The Wraps Are Off As Build Draws To A Close

Added on Sunday, December 7th, 2008 by Carole Nash Editor

Build draws to a close

Do we have to give this one to Carole Nash, I rather like it...

The big weekend crowds came back in force on Saturday morning and I was alone in the build area looking at my watch, at 11 am Snowy and Terry were still fighting their way back through the Traffic from Norwich with Jon Fox and the freshly painted tins (tank and rear fender). Terry went back with Snowy last night to see his wife, daughter and new born grandson, the look on his face as he bounded on to the Carole Nash stand said it all – magic – just behind him Snowy and Jon Fox arrived with the final pieces of the jigsaw.

I couldn’t wait to get the protective wrapping off the tank and see how it looked; I really need not have worried, Jon has never let me down with his paintwork and as usual he had exceeded my expectations, laying down a base of Carole Nash blue to match the frame and forks, highlighted with hand pin striping and the Carole Nash logo flanking both sides of the tank – classy and subtle – The pin striping is continued through the oil tank and fender to tie the whole thing together. There are not many people capable of pin striping to this standard free-hand; it’s a dieing art these days.

As I mentioned in my Wednesday blog; Jon Fox had to modify the tank mounts blind - without seeing the way the tank would finally sit on the frame with the Springer forks in place – all the revised measurements had been relayed by phone, so this was to be the moment of truth, the build could have failed at this point with no way of rescue. No way, we weren’t going to have any more mistakes, the measurements were spot-on and the tank now fits without restricting the lock.

Next job is fitting the seat pan, which hides the oil tank’s battery compartment and other electrical components away from prying eyes. The cut down and widened rear fender is fitted, it’s sleek lines closely hug the rear tire and the final look of the bike is clear for all to see – Terry taps me on the shoulder and whispers in my ear “Do we have to give this one to Carole Nash, I rather like it, it’s ok Jon we can build them another.” but no, this bike is already bought and paid for, the entries are streaming in thick and fast from show visitors and people getting quotes by phone and on-line, click here for a motorcycle quote,* or ring us on 0800 804 7952 for your chance to win.

So we’ve come from a stock Harley frame to a full gooseneck Santee style rigid (hardtail) frame, widened the sportster tank, widened the rear fender, hand made the exhaust system, fabricated all the fittings, fitted the engine and running gear, built a hand made wiring loom and sent the metal work over to paint in the past 10 days – working 10am to 6pm each day at the show and the equivalent of six full days of paint shop time, preparing the fabricated parts, filling, sanding and spraying.

All that’s left to do is a long list of finishing touches, currently standing at 23 items in total, then we have to fire her up before the close of the show on Sunday; something could still hold us up, but we are looking good!

Jon Quantrell
Hawg Haven

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