Held in Stuart, Florida in April of this year, the second of two Shovelhead shows held within a five year span went over so well that people are clamoring for another!
Produced by our own Katmandu and the friends of Linda Madernini, whose husband Bruce passed away way too soon, brought together over 500 people, raised over $5500 dollars and had 54 entries in the Shovelhead Only show ring.
Bikers, real chopper and antique freaks, came from all over South and Central Florida. Buster came up from Homestead however, he didn’t win the Blonde. He brought along a glorious red Flathead and his own black and white early sixties stocker. There were limited classes, stock and custom for FLH and FXE, chopper and naturally, Rat.
The biggest class and majority of the bikes in the ring were the FLH stockers like Buster’s. Man, it was a hard show to win and even harder to judge. However, the judges had résumé’s of their own and definably knew what they were looking at. Senior bike builder and top Grampa in these parts, Lou Falcigno stepped up and was eager to do his bit. Nicky Bootz, former wrench and Wildman of Choppers Inc, came down from Melbourne and brought along a bud, another shop owner, Wayne. These three guys had the difficult task of awarding trophies to the phenomenal motorcyclists in the parking lot.
People arrived early, stayed late and one of those was the ‘66 ice blue and white Best of Show sled. The grand dame of Shovelheads tore up the competition and turned everyone’s heads. Owners were just happy to place in this show since there were only 18 trophies, first through third places, and one for best Rat!That honor went to a mixed up bondo gray and blue beast originally from Pennsylvania and riding in with the Melbourne tribe. The event was graced with the presence of Smitty, SPIRAT owner and old cool biker dude on his funky rigid Knucklehead.
Door prizes took over on hour and half to give out with the guy in the wheel chair taking the USA leather jacket, donated by Nextran MACK Truck Center where Bruce was a parts manager. The Blonde and the Squirrel did an exceptional job of selling door prize tickets that everyone wanted to chip in for. You gotta watch the little women! They got the money!
The food concession, organized by Debbie Ritchie and Tony Hymes, co-workers of Linda’s, and manned by son-in-law Mighty Mike raised over a thousand dollars in sales and gave away more than a few free beers with the lunch plate. Bruce’s daughter Marina was 7 months pregnant and flipped plates and potato salad, as the lines remained constant all day.
The bar hosting the event was our second choice, since Shea’s pulled out after property management disputes. Cruiser’s has changed ownership again and new owners Tim Blakslee and Julian Copsley were more than overwhelmed at the attendance. The bar left us down by not getting a special event permit for the event with months of in-touch preparation.
When the City of Stuart PD showed up, they had a lengthy telephone conversation with Tim and left the bar. However, they harassed the two vendors we had and closed them both down due to not having City of Stuart Occupational Licenses to sell a product. We had to sacrifice two of our own for the good of the fundraiser. This was a bummer in the beginning, a debasement for Katmandu who thought the bar was on the same page and later proved to all of us that you don’t need shopping when there’s motorcycle heritage, tradition and artwork to look at.
The show was a way for us to send our brother Bruce off, to blaze across the universe, after a nasty six-month battle with pericardial cancer. It was a way to shower Linda with love after the loss of her soul mate, her best friend and husband of 31 years. It is the original grounds of all benefits. It’s about back to our roots, to be there, in sickness and in health, with or without bands or vendors, to raise a rebel yell and send a brother home to the silently beautiful cloud canyons of Harley Heaven.
We’re going to miss Bruce’s mellow presence and moral support for all biker community events from the AOA to the Tattoo shows in these parts. He rode above us this day, kept the rains away and smoked the day away with great bikes, great people and lots and lots of donations, the generous form of our own brotherly love.
The family has set up a contribution fund through the Common Ground Vineyard Church. Bruce loved the outdoors, an avid salt water fisherman, so its only fitting for a Bruce Madernini Children’s Camp Fund where monies will help send an inner city kid to summer camp. You can send a donation to CGV Church at 600 Atlantic Ave. Ft Pierce, Fl. 34950
Ironically, Bruce’s own 1980 FLH dressed in original blue on blue paint took home the People’s Choice award at the last show in 2000. That event was for a local halfway house director, also struck with cancer. This show surpassed all and any expectations!
Katmandu would like to thank everyone who came and everyone who participated in the show process. It was for the local boys, the character and foundation in all we do every day.ALL the local motorcycle shops donated a door prize and many more were brought to the event by people whose lives had been touched by Bruce and Linda. ALL those who came, went away touched by Bruce and Linda, their enduring love of the biker lifestyle, especially those old coots on old scoots!
Linda leaned in and said someone approached her and said“I didn’t know your husband but looking around, I wish I had.”Godspeed to you all on your vintage iron. Shovelheads continue to rule.
