Gophers and Cheese

I managed to get the Stingray (mostly) done and rideable just in time for the Rockers Spring Social (see this post ).  However, it wasn't quite finished.  I still needed to swap the carb, wrap some wiring, add a crossbar pad, and give it a few shakedown runs.  It was by riding the bike I learned I needed to tighten the sissy bar clamps much more than I originally did (the seat slipped down towards the taillight, which could have damaged the fender) and that I needed to redesign the chain roller from a fixed wheel to something spring-loaded.  I did all that and now I consider it done.  Keep in mind, this started as a bicycle!!!

I put so much time and effort into the fabrication of the Stingray (see previous post) that I wanted to do something special with the paint.  Before I could do that, I had to remove all the black spraypaint from the previous owner.

In late-January, I spotted something on Marketplace I just had to have... it was an unfinished project and I was essentially buying an idea... a vision.  Someone had started to put a motor in bicycle frame and, to me, it looked awesome.  It wasn't just any bicycle, it was an early-2000s Schwinn Stingray that was the result of a collaboration between Schwinn and Orange County Choppers (O.C.C.).  It needed work (I didn't realize how much), but I knew that going in.  I was told the 50cc motor ran (nothing was hooked up to prove it) and, given I had experience with my Honda Z50, I took a chance.  

Here's one more big blogpost full of photos from the 2024 Twin City Vans Good Times Truck-In... After the Show & Shine was over, vans lined up behind Nate's Dodge for the van cruise.

Twin City Vans Good Times Truck-In Show & Shine coverage continues...

It rained overnight Friday night.  I slept in the van but had stashed my extra clothes and other stuff in my tent to make it easier to show my van later.  Unfortunately, my tent leaked a bit and a lot of my stuff got wet.  On the bright side, the rain made for some cool wet-van photos.

The Twin City Vans Good Times Truck-In #47 was held in Albert Lea, MN at the Freeborn County Fairgrounds  from June 7th though the 9th.  It was the same location where the club hosted the 48th Van Nats and was a change from recent years where the Good Times Truck-In was held in Preston, MN.  Unsurprisingly, I drove my 78 Dodge.

The Heavy Thursday Summer Mystery Tour was at Litt Pinball Bar in Minneapolis on June 6, 2024.  It was a beautiful night and there was great turnout.  Thanks to Zac for organizing another great event.

The 2024  Rockers Spring Social was Sunday, June 2nd at the Eagles #34 in Minneapolis.