PRECISION BUILDS WITH

a short period of time, it in my friend’s garage.” he is no stranger to the Carter says completing the world of custom items. project made him realize PANGEA SPEED Carter’s parents owned how much more fun it was an industrial design to work on a bike than and rapid prototyping a . “An average car company for most of project is probably a year By Jeanette D. Moses [email protected] his life. “When I was and a half or two of full- It’s mid-June, and Andy Carter, on the day,” is exactly what super little, me and my time work. A bike is half owner and sole employee of \RX·GKRSHWRÀQG brother would build that. It’s a lot less stress Pangea Speed, is 14 days away custom bicycles, cut our than a car,” he says. from his next big Carter admits that he is never fully skateboard in half and show—Born Free 3 in California. Andy Carter, owner VDWLVÀHGEXWKHUHIHUVWRWKH6SHHG glue it back together In addition to building The bike he plans to enter, which he Master as a nearly perfect project. “I got and watch it break in half Photo: DavidNewkirk.com custom bikes, Carter calls the Speed Master, sits partially and sole-employee of paid to do it, and I got all the leeway that [again],” says Carter. also specializes in disassembled in the shop he shares with Pangea Speed. I wanted. I could do it however I wanted,” “We always just sort of custom parts. “A lot of his father. Just a few hours ago, as he says Carter. “[My client Brett] said ‘build customized everything.” the stuff I do is helping stared at the bike with his old man, he the coolest bike you can.’” For Carter, The list goes on: go- with projects, but doing realized that this custom project, which this hands-off approach from his client is carts, dirt bikes and the work myself,” says he has spent “countless hours” working the ideal situation. “I consider this an art. eventually race . Carter. He recently built on, isn’t as close to being completed as Having a client like Brett allows me to do Carter even spent a year a friend a fuel tank, he thought. “I’m down to the wire on my thing. [He] trusts me. That’s a huge in race car mechanic handlebars, a sissy bar, a this bike,” says Carter. “I’m sweating thing—the trust involved.” school in California rear fender and a seat pan it because I [think] I need to be and as an apprentice for a grinding these mounts and I The Speed Master is one of at a vintage Formula project. “I built all that need to be welding. But step many projects that sits in the 1 fabrication shop to stuff, but he installed it back, look at the whole thing Pangea Speed hanger. It is perfect his skills. all himself,” says Carter. and I’ve got some major surrounded by a variety of “Luckily, [he] is pretty cool changes that I’m going other bikes, all in various &DUWHUVWDUWHGKLVÀUVW about trusting my visual to do now that it’s all states of completion. custom bike in 2004. styling opinion.” Carter coming together.” Some belong to Carter, The ’74 Yamaha RD 350 admits that one of the others like the Speed began as a bunch of things that burned him Although Carter has Master, belong to pieces in two boxes on out about building cars already hand-worked clients who contact the shelves of what was, is the amount of control and smoothed out a Carter for his expertise at that time, solely his certain clients would try to variety of the custom in motorcycle creation father’s shop. He initially exert over a custom build. bike’s components, with and design. The Speed planned to create a rat “It always seemed crazy some closer inspection Master started as a bike out of the pieces, but to me that some old man (and the help of his Triumph won at an it didn’t pan out that way. would come to us, obviously father), he realizes that auction. The engine “I don’t think I’m capable of he is coming to us to get the among many changes, is the only thing that making a . Next thing coolest car ever, but then he the chain guard needs remains from the original you know, I’m painting the frame, wants to hold our hand the whole to come down a few bike. Carter says that I’m hand-working a bunch of stuff, time and tell us what to build,” says inches. “It sucks, but when he gets burned I’m building a tail section. It wasn’t a Carter. “You don’t go to Picasso and I know it’s the right out on a project, it’s not rat bike when I was done,” says Carter. tell him to paint your picture a certain answer. I know I have to unusual for him to hop %\WKHWLPH&DUWHUÀQLVKHGWKHSURMHFW way—there is that freedom that needs to Photo: DavidNewkirk.com be able to step back and over to a different project he was living in California, had recently be had.” When it comes to a custom job do that,” says Carter. “I and do some welding on ÀQLVKHGUDFHFDUPHFKDQLFVFKRRO from Pangea Speed, the only way Carter have this bad habit of it. Pangea Speed, which and was building hot rods. “Everyone chooses to work is solo. “I’m not trying QHYHUEHLQJVDWLVÀHG,·OO was initially started in wanted a , but we didn’t The Zion Express, one of to run a school,” he says. According to always look at a project 2007 as not much more have any space, so everyone had Andy Carter’s custom bikes at Carter, the ultimate goal is to establish and think that I can do than a blog, catapulted these chopper projects,” says Carter. “I his parts line enough that it can support it better.” Andy Carter into a full-time custom EURXJKWWKH5'RXWWKHUHDQGÀQLVKHG Pangea Speed. him. The parts line currently features is a perfectionist. When motorcycle and parts you consider that he is business for Carter the owner of his own about a year and half custom motorcycle and DJR´,JRWÀUHGIURPP\ parts company, Pangea job, and there was a lot Speed, and one of the of interest in [Pangea major organizers behind Speed], so I thought the second annual Salt I’d try it full time,” says Flat Social, this quality, Carter. Although Carter which he refers to as has only been able to either an “evolution or a focus all of his energy sickness—depending on Pangea Speed for

36 SaltLakeUnderGround SaltLakeUnderGround 37 items such as kicker pedals, license plate brackets, streamliner bars, here. Nobody has an excuse to come here. We wanted to do something zephyr bars, carburetor guards and seat-builder kits. Since everything that would give people an excuse to visit Salt Lake.” The event falls on PRECISION BUILDS WITH is handmade by Carter, many of the parts featured on his site, Friday, Aug. 12—the evening before the world-famous Speed Week pangeaspeed.com are offered in limited quantities. He says that when starts at the Salt Flats. “It’s a lot easier to get someone from California the line becomes more established, it will allow him the freedom to build to come to Salt Lake if they are 100 miles away versus 800 miles away,” whatever he likes without having to worry about someone dictating to he says. him what the designs should look like. a short period of time, it in my friend’s garage.” Last year the Pangea Speed party drew about 70 bikes and 200 he is no stranger to the Carter says completing the When describing his ideal design, Carter returns to the Speed Master. people—a larger turnout than was expected. The next morning, Carter world of custom items. project made him realize Initially, when he imagined this bike, he considered taking the Triumph says approximately 30 people met at Este Downtown and rode to the PANGEA SPEED Carter’s parents owned how much more fun it was engine and turning it into a ‘70s chopper, Easy Rider style of bike. “I Salt Flats together to goof around. “It’s fairly low structure. It’s pretty an industrial design to work on a bike than GHFLGHGWKDWLWGLGQ·WÀWWKHPRWLIµVD\V&DUWHU´7KDWHQJLQHSODWIRUP much just hanging out. We don’t want people to feel like there is some and rapid prototyping a car. “An average car didn’t seem to work for that.” After creating numerous illustrations and sort of expectation,” says Carter. “One of the most annoying things company for most of project is probably a year lists, Carter landed on the idea of creating a factory ‘40s-looking bike. DERXWPRWRUVSRUWVLQJHQHUDOLVHYHU\RQHIHHOVOLNHWKH\KDYHWRÀWVRPH By Jeanette D. Moses [email protected] his life. “When I was and a half or two of full- With some help from a friend in California kind of stereotype. None of us care about It’s mid-June, and Andy Carter, on the day,” is exactly what super little, me and my time work. A bike is half who works as a clay modeler for any of that. I just like .” owner and sole employee of \RX·GKRSHWRÀQG brother would build that. It’s a lot less stress Volkswagen, Carter was able to pinpoint Ultimately, Carter sees Salt Flat Social Pangea Speed, is 14 days away custom bicycles, cut our than a car,” he says. his whirlwind of ideas. “A lot of the as an unpretentious and inclusive way from his next big motorcycle Carter admits that he is never fully skateboard in half and time, it just feels like you are smashing to show his love for his hometown. In show—Born Free 3 in California. Andy Carter, owner VDWLVÀHGEXWKHUHIHUVWRWKH6SHHG glue it back together In addition to building WKURXJKDFHPHQWZDOOWU\LQJWRÀJXUHWKLV “I’m trying to build crazy stuff addition to living in California, a few years Photo: DavidNewkirk.com The bike he plans to enter, which he and sole-employee of Master as a nearly perfect project. “I got and watch it break in half custom bikes, Carter stuff out,” says Carter. “There is a lot of ago, Carter spent the better part of the calls the Speed Master, sits partially paid to do it, and I got all the leeway that [again],” says Carter. also specializes in pressure when you’re not using anything that has reason behind it and year traveling. “I quit my job, and I rode disassembled in the shop he shares with Pangea Speed. I wanted. I could do it however I wanted,” “We always just sort of custom parts. “A lot of to start with.” Carter explains that the functions well.” -Andy Carter my motorcycle all over the country, just his father. Just a few hours ago, as he says Carter. “[My client Brett] said ‘build customized everything.” the stuff I do is helping Speed Master lacked the boundaries being homeless. I wanted to check this stared at the bike with his old man, he the coolest bike you can.’” For Carter, The list goes on: go- with projects, but doing that come when you are building a bike whole place out so I could see if I wanted realized that this custom project, which this hands-off approach from his client is carts, dirt bikes and the work myself,” says with pre-designed components. He says to move,” says Carter. Eventually, he he has spent “countless hours” working the ideal situation. “I consider this an art. eventually race cars. Carter. He recently built that the biggest challenge when working landed back in Utah. “I feel like Salt Lake on, isn’t as close to being completed as Having a client like Brett allows me to do Carter even spent a year a friend a fuel tank, like that is making sure he doesn’t kind of gets a bad rap because of the he thought. “I’m down to the wire on my thing. [He] trusts me. That’s a huge in race car mechanic handlebars, a sissy bar, a stray from his aesthetic. “I’ve seen Church, but I’ve had a lot of friends this bike,” says Carter. “I’m sweating thing—the trust involved.” school in California rear fender and a seat pan so many people just get deranged come to visit from out of town and it because I [think] I need to be and as an apprentice for a custom motorcycle and build crazy stuff for crazy’s they are like, damn [Salt Lake] is grinding these mounts and I The Speed Master is one of at a vintage Formula project. “I built all that sake, and that’s not what I’m cool,” says Carter. need to be welding. But step many projects that sits in the 1 fabrication shop to stuff, but he installed it really trying to do,” says Carter. back, look at the whole thing Pangea Speed hanger. It is perfect his skills. all himself,” says Carter. “I’m trying to build crazy Although the Salt Flat Social and I’ve got some major surrounded by a variety of “Luckily, [he] is pretty cool stuff that has reason behind and Speed Week are changes that I’m going other bikes, all in various &DUWHUVWDUWHGKLVÀUVW about trusting my visual it and functions well.” unrelated, and Pangea to do now that it’s all states of completion. custom bike in 2004. styling opinion.” Carter When Carter designs Speed doesn’t actually coming together.” Some belong to Carter, The ’74 Yamaha RD 350 admits that one of the and builds a bike—be participate in Speed others like the Speed began as a bunch of things that burned him it from the engine up Week, Carter appreciates Although Carter has Master, belong to pieces in two boxes on out about building cars or working with factory- the annual event. “We’re already hand-worked clients who contact the shelves of what was, is the amount of control created parts—he aims not really huge into the and smoothed out a Carter for his expertise at that time, solely his certain clients would try to for symmetry, precision Bonneville thing. I like it, variety of the custom in motorcycle creation father’s shop. He initially exert over a custom build. and, most importantly, it’s cool. It falls right in bike’s components, with and design. The Speed planned to create a rat “It always seemed crazy function. If something line with everything I’m some closer inspection Master started as a bike out of the pieces, but to me that some old man isn’t well measured or into. I like the Salt Flats, (and the help of his Triumph won at an it didn’t pan out that way. would come to us, obviously doesn’t work as a whole and I like racing, but father), he realizes that auction. The engine “I don’t think I’m capable of he is coming to us to get the package, it simply isn’t none of us are die-hard among many changes, is the only thing that making a rat bike. Next thing coolest car ever, but then he good enough. Bonneville people,” says the chain guard needs remains from the original you know, I’m painting the frame, wants to hold our hand the whole Carter. Just like last year, to come down a few bike. Carter says that I’m hand-working a bunch of stuff, time and tell us what to build,” says Carter might be a Carter says there aren’t inches. “It sucks, but when he gets burned I’m building a tail section. It wasn’t a Carter. “You don’t go to Picasso and perfectionist at heart, DQ\SODQVWRRIÀFLDOO\ I know it’s the right out on a project, it’s not rat bike when I was done,” says Carter. tell him to paint your picture a certain but his attention to detail participate in Speed answer. I know I have to unusual for him to hop %\WKHWLPH&DUWHUÀQLVKHGWKHSURMHFW way—there is that freedom that needs to Photo: DavidNewkirk.com can’t classify him as Week, but they will be be able to step back and over to a different project he was living in California, had recently be had.” When it comes to a custom job anal-retentive. He still hosting a group ride from do that,” says Carter. “I and do some welding on ÀQLVKHGUDFHFDUPHFKDQLFVFKRRO from Pangea Speed, the only way Carter knows how to have a Este Downtown to the have this bad habit of it. Pangea Speed, which and was building hot rods. “Everyone chooses to work is solo. “I’m not trying good time and is one of Salt Flats. QHYHUEHLQJVDWLVÀHG,·OO was initially started in wanted a custom car, but we didn’t The Zion Express, one of to run a school,” he says. According to the organizers behind always look at a project 2007 as not much more have any space, so everyone had Andy Carter’s custom bikes at Carter, the ultimate goal is to establish the second annual Salt This year, the Salt Flat and think that I can do than a blog, catapulted these chopper projects,” says Carter. “I his parts line enough that it can support Flat Social. Last year Social will be held at it better.” Andy Carter into a full-time custom EURXJKWWKH5'RXWWKHUHDQGÀQLVKHG Pangea Speed. him. The parts line currently features Carter and his friends, Short Fuse’s new shop is a perfectionist. When motorcycle and parts who build their own bikes on 988 S. and 500 W. you consider that he is business for Carter under the names of on Friday, Aug. 12. The the owner of his own about a year and half Short Fuse and Bolts event is totally free, and custom motorcycle and DJR´,JRWÀUHGIURPP\ $FWLRQ, organized the Carter and crew plan to parts company, Pangea job, and there was a lot ÀUVWSalt Flat Social to include a bike show in Speed, and one of the of interest in [Pangea essentially celebrate Salt the festivities. Everyone major organizers behind Speed], so I thought Lake. “All of my friends is encouraged to attend, the second annual Salt I’d try it full time,” says that I ride motorcycles regardless of the type of Flat Social, this quality, Carter. Although Carter with love Salt Lake,” says motorcycle that they ride which he refers to as has only been able to Carter. “But there are no or if they even ride one either an “evolution or a focus all of his energy really cool bike shows at all. sickness—depending on Pangea Speed for Photo: DavidNewkirk.com

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