BREAKING

Event Reports

Bastard Bash

Article And Photos By: Kustom Jeff

Originally Published In The December 2012 Issue Of Cycle Source Magazine

csm-dec2012-pg59_page_1_image_0002

The Quad Cam Bastards are based out of the QCB Internet forum and QCB blog. The whole thing was started as an online forum for likeminded Sportster enthusiasts to hang out and share ideas. Things were going great until we discovered that some unscrupulous shop owners were lurking around and stealing ideas, then claiming them as their own. This led to the forum becoming a closed deal and new members having to apply for entry. To be considered, you must have or can show progress on a Sportster of any year being heavily modified. The good news is that even if you’re not a forum member you can see a lot of what is happening on the blog. http://quadcambastards. blogspot.com/ For the last five years, we’ve managed to get together as a group to hang out for a weekend and meet each other face to face. The first couple of years the party moved around, but for the last three years we’ve had the gathering at the Deal’s Gap Motorcycle Resort. This is a great place for us because of the riding in the area, the relatively inexpensive rooms and the really cheap camping which is all onsite. Of course there’s also the fact that they love us there and treat us right. The riding in the area is unbelievable with the Dragon (US 129) being right outside the parking lot and the Moonshiner (Hwy 28) branching off right there as well. Anyone who says choppers don’t handle has never seen LTB take his long bike down the Dragon.

csm-dec2012-pg59_page_1_image_0003

csm-dec2012-pg60_page_1_image_0003

csm-dec2012-pg60_page_1_image_0004

Many of us get there on Thursday to get things started as early as we can. For a change, unlike last year, Loaf and I actually made it up there first try. Basically, the first night is so that people can reconnect with folks they haven’t seen since the year before and to get to know the new folks. We usually stay up too late and drink too much, but it’s still pretty tame compared to the rest of the weekend. The next few days are spent riding around wherever you want to go with whoever you want to go with. This year a bunch of us rode over to the Wheels Through Time Museum in Maggie Valley – one group on Friday and another group on Saturday. If you haven’t been there, you need to make the trip. We had a great ride blasting down the curvy roads, screaming through the small towns and all that other fun stuff a group of guys on choppers do. When my group got to the museum, Dale (the owner in case you don’t know) told us to park our bikes along the entrance sidewalk where he took a group picture of us for their Facebook page. About then, Matt (Dale’s son), rolls up on this old Panhead Jack Pine racer and asks me if I want a ride. Of course I said yes, and hopped on. I’m thinking we’re just gonna putt around the parking lot since I’m kneeling on a pillow on the sidecar rig, and just being held on by me holding two hand grips. How wrong I was! We clear the sidewalk and the next thing I know I’m up in the air hanging on for dear life! I don’t mean I’m just off the ground, I mean I am about as high as that car can go up and not fall over! Not only that, but Matt is hand shifting the beast with my 230 pound butt up in the air! Needless to say, it was probably the most fun I’ve ever had on a bike! Matt finally brought me back, gave another ride or so, and then proceeded to give us the royal tour. Dale and Matt are the best museum owners I’ve ever met. They always take care of us and treat us like family. We finally pried ourselves away and took off for lunch then the ride back.

csm-dec2012-pg61_page_1_image_0002

csm-dec2012-pg61_page_1_image_0004

csm-dec2012-pg61_page_1_image_0003

Friday night was more fun and socializing leading us into Saturday and the main event. We started out Saturday in the resort restaurant, and then spent the day blasting around on Big Wheels. Yeah that’s right, a bunch of folks built Big Wheels to ride and race. The rules said the Big Wheel had to have plastic wheels and be pedalpowered (just like when we were kids), although Justin from Canada did build one with the engine out of a scooter just for exhibition purposes. You can tell by the pictures that we had a blast all weekend riding these evil creations. Some of it was so crazy I can’t even describe it to you until the statute of limitations runs out. The big event of the weekend was building the “Lot Lizard.” Rob, the founder of the Quad Cam Bastards, had a basically stock Sporty and wanted us to help him fix it up, so he brought a hardtail and some other parts, while other folks brought tools like a welder and sawsall. We started disassembly around lunch, and by one in the morning we had gone as far as possible. Other than still needing a brake line and a few other pieces, the bike was done. Now Rob can say he has a bike that was truly built with love and brother/sisterhood. Just about everybody had a hand of some kind in working on this project; it was a lot of fun and a great climax to the weekend. On Sunday morning, rain was coming in and we all had to get up and head home. With handshakes, hugs and lots of grins, we all said goodbye and started our journeys. The weekend of next year’s party will be in August and you can check http://bastardbash. blogspot.com/ or the regular QCB blog for updates. See ya there!

Related Posts

1 of 159