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THE GREAT RADIALRACE: the legendaryT-6Texan and Confederate Hellcat

PHOTOS BY KARIM SHAMSI -BASHA

ou can see them just about everywhereyou go these days-leather-clad men andwomen riding the highways and backroads of this country on their flashy ironhorses. Maybe they are innovative indi-viduals-powerful CEOs, athletes, andcultural leaders; maybe they aren't. One

thing's for sure-they're all looking to take a break fromtheir norm and hoping for a little excitement on the openroad during their Sunday rides or Sturgis vacations. Yousee them and admire their rebellious spirit. Maybe youwish you had their advenfurous nature, maybe some-times you wish you were part of that crorvd-but then

SINGTE.HANDEDLY CREATED HIS OV/N,TRUE-TO-H EART "I N DUSTRIAL PH I LOSOPHY. "

again going along with the crowd has neverreally ever been your thing, has it?

Enter Matt Chambers, founder of Con-federate Motor Company, taking Americanmotorcycle and industrial designs back.Chambers and his crew are dedicated toleading American motor sport design andculture away from the lost road they havebeen traveling and getting them back ontrack by creating unique motorcycle ma-chines-the culmination of Chambers'stake on American design styles and the true" cav aIier" spirit of individuality.

Since forming Confederate Motor Com-

f l : i iVi, ' lE i l l l i , /hi1)i/I h.4iit:E risr:;rl,,1tJli- iI i ; l( i00

pany in 1991, Chambers has single-handed-ly created his own, true-to-heart "industrialphilosophy" that combines his knowledgeof motorcycle history, his beliefs about in-dividual responsibility, his decided busi-ness philosophy, and his opinions on whereAmerican industrial design and style shouldaim in the future. Along with his small teamof engineers, designers, and mechanics,Chambers is redefining American motor-cycle design and culture standards throughthe F131 Hellcat, the 891 Wraith, and a thirdmodel currently on the design table dubbedthe Renovatio Proiect.

Confederate's two-wheeled powerhous-es embody devotion to all that is luxuriousand exclusive in motorcycle form and func-tion. While these bikes don't offer faux-rebel-lion or midlife-crisis appeal, they do providethe unrivaled quality of what all Americanmotorcycle afi cionados sh ould w ant-uncon-ventional performance. Every custom Con-federate motor built provides the smoothestfastesf and hardest ride-making the riderand the machine one with the road. Even ifyou're not into motorrycles or searching forthe perfect land cruisef, if Confederate's en-gines don't raise your aviation eyebrows andrev up your intrigue for all that is engines,then check your pulse since the Confed-erates boast the aircraft engine-inspired,radial-twin engine designs normally re-served for supreme air flight power.

Originally used to engage the strongestand most powerful World War Il-era aircraftand fighter planes, such as the Focke-WulfFw 190, the Lavochkin La-5, and the biggestradial ever built-the WWII Pratt & WhitneyWasp Majoq, the radial proved itself to be amighty source among the engine elite. Forthose unfamiliar with radial engines, the ma-chines themselves are internal combustionengines that utilize a cylinder pattern point-ing out from central crankshaft-like spokeson a wheel. The engines maintain consistentrunning through an every-other-piston firingstroke that provides the smoothest of rides.Other advantages include the engines' light-weight features, reliability, and durability.

oulful Americana style of the bikesblended with old-world craftsman-ship achieve the ride of European

Y thoroughbreds while maintaining theattitude of American V-Twin choppers. Thebikes truly set themselves apart from com-mercialized versions of poppy-motorcyclesyou see on the street . . . and on television.

"When most aspects of the [motorcycle]culture are tempting you to go along withtheir perceptions, begging you to accepttheir perceived reality, then the best you canhope for is perceptible beauty," emphasizesChambers when discussing the "beauty ofhis bikes' designs through function. Follow-ing this line of thought leads to the chance oflosing oneself to the collective mindset-yourisk living a surreal life. The only thing thatcreates true attractiveness is confidence. Thetrue independent individual spirit of Con-federate is confidence-confidence in beingyourself, confidence in not being a part ofthe overly crowded stream of the new'rebel-lion' status quo, confidence in character and

CONFEDERATEfounder Matt Chambersc izes r rn iho T-6 Tcvrn

SINCE FORMING CONFEDERATE MOTORCOMPANY IN 1991, MATT CHAMBERS HAS

: - a Jn ' l l e l , l e no o the r ;- 'a d ips i ts wings to acknowle,

:s a worthy compet i tor .

@

i*""ffiiiffi'#,ffi:*l**$g+l# I' ' 'qmachines. Confederate vision of what,s to"come. The

The astounding architecture of the "F" Renovatio is minimal, gracefully brutal, andoi Hellcats_remains simple, strong, and completely original. ,,it is the Confederate

ngly light. with the American radial team,s interpretation of American indus_maintained as the focus of the bike, trial and mechanical design rebirth,,, notes

Hellcat's form is simply the most rug- chambers. ,,First and foreirost a supremelvpon'erful, and superbly crafted chassis confident and therefore demure machine.

ilable. Production of the Hellcat began the Renovatio is sophisticated, eclectic. and1995 rvith 500 of the G1 model Hellcats, open." The name of the prolect is no mis-

the last were bui l t in 2001 now making take-the Renovatio is the Confederate vi-unavailable for firsthand purchase. sion of where American design is heading:3, 150 of the G3 model Hellcats were renovating the entire industiy as well as

ed. Since that time 97 have been Chambers-,s companvleaving only 48 more positions

l a b | e . A s s o o n a S t h e s e a r e a c c o u n t e d t ^ f i t h m o v i e s t a r s , m u s i c i a n s ,the Hellcat chapter of Coniederate Mo- I n f and even rovals and heads of

!if#',il*:ff1i"':?,:tct,thardrew YY';:"'ili:T::"#':::IJ"":l ;,il:;'g'fi,1i::,11".f,T,9#H.ilil1igion from the 1930s golden-era of withtheHellcatabouttoforeverberemoved A;t#", and within minutes you will beOver the course of four.years the from production-now is the time to see touring the Confederut" tuility, talking tol t r d H ^ s l , h a 6 l ^ l ^ . . , 1 , . ^ . , ^ l - . : - ^ - i - r6n ruia dormant, 'r.*ry"""r'"i"fi"i. ;; #;#il;;JJ 'l;tH;i:r"" 3f#fJl";'?i:1":;l;, jil'?;.i1X'??,"1 \eriation radial power plant with the chasing is simple and easy-you can order for your customized bike. \ririted nature of the chassis. The end a Conf-ederate by phone ;t ;; ,h" I";

-t-- 'drirr-,".rnip of a Confederate machine is Iis-the 891 Wraith, the symbol of two- ne! and the Confederate team is more than an exclusive invitation t. b".o-;';;;;; fJ I

ed perfection. ready to accommodate vour everv need for the rpinwenrinn nf Amorin"- -:; ::"r- : \Perrecuon' ready to accommodate your every need for the reinvention of American motc ! ' \

and style. so while others may."o"inl"rtj3l \t jONLY THING THAT CREATES TRUE more traveled,_those of you who strir.e for / il' T D A - T r \ / t r N r t r c c 1 1 - ̂ n . r F t \ r - r r ^ F T r r F

i n d i v i d u a l i t y ' t h o s e o f y o u w h o w a n t t o b = ' . ' ' - -ATTRACTIVENESS lS CONFIDENCE. THE your own new easy.id", j;i;";""i"l, -t,tIRUE INDEPENDENT, INDIVIDUAI SPIRIT ̂ L

':f";:t;:; the "rebe'ion of rebe'io; J \OF CONFEDERATE lS CONFIDENCE." ;hWr- roorderaConfederatemotorcycteorteartt rr:,..,-

-MATT IHAMBERs, FouNDER oF 't''

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