Beware the flying Panheads!

I always heard those Hydra-glide forks were kinda weak...

The Motor City in OZ

One of my best buddies is having a solo show in Melbourne Australia next week. He's been making found object/petrol inspired work for some time now. I think his stuff is really starting to fire on all cylinders. If your in the neighborhood stop by and say hello to Craig - tell him Diesel said hello. And for god sakes go surfing!!!!

Barn Find

Look what can be found by kicking over a few old bales of hay in an old barn - my new trike! I posted this on the Jockey Journal and received a bunch of "DO NOT RESTORE IT" comments. Not to worry gents, she wears the rust well and will forever more. The thing I love most about this little hotrod is the bald front wheel - some hell bent little knee high roasted it right off! Hell yes.

The Slippery Seeds

I love belly tankers. I'd like to build one some day. I have a boatload of sketches just waiting. As of right now I've been to Speedweek @ Bonneville 3 times. It happens the week following Sturgis, it becomes the exclamation point at the end of that sentence. It also always makes for a great ride west from the black hills because you travel right through my favorite place on earth - Jackson, Wyoming. Looks like I'll be going to Bonneville again this year so you will see some posts near the end of the summer. Here are some great shots from Scootermcrads blog. These are from the Old Crow speed shop out on the left coast. #16 is one of the most famous tankers of all time built by Bill Burke. The rest of seeds in these shots I have been told are owned by Bobby Green of Them fame.

Sturgis 2007

Sturgis 2007 - things I remember: Had a great ride out, went through the mittens upper penninsula. Found an old Soo Line railyard near Escanaba that had many ghosts. Met a good friend of mine (Tipsy) the morning of the second day and covered much ground into Minnesota where we stopped for the night at another friends place. Sunrise at 5 am was almost a spiritual experience. Made it into Sturgis late that evening after seeing everything from road side car art to biblical downpours. Went in and out of the rain suits at least 3 times in 3 hours.

Once inside the Black Hills the memory becomes a little fuzzy as it will, but I do remember a couple inspiring bike/hotrod shows, some killer flat track racing, glorious Nemo road (my favorite road for many reasons), one night "down town", Lead where many Western legends have been born and put to rest, the best native american store outside of New Mexico, and a ride home that had me zig zagging around massive thunderheads for three states.

If you have the desire to go don't hesitate - just go. Sturgis is so much more than it's obvious legend. It is what you make of it and you can find whatever your looking for. That part of our country is very special - it can't be describe in words let alone this blog. There is energy there that has to be experienced in person in order to be fully understood. It's no wonder the Native Americans found/find it so magical - spirits are in those dark hills. Just go.

In the know she is...

The top one is my favorite (she's about to nail second - check her left hand) but God bless them all.

Mucho Wu 2

The guy always had his shit together...

It's become a bit of a cliche but Steve was the man. He had a shaman like quality with machines and apparently women. He was uncompromising and lived it full-on at all times. His death was tragic at a relatively early age but in retrospect he lived three times as much as most folk. Follow his example - full speed ahead. Never compromise.

Drugs n Soda!

Got the itch this past weekend, saw a break in the weather and headed South. Managed to find clear blue skies, a giant fiberglass Indian, some creepy wooden creatures, an ancient soda fountain and the bone yard that contains James Dean. At one point I struck up a conversation with an older women who said she envied me because I had no plan, schedule or place to be. "Just wandering" I told her, " I've been meaning to do that for the last 40 years" was her reply. I told her "it's never too late"...

Our neat little landmark

For all my motown friends that pass by this I-94 landmark everyday and wonder where our beloved ode to Akron came from. The 1965 worlds fair.

Photo stolen from the Church of Choppers blog. Thanks guys.

"You brought two too many..."

On a Wander...

I like to Wander. It's one of my favorite things to do. Just a motorcycle, some money for gas, a sleeping bag and no pending plans for at least two days. Typically I point the bike in a southwestern direction. Ohio is 40 minutes away and her roads are smooth and empty. It's a good starting State. Nothing clears the mind like a golden ribbon of road during magic hour - that time just before dusk when the sky goes Rothko. You can find whatever your looking for out there on the road - it just takes an open mind and an open heart - listening to your instincts will help too. Stick to the oldest roads you can find, eat in an indigenous manner and never say no to anything. The wind is always a little warmer, the drinks a little colder and the sleeps a little deeper out there on a Wander.

It's all right there...

zen...

If your going to do a bagger...

Yoshi and the guys at the Garage Company in Venice Beach put this one together. It's a little baroque, but it works. I dig it. If you ever find yourself in Southern California with some spare time go see Yoshi's place. It will blow your mind.