Wednesday, June 15, 2022
Sunday, May 29, 2022
There really are no words. To try and come up with the words makes it feel too real that he's gone. It's been a long week to find my voice in this so, here goes. On the morning of Saturday, May 21st 2022, my Dad, Joseph Carl Piorkowski passed away after his sudden 4 month battle with brain cancer. It's true what people say, that no one understands what it really feels like until it happens. Losing a parent is incredibly heavy but this feels like so much more. It's impossible to fully describe the sheer magnitude of the loss of his presence, or the utter frustration of what was robbed from my Dad. Cancer causes everyone to lose something, but this felt extreme for my Dad because it was the very thing that made him who he was and what made him happy. A terrible twist of fate. Growing up with Joe as my Dad wasn't always easy. Not for my mom or my brother either. More than half of his life he just kept his head down, avoided people and worked his knuckles to the bone. However, a man of many talents, he made great efforts to do creative things with my brother Ray and I. It wasn't until later in his life he really came into his own and found happiness through his art, metal sculptures, building motorcycles again and making friends in the resurgence of the vintage motorcycle community. I'm sure it felt odd at times for him partying at campouts and riding with people less than half his age. But he did it! He enjoyed it. It likely made him feel less of a screw up half his life to see so many people look up to him, listen to his stories, and build bikes similar to those he rode so many miles on. To call my own Dad a legend feels funny to me, but it's the single word that keeps recurring from others. To see so many people inspired by him makes me proud to call him my Dad. I am forever grateful for what he has taught me and I will do everything I can to keep his legacy alive. I want to thank everyone for their support over the past few months. I want to say rest in peace Dad but, instead I hope you're riding in peace, along with Uncle Neil, Dave and Casey and continuing your adventures across the cosmos. JCP 7-9-49 5-21-22 A Celebration of Life TBA at a later date.
Sunday, April 10, 2022
Saturday, April 2, 2022
What an awesome night. Scott graced us with his presence during his east coast visit and took his bike out for the first time since the frame change. We got a quick hot lap in right when it started to rain. The bike looks the same but at same time very different. The lines and proportions are spot in now. Everything is so much tighter, skinnier. And for those of you on the edge of your seat about the horn cover filter position poll, swipe over. Second to least favorite voted by y’all, but it’s Scott’s and my favorite. Not quite 45 degrees, but in line with the rear fins, heads and is also perpendicular to the rear intake pushrod tube. It keeps that “up and back down” look with the tank and frame. I could go on, but I’ll stop here. So good hanging with out #1 customer and soon enough it’ll be on a truck heading for the west coast. Moments like these are fleeting, I’ll be hangin onto this one tight.
Friday, April 1, 2022
Thursday, March 17, 2022
Back to a little more progress on the Voodoo Child. The swap meet special front end is almost finished. Front wheel is laced and trued with new @buchananspokes Showa 8 over tubes, Kayaba shaved lowers. The trees I had laying around. The original stem was removed and I welded in a longer one to work with the Yamaha neck with a Timken bearing conversion. Fork stops were welded to meet the existing stops that were on the frame. The risers and Bates headlight mount I also had on the shelf. The bars are still the same. Just need to close up some holes on the top tree and then the trees can be sent out for chrome. Very stoked as to where this bike is headed. Next will be exhaust repair and some electrical to bring this back from the dead and better than ever. I was calling it Voodoo Child 2.0 but realized that’s not really accurate. There were actually 4-5 different versions prior to this. So maybe I’ll do a post or story of this bike and it’s changes over the past 15 years. (There was a time when I was 19 and commuting to work on this bike!)
Saturday, March 5, 2022
Tonight is a pretty big win. The past few months here at the shop our world has been turned upside down. It’s been extremely hard to get to any of our customer’s projects. This project in particular has already been going on over a year for our good, (and most patient) buddy, Scott. This is a hardtail conversion we did for him and tonight it’s finally painted. Although only semi gloss black, it feels incredible to finally see some color on this frame. Things ought to start moving pretty quickly again getting this bike assembled and hopefully down the road by the end of the month.
Saturday, January 15, 2022
Sissybar #41 out the door for Aaron and his dad, Fred! I think Fred approves! It’s just what this sweet little pan needed. This bar is all stainless and polished with some new rouge from @tarheelpartsinc. Very happy with the results! Looking forward to seeing this thing rip around in the spring! #retrofitcycleworks #stainless #sissybars #whileyouwait
Saturday, January 8, 2022
New Year, new side project at home! This bike has been sitting in our living room for the past 3 years (used as our Christmas tree.) After getting a real tree this year I decided to put this bike in the basement to change things and freshen it up for the spring. It needs a serious clean up. The exhaust pipes need new tips. I want to do a PMA and capacitor. Over the summer the carb’s got swapped from BS34s to 38s. I kinda wanted to head back in the direction of what the bike was originally like before being built for Strange Days 2013. 8” over Sportster tubes in Yamaha trees. This time I want to make a set of Harley trees work with a longer stem and Timken bearing conversion. The lowers I got from @antisocial83, welded up some gashes, shaved ‘em down and polished. The springer is cool but I never liked how low the bike sat. Looking forward to rippin on this thing again! BTW I’m on the hunt for a 21” spool wheel. DM me if you got anything.
Sunday, November 28, 2021
Little update on Gallo’s shovel bound for CA. Rear fender is from @lowbrowcustoms and we made a new taillight out of an old Harley dual filament signal as a brake light. Fortunately his sissybar is stainless (that we made a few years ago) and that Harley signal happens to nestle in that curve just right. Next up is a plate mount and we’ll be able to strip the bike for paint and head work in the motor. This bike will be hammering the streets of Long Beach in no time.
Thursday, November 18, 2021
FOR SALE! 1991 S10 Blazer with Tahoe package. 4.3 V6. 2wd. Power windows (new regulators) power locks. Truck originally came from Florida, then to Connecticut, then to me. It's been my daily for the past 5 years. Body is in really nice shape, the rust is just starting to pop in a few spots near the bottom corners. Floors are solid. New headliner with later model blazer ceiling console. Dash is cracked but I have a spare with no cracks. Interior is in great shape! 2" receiver in rear, both trailer plugs work. Truck is lowered with a Belltech Lowering kit. Heat works great, AC does not. CD and Radio work. It needs tires, alignment, and exhaust (If I can get to them I will fix them) Smokes a little on startup randomly. Check engine light comes on randomly. It needs a paint job. The PO replaced the rear gate and resprayed the gate and driver side of the truck. Not sure why he didn't just spray the whole truck. Comes with extra hood, original wheels, oem clutch pedal set up. I had intentions of doing a v8/manual trans swap. Extra dash that is not cracked. Spare ignition key and tumbler for column. $5,000 or B/O. May consider trades. Looking for something larger, 4x4, extended cab short bed. If interested shoot me a DM.
Sunday, November 7, 2021
Another one finished and ready to go back home. “Hemi” (short for “hemorrhoid” as the owner affectionately calls it due to all the problems that kept coming back with this bike.) A lot of weird issues too. I cast out all the electrical gremlins and took care of some tuning issues. Runs great and rides like a cloud! All signals and idiot lights are working again. Onto the next one!
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