Muscle Shoals Mischief

Several SMC'ers met in Huntsville Ala. at amigo Dorsey's pad on Thursday eve of June 16th in preparation for a ride to Muscle Shoals and Fame Recording Studios in Muscle Shoals Ala. We visited Muscle Shoals Sound Studio on Friday the 17th and on Saturday the 18th Fame Recording Studio for a trip back in time where some of the best music of the 60's and 70's was recorded. Another part of the adventure was to Rattlesnake Saloon and Seven Springs Lodge for lodging, eats and music. This unique venue has a restaurant and stage within the confines of a cave. The Lodge burned two years ago, so some of us stayed in a silo and some in cabins. On Saturday after visiting Fame, we rode to Waterloo Ala. where the Trail of Tears ride ends. Then riding into Tennessee, following some locals on bikes, we got on the Natchez Trace to find a cold one at a store in the woods. Refreshed, we then rode to check out the Coon Dog Cemetery, which was created in 1937 with Ol Troop being the first coon dog to be laid to rest there. A great adventure it was, as we headed home on Sunday the 18th!

May 2022 Monthly Gathering

Great gathering last Saturday (5-14-22) at Kuncklehead's in Rockmart, Ga. Good food, fun stories and friends came together with an update on Muscle Shoals/Rattlesnake (June) and Great River Road (September) rides. Also, a bit of parking lot parts swapping, talk of motor building and a servicar birth name certificate was presented. Check out the cool pics of the day.

April 2022 Monthly Gathering

The 3rd SMC lunch gathering of 2022 occurred last Saturday 4-9-22 at Knucklehead Cafe in Rockmart Ga. The day was chilly, although warmed with good food, drink, fun and friends coming together for a bit of nourishment of the body and soul. The progression of new projects was moved forward by the acquisition of additional parts and an update on the "SMC Great River Road Ride" was given. Also discussed, was the Muscle Shoals/Rattle Snake Saloon ride for the month of May with no definitive date set as of yet (stay tuned). Of note, a few vintage 4 wheeled modes of transport arrived for the second Saturday of the month Car/Bike Show hosted by Knucklehead's.

March 2022 Monthly Gathering

Pretty chilly day last Saturday, 3-12-22, for the monthly gathering at Knucklehead's. Erik and Dorsey from SMCHuntsville showed up with snow still on Erik's truck's rear bumper. After a bit of socializing with good food drink and friends, Erik gave an update on the September Davenport swapmeet, Driftless Chapter Road Run and SMC Great River Road Run attendance, accommodations and logistics status.

Also, a couple of awards were presented. Erik graciously awarded Billy with his old tag from his 1947 Harley, due to it was time for a new replacement. The tag was a bit cracked and mangled partially as a result of a mishap on the SMC Campout Cookout Ride, we had in North Ga. a couple of years ago. Billy ran into the back of Erik's bike on a rainy road where some of us were standing on the side of the road diagnosing a bike issue. Of course, Billy proudly accepted with a grin.

Dorsey presented Tommy with a plaque substitute (Dorsey's lunch bill) for winning the raffle and Best Bobber award at the recent Sunshine Meet's Friday Ride In Chopper Show. This was for Tommy's award winning 1962 Panhead chopper. Tommy proudly accepted with a speech that had everyone rollin with laughter.

2022 Sunshine Meet

SMC had several members who vended and attended the Sunshine meet in sunny Florida this past week. The weather was gorgeously perfect, with warm days and cool nights. A great time was had by all. If you were not able to make it, check out the pics for an insight for some of the happenings!

SMC Huntsville's February Breakfast

The regulars were there with SMCC Mike McCloud, and SMCH member Alan Mayes from Tullahoma Tennessee being able to make it for the first gathering of the year. Breakfast was tasty and discussions about doing a ride when it gets a little warmer, in leu of breakfast, was discussed for the future for some of the "Almost Monthly" gatherings. See ya next time.

2022 Kickoff Lunch

The first lunch gathering of 2022 on Feb. 12th at Knucklehead Cafe in Rockmart Ga. produced a pretty good turnout of SMC members from Carrollton, Birmingham, Huntsville, Chattanooga and Marietta.

A presentation for the proposed September combination Davenport swapmeet, Driftless Chapter Road Run and SMC Mississippi River Run was presented by SMCHuntsville members Erik Bahl and Dorsey Uptain. Please see previous email dated 2-13-22 from Erik for details on these events.

There was a bit of parking lot swapmeet action, old iron knowledge exchange and even some regular 'ol BS exchange going on between SMC'ers after food and drink had been consumed. Check out the action via the accompanying pics!

SMC 45 Tech day at Huntsville Workshop

It was an early start at the SMC Huntsville Workshop. Our goal today was to build a 45 motor in a day, or get as far as we could. The cases had been fitted with new Torrington bearings by SMC VP Roy Chapman at the SMC machine shop in Adairsville, GA. Roy had set the cases up with the Torrington conversion and had bolted the cases together with a dry end play of .011. In attendance was SMC President Mike McCloud, Erik Bahl, Dorsey Upatain, Jon Lindberg and Cecil Frost.

The Torrington bearing

Dorsey, Cecil and Erik doing a wet test fit.

After doing a wet fit we decided we wanted a little more end play and decided to take a .001 off each thrust collar. Jon Lindberg suggested the method to remove the material and it was a outstanding success.

Checking the end play one last time

Lightly sealed the cases and on to cam chest

Erik was the cam shim mathematician

Cam cover went on and off at least 5 times. I lost count to be honest

Dorsey having a little fun rebuilding the oil pump

Starting to go together!

Finding the mark!

build sheet notes

Lining up the marks

Preparing for rod alignment

Preforming rod alignment

It was a great day of fun and learning. Everyone’s experience came together for a nice job! There are a few items/parts to be completed. Those items include new springs for oil pump and the seal ring inside cam cover for generator gear. All parts needed for these repairs have been ordered and are in route. The top end is currently in the hands of Roy and should be ready soon. Next up will be the transmission where some decisions are yet to be made. Stock versus 4 speed gear set.

2021 SMC Christmas Party

The 2021 SMC Christmas Party was a great success. SMC VP Roy Chapman hosted the event at his home in Adairsville GA, which is just outside of Rome. We had great fellowship, food and stories all around a roaring fire. We had free access to the SMC machine shop where Roy makes repairs to all the damage we do and helps keep all the old iron alive.

Southern Devil HD Social Sting Vintage Bike Show and Swapmeet

Despite the very warm temp, there was a pretty good turnout for the Southern Devil HD Social Sting Vintage Bike Show and Swapmeet, sponsored by Steel Horse Law, this past Saturday (7-31-21) in Cartersville Ga. There were quite a few vintage bikes on display, along with a few Swapmeet vendors and plenty of burgers, brats and beer to be consumed. SMC was well represented with 10 bikes being displayed and 13 members present. If you were not able to make it, check out the fun by viewing the pics!

2021 AMCA Southern Meet

The Denton Southern National Meet May 14-16 2021 at the Denton Farm Park is now history! The weather was great, the meet was great and SMC had fifteen members in attendance for some fun time with old bikes, parts and hanging out together. Check it out by viewing the pics!

November's Last Minute Gathering

In spite of the “Last Minute Notice” of a gathering at Knucklehead Café in Rockmart Ga., we had several attendees arrive for lunch! The weather and camaraderie were great! SMCHuntsville, SMCCarrollton, SMCCHattanooga and SMCMarietta were represented as well as a couple of guest, Greg and Duwayne. Erik says, “Thank You” to all who were in attendance! In case you were not able to make it, see pics for a personal insight into the gathering. See you next time!

SMC Fall colors ride!

A few of us SMC members met at Roy and Pam’s place in Adairsville for a Fall Colors Ride in north Georgia on Saturday November 7th and ride to Little River Canyon on Sunday November 8th. The ride for Saturday started off a bit cool! No problem, it is November and we are in the season of Fall or Autumn, a good time for viewing leaf color change! 

 

There were plenty of curvy back roads with colorful foliage on our ride to Hillcrest Orchards for a fried apple pie and a cup of apple cider Saturday, and even more on the way to TWO (Two Wheels Only) later for lunch. Roy is pretty familiar with the area roads and picked some good ones! We convened back at the Chapman’s before dark for some good food, good drink and hanging out by the fire.

TWO (Two Wheels Only), of course Dorsey having three, he had to park out by the street!

1902CC25FA3548C0995EA31334BBB60D.jpg

Sunday’s ride to Little River Canyon began a bit warmer than Saturday’s, so we were off a little earlier with leaves falling and blowing all over the roads, NICE! With more back roads the leafage colors were more colorful it seemed. Once at the canyon we stopped at a few of the overlooks and then Dorsey and John headed for Huntsville.

With two of our riding companions departed for Huntsville (Dorsey and John), the remainder of us (Roy, Joe and Mike) came to a fork in the road. We picked up the left one, which took the old rim road around the west side of the canyon for an adventure of woopdeedoos and steep grades! The last grade at the south end is pretty STEEP with a right hand switchback at the bottom! It will definitely test your brakes to the tune of heated brake smell and your downshifted motor RPM’s, while engaging the pucker factor!!

Rolling on to the tune of brakes cooling, we headed toward Leesburg Al. for a stop at Decks & Docks restaurant on Weiss Lake for some eats and a beverage. Another great day of riding with a departing photo opp at Cherokee Plaza for Roy and the Chief! Roy and Joe head to Adairsville and I to Carrollton.

Canton Barbecue, Blues and Boos

Well, the Canton Barbecue, Brews and Boos event with a vintage bike show sponsored by Speed Standard Bike Shop was dampened by rain on this past Saturday October 24th, 2020. Despite the imminent rain forecast, there was a substantial turnout for the bike show. The new venue at The Mill On The Etowah is still in the construction phase and where the bike show was setup flooded! 

 

These events led to the show ending early and some of the show participants convening to the after party at The Shuffle Inn. The Shuffle Inn provided a respite for a drier environment with food, beverage and a kicking rockabilly band, Atomic Boogie! The Devil sure could play that standup bass! 

 

Eric and I found ourselves at the Shuffle Inn for Sunday morning brunch and another band, Catfish & The Bottom. These talented guys did mostly original tunes consisting of “fierce funk to folk blues”. Later in the afternoon they had another guys show up to play harmonica with them which intensified their tunes! Good stuff!! www.CatfishAndTheBottomBand.com

 

Next year let us hope for no rain. As Jeff at Speed Standard says, “It would not be the vintage bike show without it, it is our third year with it”!