Bill moved to Chicago and opened up a cycle shop on Cicero Avenue. That was about 1962, when his plan was to build a prototype bike that he would test and ultimately put into production as a smaller model. His plan for the production model included an 80-cubic inch, English automotive 4-cylinder engine with an automatic transmission and shaft drive. With "ROADOG" Bill wanted a bike that would cruise indefinitely at 90+ MPH. He wanted a bike as reliable as could be made. With an "IRON DUKE" 4-cylinder 152 cubic inch Chevy II engine, a Powerglide transmission, a modified Chevy differential and Corvette disc brakes, that type of reliability was accomplished. ROADOG had no side stand, but was parked with the use of four hydraulic rams, which were individually deployed by the driver. After touring the country, Bill went to work on the production model which was called the "Gelbke Auto-Four". While larger than a big Harley, they were quite a bit smaller than ROADOG and employed an Austin Mini engine and transmission. About 8-were produced and sold.

In 1972 an article on ROADOG was printed in a magazine. The article stated that the bike was 17-feet long and weighed 3,280 pounds! Also, that it could easily cruise at 90+ MPH, and that Bill had driven the bike more than 20,000 miles with no problems. The article pointed out that Bill's goals were to produce a bike that was dependable, had out-standing highway roadability, and high-speed, long distance cruising ability. Bill certainly achieved his goals!



We have heard quite a few stories from old friends of Bill. Some go like this: "Let's take a ride (from Wisconsin), to Oklahoma where you can get a really good steak". Or "Let's take a ride to Texas where they have really good beer"• often done in February or March! Another guy told us of seeing "Wild Bill and ROADOG" passing him on the tollway here in Illinois at about 100-MPH!! Before long he spotted Bill and a State Trooper on the side of the road. A few minutes later, he was again passed by Bill and ROADOG, again doing about 100-MPH! Later he stopped at Bill's shop and asked if he had gotten a ticket. Bill told him that the police officer had stopped him just to get a better look at ROADOG!



