Jeff's Time Capsule Find

Richard Gard's "Red Ball Express" Custom Bike Oct '77

Richard Gard was killed in a motorcycle accident this past weekend in KY while on a trip with his wife.
I felt quite honored to have met this man. I just wish I had been able to spend more time with him. He was building show chops back when I was just a toddler. Last winter, on a whim I looked him up. I'd seen a CB750 called the "Red Ball Express" in this old issue of Custom Bike (Oct 1977) and it said the bike was built by Richard Gard of Casey, IL. I actually owned the mag for a few years, and the thought crossed my mind to see if I could contact him, but not until this past Feb did I give it a go. I sent an email with my name & number to his "Toymaker" email address I had found by googling his name. The next day I received an enthusiastic phone call from him. We spoke on the phone quite a bit thru the end of winter & spring. We had made tentative plans to do some riding and he even offered to teach some of his ways in painting and body work. Richard, you were one of kind my friend. I wish we had gotten to to spend more time together so we could have gotten to know one another better. You will be sorely missed by your friends and family. Rest in Peace my friend.

(click the images above for an enlarged, readable version)

Cody Pruitt

Neal Keyser's CB750 Chop - circa 1994

Neal "Houndog" Keyser '86

Matt Stier - CB750 burnout

Wabash, IN - TT Races 1951

Going thru my girlfriend's, grandparent's belongings, on saturday afternoon, we came across these old photos. They were taken in 1951 during TT races in Wabash, IN. We are told that her grandfather, Eugene Stauffer, was not only a member of the Wabash Cannonball MC, but that he also helped to build the dirt track in (or around...not sure) Wabash, IN.

Wabash State TT Races - September 3, 1951

Wabash, IN - TT Races July 29, 1951

This is a newspaper clipping from a few years later

Baltimore, MD 1975

"Flip" of Baltimore, MD (circa 1975) on his CB750 chopper.

Abraxas MC 1975

Pics submitted by Karl "Dawg" Goodman

Field of Dreams

Riders Roost, NC

June 22-29, 2010

One Crazy Summer!

As usual we are bogged down here at the So'full Garage with our common summertime activities. That is the excuse this time for our lag in posting. We've done alot of meanding thru the corn and beanfields of central IL in search of food, parties, and good times. We trekked out to NC at the end of June, to spend a week at the Riders Roost Motorcycle Resort outside of Ferguson to spend time with our fellow CB750 afficianados from hondachopper.com

Next weekend is our 400 mile putt over to Fairmount, IN to visit James Dean's gravesite and museum and then onto Wabash, IN to visit our friends at TAS Classic Motorsports (tasclassicmotorsports.com)

Needless to say if we're not working on our scoots, we're ridin' em! Keep the shiny side up and we'll see ya on the highway.

10th Anniversary WHCM

Tumpy rides KING KONG

Tumpy's New Bike

This bike Tumpy just picked up is the 3rd CB750 that Rick "Kong" Wilkey built, this one sometime around 2004. I was living with my buddy Aaron after I split from my ex-wife, and one day in 2005 Kong (Rick) rolls into the driveway on this little red bobber style CB750 that he'd built. After some bullshitting and what not, and maybe a little urging from me, my long time friend Aaron decided he wanted to buy this little red gem. This was Aaron's first bike, no front brake, rigid (struts) and forward controls. He rode it for awhile, but then bought another bike, and the little red King Kong sat in his garage unridden since about 2007. He had made some comments to me about some electrical issues and what not, so this last winter, around November 09, I took the truck into town and picked up the little red bobber and brought it out to the So'full Garage. I rewired it and had it running the same week I brought 'er in. So there she sat at my house for the winter where I replaced the reg & rec with a combo unit, added a hi/low switch for the head light, oil change, etc. Aaron had since decided he was gonna sell her, so now here we are a few weeks later. Once I realized Tumpy was looking for a Kong built bobber, this all just sorta clicked. Aaron was thinking of selling, Tumpy was looking, and the rest is history. I am super stoked that we are keeping it "in the family" and its not going to some kook from Craigslist or Ebay. Told ya it'd fit in the mini van to get her the 6+ hours back to Missouri.
Ride 'er with pride Tump!

Von Sparky's CB750 Chop

Sunday's Ride 5-2-10

Cody, Duane and Brumie showed up at the Compound around noon. I was a little late to rise due to a late Saturday night but was mostly ready when they arrived. We headed south an hour to meet up with another buddy and his wife, Mike and Cathy and then continued down Rt. 48 to Taylorville where we ate at the Round Table Diner. After some grub and converstation we parted ways with Mike & Cathy and headed back north via Rt. 51, arriving back at the compound around 6 pm. Great weather, great ride...just over 200 miles.

Arkansas Trip 2009

1974 Cb750

Cody, Bill & Drew

Bill Krummel

Drew Barnhart

Krummel's Barber Shop - Arthur, IL

Killer CB750 Chop

Bill Sterner's DOHC CB750 Chopper "the Lady"

A multiple award winning example of a 1970's style chop. My friend Bill has had "the Lady" since the 70's and the bike has seen a few facelifts over the years. Bill & I both attend the World Honda Chopper Meet every year at the Rider's Roost Motorcycle campground in NC. Bill, who goes by the nickname Lady Dr, is a true HCMF!

Present Day

Accepting an award from Big Daddy!