New Stainless Steel Exhaust for the Vesco Honda Creation

Well, the Rains are here again tomorrow, so had to tear into many projects to try and get ahead of the storm, as it will restrict me to many things I need to do to create this Custom Motorcycle, the Exhaust I originally tried out was pretty Bad Arse- But I wanted something really trick, so for a few days I sketched a couple of Idea’s and came up with my Latest design.

This is my latest system and I have called it the “Y-Block” And this system breathes like a man with Three Lungs.  Seriously, this is a great bit of Kit and hand made from 049 Stainless and not only does it perform, it is light weight yet sturdy. This is so much better in Stainless and wanted to show the Globe that cool stuff does indeed come out of sheds and Garages.

A lot of time and effort went into this system and I am happy at the end result, this will look great on the Vesco Honda and am sure many will ask about all the details that the bike has on it, there is so much to do and have to do all I can in the short amount of time to get this machine back up and running- no easy task and still quite a way away from completing this build.

The system will fit ALL of the 750 Motorcycles from 1969-1978 in the SOHC Range and will fit the CB750K, CB750F and CB750A models too, the design took some time to create how I drew it but it is bang on and I cannot be more happier than how the “Y-Block” free flowing System has turned out.

All quick release springs, this is a slip on system just like the old race bikes and wanted to give a little more Hot Rod look to this set up and I feel that I have accomplished that style and look. This has a Nickel Plated Removable Baffle and sounds just like a deeper version of the Yoshimura style system.

The fit and finish is superb and great ground clearance too, wasn’t sure if this was even possible a few weeks ago but after many drawings of concepts etc this is the end result and it looks so good, I am super happy that I went this way and it sure does look Custom. Sat on the workbench and rwady for it to be fitted to the Custom machine when I get it up to assembly.

This is my design and its a 4 into 2 into 1 set up that really lets the gases flow hard and escapes at the end through a baffle at a faster pace than many out there, and I really wanted a trick looking set up that not only looks and sounds great, but performs pretty well too, and this sure does meet the bill.

Of course I will offer this as a line for the HONDA CB750, CB550 and CB500 a little later on but first i want to see how it performs on the bike and will give a full run down when I have all that completed, but this New System really is a unique set up that I will be happy to offer to all of you soon for your inline Four Motorcycles.

I will weigh it later as its so much lighter than the steel versions and when it is in its brushed Stainless guise, its a real head turner with the welds turning that nice Bronze color.

A fun looking Exhaust that I am proud to put my name on and I am sure will get quite a lot of interest for other peoples rides, so today turned out a great way to bring the week to en end.

This will be easy to fit to your very own inline four, even if you are on your own as it weighs nothing and comes apart easily for assembly etc and the springs are way easier to remove than undoing bolts .

I wanted to have something different out there and to show that I also love Hot Rods too, it’s all a cool lifestyle that I have always been into and now have a great system for the inline Four Honda’s.

When the Vesco Brat bike is completed, I shall take a lot of photos of it, as well as some sound bytes of the exhaust system, I will still use the Yoshi style baffle as I love that tone.

So with that- I shall bid you a fond farewell and get back into the Garage, as I have a million more things to do and as the storm approaches, I need to get in there fast.  Thanks for stopping by and reading my blog, let me know your thoughts, as input is so important from My Customers.

 

 

 

The Vesco Brat Bike Honda CB750 SOHC Rebuild Report

Well, the weather has been fighting me this month, worse Month since 1962 for the amount of H2O we have received and again today as we head to the end of February, we have more Rain coming down this week, so I need to try and use my time wisely and get as much done on this machine as I can.  Lets start off with the Triple Tree on this bike, as I wanted to change the Cable Tach and Speedometer and make something more Custom.

So, have a look above and you will see that I have started to make a start on the fabrication on the triple tree, first off I ground off the Original Factory outer tabs that housed the stock gauges, then I hand cut an Aluminum Holder out of a small sheet of Aluminum and made sure that it would be able to fit the stock location tabs that the Ignition switch used to fit into, and it looks great, if you look to the right, I already made a start on the Speedometer Bucket.

Not an easy task this but a block of 6061 T6 Aluminum was chucked up on the Lathe and turned down to the size I need for the Speedometer to sit snug and tight in the housing, also reliever three areas for the set up to really fit snug as a bug with no rattling about.

I wanted to incorporate fins into the casing as the front forks have this look as well as a few other features on the bike to make the whole concept flow and I am quite a big believer in that, I also need to grind a little more on the top triple tree and then smooth and polish to give the whole set up a look of chrome, no easy task too.

 

Now I am happy as its all Polished and the GPS Gauge set up looks really Custom, I machined Three 7/64 locator holes to allow the gauge to Clock right in the Location I wanted and have to say I am super stoked at how this now looks on the polished Triple Tree.

The bike I am creating is a 1974 Model Honda CB750 But I am using a later upper and lower tree to allow me to have the small tab brackets in the center and glad I went this route.

I wanted to create something that is different from the norm and I do enjoy what I call ” Newstalgia “, New parts with a feel of Old, and I believe I have created that with this.

I really like the look, the Gauge is 4 inches and the bucket is 5 ” and a strong solid appearence, I think it blends in well with the style of bike I am building.

So just a final clean up and then I need to pick the lower tree up from the Chrome shop, this should really set the whole top end off on the bike and glad I took the extra mile.

I will Clean up once more and add some polished Handlebar clamps that I make and she will be all ready for when I start to bolt all this together again, so in a week or two I can start to assemble the frame, it is still at the painters but not for long and thats going to be Silver Flake, should be a good contrast to the rest of the bike.

 

Thanks for reading my blog today and hope I have inspired you to get into the Shed, garage or lock up and have a go with your ride?

 

Outliers Guild Moto Show LA’s Coolest Custom Motorcycle Event

At last, LA has their very own Custom Motorcycle show, situated in Down Town Los Angeles in the Art district, this show not only offers a unique peek into the 2 wheeled lives, but also the Architectural wonder that has remained in this part of the city for many years.

The Outlier’s Guild Motorcycle Show, also referred to as The OG Moto Show, has brought a unique motorcycle experience to Southern California.  The event will gather over a hundred of the top custom builders from across the country and thousands of motorcycle enthusiasts together in a unique setting.  An all-star roster of builders will be participating including: Alchemy Motorcycles, Carpy, Cerberus Motorcycles, Chabott Engineering, Chopper Design, Duane Ballard, Eastern Fabrication, Iron Cobra, Jeff Wolf, JSK Moto, Kickstart Garage, Kiyo’s Garage, Max Hazan Motorwork, Monnom Customs, Moto Chop Shop, Sean Burley, Sosa Metalworks, Speed Merchant, Steady Garage, Steve Cabellero, Suicide Machine Co., Twin Line, Woolie of Deus ex Machina, Zach Siglow and Zanutto Engineering.

Additionally, the event will feature a one-of-a-kind OG Moto Market with vendors, food trucks, coffee, and live entertainment.  Performing during the event weekend include the Woolly Bandits, an LA-based punk garage band lead by Christa Collins and the Powerflex 5 featuring skateboarding legend Steve Alba on guitar, tattoo artist Corey Miller on drums, and Bobby Abarca on bass.

New to this year’s show will be the OG Moto Gallery, an exhibit of motorcycle-inspired art, photography, and a collection of vintage motorcycles.  The gallery will feature work from artists and photographers from around the world including an exhibit by the renown artist, Ornamental Conifer, titled “Reliable Souls,” presented by Vans.  Other featured artists include: Steve Cabellero, OVMD, Tomas Pajdlhauser, Robert Schlueter, Ben Giese, Maryia Bulka, Jasper Wong, Blue, Carter Asmann, Tyler Cornelius, Andrew Ritter, Bombshell Deluxe, and more. Participating photographers include: Norman Reedus, Estevan Oriol, Willie T, Dylan Gordon, Matt Jones, and Laurent Nivalle.  Additionally, the Motodoffo Collection presented by Doffo Winery, an impressive array of twenty classic and vintage motorcycles will be on display within the art gallery.  The OG Moto art gallery will be open on select dates after the event with the schedule to be announced on the OG Moto website.

The OG Moto Show is supported by: The House of Machine, Alpinestars, Bell, Flexfit, Meguiar’s, Moto Doffo, Rev’it, Rizoma, Roland Sands Design, Royal Enfield, Vans, and WD-40.

About the Outlier’s Guild Custom Motorcycle Show

The Outlier’s Guild Motorcycle Show is a motorcycle event that celebrates vintage, modern classic, and full custom motorcycles.  Founded by Jay LaRossa of Lossa Engineering, Stan Chen, John Pangilinan, and Ralph Holguin of RMD Garage with the goal to produce a unique motorcycle experience for enthusiasts.  The event will feature art, photography, music and a diverse and impressive collection of motorcycles on display.

Blog by Steve Carpy Carpenter:

When I pulled into Anderson street just off the freeway in Down Town LA, I knew this would be a very cool venue to have this event, the old buildings had more character than the back streets of Jack the Rippers area in London, I loved the old mixed with a little bit of new. Graffiti seems to be the norm here instead of street signs but- is part of the Down – Town culture, that has molded this part of California, as an artistic explosion of self expressionism.

The old Deco buildings that line this area is only muffled by the odd sounds of construction and sometimes the mild mechanical click of a 35mm Camera, as this area is a Photographers Paradise for fashion and craft.

Beow Jay LaRoss, Photo Credit- Rahoul . LA Motorcyclist.com

 

I pull into the side street and into the back of the show buildings, emblazed on them are huge renderings of cool art, some people and some just out of this world art that will make you stop and raise an eyebrow or two, a brilliant venue for such a show and I was super stoked to be one of the lucky guys to be invited as a builder. Jay LaRossa has been a builder and Creator for many years, he was one of the first guys that actually came up to me and said hello some 18 years ago at a show in Costa Mesa. A solid guy much respected in our two wheeled industry and creates some wicked machines, and to be invited here is really quite an honor to be honest.

With over 100 machines of builders Motorcycles and so much cool Art that is displayed in the next room, this is a must attend show, the vendors were so friendly and actually spent time showing you what their passion is, the bands Rocked on and there was a totally euphoric feeling in this building, as if everybody was one, I mean- there is no racial undertones in our industry, we are all cut from the same cloth and have a similar interest in many things, if only the rest of the world would be on an even keel like us eh?

The quality of the motorcycles here were so cool, some fascinating concepts, some bloody mind boggling engineering and the artistic talents were let loose on some of these motorbikes of which I had to pick my Jaw up from the concrete.

So, to add my bike here and on a platform was indeed a very cool feeling, I was so surprised at how many people knew who I was and I had many questions about my parts and the bike I created- The Harlequin Honda.

It was like a Family reunion for me in a way and this show had so much to offer for people, I mean, there was something for everyone, be it Custom, Cafe Racer. Brat, Tracker. Chopper, Bobber, Classic etc, there was a cool vibe the entire time that Jennifer and I was there and I am not sure how many times we walked around this arena, there was always something that caught your eye.

The vendors were a blast and everyone was approachable, also what I liked is, nobody tried to force a product on you, they were there to enjoy the event too and the relaxed atmosphere made this event such a hit, we loved it all.

I even scored some cool Moto wear too, there was so much cool stuff that I was glad in a way that I didn’t have my Credit Card with me, else I would be in trouble in the first 5 minutes of the vendor area,Tobacco Motor-wear Company has real quality wear and the shirts are a much better cut of cloth that many I see in expensive retailers, nice to support small business such as all and a great venue to show your wares.

 

Jennifer and Gigi hanging out at the show, it was awesome to catch up with people and just have a chinwag for a while, met some great friends and look forward to next year.

I love the Diversity of Machines that were on Display, this was inside in the art area with many other Motorcycles, I love this old Crosser, brings on memories of hurting Kidneys and arm pump when I was a kid in the UK in the 1970’s.

Even something for the Jetsons fans, this Scooter was pretty darn cool and worth a tidy penny these days.

The Kriedler was a cool bike to be seen around town on when I was growing up, I had a Suzuki AP50 but these were out of my price Range, Belgium created some cool machines back then.

This Anvil Honda has had a lot of fabrication, I loved everything about this machine, would of liked to have chatted to the builder, well done mate.

Like I said, something for everyone, steam bent wooden fairing was a neat trick on this Honda, you can see my Machine sat next to it, a great set of Motorcycles for sure.

I loved this build, simplistic, albeit not much chance of seeing at night with that light but other than that a very cool and well created Bobber, Killer Paint.

Barry Weis of Storage Wars fame had his Dustin Bin fairing machine on Display, so much work gone into this, I went back to it many times just to drool over the Aluminum.

A thing of Beauty and would of loved to hear this Motor run with then pipes on, Great job Barry.

Hutch Blew me away with this Beemer, what a great build, you cant see any electrical wires and a Brave man to creat a bike in white too, this was just a masterful piece of creativity and I bow to you, this South African builder is based at Yoshi’s and is a super nice fella.

Check this out, so much Aluminum work, some very gifted people at this show and everywhere I looked I could see some fun and clever engineering.

This Italian 350 Steed was tough, I would of loved to have slung my leg over it, I loved the color scheme and the rear tail Cowl, very nice piece to look at here at the show.

Skate Icon “Steve Caballero had this Classic Honda Tracker, Steve has a huge skill set with machines as well as art, loved looking at this, made me think of my Brother in England.

Buddy of mines BMW, actually the one next to it is his wifes, very cool Toasters.

Craigs super neat CB750 he created, his company is Kickstart garage up there in Redding, super nice guy who I have met a few times, and loved his Creation, Killer Color.

Plenty of Honda bikes here and all so different, looks like Dustin Kotts style, clean and lean, loved it.

Kev from Moto Chop shops Thruxton has a full fairing now in place, fun machine with that 60’s Rockers styling, Great job mate.

Scott and Owner Kev Stanley from Moto Chop shop, show their chops and chinwag with many, super guys and all have a passion for two wheeled machines.

Dustin Kott has been building many years and it shows it here, clean, smooth and flowing, very nice cafe style Motorcycle and color combo.

 

 

Now thats some killer alloy work, I loved this fairing, tank and seat combination, many hours with a torch and a hammer and English wheel, Loved the Lester Mags too.

I was really into this Suzuki, a lot of cool lines, I really liked the fat attack and the stance is right on the money, fender and fairing matched well, brilliant job my friend.

I loved the smooth lines on this what I call a Battle Star Galactica machine, this cool Yamaha was tidy and I would of loved to have ridden it, check out the stainless exhaust system.

Jennifer and Mark Baker, Both in the 59 Club Orange County section, have a natter about this great show, loved the Barry Sheen shirt, I had mine on too, well, we are Both Brits remember.

More 59 ers from Orange county Steve and Tiff hang out, Steve’s a Model for Stag magazine. LOL.

Few more lads from the Orange County 59 ers, CJ on the right organised the ride to the show, Dennis in the middle was game too. As well as the bloke on the left and I have forgotten his name but will add as soon as my Brain gets back into gear.

A slew of Machines that all caught my eye outside at the rear of the building, over 100 bikes on Display there alone and all very cool and unique to them selves.

Yes, I would ride any of these, plenty for all to see and enjoy and what a relaxed and fun environment this show was.

Some well put together machines here, be it Cafe Racer, Brat, Tracker, Custom etc, these were all great bikes and we really did enjoy taking all these builds in .

Deus doing their bit, great company of which I used to go and see in Kings Cross in Sydney when I lived there in 1997.

How could you not love this Drag bike, its a crapshoot alright, awesome stuff.

Above: How about that, Plexi covers, I loved this Motorcycle and it should of been up on a stand so people could see all the engineering involved on this Rocket!

I have always dug Scramblers, even as a kid, so to see new versions cropping up here and there is always a treat for me, all of them are individual and this is a cool ride.

Another Tough Yamaha and has the right look and stance, and that fork brace will make sure there is no wobble at the front end, great achievement mate.

Everyone that looked at the Motorcycles and art that was on display at this unique event, all seemed to be happy, thats a great thing to see and I sure hope that we have many more shows in this guise.

I loved this Bultaco, not sure if Originally it was a Sherpa T or a Persang, but I loved this transformation , could be an original TSS motor too, but I loved the sound of these Spanish 2 strokes and what a machine, so clean lines, well done mate.

It is always refreshing to see two wheeled machines taken to another level, this has had a lot of work to get how it is today and I spent a little time looking at the complexity of this particular build, kudos to you for your time and patience.

I liked everything about this Tracker, smooth flowing lines and loved the headlight shield, I would ride that bike all the time and so nice to see it at the OG show here in LA.

A very good mate of mine Mel Bain, Actor, School teacher and Motorcycle aficionado, super cool to meet up and see him and his lovely wife at the show, he enjoyed the outlier guild show immensely.

Bikes outside and all over the place in Down Town LA and was great to see some of them parked up for the show.

The weather was super nice as well, which meant for enjoyable riding for everybody that visited the show here, we walked about quite a lot before heading back, there were bands playing that we wanted to see.

Christa Collins of the Woolly Bandits played in the evening, Christa was a child star at Disney and had a song Minnie And Me and was super stoked to see that she drifted to my Harlequin Honda, all that Dazzle must of caught her eye. #pilgrim imagery

Music, Motorcycles, Oh My , what a great Combination. #pilgrimimagery

Just made the whole event even more cooler for me, a great photo by #Pilgrim Imagery

Looking forward to the show next year, well done Jay Larossa for getting this together.

My Old School Metalflake looked pretty cool in the lights of the warehouse as Christa belted out a few tunes, using the Harlequin Honda as a Prop, cheers Girl. #Pilgrimimagery

Hope some of you managed to see some of the bands playing, they were great and the whole event had a great vibe all the time.

So, with that, I will finish up with a really good mate of mine, I first met Skratch in 2000, we are all into Motorcycles, Hot Rods, Pinstriping and Nostalgic stuff like Drags, Custom Builds and just so many things, so nice to catch up with him.#Skratchsgarage #Bellhelmets

He has been laying Pin lines for many moon’s, as well as lettering etc, he does a lot for Bell helmets too, a very cool Hot Rod and Kustom builder too, a super all around talented guy that I have had the pleasure of being mates with.

Skratch, doing what he loves and he can lay down pin lines with speed if needed, a very talented and approachable geezer.

So, with that, I shall bid you all a find farewell, this was a brilliant show, thanks again to @jaylarossa for putting together LA’s coolest Custom Motorcycle show, bringing us all together as a cohesive lifestyle of 2 wheeled aficionados. Until the next time, many thanks for reading my Blog, it took a while to download and get this on my website but hope you found something interesting.

Promote small businesses in the Custom world, we all need you.

If this inspires you to get in your Garage or shed and create, then I have achieved another smile in the 2 wheel industry, thanks once more for reading.

 

Get the parts you need for your Build this season

Well, for many the weather is just starting to ease of a little, Spring is almost here and I know a few of you will already be in the garage or shed, with the heater on, trying to figure out what to create with your two wheeled machine.  Spring mostly brings great weather and I am sure that by now, you are ready to jump in head first to build your Custom Motorcycle and get the bike out on the tarmac as quick as you can.

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Be it a Cafe Racer, A Cool Brat style, a Full on Custom or a wicked Tracker style, we have the parts that you are looking for, and with over 4 decades of building Motorcycles, I do my utter best to help you create your machine and get the parts out to you as fast as I possibly can.

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Many people email me about their machines and ask for ideas or just inspiration, I have been there many times and you eventually hit a wall in the design process, but many hands make light work and many ideas from people certainly help mold that design into a more solid Concrete build and then, you are off and working like crazy to get the idea out onto the road.

I too have a few long projects that need to be completed, I also offer Servicing to full builds and, have enjoyed doing this in Southern California for over 18 years.

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If I can help with anything, even if its advise, call 714-598-8392 or even text and I will do my very best to help you out, this industry is a fun and creative one and I hope that I can be of some assistance to you, this is not just a job for me, its my life and I continue to push the envelope on parts where I can.

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Seoul Motion – CB750 Cafe Racer

Here we are with another Build of mine, this time we are shipping it to Seoul in Korea.

This machine has taken some time to get right and she fought me every which way but loose, but I prevailed and became the victor in the end, but- this was a long battle and many a night I have been sat there, scratching my noggin, trying to figure out what happened etc., although, if you build a machine yourself, you will understand that at times, the build will sometimes, give you a right royal swift kick in the knackers, just to get you back.

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This was just a roller that needed some love, so what I did was take the bike down to the chassis, removed the wiring and anything else that what bolted onto this 530 pounds of rusting Hulk!

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I cleaned the gas tank out and then took all the paint off, after that, I put the tank on my special frame and then hammered the knee inserts as I do on the majority of the rides that I create.

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This bike kept giving me the worst grief of my life, like it was trying to tell me to stop what I was doing and leave her alone, even so as much as to burst into flames one night when an Argentinian rectifier decided to let go and fill the shop with more smoke than a Hippies BBQ at Stonehenge.

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The engine was stripped down and gone through and has a new 900cc Engine, and I thought whilst I was at it I would paint this a Wrinkle Black and then polish some stainless Allen headed bolts to offset the black, and to be honest, I really love the way this bike looks.

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The original seat was toast, so I used one of my aftermarket seat bases and re-foamed and upholstered the pan to the Guilerri that was popular back home in the UK in the 1970’s and 80’s.

So the seat works perfectly and has the original hinges and seat lock mechanism, and I am happy with the outcome of this task.

 

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So much work, its hard to remember everything, but- the frame was taken down to the barest of metal and powder coated, but as I said earlier, the bike caught fire as I was 98% completed and had to completely strip the bike down the frame and bead blast to bare metal and start all over again, it was such a downer, but these things happen and I made a positive out of a negative.

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The guy that commissioned me to create this beast is a famous Jazz singer in Korea and I wanted to give the bike a name to bring it to life and give it some character.  So I aptly named it Seoul Motion, and I am shipping it to Seoul this week.

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I have New side covers and they are a deep Gloss black with my pin lines to show off a little detail, even New Rubber Grommets were used so the covers fit nice and snug.

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Yes- this time I wanted to try a 17 inch rear wheel and used a Firestone set up on the tire and also polished the hubs with Stainless spokes, then I drilled and polished the rear brake cover and fitted new brake shoes and actuator, this bike is like brand new I tell ya.

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I bobbed the rear fender and fitted the Beeza tail light, with a Brand new set of Alloy Turn signals to make sure people see him out there in Korea.

 

 

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I chromed the swing arm and fitted new bushes etc., and then fitted one of my custom made finned stabilizer arms to set the lower end of the bike off, complete with new brake rod, spring and adjuster.

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I had to shorten the right height on this machine as the chap is shorter than me, so used some piggy backs on the rear and I got Franks Forks to make me some 2 inch under fork tubes and rebuilt them with a polished set of lowers, new seals and new gators, as well as new clamps and bushings etc.

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I fitted one of my ceramic coated 4 into 1 exhaust systems, as this will sound awesome when he gets on the loud throttle and lets people know he is in town, then tuned and synchronized the carbs to make sure all was well.

 

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I used a Brand new set of Tarrozi rear sets, but I stripped the anodizing off and polished to a chrome finish and these really do set the tone of the Motorcycle off.

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Up front, you will notice that I have fitted a brand new Chrome headlight and inside that is a new harness, as well as brand new Alloy turn signals, this is a cool machine. I also stripped the old gauges apart and rebuilt them, giving them a Custom feel and look, as well as chroming the lower buckets to add a little more bling.

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Another great touch to this bike is that it has a bobbed front fender of mine that matches the paint, right down to the checkers as that means you’re a winner, but also, this has a number of cool things done to it.

If you look closely, you will see I drilled and polished the front brake Rotor, and then had a custom bracket machined for the forks, why is that I hear you ask.

Well simply, the old brakes are well, OLD- so we thought we would try a brand new set up on this machine by making a Wilwood Four pot caliper sit on the fork and see if this helps stopping.

Stopping is increased about 500%, it almost pops your eyes out when you grab a handful of brake lever all of a sudden.

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New Chrome 7’8 Clubman bars are fitted, along with brand new Honda Cables and polished levers, this is also expensive but a needs must with such a build like this.

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New tire, new brakes, and new everything, adorn this Black and Silver Café Racer and I know the owner will just dig this like a shovel does dirt.

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The finned stabilizer bar is one of my own designs that just says it all.

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Hand diamond stitched seat base adds some more coolness to this tarmac eating machine and am sure will turn many heads in Korea.

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I purchased brand new handlebar controls for this build and used Original 1974 GT waffle grips to add some Nostalgia to the bike.

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Of course, this needed a New master cylinder and New throttle and cables, so everything was changed to New and this will benefit the owner immensely.

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Here you can see that I have made Custom gauge faces to show the world what this bike is and also I fitted one of my special display set ups that has a Large WW2 Neutral light and then a high beam and Oil light, these are all stainless steel and function very well indeed.

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New paint, gas tank sealed, New petcock as well as New Gas cap and locking latch just enhances this machine.

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Yes, I even cleaned up the kickstand and chromed it to give it a nice offset against the stealthy Black everywhere.

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I chromed the ignition switch bracket and used a New ignition switch too, along with a brand New genuine Honda set of coils and caps.

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New fork ears were painted Black and badges added where the old reflectors used to be back in the day, as well as new Chrome clips and new gators.

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The Four pot Caliper works so well, this would stop a woman’s period.

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I had to come up with a name for the bike, as I always name the machines I have created and I am happy that I conjured up this and think the owner digs it too.

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I had an original airbox that Henry Abe sold in the 1970’s, so stripped it and then re-chromed it and now it looks bloody awesome.

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This bike sits well, and you will notice that I drilled and polished the gearshift cover, this also has brand new 530 chain and sprockets to make it go down the road ok.

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I even chromed the old safety carrier on the rear sprocket to offset the black as I powder coated the rear sprocket Black.

 

 

I hope that you like this machine that I created and this can now fly to Korea and another build completed from Carpys Café Racers.

 

I will show you how I did the tank.

I, first of all, washed the tank out with simple green and solvent to make sure that there was no gas residue in the tank, then I turned the gas tank upside down and cut the old trim tabs off, as I do not need these.

 

Then with my homemade frame, I slowly start to hammer the tank to get the depth of inserts I require, trying to massage the steel to form in the shape I want, this does take time and makes your arms pump like Popeye afterward.

 

Also, to get the paint off is a real pain if you do not bead blast it, I used to do this with the good old Jasco, but man is it a mess to use and clean up afterward.

 

After this is all done I bead blast the gas tank so it is all clean metal and can see if there is any issues, and also for my own insurance and a cost of $100, I take the tank to a radiator shop and they seal the inside and pressure test it, that way I know that all is well inside the gas tank and no leaks.

 

 

 

Next, I do all the body work and get it ready for the paint shop, as I no longer spray paint but will do the graphics, whether it is a decal or hand lettering as I like to use my sable pinstripe brush that’s a triple O size or a number 1 line brush.

If I am using the checkered tape, I simply rub the gas tank down with 600 and then wet the tank and apply the checkered tape to where I need it.

 

 

The soapy water helps the tape to float to where you need to position it, once you are happy with the location, I use a credit card and a microfiber cloth and squeeze all the air bubbles out, once this is done to all the decals, I clean it with prep wash and she is ready for pin-striping and then once that is all completed, leave for 2 hours as I use House of Kolor these days and it dries super fast, and then its ready for clear coating and buffing.

 

This is when the tank and fenders etc really start to pop after clear-coating.

 

 

 

 

Many other things people really do not get to see is when I have to take the gauges apart, sometimes these can end in tears if the needle breaks and is stuck in the drive unit, but this time all was well and i wanted to use some of my own designs again on this machine and am glad at the way that they turned out.

 

I painted the needles with good old One-Shot enamel and then put my decals on the original faces, and slowly put these back together.

Now, these really do look way better than the Originals and with the New display set up in the middle of the bars, this completes the top end.

 

These kind of finish the top end of the bike off very well and the owner is pretty stoked about them as well.  All I had to do now was simply shorten all the wiring as with club-man bars, these sit lower and I don’t want loads of wires all bunched up and rammed inside the headlight.

 

A Few Videos that I like today.

Wednesday already

Well I thought to start the day off right I would add some Videos that I personally like.
Below is the Race Of Gentlemen, I think it may change to Race of Gentle Folk as lots of Girls are getting into this and I applaud that.

Below is a video from New Zealand, plent of mates over there are into the same as I, so thought I would show you this and yes, like back home, Right Hand drive.

Next up is back home a few years ago at the Ace Cafe with Mark Wilsmore.

Below is a day with the froggies, these guys know how to put on a show, check it out.

Have a Great Wednesday and hope this puts you in a great frame of mind to get you through the next few hours.

Peace & grease As Always.

My Exhaust Sights & Sounds.

Many people ask about my systems and what they sound like, so, armed with an Iphone I had a go at having some recorded for you to listen to.

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Below is a 4 into 1 system for a CB350 Honda, and man is it a crisp set up, Customer loved it.

Footage is not good but a chap came by as he fitted my 4 into 1 on his DOHC Honda and loved it.

Below is a CB750 with a raw steel exhaust system of mine fitted.

I have sold over 1000 Of my exhaust systems, been doing this over 17 years and love it.

Oh yeah, these not only breathe well, listen to how crisp they responce is on the throttle, this bike had not run in over 20 years, so changed oil and gas, fitted my 4 into 1 and she ran really well.

Below is a few pics of bikes with the systems on, love what I do and so glad you chose a product made right here in California.

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Available for many in line four Honda’s, just drop me a line at carpy@carpyscaferacers.com or a dime at 714-598-8392 as I am here to help, you can also text me on that number too.

4 into 1 system

So if you are looking for a great set up, thats been tested and fits and sounds great, look no further.

cb750 exhaust - Copy

Thanks for looking, enjoy your week and have fun building your machine.

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Available in a few styles, Raw Steel- Ceramic Coated- And we also sell the DEI Titanium Wrap for your system too.

carpy storage2

We ship 6 days a week as well and Globally, I handle ALL the Customs paperwork to make sure you pay NO duty.

ton up exhaust

I really enjoy what I do and offer parts as well, even all the jets for your carbs too.

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15th Ventura Nationals 2017

Well, here we are once again, where did the year go? So this morning, Jennifer and I jumped in the car and we headed out to this great event that I have been attending for so many years now.

I took a ton of photos whilst i was at this show, people ask me about the shows I attend and what is featured there, so, here is a Looooong blog but wanted to show you all the great stuff that was at this years 2017 Ventura Nationals show and Boy was it a great one.

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Jennifer got us there pretty quick and thats good as it will be about 105 here in La Mirada so as Ventura is right on the water it should be in the high 80’s and a refreshing change for the heatwave we have right now back home.

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So, we pull into the parking lot and walk into the show, always a good mixture of Kustom, Hot Rod and low rider material to drool over and we were not disappointed at all really is a great show.

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There are always New rides to check out and as this is on a big area, you can still get to take a photo of them with loads of people around, it was Hot Here but not like back home and enjoyed the whole time there as you could see the cars, hear the bands and look at what the vendors were offering.

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Above, just look at that Caddy, that thing has been slammed harder than a weak opponent on the WWE Cage fight, loved it and a cool color that I usually see on Jeeps, worked so well, loved all the over riders as teeth in the grill sections, shaved door handles, Skirted and in the weeds, this was a righteous machine.

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OMG, just check out this 5 window from Henry F- I mean thats the F word right there, Cleaner than Mr Sheen’s bathroom and just pure class this Hot Rod almost took my breath away as it is so bang on, wickedly cool, just take a look at the body, straighter than a Roman Road.

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Above, this Flathead is such a work of art, I have a Flatty but not to this standard, if I had a hat on mate, I would take it off to you and bow very humbly. Barney Navarro heads and a Thickston high Rode with Two 97’s perched on top and the longest velocity Stacks I have ever clapped my eyes upon.

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I really loved the Color of this GMC Stepside, complete with vintage Beach cruiser in the back , this truck was well put together loved the paint color too, a hard one to pull off at times.

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Like I said, this is a great event and something for everybody in the Kustom and Hot Rod fraternity, it was a really nice day, Hot yes but it always is this time of year and having a couple of indoor buildings was good too so you could cool off and still check out cars and vendors etc.

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Blown away with this, Westergard would be proud of this Custom Coupe, More work than you would even apprehend and it sure was a head turner, Brilliant job mate, well done.

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Ford and Chevy hanging out under the Sun, there is so much to see here and if you have never been before, its worth the drive up along the 101 by the Surf to get to this venue by the Sea.

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1958 Ranchero was sitting nice and low, dont see too many of these around any more and was stoked to happen upon this as we walked around at the show grounds.

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Then a few feet over from that 58 is this awesome 1957 Ranchero, jeez it was nice pure Kustom with Tube Grille, Tuck n Roll inner fenders, Lakes Pipes, Fender skirts and Appletons, very cool indeed.

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This 1954 Ford Lincoln 2 door Coupe has all the Markings of a great Kustom, look at that front Bumper set up, Sombrero’s and fender skirts and shaved handles is just a nice clean style, cant wait to see what color scheme he goes for next time I see it at a show.

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Check out this Leopard print interior on the 58 Impala, thats Old School for sure, I have always liked the 58 impala and this was no exception, even as a 4 door it was wickedly cool.

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I would of loved to have driven this Pontiac Safari home, Chevy stole the rear of the rood ribbed design for their Nomad and this is a rare find these days, what a cruiser and so much room with all them bench seats it has as stock.

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How can you not stop and look at a Gasser, these are so tough and a Fairlaine too, Straight axle, 10 degree rake on the motor, 5 spokes and plexi with dump tubes, Groooowlll!!!

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As long and heavy as a battleship, this Caddy was slammed and not because it had 2 Vintage push bikes on the roof, such a huge car and always love seeing these Detroit Rectangles.

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I have never been a fan of Studebaker Automobiles, but 1948-1955 Pick ups, Hell yes, they have a Custom look right out of the factory with their soft curves and this is a great example for a parts getter.

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Hudsons never get a good wrap but I like them, a poor mans mercury they say but I would take one any day of the week, just look at that, they drive so smoothly too.

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Loved this 29 on deuce rails, has all the stance right and this is a quick Mill too, I never tire of looking at Hot Rods ever!!! 16 inch steelies on Blackwalls and a deuce Grill, Killer.

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This little 30 Model A was Neat, simple and I am sure they have such a Ball in this Roadster, as I know i would do too. Yeah i would change a few things like tires and stuff but each to their own and have fun my friend.

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How can you not have a tri Five in here, I had one even in the UK and have always loved the Bow ties and this one os such a superb Platform for somebody to turn into what ever they wish .

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How can you not show a Big Tin Lincoln anyway, I mean, these were Custom right out of the factory, one of my dream cars as a kid as they were so huge and low.

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See what I mean, how cool is this? I would drive this until the Pontiac hub caps fell off, love all of its 22 feet.

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Now this is one Long bed for sure, diggin the fake patina and that seemed to be a common look this year to be honest but its a good trend and a great truck, next photo is the Aluminum work.

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That’s some cool work there, I think Fast Eddie from orange did this set up and it really is a nice touch with all the aircraft styled riveting. What do you lot think?

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Forgive me for adding a lot of Hot Rods but I love seeing them and especially Roadsters as I have one myself and this was a clean machine and wanted to share it on this page too.

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Paint work was bloody awesome, so much work with masking up etc, must of taken many hours to get all these colors and detail in and when the Sun caught it right it was quite mesmerizing.

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This 51 Rag Top had so many Custom tricks, a real nice, clean and great example of American ingenuity for making something stock look so cool and stylish, I wonder what the Ford  design team thought when he saw one of these when people like Hiroherta came out driving these as a daily car back then.

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This 28/29 Roadster was really nicely finished, sat ontop of 1932 Rails and running Black Steelies on Firestone 16 inch Tires, this was a tight build, even has a nice Hallock/ Duvall windshield to add to the flow of this great Hot Rod, Hair pins looked pretty good in Black and SBC with tri power must of made this buzz along the freeway with ease.

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I would love this Step-side as a Parts Getter too, so many cool cars either as an everyday beater or a show winning ride was featured here at Ventura and you have to try and make a show as there is not many like this with a fun atmosphere too anywhere these days, loved it all.

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How about this parked right next to the other pick up, I would love either of them, cool patina and when you think back, All the farmers had these in California and all over the states, they worked them hard and so nice to still see them around especially with the quarter windows too.

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Jeez, almost get a nose bleed from sitting this high, this Plymouth Savoy is a rare sight as a Full on Gasser, spindle mount Magnesium rims, straight axle and Mickey T rear tires gibes this machine a total look of 60’s Nostalgia drags.

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I am certain that I saw this on the Salt flats a couple of weeks ago, now sitting proudly amongst the other rides but this was a hard core drive as i saw this all over Bonneville at Speed week and loved this roadster, not many that can be around with twin intakes in the hood like that right?

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This was the ride I saw on the Lake bed in Utah as it has the 40 Ford dash, wicked machine that I will never tire of looking at and wouldnt change anything on it just enjoy the ride in a real Nostalgic machine.

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Now there is a traditional Hot rod, check out the Aircraft syle shocks, the Early headlights of a Truck, Fireball caps on 16 inch steelies with tractor Firestome tires, looks like he got all the salt off it.

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Now this is taking shape and great to see a slightly different twist to a Custom, Caddy thin tail lights blend in quite well, sits really well and look forward to seeing this ride completed at some point.

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Gearheads Roadster Pick up was in the weeds too, dago front axle is a nice touch and Juice brakes all around. Baby Blue seems a popular color this year as well.

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Way cool, low and love that Ford Burgandy Factory Paint color, Tube grill and nice roof chop with big rear fender skirts makes this Nosed and decked Kustom stand out.

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Nosed, decked, shaved, frenched, lake pipes, Starburst caps, Floating grille, Foxcraft Skirts made this a head turner as well, so much detail, loved it all the way to the rear end.

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It’s like Kustoms of America show, so many Nostalgic builds on show this year and really cool to see, like I said, something for everyone at Ventura show and glad we attended thats for sure.

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Flatty Powered Closed Cab pick up was neat, not sure how it stayed cool with them radiator pipes but it was a neat touch none the less, section deuce grill was a nice touch as well.

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A little bit of work gone on here on this 21 stud, early offenhauser, even has a Dizzy on it, complete with two 97’s and finned alloy Air filter covers.

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Super neat little Modified was sat in the parking area, enjoying the Sea breeze as it wafted across from the beach a few hundred yards away. This was a nicely built rig, loved seeing it here.

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How about this, the big guns were out, chopped Olds 4 door looked really tough as it sat on the concrete, whilst above a Falcon Panel sat on an early flatbed, that looked great as well.

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Yup, even some love from the Low Riders were there and all as clean as their Grand ma’s Kitchen too, so many hours go into these machines and a good turn out too here at the show.

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The paint on these are faultless, so many hours of color sanding and buffing alone, but so cool to see the Low Riders represented here and a few more photos coming up for you to look at.

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As we wondered around the show grounds, I took photos of what I personally liked and hope that you enjoy these too as the quality was so good, its hard to show and appreciate sometimes in a photo but you can see how tidy the paint and Bright Work is on these jumping Machines.

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Out side one of the Halls were these 2 Roadsters, very cool concepts and I am sure these are a real blast to drive around this weekend, its Roadster weather and by the beach, what could be better?

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Just past them trees is the beach and a pleasant Breeze wafted in from time to time and a lot cooler than back here in Orange county, we found that out when we got back.

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Look how clean this Rivera is, cleaner than it was from the Factory and many people enjoyed the Low riders here and I was one of them, these are all big wide machines too, love it all.

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Loved this Galaxie 500, low and sleek with chrome 5 spokes and subtle scalloping, this Candy Aztec Cold paint really popped when the sun hit it, custom interior was Tuck n Roll and of course, what cruiser is not complete without a set of Bellflower tips?

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Nose to tail, many different styles and Models make this show a hit for everybody, there is so much to see and there is no way you cannot enjoy yourself at this fantastic event in Ventura.

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1929 Banger here very 60’s style with drilled and chromed front I Beam, reverse steelies deuce grill shell, TJ tuck N Roll and a Naugahyde white top with chrome Hairpins was sitting pretty.

Below: This little Boat tailed Modified looked fun to drive, running a 4 carbs set up, this was no slow poke thats for certain, schroder steering and Dago front end on Red steelies was way cool.

 

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So much work went into this and I am sure nobody noticed half of the cool work and engineering that was finished to complete this Low Channeled Roadster. I really dug it and would drive that.

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Reminds me of the old Mana – Free intakes of the day, frog mouth velocity stakes suck in more air than a breaching whale, Boat style windshield sets the styling of low and sleek but not meek.

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Sometimes thinking out of the box pays off, this Roadster certainly did and Id would of loved to have taken this on the dry lakes to see what it would do as it screams SCTA back in the day.

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Hard to imagine how many masking hours and rubbing down on this Buick Low Rider, painstakingly crafted over many a night in the garage I am sure, so many vibrant colors too.

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Look how tight the Bumper is, a very straight ride with more colors than some of the Hawaiian shirts I saw people wearing this weekend.

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Nostalgia all the way with this car club, and driving up or down the freeway to get to the show must of turned many a head when the public clapped eyes on these Low Riders, awesome job.

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Loved this 48 Stepside Chevy Pick up, sat in the weeks, Chrome reverse steelies and big wide whites, the chrome was impeccable and would enjoy driving this truck around every day.

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This impala was another fine example of hard work and pleasure, the lines are so sleek and the paint was as smooth as butter milk, such a clean 2 door that needed more recognition to be honest. All the trim was clean and straight, I didn’t see any blemishes at all, well done mate.

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I will never ever tire of Caddys, I mean they are the quintessential American Automobile and this 58 2 door D Cup special was a machine I always wanted to have and drive, Darn straight too.

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I really do love Kustom built rides, as every creation is unique, never do you see exactly the same ride and the body mods are off the hook, love the gradient roof chop, the rear arches really flow as does the fender skirt and them Cadillac Bumpers really look tight, love to see the Custom grill when its done, Sombreros too, just a wicked ride that looks so right.

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Always something different to look at every show and this was, Candy plum and right in the weeds too, this mercury is probably the only one like this and deserves recognition of all that work.

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Check this Bow Tie pick up out, the Aztec Candy Gold really pops in the California Sun, just very cool and many people loved this truck and you can see why, everything was so nice on it.

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Brit mates Bev and Jay dean from Nostalgia ranch were representing in the building with 3 very cool rides, in the back ground a fully fendered Model A with a 4 banger, sat so right.

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Then this awesome AV8 that was built back in the day and in a few B movies too was locally found and now sits proudly on the Nostalgia Ranch’s display area, I loved this Roadster.

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Jay dean built this for a customer and it is a flawless machine, the paint was flawless and Camel Hump finned covers dress out the Gold Motor well, stunning job Jay. Really well built.

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Hubba Hubba, loved this Teal 3 window, the whole color scheme just worked so right, sat well and with that Hemi I am sure it wouldn’t hang about on the freeway.

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Stock A Bone sitting in somewhat cooler climate inside the show building but it was pretty humid in there, soon forgot about it when you see all the Hot Rods parked up on display though.

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So nice, So Nostalgic, So Cool, I would love this, its one of those period perfect machines that you simply just keep looking and looking at, loved everything about this Roadster.

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Looks great from any angle, the chopped and raked windshield gives it that late 1940’s look and Black on black makes this so stealthy steelies and dropped headlight bar really does set the scene. Looks like it stepped right out of HOP UP magazine.

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What a treat for me to see such period style Hot Rods, I have loved these as a teenager in England and I loved the style, color, and the stance of this Roadster really nice job, well done indeed.

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How can you not stop and look at this 53? I mean look how it sits, the chop? the Bumper? the paint, the rear end and Deep dish Sombrero’s, loved it all and so much work put into this ride.

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Quality work here on this 5 window Model A, very clean and 50’s styling hits the target by a bulls-eye, great look and color too. A lot of detail in this Coupe.

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How much fun would you have in this Flathead powered 1929 Roadster? I know I would, a great shop truck for sure, some awesome machines on display and so glad that we made the trip.

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I saw no information on this car but looks like a concept or Custom design from back in the day when features in HONK, Hop Up, Hot Rod and Rod & restyling were the dominant magazines.

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A lot of work, I think it may of been a 40 Convertable and then they went from there, so much work, would of liked some information on this build, if I find out I shall let everyone know on here.

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Another traditional Coupe, Unfendered and unchopped with Original Cal plates too, flatty powered with dual 97’s is a bit of California History for sure, wonder where this has been over the years?

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This looked to be a cut down coupe but sure had great lines to it and looks like the 24 stud Mill is dialed in, love to know a bit more about this ride too if any body knows, drop me a line.

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Who wouldn’t drive this Roadster around? My god it was so clean, fresh and just proportioned so well, fantastic creation that shows passion and creativity to its fullest Nice build you lot.

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Sorry for the blurry shot, too excited im afraid, but you would under stand if you came out to Ventura for this show as there is so much cool stuff to clap your eyes on here, Roll on 2018.

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The Color scheme worked out well on this, sits well and has a great rake to it, digging the lake style pipes and the long Stainless spear gives the body a really long flow, skirts were awesome.

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Yeah I have seen many Yellow coupes in the past but this really sat well on 16 inch Blackwalls and the Black 32 Grill set up was a great choice, Id love it and am sure you would too?

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So many great rides here, I would love to take ANY one of these back home to my place, I really did like the proportions of this 5 window and the Motor detailing really dig set this off from many.

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Right here, this was the Killer machine for me, look how sweet this Roadster is, I have always liked Blue, I built a flat Blue 29 roadster about 12 years ago, but this is right all over the place.

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Look at that, lovely eh? Belond headers, Canadian heads, Thickston high rise intake Manifold, Dual Carbs with whispering velocity stacks and check out that over flow tank too.

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Such a great Hot Rod, Crestliner steering wheel, 39 box with swan neck, Early Race gauges, Deco control switch panel was just something I could not stop looking at, so much was right on the money here.

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Sorry for the blurry photo, too excited I guess, what a wicked ride and would of loved to have seen this on the road as I bet it is a real fun jalopy to bimble about on the roads with.

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Another quality Channeled machine, right out of Rodders journal for me, awesome job on detail and loved the louvers in the hood and that dropped headlight bar sure is wicked, brilliant. I then realized it was a buddy of mines Roadster, Tom Branch from Pasadena, love the whole family and true Hot Rodders they go the whole 9 yards.

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Keith Weesner’s Roadster Many years ago, I was always amazed by this ride and loved seeing it at all the shows many years ago, it just had everything right about it and sat so well.

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Then unfortuantly a buddy of his was driving this to a show when someone hit him, hard- Sending Aaron into the air breaking his ribs and other injuries, the Roadster was in bad shape and so was aaron, but, pleased to say both repaired and to see this Roadster again after all this years, was almost a tear up moment.

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Well done Keith a brilliant machine and so stoked to see her back up and running again and looking a little more completed too, will always love this Hot Rod and this made my whole weekend seeing this Roadster.

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A superb job putting this all straight and getting this all back together, took time, patience, hard earned money and many many hours of labor but boy did it come out stunning, just real sweet.

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I looked out for Keith but he was busy running around being congratulated for sure to seeing his original Roadster now resurrected and back to be a driven Burbank Choppers Hot Rod.

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So, here it is all fixed and boy does it look a million dollars, I am truly stoked for your Keith and know that you smile every time you turn that key and hear that Flathead V8 fire back into life again.

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Saw this little 5 window Baking in the Sun in its Flat Black coat of paint, wasn’t until I looked at the photos I noticed it had a Cam shaft as a spreader bar, its all in the details eh?

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I didnt get as cool as a shot as I was hoping but this sure had a lot of work done and I had not seen this car before so had to take a shot, albeit it came out a little dark but nice to see.

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So many cars had flaked tops this year, great to see and people really have no idea on how hard it is to sand, mask and paint roofs, but loved looking at these on a sunny day here.

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From one flake ride to another that had the whole body sprayed with so much flake, I think it may of even reflected to the Sun and blinded it, this must of taken month to paint to this level.

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the devils in the Details and look how detailed and perfect this is, the lines across the hood to the fender line up just right, kudos to the painter and I hope a well deserved tip and crate of beer.

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More Low riders but this time in one of the halls that were located inside the fair grounds, a little more cooler but hell, the humidity was off the bloody hook in there.

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This Banana Painted 58 Impala was tricked out and had all the cool accessories of the day in it as well, you would not lose this in a parking lot thats for certain.

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How tough was this Merc? My mate Kevan Sledge builds wicked sleds like this and it reminded of my days hanging with the Shifters, this had a great look to it and I bet it looks great going down the highway as it just sat so nice on the ground.

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I have always loved Burgundy, mostly because the Fords had this color but it sure looks so fitting on this Bow tie, nice ride and has the old school accents of Appleton’s and Skirts to finish it off.

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I dig this Apache, I would just drive the 5 spokes off it as it right now, and still enough room for parts to throw in the bed, big strong Chevy Pick ups look great like this and the owner nailed it.

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What a colorful and cool line up of Rides here in one spot, so many great machines were parked all over the fair grounds and it was sweet to be able to get up so close and personal.

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Been a while since I have been to a show , where I have falling in love with so many rides, but there were so many cool builds this year and it was a thrill to be able to walk around and check them out this weekend, I really did have a great time checking everything out at Ventura.

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Blue skies, Palm trees, Great rides, cold beverages, and great music was the order of the day here and so much of it, this is no small show by any means and one of the friendliest too.

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Loved the work on this Pontiac, flows so well and the subtle antenna tunnel came out so well on the hood, I was very impressed with this car and was glad I took a photo to share with you lot.

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Little Flatty Powered Model T Roadster was sat here, Sun bathing in the Saturday sun, dont see too many T’s around these days and this look like a fun ride to Blap about in on weekends.

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Dont see too many wagons either, loved the pun on the Mothers name too. Probably the last time I clap my eyes on one of these as you really don’t seem them about on the roads any more.

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At least some of you lot found some shade to relax and kick back, we saw quite a few friends and was a great meeting place to just catch up on times gone by.

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So many great Pick Ups this year too, I loved this stepside with the little Monkey bike in the back, perfect set up for going to swap meets, this sat so well and was pretty darn straight too.

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Chevys and Palm tree’s, yup, we sure are in California and not a cloud in the sky, with a nice breeze from the Sea, made this show a big hit yet again, so many great Machines made the trip.

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There was also a few Barber shops on hand to give you a trim or a shave, and this 58 F150 looked really good sat in front of its Polished Airstream trailer that is turned into a Barber shop.

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There was plenty of customers and this was not the only barber shop here, such a fun place and a good Vibe by all, this made for a Brilliant event and hope you lot may make it next year?

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Check out this Little Bambi trailer, all decked out, get your hair cut or buy your Pomade, it was all good and friendly atmosphere, loved it all as I used to restore travel trailers in 2000.

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This one was another full on barber shop and business was good, I wish I had thought of this years ago when I restored these but great to see this being popular and thumbs up to everyone.

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That is one Happy Customer there sending love to me for taking the shot, These Airstreams are becoming quite popular and I hope to get one for the roadster one of these days.

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Support your barbers, its a great trade to have and what better way to get your Noggin freshened up than in one of these shiny time capsules, your head or beard will love you for it.

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Yep, this is the Ventura Nationals alright, cool Customs in California Sunshine by the beach.

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Wow, I took more photos than I thought, I have to stop for a while and rest my poor fingers from all this typing, but hope you have enjoyed at least some of the snaps I managed to take for you.

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Mind Blown, what a sweet ride, on the floor and is as smooth as a babies bum, loved the Gold Pearl and I am sure it was smooth to drive to Ventura as well, Love seeing all this in one place.

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Back side shot and so impressive to see, these really are true works of art, love the way they have laid the rear windshield back like Anthony Castaneda used to build, reminded me of that great guy.

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I see this truck a lot up by my warehouse in Norwalk, I think the fella is called danny and this must of been built 15-20 years ago and still going strong today, such a killer looking ride.

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The amount of cool rides this year was outstanding, the body work on these rides are so smooth, just many hours of sanding, filling, painting and of course sweating, trying to get the lines to flow.

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There were too many to have a favorite but I personally would of loved to have ANY one of these rides, look at this 53, I mean its so sweet, love the Stainless Trim and the tight bumper guard.

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Palm trees line the road into the show and Blue skies with a slight Sea Breeze was really welcomed, so much to see and a really cool Vibe with the Music going, food Cooking and people laughing, that stood out to me, as everyone was having a great time and enjoying this passion we have with old tin.

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Easy ups all over the place, people were all happy, and more than willing to chat about their ride etc, if you can get to this show out here in Ventura, you will really enjoy yourselves .

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You will be surprised as to how many vehicles are at this show, it winds itself around the 2 main Halls and spreads over the entire fairgrounds in all corners too, so much stuff to check out.

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The Big Guns sitting in the Grass look somewhat content to bask in the Sun, to the left was where Vendors were selling their wares and plenty to choose from and great to support them too.

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We spent quite some time walking about and taking in everything, met quite a few friends that I had not seen in a long time, thats another great thing about these shows, its an awesome place to chinwag with buddies from afar and see what they have been up too etc.

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Super nice Step Side that would make for one very cool Shop Truck- Parts Getter etc, I saw a lot of step sides this year, always great to see these work horses still on the tarmac.

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This Thunderbird reminded me of a Gene Winfield-Larry Watson styled Kustom, these cars are so comfortable to drive and it must of been such a nice Cruise on the way to the show in this.

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This was another head turner for me as so much work involved to get this ride to look as cool as it does now, I cant wait to see the Color scheme when all completed, thats a wowza!!!

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So many great Colors and wheel combinations, took this photo as we walked to the back part of the show, more tarmac there and even more vehicles to have a good look at and enjoy.

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Walked by Chevy Corner, Nice rides spread out all over the place and seemed like everybody was having a blast hanging out and meeting new friends in this part of the show grounds.

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Also a good thing about this event is some of these vehicles are for sale, and what better way to check a ride out to purchase than here, I saw many great machines available to buy.

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This was looking good and, by the color of the Dash , it could be painted a really deep Candy Purple and I am digging that,Love the tail lights, the rear trunck and Bumper set up on this.

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Come in Number 9, your time is up, this 5 window sits well and dorns an early 21 stud flatty for its mill, cool 50’s style Hot Rod thats was nice to see hanging out with everyone.

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Plenty of cool Fords to take a gander at as well, this hot day was getting hotter, but we nipped into the Hall to cool off and then came back out, the trick is to make sure you Hydrate here.

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Here is the Raffle Car, money goes towards the Children’s Project and a very worthy cause, I wonder who won this as it was stunning to see in its deep Blue paint, sweet ride for sure.

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To get this to have Suicide doors takes a lot of time and patience and this paid off big time, just look at the detail in this machine, although them Velocity stacks on that coupe is grabbing your eye too I am sure?

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Look from this side and even more great Custom Body work was achieved, so many hours in this car, I just had to stop for a bit and take it all in, Machete is a great title for the car.

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Take a look at this Roadster, thats sure is a sweet ride, sits well, awesome finish, show standard, but is that the owner? He is HUUGE!

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if you have a Dictionary by you, look up Bitching Kustom Coupe and I bet this ride pops up, what a wicked Kustom,whats not to like about this 5 window, even the color is right on the money.

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Just something about an Early Cadillac that turns my dial, the color also enhances its appeal too, how great would this be to cruise Route 66 and ride in pure style and comfort.

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This warrants another look but from the Arse end, look at those lines, the long swooping rear fenders to a small shark fin, the wrap around bumpers and huge trunk lid its just perfect for me.

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I love Blue Suede more than Carl Perkins and Elvis, and this owner does too, what a wicked low and sleek machine, this 2 door post looks like its a mile long, perfect roof chop too.

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More Teeth than Liberace, this Bow tie was Clean as a new washing machine, Desoto grills are a hard item to locate these days, nice to see a lot of traditional styling on the rides out there.

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Guys heading home and I am sure they had a really cool time at the Ventura Nationals, this is a fun place to come and visit, see if you lot can make it out here next year and say hello.

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Not too many Motorcycle this year but thats probably as Born Free was only on a few weeks earlier, but, what was on show here were really cool, check out the finned gas tank.

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This was the show stopper for me, what a wicked Trumpy, loved everything about this machine, reversed head is a nice touch and the dump tube exhaust is Killer.

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Another great Bobber, Triumphs really do make great Custom machines and this has a ton of work too, great to see these here and they got a lot of attention parked up here.

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Always dig these machines and hard to find these days, I wanted one of these as a kid but out of my price range back then and sweet to see here in Ventura with the other cool Motorcycles.

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This years show was superb, Jennifer even found some very cool Tropical flower head pieces at one booth.

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Check out some of the cool hand made flower accessories that this Booth makes and sells and all from California as well.  I took a few snaps just to show how very detailed these accessories were and worth the money, these are not easy to make.

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Below is some photos I took as this show is for everyone, so only fair that the Girls get a look at some of the stuff available at the Ventura nationals event.

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See how detailed they are, very Tropical and as Jennifer is Hawaiian, this really suits her and love to see ANY Polynesian art or crafts that has that 50’s styling and this was certainly it.

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The One above is the style Jennifer liked, so she bought that and I like the fact that these are hand made and really exotic, none of that cheap paper stuff from Taiwan.

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So next year, bring ya Girlie out as there were all sorts of things from clothes to bags to Sun Glasses, something for everyone and I know you would all enjoy the shows Vendors here.

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One of my best buddies and one of the first guys I met when I moved to these great shores in 2000, Patrick has always been cool and loves everyone, he was running the Splinter Nationals and a fun thing to get into, Love ya Pat.

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Cant go without seeing this Original Roadster thats been in a few movies back in the day, so cool to see this, what a wicked find this must of been to get it as the original Hot Rod.

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Would of loved to have heard this Roadster fire up, I have seen the movies and even had a few lobby cards of this Roadster back in the Uk in the early 1980’s, who’d of thought I would be seeing this in the flesh, such a bitchin machine and so glad we attended the show.

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So, we left the building and headed for home, what a great Saturday we had, saw so many great cars and Motorcycles, awesome vendors and met super cool people, so until next time.

We head home on the freeway and look forward to the next show in a years time, hope that you can make it as well. Thanks for reading my Blog, hope that you enjoyed it?

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Life behind Bars

Well, 17 years seems to have flown by and here I am, still playing with two wheeled contraptions.

As a kid , I was fascinated with Motorbikes and at any opportunity I would drop everything to watch , hear or just read about these mechanical machines.

I have lived all over the world and seen some fantastic motorcycles and knew that one day I would be lucky enough to reside in the United States of America .

So, in 2000 I entered California and the first Motorcycle I created was a 1976 CB750 of which I gave the Cafe Racer styling.

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The livery was in the style of the 1970’s Formula 1 John Player Special Team of Gold and Black.

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This motorcycle caused a huge stir in the American Motorcycle community and put me on the map as as Motorcycle designer and builder.

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17 years later and my 50th creation is almost completed , I wanted to build another CB750 and this time use some crazy Candy flake colors of which covered most of the Hondas of SOHC guise.

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This time I chose a 1975 CB750F model Super Sport and went with a Black Wrinkle Finish Engine, Dressed out with Stainless Steel Allen Head Bolts throughout.

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I also designed a Brand New 4 into 1 Exhaust System that made the Header pipes swing out to the right hand side and then tightly under the chassis and a unique short turn out tail pipe.

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I took the stock gas tank and cut out the filler neck and welded it flat, then welded a Harley Gas Cap bung in its place to give this tank a cool smooth appearance .

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Next up I took some 18 Gauge steel and hand bent the seat base to the style I was looking for, then I cut another piece of steel into a half circle and hand pounded it on a sand bad and then used my Air Plenisher and shaped it into a cowl, then tig welded to seat base, once that was done I then cut a teardrop shape out of the rear of that cowl, to allow for a unique Tailight for the bike.

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I upholstered this seat base with Brown Naugahyde and did tuck n roll design.

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I rebuilt the front forks and machined the  lowers to have finned grooves in them, rebuilt the front and rear wheels with polished Hubs and stainless Steel spokes and shoved New Rubber on them.

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With 14.5 inch New Shocks makes sure the rear end keeps smooth and some Italian Rear sets clamp tightly to the frame. But still More to do and wanted to show you some progress photos, Hope you like what I am doing here, a little out there but, that makes it more fun. Stay tuned to my Blogs on more as I will ALWAYS be messing around with 2 wheeled Machines.

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The Crap people put up for Auction on Ebay make me laugh!

Howdy all

Well just a quickie today but I tell ya, just when i think I have seen it all on the infamous Ebay site, someone has to top it and this one is sure one of the best.

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I usually look for a few parts for a Honda if I am rebuilding it and do not have my own private stash to grab hold of, so I start to search for a Left side Stator cover and bugger me, I almost pissed out my own prostate Gland right through my Boxers.  Have you seen anything as bad as this for sale?  Jeez, the guy is explaining that’s it is a deal.

Thought that you all may get a kick out of all that you see there, not sure how the guy sleeps at night to be honest.

I have seen plenty of snot on the Ebay site and the guy who is Auctioning this off must be high, and if some one buys it, they must be using the same Bong!

Just wanted to share with you and at $35.00 yeah what a deal.

That is all, carry on!!!

 

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1977-Honda-Cb750k-Engine-Cover-Left-Stator-Generator-Magneto-Cb750-Cb-750-750k-/152553409617?hash=item2384e44c51:g:5WUAAOSwhQhYztNf&vxp=mtr