Casper Iron Swap and Show
By Dave Campbell
Photo CI-01.jpg
Chilling on my back porch with the cool evening breeze and
sipping some Wyoming Whiskey, I am pondering my recent
trip to Casper Wyoming. The annual Casper Iron Swap and
Show was my destination.
Traveling through Wyoming is always a challenge with
snow, wind, rain, burning sun, and road constructions being
a few of the obstacles that might confront you-- all on the
same day. On this run the one that evaded me was the sun
and I certainly missed it. The cool spring and unrelenting rain
was chilling me to the bone. Then again, part of the fun of
making it out to these events is the personal victories one
has along the journey. My victory was beating the rain and
wind-- and Wyoming wind has a mind of its own.
Cruising north on that black four lane ribbon, one moment
the wind would be from my right the next from my left and
then the next moment it was hitting me straight on. If the wind
would just make up its mind I could find a grove and lean in
to it, or better yet why doesn’t it just quit? My theory is those
big fans they turn on, Wyoming has so many they call them
wind farms. But my mind wanders as that Wyoming Whiskey
begins to set in.
When I got the call from Bobby I marked my calendar and
started preparing for the trip. That mark on the calendar said
a motorcycle ride to Casper and that was what I planned on
doing. A lot of thoughts go through your head when planning
spring time rides and most of those thoughts tend to deal
with the weather. Part of my preparation was checking my
rain gear and helmet.
14 Thunder Roads Magazine® Colorado
I also was in need of a tour pack for my Road King. My last
trip with camera gear, clothes, and riding gear was a tight
fit and left scratch marks on my rear fender. Trips this year
would be better. Being a Scotsman at heart I couldn’t see
shelling out big bucks for a factory tour pack so I started my
search and began compiling the required parts. A 10 inch
chopped pack was just the right size along with, a back rest,
hinges, latches, luggage rack, and quick disconnect mount
were on my shopping list. These projects, of course are
never as quick and easy as you think they will be.
This time, I learned how to work fiberglass, since the
latches did not fit. However, I think it turned out well for my
first attempt. The paint job looks good-- well good enough
for government work anyway. The trick was mounting it high
enough so I could still operate the cop style saddle bag lids
I have. I also designed the mount so it is a one-up back rest.
This turned my two hour Danny Gray seat into an all day
rider. I won’t tell you how much it ended up costing me but it
did come in at slightly under the factory model price.
May 2016
www.thunderroadscolorado.com