Of course Rupert Speed's new album, Ridin' the Pines (Compulsiv), was put on tape at Cycle Sound in Manayunk -- the one studio that doubles as a motorcycle garage. Recorded in a day and mixed in another, it's 2-and-a-half minutes of heart-pounding, muscle car melodies. The CD appropriately begins with a sample of percolating engines and a narrator announcing: "Here we are at the starting line."

Racing also runs in the family: guitarist Norman Feldman had a relative who died in a 1911 Indy 500 car crash. "I don't remember his name," he admits, "but I heard all about it when we did our family tree."

The group's local band lineage is almost as impressive. Bassist Larry, drummer Larry "the Kid" and guitarist Paul Juestrich are all Deadspot alums while Feldman played in Decontrol and the Bloody Stools.

As for Rupert Speed, they're sparked by a raucous mix of manic leads and Adam Boxleitner's scream-sung vocalese. (TV trivia heads take note: Adam is Bruce Boxleitner's cousin.)

"We get compared to everything from AC/DC to Jesus Lizard," says Boxleitner of their souped-up sound. "But I think we have something distinctive about us."

What makes them different from other Philly punk bands is their experience. Band members range in age from late 20s to mid-30s and several of the players have been working together in various combinations for over a decade. Most of them began playing barebones, nuts and bolts punk, but have grown to take great pride in craftsmanship.

"When all of us started playing we were all horrible," says Feldman, recalling their basement band years in the early '80s. Inspired by heroes such as the Dead Kennedys, Motorhead, Van Halen and Stevie Ray Vaughan, they taught themselves how learn to write tunes that belong to the great canon of American chug-a-long songs. Looking over the beer can collection that adorns Boxleitner's dining room wall (he drives a beer delivery truck for a living), it's clear that a good brew is also a source of inspiration.

Another seminal muse for these testosterone rockers is the world of sports. Ridin' the Pines refers to those years sitting on the Little League bench, waiting for the chance to play. "It's our first album, so for a while it was like we were 'ridin' the pines,' waiting for our chance to show what we could do," explains Boxleitner. Growing up in Lancaster, baseball was a way of life, he adds.

The name of band was inspired by a race car "speed" shop in Gap, PA and their bristling number "Night Train Lane" pays homage to Detroit Lions football player, Bobby Lane: "Don't you hear the footsteps coming from behind/ Hit you so hard I'll shake your spine."

Boxleitner also knows the pain of bone-crushing play ? he recently broke his sternum during a game of street hockey. Juestrich, a self-admitted "big time hoops freak," still tries to get into a pickup game of basketball at least once a week. Feldman's father played middle linebacker for Penn State.

"What happened to you?" jokes Boxleitner, looking over the leather-clad guitarist. Feldman also grew up a baseball fanatic, but these days looks more like he belongs in a motorcycle gang than in the batter's box.

All of them are fervent Flyers fans and Boxleitner is even boycotting the hockey team this year in honor of goalie Ron Hextall.

"That guy single-handedly brought the team to the playoffs year after year when they didn't have anyone on their team, now they've got all these big guns like Lindros and they're playing like losers!" As Juestrich and Feldman discuss when and where they're going to watch the game that evening, Boxleitner fumes about what the Flyers need to do to get their lineup in order.

As for Rupert Speed's game plans, they're ready to record another album but are waiting to see if the nibbles they've gotten from record companies turn into bites. In the meantime, if you're looking for a band that gives a breakneck live show, Rupert Speed is always a great catch.

- Neil Gladstone