Golden Submarine

[loudboys]

In October of 1918, Barney Oldfield drove in (and won) his last race at the fairgrounds track in Independence, Missouri. He was driving a Miller racecar known as the Golden Submarine.

This event happened less than a mile from where I'm now sitting. A while ago I was ruminating upon this, and thinking how "Golden Submarine" would be a great theme for a RRB, when this came up for sale on the forum:

The bike, not the cat. Obviously, this was some sort of signal from the cosmos. Subsequently having purchased the aforesaid frame, I've been digging parts out of my pile of bike clutter, and have formulated a plan for action.

At this point it looks like it's a '55, '68, '74, '80, '87 bike, with parts from the U.S., England, Japan, and Taiwan. Don't worry, the modern era and China will soon be represented, also.

The building won't actually commence until after the Peddlers swap meet in a couple of weeks, when I hope to find a few more parts to complete my vision.

 

[herr_rudolf]

I like your theme. And that's a very nice frame. That small gap between the top tubes do remind me of the tiny windows in the golden sub... 8)
Good luck and start building!

 

[strangeframe]

Well thats 2 here in Independence,dont come peepin in my garage :lol: .Seriously..good luck and see ya at Ricks swap..

 

[SSG]

Great choice for a theme. Pretty appropriate too as Oldfield was first a cyclist.

 

[gowjobs]

I will be watching this build closely. You have been warned. :wink:

 

[dirty rat garage]

wow! i can't wait to see this one! i live about 10 miles from where barney was born in wauseon ohio.
this is the second rat bike i've seen tied to barney the first was the 999 bike a few years back.

 

[user 135]

Great frame to start with. Those gold colors are great, to bad no manf. still used them.

 

[loudboys]

Thanks, guys.

I will warn you that this isn't going to be a big, complicated build. I'm going to build what I want to ride, and stop. I hope you like the finished product.

 

[ratina]

Nice bike 8)

Can't wait to see what you come up with

 

[loudboys]

Musclebike folks; is the chainguard I have (pictured in the above photos) especially rare or desirable?

I'm planning on stripping the painted graphics off of it, unless someone wants to trade me one in equally undented condition with the paint already gone.

 

[Slingshot Dude]

the gaurd is very desirabel. :shock: please do not repaint it! :wink: lol!

 

[loudboys]

Due to a work related situation (I've been putting in 60+ hours a week), the Submarine's been in drydock, but the looming deadline (and the triple-digit weather which has driven me inside) has spurred me into action.

Many parts have been acquired, solutions have been brainstormed, stuff will be fabricated, photos will be uploaded, and assembly is nigh.

Watch this space.

 

[Craiggo]

I like the main idea of this. Looking forward to seeing the product!

 

[imagearchy]

are you sneaking around in the shadows? hoping to suprize us on august 1st!

 

[loudboys]

A few more pics...

 

[MplsCoaster]

Hey Loudboys,

I really like the frame and it's color.
The car is one of my favorites.

I looks like you some good parts.

I hope everything goes together well.

Looking forward to seeing more.

 

[loudboys]

Got a box of goodies today from Porkchop (support your forum sponsors!), and assembly begins tomorrow.

 

[loudboys]

Found a way-cool Mafac Racer caliper at an out-of-town bike shop this weekend; it's going into the build. The only kicker is that I'm putting the caliper in an unusual place to make it less visible.

More pics soon.

 

[loudboys]

Some sprocket action...

And, yes, that IS the chainring from the Alumacruiser. It's getting a smaller one.

 

[loudboys]

One more nationality into the mix...

It is Tour de France month, after all.