Bikernet is proud to bring you the winning bike from a recent biker build-off competition from the Veterans Rock & Roll Ride (VR&RR) to support military charities in our on-going effort to support our troops during our Bikernet Year of the Veteran.
VR&RR Inc is a non-profit company that owns and operates the motorcycle rally known as “Branson Rock Ride Remember.” The VR&RR provided builders with $10,000.00 to build a bike with a military theme. Four builders were involved and brought their running tribute to our military to the Veterans Rally by May 15th.The bikes were judged from the 15th to the 18th by a people's choice effort administered by the event staff.
“We put a full court press on this build and I am excited that the attendees thought so highly of our custom Brass Balls Bobbers’ Digger that they voted us Number 1,” said Dar Holdsworth, Darwin Motorcycles President and Master Designer.
This rally raises money for non-profit charities and military organizations in the Missouri region and the Ride to the Wall Foundation. The event benefits America’s Military Veterans, so rally organizers created a build-off that featured a branch of service or a specific military conflict tied to each bike. Those themes went into four totally different, original bikes, by four very distinct builders.
“I want to thank the entire team for making this happen,” Dar said, “which includes Sam Wills, heading up operations, for the outstanding fabrication, John White of Crazy Horse for his stunning V-Plus engine, Jeral Tidwell on his creative paint theme, Hawg Halters for outstanding hand controls and brakes, Crime Scene headlight and air cleaner, Tauer Machine LLC for their 2–inch Warlord open primary, Scott Webster and Leroy Thompson for the hammered brass signature series grips, Rich Phillips with Bikersaddles.com for the hand-tooled leather seat and Chopper Shocks on their innovative seat shock system.”
Here's what the VR&RR staff had to say about the rally:
Forget everything you THOUGHT you knew about the Branson Motorcycle Rally! The Rally is now named the Branson Rock Ride Remember Motorcycle Rally and its permanent home is at Area '57 (www.area57events.com), located on Highway 76 inside of the Dick Clark American Bandstand Theater Complex (www.ab57.com) in the heart of Branson, Mo. Area '57 is an extraordinary outdoor venue built specifically for motorcycle rallies, car shows and concerts. Branson is nestled in the Ozark Mountains and you can enjoy the city's life with all the excitement that Branson has to offer. But when its time to explore the highways and byways of the Ozarks, within a matter of a few short minutes, you can be touring along some of the most beautiful country roads in America.
There is a very affordable registration fee to attend this event and it includes the official rally pin, patch and t-shirt, area ride guide, goodie bag and four-day gate admission. They rally also offer discounted room rates as well as discounts to area attractions and show tickets, so be sure to ask about them when you call. All you have to do is make one call and your accommodations and rally registration are secured. There are no minimum stay requirements and no inflated room rates, which makes this event very economical.
Please join us and your friends at the next Rock Ride Remember Motorcycle Rally in Branson in the heart of the Missouri Ozark Mountains May 14-17, 2009.
The actual build-off competition took place in Dick Clark American Bandstand Theater.
“Lots of rallies boast of the biggest, baddest build-offs on the planet, but few will have the twist that the Branson Rock Ride Remember Rally had,” said rally director Ken Childers. “The event benefits America's Military Veterans, so rally organizers looked to create a build-off that featured a branch of service or a specific military conflict themed to each bike. We are giving some exciting new builders the chance to win some outrageous money and the unique part is that the overall prize winner will be decided by the people,” Childers said. “When attendees come through our gate, they will be given a People's Choice ticket, shown the four bikes, and asked to vote on the best bike in the contest.
“The twist to our build-off is that each bike will be for sale to the highest bidder via online auction. You can actually have the chance to own the bike you voted on! We have not heard of any other build-off in the Midwest doing it quite like this.”
Dar and the team that builds the Brass Balls Bobbers were given six weeks to complete their bike and deliver it to the rally. Dar and his partner kicked off Brass Balls Bobbers just a few years back and built eight bikes their first year. Although Sam Wills is an old school drag racer with 30 years of experience building frames for many well-known drag racing teams, they still only built 16 bikes their second year. However, their reputation for building solid, rideable scooters grew and they built 27 bikes the third year. This year, in a down market, with this build-off hanging over their heads and a new dealer program growing, they plan to build 75-100 bikes. That's progress.
Dar told me they only have three models on the website. “But any owner can choose up to 60 variations to his bike before we turn a wrench” Dar said.
That's one distinctive reason Dar chose to be involved in this Military Charity effort. “I wanted to support vets and show the world the potential changes, alterations and styles available to any customer.”
As Sam built the tight, strong racing-level Digger Bobber model frame, Dar picked one of five styles of engines. He chose the 100-inch V-Plus from Crazy Horse Engineering.
“Six weeks is our number,” Dar explained. “Any customer who orders a bike from any of our current eight dealers or online can expect to take shipment within six to eight weeks, unless they buy a model on a dealership floor floor.”
“I would have liked to keep this bike,” Dar said. “I like the WWI trench knife grip/pegs, the first paint job by famed artist Jeral Tidwell from Human Tree.com. He's know for his art on Smoke Out Posters and for unique sub-culture art.”
They started with a clear powder-coated frame so onlookers could witness the high quality workmanship. Then they Scotchbrite-textured all the chrome and polished components, including their new Hawg Hauler brakes. Crime Scene components came into play, along with Leroy Thompson grips and toe pegs.
I told Dar this bike reminded me of a chopper built by a longtime friend, Kenny Nelson, in 1971, but with all state-of- the-art components. In those days, a long run for Kenny and I was 150 miles to the Chino Run in the desert. This puppy could fly back and forth across the country without batting an eye.
In fact, a longtime Brass Balls Florida customer, Tony Defeo, bought the Veteran's bike immediately after the event.
“He also owns my AMD competition bike and our first chopper,” Dar said, “and we're based in Oklahoma.”
In addition to building the dealership roster and a C-note of bikes this year, the Brass Balls Crew is working on its own accessory product line. It takes Sam about a week to construct a frame to a customer's liking. In addition they sell distinctive gas caps, front ends, oil bags, you name it, on their web site.
There you have it, the winning bike, built by a growing company made up of a half-dozen hard-working builders who love every day in the shop and take pride in every bike they build. You can watch a video interview of Dar in the Bikernet Studios and the Branson event:
Below are descriptions of all the bikes in the competition:
Brass Balls Bobbers & Choppers
This bike is a 2008 Military “Digger” gooseneck frame that is 40 degrees, 0 up and 1 out. It is powder-coated clear to show off the welds and fabrication work on frame by master builder Sam Wills, Shaun Norris and Delvin . It features a Crazy Horse 100-inch V Plus motor, 2-inch Tauer Warlord primary, Crime Scene Rapide air cleaner and headlight, paint design by Jeral Tidwell, foot controls constructed from 1918 trench warfare knives, Leroy Thompson signature series grips, black Hawg Halters hand controls and P-51 exhaust.
South Side Kustoms
This bike is a 2008 South Side Custom-designed rigid frame with an 80-inch Evolution linked to a single fire Dyna 2000i ignition and Dyna coil.
Unique features include the solo seat covered with a 1942 soldier’s duffel bag, pilot wings on the points cover, Flying Tigers badges on frame gussets and shark teeth on the tank.
Scorpion Choppers
The list of custom one-off Scorpion Chopper parts is endless, from the custom binoculars tail lights, battery box,
chain fender struts, barbed wire shift linkage, real military helmet oil tank and hand grenade seat posts.
Coyotes Customs
When Jason Conley won third place at the 2002 Easyriders competition with one of his custom-built motorcycles, he did something nobody had ever done in the history of the event.
He won with a Japanese-made bike. His entry is a 2001 Yamaha Road Star with 250 wide tire kit, 80 spoke wheels, Coyote Customs ceramic coated exhaust, gas tank and6-degree trees with 4 over front end. The theme of this bike is Dress Blues.
Bikernet.com Extreme Tech Chart
Regular Stuff
Owner: Rock Ride Remember Rally
Bike Name: Brass Balls Military Digger
City/State: Oklahoma City, OK
Builder: Darwin Motorcycles
City/state: Oklahoma City, OK
Company Info: Darwin Motorcycles aka/ Brass Balls Bobbers
Address: 117 NW 31st Street, Oklahoma City, OK 73118
Phone: 405-285-0808
Web site: http://www.BrassBallsBobbers.com
E-mail: dar@DarwinMotorcycles.com
Fabrication: Darwin Motorcycles
Manufacturing: Darwin Motorcycles
Welding: Shaun, Delvin, Sam
Machining: Sam
Engine
Year: 2008
Make: Crazy Horse
Model: V-Plus 100
Displacement: 100 C.I.
Builder or Rebuilder:
Cases: Crazy Horse
Carburetion: S&S E
Air cleaner: Rapide by Crime Scene Choppers
Exhaust: Brass Balls Bobber (P-51)
Mufflers: not on this machine
Transmission
Year: 2008
Make: Ultima
Gear configuration: 6 speed
Final drive: Chain
Primary: Tauer Machine 2″ Warlord
Clutch: Tauer Machine
Frame
Year: 2008
Make: Brass Balls Bobber
Style or Model: Gooseneck
Stretch: 0 up, 1 out
Rake: 40 degrees
Modifications: cleared
Front End
Make: Darwin Motorcycles/BBB
Model: springer
Year: 2008
Length: Standard
Mods: A lot of scotch bright
Sheet metal
Tanks: Darwin Motorcycles/BBB
Fenders: Darwin Motorcycles/BBB
Oil tank: Darwin Motorcycles/BBB
Paint
Sheet metal: Jeral Tidwell
Molding: not needed
Base coat: Jeral Tidwell
Graphics: Jeral Tidwell
Type: One of a kind
Frame: Powder Coated Clear
Molding: Never needed
Wheels
Front: black w/ stainless 40 spoke
Make: Darwin Motorcycles/BBB
Size: 16″ x 3.5″
Brake calipers: Hawg Halters
Brake rotor(s): Darwin Motorcycles/BBB
Tire: Metzler ME 880 Marathon
Rear
Make: Darwin Motorcycles/BBB
Size: 16″ x 3.5″
Brake calipers: Hawg Halters
Brake rotor: Darwin Motorcycles/BBB
Tire: Metzler ME 880 Marathon
Controls
Foot controls: Darwin Motorcycles/BBB
Finish: Scotchbright/chrome
Master cylinder: Darwin Motorcycles/BBB
Brake lines: Darwin Motorcycles/BBB
Handlebar controls: Darwin Motorcycles/BBB
Finish: Gun blued
Clutch Cable: Darwin Motorcycles/BBB
Brake Lines: Darwin Motorcycles/BBB
Shifting: Darwin Motorcycles/BBB
Kickstand: Darwin Motorcycles/BBB
Electrical
Ignition: MSD
Ignition switch: MSD
Coils: MSD
Regulator: Darwin Motorcycles/BBB
Charging:Darwin Motorcycles/BBB
Wiring: Darwin Motorcycles/BBB
Harness: Darwin Motorcycles/BBB
Headlight: Rapide from Crime Scene Choppers
Taillight: Darwin Motorcycles/BBB
Accessory lights: Not Here
Electrical accessories: Not either
Switches: Nope
Battery: Darwin Motorcycles/BBB
What's Left?
Seat: Bikersaddles/ Rich Phillips
Mirror(s): None
Gas caps: Darwin Motorcycles/BBB
Handlebars: Darwin Motorcycles/BBB
Grips: Leroy Thompson Signature Series
Pegs: WW1 Trench Warfare Knives
Oil filter:Darwin Motorcycles/BBB
Oil lines:Darwin Motorcycles/BBB
Fuel filter:Darwin Motorcycles/BBB
Fuel Lines:Darwin Motorcycles/BBB
Throttle: Hawg Halters
Throttle cables: Darwin Motorcycles/BBB
Fasteners: Darwin Motorcycles/BBB
Credits:
Sam, Shaun, Delvin, Tom, Brian
Airwerks Anonymous / Aaron Glen
Bikernet.com / Keith R. Ball
Biker Saddles / Rich Phillips
Branson Rock Ride Remember / Ken Childers
Chopper Shox / Dave Breckon
Crazy Horse Motorcycles / John White
Crime Scene Choppers / Joe McGlynn
Hawg Halters / Mark Thompson
HumanTree.com / Jeral Tidwell
Leroy Thompson / Scott Webster
Precision Anodizing / Kenny Rosser
Racing Innovations / Sam Wills
Red Earth D'signs / Phil Salvati
Tauer Machine / Jason Tauer
