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Gary
Dougherty knows a little something about giving 'junk' a second chance. Jack
spotted Gary's unique ride on the Web and contacted him for further
information. What he got was a story that comes from one of the smartest guys
to hold a wrench we've run across. Read on as Gary tells us in his own words
how his ride came about.
'I
have always enjoyed watching the shows about fabrication -- American Thunder,
Monster Garage, Biker Build Off, American Chopper - etc .. Of course knowing I
could not afford to have a real Chopper -- I decided to " manufacture" my own --
Chopper -- but in a little different way. I had gotten a couple of old junk
bikes {Suzuki's I believe) with no engines from a guy who hauled a lot of junk
metal to the scrapyard.
Then I was at a garage sale one day .. and
noticed this riding mower in a junk pile. I asked the guy about it and he said
it wasn't any good and didn't want it. So, I offered him $20 for it .. and he
took it.
![beforechopper[1]res](http://www.bikerhotline.com/readersrides/2009/09gardentractorchopper/assets/images/beforechopper_1_res.jpg "beforechopper[1]res") |
I
went home and started to put the mower back together -- and got it running
good. It had a 17.5 HP Briggs Twin and hydrostat tranny in it.
Anyway, I got to thinking -- I have always wanted a chopper so I cut the triple
tree from the front of one bike
and a friend extended the forks about 6" inches for me I started cutting off the
front end of the Riding mower and putting the front of the bike on the front of
the mower. I didn't have much metal around so I took an old metal bed frame and
made part of the frame and the chrome is painted and cut out of an aluminum
running board. The chrome exhausts are from an old animal guard off an old
truck. The forward and reverse handle on the right side is from a hydraulic
jack handle. My friend Jim gave me a Harley seat and I believe it is an old
Harley gas tank too, that we had to "fix all the leaks" ..After I got it
together -- I sanded it down -- and bought several cans of spray paint -- and a
friend, Travis, helped me tape and spray the tank. My son, Michael made me
some decals for the tank. Another friend, Lloyd, gave me some ATV tires for the
back.
That is just about it. (Besides a lot of hours!!) People always
ask, so I will tell you -- YES, you can still mow![chopper2[1]res](http://www.bikerhotline.com/readersrides/2009/09gardentractorchopper/assets/images/chopper2_1_res.jpg "chopper2[1]res") grass
- if you want!
So I finally had something - that I had always wanted --
a "Chopper" .. kinda .. a "Farmers Chopper"!
I believe it was in June
of 2006 -- a group had seen a pic of the Farmers Chopper and invited me to a
vintage bike rally -- at Gilmore Car Museum. I thought they were kidding and
never thought much about it. Finally, they contacted me a second time and said
"really, we like it and would like for you to bring it to the Vintage Motorcycle
Show as a custom bike" - ha! .. So I took it and had the time of my life. I
had bikers all day long gathered around it and taking pictures! It was a big
hit and I felt like -- just a little -- hey, I am a biker too!
 ![parade[1]res](http://www.bikerhotline.com/readersrides/2009/09gardentractorchopper/assets/images/parade_1_res.jpg "parade[1]res")
I
have sure had a good time showing it at antique tractor and garden tractor shows
- and riding in parades.
Although -- I really like custom bikes and
enjoy the bike "scene" - I am not a biker, I am a biker "wanta be" .. but I can
still say to all those who see the "Farmers Chopper" .. "if you are ever down -
or made a mistake - don't you dare look at yourself as junk or a cast away -
look up -- like one person said one time "God don't make no junk"
..'
We think Gary's ingenuity and insight
embodies the heart and soul of what it is to be a biker. Thank you for sharing
your Reader's Ride story with us. | 
