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Fore! Murray builds a ‘Caddyshack’ cycle

A tribute to groundskeeper Carl Spackler, courtesy of Discovery Channel's ‘American Chopper.’
/ Source: The Associated Press

Try to imagine the motorcycle that Bill Murray’s classic “Caddyshack” character Carl Spackler would ride.

Would it incorporate his love of greenskeeping, his hatred of gophers or his experiences as a “looper” for the Dalai Lama?

Those were the sort of questions Murray and the guys of Orange County Choppers had to ask themselves in fashioning a bike in the spirit of the beloved Spackler. Their efforts can be seen on Monday’s episode of “American Chopper” on the Discovery Channel (10 p.m. ET), with a second episode to follow the week after.

“It was like it was (Carl’s) motorcycle, so it had a little bit of army surplus, a little bit of army ordinance and a little bit of greenskeeper,” Murray told The Associated Press in a recent phone interview. “It was fun. I got to lift something every once in a while.”

Murray spent several days with Paul Teutul Sr., his son Paul Jr. and company at their Montgomery, N.Y. bike shop. Teutul and family have been building custom-made bikes on the popular Discovery series since 2003. Their thoughtful process impressed Murray.

“It was as artistic as anything I’ve ever been involved with,” said the 55-year-old actor. “It was very much like a creative writing session where you’re trying to figure out some scene in a movie or show.”

The result includes a pitchfork over the rear tire, grass clippers where wheel spinners might be and a painting of a gopher that’s square in a rifle’s sights.

The bike was auctioned at the sixth annual Murray Bros. Caddyshack Charity Golf Tournament in St. Augustine, Fla., in May. The tournament has raised more than $1 million for the St. Vincent’s Foundation Mobile Health Outreach Ministry.

“When it was showed off at the end of the tournament, I don’t want to say it was like the Vatican, but people were, like, very respectful,” the actor said.

And the highest bidder for the motorcycle? Bill Murray.