Steve “Brew Dude” Garn grew up around Harleys. His father had an old '45 Flat Head as his first bike and still rides almost every day at age 79. Steve inherited the passion from his father and has passed it on to his son Chad. Three generations of bike building in one family may well be considered a dynasty these days. Making his living at manufacturing BMX racing bicycles for over 20 years, Brew is cutting, fitting and welding precision frames on a daily basis. His bikes have been ridden to glory by some of the top names in the BMX industry.
Steve and Chad wanted to make a little racing history of their own as well, but on a different kind of 2-wheeler. The Maxton Mile is the East Coast’s only land speed-racing venue and both father and son decided that they would build a bike that would shatter some records there.
Steve scored a 1945 45 cubic inch Flathead on Ebay and figured that the last of Harley's legendary WLA “Liberators” of WW II would be a great platform for a racer.
Steve and Chad first started off by building a sweet Girder front end for the bike and covered the forks with aero tubes to give it a wicked sleek look.
They wanted the custom frame to be long and low with the lugged style reminiscent of the classic lines of a vintage bicycle. Since Brew worked welding on 4130 tubing for his racing bicycles every day, they decided that it was the right material to use for his frame as well. The frame is raked 40-degrees and stretched 3-inches. It's lightweight and tough as nails.
As for the original 45 cu-inch “Liberator” motor, well, that just wouldn't do to cut the mustard at Maxton. A turbo unit would be in order. Brew and Chad tried out a few different aftermarket units but they proved to be too big and bulky for the bikes sleek lines. The obviously solution, when you can't find what you need on the shelf, is to make the part yourself. As long as your building a bike way out of the ordinary you might as well go all out, right? Steve went way out on a limb with the turbo. Using the IHI turbo unit salvaged from a Geo 1000cc 3-cylinder automobile engine. Brew made mondo modifications to the unit until it provided just the right boost to the motor.
The transmission is a 1984 H-D 4-speed with Andrews Gears. The 1 1/2-inch BDL front pulley had to be refabricated to work on the '45 engine shaft.
The Flatty's gas tank started off life as a King Sporty tank that Brew cut open and narrowed 2 1/2- inches. The rear fender was pounded out and finished with a planishing hammer to achieve just the right profile.
The bikes suspension is cleverly mounted under the seat and features the use of a Rock Shox suspension unit as does the 1 1/2-inch unit on the girder. The bike’s Seat, Oil Tank, Foot Controls, Clutch Lever and Bars are all handcrafted by BREW and his son Chad. The taillight came from Fabricator Kevin and the Fairbanks-Morse Magneto was rebuilt by Buck at Goblin Millworks.
Brew custom built both the front and rear wheels. The front is a spool hub and the rear is a Buchanon rim with a Steel H-D hub. Both wheels are 21-inches and sit on Metzler tires. The handlebars are Brew-built and use a reverse “Meat Hook” BrewBikes clutch lever that Brew designed back in the '90s for his Triathlete Aero-Bar bicycles. All the bike’s paint and powder coating were handled in house.
The bike is light weight and a blast to ride and has racked up an impressive pedigree. The FLAT OUT FLATTY is a 6-time record holder at the Maxton Mile in land speed racing. It finished 22nd at AMD World Championships in Sturgis. It won the Pinkee's Hot Rod design award at the Legends Show in Sturgis 2007, 2nd place at the Metzeler Show in Sturgis 2007, and the Ballz award at Biker Magazine/ Penthouse show in Sturgis. This was the 2nd highest trophy at that show. It won at Willies Tropical Tattoo- Daytona 2007. It took Editors Choice from Dave Nichols- Easyriders Show Charlotte. Brew walked away with best in class at Easyriders- Louisville. 3rd Best of Show, Easyriders- Columbus , 3rd at Easyriders Invitational- Kansas City and won at Smoke Out East 2007.
Three generations of Garn dedication to riding and wrenching are evident in this cool racer. A love of the road passed from a father to son and now onto grandson show in the ingenuity and craftsmanship of this bike. Ya know what they say, the family that plays together, stays together.
You can check out more on this bike and others from Brew at his web site:
