The Heartbeat of America

1979 74" Dual Plugged Shovelhead motor going in the Hardtail.

Peace of Mind

"Peace of mind isn't at all superficial,really," I expound. "It's the whole thing. That which produces it is good maintenance. What we call workability of the machine is just an objectification of this peace of mind. The ultimate test is always your own serenity. If you don't have this when you start and maintain it while you are working you're likely to build your personal problems right into the machine itself." ~Robert M. Pirsig, Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance

A new project

I have been gathering parts for a new project some time now. Ever since I read an article where Kevin "Fabricator Kevin" Verkest did a magnificent job hardtailing a swingarm shovelhead frame, it has been stuck in my head to build something with one of these frames one day. Last year I got a good deal on a frame from a friend and had it shipped right to Kevin. I have been gathering other items since. I picked the frame and front end up from Kevin yesterday and couldn't be happier. He set up the wheels and brakes and fabricated a method for mounting an OEM rigid style oil tank to the frame. This thing is gorgeous and ready for me to get busy ironing out details and getting it together.

Manual Competence

"The satisfactions of manifesting oneself concretely in the world through manual competence have been known to make a man quiet and easy. They seem to relieve him of the felt need to offer chattering interpretations of himself to vindicate his worth. He can simply point: the building stands, the car now runs, the lights are on. Boasting is what a boy does, because he has no real effect on the world. But the tradesman must reckon with the infallible judgment of reality, where one's failures or shortcomings cannot be interpreted away. His well-founded pride is far from the gratuitous "self-esteem" that educators would impart to students, as though by magic." ~Matthew B Crawford, "Shop Class as Soulcraft"

Nice Evening for a Drive...

I thought Thursday night was too nice to pass up for a drive so I took the LaSalle up to visit Mom...

Time? Yeah, he's got some...

A model of a 1949 Harley Panhead. Made by a guest of the State of Ohio in the North Central Correctional Complex in Marion. OH. A good friend of mine is also currently registered for a time in Marion and he arranged for this model to be made for me. It is made soley from brown paper grocery bags, a little corrugated cardboard and some elmer's glue. There is an unbelievable amount of time in this thing from a guy who has a good amount of that available right now.

Scrapyard Score!

Silly scrapper... He looked right at a perfectly good start for a sidecar frame and threw it in the scrap pile. I wonder if I am the only guy that spends the money he got selling scrap to bring different scrap home....