This project was conceived when Pete Gagan and myself were returning from Davenport in Sept. 2004. We had talked about building some Cyclone board-track racers, but that would involve borrowing one and copying it. We realized that not all Cyclone owners would be impressed... so, one of us suggested the Excelsior OHC. I'd like to think it was me, but, in truth, I really can't remember. The idea was appealing: no one would be offended, and they would be unique in all the world. There's not many things you can still do on this planet and end up with a first. Only five photographs of the bike exist, and they're all of the right side. Some "artistic license" would be required.

I was still involved in a lawsuit with my ex, and figured I would need "outside" financing to pull off this project. Several like-minded enthusiasts and myself had meetings, but nothing ever gelled, and the months started to go by. The lawsuit ended early in 2005 with me going to the bank and greatly extending my line of credit, paying the settlement (ouch!), and still having enough left over to finance myself... at least for a while. I started by drawing a full-scale bike from one of the photos. It took about two weeks, and was finished on April 18, 2005.

With the drawing done I began building an Excelsior racer "mockup bike" and doing jobs for my regular customers in the remaining hours. As usual, I underestimated the amount of work involved. By the spring of 2006 I made the decision to show the bike at Davenport on Labor Day weekend. In May 2006 I really went out on a limb by turning away all of my regular customers, working on the bike virtually every day, and living off my line of credit. I had never done anything like this before...

The photos for the Excelsior story are arranged in the order the bike took shape; it seemed the logical way. This project has used all of my talents, plus the talents and support of other individuals. I am the first to admit I couldn't have done it without them, so I list their names here as a way of saying "thank you".

I hope you enjoy what has become my passion!

Paul Brodie
Oct 27, 2006