Tuesday September 15, 2009
By
admin at 9:51 am
Wow. What a show. You could have heard a pin drop in my house. Needless to say my house was set up like it was Super Bowl Sunday. We had a few friends over, I think there were quite a few folks in the country doing that.
I gotta say I like where Opie’s head is at. He has turned into some psycho killer. I gotta think if my old lady got killed I would be Hell bent on retribution also. No one would be safe.
Those guys running the guns up the coast in their bedrolls is a little unbelievable. I mean, me and my crew get pulled over left and right for the smallest possible infraction. Thinking we would pass the first traffic stop is amazing.
I think it’s real cool the relationship that Gemma has with the cop. That part is totally believable. Small town, everyone growing up together. And how about that prospect? Tig must be a great shot to not have blown his head right off when they were testing the guns.
The inner turmoil that Clay and Jax are having is also totally believable. There is no way you will be in a club with other people, other opinions and always see eye to eye. One thing though, you can NEVER lie to your Brother. That’s rule number #1. That is something all brother’s have to be able to rely upon - your brother will ALWAYS tell you the truth.
Definitely Opie is a savage. When he was cutting an A on the Mayan’s chest we were all screaming. I don’t think I would have done that, if I ever found my self in a situation like that. I think it’s important to get away with it. Leave no trace. Then Jax sets up the Niners. Wow. And how about Tig? He is the textbook Sociopath. Gotta love him. Sometimes I gotta remember that they are not a real MC, that this is a T.V. show, these are actors, and this is about entertainment. If you heard some of my friend’s in my house screaming at the T.V. like it was real you would not have believed it. I can easily say this is the best show I ever watched, maybe cause it’s what I am into, and cause it’s totally entertaining.
O.K. Here it is…what can I say, that last scene with Gemma was intense! My house was in disbelief. Everyone went quiet. I can’t wait to see where this is going. We want retribution. We can’t wait till the Son’s make this right. Other than that all I can say is we are addicted. Can’t wait till next week. Good to be back. I hope everything is good with you and yours.
FAT BOB
Posted in Uncategorized |
Wednesday July 22, 2009
By
admin at 5:47 pm
So I am back again. Read your posts. Is it real or is it real or is it Memorex? If you read any earlier posts you would know that the spokes mc is a made up name. I am keeping the name of the club I am in out of this for good reason. Tell you what though, I am attaching the photos of the bike I built, as I told you I would. I don’t know of I mentioned that I ended up getting some 80 spoke wheels. After I crashed the bike one of my club brothers came over while I was resting up and brought a prospect over and while I sat back and had a few cold ones the prospect changed those 40 spoke wheels for 80. Only took him five hours. All the beers we let him drink didn’t speed him up either. Boy might just make it. You FOR SURE get enough rope to hang your self. We want to see the real you. How you are drunk, AND sober, If drinking is your thing. Not everyone drinks, but if you do, better be able to handle it.
I know I mentioned that I crashed the tank. Well I switched the tin off an ’87 FXR and this is what you got. I put the dented tank there for you all to see. That was a bad ass paint job , the old school flames. Just one overlap. I will probably do some pin striping on the silver.
Everything’s good with me, I been working which is good, in this day and age just having a job is a special thing. And yes, I will write this blog as long as they let me, for sure into the new season.
Speaking of which I had a chance to talk to some people that work on the show recently and all I can say I can’t wait for next year. I bet we will be the number one show on the air by episode 1. I know, that everyone I know has been asking me when the new season will start. I think a box set is coming out soon.
Everything else is the same. Working a lot to make ends meet. All the Brothers are on the street. No one is locked up. Not Bad. Bike’s running good. Getting along with the old Lady. Thinking about getting another dog, don’t know if I am ready yet. Only time will tell. Just trying to enjoy life. Work or play it’s all the same. Just enjoy it all. This is the life. Club Life. The ONLY life for me. I hope this found you all Healthy Free and Happy.
Posted in Uncategorized |
Friday May 22, 2009
By
admin at 9:11 am
Life is full of ups and downs. One of the things I learned in my prospecting years was not to let things bother you. When most guys, the ones that usually make it, come into the program it’s all new and exciting, you’re meeting all these new members and you want to do good, no, great. You want to stand out and show the membership what you’re made of and what this means to you. Which damn sure oughta be EVERYTHING.
I don’t want to get away from the point, I tend to do that some time, a prospect will probably be worrying at all times, “Am I doing enough?” That’s cool, except you gotta learn to take everything in stride. You can’t run around like a chicken with its head cut off. In fact to me, what I want to see is that, for the prospect, everything is like water on a ducks back. You can’t get a rise out of him — there is nothing he can’t handle with a smile on his face. WE can’t get to him, his girl can’t get to him, the cops — NO ONE. He is just calm and cool.
This is the training I have been having lately. Again. My dog never came back. It’s been three weeks and four days since he left and I am coming to grips with the fact that he is gone. I gotta think he was so friendly that he adapted to whoever fed and took care of him. I’ve heard all these stories about dogs running away and coming back, even a year later, who knows? I wish he would come back, except wishin’ don’t make it so. I just hope he’s being well taken care of. If he is supposed to come back, he will. You never know how the wind can blow.
I finished the bike. Came out pretty good. I ended up swapping the forty spoke wheels and a chrome Linkert carburetor that has been sitting on the shelf for years, for some eighty spoke wheels. They ain’t new but they look damn good with the chrome fourteen inch T bars. Here is the sad part, I was coming back from the city and splitting lanes at about fifty. I was behind another member, who also rides crazy, and traffic was at a dead stop. We came up on some Japanese bikes that wouldn’t move fast enough, so my pal, jumped over to the center lane and we continued the race, NOT SMART. You don’t want to split lanes on both sides of a row of cars cause the driver can easily get startled by the sound of your motor, or the sight of you barreling up the white line and try to get out of your way and hit your pal.
This was not the case for us, instead an open space came free in the center and some secretary in her Honda Accord jumped for it, looked to her right, saw me coming and froze like a deer in the headlights. I locked up the brakes and slid upright for about two car lengths, with the stopped traffic watching me wizz by, members and prospects, behind me, till the bike high sided and threw me off. I hit the pavement running faster than I can travel.
I stopped turned around picked up the bike, had the prospect hold the front so I could bend back the bars, and the RACE WAS ON.
We took off with all the citizens staring in their cages in disbelief. They were probably thinking, “These Bikers are CRAZY”.
As I was barreling through the tunnel all I could think was, “Tuck and Roll, Not Bad for an OLD MAN”.
The only damage the bike sustained is the tank is dented, not the money shot, the left side, bent the riser bolts, and my side cover broke off. I fixed everything but the tank. I will get a camera and post a shot.
That’s what I mean by water on a duck’s back. What you gonna do? Same thing you always do. Keep On
Keepin’ On.
FAT BOB
Posted in Uncategorized |
Tuesday April 28, 2009
By
admin at 2:03 pm
Brotherhood. That’s what this whole thing is about. Love. The Love of your brothers and Family. There are many Brotherhoods in the world, ours just happens to be built around a motorcycle. I haven’t written in a while cause my life lately has resembled a country music song; let me tell you about it.
I went to a big anniversary of a member from another charter in my club about two weeks ago. The ride out to Arizona was good. About 800 miles from my house. We split it up into two days and took it easy. Mostly I love the ride itself. The party is always fun. And honoring a Brother for his commitment and devotion to Our Thing is always very special, but for me I just happen to really love the ride.
While I was in Arizona we got word that one of the members from my charter’s wife had passed away. Bad news. The ride back was solemn. It is always big planning to plan a funeral. Everyone has to be notified, arrangements have to be made, and there has to be time given for people to show up.
The funeral was a week later. The viewing was on a Saturday afternoon and the burial was on Sunday. There was quite a few members at the viewing, we stayed till the place closed then rode back to the clubhouse and just hung out together.
On Sunday we met at the clubhouse again to go to the burial. We rode about sixty miles through the rain. When we got to the mortuary there were so many members from all over my heart swelled with pride. Pride at the Love that we shared for our Brother. I know for a fact that most of these members did not know My Brothers wife so well, but that is not what matters at all. What matters is the Brothers. To stand tall with your Brother when he needs you.
We rode through town to the cemetery and when we got there we all parked our bikes and surrounded the burial plot. Some cops must have seen us and they called the task force who also pulled in and stood there taking pictures of us. Needless to say that made quite a few members lose their minds and that became a yelling match between us and them. Talk about no class at all. Class is a serious thing to posses. It is part of your upbringing, your training. If you got no class you will never make it through this program. Gotta show class. Those cops escorted us out of town to the highway, then rode with us for ten miles till we got out of their county.
Then to add insult to injury when I got home my dog had broken out of the house. He had been playing with a bitch in heat for two days and I guess he lost his mind. Me and my ol’ Lady don’t have any kids, our dog was like our son. We put flyers all over town and have been looking at all the pounds. I got a call yesterday with a guy asking me about the reward, he had my dog and I need to come get him. Well I don’t live in exactly the best neighborhood, and where they told me to go is where all the local gang bangers sell drugs. As a matter of fact last week a guy went to this exact same spot to find his dog and he got shot and robbed. I didn’t know any of this, but my girl did. While I was racing to this bad area to get my dog word got out that I was going there and seven other members showed up exactly as I did, including the Brother that lost his wife. I am sure it was a crank call cause no one came out with my dog, in fact no one came out at all or ever called back. They must have been watching from a house and when they saw seven members in club shirts and patches they probably figured that we were as strapped, as they were, and decided we were more trouble than we were worth. They were right. I am certain had I showed up alone I probably would not be here to be writing this blog now.
LOVE. BROTHERHOOD. That’s what this is about. Family. Putting your Brothers first. Above all else. Always us. Us First. The Brothers.
Don’t let this blog depress you; I have to keep a positive outlook. I have to visualize good things, that my dog is alive and coming back to me. If and when he does I will let you know.
I hope everyone is well and happy. Realize what we have. It is each other.
FAT BOB
Posted in Uncategorized |
Monday April 13, 2009
By
admin at 10:53 am
I woke up Saturday morning and I knew I had to get a few things done quick so I could go on the run. There are two parties today about eighty miles apart, and my charter is meeting at the club house at noon, and leaving at one. Leaving at one means exactly that. Saddle up in the two minute warning and LEAVE at one. If you miss the pack, you’re fined. Ten dollars.
I hauled my ass down to the welding shop to finish up an order so I can get paid. If you don’t got no dough it makes life way more difficult being a member. Club life aint cheap. You gotta go places, do things, bikes gotta be running and registered.
I got to the Clubhouse and almost everyone was there. We have three prospects in our charter now and a couple of guys just checking it out, seeing if this is for them. If this is for you, then you know it through and through. You are HOME. A real famous guy in my club once said “if you Love it we will see you a mile away, and if you don’t we will see that too.”
We took off right at one, fifteen guys in the pack, nine members three prospects, and the three guys ‘checking it out’. These guys are friends of members, and like I said, they’re here to check it out, or else they could never ride in our pack.
We take it easy till the freeway but as soon as we hit the on ramp we take off like rocket ships. Everyone can really ride, and we got souped-up motors with cams, within seconds we are doing a hundred in the fast lane and splitting lanes at ninety when the traffic backs up. We lose the civilians in the first quarter mile, and within a mile the prospects are doing every thing they can to keep up. It took me more than three years to prospect, and that was some time ago. Not much has changed though, if you want the votes you gotta ride great, fight great, think for yourself and BE A MAN. We ain’t looking for the toughest or the smartest, you just gotta fit in. It’s a family. And you don’t gotta win, but you DO gotta fight. Gotta know we can count on you.
The first party was about fifty miles away and we rode like a swarm of bees, weaving in and out of traffic at ninety, the tightest formation possible.
I could see in my rear view a highway patrol officer way, way back there and he was coming up fast. We didn’t slow down one bit, not so much as we don’t care, cause if he is pulling us over we get pulled over like everybody else, but more cause at that speed you don’t spend a lot of time looking in the rear view.
By the time we noticed him the traffic got real thick so we slowed down and he started cruising with us on the side. He pulled ahead and got off on our exit. We pulled off and he was waiting at the stop sign, he rolled down his window and asked,
”You guys in a rush?”
Big Paulie looked at him cool as can be and said,
“Naa, It’s a beautiful day, just feeling alive.”
The cop looked at the pack and said,
“See if you guys can slow it down a little.”
Then he took off. It would have been a hassle to give all of us tickets, and besides, he could see we could ride, and we weren’t drunk or loaded. At least not yet.
The first party was packed. It’s a local club in town that we support. Their clubhouse was redone and looked awesome. These guys are all about twenty-five to thirty and a bunch of wheelie poppin psychos. The party drew about two hundred people. They had a track set up with 50cc races with an announcer and everything. Tri-tip and potato salad, full bar. It was off the hook.
We stayed there for a few hours, showed our support, then got back on the bikes and hauled ass back to the town. The sun was down now so it was a little cooler but still nice. There is NOTHING like cruising at ninety to make man feel alive. Fifty miles later I pulled off the exit and grabbed my old lady. She had some food made and I scarfed that down and we got on the bike and hauled ass forty miles in the other direction to a big anniversary party of one of the charters in my club.
I was a little late being that I had to pick up my girl, so I really double timed it to the party. My chick is the kind of girl that no matter how fast I go she is on the back saying, “faster, faster.”
The anniversary party was great. Members came from all over and that is what this is about. FAMILY. I stayed there till the early hours in the morning. I wanted to get out before the sun came up. Pulling my old lady away from friends she hasn’t seen in a while is like pulling teeth. It’s easier to knock them out.
I grabbed her and through her on the bike and me and one of the young members from my charter took off and raced home.
That was my Saturday. How was yours.
FAT BOB
Posted in Uncategorized |
Friday March 27, 2009
By
admin at 9:40 am
SO I think I am making some headway in my project. I just sent the risers to get chromed. I went with fourteen inch T bars. I had the bike all black but I decided to put red flames with a white pin stripe. I also decided to use old school flames which is only one over lap. Seems like the more modern bikes have scalloped flames or a whole bunch of overlaps. The old flame jobs had no overlaps at all, least that’s how I remember it. I am certain there are some haters out there that will remember it different.
I also went with forty spoke front and rear wheels. I like mags. There is no tube in them so they are easier to fix on the road, but I like the look of spokes. I had to use an old Thunderheader exhaust only cause money is running tight, I will order a new when funds allow it.
Only thing left to do is the wiring harness. I gotta say electrics is not my best thing, I am more of a mechanical guy. I leave the electrics to the electricians. Electrics will separate mechanics from a good one to a great one. It’s one thing to be able to put a bike together like a puzzle and another to be able to diagnose a broken motorcycle on the side of the road.
Everything else is good with me. Real busy, which is good. Better than not having anything to do at all.
As soon as I am done with the bike I will post a pic. Shouldn’t be too long. Painters always take their sweet time.
And by the way, an “Outlaw bike” to me is a bike that has been stripped down and made into exactly that. If you take a police special, and strip it down and make it your own, less the blinkers and siren, take off the police windshield and speedo, give it paint that you like and ride it with your Outlaw buddies then I would imagine it is an Outlaw bike. Least it aint an “Inlaw bike”.
I appreciate the support everybody but don’t trip on the haters. Until next time, I am as ever,
FAT BOB
Posted in Uncategorized |
Friday March 6, 2009
By
admin at 4:32 pm
When it rains it pours. Truer words were never spoken. Be careful what you wish for, you might get it. Work was nonexistent when I took the old lady and my dog to see her folks. I was wishing for some welding jobs just so I could keep my head above the bills I was drowning in.
I came back and dove into the rebuild project, which is not only what I love to do, but it kept my mind occupied and off the impending debt. I was wishing for more work and it really came. I think I have been under that welding hood ten hours a day since I came back. That’s ok though. It took some time to get all the parts for the rebuild, as well as the frame back from the powder coater. I always powder coat the frame and paint the tin. Everything black for now, I will decide on graphics later in the game. I have put flames on so many bikes over the years. Flames are like a woman with a big rack, it will never go out of style.
It took some time polishing the motor, but like I told you it’s a labor of love. I am finally ready to start assembling the bike. Got new rubber mounts which will make one hell of a difference in the ride. Some of those old mounts were dry-rotted and as hard as a rock. It makes my heart swell with pride and excitement to look at all the parts ready for assembly, new chrome, new parts, new paint. It’s exciting to me because when I look at all the parts I see the finished bike.
It has taken more time than I expected to get it all together, but as you all know, anything worth anything takes time. The In-laws are coming down this weekend for a visit and it will be cool to get my father-in-law in here to do a little hands on. He doesn’t have to, but I am sure he’ll want to. Once a wrencher always a wrencher. That was one of the things that we had in common when we met. Probably why he let me date his daughter so many years ago. That and the fact I pulled up on one bad chopper. So many years later and we have that bond that only family can give. A love like blood.
It’s a juggling act to get it all done, but it always is. I ain’t as young as I used to be, I can remember me and Double J throwing a bike together over a weekend and having it ready for racing in two days. But that was then and this is now. Talk to you soon.
FAT BOB
Posted in Uncategorized |
Thursday February 5, 2009
By
admin at 12:27 pm
It’s amazing how you can find the time to do something you love and as soon as you start the time disappears. December and January were real slow. I think it’s been slow for everyone from what I hear. Economy and all. People talking recession and depression. Seems to me as far back as I can remember December and January were always the slow months. Soon as I got the bike in boxes and started ordering parts and three jobs rolled in. Guess I gotta be thankful. Truth is I really needed the work. Things usually start picking up in February. People start spending again. That’s what this economy needs. Spending. That way people like me and the regular Joe can feel some trickledown effect.
One thing is crazy to me. Harley Davidson builds one of the best items in the market that a man can buy. As we all know a bike can last over fifty years, and only get more valuable as time goes on. Try getting parts for a motorcycle over twenty years old. I found everything I needed either after market or out of my brother Double J’s garage. J is sort of a pack rat and has saved every single thing he ever got since high school. It’s just a trip when you call a dealership and ask for a part and they tell you it’s obsolete. What do you mean obsolete? I am looking at the bike right here!
New gaskets, chrome bolt kit, new rubber mounts, fork springs, Thunderheader, cables, wheel bearings, fork springs, brake pads, even after market this stuff ain’t cheap, that’s not counting paint, chrome. You never get what you put into these machines, financially I mean. But the joy I get from being in the wind is priceless. It’s a labor of love. Been awhile since I did a ground up rebuild. Gonna wet sand and polish the motor. You can get aluminum shiny like chrome if you take the time. Takes about a week to get all those fins. Five days at least.
That’s all I got for now. Gotta get back under that welding hood, hopefully I will be free this weekend and the parts will be in to start assembly. I’ll let you know. Till then be safe, have fun, go for a ride, it’s a beautiful day.
FAT BOB SPOKES MC
Posted in Uncategorized |
Friday January 30, 2009
By
admin at 2:44 pm
So when I got the bike in my garage and started taking it apart, my Brothers wanted to know why I am going to go to all this trouble. I mean this won’t be just a dust and cover job. I am going to rip this bike down to the frame. It’s really something when you get a bike totally in boxes, boxes of parts that you can see it in its finished state. A basket case that you made your self. It’s kind of like when a painter sees a blank canvas. The painter knows damn well what he sees, what he wants to see in the end. I think that blank canvas, or the boxes of parts, scares some people. Not me. Taking the bike apart is the easy part. Hell we used to do that in a few hours back in the day. I guess I am getting a little patient in my old age, or maybe I just move a little slower.
It’s nice to have a project to work on. Gets me out of other things I probably would rather not be doing. Like filling out tax forms. Gotta leave something for the little lady to do anyway.
I got the bike totally apart in a few days after work. I mean totally apart. Split the cases, gears out of the tranny, everything. I remember when I was a younger man and I would do a project like this and categorize every part in little bags, I was so worried about mixing nuts and bolts up. Then you do it so many times, so many bikes, that you end up just putting all the nuts bolts and everything else in one bin and you just pull them out as you need them. These are the perks of getting old.
Seems so simple to me. Take it apart, new chrome, new paint, new rubber, mounts and tires, wash every part in the parts washer, bead blast the rust off where necessary, tap every hole, thread every bolt, and before you know it you have it all spread out to put back together. It’s easier than building a chopper cause this bike was already riding. Building a chopper takes more time cause you gotta do a lot of fitting and stepping back to see what looks good.
So, I am looking at my boxes of parts and all I see is the finished bike. A chromed, flamed, badass street machine, worth more than it was when I started. I ain’t scared.
My wife is Dutch, and she has reminded me of a quote from a famous Dutch painter with one ear, I think it went like this, “Many painters are afraid of the blank canvas, but the blank canvas is afraid of the real passionate painter who dares.”
I’ll keep you posted. Talk to you soon.
FAT BOB SPOKES MC
Posted in Uncategorized |
Tuesday January 20, 2009
By
admin at 4:41 pm
Hey Everybody. It’s been a while since I’ve written. Work has been real slow so I decided I would take a road trip with the ol lady. Took her to see her relatives up north. It was nice to get away, break up the monotony of struggling with the economy the way it is. The bills were just piling up with no end in sight so the only answer is ROAD TRIP.
The in laws are great. Just quiet time with family. Holidays are always fun. The whole world gets a little nicer for a while.
So when I was up there my Ol Lady’s Father took me in his Barn and showed me an old FXR Police Special he had been saving for years that I didn’t even know about. I asked him what he was going to do with that and he said he was trying to hang on to it but the economy being the way it is he has to sell it and he wanted to know if I knew anyone interested.
After a little bit of convincing I got him to let me take it and redo it and sell it for what it really is worth. He needs the money and I love working on bikes, and he is FAMILY so it works out for everyone.
So now we are home and I just unstrapped the bike. It’s a ’94 FXR Police special that I am going to turn into an Outlaw bike. Gonna take it completely apart, put in all new rubber mounts, tap every hole thread every bolt, new paint, chrome bolt kit, new pistons and rings, new rubber, just turn this bike around. That’s one of the beautiful things about a Harley Davidson. It is one of the only things that you can abuse for years, then redo everything and its worth more than when you started.
Everything else is good with me and mine as I hope it is with you and yours. The best part of traveling is always COMIN HOME.
Talk to you soon.
Posted in Uncategorized |
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