CONTENTS: Comix, Culture, & Art
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Life and Times ...
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Motorcycle Engine
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Snap-On
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Tampa L.A.M.A Anniversary
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Willie’s Old School Cheper Show
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Behind The Scenes
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The Centerfold
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King Diamond
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Live Music
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Pride Cycles
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In The Skin: Tatoo Fest
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Combat Figures
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ROAR Motorcycles
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OPA! It’s a Bike Fest
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Big Louie’s Old School Swap Meet
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The Last Page
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Publisher Ron Galletti Editorial Director Jesse Williams Associate Editor Susan Hurst Art Director Nick Betlow Graphic Design Frankie Schell Webmaster Nick Betlow Contributers Josh Kurpius, Jose M. Maldonado, David Bodo
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BORN TO RIDE
LIFESTYLE (888) 795-5779 • (813) 689-2996 Fax PO Box 3021 • Brandon FL 33509 Sales Department: (888) 795-5779 • (813) 661-9402 info@borntoride.com www.BornToRide.com
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“The Life and Times of Motorcycles and the People Who Ride Them!” Born To Ride was created in 1995 by Ron and Debbie Galletti of Brandon, Florida. A media venue that incorporates television and magazine, Born To Ride has evolved into a growing business that has seen record growth in sales over the last 10 years!
Before Ron’s days in wrestling he was the lead singer of heavy metal band Nasty Savage, who toured the world and recorded six albums. Their demo tape came out in 1983
Born To Ride combines 4 successful media elements; Television, Magazine, Website and Event Promotions. Born To Ride provides news and events that are of interest to the biker community. Spotlighting hardworking dealers, bike builders, and organizations are only a few of the items the biker community looks forward to reading every month. The staff and writers are all bikers, as well as professionals in the areas they represent. Born To Ride’s involvement with other successful venues has spanned 15 years — the Born To Ride Saloon, West Coast Bike Rally, and Thunder by the Bay to mention a few. Born To Ride collaborates with other local media companies to create cross marketing opportunities for its clientele.
and the bands over- the-top wild stage show put them on the map. In 1995 they landed in the Heavy Metal Hall of Fame in Tampa. The band broke up in 1990, but still plays from time to time. … Their last gig was in 2008, in Germany at the Keep It Real Metal Festival. Go to www.nastysavage.com for more information about the band Nasty Savage.
Born To Ride Intro Born To Ride TV aired its first show in 1995. Before entering the motorcycle scene Ron Galletti of Brandon, Florida co-produced over 200 International Wrestling Federation (IWF) shows at Universal Studios Sound Stage 23 in Orlando, FL. Ron had several passions, one of them being motorcycles. While producing wrestling footage for IWF he saw a void in the motorcycle community – there was no documentation of the motorcycle events he would frequent. He took his IWF production experience and created Born To Ride. The program is a mixture of community and national based events spotlighting bikers—and businesses that target the motorcycle enthusiast. LifeStyle Magazine
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The television format is simple – people who enjoy motorcycles also watch TV. It doesn’t matter if they are hard core riders or beginners; our program creates an interest in riding. We talk about events, races, runs, lifestyles, and special happenings that make motorcycle riding a fast growing part in your area. It’s the life and times of motorcycles and the people who ride them. My goal is always show bikers in a positive light.
Bikers are the greatest people. Through the television show we try to take the viewer on a journey, an adventure. Born To Ride is for everyone that rides, or those who are curious about the biker culture. Perhaps a journey to the beautiful coast of South Africa would be of interest? You may enjoy reading the journals of a lone trip on two wheels to Sturgis. If these items are not of interest, how about watching a detailed show on the complete restoration of an antique Vincent motorcycle? The variety and depth of the content packed into the television show and magazine is vast. We are proud to state our readership provides support and sponsorship for many nonprofit organizations’ charitable events.
Hard work and dedication is pivotal to creating this successful business. The motorcycling community in and around the state of Florida are well aware of Born To Ride’s multimedia presence. In fact, thousands flock to various biker btr 6 | LifeStyle Magazine
events where staff from Born To Ride are in attendance.
Thunder by the Bay is one of many (major) annual Florida biker events that Born To Ride is proud to support. Our team works hard to produce positive results for all of our clients! The added exposure Born To Ride gave to this year’s Festival, both in print and on television, was over-the-top and resulted in a 30% increase in attendance. With the event promoted on the cover of the magazine resulted in an increase in phone calls prior to the Festival and a significant increase in attendance figures. This also enabled many of this year’s builders and special guests to learn more about the Festival prior to arriving in Sarasota for the Festival and how the money raised impacts so many children and their families. Lucy Nicandri Vice President of Marketing/Special Events The Florida Center for Child and Family Development
Born to Ride’s 500th Episode The motorcycle industry celebrated a significant milestone on Sunday, May 15, 2005 when the 500th episode of Born To Ride Television aired. The weekly show which was started with a shoestring budget and a vision by a former heavy metal singer and wrestling promoter has been bringing the biker lifestyle to television sets in Florida for ten years. Ron Galletti wasn’t sure if his idea for a biker television
show would even have a sponsor when he borrowed a film crew he met at a wrestling match in Orlando. Believing in his vision and support from his wife Debbie, he and the crew headed to Daytona Bike Week to put together the first show. That early morning trip provided the film footage for the show’s intro in the early days; a biker riding along the beach at sunrise. It was 1995 and the cable channels were years away from discovering people’s interest in motorcycling. Ron and Debbie were riding custom bikes at the time and attending local bike shows. They were amazed at how fanatical people were about motorcycles--they were caught up in it too. At the time, there was a local biker show called Wheels in the Wind. Ron credits Stretch, who did that show, with being one of the true pioneers in this area (Biker television localized). Ron says, “There was something about the idea I found interesting, but also very scary. I quit my day job punching a clock and said I’m doing it.”
But Ron had ideas for a show of his own. Using the marketing skills he had acquired from working both the heavy metal and wrestling circuits Ron flooded the local shops fax machines with a message, “Born To Ride Is Coming!” When he went looking for sponsors, they already knew the BTR name. The very first sponsor to sign up was Fletcher’s Harley-Davidson. Their check for that first ad was the startup capital that put the first show on the air. The early shows were aired on Channel V32 which was an independent station back then. The show has been broadcast by several stations and the time slots have moved around over the years before settling into the late night Sunday airtime on WTOG UPN 44. To kick off the debut of the TV show, they put together a big kick-off party at a place called GK’s. It had been raining for about 10 straight days before the party and Ron was getting real nervous as the day approached. On the day of the party, the sun came out and fifteen hundred bikers showed up. It’s been going strong ever since. That doesn’t mean that it’s always been an easy road to travel. Each week is a new show which means that it doesn’t matter if it’s a holiday or your birthday, there’s a show to be done. One goal of the show has been to document the biker lifestyle year round. According to Ron, it took a while to get the system down. “I found that it’s a communication process. You have to be a good communicator to insure you get the right interviews
done by the right people and the right camera shots and such. If anything goes wrong, it comes back to me.
I really want to thank our current production company, Zero Gravity. They’ve been working with us for about 7 years now. It’s run by Dave Perich and Clark Hodges. That’s Clark’s voice you hear every week on the show.” Currently it takes about two days to put the show together though we spend many more hours preparing tape and deciding what will be on the show that week. It’s a team effort and the team goal is to make a better show each week. The shows not only cover the events in the area but also show the human side of bikers. One show followed along with a group of bikers who wanted to give a cancer stricken girl named Sydney a Merry Christmas. Another recent story was about Bob Moran, who has no legs but does have a passion for riding. The feature showed how a two-wheeler was converted into a trike to allow him to regain some freedom and enjoy riding like so many of us do. Ron has a passion for getting out the message about all the good things that bikers do for the community. He says, “You have to know how to tell a story, which we do. It may make them cry or laugh, or take them on an adventure. You never know what you’re going to get with Born To Ride.” Though the show has featured a ton of celebrities like Hulk Hogan, Evel Knievel, Jeb Bush, the
legendary Daddy Rat, and many others, Ron says the theory behind BTR is that you don’t have to be a super-star to be on the show. “I’ve always said I could close my eyes and spin LifeStyle Magazine
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around and pick someone out of the crowd and get a great story. The biker community is made up of such diversity. From blue collar to white collar, there are lawyers, doctors, truck drivers as well as the club members, who I believe are some of the few true bikers left out there. The common bond is an interest in motorcycles and wanting to be a part of the show. I think the normal person on the street is just as important as anyone else.” There have been ups and downs through the years but Ron believes that when things go wrong is when you show your strength. He’s quick to point out that much of his success is directly tied to the support that Debbie has
have come and gone but Born To Ride TV is out there every week putting the biker lifestyle on tape. With so much tape in the vaults it’s only natural that a Best of Born to Ride would be culled from the archives and put on DVD. (insert photo of dvd covers) A few volumes have already been completed and there are plans to offer a dozen that will show the evolution of the biker lifestyle from the mid-90s to present day, at borntoride.com.
given him. “There have been so many fine people who have contributed to the show over the years. Jim Miller has been with me since day one with his creative talent behind the camera and in many other ways. I couldn’t talk about BTR without telling you how important Radical Randy has been to our success.I’m very proud to have him working with us and now he’s got his Radical Team .I wish I had the time and
space to mention everyone who deserves to be thanked for their contributions.. Who could forget Craven Moorehead’s pirate radio show which featured BTR Radio or our public acsesss one hour talk show that would generate over 30 calls an hour. ” A lot has changed since that first episode of BTR aired. Bike shops have opened and closed, bike nights btr 8 | LifeStyle Magazine
The Born To Ride Magazine is Born June 2004 … Now 5 Years Later
who’ve been interested in taking the show to a national level but I think I’ve been a bit hardened by the industry and some of the deals. It’s about networking and getting the right people at the right time. I’m really glad I’ve held onto control of Born To Ride for myself. It puts me more in control of my own destiny. There are some people opening doors for us and we’ll keep an eye on things to see how they develop.” Tune into Born To Ride Television and you’ll be the first to know. You can read BTR magazine online at bornetoride.com Easyrider Goes Mainstream
Though Ron produced about seven issues of a magazine when they had the Born To Ride Saloon on Nebraska Avenue it just wasn’t feasible at the time. = The second attempt has been an overwhelming success. The magazine was intended to take a real approach to the biker lifestyle and focus on the people and charities. Ron‘s also a businessman and sees the benefits of being able to offer different formats to his advertisers. “Having a TV show, the website and the magazine is a powerful multi-media punch”, according to Ron. “We can put people’s products in a direct market and offer great packages and terrific service.” There have been rumors for years that Born To Ride Television was going to go national. Ron doesn’t rule it out but says, “I’ve had people
Twenty-five years ago they were the devil may-care, long-haired, tattooed, leather-wearing outlaws of the open road featured in the song, “Born To Be Wild” and in the film “Easy Rider” with Peter Fonda and Dennis Hopper.
Today, said motorcycle enthusiast Ron Galletti of Brandon Florida, “People riding Harley’s are more likely to be Doctors, Lawyers or Accountants as well as leather wearing long-haired ex hippies. More than a few are Grandparents! Motorcycling has hit the mainstream.” Born To Ride Productions is responsible for organizing and sponsoring a number of local, (Tampa) and State wide charity events involving bikers that bring the biker community in contact with some of the largest children’s charities in the LifeStyle Magazine
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state. The Shriners Hospitals for Children is one of the many charities dear to our hearts.
“Bikers get a bad rap because of the old stereotype image. But now people from all walks of life are involved and the market continues to grow. Women make up a third of the market now said Galletti.” Contrary to the bad-boy image, Galletti said bikers are some of the nicest people he’s ever met. “Bikers are always willing to help kids and people who need it. They’re willing to give back to their communities and they’re always happy to come to the aid of a fellow biker (brother or sister) who has been injured in an accident. There are a lot of people doing a lot of positive things in the biker community,” he said.
The Superstars on Born To Ride
It was a TV producer’s dream, come true! A day of shooting promo’s and interviews with Hulk Hogan and Randy Savage for a feature on Born To Ride TV in Ybor-City, FL. Ron Galletti
has had many other superstars on the show including, Willie G., Evel Knievel, Indian Larry, Arlin Ness, the Teutul’s (Sr., Jr. and Mikey) from American Chopper, Hugh Hefner, Playboy Playmates (Dahm Triplets, Crista Nicole, Susan Stokes), Gov. Jeb Busch,
One Message that Ron would like to get out to the motorcycle community is, “lighten up, have fun and live your life. It’s better to have a lot of friends than a lot of enemies. Stop the bickering that exists in the Biker community. This Yuppie vs. Hard core, Harley riders vs. import rider, Abate vs. HOG and Cruisers vs. Sport bike riders is stupid! We’re all on two or three wheels by choice and that is what makes this a great country. We need to stick together as Motorcyclists and not as single parts of the big picture. All riders no matter what they are riding are ... Born to Ride”
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office for a scene we are shooting today with Ron. Ron plays himself as a magazine editor/publisher who assigns a beautiful photographer played by Patricia Phinney, to go and shoot Bike Week in Daytona for BTR magazine. BTR: How’s Ron doing as an actor? WJ: We aren’t finished shooting his scenes yet but so far he’s doing great. In fact we plan to put Ron in some upcoming film projects. I think he’s a good fit and I can’t think of anyone more qualified to play the editor of a Bike Magazine. BTR: Can you of the Vampire President Clinton Impersonator, Peter Fonda, Chris Jericho, The Undertaker, Rob Van Damn, Charlie Daniels, Bo Diddly, Chuck Mangione, Willie Nelson, Gene Simmons, Eric Estrada, Jerry Springer, NFL Football players, and the list goes on ... maybe you’ll be next! Ron Galletti Lands Part in Movie Vampire Biker Babes Playing Himself
(BTR interviews VBB Producer and Director Walt Jenkins) BTR: We’re on the set of Vampire Biker Babes movie at Rossiter’s Manatee River Harley-Davidson dealership in Bradenton, Florida, with Director Walt Jenkins and Born To Ride Publisher Ron Galletti. Walt, will you explain a little about what you’re shooting today? WJ: Yes, we were very lucky to get such a nice location and we want to thank the Rossiters and all their staff for their support. Robin Rossiter graciously loaned us her
give us a Biker Babes
synopsis story?
WJ: The story involves two sisters, one is a vampire and the other is a mortal. Patricia plays the mortal sister who is a photographer. Georgia Cris plays her sister. Their father is a 400-year-old vampire, Vlad, a descendant of Vlad the Impaler, a historical figure that Brahm Stoker based his original Dracula story. Vlad is very wealthy and immensely rich. He is illuminati, a member of a secret society and controls a vast army of vampires who are fed and kept loyal by his worldwide chain of blood banks. Presidents and
heads of state do his bidding. When his mortal daughter, Karla, played by Patricia, is attacked in a small town on her way to Daytona, she winds up in the hospital in a coma. The local gang that violates her has some local political juice. The two leaders of the gang are the sons of the richest man in town and his brother, the sheriff. Karla’s vampire sister, Vanna, leads a gang of vampire biker babes who ride custom choppers and kick ass. They come to town looking for revenge. The locals start hunting them and when things are coming to a head, poppa Vlad calls a gathering and an army of hundreds of vampire bikers descends upon the town. The LifeStyle Magazine
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locals have no idea just who they messed with ... they find out. BTR: Director Walt Jenkins also wrote the script. He explained much more of the plot than we can print in this issue. It has many levels, even some Davinci Code type myths and mysteries, but we’ll get more into that in an upcoming issue, the plot lines, back stories and depths of character are an intriguing discussion. There’s more to this movie than the title implies. If you are a horror fan, like bikes and a good story, grab the next issue of BTR and don’t miss the movie. You can purchase the movie at borntoride.com. Born To Ride Continues the Momentum in 2009 2008 brought in a new exclusive, The Law Firm of Attorney Fran Haasch as a major sponsor and supporter of Born To Ride as well as the continued barrage with Anheuser Busch’s three Budweiser distributors in Central Florida, Pepin, Gold Coast, and Great Bay All three take part in many promotions and third party marketing. Here is a quote from Tommy Weatherholt of Gold Coast Distributors:
Tommy Weatherholt V.P. of Sales and Marketing Gold Coast Eagle Distributing So when you receive a testimonial like that, you know you are doing something good. But it’s about people. People that contribute to this success like Nick Betlow, Susan Hurst, Jesse Williams, Frankie Schell, Nancy Ray and many others that contribute every day. And that add everything it takes to lay down the vision that makes Born ®To Ride what it is. As we progress into this year I’m seeing
more and more social activity and cultural dynamism. Designing ideas and concepts to compliment this lifestyle is great. That’s why we created the new online magazine Born To Ride Lifestyle. We have created it an it’s all about the people and the lifestyle we live Born To Ride!
The Tradition Continues in TAMPA BAY! “Born To Ride is a visionary company that constantly reinvents itself to capitalize on opportunities in the market! Born To Ride ranks as one of the elite sponsored properties for the Budweiser brand. Their efforts at retail distance them from everyone else. They are not just simply a media partner; they are a full-fledge kick-ass marketing arm for the King of Beers!”
Where and when you can watch the show in Florida (Sunday) Tampa / St. Pete, Florida WTTA MYTV 38 11:30 p.m. or on borntoride.com A letter from the Publisher In this pop life we all live Born To Ride … will keep the expression of the life and times of motorcycles and the people who ride them. A proactive nature for the ride lifestyle with vision, insight, and focus! We want Born To Ride to be LifeStyle Magazine
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your essential multimedia tool. We are now finally ready to launch our new website for you the biker community, and we want you to check out the new www.borntoride.com. Watch Born To Ride TV, read Born To Ride magazine plus extra stuff not inside the street publication. Do you have interest in Blogs, Beer, Travel, Women’s World, Tattoos, Cigars, Singles, Events, Babe of the Week, the Page 3 Girl, or more? Please sign our guest book and let us know what you think. Well that’s it, the Born To Ride story, but wait it’s far from over … 700 episodes is a lot of hard work, dedication, and devotion. It’s an incredible thing; let’s look ahead to the
next 700 episode. Ron Galletti Born To Ride Inc. • P.O. Box 3021 Brandon, FL 33509 www.borntoride.com • info@borntoride.com
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Cycle World magazine describes new book from Veloce as “Pornography for gearheads”! By tradition, the motorcycle is a naked beast, differing from other vehicles by the fact that its mechanical structure is also part of its aesthetic appearance. In The Fine Art of the Motorcycle Engine, photographer Daniel Peirce examines the graphic nature of historic engines with stunning and dramatic photography. Since the beginning of the motorbike, engine designers knew they had to design power plants that performed well and looked good. Peirce presents 64 stunning pictures from his popular UP-N-SMOKE Engine Project. In addition to his engine photography, the book also includes the story of the project and the years it took to take it from an inspired idea to a tangible reality. ● Illustrates some of the sexiest motorcycle engines ever produced ● A MUST for every classic motorcycle enthusiast ● Features Daniel Peirce’s stunning photography from his popular UP-N-SMOKE Engine Project ● Jay Leno owns a print from the UP-N-SMOKE Engine Project ● A personal and candid journal of the project’s creation ● Includes a special chapter on how the images were crafted ● Foreword by Dave Howe, head of Peckerhead Racing ● Title:
The Fine Art of the Motorcycle Engine Author: Daniel Peirce ISBN-13: 978-1-84584-174-4 Retail: $39.95 US, $43.95 CAN, Binding: Hardcover, 10 x 10 Pages & Illustrations: 144 pages & 90 color photos Publication Date: October 15, 2008 Imprint: Veloce Publishing Ltd., Distributed by Motorbooks
ABOUT THE AUTHOR Daniel Peirce has been a commercial photographer for 28 years, and shooting for the motorcycle industry since 1988. His photography has appeared in virtually every major motorcycle magazine in the US. As a writer, Daniel has been a frequent contributor to Ride Texas, Thunder Roads and Cruisin’ Times magazines. For the last twelve years he’s been producing catalogues and magazine ads as the head of photography for Tucker Rocky Distributing, a leading distributor of motorcycle parts and accessories in America. Daniel is an avid motorcycle rider and a vintage motorcycle enthusiast
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Born To Ride was there and little Ron Galletti was lucky enough to get a promo Snap On 57’ Chevy model. Boy did it make his day! KENOSHA, Wis. – March 11, 2009 – As springtime approaches, the Snap-on NO COMPROMISE TOUR™ continues its U.S. tour, reinforcing the Snap-on commitment to providing innovative solutions to the most discriminating tool users in the world. After hitting the West Coast and the Southwest, the Snap-on Tools NO COMPROMISE TOUR™ is currently traveling through the Southeast before heading north later this spring and summer. “We could not be happier with the NO COMPROMISE TOUR™,” said Alicia Smales, vice president of marketing for Snap-on Tools. “Our franchisees, customers and other attendees have raved about the tool demos and displays, especially the Glo-mad™ ’57 Chevy. We encourage those who have attended to visit the Snap-on Tools fan page on Facebook.com to post their comments and photos from the tour. Since the NO COMPROMISE TOUR™ is such an interactive event, it would be great to hear from ‘Snap-on Nation’ in such an interactive way.” The Snap-on Tools NO COMPROMISE TOUR™ is open to the public and provides visitors with the opportunity to speak with Snap-on officials about how Snap on tools can help them get the job done faster and easier. This unique expo includes interactive tool demos, displays and Snapon’s one-of-akind show car, the Glo-mad™ ’57 Chevy. To find exact locations and times of the Snap-on NO COMPROMISE TOUR™, visit www.snapon.com/nocompromisetour.
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NO COMPROMISE TOURâ„¢
Stops at Harley-Davidson of Brandon, FL
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T
he Latin American Motorcycle Association (LAMA) was founded in 1977 by Mario Nieves as an organization of motorcycle riders of mainly Spanish speaking origins. The organization has approximately 5,000 members; presently 63 chapters in 10 countries throughout the world: USA (29), Venezuela (5), Puerto Rico (6), Mexico (16), Cuba (3), Argentina (4), Uruguay (1), Spain (1), Australia (1) and Germany (1). LAMA is in the process of opening additional chapters in Colombia, Peru, and the West Coast of the United States. At this moment they are the largest national and international organization of motorcyclists representing persons of mainly Latin origin. In February, Born To Ride joined the LAMA Tampa Chapter for a BTR television taping and photo shoot to celebrate their 2nd anniversary. Attorney Fran Haasch, Brandon Harley-Davidson, Bikers Bay and WaMu Bank were there to sponsor the worthy cause. BYAKO Inc supplied the music, while tattoo artists, vendors, 50/50 drawings, games and dancing kept the party going all-day. “The Teamsters and Chauffeur’s Local Union No. 79 opened the doors for this event; and at least 1,8002,000 bikes came to enjoy the festivities,” said BTR Publisher, Ron Galletti. “The
LAMAs are a class act and the know how to throw a family party. If you missed it this year, don’t miss their party next year. Stay connected with Born To Ride to find out what the LAMA Tampa Chapter is planning,” he added. The next time you see members of the Latin American Motorcycle Association (L.A.M.A. Tampa) riding down the road
“I’m most proud of our members, and the type of people that they are. They are beautiful people— passionate about LAMA and passionate about riding.” - Johnny in formation, notice the leader of the pack. He’s Johnny Urrutia, founder of LAMA Tampa chapter and president of the chapter since its inception three years ago. When asked about what makes him most proud of starting LAMA Tampa, Johnny
doesn’t hesitate: “I’m most proud of our members, and the type of people that they are. They are beautiful people—passionate about LAMA and passionate about riding.” Johnny’s cousin Eduardo now president of the Florida City chapter introduced him to LAMA founder Mario Nieves in 2005, at the annual party thrown by the LAMA Orlando chapter held every March in tandem with Daytona Bike Week. Inspired by what Mario had created and motivated by the great people he met that day, Johnny didn’t waste any time in forming the Tampa chapter. LAMA Tampa today includes 48 members and continues to grow. LAMA Tampa members hail from several Latin American countries, including Venezuela, Puerto Rico, Cuba, Colombia, as well as the U.S. While membership is open to everyone regardless of race, nationality, ethnic origin, religion, gender, age, social class, or motorcycle brand—you don’t even need to be of Latin origin or speak Spanish to join—LAMA Tampa is not for everyone. “It takes commitment to be a member in LAMA,” Johnny explains. “This is not just a riding club. We get involved with helping out charities, and all of our members are expected to help and participate. We hold monthly meetings that members are expected to attend, and members are also
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expected to follow the group’s By Laws, including our Code of Conduct.” Johnny was born and raised in Caracas, Venezuela, and came to the U.S.
i n 1981 at the age of 20. Now 47, He is happily married to Delita, who was born in Cuba, and the father of three children. Johnny describes LAMA members as being fun-loving, family-oriented and
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passionate about riding. “I enjoy the group and the friends I’ve made through LAMA so much. In fact, LAMA members are more than friends to me—they’re more like family. Organizing the group takes a lot of work, but at
the same time LAMA relaxes me a lot. Everything we do—the meetings, the rides, the dinners, and the family barbeques we throw at local parks and beaches, it’s all very satisfying to
me.” He also stresses the importance of family among group members. “This is a family-oriented organization, and all of our activities are open to the entire
family,” he explains. Johnny says that for him, the best LAMA event each year is LAMAs National Convention, which lasts 4 days. LAMA
members and their families join together from around the U.S. and even internationally to ride, meet, enjoy familyoriented activities, and work together to make LAMA the best it can possibly b e .
In 2009 the convention will be held in Fontana Village in North Carolina during the Memorial Day weekend May 23-26. The national convention is open not only
to LAMA members, but also to members of other bike clubs as well as all riders who would like to participate. “We’re hoping to make the LAMA
national convention into the biggest Latin bike event in the U.S.,” Johnny says.
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To Join L.A.M.A or for more info go to www.LamaTampa.com
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Behind The Scenes of the
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Fran Haasch TV Commercial
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K
ing Diamond started almost entirely on a whim. My friend Chris Lampman told me to stop messing around with a generator shovel project I was putzing with and to do the pan in a VL frame project I had in my garage. We started working on the bike in October or November of 2007, and finished it by the third week of March 2008. We put in a lot of time in my garage that winter. Almost every part on this bike is made from scratch or heavily customized. The frame needed a new backbone and a new neck forging, as well as new motor mounts to fit the panhead motor into the smaller VL frame. We had to weld in new bearing cups in the neck, and I modified internal fork stops to work with the Ceriani front end. The bars were made from scratch. The seat pan was modified to
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increase the flip-up on the back; I also made a custom seat pivot bracket. The gas tank was heavily modified (removing a half-inch from the bottom, tapering middle section from the top, frisco’ing the bottom moving the petcock and putting in a new filler neck on the crown of the tank). The clutch lever is a modified aluminum British lever made to fit a H-D clutch cable. We cut the neck stem on the Ceriani trees in half and extended to fit in the VL neck. The pipes were handmade. The top motor mount, the foot peg and brake setup, the kick shifter, the primary cover mount/ taillight and license plate mount, the sissy bar,
the mousetrap eliminator, and several other things I am sure I am missing, were handmade, as well. I tried to use round stock and curved shapes for everything, to get a rounded, organic feel on the bike. I decided early on to have a quality fit and finish to this bike, which meant polishing, chroming and powder coating all the parts possible. I had the cases and the heads on the engine polished, as well as the entire transmission. I had the cylinders powder coated silver. All aluminum was sent out to be polished; Gary at J&D Plating did all of my chrome plating and polishing. For the paint, I told Harpoon to do whatever he wanted, and he came through to perfection. For assembly, I used chrome hardware throughout and used cloth-covered wire for the minimal electrics. In short, I spent
way too much time and money to get this bike done--and clean looking. After I made it look so pretty, I started riding it and promptly doused everything with oil. Eventually I found the crankcase breather was clogged, forcing oil out of the engine in all directions. Once I repaired that, the oil leaking slowed tremendously. I rode all summer,
it is fast, comfortable, and a real pleasure to ride. It looks nice and beat-up now, and it will look even better as I continue racking up the miles and flogging it around town. Thanks go to Chris Lampman for all of his help building this bike, and all the 7th Street crew in St. Paul for their help and support. I stole ideas from all over, but I got a ton of inspiration from Max Schaaf, Rockabilly Jay, Irish Rich, Arlen Ness’s old yellow VL bike and All Stubbings’ “Detail Freak” bike (both versions-early and late). Thanks to Josh Kurpius for taking the pics, respect! David Polgreen and Chris Lampman (651) 503-1695 dip210@hotmail.com Story and Photos By: Josh Kurpius
Tech Sheet General Owner: Fabrication:
David Polgreen David Polgreen and Chris Lampman Year and Make: 1961 Harley-Davidson Model: FL Assembly: David Polgreen and Chris Lampman - (651) 503-1695 dip210@hotmail.com Engine Year: 1961 Model: FLH Rebuilder: Jason Clampett & Kokesh Motorcycles Ignition: Morris Magneto Displacement: 74” Lower End: Stock Balancing: Stock Pistons: Stock Cases: Polished Stock Heads: Polished Stock,Repaired Cams: Andrew B Carb: S&S E Air Cleaner: Velocity Stack Pipes: Custom Built Transmission Manufacturer:Harley-Davidson Year: 1953 Type: Ratchet Top with Kickshifter Engine: Sprocket: n/a Trans: Sprocket: 23 Wheel: Sprocket: 51 Painting Painter: Type: Color:
The Harpoon You tell me A bunch, gold leaf under tank & fender
Frame Manufacturer: Harley-Davidson Year: 1930’s Type: VL Rake: Raked to 33°, new backbone, neck forging. motor mounts Stretch: None Color: Black Powdercoat Accessories Bars: David Polgreen Risers: Ceriani Integral Fenders: Wassel Ribbed fender Headlight: 4” Spotlight Taillight: 50’s Norton repop Pegs: Who knows Electrics: Cycle electric generator, tiny capacitor Gas Tank: Narrowed, sectioned and frisco’d sporty tank Oil Tank: Santee Seat: Modified Bates pan, covered by Sean at Fatlucky’s Other: Imperial primary cover, Primo belt drive primary Forks Type: Builder: Wheels Front Brakes: Wheel: Tire: Rear Brakes: Wheel: Tire:
32MM Flat Track Ceriani
None 21” WM1 Dunlop Avon Speedmaster 63’-66’ Hydraulic Drum 19” Excel Avon SMK II
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make sure t visit TattooFest.com/
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hat is important to women motorcyclists when purchasing a bike? Is it comfort, size, fit, color? With Roar Motorcycles, you find all of that and so much more! The owner and CEO of ROAR Motorcycles is a diminutive woman named Kathleen Steele Tolleson. Don’t let her size fool you! She is passionate about her business, her customers, her staff, and the stellar reputation she provides in the motorcycling world. In fact, she’s been called the Martha Stewart of the motorcycling industry! Why did Kathleen start ROAR Motorcycles? “I have ridden most of my life. Because of my 5’0 height, it was difficult to find the perfect fit for me. When I rode, I wanted the bike to be powerful but I also wanted to feel in control. Every year I would see more and more women riding. I saw how bikes weren’t fitting women.
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You’d see them balancing their bikes with the tips of their toes, or how the length of their arms to the handlebars was completely unnatural. I knew there had to be a way to get women on a motorcycle that fit them perfectly. “ And she did. She studied the industry and the markets. There has been a plateau in cruisers sales and the days of the choppers. The female market is the only growing segment in the industry. She knew the economy was slowing down but wanted to be ready to provide motorcycles for women. “People are still buying bikes. People who ride motorcycles keep on riding. It’s an inexpensive form of transportation, great recreation, and definite relaxation for those who ride as passionately as I do.” The amazing motorcycles that ROAR has in their showroom are beyond impressive. There is a woman’s touch on each bike. For example, each bike has a
name: Blue Ice, Radical Ride, Angel, Celtic Dancer, Crystal Roar, Crimson Queen, and Sweet Ride. These bikes don’t have just impressive names, they have impressive paint jobs. Some even have jewels like Swarovski crystals under layers of clear. Or even a bike called Crowne Jewel; it has brilliant champagne gold metal flake with deep gold and rich brown graphics highlighted by amethyst, amber and blue jewels. She is royally beautiful from fender to fender. Her seat is a beautiful complement, with a rich brown alligator pattern highlighted with shades of gold and studded with amber and amethyst jewels. Fuel injected, shaft driven - a ride fit for a queen! When a lady biker purchases a bike from ROAR Motorcycles, there is a send off party! Goodie bags are given away as well as photos taken to complete the day for the lucky lady biker. As Kathleen told me, “This is a very special event in her life. We
don’t want it to be a one-time deal where we say, ‘see you later.’” So, what’s involved when a woman comes in wanting to buy a one-of-a-kind bike from ROAR Motorcycles? “Once she provides the bike for us (or if she wants us to get one for her through our network of motorcycle dealerships) then we start with the fit. Does the bike need to be lowered? Does the suspension need to be changed? Most bikes are made for men. Women need a lower center of gravity. Then we sit down and get a feel of what she wants for a paint job and art design. From there, we get cover designs for her custom-made seat. If she wants aftermarket parts for the bikes, we talk about that. That scenario is one aspect. Another is the woman coming in and making a selection from many of our lovely bikes on our showroom floor.” Kathleen isn’t interested in only making a sale. First, she wants to make absolutely sure the lady biker has the appropriate riding skills and what her use of the bike will be for. “We work with our customers. We want them to be happy
with the bike. We will not sell the bike if it doesn’t fit or if there is any hesitation with the customer about riding skills, ability, use, etc. We aren’t here just for bike sales. It’s very important to us not just to sell a motorcycle.” ROAR Motorcycles also sells and distributes women riders’ cosmetic line; a mineral-based makeup for women bikers. Why would we want our faces to look like leather? ROAR Motorcycles has a unique clothing line for women bikers, too. They also provide education, information, and a sense of community. “We’ve been so stereotyped. For years items for women have been designed by men and what’s in their brains not what’s good for women. We are changing those stereotypes here at ROAR Motorcycles.” ROAR sets itself apart from many other bike builders because they care about their customers’ future and long-term goals. They have an “Ugly Betty” contest. This great contest allows you to enter a female friend that needs a bike make over along with a story to support it. “Now this might
date me considerably, but I remember ‘A Queen for a Day Show.’ I always thought how nice it would be to make someone’s dream come true. To me it was more exciting to make someone happy than to actually be the Queen for a Day.” Once a person is chosen as the winner for the contest, she meets with Kathleen and her staff of talented artisans, and together, comes up with a makeover for her bike. Paint, chrome, artwork, seat, etc., are all a part of this makeover as well. Along with the beautiful bikes at ROAR Motorcycles, there is also another beautiful side to this remarkable woman, ROAR Global Foundation. The mission of the ROAR Global Foundation is to reach oppressed women of the world through advocacy, education, training and entrepreneurial endeavors. The Foundation is funded by receiving a percentage of the monthly organization fees for the ROAR Sisterhood Motorcycle Association, a hundred dollars from every bike sold will also be donated by ROAR to the ROAR Global Foundation, as well as through private and corporate donations and governmental funding. It supports and funds projects directly related to its mission. Funds are dispersed through an application process and overseen by a Board of Directors. For the last fifteen years, Kathy and her husband have been involved with humanitarian work around the world. Through the ROAR Global Foundation, you have the opportunity to join them. All proceeds from the RGF will specifically go to projects that will educate, train, and enhance the lives of women. All donations are tax deductible. The ROAR Global Foundation is a non-profit organization. We are excited to share with our Born To Ride readers that there will be a special event at Daytona Bike Week. There is going to be an unveiling of the first ever ROAR Motorcycle prototype bike Saturday March 7. This unveiling will be like no other. Why? Because there is no other bike out there that looks like it! In fact when Kathy and I were talking, we were interrupted briefly by one of her staff telling her that the prototype was ready for its first test ride. You could feel the excitement and anxious anticipation permeate throughout the room! The WildKaT is the name of this new bike that you will have a chance to see during bike week. It will be located at ROAR Motorcycles. If you are in Daytona please stop by ROAR Motorcycles and check out this unique and impressive prototype. All of us at Born To Ride are as excited as Kathleen and her staff about the WildKaT. Be sure to tell the staff at ROAR Motorcycles that you read about this bike and ROAR Motorcycles in Born To Ride magazine! Contact Roar at RoarMotorcycles.com or at (386) 255-7527
Susan Hurst Chili Pepper’s Owner Admires her custom look from ROAR
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AYTONA BEACH, Fla – Coinciding with Women’s History Month, a time when women’s contributions to society are remembered and celebrated, ROAR Motorcycles for Women made its own history by unveiling the first production motorcycle for women, designed by women. The WildKaT made its debut during Daytona Beach’s annual Bike Week 2009.
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More than 500 people descended on ROAR Motorcycles headquarters on Saturday, March 7 to enjoy barbeque, live music, filming by the Born To Ride television crew and ultimately the unveiling of The WildKaT. Twenty-six reservations were taken for the bike by the end of the day and several women became new owners earlier in the week, even before the bike was unveiled. “The response from the biker community, both women and the men who
love them, has been overwhelming. Women have taken notice of this truly unique product. They’ve been waiting for it and we can’t wait to start production,” said ROAR President and CEO, Kathy Tolleson. “The unveiling was truly a celebration, but now we’re ready to get back to work.” The 1200cc HD, ergonomically designed for a woman, boasts unique features including Chrome Ride Wright wheels with billet hubs and polished stainless steel spokes (with lifetime
warranty), Hawg Halters 4 piston dual action brake calipers, Daytona twinTec EFI fuel management system, LED lighting and Dakota Digital multi-function instrumentation, just to name a few. Most bikes are designed for men’s stronger upper bodies and longer limbs. Since its grand opening Bike Week 2008, ROAR was solely customizing these motorcycles to make them more femalefriendly. By lowering the seat, a woman can use her legs and hips when picking the bike
off the stand and can put her feet firmly on the ground when stopping. The handlebars and foot controls are also adjusted so the rider does not have to stretch but can ride comfortably. Now, ROAR has taken these concepts to create its own brand with the WildKaT whose frame suspension and design can be adjusted from a petite 23.5” seat height to a taller 29.5” height with no fender gap providing women a more custom fit and safer ride. From frame to fender it’s
proprietary components, in-house seat production and state of the art paint and graphics causes everyone who sees it to say, “Wow!” The WildKaT is a precursor to an entire family of ROAR motorcycles which will also include a sport bike, the StreetKaT, and a touring bike, the Lioness. Pick of your ROAR Motorcycles at ROARMotorcycles. com or at (386) 255-7527 • 897 Bellvue Avenue, Daytona Beach FL
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