Wild weekend. It started on Friday as I boarded a quick flight to Vegas to attend the Discovery Channel Biker Build-Off finale. Someone called it the academy awards of Bike Building. I wouldn’t go that far unless they took in every custom bike built last year, but it was a trip to watch some of the best builders in the US honored in such a way. “They (Original Productions) have turned our brothers into Rock Stars,” Ernie Lopez, of Street Chopper and Hot Bike said. In a sense it was true. They put together a terrific presentation/tribute on Indian Larry and Arlen Ness won the lifetime achievement award. Russell took home a couple of award including the coolest tattoo and the best bike of the year went to Matt Hotch for his V-Rod/chopper conversion–incredible. That bike will be on the cover of the August Issue of Hot Bike.
Let’s get to the news, then I’ll tell you about the Vegas strippers, and working on Sturgis Chopper. I blasted back to the headquarters the next day, at noon, so I had a few hours behind drill press, although I was a tad hungover. Let’s hit it:
West Coast Thunder VI Expands To 3 Days
Adds ?Chrome Build-Off? & More
Motorcycle enthusiasts can choose from two big Memorial Day events — the East Coast has the ?Ride To The Wall? and the West Coast has West Coast Thunder.
West Coast Thunder VI, the sixth annual event commemorating Memorial Day Weekend at Skip Fordyce Harley-Davidson in Riverside, CA expands to a full three-day motorcycle festival May 28-30, 2005 with live entertainment, great food, fun, bike games, a poker run, a ?Chrome Build-Off? competition, prizes and a parade of more than 4,000 motorcycles to Riverside National Cemetery to honor our national heroes.
Festival activities will take place at Skip Fordyce Harley-Davidson, 7688 Indiana Ave., in Riverside, CA and motorcycle enthusiasts can either pre-register or sign up at the dealership starting Fri., May 27th.
Registration is $20 before May 23rd and $25 after. Registration includes an official ride pin, Sunday poker run, continental breakfast and parade entry on Memorial Day and lunch following the memorial service — and one ticket for a chance to win a 2005 Harley-Davidson Fat Boy. A portion of all proceeds throughout the weekend event will benefit War Memorial construction funds at Riverside National Cemetery.
The ?Chrome Build-Off? is a new competition at West Coast Thunder. Two pre-registered participants will be selected to compete in this ?Chrome Build-Off?. Each competitor will begin with identical Harley-Davidson motorcycles, which contestants will enhance by adding Genuine Harley-Davidson Chrome Parts and Accessories. Everybody attending the event will have an opportunity to cast their vote for the ?Chrome Build-Off? bike they like the best. Both customized motorcycles will be for sale at Skip Fordyce Harley-Davidson following the event.
Festival activity builds to a Memorial Day parade on Monday to Riverside National Cemetery to honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to our country. The parade begins at 9:11 a.m. sharp. Following the memorial service, it?s back to Skip Fordyce Harley-Davidson for continuing entertainment, lunch and awards ceremonies.
To register for the event visit http://www.westcoastthunder.com, www.skipfordyce.com or call 951-785-0100 and ask for the West Coast Thunder coordinator.
My name is Michelle Coble and I am looking to hopefully get a hold of Gary Wetzel. My father was his helicopter pilot in Vietnam, and has just recently passed away, and it would be an honor to be in contact with him to let him know. They flew together on wetsu #1.
So if there is any way you can help me out, it would be greatly appreciated.
Michelle Coble, daughter of James S. Coble
Ph #: 303-912-0452
e-mail: Michelle_coble@hotmail.com
On a transatlantic flight, a plane passed through a severe storm. The turbulence was awful, and things >went from bad to worse when one wing was struck by lightning. One woman in particular lost it.
Screaming, she stood up in the front of the plane. “I’m too young to die,” she wailed. Then she yelled, “Well, if I’m going to die, I want my last minutes on earth to be memorable! Is there anyone on this plane who can make me feel like a WOMAN?”
For a moment, there was silence. Everyone had forgotten his or her own peril. Eyes riveted, they all stared at the desperate woman in the front of the plane.
Then a man from Texas stood up in the rear of the plane. He was handsome, tall, well built, with dark brown hair and hazel eyes. Slowly, he started to walk up the aisle, unbuttoning his shirt, one button at a time. No one moved. He removed his shirt. Muscles rippled across his chest.
She gasped..
He said, “Iron this — and then get me a beer.”
–from Rev CarlR
Before I start sending the story and pics out to other magazines, I just wanted to see if you think any of your guys at the HOT BIKE would be interetsed in runnin the story of the new class chop? It has not been featured in any mags yet so you’d get first rights to the story if you want it. Please let me know.
The bike was built in 2 months, 100% in the class by the students.
–Kevin Baas
We’ll do it Kevin. You’re guys did a helluva job.–Bandit
Rule 1: Life is not fair – get used to it!
Rule 2: The world won’t care about your self-esteem. The world will expect you to accomplish something BEFORE you feel good about yourself.
Rule 3: You will NOT make $60,000 a year right out of high school. You won’t be a vice-president with a car phone until you earn both.
Rule 4: If you think your teacher is tough, wait till you get a boss.
Rule 5: Flipping burgers is not beneath your dignity. Your Grandparents had a different word for burger flipping – they called it opportunity.
Rule 6: If you mess up, it’s not your parents’ fault, so don’t whine about your mistakes, learn from them.
Rule 7: Before you were born, your parents weren’t as boring as they are now. They got that way from paying your bills, cleaning your clothes and listening to you talk about how cool you thought you were. So before you save the rain forest from the parasites of your parent’s generation, try de-lousing the closet in your own room.
Rule 8: Your school may have done away with winners and losers, but life HAS NOT. In some schools they have abolished failing grades and they’ll give you as MANY TIMES as you want to get the right answer. This doesn’t bear the slightest resemblance to ANYTHING in real life.
Rule 9: Life is not divided into semesters. You don’t get summers off and very few employers are interested in helping you FIND YOURSELF. Do that on your own time.
Rule 10: Television is NOT real life. In real life people actually have to leave the coffee shop and go to jobs.
Rule 11: Be nice to nerds. Chances are you’ll end up working for one.
–Scooter
I was hoping you could give me some information, should you have any available. I am interested in what you might know about the National Motorcycle Dealer Association. I just read this morning that they have acquired Screamin Eagle and Rent2Ride.
They offer many different things for dealers, and I am interested in possibly joining and doing some business with them. However, I research things first. There was also talk about Harley Davidson getting involved with them.
Any assistance would be appreciated.
–Jerry
The Bandit’s Cantina management was so sure its bartender was the strongest man around that they offered a standing $1000 bet. The bartender would squeeze a lemon until all the juice ran into a glass, and hand the lemon to a patron. Anyone who could squeeze one more drop of juice out would win the money.
Many people had tried over time, including the professional wrestlers and bodybuilders, but nobody could do it. One day a scrawny little man came in, wearing a tie and a pair of pants hiked up past his belly button.
He said in a squeaky annoying voice, “I’d like to try the bet.” Even the hillbilly chicks burst into laughter.
After the laughter had died down, the bartender said, “Ok,” grabbed a lemon, and squeezed away. He then handed the wrinkled remains of the rind to the little man.
But the crowd’s laughter turned to total silence as the man clenched his fist around the lemon and six drops fell into the glass.
As the crowd cheered, the bartender paid the $1000, and asked the little man, “What did you do for a living? Are you a lumberjack, weight lifter, or what?”
“No”, the man replied, “I work for the IRS.”
–Vern
I just got a bunch of great photos of Pancho Villa (including him smoking reefer) and motorcycle photos from the Punitive Expedition. It’s the best piece I’ve done so far with Bikernet.com in mind.
–Al Morz
We can’t wait, Al. Sent it on down.–Bandit
Hey Bandit, you won’t remember me out of all the other members to your site. I had a problem with me new custom cos the engine was running rough, and I didn’t dare take this $50k custom out in case it konked (wouldn’t want to leave it at the side of the road, bunch of thieving bastards over here)!!
Your advice didn’t quite solve the problem, but you did give me the kick up the fucking arse I needed to get on it and RIDE the bloody thing once the problem was sorted. So a real big cheers to you. Yours is the only biker site I’ve found worth subscribing too! Hope you like the piccy’s of me motor.
Warrick (UK)
We try to answer “all” Your Shot letters to the editor within 24 hours. If I don’t know the answer, I’ll find it or let some of the expert readers respond. The Your Shot link is at the bottom of every page, not just on the home page.–Bandit
This is Kierre from Pitbull. Here are some pictures of the Green 10 10 bike that Sam was talking about. It it a RSD 300, 10up 10out with a baker 6-speed and a Patrick 125″.
–Kierre
Pitbull Motorcycle Co.
4340 N. Orange Blossom Trail
(407) 290-9212 office
(407) 290-9097 f.a.x.
www.Pitbullmotorcycles.com
Kierre@pitbullmotorsports.com
You’ll see this bike with Livia in the near future.–Bandit
The Motorcycle Riders Foundation (MRF) has recently issued two letters in response to separate incidents involving the very public maligning of motorcyclists and motorcycling. The MRF has joined with other motorcycle organizations, and individual riders, in a united expression of concern.
On Monday March 14th, 2005, Dr. Jeffrey Runge, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Director addressed the delegates attending the Lifesavers Conference in Charlotte, North Carolina. Numerous attendees reported Dr. Runge?s disparaging remarks regarding motorcyclists. The MRF has responded and is currently in the process of working with staff to Secretary of Transportation Norman Mineta to address Dr. Runge?s remarks. The Department of Transportation oversees NHTSA.
On Monday March 21st, 2005, an editorial column, titled “No Brain, Our Gain”, written by Brian Dickerson, appeared in the Detroit Free Press. In his column, addressing ABATE of Michigan?s recent success moving legislation in the Michigan State Senate to amend the Michigan helmet law, Mr. Dickerson called for mandatory organ donation, and alluded to motorcyclists being denied emergency medical coverage. Furthermore he likened this legislation, and the motorcyclists who support it, to Jack Kevorkian and the tragic case of Mrs. Schiavo in Florida.
The MRF responses are now posted on the MRF website at:
I EMAILED YOU AWHILE BACK IN REGARD TO A NEW MAGAZINE IDEA…DESTINATION DRIVEN RATHER THAN PRODUCT DRIVEN.
I REALLY BELIEVE THAT IF YOUR PUBLISHING GROUP WOULD LOOK AT THIS “HIGH-END”, (HEAVY STOCK, HIGH-GLOSS, COFFEE TABLE TYPE) CONCEPT OF WHERE TO GO, WHAT TO DO, WHERE TO EAT AND PARTY ON A “ROLEX RANGER” BUDGET, THAT NOT ONLY ROGER BOURGET, MATT HOTCH AND THE 100K SCOOTER BUILDERS WOULD ADVERTISE, BUT ALSO THE FOUR SEASONS, RITZ CARLTONS, RUTH’S CHRIS STEAKHOUSES AND THE REST OF THE BEST WOULD BE THERE TOO.
THIS MY DRAWING AND MY CONCEPT, I WOULD LIKE TO SHARE WITH THE RIGHT PEOPLE. AND, ALOT MORE. AS LONG AS I’M A PART OF SUCH A PUBLICATION.
I’M GETTING TRIED OF THE COLD WEATHER HERE IN JACKSON HOLE.
–KEITH SAULS
JACKSON HOLE WY.
307.883.9990
I’ll meet with Keith next week to discuss his concept.–Bandit
I got into the Cantina and saw the pic., cool thanks. Be good to link it with the old stuff in the Tech section. Paul
VIOLA, WI (April 1, 2005) S&S Cycle announces plans to continue sales and marketing of their high performance Twin Cam style products, despite being named as a defendant in a lawsuit filed by Harley-Davidson. The lawsuit was filed on March 17, 2005 in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin (Case No. 05-C-0298) and alleges that S&S is infringing patents related to the Harley-Davidson Twin Cam 88 engine, as well as alleging that S&S is violating trademarks regarding names such as Evo, Evolution, Shovel, and more.
“We want to assure our customers of our continued commitment, and know that we are fully engaged in the situation,” said Michael Scaletta, S&S Cycle’s current product engineering manager and third generation family member. “We will continue supplying our Proven Performance products, including twin cam style engines and components, to our customer base,” continued Scaletta. “This lawsuit will not change how we approach product development or sales of our high performance engines, components, and assemblies.”
INCREDIBLE SHOT–HOLY SHIT–So after the Discovery finale shooting I crept out of the Hard Rock Cafe Vegas and had dinner with Ernie and his lovely wife Carlita. Then they slipped away into the night, and I crept into the erotic underworld.
Jack Daniels forbids me from remembering the name of the joint across the street from the Hard Rock, but I’ll never forget the girls–Stunning. I met a blond named Carlie who gave me lap dances that ended in marriage. It was a terrific topper to a unique evening.
Billy Lane commented on my all black attire, “You’re over dressed,” he said.
“It’s in your honor,” I retorted and he laughed.
“You’re bullshitting me,” he said and we laughed. But there was no bullshit attached. We were there to honor their 2005 Build-off accomplishments and the impact these shows had on the industry. Why else would we be there. The Discovery bosses wouldn’t allow Ernie to pull out his camera. We’re not allowed to feature the bikes before they air, etc. I was on hand because all these builders are friends of mine, who I’ve known and documented for years. Besides Hugh King is cool.
Rumor has it the show will air Tuesday at 10:00p.m.
Okay, so I rolled home as quickly as possible and for the evening spent it drilling holes in the Sturgis chop like crazy. By the end of next weekend I hope to have it torn down for powder. Man, I’m excited to see this puppy roll together.
Ride Forever,
–Bandit
