NOW AVAILABLE

Happiness is a book sent off to the printer, and in this case that book is Triumph Motorcycle Restoration. As mentioned in earlier blogs, this Triumph book documents the assembly of two unit-650cc Triumphs (a ’63 and a ’69 Bonneville) and one engine. We also snuck in some side-bars on Keeping an Old Twin Running, and How to Buy a New/Used Triumph.

We expect advance copies in the office by the first week in December, it may be another three weeks before you can find the book in your local or on-line bookstore.

I’m always making excuses for something and this time it’s the Motorcycle Wiring book, which we hope to send to the printer in a couple of weeks. We have some back orders and can only ask our customers for patience, we promise not to spend your money at the local saloon, at least not until after we’ve shipped you the book.

We do have the Bonneville, World’s Fastest Motorcycles books in stock. Again, these are advance copies from the printer and it may be a few weeks yet before the book hits the local or on-line store.

Sheet Metal Fab 1

Sheet Metal Fab 2

Sheet Metal Fab 3

Sheet Metal Fab 4

Sheet Metal Fab 5

The other hot button is the Sheet Metal Fabrication book, written with help from Rob Roehl, fabricator at the Donnie Smith shop. Rob and I spent yesterday talking about tools, so I only have one more short chapter to finish, along with a bit more layout work, and then another book can go off to the printer - finally.

Trusting Souls
Today we had a patron from Europe send us over $200 in cash for a large group of books. Nice to know he trusts us (though I don’t recommend sending cash) and also a good way to create a slush fund. In fact, I take that back, why don’t all you good people send cash. What a concept, no taxes. Man, life could be sweet.

Somewhat less trusting is the German firm who just agreed to buy the rights to our Pinstriping book so they might translate it into their native tongue – they insist I sign the contract and send the book layouts on DVD before they wire us one red cent. The good news is the simple fact that for Wolfgang, a situation like this makes it possible to create additional income from a given book, without having to print more copies or take any additional risks.

A New Editor
As the work-load around here grows I’ve tried adding hours to the day, but of course that plan is flawed from the start. Too much time spent in the office means a cranky publisher. I also find that after too many hours at the desk my accuracy and keyboard skills both go right down the tubes.

The answer then is more help, in form of an additional editor by the name of Geoff Carter. If the name rings a bell, it’s because Geoff was editor of Street Rodder for many years. Geoff has agreed to edit books for us on a free-lance basis. Which means fewer projects I’m responsible for editing and (I hope) more things done on time. At this point Geoff is working on the How to AC Your Hot Rod book by Jack Chisenhall of Vintage Air fame, and the How to Build a Salt Flats Motorcycle book by Keith Ball.

How to AC Your Hot Rod

Build A Salt Flats MC

That Time of Year
Earlier today I rode the Bagger over to my friend Scotty’s garage for the long winter layover. It was a cold and exhilarating ride, one that marks the official end of the riding season. The next ride will occur either in Florida in March, or in Minnesota somewhat later. Plans for Daytona are still up in the air. While it’s great to have a bike down there, it’s a long way to pull a trailer just to put a few hundred miles on over a five day period.

The J Bird
I have a local street rod builder buy the name of Pat Kary coming over to help me decide the best way to eliminate the interference problem between the hemi’s oil pan and the steering rack, and also help me plan the location of the steering column and linkage. I suspect, however, that I should just go ahead and call my friend Jeff about borrowing his cherry picker again. Sometimes it’s three steps forward and two steps back.