Chopper Hostel

I just received a call from Luke Atkinson over at @hillbillydemafia on Instagram sayin’ he sent me a photo and to take a look. Upon opening the photo I felt my knees shake and my world shift into the right direction. The Shovelhead of nightmares, the mechanical implement of my own destruction, that black hearted bitch was soon to be back blastin’ profanities and breakin’ hearts. It’s been a minute or two and apparently, it’s that time again…. here-we-go!

Honestly, I didn’t know what to expect if I added a bike back in my life. I tend to let things get outta control when I have two wheels to leave on. It’s just crazy to think that same old Shovelhead my Dad started hatin’ when he bought it, is once again going to continue its legacy of gettin’ me into trouble, inflating my ego, and makin’ everything right in this world. I’m gonna be ridin’ my Shovelhead Chopper through the mountains of West Virginia with some friends…in my 60th summer! Holy FUCK, let me let that settle in.

I nuked the Shovelhead a few years ago at the Twin Rivers Campout. I heard a little knockin’ when I started that weekend and convinced myself it was everything but the rod knock it actually was, until it was time to head home. I had a few hundred miles to get home and where I was at was a better place to blow up in than where I was gonna be.

The motor was singin’ and runnin’ like they do right before they explode, wide open flat shifting eventually did the job and the motor…just…locked. It was done and I put it on an engine stand and just walked away.

In hindsight I really needed it out of my life and even made a promise to my family that I’d take a couple years off of it to get my life together. That didn’t work but I did take the time to focus on other things. Mostly I just painted and hauled garbage off my property, never really considering how long it would be before I was back running that motor again.

Luke had sent me an offer to get the bottom end squared away a few years ago but my head was in a different place. Eventually we got to talkin’ and I realized he was located relatively close in Cottageville W.V.

The offer was still good so I took, what was now, a pile of old Shovelhead parts that formally formed an 89″ stroker up to his place and as time progressed we kinda came up with a plan of attack. Use as many parts as were salvigable and basically just ‘unstick’ the bottom end as I could afford the parts.

The weather started breaking, for real, three or four weeks ago, right after the whole ‘Chopper Hostel’ thing came up. I was still scratchin’ my head about ridin’ this year at all when I got the photo of the assembled motor on my phone. There was no fuckin’ way. I phone call confirmed it, I’ll have it back in my mitts in a week or so, I am so fucking jacked!

I was blown away, still am. Talkin’ to Luke about it, he just built the motor and by ‘built’ I mean he went and rebuilt the whole fuckin’ thing. Used what he could, replaced what he had to…from top to bottom, everything. My old bottom end is now a wall hanger but when it let go, it just stopped. Surprisingly little damage from all the aluminum that was in the cam case and everywhere else. Man, it was fucked, some of my best work. Those cases have some battle scars but none from this catastrophe. It wasn’t damage free but not as bad as it could have been if that motor kept spinnin’.

Luke’s forgotten more about motors than I’ll ever learn. His shop is full to rafters with old iron and racers. He’s a competitor in the Sons of Speed races and thinks nothing of ‘wadding up’ a bottom end of a flattie in the name of speed. So, when he talks about the balancing of your motor with pride in his voice, you get excited, and I am. The guy knows his shit and really went the extra-extra mile on my old junk. Luke hooked me up, plain and simple and I am nothing if not grateful. Kinda overwhelming really, thanks man.

I took the parts outta the milk crates and ran an inventory. I have everything I need shy of a lthium battery and wiring harness. This is my favorite configuration of this bike. It’s stupid comfortable, hard to ride, handles great, pulls the hills and its cool as fuck. There’ a lot of ways to see the mountains, this is the best way I’ve found. It’s just fucklin’ dope.

I put all the parts together just to see what I have with every intention of pulling it apart to paint it, that ain’t gonna happen, who’m I kiddin’?, I like it the way it is. A new front tire and some fresh duct tape on the seat and it’s damn near ready for The Takeover…crazy.

There’s a ton of shit I gotta take care of before sleds start scrapin’ down the holler lookin’ for a ride. I wasn’t really sure if I was goin’ to be on two wheels for the Takeover but, without jinxin’ it, it might just happen. The rest of the plans for the upcoming hootenanny are dicey at best and I could easily lose my shit about it but no matter how it pans out, I’ll be riding my chopper…unbelievable.

I’m scrambling around tryin’ to get ready fo the Hostel Takeover. I’m getting a lot of attenetion but I have no idea who’s showing up at this point. I have high hopes and think they’ll be a good turn out.

I’m using online sale to generate funds for facilities and upgrades for the grounds before the shindig. I need to encourage you to grab your passes sooner than later. It’ll give me an idea of what and who to expect. Most importantly it’ll afford the Hostel building supplies and opening costs that I just don’t have the money to cover on my own.

I’m really stoked on this and all developments that are happening as the opening to Chopper Hostel approaches. Interest is high and it appears I’ll be hosting quite a crew. Miscreants all, the great unwashed riding bikes, scrapin’ pegs and haven a time.

Grab a pass or two now even if you want more later. I need to buy fence and build facilities before y’all start showing up. I appreciate it in advance and look forward to having you down for a few hairpins and twisties.

More info about Hostel Takeover ’24 or Chopper Hostel see previous posts. To purchase passes to fund construction and improvements please follow instructions below

$40 for the weekend includes primitive chopper camping. Limited space. Each pass includes space for on chopper/ bike and a two man tent on site. You can combine your spaces to make a bigger one or whatever.

Limited to 100 online passes. Stragglers at the gate $45 first come first served.

PayPal to whitetrashicon@hotmail.com place number of passes and what you’re riding in message section.

Cashapp to $georgethepainter1340 place the number of passes and what you’re riding in message section

As stated, space is limited and thank you for helping make Chopper Hostel a reality.