Had a small tranny leak in the cage and was steered by my repair guy to a tranny shop in a small, nearby town. Small cinder-block building with just a few small windows. Parts lining the walls. That "tranny fluid, oil, parts cleaner smell" permeating the air. No office. Just a stand next to the front door where he does business. Walk in the door and on a lift in front of his "office" is a hard-tail, ape hangered, chopped, captain america piped, custom framed, '49 Pan-head. You could tell just by looking at it, that this was no show machine.
The owner\operator ("Doc" on his name tag on his overalls) must of been in his mid 50's-to 60's. Grey hair in a ponytail down to the middle of his back, grey beard down to his belly button. Turns out the pan head has been his daily ride for almost 40 years. I'm not a huge HD fan, but a bike is a bike, so we start chatting.
Turns out that not only is the guy a master of automotive transmissons (in my book, The Masons of the car repair business),
he's a local legend in HD circles. 20+ years of visits to Sturgis, riding all the way. Road trips across Canada, the US and more
all on that hard tail, 49 pan head. Ended up standing around his shop and talking with him for almost an hour. Fascinating guy.
He truly walks the walk.
And after a quick look at my tranny, he finds the vent tube clogged. A couple of parts and $150 including labor has me on my way. Honored that I had the chance to meet and talk with him. Very cool guy and he will get all my future business. You never know when you'll walk into a great encounter with a truly fascinating person.
