The final event of the United States “Ultimate Builder Championship” was held March 14-17 in Daytona during the International Motorcycle Show. Jeremy Cupp, 33, from LC Fabrications in Virginia won the championship, received $6000 and a paid trip to the AMD Championship Of Bike Building this August in Sturgis.
Named “Old Black”, his creation is a 1976 Harley-Davidson XL built on a Hillclimber chassis and sports two reversed heads, dual Amal carbs and custom open rocker valve train. Special features include jackshaft dual drive chains and dual rear drum brakes. Cupp, states that his out-of-pocket expenses on this project were no more than $4,000, but that if you add his time at only $50 per hour “Old Black Is Worth $70,000. LC Fabrications (picture courtesy AMD)
Very nice.
Jeremy Cupp looks like e belongs to the time of his bike.
Saw this bike in person, and it was the winner as soon as I saw it….pictures don’t show the work involved on this bike.
Well deserved win!
Steve Carr
Love the bike, like the retro feel and look of it. Looks as if it had been stored away for decades!
This is an awesome build, the engineering and engenuity are exceptional. Love the open rocker box design and Jeremy is a very cool guy! Makes killer gas caps as well 🙂
Wow, Well thought-out project. peace
AWESOME BIKE AND REALLY NICE GUY..PLEASURE TO HAVE SEEN THE BIKE AND MET JC HIMSELF
Really like your Panster!
I don’t understand the chains on the rear wheel. Would not make for a very comfortable ride.
I saw this bike in person at the Columbus Easy Rider show…Very impressive piece of machinery. Steve’s right, pictures do not do the bike justice, it really has to be seen in person to be fully appreciated.
It’s never been about “the ride”
Ever since the recession hit the winning bike builds have gone to old world styling or should I say 100 year old styling and away from the slick paint jobs and all chrome monster machines of pre-recession era builds.
I suspect as the economy picks up let’s say in a few more years we will see a return to the slicker more pricy builds of the past. Until then we will continue to see this style of bike being built and win shows.
I guess those Rat bikes and rods of years back were a shadow of things to come, they may have even influenced many of today’s younger builders.
Congrats on your win Jeremy
Interesting note about hill climbers back when.
Twist throttles were not always used.
A little device common in the day was a switch made from a short portion of a hacksaw blade – very flexible
The ignition wire was connected to the hack saw blade.
The blade was placed on top of electrical tape that had been wrapped around the handlebars to keep the ignition from shorting out. Then all was wrapped in place.
A small piece of wood wrapped in tape was placed under the hack saw blade as to elevate the opposite end. Basically a cheap kill switch. very dependable
The bike was started at full throttle and the kill switch and a trained operator would control the RPMS to keep it from over reving or stalling the engine and do so going up the hill.
I don’t ever recall seeing what one would call a clean looking hill climber, they most / all looked pretty ratty
Had the pleasure to meet Jeremy and friends great people. The bike is truly amazing ,some of the best craftsmanship that I have ever seen. Congratulations well deserved.
LC has some great parts, have used them on my bike builds, Jeremy and the crew are top notch!! Awesome bike.
Congratulations Jeremy! See you in Sturgis!
Joe
Great bike and great win Jeremy, now get back to work and build more custom bits for the Hinckley Bonnie okay….
Great bike, lots of mecanical details love it.