Prize Winners

It's taken me this long to resurface after Grinderfest. I'm honestly knackered. Thanks againt to everyone who took part and everyone who turned up to support ther Grease Monkeys. There were 5 awards from Shed 5  and Damien kindly donated vouchers for pin striping. We also had the Monkey Cup which I presented to one of the bikes that had been on this Blog throughout the 6 months of build. Every bike was different and the standard was excellent. The judging was done by the Shed 5 team using their own set of rules but the judges took the whole thing very seriously and spent a long time over the week going over each bike in detail. Some bikes really stood out but did not win an award but that doesn't mean that they didn't blow everone away. Marcel's Boxer was a prime example with engineering and imagination that was a huge hit with everyone. I talked to Dave who was judging engineering and he was looking at bikes that were running but were built with a minimum set of tools but still showed a high level of skill and determination. As far as I'm concerned all the bikes were winners.
We will be doing this again as there was a level of interest from the public that I found hard to believe. Things will change for the next one and I hope we have learned a lot this time. Anyway, here are the award winners:

The Doctor Whaky Award (People's Chioce)  and The Hairy Brush Award (Best Custom Paint) - Lance's Phantom309.

The Golden Spanner Award (The Technical/Engineering Excellence Award) - Jody's Yam

The Graffiti Award (Highest Artistic Merit) - Matt's Saint

The Chief Kakapo Award (Grand Champion) - Andrew's XS

The Monkey Cup (Grinderfest Champion)

Thank You.

Hey. I just wanted to say thanks to everyone who has got involved in Grinderfest. The response has been awesome and I am truly blown away. I know that the organisation is still a bit shaky and I still don’t know what will be happening this week but Saturday was a blast for me. It was great to see all the different styles of bikes from Dave’s very cool Puch Maxi right through to Daye’s Armageddon CX. There were loads of people looking at the bikes and hopefully getting inspired to get out in their sheds and make something. It was great to catch up with people I hadn’t seen for a while and very nice to see that everybody was getting on so well. It really does look good for summer and seeing some cool metal out on the streets and for interesting people to get a chance to hang out and talk bikes. No attitudes and no pressure.

There will always be some people who just don’t get it. The biggest crowd at the end of the afternoon was round the store bought chopper (just like on TV). It was a nice bike but the only thing that I could see that was garage built were the little bits of bent tin that were holding on the indicators. Same for the Thruxton, which was a lovely bike. Hell, I’ve even got one, but getting a professional paint job and a few high end catalogue parts was exactly what we were trying not to promote.

Have to give a big shout out to Kim and Doug at Shed 5 for all their outstanding efforts. Kim ran around making sure that everyone was happy and organised. Doug, despite having what looks like food poisoning from his recent trip to the Islands, was having a blast when the excellent band were playing on Sunday afternoon. I missed out on that as I had been promising my son a trip to a rugby world cup match for months.

Anyway, thanks again to everyone. Try and get there at least for our party on Thursday night and for the prise giving on Saturday afternoon, when I’m hoping for more bikes that couldn’t make it for the week turning up for a final Carpark show.

Irish

Sporty Monday

Had a call from Shed 5 to let me know that they are having problems getting the word out about Sportster Night next Monday. So, if you have a Sporty or know someone who has, bring it along to Shed 5 on Monday night.
Kim also wanted to remind everyone that there are Grease Monkey specific parties on the first Saturday night and the Thursday night, as well as the prize giving on the last Saturday afternoon. Apparently teh biggest party is on the Thursday so I'll definitely be there. Spread the word..........

Show bookings

Around 20 bikes now registered with Kim at Shed Five so it's all looking good. A couple of surprise bikes that I hadn't seen before and there's a few more that I know about that will be entered this week. So, if you are still waiting to get that late entry in you'd better send those pictures in to Kim@shedfive.co.nz as soon as you can.

Flea's VN - Entry

Flea's official entry is now winging its way to Kim at Shed Five to book its place on the show floor.

this is fleabag she started life as a 1995 vn800 i got it stock apart from the zbars.so i ripped of all the plastic.mounted a jawa tank,solo seat,made some brass footpegs from some old hollow thread,removed all the switchs ,made the aircleaner from an old ceiling fan .hid the battery in the saddlebag,hid the electrics in the toolbag behind the seat,mounted a model a tailight(i have been through a lot of tailights made a few to cause i wanted something different but ended up with the model a just because i like it)used an old 1930s ford spare wheel cover for the rear guard.and a lot more shit i can't remember.hopeing to build an exhaust before grinderfest.as always building this bike has been a blast.
cheers
flea

ps
here is still a lot i want to do to this bike but if i get to carried away i won't make grinderfest so i am trieing very hard to have some control.

Marcel's Completed Entry

Still waiting for those entry pictures so we can sort out the floor spaces with Shed 5 but this is one that I am really looking forward to seeing. Over to Marcel...

It all started off with a email sent to me by a mate Harry over in Aussie with an attachment  pic of a concept Subaru powered bike, it had all the ingredients that I liked, single sided swing arms, centre steer hub and turbos. With the email came the challenge that one off us needed to build something as insane as this............and so it begins.

To see if it was even achievable, I grabbed some old road tyres off Tez and a motor from Des at Scrapit, placed them, stood back, grabbed a beer, thought for awhile, and said yes this is doable.......we’re away

I started off with the centre steer hub design and manufacture, and then moved under the motor with the suspension and on to the rear hub and swing arm with most things falling into place with the help of available parts from Andy at sweetstreet motorcycle parts.

We are a way off yet but when finish plan on doing a bike trip down around the south island.

Final - Final Dates

Click on the image for a full size view

So, after lots of time and a few more logistical issues we now have a FINAL date for the show. As you can see, its now a week of events and parties with the support of the lovely people at the Shed 5 Speed Shop in Wellesley Street, Auckland. See the events calendar below.

Click on the image for a full size view

There will be events every day and night throughout the Festival with the custom bikes on display all week at Shed 5. The awards and wrap party for Grinderfest itself will be on Saturday 1st October. Bikes that can't make it for the whole week will still be eligible for additional prizes if they are there for the final day.

Click on the image for a full size view

To help us organise space and work out just who will be there we need you to complete a quick registration process. Basically, email me before and after pictures of the project and a picture of the builder(s) in the place where the bike was built and then just confirm that the bike can be at Shed 5 for the week. We'll get back to you to sort out the load in. Remember, everyone who is accepted gets an automatic award from Shed 5.

For the people that can only get their bikes there on the final day, please drop me an email and a picture anyway and you will be eligible for the additional prizes from El Boneshaker, Damien Kurth and Grease Monkeys on that day.

Get those entries in and get ready top party.

Irish

PanShovel's Collection - Welington Crew

Doug is part of the active Grease Monkeys Wellington Crew. These guys will be heading North for Grinderfest and bringing their bikes anfd party heads. Doug's Shovel has already been in one of the Australian biker mags as well as loads of web sites and will be in Auckland along with Doug's Triumph and the cool Evo in the Shovel frame modified by Woody.

And this is how its done

So Andrew was the first to come back with the photos and write-up so we can book his place on the floor. I think that qualifies Andrew to pick his own spot to set the bike up on show day.

This is my 1980 yamaha xs650. I've have built this bike as I've always liked them. I got alot of inspiration from all the xs650's in the states as they are quite a big thing over there. I've built this bike to ride around on as often as possible and with people into the same thing and have fun. I've really enjoyed building it up and would not hesitate to build another bike.

 Before

 After

Andrew at the scene of the crime.

Show Time

We finally managed to get the time together at Grinderfest Party Central and have nearly pulled this thing together. Just a few more details to sort out and we're ready to rock.
The show is confirmed at Shed 5 in Wellesley Street but will now be a whole 9 days worth of petrol based partying.
We'll kick off on Saturday 17th September and run right through to the next weekend. There will be a different festival on each day, culminating in the Grinderfest judging and party on Saturday 24th. We're planning on Hot Rods, Bands, Vintage Scooters and much more. Details coming very soon.
We also need to confirm just who is left in the race and how many places we need to provide in Shed 5.
There may still be some slight changes but it'll be something like this:

Classes.

There are only two classes to this show.  The bike can be any make and any style but must include a high proportion of home built or home modified parts. This is not a show for stock bikes or mobile parts catalogues. It’s about invention, enthusiasm and creativity.

·         Movers

o   Do not need to be road legal but must be able to be start and tick over unaided

·         Shakers

o   Must at least look like a complete motorcycle and be able to roll but does not need to start or tick over

Awards

There will be 3 awards for each class, judged by people’s choice on the day:

·         Best Technical / Engineering

o   Not looking for the best welding or panel beating. This is more for best use or whatever you had at hand to solve an engineering problem, like keeping the seat and handlebars attached to the bike

·         Best Artistic / Design

o   Turning a pile of rusty metal into an art work that you’d be proud to hang in your lounge. Think of it as a sculpture award

·         Best Paint

o   Maybe not 14 coats of candy over mega-flake. More of a “I don’t know art but I know what I like” sort of thing

There will also be a special Judges Choice award, because we want to pick what we like as well.

Qualification

Before Friday 2nd September you must send in three pictures

·         A picture of the bike, pile of parts or metal, before you started the build

·         A picture of the finished (or nearly finished) article

·         A picture of the builder in the shed, bedroom or kitchen where the bike was built

We also need a short write up (around 100 words) telling us what you have built; why you built it; what was your inspiration; how you’d like to use it; and if you’d do it again.

Cheers

Irish

Marcel - Magic Time

all jigged up and ready for John to do his magic and he's good at magic

Its getting there

The Greasemonkeys Wellington Crew are sorting out their transport for heading North. Damien and Nathan will start pinstriping their Yam this weekend. Marcel is sorting out the final welding. Jonpan is ready to rock. Andrews hardtailed Yam is just about finished and my Harley at least looks like a bike.
Its all starting to come together. I keep seeing that countdown to the World Cup on the TV and its all starting to get very real.
Thanks to everybody who has supported us so far. This is going to be a party. We're going to celebrate the enthusiasm and invention and skills that has been hidden in sheds across New Zealand for too long. We're taking it to the streets - big time.

Jonpan's Triumph Tracker - Finished

One of the best things of bike building for me is when all the shiny, newly
painted and polished bits come together ready for assembly. My frame etc.
came back from the powder coaters first which was handy this meant I could
start assembly, and first thing to go in was the engine. I always find the
easiest way to scratch a newly painted surface is to lift an engine into a
frame, so when I can I lift the frame over the engine, all with the help of
my lovely assistant, Trout. A light Triumph frame is easy to position while
a few bolts a dropped in place, then the whole thing can be tipped up and
placed on blocks ready to accept everything else.
        I decided to paint the guards and tank etc. with whatever paint I
had in the shed, I had bought a large tin of silver base coat for another
job and also a tin of gloss black, I spotted a bit of orange so that became
the colour scheme, all I needed to buy was a tin of thinners and some
masking tape, sorted, a cheaper than normal paint job. After I had put up
plastic drop sheets around in the shed to make a temporary spray booth I set
to work and soon had everything ready to go on the bike, I won't count the
hours of priming, sanding and other stuff needed to finish the job. Now I
had shiny paintwork and a shed with every surface covered in a fine layer of
paint dust, bugger more cleaning!
        As the bike had been built up before stripping for paint it soon
went back together again, all the big parts were in place in no time then
all the small fiddly bits had to be done, I had bought a black box
rectifier/reg from the states so this was bolted under the seat on an alloy
plate which would act as a heat sink, then once the other electric items
were in place I could start the wiring. I also fitted a Boyer ignition which
is probably the best for old Triumphs, rattily old advance retards and
points, no thanks. I also like old bikes as there are no indicators to wire
up, so a loom was concocted to join all the boxes together and after fitting
a battery I had a spark, hoorah!
        Many hours were spent just tidying little items up, routing cables,
bleeding the front brake, running wires inside the handlebars, finding nuts
and bolts (where do they go?) fitting the chain then deciding I had better
make some attempt at making a chain guard, fitting a set of new tyres and
tubes, skinned knuckles, balance the carbs, adjust cables first duh! Have a
beer, have a coffee have a cake, fill with oil, fill with petrol, don't
forget the primary and gearbox, bugger where's that petrol leaking from? OK
retighten the fuel hose, tickle the carbs, Quaint, turn on the ignition
switch, kick kick, pop bang roar, yes I should have opened the shed door
first, cough!
        Off down the road and it felt very nice, the neighbours peek, out
yes missus it's a Triumph, don't you know load pipes save lives ha ha, up
and down the road, everything feels right, I do a few miles and head back
into the shed for the once over, a couple of little things to sort but I am
happy, another project under the belt.
So that's my story on this build, enclosed the photos of the finished bike,
now I need summer. (And another project!)

Laters Jon

 

Time's Getting Tight

All those Rugby World Cup ads on the telly every night with that countdown till we get invaded. Not long at all now till September 10th so I hope you are all out there in your sheds hammering away at bits of metal. The Wellington Crew are all sorting out transport up North and even I have been making some slow progress on my bike.
I need to start confirming numbers so lets have those updates. Remember that nearly completed projects will be welcome as well. I doubt if my bike will be running but it will look finished. We need to get people interested in escaping from crap TV and making something interesting and better still, riding around with other interesting and enthusiastic people. This is going to be a brilliant summer. Lets start it off right!!

Marcel's Special - Madboxer

my new turbo bracket, muffler made up just needs notching to fit and the
all new long awaited 2.5 Litre engine

Marcel's Special - That Motor

Just in case there's anyone else out there that has been stuck in a shed with a pile of old Harley parts for the last 20 years, I asked Marcel what the motor is in this amazing piece of engineering.
Its a Subaru WRX turbo ES20 motor. You know how fast one of those is in a big heavy car. Can you imagine how fast it'll be in a light bike frame. I really have to see this one run. Absolute inspiration man. Respect.
Irish.

Andrew W's Westie Yam. - Update

Have been busy,frame has been welded up,got frame blasted,iv painted up all the parts and frame,ready to start assembly

Keith's L650 Bobber

Hi Irish
I have fished up the bike attached are some photos for the blog.
I started by stripping the bike down to the frame and cleaned and detailed
the engine and then painted up the frame.  I had the wheels powder coated
and removed the airbox and various other bits of excess.
Rattle canned the tank headlight and side covers forks, fashioned the seat
out of an old skateboard.  Cut a squab from high density foam and wrapped in
leather along with the grips and foot pegs.
Made up the rear stop light out of an interior halogen downlight from
bunnings. wrapped the exhaust and side mounted the number plate.  Didnt like
the look of the stock muffler so fitted a straight pipe with a single
baffle.
Been riding it now for a few weeks and very happy with the result.

Cheers
Keith