To keep everything running smoothly, he cre- For the next three ated an electronic throttle control that captures months, Daly took sensor readings on exhaust temperature, RPM, woodworking classes, and volume of fuel. A car battery and power apprenticed with weld-converter deliver the necessary voltage, while ers, and studied milling bicycle tires help it glide over rough terrain. and electronics. He
In the small town of Lebanon, Oregon, you In the late 90s, bass might see Richard Flanagan cruising down an player Ezra Daly couldn’t empty farm road in his homemade, jet-powered find a decent stand-up go-cart. But you’ll definitely hear him. bass for under $1,000.
The 57-year-old machinist reaches speeds of So he decided to make 60 mph in the 7x3½-foot vehicle, and more im- his own. At the time, he portantly, he can generate a lot of fire and noise. was working in a hard- “People come out of their houses to look,” says ware store, and began
Flanagan. “At night, it lights up the neighborhood.” experimenting with plas-
To hear him talk, jets are easier to build than tic buckets and broom-you’d think. He starts with a turbo charger from sticks. He tried other an old car — made to compress air for the intake containers as resonators, of a traditional engine, it also works well for and eventually settled on pushing the fuel and air mixture into the jet’s using motorcycle tanks. combustion chamber. They were “the coolest
Flanagan buys turbos from junked cars and 18- thing I could think of, and wheeler diesel trucks, then adds his own shafts, they come in all sorts ball bearings, and custom-welded chambers. of shapes and sizes,” he
(He’s holed up 75 used turbos for future projects.) says.
After recently selling three on eBay, Flanagan dubbed his first instrument — made from a Guzzi hopes to create more for like-minded drivers. Ambassador gas tank and scrap wood — the
Photography by Richard Flanagan (Jet Cart) and Ezra Daly (Tankful of Tunes)
Who doesn’t want a ride with a calculated max “Frankenbass.” speed of 200 mph, and the option of using gas, Getting more adventurous, his next design used diesel, or paint thinner as fuel? All for $1,500. two tanks. This unlikely marriage of Triumph and
“The demand is incredible,” he says. “Every Harley parts was called the “Venus de Moto.” kind of nut out there wants a jet engine.” He sold his third, the “Cycle Pole Slap Bass,” to
—Bob Parks Alex Kirt of the Wood Box Gang. It took over a year
to make, and came with a custom case made from a fiberglass kayak. Since then, Daly has begun to outfit his creations with fancy details, such as Harley fork covers, silver dollars, and side lamps that flash to the beat. The basses he makes are hybrids — they can be played acoustically or with electric pick-ups. They’re also smaller and lighter than traditional stand-ups.
When bikers harass him about killing classic bikes to make his instruments, Daly points out that “no motorcycles were harmed. The tanks are still intact and, if need be, can be used again.” —Phillip Torrone
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