On April 12th, our two teams of veterans and first responders involved in the Indian Motorcycle Indian Chief Bike Build Off, got to finally unveil their masterpieces to a anticipating crowd at the Peace Love Happiness fundraiser for the 100 Club. The bikes would go to an online poll the following day to see who was the favorite to win!
As part of our Indian Motorcycle Bike Build Off, Indian sponsored the guys on a little getaway to Daytona for Bike Week. The week was filled with amazing experiences including unfurling the flag at the opening ceremonies of the Flat Track races, meeting Roland Sands, 20th Century Racing, Travis Pastrana, Gloria Struck, Moonshiner Josh, Bill Dodge, Michael Lichter, Chris and Heather Callen (Cycle Source Magazine), Xavier Muriel, Kory Souza, Buzz Kanter (American Iron Magazine), Marilyn Stemp, and more. We visited Standard Motorcycle Co and Ace Cafe in Orlando, also. Finally, they got to get some time in on their bikes and visit with some of the M2 build sponsors. To cap it all off, Kory Souzas No Class Bike Show.
February saw us bring in a new group of builders to the Motorcycle Missions family, this time in the walls of Skidmark Garage in Cleveland Ohio. They will be building a 2004 Triumph Speedmaster into a custom built bobber and will reveal it at Fuel Cleveland in July 2019.
While the Easyriders Bike Show may be more about choppers, that didn’t stop our veterans and first responders who built the Lincoln Electric Sidecar Rambler from taking 2nd place People’s Choice at the show.
MOTORCYCLE MISSIONS entered build team 4’s Lincoln Electric side car Rambler, and build team 5’s J&P Cycles Ducati Scrambler into the Ultimate Builder competition at the International Motorcycle Show in Dallas. While the Rambler received the K&N Garage Builders award in Long Beach it went home empty handed in Dallas. The Ducati Scrambler however received second place in the Custom Street Class, allowing the bike to go on the Nationals in Chicago.
During IMS, the Motorcycle Missions builders had the opportunity to meet and judge their peer builders bikes - a huge highlight for them.
photos by Brent Brooks - J&P Cycles
Thanks to the Flying Piston, Strider Bikes, Lincoln Electric, Russ Brown Attorneys, Kirsh Helmets and a slew of other sponsors, Motorcycle Missions was able to take home $5000 from the annual Flying Pistons Builders Breakfast. Thank you to all the volunteers, donors and sponsors that made it happen.
On Memorial Day weekend, the Combat Veterans Motorcycle Association Chapter 23-19, the “Highlanders”, with the support of the Leander and Burnet, TX VFWs, Leander Police Department, Blue Star Mothers and a whole lot of friends, held a charity ride through the Texas Hill Country to support Motorcycle Missions and remember the fallen. $2400 was raised to support the Motorcycle Missions Programs.
Words by Jeff Herrington. Photos by Garrett Stanley
It's our favorite time of the year, the Handbuilt Show hosted by Revival Cycles, and the Moto GP in Austin, Texas. This year, Motorcycle Missions revealed our Lincoln Electric side car rig and showed off the championship winning board track shovelhead at Handbuilt. We saw the debut of the mini documentary "Healing with Two Wheels" and attended the builders party on the roof top of South Congress Hotel. The builders took in the thrilling sights and sounds of The American Motodrome Wall of Death, and loved talking to all the admirers fascinated by their handiwork. To put the icing on the cake, we attended Moto GP courtesy of the Circuit of the Americas. Thank you Lincoln Electric, Motul Oil, Circuit of the Americas, and Handbuilt Show for making this such a great experience for all these deserving veterans and first responders in our program. We can't wait till next year.
Photo credit: G Stanley Photography, Rudy Ximinez, Motorcycle Missions
