Happy New Year

I am assuming the 60's. Pete Hill figured out the chemistry between making the knuckle and the blower play nice together but doesn't look like a standard big twin frame could house them. I wanna see footage of this thing.

Hoot's Panhead

Cool story I stumbled across on youtube.

Like Father Like Son

Highschool came out to my mother inlaws with my wife and I for Christmas. I thought it would be good to stop off and visit our ole buddy Nate and his son Sam since we were out that way. Nate has an awesome spread. Huge shop, tons of land, nice warm house, and some smoked turkey and ham we kindly accepted while we sat around talking about old bikes. We have all known each other for years now, since back when Nate was "knucklehead nate". Still is to me, just bashes around on a panhead he slapped together. The relationship these two have is pretty rad, they talk some trash together, hang out together, ride choppers together, some real father son shit you rarely see anymore. Thanks for the hospitality Nate, and good luck with the Coffee Shop Sam!

Nate's Panhead. It got him to Mexico and back!

Crank balance and assembly station

Sam's first and only car.

Sam's Chopper

Happy Holidays Boys!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

Enjoy the time with your family & friends this holiday season, and take that Christmas money and get to working on that chopper!!

Keep it Sketchy!!

Early days of Drag bike racing is what I wish I could have been present for. When R&D meant you found out how much power you could stuff in your cases by crossing your fingers the top end didnt end up in your chest cavity.. Talked to an old timer last weekend who was at Beech Bend in the 70's and saw the barrels give away on a shovel and sadly killed the rider after bending the back bone and proceeded into his body.. Sad, but that was racing. Do some reading up on Pete Hill, Bud Schmitt and Greg "Griz" Robinson, the guys with balls of steel. TGIF!

Check the crazy bastard at 0:36, bet he hated picking rubber out his face.

With love from Alabama

Killer photo that Derek found. Very righteous dude mounted on his Panhead chopper in Ensley, AL. From this photo I was able to find the one below.

This is looking right down the barrel. This is the gentleman above's younger brother sitting on his pan below. I am a sucker for any Alabama hog pics. Please if you have some send them along. dbowlesmac@me.com And Derek, thank you very good ; )

Tis the season

David Mann art seems appropriate for any occasion. Happy holidays everyone!

HellBound

Our buddy Ben has been working on his movie for some time now. In true Biker B style, shot on film and painstakingly edited with cheesy sound effects. Helped him with a song last night and cant wait for him to premier it for everyone. Check it

Oldie but a goodie...

Love the exhaust placement. Right in your face! nice hog brother

Matthews HD

All American true biker, and good pal, Jim from Fresno, hit me up a few days ago regarding a pic in that super glide post and asked about the couple standing in the showroom behind the brand new red boatail rig (see image below). I managed to dig through where I had found it originally and messaged him back. Turns out this was the dealership that Jim used to visit in his younger years. Matthews Harley Davidson in Fresno. I sent all the other photos I had found to Jim, after mentioning it all brings back little kid memories, I thought I'd post them here with the background on Matthews. After all, this blog is centered around the nostalgic, and historical significance of classic /custom motorcycle culture. Harold & Eva Matthews

The first Location in Merced, Ca

Owner Harold probably performing a routine putt on a customers bike, or his own. Also in the above, his child, Sam enjoying the shop around 1955, judging that license plate.

The shop then moved it's first to it's final home in Fresno, Ca

Son, Sam. Taking Harold's grand kids around a 39 Knucklehead

As most did, Harold participated in building / competing in hill climbs. Here, he and Eva pose for victory photo.

Harold and Eva are now gone, but they're dealership and family still continues and operates. Jim mentioned they have one hell of a show room filled with old photos, memorabilia, and bikes. Although totally irrelevant and thousands of miles from Alabama, It is still something to admire. Next time you snag up a bike on craigslist or wherever they're being picked up, just think, maybe Matthews Harley Davidson had it first ; )

Canned

These pics are no secret, but some don't realize Bob Hite of Canned Heat was a big bad ass biker. That's him on his Panhead, also, performing in the clip below at Woodstock 1969. Apparently a fun lovable guy that liked to party, and it eventually killed him. Look how he just welcomes that burnt hippie on stage, and gives him a smoke.

Here's the rest of the band doing a photo shoot. Notice something? Ryan Grossmans Dean Lanza survivor "Quicksilver" right in the middle.

Dude!.. You have to listen to this band

Says your friend at the bar, or in the car, or at the shop. Sometimes its a waste, but Meeks made me watch and listen, now I can rock my head through the wall with them. Shit is hard and tasty. Check the Aussie blog linked below for more of this musical universe. Thanks Meeks & Robby http://ozblogdownunder.blogspot.com/

Case Of The Mondays..

Some buds showing how the start to your work week should probably look.

STRAIGHT BAD!

Just things that rule. Randy Smith, CCE, Bigfoot, and flame jobs

Ch Chh Chha Chhuu CHANGES...

WENT FROM THIS .

TO THIS.... For no reason, other than I want to play dress up. Wants v.s needs. I WANT to change my chopper, i NEED to leave it alone..

A little Hump Day History..

So I'll explain the background image on my page and it's significance. Alabama's history regarding custom culture and motorcycle circles, as opposed to say California, Jersey, hell even Sweden, Is a lot more thin and harder to trace back. The community and interest was smaller than in other places, and seems the exposure was almost non existent. I mean there were tons of people doing it in the South, but you cannot simply search old Easy Riders or the internet and find evidence of it. I pride myself in my detective work and ability to pick the brains of our older generation in hopes to gain knowledge and share their stories long after they are gone. So, the image is of one of those Alabama custom pioneers. Mr. Raymond Horne. Unfortunately I was a little late in finding out about Ray, as he passed away two summers ago in July I believe, but thankfully I was able to archive a mess of photos sharing his past before they have now long disappeared. Oddly enough, on one of our trips, Duane broke away from the pack abruptly into a gravel lot, we turned shortly after and pulled in to see him two handing his face on the window of this shop. Now that all the data has been processed and researched, but unknowing at the time, this was Raymond's shop. Although instead of sissy bars and peanut tanks on the walls, it was leather touring bags, replacement softail grips, and twin cam sitting in the showroom area. By this time I think Duane had knew about this shop and heard that all his old fab tools and pan / shovel goodies had been sold and the focus was more on apparel. BUT.. Before me or any of my buddies had been born, Ray and his crew had been tearing up the streets and "Doin It" long beofre in the 70's / 80's. So heres some rad stuff from Custom Cycle HD, I will share more later on. RIP Ray

That's Raymond behind the wide glide with the frizzy fro

Ray's 48 Pan with shovel heads and with pan heads

Swingers

Show / Swap in Georgia

Raymond Horne, I by no means own these photos, and if you feel the need to take them for yourself or re post, I ask that you at least mention the man. Thanks Daniel BT