Intl. Bike Show Classics

All kinds of crazy super flashy stuff at the international bike show. Not really my scene personally but there are always some really great classics at these shows. Here are a couple images that came back from a buddy. A sweet Scout – “Wall-o-Death” style along with a slick little flat tracker and a very cool board track racer.

Garage Feature I – “Pinky”

If you’re even remotely serious about building bikes in the Twin Cities or Midwest for that matter then you probably know Rick. He’s a wealth of knowledge and quite a unique character. When I asked if I could get some pics for the site he responded with “I dont give a shit whatcha do.” Believe it or not, he and I get along really well. All the local bike and car guys gravitate to him when it comes to heavy duty fabrication work. He’s an all around motor man with decades of experience and experimentation.

I’ve heard him referred to as Handsome Rick, Fabricator Rick and my personal favorite… “Pinky.” Rick is one fine fella. He’s professionally or semi-professionally raced just about everything with a motor at one point or another. New rules have been written because he knows how to exploit the unmentioned details. He told me a little story about 3-wheeler ice racing in the 80’s. He asked what the widest wheel base allowed was. They said something like 3 feet. He went home and built a trike axle so narrow and with such narrow tires that you could canter around a corner like an 2-wheeled enduro. They showed up a couple weekends in a row. Won 1st place in their amateur division on every race they attended. The next season they introduced a minimum wheel base and that was that.

Rick’s really a bit of a living legend when I start to really think about it. I’m pretty sure he’s never had a “regular job.” At one point in his life he was racing 48 weekends out of the year at different tracks across the US. The last time I visited, the founder of House of Kolors Paint, Jon Kosmoski happened to drop by with a front end for Rick to work up. On top of it all, he’s a really solitary guy.

He’s good shit and he’s probably one of the most interesting guys I’ve met since my move to the Midwest. Who better to start off our first ever Garage feature than the one-man garage master himself. I shared all kinds of oddball ideas with him and he always says to me, “if you can imagine it, I can make it.”

welcome to the chopper blog Garage Feature I. More to come.

CHOPOUT 2010 Details

CHOPOUT 2010 – presented by SpeedClubINC.com

We’re getting the hell out of town for one last ride for the season on September 18 and 19th. This is a Saturday and Sunday, 300 mile round trip and you’re invited. We’re leaving after breakfast and heading east into WI. Camp out. Next day cruise back west into MN and then south to the Twin Cities. This is a bring-your-own-shit, ride and camp out thing. Contact Speed Club INC for all the ride details including map, camp destination and specifics on the route.

Dont forget your:
phone
sunglasses
jacket
sleeping bag
cash
smokes
gum
extra socks
break down back-up plan

How Much: $10-20/per person, per night for camp site. You get a spot on the grassy knoll next to the second gunman. There’s a lake and toilets and the lodge with grub, beer and AC/Heat depending on the weather. Well worth the minimal cash so don’t be a tight ass.

What to do: Absolutely nothing. There are a couple bars and gas stations for food and drink and there’s always good old Phipps. Make some friends, rest up, share some laughs, shit it in the woods.

Things you should know: The ride is open to anyone with the right attitude. No chase trucks, no banners, no products, no nothing. Just one last little adventure for the season. Food is on you. Yes, there are definitely bears and yes, they will come out looking for that cheese burger wrapper you left in the dirt next to your bike. SO… be smart and try not to get killed. It’s not a race. Have a fun time and enjoy the ride.

brought to you by SpeedClubINC.com

Race day at Lions Raceway

Race day at Lions Raceway. Drive it in. Squeeze in as many runs as you can. Drive it home.

…welcome to the chopper blog

Flat Track – Dirt Track – Board Track Racers

Flat Track – Dirt Track & Board Track Racers are a topic of personal interest for me. Here are some photos I’ve collected over the past. I cant remember where most of them came from. Also, a reminder; flattrackmn.org has brought back racing to northern MN. All sorts of classes to run in so get your sh*t together and lets do some racin’.