Interview:
Give a brief history of your involvement with motorcycles.
I became interested in motorcycles at a young age as most do. Back then, it was 3 wheelers. When I got to my college days I had to have 2 wheels. I spent years learning about working on them before I bought one. I lived alone and wanted to make sure I could fix it if something went wrong. I found a 1996 XL 1200, only when I got to the small shop that had it listed, it was an 883. I had a brown bag of cash with me ready to buy. I told the guy, “I have cash here for a 1200″, he said “I’ll put new pistons and cylinders and make it a 1200” and that was that.
Do you have art training, or photography training, tell us about it?
I studied painting in my hometown of Southbridge Mass from Christine O’Brien, an amazing artist, teacher and friend. I then entered Monsterrat College of Art and was in awe of all the new media I was learning. I took a photography course and fell in love with it, and have stayed with it ever since 1994.
You ran a shop for sometime; tell us about the shop and your partner?
I ran RT’s North Hills Cycle Inc. in Pittsburgh PA, for 14 years with custom painter Ron Tonetti. No one better at laying down a flame paint job! We did service work and started real small I used to change tires by hand with a bead breaker and spoons. Ron still runs the shop in Pittsburgh and still has an amazing reputation as one of the greatest painters in the business. We did a bunch of ground up builds and even built a bike for one of the Pittsburgh Steelers. That bike was featured in the American Motorcycle Museum exhibits “MotoStars, Motorcycles and Celebrities”
What was the inspiration for the book 1000 Tattoos?
Being at the motorcycle rallies for over 10 years just made me realize how much a part of tattoos are in motorcycling. Everywhere you look you can find some amazing skin art, and some very entertaining skin art.
Have you written any other books? Tell us about them and what inspired you to write them?
I authored “How to Repair and Maintain American V-Twin Motorcycles”. This book was basically my journey of how I learned to work on motorcycles, and then the experience of watching new people get into motorcycling and try to find the same answers I set out to find back then. I wrote this book to help people, to put all the information in one place.
From an Artist perspective, how do you feel about your photography goals and where are you going next?
I never know where I’m going next. Literally, I try to think I have plans, but I have learned things change, people change, times change, plans don’t always work. I take things day by day. See where the next turn in the road takes me. I’ll never be satisfied with my work, I can always improve and learn more.
2014 is just starting, Let’s Ride…..where will we see you this year?
Well focused on getting better after a major hip surgery. I’m not sure, but I hope to just pop up at an event soon!
Motorcycling has notoriously been a man’s world, have you experienced any problems with this as a woman?
Sometimes, but for the most part the guys are good, they don’t really care.. To be honest no one really cares.
What is your current ride? Tell us about it please.
I still have that 1996 XL, MegaFlo did the heads, it runs like nothing I have ever ridden, Supertrapp 2 into 1 pipe, still the stock carb, PM wheels, rotors and brakes, Progressive spring and shocks, Mustang solo seat. I love that bike and it runs amazingly well.
Is there one bike that you have owned that you are most connected to?
Do you still have this bike?
My XL mentioned above.
If there is one piece of advice you could share with other women riders, what would it be?
Don’t be concerned with what others think of you. Do what makes you happy. Be comfortable, be yourself!
Sara has been a major influence in the photographic world of motorcycling ever since she graduated from Montserrat College of Arts in 1997. Her work is featured in many leading motorcycle publications such as Easy Rider Magazine, In the Wind, Hot Bike, Street Chopper and IronWorks Magazine. She has also produced Ads, marketing material and annual reports, including GEICO in their 2007 print ad campaign. She has worked with Cycle Source Magazine as their staff photography Editor.
Motorcycles are a big part of her life and she co-owned and operated RT’s North Hills Cycle Inc., in Pittsburgh for many years. She builds custom motorcycles and designs custom paint jobs. She is a published author of two books so far. One is a book called “How to Repair and Maintain American V-Twin Motorcycles” in 2006. This book is a guide to servicing your own bike for those who wish to work on their own rides, especially aimed at new riders.
She just recently published the book “1000 Biker Tattoos” which we reviewed here on Bikernet. A photographic journey through the art of motorcycle tattoos. You can read this review here on Bikernet. Click Here
She has already reached many pinnacles throughout the motorcycle industry and is well known. She was recognized as a leading motorcycle designer and photographer at the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally in 2005. House of Kolor named her RT’s North Hills Cycle prestigious painter for 2007 – this is one of the top awards in the industry. She is often seen at big events with a microphone and camera working as a journalist amongst other things. Below you can watch one of her interview sessions:
Her photography is particularly amazing with several collections of fine art work using a technique she calls “Image Fusion”, which combines images together to create a piece of art. Her work is featured in many galleries, such as Mingo Art Gallery in Beverly, MA, Blue Ruin Gallery in Pittsburgh and Just Jennifer Gallery in Gettysburg, PA.
One of her exhibits is “Woman and Machine” where she fuses images of beautiful women with the working parts of motorcycles. This exhibit was featured at the Belknap Mill Gallery in Laconia, NH for Bike Week, and on the television show “Riding With Rossi” which was shown on the Travel Channel.
Her latest exhibit called “Builder and Machine” is of exquisite quality featuring well known designers such as Dave Perewitz and the late Johnny Chop. You can often see her artwork at many of the big and famous motorcycle events and shows around the country.
There is no question; she is a very talented and accomplished artist, photographer, author, journalist, motorcycle designer, builder and painter and so much more. Where she will pop up next or what new project she will be offering you can bet it will be amazing and exciting! So whether she is building motorcycles, riding them, servicing them, designing fantastic paint jobs, or behind the lens of her camera her work will bring a new dimension to the world of motorcycling.
She expresses this best with her own words: “I never set out with a goal to be where I am, I just do what I love.”
Sara’s Website – Click Here
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