By far, the best part of my job is flying and riding around the globe meeting new people and checking out some of the world's finest custom-built motorcycles. This June found me, for the third year in a row, on the judging panel for Twin Club M.C.'s Custom Bike Show in Norrtelje, Sweden. Twin Club M.C. has a 33-year history behind this event and in my humble opinion, it is by far one of the best shows in Europe.

As an affiliate show to American Motorcycle Dealer Magazine's World Championship of Custom Bike Building, the winner and his bike, in addition to a wide variety of prizes, receive an all expense paid trip to compete in the finals in Sturgis in August.

It's not uncommon for the five-member jury to disagree on the top bike at any given show. This year, Stellan Egeland of SESERVICE in Skogas, Sweden made it easy for us to all agree. Not only did he make it easy, we were all so blown away by the design and execution of his HULSTER 8-VALVE racer that it was a hands down unanimous slam-dunk—Best Of Show Winner.

SeService has for many years been building supercharged engines, going under the name Stellans Kompressormatning. Previously, SeService took second place in the European Championships in Mainz, Germany with their Esox Lucius bike so this show was not Stellans first time at the rodeo.

This year, Stellan's entry paid homage to the board and flat track racers of the 1920s. Sitting atop razor-thin 23-inch Mitas Speedway tires mounted on Eninco rims attached to a SeService hub was the hand fabricated Hulster frame and rigid racing front end. All the sheet metal was shaped in house out of aluminum and given its beige and cream paint job by Ray Hill.

The engine itself was a work of art. It is comprised of a modified 1943 Knucklehead lower end mated to a custom built, hand cast set of 4-valve top rockers, making it a true 8-valve 96 cubic inch racer. The engineering and design, let alone the manufacturing, of the top end is a wonder. An Andrews custom grind cam was chosen as well as a Morris Magneto, stock Knucklehead lifters and an Amal GP2 1 5/32-inch carb mated to SeService stainless steel pipes make this baby hum.

The builder's attention to detail is what we look for when judging bikes. Besides the overall look of the bike, the Devil is indeed in the details.

Stellan didn't disappoint us. Take a look at the chain driven alternator mounted on the right-side rear wheel, the pulley and cable clutch and the brake system mounted on the SeService made handlebars. It's not often that I get to see something fabricated like that.

Stellan and his crew deserved the attention of the crowd that flocked around his creation in Sweden, and this August, I'm sure the fans at Sturgis will also be impressed by his effort.

There will be bikes representing builders from all over the world at the Sturgis Show during Bike Week. We wish Stellan and all the other builders the best of luck in the competition. As for us, to borrow a line from Bob Dylan, we'll be, "On the road looking for another joint."

--TBear 2007

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