Peoples Champ – Motor Stuff

Here are a couple pics of where we’ve started. We’re using a 51 panhead right side case and an 82 alternator shovelhead left case. The magneto is a cheap $20 Fairbanks Morse XD from the late 70’s. I made the adapter collar and internal gear set here in the shop.

We are doing a lot here to get the motor to the next level. A generator shovelhead alone is a pretty rad motor but if we’re building a competition level bike, it’s just nowhere near enough. Polished cases, heads, carbs, cam cover, and chrome on everything else. We’re also dual-carbing the heads to run a pair of Mikuni VM36’s. The original distributor hole will be filled and machined smooth to give that area of the case an extra level of detail. We’re rebuilding the motor from the flywheels, up just to make sure the insides match the details given to the outsides. The mag was a crazy amount of work but she’s all set to go. The head work will be a little bit of machining and a whole lot of tig welding.

Both I and Charlie are taking a lot of chances with this bike. The machine work I’m doing is more than I’ve ever accomplished in the past. The frame work that Dorius has banged out was all about mashing together all the best of the different era frames. We’re pushing the limits of our skills and we’re trying to remain fearless as we steadily approach disaster. We just hope folks at home and at Born Free Show can understand and appreciate that, sink or swim – we’re trying to really give folks something interesting to look at.

Give myself (@speed_club) and Dorius (@charliedorius) a follow to see more. Thanks!

Show Class Party – this weekend

I cant say I know all parties involved on the Show Class scene. But, from the folks I do know. The magazine, concept, and style are definitely on the level. Check ’em out. Subscribe. Dig it.

Bad Day at the Track

Motor detonation sucks. Some folks rock fire blankets these days but way back when, you took an entire top end to the chest and walked that sh*t off! This was a cool little photo I found today while researching some drag racing info.

Congrats Spencer & Pre-Tilt Party

Spencer has been hard at work all week trying to get his little Triumph rocking. After much frustration and late nights… she’s alive and actually ridable. It was a little touch and go there for a while but he managed to squeak the bike past the finish line early this evening. Check him out today at Full Tilt. Where exactly is full tilt at? Great questions. Victoria and Jefferson intersection in St Paul right next to Tav on the Ave. Be there. This will be Epic.

On a side note. It’s 1am and I’m at the shop downloading video and pics from the Pre-Tilt party. Steve lent me a really sweet Rode mic for my camera. Making me look all for serious and what not. Harpoon and Grant (Born Free/FMA) are here, Josh Kurpius and the Death Science crew made it, Eternal combustion is here along with a whole lot of other folks too. The show is all on the up and up. This thing will be quite the gathering.

Brothers from the North!

These are the folks we met who cruised all the way down to southern Cali from Vancover Canada! You should have seen it. Old Toyota right-side steering 4 cylinder diesel utility truck pulling a little 10ft air streamer that had apparently been struck with a baseball bat one or twice. These people were about the nicest folk we’d met in the entire trip. They’ve even got a little dirt moto scene going on which revolves around XT500’s. They won best unit Triumph with the mind melter pictured in the rear. Dig those freaked out bars.

I hope to see them again some time. Hopefully we can get them to stop out for the Bearded Lady or Full Tilt party!