OMG

OK, I'm completely obsessing over paint now. A little more research suggests the Toyota color I really like is actually "Indigo Ink Pearl." Here are a couple of samples.



I have since been trying to find a similar color through House of Kolor. The Cobalt Blue Kandy is well... rather stunning. Unfortunately, it looks a little too light to me in some circumstances. Maybe that's just the nature of a candy and the infinite variables in their application (# of coats, base color, etc.).The Merc below just rules.



The next darker House of Kolor option I like is Midnite. This fender is Midnite with Cobalt flames. I'm starting to think that if I went darker a color close to Cobalt might work pretty well for pinstriping against the gold. Lots of older cars use something completely different for pinstriping like red.



I've had a couple of people question just how the blue & gold will look together. I still think it's gonna be cool, even with a darker blue.

I'm kinda liking larger diameter turning like you commonly see on older race cars.



The stuff I'm describing above might come across as a little pimpy. Ultimately I'm kinda hoping for something similar to the three old girls below.

Daffy

I always suspected Daffy was a Brit man.

Helmet

John (Lucky's 7) offered to paint a helmet helmet to match my bike. Quite a challenge that ended up being. I finally got one. Pre-primered too;)

Rocking Horse

More here.

Tank Layout

I was screwing around with some two-tone options last night. My wife, who's a professional graphic designer, came in the garage to get a beer, grabbed a pencil and had the right side done in her style about 20 minutes later. I did the left. I was still really curious how the badges would look against gold leaf and got some fake leaf with a real slight adhesive . Looks like crap but it did make it a little easier to visualize.

Lucky's 7 Update

I heard back from John Stromberg today. He said he'd acid and coat the inside of the tank so I need not worry about it. He also said "I will do all the body and prep work so just concentrate on you color and possible design choice..Also if you have a helmet or something dont hesitate to throw it in.. I am ready to start whenever you are ready so just let me know."

I am now completely racking my brain over options... He sent the following job samples I suspect after looking over the stuff I prepped for him. I like the flathead quite a bit.

Chute

Lifted off the Dutchman Photos blog. BMX, hot rods, choppers, motocross, how can you go wrong? Check it out.

Slimline

Fever

Did I mention yet that I see serious trouble in my future?

Sunday Sunday Sunday!

I rode the Bonnie about 100 miles today.

Started by riding up to Coffee at Dawn about 8:30 this morning. It was pretty quiet up there today. Those morning rides gonna be really cold in a couple of weeks.



Then I rode out to the Sandia Classic AHRMA race out at Sandia Motorsports Park out past 98th & Central. The event was mind blowing. Wish I had a small camera to ride with. I took some cell phone pix I won't bother to post. Here are a couple pix from years past.





The quality of the bikes there was amazing! I expected "real" racing but I was shocked by just how hard they go. I saw one guys go down in a banked corner at conservatively 80 MPH. Racer of the day IMO was riding a '37 Indian Scout. Just buried a Vincent and was hangin' with early '60's Norton's. Incidentally, I decided for the record. "I AM a pussy."

This was also a classic motocross event. Maybe if I lost another 60 lbs. I could be competitive on the old RM 125... I'd MUCH rather fall on dirt.

Knuckle 1944

Too cool. Lloyd, the father of one of Flathead45's "cell mates" (sounds tougher than fellow nerdy engineer). Traded for a Buick. Must have been a really nice Buick.

Boardtracker

Clearly some guys must never leave the house.

Made In Japan

Trent's Personal Pan

GZT4

Someone took a photo of this lovely Triumph down at the GZT. I haven't found too many other pix yet.

Clay's Latest

This is not a Slimline tank, it's a TR6 that had 2.5" cut out of the center. Handbuilt hardtail. Hand hammered and polished aluminum oil bag. Really fricken nice.