Hey, It’s Sunday and reports are flying in from the S&S factory in Wisconsin. Hollister is just around the corner and Sturgis is flying at us. The summer is at full throttle. I joke that folks think the industry is down, yet there’s a new product designed by Kuryakin daily, there’s at least six new products feature in the Thursday news a week and new motorcycles coming on line monthly. Plus there’s new events popping up every weekend. There’s always something to do. This week they shot the final episode of Chopper Challenge and all the contestants rode to the Peterson Museum, then 50 builders from all over the globe hauled ass to Wisconsin to show off their bikes at the S&S 50th anniversary. Hopefully later in this Sunday Post we’ll have the winners.
HONEY AND THE PANHEAD–Here?s a pic of my Panhead with a little honey that just moved in an? settled down. Told the wife ?It followed me home, can I keep it??
She said, “no.”
–Buckshot
GUIDANCE BACK TO THE HIGHWAY–RIDER CHARITY– After the crash the road is long and someday soon it will be a book , there are down bikers all across USA land in need of Brotherhood and a helping hand from their fellow man. The American Biker Charity is underway.
Mail to ; American Biker Charity = A*B*C
P.O.Box 224
Shelbyville , Michigan 49344
recycle.bikers@yahoo.com
chariotrrrtrike@yahoo.com
http://www.myspace.com/chariotrrrtrike
http://www.bikerornot.com/ransom
Ransom “Wheelz” Heth IIII
SUNDAY CANTINA PHOTO ART EXHIBIT– They rode the line over the Cedar Key Bridge to catch the sunset, some tapas and tasty margaritas.
Trying to slow it down a notch,
–Whiplash Biker Photog
soffordphotos@comcast.net
http://www.flickr.com/photos/whiplashbikerphotog/
BIKERNET BONNEVILLE BOOK RECEIVED BY 5-BALL TEAM MEMBER– Just a few lines to thank you guys for the nice package you sent me and Kim! I really like the book you made on the salt racers. Biz has been slow up here, guess it’s the screwed up economy. Thanks again for the care package!
Oh, this is a pic of a 1942 WLA I just finished for a guy in Alaska.
–Duff, Kim & Conner
HOW TO BUILD A BONNEVILLE SLAT FLATS MOTORCYCLE IN STOCK– How to Build a Bonneville Salt Flats Motorcycle documents the construction of ?The Worlds Fastest Panhead,? conceived and assembled by Keith R. Ball, former editor or Easyriders magazine and current owner of Bikernet.com, the most popular biker stop on the internet.
Keith walks the reader through all the steps involved in the creation of a true Bonneville Salt Flats motorcycle. From choosing a class to picking an frame, from finding an engine builder to minimizing the aerodynamic drag at 200 miles per hour, Keith explains the how and why of building a Salt Flats motorcycle.
Checkout a copy in the Black Market. As a bonus you receive an inscription from Bandit, a picture of pilot Valerie Thompson and Bikernet stickers.
NEW GIRL OF BIKERNET REPORT– I have been in touch with both Ken and Dustin at Saxon, and Saxon has agreed to do a GOB with a Bobber that they just finished. I also found a model, pictured here. Saxon has two new models being completed, but they won?t be ready to shoot for another few weeks so we will go up and shoot the bobber with Vickilious next week and do the new models whenever I hear from Dustin.
Thanks again for the Bonneville book. It was a very special time and the books just puts it all together. I will stay in touch.
–Scooter
PS, Ken invited me to the new model release at Sucker Punch next weekend. I will send over some images and a little script about the event.
GLOBAL MOTORSPORT GROUP ANNOUNCES CLOSURE AND LIQUIDATION OF MOTORCYCLE STUFF– Morgan Hill, Ca ? June 26, 2008 ? Holger Mohr, Chief Executive Officer of Global Motorsport Group / Cus- tom Chrome, announced Thursday that following 37 years of dedicated service to the Powersports Indus- try, GMG would begin the process of liquidating all inventories of its Motorcycle Stuff division and com- pletely cease those operations by the end of August 2008.
?Though our decision was a painful one in that it affected friends and family, it became apparent following the purchase of GMG by DAE-IL USA, Inc. that the Motorcycle Stuff division would not be part of our long- term strategy to increase our focus on our core strengths in the American V-Twin industry and grow our business,? said Mohr.
The company indicated that Global Motorsport Group and Custom Chrome will not be affected by this ac- tion, but will continue to operate and serve the wholesale needs of both the franchised and non-franchised American V-Twin dealer. Any Motorcycle Stuff dealers that have a Custom Chrome account already estab- lished will see no changes and will continue to do business as usual with Custom Chrome. Additionally, all Motorcycle Stuff phone lines will remain open during normal business hours with staff available to answer calls and process orders.
The Motorcycle Stuff on-line access to order entry and stock check will also con- tinue to function and remain available throughout the liquidation period.
Mohr noted in his remarks how grateful he is for the nearly four decades of industry support MS has en- joyed. ?We value the relationships that have developed and grown over the years with all our customers we?ve serviced and they will be truly missed,? said Mohr.
IS THE FAMOUS BUNG KING STILL IN BUSINESS–Yes I am in business. Sorry been running around last week helping a friend for a wedding. Give me an address for where you want the oil tank bung kit to go out to and I’ll get it out tomorrow. Sorry for the slow reply
–Darin Morris
sales@fab4all.com
We’ve been trying to order a set of oil tank bungs from the Bung King for a month. They’re destined for Kent Weeks at Lucky Devil Metal Works in Houston for the lovely Nyla’s bike. Kent is making the oil bag from scratch but with a traditional touch. Hang on for the next report. Bung King machines oil line, oil cap, oil drain, rubbermounted tank bungs, you name it for custom applications. They help out a lot.–Wrench.
Motorcycle Industry Council Evaluating Issuance of Request for Proposal for U.S. Road Racing Series– IRVINE, Calif., June 26, 2008 – The Motorcycle Industry Council, on behalf of its 300-plus members, is evaluating whether to issue a request for proposal seeking a series promoter and sanctioning body for a premier professional road racing series in the United States.
“Our members are better served by having alternatives to the changes for the AMA Superbike Championship that the Daytona Motorsports Group has so far described,” said MIC President Tim Buche. “We fully appreciate the expertise, hard work and connections the DMG may bring to motorcycling. However, the independent interests of the manufacturers call for a racing series that helps promote specific motorcycle brands. Historically, motorcycle makers have boosted bike sales based on their success in racing. It makes little sense for bike manufacturers to heavily invest in any competition that highlights sponsors and teams and downplays the machines themselves, as well as their technological development. So we are obliged to investigate alternatives that could do a better job of meeting our members’ respective marketing needs. This is especially true given that it’s now late June and there is still uncertainty over the DMG’s 2009 rules.”
The MIC intends to consider input from key industry stakeholders including racetrack owners, riders, interested sponsors, and enthusiast and trade media.
The MIC wants a racing series that best promotes rider safety, competition, innovation, racetrack attendance, television viewership and ridership. The MIC also wants a championship that ultimately benefits the consumer – an exciting, popular series that develops new technology that finds its way to production motorcycles. The series should be clearly recognized as the top level of U.S. road racing, drawing both world-class riders and upcoming stars.
DONNIE PETERSON TWIN-CAM BOOK REVIEW– Thanks for the review. Writing a book is just like being an ace wrench and then having to develop the extra skills required to run a business that centers on wrenching.
I thought I would be just sewing previous articles together but that doesn’t work. Everything is re-written with much extra detail researched to the bone. In fact, the reverse is true as the books now supply my magazine columns.
I know I need an editor and I had one but he was fucking up the technical stuff he did not understand. Therefore a new skill, I must learn is editing and the second volume, which is almost complete is far superior in that department.
I will eventually go back and rewrite the first book to rid it of its choppiness etc. as I already have improving skills. And, of course, I must learn to take better pictures which is slowly improving.
However, having a busy shop, I have dynamite stuff to take pictures of. (I know, I just finished with an end-of-sentence preposition).
I also repeat some subjects as a learning aid since the book directs at lay people (riders) as opposed to mechanics.
I know some people will find this annoying and I am one of them but people learning complex subjects sometimes need repetition….how’s that for a rationalization.
— Donny Petersen
Techline columnist: American Iron Magazine
Author: Donny’s Unauthorized Technical Guide to
Harley Davidson 1936-2008
12 volumes:
“Vol. I: The Twin Cam” now available
$27.95 soft cover $37.95 hardcover
Vol. II: Performancing the Twin Cam will be available
July 25, 2008 850 pages with 50 pictures and lots of graphs and charts
Heavy Duty Cycles Limited
2230 Kingston Rd.
Toronto M1N 1T9
FAMOUS HOLLYWOOD STUNTMAN/SPECIAL EFFECTS WIZARD/BIKER/SHARKDIVER BUILDS JET BIKE– Eddie Paul confers with legendary Guinness jump record holder Bob Gill and new jet bike project.
I just spent the day at E.P. Industries with legendary motorcycle stuntman Bob Gill who still holds several jump records. A contemporary and friend of Evel Knievel, Bob successfully jumped a river, used no secondary landing ramp and did the famous Ryder truck record jump.
Injured in a jump many years ago, he is now heading up a spinal cord injury recovery and repair foundation based on state of the art laser surgery being conducted in France. His new jet bike will be completed this fall and ready for its first run as Bob goes after another world record. A series of global events will raise public awareness and funds to actually to further develop a revolutionary medical program by which tens of thousands could walk again.
I will be putting together stories and materials working directly with Bob and Eddie Paul, himself a famous Hollywood stuntman who is building the bike at his El Segundo skunkworks. This is an effort that many in the industry will be supporting. Let me know if you would like a story.
–G.P. GARSON
OUTLAWS HIT DURING FUNERAL RUN– ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — A group of bikers were critically injured Saturday when they were hit head-on by a motorist as they traveled to a funeral.
The injured bikers were members of the Outlaw motorcycle group, a family member said. Witnesses described the scene as something like a demolition derby.
Nine of the bikers were injured, four critically, police said.
The driver of a Hyundai sedan, Tom Romeo, apparently suffered a seizure and veered into oncoming traffic. Romeo suffered minor injuries.
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