Tim Remus

Wolfgang Dealers

The biggest group to sign on so far is Fastenal. Based in Minnesota, Fastenal has over 2500 stores spread throughout the country, and each store has access to our books through the main Fastenal warehouse. Next time you need fasteners or hardware, stop by the local Fastenal store and pick up a Wolfgang book at the same time.

Smaller, though no less important, is the Missisippi Welders Supply Company, with 10 stores spread throughout southeastern Minnesota and Wisconsin. When you need a great deal on a new TIG welder or a bottle of Oxygen, stop and see the very knowledgeable staff at any of the Mississippi Welders Supply stores.



Out newest dealer, with over 2500 outlets.


The closest Harley-Davidson dealer to us is St. Paul Harley-Davidson. Lance, the parts manager there, is a big believer in Wolfgang books. If you stop by the original St. Paul store, or the new mega-Harley-plex in Eden Prairie, be sure to check out the books near the parts counter.

Most of our motorcycle books deal with customizing and the use of aftermarket parts, so it’s not surprising that we have bookracks in two, sizable aftermarket shops. Arlen and Cory Ness added a rack to their flagship store in Dublin, California, and that rack moves a number of Wolfgang titles each month.

Tucked away in little Rock, Arkansas is Rodney’s House, a large and very successful shop with a full service department in back. I have to thank Rodney, and his partner Donna, for installing the first Wolfgang bookrack and for helping me get the whole program up and running.

Because of the vast number of dealers, I’ve missed a few here. To find that dealer near you take a look at the Dealer List, Just click on the Dealer button at the top left of the home page.

For anyone who wants to become a Wolfgang dealer, please contact Rick Thompson at his email address: rick@wolfpub.com.



Wolfgang books available in both St. Paul H-D stores.


The new Keith Ball book, How to Build a Bonneville Salt Flats Motorcycle, is now in stock. As I said in an earlier blog, this new book is a great read. For anyone planning to go to Bonneville, or fascinated with Bonneville or simply a fan of Keith’s writing, this book is a must-have. We all tend to think of racing at Bonneville as a great adventure and a hell of a lot of fun. And it is, but after reading Keith’s book you will realize there’s a lot of hard work and late nights involved as well. Because of Keith’s writing style and skill, this book is like a good novel - the book you pick up and can’t put down.



In stock, Keith Ball’s inside look at Bonneville.


One More at the Printer
We’ve been sending a book to the printer at the rate of about one per month, and for April that book is How to Paint Tractors & Trucks. Done with help from the local Valspar paint reps, the book documents two start-to-finish paint jobs, one on a neat old Massey-Harris tractor, and one on a 1955 Chevy pickup truck. If your restoration dreams include tractors and old trucks, look for the newest paint book from Wolfgang to be available in about three weeks.



It’s not just about motorcycles and hot rods anymore.


On the Road Again
I often write my blogs from a motel room, and this one is no exception. Only this time the trip is (mostly) pleasure and the location is Memphis, Tennessee, home to Beale St. and more funky blues joints than you can imagine. After a twelve-plus hour road trip yesterday with Mary, and our friends Bill and Mary Jo Myers we managed to hit BB King’s bar about 7:30 PM. Damn, that first cold beer sure did taste good. Today the rest of the group is visiting Elvis while I hang back to write this and attend to other little chores. Tomorrow we plan to tour Sun Records and then head back down to Beale Street. By Monday I plan to be back in the office, at least physically.



Beale Street, great music music. . .




. . .and great joints.


The J Bird
The Henry project is moving along, slowly as always. I recently make a new set of improved lowering blocks from donated aluminum stock given me by my friend Crazy John. And the drive shaft is out getting shortened so it will fit correctly between the old cast iron Torqueflite tranny and the Ford nine-inch rear end. Once the drive shaft is in, the entire drivetrain will be in place. Next up is more sheet metal work on the inside, and installation of a steering column.

Jammin’ Jammin’. We be Jammin’ down the road.



Slammed, I want it slammed and in the weeds.








NEW PRODUCTS

I realize daily that we are behind schedule on one project or another. So it’s nice to report that we have one book finished on time. The new Advanced Custom Motorcycle Chassis book is off the press and ready to ship from our web site – delivery to the bookstore of your choice will take a little longer.

Advanced Custom Motorcycle ChassisAdvanced Custom
Motorcycle Chassis

As mentioned in an earlier blog, the new book focuses on chassis issues for anyone building a bike from scratch or modifying an existing V-twin motorcycle. Topics include Chassis and Front-End Geometry, Frame styles, Chassis Components, Sheet Metal, and Powertrain options. The last two chapters are dedicated to in-the-shop photo sequences, one is the installation of wheels and drive-train into a Twin Cam Bagger while the second sequence covers the installation of all the drive-train and chassis components into a typical right-side-drive Softail Chassis.


More from Wolfgang

Back in the days when I made a living of sorts as a free-lance journalist, I produced a book for Motorbooks titled, How To Chop Tops in 301 Photos. The book sold reasonably well and I received my 12% royalty checks twice-per-year for four or five years.

Fast-forward twelve years. I now make my living as a publisher, producing books that I may or may not write myself, with the help of four employees. The other day I’m trying to stretch my brain and find a relatively easy way to add more hot rod titles to our little catalog of mostly motorcycle and custom paint books. There in the bookshelf, in the little archive area with the other books I’ve written over the years is the Top Chopping book. As I looked over the book I started thinking, Motorbooks published the book and it’s now out of print. Once it’s out of print the publishing rights revert to the author.


 Good information is always good information. We've decided to publish  a new version of this top chopping manual. Look for finished books by  late June.
ChopTop:
Good information is always good
information. We've decided to publish a new
version of this top chopping manual.
Look for finished books by late June.

To make a long story short, Motorbooks did give me back the rights and we are in the process of reproducing the book. Even though my desk looks like a disaster at any given time, I’ve been pretty good about saving and labeling the raw materials needed to produce any of our books. The little envelopes of black and white prints, organized by chapter, were all right there in the bottom of a large Rubbermaid container in the warehouse.