Charlie Brechtel's Most Perfect Pan

the legend of the most perfect chopper ever built continues. After his premier motion picture effort in

“Rebels On The Highway,” creator

Charlie Brechtel set his sights on the second film derived from our culture titled “Rough Boys.” This time the storyline would reveal a host of clues throughout the film that would lead moviegoers on a scavenger hunt that would see one lucky winner end up with the Golden Pan and $10,000 cash. As the legend went, there had been a story of the greatest chopper ever built. Some swore they had seen it; others doubted it existed; however, in the quest for it, the very bike you see before you was built.

The story starts with Charlie approaching Ron Paugh and the guys from Paughco about the idea of building a bike. They immediately agreed that it needed to be a real H-D titled Panhead, so they secured a set of ’61 cases and asked S&S to chip in the guts for a strong Pan build. Billy at B&B Racing out of Louisiana would do the work on the mill and the tranny. At the same time, Steve and Kyle from Paughco got together with Mondo to work out the details of what the most perfect chopper would look like. Of course, it had to be set in the late sixties so they couldn’t use visibly modern parts. Mondo would take the lead on the frame geometry to accommodate the Denver’s Springer

Meanwhile, Steve and Kyle would go to work on the frame Mondo designed. Kyle also hand-made the tank, sissy bar, custom footpegs, and the pipes for this Golden beauty. The brakes were another hurdle. Steve knew that to fit the timeline, they couldn’t be new, but he also knew that to give this bike away to the general public, it should have good brakes in the rear. That meant standard drum hydraulics, but the front was a harder proposition. Steve married a front brake caliper from a ’69 Honda and then made a custom bracket matching the rockers of the Denver’s Springer. Along with Paughco’s custom narrow star hub, that gave the best of both worlds and a working front brake to boot. Le Pera did the beautiful custom stitched seat and backrest, BDL belt drives donated the primary drive belt kit, Metzler supplied the tires.

From there, it was given to “Old School Jim” in Reno to lay down the metal flake treatment. In fact, for all involved, the living embodiment of the Most Perfect Chopper ever created. But where does that leave us in the story? Well, Dave Nichols, who was the editor on the picture, had the clues worked into the story. Folks like Mondo himself would play a role in delivering those clues from scene to scene in the script, and the whole thing was in post-production, damn near completed when the whole deal was handed a crushing blow. Charlie Brechtel was in a tragic motorcycle accident that took his life in April of 2020, just two miles from his home. Everyone involved in the project was both heartbroken to learn of his passing and unsure of the movie’s future and the Golden Pan. You see, this was not a collection of Hollywood who’s who, but it was primarily made up of the motorcycle culture’s personalities or members of “motorcyclism,” as Charlie would say. This included the producer right down to the on-screen talent and runners, all part of Charlie’s motorcycle family. Of course,, that would put everything on hold while everyone shared the

grief of losing a brother. Now a year later, it would seem that attention has been turned toward doing that one last thing that would push Charlie to legend status. With the “Rough Boys” nearly complete and due to be released around the Sturgis Rally, a new plan would be put forth for the bike. In Charlie’s memory, raffle tickets will be sold for a chance to win the Pan, with all of the proceeds going to the Sturgis Motorcycle Museum and Hall Of

Owner: Dennis Sanfilippo City/State: Angels Camp, CA Builder: Paughco / Denvers Choppers Year: 1961 Model: Harley Panhead Value: Only God Knows Time: 4 Months

ENGINE Year: 1961 Model: Panhead Builder: B&B Racing Ignition: Points Displacement: 74cu Pistons: S&S Heads: S&S Carb: S&S Cam:S&S Air Cleaner: S&S Exhaust: Kyle Brewer Special Primary: BDL Belt Drives

TRANSMISSION Year: 1961 Make: Harley-Davidson Shifting: Ratchet Top

FRAME Year: 2019 Model: Paughco Rake: 42 Degrees Stretch: 4 Up- 2 Out

Forks Builder: Mondo Type: Denvers Springer Triple Trees: Yes Extension: 26 Over

WHEELS Front Wheel: Paughco Narrow Star Size: 21” Tire: Metzler Front Brake: 69 Honda Rear Wheel: Paughco Size: 16” Tire: Metzler Rear Brake: HD Hydraulic Drum

PAINT Painter: ”Old School Jim”, Reno NV Color: Gold Flake Type: Awesome Graphics: None Needed Chroming: Paughco

ACCESSORIES Bars: Paughco Mini 6 Bend Risers: Paughco Hand Controls: Harley Foot Controls: Paughco Gas Tank(s): Kyle Brewer Custom Oil Tank: Paughco Front fender: None Rear Fender: Knuckle Front Springer Seat: Le Pera Headlight: Paughco Tail light: Paughco Speedo: None Fame. It is the perfect way to end this story, maybe the only one that makes sense in the wake of such a tragic loss. In short order, you will be able to go online and buy tickets for your shot to win. But more importantly, help put Charlie into the history books for one last great accomplishment.

Please continue to watch Paughco, Denver’s Choppers, Cycle Source and the Sturgis Hall Of Fame and Museum’s social media and web sites for more information. We only have until Sturgis this year to get this done. There will be a big ceremony when the winner is selected. No, you do not need to be present to win, but hey… it’s Sturgis, so the winner might be in that crowd anyway. Good Luck and Long Live The Golden Pan!