Headin’ for the Party and Keepin’ it Original….’40s police bike came rumbling in with sirens blaring…
Four years ago two Los Angeles area bike freaks, Mike Davis and Grant Peterson, decided they weren’t happy with the general type of motorcycle rallies they were experiencing in Southern California. They weren’t into only seeing bling-bikes costing $50,000 but rather liked seeing what people could put together just for the fun of it with older bikes and on a budget…all kinds of bikes, American, Japanese, European, new, vintage, customs, hotrods, whatever size or shape, they were ready to throw their own party. They wanted to make it free to boot. So, in 2008, while holding down regular jobs, they set the Born Free event in motion. The name Born Free is actually a blending of the names of the co-founder’s other jobs and businesses.
“We had almost 200 bikes attend the first show,” says Grant. “The second party we 2000 bikes rolled in. By third rally, we had 4000 bikes, 10,000 people and several hundred motorcycle people riding in from all over the U.S. and as far away as Canada. We have two dozen sponsors now including our headliners Vans shoes. We want to help bring the younger guys into vintage bikes and also the older guys who are now are looking to get back in, bringing their bikes out again. There’s also a lot of counter-culture cross-over from the skateboarders, surfers and snowboarders. Now we’re getting ready for the fourth Born Free rally and decided to start things off with a Pre-Party and got together with the Garage Company to make it happen. And the event is still free and that includes the bike show and competition. One of the ways we keep the events free is by raffling off a bike. We gave away a 1950 Panhead that Mike and I put together at the second year show, a 1946 Knucklehead last year, and now two ’69 Shovels for this year.” (Grant by the way has a “day job” working at Hot Rod and Car Craft magazines where he runs a 9000 sq. ft. shop building project cars for the publications.)
The Born Free-4 Vintage Chopper & Classic Show party/rally will take place from 10-5 June 30, 2012 at the Oak Canyon Ranch, 5305 Santiago Canyon Road, in Silverado, California…that would be behind Irvine Lake in Orange Country. Camping is available and also near historic Cook’s Corner motorcycle hangout. Currently there are 23 local shops, some small and so far, under the radar, building bikes specifically for Born Free-4. It’s part of the plan to bring public attention to the work of “unknown talents” and spotlight some rising stars in the industry. The spectrum of bikes is unlimited but with a major emphasis on vintage.
As a warm-up to the big party, several hundred people showed up for the pre-festivities at the Garage Company location in Inglewood about 30 minutes from downtown L.A. With 25,000 sq. ft., the shop is one giant museum/vintage parts treasure trove/party central for bike fans from all over the world. It’s about as popular as Disneyland. On this day, visitors to the shop’s Born Free party also had a chance to win several “door prizes” including a custom painted Harley peanut gas tank and could buy raffle tickets and a chance to win not one, but two 1969 Harley-Davidson Shovelheads…one custom chopper and one restored original…both just built by the crew at the Garage Company.
The party started at 2 PM and went until 8, much of it turning into a street party in front of the shop. Bikes lined up for blocks on both sides of the boulevard. Free food included barbecue chicken and an entire pig roasted on a spit plus free beer no less. Like they said…Born Free.
The photos tell the story as the party created lots of indelible images like these…like they say, different strokes for different folks…all bikes welcome.
Garage Company, 30 years in the L.A. area, is the source of all things vintage bike, hangs its new 25,000 sq. ft. location in the city of Inglewood at the Hyde and Augusta streets.
Comin’ to the party in Apes and Fishtails…what more could you want?
East Side Moto Babes
Stacie London and Ana Llorente are the co-founder of the L.A.-based women’s vintage bike riding club.Stacy pilots a ’69 BMW R60 while Ana rides a 1975 Honda CB400-4. Notice the beautiful curves…of the header pipes. Stacie, who’s an exhibition designer at the MOCA art museum also competes in vintage racing aboard a Honda CB160. Anna is a professor and a graphic designer. More info about monthly rides at Facebook/Eastsidemotobabes.
Who are those masked men?
We don’t know their names, what club they belong to or their jobs unless the masks mean something.
Call it the theme of the party…. T-Shirt by one of the sponsors Loser Machine.
The Irvine based company specializes in custom apparel for the skate board/surfing/hotrod/motorcycle Kulture and are supporters of all kinds of events
like the Born Free rallies that bring all kinds of people together. Their products
currently have 300 distributors. www.losermachine.com
11-foot bike features famous Sugar Bear front end, bike built and painted by owner and ex-LAPD bike mechanic Bill Evaines in his backyard.
“Newer” bikes also showed up like ’79 6-cylinder CBX…
Red wheels, white-wall tires on a “stealth bike”???
Welcome to Fameland…aka Hollywood…
Owner of the Garage Company…Yoshi Kozaka tries on ’78 Goldwing touring bike turned into a Boldwing hotrod… on this very day he had to leave half way through the party…his son was getting married and all relatives had flown in from Japan!
DJ Mickey Rat kept the Oldie Goldie platters spinning…with Elvis giving a hand.
Barbecue included pig on a spit and chicken…
… while free Pabst Blue Ribbon flowed.
Bushy, Ian and Steve had just arrived in L.A. from Brisbane, Australia on a vintage car and motorcycle shopping trip for their company Down Under.
Some people had too much fun!!!
Co-founders and organizers of annual Orange Country Born Free bike party, Mike Davis and Grant Peterson with one of not one, but two ’69 Shovelheads raffled off to help promote the free event.
Raffle Bike Test Ride
Garage Co.’s chief designer Kiyo takes one of the Shovels for a spin. It could be yours…
Attitude was all in good fun…probably…
A lucky penny or two…
Interesting observer of interesting Honda 550-4 ratster….
New style of motorcycle boots…
Handbuilt moto-bicycle built by Jeff Wolf harks back to the early days. Bike will go 60 mph and since it has pedals is legally a bicycle. Jeff currently sells his one-offs for about $3500 or can supply just the rolling chassis, you plumb the motor.
Righteous Knuckle on first ride out since build…
Vintage Honda with personalized touches is expressive on hot trend with younger riders building bikes on a budget. You don’t need big motors to have
fun being the name of the game.
Blast from Past… legendary Denver’s Chopper digger bike was built in 1983…owner Brian has been riding it for eight years, not changing a thing…
Party ran from 2-8 PM and turned the block into one big street party….
Time to head home…see you at Born Free4 Party later this summer…
Don’t…Miss….it! Do I need to repeat myself?!!!!
More Born Free4 info at www.bornfreeshow.com
