Thursday night Tesla rocked the battlefields in Gettysburg. Following an excellent day of riding and visiting the band played for over an hour without a break. Jeff Keith can belt out the songs and was truly excited to be at the rally. His energy is contagious and he really lights up the stage. The bands that are lined up for the event will provide some great music.
The bike build off got under way with a rivalry between last years builders. Good friends and local bike builders were putting on a serious competition. The first and second place winners last year came back to do it again. Greg Carter from Vicious Cycles was the second place winner and Tom Keffer of Franklin Church Choppers were going at it again.and Iron Works. This bike is destined for one of those magazines as well.
Tom is doing a Shovelhead salt shaker with plans of running it on the salt flats. His bike is a tribute to Evil Knievel’s jump bike and is a cross between a Harley and sport bike. The frame is a an 81 Harley stretched and raised 2 inches with a Honda CBR600 tail section. The 81 Harley engine stroked to 93 cubic inch will provide plenty of power. The tin work is a combination Harley and Honda with a red, white, and blue paint scheme. Tom grew up like most of us without the luxury of a DVR or VCR and remembers watching Evil Knievel do test run after test run, checking to make sure everything went right before his jump. Tom said it felt like forever watching him get ready. Those are the first memories of bikes and most likely his start. Now he is a trooper by day and bike builder by night. A few more years until he can retire from being a trooper and devote all his time to bikes, and I am sure family as well. With what he has done so far, the sky is the limit when he has more time to give. Being in business for 10 years he has recently had bikes featured in American Iron, The Horse Back Street Choppers,and Iron Works. This bike is destined for one of those magazines as well.
Vicious Cycles came at it from a completely different angle. They put together a bare bones long chopper. Chatting with Greg, he told me the inspiration for the bike was a close friend called Salty from Ocean City Maryland, who had been coveting one of Greg’s choppers. Salty’s bike became a donor for the project using the Evo engine and tranny, and that was all Greg needed . Staring out with a Redneck frame, everything else was hand built and had a purpose, nothing extra on this bike. The oil bag was fashioned as a nose scoop keeping the bike looking clean. To make the handlebars Greg recycled take off crash bars, he has been working a while to perfect his design and came up with one his customers like. The springer front end was also scratch built. It will take a tall rider to fit this bike and Greg said Salty fits that bill. Salty’s surf shop is involved with Salt Life Clothing and this will become the Salt Life bike.
The Build Off contest was a close one with only 10 votes separating the the two. Vicious Cycles took the prize and won this years build off. But with that close of a race you can tell that both were quality builds and the crowd was pretty well split as to the style bike they liked. I am sure we will continue to see these two shops competing and putting out outstanding work.
Friday brought more good weather and great music. We slipped off in the morning on the daily poker run. The scenery around Gettysburg was amazing. Coming from Colorado the green blew us away, the funny thing was the locals said it was kinda dry. That’s the kinda dry I can put up with. Navigating the curves and watching the country side was a chore at times but being careful I managed. A combination of woods, farms, and orchards filled the vista. Some of the orchards covered hill sides making for a striking view. I can only imagine what it looks like when all the apples are red and ripe. Picture your favorite girl wearing just a green with red pokadot apron, yes that the one. One orchard in particular covered at least 100 acres of hill side and was groomed just like your front yard. We made our way into Maryland and enjoyed a crab lunch and a cold beer at Rub’s Crab Shack before finding our way back to Granite Hill.
Evening brought more great music and the Flaunt Girls and Shane Speals Snake Oil Band got things off to a wild start. Talk about energy… even the Flaunt Girls couldn’t keep from dancing, they were up on the stage grooving to the cigar box music. I never knew a cigar box could make that kinda music, it was electric and rocked.
The Flaunt Girls followed with a full show, biker burlesque at its finest. They not only have the looks but they have the moves too. Everything from dance to flying with silk ribbons. They encouraged the crowd into the show with a little strip-tease included. But they not just there for the show, the girls spent time with their fans. A special moment was spent with a young disabled boy, they sure put a smile on his face. It lets you know that the bike community really cares !
The Kentucky Headhunters were up next, but first Michelle Dell from New York’s Hogs and Heifers Saloon heard they were in town and dropped in just to say hi. Michelle and the Kentucky Headhunters are old friends. The Headhunters shot their first music video at the Hogs and Heifers Saloon. Michelle jumped up on stage with Jack and started a bucket going around for Breast Cancer donations. The crowd obliged and made a handsome donation. Michelle’s pitch went something like this, “ I have boobs and I like my boobs and want to keep them as do the rest of the ladies here, and you guys like to look at our boobs so get out your money and throw a handful in the bucket so we can all enjoy boobs !”
Those boys from Kentucky can sure lay down the tunes. Being their first time in Gettysburg they hired one of the local tour guides to show them around the battlefields that morning. They commented on how awe inspiring the battlefields and memorials were. I was impressed that they took time out of a busy schedule to enjoy the history and remember the fallen. Sometimes I think we are all going too fast and just need to step back and appreciate where we live and what it took to get us where we are today. Back to the music, I am a convert and will be adding them to my play-list. Everyone enjoyed the show. The night was finished off with Big Jack an AC/DC cover band. They were accompanied by Avery Molek a seven year old drummer. Avery brought his own style to the AC/DC music. The crowd was driven wild.
Saturday brought more fun and games with the Cycle Source Magazine ride in bike show. There were some nice rides on display. Chris Callen the editor and chief of Cycle Source had a difficult time judging the event. We had everything from a 64 Harley Police Service trike to a Jack Sparrow pirate chopper. There was lost of custom paint and one of a kind builds. A shovel head bobber took best of show and was well deserved. It was my favorite also, other than the police trike.
I was able to chat with Chris for a few minutes and we shared stories about Bandit. Sounds like we both have developed the same appreciation and respect for the man. Chris told me how he turned the table on Bandit, something abut hack editors and some of Bandits early writing. We both had similar stories about how Bandit was supportive of young writers. Just a confirmation that he is someone you would be proud to have your back.
From the bike show we moved to the biker games with the slow race, hotdog bite, water balloon limbo, and keg roll; finishing off with a smoke out. The contestants and spectators had a great time. Jack Schitt kept the crowd engaged even though the heat was starting to rise. You could tell from the performances that for a few of the riders and co-riders this wasn’t their first rodeo. Jack gave hints and tips to the newbies. A little money was won and a good time was had by all.
Off to the bikini contest, no rest for the wicked…This is a hard job…….
The Great Train Robbery took the stage after the Flaunt Girls and put on another tantalizing performance. Their hard hitting southern rock style of music went over well with the audience and was a perfict finish for the weeks assortment of music. Sitting on the grass in the wooded campground the music fit the mood. A combination of their own music and the classics of Lynyrd Skynyrd, Stevie Ray Vaughn, and others filled the night air. They played for two hour long sets with a fireworks display in the middle that made me proud to be an American.
To wrap up the four day event we took a guided tour of the Gettysburg battlefields. Our guide a rider himself took about 17 of us around for a history lesson on the events that unfolded here in July of 1863. It was hard to get my head around the numbers. For the concert Thursday night the Tesla concert crowd was estimated at about five thousand, the three day battle casualties numbered approximately fifty thousand. Ten times the number I photographed Thursday night. Those proud solders, fighting for their cause, fighting to uphold the freedoms they believed in. This is someplace everyone should visit and try to understand.
The Gettysburg Bike Week was a great event, it was a family orientated event with lots to see and do in the area. Next year the event will move back to its original location at All-Star in Gettysburg but promises to deliver the same good time. If you get the chance, take it in…
Until Next Time
David Campbell
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