“If you want to see extraordinary custom bikes, they are here,” stated one visitor pushing through the crowd on Sunday. “I’ve been here at the Phoenix Hall ever since the event was moved to Mainz and opened to the public and I’ve never seen the same bike twice.” Europe’s market leader in custom parts again has teamed up their show with the AMD European Championship of Custom Bike...

  That doesn’t mean I didn’t enjoy the rally. As a matter of fact I had a large time and got lots of riding in. At the top of my to-do list was making sure I attended the bike shows around the area. Although the Myrtle Beach rally is not known for its bike shows (it’s more of get-down-and-party show), the bike shows at the Dog House North & South, the Harley bike show, Rat’s...

Owned by Jay Burnham, Freakshow Choppers pride themselves on their unique sheet metal fabrication abilities. In order to show off their extensive skills, Jay thought it best to start with a frame that would force them to think up new twists on the essential parts of a bike that are noticeably different from conventional shapes and placement of those motorcycle vital pieces. The...

  Charismatic and focused are two words that well describe this seasoned promoter, but it’s his youthful enthusiasm and willingness to listen that undoubtedly got the “new” rally off to an excellent start. Step by step, Doulton plans to take Hollister to the next level, and under his supervision the event already crossed a threshold by drawing record-breaking crowds, some of who...

  For the last few years I have headed down to the spring rally in Myrtle Beach and it’s been the same old, same old. Hanging out with the same crowd, staying at the same dumpy motel, and going to the same places. Don’t get me wrong; I’m not putting it down. I have thoroughly enjoyed those times, but I needed a change, and this year the opportunity for a different...

  One new group of builders from Canada entered the first custom bike built at their shop. They were painters mainly, and came from the hot rod car business. “We were overwhelmed at the show,” said Alain Michaud of Radical Customs in Quebec. “We definitely got noticed and got several extra jobs right after the show.” Dave Welch of Chopper City USA explained that standing all day...

The other case in point is the Horse Smoke Out East, which is held in late June in Salisbury, North Carolina. Can you say 90-degree heat, blazing sun, and the typical thunderstorms that are common this time of year in North Carolina? Why not a little earlier in the year instead of peak summer? Apparently, I was not the only wimp at the Smoke Out, as this was the opinion of many of...

Surprise! The weather during the River Run’s 25th anniversary was hot this year. The mercury was almost boiling at 104-degrees, rivaling only Palm Springs for the highest temperature in the entire nation. Even though the temperature is high, it didn’t prevent Laughlin from offering a variety of daily outdoor activities. My favorite daytime endeavor is the Street Legal drags at the...

Set up on Thursday is a smooth, madhouse of activity. All the custom guys set out their bikes for the attendees to enjoy and maybe purchase. Spike, Seth’s number one guy, is on the ball spotting vendors, putting out fires, and generally taking care of business. One of the biggest surprises I had, though, was finding a metric manufacturer taking up the “prime spot.” Like I’ve said...

  It was reported that 6,000 enthusiasts braved the perfect weather to attend. Among the many personalities in attendance were Billy Lane, Eric Buell, Peter Coyote, Chad McQueen, Peter Fonda, Charlie Boorman, Timothy White, Bud Ekins, Mert Lawill, and Willie G., Nancy, and Karen Davidson. Willie G. was there not only to enjoy the motorcycles, but to receive a Lifetime Achievement...