The Progressive International Motorcycle Show was held 12 times this year all around the country culminating at the Ocean Center in the heart of Daytona Beach, March 9-13. This was the 30th annual nationwide tour and it had a great new twist to it. Throughout the year at each show the Ultimate Builder Custom Bike Competition took place at the show with a free entry to the AMD World Championship of Custom Bike Building in Sturgis offered to the winners. That’s not all. With a $14,000 purse, high-def GoPro cameras provided by Star and GYTR given to the winners of the Freestyle and Performance Custom class there was plenty of incentive to win. Wait, there’s still more. The winner of the Modified Harley Class was given a completely assembled 120″ Screaming Eagle race motor. Not too shabby.

Speaking of winners, I would like to congratulate Jack McCoy of RCC Sportbike for winning the Performance Custom class with his Suzuki B-King with a fabulous new paint job that definitely caught the eye of the judges. Also Wikked Steel for winning the spectator favorite with their Area 51 bike that had a new radical paint job that matched the radical build.

In the Modified Harley Class the honors, the check, and that Harley race motor went to Chris Richardson with his cherry 1974 Panhead traveling all the way from sunny California to equally sunny Florida. This was a tough class but there can be only one. I’m glad I didn’t have to make the decision.

Finally I would like to congratulate Kenny Williams of KW Customs, a first time entrant to the competition who I also know very well and photographed his previous masterpiece for Barnett’s Magazine (Issue 64). This radical bagger is long and lean and flawless with a candy red paint job that has to be seen to be appreciated. I have never seen candy so immaculate as the paint on this bike. Oh yeah, Kenny also was the painter.

It wasn’t just the winners that deserve congratulations, as there were no dogs in this pony show, all the bikes were top quality and they were all winners in my opinion. Also I would be negligent if I didn’t give major kudos to the promoters of show who provided a perfect showcase for the metal masterpieces and put on a show that ran like a fine tuned engine. I really enjoyed this show…and it was free.