DicE Issue # 41
So A while back I showed Matt from DicE magazine a photo of the “TRUTH” Triumph I built. He was super stoked on it being that it was a swing arm Triumph Chopper and told me that he wanted to run it in the magazine. Matt went on to tell me it would be the second swing arm Triumph Chopper to ever be featured in the magazine. So my long time friend Slim shot some photo’s and sure enough it got into the magazine. So if you have not seen the magazine or the article, here it is! Thanks to Matt and Dean at DicE and also Slim for taking the photo’s.
Committed…
A few months ago my close friend Cook asked me if I would mind if he got “Damned To Be Free” tattooed on him. I told him I would be stoked! So he ended up getting the lettering I drew for the header page tattooed on the top of his hand under the tattoo of the iconic 1966 Robert Williams drawn, Ed Roth Tijuana Reject decal. REALLY FAR OUT MAN!!!
Vintage 1%er Club Photos
I recently acquired these original outlaw motorcycle club photos from 1969. The photos are of the Pagans, Mongols, Heathens and Centurions among others I’m sure. Although the plates on the motorcycles are from Delaware I’m told the photos were all taken in Pennsylvania out side of Philadelphia. I believe the photos are from run and from what also looks to be possibly an AMA sanctioned event? I say this because there are photos that have some real squares in the background. The photos depict great examples of East coast outlaw 1%er culture and custom chopped Harley Davidson and Triumphs of the period. Check out the spun aluminum Moon Equipment gas tank on the scooter and the dresser front fender guard on the rear fender of the bike next to it in the forth photo down. The Panhead chop/ bobber with the Harley Hummer tank is killer as well! I would have to say my favorite photo’s from the group are the Panhead with the pinstriped Wassell tank and all the bikes lined up behind it, the last photo of the Panhead with Wassell tank, ribbed Bates seat, tall sissy bar and the up swept pipes and the photo of all the chops at the gas station. Check out the price of gas at that time. I wish it were those days again. Shit, you could fill up your machine for under a dollar…
Chopper City
Since I can remember Ed Newton and Ed Roth have been huge idols of mine. I always dreamed of the day I would lay eyes on some of their creations. That day finally came true with my recent visit to the Motorcyclepidia Museum. Owner and Curator Ted Doering, of Ted’s Cycle Shed and also V Twin Manufacturing and his father Jerry brought this 85,000 square foot museum to life. Ted’s past is steeped in custom motorcycles and choppers. From selling and manufacturing parts, to building customs in the 60’s and 70’s solidifies his place in chopper history. As most motorcycle museums tend to only briefly mention choppers (if at all), Ted has embraced it and his love for custom motorcycles, choppers and the culture surrounding it. This is no more apparent then in his Chopper City display at the museum. The display features a ton of period choppers and a lot of chopper and custom motorcycle memorabilia. Part of the Chopper City display is Ted’s famous custom Indian Chief show bike and side hack “ The Red Baron” built in 1966, first shown in 1967 and is featured in the original publication of Ed Roth’s Choppers magazine. The museum has no shortage of Ed Roth machines, including “The Candy Wagon”, “The Mail Box”, “Panzer Trike” and more. Also featured is the “Mega Cycle”, which is located on the lower floor of the museum. There is a ton of original choppers and diggers on display including Ron Finch’s “Shooting Star” chopper built in 1969. Every inch of this 1959 BSA 500cc pre-unit is custom painted including the seat pan and of course features Finch’s crazy fabrication and molding. Ron Ebert’s “Fantastic Bubble Machine” is also on display. This custom show trike was on the cover and featured in the September 1972 issue of Street Chopper Magazine. Also in the Chopper City display is a section devoted to Ted’s close friend and late great custom chopper builder, Indian Larry. Who I found out that day lived a street over from Ted in the heyday of Ted’s Cycle Shed and used to hang out there all the time. The Chopper City display is absolutely incredible, and what’s even more incredible is that everything in the whole museum is from Ted’s personal collection, choppers being a small part of it. For example he has collected every year Indian ever made except for the first year, which there is only 3 made and in existence. They tell me it may not be too long before they have one in the collection as well. Can’t forget the 3 vintage late 70’s Arlen Ness customs, which are the first thing you see when you walk in the doors of the museum. It is very easy to lose all space and time in this place and easy to fill the memory card on your camera before getting halfway through the museum. So make sure to get there when the doors open to give your self enough time to see everything and bring a large memory card! I had the pleasure meeting Ted, his father Jerry and long time friend and photographer Scott Cavalri and talked to them for a while. I got to hear a ton of great stories about the old days, and talk choppers with Ted. Which I will say was huge for me, as I respect him very much for what he has done for custom motorcycle culture though out the years. The whole staff there is great and very approachable; they are all motorcycle enthusiasts as well. The museum is located in Newburgh, NY and is open to the public Thursday- Sunday 10-5pm. There is a $10 entry fee and all the proceeds go to maintaining the museum and displays. Trust me the entry fee is worth it just to see the Roth stuff… If you’re into choppers and custom motorcycles (which I would imagine you are being your on this site) you need to check this place out!!! You will not be disappointed and who knows you might just even bump in Ted…
Outlaws MC 66′
Here is a pretty kool vintage photo I recently acquired which depicts The Outlaws Motorcycle Club (gang) holding a press conference with the Detroit Free Press outside their Detroit Michigan clubhouse. Check out the outlaw chopper proudly displayed in the background of the photo so squares reading the paper get a glimpse into the world 1%er motorcycle clubs. I can only imagine the dismay and the disgust of the general public at that time reading this article and viewing this photo. Also notice the crazy fur boots the guy in the foreground is wearing. The photo was run in the September 9th 1966 issue and in labeled (Motorcycle Gangs) on the back of the photo in pencil.
FOR SALE
My buddy Chris from HATED OF THE WORLD is selling his 1968 Triumph T120R chopper on eBay. Its a serious machine and built right… BUY IT!!!!
*SOLD*
link: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/?cmd=ViewItem&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649&item=270823488462&sspagename=STRK%3AMESELX%3AIT
3RD ANNUAL BROOKLYN INVITATIONAL RECAP
I’ll start by saying I’ve filled my quota of tight jeans, beards, black jean vests, Vans and hipsters for the next year. Despite that I will have to say the event was a good one. This year was the first year I was able to attend the event and I’m glad I did. The show included bikes built by Cro Customs, Max Schaaf of 4Q Conditioning, Aki Sakamoto of Hog Killers, Evil Spirit Engineering and White Knights In The House Of Color among others. My personal favorite was Tom Fugle’s vintage Panhead chopper which is featured in the new issue of DicE Magazine. It was great having access to stuff you usually only see in magazines and the layout really allowed you to get up close and personal with the bikes to see how and what stuff was done to them even with a ton of people in the gallery at the same time. The Vintage Hells Angels memorabilia was really mind blowing as was the photography hanging in the show and was a great addition. Also the show had a good amount of vendors including DicE Magazine. If you have not made the trip to the show, plan on it next year. You wont be disappointed. Here are some photos from the show. Enjoy!
Beauty & The Beast
This is an original Photo of Eva Swanson from 1971 at the Third Annual Cycle-Rama show held at the International Amphitheater in Chicago. This swing arm Panhead chopper is one of the nicest examples I’ve seen of a Harley Davidson Big Twin swing arm bike with shocks (not struts). Notice the custom molding in the neck and flared real fender. Check out round bottom Z bars and the small to large over under headlights, gonna have to steal those idea an use them on future builds for sure! Also that weekend featured Evil Knievel preforming his famous stunt show act.
SHOWIN’ IN SYRACUSE
Here are some photo’s I recently acquired from what I believe is the 1970 Syracuse Autorama. These are scans taken from the original photos and show some pretty radical customizing, paint and fabrication was going on at the time in the Northeast part of the country. Being that the show was in early 1970, I’m guessing most of the choppers and customs were likely built in 1969. The molded Sportster tank with the raised molded Playboy bunnies “ By The House of Jomil” is defiantly a wild Ironhead Sportster custom show bikand typical of that period! I wish I had photos of the entire motorcycle as well as the flamed Wassell tank Panhead chopper, but I don’t. My personal favorite is “The Dragon” flat side generator Shovelhead with its custom made mini king queen pleated seat, double sissy bar and custom metal flake scaled paint scheme running up the frame rails into a dragon type creatures face painted on the tank. Although I usually do not post anything that does not pertaining to choppers there were a few other photos from the show like the Triumph “Lucky 13″ flat tracker, Honda single drag bike and the Honda swing arm custom chopper that I think are worthy of being posted. Plus there are some great bikes, custom cars and hot rod in most of the backgrounds of the photos. Enjoy!
