Board trackers have always caught the eye of bikers and builders who love those iconic, yet short-lived racers for their extreme simplicity, honesty of line and brutal performance. YouTube is about the only thing I know of that caters to lovers of board track racing and just seeing them high up on the wooden banking or drag racing each other down the wooden straightaway at extremely high speeds for the time and conditions is still thrilling. Those vintage race bikes were so brutally beautiful, I don’t think I’ve ever seen one I’d call ugly or maybe even just attractive. They and their riders were a class of one that’ll never be repeated again in such ferocity even by modern day racers.

  But that doesn’t mean that they have just disappeared from the face of the earth. Some people impeccably restore the originals for display while others have been building their own modern interpretation of a board tracker which often times is more of an inspiration than a replica. That’s exactly what Maiko Saravia of Myrtle Beach Performance in Surfside Beach, South Carolina, was going for when he created his personal version of Board Trackers Gone Wild that he’s referred to as a low rider board tracker. There are a lot of design aspects that make this my idea of a class of one even though Maiko’s built this radical frame design into some of his other bikes. For me, it’s all about the long and low seat section that’s more skateboard tracker from an overhead view than board track race replica.

   Maybe it’s his years as a national title holding drag racer that influenced his style as it looks like a drag bike-influenced design in so many ways, at least to me anyway. The very long and very low, stretched-out seating area is quite unlike anything else you see these days and that’s great. Maiko’s not caught up in what’s trendy and builds ‘em like he sees ‘em in his head. Yeah. There’s been some radical drop seat bikes before this one, but not with this extremely stretched out seat. Hey, there’s even a huge trunk space under the seat and that’s something you definitely don’t see everyday. I have no idea of what Maiko plans to carry or where he’d go on it, but he’s damn ready if he does.

    The frame actually began life as a product made by Milwaukee Iron which as you may remember was a big supplier of custom parts back in the fairly recent TV custom heyday and even had their own TV show. Unfortunately, neither the show nor the business survived, but this frame did and with Maiko’s mods became the foundation for this build. Unlike a raked-out drag bike, it has a steep rake more in keeping with the board track vibe and a stubby set of forks accentuating the look. But, checking out the 21-inch front wheel with its dual disc brakes, you can’t help but feel Maiko likes the businesslike drag look that is exactly two more brakes than what a vintage board tracker had.

   And, that’s not even counting the sprocket brake on the 23-inch rear wheel. Yes, I said “23-inch” which makes this rear wheel taller than the front one. Now there’s a twist on the current big front wheel scene if there ever was one. Speaking of twists, you gotta love the twisted 60-spoke wheels arranged in tight patterns of six as that’s about as close to a mag wheel pattern as you’ll ever see in a spoked wheel. I have no idea if it’s good or bad to lace a wheel this way, but it sure looks good so I’ll have to assume it’s okay. Relatively skinny tires helps complete the board track narrative and makes for a sprightly and exciting ride I would assume.

  I will say that everything you see is steel as far as bodywork goes. Not a bit of composite was harmed during the making of this bike other than some light paint filler I assume. The tank was a fat bob-style off a fairly modern Harley-Davidson and it’s been reworked to within an inch of its life. I’d have no idea it was ever a MotorCo piece checking out the final result. It does blend in nicely to that crazy reverse-curve top tube and even accentuates the curve itself like a pointing finger. The really, really nice metalwork continues to the chin spoiler/oil tank that’s also more modern drag bike than vintage racer, but that’s okay. It serves a purpose and looks pretty fine just the way it is. It’s probably safe to assume that Milwaukee Iron also provided the unusual-for-a-custom-build fenders front and rear. There’s more fender coverage on this ride than all the board trackers ever made I think, but it kinda gives the mental middle finger to having to do something only one way. It’s nice to know there’s always Maiko’s way after seeing so many board track tributes that stuck too hard to the formula.

  Although I don’t know a personal stinking thing about it, I have to believe that the whatever engine (I think it’s an S&S) is packing some punch. Yeah, the dual-throat side draft carb sticking out in the breeze could be a giveaway, but I gotta go with Maiko’s racing background and guess that his version of what’s fast and powerful is very different than yours or mine. All I know is that I’d sure like to sample the sound from the dual header-wrapped exhaust pipes that look more hot rod lakes pipe jutting out from under the rockers of a lead sled than motorcycle. Those gradual turns before going straight out of the dual outlets have got to provide their own personal sound track to any ride.

   And yeah, I think it will be ridden, maybe not across a state, but the little bar end mirrors and what appears to be provision for a passenger (rear foot pegs) gives it away. Those two items are rarely seen on something that usually has a top speed of how fast somebody can push it out of the trailer and onto the show floor. I think somebody’s got a different idea about this bike. There’s always somebody riding something that makes me realize what a sissy I am as far as comfort goes and something this wild could be their ride.  

   I like the simplicity of the black base paint chosen and used throughout the bike from the wheels to the frame and bodywork and even the engine. It’s a black mass that’s pretty powerful. Although I didn’t see it in person, I’m a little “meh” about the flames though. Maybe I’m just over them after all these years or maybe there’re just too many of them here, but somehow they distract me from the bike itself. Sometimes too much is too much. Hey, it’s all personal opinion and subject to total disapproval.

   What I am absolutely crazy about on this build hopefully doesn’t piss Maiko off after all the work he’s put into it is the absolutely lovely tail lights. I’d guess those are ’39 Ford-style tail lights in one-off (actually two-off) steel housings that are so beautifully mounted and finished on the frame as part of the axle plate. That’s all metal work that was finished just perfecto before paint without the word Bondo ever having been associated with it. I’ve just never seen anything like them and love the molded-in look of always having been there. This guy’s good with metal.

   So there you go. Maiko Saravia does his version of a custom motorcycle throw-down with an unusual low rider/board tracker style that you’ll love or hate, but you’ll definitely have an opinion on. If you’re just checking it out for a yea or nay opinion, Maiko’s done his job grabbing your attention. It’s one of those “Made you look!” kinda bikes.

 For more info on Myrtle Beach Performance, check out http://myrtlebeachperformance.com/ or visit their Facebook page.