Kustom Baggers

As I write this news update, the rain is falling and we are enjoying beautiful 60 degree weather. Oh, how I love this time of year and the fall weather.

It seems like Klock Werks seems to be showing up in the news quite often lately – on the local news, several interviews, feature stories in magazines and a topic of conversation in the motorcycle industry. I wanted to give you a list of some of the features and interviews that were done since our successful trip to Bonneville and invite you to enjoy.

Locally, KSFY TV sportscaster, Erik Thorstenson, did a feature story about Team Klock Werks and the new land speed records that were set at the Bonneville Salt Flats this year. The segment was featured on the KSFY nightly news on October 1 and the direct link to the story and video is http://www.ksfy.com/sports/headlines/30076674.html.

We would really like to thank Ken at Biker Radio Magazine for keeping in touch with our Bonneville story. He has posted some of our photos on his website at http://www.bikerradiomagazine.com/bville2008.html and also did an interview with Laura. Click here to listen to the interview - http://www.bikerradiomagazine.com/laura_klock/laura_klock.mp3

On the way home from Bonneville, Brian and Laura were able to call in to the Texas Hardtails Scooter Show and do an interview with host Rick Fairless. Click here to listen in - http://www.live1053.com/topic/play_window.php?audioType=Episode&audioId=2894666

Make sure to check out Cycle Source November 2008 issue (page 14). Chris Callen of Cycle Source spent some time with Team Klock Werks at Bonneville and did an amazing feature story on the Ladies of Team Klock Werks. To say so much in such a little article is a unique talent that Chris has!

Thanks to Marilyn Stemp of Iron Works for the shout out to our very own, Brian Klock, during her Bikernet Radio interview. Click here to listen to the interview - http://www.bikernetshop.com/2008/09/25/marilyn-stemp-talks-ironworks/

We are so blessed to work with such amazing people in this industry like Chris Callen and Marilyn Stemp. They have done so much good not only for the motorcycle industry but also in getting the stories of people in the industry out so people not familiar or new to the industry understand that there is a lot of good stuff going on.

Brian and Laura traveled safely to Frankfurt, Germany and will attend InterMot in Cologne, Germany later this week. What an experience and opportunity for Klock Werks to have representatives in Germany at this worldwide event.

Here at the shop, we are gearing up for 2009, getting ready to launch our new ’09 products, and trying to keep up with our customer needs. The warehouse is full and Klock Werks is ready to make your Christmas wishes come true! Make sure to let Santa know what you really want – Flare Windshield, 180-Tire Kit, new Softail rear fender, Speaker Grilles or some new Klock Werks gear!

Continue to check in with www.kustombaggers.com because we are adding new apparel and new parts as we head into 2009. Also, watch for more information coming out through the Bagger Blog…

Take advantage of the beautiful fall weather and spend some time outside – before you know it, the white stuff will fall.

Remember to send us your favorite Rockin’ the Flare photos!

Happy Fall!

Melissa

Tune in to KSFY Action News TONIGHTat 6 p.m. and 10 p.m.!! Sportscaster, Erik Thorstenson, will feature a segment about Team Klock Werks and the new land speed records that were set at the Bonneville Salt Flats this year. The segment will be featured on the KSFY nightly news at 6 p.m. and 10 p.m. but the main story will be on the 10 p.m. news.

The story will also be on KSFY’s website (www.ksfy.com) and the direct link to the story and video is http://www.ksfy.com/sports/headlines/30076674.html.

Fall is definitely here…and if it went my way, fall would be the longest season of the year. There is absolutely nothing like a cool fall day which you enjoy being outside raking the leaves and going on a long ride during the day and then sitting inside during the evening, watching a good football game and enjoying a bowl of homemade chili.

The shop is still buzzin here and NO, this is not a slow time of year for us either! This past Saturday, our shop was open for tours during the Outkasts Car Club in Mitchell. Many of our Krew were also down on Main Street under our NOS Energy Drink tent during the event handing out Klock Werks stickers, putting on Klock Werks tattoos and showing off our bikes and parts. It was a beautiful day and we enjoyed seeing the Pre ’48 Hot Rods and Pre ’73 Kustoms.

Next up on the Klock Werks travel schedule is Germany. Brian and Laura are going to be international travelers October 7-11 as they head to Cologne, Germany for InterMot, the world’s largest bike show.

Klock Werks will be sending a Krew on the Hogs on the High Seas Western Caribbean Rally Cruise November 2-9. John and Luauna Dean and Joe and Michelle Mielke will be the on-board representatives. They will be leaving port from Port Canaveral, Florida and making stops at Labadee, Hispaniola; Ocho Rios, Jamaica; George Town, Grand Cayman; and Cozumel, Mexico.

Here at the shop, we are gearing up for 2009, getting ready to launch our new ’09 products, and trying to keep up with our customer needs. The warehouse is full and Klock Werks is ready to make your Christmas wishes come true! Make sure to let Santa know what you really want – Flare Windshield, 180-Tire Kit, new Softail rear fender, Speaker Grilles or some new Klock Werks gear!

Continue to check in with www.kustombaggers.com because we are adding new apparel and new parts as we head into 2009. Also, watch for more information coming out through the Bagger Blog…

Congrats to Tami Walker of Diva Customs for making the cover of Hot Bike Bagger December 2008! And thanks for using Klock Werks front and rear fenders and for rockin’ the Flare!

Check out American Iron November 2008 – Klock Werks Flare Windshield product review on page 52.

Take advantage of the beautiful fall weather and spend some time outside – before you now it, the white stuff will fall.

Remember to send us your favorite Rockin’ the Flare photos!

Happy Fall!

Melissa

Klock Werks has the perfect apparel for those cool fall afternoon rides. For the ladies – Klock Werks Scroll long sleeve Thermals available in white or baby blue, and a new fall color is now available in the women’s tee – Moss Green. Both of these shirts have the Klock Werks women’s brown scroll design centered on front and it reads Kustom Cycles under the design. These are a fitted women’s tee and have a longer fit and available in sizes S-2XL.

And for the men, back by popular demand, our best selling long sleeve shirt to date. Red long sleeve T-shirt with original SPADE logo on back and flames and dice down both sleeves. Available in sizes S-3XL

And finally, the Klock Werks Softail Rear Fenders are HERE!! Now you can give your Softail that Genuine Klock Werks look. These Softail Rear Fenders are available in either stretch length for dramatic styling or stock length for that rider that just wants to clean up the back of their bike. Just like all Klock Werks fenders, these are also predrilled to match stock mounting locations, stamped from14-gauge US Steel, and E-coated to prevent rust and corrosion.

Check out www.kustombaggers.com for more information on our apparel and parts line.

Where are you Rockin’ the Flare?? Send us your photos of where you are Rockin’ the Flare – maybe it is at Mt. Rushmore, Niagra Falls, Grand Canyon, Salt Flats in Bonneville or Washinton, D.C.?? Send us your favorite Rockin’ the Flare photos!

We will be updating this blog again soon…but enjoy the weekend and check in next week!

Melissa

Our very own, Brian and Laura Klock, are in Atlanta this weekend and will be making some stops for appearances and autographs.

They will be at Granite Mountain in Atlanta on Saturday, September 13 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. to sign autographs.

Stay tuned to www.kustomcycles.com and this blog on www.kustombaggers.com for more updates…

Melissa

It was a busy month of August and beginning of September for the Krew at Klock Werks. Harley Davidson 105th was a great event (sold out of our Flare Windshields twice in one week) and the week at the Bonneville Salt Flats was amazing – four riders and five new land speed records! Now, we are all back home, sleeping in our own beds, and getting back into our normal routines.

The Krew would like thank all of you for checking into our websites and Bagger Blog for updates while most of us were gone. Thanks to those who sent comments of encouragement, support and congrats!

If you want to have a piece of the Team Klock Werks Bonneville 2008 experience, check out the apparel section on www.kustombaggers.com and order a LIMITED EDITION Team Klock Werks Bonneville 2008 t-shirt. We only have a limited number of sizes and shirts left – so order one today before we are all out…

Check out the Industry News in American Bagger November 2008 – Fine Art Glide Unveiled During 2008 Sturgis Rally – Brian Klock and Mark Brodie teamed up on the creation of the Fine Art Glide. Also, look at “Scraps” (featured bike on page 38) of Dragonfly Cycle Concepts and “The Devil You Say” (feature bike on page 74) of Paul Yaffe both rockin the Flare Windshield.

When you are paging through Hot Bike Baggers November 08 issue, notice the 2005 Electra Glide Classi owned by Bob Jackson on page 70 is showing off the Klock Werks Dash and on the back cover, the Renegade Wheels bike is rockin the Flare Windshield. Thanks to those for supporting Klock Werks and showing off the quality of our kustom parts.

Where are you Rockin’ the Flare?? Send us your photos of where you are Rockin’ the Flare – maybe it is at a Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, Memorial Stadium (University of Nebraska), “the Swamp” (Ben Hill Griffin Stadium), Fenway Park, Coors Field, or the Harley Davidson Museum?? Send us your favorite Rockin’ the Flare photos!

Thanks again to our customers and those who just keep checking in to our websites to see what’s up. We are so blessed and you are all a big part of that.

NEW PART ALERT:
Check out the new Klock Werks Softail Rear Fenders on www.kustombaggers.com. Available in 6 inch for dramatic styling or 2 inch for that rider just trying to clean up the back of their bike.

Melissa

A formal release will be sent in the next couple days, but we are proud to anounce the following final numbers from our week at the motorcycle only Speed Trials by Bub on the Bonneville Salt Flats for 2008.

All of these records are run under AMA (American Motorcycle Association) sanctioning and are subject to final verification.

Karlee set a record on the Buell Blast #3333 in class M-PG 500 at 107.391 and also as #3331 in MPS-PG 500 at 110.724 (she ran 2 classes, one with fairing and one without). Karlee’s personal best on a one-way pass is 111.580 mph.

Laura set a new record on the WFB #3338 in MPS-PF 3000 at 153.592, with a new personal best of 153.906.

Kudos to High Country Harley Davidson in Frederick Colorado and rider Kevin Edgmon for their true efforts with their Road Glide this year. They got a record in their own class in the 140s! Of all the talk over the last few years about fast baggers, these guys came out and really contended. And they were rocking the Klock Werks Flare windshield. You’ll be hearing more about this story…

Erika’s new record on 1995 Buell S2 #455 in P-PP 1350 is 130.392 and her new presonal best is 132.206.

Michelle Mielke set a record on her 2000 Yamaha V-Star 650 bike #415 in M-P 650 class at 102.1. Michelle’s presonal best is 102.389. Michelle’s husband Joe is an employee of Klock Werks. This was the first year out for Michelle and Karlee.

Records on the Bonneville Salt Flats are an average of 2 passes, one being a qualifying down run and then a return. Rider must be at or above the existing record speed to qualify for a return. At this event (AMA), the return pass is made in the opposite direction on the course. Your speed is an average of how fast you pass through a measured mile. Please note…there is no separation between male and female or by age. Bikes are placed in classes based on their type/frame, fuel and size motor. Speeds are relative to motor size.

We are so blessed to have the team that we have which includes all who were out on the salt with us and everyone taking care of things back home. Some teams travel to the salt for years and years and don’t come away with the number of successful passes and records that our team has. The salt was in great condition this year and the weather was amazing, and it can still provide you with some humbling experiences. But is ALWAYS an event to remember. We had super high energy this year and also some scares, or rather learning experiences. Everyone did an amazing job.

AND…we won the award last night for the cleanest and most organized area in the pits which is sponsored by landracing.com.

Watch for photos from Dave Sietsema of www.firesteelcreekphotography.com, Scooter Grubb www.scootershoots.com, Horst Roesler www.motographer.de, Chris Callen at www.cyclesourcemagazine.com and our own video and photos.

Thanks to ICON, AVON Tyres, S&S, Baker Drivetrain, NOS, Dynatek, Pingel, Baron Performance, Crossroads Preformance, Buell Brothers and Sisters and more. Watch for more information on our sponsors/links page.

Last but not least, last year Erika and Laura were named the first mother daughter duo to hold national land speed records at the same time on the salt …and now we’ve added Karlee. As far as we know, this has never been done in history. Does that give you goosebumps (glorybumps we call them) or what?

More to come.

Written from somewhere in the middle of wyoming on this beautiful Sunday, Sept 7. We are on our way home.

God bless and GODSPEED.

Laura

Thursday, September 4:

Since Karlee is riding the Buelle Blast which Erica set her land speed record on last year, the record that Karlee was hoping to break was her older sister’s. Karlee was able to break that record by a slim 1 MPH. What an awesome achievement for Karlee - not only to break her older sister’s record but also to be the youngest one at Bonneville riding for a land speed record. With this record, she will now be added to the Sturgis Motorcycle Museum’s “Women of Motorcycling” Exhibit which now has Laura and Erica as the first mother-daughter pair to hold land speed records. This exhibit will now be larger to include Karlee and her land speed record.

Friday, September 5:

Michelle Mielke (Big Joe’s wife) set a land speed record of 97 MPH earlier in the week. Today she went out again and upped that record to 100 MPH!

Finally some news on Laura and the WFB - she had two runs at 153 MPH!! Way to go!

Hope to update you all more on the rest of today and tomorrow as the news comes in from the Krew at Bonneville.

Ride fast and ride safe Girls!! We miss you all and can’t wait for you all to be home next week!

Day 1 out here brought us great shake down runs as reported yesterday, and we’re pleased to announce that day 2 went equally as well for Team Klock Werks. Today two of our girls got their records, and the other two completed safe passes, working out the bugs to hopefully follow suit with records.

Erika had to beat 122.319 mph to get a record in her class. On her first pass today, she clocked a speed of over 130 mph! That qualified her, so she was sent out to do a return. She backed it up over 127 mph for an average on the books of 128! (Your record is an average of 2 successful passes, one qualifying, one to back it up) You go girl! Funnier than seeing her mom jumping up and down at the report of the speed was seeing Tom Anderson, aka “Santa Claus”, sweat it out and also, literally, jump up and down when he heard. Santa is the owner of the bike she’s racing. She did great! Of course she’s ready to get back in line tomorrow and try to better it, but its set on day 2!

Michelle Mielke, wife of our own Big Joe Mielke, was riding in an open class with her Yamaha V-Star 650 and today she set a record as well! She completed her qualifying run and then successfully backed it up, with an average of 97 mph for a new record in the class. She was back in line this afternoon with us. For the rest of the week she can run to better her own times, if she wishes. Pretty great for her first time out. She and Joe were making some modifications to her bike this afternoon and she’s anxious to try them tomorrow. And their daughter Tiadra was zipping around on her dirt bike, shifting into 2nd and 3rd for the first time today. She’s 11 and is out here with us too.

Karlee had 2 successful passes today over 100 MPH, just shy of the 101.365 that she needs to qualify. She had some shifting issues, but just give this girl a challenge and you will learn quickly that she is determined and does not give up easily. She was working with the guys to determine the best way to shift to get the most out of the way the Buell Blast is set up. It’s so important for the rider to be able to report to the team what they are experiencing so work can be done to tweak it. At 14 years old, it’s amazing to me to listen to her tell of what happened each pass and to watch her get more and more focused and determined. I have no doubt in my mind that we will see her put up the numbers she needs. 100 MPH on a 500cc single cylinder motorcycle is nothing to take lightly. Again….at 14 years old! She is the youngest one out here.

I had one pass today and learned what wheel slippage is. The WFB has so much more horsepower this year. I have used an electric shifter the last 2 years, but am shifting manually, and when shifting to 4th today, the rear wheel slipped. Now this is something I haven’t felt before, nor would I like to again. I let off the throttle, regained my composure, and got back on it, but was already in the mile, and was only able to pull 138 mph. I did get back in line this afternoon as well. Early this morning I learned that the data acquisition system we are running on the bike this year showed that I had reached 150 MPH before the wobble I experienced yesterday! I was pretty excited to hear that as I need to reach 150.8 to hold onto this this year. At least I know it can be done. Back at it tomorrow. We have a few days left, so I’m going to keep plugging away (I don’t give up too easy either in case you didn’t know that about me. Not sure where my girls get that from, hahaha.)

Karlee, Michelle and I were in line this afternoon and the races were called off after an accident. I am sad to report that there was a fatality today. Please send prayers out to the family of Cliff Gullett. Cliff lost control of his streamliner at over 200 mph today and did not survive the crash. As all of his salt flats family pause to mourn his loss, its a reminder again in our own lives to continue to cherish each moment we get with friends, family, loved ones, a reminder of just how precious life is, and also a reminder to simply respect the dangerous sport we are participating in. Safety first and lots of prayers.

On that note I want to take a moment to really commend our team. Not just the krew out here with us, but everyone back home sending prayers, taking care of our homes, dogs, the shop in our absence. Everyone here has worked really hard to keep FOUR bikes running, 4 girls motivated with great words of encouragement and helpful ideas, reminding us to eat, handing us bottles of water. We are so blessed! I watch in awe as I see my daughters learn so much about themselves, what they are capable of, watch them learn about teamwork, finding solutions, having faith and respecting their machines. Tonight at dinner Erika was already making plans for next year and wondering, with so much homework to do while she’s out here this week, if it will be ok to miss a week of college next year to come to Bonneville. She would like to go 170 on a really stable bike she says, and Karlee, well, she says that 100 mph seems kinda slow and she knows that her bike won’t go a whole lot faster than that, but “mom, you know since 7th grade I have said I want to go 200 MPH!” Yikes girl! I just sat back and listened and watched as the girls and Brian interacted and discussed what kinds of bikes they could build. The girls even stated they had been discussing an idea to do a sidecar bike, that they could switch off as the driver and that mom would be the one to ride in the sidecar. I think mom may be retiring from racing and just be mom out here, encouraging these girls. Doing what a mom does - teaching, sharing experiences, watching them and praying for their safety. We’ll see. Time will tell.

Brian posed the same question to the team last night…if you could race anything, what would it be? Great answers, great conversations. We have a GREAT team! Beyond our own krew here including Dan, Amy, JP “Quiggly”, Joe, Michelle, Tiadra, Lance, Kim, Randy, Chris, John & Luauna, we are joined by Dave Sietsma, James Ramsey, Bernie & Cherie Maxwell, Kiwi (Mike Thomas/Kiwi Indian).

Brian, thank you for being a wonderful husband and growing with me professionally, emotionally and spiritually. I didn’t say out loud in our note yesterday, Happy Anniversary.

The salt continues to be a Godsend for us, our team, and our families. A place to grow, learn and share!

Give each other an extra hug and kind words today. Notice the little miracles that happen all around you each day.
And God bless you all!

More to come….
Laura

Here is an update from Laura reporting from the Salt Flats at Bonneville:

Tuesday, September 2, 2008 - We would like to report that at the very end of the day today we were able to do some initial passes, and all things considered, were successful! We would not have been allowed return passes for records, but we went anyway and considered them our warmups. Having not planned on running at all today because it was registration day, it was a bonus.

WFB experienced a slight wobble so I let off the gas in the mile, but the motor sounded great and there’s definitely some higher numbers to come with slight adjustments. Karlee, Erika and Michelle (Big Joe’s wife) did great!

Here is the approximate speeds from today:
Laura. 137
Karlee. 99
Erika. 120
Michelle. 94

Laura needs to reach 150+.
Kar needs 101 to qualify.
Erika needs 122 to qualify.
And Michelle is in an open class so 2 succesful passes will establish a record.

ALL very do-able!!! Watch for updates!

Laura