Follow Kimmycruz to the biggest, baddest rallies in the USA

THIS IS THE OFFICIAL      Kimmycruz  BLOG

                                                                    

 

photographer, model, bartender, 

and promoter for more than a decade

at the biggest and baddest rallies the 

USA has to offer.

I love everybody, and just being Kimmycruz makes me happier than I've ever been in my life.

Now fans can follow Kimmycruz across the USA at her "official blog" for photo updates and rally stories, linked to Kimmycruz.com.

Read the latest story about Kimmycruz, online at  Barnett's Harley Davidson Magazine

 

Story by Wendy Manning, Photos courtesy of Kimmy Cruz's private collection

Michael Ballard's Full Throttle Saloon has been the subject of a reality series on truTV called, appropriately, Full Throttle Saloon. Unlike other rally documentaries this one stayed with Ballard and his Full Throttle crew the whole time, giving us an insider's view of what it really takes to run the self-proclaimed "World' Largest Biker Bar" during the make-it or break-it ten day event. If you were a fan of the show, you more than likely caught a few glimpses of Kimmy Cruz.

Kimmy lives in Mabank, Texas, with her boyfriend Christian Dotson, with whom she has a hot rod shop where Christian builds hot rods, custom cars, and custom motorcycles. But she’s spent enough time tending bar at the Sturgis Rally to give us an insider’s view of what it takes to serve the thousands of bikers who attend the rally each year. “I’ve worked in Sturgis for nine years, but I’ve worked for Michael Ballard at Full Throttle off and on since 2003,” she said. “It’s a total trip, there’s nothing else like it.”

Kimmy started out selling ads for various motorcycle magazines. “In addition to that, I began writing stories and doing photography, as well as marketing and promotion,” she explained. “From there, I met so many people because I was out and about at all the major rallies, and I ended up modeling for all the top builders.” She started her bartending career at Broken Spoke Saloon during the 2002 Daytona Bike Week. When Broken Spoke owner Jay Allen asked her tend bar, she was apprehensive because she’d never tended bar before. “He told me I could just crack open the beer, I wouldn’t have to serve liquor or anything. He brought out a ’57 Chevy and set me up with a beer tub. We were so packed—I had so much fun. I served ninety-six cases of beer in four hours. I didn’t know what to think.” But it didn’t take long for Kimmy to figure out that having made $900 in tips during those four hours, tending bar at bike rallies was a great way for her to supplement her income. “What would I say, no? I said bring it on, because I knew I could work and make extra money on top of being a sales rep. I ended up fading out the sales rep job because I figured why am I doing this for other people when they’re making thousands of dollars off me? I made a better income as a bar tender at bike rallies.”

Kimmy took three months off to educate herself on the art and nuances of bartending, upgrading her photography skills, and building a website for herself, her photography, and her modeling career. That was nearly nine years ago, and she’s been going strong ever since.

Kimmy goes to rallies that draw 400,000 people and more. “I picked at least six different locations where I knew I could make money. I introduced myself to every vender and took photos of them, and I try to promote everyone across the board, whether they’re a client, a vender, a bar owner, a customer, or a friend,” she said. “I made sure I made lots of friends and I helped out wherever I could. So all these people were seeing me. That’s how I met Michael Ballard. I was a model for aftermarket retailer Dennis Kirk at the time.” Kimmy was set up at the Dennis Kirk booth on the Full Throttle property, and she says Michael asked when she planned to work for him as a bartender. “At that time I wasn’t working full time, I was trying different things, so in 2007 I went to work at Full Throttle. It’s an awesome atmosphere. Everybody loves Full Throttle.”

Being a bartender at Full Throttle isn’t all fun and games, however. Bartenders work very hard. If you watched the show on truTV, you know that surveillance cameras catch all the action at each bar, and the security team is watching every move the staff makes. You saw employees go through the rigorous hiring process, and you probably some of them being “let go” before the rally was over. As a bartender customers are allowed to photograph you, and you’re required to comply and you cannot charge money for photographs taken.

But Kimmy says despite the hard work, working as a rally bartender helps her to make contacts to other jobs. “Plus, I get to meet all the top builders,” she said. “I get to meet Ron Finch, Billy Lane, and Jesse James, all of them really. And they’ve always been super nice to me.”

So making good money, having fun and making friends, tending bar at major bike rallies is something Kimmy highly recommends. But the competition is steep. “They don’t call you or anything,” she explained. “To get back with Full Throttle I’ll have to go through the application process just like everybody else.”

To check out Kimmy Cruz, or ask her advice on how to get started as a rally bartender, visit her website at kimmycruz.com.

Studs Don't Last Long?

There's several jokes in there. You think they were going for a Peter Fonda look?

Nasa Pics

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The National Aeronautics and Space Administration is an agency of the United States government, responsible for the nation's civilian space program. NASA was established by the National Aeronautics and Space Act on July 29, 1958, replacing its predecessor, the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA). The agency became operational on October 1, 1958. NASA has led U.S. efforts for space exploration ever since, resulting in the Apollo missions to the Moon, the Skylab space station, and later the Space Shuttle. Currently NASA is supporting the International Space Station and developing new Ares I and V launch vehicles.



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K Moto Dragon For Children's Miracle Network Kids

 

Every year, Artistic Choppers of Ormond Beach, Florida builds a custom themed motorcycle to benefit the Children's Miracle Network. Chet & Gaylyn Moraniec, owners of Artistic Choppers, have been doing this bike build for more than a dozen years to raise money and awareness for the organization that helped them save their son's life. They travel to events, small and large throughout the year selling raffle tickets and then draw the lucky winner on the last Saturday of Daytona Bike Week. The beautiful custom chopper this year is a K-Moto Dragon Bike that will be raffled off to a lucky winner at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, March 6th on the beach at Americana Beach Resort at the 2010 Daytona Bike Week.

You can purchase a $10 raffle ticket online at the Children's Miracle Network.

"We just got home from the Music City Bike Show in Nashville on January 15-16 and 17," said Chet Moraniec. "What an amazing time we had. We met Will Jones "Doctor Epiphone," the vice president of Epiphone (Gibson guitars) and we were presented with a guitar signed by the country music duo, Brooks & Dunn."

"We will be at the tattoo show at the Gaylord Palms in Orlando this weekend, (Jan. 29-31) then we will be getting ready for our first-ever Custom Bike Show and Bikini Contest with live music, vendors and food on March 4th and 5th at Americano Resort during Daytona Bike Week.

Photo updates at Artistic Choppers on Facebook.

Chets Choppers is a fan of

ARTISTIC CHOPPERS

Create your Fan Badge

New Harley-Davidson Forty-Eight Model. A True City Brawler

Just about everyone involved in the motorcycle industry connects over their morning coffee to add their 2-cents at the  Cyril Huze Blog -- but this commentary on the newest Harley-Davidson Forty-Eight Model drew a whopping 82 comments!

You will find a link to his blog in "favorite links" on my blog because, indeed, it's a favorite. ~ MJ Lloyd-Reynolds, BikeweekNews Blogger, Motorcycle Event News.

SISSY!

From BiG BiKE #1

January Antifreeze

Bouncing Souls Indian Larry Tribute

Cycle Source Magazine Indian Larry Five Long Years - Commemorative Issue. Special thanks to Tom Zimberoff, Clay Patrick McBride and Bobby Seeger for the photos. And to The Bouncing Souls for the perfect sound track. Source: Cycle Source Magazine Video Vault. The commemorative issue was released January 2010 and is available at CycleSource.com

sunny sunday evo ride

had the bike out for a ride on sunday after I rolled by the LBC swap meet. my buddy from Japan snapped this pic. check out his blog http://www.us2000.jp/blog/uemura/

Yamaha FZ8 picture

Yamaha Motor (UK) Ltd have today released this image of the eagerly anticpated Yamaha FZ8, their new sport roadster.

Ride safe

Jon Booth
Email: webmaster@inter-bike.co.uk
Blog: http://inter-bike.blogspot.com/
Swicki: http://motorcycling-swicki.eurekster.com/

Jawa, Cz and Eso motorcycles

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Jawa is a motorcycle manufacturer in the Czech republic, formerly Czechoslovakia. It was named after its founder Janeček bought the motorcycle production of Wanderer in 1929, by concatenating the first letters of Janeček and Wanderer. The company is still active today.

First model

The first model was introduced on October 23, 1929. This was a 500 cc 4-cycle engine with 12 kW of power (18 hp) and fuel consumption of 6 liters per 100 km. Although priced highly, through the first years (and several constructional fixes) this motorcycle was successful and was considered reliable.

Second model

Due to the economic recession of the early 1930 a cheaper and simpler motorcycle was needed. Year 1932 marked the introduction of Jawa 175, with its 3.6 kW engine. This light (70 kg) machine was capable of speeds up to 80 km/h and fuel consumption of 3.5 liters per 100 km. The first year of production was an immediate success, selling over 3000 of the Jawa 175, almost three times the number of the 500 cc model over three years of production. The production of this model was finally stopped 1946. In 1938 Jawa was the first to offer test rides during exhibition show. This test motorcycle was a custom Jawa 175 equipped with dual handlebars, second pair being in the back for the instructor. Over the years total of 27,535 units of the Jawa 175 were built.


Česká Zbrojovka is a Czech firearms manufacturer also known for making ČZ motorcycles. ČZ was established as a branch of the Škoda Works Armament in Strakonice, Czechoslovakia in September 1919.
Work started on the construction of the first workshops of the arms factory originally called "South Bohemian Armament Works" ("Jihočeská zbrojovka"). The company merged with an arms manufacturing plant in Vejprty and with a factory in Prague in 1922. This gave rise to the formation of a stock company whose name translates as "Czech Armament Works in Prague of the Manufacturing Plant in Strakonice". It produced pistols, air guns, and automatic guns which all became successful products.

In 1929 the growth of the Czech Armament Works reached a turning point. With the downturn in weapons sales after World War I, the company acquired a bicycle parts manufacturing plant in Kralupy nad Vltavou on the Vltava River. Bicycle exports destined for several countries in Europe, Asia, Africa and South America started to expand. Production of motor-driven bicycles started in 1932. Three years later the first motorcycles made in Strakonice entered the market. This marked the beginning of an era of great success for the ČZ brand. In a short time the company became the biggest manufacturer of motorcycles in Czechoslovakia. Consequently, business success resulted in a further extension of production activities by introducing chain and machine tool production. During the Second World War the factory came under German occupation and was converted to the manufacture of war materials.


Eso was a Czech motorcycle factory producing only racing machines from 1949 until 1964, when it joined Jawa. ESO was founded by a motorcycle racing driver, and made bikes in 250, 350, and 500 cc, primarily for speedway, moto-cross and ice racing.Engines were sourced from J.A.P. during the first year, and then an engine of ESO's own after 1950, first copied from J.A.P. and later of their own design.


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Suzuki 500 Roca

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The TR500 found its origins in... Boulogne, France. Pierre Bonnet was the French Suzuki distributor and the works team indeed was based there for their first serious onslaught on the Grand Prix world in 1962. By 1967 Jacques Roca, a talented Spanish-French racer and technician had joined forces with Pierre Bonnet after being the distributor for Derbi. Shortly after the new T500 roadster was issued by the Japanese manufacturer, Roca built and raced a racing version that was so impressive that Suzuki, which had officially retired from world championship racing, built a full-race version of the new machine, as well as a 250cc version from the smaller parallel twin.








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Kawasaki Z100 and Kawasaki 1400GTR arriving!

Kawasaki's 2010 updated 1400GTR and the much anticpated radical Japanese streetfighter style Z1000 will be in UK Kawasaki dealers in the next few weeks.

With a host of upgrades, the 1400GTR gets traction control, linked brakes and a special selectable fuel economy mode, heated handlebar grips and an electronically adjustable screen with a memory function.

Ride safe

Jon Booth
Email: webmaster@inter-bike.co.uk
Blog: http://inter-bike.blogspot.com/
Swicki: http://motorcycling-swicki.eurekster.com/

This Tank's for You, or....

Older Budweiser

Spotted at he Long Beach swap on Sunday. The detail was excellent. The bottom copy says, "Bogus data by Dave at the Crazy Painters". Some of you may have heard of them.

A million miles ago

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Shilton used to be the General Sales Manager of Triumph Motorcycles and advanced to be a Norton director. Shilton is a most interesting character, riding his demonstrator bikes all over Europe and taking part in "The Circuit Des Pyrenees" for ten years, from 1971 to 1980. Just like Bert Hopwood, he was at the center of the storm that blew the British motorcycle industry from the landscape. However, Hopwood had probably never owned a motorcyle nor ever ridden one. Shilton was an avid motorcylist riding all the bikes he was to sell.
via : http://duxford.blogspot.com/




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Harley-Davidson Forty Eight announced

Today Harley-Davidson UK announced the release of the new Harley-Davidson Forty-Eight motorcycle. In Harley's words "a new factory custom in the legendary tradition of the hot rod Sportster line with the raw, elemental appeal of a Custom".

The Forty-Eight is available in Vivid Black, Brilliant Silver and Mirage Orange Pearl colours.

Forty-Eight features and highlights:
Blacked and polished rubber-mounted Evolution 1200 cc V-Twin engine with chrome accents
Electronic Sequential Port Fuel Injection (ESPFI)
Steel 2.1-gallon (7.95 litre) peanut fuel tank with lightening hole mounting bracket
One-piece, solo Sportster classic seat
710mm seat height
Fat balloon tyres
16-inch Black Steel Laced wheels
Low profile custom handlebar
Under-bar mounted mirrors
New front forks with wide triple clamps
Chopped front fender mounted on fork brace with lightening holes
Fork brace mounted chopped front fender
Blacked components including air cleaner cover, clutch and brake levers and turn signals
Chopped rear fender
Stop-turn-tail lights
Two-year factory warranty
Harley-Davidson Smart Security System

All we know is it looks darn hot!!!

Ride safe

Jon Booth
Email: webmaster@inter-bike.co.uk
Blog: http://inter-bike.blogspot.com/
Swicki: http://motorcycling-swicki.eurekster.com/

Royal Enfield Bullet classic

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via : Tandoor and travel




Guys here I am giving comparison between 500CC and 350CC Royal Enfield Bullet Classic. In production since 1932, Bullet enjoys the reputation of longest running model in the unremitting production. Recently, after 75 years, its new avatar has been launched in the market with new styling and younger look that does not compromise on what is expected from a Royal Enfield. What sets it apart from just about every other motor bike in the market is its authentic vintage styling and styling in single colour. So here we have a bike reminiscent of the native imaginary of British motorcycles, post World War II.


In case you are a diehard Royal Enfield enthusiast just like me, and planning to buy one, I hope the comparison here will help you to make the right choice.






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Hildebrand & Wolfmuller

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via : all about bikes


Over a century ago, Hildebrand & Wolfmuller created one of the world’s first motorcycles. On April 25, at the International Classic Motorcycle Show in Stafford, England, the 105-year old bike will go up for auction.



The German manufacturer, which operated out of Munich, was the first to enter a series production for a powered two-wheeled vehicle. It is also the first vehicle to ever have the name ‘motorcycle’ applied to it.
The bike was created by brothers Henry and Wilhelm Hildebrand, and Alois Hilderbrand & Wolfmuller Wolmuller. It was outfitted with a four-stroke, twin-cylinder, water-cooled 1,488cc engine. This engine was, for a long time, the largest ever fitted onto a motorcycle. Despite its large size, it only had an output of 2.5bhp at 240 rpms. This gave the bike an estimated top speed of 30 mph.



The motorcycle was only produced for two short years, and it is estimated that only 800 to 2000 bikes were ever produced. Of course, the number of bikes remaining today is much less. The bike is over a hundred years old, and hasn’t been run since the 1930s.



On April 25, the bike is estimated to bring in a price of $65,000 to $97,5000.




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Broc Glover

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Broc Glover (born May 16, 1960 in San Diego, California) was a leading motocross racer in the 1970s and early 1980s. Glover earned six AMA National Motocross Championships, a record which stood for nearly 20 years until 2003, when Ricky Carmichael finally eclipsed the mark. Glover won all of his titles riding for Yamaha.


Glover won the 125cc National Championship in his first full year riding as a pro in 1977. He defended his crown in 1978 and 1979. He moved to the 500cc class in 1981 and won the national championship in his first year in the class. He added 500cc championships in 1983 and 1985. When he retired after the 1988 season, Glover held the AMA all-time wins record in both AMA 125cc motocross and 500cc motocross.


Glover was inducted into the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame in 2000.



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new old seat on my bike

I bought this seat of a guy out in the valley. I was going to redo it but when I got it I liked it so much I just tossed it on.

i see a keg stand in milligan's future