A Blog, a Bike, and Inspiration

Then came Hirschberg... and an inspiring machine.

Today I stumbled on to this photo of Dick Hirschberg and his cool cut down 69 shovel. It was found on Irish Rich's new blog Homage. His blog is mostly geared to the honorable task of paying tribute to the Heroes that inspire him. A duty I try to do myself every now and then.

I was jazzed to find the photo since I'm always on the hunt for cool swing arm bikes to serve as inspiration for my 65 Pan. Looking at the photo, I couldn't help thinking of Then Came Bronson and not just because of his sailor's watch cap. The pared down big twin takes on a Sportster look aided in part with what appears to be a 18" rear wheel. It also has the same English (Lucas), style tail light/license mount and similar (bobbed), fender treatment as the Bronson bike.

The man that launched a million Watch Caps. I bought one myself.

Dick's bike was built the same year (1969), the show aired. Is there a connection? Bud Ekins did and coordinated the stunts for the pilot film and TV series. Rich's blog mentions that Von Dutch did engine turning, lettering, striping, and engraving on Dick's bike. We also know that Dutch worked off and on for Bud. Did Von Dutch have a hand in the Bronson bike? Was Dick's bike influenced by the Bronson bike, the other way around, or was this just the style of the times?

Bronson sans a cap. Note the tail light and bobbed fender.

Update!
Information for the Bronson Sportster can be found at:
http://www.thencamebronson.com/cycles.htm

I went back to that website to see what it said. I had read the information there before but, forgot the details. It has interview statements from Bud Ekins saying that he was the one who customized the Sportster and the other bikes used in the show. It also has a MGM press release listing all of the mods done to the Bronson bikes with additional comments from Ekins. Von Dutch is never mention.

Did Bud actually do the physical work or did he have Von Dutch or someone else perform it? Whoever actually did the work, the Bronson and Hirschberg bikes are more or less connected through the Dutch /Ekins relationship.

From the same era. A proud Kenneth Howard displaying his handy work. Although the fender is not bobbed, it features the same English style tail light/license set up.

Ideas, influence, and inspiration come from different sources but, in the end, everything is connected.

Somewhere I once read, "There's a little Von Dutch in all of us".

Not at home...

My sister Diane, works for the County Mayor, as his Executive Secretary. She's called in sick today, says she ate something bad last night. Everyone else around here says it's a stomach virus that has been going around the county offices. One of the other secretaries brought in some disinfectant spray...I sprayed the keyboard and the phone just to be sure I don't get what the heck ever it is she has...bad jue-jue going round these offices, I suppose. Oh well, the reason I'm here at the County Mayor's office? I fill in for Diane, at times...when she's sick, or on her vacation days.

I brought my camera with me. She works in the historic district of downtown. I wanted to take my walk down here and get pictures of the area anyway. She is a block away from one of the prettiest covered bridges I have ever seen, and there is a nice walking trail that leads along the river banks here...if it ever quits raining, I hope to get some pictures!

I've had some requests for more pictures of the banks of Buffalo Creek...and again, if it ever quits raining, I will be happy to get some photos of the banks there near the house. We have some interesting trees and root systems, not to mention a family of ferret fellows have made their home nearby on that bank somewhere.

Oh, man...getting up this morning was a real smasher. I mean, I didn't have a problem with getting up myself, but my dog...the poor guy...would have rather stayed asleep for an hour or more longer! He's 15 years old, and will be 16 in March...he's gotten to where he likes to sleep in until around 8.30 9.00, before he gets up for his "shit, shower, and shave." Now concider this, he is very much retired...so the the only part of the three "S's" he adheres to anymore is the shitting part. After that, it's into the kitchen for breakfast and morning meds. Once breakfast is inhaled, he once again heads for the great outdoors...just to make sure everything has come out just as it should have.

Jock is blind now. Not to mention he has Author in the joints of his hips, spine, hips, and legs. So I have to wake him up...help him get his surroundings back...massage his hind legs so he can stand...help him stand up by picking him up by his hips...steady him till he knows where he is and why he's up...then lead the way to the door for him. He's a great and loyal friend...I love him loads. I'll be sure to upload a picture of him soon...and introduce him to all of you!

We also have a cat in the house. Yes, he is strictly a house kitty. He's been de-clawed, and is an effeminate kind of kitty. Meaning, I took him to have his ball bearings removed long before he even knew what they were...much less where they were. Felix is a long hair black cat. He's intelligent guy, hates to be a lap kitty, loves to fight with Jeff...but he realizes he is not allowed to fight with Mom or me...has to be a lover around us! So Felix waits to ambush Jeff in the early morning hours...on the dark stairs. He will attack Jeff's ankles as he descends the stairs, or he will lie his entire body length out on one of the steps...I think the cat wants to trip Jeff up, and send him sprawling down the stairs. For what possible reason...I don't know, since Jeff is the only one in the house who will play with him the way he wants to be played with...I mean, if Felix hurts Jeff, then who will play mean with the cat?

OK, well this is all for now, I'll write more tomorrow, and post pictures as well. For tonight, when I get home, I will have to go Christmas shopping. I hate this time of year...I never get everything done on time. Aw well...wish me luck at the stores...

Merry Finking Christmas

Ed "Big Daddy" Roth, by Pete Millar.

This is one of the original pieces of art on exhibit in Pasadena last summer. It was the cover art for the comic Pete Millar presents... Big Daddy Roth, Dec. 65-Jan. 66. Only four issues were produced. Like I said in earlier posts Roth and Pete are Hero's of mine. Both left us too soon.

Chopper Fest etc.

Random thoughts about the Chopper Fest, the Jack Off Journal, Old Timers ,Young Guns, and Bikes.

These musings are in response to reading the JJ. They are just my opinions and reactions from reading the posts. You might want to go and check the post yourself. All photos were grabbed from that site.

I almost never visit The Jack Off Journal but, because I didn't go to the DMCF, I figured there would be pictures posted of what I missed. I'm not member and after reading some of the other threads and about the show, it reminded me why, for the most part, I hate forums. Who needs a bunch of tit for tat B.S. between strangers, coupled with lot's of misinformation. Then there's that senior members thing.

About the show: Judging at shows always sucks. Also keep in mind that the name David Mann Chopper Fest, is mostly a marketing tool. "The Shop" used to just have a swap meet in December and a Antique show and swap in June. The first year of the Fest was the same year David Mann died and it was a tribute to him. My guess is that they wanted to make the December event bigger and since Choppers (thanks to TV), were back in style, it all fell in place.

In regards to what's in the show and how it's judged: I prefer true old school chops and bobs and I too would like to only see them featured in the show but remember, as the years progressed, the bikes Dave portrayed reflected the changing styles of the bikes featured in Easyriders. Also, the turn out wouldn't be as great.

As for Dave's art, one year I never even saw where it was displayed. Last year I found them poorly displayed in a building in the back of the Fairgrounds.

I'm not as totally jazzed with the pictures from the show as many of the JJ readers. Maybe it's my mood today or because I've seen a lot of the bikes before. Yeah some are sort of cool and others I can totally appreciate the craftsmanship but, I'm also really picky about what I like. Therefore, I always find it hard to completely like the way any one bike is done up.


Bobbers are supposed to be Bad Ass not Metrosexual.

The clean Bobber (above), that everybody seems to be drooling over is an example of what I mean. I saw it at El Camino and didn't like it much. It's pretty and a really nicely built bike but, does anybody else think it's a tad too fancy and bright? The color the fender trim and color coordination? Would you'd ever see a bobber like this in the 50's? Paint it all black (including the bars and headlight), take off the stainless trim and it would kick ass.

Then there's those the red wheeled white wall primer bikes (I hate'm), you see today. Seems everybody is forgetting history. Nobody ever built bikes like that until recently.

It pisses me off the way the term bobber is tossed about today. I need to do a post on that subject.


Another Metrosexual Bobber. Nice craftsmanship but... save the white walls and color coordination for a dresser. I spy a god awful red wheel with white wall in the distance.


This is more like it, but I'd still lose the green stuff. That's just me again.


Crappy, Slow, Built To Pose. Dumb shirt/Lousy art. When you were born don't mean shit. Cool dudes and "A" holes come in all ages.

On the subject of Young Guns vs. Old Guys:

For perspective, I'm 53 and have been into the bike scene since before I was old enough to ride. Does that make me an old guy? My guess is that many old timers have lost touch with the old style because they've kept moving on with the trends to the point where there's a disconnect.

It cracks me up that builders like Perewitz is now building "Bobbers". That's actually an incorrect use of the term as he's really just building an early style chopper. Maybe I'm wrong or not quite old enough but, I never remember him building that style of bike. All the old bikes I saw were pretty much those low stretched pointy bikes that some call Diggers. He admits the "bobbers" he's building now are simple to build and selling better than his usual customs.


Here's an example of a couple of things: differing taste and the way things change. It's a very cool bike and one of the ones I liked from the CF post but, I personally prefer primary covers on 60's style bikes.

It's also an example of a new take on an old style: The mid controls are done in a newer way. Same could be said for the pipes. I lean to a more a traditional approach to both.

These days, I seem to be more aligned with what the younger guys are building. I'm glad that they appreciate, keep alive, and embrace the old ways but, like what happens in fashion, it's a new take on an old style. For example: If you check the old magazines you'll find that almost nobody only custom painted the tanks and fenders on black framed bikes. They usually painted and molded the frames to match. The new way is not as costly and more practical.


Here's an example of custom paint, done only on the tank and fender. Nice bike but the front end being from a late model is too modern for me. I warned you, I'm picky!


One of the best bikes posted from the show, but again it begins to lose me at the front end. I would have liked it so much more if it had an earlier Sportster front end. I'd also lose the double lights. Picky, picky, picky!

Really the bottom line: Variety is the spice of life, you can't please everyone, to each their own, like what you want, and it's all for fun.We should be building bikes to suit ourselves anyway.

If I pissed anyone off, oh well... Screw you guys, I'm out'ta here.

Moto Holiday Shopping

You know what's great? Zipping past all the cars in the parking lot and parking right up next to the store you need to get in to.

Motorcycles are freakin' awesome.

Charactors in my neighborhood

Well, ok...went for my walk of the neighborhood today...and while not "everyone" I wanted to introduce you to was around...those who were...well check 'em out yourself!


Now, I'm not sure if this gal is Thelma....or if she's Louise, but Mr. Butterworth tells me he has named his gals....Thelma and Louise....

I like to take pictures of old out buildings, sheds and barns...this one is close to my home...and on my walk...what ya think? Like old weathered boards too?


As I have mentioned before...some of us grow a nice garden...this is the December ruins of a neighbor's summer garden....I love it here, I really do!


Of course I would be remiss in my little tour, if I didn't give you a shot of the creek that runs behind my house...I sure hope you all enjoyed the tour...

Century Motorcycles Xmas Party

Too many things to do this time of year!


Kenny was tight with Century owner Cindy Rutherford. Note that this invite says 11th annual in 1987. They've been doing this for awhile.

Here in So Cal we had the Mooneyes show on Saturday followed by the Chopper Fest Sunday.

I'd been going to the The Moon show since the early nineties. It used to be a really cool informal (free), gathering at their shop and was the official Rat Fink Xmas Party. You could go check out the cool and crazy rods, bikes, and greet Ed Roth while he was striping and signing stuff. The good people at Moon also let other pin stripers and artist set up and sell there wares. In return they were asked to donate some art for the raffles. I did that myself for 4 years.

The Moon show outgrew the shop (cops shut it down in 1999 or 2000?), and it had to be moved to a larger location 3 times. Eventually Moon had to start charging the artists and began to let vendors set up. It lost it's charm. I heard if you were late you couldn't park. I stopped going and for the last 2 years sold my art at the Chopper Fest instead.

This year I wasn't keen to getting up at 4:00 a.m. or driving 90 miles so, I choose not to sell at or attend the CF.


Dig that crazy sign! I love this stuff. Today everything is pseudo mediterranean/mission style.

There's another annual party that I knew of but, had slipped my mind until I received an email from Keith Ball. He reminded me that Century Motorcycles in San Pedro was having their annual party Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Sunday, I was running late and it was getting chilly so, I thought I could just ride by and turn back if nothing was happening. I got there about 2 p.m. and the crowd was wanning but found that Keith had just pulled in, a few bikers were still hanging out, and it was sunny. Then another buddy pulled up followed by a good friend of Keith's.

We interrupt this story for a quickie bike feature!


My buddy Ron's 58 Sporty was one of the star attractions. Excuse the less than perfect photos but, I had to post them.


Ron's an Ironhead and Performance Freak. You gotta see this bike in person to appreciate all the fine work.


Ron shaves, cleans, drills and massages every bracket and fitting before it goes on one of his machines. Rear drum is a rare XRTT unit.


Keith dug Ron's bike and plans to do a complete feature on Bikernet.com

Now back to the story.

Century has been having Xmas parties since 1976 and also hosts an annual Father's Day party. It had been years' since I attended one so I was curious to visit the shop plus, I enjoy these types of small intimate gatherings more than large crowded events.


Another damn blurry pic! Keith's Sturgis shovel was also a crowd favorite. It was usually surrounded by several onlookers.


British bikes abound.


Hungry Bikers chow down while another eats up the sights.


This Vinnie merited a second look


Don't know the history but it's safe to say this bike's special.


Bikes were cleared out for dinning. The motorized baby carriage was later driven out front by Cindy.


Here's Cindy blowing minds and setting speed records in the worlds fastest baby carriage at El Camino. Photo: Gleeped from unknown blog.


Not just put up yesterday to look cool. When was the last time you were in a shop with history like this?


Bill Cotton memorial wall. Bill's Ashes are in the peanut tank. We should all have such a tribute.


Circa 1963. Not much has changed. Photo: Century Motorcycles website

Simple pleasures: Riding on a crisp day, talking with buds, checking out machinery, and visiting an old timey MC Shop, makes for a memorable time.