So when it comes to putting on well rounded chopper shows across the country, there are many dynamic duos that really make it a true team effort, sort of like a ying and yang, they each bring something to the table that makes their show unique. Just a small example for the midwest you have Scott and Warren of Mama Tried show or the West Coast, Grant and Mike of Born Free, but theres no duo quite like that of Willie and Roadside Marty, who put on the "Choppertime" show twice a year at Willie's Tropical tattoo in Ormond Beach, Florida. A true grassroots event that began with some of Willie's friendships with legendary builders and their shared love of everything custom on two wheels, often making Tropical tattoo a destination to park their innovative rides. After the shows first year Willie brought on Roadside Marty as his master of ceremonies and sparked a friendship and team that would carry the show into the one of a kind "happening" and ultimate destination for builders and riders all over the country to showcase their talents at a true old school biker show. We ran a feature last week with the shows founder Willie but we also wanted to hear from the outspoken quit witted Roadside Marty who we had come to know from years of wild biker events. Marty brings his own flavor to the show "roasting " each builder as they receive their awards in the most brutal fashion you can imagine. Absolutely a no holds barred comedic onslaught that no matter who you are, you'll either end up walking away laughing your ass off or questioning life as you know it. Marty is no stranger to judging himself and takes all criticism just as much as he gives it so in the spirit of good fun he often enters his bikes in other bike shows as well, leveling the playing feild. We caught up with Marty the day after the Choppertime show where he had riden his 1946 Knucklehead Harley Davidson into the famous Daytona Broken Spoke Saloon to enter their "Garage built" bike show. We spoke in depth with Marty on his take on the "Choppertime" and some of his wild stories over the years that surround his involvement with the event. So we bring you now our second installment Choppertime part 2, Roadside Marty.
Deep within the confines of the biker subculture has always remained a series of "happenings" and moments over the years, pure, raw, forever nostalgic moments that have given fellow bikers a sense of pride for having lived through them or been a part of them. We have always tried to pay homage to moments like this and regionally these moments have become something that have transformed the landscape surrounding these biker happenings and brought others in pilgrimage to find their own sacred yet wild moments within them. Daytona Bike week forever immortalized by the striking images in the pages of biker magazines of the eighties and nineties was forever transformed when Daytona legend Willie Jones of the famed "Tropical tattoo" in Ormond beach began hosting a "true to the core"custom bike show called "chopper time" birthed from the comradery of fellow bikers and custom builders that would often make his tattoo shop lot a staple of their adventures. The show soon became the mecca of Southern motorcycle culture and held true to its core values for over 2 decades now. Early on bringing along the outgoing vaudevillian talents of the quick witted "Roadside Marty" as his master of ceremonies and an All Star cast of judges that made the shows awards a true "judging of its own peers" the show was destined to get bigger and better with every passing year. Not only did the show allow builders from all over the country from all walks of life to showcase their talents, connect with like minded individuals over a cold well priced brew or just simply cruise the lot looking for continued sources of inspiration, it also had a very important cause fueling it that not everyone knew about.
The Iron Invasion vintage moto and car show now in its 8th year has always taken place in northern Iowa in the heart of some great motorcycle and car history. We wanted to see what this fantastic show was all about and this year it took place at the famous Davenport, Iowa Mississippi Valley fairgrounds which extended the show even further adding dirt drags, mini bike racing an incredible swap meet and tons of room for Zak of Heavy Clothing and Matt of Rolling Heavy magazine to also do a seperate show indoors this year named the "Last Gasp" chopper and van invitational in one of the bigger buildings. We got a chance to speak with the shows founder and organizer John Wells about just how it has evolved over the years and the revelation that made him want to bring the motorcycle and car sub cultures together in the spirit of unified celebration. The gap certainly needed to be bridged and the spirit of the show aimed to do just that by the blending or "invading" of each of these subcultures and bringing them together into one show. So whether your ride of choice is an Econoline van, a vintage Honda or Harley Davidson or 3 ton Buick fastback the name of the game here is vintage, and no matter what your passion vintage is better!
The seventh running of the Indy Mad Max Run almost didn't happen this year due to the current situation with a certain pandemic bringing an actual grim apocalyptic tone to the current state of the world but the battle hardened moto warriors of the wasteland decided they wouldn't give up hope and instead rescheduled the event for the greatest day of the year, Halloween! Truly one of the only things that could make the event even better as the ride has usually been targeted for the spring as a way to kick off the riding season. While years past had Mad Max riders packed into the hundreds, the organizers decided to keep it safe and hosted the Halloween run as a more scaled down, mask friendly, social distanced event but still open to anyone who wanted to join in the fun.
The beautiful rolling hills of Southwestern Ohio have long since been one of our favorite riding destinations (as well as serving us a bit of scenery on our Greasy Dozen Run) but go even further south to Oregonia, Ohio and you will find the home of one of the most infamous hills in the country, The Devils Staircase. Powell Farm in Oregonia has been holding the Devils Staircase AMA professional hillclimb for a whopping 71 years now making it one of the longest running motorcycle events in the entire country. It also serves as the culmination of the AMA pro racing series and determines the series champion for that year. It has attracted the bravest and most talented riders from all over the country to throttle straight up this treacherous hill with dust covered fearless victory in their sights. While some other hillclimbs serve a straighter path the Devils Staircase earned its named due to its multiple levels of difficulty trying to quickly advance up each step of the "staircase" one careful move at a time. This often sends riders launching wildly through mid air trying to advance to the next step. A feat that only the most heroic and fearless riders in the country can attain with skill and precision.
