Hey,
This morning started on an exceedingly upbeat mode. I had a slight hangover from testing some new Cinnamon Whiskey last night after working on the Dr. Hamster’s ’34 VL. We learned a valuable Mike Egan, restoration expert, lesson. Whenever you’re tearing down any bike for the first time, take photos of everything. When the shit comes back from the powder man, plating or paint shop, you’ll know where it goes. It’s too easy to forget.
A reader last week commented on the blog. “It’s cool, but there’s nothing like the Sunday Post.” That got me thinking. The Post is a special place, and goddamnit, we’re going to keep it that way.
Let’s get started and see how we fare. You know the adage: Time will tell and shit will smell!
HIDDEN DISCOVERIES FOUND IN THE REVEREND’S BACK YARD– Evidence has been found that William Tell and his family were avid bowlers. Unfortunately, all the Swiss league records were destroyed in a fire … and so we’ll never know for whom the Tells bowled.
A man rushed into a busy doctor’s office and shouted, Doctor! I think I’m shrinking!” The doctor calmly responded, “Now, settle down. You’ll just have to be a little patient.”
–from Rev. CarlR
WHO IS THE REAL LUCKY DEVIL– Hey Man, Just saw the pic of your woman on her on her new bike. looks like you might be the real LUCKY DEVIL . Seriously, though brother Kent is a real artist in iron.
Keep up the great work , Ron in TX
Check this Dyna–
BIKERNET VS. BIKERNET METRIC, VINTAGE ROAD RACING REPORT– well i never. i must have misunderstood when steve wrote “Wayne wins 500GP.” i didn’t get that he was writing about 3 separate races. i’ll have to check and edit. it’s the terminology i don’t yet understand (v1, v2 – what’s that mean?)
i’ll fix it when i’m damn good and ready.
2 outta 3 then, huh. you bastards.
congratulations.
so no flat rat at roebling? no kwc at daytona? daytona? that’s just poopy.
–T
BikernetMetric Editor
BANDIT’S ROAD KING FOR SALE– Shit!!!!!! I wish I had a spare $ 10,500 I would buy your King at the drop of a hat. I’ve have got some fond memories tattooed into my brain of our time on the road.
–Glenn.
FROM INDY SHOW– I know you like readheads as well as I do
–Dick Boxell
CONNECTING THE SOLDIER AND THE SUCKER PUNCH SALLY BIKE OF THE WEEK– Hello, My name is Ashley and I have been in the Military for 9 years. No matter what job you have in the service or where you are deployed when you are away from home, there are two to three main things troops talk about: Girls, friends and family or motorcycles and vehicles they own or will get once they return home.
My team mates and I would talk about a build from the ground up and picture it in our heads for months at a time. Frame type, front end, wheels, engine, kick start vs. electric, rigid vs soft tail, right down to the last detail.
My bike I built in my head ended up coming out to be an old school rigid Bobber, white wall tires, red rims, flat black. Nothing too fancy, just simple and old school. One day I was bored, so I used a satellite phone to call Christian at Sucker Punch Sally’s at their Phoenix shop. I talked to Christian for awhile and he got all my info about what I wanted and simply told me it would be ready for me when I got back.
Sure enough I got back to the states about a year later, flew to Phoenix and all the SPS employees were there when I showed up to greet me.
Christian shut down the entire shop and every single employee jumped on their bikes and went for a ride with me and my new 66 Bobber for an awesome ride.
Knowing there are people like the Sucker Punch Sallys crew and the Limpnike Lot guys out there arund the U.S. that would actually do something like that for one unknown soldier gives me hope when I am overseas. Because I know that while I am over there thinking about a material item for myself like a motorcycle, those people are actually worried about all of us and that are deployed.
Just like all motorcyclists around the U.S., we always try to take care of our own and have a good time while doing it.
–Ashley
CHECK THIS SPORTSTER– http://www.helrichcustomcycles.com/sport/sport.html
-Trent
Bikernet Metric Editor
BIKER HANGOUT OF THE WEEK– A local bar/eatery hosts a free lunch once a year..catch is they only serve LIVER for the day. Anyway, it’s become quite the annual event and I have about 30 or so fotos and a few words to go with it about the community (ancient Chinese community where all the buildings are leaning on each other). Thought it might be something you’d wanna throw in?
–River Rat
Of course, we look forward to anything from the River Rat.–Renegade
BIKERNET JOURNALIST TO SUPPORT THE FISHER FOUNDATION– My son is getting married in Las Vegas in May. Don’t worry, this message isn’t to ask for marital advice from the 5-time champion of the sport, but to let you know I decided to turn the trip into another cross country ride. I’ll be riding out from Virginia. I decided to add a twist to this ride and see if I could turn my passion for riding into something beneficial for others and am raising money for the Fisher House Foundation. So, in addition to the pure enjoyment of riding, I’ll be visiting several Fisher House locations along the route. All donations (100%) go to the Fisher House Foundation and none go toward the trip. The cost of the trip comes out of my pocket because I just love to ride and hell, I was going either way.
For members of our Armed Forces, retirees, veterans and their families, the Fisher House program offers shelter and support during a medical crisis. Fisher Houses provide a comforting “home away from home” while a loved one is undergoing medical treatment in an unfamiliar environment. That special support is even more important when a family member is wounded or injured in military operations like Enduring Freedom or Iraqi Freedom. By contributing to Fisher House Foundation, you can make a difference in the lives of America’s service members, retirees, veterans and their families when needed most.
I know many of us may have recently opened our wallets to help those in need in Haiti. I also realize the Susan G. Komen 3-Day for the Cure? Series of walks is coming up in 2010 and that finding a cure for breast cancer is something that is very personal and important to many of us. But, if anyone in the Bikernet community can afford it, I would really appreciate your help in raising money for Fisher House too.
Readers can use the link below to donate online quickly & securely. They will receive email confirmation of their donation and I will be notified as soon as they make their donation. The donation e-mail confirmation also serves as your tax receipt. I thank you and all of the Bikernet community in advance for your support, and really appreciate any generosity shown!!
http://www.active.com/donate/teamfisherhouse/1CRiddle
The site will accept donations for several weeks (it’s up and available now and will remain open through the month of May), but the sooner the better as the money goes to a special cause and supports special people. I ride with a motorcycle club called the Desert Knights of America (http://www.desert-knights.com/ ). We are a veterans-based club with members who have served or are still serving their country in the military. We focus on the desert-era veteran, but if you know me, you know I was out of the military before most of the members were born. Still, it has been a pleasure and an honor to ride with these guys and have the opportunity to thank them on a regular basis for their service and commitment to their country. The Desert Knights have supported Fisher House since our inception and will continue that support into the future. We ask you to join us in this support in any manner that you can and we thank you for that support.
As usual, I’ll be writing ride stories for Bikernet as I make my way across the country and sharing the ride experience with the dedicated mob from Bikernet.
Thanks for your support and I look forward to seeing many of you in early May in the virtual world of Bikernet.com.
–Chuck
CLASSIC DAVID MANN CUSTOM COMES TO LIFE– It has been a few years since I wrote you, I tripped on your site when I did a search on Chopper Daves X-wedge chopper. I love that thing except the wheels LOL, anyway I put together a little story about what I have been doing with pictures. I am not savvy enough to get them spaced right but maybe you can figure it out. I was actually riding a Dave Mann type rig in 1971 and I have recreated it with the same front end.
It is in a show in OKC as I am writing this. It is not show quality but I took it up there anyway. I am glad to see you are still in business and the site is going good.
Ride on
–Bill
UNIVERSITY SCIENCE LAB COMPETITION BROUGHT TO YOU BY BIKERNET INSURANCE– After having dug to a depth of 10 feet last year, New York scientists recently found traces of copper wire dating back 100 years and came to the conclusion, that their ancestors already had a telephone network more than 100 years ago.
Not to be outdone by the New Yorkers, in the weeks that followed, a California archaeologist dug to a depth of 20 feet, and shortly after, a story in the LA Times read: ‘California archaeologists, finding traces of 200 year old copper wire, have concluded that their ancestors already had an advanced high-tech communications network a hundred years earlier than the New Yorkers.’
One week later from Clifton, Texas, the Clifton Star Tribune, reported the following: After digging as deep as 30 feet in his cow pasture near Meridian, Texas, self taught archaeologist Clyde Thumbscrew found absolutely nothing and therefore concluded that 300 years ago Texas had already gone wireless.
Just makes you proud to be from TEXAS !!!!!
–Jim Waggaman
Shovelheads everywhere?
–Bob T.
WHAT?S IT WORTH?? —Hi Bandit, I have a 86 1100cc sportster with a 1200 kit in it, a 3 phase racing electric ignition, supertrap 3 pipes, quicksilver 2 carby, custom indicators, risers, racing clutch, handlebars, tail lights and more. It currently has 60 000 klms on the clock but was rebuilt 10 000 klms ago with all the trimmings inside. I have spent $8000 on customizing and rebuilding it and I am now looking to sell it. The problem is i have no idea how much it is actually worth. Do you have any idea how i can find out? Any info would be appreciated.
–Quinton Moss
Danielle Moss
dani_mac@bigpond.com
Statement By NRA-ILA Executive Director Chris W. Cox Regarding Washington State Supreme Court Decision– Bill O’Reilly On Law-Abiding Citizens Maintaining Their Second Amendment Rights During A Declared State Of Emergency: “That’s a pretty extreme position.” As we have often reported, in the wake of the illegal gun confiscations in New Orleans following Hurricane Katrina, NRA focused its attention on legislation to amend existing emergency-powers statutes to guarantee that local authorities never again attempt the confiscation of lawfully owned firearms during states of emergency. Update On Bogus “Poll” Of NRA Members: On Dec. 11, 2009, we noted that a poll paid for by anti-gun politician-activist Michael Bloomberg, claiming to show that NRA members support gun control, was conducted by a pollster who has been reprimanded and censured by two professional polling organizations, and who (of course) doesn’t have access to NRA’s confidential member list.
Only in Australia… You have got to give it to them; they have a way with words…
–Nicole Brosing
Report Reveals Major Flaws In Smog Check Program; ARB Response Unclear– A panel overseeing the state’s Smog Check program this week unveiled a report showing that the vehicle inspection maintenance system may be riddled with fraud, raising questions about whether major changes are needed to improve performance. The panel has become increasingly frustrated over the past year that the air board and the automotive repair bureau have ignored repeated requests to release details of an earlier report that reflected similar findings ? primarily that the program suffers from a very high rate of “re-fail” for vehicles that were supposedly repaired to meet inspection standards, according to sources.
The new analysis indicates the program is likely not reducing tailpipe emissions nearly as expected, and therefore raises questions about how this impacts the air board’s overall air quality plans and strategies, sources said. However, it is unclear how or if air board officials intend to address the reports and their findings.
Californians spend more than S750 million annually on the Smog Check program, and the substantial amount of fraud described in the report cannot be taken lightly, the panel argues.
The controversy over the reports findings could have implications for the Smog. Check program, including regula?tory or legislative changes. The Air Resources Board has relied on Smog Check and assumed emission reductions from the program as one of many strategies in the state’s overall efforts to meet air quality standards. While ARB has played a substantial role in setting emission-reduction standards for Smog Check over the years, the Bureau of Automotive Repair (BAR) is primarily responsible for ensuring the program is being carried out properly by the state’s thousands of test-and? repair stations.
The Inspection & Maintenance Review Committee (IMRC), which oversees the program, Dec. 15 presented the results of its own analysis showing that 51% of cars that were repaired to pass a Smog Check inspection failed random roadside tests within an average of six months.
The panel’s Dec. 15 report replicates findings of an initial report done by the Sacramento-based consulting firm Sierra Research, Inc. more than two years ago. However, this report has never been formally released by ARB or BAR, an IMRC source said.
IMRC in August sent a letter to Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R), Senate President Darrell Steinberg (D-Sacra?mento), and Assembly Speaker Karen Bass (D-Los Angeles), which ripped ARB and BAR for failing to release the report and essentially asked lawmakers and the governor to investigate why the report has not been released after several requests.
The letter says that the Sierra Research report apparently contains important findings relative to the Smog Check program and, based on information provided by ARB and BAR, it may point to a significant amount of testing fraud within the Smog Check program.
An ARB spokesman said this week that “as for how sensitive this is, the findings are from the committee, not by us.” The Dec. 15 report “requires further analysis and we are not ready to comment on the implications. As for the Sierra Research report, we are not authorized to release it, as it is still under review.”
CRAZY SHIT
EASYRIDER SHOW IN OHIO UPDATE FROM JOHNNY GIL–Bandit, I wanted to share a few pictures of the Easyrider show in Ohio. There were lots of cool looking bikes. These are just a few of my favorites. Most of these were shot for a magazine feature. Congratulations to the winners!
-Johnny Gil
Johnny’s Custom
1316 Trenton Rd.
McAllen, TX 78504
(956) 687-4256
johnnyscustom308@aol.com
www.johnnyscustom.com
CRAZY SHIT HITTING AMERICA RIGHT NOW–Check this from THE WEEK magazine last week: The “Climategate” hacked-e-mail scandal of a few months ago revealed how much of the science behind global warming was, in fact, massaged data and “propaganda.” But that scandal was just the beginning.
The California Air Resource Board is in trouble, and folks all over the country are celebrating, but what does it say about society, power, and regulation. I believe it says we need balance. Anytime you let folks have too much power it ultimately kicks someone in the ass. Even the supposedly good guys run amuck.
Here’s more wacky stuff from another issue of THE WEEK: A California man is suing the makers of World of Warcraft for $1 million, claiming he’s addicted to the online video game. And one more: Another California guy has proposed a ballot initiative to ban heterosexual divorce. He’s calling it a bluff of gay marriage opponents. “Since California has decided to protect traditional marriage,” he said, “I think it would be hypocritical of us not to sacrifice some of our own rights to protect traditional marriage even more.”
Never a dull moment. Check back next week for restaurant reviews from Chinatown, watch a brother get arrested during a Bikernet feature photo shoot, and witness the introduction of a new feature contributor. It’s my son’s birthday and I’m going to make him a belt buckle. You’ll see a shot of it in the news this week.
Ride Forever,
–Bandit
