It all started in Elk Creek, CA. in the summer of 1951. I was seven years old and in the first grade. This gang of bikers came to town, bought some beer at the store and proceeded to climb the hill across the street. I don’t remember the exact number but it was four or five guys, more motorcycles than I had ever seen at once, and the townsfolk’s population (50) were in an uproar – someone call the sheriff! Well the sheriff was in Willows 20 miles away and when he arrived the bikes were long gone. That was the slickest thing I had ever seen. The bikes were probably Indians, H-Ds, and maybe a Triumph or BSA in the mix, whatever they were they put on a show for an hour. Climbing that hill (looking back the hill is fairly steep but a good run out on the bottom, but only about 50 feet high) blew my mind, never saw any thing like it before. I was hooked, and never forgot that day.






For me … it all started when my Great Uncle in LA CA … a CHIP … plunked me in front of him on his H-D FLHP when I was in 3rd grade …. taking me for a lengthy spin ( try doing that in this day and age ) … and at one point placing my hands on the controls making me feel like I was in control ( which of course I wasn’t )
That… was the beginning of a long obsession … currently interrupted ( active wise ) due to a run in with ” The Sausage Creature ” … but as Mario Andretti wisely said … ” just because my keys are no longer in the ignition don’t mean I love it any less ”
I mean hell … I’ve got my 1/8 scale ” Lawrence of Arabia ” Brough Superior on full display as motivation .. cause heck .. if he could ride with a severely damaged leg ( and the coolest ‘ cane ‘ mount ever on the front fork ) maybe I can was well
Hmm ..
But ahhh … to get off the subject of ME ( sorry about the rant ) … damn fine story … looking forward to the next installment
OK … what the ( bleep ) … here’s how things went for me …
Not coming from at the time a well heeled family …
Built my first chopper in 6th grade ( bicycle ) out of my kids bike ..using the springer front end off my moms old bicycle .. bought the banana seat sissy bar etc with money I earned at Pep Boys … found a smaller front wheel in a junk yard … and voila … paint er up real nice .. and I was riding in style
Then .. in 8th grade built a mini bike from the ground up ( ahhh … the joys of Popular Mechanics back in the day ) … using the springer seat sissy bar etc from the bicycle to make it a chopper
In ninth grade took the step up to the big boys … scrounging up a hard tail frame .. pan head drivetrain … springer front end … saddle … wheels etc etc … and with another great uncles help ( owned a machine shop in NJ ) … built myself a bobber in the ‘ Billy Bike ‘ style … minus the paint job ..and yeah … rode it minus license registration etc cause I was underage ( told you I was an ‘ outlaw ‘ )
And then … well .. its a long story … but its a /.. pretty decent one