especially, his folks about the nature of his long disappearance. But somehow his heart had been changed and John thought he now felt a touch of manhood that had not been with him before. No, he would not lie. Besides, the truth was just too strange a tale not to be told.

Little John pulled into his parents driveway and shut the Superglide down. His mom, startled by the familiar sound of the Shovelhead engine, met him at the door. She threw her arms around him and said, “Johnny, where the hell have you been? I was so damn worried!”

“Well mom…it all started when I crossed the Oklahoma state line…”

This story is dedicated to the real Little John. You know who you are.

Ride long and prosper…

–Scooter Tramp Scotty

Continued From Page 1

Then it was jump on the Electra Glide for a short hop up the river to Tony?s in Walnut Grove to visit the Kennedy clan. With green and white toppers, they served green beer and green shots of vodka. Help yourself, they said, to some free lamb stew. We did, but vowed to return on ?the real St. Patrick?s Day? for even more fun. Then it was down river to Vieira?s Resort in hopes of, between drinks, catching a look at the sturgeon being caught. No such luck on the fish since the mopey anglers reported a shitty day of drowning worms. Then it was home to grab 40 winks and wake up in the morning having ?lost? an hour (that alone turned out to be enough to make us ?miss? the Almond Fest; bummer).

French kissing the blarney stone

Having remained home for a couple of dazed days symbolically, if not literally, licking our wounds, we were in good shape on Wednesday to do what every Irishman (actually, I put ?Celtic Druid? on my official census form) should do: we rolled the Glide out of the garage and went on pub crawl that even Hemmingway would have been proud of. Heading up the river road, blossoms dotted the trees set in the regimented orchard rows. In the distance, to the east, snow could be seen crowning the Sierra Nevada Range.

First stop up river was the Freeport Bar and Grill. Freeport has lots of local history. During the California Gold Rush, steam powered paddle wheelers brought goods up river to the Sacramento docks. But those docks levied heavy fees to offload goods. Some enterprising souls built a dock down river and brought rail tracks up to meet the ships. It was a ?free port? but only for a few years. Today, however, the Guinness flowed at the Freeport Bar and Grill. It washed down the corned beef tacos ? we can?t make this stuff up ? rather nicely (the Latino kitchen staff has a real sense of humor).

Then, as promised, we returned to Tony?s to see what the Kennedy Clan had up their very Irish sleeves or, in Cary?s case, under an authentic Irish kilt. Inside, Cary was behind the bar and his dad, Mike, was handling the kitchen duties. Mother Kennedy was holding down the last stool at the end of bar, meeting and greeting one and all. It turns out that this was ?Appreciate the local customers day? with free servings of lamb stew, Shepard?s pie, and corned beef and cabbage.

Some time later, groaning and carrying away ?to go? containers of even more wonderful food, we coasted home, victors and not victims of the multicultural clashes of our times. Just for the record, the first real day of spring is not until Friday, March 20th, when the river folk has yet another shindig on tap. This is a community wild game feed where everyone contributes a carcass for the masses to consume. We?ve been assigned an eight-pound load of elk meat to turn into chili. River Rat is, by the way, a Texas gal. We?ll let ya know how these NorCal folks take to her spicy concoctions (fire extinguisher at the ready, CrawDaddy out).

BIKERNET MEDICAL CENTER FINDINGS SPONSORED BY BARTELS’ H-D, 4 Foods for Healthy Bones–Did you know that you can help promote bone health no matter what your age? It’s not difficult – simply add the following foods to your diet:

1. Non-fat dairy products. They are a good source of calcium, an essential mineral which is important to bone health.
2. Non-dairy calcium-rich foods. Sardines, canned salmon (with bones), dark leafy greens, whole soy foods like tofu, and calcium-fortified products such as soymilk and orange juice are good calcium-rich options for those who don’t eat dairy.
3. Whole vegetables and fruit. They provide potassium, magnesium, vitamin C and beta carotene, all of which have been linked to higher total bone mass.
4. Food sources of magnesium. Spinach, tofu, almonds, broccoli, lentils, pumpkin seeds and sunflower seeds are good sources of this essential mineral, which is vital for healthy bones.

In addition, avoid too much protein intake – excessive dietary protein can promote calcium loss from bones – and cut back on caffeine and sodium as well, as too much of either can promote calcium excretion.

–DrWeil.com

REPORT FROM BIKERNET MILITARY ATTACHE–A U.S. Marine Colonel was about to start the morning briefing to his staff..

While waiting for the coffee machine to finish brewing, the colonel decided to pose a question to all assembled.

He explained that his wife had been a bit frisky the night before and he failed to get his usual amount of sound sleep.

He posed the question of just how much of sex was “work” and how much of it was “pleasure?”

A Major chimed in with 75% work – 25% pleasure.

A Captain said it was 50% – 50%.

A lieutenant responded with 25% work – 75% pleasure, depending upon his state of inebriation at the time.

There being no consensus, the colonel turned to the PFC who was in charge of making the coffee and asked for HIS opinion?

Without any hesitation, the young PFC responded, “Sir, it has to be 100% pleasure.

The colonel was surprised and as you might guess, asked why?

“Well, sir, if there was any work involved, the officers would have me doing it for them.”

The room fell silent.

God Bless the enlisted man..

–SARGE
Melbourne, Fl

Rick Fairless and Joe T talk trash– about filming and life at Strokers Dallas on the Texas Hardtails Scooter Show ? Episode 40. Check out the show in Bikernet Studio. Don’t miss a minute. Hear the entire Scooter Show right here.

Riverside County authorities announce Vagos Motorcycle Club crackdown–Riverside County authorities announced the arrests of 30 members of the Vagos Motorcycle Club on Wednesday and alluded to possible ties to attacks on Hemet police.

Before dawn Wednesday, 400 law enforcement officers from the district attorney’s office and Riverside County Gang Task Force targeted 73 locations belonging to members of the club, arrested during a sweep in 20 cities in Riverside County, mostly based in Hemet.

The sweep was dubbed “Operation Everywhere” and included arrests in Norco, Temecula, Banning, the Coachella Valley and Riverside. In Lake Elsinore, authorities said a meth lab was discovered and arrests made. Most arrests in the operation were related to drug and weapons violations, with charges still pending.

Additional arrests were made by 60 law enforcement agencies throughout Northern California and Arizona, Nevada and Utah.

The Vagos group formed in the 1960s in the Temescal Valley south of Corona. It originally was called “the Psychos” and is estimated to have 600 members statewide, about 200 in Riverside County.

Riverside County District Attorney Rod Pacheco said the gang has a history of drug trafficking and trying to infiltrate law enforcement, working undercover to obstruct and dismantle police investigations . The raid came after the gang “gained the significant attention” of law enforcement in recent months, following a history of violence toward police. He said 94 of the gang members were contacted Wednesday.

Pacheco would not outline what activity drew scrutiny from authorities and declined to directly answer questions whether it was related to three attempted assassinations on the Hemet-San Jacinto Valley Gang Task force since December.

The Hemet Gang Task Force was first targeted Dec. 31 when a gas line was rerouted inside the office, intending to cause an explosion when someone entered.

The day before that attack, a Vagos funeral was being held at a church next to the office on Buena Vista Street.

Two additional attacks last month targeted the task force office and an officer’s car with booby traps. Hemet Police Chief Richard Dana, who attended a DA press conference to announce the raids, said to connect the Vagos to the attacks “would be inappropriate.”

“I’m not going to say the people we were looking for were specifically targeted, but I’m not ruling them out,” Dana said.

Also on Wednesday, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger announced a $50,000 reward for information in the attacks. That follows a $100,000 reward approved last month by the Riverside County Board of Supervisors.

By JOHN ASBURY
The Press-Enterprise

SS TRIKE ADDS EXCITEMENT TO THE 3-WHEEL EXPERIENCE–SS Trike has eliminated the lack of excitement that most 2 wheel riders experience when switching from a 2 wheeled vehicle to a 3 wheeler. At first glance you can?t help but notice the bold ?Big Wheel? styling, and that is just where the difference begins. Due to its innovative low-slung chassis design, the SS Trike is more than capable of handling the power of its XWedge V-Twin engine.

The excitement of this ride is further enhanced by a smooth, race-inspired 3 speed automatic transmission. This standard package is enhanced further by a large diameter 24? front wheel wrapped in Metzler rubber, 14? American Racing rear wheels, and digital instrumentation. Get more information at SS Trikes.com

URGENT LEGISLATIVE ALERT CALIFORNIA BILL OPENS ?SPECIALLY CONSTRUCTED? CLASS TO EVERY QUALIFIED VEHICLE– In 2001, a law was enacted in California to provide for the emissions-system certification and model-year designation for specially constructed vehicles, including kit cars. Under that law, vehicle owners choose whether a smog test referee certifies the engine model year or the vehicle model year. To determine model year, inspectors compare the vehicle to those of the era that the vehicle most closely resembles. If there is no close match, it is classified as a 1960 vehicle. Only those emission controls applicable to the model year and that can be reasonably accommodated by the vehicle are required.

The Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) provides a new registration to the first 500 specially constructed vehicles per year that meet the criteria. This year, a bill (A.B. 1740) has been introduced in the California Assembly to eliminate the requirement that these registrations be limited to the first 500 vehicles per year. The bill has been referred to the Assembly Transportation Committee and will be considered on March 22.

We Urge You to Contact Members of the Assembly Transportation Committee (List Attached) Immediately to Request Their Support for A.B. 1740 ?

Under current California policy, specially constructed vehicles that do not receive one of the 500 sequence numbers are subject to a ?muddied? titling, registration and smog check process. ? A.B. 1740 will remove the ?black market? value of these 500 sequence numbers which are often sold on e-bay and other on-line auction sites.

? A.B. 1740 recognizes the minimal impact specially constructed vehicles have on air quality.
?A.B. 1740 recognizes the fact that specially constructed vehicles are overwhelmingly well-maintained and infrequently driven.
?A.B. 1740 will allow vehicle owners to confidently take advantage of a newly-enacted vehicle registration amnesty program for specially constructed vehicles that were previously registered or classified incorrectly. Under the new law, the DMV will grant amnesty from prosecution to vehicle owners if certain conditions are met, including the owner filing a completed application with the department.

DON?T DELAY! Please contact members of the Assembly Transportation Committee today to urge support for A.B. 1740. California Assembly Transportation Committee

Assemblymember Mike Eng ? Chair Phone: 916/319-2049 Email:
Assemblymember.Eng@assembly.ca.gov
Assemblymember Kevin Jeffries ? Vice Chair Phone: 916/319-2066 Email:
Assemblymember.Jeffries@assembly.ca.gov
Assemblymember Bill Berryhill Phone: 916/319-2026 Email:
Assemblymember.Bill.Berryhill@assembly.ca.gov Assemblymember Bob Blumenfield Phone: 916/319-2040 Email:
Assemblymember.Blumenfield@assembly.ca.gov
Assemblymember Joan Buchanan Phone: 916/319-2015 Email:
Assemblymember.Buchanan@assembly.ca.gov
Assemblymember Warren T. Furutani Phone: 916/319-2055 Email:

Assemblymember.Furutani@assembly.ca.gov
Assemblymember Cathleen Galgiani Phone: 916/319-2017 Email:
Assemblymember.Galgiani@assembly.ca.gov
Assemblymember Bonnie Lowenthal Phone: 916/319-2054 Email:
Assemblymember.Lowenthal@assembly.ca.gov
Assemblymember Jeff Miller Phone: 916/319-2071 Email:
Assemblymember.Miller@assembly.ca.gov
Assemblymember Roger Niello Phone: 916/319-2005 Email:
Assemblymember.niello@assembly.ca.gov
Assemblymember Chris Norby Phone: 916/319-2072 Email:

Assemblymember.Norby@assembly.ca.gov
Assemblymember Jose Solorio Phone: 916/319-2069 Email:
Assemblymember.Solorio@assembly.ca.gov
Assemblymember Tom Torlakson Phone: 916/319-2011 Email:
Assemblymember.Torlakson@assembly.ca.gov Thank you for your prompt attention. Please e-mail a copy of your letter to Steve McDonald at stevem@sema.org

Fly-By-Wire (Electronic Throttle Control) Grips–Grips now available in chrome & blackIn 2008 Harley-Davidson introduced the Fly-By-Wire electronic throttle control, standard on all Ultra Classic Electra Glide, Road King Classic? and Street Glide, and optional on other touring models.

Chrome, Black, Spike or Flat EndGrips in stock.Our interchangeable head system (patent pending) makes the electronic grip possible with more options. Metric Bike? No Problem

Big Dog Style in Stock

Let us know what bike you would like grips for. Cruisers & Sport bikes are available. Resellers Welcome

Sales@xoprodox.com

Widow Files Lawsuit Against Harley-Davidson–According to a recent press release by a Fort Worth/TX law firm, a Texas woman files a wrongful death lawsuit against Harley-Davidson after her husband was killed while riding an allegedly defective motorcycle. The lawsuit claims that the accident, as a result of which her husband, John DeBartolo passed away, was allegedly caused by a malfunctioning electric throttle on his 2008 FLHX on March 15, 2008. Also named in the lawsuit is Longhorn Harley-Davidson in Grand Prairie/TX, who allegedly performed repairs on the motorcycle’s electronic throttle prior to the accident.

Bikernet.com has contacted Harley-Davidson for comment on this matter and received the response that ?per Company policy, we [Harley-Davidson] cannot comment on pending legal matters.?

– – C.S. Berg

POWER UP WITH SPORTSTER PERFORMANCE–The D&D Bob Cat – 2-into-1 Pipe Pumps Up the HP & Torque By 10%. D&D has released the 2004 through 2010 Bob Cat Sportster Pipe that increases performance, torque and a soul-satisfying tone.

Get All the details at D&D Performance Enterprises.

WERA AND YRR JOIN FORCES TO PROMOTE YOUTH ROADRACING–Long Beach, Calif. (March 18, 2010) – WERA Motorcycle Roadracing, Inc. (WERA) and Youth Road Racing USA (YRR) are proud to announce a collaborative effort to promote and develop youth roadracing in America.

As the official sponsor of the WERA Mini Race series, YRR will utilize its StepUp program to provide youngsters a graduated process for developing their racing skills and acquiring a WERA competition license.

The YRR StepUp program cultivates young racers through skill-building exercises and exposing them to the racetrack in a safe and controlled environment. The program has helped the evolution of 2008 U.S. Red Bull Rookie Cup Champion, Benny Solis, Jr., 2009 USGPRU 125GP runner up Ryan Matter and many other up-and-coming competitors. With this WERA collaboration, YRR’s StepUp program is now connected to racing through select WERA events nationwide.

“The StepUp program has been a key component of Youth Road Racing USA’s progression, and has provided numerous kids a safe environment in which to prepare for professional roadracing,” says YRR Founder & President, Josiah Taulbee. “Now, with WERA’s support and our sponsorship of its Mini Series, we can enhance the StepUp program and properly prepare kids for the next level of their racing careers by offering WERA licensing through on-track instruction nationwide.”

WERA has allowed youngsters to race in its Sportsman series since its inception and recently added 50cc and 80cc minis to select racetracks five years ago. By aligning the efforts of WERA and YRR, the organizations will bridge the gap between youth and professional competition. YRR will head up the effort to promote WERA events to local youth racing programs across the country.

Catch the WERA Mini Series roadrace events supported by Youth Road Racing USA at all of the five remaining Lucas Oils WERA West rounds as well as regional races east of the Mississippi at Beaver Run, Nashville, Talladega, Jennings GP, Summit Point and Carolina Motorsports Park events. Participating YRR riders and associations will receive a 50 percent discount on WERA’s license fee.

NEW SHOP OPENING SPECIALIZING IN HANDICAP MODS–I?m starting up Madtown Customs. I?m specializing in Handicap mods to get riders with problems back in the wind.

–Buckshot

We will work with Buckshot on tech articles and suggestions for handicapped riders. Look forward to it.–Bandit

LICKS Chain Tensioner–Sweet Piece of Hardware — a must have item for the do it yourself fanatic!!

The Chain Tensioner is a 15 Tooth ?MADE IN USA? Idler sprocket (SEALED BEARING) and is manufactured for a 530 chain. It features a 5/8″ X 2 1/2″ bolt with lock washer/nut, 1/2″ SS spacer and a 1/8″ Counter bore for paint or powder coat clearance. 1 1/8″ of space is available between center of the sprocket and the center of frame rail — (for use on Left Side Drive).

THIS WORKS GREAT FOR FULL WRAP FENDER APPLICATIONS WHERE YOU CAN NOT MOVE THE WHEEL!

TECH NOTE — YOU MUST HAVE WELDING SKILLS TO INSTALL. THIS IS A WELD ON PIECE!!Link to — http://www.lickscycles.com/catalog/default.php?cPath=215

ILLUSION CYCLES BAND, ATTIKA, PLAYS AT THE VIPER ROOM–For Cheaper pre-sale tickets call John at 818-339-9431

BIKERNET TRAVELING FANATICS TECH WARNING–FYI for those of you who travel and stay in hotels/motels.

Thought this was interesting. How many of us do this. This is rather scary if only because of how simple it is. Reading this I realized I could have been caught. I’ll bet this works all too often.

You arrive at your hotel and check in at the front desk.. When checking in, you give the front desk your credit card (for all the charges for your room). You get to your room and settle in. Someone calls the front desk and asked for (example) Room 620 (which happens to be your room).

Your phone rings in your room.. You answer and the person on the other end says the following, “This is the front desk. When checking in, we came across a problem with your charge card information. Please re-read for me your credit card number and verify the last 3 digits on the reverse side.”

Not thinking anything you might give this person your information, since the call seems to come from the front desk. But actually, it is a scam of someone calling from outside the hotel/front desk.

They ask for a random room number. Then, ask you for credit card info and address information. Sounding so professional that you do think you are talking to the front desk.

If you ever encounter this problem, tell the caller that you will go to the front desk and clear up any problems. Then, go to the front desk and ask if there was a problem. If there was none, inform the manager of the hotel that someone called to scam you of your credit card information acting like a front desk employee.

This was sent by someone who has been duped … and is still clearing up the mess.

–from Jim Waggaman

BIKERNET CLASSIC OF THE WEEK–Triumph?s Tiger 110 was the forerunner of the Bonneville, developed for the American market. And sixty years ago, its 649 cc parallel twin OHV motor made it the fastest Triumph you could buy. This lovely 1957 model was owned by the late Bob ?Snuffy? Smith, a racer from Pennsylvania, and photographed by his friend Harold Ross.

?Bob purchased the bike in the mid 80s and then restored it,? says Ross. ?He fitted a single saddle, had the side covers chrome plated, and inverted the racing stripe paint scheme on the fenders to fit his liking. His son Matt remembers being on vacation in Florida when his father had the chrome-plated parts shipped there, because he was so eager to see them.?

The subtle mods were well-chosen: they?ve removed all vestiges of the stock Tiger?s slightly bloated looks. And if you?re wondering why the photo looks different to the usual motorcycle studio shots, it?s because Ross employs an unusual technique: light painting. This involves working in a completely dark studio, opening the camera shutter for a long time, and then ?painting? on the light using a modified fiber optic cable. Just the thing to show off the fine curves of a vintage Triumph twin.

1957 Triumph Tiger 110 is a post from Bike EXIF – Classic motorcycles, custom motorcycles and cafe racers.

–Robin Hartfiel

ROLLING OUT FROM OKLAHOMA–Dar Holdsworth, Brass Balls BossMan, keeps rolling out the hits from his little shop in Oklahoma City. He recently took his iron down to Texas to show off some of his latest designs.

Each motorbike is hand built, designed and created by a team that knows performance. The most popular bikes from the firm include the Model 1, 69 Chopper and the Classic Bobber.

Take a look at his latest Chopper and Bobber work.

The Dude abides?

SURVEILLANCE TAPES FROM BIKER VETERINARY CLINIC–Three dogs are sitting in the waiting room at the vet’s when they strike up a conversation.The black Lab turns to the chocolate Lab and says, “So why are you here?”

The Chocolate Lab replies, “I’m a pisser. I piss on everything…..the sofa, the curtains, the cat, the kids. But the final straw was last night when I pissed in the middle of my owner’s bed.”

The black Lab says, “So what is the vet going to do?”

“Gonna cut my nuts off,” comes the reply from the chocolate Lab. “They reckon it’ll calm me down.”

The black Lab then turns to the yellow lab and asks, “Why are you here?”

The yellow Lab says, “I’m a digger I dig under fences, dig up flowers and trees. I dig just for the hell of it. When I’m inside, I dig up the carpets. But I went over the line last night when I dug a great big hole in my owners couch.”

“So what are they going to do to you?” the black Lab inquires.

“Looks like I’m losing my nuts too, the dejected yellow Lab says.

The yellow Lab then turns to the black Lab and asks, “Why are you here?”

“I’m a humper,” the black Lab says. “I’ll hump anything. I’ll hump the cat, a pillow, the table, whatever. I want to hump everything I see. Yesterday, my owner had just got out of the shower and was bending down to dry her toes. I just couldn’t help myself. I hopped on her back and started hammering away”

The yellow and chocolate Labs exchange a sad glance and says, “So, nuts off for you too, huh?”

The black Lab says ….”No, I’m here to get my nails clipped.”

–Jim Waggaman

Spring Swap Meet at Kundratic Kustoms, April 25–Once again the guys at Kundratic Kustoms over in Baltimora/MD are giving you the chance to unload the motorcycle and hot rod parts you’ve been holding onto. Get a table at the Swap and put some extra coin in your pocket.

Setup starts bright & early at 8am. Each 10×10 space is just $10 in advance or $15 on the day of the Swap. It’s first come first serve, so reserve your space today! It’s a Drizzle or Shine event, so bring your 10×10 pop-up. Tables, chairs, tarps are your responsibility as is leaving your space as clean as you found it.

Reservations can be made on The Kundratic Kustoms website www.kundratickustoms.com and advance payments are accepted via Paypal, or give the guys a call at 410-633-3113 and pay over the phone.

– – C.S. Berg

PROJECTS, PLANNING, AND PERSISTENCE–Sometimes I listen to ’40s on 4 from Sirius Radio. It’s all music from the ’40s. Amazing stuff, like Judy Garland singing Somewhere over the Rainbow. I enjoy the mental images of the Wizard of Oz while semi-trucks scream past our building kicking up dust and locomotives blast window shaking air horns at every intersection. It’s the law. They were mandated to blast their horn four times as each intersection. It’s an image of darkness and light, sorta like the young blond broad, without a single tattoo, in a checkered dress straddling an all-black rat Shovelhead Chopper in a Wilmington alley at midnight.

I’m spacing out. This week has seen its turbulent aspects, but as it winds down, a tremendous amount was accomplished. I received the first copies of my next book.

We finished the new seat pan for the Assalt Weapan. The gang at Saddleman have it now for upholstery. We set up a meeting with SEMA to explore a motorcycle council once more. We are headed to KIWI Indian in Riverside this weekend to rebuild the Indian bars on his 1934 VL, then that bike should be ready to rock. We ordered a new battery from Bikers Choice and it arrived this week.

We’ve been working for months on a Sportster tech, since 2010 is the Bikernet Year of the Used Sportster. They give riders all over the country the opportunity to build fast, lean, inexpensive, choppers and bobbers. So, we wanted to develop a list of Sportster products and Paughco was at the head of the list with their frames. If you have a product, send us a jpg image and some info, we’ll be glad to spread the low-buck word.

Next week we hope to finish our Saddleman gel seat technology tech. We are working with American Iron Magazine to bring you a Brass Balls Bobber road test in the next couple of weeks. Plus we received pristine 1960s Rapido books, so we can tear our Bonneville pit bike down for a rebuild. Hang on for the next Bonneville report.

Ride Forever

–Bandit

Hey,

The Stars are once again out of alignment, or was it the Chilean earthquake causing the butterfly effect? Harley faces upheaval and perhaps a take-over. Just when life seems the sweetest, another celebrity affair rocks the world like it?s every body’s business.The official press release from JJ ?

?The vast majority of the allegations reported are untrue and unfounded. Beyond that, I will not dignify these private matters with any further public comment. There is only one person to blame for this whole situation, and that is me. It’s because of my poor judgment that I deserve everything bad that is coming my way. This has caused my wife and kids pain and embarrassment beyond comprehension and I am extremely saddened to have brought this on them. I am truly very sorry for the grief I have caused them. I hope one day they can find it in their hearts to forgive me.?

This is all we?re going to post on JJ. I hope they can work this out without the sadistic constant badgering of the media.

We went bowling on St. Patty’s day and the River Rat and Crawdaddy roamed the parties on the Delta streets. I’m still eating Birthday cake and I’m right in the middle of a sugar buzz. My books arrived; I hope you like ’em.

I’ve always wanted to learn a musical instrument. We bought a 1925 Wurlitzer spinet piano for 100 clams, and Pablo is coaching me about Harmonicas. You’ll get a kick out of his rig. Let’s hit it:

Rally for the Rugrats at Myrtle Beach Spring Rally, May 15–Rally for Rugrats is holding several Rally’s around the country in 2010, benefiting Toys For Tots and The Freedom Alliance Scholarship Fund. These Rally’s will be during Myrtle Beach Spring Rally, Laconia Motorcycle Week, Sturgis Bike Week, The Wharf Rat Rally in Digby Nova Scotia, Biketoberfest in Daytona Beach and The Lone Star Rally in Galveston Texas.

At the first charity ride during Myrtle Beach Spring Rally, they also attempt the Guinness Book of World Records for the most Harley-Davidson motorcycles in a single ride. Proceeds from this event will benefit The Marine Toys for Tots Foundation along with The Freedom Alliance Scholarship Fund. All motorcyclists are invited to this event, yet only Harley’s will be counted for the World Record attempt.

The route for the ride is said to be announced shortly, including start- and end-point. You can register online at www.rallyfortherugrats.com. The donation to ride is $40.00 with a $15.00 extra rider fee. There will be goodie bags for all riders including commemorative t-shirts, pins, discount coupons from business along the Grand Strand surprises. Sponsorship opportunities are also still available, call 407-235-5212.

– – C.S. Berg

REMEMBER WHEN INSULTS HAD CLASS–“He is a self-made man and worships his creator.” – John Bright

“I’ve just learned about his illness. Let’s hope it’s nothing trivial.” -Irvin S. Cobb

“He is not only dull himself; he is the cause of dullness in others.” -Samuel Johnson

–Ray Russell

VIETNAM VETS HONORED–I read the story about the Welcome Home event for Viet Nam Veterans in California and I was happy to see that finally happening. It was stated that it was the only such event in the nation, but other states did have parades planned. I wanted to take this opportunity to let you know about a huge event planned for Wisconsin this coming May.

I’ve already told you that Vicki formed the Diamond Posse Ride to bring awareness to the needs of our wounded heroes coming home and to help raise funds for the Center for the Intrepid, in San Antonio, Texas. Her group is riding back to Wisconsin from Texas, visiting VA Medical Centers on the way.

Once back in Wisconsin, the women are joining the Honor Ride group of Viet Nam Veterans staging in LaCrosse, Wisconsin. To learn about this ride, it would be better for you to visit their web site, I cannot do it justice by trying to write something about it here.

I’m working with some guys out of Milwaukee to guide a group of riders to Green Bay to join the other groups coming from Madison, LaCrosse and Eau Claire. This is going to be huge.

Visit http://www.lzlambeau.org for all the details. Leading the Honor Ride group will be Congressional Medal of Honor Recipient, Gary Wetzel, a true hero and I’m honored to call him my friend.

–Tony “Pan” Sanfelipo

BIKERNET BLONDE ARCHIVES, KNITTING– A highway patrolman pulled alongside a speeding car on the freeway. Glancing at the car, he was astounded to see that the blonde behind the wheel was knitting!

Realizing that she was oblivious to his flashing lights and siren, the trooper cranked down his window, turned on his bullhorn and yelled, ‘PULL OVER!’

‘NO!’ the blonde yelled back, ‘IT’S A SCARF!’

–from Jim Waggaman

MARTY ROBBIN’S PATRIOTIC LYRICS:

Your Help Is Needed In Support of BATFE Reform Bills S. 941 And H.R. 2296–As we’ve been reporting for months, Senator Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) and Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) have introduced S. 941, the “Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Reform and Firearms Modernization Act” in the U.S. Senate. Representatives Steve King (R-Iowa) and Zack Space (D-Ohio) have introduced a companion bill — H.R. 2296 — in the U.S. House. The bills would roll back unnecessary restrictions, correct errors, and codify longstanding congressional policies in the firearms arena. These bipartisan bills are a vital step to modernize and improve BATFE operations.

BIKERNET LAUNCHES ONLINE QUOTE ENGINE FOR MOTORCYCLE INSURANCE THAT IS SURE TO SAVE BIKERS MONEY– Finally, a true “free-money-saving-no-obligation” quote engine for bikers. Just click on the “California Bikers Online” button and complete the application. Other states coming soon.

California bikers with motorcycle insurance currently with GEICO, Nationwide, Allstate, Markel, State Farm, and others are gonna love this quote engine. It was built specifically to save you folks money.

If you like the savings that you see, simply buy your motorcycle insurance policy with your credit card, print your I.D. card/policy and ride off into the traffic knowing that you have good motorcycle insurance. So easy even a biker can do it.

For now, this online quote service is available only to bikers in California. We are working on the quote engine for bikers from other states and plan to have this money-saving insurance machine available in other states in about 45 days.

California bikers taking advantage of Bikernet’s motorcycle quote engine will get insurance coverage from top-rated QBE Insurance Corporation (QBE). The real big news with QBE is that they “do not use credit-scores” to rate motorcyclists in any state. This is a huge advantage. Especially given what’s happened to many of us during this prolonged economic downtown. Your actual DMV driving record is what counts with QBE. Yes, your driving experience is what matters in the calculation of your premium friends. Not your credit-scores.

Also cool?

Six month/12 month policies
Online payment options available 24/7
Good-driver discounts, mature driver discounts and many other discounts.
Payment plans that allow you to spread your premium payments over the riding season. WOW! You say.
Remember, QBE rates you on “Your Diving Record” not, your motorcycle riding experience. Add this to “no credit-score-based rating” and you SAVE BIG.
Online motorcycle insurance is available for
Cruisers, Sport Bikes, and Tourers
We love bikers who are young or old.
Go Ahead California! Click and save.

P.S. Bikers from other states. While you cannot get an online quote yet, you can still obtain a money-saving quote fast by contacting >clientservice@bikernet-insurance.com or calling toll-free at 888-467-8703. We’ll take care of yas.

Harley-Davidson dealership closes in Pompano Beach–Sun Sentinel,A Harley-Davidson motorcycle dealership closed Monday in Pompano Beach, another casualty of the weak economy and slow sales of motor vehicles.

Bruce Rossmeyer’s Pompano Harley-Davidson, at 2900 Center Port Circle, shut down Monday. Some of its employees will continue working for the company at its other Harley-Davidson locations in Fort Lauderdale, Sunrise, Daytona Beach, Ormond Beach and elsewhere nationwide, a statement said.

NEW LINE FOR SPOKES WHEELS FROM PAUGHCO–Here’s our new powder-coated 40-spoke wheels. They list for $399.95ea.

–Jason
Paughco Inc,
Frame and Springer Specialist

THE BIKERNET HUMBLE REPORT–Yeah, my head hasn’t been right in weeks. Financial bullshit! I have tried not to let it get to me… I need a break from all this crap and need to hit the road on a road trip. The more I ride the bobber, the more it becomes apparent my lifestyle and personality fit this bike better than the V-Rod.

While I only owe 6 grand on the V, the stress of the payment plus insurance is an added headache I’m having trouble justifying. While it’s nice to turn the key and just haul ass everywhere I go, I am starting to understand about the bike having soul and all. I am really considering selling the V-rod.

Ooooh, did you see the new frames from Paughco for rubber mounted Sporties? Looks rad.

–Johnny

In the next couple of weeks we will bring you a report on the Economic Salvation Choppers, or how to build a cool bobber or choppers around a used or wrecked Sportsters. Five grand and you’ll be on the road for years. This feature will include products from S&S, Baker, Pauchgo, Licks, and Lowbrow–Wrench

THE CLASSIC CHOPPER FIND/DEAL OF THE WEEK FROM NEGOTIABLE–Nice ’70s Bike, Fresh rebuilt Motor $12,500.00. This bastard is amazing. Could be a Dick Allen springer.

–Tim

EXCLUSIVE PHOTO ART EXHIBIT FROM RFR IN TEXAS– I realize this is a motorcycle website & I did ride a motorcycle to the car show. I was always a big fan of B&W in the film days, so I have been getting back into it some. There are several ways to convert an image, so I am experimenting and learning just thought I would share a few, the Sunliner I like in both the color and B&W.

RFR

PABLO ON HARMONICA LESSONS, THE BLUES, AND SEX– Check these websites http://www.harmonicamasterclass.com and www.gindick.com, www.jt30.com

Adam Gussow on YouTube. This a list of his training videos.

These will get on a fast track for a start. After that it’s lots and lots of practice. Remember “Eating Pussy is playing on the Harmonica-You gotta use your tongue to do any good”!!!

I started playing back in 1973 in the Navy. A dear friend of mine got me started, Acel Hawley Jr. He was from the “Ghetto” LA area. A Vietnam Vet, 6 years in the Army before he joined the Seabees (MCB-40) in ’73. He passed a few years ago, late ’90s or so. We tore up BC street in Okinawa on one of our deployment’s.

I like either Lee Oskar or Hohner Harmonicas. Both have plastic combs unstead of wood. They come apart for tuning & tweaking the reeds. I have mostly Lee Oskar. My Chromatic harp is a Hohner 280/64 16 hole in the key of C. That thing takes along time to figure out and play.

My amp. It’s old tube P.A. 2 6L6’s power tubes. I also installed 2 low gain preamp tubes, keeps down feedback. Put in a grounded power cord. Has nice “Crunch” with tube amp power.

–Pablo

Mobil 1 Motorcycle Built by OCC Presented to Winner at Daytona Bike Week–Oil brand Mobil 1 had commissioned Orange County Choppers to build a one-of-a-kind bagger-style custom motorcycle inspired by OCC founder Paul Teutul Sr. as the centerpiece of the grand-prize package of the Mobil 1 Orange County Choppers Sweepstakes.

The winner, James Polerecky of Omaha, Nebraska, received his brand new ride from Paul Sr. himself at the 2010 Daytona Bike Week during his visit which was also part of the price package.

?The bike is a true cruiser and something that is a real joy to ride,? said Paul Sr. about his creation, ? so I know he?ll have a blast owning and riding this custom Mobil 1 OCC motorcycle for years to come. Meeting James and personally being able to hand this custom bagger over to him in Daytona was great.?

Well then: Congrats to James, and ride safe.

– – C.S. Berg

ACCURATE ENGINEERING SHOVELHEAD TUNING LESSON–Ok, here we go. Almost without exception it is always the basics if it is not mechanical so that is what we will look at first.I am going to assume two things. 1, that the carb is a Mikuni HSR 42, and 2 that the engine WAS running in a properly tuned state until this trip. That being said then the carb should need nothing. You are almost at sea level give or take. I believe the Smoke Out is held in Cottonwood, AZ. which is about (if memory serves) 4,000 ft. elevation. This means that your engine would have been running RICH while in Cottonwood.

Lets check the basics first. This is how I want the carb adjusted assuming it IS an HSR 42, Low speed jet 25, main jet 160, needle #97 with clip in the center position and I want the accelerator pump nozzle to a #50. The accel. nozzle presses in and out with an o-ring for locking in place. It has a screw driver slot so it can be positioned to squirt down the carb throat. It DOES NOT screw in. I want the air/fuel ratio screw at two turns out from a LIGHTLTY seated position. Check intake manifold for leaks. With engine running spray a little brake clean around the intake clamps and listen for any change in rpm or any stumbling. Have engine at a slightly high idle when performing this. I would like to talk you through the accel pump adjustment on the phone. It is easier said than written. Check your fuel delivery system including the gas cap vent.

Ignition. Make sure your engine is properly timed at 35 degrees when in the advanced mode (2000 rpm). Check battery and ground wire. Check plug wires and coil including all connections for broken, loose and corrosion. Are you running points, mag or electronic ignition? Whose ignition (manufacturer).

Spark plugs. You should not need any oxygen additives in your gasoline. You never had to have them before. I am again assuming this isn’t a high compression hot-rod but rather a standard built 93 Troublehead. In truth spark plugs SHOULD look almost clean on the porcelain or a slightly tanned color. When you are running really lean and hot your porcelain will have a pink/green color and the ground electrode will have a deteriorated look and gray in appearance. Very noticeable. Do not run engine in this case without re-tuning. If you are running 1975 and up heads with 3/4 reach spark plugs the first four threads should be dark. This is your heat exchange. Electronic ignition gap @ .035-.038, points ignition @ .025. Please use Autolite 4265 plugs if the head require 3/4 (long) reach plugs. Remember that it takes awhile before your new spark plugs start to “color”. A wide open throttle, cut engine, check plugs is best but not always practical.

Valve train. Are you running hydraulics or solids? Whose lifters? If your pushrod keeps showing signs of needing adjustment you must check your lifter roller and if ok you have to check the valve assembly. To help direct you here I need to know what kind of lifters and I can share a few tricks here. Unless there is a mechanical issue, that happens, it is back to basics. Good luck and keep me informed.

I am freshening Rogues engine that we did a few years back. 97,000 miles and needs very little. Pretty neat, eh?

–Berry

BANDIT’S DAYROLL REVIEW–Discovered your “how-to” on the day roll, and wanted to toss this in. It’s not that bad as a sub for carry-on luggage; fits great under the seat, holds iPod, camera, snacks, water bottle, etc. Everything else goes overhead.

If you’ve got a camera bag around with a detachable shoulder strap, use it to convert the dayroll into a real “man-purse”. Hey, these days nobody cares what the hell you look like on the plane – you’re going to stand there in your socks with your arms overhead holding a shoe in each hand anyway.

–John Siebenthaler

SPECIAL ST. PATTY’S DAY REPORT, Multiculturalism Run AmuckAnother California NorCal Postcard–Brother Bandit ? Wish you were here. But, since you?re not, we?re sending you another NorCal postcard from, what turns out to be, the vary barricades of multiculturalism run amuck. Not in a bad way mind you. Think of this as a snapshot of how some of our old cultural stereotypes are getting gooey around the edges.

Which is not to say it isn?t all a bit confusing at times. In fact, over the past week or so there have been moments when I was as confused as a hungry baby at Hooters on waitress tryout night (love them hot wings, don?t you?).

But, per usual, I digress. First, does it go without saying that Ms. River Rat and I are unrepentant scooter trash and, as such, well known as such in these parts? We are often greeted in our local dens of iniquity (and the local drug store too) with phrases such as: ?Oh God, them bikers is here again, hide the Jack Daniels, Velma!? (At the pharmacy, it?s the Vicodin and her name is Hortense). This is sometimes said ironically, but not always.

So we know profiling when we run into it like a street corner lamppost on a dark night, or not. This was one of those ?or not? weeks. It?s almost like we all might have been right back in the glory days of the ’70s; maybe we are just brothers and sisters under the skin. Let me give you an example of what I?m talking about. It must warm the cockles of your big Bandit heart to know that this all started hereabouts with a celebration last weekend of Chinese New Year overlaid with St. Patrick?s Day.

Throw in the fact that, locally at least, the river folk were hot and heavy into the Sturgeon Derby (participants have their own flag, national anthem, and handshake). A few miles north, other folks (and not a few riders) flocked to annual Almond Festival in the Capay Valley. Then they threw in Vernal Equinox Daylight Savings Time and we all ?sprang forward? on Sunday. Or, rather, some of us limped forward after a weekend of multicultural celebration, knowing that the real St. Patrick?s Day as well as the first day of spring lay somewhat ahead. We had to conserve our energy if not our livers.

The year of the tiger beat

Let?s start at the beginning. Saturday morning found us down at Isleton Joe?s Restaurant and Saloon in Isleton sitting at the bar with extra spicy Bloody Mary?s and plates heaped with their special breakfast sandwich ($2.50) and biscuits and gravy ($5.00). Like I said, wish you was here. We were killing time waiting the new Chinese Cultural Museum down the street to open. In these parts, 19th Century Chinese labor built the levees that hold back the many rivers and sloughs that give this area its distinct character. Later, Chinese residents founded some of the local towns or made up important neighborhoods where local canneries operated. From there it was onward and upward.

However, society was segregated then. There was, for example, a school for the Chinese students and a separate one for white kids. European families also played key rolls in establishing local farms and ranches. The new museum honors both. As the ribbon across the museum door was cut, there were speeches from the local mayor and even the Acting California Lieutenant Governor, Mona Pasquil, was on hand. She grew up here bouts.

The streets were blocked and there was a demonstration of martial arts. Then the parade of lion dancers took to the streets, accompanied by a banging of cymbals and drums to drive out the evil spirits. Firecrackers snapped and cracked at the dancers? feet.

Businesses that hung cabbage (to feed the lion) and paper envelopes with money (lions don?t live by cabbage alone) in their doorways had special attention paid. While Ms. Rat snapped away with the Canon, I slunk across the street to Rogelio?s, a nice bar that also serves Chinese, Italian, Mexican, and American food and boast a full 99 menu items (also, vodka on the rocks). It seemed to be the right place at the right time.

Continued On Page 2

This will switch, change and fluctuate through out the process, but the notion is simple—Build The World’s Fastest Panhead. Of course there’s no goddamn Panhead class, but what the hell. We’ve never followed any rules in the past, why start now. I’ll ramble about racing on the salt, some of the rules and some of the notions behind our concept. See if you can keep up.

I joked at the Bubs International Speed Trials on Bonneville Salt flats for 2006 that I tried to learn something daily. At Bonneville, surrounded by devoted racers, and Salt snorting maniacs I learned speed info by the minute. Some of the key elements we absorbed were aerodynamics and gearing. Our code this year will be to build a bike fitting our rider, Valerie Thompson, comfortably and like a glove, to be a wing slicing through the air. It needs to move comfortably through the atmosphere, free to make the speed of 200 mph and yet handle like a dream. No streamlining. We’re shooting for an open bike, but the rules and regs are delicate. There’s a trick to staying out of the partially streamlined class, yet making the bike as aerodynamic as possible.

I learned from old salts, like Mil Blair, that my thinking was somewhat accurate. If we follow the wing notion, the front end will handle and remain stable while the tail will allow the wind to close around the chassis without creating drag on the power train. This is critical to world land speed record success according to the masters of the salt, like Wink Eller, who now works for BDL between races.

Speaking of Drive Trains. We ran an Accurate Engineering, 120-inch Panhead motor last year for shits and grins. But I’m sticking with this power plant for several reasons. First, it was built by one fine engine builder and a brother, Berry Wardlaw, the boss of Accurate, who is passionate about this industry, every goddamn thing he does and speed. He’s my partner in this endeavor and a brother I can reach out to for anything, at any time. He bleeds 60 weight and snorts nitrous. Let me finish about the engine, then I’ll shift to nitrous systems. Three notions in the engine reasoning department. First, is the Panhead heritage. Panheads were built from the year I was born, 1948 up to 1965, the year before I graduated from High School. They’re my favorite H-D engine configuration, and when it comes to Bonneville racing they add a sense of class. Finally, who the hell would bring a 50-year-old technology to Bonneville, to set a record except the Bikernet 5-Ball Racing nuts.

One of the myriad of things I noticed on the salt was the power notion. Lotsa guys feel it’s all about power and engine displacement, yet a 50 cc streamliner is capable of 130mph and a 440 cc open-bike Buell Blast also cut through the air at 135 mph. Also, when a guy looks at me like I’m nuts, to even mention 200 mph, I envision a stock Hyabusa, capable of 200 mph on a freeway. Keep those mysteries in mind as we stumble through this effort.

The Tranny will be a direct drive performance Baker 5 or 6 speed (we haven’t decided), linked to the engine with a BDL belt and clutch system. We will run chain to the rear to allow easy rear wheel sprocket alterations. Mil Blair recommended Hyabusa wheels for the 200 mph reliability and design. I will study those wheels but hope to run a solid U.S.A built wheel in the rear and nearly solid wheel in the front (by the rules 30 percent of the front wheel area must be open). I want to prevent any loss of power or additional drag from the paddle-wheel effect of wheel spokes or billet shapes.

We are working with Leo De Orio on a shapely girder front end to enhance the aerodynamics of the front end and handling. One of Leo’s front ends led Roger Goldammer’s build-off Bonneville effort last year, and it was sleek and killer looking. I’m hoping to run a 19 front and 18 rear, but keep both wheels narrow, especially the rear wheel for aerodynamic purposes. There’s a slippage consideration. At speeds some bikes loose grip because the rear end is too light, the tire too hard, or not enough patch on the ground. We won't worry much about the weight issue. Having weight at Bonneville is a plus. Many bikes are small and light. They want to lose traction and fly away at speeds on the salt. We will run the oil bag under the transmission and perhaps additional low center of gravity weight to hold her down at speeds.

Our plan is to build the roller first, then fly Valerie out from Phoenix to the Wilmington, CA ghetto and the Bikernet Headquarters. We hope to form a mold of her lovely-self while straddling the bare frame. We want her to become apart of the bike, and build it in such a way that it is absolutely comfortable and manageable to ride. The more comfortable and vibration free, the easier it is to handle and maintain vision at 200 mph. Besides we want our pilot to be as comfortable and confident as possible. It’s official now. She took 6th place in Destroyer points standings for 2006 and was 11th in 87 Destroyer riders nationwide.

One of our crazed goals is to make this an open bike. There’s several classes: Production, modified, special construction, modified partial streamlining, special construction partial streamlining, sidecar, sidecar streamliner and streamliner.

There’s also a number of engine classes:
Production
Production Push Rod
Production Supercharged
Production Vintage
Modified Engine: Gasoline
Push Rod Engine: Gasoline
Unlimited Engine: Gasoline
Supercharged Engine: Gasoline
Supercharged Pushrod Engine: Gasoline
Supercharged Vintage Engine: Gasoline

Then the list starts all over again with Fuel at the end. Wink Eller is the master of classes. He’s a racing maniac and when he started chasing World Land Speed Records he studied the Southern California Timing Association Record and Rule Book and sought achievable records. He searched the record books for untouched records and built bikes specifically for low or never-set records. There’s another category I left out, the engine displacement button. Those categories run from 50 ccs all the way to 3000.

50
100
125
350
500
650
750
1000
1350
1650
2000
3000

Get this. There are three sanctioning bodies. The SCTA mentioned above authorizes racing at the El Mirage lake beds in California and two events in Bonneville: Speed Week and the World Finals. Bub’s event is only sanctioned by the AMA and FIM, the European sanctioning body. While standing on the Salt and trying to figure out what category the Bikernet Salt Shaker was in last year, I discovered that my 120-inch Panhead fell in the special Construction, Pushrod, fuel or gas, 2000 cc category. There was no record for my bike. Unbelievable. I consider myself lucky, but that roll-of-the-dice took the cake.

That’s just a taste of our notions. Hang on as we plan, change the sketch and move forward. Berry’s studying nitrous systems. Leo is working on handling, rake and trail. Chris Kallas, the artist behind our sketch, is working with Valerie on more info to refine our drawings. I’m working with Rick Krost of US Choppers on our frame. Hang on.

We checked into the Wendover Nugget late that night with a broken motorcycle, two teeth busted off the distributor drive gear and just 50 miles on our Bonneville project. We woke up at exactly 7:00 a.m. My cell phone rattled across the nightstand. Berry Wardlaw, the boss of Accurate Engineering, wanted to know every move. Hell, it was 10:00 a.m. in Dotham, Alabama.

Nyla and Kerry set up the Bikernet headquarters with our new Sponsorship banner. Glenn and I tossed an On-Site down on the tarps to catch any oil or debri off the bike and unloaded the Salt Shaker. We rolled it into place and went to work while the Chop and Grind bastards sat around and poked fun at us.

I backed off the pushrods and removed them, removed the cam cover and retrieved the busted gear teeth and scrutinized the distributor drive gear in the cam case. She was cool. I borrowed a magnet from the bastards next door and dug around in the cam case for shavings. I was on a mission to make the Salt Shaker run again.

The two teeth bounced right to the forefront of the case, as if someone positioned them for easy access. More damage and I could have been dead in the water. I called Berry, and he coached me on adjusting the valves. I’m not a big fan of hydraulics. They’re uncertain and I don’t believe you can get the best performance out of their soft existence.

Dr. Hamster and Gene Koch, from Drag Specialties drove out to assist. Glenn and the good doctor began to remove the controls, the dash, and flip over the bars. They removed the shocks and dropped in the struts we made to lower the bike. Plus, they removed the taillight and taped the headlight with duct tap. I was reaching a turning point. We installed our heat wrapped step-tuned exhaust for the salt.

I buttoned up the engine, adjusted the valves and fired her up. She rumbled to life, as if she was meant to be there. We adjusted the controls for Valerie and she rode it for the first time. It was time to take the bike to Tech Inspection. I was narrowing in on our first pass. I suppose most first-time racers shake-up the butterflies in their stomach, as they near tech with their experimental babies. I ran into enough disturbing glitches in this project to scramble my mental doubts. As Valerie made her first warm-up lap into the salt I followed her every move, like a father watching his baby take her first lap in a pool. I questioned every adjustment, every fastener and every decision.

I’d never experienced Tech, but the Bubs Inspector was light hearted and easy going but thorough. He had a vast, printed checklist but slipped through the categories with confident ease. As the inspection neared the end he asked if we safety wired the transmission and engine oil drain plugs. The answer was, “Nope.” And finally he pointed out that one of our wheel valve stem caps was not metal—god forbid. Scooter, our photographic connection from Phoenix, hauled ass to find one. While Val made another warm-up pass we discussed drilling the oil drain plugs. Larry from the Chop and Grind Gang made a pass, lost his velocity stack and clocked 143 mph. Not bad for his first time out. Fortunately Lee Wimmer supplied us with his velocity stack kit, so we had spares.

The salt surface spread out around us, for 65 square miles, as if a pure white surface on the moon. People have mistakenly lost direction in the dark and never found their way out. It’s bizarre and pure beauty at the same time. As the sun dipped in the west we packed up and headed toward town. Since the wind can whip up in the afternoon, like nature’s cleaning lady with a wicked broom, we were recommended to tear down our headquarters every night and secure our bike.

The next morning ushered in a big day in the history of Bikernet.com. We rolled out of the hotel around 8:30 a.m. after fighting poor hotel, restaurant help for a cup of coffee. We drained the oil from the tranny and the engine after a warm-up and Larry from the Chop and Grind Pirartes drilled the plugs. Glenn safety wired them back into place and we refilled the oil bags with Amsoil synthetic oils. Nick Roberts from Nick’s Performance and Amsoil rode out to the salts on his 2003 Road Glide and ran it in the run-what-ya brung category, between assisting us on the salt. He was a helluva helpful sponsor.

The brotherhood in the Bub’s tiny encampment on the salt was exceptional. Everyone helped everyone. A fuel truck contained the Sparkplug Doctor, who would analyze any plugs and make recommendations. We had him take a look at ours before our first run. “They haven’t seen enough heat yet,” he told us, “but you certainly don’t have any problems. Go for it.”

Wink Eller was a constant source of information and advice. I ran into Brian Klock and his girlfriend, rider, the lovely Laura, who brought her two daughters to experience the vast desert of salt and speed. While we tuned and prepared for our final tech inspection Hugh King, Roger Goldhammer and Matt Hotch shot footage for their Discovery Channel Biker Build-off. I found a carburetor jet connection for Roger’s bike, a big burly biker with a box of jets and a flathead Indian.

I was still at a loss about the categories and racing etiquette, but I was scrambling to learn. Before the end of the week I told folks, “I try to learn something everyday, but on the salt I was learning something every minute.” I didn’t hesitate to ask the seemingly stupidest question. I needed to know and race, goddamnit. I grabbed a Bub’s AMA rule book and studied the categories. I couldn’t find the record for the open bike in the pushrod 2000 cc class. I asked what it meant and was told, “The category may be open.” That meant whatever we ran, if we were successful, would set a record in the AMA book. There’s three sanctioning bodies: AMA, FIM (European) and SCTA (Southern California Timing Association). The SCTA runs Speed Week, the World Finals in October, on the salt, and the El Mirage, dry lake bed, events.

Valeria rode the shaker some more. Glenn rode it while Valerie, an experienced Destroyer drag racer, suited up. We were ready to hit the salt. This was turning out to be more of an adventure than I ever anticipated. The Salt was amazing in the best condition in half a decade. The people represented brotherhood in its finest form. There was competition, but the mood was all about survival and speed. We wanted everyone to succeed. The Sun was warm, but not blistering. The sky was as blue and crystal clear as her eyes. Every photograph was amazing.

There was also an amazing historic aspect to Bub’s 3rd annual International Speed Trials. The Boss of Bubs Exhaust, Dennis Manning, a Salt Flats junkie since he was a kid, was determined to break the World Land Speed Record set by myself, and the Easyriders team, 16-years prior in 1990, at 321 mph. We beat ourselves up on the salt to take the land speed record from a dual Kawasaki powered streamliner, of 317 mph, owned by Don Vesco.

Dennis was so determined to own the record he started his own event, to allow him more time on the track. You can imagine the expense. For 16 years he and others tried time after time to bust that record open, but the readers of Easyriders held fast. There were four teams on salt poised to take their best shot at the record, while we messed with our own Salt Shaker, Brian Klock prayed for the worlds fastest bagger and Roger Goldhammer prepared to set a record for his first time out. Each camp, tent, trailer and team had a goal. Even the bastards next to us, those sand and salt snorting bastard bikers from 18 Palms, California were shooting for something. Fuck if I know what it was?

The big dog streamliner teams consisted of a dual Hyabusa powered Ack Attack streamliner, Dennis Manning’s pure American Bubs team with his self-designed V-4 engine, Sam Wheeler’s beautiful, dual Kawasaki-powered green streamliner and a dual Vincent powered black streamlined beauty.

Valerie and I lined up at the staging tent for our first run when the Ack Attack made their first pass on the long, 11-mile course and smoked the record for the first time in 16 years. Like a bullet passing in the distance we watched it rumble like a freight train through the traps at 339 mph. The miniature tent city went quiet for a long moment, then all involved cheered for the Ack Attack team.

But that’s not all. For an official speed record, two passed must be completed in 2 hours. The two speeds are averaged for the final tally. The Ack Attack team had 2 hours to get their shit together and back down the salt. We moved up in line. Then Valerie was called to the starting stage two miles down the salt. There’s a short course for smaller displacement open bikes.

Valerie rode the Salt Shaker to the starting gate for her first run. Scooter gave me a lift in his SUV and shot photos of us as we checked the bike over, tie-wrapped the kickstand up and I discussed the run with Valerie. She rode a turbo-charged V-Rod last year for 153 mph. She knew was she was getting into.

She looked up at me after polishing her face shield and I told her to take it easy, to feel the handling capabilities of the bike on the first pass. It’s designed as a sport bike, not a raked out, straight line beast. I wanted to see how she handled before we poured the power to her, besides the bike, the engine and the transmission still weren’t broke in.

We waited under a single tent two miles from the timed mile marker, surrounded by bare salt and waited for the two riders, in front of us, to approach the line. Only one bike runs at a time, and it must clear the track 5 miles away before the next bike can take off. We waited patiently for reports.

Finally Val was given the green light to approach the line 50 yards deeper into the salt. She was coached to ride out, align the Pan with the cones and watch for the official to drop the green flag. She did, rolled near the line, adjusted her position, and glanced back at the tent. Finally he received the signal over his walkie-talkie and the young official wearing reflectorized shades unfolded the green flag and waved it frantically in Val’s direction.

Unlike drag, dirt or speedway racing Val wasn’t required to speed away at the first huff in the flag. She shut her chromium facemask, took a long breath and crouched as low as she could on the Shaker. We had always intended to add some rear pegs to allow her to stretch out, but ran out of time. She let out the clutch and began to roll up to speed.

Scooter and I listened to that sweet engine pull her along the salt through one gear, then another. She had six with the Baker touring transmission. It sounded like a new freight train rumbling from one gear to the next. No hiccups, burps, just pure pumping Panhead, Ross pistons, firing behind two plugs and dual Dyna coils. We listened to that sound, we love so goddamn much, for as long as we could, then stood there quietly, as if to absorb the pure joy of every reverberation.

I turned back to the official. “Is there anyway I can get that speed,” I asked?

He picked up his radio and called the timing station, then turned back to me. “That was 140. 3 mph.”

I was stunned. I couldn’t believe it. I would have been please with anything over 100 mph for the first pass. I was blown away. We jumped in Scooter’s car and hauled ass to the other end of the track and the impound area. You can’t take your bike back to the pits, it must remain in impound until you’re free or prepped to make the return pass.

In impound you can fix anything, but you can’t change any performance aspect of the bike or switch an engine. The Panhead needed nothing except the required tie-wrap to secure the kickstand. Most of these bikes don’t even have kickstands. We waited our turn while the Ack Attack made another pass. We were much closer to the track where we stood and watched the dual Hyabusa blast past for a thundering, record run of over 345 mph, for the new world record of 342 mph and change. We just watched history take place before our very eyes.

The sun was still high on a crisp, beautiful day. The WLSR changed hands and the Bikernet Salt Shaker was staged to entered the AMA record books. What could be better, and the day wasn’t over. Valerie hadn’t even hit 6th gear. She made her return pass and wasn’t sure of shifting, but she made that Panhead sing once more for 139 mph and the Bikernet Salt Shaker entered the AMA record books at just a hair over 140 mph.

We returned to our pit area to discuss gearing, tuning and timing while Dennis Manning pulled his fire-engine red Bubs streamline onto the salt for his first run. It split through the traps so smooth the small crowd of enthusiast stood still in the afternoon sun a wondered what speed it could possible clock. The numbers came back in the high 340s. Less than an hour later the Bubs Streamliner peeled along the salt at over 350 mph and broke the record once more at over 350 mph. History was made and broken twice in one day on the glistening salt.

The wind kicked up on the salt as the Monday afternoon sun set and the crew scrambled to tie-down our pit area and head for the casinos. The girls gambled and the guys discussed history, performance, clutch plates, gearing, rpms, tuning and aerodynamics. Blood pumped high as the night lingered and thoughts of top speeds filled the next day’s agenda. I was on the phone to Berry a dozen times. “I’m jumping up and down in my kitchen,” Berry hollered about our runs. “I’m proud of your guys.”

I was also damn proud of his Outlaw 120-inch Panhead engine. I’m not sure you want to hear every blow-by-blow move during this weeklong quest, but what the hell. It kept getting better. Tuesday morning we were back on the salt with high intentions. Valerie reported that the John Reed designed V-Rod with Wil Phillips suspension upgrades and his True-Track in place handled like a dream, straight and true. She was completely comfortable and wanted a True-Track for her V-rod.

We had just a couple of hitches. We weren’t sure of the rpms, because of my piss poor wiring, lack-of-direction-reading capabilities. Between Berry’s computer, our speed, the BDL gearing and Larry’s calculations we figured the engine ran 5,800 rpms. I was about to change our rear sprocket from a 48-tooth job to 41 teeth when Berry figured that we still had a long way to go with our current configuration. “Let’s see if we can’t get her up to 6,500 rpms in fifth gear,” He said. “My calculations show that she will do 168 mph at 6,500 rpm.” Sounded good to me. We changed the timing to 32 degrees before top dead center and had the plug doctor evaluate the plugs. The primary plugs were cool, but the secondary set were hot, but just a hair.

Nyla and the girls sought out a batch of cooler plugs and we rolled the bike back to staging where Larry attempted to retime the engine with timing lights. What a bitch that was, trying to view the timing mark in the oil hole with a 1-inch plastic lense screwed into the threads. No can do. We made a mark on the BDL belt pulley and gave it another shot. Static timing worked the best. Val made another pass after the Ack Attack threatened Dennis Manning’s record with a 347 pass. If they backed it up over 355 they would rock the world once more. Dave Campos showed up with the Easyriders Streamline in tow to watch the action. He was our ER rider, record breaker. Val kicked the Salt Shaker speed up to over 145 mph and we were pumped.

I had the Salt bug. I wanted to witness the Shaker break Val’s previous salt speed of 153. I was sure we could make 155 or better. Unfortunately the gremlins of the Salt didn’t support my contention and Val made a 137 mph return pass. The Ack Attack couldn’t make a back-up at all and missed their Tuesday comeback run. The Vincent rumbled through the traps missing and sputtering. Jay Allen of the Broken Spoke Saloon, made one successful pass after another on his beat-up, lowered all orange FXR. Brian Klock and Laura made one dresser pass after another pushing 140 mph.

Ray Wheeler, on his street hot rod Dyna peeled through the traps at 137 mph. He was jumping outta his skin. A gentleman with a 50 cc streamline broke 130 mph and an open Buell blast topped 130 mph.

My mind spun like the gauge on a nitrous bottle. Records were breaking, wrenches were flying and bikes were whizzing through the traps. Everyday the Bub’s team tried to improve the run waiting times, so more guys could make more passes. My Australian team partner got sick and his German doctor counterpart took over. Wil Phillips, of True-Track and Salt Shaker suspension showed up to back up our team.

The weather kicked up in the afternoon and rain threatened. The front moved onto the flats like an ominious natural threat. We hung on as long as we could, then tore down the encampment, as if a team changing sets at a play. We hustled and hauled ass.

We hauled ass to the salt early Wednesday morning and rolled the Shaker to the staging area and started to make adjustments. This was our shot. We needed Val to drive the revs and make sure she pounded through the traps in 5th gear. We installed the hot Lee Wimmer velocity stack without the screen. The wait was grueling in the sun and fatique from standing on the salt pulled me down, like a battery setting on a concrete floor. I was drained, until Sam wheeler pulled up with three plates stacked high with slabs of watermelons, like a plate of steaks to starving cannibals. Val, Wil and I devoured the sweetness and were revived.

Val made another pass in 4th gear at 127 against a 13 mph wind. The elevation in Bonneville is over 4,000 feet and we discovered that at sea level the bikes would run 20 percent faster. We owned a fast Panhead, maybe the world’s fastest in our division. Sam wheeler rolled his dual Kawasaki streamliner to the starting line on the long course. He made his run and turned the camp on its ear once more for a single pass record for the event of 355 mph. Tires are rare for streamliner and most are used and porous. Dennis loaned Sam a rubber for the front wheel, and Sam prayed for two passes. Unfortunately, after the traps the tire went flat and the streamliner rolled over at slow speeds. No replacement was available and his 2006 Salt Flat effort was over.

Alan Gurgler, from Cycle World said, “Manufacturers won’t make tires because liability reasons, yet not a single person has died on a motorcycle at the flats. No one has even been severely injured.” We all promised to lean on Larry Hoppe at Avon or search out another manufacturer. We were running Avon, Z-rated (200 mph) tires on the Shaker.

We didn’t make a return run but got back in line, checked the bike over and prepared for another pass, then another dark front moved in, like a dense fog over a harbor. Except this mass brought high winds and we were forced to shut the camp down and fly to the Casino. We talked about renting a motor home next year.

The final day was balls out. Berry asked me to adjust the timing like I would the needle on a carburetor. We fired up the engine and I twisted the distributor for maximum rpms, then locked her down. I was supposed to check the tire pressure and and push them to the max for the rating, for reduced drag. Glenn recovered from Salt Late Mung and returned to his post. The Good doctor jumped Gene Koch’s BMW and headed back to the coast. Wil helped Glenn tighten every nut and bold and we prepared for a final pass on the last day.

She passed throught the traps at 137 mph, which wasn’t bad, but we needed to back it up with the wind at our backs at over 150 to jack up our record once more. Through the traps, the bike sputtered and quit. We checked the fuel filter and figured that my street valve wasn’t allowing as much fuel into the carb as it needed. We also check for a vacuum problem in the tank venting. We thought she was good to go.

She lined up at the stage, the flag dropped and she took off, but before she reached the first mile marker the bike sputtered and died. A professional, she immediately pulled off the track and we check her out. It didn’t sound right. There was a clanking in the top end, so I immediately shut her down. We called her quits and pulled the Shaker into the inspection area. I was proud she hung together under these high altitude, top-speed-continuously, conditions.

Wil Phillips, Glenn and I tore the top end off the engine so that the Bubs inspector could verify our engine displacement. The inspector looked at my pistons and said, “Jesus, I need a longer set of calipers. These things are massive.”

That struck me, like a bolt of lightening. I looked across the inspection area at a 130 mph Buell blast with a lousy 400 ccs. I knew then that we had the power in this Accurate Pan to build the Worlds Fastest Panhead. We didn’t need revs. We need aerodynamics and gearing. We came back with a plan and you’ll see it come together on Bikerne.com. Berry Wardlaw is working on the engine. I’m going to design the chassis with Chris Kallas and Wil Phillips as the artist/engineers behind the madness. I’m hoping to work with Leo, the man who designed the girder front end on Roger Gold Hammers bike. The list goes on. I’m hoping to give you a teaser sketch right here in the next couple of weeks.

May the need for speed never end! Many thanks to all our sponsors.

–Bandit

Roger Goldhammer made off with the Build-off prize.

Here’s a couple of shots from the run out and the trip home. We couldn’t resist.

Glen was sequestered into a small town jury for duty. We need him back for next year.