A Drag Racer's First-Time Build
Let’s face it. The world is much different than it used to be. Working on motorcycles and being mechanically intelligent isn’t something that most kids take an interest in these days, so coming across this Ironhead build from Tim Grabiak helps restore a little faith. Tim’s father, Jay, has been running Jay’s Paint and Performance in Greensburg, Pennsylvania for over twenty-six years. The shop deals mostly on the automotive side of things but proved to be the perfect place to learn the skills needed to produce the solid chopper build that you see here. We met up with Tim at his father’s garage to chat about the bike, the build process, and his interest in drag cars.
Did your dad and his paint and performance shop play a role in your involvement with motorcycles?
Tim Grabiak: Growing up, I’ve always been into old-school choppers and cars. I wanted a motorcycle of my own because my dad has always had them. I’d watch him come home on his old shovelhead. I grew up in the business and spent a lot of time working at the shop getting my hands dirty.
Tim Grabiak: Growing up, I’ve always been into old-school choppers and cars. I wanted a motorcycle of my own because my dad has always had them. I’d watch him come home on his old shovelhead. I grew up in the business and spent a lot of time working at the shop getting my hands dirty.
Did you have a vision for how you wanted the BMW to look or was it something that just happened over time?
JP: Once I found the Twisted Brothers rear cowl for it, the design centered around that primarily and I wanted to keep it slim and minimalistic. Originally, I planned for a Moto GP look with circle number decals, a center stripe, and tire letters. Unfortunately, the final finish of the wheels came out to be a color I would not be able to match, so I omitted the decals and abandoned the full-race look.
JP: Once I found the Twisted Brothers rear cowl for it, the design centered around that primarily and I wanted to keep it slim and minimalistic. Originally, I planned for a Moto GP look with circle number decals, a center stripe, and tire letters. Unfortunately, the final finish of the wheels came out to be a color I would not be able to match, so I omitted the decals and abandoned the full-race look.
How did this chopper get started?
TG: This was my first build. My dad, Jay, picked the bike up in pieces. I got to choose between building this or a 1978 Honda, and I chose the Harley. I started building the bike when I was sixteen, just working with it here and there when I could. Last year, just before I turned seventeen, is when I really started thrashing on the bike to get it done in time for Glory Daze. It’s fun trying to hunt some of the parts down and find them as you go. When you buy something, you end up taking a truckload of parts with it, so a lot of stuff was just acquired, like the lower front forks. You don’t see those every day.
TG: This was my first build. My dad, Jay, picked the bike up in pieces. I got to choose between building this or a 1978 Honda, and I chose the Harley. I started building the bike when I was sixteen, just working with it here and there when I could. Last year, just before I turned seventeen, is when I really started thrashing on the bike to get it done in time for Glory Daze. It’s fun trying to hunt some of the parts down and find them as you go. When you buy something, you end up taking a truckload of parts with it, so a lot of stuff was just acquired, like the lower front forks. You don’t see those every day.
Did a lot of the parts and pieces come from your dad’s shop?
TG: Yeah, a lot of it did. Whatever pieces we had lying around, we tried to make it work or fabricate something just to make it look alright. The frame is a Paughco. The old seat was originally from my dad’s old Triumph. All of the work, including the paint, was done here at the shop.
TG: Yeah, a lot of it did. Whatever pieces we had lying around, we tried to make it work or fabricate something just to make it look alright. The frame is a Paughco. The old seat was originally from my dad’s old Triumph. All of the work, including the paint, was done here at the shop.
Was there something about choppers you enjoy that sent you in that direction?
TG: I’ve just always been into that style. It’s not an average bike that you see anywhere else. It’s rare to see someone running around this small town on a chopper. These bikes see a lot of abuse, and it takes a mechanic’s ability to keep them on the road. Every part breaks, so you have to know what to do on the fly. You’re always problem-solving.
TG: I’ve just always been into that style. It’s not an average bike that you see anywhere else. It’s rare to see someone running around this small town on a chopper. These bikes see a lot of abuse, and it takes a mechanic’s ability to keep them on the road. Every part breaks, so you have to know what to do on the fly. You’re always problem-solving.
You also drag race cars. What’s your history in that world?
TG: The 1968 Camaro is my car. We bought that and threw it together in a week just to get it running. I had fun with the car for a couple of years, but this year it’s time to step it up. So I’m doing all new suspension, a rear end, everything. The whole drivetrain of the car is getting redone, as well as the roll bar, and interior. I’m looking for some fast numbers with it.
TG: The 1968 Camaro is my car. We bought that and threw it together in a week just to get it running. I had fun with the car for a couple of years, but this year it’s time to step it up. So I’m doing all new suspension, a rear end, everything. The whole drivetrain of the car is getting redone, as well as the roll bar, and interior. I’m looking for some fast numbers with it.
Where do you normally run the drag car?
TG: We do drag-and-drive events. So it’s five days, five race tracks. When you get to the first track, they impound your truck and trailer. You then have to pack everything in your hot rod and drive it across the country pretty much. So you’re doing over a thousand miles with all of your gear, go and make a pass, then hit the road again. You drive all night to the next track, get up, make a hit at the second track, and get back on the road. The events are five days of that. It’s a test of your mechanical skills to see if you can make the week.
TG: We do drag-and-drive events. So it’s five days, five race tracks. When you get to the first track, they impound your truck and trailer. You then have to pack everything in your hot rod and drive it across the country pretty much. So you’re doing over a thousand miles with all of your gear, go and make a pass, then hit the road again. You drive all night to the next track, get up, make a hit at the second track, and get back on the road. The events are five days of that. It’s a test of your mechanical skills to see if you can make the week.
To me, building a car would be a lot more complicated than a bike. What are the similarities and differences?
TG: Regarding the motor, all of the concepts are the same. It’s just a smaller platform. All of your braking is pretty much the same. The drum brakes are like the old Model T brakes from the 1930s. The big difference is that bikes are a lot lighter and less expensive compared to cars.
TG: Regarding the motor, all of the concepts are the same. It’s just a smaller platform. All of your braking is pretty much the same. The drum brakes are like the old Model T brakes from the 1930s. The big difference is that bikes are a lot lighter and less expensive compared to cars.
How has the chopper been now that it’s finished?
TG: Hopefully, this summer I can get out and ride it more. I finished it last summer but kept fighting with the transmission. I went through three transmissions before I finally got it working right. It felt good to pull it out from sitting all winter now that it’s fixed and ready. A couple of kicks, and it fires right up.
TG: Hopefully, this summer I can get out and ride it more. I finished it last summer but kept fighting with the transmission. I went through three transmissions before I finally got it working right. It felt good to pull it out from sitting all winter now that it’s fixed and ready. A couple of kicks, and it fires right up.
Any future plans?
TG: I have a hardtail frame for a Honda motor, so I might throw that together with a springer front end. It’d be nice to make it something a little different, and I have some options with all of the parts lying around. I don’t want a bike quite as nice as this one, so we’ll see.
TG: I have a hardtail frame for a Honda motor, so I might throw that together with a springer front end. It’d be nice to make it something a little different, and I have some options with all of the parts lying around. I don’t want a bike quite as nice as this one, so we’ll see.
