Curious re. bike shows and where you have placed.

[John Schmidt]

Like many of you, I've been to a number of bike shows and have entered a few with both my current ride and my former ride; '92 Candy red Wing and matching trailer. With modest pinstripping on both and etching on the windshield, it was a beautiful rig.  I've received a few trophies with both bikes. My curiosity comes from how you might feel/have felt based on two scenarios: First one, you bought the bike already tricked out and did nothing to it but detail it for the show, and the second one....everything done to the bike is by your own hand. Using my own ride as an example, I've watched as folks walk around it and point out various changes, of which there are many. Some, very subtle ones. Then I watch as they circle it again a second or third time, still noticing things not seen the first couple of times. Then when you come away with a trophy, in a situation like that I feel a great deal of satisfaction and pride because I'm the one that did it all. The only exception on my bike is the leather work done by a good friend for fixing his bike which was in my shop for nearly four months. You know I didn't do it, I can't sign my name three times and have them look the same....I'm just that non-artistic.  

Maybe I'm a bit strange(no argument there from most), but I wouldn't feel the same degree of satisfaction or pride, if any at all, if I won a trophy on a bike where I did nothing to it but wash it. Quite a few years ago I entered a show with my Red Wing and trailer and got second place in my class. It was won by a guy that had just bought his Wing and matching trailer, the bike had less than 200 miles on it and the night before had paid a couple kids $100 to detail it for him. He personally had done absolutely nothing to it himself. Unbelievable! Yet when they handed out trophies, I got Best of Show by a wide margin and the guy flipped out. Finally some chapter director got up and told him they all knew about him and his efforts. All were aware of him paying to have somone detail it, their point being he had done absolutely nothing, not even the detailing of it, prior to entering the show. Kinda funny, he got so mad he threw his trophy down and stormed out. The MC walked over and picked it up, then called me to the front. I still chuckle over that. What nobody knew had happened during the night but a couple parked next to me. I had already detailed the bike and trailer and it looked fantastic. But, during the night the irrigation system came on which normally wouldn't have caused any problems. Except a nearby sprinkler head had been broken off and water shot in the air a good 10', it was like I was parked under Old Faithful. So the next morning I'm out there all over again with rags, polish, cleaner, etc. That just made my trophies even more special.

Sorry for the rambling, nothing good on TV yet tonight so I'm killing time, maybe I'll go out and work on my GL1200 project for a while. But this subject is one I've wondered about for some time. Not looking for anything, just musing....if I hadn't done anything to the bike I probably wouldn't even enter it in a show. But, that's just me. See...told ya I was strange.  

[T-Bird]

John, I like your thinking
In my book, I would vote for a bike/builder who has done all the work (or planning) himself, over a bike that was bought already done. 

[wiggydotcom]

John, having seen your bike close up and personally, I can say it deserves all the accolades it gets.

I know what you mean about competitions. I've never entered my bike in any shows. While I think it's nice, it does have a few battle scars. I was talking to a fellow co-worker who told me he entered his ride in a local bike show and got first place in the "Metric" class. What did he have? A bone stock brand new Can Am Spyder.
I have nothing against Spyders, but really? I told him next year I'd have to enter the Dragon to give him some competition.

[old2soon]

Any of ya'll that have been to the last three Inzanes have seen my ride. Bone stock AND I ride the h=ll out of it. Bot I got first place 90-99 metric class at my dealers show. But the day before I washed and waxed er up. I'm the ONLY one that cleans and shines my baby.  The owner is old and tired but the Valkyrie jes now gittin broke in some.  John-I walked round your ride a few times and saw something I missed prior. Your ride John IS a work of art.  RIDE SAFE.

[solo1]

My son Mark (Mad6Gun) worked all winter on his Valk some years ago. Everything was removed and polished, wheels, forks, etc.  He added bling after his friend painted the bike in his favorite color. He added leds and then detailed the bike and put it back together. Nothing was missed.  Little details like the Led's were hidden but placed in such a way to reflect on chrome. All wiring was hand soldered, NOT those @#$% cheap Scotch Locks!

The first time he entered it  in a show was at Inzane Four, Paducah.  The judges were the people and riders.  He didn't win. A rider with an otherwise stock Valk had a person paint an image of his half naked wife on the tank and he won.

Mark was very discouraged and I was pissed.  I talked to him about it and told him that if the judges had been professionals, his Valk would've been in first place.

A year or so later, Mark entered his Valk in the Valk contest at Homecoming.  The judges were the staff of the American Motorcycle Association (AMA).  They knew the effort that Mark had put into detailing his Valk.  They were all over the bike looking at the finer points.  Mark won Best In Class and Best In Show. $500.00. That was the last Homecoming at Marysville where the Valkyrie and the GW's were made.

I'm with you, John.  The owner should do the work to make his bike a winner (with the exception of paint).  Also, to get a fair shake, the judges should know something about bikes, No cops, no Hooters, no riders unless it's the Peoples Choice category.

[Robert]

I dont know of any contest where there is not complaints the exact reason why I would be skeptical of any judgement. I have seen all kinds of shows that the same thing happens even to the Ferrari shows. Like the old saying goes beauty is in the eye of the beholder plus politics, knowing what your looking at and a myriad of other qualifications. John you have a beautiful bike and the work to those who know shows but the satisfaction from doing it yourself also speaks about pride in workmanship. There are a lot of posers and they will never know the what it really takes. Its a good argument for professionalism and having more than one judge plus posting of rules. We all get our hopes up when we want to approval from someone else for our work but that is why professionalism needs to be maintained. Also someone who really knows the time and effort it takes to make some of the modifications that you and others have done. When I look at some of the restorations that I see, while I admire the vehicle the first thing I see is the work that was involved.

[Willow]

John, for another viewpoint I might give you my observations.  I have absolutely no interest in show bikes.  I own munie to ride and I do ride it.  I clean it now and then and I do like to have a nice paint job.  I have seen your bike and I appreciate the work you've put into your bike(s) but I'm not in that crowd.

Now, I'm not very good at being the Devil's advocate, but we might consider what the other owner may have thought or replied.  He may have rightfully said he worked hard for the money he invested, that he chose the best artists he could find, and that he entered his pride into a contest, bike to bike.  He may have, and likely did, even thought that the work and money he put into his object of pride made it a more beautiful bike than the others with which his was compared.  Further he may have noted that nothing in the rules of the show stated that the trophy was to be given based upon the physical effort put forth by the current owner.  I can understand why he was a bit peeved.

The judges of the show could have solved the issue by simply stating that they thought yours was the better entry.  They didn't, though, did they?  What they did was essentially stated that your entry was second best but they decided to show you a measure of favoritism based upon their dislike for how the other owner prepared his entry.  Perhaps next time they should put a clause in their rules stating that only work done by the current owner would be considered.

You are strange, John, but you and I can get along because I'm more than a little strange myself. 

Come to think of it, I did very little of the actual work making myself what I am, but then I don't enter me into any beauty contests.   

[John Schmidt]

You are strange, John, but you and I can get along because I'm more than a little strange myself. 

Come to think of it, I did very little of the actual work making myself what I am, but then I don't enter me into any beauty contests.   

Amen to that on both counts! Birds of a feather, etc.  

A note to Solo1; Wayne, the following year was the last of the Honda Homecomings. I entered my bike that year and won the same trophies Mark did the year before with one exception....there was no cash prize with it. I met Mark at the show, we chatted a bit and that's when I found out about his winning the year before. We met and chatted some this year at InZane, good man.

[Jess from VA]

I don't do shows either.

Back in USAF days, I spend couple years and some thousands restoring a '69 vette droptop.  It was very nice, but not correct (for show purposes).  I went to see a car show and they asked me to enter, so I did and won first place in my class.  Small show, big surprise.  A big beer mug with logo.   

[Paxton]

I participate only or "Car Shows."
For the bikes I go to the watering hole off the beach near Malibu. There are a couple of hundred bikes there
on Sundays and Holidays. It's always crawling with Harleys... but when I get there (debadged), I park with the Harleys.
I then stand back and watch everyone gathering oround her in awe, askin' each other, what's that monster!
Most have never seen a Valkyrie. Many have never heard of her... and I like that!

[Jess Tolbirt]

a few years ago,,well about a decade ago, I owned a 1978 Mustang 2..and my wife owned a 1966 Mustang Coupe.
My car was a national show winner and had many write ups in hot rod magazine.. our pitch was on the front of her cars plaque read "my other car is a Mustang 2" and had an arrow pointing to mine,,anyway i was standing in line to register my car and I overheard some one say, theres that mustang again we might as well leave,,,so i didnt register and put a for sale sign on the car,, its no fun knowing you are going to win every show you enter to me..i like a little competition..

[Momz]

John, after meeting you and seeing your Valk up close, I must admit that it is a very beautiful and unique machine.

After saying that about a work of art like yours, I will say that in four bike shows that I've entered my "Rat Rod" Valk that I've gotten three 1st place trophies in the "Rat Bike" class. I don't consider it a Rat Bike, rather a bike that pays homage to the inexpensive Hot Rods that were so popular in my youth.

And the Rat Rod will always be a "work in progress", as I keep changing it as I see fit or as my needs change.

Oh and it is developing a nice layer of "UV Protective Patina".  

[John Schmidt]

Maybe a little explanation is needed here. When I talk about someone buying a bike already tricked out and had nothing to do with its creation, that's when I personally wouldn't enter it in a show. By the same token, as Willow mentioned....if I had the money to design an exceptional ride from the bottom up, but didn't have the talent or tools to build it so hired it done, that to me is an entirely different story. It would essentially be my own creation and I'd be proud to enter in any show. Those two differences are where I draw the line but only on my own personal standards.

Over the years I've approached winners and asked them how long it took them to build it. Often the answer was they bought it that way, had no hand in its design or build but they liked the way it looked/rode so bought it. That seems like a rather hollow victory to me. Others when asked, told me of the hours upon hours spent fabbing, grinding, cutting, welding, painting, etc., and did it all themselves. Those winners really beam with pride and satisfaction, something I didn't see with the others.

An amusing anecdote, some of you will remember Charlie The Sculptor. A few years ago I had entered a show and as things were being judged, Charlie panicked because he couldn't find his vote, claiming he had voted for my bike. Later when the results were announced, he asked how much I had missed getting the trophy. I told him it was by one vote. Charlie almost had a coronary, couldn't stop apologizing until I told him the truth after a few minutes. It took him half the night to believe I was in fact....pulling his leg.  

[czuch]

I was at a bike show and was also asked to enter the Valk. I didnt do it because I have virtually just maintained her. I went to see a friends bike and he won best overall.
It was a Show-n-Go. Meaning it was lookie ridee. After all was said and done we were going to slap 300 miles around. As we were leaving, I did the technical course without putting my foot down.
3 darn near lock to lock figure eights.( Its throttle control here) and a couple of guys went to the judges table and were holding up "10's". It was a great day to be on a Valk!
I also have a 69 VW that l;ooks like a 1927 Bugatti. It won second place the first day of completion.
See avatar.
The guy who won first is a total gold chain check writer.
Second place was a better prize in my book anyway and the program mamnager really wanted to go for a ride in the Bugatti.

[MAD6Gun]

 I took my bike apart 10 years ago and changed a lot. it was a black standard then.  I painted it a custom Blue and Silver. Added a whole bunch of Chrome. I even took all the harnesses apart and braded them. At Inzane in 04 (the first Peduka) I entered it in the show and as my father stated above I got beat in my class by a guy who had his half naked wife painted on the bike. He had NOTHING else done to it. NO extra Chrome nothing to the extent of detail I had. But he won. No biggie to me. A couple of months later I entered it in the show at Honda Homecoming. I won my class and best of show. That was very cool. Got 500 bucks to boot. I have entered it in a lot of shows over the years. Won some lost some. But you know what, I don't care. I built this bike for me. I ride it, it is no trailer queen. The biggest reason I did the bike the way I did was to make it different. To make it "Mine" so to speak. When people see it at Inzanes they know its mine. I added saddle bags from a IS a few years ago (thanks Carl) and a few other tidbits along the way.

Now fast forward 10 years. Is starting to show its age. The paint has some chips and scratches,some of the chrome is not as nice as it was and my braded brake lines and cables are sun burned. One of these winters I will need to take it apart again and detail it again. I didn't build it to show off to others, I built it for me. If it wins a few trophies along to way that's cool but I don't get all huffy and throw a tantrum because I didn't win. I congratulate the winner and move on. Just my observations............

[old2soon]

well said mark.  RIDE SAFE.

[Paxton]

A beautiful bike reflects your level of narcissism... A good thin.'