Page 2
I had so many people pouring over my bike. I met two gentlemen that drove 1959
Cadillacs when they came out and were instantly drawn by those taillights on
Vicious, as were most of the people that came up for a closer look. There was
one guy, big guy, seemed very important, I think he may have been a builder, a
very intimidating figure and a man of few words, he went over my bike very
closely, pulled out his cell phone and made a call while talking about my bike,
and looked it over some more. He went around the show with a counterpart with
the same logo'd shirt on, and came back to my bike. I was describing what all I
did to it to a few other folks and he came up to me and said....
Where you from?"......
Plano Texas I said back...
he paused..... looking off to his left with an ear towards me as if to be saying
something he didn't ant others to hear, he says, ... "I really like
everything you've done." as he stuck his hand out to be shaken. I shook his
hand and said thanks man, I really appreciate that.
The last time I would see him he same up with a ballot and looked at Vicious'
number 12 and headed back to the voting booth. Wish we would have gotten a
picture of him so if I saw him again somewhere, I would know who he was.
A closer seat inspection caught on tape! I took this shot so Carman could see people enjoying his work.
Lots of people really enjoyed the bike. It was fun to tell the story of the
build up many times. Next time I will have cards made up referring them to my
website and have Donny's (the painter) and Carman's (seat maker) sites on it too.
Here I am answering questions, mostly "What was it?" and wearing the shirt I have been saving for this event!
More talking.
Donny, my painter, and his wife Teri hung out with us most of the day and handed
out some fliers and I think I drumed up some local business for him too. They
really enjoyed watching people pour over the bike and look closely at the detail
in the paint and other details. He was as proud as I was watching it all unfold
in front of us.
Many people thought the taillights were 1956 Caddy, some 50's Pontiacs, or
Buicks. Some thought the bike was a VTX because of the headlight, but no one
knew it was an 1100 Shadow.
We thought this was a hilarious logo. We could see it from our vantage point and zoomed in for the shot! See the butt?
It was a peoples choice show so ballots were handed out to people walking
through. Erin and I refrained from voting for our own bike and just watched
everyone else. People watching is fun!! The holsters were a hit on the bike
too!! Everyone thought that was so clever! The voting ended at 12:30 and the
announcements came at 1. They called five numbers out and asked those owners to
bring their bikes up to the podium. Erin and I were ecstatic to have number 12
announced!!
Here we are moving the five winning bikes up to the podium. A
guy from a Knoxville paper was taking photos. Donny is going to grab a copy if
they post them.
Here I talk to the Cobra man in charge about Vicious before the announcing of placements. I am the worst at remembering names...
They introduced some builders and editors of some magazines that were given VTXs
to customize from Honda directly. One has a rear fender that lifted up and
covered the leather saddle bags and rear tires. I liked it for the enginnering
of it but everyone I talked to thought it was butt ugly. The other one was nice.
They said that they had 30-40 grand into those bikes. Donny was snickering in
the crowd. I figure I have about 10 grand in mine including the $6000 purchase
price!
They announced winner number five, a bike called "Lipstick" owned and
ridden by a lady rider.
Here is Me, Teri and Donny ....my new friends and paint crew! Waiting for number 12 to be called out.
The next bike (number 4) was another lady rider . It was white with floorboards and fringed leather accents all over it. Nice clean looking bike.
The number 12 bike was called and it was Vicious. I got third place in a sea of two, 30 grand bikes. I can live with that. I had to give a run down of what I did to the bike and when they are shoving a microphone down your throat and your already sweating your butt of, in front of a large crowd, it is hard to remember everything. I did manage to get out Donny and Carman's names and websites but never even mentioned the mod that really draws everyone in....the Caddy taillights.
Here I am telling about my bike.
The next bike was the gold VTX. The guy takes the mike and thanks so and so
builder, so and so parts places galore, mentions some parts he wanted to put on
it but couldn't afford, never mentions once how anything was done on the bike.
Again turned more peoples heads....these are Honda guys...we do not want to hear
how much you paid so and so to build you this and that...tell about the mods
man!! Its funny, I cannot find any pictures of him with his bike.....he was the
only one taking his bike for rides through the crowded concession areas where he
didn't belong.
And the number one peoples choice was the Honda Ruin....I mean Rune. (Sorry, the
Valkyrie rider in me). It was a stock bike with some custom paint and an NOS
bottle on the side. Wonder if it was hooked up..
After the sow we walked the concourse and saw all the vendors stuff. I saw a
tire changer I think I am going to have to have. No more wrestling with a $5
tire tool!! No scratching rims, takes minutes to mount!! I mounted and
dismounted a front tire on a carbon fiber wheel and an ATV tire. In minutes. We
got a few shots of Vicious and Donny and I joined in with the first trophy I
have ever won at a bike show!
I think this was during the #2 winners speech that Erin was taking this shot....
Like two proud parents!! LOL
We left and went back to my painters shop and pulled the front fender off. I
left it with him and loaded Vicious and the Valk back up and we headed home.
Stopped just west of Nashville for the night and got home about 10 Sunday. With
bikes in the garage, bags in the bedroom, report about finished up, I will look
at my Third place plaque again and go to bed and start thinking about what all I
have to accomplish to make it to the Honda Homecoming next month!
Here are a few closing shots Erin took before we stopped.
Main Bike Page Vicious Home Page
Gonzo
02' Shadow Spirit "Vicious Cycle", 98 Valkyrie "Eragon"