winter 2010 . issue 1 . $6
living the life
Limited Edition Available from lowside SYNDICATE visit www.lowsidesyn.com for a preview and to purchase.
Editors Note
E
verything is so accessible these days, with the internet and mass media combined there is no hunt involved. If you want to know everything there is to know about Richard Hell, you can just Wikipedia it and you’re an expert. This is pretty much true for just about anything, you can read it then know it in a few clicks of your mouse. But there are a few things that still remain inaccessible. For example; of course you can go on YouTube and watch a guy set the points on his iron head. But can you truly understand how to set your points if you haven’t done it on the side of 95 in the dark with a pocket knife and a business card? No, not at all, the understanding is completely different. This is where we set ourselves apart from the masses. We can’t just pick a bike or a car from the showroom floor and be content with it. We are tinkerers, artists, craftsman and maniacs. Having something everyone else
has never suited us and it never will. Why would anyone sit in an 11x17 shed in 10 degree weather just to make a rusty old bike run? Because pushing a button on a new geezer glide doesn’t give any feeling of achievement. For anyone who has ever kick started a bike you will understand this feeling. There is so much to be said about bringing a machine to life by the downward kicking motion of one’s leg. LowSide magazine has one goal in mind; relating this feeling to others who can empathize with our sore knees, hurting backs from laying on cold floors and busted knuckles. We chose a separate path and low side magazine is simply here to document that path with photographs and articles taken and written by people like you and me. Get fucked!
Tim, the Editor
www.lowsidesyn.com
in this issue CARS 14 Agitation BIKES 22 FONG BROS Bike 46 Steve’s Triumph 54 Yella Belly Events 28 The Gypsy Run 40 greaseball 2009, photo essay Product Review 36 Fox Creek Leather Pants Profiles 8 Heros & Friends 12 Primitive Cycle
Rich Gohlinghorst Publisher/Editorial Director rich@lowsidesyn.com Tim Wise Editor tim@lowsidesyn.com Doug Barber Senior Photographer doug@lowsidesyn.com Eric Wheatley Art Director eric@lowsidesyn.com Contributing Writers and Photographers: Doug Wood, Shane Swindle, Jay Schulze, Bill Schatz, Denis Jenkins, Tim Showalter, Heather Manto, Marco Creep, Smeghead, Kimbo distribution & publishing Lowside Syndicate www.lowsidesyn.com
ISSN 2153-3547 Contributions of articles and photos are welcome. Please contact Rich@lowsidesyn.com before submitting any material. Photographs should be high resolution, and of high quality. All work published may be used on our website as well as the magazine. Material in this publication may not be reproduced without permission. While the publishers have taken all reasonable precautions and made all reasonable effort to ensure the accuracy of material in this publication, it is a condition of purchase of this magazine that the publisher does not assume any responsibility or liability for loss or damage which may result from any inaccuracy or omission in this publication, or from the use of information contained herein and the publishers make no warranties, expressed or implied, with respect to any of the material contained herein. The entire contents of LowSide magazine are protected by copyright and may not be reproduced in any way without written permission from the publisher Copyright Š 2010 Lowside Syndicate
HEROS & FRIENDS This world is a beautiful and sometimes
strange
place.
written by shane Swindle photos by doug wood
Had a couple Triumphs he said he
The
wished he still had but primarily
motorcycle world is no different.
Harleys. Got his first shop job
From the leather clad Roadking
around 30 years old at Hendersons
Rider to the kick only rigid shovel
Motorcycles here in Tuscaloosa, but
rider, the spectrum of motorcycle
always worked out of his home. Now
enthusiast is broad. These days a
days between working on everyone
“real” gearhead, grease monkey
else’s bike and his family he doesn’t
or motorcycle guy is hard to find.
get to ride as much as he used to.
You know the guy who works on
Danny owns Danny’s Hog Shop in
something
fix
Tuscaloosa, Alabama. He has worked
anything and always has cool stuff
constantly,
can
at several local shops through
layin around. These people are what
the years and even went in with a
motorcycling is made of. Long ago
partner before realizing that he’s the
if you rode a bike you were probably
heart and soul of the business, a one
this guy, now days not hardly. Fuel
man show at that. Running a shop
injection, billet wheels and 100 inch
myself its no disgrace to say, Danny
motors and the dollar sign changed
is who I call when I’m stumped, and
a lot.
the only shop I will recommend to
Meet Danny Wilson, a 50 year old
anyone who has a Harley Davidson
Alabama Native, who in his words
Motorcycle. Not to sound corny but
says he’s “never had a real job”
Danny is somewhat my mentor, he’s
meaning he’s always hustled around
always offered a hand if he could,
working on bikes to make ends meet.
when everyone else wouldn’t even
Danny is the genuine article people,
talk to you. I remember a bad run
the real deal. He’s not just a rider,
of luck and he rebuilt my ironhead
in fact more of a problem solver of
for 50 bucks, (Danny said that’s
machines. Danny’s first Harley was a
not normal shop rate) that’s a good
48 panhead, that just isn’t right! He
friend.
said he pushed it more than rode it.
9
In the modern day of motorcycling there is still a place where a working man can obtain a cool chopper. With blatant disregard for trends and biker fashion, Primitive Cycle holds on to its traditional styling and barebones approach to motorcycles. No Road Kings or Gold Wings here. Hard core minimalist motorcycles for any budget. No brand preferences, just a solid usable bike full of attitude. Primitive Cycle in Tuscaloosa, Alabama started life as a one man operation out of his Garage in 1998. As a result of starting a family and new bills, the founder Shane Swindle sold his custom softail and was bike-less for the first time since he was 5 years old.
Scrounging and hustling he found an old Honda Rebel from a repo buddy and the rest is history. From that point on Shane seemed to perfect the ability make something from nothing. The more the wrenches turned the more “Hardcore” or traditional he became, losing respect for the big money Harleys and gaining respect for busted knuckles. He found The Chopper Underground were others had the same drive and interest. Long time friend and life long gear head Richard Pannell joined in soon thereafter and is still a part of the shop. Brother in Law Ward Christian keeps up the website and wrenches when he can. Kerry Jenkins joined the team after graduating with honors from Wyotech in Daytona. The first build since Kerry joined the team was the “8 ball” xs650, we all knew we had improved our product quality with the outcome of that bike. Next was the “blue heeler” xs650 which was the best and cleanest bike to come out of the shop. All the guys at PC Love what they do and couldn’t live without it. No brand preferences here, just raw, real choppers that are usable and affordable for the uncompromising rider. See more at www.primitivecycles.com
13
AGITATION the 1956 Chevy Bill Schatz bought for $60
The ‘56 Chevy belongs to Bill Schatz who bought it in ‘66 from Baltimore Gas and Electric for 60 dollars. The car belonged to the utility company as one of their service fleet. At the time it was back seat, radio, heat delete. Bill bought it to turn into a race car and promptly did that. He used to tow it to races with his other 56 Chevy. If you look closely at the pics, you can still see the tow hooks he welded on under the front bumper. The original color was black, but Bill painted it yellow, added a lace roof and called it “Agitation.” Since that time, the car has undergone many transformations, colors, engines, etc. The way it currently sits is the result of losing your garage and having your show winning car sit outside for eight years. Bill claims he probably made both of his daughters in the back seat back in ‘67.
15
BALTIMORE’S LEGEN words by: Denis Jenkins & photos by: Tim Showalter
NDARY FONG BROS
23
My experience of four days of riding, camping and drinking madness
by Ms Heather
photos by Marco Creep
S
ix months ago I never imagined I would have been part of the East Coast Gypsy Run; but like everything I do it was a spur of the moment decision. As the days grew closer for the run I was nervous and excited. I looked forward to meeting those I had only spoken to in online forums, and meeting up with those I don’t get to see and ride with often enough. On Thursday I got off work, packed my bags and waited for my buddy Kuda to arrive so we could head to Brooklyn (from Maryland) for the Autumn Bowl pre party. Kuda arrives on his 1949 panhead, I strap as much crap as humanly possible onto his bike, throw on my backpack and off we go. Approximately 200 miles later we arrived in Brooklyn without incident, it was about 10:30 pm. Unable to find ‘73 West’ I started down the street ahead of Kuda, not realizing he was close behind me. Seeing the number ‘73’ out of the corner of my eye, I stop short and attempt to turn left and BAM, collision. Kuda and his drum brakes were unable to stop quickly enough and he clipped my left foot, and down me and my little bike went. The only casualty was my left peg and of course a severely pained foot. After a good amount of bitching, we join the party and meet up with a slew of people in a dark Brooklyn alley, which is the entrance to the Autumn Bowl. A few beers later, a found piece of wood and some wire, the boys helped me fab up a temporary peg (thanks Greaser Mike, Kuda, Walter and a few others whose names I can’t remember). We had arrived pretty late and the party was winding down, so shortly after Kuda and I head up to our fancy hotel
THE 12TH ANNUAL MOBTOWN GREASEBALL Photos by Q-ball
On December 5th 2008 the official announcement that what had been Joel Hauenstein’s Image1 Barn Party would this year become an official summer event, focusing as much on riding as partying. From that day I knew this event would be one I would not miss. I had met Joel at his barn party in 2008 & we’d become friends over the months proceeding that. I was on board from the beginning helping to promote & organize the event, we set up a blog & pounded the internet sites trying to get people with similar interests as ours to commit to hanging out with us. Then on the last day of May, I wrecked my bike totaling it & wrecking my body as well. R4YL was never in doubt but how I would participate was. With no bike, it looked as though I’d be the chase truck guy.
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