Best Shovel In Johnstown

Randy Fels is the type of man I had the pleasure growing up around in the western Pennsylvania part of this country. He’s done the same thing for most of his adult life for work, he’s raised a family, and in his off hours, he’s lived his life around a motorcycle.

Randy worked on the railroads in this part of the country to make his living, starting as a trackworker early on, then moving up to the shops as a welder for the remainder of his time before retiring. In those early days, he was on the crew that laid the tracks down around the now famous Horseshoe Curve in Altoona.

I met Mr. Fels the day we had our bike show at Thunder In The Valley this year, and as soon as I saw him, I knew he was a man with a story, the kind of story I like to bring our readers. It turned out I was right, and I’m thrilled we presented him with our Best Shovelhead Award that day.

Randy got his first bike right out of high school, a 650 Bonneville. Although it looks a lot different from when he got it, he spent very little money on it over the years. That’s the thing about being a working man raising a family back then. First, you didn’t have a catalog to buy parts, and second, you didn’t have money to buy them anyway. Randy was raising four kids... three of them were daughters so there was always someone who needed shoes or clothes. Not to mention with three girls, the garage provided a much-needed sanctuary at times, so like many of us, Randy just figured out how to make parts for his bikes.

Article And Photos By: Chris Callen

Owner: Randy Fels city/state: Hastings, PA Fabrication By: Owner Year: 1976 Model: FXE time: 41 Years value: Priceless ENGINE

Year: 1976 Model: Shovelhead Builder: Owner ignition: Points Displacement: 1200 pistons: Wiseco heads: Harley-Davidson Carb: Bendix cam: Andrews BH Air Cleaner: Yes Exhaust:Cycle Shack/Owner Primary: Harley-Davidson TRANSMISSION

Year: 1976 Make: Harley-Davidson Shifting: 1 Down, 3 Up Frame

year: 1976 make: FXE Builder: Harley-Davidson rake: Stock front end

Type: Softail Builder: Harley-Davidson Triple trees: Harley-Davidson extension: Stock WHEELS

front Wheel: Harley-Davidson Size: 16” front tire: Dunlop front brake: Harley-Davidson rear Wheel: Harley-Davidson Size: 16” rear tire: Firestone rear brake: Banana H-D PAINT

painter: Owner Color:Black graphics: Powder Coat: pinstripe: chroming: ACCESSORIES

Bars: Harley-Davidson risers: Harley-Davidson Hand Controls: Harley-Davidson foot controls: Harley-Davidson Fuel tank: Harley-Davidson oil tank: Harley-Davidson Front Fender: Harley-Davidson rear Fender: Harley-Davidson seat: Owner Headlight: taillight: speedo: Photographer: Chris Callen

Somewhere along the storyline he wrecked the Triumph and bought a BSA to ride for a bit since it was totaled. About this time, Fels decided that he was in a good enough spot to go ahead a buy one of those new-fangled motorcycles and went into the dealer in Altoona and helped them uncrate his brand new 1976 Superglide, yes the one you see pictured here before you. Of course, it looked a lot different back then, with its rubber strap single tank and narrow front end. He’s proud to say however that to this day there hasn’t been another living being who has put a wrench on this bike but him.

Through the years he’s made his changes to the Ol Girl, swapped the tanks to five gallons for a spell when he used to do a lot more traveling. As a matter of fact, he still has the old Liberty Edition Superglide tank packed away from when it was brand new. Before the light ever got to it and turned it green like so many that were victim of UV rays from that time.

Although Randy’s riding has slowed considerably now, at 65 he still has no problem taking the Ol Girl on as many shorter rides as he can. It’s so much more than a vehicle or form of transportation after all. This bike has been his best friend over all the time, his riding partner, therapist, a lifetime looking through those bars until finally striking a deal that they wouldn’t try to hurt each other anymore. It is indeed the story of an epic adventure. He and the ‘76 have been coast to coast more

times than he can remember, from Canada to Mexico quite a few and the bike probably knows the hills and valleys around Altoona better than he does at this point. There’s a ton of little “Nick Knacks” as he calls ‘em on the tech sheet. Stuff that he’d improve over the idle months, that’s how we say winter here. At the same time, he learned a hell of a lot from owning the bike. Learned to paint, polish, work leather, make seats, even gave engraving a shot and while there may be those out there that might be better at it, this one is his, and there’s nothing better than riding down the road on something you built.

Today you can find Randy more often than not spending time with the grandkids. He says that he has a short window of opportunity there since he will never be as important as he is right now to those young boys.

Either way, you look at it, the “Good Ol Girl” will be sitting there waiting for whatever time he has to take a spin, just like she always has been.