When Bill Tichenor sent this to us, we smiled the entire time we read it. It reminded us of our first barn finds, which were bicycles and motorcycles, and had us remembering what it was like getting our first projects. Bill is Director of Marketing over at Holley, but don’t let the title fool you. He’s as involved in deciding what products Holley makes and promotes as anyone in the company. And he’s a car guy through and through. His AMX is amazingly bad ass, and he and his family spend their private time as hot rodders too, not just work hours. So here’s what Bill sent us. It’s a story of a young hot rodder, and fine young man that Bill is pretty proud of, his son Braden.
Muscle Bikes – Current Fun for Future Hot Rodders by Bill Tichenor
What would cause a teenage boy that rides a Honda CRF150R racing motorcycle to want to ride a 50 year old bike he found in a shed? “It’s old and it’s cool. I can’t afford an old car to take to car shows, but I can cruise the shows on an old bike”, says Braden Tichenor, from Logansport, KY.
He found two bikes, both Western Flyer Buzz Bikes. One appears to be a 1966 and the other a 1968 from what we can tell. If the name Buzz Bike isn’t cool enough for you then how about the name Buzz Bike Eliminator? It’s awesome and it conjures up old drag racing scenes just like the bike’s original promotional poster eludes to. The poster calls it “The New Dragster-Style Buzz Bike!”
This style of bike is often referred to as a muscle bike and rightly so. The bikes have a soul just like the cars of the era. The grips have flake in them, the banana seat has racing stripes and who doesn’t love ape hangers? Any of us who are probably 45-years-old or older remember these bikes.
Braden plans to leave the 1968 with its patina, as a couple of tires and a new chain had it up and going. The ’66 is pretty rough so he’s restoring it and is already learning a few skills that will help him in the future on a car. He is learning how to sand blast, use etching primer, clean parts, paint, and pack bearings. Perfect lessons for his gearhead future!
No doubt Braden is a gearhead and recognizes something cool when he sees it. He’s looking forward to cruising the pits at Beech Bend Raceway in Bowling Green, KY at the NHRA Holley Hot Rod Reunion, Goodguys Nostalgia Nationals, and Car Craft Summer Nationals.
Check out this awesome ’55 Chevy and its Schwinn bicycle inspired theme:
And, check out this video of kids drag racing bikes in the 1970s. Watch for the burning tires, slicks and parachutes in the video!
We think Braden needs to make a parachute like the ones in the video so he can pull them at the next nostalgic meet at Beech Bend and blow everyone’s mind! Just don’t pull the chutes on being a gearhead Braden. Keep it up!
The recently closed Bama Dragway near Cordova AL let kids race down the track in their bicycles. This was in the early 1990’s I believe, before Jr dragsters had hit it big. I did it a few times and even won the money one night. We had to stage in the lights, pedal down the full 1/8th mile, and hope you got even halfway close to your dial-in when you went through the lights at the end (yes we were bracket racing).
Yup, that long haired hippie type with twin drag chutes is none other than former NHRA racer and announcer, and current IHRA prez Mike Dunn.
I had a Western Flyer Chopper bike back in the early 70’s. Blew the rear tire first week, parents weren’t happy!