Clambake, Oyster Fry, and Shrimp Feed

Enjoyed a nice relaxing ride out through the area I grew up.  Then we picked oysters, dug clams, and enjoyed the 70 degree sunshine on the beach.  When we cooked it up, there was more than enough to go around.  It was a mellow day, and all was good, and the time got away from us.  Until we got ready to leave and realized the sun was going to set in about 45 minutes, and I had two hours of riding to get home...with only my dark shades to ride with in the dark.  But since I am writing this, you know I made it home.  Although not quite as fast as I thought I would.  It's hard to go fast when you can't see worth shit.  But what the fuck...

Cach ya on the road sometime...

Penrose Point Clambake

Heading out in the morning for my old stomping grounds.  Out where I grew up as a kid.  The weather looks to be just great, and there's going to be a very low tide.  So I put together a little clam run out to Penrose point St Park.  

We'll be leaving my place about 9AM and heading into Tacoma.  Meeting up with a few folks there, and then hitting the freeway and crossing the Narrows Bridge.  I figure we should arrive at the park sometime after 11AM.  That should give us plenty of time to dig some clams and shuck some oysters.  

Then we'll cook them up, and hit the road back to Morton.  Trying to get some of the folks in Tacoma and Olympia to see what sort of runs I can put together.  Since I'll be organizing some fund raising runs into their necks of the woods to benefit throwing the rally here in Morton.  So, needless to say, I am hoping they enjoy hiting the rural two lane roads out on the peninsula tomorrow.

I am looking forward to eating some fresh clams and grilled oysters.  But most of all, I'm looking forward to enjoying some old friends...the roads I first learned to ride on as a kid.  And sharing them with some hopefully new friends.  Either way, I plan on having a good time.

Catch ya on the road sometime...

Morton Motorcycle Rally 2014

Now that the Morton City Council has given us the 'green light' to go ahead with planning and fund raising for the custom bike show and rally in Morton to be held the 30-31st of August, 2014.  I thought I would begin by giving everyone a rough idea of what is currently planned.  We still need to go before the school board, and chamber of commerce, and a few other community groups to get their assistance during the rally.  But I think if they are even half as receptive as the City Council was, things will work out.  We are still going forward with the plan to form a nonprofit group to organize and run the rally, and I'll begin to look for corporate sponsors in the near future.  As well as organizing fund raising runs to help pay for the insurance and other expenses.  They City is going to negotiate a deal on a percentage of the gate for the use of the Jubilee Arena, and any extra police that may be needed.  So there is still a lot of work ahead.

As you can see in the photo above, most of the events will be in one area of the city.  Besides the motels in town, the city park will have camping available on the river across town.  The movie theater has said if they can get permission from the copyright holders, they'll show old bike movies that weekend as well.  

If things can be worked out with properly, we might even have "mini bike" races as well.  Not the mini choppers, or pocket racers...but old fashioned 6hp or smaller lawnmower engine powered type mini bikes.

The vendors and swap meet will be set up in the vacant field on the main highway through town.  The chopper/custom bike show will take up the senior center parking lot.  The bike rodeo; beer garden, and live music, will be in the Loggers Jubilee Arena.

Besides having the Rally here, some of the best riding roads in the state of Washington are within a half hour ride of Morton.  So it should turn out to be a popular event if we can get it all rolling.  I'm sure this will be hard work, but if we can keep it flowing along, and keep the City happy, we should do pretty good.

I'll post more when I know more.  But for now, it looks like WE ARE GONNA THROW A RALLY IN MORTON!!!

Catch ya on the road sometime...

Getting Intimate

There isn't anything better than getting in an intimate relationship.  Especially when it is with your motorcycle.  I split the bogus VIN'd cases and I am glad I did.  It turns out the crank was installed backwards.  Of the two connecting rods, one is forked around the other.  According to my old Chilton's manual that I've had since the 70's, the forked rod is for the rear cylinder and the other is for the front.  Just the opposite of the way they were sitting in these cases.  So I split the cases, like I was going to do anyway, and pulled the crank.  Then I pulled everything I can use off the bogus cases and kept them.
I think things will start to come together a bit better now.  Frankenbike will be getting a transplanted crankshaft and then I can look for some other things to do to her.

Catch ya on the road sometime...

Fuckin bogus VIN!!

Well shit!!  It seems that the cases I was going to use on my project had bogus numbers stamped in them.  So, they ain't no fucking good.  At least I didn't sell the other cases yet.  I already know those cases are legit.  

These cases arent a total loss.  I am still going to use the internals, and salvage everything I can from them that the other cases don't have.  Also, the other cases have a couple of broken bolt holes for the sprocket cover.  So I will have my brother Ed, (retired nuclear reactor welder) repair the broken bits with the identical bit off these now TITS UP cases.

So hopefully, I will still have the bike set up the way I want.  It just wont be a '69 XLCH.  Damn the bad luck.  

Don't ask me about the dude who sold me the cases.  I ain't saying anything about him just now.

Besides, I still have the jugs, and other parts I can still sell like I was planning to.  So I didn't get jail raped too bad.  But next time I go scoping out parts, I am gonna have to take along someone who knows Ironheads like I used to know Nortons.  Fuck me once, shame on you...fuck me twice, shame on me....There ain't gonna be a "twice" if I have anything to say about it.

I'll get this Frankenbike on the road yet.!!

Catch ya on the road sometime...

Somehow I got real lucky.  My 69 cases are for a 900 top end.  I wanted to use the 1000 cc top end I already had.  Normally there is some boring that needs to be done to get the two to match up.  But, as you can see here in the pic, they bolted right in place.  I just wish the cam cover, and the primary cover bolted on as nicely.  This is almost bothering me, because I don't usually get this lucky.  Especially since the top end, and the cases came from two different sources, in two different counties.

But I won't bitch if it is working out...just surprised.

Catch ya on the road sometime...

Rally Update

Well it seems I am in an update rut...that is about all I have been posting over the last few posts.  Here is one more before I get back to something a bit more meaningful.  

On the 25th of March, I will go up before the Morton City Council with the presentation for the rally.  I am hoping it turns out in our favor.  Otherwise it'll just be a big party.  Which isnt bad, but not what I had intended.  

So far, we have the support of; the Senior Center (they want to have the bike show in their parking lot),the Bucksnort Pub has agreed to use their liquor license and inventory for a beer garden, the Roxy Theater has agreed to show old biker movies during the rally.  Plus a whole bunch of people in the area are offering support.  

I am confident we will get the green light.  I'll just be glad when this is all over and we can actually get moving ahead on this.

As you can see by the photo above, most of the events will be in the same part of town.  The bike events; the weenie bite, plank ride, slow race, keg roll, and other events will take place in the Jubilee Arena.  That's also where the beer garden, and band will be at.  The bike show will be in the parking lot around the Senior Center.  They are also going to sell burgers the day of the show to raise extra money.  The swap meet and commercial vendors will take up the field by the main road into town across from the Senior Center.  I want to try to get permission from the school board to use the High schools parking lot as "motorcycle only" parking, and if we can pull it together, maybe have mini bike races there as well.

In the above photo, the events are in the green areas, camping in the city park in light blue, the Roxy showing bike movies in the purple area, and all the places for food and drink in red.  The red doesnt count any additional food vendors that may come for the event, and have to get city permits.  It is only the existing businesses in town that will surely see a boost in revenue from the rally.  

I didn't even mark the gas stations in town, or the motels.  But I hope the City Council will be able to see that there is money that will flow into the city's businesses during this event.  And in a poor rural community, this is always a good thing.

I'll keep you all posted on how things shape up.

Catch ya on the road sometime...

PROJECT: CHOP IT (a short update)

I changed wheels, and did a bit of light clean up.  Just to get a better idea of what I was starting out with.  Still have a long ass way to go.  But I'll get there.  

This was going to be the wifes bike.  But when I told her it was "kick only" I think she began to have second thoughts.  If she decides she won't ride it, I'll ride the piss out of it.

Catch ya out on the road sometime...

Project: CHOP IT update

I brought the rolling chassis and cases home today.  As well as some parts I will be using as "Trading Stock".    Since I have a VERY long way to go before this bike is together the way I want it to be, I will be updating it from time to time.  It is going to be on a VERY limited budget, so I won't be making any really extravagant purchases on parts, only what I really need.  As you can see from the pics, I'll still be needing a lot, but we will see how things come together.  I am already considering selling off the twin rotor front wheel.  As well as the drum brake rear.  I'll sell and trade what I have to in order to get this project finished the way I want.

Catch ya on the road sometime...

Project: CHOP IT

I am heading up to Poulsbo today to look at a basket case Ironhead to use as a project to put together over the next couple of years.  Not starting with much, so it with be a true and complete "ground up" build.  This will only be my second Sportster.  But I am going to be able to put this one together the way I want.  I doubt it will look the same when its done as it does now.  But when it is done, the wife will have something of her own to ride.

It is still going to come in second to getting Gypsy chopped the way I want her.  But when I cant tear Gypsy down to work on her, I can still enjoy messing around and chopping this thing up.  It will be a long stretch before I get her completely rebuilt and running, but I am hoping she'll be worth it.

Catch ya on the road sometime...