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Browse > Home / Books, Business, Editor: Sandy Renshaw, Facing Des Moines, General, Guest Writer: Lindberg, James G., Iowa, Law, Manufacturing, Neighbors, Transportation / Facing Des Moines: Meet Randy Torgeson

Facing Des Moines: Meet Randy Torgeson

August 7, 2008 by James  
Filed under Books, Business, Editor: Sandy Renshaw, Facing Des Moines, General, Guest Writer: Lindberg, James G., Iowa, Law, Manufacturing, Neighbors, Transportation

Randy Torgeson, the King of Cubes (as in cubic inches) is known around the world for building cylinders and other parts for the biggest American-made, V-twin motorcycle engines on the planet. His project last week was a 167 cubic inch engine that is heading to Australia. When I visited on 8/2, an engine had just arrived from a customer in South Africa. Hyperformance in Pleasant Hill is not the place you will find someone to work on just any bike, but if you want a complete, Hyperformance long block engine, cylinders machined from ductile iron (an iron-magnesium alloy), titanium connecting rods, or other specialty parts, you’ve come to the right place. You’ll find Randy Torgeson working in his shop 65-70 hours a week. His specialty cylinders and an engine he built are in a 205 called Woody (styled after a California Woodie) built for Doc Hopkins, a Harley dealer in WI who likes to ride with Jay Leno. Another set of cylinders is going into the world’s largest custom motorcycle engine, a 260 being assembled in Des Moines by Radical Cycle and Randy’s business partner Kent Croskey. You can see the bike on You Tube. You will also find Randy answering technical questions at his website or at the V-Twin Forum.

Born in Estherville of Norwegian and Russian parents, Randy came to the Des Moines area as a youngster. East has significance for Randy.
  • He has lived in suburbs east of Des Moines - Altoona and Pleasant Hill,
  • he graduated from East High School in 1969,
  • as a hippie he went east to Woodstock that same summer of 1969, and now somewhat toned down,
  • he keeps going east to visit good friends at R & R Cycles in Manchester, NH three times a year.
In spite of his demanding work schedule he and his wife find time to visit their daughter, son-in-law and 2 grandchildren several times a week. His advice to his grandchildren as they grow? First, have the courage to take risks and second, laugh a lot. But don’t be fooled. There is a serious, spiritual side to Randy Torgeson and that is no surprise to those who know him well. He is in several groups centered on spiritual principles including a prayer-focused, weekly Mastermind group. One of their prayers includes the phrase, “..we ask not for more riches but for more wisdom with which to use the riches you gave us at birth…” (Read more on Mastermind groups.) Torgeson’s reading is also spiritually related. He is a fan of David R. Hawkins and is reading Hawkin’s fourth book in a series that includes Power vs. Force and Discovery of the Presence of God.
However you know him, whether as King of Cubes, machinist, grandfather, engine builder, business owner, seeker of truth, or friend to many, Randy Torgeson is another of the faces worth knowing around Des Moines.

James is James G. Lindberg (Jim) is the Purple Wren’s sweetie and is a visiting chemistry professor at Grinnell College and retired from Drake University.
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One Response to “Facing Des Moines: Meet Randy Torgeson”

  1. James on August 8th, 2008 11:13 am

    You’ll find a picture of that Woodie at the bottom of the Parts & Service page at Doc’s Harley Davidson, Inc. ( http://www.docshd.com )

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