ONE OF THE BEST. EVER (P2)

      ...finally !

   Ffffinally made the trip and visited my friend Viorel Junc. I've been postponing this visit for so-so long, more than half a year in fact. But after I've seen the board track racer with the fresh paint on, in a Facebook photo Viorel posted, it became a priority for me to go and see the motorcycle. And the man, of course ! Hahaha

     It looks like it was a long winter for Viorel and Hacky; our custom painter mutual friend. In fact, as the guys told me, the bike was disassembled and built back up again as the painted parts were done. Like a Lego game if you will. But for the nostalgia racing motorcycle freaks. And I must say, this paint, once you go pass the details and the sheer beauty of the motorcycle, is heart warming. It took a while but Viorel found the olive-green vintage racing paint the MotorCo used for their racing bikes back in the day.

      Viorel started with a 45' HD Flathead engine from 1942 and a NOS gearbox. The frame was handbuilt, the beautiful oil tank and several major parts as well. The front end leafer was built after a Basty Bikes blueprint and friction disks were added. Handbuilt low boardtrack style bars. The gas tank comes from ''some hungarian 30's bike. And it fits the bike perfectly ! The suicide shifter is also ''from some 20's bike an old man gave me'' -Viorel says. The holding bracket was a tricky part to build, considering that it had to fit the gear ratios of the bike.
   The WLA primary was decked and chopped for a more visual impact and for loosing weight.
As you can see throught the whole bike there are several parts with drilled holes inside, for the same two reasons.
 The wheels are modded, both 21' front and rear from ''some 80's cross bike'' . The seat comes from an Wanderer Sachs . 
   Above is the quote posted last year, when I featured first the Junc Resto-Mod Racer. All the details are still valid so there was no reason to re-chew them. One particular detail I might add is how the primary cover was born. Viorel handbuilt the primary chain guard around the original clutch disks cover. And Hacky's talent with the paint makes it look more like an art piece. Another detail that Viorel told me is that he got the engine from a Harley local veteran, Vova, a long long time ago. And the NOS (new old stock) three speed gearbox he was so lucky to purchase from a newspaper ad. Magic ! Vova, btw, is the greasemonkey who built the 1936 Harley-Davidson EL Knucklehead twin replicas for the drama-documentary, Harley and the Davidsons. Maybe we'll feature that bike too, someday.
    Even though it has some ''modern'' touches, Viorel wants the board track racer to be as period correct as it can be. To bring down that modern parts list he's thinking of going for a Morris Magneto. We all know that those don't come cheap so until then, life happens.
    The beautiful ''45 WL Racer'' badge on the neck is also made by Viorel. The new looking seat has the same Sachs hardware but with more modern leather covers with two major dimples in it. Handbuilt by Viorel. For a better ass-grip. Hahaha

    Here are a few photos from in-the-making process :

    And just to hear it roar :



   You can also check the first feature I did on the bike with the un-painted look. Click here. To be honest, I was (very) skeptical about painting over that beautiful raw-patina look. But after I've seen Hacky's work, in the sun, in the light, in the shadow and up close; I was won over. And the varnish, in its eight coats,  makes the paint so deep and rich; it's crazy.

       It was such a blast to spend time with these two guys and it's so cool to experience the level of passion and determination first hand. Don't know why, but I have a feeling that the WL 45 Junc Racer still has a lot of stories to tell. And I'll be right there, lurking around.
    Thank you guys for the hospitality, see you next time !

Photo credit : me :)
Paint by Hacky Custom Paint
Artwork by Sketch My Bike
Video by Sebastian Codreanu
Make sure you check the whole photo album at Flickr, here.