are YOU looking at ME???
Home

back to event picture gallery . . .

Place cursor over picture, click to enlarge,
then click-and-drag to move, use arrow keys for previous/next
(want the original FULL SIZE image - email me russellholder@earthlink.net)




The Raz Report:

Randy Grubb
creator of
"The Blast-O-lene Special"
and
~ fabricator extraordinaire ~

~ 21MAY15 ~


... go to Grants Pass photos... click here...
... go to Grants Pass packing list... click here...

What is this motorcycle(?) that looks like something out of a Flash Gordon movie? It's an aluminum skinned DecoPod crafted by Randy Grubb and mounted around a Piaggio Fly 150 Scooter (piaggiousa.com/scooter/fly-150.html), a 4-stroke 155cc scooter that retails for about $3,000 (that's $3K just for the scooter, the DecoPod is $9K). This is one of two DecoPod models; the other larger model is build around a Piaggio MP3 500 ABS (http://www.piaggiousa.com/scooter/mp3-500-abs.html), a 4-stroke 492.7cc scooter that retails for about $9,000 (that's $9K just for the scooter, this larger DecoPod is even more). Both models have a unique feature of being un-droppable by virtue of the fact that the body is wide enough that the body's the surrounding bumper will contact the ground before it can lean over far enough to fall over, yet the body is high enough off of the ground to allow the rider to enjoy typical, not Laguna Seca style, riding. The original DecoPod was created in a manner similar to the way old airplanes were built with a wood skeleton. Those airplanes ended up with cloth wrapped around the wood skeleton and the wood skeleton ends up being a part of the finished airplane. The DecoPod, in similar fashion, was created by forming aluminum around a wood buck. A buck is similar to a skeleton, except the buck is not part of the finished product, and, it can be reused to make another. The finished aluminum body is plenty sturdy enough to be mounted directly to the stripped down scooter without any other internal supporting structure. The attention to detail is amazing... everywhere you look... the headlight... the grill... the surrounding bumper...
photograph by Russell Holder
... photograph by Russell Holder

the turn signals...
photograph by Russell Holder
... photograph by Russell Holder

the tail lights...
photograph by Russell Holder
... photograph by Russell Holder

the doors...
photograph by Russell Holder
... photograph by Russell Holder

the windshield...
photograph by Russell Holder
... photograph by Russell Holder

Well, Randy still has the DecoPod wood buck, so, if you must have a DecoPod then contact Randy.
photograph by Russell Holder
... photograph by Russell Holder

Oh, you say you would like something a little more imposing than a scooter powered earth-bound space ship... how about a DecoSon? A custom Art Deco style aluminum body fitted over a 1984 Harley-Davidson Sportster, in this incarnation. The DecoSon was commissioned by the Northwest Harley-Davidson dealership in Washington and won 2nd place in the Custom/Modified category at The Quail Motorcycle Gathering show in Carmel, Ca. on May 4, 2013, and, which I am told, will be featured in Playboy magazine (the DecoHelmet is also a Randy Grubb creation).
photograph by Russell Holder
... photograph by Russell Holder

I am told that sticking your hands through the holes in the DecoSon's body in order to grab a hold of the drag bars is a little disconcerting, but, something that you get used to, and, Yes Randy has the wood buck for the DecoSon too, so, you could have your own DecoSon, or, for that matter, whatever else you may dream up - Randy is the man who can put it together.
photograph by Russell Holder
... photograph by Russell Holder


Randy's current project is an open cockpit roadster with lines in the style of the Delehaye...
photograph by Russell Holder
... photograph by Russell Holder

powered by a 600 hp Falconer aircraft V-12 engine....
photograph by Russell Holder
... photograph by Russell Holder

This project began in January, 2015...
photograph by Russell Holder
... photograph by Russell Holder

and is estimated to be completed by January 2017. Pictured is Randy bench racing, Moe supervising.

Perhaps you have seen or heard of one of Randy's other creations, for example, the DecoLiner, a 26 ft aluminum motor home, could be Flash Gorden's Airstream, and features a flying bridge, complete with driving station and room for 5 passengers on the roof.

Or, one of Randy's most famous builds, "The Blast-O-lene Special," which is now known as "Jay Leno's Blast-O-lene Special Tank Car," a HUGE two seat roadster with a 190 inch wheelbase and weighing 8500 pounds built to resemble the Bonneville Land Speed cars of the 1930's; its body is all hand formed aluminum and features a 2500 pound engine from a M47 Patton tank,

Or, perhaps you have seen or heard of the "Blast-O-lene Indy Special," Randy's second monster rod created during his "Blast-O-lene" building period. The Indy Special is powered by another M47 Patton tank engine and was Randy's homage to the A.J. Watson Indy Roadster race cars from the 1950's and 1960's.

Or, how about "Piss'd off Pete," a chopped Blast-O-lene 1960 Peterbilt conventional cab semi-truck tractor model 351. The truck was re-skinned with new aluminum. The engine is a twelve cylinder Detroit diesel 12v71 of approximately 1972 vintage. Each cylinder is 71 cu.in. and it has two superchargers on this two cycle diesel motor. The Detroit diesel makes 1200ft. lbs. of torque and 474 hp. at 2150 rpm. with an unforgiving attitude and dangerously loud - in its flat-out scream, it hits around 140 decibels!

If you'd like something custom built for you then fill out the Contact Us form on Randy Grubb's website with some comments and he'll see what we can do for you! However, be forewarned, these projects can be two to three years in the making and, I suspect, there are others out there vying for Randy's time for their dream vehicle, so, get in line now.

Would you like to know more? visit one of Randy's websites: randygrubb.com, blastoland.com and check out his unique creations.

KNUCKLEHEADS FOREVER!
Article and photographs by Russell "Raz" Holder

Would you like to see more?...
go to www.russellRAZholder.com and click on the Event Photos link...



... go to Grants Pass photos... click here...
... go to Grants Pass packing list... click here...

Place cursor over picture, click to enlarge,
then click-and-drag to move, use arrow keys for previous/next

back to event picture gallery . . .