Cyril Huze Blog – World's Number One Source For Custom Motorcycle News

The days of the moonshine runners are long gone. And if you are not from the South you may not know that they are partly at the origin of the custom cars and hot rods that we all love, and of course the inspiration of the very special sidecar featured here. During Colonial times Moonshiners in the Appalachian mountains brew their illegal alcohol in secret in order to survive without paying taxes. Then during prohibition, because no one could get legal alcohol, people flocked to moonshiners to get their hands on illegal whiskey. Producing Moonshine and hauling it to the cities was a source of big profit. But Moonshiners wouldn’t have gotten very far in their illegal activities if it weren’t for the moonshine runners who risked their lives and freedom to race around cities outrunning the Feds in order to deliver alcohol to paying customers…

And to outrun the law, runners modified their cars to make them as fast as possible but without attracting attention. For the car owners not to be identified, the modifications had to appear inconspicuous. Runners would brag about who was the best driver, so they started racing each other. Local fairground promoters started selling tickets to the races, and stock car racing began, then later NASCAR was born…

M&M Customs builder Mike McFadden got the idea on his new project theme while watching a few years ago the Discovery’s Moonshiners tv series, a documentary that dramatized the life of people who produce(d) illegal moonshine. McFadden had built several very nice customs, 2 already featured in this website. But until now, none based on a Harley powerplant. Until he met the owner of Bud’s Harley-Davidson in Indiana and got a deal on a 2003 Sportster 883. As will all his bikes, McFadden does everything himself, from design, to fabrication of bodywork to spraying and clear coating the paint job. Regarding bike design, a 3-wheeler seemed the perfect type of vehicle to transport legal produce during the day…and illegal moonshine at night.

The Evo 883 and 5-pseed tranny were cradled in a Voodoo Vintage frame with McFadden adding a one-piece tail section and a lower battery box used to hide most of the bike wiring.  The Copper Springer front end was sourced at Paughco. Wheels are from Scotties Invader Wheels USA, and were hydro dipped with woodgrain to look like those of an old Ford model. Tires are Continental 21-90 /90 on all three rims. The very nicely shaped gas ank is hand made. Seat uses leather and an old corn burlap bag. It was Mcdadden 1st experiment with building a sidecar from the ground up. He told me he must have benefited from “beginner’s luck” because he dialed the toe angles almost right away without going through many frustrating trials and errors. Out of sight, out of mind, the saddlebag houses 6 pints.of various moonshine flavors…

The factory motor received some detailing but is otherwise untouched, only getting an upgraded ignition and an art-deco style breather from TC Brothers.  Toughest part of the build was to tuck-in and run the 2 pipes through the front spoiler. DEI Performance provided the exhaust wrap and wire covering. Pegs are from Jay Brake, Riverview Graphics did the woodgrain magic on the bars, wheels, and saddlebag.

The Moonshine Runner has done really well since being completed in January.    e 3wheeler  won a bike build-off,  finished 3rd at the Chicago IMS Ultimate Builder show in the Freestyle Class, made its national television debut in May on the PowerNation along with his former builds. No illegal transportation is being done with it during day or night. Promise. M&M Customs.