I REMEMBER CHUCK BAKER  If you were a San Jose resident and Harley-Davidson rider in or around the year 1980 you knew who Chuck Baker was. Building Choppers, and hot rod Harley-Davidson motors was his specialty. He was motorcycle drag racer, and did not limit his racing to the track. He was a wild and crazy guy. Soapstone Engineering was the name of his shop, and motor building facility. It was located on West San Carlos Street in San Jose. Sleepy’s Tatto parlor was located r...

 SO YOU’VE BEEN THERE BEFORE HUH?  No this is not intended to be a déjà vu story, but I guess in a way it is. You’re familiar with the neighborhood you live in, and the street you ride on in that neighborhood. You have routes you ride to work and back, and some of these streets you’ve ridden so many times they seem like old friends. You’ve become complacent when riding your motorcycle on these roads because you have become accustomed to seeing the same old scenery as you ride. That...

  NO BRAKES MAKES IT A RACER    STAN DISHONGS 1946 HARLEY-DAVIDSON WR  Way back in 1946 flat track racing in major East Coast and West Coast cities attracted large crowds. Dirt tracks in the LA Basin and the San  Francisco Bay Area pulled in serious money during weekend events. Flat track racing was all the rage due to the high speeds and very competitive nature of half mile and one mile circle track competitions. This Harley-Davidson, rigid frame, flat...

THE GREATEST MOTORCYCLE STORY EVER TOLD BY RICK SIEMAN   (Notes: This story came about in the most natural way possible. It seemed like every time we stopped for gas on our way to the races, some old codger would start bending our ears with one far fetched story or another. So this is more or less a compilation of many, many years of accumulated bullshit.) If you've ever ridden a motor­cycle more than 20 miles, chances are that someone has buttonholed you and assailed you ...

This story from a Kansas State Highway Patrol Motorcycle officer: I made a traffic stop on an elderly lady the other day for speeding on U.S. 166 Eastbound at Mile Marker 73 just East of Sedan, KS. I asked for her driver's license, registration, and proof of insurance. The lady took out the required documents and handed them to me. In with the cards I was somewhat surprised (due to her advanced age) to see she had a concealed carry permit. I looked at her and asked if ...