It ain't El Camino if it's not at El Camino, or...

...Bigger Ain't Always Better!

I was very disappointed when I received the mailer announcing the location change. Once I visited their website I found that they couldn't have it at El Camino College since the parking structure is being refitted for seismic reasons, but they won't be bringing it back! since they claim they turn away 30 to 50 vendors. Now, anybody who's been there knows, it's already big enough. Once you take in all the vendors, there's little time to check out the show, or visa versa.

The bigger problem I have with the change. Maybe I'm selfish since El Camino (in Torrance), is only about 4 miles from my home, but if you consider the weather differences, it's a bad move for all. September is one of the hottest times of year in Socal and that already made for warm temperatures for some years.

I compared the 5 day forecast highs of the two locations by their zip codes today. El Camino: Today 80°, Friday 84°. Iriwindale: Today 94°, Friday 100°. If this keeps up, I may blow it off and just go to the Long Beach Swap the next day, which my brother mentioned would have been a good temporary location since LB Veterans Stadium is not usually booked on Saturdays.

By the way, yes, things always change. The show hasn't really been at El Camino for 37 years, but actually since 1987. For weather and space, that change was for the better than when it was in the mall parking lots of La Mirada and La Habra. Another change. Unlike the current promoter states, it used to always be on the first Saturday in October.

For more info or complaints: ClassicCycleEvents.com

Born Free 4 Engine Art

No blab, just eye candy. Some photos aren't of the best quality, but they'll have to do.

Born-Free 4-4 Some From the Field.

Starting with a Flathead. Bones Legacy brought out several wild bikes. Why they all have to have extreme showboat features is beyond me? I suppose it works for a show setting since there was always a crowd around them, but lots of lookers doesn't always translate into positive attention. At this length there maybe leverage issues but I wonder why you never see folks running a milder version of these springer rockers, for say a couple of inches or so of added height?


This 45 would be much nicer if you removed some of the gee wiz stuff. Yeah, I said it. I'm sorry I didn't get shots of their Pan VL.


Again, nice craftsmanship but those pipes... really?!!!


Interesting Sporty. Hard tails and this kind of height aren't usually seen together. Wish I'd taken a better look at it. Is that a rear head spun around and mounted up front?


Last year's give away bike. It's getting ridden.


Slims latest personal bike. I don't think I've seen a chopped Mach III since the Seventies. It's got to be fast as hell.


Was this ridden in? Strange choice of wheels and tires. What's up with that fender?


Ending with a Flathead. Something a little more restrained, Drew's UL.

Born Free 4 Part III -Blue Velvet- A South Bay Survior

So I'm headed towards the Ride In Bikes and an older guy says, You're Chris, of MCart, right?" After acknowledging, he continued, "I'm Kerry, I really like the blog, especially reading all the old South Bay stuff." He then explained how he use to hang with Bruce Parrish and Earing Mike in the South Bay back in the late 70's. Then he mentions how his bike was featured in Easyriders (Dec.'89), and that he rode it in today. I told him, "there's a really good chance I'll know it, since I bought a lot of issues of Easyriders around that time.... lets go take a look".

The second I saw Kerry's pan, I knew it and totally remembered the feature.

Later, I went through all my old issues, but was puzzled to not find Dec. '89. Then remembered it had to be in my scrap file. A few years ago too many magazines were pilling up, so I threw out all the old ER's that didn't have enough cool stuff in them to keep.

I figured I would save a lot of room by cutting out anything from those issues that was worth saving and keep it in a reference file. Well, Kerry's Panhead and David Mann's art was probably the only things that made the cut from that issue.

The 2 page spread from Easyriders. There's no way I was going to forget this bike. Especially when you compare it to the kind of bikes that were starting to get featured. Blue Velvet was the name ER came up with, not Kerry.



When I saw Kerry's bike at Born Free, this is the image that flashed through my head. I like the shorter mufflers, tall risers with drag bars, and (since I'm old school), the front drum brake.


Since his bike was in the magazine, it qualified to be in their bike show that year and placed 2nd in it's class. Kerry's looking very late 80's in his B-2 Bomber shirt.


Kerry has owned his pan since '76. Here they be in '78. Sporty tank and up sweeps look good too. Risers were made from Schwinn bicycles until a set of Flanders were found. By the 80's most guys were going back to fat bob tanks and it seems Kerry did as well.


Kerry (center) reunites with a couple of his long time buds, Trav Goldworthy and Paul Laquier. Both of these guys were crew members on Bob George's stream liners in the 70's.

Since Born Free 4, Kerry has kindly sent some very cool photos from the 'old daze' and you can be sure I'll be posting some soon.

Born Free 4 Part 2 Some Ride In Bikes

Here's a few from the Ride-In-Field.

I rode in with Ironhead Ron and his 1958 XLCH. It was just completed a couple of days before the show. This bike is way more custom than a first glance might reveal. You could spend a lot of time pouring over it's many subtle details. I just may have to do a feature on it.


A nice (rode in), Pan. You can't go wrong keeping within this traditional style.


It takes some luck to find a knuck... like this. The story I was told: The guy just picked it up days before the show at a yard sale for $4k, got it running, and blew his friends minds when he showed up unannounced.


Nice potential, fun to ride as is.


This style kept getting my attention.


Very tidy. The paint alone made you come in for a look. Look how clean the bars are. Internal control with no signs of evidence. Handlebar grips for pegs is a different touch. The bike features an electric starter, so where's the battery?


This appeared to be a well kept survivor and yes, thats a Dick Allen springer.


Bob Jobs may just be my favorite all around style.


When I glanced this knice knuck out of the corner of my eye, it took a second to realize it was Love Cycles Jeri's.


Mr. Fugles wild ride. Sorry I missed meeting him. I never even saw his booth. There was just too much to catch it all!

More to come!

Born Free 4 Part 1 The Invite Bikes

It was CRAZY! The show was so big I really didn't get the chance to photograph or check out every bike I would have liked to. I took 117 photographs (many were duplicates), but had to trash about 30 of them because they were just plain blurry. Partly due to having to get a quick shot before someone stepped in front of a bike. Those that tried to take photos will know what I mean.

I'm a bit disappointed that I didn't get to meet or chat with many people too. Being asked to judge "Best Shovelhead" forced me to spend quite a bit of the day scouting out every Shovel that had potential.

Now some words about the Invited Builder's Bikes. Sorry I missed a few. They were all pretty impressive and I respect all of the builders talents even if I don't completely agree with their execution or tastes.

Some of the bikes would probably have come off better if they hadn't been so closely surrounded by so many other intense machines. I understand why, but also think putting the bikes right in front of the stage probably wasn't the best way to display them. That said, I know it's very hard to imagine the effect of the crowds before the gates opened.

About Judging and the results. If your invited a builder, you're already a winner. The show is all about fun so, Mike and Grant like to keep it pretty informal and except for best in show, put their trust in those they asked to make the choices.

One more thing before the pix. It's a vintage chopper show, but the two top winners weren't choppers! Some might bark.


Matt Olsen's highly modified 1947 Knucklehead took "Best of Show" and it might be a hard case to argue otherwise. The stance, tanks, taillight, and cut of the fender makes me think Crockerized Knucklehead.


Why did this bike win? The tanks and dash panel do some of the explaining.


Due to the crowds this was the best shot (not a very good one), I got of Max Schaaf's pan. I could tell it was his bike even before I read the show info stand. While many times black bikes get overlooked, I found the tank relief flames and gold striping very tasteful.


Once again Caleb of Cro Customs fetched the very high honor of "Builders' Choice" from his peers. I really like his choice of an opaque solid color (no pearl or flake). Caleb's is a smart guy and therefore knows it's a good idea to put your bike on a stand. From seeing bikes in the back of trucks to on lifts in shops, I've noticed how most bikes look even better when raised more towards eye level. Also, Note how good Max's bike looks (background) in this photo.


This wild Knucklehead built by Michael Barragan of Evil Spiritwas was the first bike to catch my eye as I approached the Invited Builders area. It reminded me of the extreme bikes I drew when I was a kid. If the show bikes were judged strictly on being choppers, it might very well have deserved top honors. I believe it won "Best Knucklehead". Strangely, it was one of three bikes featuring rigid forks. What were the odds of that?


A very nice '48 Flatty by Joe Lingley.


Jeff Leighton's latest is a clean and sanitary chopped 1965 Panhead. Somehow I knew he wouldn't win "Best Paint".


The other half of the Wretched Hive, Dave Polgreen entered the only digger in the bunch. It's has a light and jewel like look. I love the highly polished drive train.


Speed Metal's entry. The crowd made it very difficult to get the whole length of these long bikes in frame.


Andy Carter/Pangea Speed. While not normally what I go for, I was surprised how well this mix of styles came off. Probably due to good integration of details and finishes. I wish I got a shot of the turbo charger with it's very cool exhaust casting. Does anybody know what the (metal sprayed?), finish is that was used throughout?


You could also tell this was Rene Astengo's (of Dago's Speed Shop), bike. He always builds them clean and uncluttered.


Brandon Casquillo of Mullins Chain Drive got my choice for "Best Shovelhead". While I usually prefer an older style, the details of fabrication, use of 12 point fasteners, and his choices of metal finishes, really came off nicely. The photo doesn't do it justice.


If this bike by Todd Asin didn't get "Best Triumph", it should have. Tight and light is the way I like 'em.


This ShoVeL by Shawn Donahue just keeps growing on me. Love the color.


Bacon brought out this long bike and wowed everybody with it's detailed and polished water cooled Drake Knucklehead. It was probably the longest of the long bikes.


Wil Thomas' Sportsters featured a very unusual spaced out alien girl paint job. The stance is accented by the pipes and the Sugar Bear forks.


Steve Buchanan's very nice Panhead usually had a crowd around it so I hopped up on stage to get a clear shot. I'm told the interesting risers are from an antique exercise machine.

Hat's off to Mike and Grant for once again throwing the mother of all shows. The next day I could only think one thing... NOW WHAT?!!!

Saturday's Born-Free 4 Party

I've been out of town for several weeks but, made a point to get back just in time for last Saturday's Born free party at the Garage Co. in Inglewood Ca. It was supposed to feature the unveiling of both give away bikes but, the dresser's painted wasn't finished.

The Garage Company's facilities are huge and is actually two large adjoining buildings.


At times it was busier than this photo shows. It was estimated that about 500 people came and went.


This Twenty Something J Model was probably the oldest bike ridden to the event.


I'm always amused when two friends have similar bikes.


This 1959 Harley is being offered for sale by the Garage Co.


In a sea of chops and customs an old surviving dresser like this '68 will always get my attention.


Bikes were parked clear around the corner.


This clean Knuck features a somewhat unusual fender/seat set up. California recently enacted a new law cracking down on vertical license plate positioning. How come some guys get away with hanging their plates like this?


Where do all the Knuckleheads keep coming from?


The give away 69' Chopper. Once again Kiyo did an excellent job. The color/patina of the rear mag tells you it's a 12 spoke of the magnesium variety.


The Shovelhead has been given the same attention to detail that last year's Knucklehead received. The DC Linkert is rarely seen on bikes these days. Sportsters used them for several years but, they were only used one year (1966), on Shovelheads.


The bike has a good stance. Use of Harley rubber pegs through out is a nice touch.


Kiyo proving it runs. Sorry about the picture quality.