Well all was looking good, we were packed and loaded to head to Sturgis Thursday morning, July 31st. All was going good, then 40 minutes into our trip..bam we drive right into the path of a tornado and before we can react, the 100-mile-an-hour straight line winds picked us up spun us around and flipped us over. Just like that the whole trip and everything we had worked so hard for was gone.
After we crawled out from under the wreckage and realized that all three of us were OK, then it was time to see how bad the bikes were. Once the wrecker arrived and up-righted the truck and trailer we pried open the doors to see what the damage was…luckily the two bikes that were to be in Michael lichter's display were unharmed.
My buddy Jay's gold Panhead didn't have a scratch and my '47 knucklehead was protected by my '57 pan. The pan ripped the tie- down hooks out of the trailer floor and frame. The rear tire bounced up and wedged in the ceiling missing the Knuck and creating a safety barrier so that when the Shovelhead came crashing down into the bikes, the Pan blocked it and kept the Knuck from harm–amazing.
Once we got to the tow yard we started unloading anything that was salvageable from the wreck and after rolling three of the four bikes off and test running them. We knew that we had to push on, hell we were going to be in Lichter's stay Gold..we couldn't miss that opportunity!
Teach helped us with the Baas Metal Craft laser cut Bikernet awards for the Bikernet.com Brouhaha at Thunder Road. This was the Burn Out Contest Trophy. I'm sending it to Edge from the Smoke Out for all his help.
After calling in some favors a new 40-foot RV with a 16-foot trailer came to the rescue. We loaded up and kept on truckin'. After stopping at the Klock Werks party we headed to Sturgis and finally made it into town around 4 a.m. Friday morning. We delivered the two bikes to the Lichter display at the Thunder Dome (Thunder Road where the Bikernet Brouhaha was scheduled) and then started a 9-day party spree that will never be forgotten. The Lichter display was awesome, the bike shows ruled and everywhere we went we were met with open arms and support for my chopper class and respect for us making it after the unexpected accident.
By the end of the week I had made many new friends spent time with many old friends and secured some great new sponsors for the Kennedy Chopper Class. Kiwi Mike donated one of his leaf spring forks which is going to be mated to the frame donated by C.J. and guilty customs. Pearson Customs is going to make a frame that will be mated to the springer that Sugar Bear is donating. Bert Baker is on board to donate a transmission, S&S will be helping us again with a motor, and NOS energy drink and Spectro oils is also sponsoring us. What a great ending to a start that was almost tragic.
Thanks again to everyone I met and was able to talk with, I look forward to next year.
Kevin Baas, “Teach”
BAAS METAL CRAFT
Custom made garage built motorcycle parts
952-215-1252
“When in doubt, burn out!”
