I’m up to no good this week. Custom Chrome is back as a Bikernet sponsor. I need to rock through the news since Buzz Buzzeli, the editor of American Rider is headed to the headquarters for a meeting about the next issue. The HORSE deadline is hanging over my head. and I need to finish one of the final chapters of my first Chance Hogan books. Tomorrow we’re working on the King for American Rider and Bikernet. Some final touches will bring it to life. The Amazing Shrunken FXR is beginning to move into its final stages, and it’s Mom’s day.
Of course my 81 year old mom is on the road, as usual. She’s in Victoria, Vancouver. I don’t know why. She follows Jazz festivals all over the country and just recently returned from a tour of Italy. She loves to travel. Say hello to your Moms for me, goddamnit. Let’s get to the news.
SELF DEFENSE AWARENESS SEMINAR THIS WEEKEND–Richard Bustillo, a biker, Bandit’s Sifu and member of the Martial Arts Hall Of Fame, has the distinction of being certified as a law enforcement defensive tactics instructor with the FBI, LAPD and LASD. He will conduct a Self Defense Awareness Seminar for Women and Men this weekend. May 10, 2003, Saturday 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. The fee is 10 bucks a person or 15 for two. IMB Academy (310) 787-8793, 22109 So. Vermont Ave., Torrence, CA. Don’t miss it.
5TH ANNUAL RUN FOR BREATH IS COMING JULY 27TH– The event sponsored by Charlotte H-D is a tribute to the founder’s son, Justin. Mike Pullin the father behind the event donates the proceeds to the American Lung Association kids’ camp program. Don’t miss the rides, poker run, bike show and bands.
Old shot from Bob T.
2003 STURGIS HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES– ?Ever wonder who mastered those colors?? states Jim Betlach. ?Candy Apple Red, Metal Flakes, Pearls, you name it, Jon did it. Jon Kosmoski created the famous paint studio House of Kolor in the early fifties. Today, House of Kolor paint is used on virtually everything that has wheels, everything cool that is. From a small body shop in the fifties to national and international fame in the nineties, Jon Kosmoski?s House of Kolor has set the bar that everyone wants to reach.?
Dave Perewitz concurs, ?Jon Kosmoski has been a major influence in the custom motorcycle paint market since the beginning of custom paint. Jon?s expertise has helped most of today?s custom painters. His seminars are unforgettable and his books and tapes have been a source of knowledge and guidance for struggling painters.?
?In the early 70?s Gary Bang saw that a large percentage of riders enjoyed customizing or ?chopping? their motorcycles,? says Micah McCloskey of Micah McCloskey’s Custom Cycles. ?He also saw that the Harley dealerships did little or nothing to help this part of the market. Gary came out with an after-market catalog of custom accessories for Harley choppers. The American motorcycle enthusiast finally had a company that carried what they needed, and wanted. Gary started the trend, big business copied it and finally Harley?Davidson recognized the importance of this part of the market. It is this part of American motorcycle enthusiasm that has propelled Harley-Davidson to where it is today, and Gary Bang was the first one to help meet this need??The Sturgis Motorcycle Museum received nominations for over 20 exceptional candidates,? said Pepper Massey-Swan, the Museum?s Executive Director. ?After carefully reviewing all of the credentials it was determined by the Board of Directors that Jon and Gary had earned this recognition due to their innovative ideas, implemented to serve a special niche market that would enjoy growth beyond even their wildest dreams. We are extremely proud to add their names to the list of talented and honorable people who have impacted motorcycling in such a significant and positive manner.?
The Annual Hall of Fame Induction Breakfast will take place, Wednesday, August 6, 2003 at 9:00 a.m. at the Holiday Inn in Spearfish.
Tickets for the breakfast are available for a $20.00 donation per person or $160.00 per table of 8. All previous breakfasts have been sold out so we recommend you purchase tickets early. Tickets can be purchased by calling the Museum at 605.347.2001 or on line
SCREAMIN’ EAGLE DRAG TEAM MAKES HISTORY AGAIN IN ATLANTA–Hines Qualifies 5th and Tonglet Qualifies 8th; Both Riders Win First Rounds, Set Records.
MILWAUKEE, WIS. – (May 4, 2003) It was another history making weekend for the Screamin’ Eagle/Vance & Hines drag racing team as both riders qualified their V-Rod bikes for the NHRA Pro Stock Bike Summit Southern Nationals at Atlanta, Ga. Both riders went on to win their first round runs on Sunday, setting new NHRA records for V-Twin performance in the process.
Screamin’ Eagle/Vance & Hines V-Rod rider Andrew Hines qualified 5th with a new V-Twin record run of 7.214 seconds/185.43 mph. That run bumped Suzuki-mounted Craig Treble from the field for the first time in his 58-event career. It was another testament to the competitiveness of the NHRA?s Pro Stock Bike class, where more riders went home after qualifying than made the 16-bike field, as 34 riders attempted to make the Sunday show. Screamin? Eagle/Vance & Hines V-Rod rider GT Tonglet qualified 8th with a best run of 7.234 seconds/183.234 mph.
GT Tonglet won his first round against ninth-ranked John Smith aboard a Kawasaki. Smith red-lighted, but Tonglet and his V-Rod would have prevailed anyway with a 7.215 second/188.99 mph run. Andrew Hines posted a 7.179 second/183.12 mph run in the first round against twelfth-ranked Sean Conner?s Suzuki, also advancing his V-Rod to the second round. Tonglet?s trap speed of 188.99 mph and Hines? 7.179 second elapsed time each set NHRA Pro Stock Bike records for the best performances by V-Twin-powered motorcycles in series history.
In second round action, Tonglet red-lighted his V-Rod against Geno Scali?s top-ranked Suzuki. Scali would move on to win his semi-final round and the final. Hines beat Suzuki-mounted Shawn Gann off the line, but had to back his V-Rod out of the throttle as he drifted toward the wall and Gann won.
?Both bikes are responding well as our continued development efforts are obviously paying off. I?m happy we have our hands around this program and we?re competitive,? said Byron Hines.
SPAM OF THE WEEK–I receive over 200 e-mails a day. Mostly SPAM, but this had a Harley for sale so I grabbed it. Beware, could be a scam or just a sales effort.
These are just some of the unbelievable items waiting for you at Free Bidding:
* 1993 Sea-Doo
* 1991 Harley Davidson FatBoy
* 1989 Mustang GT
* 1999 Dodge viper
* PLUS LOTS MORE
Click on the link below to join Free Bidding now!!http://lists.mailogen.com/t/?u=296&l=29&id=3311582
BIKERNET LESSON IN CUSTOMER SERVICE–A woman got on a bus holding a baby. The bus driver said, “That’s theugliest baby I have ever seen.” Mad as hell, the woman slammed her moneyinto the fare box and took an aisle seat near the rear of the bus.
The man seated next to her sensed that she was agitated and asked herwhat was wrong. “The bus driver insulted me,” she fumed.
The man sympathized and said, “Why, he’s a public servant and shouldn’tsay things to insult the passengers.”
“You’re right,” she said. “I think I’ll go back up there and give him a piece of my mind.”
“That’s a good idea,” the man said. “Here, let me hold your monkey.”
SURGICAL-STEEDS SELECTS MIKULAK CONSULTING AS LICENSING AGENCY–SAN DIEGO–April 16, 2003–Mikulak Consulting (www.mikulak.com), an independent, full-service licensing agency offering services that help companies build and exploit long-term value using their patents, copyrights and trademarks, announced today that it has signed Surgical-Steeds Classic American Motorcycles Inc. (?Surgical-Steeds?), manufacturers of the Steed Musclebike? (www.musclebikes.com) to a worldwide, exclusive multi-year licensing agency agreement. Surgical-Steeds, the leader in the design and manufacture of premium, high-performance American motorcycles, retained Mikulak Consulting to develop and implement a strategic licensing program in order to capitalize on its position within the industry and to better reach its customers.
Mikulak Consulting will leverage the unique brand that Surgical-Steeds has developed through its specialized approach to licensing ? an approach whereby Mikulak Consulting acts in a capacity similar to an in-house licensing and marketing executive who would be responsible for building brand equity and generating revenue at the same time. Mikulak Consulting will be representing Surgical-Steeds to manufacturing partners who are capable of creating and distributing products that complement the purpose of the brand.
Surgical-Steeds ? Classic American Motorcycles?
Designed and built in Scottsdale, Arizona, the Steed Musclebike is truly a product of its environment ? the Arizona desert: Desolate, wide-open highways, scorching temperatures and longer distance rides are not friendly to most motorcycles in general and most customs bikes in particular. These brutal conditions demand an approach to motorcycle design and manufacture that emphasizes performance, quality, reliability and practicality ? attributes previously unavailable in a low-volume American motorcycle before the Steed Musclebike. And, unlike other low-volume motorcycle builders, Surgical-Steeds is a federally licensed motorcycle manufacturer, meaning all come with a 3-Year Factory Warranty, DOT, EPA and CARB Certifications and are also listed in the NADA and Kelly Blue Book Motorcycle Appraisal Guide, thereby establishing consistent resale value and full-coverage insurance availability.
THE CRAZYHORSE SAGA CONTINUES–I have sad news for all the handsome men in the Northeast. Crazy Angie went down to Florida last month. Seeing as how we were both traveling by air around the same time and with all that was going on in the world right then, we were both pretty nervous. I wasn’t around and didn’t get the message she left on voice mail until a week after she left it. I couldn’t believe it. I couldn’t bring up her number in the phone quick enough. I only hoped she would answer the phone. Just as I was about to give up she answered, ” Hello, this is Mrs Angie Pelletier.” Angie got married!!!!!! She was in Florida for 6 days and hooked up with her boyfriend from 2 years ago. He let her get away 2 years ago, I guess he wasn’t taking any chances this time.
My latest paintwork is a Marine Corp themed paint job for a former Marine up in Kentucky. The tank was tedious to do but my favorite part of it is the bulldog on the airdam. I just finished up a skull with flames on a softail and am working on airbrushing an eagle on a heritage tank. Getting ready to start the airbrush work on the lovely Jennifer’s new chopper. I’ll post more pics next week.—–
—CrazyHorse
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