Race Frame Engineering patterns.

[Chris Haynes]

Does anybody know who has this pattern today? I really need a good replacement neck.

[billpedalino]

Chris,
First off, unfortunately I have no idea as to where this pattern is. However, your inquiry is quite interesting.

I have been in touch with Race Frame Engineering for a neck casting (with hallmark numbers) for a 1953 FL frame. I was informed that they were working on these castings but they would not be available until sometime next year. I found this curious, as my previous understanding was that they were the only firm casting these pieces with the correct hallmarks. I suspected that things might have shuffled around a bit when Steve Little left and thought that maybe the he had retained the pattern as part of his deal. Now, the old pattern shows up in your photo which further triggers my curiosity. Can anyone shed any light as to what happened?

w

Does anybody know who has this pattern today? I really need a good replacement neck.

[Jerry Wieland]

Steve on occasion visits here and he could maybe add something. The last I talked to him was at Davenport I think in 2016. At that time he said that the guys in Japan who bought his business were struggling to find a company that was willing to do the steel casting in Japan. They were looking at a company in Australia but overall he was disappointed in how things were going and if I remember right he had thoughts that maybe they bought him out to eliminate competition.

Jerry

[billpedalino]

Jerry,
That's interesting and disappointing if that is the actual scenario, but it does seem plausible from a business perspective.

Knowing the quality that Steve brought to the market, the loss of that quality and detail is truly unfortunate, as his product was top-notch. Also, from a selfish standpoint, I'm scratching my head as to where I'm going to find the correctly marked castings needed to piece together a 1953 frame.

There was a guy at Oley a few years ago that was selling the correct cast numbers for the neck. You had to grind-in the cast number plate, weld and blend it, but the numbers looked very nice if done properly. I'm hoping that someone here might have his contact information, in case I have to resort to that.

Steve on occasion visits here and he could maybe add something. The last I talked to him was at Davenport I think in 2016. At that time he said that the guys in Japan who bought his business were struggling to find a company that was welling to do the steel casting in Japan. They were looking at a company in Australia but overall he was disappointed in how things were going and if I remember right he had thoughts that maybe they bought him out to eliminate competition.

Jerry

[hairynob24]

Chris why dont you send Steve a PM ,he is on this site still , i did see Steve last year and asked who has his gear ,as other have said above ,Rob

[billpedalino]

I must say, this really is a work of art!

Does anybody know who has this pattern today? I really need a good replacement neck.

[Steve Little]

Does anybody know who has this pattern today? I really need a good replacement neck.

he he 😂 Chris. I don’t know how you do it.
You have always been the purveyor of rare HD factory pictures and I have marveled and admired them when you have posted them through the years. But I can’t help but wonder how on earth you managed to get this picture?
The pattern in the picture was one of mine and looks to be the mid 37 neck. I don’t recognise the machine under the pattern so the picture wasn’t taken in my workshop.
Lou in Japan bought all the patterns so shoot him an email to see how he is going with production.
Regards Steve

[Chris Haynes]

I have E Mailed Japan but they, so far, haven't responded.

[Steve Little]

If I remember right he had thoughts that maybe they bought him out to eliminate competition.

Jerry

Hi Wheels.
I don’t remember saying that, but I might have joked about it after having 2 of those bucket sized margaritas at the Mexican restaurant that night. 😁


Chris. No wanna fess up to the source of the pic? 😏

[Chris Haynes]

Chris. No wanna fess up to the source of the pic? ��

I found it somewhere on the internet. I don't remember where.