The task of transforming a stock metric motorcycle into a radical custom will demand a lot of planning and design for the rookie class as well as the pro shops. In order to accomplish this feat within the timespan allowed means we must not only work fast but smart as well. Inside this section, you will find some information and images relating to my small shop and those that will be involved in the build process. Please understand that it wouldn't be wise for me to reveal too many details here online in the early stages of the build. Keeping in mind this is a competition event, I wouldn't want to give Ray Ray, Dana and Tom G that kind of advantage just yet, now would I?
Please continue to monitor this section while content is added and updated as the build progresses. The element of surprise will play a part throughout the project so I want to adhere to any guidelines set by the producers of the Metric Revolution pertaining to posted material.

My shop is located in southeastern Kentucky in a small community called Pine Knot that lies within the bounds of McCreary County. My home area entirely encompassed by the Daniel Boone National Forest. We are just south of the Somerset/Lake Cumberland area and smack in the middle of the Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area. As you might suspect...some of the finest motorcycling highways in the country are found right here in our backyard. Pictured to the left is Cumberland Falls. On clear nights under a full moon, the mist from the falls creates a "moonbow," a phenomenon claimed to be unique in the Western Hemisphere. The world's only other regularly occuring moonbow is located in Africa. The 68 foot waterfall has a 125-foot wide lip that showers onto the boulders that lie in the gorge below and it is one of the more popular natural attractions in our area. On a personal note...I have been fortunate enough to traverse this nation many, many times looking over the extended hood of a Peterbilt...coast to coast and border to border. In my travels, I've witnessed the finest that America has to offer...the beauty and magnificence abounds...but this area where I was born and raised has always called me back no matter how far I could roam. There is no other place like Kentucky and I can't imagine ever calling anyplace else home.

I designed my small shop exclusively for motorcycle use...repairs, customizing, choppin'...a place to take me away from all the stresses of owning and operating a small auto transport business which has been my life for over 30 years. Wrestling eighty feet of portable parking lot loaded with 10 cars on I-285 in Atlanta's rush hour traffic is not nearly as enjoyable as slipping onto the saddle of my chopper and letting the cares of the world fade away with the wind in my face. Hard to believe and even harder to understand...but I still enjoy the driving part of my life. I've just backed off it somewhat to chase this dream I've had for quite some time of building custom bikes and operating my own shop. The idea of creating this new shop and business venture came long before I ever heard of the Metric Revolution television show. The shop building, the business and the bike that got me here, all seemed to come together at a fateful time that has proven to have ominous significance here at MoonShine Steel. I have to remind myself it was my own "Perfect Storm"...three separate projects coming together at the most opportune time.

The building is 30 x 40...1200 square feet...metal construction right down to the galvanized studs. After the excavation and prior to the concrete pad being poured, I had the guys form up a recessed area in the floor to accommodate a Handy AirLift table. The ceiling and part of the walls were completed in metal except for those where I installed the slat wall. Half of the floor is done in Sherwin-Williams FastClad 2-part black epoxy and on the remaining half, I laid black & white composite vinyl tile.

The large counter/cabinet area was custom built by friend and family member John A. Stephens. Surrounded by four floor mounted swivel stools purchased online through eBay, this area is a central part of the shop. A new pair of stainless steel floor cabinets (Thanks again to eBay!) were added and topped off with a countertop for a "clean" work area with storage. Overhead cabinets, a pair of ceiling fans, fluorescent lighting, a Monitor heating sytem, 2 A/C units, overhead mounted flat screen monitor/DVD with XM Satellite Radio, Dolby Digital 5.1 made for a comfortable place to work. A Smithy Granite 1340 CNC lathe/mill/drilling center, a Miller SD180 TIG and an AIRCO MIG are a few of the important tools within the shop.

Necessity was the biggest reason for the development of my own shop. As alluded to afore, I am a truck driver by trade...a car transporter. There was just not enough time left in the days to even consider anything outside of family and work. After a couple long, frustrating experiences with outside "custom shops", my attitude was changed forever in the way I approach each custom project...not only the bikes that I love to work with. Some of you may have already realized this in your own life and I am sure there are a few out there that were simply born with that "custom" mentality of which I speak. For me, it was learned and it came to me out of necessity. I realized that everybody in the biz is not honest nor are they as capable as they like to think. If I wanted to continue my pursuit of custom at the level I desired...I would have to take up the tools along with a new attitude and do it myself. The high cost of many products and services also was a determining factor to do it with my own hands. There are still certain areas in a custom build where we must choose reliable vendors in order to get the bike to the level we desire, but the "I can do this" attitude is escalating here at my shop. My design for this Metric Revolution project bike will reflect this new attitude. Randy Briley at BCOOL Products told me I should be prepared for a lot of sleepless nights and some 24/7 shop time if I was going to pull this off. I'm used to long, sleepless nights considering my career up to now...only this time I'll be trading a steering wheel and an 18 speed gearshift for a grinder and a welding helmet.

Pictured right is my "day job" saddle. Built to my specs in 2000, this particular 379 extended hood Peterbilt was one of the last that rolled off the line in Nashville prior to the "new" style dash changeover. It is powered by a C-16 Caterpillar 600 horsepower engine tied to an 18 speed transmission. This truck was special ordered for and by yours truly. Drop front-end, low-low air leaf suspension...so low, as a matter of fact, Peterbilt, had to remove the standard location of the polished aluminum air tanks which normally mount below each door and relocate them in between the chassis rails underneath. The battery and tool boxes had to be raised 2" at the factory for sufficient clearance due to the slammed Pete's stance.

When spec'ing a truck like this out prior to the actual building of it, there are obviously many, many items/options that need to be specified. My dealer asked "How many gauges?" My reply..."All of 'em." "What kind of sound system?" "The best." "What kind of seats?" "Dual Talladega Low Profile soft black leather wide-ride with full air support." I've added full air raise valves as well as the factory air dump feature to lay the truck and trailer on the ground if I so choose to. Same basic principle as on my chopper air-ride...except my "big truck" doesn't have a remote control feature...yet.

I dubbed this portable parking lot "Petey Cruiser" and I've toured the United States from the east coast to the west coast many times over and the clock shows over half a million miles...still purrin' like the kitty-cat she is. Currently playing a starring role up and down the I-75 corridor from mid-Ohio to Jacksonville, Florida when we are not creating custom choppers here in the shop...give a shout and a wave if you see us along the way. (Update..."Petey Cruiser II" is loose on the highway...links coming soon)

Continued...

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Published on: 2005-12-23 (1196 reads)