Stockers

The Stockers - Leighton, Steve, John and Eddie have welcomed a few folk into their fold.....in their words "We’re all chuffed to bits to grow the Stockers in the right direction… all ages, all walks of life, one common interest… collecting, riding, building, customising and choppin’ up motorcycles. Damn! if this was a club we could have some kind of weird initiation involving chickens but it aint a club - just a group of folk with a common interest, if it sits well… jobsa good un’"

check out the site http://stockersspeedshop.co.uk/

Proper Gander

Another nice bike from the DB nicked pics thread....love this in every way!

Lyric for the day

Some bright morning, when this life is over
I'll fly away
To that home on God's celestial shore
I'll fly away
I'll fly away, oh glory
I'll fly away, in the morning
When I die, hallelujah by and by
I'll fly away
When The shadows of this life have gone
I'll fly away
Like a bird from these prison walls I'll fly
I'll fly away
I'll fly away, oh glory
I'll fly away, in the morning
When I die hallelujah by and by
I'll fly away

I'll Fly Away - Trad Gospel

Gillian Welch and Alison Krauss did a great version of this song on the O Brother Where Art Thou movie by the Coen Brothers. Dreamy, soaring....bluegrass Appalachian style.

Eye Candy

There is a thread on DB where pics nicked from other sites get posted. Don't know anything about this Pan cos it was posted there but it sure is pleasing to the eye!

Lyric for the day

Good evening ladies and gentleman, it is an honor to be here tonight with you everybody. I wanna say hello and welcome to the party. We are Blues Explosion and wanna play some rock 'n' roll. Now ladies and gentleman this is not the devil's music but it feels like the devil’ time. We are not in the service of the devil but sometimes I feel his sick breath on my behind. Said I feel so bad sometimes. I wanna sing about it in my song, I want everybody, I said I want everybody…

I want someone to help me with these blues
I'm gonna hang up my rock 'n' roll shoes
Take one in the head and one off the wrist
Won't you help me, please help me Miss
Check it out now

Help These Blues - Jon Spencer & The Blues Explosion

The Blues Explosion were the first band I heard playing the Blues with their own tastes/ experiences as the driving force. They were not 'Pony Tail' blues, trying to mimick the Delta/Chicago sound and describing it as high art but playing the blues from what they knew - NY punk/trash. It worked. Just because your not from down south don't mean you do not have the right to play the blues - just play from your heart and experiences - simple!

Lyric for the day

I ain't gonna tell nobody, '34 have done for me
I ain't gonna tell nobody what, '34 have done for me
Took my roller¹, I was broke as I could be

They run me from Will Dockery's, Willie Brown, I want your job
They run me from Will Dockery's, )Willie Brown, I want your job
Buddy, what's the matter?
I went out and told papa Charley, "I don't want you hangin' round on my job no more"

Charlie patton ' 34 Blues

Charlie was the "jack-of all-trades bluesman" who played deep blues, white hillbilly songs and nineteenth-century ballads. Played on Dockery's where others like Rober Johnson, Son House and Chester Burnett played. He was the Father of the Delta Blues. Only one photo of him existed and that is contested.

McQueen's Machine

One of my favourites a 1940 Indian 45ci Sport Scout

Lyric for the day

Tell You a little story and it won't take long,
'Bout a lazy farmer who wouldn't hoe his corn.
The reason why I never could tell,
That young man was always well.

He planted his corn in the month of June.
By July it was up to his eyes.
Come September, came a big frost.
And all the young man's corn was lost.

......

He turned his back and walked away.
Sayin: "Little miss, you'll rue the day.
"You'll rue the day that you were born.
"For givin' me the devil 'cos I wouldn't hoe corn."

Alison Kraus & Union Station - The Boy Who Wouldn't Hoe Corn

Jerry Douglas plays a mean dobro on this track, unbelievable! Sung by Dan Tyminski of Soggy Bottom Boys fame. Bit partial to some Bluegrass and this track does it for me.
About a bloke who does it his way, even though it goes all wrong. Got admire him for trying but his sweetheart don't, she refuses to marry him.

Another Knuck in a VL Frame

found another. this time Dale Walksler from Wheels Through Time did a 36 EL in an early VL frame.

Lyric for the day

You know the woman that I love
The woman that I love
I stol't her from my best friend
But you know he done got lucky
An he done got her back, again

Devil Got My Woman - Skip James

Nehemiah Curtis "Skip" James sharecropped, made bootleg whiskey, played guitar in open D minor tuning and developed the three-finger picking technique. Re-discovered at the same time as the masterful Son House in '64, he found long awaited recognition with Chris Thomas King covering his "Hard Time Killing Floor Blues" for the film O Brother Where Art Thou and Cream and Deep Purple covering his 'I'm So Glad'.

Proper Gander

Guy sent me link with a pic of my VL from GK this month. (http://www.bikeexif.com) But spotted in the older posts a 1948 Indian 648 Big Base Scout! Drool drool! Only seven factory Big Base ‘Daytona’ Scouts still exist. The ‘Big Base’ Indian 648s were the ultimate development of flathead engine technology, with high-dome pistons carrying two compression rings and one oil ring. The name came from the huge oil capacities, because the bikes were fitted with extra-large sumps designed to help engines cope with the stresses of racing. It says later in the post that thanks go to Steve Plowman of Strathbran Speed Shop.....please tell me you didn't let this pass through your hands Steve?!

Wall Flowers

Alma Skinner rode with her partner Skid Skinner and Rudy "Speedy" Rube on the wall in Southend.

Lyric for the day

Been turned around till I'm upside down
Been all at sea until I've drowned
And I've felt torture, I've felt pain

Just like that film with Michael Caine

I've been abused and I've been confused
And I've kissed Margaret Thatcher's shoes
And I been high and I been low
And I don't know where to go

Birth, school, work, death
Birth, school, work, death

The Godfathers

used to go and see the Godfathers play live years ago. Overflowing with attitude and defying the current day fashion with their straight suit look. They were cool and hard as nails. Years later we played a few gigs as the Jooks with Kris Dollimore (The Godfather's guitar man) who now plays a blinding blues guitar. Had a great night when the Godfathers played a reform gig last year in London with us and the Jim Jones Review in support. Hats off Kris!

Look Ma No Brakes!

no rear backing plate and no front cable either

The Test of Time

great pic of guy ourside an Indian dealer. There is so much right about this bike.

Lyric for the day

Hello darlin' nice to see you it's been a long time
You're just as handsome as you used to be
How's your new love are you happy hope you're doing fine
Just to know it means so much to me.

What's that darlin' how'm I doing guess I'm doing all right
Except I can't sleep and I cry all night till dawn
What I'm trying to say is I love you and I miss you
I'm so sorry that I did you wrong.

Hello Darlin' - Skeeter Davis

When I was a wee nipper I used to hear me old dear playing this song over an over. I bought the LP a couple a years back and it drags me straight back to when i was I was seven!! That's what music does ya know!

The Test of Time

Two beautiful OHV Hillclimbers. First one from 1928 and the second from 1935.

Shed Built

chck out this shed built heat shield

Wall Flowers

It's great to see the tradition of female riders continuing with Kerri Cameron who has rode with the Kken Fox Troupe since 2004. Starting on a go-kart and now riding on two wheels.

Proper Gander

Stroker scout in a modified junior scout frame

Lyric for the day

Well my mama she didn't 'low me, just to stay out all night long, oh Lord
Well my mama didn't 'low me, just to stay out all night long
I didn't care what she didn't 'low, I would boogie-woogie anyhow

When I first came to town people, I was walkin' down Hastings Street
Everybody was talkin' about, the Henry Swing Club
I decided I drop in there that night
When I got there, I say, "Yes, people"
They was really havin' a ball!
Yes, I know
Boogie Chillen'!

John Lee Hooker

No-one can play the boogie like John Lee. No definitive structure, maybe one chord but man he was good.
He was quoted 'I don't play a lot of fancy guitar. I don't want to play it. The kind of guitar I want to play is mean, mean licks'
Amen

Thrills & Spills

The old hill climb pics conjure an image of excitement and danger as these heavy flatheads ascended near impossible gradients. Many of the events were free admission and drew large crowds with riders sometimes complaining afterwards about the difficult courses. Such as the event at Lazy Lane Hill in Southington in 1931. The course was 200 foot long and 40% grade with one place at 50%. Injuries happened but the organisers defended the climb saying

'We are of course sorry for the mishaps but must bear in mind that we are catering to spectators and it is thrills and spills that they have come to see and of course if they do not get them are dissapointed and perhaps will not be strong boosters for our type of sport'

Proper Gander

Steve from Strathbran Speedshop posted a pic of the Speer Special on Dirty Bobbers so had to check out some facts about this racer. Frank Speer built the Speer Special to compete in AMA class C dirt track racing. Between the late 1930’s and 1947, the Speer Special was piloted by Woodrow Wilson “Woody” Gerish who held an AMA Class C license and raced the bike on dirt tracks throughout the New England area.
It has a 1929 HD DL motor and frame, but several racing modifications have been done to the motorcycle. The front forks are from a 1936 RL model, the carburetor is a Linkert M6, and the engine has been heavily modified with high compression heads and drilled connecting rods for lighter weight. Larger intake nipples have been welded to the cylinders and a JD manifold has been added to accommodate the 1-1/4” carburetor. The original sliding gear transmission was also replaced with a 1933-1937 style constant-mesh “slant-top” gear box.
The Speer Special now at Cyclemo’s Motorcycle Museum in Red Boiling Springs, Tennessee.

Lyric for the day

It's another lonely evening
And another lonely town
But I ain't too young to worry
And I ain't too old to cry
When a woman gets me down
Got another empty bottle
And another empty bed
Ain't too young to admit it
And I'm not too old to lie
I'm just another empty head

That's why I'm lonely
I'm so lonely
But I know what I'm gonna do -

I'm gonna ride on
Ride on

AC DC - Ride ON

Don't care too much for the Brian Johnson's AC DC but Bon Scott's AC DC was incredible. All of their albums were winners.

1933

The AMA announces an improtant change in American motorcycle sport. The birth of the bobber on the streets.

Article X. Section 4 as follows:
Class C Competition - This type of competition is conducted with the express purpose of providing the AVERAGE MOTORCYCLIST with a program of sports, in which he may compete with his REGULAR STANDARD MOTORCYCLE. Any machine entered in Class C competition MUST be the property of the entrant and MUST be duly registered to him.
Motorcycles used in Class C competition must be of catalogued design. They must be fitted with proper working gear box, clutch, brakes, rear mudguard and chain guard as catalogued. Lighting equipment, including accessories and front mudguard may be removed. Silencers may be removed providing such removal does not leave the exhaust pipes pointing down so as to stir up the dust.
No fuel other than gasoline, or not over 80 octaine rating is permitted in any Class C competition.

Reading a great book at the moment written by Butch Baer. It's a scrapbook of newspaper clips and photos of the day, following the exploits of Woodsie and Frenchy Castonguay. You even get a 25min DVD with some great early clips.

Bike porn!

The Test of Time

It's nice to take a ride on your own. Get some thinking done, come home with a washed mind. Riding in a pack though is a whole different ball game. Come home buzzin!!

HATE

I bought all of Peter Bagge's HATE comics. Love his depiction of the crushed expectations of life. Had a great style of drawing which makes him to me, the modern day Bob Clampett.

Lyric for the day

C C Rider, see what you done done
C C Rider, you see what you done done
You C C Rider, you see what you done done
You done made me love you and now your man done come

Big Bill Broonzy - CC Rider

The song is likely to be traditional in origin. Ma Rainey's version became popular during 1925, as "See See Rider Blues." It became one of the most famous of all blues songs, with well over 100 versions. I like Mitch Ryder's version nearly as much as Big Bill's. An 'easy rider' in the Blues world was an unfaithful lover, so CC originated from 'see, see rider, see what you have done'

Greasy Kulture 13

Another quality issue of GK has just been published.....subcribe now, you know you want to!

Lyric for the day

I'm blowin' down this old dusty road,
I'm a-blowin' down this old dusty road,
I'm a-blowin' down this old dusty road, Lord, Lord,
An' I ain't a-gonna be treated this a-way.

I'm a-goin' where the water taste like wine,
I'm a-goin' where the water taste like wine,
I'm a-goin' where the water taste like wine, Lord,
An' I ain't a-gonna be treated this way.

Woody Guthrie - Goin' Down The Road Feelin' Bad

Moneyless and hungry, Woody hitchhiked, rode freight trains, and even walked his way to California, taking whatever small jobs he could. In exchange for bed and board, Woody painted signs and played guitar and sang in saloons along the way, developing a love for traveling the open road—a lifelong habit he would often repeat. I read his auto-biography called Bound For Glory, if you like Woody you'll love this. A one off who has inspired every protest singer since.

Crocker

Most V twin enthusiasts, especially Indain lovers dream of one day owning a Crocker. The chances are very slim, not only were very few made but the prices they go for are astronomical. I once responded to an ad for a Crocker cos it was POA. Sheesh over $200k. If I had bought I would have rode the shit out of it!!

Proper Gander

Check this out. A 36 EL Knuck with Twin Carbs. Just beautiful, don't get much better! Courtesy of the Born Loser blog.

Lyric for the day

Cos I gave credit more to Sonny than Brownie in the last post I am gonna honour Brownie through his older brother Sticks.

Down in New Orlean, where ev'rything is fine
All them cats is drinkin that wine
Drinking that mess, their delight
When they gets drunk, start singing all night

Drinkin' wine spo-dee-O-dee, drinkin' wine (bop ba)
Wine spo-dee-O-dee, drinkin' wine (bop ba)
Wine spo-dee-O-dee, drinkin' wine (bop ba)
Pass that bottle to me

Wine Drinkin Spo-Dee-O-Dee - Sticks McGhee

Granville Henry McGhee, also known as Stick (or Sticks) McGhee was in the military and he used to sing it as Wine Drinkin Motherfucker but when recorded it was cleaned up to Spo-Dee-O-Dee... So a first for Lyric for the Day here's round 2 of the same song...

Drinkin’ that mess is our delight,
And when we get drunk, start fightin’ all night.
Knockin’ out windows and learnin’ down doors,
Drinkin’ half-gallons and callin’ for more.

Drinkin’ wine motherfucker, drinkin’wine! Goddam!
Drinkin’ wine motherfucker, drinkin’wine! Goddam!
Drinkin’ wine motherfucker, drinkin’wine! Goddam!
Pass that bottle to me!

I know which version I prefer!

I'm a stranger here, just rode in your town
Oh, yes, I am, I'm a stranger here, just rode in your town
Well, because I'm a stranger, everybody wants to dog me 'round

Just Rode In Your Town - Sonny Terry/Brownie McGhee

What's the chances of losing two eyes in accidents on two separate occasions? Sonny did. The most amazing country blues harp players. People who play harp can only dream of being his equal.