Issue Number 14

The Show Takes a Big Leap Words by Kurt Diserio — Photos by Tori Stipcak + Sara Lease Motorcycles of all kinds rolled into Pittsburgh Brewing Company for the annual Glory Daze Motorcycle Show on Saturday, September 21, 2024. The new location was a hit, allowing for more room and unique forms of entertainment throughout the day. Changing venues isn’t easy, and many people wondered how the vibe of past events would transfer to the new setting. Pittsburgh Brewing Company is the home of Iron City Beer, a presenting partner of the show since day one. Their impressive 43-acre facility is the former site of the historic PPG Glass factory, originally built in 1883. Our goal was to take the primary elements of what made Glory Daze a success at the Carrie Blast Furnaces and fit them into this new, larger layout. The indoor invitational was moved to the warehouse building of the brewery, with the outdoor Courtyard area and vendor rows sitting right outside. Just like the last venue, those who arrived on bikes could pull into the show and park in the middle of the action. The curated indoor bike show didn’t disappoint, with 2024 having more bikes than any previous year. Wild hand-built customs, restorations, and an array of race bikes were mixed into the chopper-heavy lineup that filled all three indoor areas. We can’t thank the builders enough for their work piecing together these inspirational two-wheeled works of art. For many, it’s not easy making the trip to Pittsburgh, and their effort doesn’t go unnoticed. In celebration of the move, we organized a groovy outdoor car show featuring interesting rides ranging from gassers and roadsters to classic vans and pickups. The Courtyard was also upgraded with the addition of the Ives Brothers Wall of Death and a stage for live music from Different Places in Space, The Yeggs, and Black Ridge. The venue’s Brew House is the new home of the Trippy Ten helmet art show where presenting partner, Torc Helmets, was set up with live painting from T10 selected artist Mike Stivale. High fives and many thanks to our awesome team, presenting partners Iron City Beer and Torc Helmets, and event sponsors Uptahn Metalworks, ServiceMaster Restore, Lowbrow Customs, American Muscle Docks, Three Rivers Harley-Davidson, and Russ Brown Motorcycle Attorneys. We couldn’t do it without your support. The weird and welcoming atmosphere you’ve come to expect at Glory Daze is because of the free minds that make up the event. We like to think of this as a collaborative effort, so thanks to those who return year to year and let loose for a beautiful motorcycle weekend in September. We get so many compliments about the friendliness radiating throughout the show, and that says a lot about the motorcycle community. We’ll start planning for 2025 soon, but until then, please enjoy the photo galleries, videos, and Trippy Ten helmet showcase to come! Sign up for our newsletter at the bottom of this site and stay tuned for an announcement on next year’s dates. Peace + Love, Kurt & Alexa Diserio Sam Tomer's 1982 Yamaha XV750 “Identity Crisis“ Rose Bauman's 1979 Yamaha XS650 chopper Ives Brothers Wall of Death 1912 Harley-Davidson from Tom Banks Different Places in Space Gentry Dayton's 1949 Harley-Davidson Panhead Brad Miller's 1934 Ford Roadster Ives Brothers Wall of Death Michael Favacchia's 1971 Harley-Davidson Sportster "Homie" Mike Stivale pinstriping at the Torc Helmets booth Pittsburgh Brewing was serving cold Irons throughout the show 1995 Chevy G10 Shorty Van by The Swim Shop / Seth Williams Toyota rock crawler by Uptahn Metalworks 1970 Harley-Davidson FLH "Malocchio" by Allen Fazzone Mike Stivason's 1971 Busche BSA 750 Trackmaster S&S Knucklehead Stroker “Hellraiser” by Gabe Zangakis 1966 Harley-Davidson FLH by Tom Triano Angel Claw's 1992 Harley-Davidson Evo Sportster Kyle Ives of the Ives Brothers 1974 1/2 Penton Tracker by PJ Grakauskas 1947 Harley-Davidson FL by Wil Thomas Troy Napier's 1947 Harley-Davidson EL knucklehead chopper Ash Goodwin, Alexa + Kurt Diserio, and Wil Thomas Trippy Ten Helmet Art Show - Zack Bryant / Rude Paint Trippy Ten Helmet Art Show - Allen Fazzone / Porky's Custom Cycle Paint Trippy Ten Helmet Art Show - Mike Stivale Trippy Ten Helmet Art Show - Septic the Outlaw Trippy Ten Helmet Art Show - Frank Giambattista / Vicious Cycle Trippy Ten Helmet Art Show - Shayna Guy / 13th Street Customs Trippy Ten Helmet Art Show - Joey Smith / Joey's Kandy Shop Trippy Ten Helmet Art Show - Ray Morrow Trippy Ten Helmet Art Show - Jayme Schmidt / Blue Moon Kustoms Trippy Ten Helmet Art Show - Jennifer Thomas / Hot Rod Jen 2015 Shovelhead Digger "Spitball Magoo" by Wayne Burgess Mike Bellomo's 55G Harley-Davidson The Yeggs 1958 Harley-Davidson Panhead Chopper by Paolo Buell Tintype photography by Joesph W. Brown Black Ridge Black Ridge 1976 "Sweet Rose" Shovelhead chopper by Jasmin Jaye Jackson Conn's 1928 Indian 101 Scout A pair of 1971 Honda SL350s from Sam Wood Jr. 1975 Suzuki TM 250 full custom dragbike by Levi Phillips Tommy Joslin's 1975 shovelhead chopper "Purple Haze" Franny Drummond of Paint Zoo Studios 1950 Harley-Davidson Panhead Chopper by Gary Pankratz 2024 Wolf Customs “The Joker Bike” Chopper Building Row outdoor vendors 1972 Honda CB750 chopper from Ryan O'Neill Event sponsor Uptahn Metalworks Billy Compagnone's Triumph Bonneville T100 chopper Ann Dalrymple pottery 1996 Suzuki GSF600 Bandit by Ken Murray of BCP Restoration Mike Stivason's 1964 BSA A65 Sidecar 1926 Supercharged 8 Valve Board Track Racer "The Pennsylvania 8" by Sean Jackson See you all again in September 2025 - Kurt + Alexa Diserio GLORY DAZE MOTORCYCLE SHOW 2024 SEPTEMBER 21, 2024 Presented by PITTSBURGH MOTO IRON CITY BEER TORC HELMETS Sponsored by UPTAHN METALWORKS SERVICEMASTER RESTORE LOWBROW CUSTOMS THREE RIVERS HARLEY-DAVIDSON AMERICAN MUSCLE DOCKS RUSS BROWN MOTORCYCLE ATTORNEYS Words by KURT DISERIO Photos by TORI STIPCAK + SARA LEASE

Helmet Art Show Words by Kurt Diserio — Photos by Alexa Diserio For 2024, the Trippy Ten helmet art show had a new home and presenting partner. The exhibit has moved to the new Glory Daze venue at Pittsburgh Brewing Company, taking over the impressive Brew House area of the event. Torc Helmets provided each of the ten selected painters with their choice between four popular models, the Newport, Baja, Pomona, or Del Mar. The resulting lineup was the perfect blend of traditional and unconventional styles. View the finished helmets below, and follow along with each of the selected artists to keep up with their paint projects. Artist: Zack Bryant Company: Rude Paint Location: Spring Valley, CA Website: www.rudepaint.com Instagram: @rudepaint Artist: Allen Fazzone Company: Porky's Custom Paint Cycle Location: Schenectady, NY Instagram: @porkyscustomcyclepaint Artist: Mike Stivale Location: DuBois, PA Website: www.madstriperart.com Instagram: @the_madstriper Artist: Septic the Outlaw Location: Philadelphia, PA Instagram: @septictheoutlaw Artist: Frank Giambattista Company: Vicious Cycle Location: Pasadena, CA Website: www.viciouscyclesla.com Instagram: @viciouscycles Artist: Shayna Guy Company: 13th Street Customs Location: Harbor City, CA Instagram: @13thstreetcustoms Artist: Joey Smith Company: Joey's Kandy Shop Location: Chatsworth, CA Instagram: @joeyskandyshop Artist: Ray Morrow Company: Exile Ink Tattoo Studio Location: Bethel Park, PA Website: www.exileink.com Instagram: @ray_morrow_tattooartist Artist: Jayme Schmidt Company: Blue Moon Kustoms Location: Oshkosh, WI Instagram: @bluemoonkustoms Artist: Jennifer Thomas Company: Hot Rod Jen Location: Hummelstown, PA Website: www.hotrodjen.com Instagram: @hotrodjen TRIPPY TEN HELMET ART SHOW 2024 SEPTEMBER 21, 2024 Presented by TORC HELMETS Organized by KURT DISERIO Words by KURT DISERIO Photos by ALEXA DISERIO

Ironhead Chopper by TWO10 Words by Kurt Diserio — Photos by Alexa Diserio Most garage chopper shops get started in a very similar way. Someone gets hooked on old-school bikes and starts messing around with their own two-wheeled projects before things snowball. The next thing you know, they’re in deep with these wild machines, building bikes and making their own parts.Nick SanGregory, a piercer who runs his own body piercing and jewelry store in Pittsburgh, fits this story perfectly. By the time this new issue hits the printers, Nick has already been busy with a couple of new chopper projects in his shop, appropriately named TWO10. For now, though, we’re going to focus on the 1974 Ironhead that you might have seen floating around the internet or on the floor of this past year’s Glory Daze motorcycle show. Alexa and I met up with Nick at TWO10 to chat about the sinister chopper. Can you tell us about SIX16 and the work you do?Nick SanGregory: So, my day job is head piercer, owner, and operator of SIX16, a high-end body piercing and jewelry store in Shadyside. We specialize in safe stylistic piercings. We also design full jewelry outfits for clients who have existing piercings but want something new and refreshing. How have things progressed since you first opened?NS: The scene was pretty different when I first opened. I was doing way more large gauge piercings, which I still have a heavy interest in, but I noticed I was lacking a particular clientele base. I didn’t like that it felt as though you had to look like me to get cool piercings. I started to introduce more gold and diamonds, smaller delicate pieces, and more of a fashion-forward style to the collections, and the market shifted a bit. Piercing is for everyone, and I think we express that pretty well. You can view our work on social media (@six16piercing) or check out the website for booking, six16piercing.com. Has piercing contributed to your interest in choppers?NS: It’s hard to say. However, I think I approach both very similarly. I love details, and I’m obsessed with the concept of making things look “natural”, or in other words, as if it just belongs there. I do find that with both subjects I can very much appreciate the super off-the-wall, wild, borderline “overdone” aesthetic—but I’m really drawn to simplicity and clean lines. How did you end up with the ironhead and what’s the story behind the build?NS: I was actually looking for a shovelhead at the time, and Josh at Uptahn Metal Works asked if I had considered an Iron. Coincidentally, Heath Hildreth had brought this one in for one reason or another, I forget. I said screw it, talked to Heath, and here we are. It was my introduction into actually building. My goal was to hang around Josh and Dan to learn and try my hand at as much as possible. It was a pretty rad time! Did you have a certain idea in mind for how you wanted the bike to come together or was it something that took shape over time?NS: I always have loose ideas of what I want to make and then let it take form on its own. I decided on black and red for the paint, initially being all black with red underneath like a pair of Christian Louboutin shoes, since I jokingly call myself a designer dirtball. But in fairness, this all just sort of worked itself out. We’d figure out one thing and it would give me an idea for another piece of the aesthetic puzzle, so on and so forth. What are some of the parts or work that stand out to you?NS: I love how cohesive the whole bike is. It’s taken on a few forms since the initial “finished product”, but are they ever really finished? It’s a 1974, so it still had the right side shift. Josh made some linkages running through the frame’s mechanical brake crossover so we could set up the left-side shift. Making the floorboards and configuring the control setup was a lot of fun, and I dig how they came out. It’s a pretty small bike for me, but we got it to fit just right. I also really like how the exhaust is run and the rear pipe comes behind the frame and sissy bar. The bike is simple-looking in passing but still pretty complex. It just really works. How did your TWO10 shop come about and where did the name come from?NS: I was building in my basement for the past two winters, but that became too much of a mess and a pain as I really took an interest in hoarding old parts. It was also impossible to get a bike in or out without at least three people. So, I recently acquired a garage space in Southside that I’ve named TWO10. The name just worked because 210 is my address where it all started. I realized it lent itself well to being written out just like my piercing shop, SIX16. I felt like I had to do it, so there we have it. From your perspective, what’s it like owning and riding a chopper in Pittsburgh?NS: I actually quite like it. I do a lot of city riding because I live and work within the city boroughs, so I’ve gotten pretty used to it over the years. The Pittsburgh hills and random cobblestone one-ways just add an element of surprise haha! Do you have any favorite roads or areas?NS: My favorite spot to ride is coming from the east side through the Strip District into town late at night. You’re more or less all alone, and can just shred the open streets unbothered. soak in the city while the world is asleep. Is there anyone you’d like to mention who helped with the build?NS: Josh at Uptahn Metal Works and Dan Swiderski. I can’t thank them enough. They really knocked it out of the park and taught me so much along the way. Featured in Issue 14 1974 HARLEY-DAVIDSON IRONHEAD Built by NICK SANGREGORYTWO10 instagram/false_mrsa instagram/two.10_ instagram/six16piercing Words by KURT DISERIO Photos by ALEXA DISERIO

A Trio of Vintage Drag Racers Words by Kurt Diserio — Photos by Alexa Diserio Some hobbies are more interesting than others. In the motorcycle world, vintage drag racing holds a unique place of the industry. Chasing time on a ridiculously custom bike with an engine that’s pushed to the limit just sounds like a thrill. When we were first piecing together the 2021 Glory Daze motorcycle show, one of the featured builders was Steven Skinner of Shadyside, Ohio. Steven and his father, Wayne, brought two wild customs, a 1970 Harley Ironhead and a 1966 Triumph in a Hagon frame. Since then, Steven has been back to the show numerous times. It felt fitting to make a trip west to Ohio and check out a few dragsters worthy of a feature. The most compelling part outside of the bikes is learning how this has become a family sport that they enjoy together. They even host a race weekend every year in late August that sounds like a blast. Wayne Skinner (Triumph), Levi Phillips (Suzuki), and Steven Skinner (Harley-Davidson) Can you give the readers a brief description of the three drag racing bikes we have here?Steven Skinner: Mine is a 1959 Harley-Davidson ironhead in a 1960s Yetman frame. My stepbrother, Levi Phillips, races the full custom 1975 Suzuki TM250. Our father, Wayne Skinner, racers a 1973 Triumph with a newer Kosman frame that was made right before Kosman Specialties went out of business. That was the last Triumph frame they ever made. You have a family of racers. How did that happen?Steven Skinner: Our dad, Wayne, was into racing Triumphs back in the 1980s. It was something he did all of the time. After we were born, he didn’t get back to it until after we graduated high school. We all got involved sometime around 2010. I went straight for the speed right off the bat, racing a 1986 Suzuki GSXR at first, but I always liked the vintage stuff more since that was what he raced and wanted to do. I liked the Triumphs but was too big for them. Dad and Levi fit them nicely, but I always liked how we kept our own preference–Dad with the Triumphs, Levi in the 250cc class, and me with the Harleys. We don’t do it for prize money and all of that stuff. We just like to get out and have fun doing what these old bikes were meant to do. Levi Phillips: We have a sister and two more brothers. Our brother, Drew, runs a vintage cycle shop called Drew’s Vintage Cycles in Bridgeport, Ohio. He buys and sells bikes and parts, and ships them everywhere. All of the parts for my race bike came from Drew’s. 1973 Triumph dragbike by Wayne Skinner What is it about vintage stuff that keeps you interested?Steven Skinner: For me, it’s racing and the family thing. I like the older stuff and always have. I have my old Ford F100 truck that I drive every day and an old 1951 Chevy car. I’m more set when things are easier to work on and tune rather than plugging in a computer. Working on the stuff and feeling like you created something just feels better than installing parts. There’s a lot of tuning and personality that gets put into the bike. You make it your own.Levi Phillips: The older bikes just have more character. This Suzuki is a story on its own. I found it on Facebook marketplace for only $275 and said that even if the motor is junk, the parts would be worth that. I pulled it out of a barn that also had a Kawasaki H1, so I feel we did pretty well on that deal. Ever since then, it’s been my focus. It was a drag bike from the start, but I redesigned it with a different chassis and parts. The back half of the frame was redone. The front end used to be 55 pounds, but it’s down to 20 pounds now.Wayne Skinner: It’s just a good thing to do. You get together and have a good time. You’re still a parent when they’re running, but I’m on them about staying safe. 1959 Harley-Davidson Ironhead dragbike by Steven Skinner Where did you find the Ironhead?Steven Skinner: I found the Harley in Virginia Beach. The guy had it listed as a chopper frame ironhead. I called him up, and he wanted $5,000, but I ended up getting it for only $2,000. After I got the frame and motor, I just kind of pieced the rest together. It’s about an 83-84 inch motor that originally started out as a 1959 ironhead. I’m looking forward to running good this year. Hopefully, this newer bike does better than ones I’ve had in the past. Wayne, what pulled you towards racing the Triumphs? Wayne Skinner: I’ve just always been a Triumph guy, and I couldn’t afford a Norton. It was just the type of bike that I ran in the past when you had to deal with the Harley guy’s egos all of the time. My first new Triumph was $1,895 out the door. I’ve been with them ever since. I first got into drag racing because I was getting too many tickets on the streets. We started going to the tracks. You’d meet some people and have a good day. It’s a safe situation. You have your gear on and learn to take care of your bikes. Tell us about the race weekend that your family holds every August.Steven Skinner: The Ohio Vintage Nationals Drag Racing and Swap Meet is an event that our family started and Drew now runs. The seventh annual weekend event is August 23-25 at Freebird Dragway in Bloomingdale, Ohio. It’s an eighth-mile track. There will be camping, live music, a bike show, food trucks, and more. New or old bikes, anyone is welcome to run the track and can contact our brother Drew for more information at 740-827-0491. Come on out, it’s a good time. Levi Phillips 1959 Harley-Davidson Ironhead dragbike by Steven Skinner 1975 Suzuki TM250 full custom dragbike by Levi Phillips 1973 Triumph dragbike by Wayne Skinner Featured in Issue 14 1959 HARLEY-DAVIDSON IRONHEAD DRAGBIKE - YETMAN FRAME Built by STEVEN SKINNER 1975 SUZUKI TM250 FULL CUSTOM DRAGBIKE Built by LEVI PHILLIPS 1973 TRIUMPH DRAGBIKE - KOSMAN FRAME Built by WAYNE SKINNER Event Info: facebook.com/drewsvintagecycle Words by KURT DISERIO Photos by ALEXA DISERIO

1998 Sportster 1200 Chopper Words by Kurt Diserio — Photos by Alexa Diserio Building a chopper is as much about the bike as it is about the experience. Dan Ford, a local Pittsburgh musician, was surrounded by motorcycles in his youth but only recently finished the custom XL1200 you see here. With the help of Uptahn Metalworks, the bike started to take shape and was finished just in time for Glory Daze last year. If you picture a classic Sportster chopper build, this is something that might come to mind. The flame tank, custom sissy bar, springer front end, and overall silhouette work perfectly for a first-time chopper build. The black and yellow colors scream Pittsburgh, so we met up with Dan at The Highline on East Carson to capture a fitting background for the Steel City build. What fueled your interest in bikes?Dan Ford: When I was younger, my Dad rode but had a bad accident. My family tried to discourage me for years and years, but there were a lot of people in my life who rode motorcycles or were in clubs. I was always around the lifestyle, I guess. When I was a little kid, all of my shirts were Harley shirts. I worked at gas stations where guys would come in and fuel up for their runs. It was always a dream. Why a chopper?DF: It was a style I liked. I grew up looking over my dad’s shoulder reading EasyRider in the 1970s. Those are the bikes I love. They’re expensive and not as fun if you’re just going to buy one. I like being a little more hands-on. How did the build process go, and who helped with what?DF: I found a good deal on a Sportster and chopped the frame. I kept the engine and primary, but everything else has been changed. Almost all of the components are either TC Bros or Moto Iron parts. The headlight was a cheap internet find. The springer front end is Moto Iron. The hardtail kit, fuel tank, and oil tank are from TC Bros. I started with a king and queen seat but felt a little too confined, so I went with this one. It was swapped from a belt drive to a chain drive. Uptahn Metalworks did all of the fabrication work, including the hardtail, custom sissy bar, and more. There was some minor work done to the rear fender and oil tank. I wanted the oil tank as far back as possible to see more of the engine, so it was notched to clear the chain. Tyler Elliott of TE Customs did the paint job and fuel cap. The frame itself is powder-coated. I wanted a little more durability, and from experience with the rock chips all over my other bike, I figured what the hell. It’ll be black anyway. A deal I had with my wife to do this project was that I have turn signals. So, I got these small ones that you can barely notice. The stainless steel M pieces on the oil tank are for the bike nickname, Melissa. What was the timeline?DF: I think I started it in August 2021 and had it finished in September 2022 with time on and off. I tried to keep the project moving so I didn’t lose interest. I’d give Josh at Uptahn a lot of bits at one time while I did something else. Why the nickname?DF: The theme ties in with one of my favorite bands, Mercyful Fate. Melissa was the name of one of their records. You’re also in a band? DF: I’ve played in Pittsburgh bands for roughly thirty-two years. My current band is a grindcore project called Barbaros. Do you have a favorite road or ride to do in Pittsburgh? DF: I like riding from the South Hills through Bethel Park into the West Mifflin or McKeesport area before looping back around to the South Side on River Road. To me, that’s a fun ride. Any advice for the younger guys getting into it? DF: Seek out local shops that are reputable. Know what you’re getting into dollar-wise. Just buying the bike to start with is the beginning of the iceberg. Do your research. You’ll end up doing things to your bike that you don’t like, but don’t be afraid to try something else. Don’t worry about what’s in style, just do what makes you happy and have fun. Featured in Issue 13 1998 HARLEY-DAVIDSON SPORTSTER XL1200C Built by DAN FORD instagram Words by KURT DISERIO Photos by ALEXA DISERIO

Two Enthusiasts Build a Two-Stroke Rocket Words by Kurt Diserio — Photos by Alexa Diserio Yamaha changed the game when it released the RD250 models in the early 1970s. They were lightweight, fast, and sounded amazing. Maybe you were there firsthand, but if not, you probably heard stories growing up about Yamaha’s racing dominance at that time. Does the name Kenny Roberts ring a bell? This particular 1975 RD250 was a dream build for two motorcycle enthusiasts who are nearly thirty-five years apart in age. Greg Mazza started riding when he was twelve years old and had collected over eighty motorcycles at one point. Now retired, he teamed up with another gearhead, Tom Pecharka, who is no stranger to vintage motorcycles, especially the Yamaha RD models. The duo set out on a goal to build a unique drag bike and win a local race. The results were better than they could have imagined, and the friendship sparked a revived passion for the sport. Can you both give a brief background on your interest in the Yamaha RD and how you met for this project?Greg Mazza: A long time ago, back in the 1970s, these bikes were becoming popular. The two-stroke, two-cylinder motors were winning everywhere–not just in drag racing but road racing, too. I got really hooked on them and figured that I’d build an RD dragster at some point. I met Tom by chance, and now, I’m preaching to the choir. He’s a Yamaha RD fanatic and has every model and part to build one. I’m a long-time motorcycle builder and retired toolmaker. We combined our ideas to come up with what we have here. Tom Pecharka: I had never done drag racing before but was set up selling vintage motorcycle parts at the Quaker City Drag Strip, which is where I first met Greg. He built a Honda CB750 dragster in the 90s and asked if I wanted to run it at the event; which we did the next year, and the bike did well on the run. The vendors there organize a “gentlemen’s race” that’s 250cc or less, so we figured why not do an RD250 and attempt to wipe the floor? That’s how this bike was born. We won that race by almost a full second. How did the build process go?Mazza: We started with a bare stock frame and started cutting and chopping. Tom lives in Canonsburg, and I live in Erie. We sent nearly 2,300 photos back and forth in the process. Because I’m up there, I built the majority of the chassis in my shop while Tom was building the majority of the motor in Canonsburg. We were able to marry them together before the gentlemen’s race last August at Quaker City. We literally got it running the week before the race. My main priority was to see him go down the track and come back in one piece. We built this together and built it to be strong. Pecharka: There was so much back and forth. I bought multiple full bikes just to get a few parts. The cradle is a stock frame, but the rest is new fabrication. It’s a stock rear hub that was lightened by machining down the center cooling fins. The center of the hub, brake plate, and sprocket carrier were drilled out. That’s a 2.5-inch wide aluminum 18-inch rear rim with spikes in the beads to keep it from spinning. We’re using a highly modified enduro front end from a Kawasaki KS125. It had a 21-inch wheel, but we swapped that with this high shouldered 1.60x18-inch rim. What other work was involved?Pecharka: There are all kinds of hand-made parts on this. Greg modified a generic oil catch can from a car to use as a temporary fuel tank, but we ended up keeping it after testing the rider position. It was perfect. We bored the top of the bottle out and welded bungs in. The wheelbase is 65 inches, which is a foot over stock. The rear fender is a Triumph front fender that we used for the old-school look. I found those original British-made clip-ons that racers would’ve run back in the mid-70s. The expansion chambers are modified RZ350 units that we removed the mufflers, added stingers, and tucked up in. We used Yamaha Banshee carburetors, intakes, and two stage reeds. This was a bit of a budget build, with the most expensive parts being the new RD250LC pistons. We didn’t use head gaskets. Instead, we cut grooves and used high-temperature o-rings. The heads were centered and pinned, so they’ll always be perfectly aligned and will have the same performance. What attracts you to two-strokes?Pecharka: The sound. Mazza: I like all motorcycles, but I love this particular engine. The RD series, whether the 250s, 350s, or even the 400s, are both good-looking and exceptional performers. Here we are, fifty years after the inception of it, and we’re winning races with it. Tom loves them, so now I have a comrade that’s into it. What is it like drag racing?Pecharka: I’ve been riding my whole life, but this was a lot different due to the rider position. People always ask how to sit on it, but you don’t really sit on it. You’re basically laying on the gas tank, but because we built it for me, it fits really well. When I go down the track, there’s no fumbling to do anything. We reversed the shift pattern, too, so it’s all down. It’s very quick that way. The bike broke into the 14s and was almost up to 90mph at the first race. How did it feel to finish the build?Mazza: It was a lot of fun and fulfilled a dream. The best part is that it went down the track straight the first time. It stopped well and didn’t have any issues. I got to build the bike I always wanted to build, and it’s good to do it with someone I’m very close to and have a lot of respect for who happens to be thirty-five years younger than me. It’s usually just me doing it, but it’s good to have a partner. It makes me excited about the future and gives a little fire to an old guy who has all of this knowledge and wants to use it. Tom’s a perfectionist and he does things right. Featured in Issue 13 1975 YAMAHA RD250 Built by TOM PECHARKA + GREG MAZZA Words by KURT DISERIO Photos by ALEXA DISERIO