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30
December 2011 and tomorrow I'll should be in Birmingham, AL at the DDMC
Club House for the New Year's Eve party. 45 years ago today I got
married for the first time and man that was a long time
ago. Sure learned alot since then I guess, still married, to
someone else, but hell, I guess we've be split for more than seven
years now. Does that mean I have a common law divorce? Or am I a cherry
again cause I ain't been doing "it" with anyone? Oh well, maybe I'll
get lucky'er next year. 2012 ought to be a blast. Still planning on
sailing south in a few weeks so look out down there I's is comming...
15 November 2011 man what a hoot. Working hard on the boat to get ready for the trip to the south even south of Puerto Rico to the British Virgin Islands. Yeah, we will see if we can pull off with this modern stuff what Columbus did with that old ass stuff. Of course I want to take the bike but that is a maybe, because it don't fit under the bunk and I'll have all that weight high and to rear. So lots of test and trial to see what works in the local water, why not... 24 October 2011 and the shrimp are suppose to be running but my net is tore and I got to get a new one I guess. Now the stone crab are good and plenty and so are the cat fish but I just been eating steak and chicken and lots of Ramen noodles; easy in this weather. Been down to 50 and 60's at night 80's in the day. Really rough on my old bones. Dave Decker, my crew man from CA when we was on the salt, kept me up to date on the Love Ride doings. Small turn out but big on the heart. Of course the NOMADs made a good turn out and helped in every way they could. I been working on the boat and the old Swapmeet Special. I think I am ready for a wife again just to have someone to holler at me so I can feel loved again. This getting old shit is for the birds... ![]() ![]() Here I is with my Giovani's T-shirt sweating like a dog on the salt, waiting for my next pass... Thursday, 25 August 2011 and hurry cain Irene is off the coast. It is good to be home after two months on the road but wind and rain? No sweat. Got out on the boat and the batteries were dead. I released the blade on the wind mill and charge, charge, charge. A small amount of water had to pumped from the bilge and I had to kill a few bugs that moved in while I was gone but it was sweet to be on board again. Now the Salt Flats popped my bubble a little but I had a blast that few ever get. And I is thankful for the op. My sponsers made it possible. From just a hug from a pretty young girl to the encouragement getting a little cash on the road to the Grand I got from that one guy. All the love, parts and for my friends and Brothers that made it possible what can I say but thank you from the botton of my heart. I also got these white race team t-shirts with that caricature of me on the Double that Moon created out in LA. Send me $20.00 and I'll send you one while they last. Moon needs some income too... Here is a pic of a neat bike. A twin engine Indian Scout... C00l... ![]() ![]() Monday, 1 August 2011 what a party! The mid Michigan Brothers turned out once again for The Family MC and I got to sing to them. We got drunk, well not to drunk, but drunk enough to sleep good and we ate like royalty. Back in the shop with the Twin Engine bike and just a few final details and off to Colorado for the open house at Rocky Mountain HD Friday the 5th and on west to the salt. Maybe a few stops along the way. There is the party in the Black Hills and Hulit Wyoming. Not that far out of the way, maybe... Saturday, 23 July 2011 and it rained last night but the sun dried the track and the drags are on. Tomorrow will be the finals and tonight the parade is going on. This place is packed. Chopper Fest is for real. Living in FL I think some times I get jaded and forget just what fun I missed working or racing at the shows instead of just coming for the good time. The race team had to run for parts and left me to watch our pit area. Got the electric fan giving a little breeze and a cold one in my hand. Just watching all the girls I mean bikes go by... They even have hell-e-chopper rides... Friday, 22 July 2011 Martin, MI Davidson Express/ Michigan Chopper Fest and AMRA drag Racing is whats going on now and fun is to the ten's. My team is taking a well deserved break after the last couple of days. Putting everything together for an event like this is a team effort with out a doubt, and we earned our beer today. Bummers first pass on the Hunt's Hog Shop sponsored Crazy Horse Pro Fuel Dragster was sweet. That 103in nitro burning cast iron Sporster did 145 in the low nines and made a perfect pass. Being a little conserative is not a bad thing with nitro, next pass with a gear change and some secret shit, we well get her up to a buck fifty in the high 8's. More to come tomorrow on that. I got the Swapmeet Special back together, all but the break light, always something. New tires, new rings and some long over due chassis tune up. All those wore out little things; shifter linkage, kick stand do-da so you can kick it out the first time instead of digging for it. After 20 years, much nicer pipes and luggage rack. Even replaced the real wheel with the one off the Double when I had to buy a good used Duce 17in for the salt flats cause they don't make 16in ZR rated tires any more. Cool I sure like my new disk wheel. Bummer is using my trailer hitch to lean his launch tube on for fire works. dam that shit is loud. Blowing off a little steam. He He.... Tuesday, 12 July 2011 and you should have been there. I mean we had such a good time, doing all them games on the rodeo field and pulling course, at it is just hard to put in to words. Parts and I done a lot of shows in the past and we think alike just from doing the same thing week after week for years. Like the sled pulls, knowing to set the next pull off up while still in the middle of the current one, keeps things moving. And the winnine bite, well when I explained why we used mustard instead of other condoments, to a family type crowd, there were a lot of blank spots where you have to put in the meaning that works best for you. Or something... The weather was outstanding and all the people at the event were working for free. Just loving Dyamond and having a party at the same time, Antique Acers, Iowa, was the place to be. What a Crew. Should have been there... Here's Barb the Prospects Ol'Lady, wearing that NOMAD Race Team t-shirt that Ugly Steve Fields had made up for me. She is so sweet... He's the Ugly one with the red beard in the back left... ![]() Tuesday, July 5 2011and the MCM party was a blast. Hard to believe another one is past so quick. It seems to me as I get older the time spins faster, go figure... Here is a pic of the rest area on US 127 headed north and the double on the trailer. Many of the guys at this party made, donated parts or just gave a little money for this project to happen and I felt I needed to take the bike for them to see what we done to update her for this speed trial coming up in August. I had a flyer of the Crew MC Mid-Summer Birthday Bash/Rodeo and Ride for Dyamond but I screwed it up so I can't put it up here on the page. But, I am headed there Friday. The ride for Dyamond starts at 11:00 AM The Salon Elite in Cedar Falls, Iowa and ends up at Antique Acres for the party. Some of my Ugly Brothers will be there so come on out and enjoy this day of fun and fund raising for one fine young lady. ![]() Monday, 27 June 2011 here again at McDonald's coffee bar and internet cafe doing my wi-fi thing. Coffee is good and the hookup is free and on the way to the 4th of July party in MI. The MCM has been doing this for years and got good at it. here is a pic of Bummer on the launch pad at US131 Dragway last Saturday. ![]() SMOKE IT BUMMER! ![]() That big guy, A-Head Ted, is the pit crew chief and he is also the guy that made those big ductile iron cylinders for the Double. Here is one of him in the pits. Saturday 25 June 2011 finds me in MI near Lansing working on Bummers Pro Fuel Race Team for this weekends test and tune session at the 131 Drag strip near Lake Michigan. We decided to check the valves and top end on the Double as long as it was in the shop and the Drag Bike was screaming for a pass or two. The shop here at Hunts Hog Shop does a bunch of tire business and uses up a few tires it's self, racing of course. Here is a picture of my new race helmet that Ugly Steve M. gave me for the salt.
Anyway, it fits real good... I'll have pictures of this weekend and the
Double soon. Oh Yeah I stopped to see Lobo and Shanon in IN, Lobo has
his bike running and is just now putting the new paint on. It has been
raining here in the north and the blood suckers our out, bugs are us...25 May 2011 dam, another month has gone by and here I is again. I will tell Ya's this has been a weird last few days, like one of my old so called friends gets on my case yesterday for filling up my water jugs at the VFW Post for the boat. He told me I was a nothing but a ho-bo bum, didn't that drunk asshole know I was a NOMAD? Of course I'll take what I can get. Ice, water and fire wood that is donated to the vets, I sure take my share. He knows I live on that boat I salvaged and their ain't no fresh water out there unless you bring it your self. Oh well I guess he's just jealous. I ate red fish again this week and it was so good. Got the Memorial Day ceremony's here in New Smyrna Beach starting at 9:00 am Monday the 30th with the post Honor Guard at he Colored Cemetery out on Glencoe Rd then to the Veterans Memorial Park on the River at 11:00. At 2:00 pm we will have one at the Emory L Bennet Nursing Home with my Post 3461 and the Vietnam Veterans Ass. Honor Guard doing the gun salute and Taps. Of course we will have the guest speakers from around the town of Daytona and from the bottom of my heart I thank all that give there time to this Day. Lets face it Brothers and Sisters, with out this Countrys fighters, we would be sucking hind tit on the pig of life. God Bless America. 18 April 2011 and the Hog Riding Fool's had a blast April Fools Day. Will this one did for sure too! I took the truck up to somewhere in north South Carolina and asked the cops where the club house is, of course they wanted to ask me all kind of questions about shit I know nothing about and finally gave me the directions I needed except for that country couple of miles turned out to be nine. The sound of Harley's with riders wearing the right Patch led me to a weekend of fun with friends I ain't never met as well as the Red Beard and his AZ Brothers from Mescal. I got to sing a few songs with that kick ass Blue Grass band, Total Denial that did Dixie so well there wasn't a dry eye in the house... Then back home to FL and the River and my home on the Katherine Gale. Got the new tank on the Swapmeet Special and have a new rear fender to put on once I find the time. Had to have the tank but the fender can wait till it rains or something cause it is so nice out that I must ride when I can and that is now. First to Daytona then to Orlando, Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck forever hold your throttle tight! See Ya, Oh yeah here is a pick of the Bud Girls from the Jam On Swapmeet... ![]() 22 March 2011 so I been lazy again and having lots of fish to clean and crabs to crack I ain't been keeping this thing up to date. Now a few of the Bike Week'ers pointed that out to me so here I is with the Hospice Chopper Flyer down on the lower right side of this page. Just click on it and you can get the whole PDF so's it is easyer to read. We had a blast Bike Week here in New Smyrna Beach at the VFW, with bands, campers partying their asses off all week long. Fancy new bikes and more booze and buzz than you could shake a stick at. Got a new tank for my bike and went to the Jam On Swap Meet and bought a new rear fender. Gonna go head and paint the front fender too so the Old Swapmeet Special should look like it got a face lift and a botox injection, plus holding almost 6 gallons in that Road King gas tank. More to come soon... 22 December 2010 I think I fell asleep for two months but I is mostly awake now. Things are good on the boat and I got my wood stove installed just in time to beat the big cool down the end of November. Of course you got to get the ax out and the chain saw and then the right wood. I had some kind of pine at first but it burns to fast and dirty, soot coming out the pipe and lining it ain't cool. Switched to oak but it is hard to start so in the end I start with a little pine splits and then put on the small oak logs, 6" or less, small stove, and that keeps the pipe clean a and burns all night. Now the old Swapmeet Special is running gooder than shit but since me and Artie Rightus is been together it's rough to ride on the cooler days. It sure is bad to have to ware your long sleeve shirt or even a jacket here in FL just to go to the Bar but sacrifices must be made I guess from time to time. Bummer says the Double is close to completion but with fuel costs being so high we decided to wait till spring or even June to get her. Just making it to the Salt Flats will be a team effort again this year but all the ducks are in a row and with the power we made last year and the better suspension, 200 mph is within reach if I don't fall off again. Now the fishing here in on the east coast of FL has never been better and I have been eating my share of stone crab, catfish and flounder. I knows there is some shrimp at Oak Hill to dip but it is cheaper to buy it than catch it, damm. I have been thinking of drifting the inlet for reds but lazy gets in the way. Ya all have a great Holiday season and Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year... (more to come next year with pictures) 05 October 2010 and what a September. I was supposed to be in Birmingham, AL for a 9/11 charity concert but like I told Sonny when he first asked me 9/11 is on of them days that could be rough to get away from here. I saw him in Indiana and said I could make it I and I thought I would but I get a call at the VFW wanting me to go sing the National anthem at the Speedway and I just couldn't say no. I calls Tatu and tells him whats up and he says to get a picture if I can I says sure. Well come 9/09 the Speedways calls and to confirm my part and them I find out it is at the county speedway not the International Speedway. So it's to late to change things and the VFW Honor guard is suppose to do the flag thing for me. Later that day the Post CO calls and says the Honor Guard can't make cause of another commitment. So come 9/11 I shows up the the speedway right on time and it is the wrong one. The county speedway is on Rt 40 west of Daytona and I went to the one at FL415 and 44. Oops! Well I felt bad of course and the guy who lined it up for me was upset and the track did not return my call when I left a message explaining what had happened. Well Goat used to say don't be supprised if I show up and don't get mad if I don't. Anyway, if dumb was money, my tax would have been off the chart that weekend. Now the fishing has been gread this fall and I got a couple of stone crab claws for supper tonight. They say the shrimp are running again but big wind is blowing and to choppy to see down to get em. Biketober fest is near and don't forget cream corn wresling at the Last Resort Bar Thursday a 3:00pm that week. Write when you can and God bless the Love Ride. I bought a ticket this year but I can't make the trip. I do plan to be there next year with the twin engine bike to give away. With a 200 mph plus pass under my belt. Time keeps on turning into the FUTURE. ![]() ![]() 12 August 2010 back from the big trip to the north. Now when I left Daytona July 21, it was a heat index of 105 and looking like rain. I was wearing shorts, boots and a long sleeve, light weight, fishing shirt (for sun protection) and headed to Birmingham, AL to see my Sister Berta and spend the night. My Mother is 92 this year and lives in Huntsville so it was important to stop and visit the next morning for breakfast. She will feed me if I don't hang out to long. It sure was good to see her and talk. I hit the I-65 about 11:00 am and made it to Lobo's in Marion, IN in time for supper. The next day we changed the oil in my bike and had a few cocktails while I recovered from 1200 miles of jamming. Had a good time and it was nice to see Lobo hanging in there like the old days. Now Saturday the Devil's Diciple's were having their annual Indiana party up in St Joe county and it was an easy putt to there. Great food, band and some great people I have known for 30 years showed me fine hospitality. The band was awesome and I even got to do a few tunes of course including the song I recorded for them in 1981. Everyone knew the words. Imagen that. , Now Sunday morning I slowly climbed aboard the old Swapmeet Special and headed north to Lancing and Bummer's house to tinker with my bike and check the progress on the Twin Engine Bike. Except for a few small details the Double is almost ready for the 2011 Bonneville trials. The faring man was there, Dave Joseph, and had some great ideas for a smaller fiberglass version that is more suited for high speed flow than the current one that may have put to much down pressure on the front end and contributed to the high speed wobble, maybe. Like Willie G. says "Less is more!". So we will try it. Now before you knew it the weekend was there and off to Marion for The Family MC annual building fun or fund party at theirno property. Of course it thunder stormed and the Santana Band's PA took a shit and I ended up doing a single on a small outfit for an hour or so while they fixed on it. Gina got up while I was playing "Bobby Magee" and took over and to the joy of everybody kicked ass, thanks Gina. She was also my pit person out a the salt flats a few years ago and her husband Marve is legion in the motor cycle world of engine building. He's working for Greg Gates now on some awesome projects. Now the girl below needed her ear cleaned and Lewis was right there. Below that is Uncle Bill and me with the prospects Ol lady on the way to Marion, MI. I have to say that the ten days I spent on te road were the best I can remember in a very long time. From the stop at Lobo's on the way up to the stop in Knoxville and Big John's on the way back south it was wonderful. Thank you my friends again and again... ![]() ![]() 7 June 2010 and man do time fly or what? A lot has happened after bike week and I just ain't had time or took the time to up date this page. Maybe just lazy I guess, being semi retarded or what ever they call it helps to put stuff off. I said goodbye to a long time friend May Day in Alabama. When you lose a someone that had such a heavy uninfluenced on your life, Ya just don"t know what to say, how to feel or what to do sometimes. He taught me many things. After my first Drink, he showed me the way to the CROW ZONE and how to move on. RIP Goat, I will miss you. Now I got a chance and the honor to go to Johnston City, Ill for that poker run to raise money for a brave little girl whose cancer couldn't take the smile away that day we rode for her. Close to five hundred friends of Steve's Customs Motor Cycles, along with her family showed up and came up with over $15,000 for her and a small, pink Cadillac, batteries included. At first she was a little shy with all those strangers standing around grinning like a possum in a pear tree until she figured out we loved her and where there for her. Wa who, she started having a blast! driving that tiny car around the parking lot, even hauling a young boy around with her. You know how girls just want to have fun. ![]() Now when I got back to Florida, I helped my good friend Ray with this eighty year old Veteran friend of his what had his cataracts removed from his eyes and needed drops put in during the healing process several times a day. Then on Memorial Day, I was honored to sing the National Anthem at Riverside Park here in New Smyrna Beach at he city ceremony and later at the post I sang the Lee Greenwood tune "God Bless the USA" when we raised the Flag to full mast. What an honor. Thank you my fellow Veterans for your service and WELCOME HOME... ![]() 22 March 2010 Bike Week is over and people this is the first time I ever saw vacancy signs at every motel in town. The local news readers claimed there was 500,000 bike lovers in town over the 10 day period but where they were staying or hiding I sure don't know. Anyway the Moving War Memorial was at 600 North Atlantic Ave and I made it there with some other Vets Thursday morning. God knows it is important but it just guts me when I read the names of my friends posted on the Vietnam Memorial Wall again. I just have to when ever I see it, knowing what it will do to me personally. But life must go on and to live well and have a good time is what they gave there lives for. This years Cream Corn Wrestling at the Last Resort Bar in Harbor Oaks was one of the best ever. Of course as the hold by hold announcer, dedicated it to all the men and women over seas on freedoms frontiers when I led the National anthem and everybody joined in. The girls in the ring fought the best I ever saw and the crowd was with them all the way. Lets face it, nobody knows what is going to happen next and might as well have fun while we are here. The economy makes it hard but for a couple of hours we was in the corn and having a blast. My Brothers managed to get the Twin-engine bike to Lansing, MI for the repairers. Still need to come up with the money for new Z rated tires for them 17" three spoke Buell racing wheels that Red Beard came up with. Well my sister and her grand daughter made it to the Magic Kingdom last week and graced me with a visit on the boat. They said them porpoises was the best show and the eagles and sea birds diving for fish was the best show they saw on the whole trip. The Hogman and Bummer made it down and brought me some boat parts from Parts and a oven and range for the galley on this boat. Man I needed that stuff and Hoggie just loved the Indian River from my point of view. I just got off the phone with Ugly Custom Steve. He called to remind me of the charity poker run in south Ill 22 May this year. I will be there for sure. Not to get all gushy but I have the best friends in the world... 22 February 2010, just a few more days till Bike Week here in the Daytona area. Already there is a ton of people in town and they have been coming down for the past few weeks. The constant sound of Harley's is of course music to my ears. Now the big plan for me is to do the Cream Corn Event at the Last Resort Bar Thursday afternoon about 1:00 pm, but you can also see me at what they call 600 North Atlantic Thursday, Friday and Saturday mornings and maybe even Saturday night. they got all kinds of great cover bands like the Rolling Stones, and such, that sound they make, if it is possible, better that the real thing, I am still working on coming up with the parts for the new front end for the Twin Engine bike and expect to try and make at least one or two of the Monster Mile events at Maxton, NC before the Salt and that clock is turning faster as I get behinder. Man but it is fun. 18 January 2010, it's Monday and we gots the day off cause it is Dr MLK Jr Day. I am on the boat and the wind is out of the west blowing about 10 to 15 knots and the sun is shining bright on this cool day. I had trout for dinner cause they was moving slow with the freezing temps that you could just pick them out of the water by hand. They were moving so slow, at the surface to get warm, well, it was like garbing fish in a tub. My Brother Parts and Custom Steve are about to take the Double to Lancing, MI to Hunts Hog Shop now that he snow going away. We'll get that front-end installed and let the machinist Bummer do his thing on the two 114" shovel heads and tune the bike for the next try for 200 mph. Of course I am working out and trying to keep this old body in shape to be able to hold on. Eating my veggies and fruit, not to mention that fresh fish. I got to go the Doctor Wednesday in Tampa for consult on by aches and pains not to mention my Brother Arthur who is constantly with me. I know, cry baby cry, it is real, something that if you live long enough, you gots to deal with... Well pain is a sign of life they say, and I sure feel alive... ![]() 31 December 2009, so here we sit like birds in the wilderness and nobody really gives a shit? I don't think so, no I think birds get more pussy than pussy's get birds, as we used to say in merry old where ever. Red Beard sent the Buell 201 or something front end and rear wheel. They are 17 in three spoke racing wheels and we is gonna need new tyres, the ZR rated kind. Now on the last trip we fell down cause the old adjust-a-glide front end went to wobbling and shucks I fell down. NEW FRONT end and dampners are called for for sure. My leather person wants a ton to fix the old Eric Von Zipper jacket from Brooks in Royal Oaks, MI withe the zippered on Easyrider's leather pants what got tore up and to run the ECTA's Monster Mile, Ya's gots to have armored racing leathers for over 175 mph attemps now and Oliver said he wants me to do The Monster Mile for a shake down run before we go back to the salt. Hard surface and trees at the end of the course, so I got to get break calipers for it now as well. I am six-two, 225 lbs, 32 in inseam 36in waste 17 1/2 neck and 34 in reach, to the wrist, 46 at the chest. Now if you got some old leathers laying around or a extra set you don't use any more let me know. I'll need a new hat to, the SCTA kept my old one to study why I ain't dead. Cool... 4 November 2009 and all is well o ![]() |
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