The Maker

I'm not sure I've ever identified more with a video. It's not a choice... toast is my life.

AMA Safety Award

V8 Power

Shorty after posting the photo of Doug Earle's V8 powered behemoth I stumbled across this photo of of EJ Potter's small block powered drag bike. EJ did exhibition runs at dragstrips with some version or another of a V8 powered motorcycle for decades. It seems the spectacle of 1/4 mile long burnouts never looses it's entertainment value

There's a way more to the EJ Potter story than I posted here. EJ went on to have a life-long fascination with building similarly excessive vehicles. See The Kneeslider for a great feature on EJ's life history.

Spokane Portland and Seattle 700

Our great grandfather was an engineer for the Spokane, Portland & Seattle Railway. I can witness it's been in his blood since I was born anyway. If Flathead Rob ever hits the lottery we are in real trouble...

V8 Power

 

To each there own but the Boss Hoss has always had zero appeal to me. 

Hoewever, my buddy Doug Earle has both the fabrication chops and imagination to make an automotive V8 meets motorcycle really compelling. I've seen this bike in person but have never seen it run. Now I really have to.

Lotta Laverda

80 Inch Triumph by Routt

Lerners Albuquerque

I remember going in there a time or two with my Mom as a young kid.

Westfields Triumph

Evel Knievel at Graham Speedway

Here's yet another gem from Ernie Misner.

Bob Selden & Evel Knievel with Rolls Royce

 "Evel Knievel came to town twice in the 1960's. On the left is Bob Selden, owner of Cycle Craft. I worked at Cycle Craft in Parkland, WA in the '60's as a teenager. As you can see he crashed the first time. I got to meet him and helped rebuild his Triumph Bonneville after he crashed at Graham Speedway.  I still have his busted up old tachometer sitting here on my desk. Check out where Selden kept his pack of cigarettes."

"Evel called the newspaper right after his crash and told them he was going to cut the cast off and make that darn jump in two weeks. He did! Man his Triumph Bonneville (TT version) was gorgeous. Those were fun but crazy days!"

 I did a little digging and best I can tell Evel attempted to jump 16 Volkswagens at Graham Speedway on August 18, 1967. From Life of Evel: Evel Knievel

"Encouraged by his success, Knievel continued gathering momentum and moved on to clear 16 cars at the Ascot Raceway near Los Angles before attempting the same number again at the Graham Speedway near Tacoma, Washington. This time things didn’t go quite so smoothly and Knievel lost his balance on landing and parted company with his bike, sustaining a slight concussion in the process. Just under three weeks later he returned to the same venue to see the job through successfully, proving to his audience that he was no quitter and he would see anything through if he had given his word to do so."

Thanks again to Ernie for passing along his story!

Incidentally Ernie's other photo's are nothing short of staggering. While only a handful are motorcycle related most are shot in the PNW and are absolutely beautiful. Please check them out.

Johnny Allen Ad

Albuquerque First National Bank

Just in case you were wondering if Albuquerque has grown.