Kirk Taylor’s L’il Cha Cha was among the very first class of Tiny Strider Customs, a program of the Flying Piston Benefit that supports All Kids Bike – an organization that’s on a mission to teach every kid how to ride a bike as part of kindergarten PE class.
Here’s how the Tiny Strider Customs happen: stock 12” Strider balance bikes are sent to selected custom motorcycle builders, who transform them into tiny, rolling works of art. The little creations are unveiled at the Flying Piston breakfast in August at the Sturgis Buffalo Chip then auctioned at the Mecum motorcycle event in Las Vegas the following January. Proceeds fund bike-riding programs for elementary schools.
Custom builders, especially those like Kirk Taylor with decades of experience and ingrained in powersports culture, draw upon a myriad of touchstones. In this case, Taylor drew inspiration from the “First Lady of Drag Racing” Shirley Muldowney.
Also known professionally as “Cha Cha,” Shirley Muldowney was the first woman to receive a license from the National Hot Rod Association to drive a Top Fuel Dragster. She was Top Fuel Champ in 1977, 1980 and 1982.
Taylor opened Custom Design Studios in 1988 but he’s been around bikes since helping out in his dad’s machine shop as a kid. Blending his creative aesthetic with mechanical know-how has resulted in world-class customs shown around the globe, many with chopper and bobber styling cues. He’s done Cha Cha proud!
Kirk’s L’il Cha Cha was purchased in 2019 by Mark and Mandy Halvorson when it rolled across the block at Mecum and they have enjoyed it. Now they want others to have that pleasure, along with raising more money for All Kids Bike – so they’ve donated it back to be auctioned with the 2021 class of Strider Customs.
So welcome back, L’il Cha Cha – at least until the Mecum Auction in January 2022. And thank you Halvorsons for your generosity.
About the Author: Marilyn Stemp is Editor of Iron Trader News, Kiwi Indian E-News and Sturgis Rider Daily
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