Wild Bill Gelbke: Difference between revisions
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'''William "Wild Bill" Gelbke''' (born in 1938, in [[Green Bay, Wisconsin|Green Bay]], [[Wisconsin]]) was an American engineer and [[motorcycle design]]er. He is noted for having designed and constructed large motorcycles powered be automobile engines, particularly the [[Roadog]]<ref name="trib">{{cite news|url=http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2001-07-08/travel/0107080025_1_motorcycle-troopers-trader-publishing|title=It ain't nothin' but a Roadog|last=Mueller|first=Jim|date=July 8, 2001|work=Chicago Tribune|accessdate=14 April 2016}}</ref> and the [[Auto Four]], a motorcycle intended for mass production. Roadog was intended to be featured on an episode of [[The History Channel]]'s ''[[Modern Marvels]]'', however the bit was cut from the episode.<ref name="constantine">{{cite news|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=wHSDST9VvU8C&pg=RA3-PA80&lpg=RA3-PA80&dq=history+channel+gelbke&source=bl&ots=x3koNIF3zj&sig=AKv8bVZr9-AxyejH7_LVj9nQr5c&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjgjKTM-pDMAhXl74MKHftLBWcQ6AEIMjAC#v=onepage&q=history%20channel%20gelbke&f=false|title=Roadog Revealed|last=Constantine|first=Craig|date=January 2003|work=Cycle World|accessdate=15 April 2016}}</ref> |
'''William "Wild Bill" Gelbke''' (born in 1938, in [[Green Bay, Wisconsin|Green Bay]], [[Wisconsin]]) was an American engineer and [[motorcycle design]]er. He is noted for having designed and constructed large motorcycles powered be automobile engines, particularly the [[Roadog]]<ref name="trib">{{cite news|url=http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2001-07-08/travel/0107080025_1_motorcycle-troopers-trader-publishing|title=It ain't nothin' but a Roadog|last=Mueller|first=Jim|date=July 8, 2001|work=Chicago Tribune|accessdate=14 April 2016}}</ref> and the [[Auto Four]], the latter a motorcycle intended for mass production. Roadog was intended to be featured on an episode of [[The History Channel]]'s ''[[Modern Marvels]]'', however the bit was cut from the episode.<ref name="constantine">{{cite news|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=wHSDST9VvU8C&pg=RA3-PA80&lpg=RA3-PA80&dq=history+channel+gelbke&source=bl&ots=x3koNIF3zj&sig=AKv8bVZr9-AxyejH7_LVj9nQr5c&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjgjKTM-pDMAhXl74MKHftLBWcQ6AEIMjAC#v=onepage&q=history%20channel%20gelbke&f=false|title=Roadog Revealed|last=Constantine|first=Craig|date=January 2003|work=Cycle World|accessdate=15 April 2016}}</ref> |
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Gelbke worked for [[McDonnell Douglas]] and other US Government contractors during the 1960s, most notable on [[guidance system]]s for [[Patriot missile]]s, however he quit when he was disallowed from viewing the complete plans for the missiles themselves.<ref name="constantine"/> He then opened his [[Chicago]]-area motorcycle shops and began designing and building Roadog and, subsequently, the Auto Four. In 1978, Gelbke owned a [[tractor trailer]] as a means of earning income and was suspected by police of transporting [[marijuana]] rather than the vegetables he actually hauled; he had also purchased a gun that year. On November 17, 1978, approximately 12 police officers converged on Gelbke's rented farmhouse near Green Bay and issued commands to throw his gun out the door.<ref name="constantine"/> Two versions of what happened subsequently emerged: one of the officers, Jack Nagel, stated that Gelbke shot him in the knee, while others stated that Gelbke tossed the gun out, while Nagel slipped on ice and fell down: regardless the other officers believed Nagel had been shot and opened fire on Gelbke, killing him. Nagel was taken to the hospital while Gelbke was allegedly left on the ground to bleed to death.<ref name="constantine"/> Nagel appeared on TV later the same day, at a [[Green Bay Packers]] football game.<ref name="constantine"/> |
Gelbke worked for [[McDonnell Douglas]] and other US Government contractors during the 1960s, most notable on [[guidance system]]s for [[Patriot missile]]s, however he quit when he was disallowed from viewing the complete plans for the missiles themselves.<ref name="constantine"/> He then opened his [[Chicago]]-area motorcycle shops and began designing and building Roadog and, subsequently, the Auto Four. In 1978, Gelbke owned a [[tractor trailer]] as a means of earning income and was suspected by police of transporting [[marijuana]] rather than the vegetables he actually hauled; he had also purchased a gun that year. On November 17, 1978, approximately 12 police officers converged on Gelbke's rented farmhouse near Green Bay and issued commands to throw his gun out the door.<ref name="constantine"/> Two versions of what happened subsequently emerged: one of the officers, Jack Nagel, stated that Gelbke shot him in the knee, while others stated that Gelbke tossed the gun out, while Nagel slipped on ice and fell down: regardless the other officers believed Nagel had been shot and opened fire on Gelbke, killing him. Nagel was taken to the hospital while Gelbke was allegedly left on the ground to bleed to death.<ref name="constantine"/> Nagel appeared on TV later the same day, at a [[Green Bay Packers]] football game.<ref name="constantine"/> |
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Revision as of 16:51, 15 April 2016
William "Wild Bill" Gelbke | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1938[1] |
| Died | November 17, 1978 |
| Nationality | American |
| Education | Southern California University |
| Occupation(s) | aerospace engineer Motorcycle designer |
William "Wild Bill" Gelbke (born in 1938, in Green Bay, Wisconsin) was an American engineer and motorcycle designer. He is noted for having designed and constructed large motorcycles powered be automobile engines, particularly the Roadog[2] and the Auto Four, the latter a motorcycle intended for mass production. Roadog was intended to be featured on an episode of The History Channel's Modern Marvels, however the bit was cut from the episode.[3]
Gelbke worked for McDonnell Douglas and other US Government contractors during the 1960s, most notable on guidance systems for Patriot missiles, however he quit when he was disallowed from viewing the complete plans for the missiles themselves.[3] He then opened his Chicago-area motorcycle shops and began designing and building Roadog and, subsequently, the Auto Four. In 1978, Gelbke owned a tractor trailer as a means of earning income and was suspected by police of transporting marijuana rather than the vegetables he actually hauled; he had also purchased a gun that year. On November 17, 1978, approximately 12 police officers converged on Gelbke's rented farmhouse near Green Bay and issued commands to throw his gun out the door.[3] Two versions of what happened subsequently emerged: one of the officers, Jack Nagel, stated that Gelbke shot him in the knee, while others stated that Gelbke tossed the gun out, while Nagel slipped on ice and fell down: regardless the other officers believed Nagel had been shot and opened fire on Gelbke, killing him. Nagel was taken to the hospital while Gelbke was allegedly left on the ground to bleed to death.[3] Nagel appeared on TV later the same day, at a Green Bay Packers football game.[3]
Gelbke introduced several firsts to motorcycle design with Roadog, including dual headlights, automatic transmission with reverse gear, anti-dive leading-link "Earles" type front fork, the hydraulic stands, and front and rear disc brakes.[4]
References
- ^ Walneck, Buzz (April 2008). "Special Feature: Gelbke Auto-Four". Walnecks' Classic Cycle Trader. pp. 45–49. Retrieved 15 April 2016.
- ^ Mueller, Jim (July 8, 2001). "It ain't nothin' but a Roadog". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 14 April 2016.
- ^ a b c d e Constantine, Craig (January 2003). "Roadog Revealed". Cycle World. Retrieved 15 April 2016.
- ^ "Roadog". Museum Archives. Museum of Science and Industry. Archived from the original on February 24, 2004. Retrieved 14 April 2016.