Article written for December issue of V-Twin, on sale November 13.

The Academy Awards with a Twist,

What I love about motorcycling is what I love about travel in general. Our senses are heightened to the world around us. We stop often, see new things constantly, and experience life to the fullest. That’s exactly what my trip to the 2007 Custom Chrome Europe Dealer Show and European Championship of Custom Bike Building in Mainz, Germany this past April was like. There were lots of new sights, sounds, tastes, faces, and of course, new and incredible bikes. 108 bikes were entered into the show representing 19 countries. With such a mixture of people with different backgrounds, histories, cultures, styles, and tastes, the diversity was understandable. This naïve American’s eyes still bugged out as I witnessed the level of creativity and quality of execution.

The event itself is, as the name suggests, is a dealer show, open only to the trade on Saturday, but then on Sunday, it is open to everyone. Shops from all over Europe come to see the latest products available through Custom Chrome as displayed in their display area or the vendor booths, but unlike a normal distributor show, this one is built around the best bike show I’ve ever seen. Not only were the bikes spectacular, the presentation was amazing. An overhead grid was erected 50 feet in the air that ran hundreds of feet up and down the hall to suspend a Hollywood film set collection of 2,000+ watt spotlights. The only other place I’ve seen anything like this has been on film sets or at large rock concerts but even then, they weren’t to this magnitude. Staging was done to the same level - everything to perfection.

As a guest of Custom Chrome and its president, Holger Mohr, I had my turn on the stage as well with a short presentation of my photography going back to the 70’s. I protested when they told me I needed to be on the giant stage with a theatre sized display screen. A small room would have been more appropriate, but they insisted, and I was proven wrong. The seating was area was full and people standing all around it seemed truly interested (or were very good at faking!) I mention this only in that this is exactly what the European community of bikers are like – they are interested in everything “motorcycle.” They want to know it all; the history, the technology, what other builders are doing, what is going on in America, and what is going on everywhere. That is the platform on which they build their amazing bikes.

I wondered why Custom Chrome went to such great lengths to put this event together, but as the weekend progressed, it all became clear. I was attending the Academy Awards of motorcycling! The buzz and excitement was everywhere. By Sunday afternoon, everyone was ready for the awards, except this Yank! The event could have easily gone on to give me more time to scrutinize the individual bikes, but most of the people there had a long way to get home before Monday morning. The lights were dimmed and the spots came up as Dirk Daniels, the master of ceremonies, took to the stage in a tuxedo. He was joined by Custom Chrome’s Holger Mohr and Axel Scherer, (sponsor) DHL staff and the AMD crew led by Robin Bradley. One by one, Robin called the top twenty winners to the stage in reverse order. As it got to the top five bikes, the tension mounted to see who would be in the top three to win not only the accolades of their peers and the entire industry, but trips to the World Championships in Sturgis as well. Fred Bertrand of Krugger in Belgium was close for a second year but 4th place didn’t get his Bonnieville-ready racer the trip. 3rd place went to “the Crosser”, a board-track influenced, aquamarine loop frame custom by Riverside Motorcycles in France. 2nd was awarded to the Art Deco looking “Rock ‘n Bike” by Art of Racer, also from France. This speedster has no down tube to keep it short and tight, has all its parts drilled out or into, and every curve and line screams speed and style, even when it is standing still.

As Robin Bradley belted out over the loudspeakers the first place winner, “The Time Machine”, Sapka Muvek’s winning Hungarian “team” were easily identified jumping for joy in the middle of the crowd. Horst’s studio photos of the bike were projected across the big screen as they made their way to the stage and the crowd went wild. The H.G. Wells inspired bike was a tribute to the past that well deserved the honor. This 1941 Knucklehead was finished to the smallest detail with the utmost care – wooden spokes, a hand made uniquely designed single sided front fork, an automatic 3-speed car transmission, single sided rear end, a 1925 headlight and 1921 rear light, a long telescoping hand crank to turn the bike over, and more. What an incredible machine, and this was the first time anything from Eastern Europe had placed in the championships.

It was a wonderful few days. While I’ve only written about the incredible bikes, the great hospitality, parties, food, beer, wine, champagne, and camaraderie, put the trip over the top. To end it all, the sun came out Monday morning, as I joined the crew from Indian Larry Legacy for a tour up the Rhine River valley. It was a family thing – with Paul Cox, his wife Ann and baby Dylan along with Bobby and Elisa Seeger and their son Aidan. They were the celebrity guests that were brought in for show. We had a great day checking out the sights, and made it back in time for one last finale dinner with our hosts, other vendors and staff.

As you read this story, keep in mind there is still time to make your reservations to attend the 2008 championships. Guaranteed you will also meet great people, drink some, laugh a lot, and see sights to knock your socks off.