 this year's Vintage in the Valley in Chilliwack was absolutely the highlight of our season. Wally Levy and Dale Wallis, (of Big Top Powersports and Bent Bike fame) have been building one juggernaut of a show over the last several years. This thing just keeps on growing and we love every second of it. Dale was even kind enough to stay late and let us store the Copper Bobber in his shop overnight before the event, which was greatly appreciated. These guys are one class act. Thanks again Dale! The drive there was a blast. Ms. E and I love our road trips together. We're both so stinking busy nowadays that it's a real treat to just spend some time in the Baby Dragon, shooting the shit, pumping tunes and just generally hanging out. Google led us in via Zero Avenue along the border, so of course we had to hop out of the truck to selfie the occasion on the south side of the road, just for the Hell of it. Pulling into the hotel was a treat too. First thing we saw in the parking lot was an absolutely stunning classic Lincoln. Definitely set the tone for the weekend to come.  Arriving early to the roomy Chilliwack Heritage Park on setup day gave us the treat of watching the classic iron roll through. Got to the point where I'd just think of a rare, vintage machine and it would seem to magically appear within the hour. Although I have to admit that the parade of Vincents caught me a bit off-guard. Holy Hell do those cats bring some beauty to the table! Now as a rule we don't get a whole lot of time while things are up and running to take all of the pics and video we'd like, so having Dale and Wally and their crew come traipsing in with truck after trailer of sheer two wheeled beauty had me spinning around like a top every ten minutes or so. I'd done a little rubbernecking at some of Dale's treasures the night before when we stashed our bike at his shop, but this was a whole new ballgame.  Let's do this, I'm awake I swear! As always, we'd had a few small errands to run before heading to the venue, (like finding that sweet nectar of life coffee) which led to us having the good fortune to stumble across Fraser Valley Meats, where we pre-ordered a rack of the delicious ribs they were cooking up for charity. Those bones were the bomb! Ms. E grabbed a ton of Okanagan fruit from the stand out front of the butchers when she went to grab them that afternoon, so we took a little us time and feasted like champions! It really is something special to be in on all the behind the scenes stuff at these shows, there is just a ton of dedication and passion that goes into making a top quality event like Vintage in the Valley come to life and it's pretty damn impressive to see everyone doing the dance it takes to bring it all together.  Wally was good enough, after a long hard day of setup, to remind us to get out there and do the rounds. Just to make sure we didn't miss anything. He even snapped a few pics of us on the Batman bike. Which, I'm proud to say, was a five year old Evil Overlord's dream come true. It was while chatting him up that I got an eyeball on the Show & Shine trophies, hadn't realized there was a judged event and they were so pretty that I knew I was going to have to take a kick at the can with the Copper Bobber, which meant it was time to get down on the floor with some SOS pads for a bit of whitewall scrubbing. Thanks again Wally!  Veteran motorcycle show dog! It's Great seeing old friends come in, as well as making some new ones, while everyone takes care of their final touches on show day. It was a pleasure to meet our show neighbour Fred and his super friendly pooch. The opening rush is always a thrill, and this year was even better as folks crowded around to take pics and check out our offering to the Bobber gods. It was greatly gratifying to see all the attention that little copper sweetheart got, especially after all the love we poured into it. That was one happy Honda for sure and it was a pleasure to field what turned into a raft of questions about almost every aspect of the build.  Ms. E put on her patient pants as usual, manning the castle walls as I scurried off repeatedly to snap up parts and manuals and tried to check out as many of the sweet-ass machines as I could throughout the day. At one point, after I had told her I was just going to grab a few more manuals and be done with the truffle-hunting, she laughed so hard I think she may have even peed a little, when I came staggering around the corner with two more humongous cases of books. In addition to all the pretty machines and the ton of parts on offer there was the motorcycle auction where, if I remember right, a few gems in the rough went for as low as ten bucks. I didn't snag anything myself this year, but I'll definitely be making a little room next time out for a bike or two to follow me home.  Another real thrill was getting to meet Wes Cooley, superbike god of the eighties! Now I've never been a huge racing aficionado, but I definitely wanted to meet the guy, and he and his lovely wife Melody Rose were gracious enough to swing by the booth and say hi. They were two of the most humble and friendly folks we've ever met. It was seriously a joy to get to chat them up for a bit and they were even kind enough to pose with us for some pics, with a couple of shirts that we had gifted them to try and add to the fun they were already having. Huge thanks to these two, they seriously added a ton of special to our day and we really hope to meet them again some time!  Okay, on to the Cinderella part of this year's tale. That shiny little Copper Bobber brought us home some hardware! Best Bobber or Rat was the category and we're completely thrilled to have carted that gorgeous plaque back to our humble abode. It means a lot to us to have won at an event like this, where everywhere you look is another amazeballs machine. Not gonna lie, when I saw the competition I was blown away at the quality of the work on display. I can't even tell you how many times I did a Bugs Bunny style screech to a halt and double take at this event. It was a total honour to compete with these guys and to actually get the nod had us jumping up and down like five year olds. Gave one of the judges the absolute hugging of his life, I did. Best in Show went to this total superstar of a Suzuki T250 that was one of the sweetest little scoots I've ever seen. Do yourselves a monster favour and check out Vintage in the Valley which, if it isn't already, is definitely a solid contender for the largest vintage motorcycle event in the Pacific Northwest. I don't think I can really convey just how many rare and beautiful vintage and classic machines are on offer with words. You need to see it to appreciate it. Hell of a lot of fun, too. We can not wait to get back there next year and see what wonderments they have on tap for us in 2018. Amazing job to everyone involved and thanks for having us!
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  Actual Toy Run route What's that you say? A party on an island with biker games, refreshing beverages, live music and dancing, all about inclusivity and for a good cause too? Hellz yes, sign us up please! So we're off to Salt spring Island for their Toy Run. Sounds like it's gonna to be a blast! Vendor coordinator extraordinaire Helena has been taking excellent care of us leading up to this shindig and we're tickled to be contributing one of our Kustom Baja Hoodies to the silent auction, as well as various other prizes. These guys are the sole fundraiser for Santa's Workshop on Salt spring Island, that puts them in the nice column for us, and at 21 years, this is obviously an event with some legs. Pretty tough to beat Saltspring Island as a venue, too! You can find the grounds at the Farmer's Institute, 351 Rainbow Road, Salt Spring Island. And with their inclusive outlook, there should be something for everyone. LEATHER, KEVLAR, DENIM, STUDS, ZIPPERS, TASSELS, they DON'T CARE WHAT YOU WEAR OR WHAT YOU RIDE, they JUST WANT YOU TO COME AND HAVE SOME ISLAND STYLE FUN. Everyone is WELCOME, this is all FOR THE KIDS! Onsite stuff includes the Beer Garden, munchies, plenty of camping, the party hall and actual washrooms, which can be a bit of a luxury at these things. On Friday August 25th, they're bringing the fun with live music in the orchard by The Costners and a beer garden. Saturday August 26th is coming at us with a little rock & roll by Happy Daze, the actual Toy Run itself and a judged show and shine. You can see more details and contact info by clicking here to check out the Saltspring Island Toy Run website. If you're looking to join the ride, PLEASE BRING A NEW, UNWRAPPED TOY TO BRIGHTEN A shorty's DAY, OR WINTER WEAR TO KEEP THE CHILLS AWAY. Grounds Admission Is FREE, so Come On Out And Enjoy Bike Games, Beer Gardens and don't forget to swing by the Killman Customs Independent Buildhouse tent to say Hi. We're crazy stoked for this one, sounds like an amazing event right here in our backyard and we're always down for some fun. See you there True Believers!  Right off the bat we want to give a monster shout out to Todd Green, President of Torque Masters. That man worked his ass off and kept things ticking along like butter all day long. We know we're in the right hands at an event when the coordinator checks in on us before, during and after, to see how things are going, rather than just when they want our money. That professionalism was a sign of the legacy that the Torque Masters Auto Extravaganza has built up in it's half-century run. We were totally stoked to be a part of this amazing shindig in beautiful downtown Sidney by the sea and it did not disappoint!
There was a lot to love about this show, not the least of which was the amazeballs organization towards all aspects of the extravaganza, it was like the Superbowl with all the radio traffic on the ground. We also seriously appreciate it when the locals don't try to buzz us with their cars as we're tearing down, there have been some close calls over the years. Port Alberni drivers in particular seem to find it fun to get as close to us as possible to us as we pack, rather than using the inside lane, so it was pretty rad to not have to play Frogger as we loaded up the Baby Dragon at the end of the day. Thank you Sidney!  This was one of those days that give me whiplash. Seriously, the downtown core was just an ocean of incredible vehicles. We easily could have spent days and days just photographing and checking each one out. The band was kickass all day long and the town crier was a fun touch. We spent the day chatting up locals and tourists alike as we soaked in the rays and the bling of all that chrome. Although there wasn't much on offer bike-wise, we did spot a pair of absolutely gorgeous CB750 K's a couple of doors down that gave us some major league warm and fuzzies. It was like a who's who of cars we've dreamt of owning down the years and the custom work on display was a shout out to a whole lot of time, money and talent invested into these works of art! Great freaking job Torque Masters, may you continue on another 50 years!  Dale likes bikes. Dale really likes vintage bikes. Suddenly Dale has over 160 vintage bikes. Tony likes bikes. Tony likes vintage bikes. Tony likes Dale. Dale says lets do a vintage bike show. Wally likes bikes. So Wally knows Tony and Dale. They said show. Wally said lets go! So here's our show. Dale, Tony and Wally aren't just humping our legs with this one. These studs have managed to build one of the crown jewels on our road trip circuit over the last six years. Beyond that, you'll see them at other events throughout the season, supporting the scene and showing the flag. They're also total bosses at helping independents like us share the news and get the word out, we're grateful for the love they've thrown our way over the years and it's a pleasure to return the favour. These boys are just great to deal with. Literally the minute after we heard that Vintage in the Valley had set a date, think that was all the way back in October of last year, we were online booking a hotel room for the event. You do NOT want to miss this show! With Over 300 Vintage bikes of all categories, from dirt and street to bobbers, a Bring and Buy Open to all European, American, and Japanese vintage parts, bikes and bike vendors, and Accessory and Motorcycle year end clearances from many dealers, Vintage in the Valley covers it all. If you're looking for some unobtanium it is going to be THE place to be.  Additional awesomeness by way of Cherry Bomb Photography, (an all woman team specializing in hot rods and hot broads), live music by Jim Abbott, a beer garden and guest appearances by Superbike Champion Wes Cooley and young roadracer Jake Hayes, (who's off to Europe in September) round out what was already going to be a stellar day.
This is absolutely one of those events where we leave with a bunch more stuff than we bring, and we love every second of it. Matter of fact, we love it so much that this year we've doubled down and we're renting two spaces for extra loot and fun! Hit us up early, our huge selection of Flip Up Bubble Visors, Mexican Saddle Roll Blankets, Leather Blanket Carrying Straps, Kustom Baja Hoodies, Guardian & Gremlin Biker Bells, Shemagh Tactical Scarves, Bandanas and Tanks, Tees and Rally Dresses are going to go quick at this one! The Vintage in the Valley Vintage Motorcycle Show is going down this Sunday, August 20th, from 10-3 at Chilliwack Heritage Park 44140 Luckakuck Way, Chilliwack, BC. Kids under 16 get in for free. Remember folks, start 'em young and they'll never have money for the bad shit.  Good tunes, good times, great rolling iron and Tiki Babes? Yeah, we signed up pretty quick for this year's Grease Gears and Grooves. For a small town local event, in only it's second year, these boys and girls came to play and they put on a solid show. It was a great way to start the weekend.  The pride care and detail put in to make everything run smooth was readily apparent on the day, matched only by the pride these folk put into their rides, some serious workmanship and talent on display at the Cowichan Exhibition Grounds this weekend. These wrenchers earned some frosty, refreshing beverages for sure!  It was a shame Hank Angel couldn't find the place in time to do his set, (I hear that left turn off the highway can be a real bear sometimes) but The Hell Katz and Six Gun Romeo were kickass, with Rockabilly style to spare. Combine that with Dixie Delight's Tiki Babes pinup pageant, and the awesome venue, and you had one sweet event.  We don't generally do car events but, Although I sadly didn't manage to stumble across any vintage bikes, there were more than enough custom and classic cars and trucks on the scene to give me a minor case of whiplash. That may have been the girls showing us all how it's done on stage though. These girls brought it home.  Serious kudos to all of the contestants, it ain't easy to put yourself out there like that and they all definitely brought the show up a notch. Especially the stunner who's favorite tool was a chainsaw. If it hasn't happened already, some smart operator better lock that particular Betty down quick, girl's a solid keeper for sure.  We do a ton of events but this was something new and it was a total blast. Dead sexy and fun is exactly what we look for. You lovely ladies showed us a good time for sure. The raffle seemed to be a real hit as well. Not gonna lie, I'm still a little sad-clown at not winning that antique beer fridge for the shop. Or the Ford tail gate bench.  Throw in a tasty burger, cold beer and stellar service from the gang at the Sawmill Taphouse food tent and it was a great afternoon with a bunch of fun, positive folk. With any luck this show turns into something big in the coming years. Good game to everyone involved and thanks for having us to your shiny party!
Holy guacamoles, we're doing two events this weekend, come see us live and save on shipping!9/8/2017  If you've been keeping up with our Events, Shenanigans & General Mayhem page, then you've already heard the good word. Yup, that's right, Killman Customs Independent Buildhouse is gonna be killing it at TWO events this weekend! Anyone up-island who missed us at the Om Boys Shitshow and Shine at the Party in the Park in Nanaimo in June, or closer to home that didn't make it out to Andy's show weekend before last, here's your chance to score one of our Kustom Baja Hoodies, or Mexican Saddle Roll Blankets and Leather Blanket Carrier Straps without having to cough up extra bucks for shipping. As always, if there's something in particular you're hankerin' for from our online General Store, shoot us an email or give us a call and we'll make that magic happen for you. We can't squeeze our entire inventory in the truck for every show, but we're happy to oblige special requests!  First up, on Saturday August 12th at the Cowichan Exhibition Grounds in Duncan, we're going guns blazing to Rockabilly Heaven with the fine folks at Grease, Gears & Grooves. Looks like they're putting together one monster of a bash, complete with a tiki Babes pinup pageant, an all makes & models show & Shine and Rockabilly Bands like Six Gun Romeo and Hank Angel. There's even a raffle and you know I'm totally looking to score me a vintage beer fridge for the shop. We were lucky enough at our last event to meet some of the gang headed up for this show and if they're any indication, it's gonna be a great time with awesome peeps. Not gonna lie, we've been pretty stoked about this one for a while now. The Island needs more alternative venues and it sounds like this Saturday we're gonna have us some sweet fun in the sun!  Then, on Sunday August 13th, we're up bright and early for the Torque Masters Auto Extravaganza in beautiful downtown Sidney BC. They tell us they had 340 vehicles in the show last year and this year they're hoping to do even better. With cars, trucks, motorcycles, a panel jam, trophies, a military display, music, munchies, 50/50 draw and of course a beer garden.
Spectators are free and we'll be donating some door prizes too, so put on your lucky skivvies and head on up for some fun by the ocean. This event should fill the main drag right down to the water and you couldn't ask for a more beautiful venue. So yeah, absolutely bonkers weekend coming down the pipe. Sleep when we're dead and raise Hell until the Devil catches us is gonna be the motto here. See y'all soon Kats and Kittens!  Party in the front, Baby Dragon out back! We keep files on dozens of events every year. Sales, attendance, after event client numbers, all kinds of completely uninteresting shit. Some of these events are amazing, we have a blast, make a bunch of bucks and meet lifelong friends. One of those files just says, "Andy". For the last five years we've been vending at Andy's Classic & Vintage Motorcycle Show & Swap Meet. With good reason, it's been our home base event since the beginning. If you've been, and you've met the eponymous Andy and his better half Heidi, then you know why. Want to brighten up your day? Just show or tell Andy something cool and get him to say, "Awesome!" you'll know you've shone some light into this here world. The man just owns that word, pretty sure he's got a trademark for it in the trunk of a classic Impala somewhere. His event is always something special, even when it gets rained out like the last couple of years. Hell, the show still set a record for donations at the gate last season even with Noah's Ark floating across the field. Only show organizer I know that stands at the gate, welcomes folks in and thanks them for coming.
Flying stag this year meant I couldn't get out in the wild for much ooh and aahery, or taking of pics, but I did manage to make a quick foray out for some muchies from the food tent. I had met the boys the night before and had a lovely fireside chat, pretty sure I boozily mistook them for a couple, (remember the night vision thing?) but I gotta say, I was simply not prepared for the sheer masculine majesty of these gentlemen in full daylight. You just know that when they walk into a bar, Chuck Norris says, "Excuse me Sir!" and gives up his seat. Charles Bronson, Clint Eastwood, wild fucking lions thundering after terrified furry critters on the African veldt and King Kong his own big wooly self ain't got nothing on these boys. Took my damn breath away. Couldn't even order my usual hot dog, because it would have felt like a hollow mockery of their divine might. Settled for a burger with cheese and a polite, "thanks gents." and headed back to my casa in humble awe. That sure was a tasty burger though. Thanks guys. :) The show itself was awesome, as usual. It's in our local cabbage patch, so to speak, so the day is an endless elephant parade of friends, clients, bros, sisters, well wishers and the occasional discombobulated penguin in a tutu. Got a ton of attaboys on the new logo, the recent build featured in Biker Metric and just being an all around handsome devil, (pretty sure that last part happened). Even sold some of my dear to my heart, ice dyed by hand shirts and Rally Dresses, which always gives me the warm and fuzzies and opened up some leads on a few tasty future projects. I did manage a quick boot around the field to scope out this year's offerings and of course the menagerie did not disappoint. When the dust settled Andy swung by for a bullshit session in the shade of the Baby Dragon. We hugged it out and Holy Shitted a bit, then saddled up and headed home. See you next year Andy, keep on being awesome!
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