Taterhole
06-15-2006, 11:00 AM
I was in Birmingham on business yesterday, so I decided to try to find the Confederate facility in the old downtown area. Headed up 31 on the X and found that Birmingham is a lot easier to get around in than I thought. After a couple of stops near where I thought it would be (I didn't think to look up the address or phone number before I headed to Bham), a kid mechanic at a nearby business pointed it out to me. There's no sign. Nothing to indicate one of the coolest bikes in the world is being produced in this non-descript building. Matt Chambers, the prez of the company was standing outside when I walked up. He immediately took me inside and showed me the place. Super nice guy. Looks like he works about 23 hours a day on designing these muthas! One room he showed me was his office area. His desk and tables were covered in radical designs. One wall was full of computer-generated pics of new ideas. I asked if one was the new Corvette-engined bike. It was. Whoa! "Guess you don't want me to take pictures of this stuff, right?" I was right. Take my word for it. These guys are up to some really cool stuff.
Saw a bunch of the guys from the Barber event...Shawn, Chris, don't remember all the names, but Matt has a really good bunch of folks working for him. Guys that enjoy the hell outta what they're doin'.
We were standing near a couple of gas tanks and I mentioned to Matt that the carbon fiber tank reminds me of the creature in 'Alien'. It's got those H. R. Giger lines. What would one cost me for my bike? Retail is around $1500-1600, Matt told me. Sure would look good on a VTX. What a great Christmas gift for me! Think I'll mention it to the wife. Anybody got a spare room I can rent?
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v74/SuddenSam/CONFEDERATE_FACTORY/Hellcats.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v74/SuddenSam/CONFEDERATE_FACTORY/Hellcat_Mill.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v74/SuddenSam/CONFEDERATE_FACTORY/Hellcats_Bham.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v74/SuddenSam/CONFEDERATE_FACTORY/MattChambers.jpg
Company CEO, Matt Chambers. Mad scientist.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v74/SuddenSam/CONFEDERATE_FACTORY/Shawn_.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v74/SuddenSam/CONFEDERATE_FACTORY/Six_Hellcats.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v74/SuddenSam/CONFEDERATE_FACTORY/FullMoon-Bear.jpg
Ah...Full Moon BBQ. These are all over B'ham now. Excellent food. And lotsa Bama stuff on the walls. I think this one might be the original place.
Saw a bunch of the guys from the Barber event...Shawn, Chris, don't remember all the names, but Matt has a really good bunch of folks working for him. Guys that enjoy the hell outta what they're doin'.
We were standing near a couple of gas tanks and I mentioned to Matt that the carbon fiber tank reminds me of the creature in 'Alien'. It's got those H. R. Giger lines. What would one cost me for my bike? Retail is around $1500-1600, Matt told me. Sure would look good on a VTX. What a great Christmas gift for me! Think I'll mention it to the wife. Anybody got a spare room I can rent?
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v74/SuddenSam/CONFEDERATE_FACTORY/Hellcats.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v74/SuddenSam/CONFEDERATE_FACTORY/Hellcat_Mill.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v74/SuddenSam/CONFEDERATE_FACTORY/Hellcats_Bham.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v74/SuddenSam/CONFEDERATE_FACTORY/MattChambers.jpg
Company CEO, Matt Chambers. Mad scientist.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v74/SuddenSam/CONFEDERATE_FACTORY/Shawn_.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v74/SuddenSam/CONFEDERATE_FACTORY/Six_Hellcats.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v74/SuddenSam/CONFEDERATE_FACTORY/FullMoon-Bear.jpg
Ah...Full Moon BBQ. These are all over B'ham now. Excellent food. And lotsa Bama stuff on the walls. I think this one might be the original place.