Renegade Issue 28

84-85 / 100

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black for some contrast. Oh and all the paint was sprayed out-
side no booth for me since I’m just a back yard builder. The motor
was in great shape so I just cleaned and sprayed a light coat of
high heat silver to refresh the look and polished the aluminum
and had a few parts chromed for detail. The best part about do-
ing this was getting to spend time with my dad. He’s a contractor
by trade but he’s not into welding painting or anything I’m into
and I’m no home builder. But he appreciates nice toys and also
told me to follow my passion. So that’s what I did in high school
I piddled on cars and then for schooling I went to tech school to
learn paint and body. In 2006 I began working at a hot rod shop
where I still work now and also where my nick name “ace” came
from and this is really where I learned to really paint like glass
and do body work that will make everyone wonder how you get it
that nice. Ever since I was little I remember his 67 chevelle and
having a motorcycle so that fueled my fire for things with wheels.
Not to mention how thankful I am he’s always just gave me the
strength and knowledge to pay attention to detail and always be
the best or don’t do it!! We spent countless nights together he
was just the extra hands I needed for setting the motor in or just
anything to help when I asked. Slowly the bike was taking final
shape to being done. I’ll never forget the night we took the bike
off the bench and set it down all I needed was tank and wiring to
finish. I’m also very thankful for a understanding girlfriend/fiancé
(now) but she would bring me and dad dinner almost every night
and never complained I wasn’t at home. I knew I had a winner
then and knew I needed to marry that girl that’ll let you work
super late nights on a bike she can’t even ride on! I installed
the last few details which was a 1940s fog light which I use as
headlight and 1929 ford model A taillight and I used safety wire to
hold all my electrical wires down. I wanted a 1970s custom bike
look and I just couldn’t bring myself to use zip tys and modern
parts. I stayed with a theme from beginning to end I wanted the
old look just with major detail... Now we’re at APRIL 2014 and I
finally heard the beast fire on it own. That was a gratifying feeling
to think I had done almost everything possible myself. So what
do I do hop on the bike and hit the road to see how it rides, my
dads words before I pull out on the road is take it easy you don’t
know how’s it’s going to handle now with all bias ply tires, hardtail
rear and hardly any padding in seat and ape hangers and only 1
brake now.... So I pull out of the driveway and give it hell! I come
back say it’s good! And then I finally got to tell my dad “told you
so” and he looks at me with a strange look and I remind him what
he had told me 2 years ago that it’ll never see the street again.
I owe thanks to my fiancé Ashley, my dad and all the family and
friends that put up with me always in the garage working, Ppg
paints, pinstripe by Michael, Hudson hot rods for stitching the
leather seats and john Jackson from Notstock photography for
the killer pictures.
Dustin “ace” Ford
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Photos by john Jackson