pg.7 ..... Viewer Features pg.11 ... Intro pg.15 ... Myrtle Beach 2011 pg.27 ... Backyard Boogie pg.33 ... Myrtle Beach 2011 pg.39 ... Fancy's Steed pg.45 ... Myrtle Beach 2011 pg.51 ... HEMI Bike pg.67 ... Myrtle Beach 2011 pg.71 ... Harry Ace pg.77 ... Myrtle Beach 2011 pg.81 ... Homegrown OSD pg.85 ... Crashed Bling
PG.7
Publisher: Rockets Media Inc. info@rocketsmedia.com Executive Editor / Photo Editor / Art Director: Lee Wallace lee@blingrockets.com Associate Editor / Art Director: Adam Canni adam@blingrockets.com Editor-at-Large: Louis Grasse louis@blingrockets.com Marketing and Promotions Director / Senior Writer: Jesse Fennell jesse@blingrockets.com Contributors / Participants: VooDoo Industries Killer Kreations Fancy Cycle Derrick "Red Dog" Mark and Rich
BlingRockets, ISSN 2151-0776 (online), Issue no.16, June, 2011 is digitally published several times a year by Rockets Media Inc. All rights in letters, all photographic submissions including but not limited to drawings, or any type of submission sent to BlingRockets will be treated as unconditionally assigned to copyright purposes and are subject to BlingRockets right to edit, title, and organize editorially and will become the property of BlingRockets. Copyright Š 2009-2011, digital publication originating from the USA.
Welcome to the Myrtle Beach Special
Issue of BlingRockets, we appreciate your readership and support. This entire issue was shot during this year's Atlantic Beach Bikefest. Our weekend started on Friday and as soon as we arrived on scene the photo and video shoots didn't stop until late Sunday night. You're soon to find out that the flow of this special issue is a bit different from any other past issue. There are two main features and several "mini features" within. The first main feature is "Myrtle Beach 2011". This feature continues throughout the entire issue. Within this main feature there are mini features (bike features) as well as the second main feature "VooDoo HEMI Cuda ZX-14". After the VooDoo feature you'll continue on with the original Myrtle main feature, with a couple more mini features, before finishing out issue no.16.
PG.11
Our intentions are for you to enjoy Myrtle in a similar fashion as we did. We hit the main hot spots (Ocean Blvd, Hooters, and 30th Ave) and while doing so we setup the shoots for each of the mini features. Now, the heavy hitter of the bunch is the VooDoo feature which has our coverage of VooDoo's latest creation the "HEMI Bike". We shot this bike before anyone else could get their hands on it, another BlingRockets exclusive debut. The bottom line on Myrtle is that it's going on, and it doesn't look like it's going to do anything but grow. There were bikes everywhere and as usual this was the place for the custom sportbike enthusiast. Custom bikes packed the North Myrtle Hooters (Kings Hwy) every night and even in the daytime the Myrtle Beach Mall parking lot on the Hooter's side was utilized for bike parking. It's no joke, there were bikes all over the place, even in the Walmart parking lot down the street. I'll leave all of you that are looking to attend next year's rally with this one tip. Go to North Ocean Blvd in Myrtle Beach, it's a sight to see. During the daytime and especially at nighttime you better visit Ocean Blvd, it's where it's at! Please hit up our YouTube channel for all of our videos in HD, "Like" our Facebook page, and follow us on Twitter. Until next time, be safe!
Photos/Video: Lee Wallace & Jesse Fennell Words: Jesse Fennell
Myrtle Beach, SC
North Ocean Blvd
Whether it's called Atlantic Beach Memorial Day Bike Festival,
Atlantic Beach Bikefest, Black Bike Week or just plain ol' Myrtle, to most custom sportbike riders and enthusiasts this is without a shadow of a doubt the one event each year that they do not want to miss. Atlantic Beach Memorial Day Bike Festival was started in 1980 by the Flaming Knight Riders Motorcycle Club. Through much controversy and racial tension this is one bike rally that has withstood the test of time and is still thriving today.
SkyWheel Myrtle Beach
The Boardwalk
After attending Myrtle this year, all of us at BlingRockets decided that we needed to shine a light on this rally like it had not been done before. In an attempt to enlighten those that are not aware of the origin of this great rally, we intend to educate our readers and show those that were not able to attend the sites we encountered at this year’s event. No matter how you name it, this rally consists of nothing but fun loving motorcycle enthusiasts having one helluva good time.
From 1940 to present, Myrtle Beach has hosted a predominately white Motorcycle Rally known to many as Harley-Davidson Week which is held the week prior to what we now call Atlantic Beach Bikefest. In 1980 when the Flaming Knight Riders started this rally it was called the Atlantic Beach Memorial Day Bike Festival. The event was attended by black motorcyclists that rode all types of motorcycles from Harley Davidsons to many of the Japanese bikes. The first event was attended by approximately 100 people. Back then the event was a small intimate gathering for club members to mix and mingle, have some barbecue, listen to music, and compete for trophies for the best looking bike. -Continued on pg.33
Photos: Lee Wallace Words: Jesse Fennell
While traveling the busy streets of Myrtle in
search of the hottest bikes of the weekend, we came across Derrick Houston and a few of his friends while traveling Kings Highway. After a short low speed chase we finally caught up to them in the parking lot of Wal-Mart. After a brief run-down of the bike we decided to shoot it right there on location. The title Backyard Boogie was immediately brought to our attention by Derrick who informed us that this was not a professional build in some over-the-top bike shop, but merely completed in his friend's (Reginald Haley) back yard. All but the paint was done at the house which was sprayed by Big Red Customs out of Houston, TX. No matter where it was completed it looks amazing!
Since then, the event has grown drastically, the attendance has been reported over the years to reach between 300,000 and 400,000 people. Still today many bike clubs from all around the US, come to mix and mingle with other clubs by enjoying many of the festivities together. Everyone who has attended Myrtle Beach within the last 10 years knows that it's still the place to style and profile. Some enthusiasts work on projects all year getting their bikes ready for Myrtle, where they debut their custom creations to the world. -Continued on pg.45
Photos: Lee Wallace Words: Jesse Fennell
Several weeks before Atlantic Beach
Bikefest, I talked to Fancy Cycle’s owner Tony Odom on the phone in an attempt to find out what kind of bikes they would be bringing out to the event this year. At first I did not take much interest in what I was told, but once we laid eyes on Fancy's Indianapolis Colts inspired bike it was obvious that we needed to show the world their masterpiece in a fashion that only we know how. Enjoy the following pics showing all the bells and whistles this steed has to offer.
Vendors, vendors, vendors!
Yamaha Bike Show
This event has definitely evolved from how it was in the beginning to what it is now but still carries a lot of the same characteristics that it began with. Expanding from only being in Atlantic Beach to encompassing the entire greater Myrtle Beach or Grand Strand area is quite an accomplishment. Continued on pg.67
Photos &Video: Lee Wallace Words: Jesse Fennell
VooDoo Industries out of Cleveland, Ohio started
a trend of making muscle car themed bikes several years back. You may remember their infamous blue and white Dodge Viper themed ZX-14 and then their red Shelby Mustang themed Hayabusa. Well, I know you did not think that they would stop there, during Myrtle Beach they debuted their long time coming Hemi Cuda themed ZX-14 and what a beauty. Most people that love high performance bikes also have respect for modern day muscle cars. Even though these bikes are not powered by the same American muscle power plants, these superbikes are no slouch by far.
Starting similarly to any old muscle car restoration, Bob Uecker and the guys over at VooDoo Industries, start by disassembling the entire bike. The motor is given a fresh coat of paint; in this case the color Race Hemi Orange was chosen just how it was back in the day. Once painted and reassembled then the attention is refocused to the outer cosmetics of the bike. This go around, the Hemi bike was outfitted with a set of custom one-off billet C&S wheels to give it that old school “Badass� look.
The custom 360mm C&S wheel was attached to their single sided swing-arm. Front and rear AirFX air suspension was added to give it a smooth ride and have the right stance whether moving or stationary. A set of one-off custom gauges inscribed with the words Plymouth Cuda were set in a brushed aluminum and wood housing which was added to give the dash the old school feel that VooDoo was looking for. An original 'Cuda gas cap was welded in to keep the theme going up top as well.
This Hemi build just would not be complete if it did not have that old school muscle car sound, so Rob added a set of his own VooDoo shorty pipes to make it growl. We can’t express how impressed we are with the turnout of this project. Hats off to the guys over at VooDoo Industries that keep coming up with ways to help preserve these American icons. You never know what their next project is going to be so stay tuned to the guys over there at VooDoo.
Builder: Rear: Engine:
Photos: Lee Wallace Words: Jesse Fennell
l
Preperation for Atlantic Beach Bikefest involves styl-
ing and profiling. Harry Berkley of Killer Kreations has taken this concept to the extreme once again. Last year we covered Harry’s Bike, when it was done up in a totally different way based on his "Wild Card" theme but in blue and black. This year when we ran into Harry he was riding this orange masterpiece with ghosted card symbols all over and sporting orange and chrome spinner wheels. Harry informed us that it was the same bike from last year, but like always it's been re-customized in preparation for Myrtle . As you all know Killer Kreations is known for their amazing metal tattoos (air brushing), and boy are they good at it. If your shopping for a sick paint job for a project it sure wouldn't hurt to give these a guys a call first. Great job Harry, see you next year in Myrtle, we will definitely will be looking for your new Killer Kreation.
Atlantic Beach in 2011 still had a lot to offer the event go-er. Various motorcycle vendors set up on 30th Ave. to show off their latest in custom parts and accessories. Non-bike related vendors were also there with various goods and products along side the food vendors who everyone looked to when they were ready for a meal or something to drink. Several exhibitions are also put on throughout the weekend to keep everyone entertained. Like many other attendees of this year’s event the staff at BlingRockets enjoyed yet another fun filled Atlantic Beach Bikefest and will definitely be there next year. So no matter what rumors you heard about Myrtle going away it's evident to us that this event is here to stay for many years to come.
Photos: Lee Wallace Words: Jesse Fennell
During each major bike
event (Daytona, Myrtle Beach, etc.) BlingRockets. com hosts a meet and greet for all of it's forum members to meet up and hang out. It’s always a task to interrupt everyone’s fun filled weekend and get them all together. This year we decided several weeks before the event that we would meet up at the North Myrtle Hooters for our get together. Out of our group of members that showed up we decided to shine some light on two bikes that were homegrown in Dover, Delaware. At first sight, most will not see what the big deal is with these two bikes. In fact, these bikes have been totally designed and built by their riders, Mark and Rich.
Not every hard working, taxpaying, custom sportbike lover has the bread to keep up with the trends of today’s custom sportbike scene. So Mark (Black TL1000) and Rich (Blue and green GSXR600) decided to build their own 300 and 330 outside drive (OSD) big tire kits. They started by first fabricating their own swingarms. Yes, you heard that right, they did it themselves. They did not stop there because neither of them were fans of the jack shaft, known to many as the "crap shaft". Rich decided he did not want to tackle the job of trying to create the front off-set sprocket support so he contracted his. On the other hand, Mark was determined to create his own, by hand. Many would think these guys must be out their minds to ride on some homemade stuff like this, but unlike many custom bikes, these two are daily drivers for these two enthusiasts. Hats off to Mark and Rich for their accomplishments. Make sure you guys keep them bikes rubber side down.
PG.85
BlingRockets does not endorse motorcycling without safety gear. Please ride safely.