70th Daytona Bike Week Images at Rat's Hole Show

I Love Daytona Bike Week! My first bike week was in 1969 and I was there for the 70th Daytona Bike Week and the 39th Rat's Hole Daytona Show, March 12th 2011! To register a bike for the Sturgis Buffalo Rat's Hole Show, go to http://www.ratshole.com/.

What a fun day with friends:
Bike builder Ron Finch, (me) MJ Lloyd-Reynolds and painter Dixie Olin in this photo.

This is Tako Siccasso's new "Death" chopper in the Rat's Hole World Showdown!

Here's a link to 2011 Rat's Hole Show photos at Bike Week.

Here's a link to 2011 Willie's Tropical Tattoo Old School Show photos at Bike Week. 

Posted by MJ Lloyd Reynolds/MJR Media marketing services for the motorcycle industry - mjr.media@earthlink.net

Wikked Steel’s Area 51 Bike "Best of Show" at Rat's Hole Daytona Bike Week and Leesburg Bikefest Shows

Stephen Galvin of Wikked Steel has probably won more major bike shows in recent years than any other bike builder in North America, including back-to-back "Best of Show" wins at the Rat's Hole 2011 Daytona Bike Week and Leesburg Bikefest Shows. Here's his advice.

You can move to Southern California when you become as rich and famous as Jesse James. But if you want to make a name for yourself by winning bike shows, you should probably move to Florida where there are a lot more big-name bike shows and bike rallies.

“We only had three bike shows to look forward to when I was building bikes in Southern California - LA Calendar Show, Love Ride and Santa Maria Bike Fest,” said Stephen, who relocated to the Tampa-Saint Petersburg area in 2005.

He now has 8 Rat’s Hole trophies for “Best of Show” and 1st Place wins at Daytona Bike Week, Daytona Biketoberfest and Leesburg BikeFest, 2008 to 2011. He has “Best of Show” trophies from the Boardwalk Shows – Daytona Bike Week & Biketoberfest, and he won “Best of Show” at the 2010 Thunder Beach Rally Spring & Fall bike shows, as well as “Best of Show” Easyriders – Atlanta 2010 and New Orleans 2009; and “Best of Show” Great American Bike Show – Atlanta 2008; and “Best of Show” - Pro Builder Rick Fairless Bike Show 2010 in Dallas. He won the Florida Bike Builders Invitational in 2008, 2010 & 2011 and was the 1st Place People’s Choice Award at the Ultimate Bike Builder’s Show at Daytona Bike Week 2011.

“My first experience with bikes was with my brother's Triumph 650 Bonneville chopper,” he said. “Cool bike but it WAS English so I was the one to keep it working.”

Stephen grew up in the suburbs of Boston, where he worked on bikes and played guitar. He followed a career in music to California, and for several years owned his own music store. “It wasn't until the late 80's that I started really focusing on bikes and went to work for Bartels Harley-Davidson. Bartels was THE hotbed of HD customizing at the time.”

Working on his own in a 2-car garage, Stephen learned the art of steel fabrication by way of books, videos and experience and became totally hooked. “With each bike I build, I learn new things and apply what I’ve learned to the next bike,” he said.

He decided on the company name Wikked Steel to emphasize his passion for steel fabrication. “Because of the complexity of the shapes in my bike builds, many people incorrectly assume they must be fiberglass,” he noted. “But they are all hand-crafted steel fabrications.” - http://www.wikkedsteel.com/

In 2008, Stephen built a Dragon bike that collected a string of “Best of Show” wins.

Click images to enlarge.

“I finally understood just how much you have to focus on every detail, and I’ve been doing that ever since.” The Dragon bike was built on a Pro-Street frame with a 45 degree rake, 6-inch stretch and stock height; Springer front end, Ultima El Bruto 120-inch engine with a Trik-Shift 6-speed gearbox. It has a 330 Avon rear tire and 120-70 front tire with wheels from Tight Customs in California.

In 2009, Stephen built the Yamaha SpeedStar Warrior that landed one of six spots in the Yamaha 2010 company calendar. His bike, Geisha built with Will Robertson will be featured in the Yamaha 2011 company calendar.

The SpeedStar was built with an extremely modified Road Star frame, retaining just enough frame to cradle the Yamaha Warrior engine and highly modified transmission with a custom dual carb manifold.

Stephen then went on to build "Area 51," the Ultimate Bike Builder People's Choice Award winner and "Best of Show" at Rat's Hole Daytona Bike Week 2011.

"This bike began as a challenge to myself to design and engineer as many unique parts as I could on this bike," said Stephen "I wanted to create a design that looked like it had either come from the future or from some other place entirely. I knew that this meant that I would have to fabricate almost every element myself to have that level of unique design, but I felt confident that I could muster the necessary effort to make it happen."

He started with a one-off frame custom built by Pro-Tube Frameworks with 45 degrees of rake, -2 in the dual downtubes, 5 inches of stretch in the front and 4 more inches of stretch in the rear. The oil bag is incorporated into the chin fairing(s) and holds almost 6 quarts of oil.

"The sheet metal work was all done in-house as that is my favorite part of fabrication," he said. "The front end design was probably the biggest challenge both from a design and functionality standpoint. The fork legs are chrome-moly and boxed in with 16 gauge steel. The front swingarms are solid billet and were CAD designed by me. The steel fork tips, pegs, grips, axle block covers, exhaust system and many of the other unique parts on this bike are also proprietary designs. I spent a great deal of time teaching myself Solidworks in order to create these elements myself and not have to rely on someone else to interpret my ideas."

The wheels are one-off 7 piece designs created by Pickard USA that use the design of the tank as the spokes and the shape of the rear fender as the elements in-between the spokes.

A Baker 6 speed transmission designed for Big Dog was used, as well as a modified Baker DSSC open primary drive. "I love the narrow design and by moving the starter back and down it kept the space under the seat open and clean," Stephen noted.

The engine started out as an Ultima El Bruto 120 CI, which has become Wikked Steel's powerplant of choice. "I then re-designed the heads and cylinders to have a more modern and unique design and to add to the mystique of the bike," said Stephen. "The Ness pushrod covers and lifter blocks complemented their design nicely."

"After the bike was completed and assembled I decided that, as a result of the rear stretch in the frame, my chain was very long (130 links) and not very attractive. I then got on the computer and designed the billet covers for each link and thus turned a negative into another point of interest on the bike. My speedometer is a Garmin GPS which also plays a slideshow of the build when on display."

In an interview during the recent Daytona Bike Week, Stephen said, he loves watching the reactions of people to this build as they explore all of the intricacies of the fabrication. "I also love their reaction when I explain that this and all of my bikes were built in a 2-car garage behind my home. No fancy shop with thousand of dollars worth of machinery."

Click images to enlarge.

Along with other changes, Stephen also disassembled the bike completely for a new paint job by Jason Trimbach Artistry. "It made me crazy to look at the previous paint job and I felt it compromised all the work I had done," he said. "Now she is truly finished and I am proud of every square inch!"

The Area 51 bike presented a number of challenges, and when it first showed at a Rat's Hole Bike Show in 2010, it placed 4th in it's class. A very disappointed Stephen Galvin sat down with Wolfgang Knitterscheidt, a German manufacturers representative and long-time International Rat's Hole Bike Show Judge, who is also a world renowned private collector.

"I saw the Area 51 Bike first appearing in 2010 and I already liked some of it's appearance," said Wolfgang. But in his personal opinion of the bike, he told Stephen he would have to make a lot of changes to improve the bike's ratings in the major bike shows.

"I did not think that he would put himself through all this," said Wolfgang, " But Surprise, Surprise! I saw the bike coming into the Rat's Hole Show in Daytona, and I was flattered. He did 100 percent what I told him he would have to do.

"I asked him if it is for sale and secured it for myself before it was even judged," said Wolfgang "Area 51 is a real beauty. I can't wait to ride this baby all over Germany and see the crazy reactions of all the jealous people!

"I am a collector of over 1000 Radical - still the King's class. I simply bought THE BEST. If anyone knows I should know. 

Damn ....... Area 51 will be amongst some of the nicest bikes ever built in the last decade: The World is not Enough, Triangular, Purple Hooter, Moulin Rouge etc. not to forget all my rideable Vintage Harleys.

"Thanks Stephen," said Wolfgang "This year you were the best!"

(c) 2011 by MJ Lloyd-Reynolds, all rights reserved.

An earlier version of this interview was published in the Leesburg Ratty Rag, April 9, 2011. No part of this interview can be reproduced without written permission.

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/

A New American Motorcycle Company is Born: Motus Motorcycles Unveils MST Series of American Sportbikes

DAYTONA BEACH, Fl - March 10, 2011 - After months and months of fabrication and development, a new American sportbike engineered from the ground up was introduced to the public at the 70th Daytona Bike Week.

This comfortable touring machine is powered by the mighty KMV4 "baby block" engine, a gasoline direct injected, 90 degree V4.


Motus Motorcycles, a 2-year old company based in Birmingham, Alabama introduced the Motus MST series to a crowd gathered at 2pm Thursday at the Progressive International Motorcycle Show at the Ocean Center. The Motus MST series focuses squarely on performance, comfort and range.

Along with a team of engineers, co-founders Lee Conn and Brian Case are personally riding the MST's on an "American Sport Tour" around the US to make sure the pre-production machines are of the quality and durability they demand. They intend to be seen at more than 250 events across the USA.

"There is just no better way to make sure the MST's meet our standards of durability, comfort, and performance than to personally ride the machines and iterate them as we identify issues. Along the way, we are meeting with friends, supporters and high quality dealers that have inquired about carrying Motus in their area," said Brian Case, vice president and director of design.

"We decided early on that no corners would be cut with the MST series. Motus is about precision, quality and attention to detail rather than speed to production," said Brian Case, vice president and director of design. "We are more focused on building great bikes than rushing to meet artificial deadlines," said Case. "Rather than hype the brand with computer renderings of a bike we hadn't even built yet, we engineered the bikes to be functional and actually work first, and then show the world what we have done so far."



The Motus MST's were developed quietly and revealed privately first at the facility of Motus's partner Pratt & Miller Engineering in New Hudson, Michigan and then at Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum in the hometown of Motus, Birmingham, Alabama. (Video, Feb. 2011.)
"We are so proud to show the world the MST series," said Motus president, Lee Conn. "We poured our hearts and souls into these motorcycles and hope that it shows in terms of the quality and character of the machines. The MST's are exhilarating to ride - a very powerful experience unlike any other motorcycle I've ever ridden. There is usable power everywhere in rev-range, excellent feedback from the road, very responsive to inputs and...the sound of the KMV4 still gives me goose bumps every time one cranks," said Conn. The MST prototypes, including the base model MST and the premium MST-R, are scheduled to go into production in late 2011 after extensive testing and refinement.

Conceived and designed in Alabama and engineered in Michigan, the MST prototypes were built using a combination of sophisticated computer aided engineering tools as well as rapid prototyping processes. The transmission, chassis, and bodywork are all purpose built at Pratt & Miller Engineering for high performance, durability, all day comfort, and long range.

"Motus came to Pratt & Miller with some very ambitious engineering and technical challenges and we felt we had the right tools and resources to exceed their expectations in terms of a high level of work in a shortened period of time," said Brandon Widmer, director of business development at Pratt & Miller Engineering. "The MST project has been exciting and challenging allowing us to employ many of our core strengths including complex chassis engineering and optimization, gearbox design and testing, metal and carbon composite fabrication and vehicle validation that is taking place now."

"The MST project has been an absolute blast for us at Pratt & Miller. The work ethic and intensity of the guys at Motus meshes well with our mindset and it has been gratifying to apply some of the skills and technologies we have developed from our endurance racing programs to this new American motorcycle," said Gary Pratt, co-founder of Pratt & Miller.

Download full Press Kit with logos, pictures, FAQ's:
http://www.motusmotorcycles.com/press/presskit/2011/2011mar.zip

About Motus

Motus is strategically located in Birmingham, Alabama, in the heart of the growing southern automotive corridor with Honda, Mercedes, Toyota, Hyundai, and Volkswagen nearby. Birmingham is also home of the Barber Motorsports Park which houses a world class road course and the world's largest motorcycle museum. Founded in 2008, Motus is a privately held company preparing to enter the market with the first V4-powered American sport touring motorcycle. The MST series motorcycles and accessories will be sold internationally through a network of independent dealers and distributors.

The Motus MST series of comfortable American sportbikes have been engineered from the ground up for performance, comfort, and range. The MST concept is a fresh take on what an American motorcycle can be, with optimum rider and passenger comfort for extended, spirited journeys, and quality components for responsive handling. The Motus MST series, including the MST and the premium MST-R, are powered by KMV4 gasoline direct injected V4 engines that feature proven durability and range extending technologies.

For more information about Motus, please visit the website at www.motusmotorcycles.com or email info@motusmotorcycles.com

About Pratt & Miller

Pratt & Miller Engineering is one of the most sophisticated engineering companies in the world and a respected industry leader in the automotive, motorsports, military, and aerospace industries. Pratt & Miller's extensive design, engineering, manufacturing, and vehicle program management capabilities are well established through their numerous championships in the American Le Mans Series, Rolex Grand-Am series, NASCAR and six 24 hours of Le Mans victories in the GT1 category. In addition to motorsports, Pratt & Miller Engineering has played a prominent role developing commercial, aerospace, and defense projects.

For more information about Pratt & Miller Engineering, please visit the website at www.prattmiller.com or contact Brandon Widmer at or bwidmer@prattmiller.com

SOURCE Motus Motorcycles

V8 Motorcycle Parade & Bike Show Raises Funds for Children's Hospitals at Daytona Bike Week 2011

The crowd on Main Street was four-deep to watch the 7th Annual V8 Motorcycle Parade on Wednesday during the 70th Daytona Bike Week.

Photos - by Bruce Abowitt.

A record 127 of the V8 bikes and trikes participated in the parade and a scenic ride that finished with a free Rat's Hole V8 Motorcycle Show at Daytona Lagoon, across from the Ocean Center at 601 N. Earl Street in Daytona Beach.


All V8 owners are welcome to participate in the parade, scenic ride and bike show that is sponsored by Boss Hoss. The annual event is organized by Bill Taylor and other area V8 owners, who are united by their love of the big machines and a desire to raise money for the Shriner's Hospitals for Children.

The V8 owners rolled out for the parade at 1pm from the Custom Works, Boss Hoss dealership at 806 N. Beach Street.

"We had perfect weather and perfect escort help from both the Daytona Beach and Ormond Beach police departments for a scenic loop ride that was just outstanding," said Bill Taylor, who is president of the Midatlantic Chapter of the Boss Hoss Riders Association.



Last year, 105 V8 bikes and trikes from all over the country participated in the parade and ride-in V8 Motorcycle Show. "We met some V8 owners this year that live in California," said Taylor. "Each year, a few more new people join the parade and it just continues to get bigger every year."


Ted and Pam Smith led the parade and ride on their Rat's Hole V8 Custom Trike. They also played host to the V8 Motorcycle Show at 2pm at Daytona Lagoon. The show was open to the public and free to attend. Custom Works provided food and entertainment.


"Everyone loved the band, One Hit Wonder out of St. Augustine and the party continued until after 5pm," said Taylor. The V8 riders expect to donate more than $1,500 to the Shriner's Hospitals for Children. Donations will also be collected at the 39th Annual Rat's Hole Chopper Show on Saturday. Look for the purple buckets! Here's a link to more photos.



More than 90 bikes have pre-registered for the Saturday, March 12th Rat's Hole Show. "We expect to see a couple dozen more bikes register on Saturday morning," said Ted Smith. This year's show features a "World Bike Showdown" with bike builders from Australia, Canada, USA and the EAU on stage with their newest bike builds. Everyone who attends the show will receive a ballot to cast their vote for a favorite bike in the special competition. A new Rat's Hole custom trophy will be awarded to the first, second and third place winners in 22 classes.

Ron Finch at Daytona Bike Week with "Outsider"

Ron Finch of Finch's Custom Styled Cycles is in Daytona Beach for the 70th Rally and you can see his new side-car bike "Outsider" at the 39th Rat's Hole Chopper Show - World Bike Showdown - Saturday, March 12th at Daytona Lagoon, next door to the Ocean Center at 601 Earl Street.


He is also featured in the Daytona Beach Ratty Rag, a limited edition of 20,000 free newspapers published by the Rat's Hole for the 70th Daytona Bike Week. Grab a copy on the street or at the bike show on Saturday.

For details or to register a bike go to http://www.ratshole.com/

Daytona Bike Week was originally the "Run To The Sun" Rally.
Click the newsapaper cover image for event details.

What a Blast From the Past - CK this out: Daytona 1980 Bike Week!

What's Happening at 70th Daytona Bike Week?

What a blast from the past! Check out this photo collection of Daytona Bike Week 1980!

Hard to believe that was 31 years ago! I was there, and I was also there in 1972 when Big Daddy Rat, Karl Smith presented his first-ever Rat's Hole Chopper Show.

The weather has been perfect for the 70th Daytona Bike Week! Nothing like last spring when women were running around in fur hats!

Here's a taste of Daytona Bike Week on RallyTV - Day 2 of the 70th. You can see Cris Sommers Simmons with her 1915 Harley-Davidson "Effie" at the Harley-Davidson Women's Zone on Beach Street in downtown Daytona Beach, every day between 2 and 4pm. Her husband, Pat Simmons of the Doobie Brothers was at the rally with her for one night.

Fox Sports is in town, no doubt filming the Supercross and Daytona 200 motorcycle races. They also filmed some of the messages etched on paver bricks being installed in the new biker's Heritage Walkway at 316 Main Street Station.

The Main Street Station web-cam was live over the weekend and will be live again on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, Noon to 8pm (March 10-12.) Click this link to watch video streams.


It was perfect riding weather, Saturday and several thousand riders headed west 25 miles to the DeLand Rally for the Pro-Am Bike Show. There was also a Church of Chop Bike & Hot Rod Show in nearby DeLeon Springs. A free 5:30pm Jonny Lang concert at Orlando Harley-Davidson was also a ride option.

Ryan Villopoto - Kawasaki won the Saturday night AMA Supercross series race at Daytona International Speedway, which is also an FIM World Championship race.

Don't miss the V8 Motorcycle Parade on Beach Street in downtown Daytona Beach at 1pm Wednesday. More than 120 custom V8 motorcycles and trikes are expected to participate in the V8 Parade, a scenic ride of the loop north of Daytona Beach and a 2pm (free) V8 Motorcycle Show.

2011 Daytona Bike Shows: Still ahead is the International Motorcycle Show that opens Wednesday at the Ocean Center. The V8 Ride-in Motorcycle Show, next door to the Ocean Center at 2pm Wednesday at the Rat's Hole/Daytona Lagoon location. The Cycle Source - Limpnickie Lot swap meet and bike show, Tattoo Willie's Old School Chopper Show on Thursday, and a Sport Bikefest in South Daytona.

Confederate Railroad will be in concert at the Iron Horse Saloon on US1 on Wednesday, March 9th and Sons of Anarchy's Tommy Flanagan "Chibs" will be at Iron Horse from 4 to 8 pm Thursday the 10th to take pictures with rally goers, sign autographs etc. Jasmin Cain, JB Walker, Cheap Whiskey Band and Big Engine are also on the lineup for Bike Week 2011.

Main Street Entertainment: The Razorbacks are headlining nightly except Monday at The Bank & Blues Club. Full Moon is featuring RidlynGrip on its inside stage and Bad Manners on its outside stage. Dirty Harry's features classic and modern Rock including KGBLick and Crachrocket. Main Street Station bands include Broad Bent Betty, Smokin' Mirrors, From Out of Nowhere, Josh Adams and Microwave Dave. The Boot Hill lineup includes AD/DC Highway To Hell, Miss Hap and Liquor Box.

V-8 Motorcycle Parade & Bike Show at Daytona Bike Week 2011

The 7th Annual V8 Motorcycle Run
is due to roll down Beach Street at 1 pm in downtown Daytona Beach on Wednesday, March 9th. More than 120 V-8 bikes and trikes are expected to ride the scenic loop together, north of Daytona Beach and return for the Rat's Hole V-8 Motorcycle Show at Daytona Lagoon.

"It was an awesome sight to watch 105 custom V-8s roll into the 2010 Rat's Hole Show, and this year's event promises to be even bigger and more spectacular," said Ted Smith, owner of Rat's Hole Shows. Best of all, the show is free and open to the public. Gates open at 2 pm.

- Boss Hoss sponsors the annual charity run that raises money for the Shriners Hospitals for Children. But all brands of V8 motorcycles and trikes are welcome, including home-built customs. This has always been a non-brand specific "V8 Motorcycle Run."


"Please bring ALL brands of bikes and trikes so we can enjoy the incredible machinery as a group," said "Wild Bill" Taylor, who organizes the annual ride. "The ride begins promptly at 1pm so please plan on arriving early to bench-race and hang out."

Start: Custom Cycle Works / Daytona Beach Boss Hoss - 806 N. Beach Street, Daytona Beach

End: Daytona Lagoon - Rat's Hole Show.
601 N. Earl Street, Daytona Beach, FL 32118.

- "This is a very cool ending point! " said Taylor. "We will park our scooters all around the interior of the waterpark - all paved, easy access, just two blocks from Main Street and it's right next door to the Daytona Beach Ocean Center Arena."

- As usual, please come with a generous heart and give freely to the Shriners Hospitals for Children. Look for the maroon donation buckets. Every dollar goes to the Shriners with the exception of a small donation to the local Police Department for their help with an escort. We are working on expanding our police escort for 2011 to make the ride better than ever!

- Everyone who participates will receive a Free T-shirt and Free Mug! The first mug of beer is also free at the V8 Show.

"I can't believe that this ride is now in it's 7th year of raising money for the Shriners Hospitals for Children! Our community of V8 Bike/Trike Riders makes the V8 Motorcycle Ownership experience like no other... Thanks to all who support events such as this and others that help to keep our group tight!!!" said Bill.

Travel Channel To Film Rat's Hole World Bike Showdown

The Travel Channel will be filming the 39th Rat's Hole Chopper Show - World Bike Showdown on Saturday, March 12th at Daytona Lagoon, 612 N. Earl Street during the 70th Daytona Bike Week!

Come join the party.. everyone through the gate will receive one ballot to vote for their favorite bike in the World Bike Showdown.

Bike builders from Australia, Canada, EAU & USA will be live on stage! Come early to pick up your copy of the free Daytona Beach Ratty Rag, featuring interviews with bike builders Cyril Huze, Dave Perewitz, Ron Finch, Tako of Sickasso Creations, and more...

First published for Daytona Bike Week 1974, the first, oldest and longest running (free) biker newspaper went out of circulation at the turn of the new century... and now it's BACK! A limited 20,000 copies will be issued and available (free) at the Rat's Hole Show, so you better show up early this year on Saturday, March 12th to grab your copy! The all-day show will feature 22 classes of bikes, Miss Ratmate & Tattoo Contests, emceed by Radical Randy at Daytona Lagoon water park, next to the parking garage, just off of (A1A) Atlantic Ave. beachside - 614 N. Earl Street, Daytona Beach.

"If you were awarded one of the big, bronze colored Big Daddy Rat trophies in the last couple of years, get ready to add a new trophy to your collection," said Ted Smith, owner of Rat's Hole Shows. "We are going to unveil a new tri-colored custom trophy that will be awarded to the top 1st, 2nd & 3rd place winners in every category."

There is always excitement and anticipation going into a Rat's Hole Show, said Tako of Sickasso Creations. "I will be bringing three bikes that have never been shown. Mostreet that I built for former Boston Red Socks player, Mo Vaugn; plus another Pro Street bike that I am just finishing called "Twisted" and then the Gothic & Old School "Death Bike."

To register a bike, go to http://www.ratshole.com/

Click here to view a Rat's Hole Facebook gallery.

Daytona Bike Week: Charity Road Report

When bikers converge on Daytona Beach to celebrate the 70^th Daytona Bike Week, March 4 to 13, 2011, they will also have the opportunity to help feed needy children by way of a donation or the purchase of a T-shirt, with all proceeds going to the Bread of Life Pantry & Back Pack Program.

The Florida-based Rider NOW magazine will be selling the T-shirts and collecting donations at their booth, directly in front of the Boot Hill Saloon on Main Street, Daytona Beach.

Click the image to enlarge for details.

We are all acutely aware that it’s a tough economy for everyone, however those who depend on the kindness and generosity of others feel the pinch even more. This past year, the Marine’s Toys for Tots program distributed a record number of toys to needy children across the nation, thanks in part to the continued support of bikers who participated in toy runs in spite of their own personal financial troubles.

Here's a Charity Road Report from Johnny Lange of Strip Club Choppers, who had the opportunity to help with three charity events over the past few months in Florida.

"Although the SCC Tour wasn’t on the road very much from November to February, we didn’t allow that to freeze over the spirit of bikers giving back to the community. During these frigid months SCC was fortunate to be involved in three charity events.

Rider Now magazine asked us to participate in a food drive for a church in Ocala Florida. Val, the magazine editor, donated a bunch of food and we donated clothing and parts to be auctioned off as well as participating in a photo shoot that graced the cover of the magazine.

The second charitable event was unplanned, two police officers were killed in St Petersburg Florida in January and when Johnny worked for the Department of Juvenile Justice years ago (who would have guessed that one) he worked closely with this department. The Full Throttle Bike Builders Invitational in Clearwater Florida turned into an informal fundraiser for those fallen officers and the biker community rallied on the spur of the moment to raise almost 70k!

The third charity that caught our attention was for a one-year-old girl named Victoria with acute leukemia. My friend Aaron Blowout Morrow, the stereo typical big bad ass biker, and we mean big, took pledges for every pound he could lose, this just might cure cancer altogether, way to go Aaron. You can find additional info at Victoriasvoyage.com.

I guess the bottom line is no matter how tough the biker community may seem on the outside, we have a heart the size of a V-twin on the inside. It has been said about our culture that we are the first to support a good cause and the first to step up and protect our country. It’s 100% true. Even though times are tough and many of us can’t afford to donate monetarily we can give our time through volunteering, product donations or even weight loss, go figure, hey A+ for creativity.

The weather is clearing; the sun is starting to shine on the open road and the 2011riding season is upon us. Come by and see us from March 4th to the 13th in Daytona at the Hang Dawg Saloon right across from the Iron Horse Saloon on US1. And for you guys planning your year in advance here are some other events we will be at so far: Thunder in the Hill Country, Bandera Texas, March 31- April 3 and the Carts, Bikers and Babes Rally, April 8-10, in Somerville Texas. For additional info visit www.stripclubchoppers.com