 I'd just like to point out that none of this shit is really my fault.
I mean let's not kid ourselves. Once the combined forces of Star Wars, Heavy Metal Magazine and Magic Mushrooms arose in the galaxy? I was pretty much just fucking doomed. Right off the bat I want to thank every single one of you that has supported and encouraged me through the years. Buying my art, commissioning me for custom pieces and harassing my ass to finally MARKET my work to the public. Special mention to Jesper Braam, creator of the the Lowbrow Art Academy of Copenhagen, of which I am a founding member. The last few years have been a blast, and the instruction, advice and exposure to so many insanely talented artists among our guest instructors and students has literally changed my day to day forever. For that I am humbly grateful. Anyways... I am one lucky motherfucker. I grew up in the 70's and 80's, bathed in neon, amazeballs music and the psychedelic band poster art of the Big Five, Alton Kelley, Victor Moscoso, Rick Griffin, Wes Wilson & Stanley Mouse. A treasure trove of comics from the 40's and 50's, stashed in a drawer at my grandparents' house, kick-started a lifelong love affair of the medium, fueled by Stan Lee, Jack Kirby, Steve Ditko and too many others to mention, as the years rolled by. Both my grandfathers served in WWII, which led me to bomber nose art, and the old pin up calendars in their garages had my mouth dry and my palms sweaty before I ever even touched a wrench. suddenly, Van art was huge and Frazetta was everywhere! On carnival rides and the cover of Edgar Rice Burroughs Conan and Tarzan. Then I discovered the insane cars, Tshirts and art of Big Daddy Roth in the ads pages of a comic book, which eventually led to Von Dutch, Coop and yet another horde of gifted, howling lunatics. At a highly inappropriate, but highly grateful, age David Mann came smoking at me off the pages of Easyriders and Playboy while stolen copies of Penthouse Magazine introduced me to the joys of Jamie Hewlett's Tank Girl. wEEKENDS, HOWEVER, WERE STILL ALL ABOUT tHE wONDERFUL wORLD OF dISNEY, lOONEY tOONS AND tHE sUPER fRIENDS! tHEN, More years ago than I care to admit, I picked up and rebuilt an old Kwakker and somewhere along the way, realized that what I really wanted to do was wrench and create art of my own. I wanted to paint helmets and pinstripe gas tanks and travel to bike shows and rallies and do all the fun things! The Sailor Jerry tattooed goddesses I was spending so much of my time with and puppy dog eyeing probably helped a wee bit too. Thanks for the fever dreams, Ladies! All in all? I was born at the perfect time. I've lived through and been inspired by so many amazing artists and movements, through so many different media. The 40's through the 80's is still where I live in my head and I'm either five or sixteen through it all, depending on what I'm experiencing on a given day. I still read Comic Books, I still read and watch Fantasy & Sci Fi, I still groove to all the music, i STILL DRINK wHISKEY AND BEER, EAT, SMOKE AND DO ALL THE THINGS, WAVE AT ALL THE PRETTY GIRLS and I still go BRAAP!!! Here's some of my art. Hope it flashes y'ALL back to your happy PLACES and makes you grin. Cheers! -Killer, Lowbrow Artist, Victoria, BC, Canada, 07/20/20
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Here comes the judge! :)
Sponsored post for VIKING CYCLE
* Disclaimer: apparently the jacket design has been changed since I wrote this article. I have not had a chance to review the new version and can't comment on it.
 Fuck cold! Gots me a shemagh!
​Okay everyone, here's the deal. About a month back Scott Adams of Viking Cycle reached out to me and asked if I'd be willing to review some of their gear. He challenged me to pick out any item I wanted from their product lines, give it an honest shakedown, then write it up with some pics. I love someone with the balls to make an open-ended dare like that and, Being a ravenous fan of swag, I happily took him up on his kind offer and chose the Bloodaxe Leather Motorcycle jacket.
Viking Cycle is an 8 year old company based out of sunny So-Cal, they manufacture their own gear, allowing them complete quality control. All of their jackets include CE rated armor. * Full disclosure: We're not selling Viking Cycle gear in house and, other than this review, I have no affiliation with this company. Those of you that have been following along over the years know that I'm not going to bullshit or pull any punches, so let's get at it! I'm going to approach this experience from start to finish. We all work hard for our money and buying gear can be a pain in the ass, so things like service and website functionality are pretty big have-to-haves nowadays. Straight up, my experience with this company has been heavily favourable. I don't take my reputation lightly and I have my own brand integrity to protect, so when I tell you I'm a happy little ducky pay attention. I can, in all honesty, be a raging asshole when I think things are shite, but the more I deal with the gang at Viking Cycle the more I like them. Service has been awesome. Scott has his poop in a group and any questions I had were answered toot-fucking-suite. These guys take their shipping seriously too. From the time I chose the Bloodaxe Leather Motorcycle Jacket to my door was three days. That's a huge fricken' deal considering I'm up here in Victoria, BC, Canada and these guys are down in Cali. So service and shipping both get an A+ on my end. 
​The Viking Cycle website is a little rough and ready, but every time I visit I see improvements and new pics. It's pretty apparent that whomever is writing some of their ad copy isn't an English major and the site can be a bit twitchy on my smartphone when I'm trying to view close-up pics on individual items, but overall it's serviceable and not a bad looking platform, although certainly easier to navigate on a laptop. With supporting social media channels on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Youtube they're obviously looking to keep current and have a relevant web presence. With free shipping on orders over $79.99 and their current 10% off deal for Fall, combined with their 30 day money back warranty, it makes it a bit easier to plunk down your hard earned bucks. Instant chat functionality on the site is a plus as well. Big fricken' gold star for the online and incentive efforts!
​Alright, now that all the intangibles are out of the way let's get down to the meat and potatoes, how is the Bloodaxe Leather Motorcycle Jacket out in the wild? You know what, It's pretty fucking badass! Okay, here we go! After having the Bloodaxe out and about in the wind, rain and sun, (welcome to Victoria in the Fall, hope you brought layers) it absolutely passes the versatility test. Any leather is going to have you stewing up a nice bowl of biker chowder when it's a scrambled egg day, but the removable quilted liner and ventilation zips in the upper chest and lower back do a great job of airing things out. I'm a sucker for a nice quilted liner and let me tell you, this fucker is WARM with that liner in. Personally I'm a huge fan of mandarin collars on a jacket as well, not crazy about things on my neck, and when it does get a bit too snotty out, I just whip on one of our Shemagh Tactical Scarves or Authentic Kustom Baja Hoodies. Instant bug-snugness and comfort!  Baja Hoodie for the win!
Great trade-off in the weight to performance side of things all around with this design too, seems to be a running theme with these guys and I approve in a big way. Now that I think of it, I was in a bit of a rush to go pick up a client's bike the day the jacket got delivered and I remember thinking, as I chucked the package in the door to head to the truck, that it was kind of a light and small package for a serious leather. Well I may have had a bit of Hulk-smash going on that morning, because this thing is substantial. Everyone I've shown it to remarks on the quality and the heft, but when I wear it it feels just right. Total Goldilocks zone for walking around. Just right for not feeling like you're packing a two stroke on your tits while still feeling secure.
​I have torn this jacket apart repeatedly now, checking out the features and looking for fails and I've gotta say, the more I root around the more I love this thing! Viking Cycle's designers have obviously put a shit-ton of thought into this jacket. It's the little things that really make life better when you're tired and dragging ass out in the wind and the rain and the Bloodaxe has a whack of feel-good bells and whistles. From the little pictogram labels on the different pockets for your phone, shades and even a pen holder, to the sneaky but spacious pocket that holds an 11" Ipad or tablet, to the media and earbud cable routers, to the velcro fasteners at the bottom rear of the removable liner, there's just more and more reasons to smile. You know that private grin you get when you're pushing hard and you get confirmation that you've spent your gear money wisely? You will if you're wearing the Bloodaxe. 
​​* A quick heads-up. I made a bit of a booboo when I asked for an XL. I've dropped over 50 pounds since last Christmas but I'm still a wide son of a bitch, just less round, so sizing can be a hassle for me. At 5'10" and 185 pounds I found the back a bit loose, so I'll be going for a Large on future orders.
More in your face matters, like the ease of insertion and removal of the interchangeable CE rated armor and the high reflectivity of the old school looking stripes, are all marks of the forethought and quality that's gone into this solidly sexy beast. Other pleasantries included subtle blousing of the zippered cuffs. Meaning I can actually fit a decent pair of longer gloves instead of knuckle dusters under there if I want to, while still maintaining a smooth line. They also included felt-lined front pockets, don't know about you all, but I freaking LOVE toasty front pockets and it's even better when they zip from bottom to top to keep my shit from falling out. ​So, let's kick the crap out of the elephant in the room now. Price and place of manufacture. No bullshit, I was ready to hate on this thing when I saw the prices. Figured it was going to be more cheap, poorly made crap. Joke's on me though. I can't believe I'm recommending a price hike, but straight talk, these guys are doing themselves a grave disservice by offering this gear at these price points. It gives the impression that the quality just isn't there and it's going to scare folks off. I get that their website says Viking Cycle are fellow riders looking to put out quality gear at an affordable price, but sometimes you just need to price for perception. This is one of those times.
I'm telling you hooligans right now, grab this gear at these rates while you can, because deals like this are hard to find. As for the label saying Made in Pakistan? Well, if Harley can charge your left testicle and your right ovary for Chinese, Taiwanese and Korean horseshit with an eagle on it, I'll nod and smile at the quality and price of my Bloodaxe all day fucking long. Don't get me wrong, I love my Vanson leathers, but they're a bit of a bitch to bop around town in and that's the sweet spot that Viking Cycle has hit so very, very well here. By the way, you know what Pakistan is famous for? That's right, leather. Let's be honest with one another here, there are times to wave your plastic around and be a wanker and there are times to shut the fuck up and spend your money wisely. Personally, once I feel pretty sure that my skin is going to stay where I like it, I'm a fan of having some extra cash for ass, grass and gas.
 Get off my lawn!
​All of that being said, I do have a few small and one solid beef with the Bloodaxe. The solid gripe is the zipper on the quilted liner. I get that they were going for a lower profile for comfort. Some of my other jackets have heavier inside zips that can feel like a mini cheese grater after a while. It's just one of those annoyances that starts to bug you on a longer day, but the lightweight zip on this liner has already separated once, so it's going to need an upgrade on future iterations. I'd also like to see some contrast stitching on the quilted liner itself. A red, orange or copper stitch could be a hot styling cue, something to think about. Lastly, the zippers on the rest of the jacket are nice and solid, but on colder, wetter rides they can be a pain to grab with bulkier gloves, which was another non-issue, once I threw on some of our zipper pulls. One last addition I'd like to see would be some moleskin or felt at the neck and cuffs, but all things considered it'd really just be a cherry on top kind of thing, still not a bad idea though. Okay, I'm done being a dick now.
​​So let's let you in on a little secret, I've already got my eye on a couple of Viking Cycles' other offerings and after I've shown them the Bloodaxe to get their opinions, I have clients asking me to hook them up too. One of my "thriftier" regulars honked that it was a shame there wasn't a big ass fucking harley logo on it, because he loved the thing and wanted one. I suggested a nice embroidered patch and he got the warm and fuzzies pretty damn quick. No one guessed the price of the Bloodaxe at less than USD $500 and a couple of the Brit and Euro machine owners actually estimated around a grand. With a better known brand name this gear will easily start commanding a higher cost in days to come. This is one seriously sexy piece of kit and I've had it on the backs of literally dozens of riders over the last month, with a whole lot of love thrown it's way. Every single one of them commented on the quality of the leather and pointed out something else that they loved about it. So good job, Viking Cycle, you got all the points from the leg over crowd! 
Now for the question all you dudes really want to ask. If I wear this to the bar am I going to get laid? Well, experiences may vary, but I wore this thing out a "few" times to get reactions and comments and holy flaming hooters gentlemen, did I ever get a lot of attention with this leather! Of course I pulled the armour out so I didn't look like a flippin' wannabe power ranger, but I keep coming back to the words, "sexy", "solid" and "badass" when I think about the Bloodaxe and we all know that when you look good you feel good. So yeah you're going to feel pretty goddamned good about yourself when you're out and about. Just smile at the pretties, don't be a douche and you're off to a studly start. Killman Customs definitely offers it's seal of approval on the Bloodaxe as hottie bait!
​So, in conclusion, is the Bloodaxe Leather Motorcycle Jacket by Viking Cycle good gear? Yup. Is it worth the money? Abso-fucking-lutely! Well that's about it. Hope you enjoyed the read. Any other companies that feel confident in their shit, feel free to reach out if you dare and If anyone's got any further questions get at me!
Killman Customs products in this article: Tim Renshaw and his daughter Lilly, chillin' like villains!  Tim flat-tracking on his '43 WLC So today I'm bringing something special into your lives. A certain gentleman by the name of Tim Renshaw. Tim would be the guy that founded the Vintage Motorcycle Canyon Run in Lillooet a few years back. * If you don't know what the Vintage Canyon Run is, you need to look into it, it's one of the coolest runs around and it's coming up fast. As in, Canada Day weekend, fast. Do you like old bikes, roast pig, beer and riding through some of the prettiest country in the world with awesome peeps? Then this is the event for you! Now honestly? I'm not even sure how long I've known Tim. Been a while, but I'd be willing to hazard a guess as to how we met. I'd bet I was working our booth at an event and this tall flannel-clad drink of water sidled up, gave me a shy little smile, asked a polite question or two, and then dropped some offhand remark. perhaps something about hanging out with Clyde from the old Clint Eastwood movies. That would be the orangutan. The one drinking beer, flipping the bird and bitch-slapping the unwary. You know, the conversational equivalent of a fucking A-Bomb. Tim does that kind of shit on the regular and he'll do it so quietly you never even see it coming. Just randomly nuke any preconceptions you may have on a given day from orbit, like the rest of us would butter toast. Then he'll innocently wander off to explore some more, leaving you wondering if that conversation actually just fucking happened.  Tim and Shelly Over the years I've come to know that the events I go to where I don't see Tim at some point are the exception. Where there's old iron you've got a decent chance of spotting him, often with a kid or two in tow, just strolling around, stopping every so often to chat a bit and check out whatever treasure he sees at a given moment. I love my visits with this man. Seriously, he's just one of those guys that's made it his path in life to go out and do the awesome shit. Consequently, he's got a deep reservoir of knowledge and stories about the sometimes questionable, but always entertaining, experiments that led to it. Today we're going to share a little of Tim's world with you, I hope you enjoy the ride. (As always, just click on any of the pics to make 'em bigger!)  Who are you and where are you from? Tim Renshaw, Vancouver BC, Originally 10th Ave. What do you think you do? Farm work and build rat rods and vintage Harleys. What’s awesome about you and your life? Founded the Vintage Canyon Run event as a grandpa and got my ‘46 Knuckle running! Before that, I Founded War-Years Vintage M.C. Before that, I raced motocross, enduros and trials for the UBC Motorcycle Club out at Westwood. Hey Tim, in addition to Manis, (Clyde's real name) for the Eastwood movies what are some of the other famous animals you've trained? I worked with many movie animals. I was an assistant on over 50 different feature movies and commercials in the old days. I was even a motorcycle supplier and stuntman working with robbie knievel on one occasion. Supplied the dog blue for a commercial and worked with Don cherry too! I Worked on the beachcombers, The littlest hobo and danger bay series, all canadian, which I'm very proud of. supplied and was canada's top wolf trainer/dog trainer in the 1980's. Also worked on cbc kids' shows with animals. met michael landon, roy rogers, sonny and cher and worked as a child extra on some early american tv commercials. but we'd better to keep to old bikes...  Tim on a 1970 hodaka super rat, in 1970. How did you wind up where you are? Lost my glasses while riding a Hodaka super rat! What was the last thing you did that made you swear later? Forgot my gloves. What was the best thing to happen to you due to poor life choices? Had children and scrapped all my lawn mowers.  Tim Renshaw: Lee Marvin who? What was your favorite glory moment? 2nd gear wheelies on my FXR in front of a cop, Falkland Pub and Rodeo. Anything hanging around in your shop or office that gives you joy to look at? My pet goat Charlie.  Pic by: Dave Brewin What would be your superhero name? Old Tall Fart! Who do you want us to interview next and what do you want us to ask them? Paul Brodie, ask him how to true a frame. What would you like to see more of in the custom world? More Killman Customs choppers! *Editor's note: Don't think I don't see what you just did there, you smooth bastard. Okay, fine, my next project will be a chopper, happy now?  3am before the run... What was your most annoying fuck up or brain fart? Over-tightened my generator strap and broke my engine case. What’s in your shop right now that you’re thinking about? Fixing the head gasket on the FXR, clutch slipping on the knucklehead, building the big flatty, start up the ‘31 chopped rat rod... Favorite motorcycle-related story? My old buddy rode a 500 single into a wild horse’s ass one night years ago, near Revelstoke, and lived!  Tim and his evil twin, Jon Armstrong. Pic by: Dave Brewin Favorite non-motorcycle-related story? Finding a 1923 Model T Chinese delivery truck in a garage on main street. What would you do with one million dollars? Buy a small town, build a hill climb and a dirt track. *Editor's note: This I need to see. Somebody get this man a freakin' lottery ticket, stat! What’s your next adventure? Ride to Las Vegas!  Hang on, I got Hef on the other line... Want to give some shout outs to other talented peeps, or anyone that helped along the way? Big thanks to Vern the Gig Amor, Terry from Hi Honda, Bobby Mutch, Uncle Roy Lightbody, Varsity Cycle, Don Renshaw Sr., (who still rides at 92) Walt Healy, Fred Pazaski, Terry Rea, Don Doody, Ron Lacey, Gordo, Dou Blamey, Rob Backus, (first Indian rider that I ever met) long time friend Morley Brook, Giant Al Hooper and The Donut Diner on 10th AVE! Tell us anything else you want us to share for you. Go forward, do not look back. Do not be afraid. Don’t buy plastic. Name all your children after a motorcycle or feral animal!  Tim and Arrow, making cool look easy. Words of wisdom from on high indeed, from our friendly neighbourhood bike nut. Now unfortunately Tim lost his lovely wife Shelly Goodpipe a little while back, but the man's carried on gracefully raising his kids, (Lily, Arrow, Cheyanne, Bo, Erin and banchi) building bikes, hosting the Canyon Run, and sharing his own special brand of positivity everywhere he goes. He does it quietly and he does it with style.  Tim, repping the Canyon Run at the Vancouver Motorcycle Show Tim, it's been a pleasure and an honour knowing you over the years. Thank you for agreeing to share with us today and I'm sure I'll be seeing you around pretty damn soon. Probably the very next time I'm at an event if history is any judge! * By the way, if you don't know who Clyde is, stop what you're doing right the hell now and watch the movies. That is simply an unacceptable void in your life that needs to be remedied immediately. Get drunk first. Maybe smoke all the grass you can lay your furry little monkey paws on too, you'll thank me.  don't miss the 4th annual canyon run, from cultus lake exit hwy 1 to lillooet, JUNE 30, 2018 !!!
Vintage Canyon Run website: www.canyonrun.ca/ Vintage Motorcycle Canyon Run On Facebook Phone: 1 (778) 953-2077 (Tim) Email: [email protected]  Chopper builder Mike Watson and his talented fiancée Fatima!  Would totally have a sloppy one nighter with this scoot So last Summer I was taking a break from manning the booth, just wandering around the Om Boys Shitshow & Shine, up in Nanaimo, when I see this purple beast of an old school chopper next to one of the other vendor tents. Stops me dead in my tracks and makes my little heart go pitter-pattity. Whoever this builder or rider was, was obviously someone I was going to have to meet, so I rolled on over to check out what Keg Killer Customs was all about. And that's how I met Mike Watson. It was like stepping into a time warp. Old school chopper artwork everywhere, and the dude behind the table obviously woke up every morning right after the ghost of David Mann drew him. Totally gave me the screaming warm and fuzzies just looking at all that shit. If I wore panties, they'd've been floor-pie for sure.  Chopper Gospel First thing that grabs my heart strings in a deathlock are all of these torched and varnished driftwood pieces of David Mann paintings. Those things were straight-up Chopper Gospel and I needed saving in the worst way. Yup, no freakin' way was I leaving without one of those bad boys. Souls are cheap, and dirtbag artisanal sculptures are just portable gateways to paradise anyways, so I start chatting the furry bastard up. Tell him how rad his bike and his artwork are and ask if he wants to swap some swag. Little while later, he's the proud owner of one of our Real Mexican Saddle Roll Blankets with a Leather Carrying Harness and I'm squee-ing like an anime schoolgirl over my new objet d'motherfucking wonderful. Thing's had pride of place on my mantelpiece ever since. Got to chatting with mister Mc Chopper again later of course, and it turns out we'd met his badass and beautiful girlfriend, now rockstar fiancée, Fatima the year before when we were neighbours at the original Om Boys Shitshow & Shine. Fatima's a pretty talented artist/pinstriper her own bad self too, by the bye. Chopper Dude turns out to be named Mike Watson, formerly of Carstairs Alberta. He also turns out to be a pretty righteous individual.  Totally funky trophy! Over the rest of the season we all bumped into each other repeatedly on the show circuit, culminating in Mike's win of one totally funky trophy for Best Bike at the Cassidy Country Kitchen event at the end of the Summer. We cheered like drunken savages. Mike's bike was worthy and he hauls around bucket-fulls of the old karmic awesomesauce for sure. Once I decided to start up this series of indie and alternative interviews, Mike was obviously one of the first people I thought of. Guy lives breathes and poops this stuff, so it's time to help him shine a bit. Now enough of my rambling on, let's hear from the Dreamy tub of scruffy wonderful himself, Mike Watson everybody! (As always, just click on any of the pics to make 'em bigger!)
 Mike being awesome with his son Why do you do what you do? At a young age I looked up to my uncle and all the bikes and choppers he had. Soon as I got the chance to get my own bike it didn't take long to start making it my own.  Mike Watson - Sexy Jesus What would be your superhero name? Sexy Jesus !!! * Editor's note: Well shit, thanks a lot Mike. I may just have to retire this question now. I mean how the hell is anyone supposed to top that answer? Well played you bastard! What was the best thing to happen to you due to poor life choices? Riding choppers!  Got any nicknames and how’d you get ‘em? Keg Killer. I love beer haha. * Having been neighbours of Kegkiller Customs at a few shows and events now, we can solidly confirm Mike's steadfast and unconditional love for beer. Got any heroes or role models? My uncle who got me into choppers.
 How did you wind up where you are? Lots of trial and error! Who’s work, do you have a crush on right now? Always love what Big Scott does. What would you like to see more of in the custom world? Choppers.  This right here? ALL the awesome! Anything hanging in your shop or office that gives you joy to look at and what’s it’s story? A picture that my little man painted of myself and my chopper. * Editor's note: Aw man, must've got a little sumpthin' in my eye there... What would you do with one million dollars? Travel North America on my chopper.  Mike & Fatima on the chopper; Pic by: @victoriatakesphotos Favorite motorcycle-related story? The one that comes to my mind is a ride that Fatima and myself took to Kamloops. A blown-out headlight and blown wheel bearing in the middle of the night on our way there. It's always a trip like this that you look back on and smile. If you ride a chopper it will happen sooner or later. And that's what makes it all the more fun.  What was your favorite glory moment? Not motorcycle related but the moment when our little guy called me dad. * Aw Man, that is it. Where are the goddamn tissues? Make no mistake, the family game is strong with this particular chopper freak! What’s your next adventure? Spring is here, and every weekend is an adventure.  Want to give some shout outs to other talented peeps, or anyone that helped along the way? Wanna thank my Uncle for getting the bug started and my Fatima for always being there for me. And all my friends past and present who have help me along the way.  Ya, we wanna thank your uncle too, Mike. It's no small thing to take a kid under your wing and to teach them a love for beauty and the life long skills to make art out of machines. Reminds me of somebody else I know... Yeah you, Mr. Modesty. Well there we go folks, a quick peek into the twisted mind of all around decent dude and wicked wrench, Mike Watson. Hope you all enjoyed the ride today and be sure to tune back in next week for another behind the scenes visit with another killer guest! Keep the shiny side up and we'll see you around the way! 
 Hmm, it's like there's some kind of annual event coming up. Can't seem to put my finger on it...  Wade, playing with his food. Sorry, I mean his lovely wife Deidra! Okay, before we get into today's fresh bit of debauchery, I've got a question for you. Do you like motorcycles, beer, whiskey, live music until dawn, topless mechanical bull-riding, assorted biker games, wet Tshirts, general mayhem and a just balls-out tub of buttered wonderful time in the mountains? If the answer is no, then you are almost certainly about to be struck by lightning and come to a bad end. Close this screen, step away from the computer and reflect on your shameful lack of culture. Maybe do that last bit in a nudie bar. Just saying...  Wade, busily corrupting future generations of Stompers! If the answer is yes, then you are our people and we welcome you! We will hug you and hold you and name you George. Or something. So there's this fucking crazy event that happens every year in Sicamous, called The Summer Stomp. It's kinda like a playground for grown-ups, like a live action version of every coming of age and midlife crisis movie ever made, with more alcohol, fun and no Melissa McCarthy in sight to make it weird. Picture Woodstock getting it on with Easyriders. The Stomp will change the way you view the universe and your place in it. At the very least it'll make you grin like you're five. In case you couldn't tell, I highly recommend this fucking lunatic parade, two boobies WAAAAAY up! Now this here Summer Stomp thing is happening next week already, so here's what you do, call in sick and get going. They're always looking for volunteers too, if you're a little short of cash, and they have a nice benefit package for your labours. So anyhoo... Today's guest of honour is none other than Wade Stewart, longtime Summer Stomp alumni and current Executive Council member. If you want to know who makes these amazing events happen, this is the guy you're wondering about. When he's not busy being a day to day dude, working his "real" job mechanicking, husbanding his kickass wife Deidra, fathering his kidlets, son Dallas and daughters Eva, Allyson and Cassidy, he's warlocking up crazy shit like live music acts and new and improved ways of getting us all twizzlered and giggly. Wade and his crew bust their asses all year so that we can all kick back in July. Every time we attend, we know it's going to be the source of half our stories for the next year and it's always a treat whenever the gang stops by the Killman Customs booth for a sociable. Huge shout out and thanks to the lot of them. You raving heathens are some of the good ones! Now we've known Wade for several years and it's a privilege to finally get a peek inside the twisted sack of ferrets he calls his mind today. So buckle up your hooter holsters cowgirls, because it's go time! (As always, just click on any of the pics to make 'em bigger!)  2016 Summer Stomp toy run, handing over the toys to representative from the S.A.F.E. Society Who are you and where are you from? Wade Stewart, Salmon Arm Got any nicknames and how’d you get ‘em? none that I'm aware of... What’s awesome about you and your life? I'm very happy to be a part of what the SUMMER STOMP has contributed to local charity and worthy causes in the area, well over $10,000 in the last five years, despite losing money in three of them.  Wade and his daughter Eva at the Toy Run What do you think you do and where do you do it? Umm... I'm an auto mechanic in Salmon Arm Why do you do what you do? I always loved the Stomp, and was really interested in this hot tattooed chick on a Harley there. Turns out she was on the Executive Committee at the time, so, I guess you could say i slept my way in... haha. Seriously, I was very happy and honoured to be approached by the Executive and asked to be a part. I guess its a way for me to add some good karma into my life, you know, try to tip the scales the other way  What was your most annoying fuck up or brain fart? There's been so many... What was the best thing to happen to you due to poor life choices? probably the wisdom I've got from all my poor life choices... What would you do with one million dollars? I'd buy a permanent home for the Stomp, a V111" for my bike, likely shove some new ink into my arms, my wife would get pampered, and I'd likely finish it off with a double Jack and Coke, or three...  Wade, headed straight for the nearest HOV lane after the 2015 Summer Stomp Toy Run! What was your favorite glory moment? Far and away, my favourite glory moment at Summer Stomp was leading the Poker Run last year, and riding past the guy who led it for 20 plus years on the way out as he was giving me a big "thumbs Up" What’s in your shop right now that you’re thinking about? Easy... My Harley Anything hanging in your shop or office that gives you joy to look at and what’s it’s story? A black and white topless picture of my wife. Not really sure what its story is, but it replaced a similar photo of Kat Von D of LA Ink fame.  Stomp tickets, $100 - Beer tokens, $80 - All access pass, 738 unpaid hours slaving over an event - A hug from Lee Aaron, priceless! Favorite motorcycle-related story? Shit, every day on my bike is a new favourite story. Favorite non-motorcycle-related story? well, this one time, at band camp... Who do you want us to interview next and what do you want us to ask them? I think you have to get up to Union Bay and check out Mur and his sons at the Highwayman Saloon and their shop XXX Customs. It's far and away my favourite watering hole on the island, and their shop is a must see... Ask them when they're going to take some time off and show up at the Stomp?  Who, or who’s work, do you have a crush on right now? I really like Dale Yamada's stuff at MJK Performance, and Tim and the crew at Trickfactory Customs are putting out some CRAZY stuff. And I've always been a huge West Coast Choppers fan, it's nice to see him building on a small scale now and pushing chopper boundaries again. Editor's note: Okay, straight up no shit no lie time here. Mad Jap has put out some flat out GORGEOUS old school choppers over the years, there's more than one of their builds in my bike porn file...  Got any heroes or role models? Jesse James. He truly is what so many like to claim. He's self made, blue collar, and gives zero fucks. His way or no way. I long to be in that position. What would you like to see more of in the custom world? choppers. think Billy Lane craziness, or WCC quality and perfection in simplicity. The good stuff that’s timeless.  Want to give some shout outs to other talented peeps, or anyone that helped along the way? absolutely, there's so many. First and foremost, our volunteers at our events. There's a crew of them that just keep coming back for more and more, they never quit! Steve Hammer, my Summer Stomp partner in Crime, all of our sponsors, the residents of Sicamous for seeing the value in our event and giving us a new home when we needed it, and my beautiful wife Deidra, for riding beside me down this crazy fucking highway... And there it is. Words from the great party god in the sky, Wade Stewart! Thanks for joining us and sharing today Wade, it's been a blast and I'm sure there's a lot of folks getting a kick out of putting a name, face and other assorted weirdness to The Summer Stomp. Seriously all, get yer asses to the Stomp, it will pretty likely be the best time you'll have all year!
 The last thing I tied down in the bed of my truck was NOT this pretty.  Dale Wallis enjoying some quality time with his beautiful wife Monica! Oh good God, what to say about Dale Wallis? Dale is literally the Batman of vintage bikes. The question, "Where does he get those wonderful toys?" pops into my head pretty much every damn time I check out his social media feeds, or head out to Chilliwack in person. The guy literally has a Batman bike too, which I dearly hope to manage to persuade him to part with one day. And not only does Dale have easily the most extensive and badass private collection of vintage iron that I've been lucky enough to rubberneck in person, but he's a pretty standup mofo as well.  Dale and his wife Monica and their handsome brood, (Danika, Derek and drew) make the family thing look pretty good and Dale keeps things ticking along all buttery-smooth while managing to juggle holdings in several motorcycle-related businesses and one sweet annual vintage bike show, Vintage in the Valley. Dude is BUSY! Wanna know what a solid guy Dale actually is? Well I'll tell you. So last year I had a bike in tow and got into town a day early for the show. Dale was kind enough to stay late and then let me stash the scoot at his shop overnight. Only a couple of event runners have made that offer over the years and it's a huge get when you're on the road. Lot of guys get their trailers, bikes and tools lifted while travelling, so it makes it a lot easier to catch some zzz's when you know your baby is safe. Before all you dudes start pounding at his door though, that was a one-time favour and one of which I am still extremely appreciative. Now if there wasn't already a mushy spot in my heart for Dale, Wally Levy and the gang and the incredibly well-organized and flat-out fun event they chuck up every year, 2017 would've sealed the deal.  Best Bobber! Pic still makes me grin :) After winning last year's Best Bobber at Vintage in the Valley 2017, something I'm still thrilled to the gills about, (seriously these guys and gals come to play, the caliber of work and machines is simply fucking outstanding!) and getting to actually meet the man whose name was on my trophy, the gracious Wes Cooley along with his lovely wife, I just can't say enough about this show. These are good people and they are not afraid of a good time! Vintage in the Valley is coming up this weekend, 10 am-3 pm, Sunday August 19th, at the Chilliwack Heritage Park, 44140 Luckakuck Way, Chilliwack, BC. Special guest, Formula 750 legend Steve Baker and the race-banned TZ750 will be in attendance for your leg-humping pleasure, as well as some wobbly-pops, live music, a killer judged show and shine, live trials riding, a swap meet and even a live motorcycle auction. Be there, it'll seriously blow your hair back! Alright, enough of my jaw-flappin', let's get to the Dude with the clue himself, Dale Wallis everybody! (As always, just click on any of the pics to make 'em bigger!)  Dale, (left) during load-in VITV 2017 Who are you and where are you from? Dale Wallis Chilliwack BC Canada Got any nicknames and how’d you get ‘em? Too many to list good and bad What’s awesome about you and your life? My Kids , Monica and my vintage stuff  Dale at Big Top with a Z What do you think you do and where do you do it? I own parts of four motorcycle-related businesses
Oh, and I guess I collect vintage bikes too!  The start of a trip to Maui, but could easily be going to get another vintage bike! Why do you do what you do? My retail biz pays the bills. The others are fun and I get to see so much cool stuff and the people and listen their stories too. How did you wind up where you are? Was out riding my bike in 82 and stopped at the local bike shop just to hang out. The owner asked what I did for work? I told him I was on the unemployment ski team and then he asked if I wanted a job, "sure why not?" I said. Five years later I bought that shop from him And, like they say, the rest is history.  What was your most annoying fuck up or brain fart? In thirty six years in the same industry been way too many to list. One story I will share is I traded one of my vintage bikes to a friend and bought it back six years later for $18,000 more... OUCH What was the last thing you did that made you swear later? Forgot to buy beer!  What was the best thing to happen to you due to poor life choices? I ended up in the bike biz for the past thirty six years. I owe everything to the bike business. As I tell my kids, if tomorrow it’s all over, or I go broke, don’t feel bad for me. It’s been a good run. What was your favorite glory moment? There’s been lots. They all were a team effort. So, if I had to pick one, it would be winning the Gold at the BC Summer Games in rugby. We were the underdogs and went all the way. Great guys on that team!  Pic by: Full Throttle Photo Anything hanging in your shop or office that gives you joy to look at and what’s it’s story? The Batcycle . Puts a smile on my face every time I look at it or think about it. I took it on trade for a new bike. It came from a BJ auction in the states. From what I’ve found out about the bike there was only four made. Some were used in the 60’s Batman TV series. So... that’s just cool!  ONE OF MY FAVES, ABOUT 14 YEARS AGO. BOTH BOYS ARE OVER 6'2" NOW !! What has been your favorite client moment so far? Lots! Recently a young man brought his two year old son in, to buy a dirt bike jersey for him, and says to me it’s just like when my dad use to bring me and my brother in here when we were kids. In my thirty six years that’s the circle of life in motorcycle shops. Favorite motorcycle-related story? So many really. If I could pick one it would be meeting Wes Cooley at our swap meet last year.  What’s in your shop right now that you’re thinking about? Too many to list but again if I had to pick. I would be a low number 1973 Kawi Z1 that will be a numbers matching high end resto once completed. What’s your next adventure? At some point selling my retail shop and just do vintage motorcycle related stuff. Of course add some more bikes to my collection!!  Dale, at the track welcoming the new gen's to the sport! What would you like to see more of in the custom world? More young talent. Without the youth the sport will die. What would you do with one million dollars? Build a building to put more vintage bikes in ;)  Who do you want us to interview next and what do you want us to ask them? Kevin at Yesterdays Motorcycle Shop, Wally from vintage in the valley. Life long bike guy! Who, or who’s work, do you have a crush on right now? For me I don’t follow anyone there is so much cool stuff out there that I see at shows and online.  Got any heroes or role models? Didn’t start out this way but my late father. He gave me the work ethic that I have today , my quick wit and sense of humour ;) Any sources of inspiration you want to share? Start every day fresh. If you’ve got problems, start with looking in the mirror, that’s where the answers are. Want to give some shout outs to other talented peeps, or anyone that helped along the way? Way too many to list but one has to be Killman Customs :) *Editor's note: Oh go on with your bad self, you. You're making me blush now! lol Tell us anything else you want us to share for you. Keep it fun and don’t take yourself too seriously!  Dales other chill zone, Palm Springs! And there we have it Lords and Ladies, words of wisdom from one of the driving forces of Vintage in the Valley, Dale Wallis! Thanks for sharing with us today Dale, we can't wait to see what new madness you have waiting for us this weekend. Literally. Can. Not. Wait! Make sure to come and check out the show this weekend. Vintage in the Valley will not disappoint and, while you're at it, swing by the Killman Customs Independent Buildhouse booth to say hi and grab some swag. It's our second last event of the season, so grab your goodies in person and save yourself the shipping costs !!  Vintage in the Valley is coming up this weekend, 10 am-3 pm, Sunday August 19th, at the Chilliwack Heritage Park, 44140 Luckakuck Way, Chilliwack, BC. Special guest, Formula 750 legend Steve Baker and the race-banned TZ750 will be in attendance for your leg-humping pleasure, as well as some wobbly-pops, live music, a killer judged show and shine, live trials riding, a swap meet and even a live motorcycle auction.
vintagemotorcycleshows.com Vintage in the valley on Facebook  Pam Wolff of Goose It Gear at The One Moto Show, Portland Oregon  We've got a real treat for you today, True Believers! We met Pam Wolff, owner and driving force behind Goose It Gear, while we were at The One Moto Show in Portland Oregon a while back. She and her hubby were there to launch her new line of gear for curvy chicks. Her stuff was awesome and we snagged a baseball tee while chatting about the challenges and rewards of starting up a small motorcycle related enterprise. Pam, her hubs and their general positivity, enthusiasm and integrity made a lasting impression. It's always great to see the ladies coming on strong in the motorcycle world and entrepreneurs like Pam are challenging the traditionally off-handed way that the big boys club has approached the female demographic. Not everyone is a size zero and why shouldn't women have the same variety of cool, quality, well-fitting gear as the menfolk? Pam decided she'd had enough of their shit and set out to be the change she wanted to see. With her on point fashions and her comfortable gear, she's off to one Hell of a start!  Glacier National Park It's not easy to be the family of a small start-up business owner. We put in a lot of long hours for generally low-pay, and you have to be borderline obsessive to get some wins, but Pam's husband and daughter are behind her 100% and that is truly a beautiful thing. The more we all got to chatting, the warmer my fuzzies got, and I decided that Pam's story and contributions to the scene needed a wider audience. We absolutely loved their warm, genuine, no-bullshit approach to life and it's always great to see a couple tackling a biz. Pam's tenacity and enthusiasm are infectious and with any luck her example inspires some of you all to take your shot and live your dream. We simply couldn't be happier to provide Pam with a medium to promote her message of inclusivity and her awesome line of sweet gear for curvy chicks. So let's get to it, strap yourselves in because here's the irrepressible Pam Wolff! (As always, just click on any of the pics to make 'em bigger!)  Mugshot-Home Feb. 2018 Who are you and where are you from? Hi! My name is Pam Wolff and I have lived in Beaverton, Oregon most of my life. When I wanted to start Goose It Gear, my hubs gave me his full support as did my 17-year-old daughter. They are my team and not a day goes by when I don’t express my gratitude for them being patient and loving while I embark on this journey. Swearing is a constant in my house, mostly by me, and laughter is a must. We are completely ridiculous and often inappropriate. Got any nicknames and how’d you get ‘em? Not currently…Pam seems to be it. My fancy name is Pamela.  Pam's gorgeous pooches: Penny and Rufus! What’s awesome about you and your life? I’m not sure I would say I’m awesome, however, I would say that I am resilient as fuck. My colorful life has given me the ability to view life from a multitude of perspectives, both good and bad, due to experience. I have also triumphed over some heavy shit that has been sent my way, including a rare form of cancer. I’m about as real as a person can be. I’m a say what you mean, mean what you say kind of gal and I have trouble sugar-coating my truth. I live every day of my life in the now and I try my best to live life as big as possible, since the now is all I have control over. Regardless of my choices I know I am loved, supported, and appreciated by my husband, daughter, family, and dogs. So, I guess things are pretty awesome!  Summer 2016 (Montana) What do you think you do and where do you do it? This question has me confused, so I’ll answer it this way, I think I do the stuff that I need to do to be the best person I can be and I do the stuff everywhere, I live it! What would be your superhero name? Probably Grit Girl because I’m sassy, or maybe Super Mama because I’m a damn good Mom to my kid and the thousands of students I've had over the years. I’m a middle school teacher by day.  Goose It Gear Headquarters Why do you do what you do? Here’s the story: In Spring of 2015, I began my infatuation with all things motorcycles. As a fashion-forward gal, I spent months trying to find clothes that fit my frame that were feminine and stylish. I looked in stores, online, in chat threads and asked around. It seemed like the motorcycle fashion world was not interested in selling to ladies with my figure. After some time, I realized what the motorcycle world needed. they needed to rev their engines and create some clothes for curvy riders. Hence, the idea of Goose It Gear was born!  Lilly and I Prom 2017 What was the best thing to happen to you due to poor life choices? Without a doubt, having my daughter. She is the best thing I have ever made. At 17, she is on the verge of heading out on her own and I’m not gonna lie, I get teary-eyed just thinking about it. She and I are hella close. We aren’t “friends” because I’m not that kind of Mom, but we have a relationship that grows and bends as she turns into an adult. She has wanted to be a lawyer since she was in 4th grade and is pursuing those goals with vigor. She is the total opposite as me when it comes to our high school education. The Kid is focused, thirsty, and strong. Her silver tongue and wit will take her far.  Frankie BB Tee (back) What’s in your shop right now that you’re thinking about? I’m thinking about our Franke BB Tee and how I want to re-print some Tee’s with the graphic on the front. I’m also out of printer ink and need to buy some. Favorite joke? Q: What are the similarities between the starship Enterprise and toilet paper? A: They both circle Uranus and search for Klingons.  Original inspiration and result Anything hanging in your shop or office that gives you joy to look at and what’s it’s story? The first prints of the graphics for the T’s. My graphic designer came up with the image after we met at a Mexican restaurant while having chips and margaritas. It reminds me where Goose It Gear started and centers my brain when I start to feel overwhelmed. What has been your favorite client moment so far? At The One Moto Show I had this gal who was so excited about the business and my goals that she asked if she could hug me, which I welcomed, then thanked me profusely for wanting to make a protective gear line for big bottomed girls.  What was your most annoying fuck up or brain fart? This is a very tough question to respond to since I fuck up all the time! A few weeks ago, I managed to “erase” my entire website for over a week. It was a pain in the ass to get it back up and running, and it was a fuck up of astronomical proportions. What was the last thing you did that made you swear later? In Oregon it rains a lot. Which is great unless you want to ride your bike and be dry! A few weeks ago, I had planned to go shoot some images with my bike. Unfortunately, I didn’t make it a priority. As it turned out it was the only relatively clear day we were going to have for the next few weeks. There was a missed opportunity and lots and lots of swears when I realized my window had closed. Such a dumb move on my part.  Original composite What was your favorite glory moment? Most recently, I would say launching Goose It Gear at The One Moto Show. It was surreal to see this idea turn into fruition and have folks validate my goals and dreams! What’s your next adventure? For Travel: Hubs and I are hoping to ride through Colorado this summer. For Goose It Gear: I’m working on some tank tops for summer and creating a Kickstarter, so I can get funding to create our sample line of riding pants.  Hubs and I right after the flat tire was fixed in Devil's Canyon Favorite motorcycle-related story? My husband planned this trip for us to ride through Montana. An hour into the second day, we got a flat tire. As we stood in Hell’s Canyon for over an hour, in full gear, slowly cooking while waiting for the tow truck, I spent the wait time dancing around and laughing my ass off at the sheer luck of us busting a tire. Adventures make me happy-if everything went right all the time, life would be boring!  Coffee and Bike--See See Motor Company March 2018 Favorite non-motorcycle-related story? True story. You can faint while sitting. It was a beautiful Portland summer day, so we went to Ringlers for lunch. Since I was on crutches due to a foot injury, we sat in a booth so I was able to place my foot up on the other side. As we talked with our friend, my lemon drop started to taste very strange, then the whole “TV screen” thing happened, and I passed out in my sister’s lap. Boom! The next thing I knew, my head had been moved onto a chair in the walkway of the restaurant with the rest of my lower half on the booth. My friend was putting cold, wet napkins on my head and explained to me that my sister had gone to get the car. So embarrassing and it’s ridiculous, but I haven’t been to back to Ringlers since!  Eastern Washington Who do you want us to interview next and what do you want us to ask them? If you could interview The Torque Wenches or The Rainer Ravens about the intricacies of female MCs and how they empower women riders, that’d be awesome! Who, or who’s work, do you have a crush on right now? I absolutely love the idea behind the Stellar motorcycle clothing line. jumpsuits are hot shit, in my opinion!  Also Eastern Washington Got any heroes or role models? My great grandma Peryl, (which is my daughter’s middle name) was a flapper in the 20’s, a riveter in the 40’s, and became a nurse when she turned 60. In her lifetime, she didn’t bend to gender stereotypes of how women should behave. She was independent and spoke her mind. Peryl traveled the world and lived her life by her own rules. Even in memory she is a role model to me in that she demonstrated that if you set your mind and work hard, you can achieve anything. Any sources of inspiration you want to share? All ladies who ride and know how frustrating it can be to buy gear that fits properly. They are my inspiration to keep the process rolling. I want to help my fellow curvy chicks!!  Hubs and I rode up the Going to the Sun Road at Glacier National Park. It was definitely a butt-clenching ride, but totally worth it! What would you like to see more of in the custom world? I would love to see more retro-inspired helmets, 3/4 preferred and helmets that aren’t so “tough”. I’m not into flames, skulls, naked chicks, or cross bones. What would you do with one million dollars? Pay off my house, pay for my daughter’s college in its entirety and get that sample line going !! Want to give some shout outs to other talented peeps, or anyone that helped along the way? @chillerart is my designer and she is kick ass!! @rustmag for placing the first Goose It Gear ad @baselineblankets for being a terrific neighbor at The One Moto Show and guiding me through the show process Tell us anything else you want us to share for you. Please visit gooseitgear.com and check out the beginnings of the product line. Every purchase gets us one step closer to quality gear for curvy chicks!  Me in Montana! Thanks for sharing Pam. It's been a pleasure helping you to get the word out and we can't wait to see where you take Goose It Gear from here! Well there you have it. The story of Pam Wolff of Goose it Gear. One amazing lady who gets after it every day. Making her dream come true while bringing some much-needed diversity to the industry. People like Pam are the reason we do these interviews here at Killman Customs. We reach out to bring you the independent and inspirational stories that don't get a lot of mainstream coverage. Folks who get a leg over, live their life with style and drive and make a difference. The kinda folks that wind up moving mountains because they want a better view. People like you and me and the rest of the crazy peeps we share the ride with. Don't forget to subscribe to the Killman Customs Patreon page, where we share even more behind the scenes material, including art, pictures and more. Keep on showing us the love, so that we can keep bringing you the grass-roots, independent and alternative content that you just won't find in the major publications. Your ongoing support keeps small businesses like ours rolling and every dollar is appreciated and put to good use. Until next time, keep the shiny side up and we'll see you soon with another killer interview with another awesome guest!  The Dolly Tee website: www.gooseitgear.com email: [email protected] Insta: @gooseitgear Twitter: @gooseitgear Facebook: @gooseitgirl  Todd Copan, on his 1972 Triumph Daytona 500, at a recent Vancouver Toy Run.  Killman Customs Independent Buildhouse has been attending Todd Copan's event, The CLASSIC & VINTAGE SWAP MEET and SHOW'N SHINE for quite a few moons now. Todd puts on one hell of a show and it's always a treat to shoot the shit for a bit, and share the love, with such an amiable and knowledgeable dude during load-in, before the event kicks into high gear. Todd goes way, way back in the motorcycle scene in these parts and he's a driving force behind keeping our community alive. We wouldn't miss his show for the world, and it's always our pleasure to throw a little free press his way, so we naturally just had to include him in our series of interviews. We invite you to come on out and check out the event to see the man's work for yourself, just don't forget to track us down too and stop by to say Hi while you're there! With Over 150 Vendor Booths featuring American, British, European, and Japanese parts and bikes, The CLASSIC & VINTAGE SWAP MEET and SHOW'N SHIne, (now at the The AGRIPLEX building in the Cloverdale Fairgrounds after an epic decades-long run in Tsawwassen) has been an anchor of the vintage and custom scene in BC for a long, long time, thirty two years in fact, and With good reason.  Pic from the last swap meet in Tsawwassen, 2013 Todd, his lovely wife Barbara and his friendly, hard working crew make sure that everyone feels welcome at this amazing event and the throwback admission price of just $10 makes it pretty easy on the wallet to boot. The swap meet itself is absolutely massive, so if you're looking for unobtanium, you absolutely need to hit this event up. But wait, there's even more! This year's feature bike, Darwin Sveinson’s 1968 Norton Commando, is one of the earliest Commandos known, and a fine example of a machine that represented a radical departure from traditional British motorcycle styling. Be sure to stop off AND check it out on your way into the main hall.  A 1949 Whizzer in 2015 Show ’N Shine Of course, before you even get in the doors, there's the horde of bikes in the outdoor lot. Then there's the actual Show 'N Shine itself, lining up a whiplash-worty display of classic chrome and vintage iron for your drooling pleasure! Owners of all makes and styles of classic and vintage motorcycles, that meet the requirements of a Collector or Vintage plate in BC, are invited to participate and awards are presented in several different classes, including Best in Show and People’s Choice. So, now that you've got an idea of what Todd's managed to create for us all, over the last thirty two years, let's hear from the man himself, Todd Copan ladies and gentlemen!
How did you wind up where you are? A series of weird events. I wanted to be a car mechanic so I took high school courses and always loved motorcycles.
 Paul Brodie re-creation of a 1919 Excelsior, all work done in Langley BC. what comes to mind when you think about an incredible three plus decades of holding this event? First off, I think of my 2 friends who started the swap meet with me and are now departed. Second I think of all the times we had very rare or unique bikes which blew people away. How about 4 Brough Superiors on display, or 2 Crockers? one was a street bike and the other a speedway bike. Then there was the year when the Vincent club rode in and parked 20 Vincents in a row for display in the parking lot. Another year we had the oldest Indian in Canada on display, THANKS Dave! All the bike owners were so eager and appreciative to have been asked to display their bike. It really has been an amazing experience.
 A typical vendor booth. Note the chimp with the blue old school helmet! What was the last thing you did that made you swear later? Dealing with some of the crazy drivers in Greater Vancouver lately. This week I was in the middle of a high speed pursuit in Abbotsford! I was driving a Grumman Olson, (think UPS delivery truck) for my business, when I hear multiple sirens coming up behind me. We were travelling at 60 km/h on a rural, two lane road that rolls through the area and has a limited shoulder, when in my mirror I see a red car passing the truck behind me in the oncoming lane. He barely makes the pass, at about 100 km/h, with inches to spare on my front end. This leaves the police stuck behind the following truck before they pull into oncoming lane and fly past in full pursuit. The truck behind and I are well over on the tiny shoulder and hoping we don't get hit. At the intersection a half km ahead is a roundabout and it looks like smokey and the bandit with police cars in all directions chasing this car. Freakin crazy. They did finally stop the car a short distance away and arrested the idiot.  Who, or who’s work, do you have a crush on right now? Dan Smith. He Re-creates bikes like the Velocette ROARER and the Vincent model A, known as the Plumber's Nightmare. * Info by Todd: This was one of our annual feature bikes. A Velocette ROARER. There is one in England but this version was RE-CReated By Vancouverite Dan Smith. Everything was fabricated including the engine cases and all the motor and transmission internals, it also has a blower! A true marvel of craftsmanship to build WITHOUT blueprints, (think about that!) and Dan has made a couple of other bikes as well.  Swap Meet Vendors' tables Want to give some shout outs to other talented peeps, or anyone that helped along the way? My wife and son and all who have helped us run the shows for the past 30+ years, never would have been able to do it without all their support! There have been so many people and organizations who over the 32 years have helped us out, it is hard to list them all. Currently we get support from; A,I,M, - Association Of Injured Motorcyclists BCCOM - BC Coalition of Motorcyclists BMOC - British Motorcycle Owners Club Christian M/C Assn - Messengers of Hope Classic M/C Club of BC - Canadian Vintage M/C Group’s BC Section Gospel Riders Greater Vancouver M/C Club Job’s Daughters Bethel #52 Sabbath Keepers Tell us anything else you want us to share for you. Over the years of doing the show, the thing I have found is most people are more than willing to lend a hand or help out. Things happen and sometimes a solitary person can not fix the problem or correct the issue. The ones who look the most miserable are usually the most easy going and reasonable to deal with. Thanks for asking, Killian!
We hope you enjoyed our visit with Todd today and we'll catch you all at the 32nd Annual Classic and Vintage Motorcycle Swap Meet and Show 'N Shine, at the Agriplex in the Cloverdale Fairgrounds on Sunday, April 29th!
 Kevin & Helena!  So here's the story of how I met one of the coolest couple of peoples on the whole damn planet! I was at a poker party last year and, as I tend to do, wound up in moto-conversation with this couple. They couldn't say enough good things about this little shindig on a nearby island. The Salt Spring Island Toy Run, to be precise. Now I've been to everyone's share of motorcycle and biker events and, while I'm never one to be afraid of a good time, I'm not so easily impressed. These two were pretty solid peeps though, they'd been around the block a time or two themselves and they piqued my interest in the event.  The SSI Toy Run 2018 shirts are WAY BADASS! So I reached out. That's how I met Helena. Like I said, I've seen my share of rallies, runs and such, which comes with a whole bunch of folks traipsing through my happy little existence. So I reeeeeally appreciate when the organizers are friendly and helpful. Helena had all of that in spades. So I signed us up and we were off and running! And that's how I met Kevin. I was already totally blown away when I pulled into the venue. I mean, I've been to Salt Spring, but the grounds for the SSI Toy Run are something else. I mean seriously here, a fucking apple orchard? For reals? After finally connecting with the lovely and welcoming Helena in person, her total BC dude of a fella shows up. If you were lucky enough to grow up in rural BC then you know the guy I'm talking about. Big wide open grin, laid back and friendly as hell. The kinda guy that makes Spicolli look like an uptight asshole. Felt like I'd known him for years before he even said a word. Talk about your poster couple for relationship goals! lol  The first night was spent in that lit-up apple orchard, sharing frosty wobbly-pops under the stars with new friends while listening to one of the best live bands I've ever heard. The rest of the weekend just got better and better. They were a little short on bodies for one of the biker games, so we left the booth and ass-humped some balloons, relay style. Which was totally as much fun as that sounds. Second night was a dance after the run itself and an afternoon of biker games, not to mention a delicious dinner of roast beast prepared by a chef as local as her ingredients. Pretty chill and easy crowd too. These islanders put on one hell of a show and it was instantly a favorite. So much so that I've decided it's going to be the last event of my season this year. It just doesn't get any better than this and it's the perfect way to close out my Summer. The Salt Spring Island Toy Run starts today, by the way, and runs through the weekend. So ditch the granny panties, come shake your tail feathers with us and don't forget to thank Helena, Kevin and the rest of the crew for all of the hard work and hospitality. Oh yeah, and swing by to see me and say hi at the Killman Customs tent, I'll be the one with the grin as big as Kevin's! Now, my shifty crew of fancy-dancing degenerates, let's hear from today's stars, Helena and Kevin! (As always, just click on any of the pics to make 'em bigger!)  Who are you and where are you from? Helena Mitchell and Kevin Kopetzki, Victoria and Salt Spring Island, respectively. Helena is a full time paralegal and part time yoga instructor. Kevin is a Home Systems Integrator. We both volunteer for the Salt Spring Island Toy Run. Kevin being more heavily involved as one member of a fantastic organizing committee.  Got any nicknames and how’d you get ‘em? No nicknames for Kevin. Helena is also known as “Lucy”, acquired some years ago for her affinity to find herself in comical conundrums, Lucy Ricardo Like. Kevin likes to think of it as more “Lucy van Pelt” (Peanuts) than Lucille Ball.  Chuck Norris? Never heard of her. What’s awesome about you and your life? I don’t know that we are anymore awesome than the next couple. We are lucky to get to do what we do and live our little lives in the best location there is! What do you think you do and where do you do it? We think we put on one heck of a charity event in an idyllic setting on the beautiful and laid-back Salt Spring Island!  Why do you do what you do? To give back to the community. The Salt Spring Island Toy Run is the sole fundraiser for Santa’s Workshop on Salt Spring Island, which gives underprivileged children on the island a happier Christmas, as well as helping families in the community throughout the year. Sadly, there continues to be a growing need for such charity on the island.  How did you wind up where you are? Kevin has lived on SSI for over twenty years. As an avid motorcyclist and member of the community he attended the Toy Run for many years, participating in the biker games.  Paul & Kevin, QC'ing the beer garden ;) Over time he began helping out more and more in small ways and was eventually roped onto the committee by his good friend and main organizer, Paul Smith. Helena attended the event with a family member for the first time in 2012. In 2013 she and Kevin were paired up for the weenie game and it was love at first bite! What would be your superhero name? Super-Kev and Olfactoria!  What was the best thing to happen to you due to poor life choices? Kevin: looking up this beautiful woman I met at the Toy Run! What’s your next adventure? No real plan, the best adventures happen when you just ride.  Favorite joke? Kevin: How do you turn a dishwasher into a snow blower? Give her a shovel. Helena: Have you heard of these new corduroy pillows? They are making headlines! Who do you want us to interview next and what do you want us to ask them? Belt Drive Betty AKA Renee Charbonneau.  Want to give some shout outs to other talented peeps, or anyone that helped along the way? We have to give a big shout out to Paul Smith, who works tirelessly every year to keep our little event going. As do the other Committee members: Noella Fraser, Kristy Spencer, Brandi Mackinnon, and Carey Butler; and all those in the community who come out on the weekend to volunteer.  See our website below for contact information if you are interested in getting involved – we always need extra helping hands. What would you do with one million dollars? Put on THE Toy Run to end all Toy Runs!  Tell us anything else you want us to share for you. The Salt Spring Island Toy Run 2018: August 24, 25, and 26th at the Farmers’ Institute on Salt Spring Island. Like and Share our event on Facebook !!  Thanks for sharing today guys, it's been a pleasure babbling with the two of you fine folk and I can't wait to do it again in person at this year's Toy Run. Hope you all enjoyed getting to know this pair of awesome individuals today as much as I have and i look forward to seeing you all on Salt Spring Island this weekend!
 These are the peeps that make the magic happen!  Liza Miller, her shop-doggie Bosley and her '79 XS750 Street Tracker  12 badass women riders from around the world, riding Pakistani-made Honda CB150F's. We are so totally stoked and proud to be interviewing a towering pillar of the motorcycle community today, Liza Miller! Between founding and operating the co-op wrenching and riding community facility Re-Cycle Garage out of Santa Cruz, (read more about that in this blog post) and both producing and hosting the Motorcycles and Misfits podcast, Liza has helped to attract and develop new riders and wrenchers to the scene for years. But wait, there's more! What you may not be aware of are Liza's ongoing outreach rides in Pakistan, that she refers to as Chickistan trips. These women-oriented rides allow her and her crews of badass lady riders to connect with the women of Pakistan on a personal level and to introduce them to an aspect of life that they might not get to experience otherwise. Women on two wheels!  Norman Reedus and the Re-Cycle gang I highly, highly recommend tuning into the Motorcycles and Misfits podcast and rummaging around in their archives. It's an absolute treasure trove of information and joy for anyone interested in motorcycling. They get some pretty cool guests too... Just ask Norman Reedus, who spent some time with them during the first episode of his recent Ride with Norman Reedus tv series. * Editor's note: Insert shameless plug and link to my interview with Motorcycles and Misfits here. Our portion begins at the 1:09:25 mark.  Liza, Bex, Naked Jim and myself after my interview on Motorcycles and Misfits We first met Liza and a couple of her cohorts, (the lovely Bex and Naked Jim) at The One Moto Show in Portland Oregon back in February, when Liza invited me to be a guest on the Motorcycles and Misfits podcast. Now, not only was the interview itself a blast, but Little did we know what an amazing person Liza would turn out to be and just how thrilled we'd be to have met her. Every once in a while, you run into someone that has a big ol' heart and just shines light out into the world. Liza Miller is one of those people. It's our honour and privilege to be able to bring a bit of her personal story to you here today. So let's get to it, here's Liza!
 Liza Miller, (centre) WHAT WOULD BE YOUR SUPERHERO NAME? LIZA WHY DO YOU DO WHAT YOU DO? PASSION FOR MOTORCYCLES AND HELPING PEOPLE. Okay, so here's the big one. Can you give some background and details on your Pakistan women's ride program? What led you to do it in the first place and how you made it happen, why do you keep doing them? In 2014, some friends of ours had just come back from this crazy moto adventure to Pakistan. I invited them on our podcast to talk about the trip and explain why in hell they would choose to go there. I, like many people, was under the assumption that Pakistan was a flat desert country, full of dangers for Americans. After interviewing them, and then later that year meeting the organizer of the trip, Moin Khan, I decided that I would be going there for myself. the following year. About the 3rd day in, I realized that no one was going to kidnap me. The people there were extremely nice, and very curious about us. And the country. Wow, just wow. Pakistan is a country of mountains, valleys, rivers, deserts, glaciers and forests. The roads were sometimes challenging, (in a fun way) and sometimes like a perfect racetrack. I knew I had to go back. But the next trip was going to be different. I decided I wanted to create an all-women's tour for a few reasons. The first was to get access to the women of Pakistan. Traveling with Moin and the other men, we didn't get much exposure to the Pakistani women. I knew taking a group of women would give us this access, to interact with the women and learn more about their lives, and I was right. As we arrived in a village and started walking around, the women would first peer out windows and doors, but then realizing we were women, would emerge into the streets. First just staring at us from a safe distance, but then one woman would usually break free and approach us with an outstretched hand and a smile. The others would soon follow, often times surrounding us on all sides. It was awesome.  Liza Miller, (top row centre) on Babusar! The other reason was to be an example and show that women can ride motorcycles. Although it's not illegal, as many people assume, it's just not socially acceptable for Muslim women to ride. But this is changing, and there's a growing number of women breaking free of societies expectations and throwing a leg over two wheels. I've really fallen in love with Pakistan. The people, the terrain, the food and the roads. I'm already planning a Chickistan trip in 2019 that's going to be even more awesome than the last one. And if anyone is interested in going on an adventure to Pakistan, go to www.ridethekkh.com for more info. *Editor's note: I love everything about this. I was going to use the information as background, but I decided that what Liza had written was so awesome that it needed to be included in the main interview itself. Thank you Liza!  Liza's tasty '72 CB750 What was the best thing to happen to you due to poor life choices? Again, I can't think of a poor life choice I've made because I put the energy into making that the right choice. What’s in your shop right now that you’re thinking about? 06 Kawasaki Concours project. I'm thinking of cutting off everything I've fabricated and going in a different direction.  Where does she get those wonderful toys?.. Anything hanging in your shop or office that gives you joy to look at and what’s it’s story? I've got about 1000 toy motorcycles I've collected over the years that are on display in my garage and podcast studio. They give me joy to look at. What was your most annoying fuck up or brain fart? Nothing. My policy is to not put time or energy into making a decision. Instead, I put all my energy into making my decision work. What was the last thing you did that made you swear later? cant think of anything. I'm pretty well planned out and easy going, so I don't find myself in that situation often.  Everyone should have an Evel Knievel suit like Liza! What has been your favorite client moment so far? I love it when someone that I initially taught how to ride and wrench has now surpassed me in both. Makes me proud. Got any heroes or role models? can't think of anyone. Evel Knievel maybe? But I can't say he's a good role model. What would you like to see more of in the custom world? I love seeing builds using challenging and uncommon bikes. We've got some local guys doing really rad stuff with 90's Honda Shadows for example. * Yeah, those 90's Shadows are surprisingly adaptable platforms for custom builds. Check out our offering to the Gods of Speed in this blog post here! What would you do with one million dollars? Buy a house with a garage mahal.  Norman Reedus feeling some Re-Cycle love! What was your favorite glory moment? So many. Getting on tv (Ride With Norman Reedus), putting together an all women's moto adventure through Pakistan that created bonding friendships. What’s your next adventure? Cross country trip this summer, and then back to Pakistan again next year. Tell us anything else you want us to share for you. I think we (motorcyclists) have a responsibility to help new riders and wrenchers out. I wish there were more people doing what I do to help build a community through motorcycles by teaching and sharing. * Amen to that Sister, testify!  Liza chewing up some road And there we have it true believers. As you can plainly see, not only does Liza truly have her poop in a group with a healthy dose of humility, but she's one of those unsung heroes that just keeps on sharing the joy and kicking ass! One of the most rewarding parts of what I do is to be able to introduce amazing peoples like Liza Miller to a new audience. Tales like hers are out there just waiting to be shared, The kind of stuff that the major publications tend to pass over. Individual and alternative aspects to the world we all ride through and love. We live to bring you those stories. Liza, her friends and people like them make this world a better place every day. Keep on being awesome Liza and don't be a stranger, we all can't wait to see what you get up to next. Thanks for sharing your story with us today! 
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July 2020
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