Rear mudflap for Bessie

The last few days prior to our departure for the castle run was hectic, to say the least.
In the evening the day before I was to strap on my luggage on o`l Bessie I realized I hadn`t yet made a mudflap for her rear! This had been on my plan for a long time, but when there is no time, and yeah you know.
OK, no time to loose.
I had been looking for stainless leather trim letters, as those once sold by Harley, Buco and more (to personalize a kidney belt with your name and such) on e-bay for quite a while, no success so far.
So what to do to get stainless letters, uhhm?

The laptop was the first tool required and of course Word. Then I found the correct style letters, wrote BESSIE in the biggest size available, printed and scanned the print to increase the letters to the desired 1" height.
Used glue stick (or whatever at hand) to ensure the letters stuck to a stainless steel plate of ,5 mm thickness (and do not forget to add two tabs to each letter, they will come handy when its time to stick them to the flap).
Then I drilled holes as close to the letters and as many as I dared, opened the pouch where my Nicholson needle files are kept.
And then I started to file, a lot of filing and better be steady on your hand!
Just 4-5 hours later I had 6 letters, BESSIE.
Made the mudflap template, ran off to the local saddle maker to get him to roll out a piece of 1/4" thick leather of the best quality, cut according to template. Ran back home and found some old Buco dots and jewels (from Easy Russ they are), carefully cut holes for the lot, mounted and bent the tabs and voila I had put a lot of personality to the o`l Pan when finished at ten past 3 in the morning.

Pics from Yesterdaze

Another great photo from yeasterdaze for your viewing pleasure. A bunch of young people and their motorbikes on the ice in Eastern Sweden.

Two Harleys with sidecar among three smaller European bikes. Wonder why the sidecar body is removed from the hack at far right?

Barry`s Henderson De-luxe

Barry is another true vintage motorcycle user that I've learned to know through the www.
Many years ago I had a wanted ad on Georges Antique Motorcycle Trader, I was so desperately keen on owning one of the stylish Harley racing jersey`s that I had seen the Rakkestad Harley 45" mob were using at the Ekeberg jumble.

The ad at Georges gave no response, and since long had I forgotten my ad.

That was until months later when I all of a sudden got an e-mail from Canada. Barry that was, had been looking back trough the wanted ads and seen my request.
He had a jersey for me (actually two), one that is still used when I take a spin on any of my ol Hog`s, though now with new arms sewn on when the old ones came to an end.

Barry have a bunch of great motorcycles that I have no problem to say I admire him for. Better still, they are not kept inside a ventilated box, nope, they are used and abused on the gravel roads that surround the old mill where they are kept.

As we both have the pleasure to own Henderson`s De-luxe model, I find it cool to be able to present some pictures of Barry`s Henderson sidecar outfit on this blog.
His "other brand" four seems to have sneak itself into one picture, this I dont mind at all, hopefully neither do you.

"Other brand four"

This is a bike off such great interest, need to be a post on this one only at some time in the future.

When did you see a thirties Harley VL with Koslow heads last?

Pics from yesterdaze

OK, I need to get posted more of them ol photos, yes I know I do.

Here is one very cool image (gently stolen elsewhere on the www) that is a capture showing one of the few Scandinavian Militoires that where sold by Dane; Bohnstedt Pedersen whom we know from previous posts.

My last score is I found some periodic Norwegian advertising for this oddball marque, did they ever sell one here???
Oh I wish I knew, not to forget ever found the remains of one.

Another -39 W

OK, I have had my -39 W 45" (750cc) for several years now and have never heard of any other Norwegian 45"`s (750CC`s) from this year during this period of time. There are a few -38`s and several -37`s, but -39`s, nope, none other, nada else than one OHV that is well known.
Until recently when I learned to know Thomas in Stavanger who indeed had a -39 himself. One that he had owned since the seventies when bought in Western Norway at Sunndalsøra where it had served as transportation for a postman.
The bike had been in service from 1939 until 1961 and Thomas started using the bike in the mid eighties and still does. Did not get many years rest that old W did it?

If by chance anyone from the Sunndalsøra area come by this blog and have heard of this bike, let me know.

I had hoped mine W and this would have been closer to each other in engine numbers, tough not even close at all. Strange as I would have thought Sørensen and Balchen bought bikes early in the season in bulk, not one by one?

Harley racing at the Kala track

Last Saturday it was time for the annual spring race at Kala race track, that is one great event. I know as I`ve been there before.
Could I visit the Rakkestad mob at their home ground this spring?, nope unfortunately not. I was at home with the grand kids, which after all is a great substitute to the KALA event.

Kim and Ronald sent me some shots from the race, I post them here for you and me to enjoy.

Castle Run 2013

Finally got all pics up in the Castle Run 2013 post!