Page 69 - Issue 50

Celebrating the home-builder
In its 4th iteration, the official Rat Rod Build-Off
is all about one thing: home-built rods. The Build-Off
isn’t about having the most sponsors, the biggest
prizes, or even the most hype – it’s about bringing
like-minded builders and enthusiasts together to
enjoy each other’s work.
The Build-Off is an ever-changing, living event. It
evolves along with the rat rod scene and it’s our every
intention to keep it fresh and exciting. This year, we made
some big changes and saw some amazing rides.
The 2016 Build-Off bullet points:
Gary hrow as many superlatives as you This year it was all about showing us how YOU do it.
Build it your way. While we like to see certain things,
like at Gary Fisher’s ‘Resurgence’,
we’ll never tell anyone how they should build anything.
and it’s still not enough. Love it,
Fisher Thate it, it doesn’t really matter. Just builds. Who can do the most with the least?
Be resourceful. No, there’s no official “budget” this
year – but that doesn’t mean this is not a budget build-off.
when you think you’ve seen it all, along
We were still very much looking for low-buck, resourceful
Hands-on public voting. This year there was more
OREGON comes this. It’s big, beautiful, and brutish rods in any capacity because they are so subjective and
all rolled into one package, and it’s the
emphasis on the public vote. It’s hard to “judge” rat
winner of the car division of the 2015 Rat
OVERALL
CHAMPION Rod & Bike Build Off, making him our first all 26 other entries. The first 3 are in order… but after that
personal. In this year’s offering, event participants chimed
in… giving us real first-hand feedback.
repeat winner.
On the following pages are your winner, followed by
AND FIRST EVER
BACK-TO-BACK WINNER someone has to be listed last and we don’t want that to
the order is random. Why do I mention that? Because
WRITTEN BY RICK LOXTON
PHOTOS BY JERRY RIPLEY AND ALSO builders was amazing. We loved the community feel, the
reflect on how well anyone did in the competition. We only
PROVIDED BY GARY FISHER
“placed” top 3, after that it’s a 24-vehicle tie for 4th place.
And yes that’s how we really feel.
As with previous Build-Offs, this year’s group of
comradery – it was exactly what we were hoping for. The
vehicles themselves prove how diverse and incredible
the rat rod scene is today. All different styles, budgets,
approaches… truly an awesome display of talent from
every corner of the country. (and beyond)
If this year’s Build-Off doesn’t get your juices flowing,
nothing will!
JERRY RIPLEY JERRY RIPLEY you for being a part of this amazing event weekend.
Congratulations to everyone who entered and thank
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- Steve
RATRODMAGAZINE.COM RAT ROD MAGAZINE 27
rat rod Class Winner:
Phillip Haley, Missouri
1930 Ford Model A
1930 Ford Model A
RATRODMAGAZINE.COM RAT ROD MAGAZINE 51
50 RAT ROD MAGAZINE ISSUE THIRTY-FOUR
Bike Class Award Phillip Haley Lebanon, MO
Winners
Year: 1930 Make: Ford Model: Model A Tudor Engine: .030
over 350 Chevy Trans: 700R4 Estimated cost to build: $4700
What makes it unique? The combination of the eye-catching
interior and natural finish.
(RATTY SHACK)
(NICHOLS PAINT & FAB)
INGENUITY AWARD
OVERALL WINNER
CHAMPION
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
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
C but how you finish. The night before they were due
it and built the rest of the bike around it. He made a
in Grafton, they found out that their engine wouldn’t fire.
twisted hexagonal down tube, which required placing it
Dejected, Chris made the decision not to come to the
in the frame jig. While in the jig, new motor mounts were
build off. The next day, he received word that his presence
was still requested. His spirit renewed, he re-rounded up made. The rear wheel was a disassembled freebie that
his troops and made the 20-hour drive from Raeford, just required lacing, truing, and cleaning. The front was
North Carolina to St. Louis in about 15 hours. purchased as an assembled unit that has sat outside for “…and here’s your winner! With the perfect combination
of style, stance, execution, and attitude, Phillip Haley’s 1930
years and just required soap, water and air.
His build is pretty much resourcefulness, defined. For
Model A was the choice of the combined popular and staff
The motor that gave them so much trouble is a
example, he completely scratchbuilt his girder front end.
ustin Nichols is no stranger to the Rat Rod & Raw Bike Build Off. Last
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
year he brought a bitchin’ ’46 Ford coupe out to the Redneck Rumble
mild cylinder bore, new seals, and a ported and polished
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 head. The stock trans has been augmented with a
some horse trading, and a keen eye and produced a creation
Jchosen for the bike portion of the build off this year, he knew he had
over seventeen hours in travel time alone. It’s just doing handmade hand shifter and suicide clutch. Much like
to ramp things up. And that he did. This radically customized ’99 Yamaha
what you have to do. everything else, the pipes, sissy bar, chain tensioner and that stood owut amongst 26 other deserving vehicles.
650 was the winner in the bike category.
every cool part you can find on this thing was made Phillip assembled the car entirely by himself, and rebuilt
The frame was a stalled project that was actually his
both the 350 Chevy motor and 700R4 trans. Phillip says,
The engine, trans, and cradle are
from scrap metal by Chris.
“The car was entirely built by me. All 487 rivets, every weld,
essentially stock, but as one can see, the rest
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
something failed I would have no one to blame but myself.”
about the bike he created for last year’s competition:
hammered out by hand and left unfinished, “Everything was just nasty. The brakes were terrible
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
exhausts in the rear that come to life when dash stand out from the Mother Nature-applied finish on the
014 Build-Off Champ Jeremiah Gardner and his ride height. He was aiming for low, and low is what he
outside. What a car! Lean, clean, and mean!” – Rick Loxton
they morph into flamethrowers. One of the
got. The first time he dropped it off the table, the bike
crew at Gardner Road Kustoms gave it everything
bags contains an extra fuel cell and solenoid
stood up without the aid of a kickstand. He obviously
they had with their modern interpretation of an
for igniting the charge when it’s showtime.
“Simple, sexy. Love it.” – Editor Steve
fixed that and the bike runs and handles flawlessly,
2 early 1900’s board track/salt flat racer, in a more
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
he’s going to drill out the nozzles because “It screaming up and down the main drag of Grafton that
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
JERRY RIPLEY
steampunk-ish look to something cleaner, lighter, and weekend. A painter by trade, he rattle-canned the every angle.” – Jeremy Amendola
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
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