The two builders and their teams met in Two Harbors Minnesota on
Tuesday (6/13/2006) in preparation for the ride that started at the Split
Rock Lighthouse just north of the rock, on Wednesday morning at sunup.
The lighthouse is approximately 100 miles south of Canada on Lake Superior
and very scenic. Oh YEAH! It was Leather and or Thermal weather.
The motorcycles were first viewed by each contestant and the
crews at that time. They were beautiful, well built and as different as
night and day, as was the builders. Gypsy the small blond female and
Kim the tall large male. The motorcycles were reflective of each builder.
Engine shot
Gypsy’s bike was a rigid. She designed the frame. Berry Wardlaw, of
Accurate Engineering, built the 80- Cubic-Inch Knucklehead Engine with
two Rear Heads and Dual Mikuni Carbs. The fire engine bobber hosted a
myriad of hand made parts.
Kim had a drop seat frame built by MAXIMUM METALWORKS for a
330mm tire, with a prototype swingarm and a new S&S 120-Cubic-Inch
engine. With Discovery film crew in hand, they rolled from the lighthouse to
La Crosse Wisconsin. While in La Crosse we all visited the S&S facility
for a tour. It was very interesting and entertaining to say the least.
The next morning the motorcycles and crew went for a ride on the La Cross
Queen Paddle boat down the Mississippi. They then headed for
Dubuque Iowa. Kim had some electrical problems on the way.
He’s an extremely experienced builder and repaired his bike quickly,
on the side of the road, allowing him to finish the ride.
We stopped at Midwest Cycles to see Glen and his crew and have a few
cold beers before heading to the hotel.
Saturday morning we headed for the final show event. The Build-off Bikes
would take center stage for voting. It’s named the Sturgis Mississippi
River Motorcycle Rally. It was a County Fair type of thing, with
motorcycles. The two contestants were displayed promenantly, and the
builders were
present to talk to the folks attending and voting on
what motorcycle they liked best.
When it was all over, Gypsy 'Bitchslap'd the competition!
Gypsy with her main team members, Berry Wardlaw, of
Accurate Engineering, and his mentaly handicapped helper, Mild Bill.
Another major Gypsy team player, Larry Curik of Lone Stare Choppers.
He made the pipes, intake manifolds and more.
”I know these guys (other custom builders) don’t want to get
beat by a girl,” Gypsy said, “but it’s time for them to realize,
it’s not a boys’ world out there anymore.
It might be a boy’s club – but not their world.”
The Build Off is scheduled to air the end of August or early part of
September. It will be interesting to see what happens next. Will Gypsy
be invited back? Will she compete against another male or a woman?
I had a terrific time as part of this whole thing and was able to meet a
lot of people and make some new friends.
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