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.

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.

The book, which covers the chopping of nine tops on everything from a 1926 Model T to a 1966 Dodge Charger, was assembled so long ago that the photography was done in black and white. Does anyone remember film? How about Tri-X from Kodak? Anyway, we have the prints and we have a scanner. The book documents a series of top chops, from the first sketch to the finished car with the new lowered profile.

Chop Top 1

Chop Top 2

Chop Top 3

Top Chop 4

Thought the wonders of a new-tech process called Printing On Demand, we will be able to produce black and white books in relatively small numbers. Which is far superior to the standard protocol, which requires a minimum print run of at least 2,000 units, which must be coordinated with the release of the book through our distributor into the big book chains, This time I plan to simply produce the book in small numbers, distribute it to individual hot rodders through our own web site and some of the small shops, and then later try to push some additional copies into the chain stores.

Rick Thompson

New Staff at Wolfgang
Speaking of bookstore chains, we’ve added a new sales person at Wolfgang to call on smaller bookstores. Stores that are not part of a big organization and therefore not necessarily served by sales people calling on the chains. Rick Thompson is a dyed in the wool motorhead. Owner of multiple motorcycles and at least one hot rod pickup truck. Rick likes nothing better than talking with people at a motorcycle or hot rod show.

With Rick’s help we hope to not only call on more small bookstores but also run the occasional booth at local and regional bike and hot rod shows.

The Donnie Smith Show
For those of us stuck in the Great White North, March brings more than the promise of warm riding weather. Late March brings both local and national bike builders to St. Paul for the Donnie Smith Bike Show. Held at the St. Paul River Center, the show covers over 160,000 square feet with over 200 motorcycles, multiple vendors, and a huge wing dedicated to the swap meet.

Panhead: There are a lot of good looking old
Harleys out there, but there's nothing
like a really nice old Panhead.

Triumph: The bikes on display ran the gamut
from wild, wild customs to very correctly
restored rides like this Triumph.

Dan Roche started with a Daytec soft-tail
frame, changed it to a twin-shock and then
installed a 139 cubic inch Kendall Johnson
/S&S motor.

The Donnie Smith Show is a two-day
affair, and the aisles were full on both
Saturday and Sunday.

Perewitz: Always charming Dave Perewitz
signs autographs for a new generation of fans.

The men of the hour (left to right)
Donnie Smith, Dave Perewitz and Neil Ryan.
For me the show is a chance to get out of the office, hob-knob with friends and look over all the great motorcycles. The bikes included a variety of Custom Harley-Davidsons as well as various full-custom Softails, Choppers and Bobbers. This year we had a booth at the show, which made it easier for out-of-town friends like pinstriper Tex McDorman, Brian Klock from Klock Werks, Dave Perewitz from Cycle Fab, and Jeff Zielinski from NAMZ to find us. And of course all the locals showed up as well, old friends like Jeff and Mary from Drag, Lee from Lee’s Speed shop, Jason from Kokesh MC, and Neil Ryan from American Thunder, (the man who actually puts on the show). Of course the man of the hour, Donnie Smith, was there meeting and greeting and extending his best Midwestern welcome to everyone at the show.

For anyone who appreciates high quality custom motorcycles and a chance to hang out with some of the country’s best bike builders, the Donnie Smith Bike Show is a must event. Next year’s show is scheduled for March 29 and 30. Neil also puts on the Arlen Ness show in San Jose, California, information on the shows can be found at www.donniesmithbikeshow or www.arlennessbikeshow.

New Address
The final news for this blog includes our new address, PO Box 223, Stillwater, MN 55082, effective May 1, 2007. All the current email addresses and phone numbers remain in effect.