This Week at Chopper High - Tank Work
Team Chopper from St. Francis High School in Minnesota are building two tanks for their chopper. They are stretching a donated tank in case the one they fabricate isn’t done on time or something happens where they can’t use it.
The bike debut will be at the annual Donnie Smith Bike Show in St. Paul. Last years chopper won the peoples choice award in the 2006 Donnie Smith High School Chopper Class Challenge.
The start of the week found the crew making sheet metal pieces to weld to the frame to give the tank the flowing look as if it is a part of the frame. This year we want it to have to look of the one piece flowing design with the durability of rubber mounts.
Spikes Are the Theme
The tank is going to have spikes down the center and they will face out horizontally. They have been machined to about three inches long with a tapered from one inch to zero. Next order of business… Make a fixture that will hold them so they can be drilled and tapped. It’s all hands on deck with the majority of the crew working on the spikes, the tank, getting parts or building the spike fixture.
“I have to hand it to Brent Stavig and the administration of St. Francis High School,” said Bob Osias, Metric Thunder Owner. “They found the switch to turn the students on and create a real world environment where the students can perform, compete and succeed.”
On the Hunt
We are still looking for a front end and wheels, not having much luck. Motorcycle enthusiasts can check out Chopper High by clicking here.
Industry Assistance
Some of the companies and individuals that have assisted in the project include Bob Osias of Metric Thunder, Donnie Smith, Brian Klock, Billy Lane, Jaz from R-MAX USA by Roadmax, Kokesh Motorcycles, S&S, Denvers Chopper, Crane Cams, BAD Creations, Hardtails, Isanti Performance Cycle, Mutha Country Choppers, Olson Radiator, House of Color, Precision Line Motorsports, Extreme Paint, Stacks Creative Customs, Wreck Bros Auto Body & Paint and Zylstra Harley Davidson.
