Walneck's Classic Cycle Trader - March 2009 - (Page 17)

MONTHLY FEATURES BIKER OF THE MONTH lessons. “I saw a lot of different motorcycle jobs come in,” Craig said. “They’d sit there literally for months because they were always put on the back burner because a body shop is not set up for motorcycle parts.” Craig explained that shops catering to automobiles frequently lack the expertise and equipment such as special stands that are necessary for a first rate job. Getting the paint correct for a vintage motorcycle often requires a lot of research. Here Alyssa searches the Internet for paint information and details needed to do the “I wanted to start a business job right. that gave better service and better nothing to do with all the excitement. The turn around time,” Craig said, so two years police, however, soon found out otherwise ago Precision Motorcycle Painting was born and confiscated the H2, but couldn’t run him and Craig hasn’t looked back since. The in thanks to a stranger’s misinformation. father of three, a daughter and two sons, and “This guy was across the street drinking a grandfather to nine, Craig works with two beer and sitting outside in a lawn chair,” employees and his wife Linda who adds her Craig recalled. “He clearly saw me outrun touch part time for customer follow ups and them, but he told the cops they had the public relations at shows. wrong person. I didn’t even know the guy.” “Every job’s different,” Craig said of his Thanks to conflicting eyewitness inforcurrent enterprise, noting that he aims for mation, the police never pressed charges, but turnaround times of three to five weeks, but did force Craig to come up with sixty bucks that some jobs do require more time. to get his H2 back. “We do extensive research,” Craig says of Shortly after this graduation party incithe process of correctly matching factory findent, Craig entered the job market full time ishes to old motorcycles ranging from Sears by opening his own paint and body shop. Craig learned the trade from a neighbor who helped him find the right equipment while he was still a student and stayed available for questions and tips as Craig perfected his craft painting motorcycles for his buddies. “They all had old motorcycles and, of course, all old motorcycles needed paint jobs,” he said. Ten years later, Craig sold the business and went to work for someone else. “I hated every minute of it,” he said, regretting that he ever left the world of motorcycles for a stint in the automotive body and paint repair busiA great paint job is only as good as the surface preparation. This ness. The detour, though, taught valuable fender is in primer, an early but critical part of the process. WALNECKS.COM I WALNECK’S CLASSIC CYCLE TRADER® | March 2009 17 http://www.WALNECKS.COM

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Walneck's Classic Cycle Trader - March 2009 Contents American The Buzz w/ Buzz Walneck Biker of the Month Motorcycle Tops w/ Mike Brown Mad Man of Marion County Bator International Auctions AMCA Scholarship Program Bench Racing w/ Mark Zimmerman Events Listings & Advertisements Mid-America Auction Results British 1967 Norton 750 Atlas and Scrambler 1923 Brough Superior 1969 Norton Commando S My Classic Cousin > From Mars European Japanese Motorbikes & Scooters Memorbilia Antique Cycle Clubs Parts, Accessories, Want Ads Competition How to Place a Word Ad How to Place a Photo Ad Area Code Directory How to Subscribe Let Us Help With Your Event

Walneck's Classic Cycle Trader - March 2009

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