Thunder in the Valley® Featured Attraction

Thunder Bike Museum features one-of-a-kind Harley

Visitors to Johnstown, PA’s Thunder in the Valley® are sure to encounter a number of surprises during their stay. Some of those surprises are often found at the Unique and Vintage Bike Museum that is open from Thursday through Sunday during Thunder in the Valley®. Included in the showing is King Kong, a completely customized bike designed by Felix Predko, 87, of Windber, Pennsylvania.

Although the bike is now comprised of a multitude of parts, King Kong was originally a Harley-Davidson purchased in the early 1940s. It has two synchronized Harley Knucklehead engines that date from 1940 and 1946 and a self-starter that is one-of-a-kind. The bike weighs more than 1,000 pounds and Mr. Predko spent more than 4,000 hours customizing it between 1949 and 1952. He is currently converting the bike from a 6-volt to a 12-volt. Predko says that although he still rides King Kong he admits that the size of the bike scares him a bit today. "It certainly draws a crowd," Predko said. "Some places don't like me to bring it to their events because it draws the crowds. I have to cover it up so they can get on with the main event sometimes!"

Mr. Predko particularly recalls the crowds that gathered when he had Kong on display for a week in the Embassy Theater in downtown Johnstown during the premiere of "Easy Rider" in the early 70s.

Mr. Predko has six or seven more customized bikes that include "Mama Kong" and "Baby Kong". “Baby Kong” has a 1939 Knucklehead engine, a 1980 frame and "sounds just like a train", according to Mr. Predko. In addition, he said he has vintage biker clothes that are just as valuable as many of his bikes.

"I have my own style," he said. "You won't see any bikes like the ones I have designed." Mr. Predko says he and his wife of 60-plus years, Albine, have had Harleys throughout their married life. Their daughter used to ride as well. Mr. Predko is factory-trained in servicing Harley-Davidsons and still operates a Harley-Davidson sales and service business in Windber. "My bikes will see me through to 100 years of age," he said.

The Unique and Vintage Bike Museum is located in the Suppes Ford showroom at the corner of Main and Johns Streets in downtown Johnstown. The museum is open during the rally from Thursday through Sunday.

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