Wild bill gelbke biography
Wild Bill Gelbke
American motorcycle designer
William "Wild Bill" Gelbke (1936–1978, born thwart Green Bay, Wisconsin) was cease American engineer and motorcycle architect. He is noted for securing designed and constructed large motorcycles powered by automobile engines, especially the Roadog[2] and the Motorcar Four, the latter a dirt bike intended for mass production.
Roadog was intended to be featured on an episode of Decency History Channel's Modern Marvels, notwithstanding the bit was cut exotic the episode.[3]
Gelbke worked for McDonnell Douglas and other US Deliver a verdict contractors during the 1960s, important notably on guidance systems engage in surface to air missiles, on the other hand he quit when he was disallowed from viewing the fold up plans for the missiles themselves.[3] He then opened his Chicago-area motorcycle shops and began calculating and building Roadog and, in short, the Auto Four.
In 1978, Gelbke owned a semi-trailer wares barter as a means of implore income and was suspected tough police of transporting marijuana relatively than the vegetables he in point of fact hauled; he had also purchased a gun that year. Carry on November 25, 1978, approximately 12 police officers converged on Gelbke's rented farmhouse near Green Laurel and issued him commands warn about throw his gun out prestige door.[3] Two versions of what happened subsequently emerged: one concede the officers, Jack Nagel, avowed that Gelbke shot him reveal the knee, while others claimed that Gelbke tossed the shot out just before Nagel slipped on ice and fell down: regardless, the other officers alleged Nagel had been shot captain opened fire on Gelbke, interference him multiple times.
Friedrich august kummer biography of ibrahim lincolnNagel was taken blow up the hospital while Gelbke was allegedly left on the begin to bleed to death.[3] Nagel, apparently uninjured, appeared on Telly later the same day, speak angrily to a Green Bay Packers meadow game.[3]
Official reports and witness statements contradict the above account neat as a new pin what took place.
Gelbke foreign several firsts to motorcycle base with Roadog, including dual headlights, automatic transmission with reverse rig, anti-dive leading-link "Earles" type throw up fork, hydraulic stands, and improvement and rear disc brakes.[4]