Dar Holdsworth won a cup for third place for his Military-inspred Brass Balls Bobber motorbike.

Dar was gracious and humbled to to recieve an award at the World Championships.

The World Championship of Custom Bike Building began over a year ago with a series of 12 Affiliate shows, covering four continents and an estimated over 2,000 competitors. This year’s show was held at Champions Hall in the heart of Sturgis, South Dakota.

The military Digger represents the arm services of America. It’s painted army green with splashes of vivid colors. It embodies an old skool look with state-of-the-art features.

This bike is a 2008 Military “Digger” Goose Neck frame that is 40 degree, 0 up and 1 out. It’s powder coated CLEAR to show off the welds and the fabrication work by Master Builder, Sam Wills. It features a Crazy Horse 100 inch V Plus motor, 2 inch Tauer Warlord primary, Crime Scene Rapide air cleaner and headlight. Paint was designed and provided by Jeral Tidwell. The foot controls were constructed from 1918 Trench Warefare knives, Sam created a custom P-51-style exhaust, Leroy Thompson provided signature series grips and Hawg Halters supplied black hand controls.

When the event was all over, there were a total of nine builders from the United States finishing in the top 20, and builders from nine different countries representing the top 20 finishers.

Build Your Own Digger
Got an itch to build your own Brass Balls Bobbers’ Digger? Well you can! Create your own custom motorbike by clicking here. Select your options and customize your sled and make it as unique as you are.

D&D builds bagger pipes that increase performance and economy. For 2008 D&D designed a set of slip-ons that are proven economy and performance winners. For sheer performance fun D&D has created a set of high performance 2 into 1 pipes called Fat Cats that pump out the power.

The Performance Solution
Big power needs big stepped exhaust pipes. That’s why D&D builds Boarzilla pipes for big-inch engines and Fat Cat pipes for mildly modifed engines that are looking for more power. D&D pipes offer just the right rumble and are built with show-quality chrome. To get the inside scoop move your mouse to www.danddexhaust.com.

The Economy Solution
Exhaust pipe manufacturer D&D saw a need to improve performance and economy in a package that is economical for the Harley rider. The results are in… 6.3 mpg and 10 HP increase over stock. Details are just a click away.

Just in from Da Boss, Dar Holdsworth. He entered the World Championships and his Military Bobber came in 3rd.

He also attended Bikernet Brouhaha! and came bck with a number of snaps from the event. Checkout his Sturgis pictures and Bobber by clicking here.

Two clever Canadian teen-scientists have built a bizarre, eco-friendly electric bike which runs on principals similar to those of the Segway — but looks way cooler.
The motorcycle is propelled by leaning forward; the further you do so, the faster you go. Similarly, the driver simply leans back to slow down and leans left or right to steer those directions.

The only control is an on/off switch. Top speed is around 60 kph, although it’s only optimized for about 25 kph. Enough to get around town, at least.

This futuristic electric UniCycle is in its third incarnation which recently made its debut at the 2008 National Motorcycle Show in Toronto. It now sports custom made wheels, a new body and engine upgrades.

Inspiration
Just before his plane dipped into the clouds above Beijing International Airport two years ago, Ben Gulak caught the last clear view of the sun that he would see for two weeks.

On the ground, the 17-year-old, who was on a family trip to China, quickly spotted a source for much of the thick haze hanging over the city: smog-spewing motorbikes. Thousands of them, everywhere.

“Right then,” he says, “I decided that I wanted to create an alternative mode of transportation, something clean and compact.”

Hall of fame – motorcycle icon Malcolm Smith from the legendary film On Any Sunday joined his courageous friend, Brenda Fox to lead the “Every Woman Counts” Bike for Breast Cancer Awareness Ride in Sturgis.

This year’s ride and charity auction proceeds will assist Brenda Fox in getting through this difficult time, allowing the industry to give back to the woman who has helped so many motorcycle builders and parts manufacturers.

The ride was an off-the-beaten-path adventure through the Black Hills region.

‘This project gives me a platform to get stronger and turn my situation around for a great cause,” she said . “I love life on two wheels and I am so thankful I can enjoy the journey of the ride with others.

“The motorcycle industry gave me support when my life crashed. I look forward to raising awareness for the Every Woman Counts Cancer program and this ride will allow us to reach out to a much bigger crowd.”

In addition to the ride there were a number of scheduled events.

Laura Klock, of KlockWerks Kustom Cycles shared riding tips for the racer or the daily rider

Jody Perewitz of Perewitz Cycle Fabrication will guide bike owners from all levels of experience through motorcycle maintenance and customizations that anyone can do for themselves

Pit-bike races for women throughout the day for women involved in the motorcycle industry. Laura Klock, Jody Perewitz, Jessi Combs of Extreme 4×4, female builders, promoters, and magazine writers.

Brenda Fox, is a motorcycle journalist and spokesperson for women in motorcycling. Brenda has been battling breast cancer and rising medical bills.

You can WIN this Brass Balls Bobbers / IronWorks Magazine giveaway by clicking here for details.

You can’t officially begin a bike project until you’ve got a place to hang all the bits and pieces. That, of course, means you must start with a frame, and that’s where Part 1 of our giveaway project bike begins. Like all of Brass Balls Bobbers’ frames, this essential foundation for our bike is made of hand-bent tubing that’s hand-fit and hand-welded by a team boasting years of experience at this sort of thing.

In fact, BBB’s frame production is managed by Sam Wills, a 3-time world champion in Top Fuel drag racing. Sam’s been building race bikes and street bikes for 30 years, so he knows a thing or three about frame geometry and material selection.

The accompanying photos and captions explain how each frame—in this case our giveaway bike’s frame—is made.

Brass Balls CNC-machines all motor mounts, tranny plates, axle mounts and steering heads. All material used is either cold-finished flat stock or tubing. All tubes are precisely measured and bent by hand.

All frame tubes are made of high-content carbon (for stronger welds) 1026 DOM (drawn over mandrel) mild steel with .156” wall thickness. The backbone is 1-1/2” diameter, all other tubing is 1”.

The frame tubes are notched so the rear axle plates seat inside the tube before it is welded on both sides. This gives the frame greater strength, especially at the rigid tail section where torque is felt most.

To assure accuracy and straightness, the crew at Brass Balls Bobbers precisely measure all the dimensions, including the axle plates as shown here.

Welding the steering head is a critical step because correct steering geometry is so important to a bike’s handling performance. All parts are TIG welded by hand to assure complete heat penetration for strength.

We want you to be able to register and insure your bike, so like all Brass Balls bikes, this one will come with a vehicle identification number (VIN), which is stamped into the frame.

We always appreciate quality workmanship. Here we get a close-up look at the weld joints of our giveaway bike. If there’s ever a case for “no paint,” this is it!

You can WIN this Brass Balls Bobbers / IronWorks Magazine giveaway by clicking here for details.

Dan Gurney, the legendary Formula One racer and car-builder

This is the first photo showing the S & S powered Gator with a 111 cubic inch EVO/twin cam style engine. 3 prototypes of this configuration are presently under construction, 2 of which will have S & S 124 cubic inch engines.

Three different bodywork versions are being designed right now. The bikes have rubber mounted engines with 6 speed gearboxes and belt drive. Weight: 226 kg, 60″ wheelbase and 5 US gallon fuel capacity and S & S fuel injection.

The 36 Limited Edition “Grand Prix” Gurney – Alligators, introduced two and a half years ago, have been sold out. A few units which were kept in reserve are presently being completed for in-house use. Alligators have been bought by collectors, museums and motorcycle riders throughout the United States. This special series of production Alligators with modified fuel injected Honda 4 stroke single engines will never be repeated, making the handcrafted carbon fiber 36 Limited Edition models in their blue and white livery true collectors’ items.

Eddie Lawson
4-time Grand Prix Motorcycle World Champion and ALLIGATOR Test Rider

“The thing our Grand Prix bikes had the most trouble with, this bike does well.”

The Gurney–Gator with its awesome acceleration and unique low center of gravity, looks and feels like nothing else on the road. It produces a high degree of riding confidence and security with a fabulous fun factor, combining nostalgia with 21 century technology. The Gator concept has been called “revolutionary” and “unorthodox”. MOTORCYCLIST Magazine called it “outrageous, unexpected and completely original. Absolutely, unmistakably Gurney. If the modern sport bike were introduced today, after a century of riding Alligators, it might not go over well at all.”

While the 36 models were being built by AAR craftsmen like Phil Remington, Butch Wilson, the late Jimmy Thrall, Bob Marker, Howard Monise and others; Dan Gurney has been working on a new prototype using the Alligator concept with a S & S V-twin engine. The first prototype of this new model will soon be fired up for the first time. Manufacturing opportunities are being explored and evaluated at present.

Perry King
Hollywood Actor and Expert Rider

“Riding a GATOR is the most fun I’ve ever had on a motorcycle and I have been riding for 38 years. I think the design is as big a breakthrough as when they put the motor in the back of a race car at Indy, and didn’t Dan have something to do with that too? ONE ride, and I plunked my money down to buy one as soon as possible.”

Dan Gurney Alligator Motorcycles, Inc.

Corporate Offices:
2334 S. Broadway, Santa Ana, CA 92707-0186
Tel. (714)540-1771 Fax: (714)540-3749

Restored by Von Dutch for Steve McQueen

A Scott Super Squirrel, the ahead-of-its-time liquid-cooled vertical twin two-stroke produced in the 1920s and early ’30s, is a pretty impressive piece all by itself.

But on a scale of 1 to 10, this particular Super Squirrel goes all the way to 11.

That’s because not only is it a well-restored example of one of the most technologically advanced machines of its day, but it was restored and pinstriped by none other than Kenny Howard–the legendary “Von Dutch,” who helped bring pinstriping and custom car culture to the fore in the 1950s and ’60s.

Not over-the-top enough for you? How about the fact that its former owner is none other than Steve McQueen?

The allure of this bike starts with the Scott marque itself, which produced motorcycles so far ahead of their time that it’s hard not to label them technological oddities. By the time the Super Squirrel debuted in 1924, when most motorcycles had heavy air-cooled four-stroke engines and solid forks, the Scott boasted a two-stroke motor, water cooling and telescopic forks.

The Super Squirrel traces its roots to 1908, when Alfred Angas Scott built the first Scott motorcycle, a 333cc water-cooled two-stroke twin. In one form or another over the years, Scotts earned a reputation for speed, winning the Isle of Man Senior TT in 1912 and 1913.

Perhaps it was this legacy of performance that prompted Von Dutch to throw himself into the restoration of this model. A well-known customizer and one of the icons of 1960s “Kar Kulture,” Von Dutch applied his legendary pin-striping and painting skills to the Scott. The design even features the famed flying eyeball logo that was Von Dutch’s signature.

Once restored, the bike found its way into the garage of Steve McQueen, who was as serious about motorcycles and racing as he was about acting.

Eventually, the bike came full circle. It was gifted back to Von Dutch by McQueen prior to the actor’s death, and then eventually sold to a collector in California. Its most recent owner, Tonny Sorensen, who owns the rights to the Von Dutch name and built a fashion company around it, purchased the Scott at auction in 2007.

Now, thanks to Sorensen, you can see the Super Squirrel up close and personal as part of the new “MotoStars: Celebrities + Motorcycles” exhibit at the Museum.

Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum – Priceless machines, exclusive memorabilia and tales from celebrities’ favorite two-wheel adventures. Museum visitors will find these private glimpses into the community of motorcycling especially compelling.
On display through February 2009

Throughout history, motorcycles have played a starring role in the public and private lives of a significant number of celebrities and personalities. Whether they are adventure tourers, collectors, builders or ambassadors of the sport, each MotoStar has a unique story to tell about what fueled their interest and love for riding.

Notable celebrities offering personal motorcycles and memorabilia to the exhibit include:

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Auto racing legend Dan Gurney
General Motors Vice Chairman Bob Lutz
Jeff Lacy, super middleweight boxing star
Wally Dallenbach, Sr., champion race car driver
“King of the Kustomizers” George Barris
“Rush” drummer and lyricist, Neil Peart

“Motorcycling, whether an occasional hobby or lifelong obsession, has always connected individuals from very different walks of life,” says Mederski. “Whether you work in a factory, the corporate suite, or on a Hollywood set, you’ll always have a shared bond and make new friends if you spend time on two wheels.”

Famous movie bikes include the 2004 MV Agusta F4-SPR ridden by Will Smith in “I, Robot” and the LAPD bike from “Terminator 2: Judgment Day”.

Dan Gurney, the legendary Formula One & Indy Car racer and car-builder, was celebrating his birthday at lunch a few years ago at his favorite restaurant when he heard the distinctive sound of a British-built single-cylinder motor outside.

“I looked out, and there was someone on a Manx Norton, wearing a pudding-bowl helmet,” Gurney recalls. “I went outside with the idea of looking at it and listening to it, and the next thing I know, it’s my son, Justin, riding it, and he’s giving it to me as a birthday present!”

It was the quintessential British road-racer in the ’30s. But it didn’t conquer America until 1949. That’s the year famed Norton factory tuner Francis Beart showed up at Daytona for the 200-mile beach race with three secret weapons: all Manx Nortons.

When it comes to vintage racing, few bikes are more iconic than the Manx Norton. The bikes started life as Norton Internationals, but were re-tuned from the factory for the singular purpose of racing on the Isle of Man in the Manx TT, the most prestigious race of its time.

Source: American Motorcyclist
Read Entire Article: www.motorcyclemuseum.org

http://www.motorcyclemuseum.org/exhibits/Motostars/Motostars.asp