MadFab's Divorced Ironhead

It Ain’t Easy Being Sleezy It’s a 1972 Harley Davidson Divorced Sportster called “The Sleezy Slipper” built by the talented Brock Bridges out of central Illinois. This award-winning XLCH 1000cc Ironhead was masterfully transformed into what you see on these pages, a genuine work of art. Let’s start with the paint. Brock applied House of Kolor Brandywine over White metalflake. Combine

this with the gold-leaf, and it gives the paint a certain flow. Brock also did a great job with the slick pin-striping. The gas tank, oil tank, and rear fender are all handmade by Bridges.

He grew up around the need for speed. Brock’s father is the former Top Fuel Dragster racing legend Randy Bridges. As a youngster, Brock would tour the country with his father

and grandfather, Joe: they were the pit crew. Around this time, Brock began to show off his talent in pinstriping and the passion he developed for the Kustom Kulture over the years.

Let’s take a look at the B-side of this motor, starting with the iron heads. Which are flipped 180 degrees placing the two Amal carbs minus the air cleaner on that side and the handmade stainless-steel exhaust on the same side. All this makes you do a doubletake and look a little closer. Is it necessary to mention all this flappity flop was done by Brock? I think so. The 1970 Four Speed transmission with the suicide shift sits nicely inside the handmade stainless-steel 30-degree raked hardtail frame. It takes skill and creativity to do what Brock has done in building this Sportster. For instance, there are handmade stainless handlebars, taillight, and headlight. When it comes to the front end, the smooth radius on those triple trees looks very nice. The 35mm shaved forks, with stainless tubes minus 4 inches, were fabricated by… you guessed it, Brock Bridges himself. There are no brakes on the

homemade front 10-spoke black wheel mounted with a 21-inch Firestone tire. The18-inch 10-spoke black rear wheel is mounted with a Coker tire. The rear sprocket is also homemade and is on the same side as the brake rotor. Finally, if you were wondering who did the leather seat on the Sleezy Slipper, well, that was Brock too.

Brock’s grandfather Joe was a pioneer in the hotrod game. He spent most of his early days working on hotrods with his buddies at Lomelinos BlacksmithMachineworks in beautiful Virden Il. When little Brock was old enough, his grandfather would bring him to hang out at the

Owner: Brock Bridges City/State: Nilwood, IL Builder: Brock Bridges Year: 1972 Model: Sportster Value: priceless Time: too much ENGINE Year: 1972 Model: Divorced Sportster Builder: Brock Bridges Ignition: points Displacement: 1000 cc Pistons: stock Heads: flipped 180 Carb: 2 amals Cam: stock Air Cleaner: sucks Exhaust: handmade, stainless steel Primary: inch and a half open belt TRANSMISSION Year: 1970 4-speed Make: HD Shifting: suicide FRAME Year: 2020 Model: handmade, stainless steel Rake: 30 degrees Stretch: none Forks: shaved 35mm Builder: Brock Bridges Type: handmade, stainless steel Triple Trees: handmade Extension: -4 WHEELS Front Wheel: handmade 10 spoke Size: 21” Tire: firestone Front Brake: sucks Rear Wheel: handmade 10 spoke Size: 18” Tire: Coker Rear Brake: outside rotor same side as sprocket - handmade PAINT Painter: Brock Bridges Color: brandywine over white flake Type: HOK Graphics: handmade, gold leaf and pin stripe Chroming: n/a ACCESSORIES Bars: handmade, stainless steel Risers: n/a Hand Controls: n/a Foot Controls: handmade, stainless steel Gas Tank(s): handmade Oil Tank: handmade Front fender: sucks Rear Fender: handmade Seat: handmade Headlight: handmade Tail light: handmade, stainless steel Speedo: bugs in your teeth Photographer: Mark A. Garcia shop with the local gearheads. That’s why Brock wanted to do this photoshoot at Lomelinos. It’s sort of a small tribute to his grandfather, Joe. I had an amazing time with Brock and his family. I appreciated their hospitality. They cooked up the best raccoon meat and exposed me to a local favorite, the Horseshoe burger. Thank you, I sincerely mean it.

I’m looking forward to the next hard liquorinfluenced creation

that only Bridge’s Fab can create.