SmokeOut stories, century-old race bikes and a brand-new board track racing series take center stage in ShopTalk Episode 353.
Tom Banks, eBay Jake and Erik Lund join the crew to preview the inaugural Motordrome race at Lake Erie Speedway. Then, the ShopTalk crew looks back at the rain, racing, motorcycles and memorable chaos that made SmokeOut 26 one for the books.
Motordrome Racing Comes to Lake Erie Speedway
The first Motordrome race rolls into Lake Erie Speedway on September 26, bringing vintage motorcycle racing to a wide, banked asphalt track in Erie, Pennsylvania.
Founder Tom Banks explains how the new series is designed to capture the raw excitement of early board track racing. These motorcycles may be nearly 100 years old, but they aren’t museum pieces. Riders will push them at race speed with no brakes, minimal suspension and very little room for error.
The Lake Erie track presents a completely new challenge. Its wide corners could create multiple racing lines, more opportunities to pass and plenty of strategy as riders decide whether to hug the shorter inside line or carry more speed around the top.
eBay Jake and Erik Lund also talk about their race machines, last-minute preparation, gearing choices and the riders expected to make noise in the Hot 45 and Hot 61 classes.
If you have never heard a vintage Harley-Davidson JD running wide open around a racetrack, this is your chance to see—and hear—why these machines continue to pull riders into the sport.
Stacy McCleary’s Orange Crate Chopper
This episode also takes a closer look at Stacy McCleary’s “Orange Crate,” a California-built chopper inspired by a legendary 1932 Ford drag car.
From its slick rear tire to its unmistakable hot-rod influence, the Orange Crate is built with the same philosophy behind all of McCleary’s motorcycles: make it look good, make it different and make sure it gets ridden.
Stacy shares the story behind the build, his connection to the original Orange Crate drag car and why he continues bringing a new motorcycle to Sturgis year after year.
SmokeOut 26: Rain, Racing and Rock ’n’ Roll
The second half of ShopTalk Episode 353 turns into a full SmokeOut 26 recap—and there was no shortage of material.
The crew revisits the Garage Build-Off, dirt drags, burnout pit, tattoo tent, 150-foot slip-and-slide and the Saturday night rainstorm that turned the Rowan County Fairgrounds into one giant muddy party.
There was also the broken key in the giveaway motorcycle, a generator problem, burning PA speakers and a Nashville Pussy performance that kept going even after the band lost its microphones.
Through every breakdown and downpour, the SmokeOut crowd stayed.
The episode also highlights the people who worked behind the scenes, the builders who brought all 13 Garage Build-Off motorcycles to Salisbury and the younger riders keeping old-school chopper culture alive.
SmokeOut Raises More Than $12,000 for Meals on Wheels
One of the weekend’s biggest victories came through the Tankful Art Auction and the generosity of SmokeOut artists, supporters and attendees.
SmokeOut 26 raised more than $12,000 for Meals on Wheels Rowan—enough to help provide over 1,200 meals for food-insecure seniors in the community.
It was an unforgettable weekend built around motorcycles, music, racing, art and the people who refuse to let this culture fade away.
Watch the complete episode above for all the stories, race predictions and behind-the-scenes SmokeOut chaos.
SmokeOut returns to Salisbury, North Carolina, September 9–12, 2027. Subscribe to Cycle Source TV on YouTube and follow CycleSource.com for new videos, event coverage and updates.