Traction & Momentum

TRACTORCYCLE!, Martinsville, IN Feb. 2012

2012-02-28T13:12:00.000-05:00

Dealer Expo - Indy Feb 19, 2012

2012-02-28T13:04:00.001-05:00

Riding Season in the Rearview - 2011

2011-12-15T16:41:00.000-05:00

For those of us in the glorious Midwest, except for some random Indian summer days, the riding season is over until mid-March. It's time to look back on the season behind us and, more importantly, plan for the season ahead....

In January 2011, after 30 years in business, Williams Cycle became Williams' Open Road Cycle.

Denny at work in the shop

Helping out - for once!


The Bratt - who already looks older.


The Beast.


The Baby Beast and Black Betty IV, aka "Quatro," who is currently just a set of jugs sitting on a lift. Arnie started riding to work The first ride of the season was to Gore's house where I took a turn on the shooting porch. (I could do a post featuring only pictures of me wearing bandanas that are blowing up into pope's hats. If you ever need to conjure up a mighty tail wind, this headware is your best bet.) The view from the shooting porch. Gore's dog At Wilbur's BMW shop in Linton. Wilbur is checking the micro fiche with his improvised glare blocker. Denny told him I was going to put pictures of him on the internet and Wilbur thought that meant I was going to sell him on EBay, but I assured him I wouldn't. No one could afford him. At the Boot Hill while visiting friends in Daytona. Having a hoot at the Boot with Mz Micky At the gas station bar in my old neighborhood in Daytona, which has to be admired for its steadfast refusal to ever become a decent place to have a beer. Hanging with the Plugs. Seen on the street in Columbus, Indiana Seen in the parking lot of the Rural King in Greensburg, Indiana. Don't get too close or them horns will hook your dancin' panties! A Nomad's butt at the Judah Heritage Festival in June. Judah, Indiana Our friends Eric and James on stage and what looks like some rockin' competition sizing them up. Judah Fest At Walneck's Swapmeet in Martinsville, Indiana in July. I guess this is what vintage Yamaha's are primarily used for. This guy enters this road monster in the bike show every year at Walnecks and it always wins its category because it's the only one in it's category, whatever that category is. And while I commend the extensive diamond plate fabrication, it does seem like it should at least be weather resistant. The varnished wood detailing won't make it through a rain storm, and neither will the captain's chairs from Dad's 1987 Dodge Caravan. Sure the Clampetts got away with it, but they were in Southern California. This is Southern Indiana yo, and the weather is DICEY. Of course when your foot controls are blocks of wood, there is the added benefit that if you encounter high water, you can rip one loose and paddle your way to shore. But maybe it's just time to give the old lady her pencil holders back and start again, wiser for the experience. This liquid silver beauty was at the same show. Reminds me of the Terminator. (What sickness is it that I take one photo of it and a half dozen of the Diamond Plate Dazzler?) Off to Wauseon! (Tippy stayed home) On display at Wauseon Fulton County Fairgrounds in Wauseon, Ohio Hotrods & Hillbillies in Brown County, Indiana On our anniversary ride in Palestine, Illinois in August and hey, wait a minute, what's that bandana doin? At Thunder Beach in Panama City Beach, Florida in September. At CycleFest in Indy Our gang. So that's it folks. We made it through another one without any road rash and with good friends and good times. Meet cha here next year or see ya on the road! Casey					.

A Grocery Getter, Hoosier Style

2011-12-15T15:31:00.001-05:00

Jim's 75 Superglide in the Shop

2011-12-09T17:13:00.001-05:00

Jim brought Denny his stock 75 Superglide this spring to restore for his grandson.

It made it on to the lift this fall when the shop slowed down.

CycleFest Indianapolis Nov. 13, 2011

2011-11-14T11:52:00.001-05:00

CycleFest came to the state fair grounds in Indianapolis Saturday and Sunday November 12th and 13th. The event is based in Ohio and featured a lot of bike builders from Ohio. We went up on Sunday afternoon to check it out.

The Guys from Justified Defiance were great and so were their "distressed" old school choppers that were unlike any other bikes there.

The "Sno-Cone" Shovelhead chopper painted by Ed Roth.

A contemporary version with obvious influences. Pinstripes & Glitter!

Superslick bagger by Tony Crouch.

I was at our local H-D dealership replacing my gas cap and the parts guys asked me, "What's your theme, flames or skulls?" like those were the only two possible options. I thought to myself "floral" but went for plain chrome. The point of this story is that to the flames or skulls question, Bill Todd can answer an emphatic "SKULLS!"
Over the top old school theme bike with some serious electrical work happening. Love it.

Being a Kentucky girl, I don't imbibe the Tennessee rotgut, but no detail was spared on the Jack Daniels theme bike from Hoosier Daddy Choppers.

Flames or skulls? FLORAL! Finally!

Flames or skulls? Flaming skulls thank you very much. In good old airbrush.

Flames or skulls? CLOWNS! And make them killer. No detail of Jimmy B's 06' Ultra Mad Clown bike was left to chance, but I just couldn't go on. That thing is holding a baby's head, but the baby doesn't seem to mind.

This Panhead custom from Capones in Shelbyville, IN is absolutely beautiful. I love the insane chain drive. These guys are perfectionists. I mean, if they care this much about the tires...

They would have to to build bikes like this.

Travis Miller's Panhead custom

Wheels Through Time Motorcycle Museum, Maggie Valley, NC

2011-10-28T15:35:00.000-04:00

We were at Wheels Through Time over a year ago and I didn't get many bike pics because I was so focused on the killer vintage garage/barn displays he has as inspiration for our shop, but I found these few and thought they were worth posting.

Jon's BSA at Joe's Garage

2011-10-24T16:02:00.000-04:00

English Jon's 1951 BSA chopper on the lift.

Explaining the situation.


Jon and his old girl.

The last time she was registered in England.

THUNDER BEACH Panama City Beach, FL, Sept. 2011

2011-10-04T16:57:00.022-04:00

We traveled way down south for a change of scenery and Panama City Beach's twice yearly weekend rally ~

THUNDER BEACH

Blazing the causeway near PCB - LOVED IT!

For the twelve hour trip to Panama City Beach we loaded Black Betty II, a 1975 R90 BMW, instead of riding the Harley.

Glad we did.

Crossing the Ohio River into Kentucky over one of the bridges that inspires the background for this blog.

Stopped at Harley Davidson of Louisville to check out their swap meet and free food.

This was the object of my desire, a 2011 BMW GS650.

Harley of Louisville bought out the local BMW dealer a couple years ago.
How'd The Motor Company let them get away with that?

Loved this little guy. He's using his ears for umbrellas.

At Robert's in Nashville. My sister's favorite honky-tonk.

On the back porch at Tootsies.

My sis in front of her enviable tool pegboard in the bat garage.

At Frank Brown Park.

This guy had a great Roy Orbison, meets denim vest, meets bear claw necklace, meets skipper's cap kind of thing happening for him.

This lady was with Roy. She made her crow's skull necklace and I suspect she made Roy's bear claw necklace too. Her man had a matching but blue crow's skull necklace. So, just to clarify, Roy was not her man, at least not according the law of matching necklaces.

Posing with highly decorated security for one of the beer babes.

Ives Brothers stunt show at Frank Brown Park.

Miss Jennifer on BLUE MONSTER COURAGE!

At The Outpost for Bikers in Freeport, FL
(See the salamander on the beam above? I miss those little guys.)

I loved the Outpost because it's not just "bike parking only" when there's a bike event, it's "bike parking only" all the time.

Some of the crew at The Outpost. These girls were hustling (and by that I mean working hard).

Great atmosphere and great service, which is a rare combination.

Chevy trike at The Outpost with mandatory Rebel flag. Hey - this IS L.A. ya'll (Lower Alabama).

JD-HD

Loved the psycho pink girlie skull.

And her pink balls too!

IF YOU GO: Go for show...

There's not a lot of great riding in the area (unless you love straight roads and pine trees!) so the event is mainly a long weekend of cruising up and down the strip.

We saw a lot of custom choppers, a lot of trikes, a lot of African American riders on some very flashy sport bikes, no other vintage at all, and a lot of LED lights that made for an outstanding light parade when the sun went down.

We tailgated in front of the Flamingo Motel on Front Beach Road, which was lined with the lawn chairs of other people watching the parade. It was addictive.

Go to see and be seen. You get bonus points if your outfit matches your bike!

Anniversary Ride, Palestine, IL - Aug. 7, 2011

2011-08-12T16:07:00.002-04:00

We took the big rigs over to our sister state of Illinois (the "flatland") for an anniversary ride up Route 33, a very pretty road also known as the Lincoln Trail, although old Abe probably had to walk it.

Signs for Indiana produce in a state that, except for Chicago, is one big farm.
I guess it's the lure of the import.

Another take on Palestine's public art. Whoa Nessy...!

Everything you need, and nothing you don't.

Lana & Steve, our road buddies.

Me and the old man, one year later.

At Wabash Harley Davidson in Terre Haute.

Hotrods & Hillbillies, Brown County, Indiana - July 30th, 2011

2011-08-01T16:43:00.003-04:00

We met at the infamous Camp RunAmuck to make the run to the 5th annual Hotrods & Hillbillies brought to us by the Gravel Draggers Custom Club. The boys did a good job putting on the event but it was sooooo damn hot I mainly hid inside Mike's Country Dance Barn and sucked up the A/C.

Even so, here are a few shots.

The boys at Camp RunAmuck


Hondo in his element

Hotrods & Hillbillies

Rog in his, "You can't miss me I'll be in my YELLOW t-shirt" t-shirt.

Future motorheads

Wauseon National Meet, Flat Track Races July 15th, 2011

2011-07-21T12:56:00.008-04:00

If you ever have a chance to see flat track motorcycle racing - do it.

I can't recommend this strongly enough. No words, no pictures, no video will ever do justice to how balls to the wall, bat shit crazy these guys are for sliding sideways around a gravel track at 60 mph. It is the ultimate expression of the tension between traction (just barely) and momentum (to the max).

A time trial

Our gang at the races

Wauseon National, Wauseon, Ohio July 14th-16th, 2011

2011-07-19T21:50:00.021-04:00

The Wauseon National Meet

Sponsored by the Antique Motorcycle Club of America (AMCA)
Every July in Wauseon, Ohio at the Fulton County Fairgrounds

There are two parts to the meet, the antique motorcycle swap meet that only allows bikes and parts 35 years and older, and the flat track motorcycle races where the same rule applies.

This is a BIG swap meet that covers a few acres, and antique bicycles are almost as well represented as motorcycles so people can cover ground. Vendors and attenders camp on the grounds and there is a steady parade of antique motorcycles of all kinds with Harleys and Indians being the best represented.

I was actually trying to get a shot of that cool truck tent but that's a nice Pan too.

Knuck/Pan/Shovel Custom

This guy kept leaning over on two wheels with his dog in the air yelling, "Throw Money!"

Denny surveying the Cushman situation.


I have so many questions about this bike, like, is that woman on the tank spraying the devil with hairspray so she can light him on fire? Get thee behind me Satan! WOOSH! You go girl.

The ultimate rat bike racer.

Got to love a barn-fresh Knuck.

I like the bike, but I love them bellies!


You can just see at the bottom of his sleeve that this kid's tattoo matches his T-shirt.

Walneck's Swap Meet, Martinsville, IN July 10th, 2011

2011-07-11T13:14:00.014-04:00

We can always count on seeing our friend Mick twice a year when Walneck's comes to Martinsville. We meet for breakfast and make the 25 mile ride up Indiana 37 on the most random assortment of bikes you'll ever see riding together - a few Harleys, a couple of vintage Kawasakis, one BMW and a large scooter ridden by the man pictured below.

Mick and his favorite bike

Baby motorheads!

New School meet Old School.

Judah Fest, Judah, Indiana June 24, 2011

2011-06-27T13:27:00.006-04:00

Judah, Indiana is one old motel and two competing gas stations across the highway from each other. The larger of the two gas stations, Johnny Junxions, sponsors Judah Fest, which features a flea market, fair food, a car show and our friends in Hudson Hornet rocking a sober crowd of onlookers.

Indiana Special - the pork tenderloin sandwich, a.k.a The Artery Clogger!

Meeting of the Most Foul, June 10, 2011

2011-06-16T16:40:00.000-04:00

Eric's BSA

At the Boot Hill in Daytona

2011-06-14T16:39:00.002-04:00

Jim's 75' Super Glide

2011-05-24T16:45:00.013-04:00

Jim was a neighbor of Denny's when he was a kid in Indianapolis. Jim had two daughters and Denny became a son he could share his love of motorcycling with. Jim brought down his 1975 AMF Super Glide for Denny to work on so he can give it to his grandson, Keaton.

Arnie's First Ride

2011-05-23T16:18:00.000-04:00

Denny got this specially designed pet carrier from Kuryakyn.
Our friends at T-Bags also have a version.

Bike Night at T&B Cycles, May 3, 2011

2011-05-11T13:11:00.011-04:00

If you need to restore a vintage BMW, Wilbur Thompson is your guy. We visited Wilbur at his shop, T&B Cycles in Linton, Indiana on a Tuesday, when he keeps evening hours.

Wilbur (on the right) in 1951.

Motorcycle sculpture on Mass. Ave. in Indy.

2011-04-01T09:48:00.007-04:00

Gathering of the Foul Plugs, Sept. 24, 2010

2010-09-27T13:08:00.019-04:00

Joe presented Tim with his plug in a ceremony that was so fast I missed it.
This is a post-plug-presentation moment. Awe.

Tim proudly displays his plug.

Proby Scott & Plug Lori

Rick, Hondo, English Jon & Kale

Lori, her plug and her new baby!

Proby Scott and his hurty face after a recent slide out.

Joe's frig

Rog, his high-tech bug swatter/zapper, and what I think is my new favorite bandana

Greg taking off

with one last look

Rick leaving.

If he attends anymore events he'll have to extend his ape hangers.

with one last consultation

Reverse! I get by with a little help from my friends...

Ready to roll

Hondo takes off! Possibly momentarily blinded by my flash. Sorry bout that...

English Jon's tank

It requires some imagination.

English Jon takes off!

Proby Scott is out

of here!

"Beamer and round bale"

Upsidedown kitty, appropriately named Tippy.

Rabbit Hash, KY Labor Day Weekend, 2010

2010-09-16T12:05:00.009-04:00

Welcome to Rabbit Hash!

Denny with fellow travelers in the background

Denny & Casey

Random festival goers, and a mayoral candidate?

Musicians outside the general store

The indecisive moment.
The guy on the left is there every year. I wanted a picture of his cool wooden hat but I snapped too late. Next year?

In Rabbit Hash, it's not a party unless there's a goat. It just isn't. Don't question it. Party=Goat=Party to infinity. (see last year's footage).

Our annual self-inflicted mug shot

Inflicting a mug shot on Gus & Sheryl

And again!

The view from the Paddle Wheel House at the River Boat Inn in Madison, IN

The stage at the Broadway Hotel

More mugs! Linda & Randy (aka. Randy the Redhead) at the Lighthouse Bar & Restaurant on the Ohio River (okay, we were just interested in the bar part)

And again!

The bartender at the Lighthouse. This is NOT, I repeat, this is NOT a bad picture.

And we need all the help we can get!

Our golf cart (with highly reflective orange safety triangle) at the Fillin Station.

Anticipation....

A sweet couple enjoying the old fashioned romance of a porch swing.
Awww....

Denny's Birthday Ride, Brandenburg, KY, May 2010

2010-05-24T12:19:00.002-04:00

We headed to Brandenburg, KY and the Doe Run Inn, which turned out to be a super cool place. It's a nearly 200 year old grist mill which, like everything else in the area lays claim to, a connection to Daniel Boone or Abe Lincoln. In this case it was both!

Whatever the history, it's just beautiful and one of those "build it and they will come" kind of places out in the middle of nowhere.

The entrance to the Doe Run Inn, Brandenburg, KY

Dis is it

Inside our room

The rough, and I do mean rough, hewn beams.

The view from our room of the oddly trashy heart arch bridge.

A creepy little door to nowhere.

Old millworks in the basement/defunct buffet room. I don't find old millworks to be all that appetizing myself. Other people must have felt the same way so they don't force anyone to eat down here anymore, or maybe they do.

Millstone impressions in the entrance.

An area for weddings or very small concerts.

The restaurant that overlooks the creek that Daniel Boone peed in and where Abe Lincoln bathed (but that was upstream and years later)

Casey outside

Denny packing up Black Betty

Our mugs.

On our way home we stopped at the Overlook in Leavenworth, IN. This is one of the most beautiful views of the Ohio River there is. We are looking south from Indiana into Kentucky. The river was muddy from too much rain. It wasn't its best day but it was still good.

Me with my little girl at the Overlook.

Midwest Motorcycle Club Swapmeet - Indy

2010-05-24T11:55:00.000-04:00

Scenes from the AMCA Winter Meet, Eustis, FL Feb. 2010

2010-03-07T21:22:00.000-05:00

Eustis & Umatilla - Feb. 2010

2010-02-28T20:40:00.001-05:00

Our nice clean rig. Pulling out.

Louisville

Dinosaur country

The Bat building in Nashville

Road trip day two. Denny posing by his still nice clean rig!

Georgia

Beautiful scenic Georgia

Know what I-75 through Georgia needs? More Billboards!

Our funky kitchenette in Umatilla

Denny and his new baby

Our fleet in front of room 15

(so I can remember what room we had)

We stopped in Cassadaga while we were out riding. It's called a "Spiritualist Community" but I think of it as a bunch of hippy grifters waiting to feed you a line of shit for $50.

Does the vanity tag mean"fatal" or "fat for all?"

Our tour guides, Judy & Bobby, looking cute in the Osteen Diner.

In front of beautiful Lake Monroe in Sanford. I'm not trying to be cute by winking, it was sooo fricken bright out.
Not complaining!

Denny on Black Betty II in front of Lake Monroe

Out walking in Umatilla

The Chamber of Commerce in Umatilla. Always worth a picture. We went in and spoke to the lady about the business climate in Umatilla, not too good.

Wandering around the mall in Leesburg. This store was all about hooker shoes. I mean there were at least four times as many hooker shoes as are in this picture. Of course, this being Florida, the average age of the hookers is somewhat older than other places.

Adorable Twistee Treat

This guy was trying to save gators for some reason... saving them for lunch! Hey-oh!

Denny testing out the Cushman on the main drag in Umatilla.

The beautiful St. John's River from the Shady Oaks restaurant in Deland on our last ride

Black Betty 1, Before and After

2009-12-08T22:26:00.000-05:00

Denny with Black Betty , a 1975 /6 BMW in original condition. Summer 2009

Black Betty 1 with Windjammer fairing, trunk and original seat patched with duct tape (naturally).

Betty on the way to Wilbur's shop in Linton for some fine tuning. Denny repainted the tank and fenders, installed after market windshield, recovered the seat, acid cleaned the engine block and wheel rims, respoked the wheels, polished the mufflers...

AMCA Winter Meet , Eustis, FL 2009

2009-10-10T17:46:00.000-04:00

The Antique Motorcycle Club of America winter meet is the grand daddy of vintage motorcycle swap meets. The meet featured all kinds of antique bikes; Harleys of course and Indians of course, but also Hondas and Kawasakis, Triumphs and BMWs, Cushman scooters and many of the one-off variety.

Frank, Phyllis, Denny and Frank's beautiful Knucklehead.

Frank let me take it for a spin, kind of....

Dave Wasserman's Knucklehead

Dave with his machine (and Denny enjoying a Big Gulp)

A BMW parts vendor's cool, silver van/bus/thing.

Do you need an extra large King Korn sign but don't know where to find one? How about a dismembered male manikin? Try the AMCA Winter meet in Eustis FL.

An old Honda and delivery truck in the parking lot.

A restored Panhead in the judging area.

We stayed in a town called Umatilla. Farther north is the even smaller town of Altoona and beyond that the Ocala National Forrest, which, if you ever have the chance to ride or drive through it, is a MUST MISS experience - straight and flat and dull, with the locals blowing past you at around 120mph.

The Chamber of Commerce in Umatilla.

Cruisin Classics Car Show - Smithville, IN

2009-09-20T16:13:00.001-04:00

That's right, it's a Pinto.

The other car owners were sitting behind their cars, but this guy was in the driver's seat of this classic beauty enjoying a smoke.

Labor Day Weekend 2009 - Rabbit Hash, KY & Madison, IN

2009-09-06T21:09:00.000-04:00

Sheryl and Gussy on the long road to Rabbit Hash

The "Let's Get Excited" Dude makes his approach

The Dude and Gus discuss

Gussy is no match for the super coolness of the Let's Get Excited Dude, his cut-offs, and

his sweet, sweet mullet

The Mack Truck barn outside Aurora, Indiana from the back of a motorcycle

A safety conscious goat at Old timer's Days in Rabbit Hash

This guy was raffling off safety goat. I can't remember why he was doing that.

Sheryl and Gus outside the General Store in Rabbit Hash

Me and my sweety

Riding south along the Ohio river

Crossing the bridge into Madison, Indiana

Ditto

These guys kayaked drunk 100 miles down the Ohio river
(which makes it that much more impressive)

The view from the Riverboat Inn in Madison

You've reached the bottom

Road Trip to the Sturgis Rally - August 2009

2009-08-09T21:39:00.000-04:00

Adorable Adair, IA

Main Street, Adair, IA

Adair has 3 bars. One of them was open on Sunday

My disgust with novelty spellings reached its climax

Corn Palace, Mitchell, S.D.

Across from the Corn Palace, Mitchell, S.D.

Crossing the beautiful Missouri river at Chamberlain, S.D.

Slightly blurry Badlands

Riding through the Badlands

Main Street in Sturgis, S.D. with no motorcycles!
(and they said it couldn't be done)

On the road in Deadwood

On the side of the road in Deadwood

Half a Lincoln head

Cruising into Spearfish canyon

Mountain stream in Spearfish canyon

Is this thing getting ready to eat itself?

Denny and Gussy in Mitchell, S.D. after a rainy ride

Favorite Things About our Trip:
Wild flowers in Illinois and Iowa
Peoria, IL
Wind farms in Iowa
Adair, IA
Rolling and twisting farm fields in Iowa
Corn and soybeans, corn and soybeans, corn and soybeans... and corn!
Riding with Denny, the world's best wheel man
Kooky home-made billboards in South Dakota
The Missouri river
The infinite Great Plains
Cruising through the Badlands on a beautiful blue morning
Hanging out in Keystone
The stream that runs through Spearfish Canyon
Country roads that run straight to nowhere
Home Sweet Home

Denny & Casey

2009-04-29T20:31:00.004-04:00

Denny and Casey in Rabbit Hash, KY, Labor Day 2008

August 2010