Hawg Haven In Nail-Biting Finish

Added on Monday, December 8th, 2008 by Carole Nash Editor | No Comments

The Carole Nash Old Skool Bobber is finished!

I’m just so proud of what me and the lads have created. It’s a belter.

“The clock doesn’t stop to sleep” was how Hawg Haven stalwart Jon Quantrell summed up his team’s battle to build a £30,000 custom chopper live at the Carole Nash International Motorcycle & Scooter Show. But with just five minutes left on the clock, at 17.55 on the show’s closing day, the NEC reverberated to the sound of Carole Nash Old Skool Bobber’s throaty 1450cc Revtech engine roaring into life.

A clearly relieved Quantrell spoke as the Carole Nash Construct project drew to a close after nearly 400 man hours of unrelenting graft and high drama during the 11 day show. With the pressure of around 150,000 show visitors peering over their shoulders, the team had to overcome many an obstacle which several times put them behind an already tight schedule.

Handing over the keys to Carole Nash’s head of marketing, Rebecca Donohue, Quantrell said “That was a bit hairy, there were many times that we thought we’d bitten off more than we could chew, not least when we discovered the fuel tank was too big! That was a real heart-stopper but now we’ve just beaten the clock and I’m just so proud of what me and the lads have created. It’s a belter.”

Donohue agreed, saying: “We’ve invested a lot in this project so Carole Nash Construct could go ahead and it would have been a disaster if, as at times seemed likely, the boys hadn’t been able to finish the bike. But anxiety has been followed by relief and now delight because the bike is really, really special. We want to give a huge pat on the back to Hawg Haven for creating such a magnificent machine, in such a short space of time and in front of some many curious bikers’ eyes.”

Now the finished bike is set to tour UK and Irish bike shows with Carole Nash, starting with the London Motorcycle Show in January (ExCel, January 29th – February 1st). It will then be presented to one lucky prize winner at next year’s Carole Nash International Motorcycle & Scooter Show. Anyone getting a bike insurance quote* from the company before 31st Oct 2009 will earn their chance to win the bike – with an estimated value of £30,000 - in a free prize draw.

Based around a goosenecked Santee Rigid frame with a 38 degree rake the Carole Nash Old Skool Bobber is powered by a Revtech 88ci, 1450cc polished motor fitted with a Mikuni carb five speed Revtech gearbox. Hawg Haven touches include hand made oil and fuel tanks and a unique stainless steel two into one exhaust with vintage mufflers.

You can follow the bike’s creation and see the finished article on www.carolenash.com/insidebikes which is hosting blogs written by Quantrell as well as podcasts and a photo gallery. You can also find full details of the prize draw there along with all the NEC show news.

CAROLE NASH OLD SKOOL BOBBER: SPECIFICATION
Frame
Santee Rigid, goosenecked to give a stretch to top tube, with a 38 degree rake
Drive train
Revtech 88ci 1450cc polished motor fitted with Mikuni Carb
5spd polished Revtech gearbox
3inch B.D.L 0pen belt drive
Wheels
Chrome spoke 16inch wheel fitted with 510×16 vintage tyres
Brakes
RST front
RST 4pot rear polished billet with polished brake rotors
Oil tank
De- chromed and painted in Carol Nash colours
Front forks
Springer: De-chromed and painted in Carol Nash colours
Bars
Drag style with vintage grips
Foot controls
Old skool style chromed forwards
Hand controls
Chromed switch and lever controls
Lights
Front: 4 1/2″ Bates
Rear: Early classic tail light
Exhaust
One off hand made s/steel high level 2 into 1 headers with vintage slip-on muffler
Fuel tank
Hand made
Rear fender
Hand made
Seat
Old skool sprung seat in black
Custom paint
Frame, forks, oil tank, fuel tank and rear fender all painted in one-off Carol Nash colours, blue and green, with green panels on fuel tank and oil tank, with pin striping around panels and to rear fender
Value Estimated £30,000