Diamond Posse at Arizona Bike Week 2011

The Diamond Posse, a veteran outreach program from Milwaukee, Wisconsin is at Arizona Bike Week on a fundraising mission. They hope to raise at least $20,000 in 2011 in order to provide a trained service dog at no cost to a disabled combat veteran.

Members of the Diamond Posse will be at the Team Diva Booth all weekend (March 31 to April 3rd) at WestWorld, where you can also meet this year's celebrity rider, Sturgis Hall of Fame member Betsy "Gypsy" Lister. WestWorld is at 16601 N. Pima Road in Scotsdale, Arizona.

"The women riders in the Diamond Posse have a deep heart-felt gratitude for combat veterans, who have made our freedom possible by way of their sacrifices," said Gypsy.

The public is invited to stop by to say hello to these women, check out their bikes and learn more about the Diamond Posse and the non-profit program, NEARDS that trains service dogs.

The Diamond Posse rode every day to honor veturans during National Armed Forces Week in 2010. They hope to share their passion for riding with everyone, while also raising awareness and support for disabled veterans who have proudly served the United States of America.

Women are also invited to join the Diamond Posse's Ride to this year's 9-11 rally in September in Kansas City. Members of the Diamond Possee will ride from Milwaukee, Wisconsin; Park City, Utah; Dallas, Texas and Boston, Massachusetts, arriving in four separate waves on Saturday, September 10th with each group saying Thank You for their privilege to Ride Free. To register to ride, visit www.diamondposse.us/

The Diamond Posse is a non-profit veteran outreach program that consists of Vicki "Spitfire" Sanfelipo, "Diva" Amy Skaling, and Cat Hammes RN, their "One Legged Blonde". The Diamond Posse was formed in 2010 to honor veterans by giving hope and encouragement to veterans who are facing challenges as a result of their service to the United States of America.

NEADS is a non-profit program established in 1976 in Princeton, Mass. to train and provide independence to people who are deaf or physically disabled through the use of canine assistance. These assistance dogs become an extension of their owners and bring security, freedom, independence and relief from social isolation to their human partners. Details at www.neads.org/

Phnx Am

Off to this bad boy this weekend.

SPEED MERCHANT

Coming soon from some great guys.

Motocross Racers

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Via the coolest : ltthor.home.comcast.net

David Bailey, #93, at National Qualifier at Lake Sugar Tree, 1980. 

Greg Brown, #18, at White Oak.

#129, Bill Butcher, at Cedar Ridge.

John Graumann, #8, at SME.

Howie Roberts, #15, at White Oak.

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Updated Triumph Street Triple and Street Triple R.

Triumph Motorcycles have just released details of their updated Triumph Street Triple and Street Triple R for 2011. Changes include:

2011 Triumph Street Triple R

2011 Triumph Street Triple

• New headlight design from the Speed Triple
• More contemporary look
• New colour options
• New style Triumph sports script on the tank, debuted on the new Daytona 675R, as well as a stylish new ‘Street Triple 675’ logo
• The standard model features three metallic paint options at no extra cost (Crystal White, Phantom Black and the distinctive new Imperial Purple) .
• Higher-specification ‘R’ available in Diablo Red, Crystal White and Phantom Black (with gold wheels)
• Both models have been ‘dechromed’ with brushed steel exhaust headers, heel guards and silencers replacing the previous polished items, while new handlebar clamps, machined detail on the handlebar end weights and redesigned headstock infills.
• Both variants feature Triumph’s comprehensive latest specification instrument pack.

The updated Street Triple and Street Triple R will arrive in UK Triumph dealers in April apparently.

Ride safe.

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

Decker

Kimmy Chapman Memorial Sunday at WestWorld

Arizona Bike Week will pay tribute to one of its greatest supporters, Kimmy Chapman at 1pm Sunday, April 3rd at WestWorld. Kimmy died at the scene of a motorcycle crash around 5pm Saturday, March 26th after spending her final day in life helping at a community fundraiser. Her life companion, Mark Tapp is at John C. Lincoln Hospital recovering from serious injuries.
Kimmy helped to establish the rally and was the founding editor of Biker Information Guide -- a business she started in 1997 in Arizona that has expanded to 10 other states. She received the Arizona Bike Week "Hero" Award in 2009 for her years of dedication to the rally.
"We want to thank each and every one of you for your thoughts and prayers," said Dave Shafer, media director for Biker Information Guide in a statement issued on the company website. "Kimmy had such a wonderful personality and everyone who knew her, loved her. She was someone that would bend over backward to help whenever she could. She was so full of life and it is so sad that we lost her. Her passion was Biker Information Guide and for that reason alone Kelly, Jim and I will continue to do what Kimmy loved doing. I’ve worked with Kimmy for over 12 years and there was never a better friend. I will truly miss her."
Hundreds of rally fans, friends and family are expected to celebrate her life during the memorial service on Sunday. "Due to the amount of people expected to show up, we decided to use the Big Tent at Bike Week for the Celebration of Life event," Shafer said in an update on Tuesday. “Unfortunately due to contractual agreements, a $10 gate charge will apply to get into WestWorld. Please keep in mind that if you bought a week event pass or if you participated in the Logan's Run, then you have already paid the $10 gate charge.”

Barb Heller of the ArmedZilla Angels American Legion posted this updated regarding an ongoing police investigation: I spoke with the Lead Detective Pitts on Kimmy's case, a bike rider himself, who is working on her case and keeping in close touch with Kelly and other family members. He feels he owes Kimmy's family a full and thorough investigation. He called in the state expert on impairment to investigate any signs of impairment of the driver and to provide them with the 'probable cause' needed to issue an order to draw blood. They found none. This state investigator is the same one working on the dump truck case from a year ago, which is still ongoing. He wants everyone to know that this is far from over and the only thing they haven't shown is 'criminal intent'. The police department can ONLY charge the driver with a 'Violation', such as in this case 'Failure To Yield'. Any other charges will come AFTER the investigation is through. Detective Pitts said that once everything is turned over to him to review, then it goes to the 'review unit' and then it is turned over to their Supervisor for Final Review and then passed on to the County Attorney's office. That is where the final charges will be filed if any. We need to stay on top of the County Attorney's office. Detective Pitts also said that he would be willing to come to any organizations meeting to explain the process and answer questions that he can at that time. Please contact Barb Heller at 602-505-8760 or ltlwtduv@cox.net to set this up.

The crash one year ago in Phoenix - on March 25, 2010 - was so horrific that the president of the American Motorcyclist Association made a public statement of condolence to the families of the nine bike riders that were injured or killed when they were struck from behind by a dump truck while they waited for a light to change at an intersection in Phoenix. Read the story.

Dixie

Tubbs is a cool dude go check out his new shop.

Pharis

ATL son

A BSA Built for the Island | Catalina Special

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From the April, 2011 issue of Motorcyclist
By Thad Wolff
Photography by Andrea Wilson, Joe Neric

This whole Catalina Grand Prix thing started when I was a kid, riding dirtbikes north of Los Angeles. I heard they used to race motorcycles over on that island that I could see from my favorite riding spots. Those racers must have had the time of their lives back in the ’50s, loading their bikes on a barge, hopping on the old Catalina Steamer and rolling into the little town of Avalon to race through the streets and off into the hills. The whole idea always seemed so cool to me.

Now fast forward to 2010. BSA built a Gold Star 500 single in ’59 and named it after the race in honor of Chuck Feets Minert’s win in ’56. The logo is really neat, with BSA Catalina Scrambler printed across an outline of the island. Having never been into old English bikes, I decided to turn a ’58 BSA A10 Super Rocket 650 into something similar. My twin would wear the Catalina Scrambler logo on top of its fuel tank, along with the words Twin Special... Read more

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Arizona Bike Week "Hero" Kimmy Chapman Killed in Crash

Many at Arizona Bike Week are in shock and deeply saddened by the death of Kimmy Chapman in a Right of Way violation crash yesterday in Arizona. She received the Arizona Hero Award in 2009 for her devotion to the rally. She was the founding owner of the Biker Information Guide. Her life companion Mark S Tapp was seriously injured. Kimmy was a passenger on their Harley-Davidson motorcycle that was traveling eastbound on Bell Road, according to Phoenix investigators. When they entered the intersection at 43rd Avenue the driver of a Nissan Rogue failed to yield and made a left turn in front of them. Tapper is in serious condition. There are plans underway to honor her during one or more events at Arizona Bike Week & WestWorld Cyclefest. - The bike community is also outraged because the 22-year old driver is not expected to be charged in the crash. There is currently only pending legislation (HB2523) that would create a vehicular manslaughter charge in Arizona. Under the current state law, Arizona drivers who cause fatal accidents can only be charged with a misdemeanor crime, even if they're supposed to be off the roadways due to a license suspension.

A couple events coming up

March 27th.

G.P. Chopper Sculptures

Greg Parigian and I were friends in junior high. Until about 6 years ago, I hadn't seen or talked to him since 1969. If you scroll down in the right column, you'll find a picture of us on our chopped stingrays that was once used for this blog's header. Greg sent a couple of emails with photos the other day. The text below is combination of them explaining the chopper sculptures he made in the 70's.

"Back in the early 70's I made some Harley chopper sculptures. I was selling and trading them for Harley parts to Hells Angels and Satan's Slaves. I would sketch their bike and then make a sculpture of it.

I think I made about 50 of them, but only saved one. I would sign them by putting a "P" on the rear wheel. The sculptures where all about 18" long and 12" tall. They had no bolts or nuts in them, they were all just metal I bought in the metal yard. They were welded together with gas torch and do not remember if I ever brazed any of them.

I was living in Canoga Park at the time and one of my neighbors was a guy they called big Louie. He was then the president of the Satan's Slaves. He rode a really cool bike, a chopped Knucklehead with a extended springer. I made one of his bike that was really nice. Some of them were clear coated. I also made them for other club members. Some of these guys were really scary. But they always paid me or gave me what I wanted in trade. I almost collected enough parts to build a flathead 80". - Greg

Two degrees of separation. Here's a photo of Satan's Slave Louie. I think I grabbed it from the Satan's Crate blog and believe it's from a Easyriders in the 80's. -CK

Anybody out there seen or have or seen one of Greg's sculptures? If you have something like it, look for a "P" or "GP" on the rear wheel.

JAPAN CAFE STYLE

Any comparison ?

1961 AJS 7R

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Via the great : www.vintagebike.co.uk

This ’61 7R, engine/frame number 4732, formerly raced by me and last seen in early 1972 when fitted with an Oldani brake and Kirby tank/fairing, was a lovely bike and I would very much like to trace its history and present whereabouts. Please do get in touch with any info.
Thanks.

* Manufacturer: AJS
* Model: 7R
* Engine: 350cc
* Year: 1961
* Decade: 1960s
* Machine Type: Race

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Rolling Through the Decades with Ron Finch

The absolute high point of my 70th Daytona Bike Week experience was an interview with legendary bike builder Ron Finch, published in a limited edition of the Daytona Beach Ratty Rag. The 20,000 commemorative copies disappeared into the wave of rally fans at the "world's largest rally."

But here is the entire article (c) 2011 By MJ Reynolds & RH Swan.


May 27, 2004 - Ron Finch, Billy Lane and Indian Larry leave Ron’s Studio in Pontiac to ride for 10 or so miles together with dozens of their friends and a film crew to Boomer’s Bike Night in Waterford a suburb of Detroit, Rock City – 1,000 bikes! The three famous bike builders are signing autographs with felt markers across tank tops worn by big-breasted young women. The place is packed to the rafters. Everyone loves them! Billy and Larry have just finished a couple of Biker Build-Off reality TV episodes and Ron is next up in 2005.




Here's Ron at home in Michigan with his Biker Build-Off bike, "Double Cross."






And here's the Boomer's Bike Night video - produced in Detroit City by Brad Bloch & Lyle Brous - Music by KISS







Fast forward to 2006 – Ron is rolling down the highway (at age 67) from Kansas City to Vegas in the cold rain with bike builder, Paul Yaffe and John Green after the Easy Rider Show. “You’ve gotta be tough,” says Ron. “I can put up with cold, but cold and wet is too much. I don’t have anything to prove anymore, so when our friend Bean’re had a bike breakdown, I rode with him in the truck for a hundred miles or so.”


Ron Finch launched his career back in the ‘60s about the same time that Arlen Ness and Dave Perewitz were starting to customize motorcycles.


“I was just doing my own thing,” said Ron. “I learned to pin stripe when I was a boy, living at home but spending a lot of time hanging out at Paul Hatton’s paint shop. I used to come home and pin stripe the refrigerator. I had a piece of glass that I used to pin stripe and then wipe off and pin stripe again. Later, I started striping for customers and working on their motorcycles. Until now, today, I can do anything with a bike – except, I don’t modify engines. That’s something Indian Larry did. On the other hand, I always encouraged Larry, and he was inspired to do a lot of metal work fabrication and metal sculptures by what he saw me doing.”


In 1969 - Ron built “Odin’s Axle,” which introduced the concept of asymmetrical motorcycle design. One side of the bike is completely different from the other side, including the front forks. Covering the bike’s sheet metal, he also introduced the 3-dimensional metal “rod work” patterns that have become his signature.


In 1970 - Odin’s Axle debuted at the Detroit Autorama in January 1970. Later that year by request, Odin’s Axle was exhibited at the Michigan Artists Exhibition in the Detroit Institute of Arts, the first motorcycle ever in a museum!


In 1971 - Motorcycle World Magazine named Odin’s Axle “Best U.S. Custom of the Year.” Restored in 2005, for Donna and Darryl Smith of Rochester, New York, Odin has recently traveled to shows and museums, including the Clinton Presidential Library in 2009.


Ron was a Rat’s Hole judge in the 70’s and 80’s. - Click bike images to enlarge.


In 1982 – Ron built “Aorta,” a custom 1970 Ironhead Sportster. The rods that make up the frame of “Aorta” were designed to flow towards the motor, the heart of the motorcycle like the main artery of the human heart. Ron also refers to this bike as his “suitcase motorcycle” because the frame is actually two-parts held together by the engine. It can be disassembled in three parts and literally be carried away in a suitcase. The rear fender houses the gas tank and is molded with flame tips and a “Frenched” license plate. The oil tank is a 1950’s aluminum cylindrical tank, modified to clear the one-off custom straight pipe exhaust. The front end is an old Harley JD Springer. The handlebars are custom made to eliminate the risers and stimulate a tiny windshield. The headlight is an unknown, purchased by Ron at an antique auction. The 1000 Cu. In. engine has polished cases, a Joe Hunt Magneto, S & S carb and Sifton cam. The air cleaner was hand formed in the shape of a heart with arteries made of metal rods. Leatherman of Flint, Michigan molded the leather seat in the shape of a human heart. The battery is incased in leather that has been dyed and molded to match the seat and the grips are braided in leather.


One Year After Serious Injury - Aorta was finished in the spring of 1982, one year after a serious motorcycle accident. The motorcycle Ron was riding was rear-ended by a drunk driver traveling 50 MPH. Ron suffered a crushed pelvis and a broken hip socket and doctors predicted that he would never walk again. Ron was walking and riding within three months!



In 1987 - Ron built “Loophole,” sourced from a 1973 Shovelhead – Evo Custom 96ci HD bagger. But after a long ride to Sturgis in 1989, Ron decided that he needed more power so he replaced the motor and added an S&S car and a Morris magneto. It features an exhaust system that loops through the cylinder chambers in the frame above the motor, a gas tank in the rear fender, and custom rod work over the front fender and floorboards. Like a loophole in the law, this custom motorcycle stretches the legal limits of imagination and creativity!
Loophole’s frame was machined with a milling machine in the neck and seat area for a layered look. Rod work forms the struts and wraps around the leather saddlebags. Chromed rods were used to create the headlight shroud and the front fender that is accented by blue stained glass facets. The seat mount, six-pack carrier, bag tops and footboards are chromed rod work for balance and contrast. Blue anodizing was done on the headlight; derby cover and shock mount covers. The blue theme was carried to the primary cover with the use of blue flexi-glass. The gas tank was built “Finch Style” into the rear fender. The oil tank was built like an old-style chrome cylinder with concave and convex ends. Finch finished off Loophole with a candy blue paint job with multi-colored blends on the rod work, with black to accent the layered frame.


In 1988 - Ron made his first trip to Europe with “Big Daddy” Karl Smith of Rat’s Hole Bike Shows to exhibit his bizarre 3-wheeler, “Trilogy” at bike shows in Essen, Germany and Paris, France. Trilogy is sourced from a 1971 Triumph Trident – 836cc and features triple gas tanks, triple rear fenders, triple exhaust, suspended handle bars, and a rare 5-speed transmission.


In 1993 – Ron created “Outspoken,” one of the first bikes in the US with 80-spoke wheels from Sweden. This would be Ron’s personal ride for the next six years. It features a 96ci S&S engine, chrome moly frame, gas tanks in the floor boards, and rod work fenders with stainless inserts painted in multi-colored candy paint by Finch.


The gas tank is in the floorboards are made from after-market Corvette exhaust covers! The filler cap is at the front of the frame. The covers also serve as exhaust guards toward the rear. The extended swingarm matches the frame with rod work between the tubes. It requires a 178 tooth belt, which gives the motorcycle an extra long wheel base. The shocks are early FLH mounted under the seat, providing a comfortable cushioned ride. The custom stitched leather seat and braided grips and cable covers were made by Leatherman of Flint, Michigan. The front fork is a stock H.D., with hand-made triple trees that are billet aluminum, machined at a 38 degree angle, making them parallel to the ground. These were made by Finchman, Chuck Kehoe. The headlight is hand-rolled into a cone shape and mounted on rod work between the trees. Finch used extruded aluminum to cover the oil tank and air cleaner. The bike has an overall “industrial look” with the black paint, stainless steel and aluminum. A special effect was achieved with tiny brass hands that hold the cables, made by jeweler, “Shamey” from Pennsylvania.


“This was the first motorcycle in the U.S. to have the large rear tire and the 80 spoke wheels,” said Ron. “Riding Outspoken is a whole different experience!”


In 1990 & 1993 – Ron made two more trips to Europe with Karl of the Rat’s Hole to exhibit bikes at the Essen Show. They also brought the bikes to Sweden and the Netherlands. The bikes chosen for the shows were “Aorta,” “Loophole” and “Outspoken.”


“I’ll never forget those trips,” said Ron. “We traveled all over Europe and drank beer in three different countries one day. It was before the Euro, which made it a mess trying to sort out the money – mostly coins. Me and Big Daddy went up in the Eiffel Tower in Paris together and we took the El train out into the countryside and had dinner. Another time, we were traveling for some reason with a guy named “Jumpin’ Jessie” who would literally blow himself up with dynamite. He was kind of a cool nut.


"We traveled up to Sweden, where they called him Yumpin’ Yessy. The first place we stopped was at the best clubhouse I have ever seen in my life. It was in Sofia and the club was Sofia Hogs. I still have the T-shirt they gave me. It was a place converted from an old horse farm with all of the stalls converted for use as custom bike building stalls. They had a party room, a fully equipped machine shop that all of the members could use, and a super-modern spray booth. They already had all of the emission laws over there that we are getting hit with now. I was almost ready to go over there to pursue a dream, because they were getting top money for their work over there.”


2005 - Competing with the top builders of today at the Biker Build-Off Finale in Las Vegas, Ron was awarded the “Biker Blacksmith” Award for extreme metal fabrication.
2006 - He received a Lifetime Achievement Award at the V-Twin Biker’s Ball in Daytona Beach. He gratefully accepted the award, but assured the crowd that he has not finished building bikes.
2008 - He received the House of Kolor Prestigious Painter Award for the paint on his creation, “Finicky.”
2008 – Invited to display 12 of his best custom bikes in the in the Milwaukee Art Museum during the celebration of Harley Davidson’s 105th Anniversary and his METALife sculptures were sold in the Harley Museum store.


2008 to 2009 - Ron’s historic 1969 Panhead chopper, “Odin’s Axle” was exhibited in the Clinton Presidential Library in Little Rock, Arkansas as part of a show that included many of the bikes that Tom Zimberoff wrote about in his books, “Art of the Chopper I” and “Art of the Chopper II.” His work has been featured in hundreds of magazines and has inspired such headlines as “Michigan’s Mysterious Motorcycle Madman” (Ed Roth 1968), “The Fabulous Finch” (Cycle Guide 1969), “The King of French” (Custom Chopper 1973),”Finch Effect”(Bike Bible 1976), “King of Custom” (American Iron 1991), “Mad About Metal” (Supercycle 1995), “Michigan Magician” (Easyriders, Japan 1998), and “ Ron Finch is Nuts” (Easyriders 2004), “Finch Fest” (Easyriders 2007), “Got Finch?” (Tailgate 2008) and “Ron Finch Gets Finicky” (Barnett’s Magazine Oct. 2008).


His custom bikes have been appreciated in museums and art galleries, and in shows throughout the U.S. and in Germany, France, Sweden, and the Netherlands. Labeled as “too extreme” by some, the work of Ron Finch appropriately proclaims the freedom and individualism that is so often associated with the motorcycle lifestyle.



2011 - Ron's newest build is "Outsider." With all of these adventures behind him, Ron is currently showing off his first-ever side car bike, called “Outsider.”





It is an ultimate expression of his steel 3-dimensional rod work with the gas tank, oil tank, and radio hidden in the trunk. “There is a very good chance it will be at the Daytona Show,” he said… AND IT WAS!


Finch’s Custom Styled Cycles
http://www.finchscustoms.com/