Thursday, May 31, 2012

Gene Baron's Flexi Side Car - Empire Meet 1984

Gene's FLXI rig with my 47 FL in the background

The FLXI

Gene Baron (RIP) was an H-D dealer from NY and racer from the old days. He used to come to all the AMCA Meets with the coolest bikes. The year was 1984, the place was The Electric City Riders Club Grounds in Schenectady NY, the event was the AMCA Empire Chapter National Meet. I had just turned 21 that summer and had my first Knuckle completed and rode up to the meet from Jersey. I had bought the motor from Marty in March of '83 and then the frame at this meet in August '83 and put the whole bike together in just a few months so at 20 years old I was cruising on that all white '47 it didn't get any better!
Well like I said, I rode up to the meet in '84 and saw Gene Baron racing this FLXI rig around the track. I said fuck it and took my newly built/restored knuckle out there too...what fun! First time on a track...
Gene ended up crashing the FLXI that weekend on the track (I think I have a picture of it smashed up somewhere)....Good Times!!!

Monday, May 28, 2012

Matt and Billy's

Heading out... between thunder storms...or so I thought...

I keep screwing up and taking pics of myself (or the sky) by mistake...This one was while I was riding seconds before the sky opened up. I was gonna take a shot of the road up ahead but the damn thing went off prematurely...I hate that...

Made it to Matt and Billy's new shop

One side of the shop




This kid was by far the best griller I have seen...what great food!!!


Ribs baby!


Billy's chopped ??? he rode this beauty across the country by himself a couple years ago

Eric's pan Bob Job

Al's '40



Kenny's Servi-Car


John's '72


Jason's Chief 

Marty's 50 FLTT

Matt

Matt installing "Fuel Injection" into the watermelon...

A true Craftsman...

and there you have it! 

Captain Cal and father Joe

Ready for the ride back to PA...

I got a call from Matt and then from Billy to invite me to a party at their new shop. I said Hell Yeah! These two "kids" in their late 20's really know how to get it done. They work with Marty (the master builder, welder, mechanic, magician) learning the trade. They recently opened up their own shop in Jersey and are going at it "Hammer and Tongs" (as my mother used to say).
Sunday morning the weather was shit at my house...thunder, lightening, rain pouring down...I called Matt to make sure the party was still on. He said the weather was great over in Jersey and all was a go. Around 11 AM the rain took a break so I pulled the (now well maintained) '46 Bob Job out and headed for Jersey. I got a bout 2 miles and the sky opened up!!! It was some of the worst rain I have ever ridden in...and I have ridden in more rain then most it seems...the roads were flooded and it was coming down hard. Thank God I had a pair of goggles in my pocket, without those I couldn't see shit. I said fuck it and just kept riding east. The rain lasted for about 25 miles and then things started to clear up. I got to Matt and Billy's and it hadn't rained a drop there. I laid all my soaked stuff out to dry in the sun  (my leather is still damp)  and grabbed a beer and had a look around...nice! The location was great...well off the road and secluded. We all ended up going out for a ride with Matt in the lead. It was "more of a race then a ride" I heard someone say when we got back. I'm sure the scenery was nice at a different rate of speed, but it was my kinda ride and we all had a great time. 
The BBQ's were cookin' and there was no shortage of beer and about anything else you desired. They really did it up right. The kid they had cooking was amazing with the ribs and chicken. They also put together some field games... slow race, planks, tire toss...I did my best to ride around interfering with all of it just for fun....there's probably some video somewhere...
I have to say the place they have is fantastic and their landlord and neighbors (all of whom were at the party) were great sports and couldn't be happier with the boys setting up shop there.
All I can say is thanks to Matt and Billy for a great party and good luck with the shop!

Thursday, May 24, 2012

46 Knuckle Maintenance - Completed!

Pulled a nice star hub outta the pile of stuff I just got...time to see if it's true

Very technical wheel truing system or how to true a wheel with two cinder blocks a brick and a rock...Bronson would be proud!

Gut Check...Looks sweet! Yeah that's blood...punctured my thumb in the process...

All the innards looking good...

Tire time with my favorite tool again...

Complete and suitable for mounting...

It's not the bald Grasshopper but it looks pretty good...

Dust rings and rivets are over rated...nothing like a welded sprocket for burn outs!

All together and ready for start up...

Got to burn those tits off the new tire somehow...She's still got it!

I got off my ass and finished up the maintenance on my '46 FL yesterday (see previous posts). I replaced the fucked back wheel and tire, installed new(er) brake shoes. replaced a clevis pin and adjusted everything up. Battery, gas and a touch of oil and she popped right off as usual! I topped it off with a 30 foot burn out to get everything seated properly and it was off to the tavern with an ominous sky and thunder booming all around...never did rain...

Wednesday, May 23, 2012

Denton 2012 - Part 2

Matt's 38 UL...a Jersey bike


Never have I seen bags like these...

can't get enough of this one...



Matt on the Enduro Knuckle

Political statement

Sweet ride...

Milo's 70

Ben's sickles...

Matt's one of a kind WR

Matt's WR Motor

Two Fine Southern Gentlemen...Not really they're Yankees

Bruce Linsday's VL

I love this trailer!

I take a picture of this guitar every time I see it...



Deadly Panhead

Hhhhmmm...

A distinguished guest (who will go unnamed) performed handlebar amputation on this beauty...


Recycling


Sam's UL...rode many a mile side by side with this beauty

"Tower Dave" heading out for the road ride on Saturday as I headed for home...

As promised, here are the last of my Denton photos. I featured a few of Matt McManus' bikes here. Matt brought out three of my favorites...The Enduro Knuckle, the 38 UL and the WR. It's great to see someone 20 plus years younger then me that is totally submerged into these old Harleys.
Once again... Denton was a great time I can't recommend this meet enough...I love it!