Chad Trayner's '42 Flathead

take a good look at the bike on these pages, you’d never know by looking at it now, but this 42 WLA went by the nickname of The Liberator by the soldiers who rode them in WWII because of the sometimes brutal punishment the bikes were put through. As a matter of fact, a lot of returning soldiers, sailors, Marines, and airmen picked up surplus WLA’s and enjoyed them upon their return home. The Motor Company made these in large quantities for the Lend-Lease program that President Roosevelt created to help the Allied war effort. Some went to Canada as well as Russia, just a quick tip the WL’s that went to Canada were labeled as WLC’s. These bikes also saw a lot of time on the tracks as Harley-Davidson was very active in the racing field for many years.

This particular 45 belongs to Chad Trayner. Like many before him, Chad had dreams of this being a racer. Chad started out like most people, in his early 20’s he got a 1990 1200 Sportster, and, in his words, he was hooked! After a few more bikes and just as many years in between he met up with the Shadetree crew in ‘07 and things have only gotten crazier. This bike actually came to be because one of the Shadetree guy’s (Dave O) entered his WL in The Race of Gentlemen in Wildwood, NJ under the Shade Tree Racing banner. Dave and Chad had a friendly rivalry going between themselves, so Trayner decided he would enter a bike in the next TROG. The only problem was that he really didn’t have a lea on a ride. But as luck would have it one of the other Shadetree guy’s in Indiana, Scotty Murnan had recently scored this 42 WLA, but like most of us,

Article By: Roadside Marty Photos By: Melissa Shoemaker

he really doesn’t like parting with stuff. It wasn’t until a party back in October 2016 that Chad and Scotty haggled back and forth over the bike around the campfire. Finally, he was able to convince Murnan how serious he was about the race and he agreed to sell Chad the bike. Just a month later Chad made the run to Indiana to pick up what would be the WL. This gave him just about six months to sort it out, make a racer and get accepted into the 2017 race.

Chad really lucked out when he bought the bike. Most of the hard to find parts were already there; the frame, motor, transmission and springer front end. A trip to Dave O’s shop, 76 Cycles in

North Carolina, to trim it down was next up. The motor was left alone except for the magneto they used to cut down on weight by eliminating the battery, and the stock 3-speed transmission was left alone. The rear fender was trimmed down just like racers used to do. Chad says only the finest shade of Rustoleum paint was used in the building process. The only other change was to a 19” front wheel.

Even though his stock motor was no match for some of the other competitors he still had a blast and had to admit he was hooked! As fate would have the Shadetree World Party was held shortly after that and Maddog had built a flat track at his house, and after a few laps, Chad knew he’d never sell the bike. Since then, he says the motor is getting

OWNER: Tight Wad Chad Trayner CITY/STATE: Lexington KY BUILDER: Shadetree Racing & Choppers YEAR: 42 MODEL: WLA VALUE: Increases Everytime I Look At It TIME: Not Long

ENGINE YEAR: 42 MODEL: Flatty BUILDER: Harley IGNITION: Mag DISPLACEMENT: 45 CU For Now PISTONS: Stock HEADS: Polished Aluminum CARB: M51 CAM: Stock But Not For Long AIR CLEANER: Kool EXHAUST: PRIMARY:

TRANSMISSION YEAR: 42 MAKE: 3 Speed SHIFTING: Tank Shift

FRAME YEAR: 42 MODEL: WLA RAKE: Stock STRETCH: Stock

FORKS BUILDER: Harley-Davidson TYPE: 42 Springer TRIPLE TREES: EXTENSION:

WHEELS FRONT WHEEL: SIZE: 19 TIRE: FRONT BRAKE: What Front Brake REAR WHEEL: SIZE: 16 TIRE: REAR BRAKE:

PAINT PAINTER: Owner COLOR: TYPE: Rattle Can GRAPHICS: CHROMING:

ACCESSORIES BARS: Factory RISERS: HAND CONTROLS: FOOT CONTROLS: GAS TANK(S): Stock 42s OIL TANK: FRONT FENDER: HAHA REAR FENDER: Chopped SEAT: Was Hanging In My Garage HEADLIGHT: TAIL LIGHT: SPEEDO: None

a few go-fast modifications so that he can be a little bit more competitive at the next race. Also, now that Sons of Speed has included a 45 class for Chad hopes to be a part of that. I was lucky enough to ride this bike in Tennessee at Loretta Lynn’s ranch during the first TN Motorcycle and Music Revival, and it was an absolute blast! Try to imagine an old slow dirt brake with lousy brakes and a tank shift, haha!

Cha would like to thank Dave O and Sawzall for all of their help, as well as trading parts in true Shadetree fashion as well as his wife Sara, Maddog, Dozer V, Brandy and all of the Shadetree family for everything they do! Be sure to look for a green and yellow 45 lapping other bikes in a race near you! Roadside Marty