Anyone Recognize this Bike?

One of the benefits of writing about these vintage drag bikes, is that a few people are beginning to contact me with pictures and info on early racers they know about. Recently I have had a couple of such contacts; one with the son of a famous '50s era racer, and another from a reader that owns a 50's era racer. This post is about the latter.

Ron first contacted me by phone some time ago, and told me about a Knuckle drag bike that he had acquired. Now he has sent me some pictures and agreed that it would be worth a shot for me to write about it in the hope that someone would be able to provide more info on the bike.

The info Ron has is pretty sketchy. The bike was apparently found in the back of a machine shop in West Virginia where it had languished for the last 30 years or so. As the story goes, the owner of the machine shop, someone known as "Little John", was also the owner/builder of the bike. That is about all Ron knows of its history, since the bike passed through several hands between when it was sold at auction less than a year ago, and his acquisition of it.

Let me tell you though, it is an absolute jewel (albeit a jewel in the rough)! Ron's plans are to do a mechanical restoration of it, preserving the patina. A man after my own heart.

So, if anyone out there can shed any light on this piece of history, please contact me so I can pass the info on to Ron.

GREEN?

I find myself submersed in this nation's biggest and most popular religious holy day; Global Scam Day, more often referred to as Earth Day.

Thinking about Earth day and its associated zombie like followers, brought to mind a small incident from a month or so back. I was in my full size GM (Government Motors) pickup truck with its gas guzzling 5.7 V8. On my way to work, I happened to find myself at a stoplight beside a little cracker box car which was all painted up in various shades of green. The signage on the car indicated that it was part of an "Eco Friendly" package delivery service. I can hardly describe how impressed I was with the obvious attempt to save the world from humanity.

As a matter of fact, I was so impressed, that I decided to show my enthusiasm. For the duration of the red light, I continually gunned the 350 cubic inches of Detroit cast iron. And I don't just mean tapping the throttle. No, I mean gunning the engine as though I was in the staging lanes at a drag strip, ready to make a record attempt! I am sure the glass packs on my truck allowed the driver next to me to share in my jubilation. Some might even call it "noise pollution."

Of course, after this show of braggadocio, there was no way to end it except in a haze of tire smoke as the light turned green. Chirping the tires as I banged second gear put a smile on my face that lasted most of the day. The smile ....partly from the adrenaline of using a big V8 the way it was meant to be used, and partly from the satisfaction of knowing that I had likely used up as many resources in my short tirade as my audience's Eco box would in the next several days!

Knuckle Dragger Taking Shape

Yes, its official. The "period correct" drag bike now has a name. Thanks to all of you who left suggestions for a name. In the end, Paul, who was the first to submit a name, was the winner with his second suggestion. Paul, please email me at lee@leesspeedshop.com so I can arrange to send your prize.

The name "The Knuckle Dragger" immediately caught my attention as soon as it was suggested. What I really like about the name is that it fits on a few different levels. First is the obvious. The bike is a Knucklehead and its use is for dragging. Secondly, since it is to be period correct for the 1950s, it will be simple (crude you might say, at least by today's standards) but with a lot of brute power. That kind of fits with the caricature I have in my mind of a Big ol' gorilla with its muscular arms so long that his knuckles literally do drag on the ground. The final reason that I like the name is the least obvious, but maybe the coolest. What got this whole ball rolling was my acquisition of some parts from Don Jone's 1950 Knuckle drag bike which was nicknamed "The Gorilla." Get it? Gorilla.... Knuckle Dragger. The fact that I will be using the original transmission from "The Gorilla" in "The Knuckle Dragger" kind of ties things all together and just somehow fits into my sense of honoring the pioneers of the sport.

I just got the VL frame back from my good friend John at PMFR As can be seen in the above picture, the Knuckle motor does not fit in the VL frame without modifications. One frame tube runs right through where three of the rocker arms need to be. Luckily John is an absolute ace frame man. He fabbed a new tube to clear the rockers, as well as adding a fork stop, an anchor for the steering damper, some gussets to the rear motor mount, and modified the rear brake anchor to fit the FL wheel.

John didn't use a TIG, because that weld would not have looked period correct. Cool, huh?

Fork stop is somewhat crude to imitate what may have been done 60 years ago

Brake anchor only needed to be widened to fit Knuckle brake backing plate

The Resurrection

It has been said that the resurrection of Jesus Christ is the most significant event in the history of the world. If you are a Christian, then you will probably agree with that assessment.


Matthew 28:1-6 "In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre. And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it. His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow: And for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men. And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified. He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. "


This is one the four separate accounts from the Gospels. It has also been said that the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead is one of the best documented events of ancient history. A miracle, to be sure, but not the only recorded instance of someone coming to life again after dieing. We have the case of Elijah raising the young boy from the dead in the Old Testament. You remember the story. Elijah had been staying with a woman and her son. She had only a handful of meal and little oil, but it miraculously never ran out. Eventually the boy took sick and died, but by the power of God, Elijah raised the boy back to life. Some years later, Elisha performed a similar miracle in raising a young boy who had died from a head injury.
Shortly before his own resurrection, Jesus himself brought his friend Lazarus back to life. Lazarus had been ill, and Jesus seemingly "dragged his feet" in going to him on his sickbed, where his disciples apparently expected a healing to occur. Instead they arrived after Lazarus had been dead for long enough that as it is described in the KJV "he stinketh."


If, then, the resurrection of Jesus Christ was not a unique event in history, why do so many claim that it was the most significant? For that answer we have to understand the significance of his death. The death of Jesus Christ was not significant because of his death on a cross, for many men were crucified in Jesus day. No, Jesus death on the cross was significant because of who he was and why he was being killed.


Christ Jesus is that spotless lamb of God who was slaughtered as a payment for our sins. During the crucifixion, God the father poured out his wrath on his beloved Son just as though it was he that had committed all of our sins. That is what makes the resurrection of Christ so important. It is the proof given to all of us that his suffering and death was an acceptable payment for our sins.


But there is one more piece of information that we may be overlooking as to why the suffering, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ is the most significant event in history. Sin! Sin is the reason that the suffering, death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ had to take place. The reason for the event is often passed over lightly, or even ignored. The term "sin" will likely evoke one of several responses when it is brought up. Some will be indifferent to the term "sin", seeing it as an archaic concept, with no relationship to modern life. Others will find the mention of sin to be uncomfortable or even offensive. Immediately they will feel that they are being judged. And for a few, the mention of sin will bring conviction. There is a fine line between the latter two. The source of the emotions may be the same (the conscience) but the results are a world apart.


Few, it seems, have much idea what the origins of this word "sin" is. The words that are translated as "sin" in the Bible mean to "miss" or "to fall short." That doesn't sound so serious now, does it? And it wouldn't be, if it were man's standards that we were falling short of. But that is not the case. Taking sin "lightly" is a result of taking God lightly. It is a result of a lack of understanding the holiness of God. Until you start to get a glimpse of God's holiness, none of this "suffering, death, burial, and resurrection" of Jesus Christ can be of much meaning to you. because "sin " will not have much meaning to you. Every place in the Bible that we see a man get a glimpse of God's holiness, we see them taking it very seriously. Isaiah fell to his face and despaired that he was a man of unclean lips. Upon seeing "the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the Lord," Ezekiel fell on his face. John says in the book of Revelation, that when he saw Christ in his glory, he fell at his feet as dead. If you do not take sin seriously, then it is because you have no grasp of the holiness or the glory of God.


Do you want to know what you are falling short of? God has spelled it out very clearly. The ten commandments are a good place to start. Go to Exodus 20 and see for yourself. Thou shalt have no other God's, thou shalt not take the Lord's name in vain, thou shalt not steal, thou shalt not commit adultery, thou shalt not covet; those are just few of them.


The Bible teaches us that we are all sinners, and for some of us that fact is a comfort of sorts. "We're all in this boat together, so its no big deal if I am a sinner" But the truth is, God does not deal with us as a group with respect to sin. He deals with us as individuals. Did you notice how those commandments began with the pronoun "thou." Thou is singular. It means you as an individual. If God had meant the commandments to apply to us as a group, he would have said "ye."



I believe that standing before God on judgment day will be a very lonely place. Just you and your sin in front of a God that is Holy. Lonely, that is, unless you have an advocate. One to stand up for you and say "he is guilty, but I have paid the price for his falling short. I have lived a life in which I never fell short of God the Father's expectations even once, and I did it in this sinners place. I have purchased him with the price of my blood. He is mine." Yes, the judgment will be a very lonely place for many, but not so if you belong to Jesus!


If you belong to Jesus, then his resurrection is the most significant event in history! It is your proof that his suffering and death on the cross as a payment for your sins is acceptable to God.

(This post is from the message I gave at Valley View Baptist's most recent service at Friendship Manor. If you ever have the opportunity to get involved in a ministry to a nursing home, don't miss the chance. The residents are incredibly happy to have visitors and many of them expressed their thanks for us coming to them since they are unable to go out to attend church services.)

2009 Donnie Smith Bike Show

If you live in Minnesota or the surrounding states, and are into Harleys, then you probably have already heard of the Donnie Smith Bike Show that is held in St. Paul each spring. As always, it is a premier event held at River Centre in St. Paul. For more info go to the show web site

As I predicted, this is a very busy week. Today (Wednesday) will be my last day in the shop this week. Thursday and Friday I will be at River Centre helping with the off loading and set up for the bike show. The promoter of the event, Neil Ryan, is a friend, so I like to lend a hand. Saturday and Sunday will find me in a booth at the show promoting Lee's Speed Shop. If you are in the area, stop by and say hello.

Sunday morning before the show opens to the public, the St. Cloud chapter of the Bond Slaves Motorcycle Club holds a short worship service for the vendors and show participants. Some years it has been only me and a half dozen club members, but last year there was a pretty good size turn out for the service. Join me there if you can.

East Coast Nostalgia Drags

I have been totally swamped for the last couple weeks, and it looks to continue that way for the next couple, so not much time for writing. However, I just received this from Mel Stultz, and thought that if any of you readers are on the east coast, it might be of interest. It looks like a fun time! Hopefully I can talk Mel into sharing some reports and maybe even pictures of the events. Last summer after I wrote that the whole idea of Nostalgia drag racing of motorcycles may be about to take off, I wondered if I had been mistaken. It is starting to look as though I may have been right!

Updated Legends of Drag Racing Press Release

I just recieved the latest press release about the nostalgia drag race coming up at Union Grove. Here it is:

for immediate release:

The Woodstock of Drag Racing!!!


1st Annual Legends of Drag Racing…
Reunion, Races, Music and Art Festival

East Coast, West Coast, Midwest Old School Shoot-Out

Don’t miss the first annual Legends of Drag Racing Festival June 12, 13 and 14, 2009 at the legendary Great Lakes Dragaway in Union Grove, Wisconsin. We’re celebrating drag racing from back in the day!

What better track to hold our inaugural event at? Great Lakes Dragaway is the world’s longest operating drag strip, established December 1954!

The legendary “Broadway Bob” will be on hand to meet and greet everyone. “Broadway Bob” is the only drag racing promoter inducted into the Hall of Fame.

Some of the famous racers will include: Butch Leal, Bill Shrewsberry, Fred Sibley, Doug Rose, Jess Tyree, Arlen Vanke, Big Willie…King of the Street Racers, John Wiebe, Dick LaHaie, Pat Minick, Larry Reyes, the Rocketmen…Ky Michaelson and Ed Ballinger, Tommy Grove, Tommy Ivo, Gas Ronda, George Montgomery, Arnie Beswick, Bruce Larson, Ed Rachanski, Tony Christian, Hubert Platt, Earl Wade and Kenny Youngblood!

Our pre-1972 Invitational will include: Top Fuel Front Engine Dragsters, Nitro Burning Funny Cars, Blown Gassers and Altereds, Super Stockers, A F/Xers, Jet Cars and Wheelstanders. Also, Motorcycles and Hot Rods, all racing HEADS UP, with a full tree!!!

This is a “Run What Ya Brung, And Hope Ya Brung Enough” event!

You will also see Jack Chrisman’s Comet, the world’s first Nitro Burning Funny Car, owned and driven by Jim Barillaro.

This event will also include a Car Show, Swap Meet, Vendors, Bench Racing With The Stars and a Pin-Up Girl contest. And the fun doesn’t stop there! We will also have a huge Beer Garden, Carnival Rides, Drive-In Movie, Model Car Contest, onsite camping and great music too! On Friday night, spend an evening with Jimi Hendrix featuring Randy Hansen. Randy will be doing his tribute to Hendrix and performing some great blues as well. The phenomenal Jan and Dean Show, featuring Dean Torrence, will take the stage on Saturday night and will be rockin’ the house under the stars, playing all your favorite Jan & Dean and Beach Boys songs!
Make plans now.

Don’t miss this unforgettable weekend of fun, music and racing!
Catch us online at: oldschooldrags.com to register or buy tickets.
Our Race Hot Line is: (847) 359-3232.

“Old School Is Cool!!!”