It has been two years sinceI met Grace Mckean at the S&S 50th Biker Build Off party. Graceis the coolest 75-year-old biker grandma, who still rides the old Indian shebought 50 years ago. When I met her, she was in Wisconsin, riding acrosscountry alone, and we talked for a long time and she shared some of her story.She promised me an interview, and for the past two years I’ve been trying topin her down. She lives near Big Bear, California, in the pine strewnmountains, alone with a garage full of old classics. But Grace is busy livingher life, and I haven’t been able to get her to commit to unleashing her fullstory. So, when I spotted the annual Big Bear ride (www.bigbearchoppers.com/), I knew I could find her, asI knew that Big Bear Choppers owner Kevin Aslop worked on her bikes as well asmy buddy, Mike, at Kiwi Indian.
Grace Mckeanand her old Indian in LaCrosse, Wisconsin.
It was a last minutedecision on my part, as it usually is, to blast into the San BernardinoNational Forrest, in hopes of finding Grace. I had never been to the Big Bearrun, which was now hosting its 8th annual ride. I was feeling alittle less than excited about having to get up at 5:00 AM, so I could roll toQuaid Harley-Davidson in Loma Linda, the starting point, by 8:00. Earlymornings are not my strong point, and I knew it would be chilly at that hour.An impulsive resolution, I decided to ride over alone on the outside chance Iwould stumble into Grace.
I found Quaid’s without aproblem and was even on time. I paid my $35 for the Poker Run, for which Ireceived a piece of paper with a tattered map printed on a soiled rolling paperand directions to eight locations. I stood there in the parking lot with a fairamount of riders and bikes looking at my little map, thinking that I hate howchaotic poker runs can be, and wondering why I was on another one. Not familiarwith the area, and not knowing anyone, I warily asked a group of riders, if Icould follow them, so I wouldn’t spend all day lost and riding in circles. Justas I was posing for a picture with their kids, Kevin Alsop, the boss of BigBear Choppers, came over and said that he heard a rumor, I was in search ofGrace. He said she would definitely attend his the event, and one of hervintage bikes would be display in his show.
Big BearChoppers owner Kevin Aslop & me, with two of America’s future womenriders!
Kevin asked me if I wantedto ride up the mountain with him, to which I answered, “Yes, of course!”He knows Big Bear lake, like my boyfriend knows my belly button. He didn’t seemto realize that all of these people were waiting for him to lead the Poker Run.We spoke, he jumped on hit Big Bear Chopper, did a smokin’ burn out and peeledout of the parking lot. The crowd of waiting riders just watched as hedisappeared, Kevin got the hint and returned to fetch the pack. Then he ledthem to the freeway and went slow just long enough for everyone to roll information onto the freeway. Then he signaled to me that his patience had runout, and he blasted forward at warp speed. My own gas cap rattled loose andblew past me, as I laughed while attempting to keep up with the mad man. I hadto rip off my own dickie and shove it the spewing hole, as I forced my bike tokeep up with Kevin’s high performance machine.
Kevin &his builds are the real deal.
We smoked to the firstpoker run location, which was Angels Roadhouse. Kevin chatted with everyoneriding in, but told me he had to leave this location to go meet up with thecast of “Sons of Anarchy,” who were making a guest appearance at theevent. He asked if I wanted to ride along again, to which I answered again,“Hell yes!”
Two police escorts rodewith the popular cast up the mountain to keep them from being mobbed. I triedto talk one of them into switching bikes with me for a while, but he didn’tthink his captain would find that amusing.
Me checking out the PoliceBMW.
The cast all pulled into alocal gas station to meet and get assembled. I have to admit that I haven’tseen the show yet, but they shoot in my neighborhood a lot, and have even shooton my street. One day Charlie kept turning around in my driveway, and I gotnervous when I noticed some club guys scoping out my place. When I went walkedout to meet Mad Dog, I realized I met him at the Love Ride two years ago, so Iknew who most of them were.
The Gang –Kevin & the cast of “Sons of Anarchy”.
The cast was followed by anextravagant film and camera crew, who shot out of a truck, so they asked me toride ahead of the pack, as there were no girls riding in the all-boys club,WTF? So, I blasted ahead and watched Kevin and the whole cast of “Sons of Anarchy”riding up the long and winding road on a perfect sunny day with all of theyellow roadside weeds in full bloom. It was an awesome sight!Pic 11: Me & Charlie Hunnam, oneof the cast members.
Looking backat the crew pulling out, ready to head up the mountain.
TommyFlanagan.
Once we pulled into BigBear, there were bikes everywhere. Kevin pulled ahead and led the cast to amountain lodge where they were dropping off their things and later spent thenight. They were all really fun and friendly, while still maintaining theircool TV gang like personas. I tried to sneak as many pictures as I could.
Cool castmembers!
As we pulled into the rallysite at the Snow Summit Ski Resort, the cast was surrounded within minutes.They parked at the Big Bear Choppers tent, and were whisked off to a VIP area.There was ample room in the huge parking lot for a large vendor area, tons ofoutdoor seating at the chalet areas, a concert stage with the ski mountain as aback drop, and an enclosed grassy knoll for all of the bikes in the custom bikeshow.
The quaint town of Big Bearbuilt all around a crystal clear blue lake provided dozens of other places forbikers to visit. The Big Bear Choppers Factory was the second option for astarting point of the Poker Run, and the last stop if you rode in from Quaid’sin Loma Linda. I was amazed at how well the small town rally was organized.
Pulling intothe Rally site.
Rally crowdaround the ski chalet.
My CheekyChaps girlfriend Carolee had her apparel booth set up.
Back in the chow area therewas a beautiful spread of sushi, fruit, salads and sandwiches. Local mosaic artistJeannie Houston Antes had her pieces on display throughout the room. Kevin’sbeautiful wife and business partner Mona posed with the artist and the pieceshe hangs in her office. I found Grace having a quiet conversation in thecorner, and made her promise me a day together in the near future, so expecther story soon!
Mona Aslopand Jeannie Houston Antes.
My cutest boyof the day goes to Landon, who told me someday he was going to have 5motorcycles.
My longtime friend RustyCoones band Attika took the stage and entertained the crowd all afternoon. Iwalked around and took pictures and talked to people from all over the state.There was a line that wrapped around the whole parking lot of people waiting toget pictures and autographs with the cast members of “Sons of Anarchy.”
My friendRusty Coones, of Illusion Cycles, playing with Attika.
Lead singerof Attika.
Girlfriendsin crime!
The bike show housedseveral categories with old and unusual creations. Grace had her vintage blueHarley-Davidson in the oldies group. But my friend Frankie the Rat had hiscustom chopper that he named “Hardly Dangerous” in the same division, and hetook the trophy home. Frankie and I first rode together years ago in Sturgiswith Sasha Mullins, Jay Allen and Sugar Bear for a Native Films piece. So as itwas getting late in the day, I decided to head back down the mountain with myfriend Kathy Hurwitz, Frankie, and friends.
Death bikeshow contestant.
Kathy Hurwitz& friend.
It was a busy blur of aday, full of laughter, friends, and unexpected excitement. My thanks to Kevinand Mona for their hospitality! Kudos on having a spectacular well organizedevent. My thanks to the cast and crew of the “Sons of Anarchy” for letting metag along and take pictures. And hopefully we’ll hear more from theever-amazing Grace very soon! We took our time rumbling back through town anddown the mountain, so I could snap a few shoots of how beautiful Big Bear Lakeand mountains are!
Big BearLake.
