Page 68 - Issue 50

Gary
Gary
Gary hrow as many superlatives as you
like at Gary Fisher’s ‘Resurgence’,
and it’s still not enough. Love it,
Fisher Thate it, it doesn’t really matter. Just
when you think you’ve seen it all, along
OREGON
all rolled into one package, and it’s the
OREGON comes this. It’s big, beautiful, and brutish
winner of the car division of the 2015 Rat
OVERALL
CHAMPION
CHAMPION Rod & Bike Build Off, making him our first
repeat winner.
AND FIRST EVER
AND FIRST EVER
BACK-TO-BACK WINNER
BACK-TO-BACK WINNER
BACK-TO-BACK WINNER
WRITTEN BY RICK LOXTON N N
WRITTEN BY RICK LOXTO
WRITTEN BY RICK LOXTO
PHOTOS BY JERRY RIPLEY AND ALSO
PHOTOS BY JERRY RIPLEY AND ALSO
PHOTOS BY JERRY RIPLEY AND ALSO
PROVIDED BY GARY FISHER R
PROVIDED BY GARY FISHE
Ra
Rat Rod Class Winner:t Rod Class Winner:
Gary Fisher, Resurrected Rust -
Oregon 1935 Autocar
rat rod Class Winner:
Phillip Haley, Missouri
1930 Ford Model A
1930 Ford Model A
RATRODMAGAZINE.COM RAT ROD MAGAZINE 51
RAT ROD MAGAZINE
RAT ROD MAGAZINE ISSUE THIRTY-FOUR
50 RAT ROD MAGAZINE ISSUE THIRTY-FOUR
Bike Class Award Phillip Haley Lebanon, MO
Winners Justin Chris Year: 1930 Make: Ford Model: Model A Tudor Engine: .030
Justin
Justin
Justin
DeBruler
DeBruler
Nichols DeBruler over 350 Chevy Trans: 700R4 Estimated cost to build: $4700
Nichols
What makes it unique? The combination of the eye-catching
interior and natural finish.
(RATTY SHACK)
(NICHOLS PAINT & FAB)
(NICHOLS PAINT & FAB)
INGENUITY AWARD
OVERALL WINNER
OVERALL
CHAMPION
CHAMPION
C C C C C C C C C hris DeBruler and the guys at Ratty Shack Customs first attempt at building one on
hris DeBruler and the guys at Ratty Shack Customs
first attempt at building one on
may have showed up late to the party, but they
may have showed up late to the party, but they
his own. Since time was the most valuable
his own. Since time was the most valuable
soon found out it’s not necessarily where you finish,
commodity, he leveraged the work already done on
bike Class C but how you finish. The night before they were due twisted hexagonal down tube, which required placing it
it and built the rest of the bike around it. He made a
in Grafton, they found out that their engine wouldn’t fire.
in Grafton, they found out that their engine wouldn’t fire.
Dejected, Chris made the decision not to come to the
Dejected, Chris made the decision not to come to the
Winner: build off. The next day, he received word that his presence in the frame jig. While in the jig, new motor mounts were
build off. The next day, he received word that his presence
made. The rear wheel was a disassembled freebie that
was still requested. His spirit renewed, he re-rounded up
was still requested. His spirit renewed, he re-rounded up
was still requested. His spirit renewed, he re-rounded up
was still requested. His spirit renewed, he re-rounded up
just required lacing, truing, and cleaning. The front was
his troops and made the 20-hour drive from Raeford,
Justin Nichols, his troops and made the 20-hour drive from Raeford, purchased as an assembled unit that has sat outside for “…and here’s your winner! With the perfect combination
North Carolina to St. Louis in about 15 hours.
North Carolina to St. Louis in about 15 hours.
Nichols Paint ustin Nichols is no stranger to the Rat Rod & Raw Bike Build Off. Last example, he completely scratchbuilt his girder front end. years and just required soap, water and air. of style, stance, execution, and attitude, Phillip Haley’s 1930
His build is pretty much resourcefulness, defined. For
His build is pretty much resourcefulness, defined. For
The motor that gave them so much trouble is a
example, he completely scratchbuilt his girder front end.
example, he completely scratchbuilt his girder front end.
example, he completely scratchbuilt his girder front end.
& Fab - year he brought a bitchin’ ’46 Ford coupe out to the Redneck Rumble But he did so without the aid of a lathe in his shop, and mild cylinder bore, new seals, and a ported and polished Model A was the choice of the combined popular and staff
votes. For less than $5000, Phillip took a body that was
Honda 1980 CB750 that is basically stock, save for a
But he did so without the aid of a lathe in his shop, and
there were over forty hand-machined pieces. That meant
Missouri Jchosen for the bike portion of the build off this year, he knew he had there were over forty hand-machined pieces. That meant head. The stock trans has been augmented with a scattered across a Kansas salvage yard, added hard work,
there were over forty hand-machined pieces. That meant
in Lebanon, Tennessee as part of the 2014 rat rod class. After being
that he had to rely on the kindness of friends, spending
some horse trading, and a keen eye and produced a creation
that he had to rely on the kindness of friends, spending
that he had to rely on the kindness of friends, spending
1999 to ramp things up. And that he did. This radically customized ’99 Yamaha over seventeen hours in travel time alone. It’s just doing handmade hand shifter and suicide clutch. Much like that stood owut amongst 26 other deserving vehicles.
what you have to do.
everything else, the pipes, sissy bar, chain tensioner and
650 was the winner in the bike category.
Yamaha 650 The engine, trans, and cradle are The frame was a stalled project that was actually his from scrap metal by Chris. Phillip assembled the car entirely by himself, and rebuilt
every cool part you can find on this thing was made
“The car was entirely built by me. All 487 rivets, every weld,
essentially stock, but as one can see, the rest both the 350 Chevy motor and 700R4 trans. Phillip says,
Jeremiah Gardner
Jeremiah Gardner
Jeremiah Gardner about the bike he created for last year’s competition:
Jeremiah Gardner
Jeremiah Gardner
Jeremiah Gardner
Jeremiah Gardner
of the bike is a hand-fabbed masterpiece.
The tanks, fender, and bags were all every drop of paint, and every wire, all me. I did this so that if
hammered out by hand and left unfinished,
hammered out by hand and left unfinished, “Everything was just nasty. The brakes were terrible something failed I would have no one to blame but myself.”
while the forks are repurposed drawbars Phillip’s scratchbuilt frame is a combination of 2”x3” and 1
and it just wasn’t ridable. Even though I won, as a
from a tractor. ½” tubing while the floor is 18 gauge steel. It rides along on a
(GARDNER ROAD KUSTOMS) rider I failed.” With that in mind, he started with a ’79
Justin and his guys had never built a bike traditional front end and coil overs on a Ford 9-inch out back.
that rode on air, but they didn’t let that little Yamaha XS650 that was sitting around his shop for the The most expensive parts of the build were the wheels and tires,
ROAD WARRIOR AWARD better part of a decade. With the frame, used center
WINNER and built with functionality in mind. Probably the most striking part of the car is the interior.
fact get in the way. It wasn’t easy, but they cradle and built from there. Everything was designed and the three deuce intake and carbs.
found a way to get it done. The signature
pieces, however are the huge, towering twin One of his biggest challenges was establishing the The acres of orange paint and well-sorted International truck
2 got. The first time he dropped it off the table, the bike outside. What a car! Lean, clean, and mean!” – Rick Loxton
exhausts in the rear that come to life when dash stand out from the Mother Nature-applied finish on the
they morph into flamethrowers. One of the 014 Build-Off Champ Jeremiah Gardner and his ride height. He was aiming for low, and low is what he
bags contains an extra fuel cell and solenoid
bags contains an extra fuel cell and solenoid crew at Gardner Road Kustoms gave it everything stood up without the aid of a kickstand. He obviously
for igniting the charge when it’s showtime. they had with their modern interpretation of an fixed that and the bike runs and handles flawlessly,
Justin says that they’re good for 20 feet, but 2 early 1900’s board track/salt flat racer, in a more “Simple, sexy. Love it.” – Editor Steve
Justin says that they’re good for 20 feet, but
than respectable bid to defend the title. as evidenced by the silver and blue flash that was
than respectable bid to defend the title.
he’s going to drill out the nozzles because “It screaming up and down the main drag of Grafton that
he’s going to drill out the nozzles because “It
needs more fuel.” Jeremiah did a complete 180° from last year’s ratty, “I love the traditional styling of this car, it’s beautiful from
Jeremiah did a complete 180° from last year’s ratty,
JERRY RIPLEY
steampunk-ish look to something cleaner, lighter, and weekend. A painter by trade, he rattle-canned the every angle.” – Jeremy Amendola
steampunk-ish look to something cleaner, lighter, and
steampunk-ish look to something cleaner, lighter, and
finish on this year’s entry just to prove that you don’t
more rideable. He offered up this candid evaluation
58 RAT ROD MAGAZINE ISSUE THIRTY-FOUR
need a $10,000 paint job to have a cool bike. RATRODMAGAZINE.COM RAT ROD MAGAZINE 7
RATRODMAGAZINE.COM RAT ROD MAGAZINE 59
6 RAT ROD MAGAZINE ISSUE FORTY
68 RAT ROD MAGAZINE ISSUE FIFTY
66x69 build offs revisited.indd 68 6/22/18 12:55 PM