Celebrities & Bike Builders' Bios
Michele Smith
Would you believe its been TEN YEARS since Michele Smith started hosting American Thunder? Some people in the motorcycle industry have called her an American Motorcycle Icon, The First Lady of Motorcycling, and as one 14 year old put it "She's the 'Pam An' of the motorcycle industry." Michele has changed the stereotypical image of a "Biker Chick" into "Biker Chic" by adding a bit of glamour to the industry.
In March of 2010 ‘Two Wheel Thunder’ American Icon premiered on Discovery Channel’s exciting new Motorcycle Mondays programming block as the only v-twin motorcycle lifestyles show on television. This exciting new series delivers its core audience the content they demand in a magazine format with Michele Smith and Jay Barbieri once again taking their audience to the top motorcycle shows and rallies across the county.
Meet Michele Smith all three days at the Timonium Motorcycle Show.
Ron Finch
Finch's Custom Styled Cycles, Inc.
www.finchscustoms.com
Biography written by: R.H.Swan
Ron Finch has been referred to as "The Legend" in the building of custom motorcycles. He started Finch's Custom Styled Cycles in 1965 in a small building on University Drive in Pontiac, Michigan. Three years later he married Ruth and together they built the business. In 1972 they moved into a new facility in Auburn Hills, which Ron helped design and build. He used his unlimited imagination to create a unique place where he could meet with, and serve his customers. He incorporated his love of metal to add sculpture to the architecture and even create hand made showcases. His uncanny vision for the use of scrap material, led him to use large chunks of scrap glass in the corners of the building, which allowed diffused light to come through, and prompted some to call the building "Finch Castle". It was from this location that Ron and his crew worked for almost thirty years building, painting, repairing, and selling parts and accessories. He designed and manufactured such parts as seats, frames, front ends, electrical boxes, mirrors, and taillights for distribution.
Ron has a distinctive gift for metal fabrication and engineering. In his desire to accentuate the power and magnificence of the motor, he has been known to relocate the gas tank to the rear fender, the floorboards, or even the saddlebags! His unique construction often includes "one-of-a-kind" front ends, gas tanks, fenders, struts, exhaust systems, primary covers and numerous practical but unique mounting brackets. Ron's talent doesn't stop there, he continues his expression of art in his mastery of paint, which has become world renowned for it's ingenuity and creativity. The custom motorcycles of Ron Finch have been featured in hundreds of magazines, several art museums and in shows throughout this country and in Germany, France, Sweden, and the Netherlands.
In spring of 2001, the Home Depot made the Finch family an offer that they couldn't refuse. They sold their property and moved into semi-retirement. Once again Ron's imagination would not let him rest. He built a unique studio where he could continue to do his specialty work. Now without the pressure of retail sales, he can focus on custom painting and building customs at his own pace. He began a new venture that he calls METALife, where he can actually bring metal to life in creatures, plants, furniture and almost anything you might imagine! For the studio, he built a deck, a ramp, and a bridge out of "found" metal.
Ron takes great pride in his family. He and Ruth raised four children, three daughters and a son, Caryn, Marc, Gail, and Sara. He hopes to pass on his skill of "dumpster diving" to his three grandsons, Damyon, Matthew and Mason. It was a lesson that he learned as a boy from his father.
Ron's first love is motorcycles. His focus has always been from the perspective of "Art in Motion". His ability to fuse together mechanical design, brilliant paint, and functionality establishes him as one of the premiere builders of our time.
Emilio Rivera
Rivera is an American film and television actor born of Mexican and Cuban descent. He is most recognizable in the current FX Series Sons of Anarchy as 'Marcus Alvarez', leader of the Mayans Motorcycle Club. Rivera's first feature role was in the TV Series Renegade with Lorenzo Lamas. He has also had a role in the feature film Con Air, and appeared in movies and TV shows such as The Cable Guy, NYPD Blue, Beverly Hills 90210 and more. Emilio will appear Saturday and Sunday in the 131 Apparel display area in the North Hall across from Custom Bike Competition Row.
International Bikini Team
Ten gorgeous contestants from the International Bikini Team will set the stage on fire Friday night at 7:30 with a Leather and Lace Valentine's Fashion Show hosted by 98 Rock's Stash and motorcycle sweetheart Michele Smith. All the guys will know just what to get their favorite girl for Valentine's Day. Then on Saturday at Noon, the Bikini Team will be back for the Parade of Beauties Fashion Show which will have the cameras flashing.
Sunday the action starts off at 1:30 PM with the first part of the International Bikini Team Model Search Preliminary which includes the 'Biker Fashionista' round, then returns at 3:30 PM for the Finals of the Model Search with a sultry bikini round. The winner of the weekend long Timonium contest will be sent to the International Bikini Team U.S. Finals in the Bahamas this coming August so you know that the girls will be working the crowd and the judges to get their votes!
Feather Free Zone Bike
Paul Teutul, Sr and Orange County Choppers create a hot new bike for the charity efforts of New Jersey based Feather Free Zone.
Feather Free Zone, LLC was formed by combining two powerhouse service companies in the field of bird pollution control. No Fly Zone, which provided bird exclusion, control and deterrent services nationally and Geese Chasers, which provided geese clearing service along the East Coast, combined their over 30 years of quality bird services to form Feather Free Zone.
The FFZ Bike Build at OCC has been featured repeatedly over the summer and fall on Discovery Channel's American Chopper series 'Senior vs. Junior'. Paul Sr rode the Feather Free Zone Bike to it's unveiling at FFZ Headquarters in Point Pleasant, New Jersey earlier this year.
Check out this cool OCC build all three days in the Feature Bike Area at the Timonium Motorcycle Show.
The USBikerLaw.com 9/11 Tenth Anniversary Memorial Chopper
U.S. Biker Law is the motorcycle injury division of the Nurick Law Group which represents most of the talent you see on American Chopper Senior vs. Junior and wanted Orange County Choppers (OCC) to build a bike for U.S. Biker Law. They were told that another bike build scheduled for OCC was canceled due to lack of funds. It was to be the 9/11 Tenth Anniversary Memorial Chopper for the International Association of Firefighters (IAFF). They were simply spending too much of their funds defending firefighters' pensions and salaries. When U.S. Biker Law learned about this they decided to dedicate their bike to the firefighters because it was the right thing to do. The IAFF was kind enough to put the U.S. Biker Law logo and name on the bike. All they wanted was the rear fender. The rear fender has logos from all domestic defenders (PD, FD, EMS, 5 military branches).
The 9/11 Tenth Anniversary Memorial Chopper build has been featured many times in recent months on the Discovery Channel Network's American Chopper Series. You have to see this bike up close and personal to believe the workmanship! See it all three days in the Feature Bike Area at the Timonium Motorcycle Show.
Kundratic Kustom Mach Five
Kundratic Kustom Motorcycles' Mach Five heads back to Timonium after a big trophy season!
The crew at Kundratic Kustom Motorcycles (KKM) has been traveling the East Coast showing the Mach Five, thought to be a "breakthrough build" by many in the industry.
It all started back in February 2011 when the bike won 'Best Handcrafted Parts' at the Timonium Motorcycle Show, plus 2nd Place in the 'Old School Bobber Early Drivetrain' class. KKM has been a staple at the Timonium show every year since 2003 and plans an exciting new display for the 2012 show.
During the Spring the Mach Five headed to Harrisburg, PA for the Custom Chrome International Bike Show Series. This time Kundratic walked away as the Sturgis Road Show Champion taking 1st place in the Champion Class.
Then in mid-July the gang was off to Mountainfest in Morgantown, WV for the Cycle Source 11th Annual Custom Chopper Show. The Mach Five won 1st place in the Pro Radical Retro Custom category and 1st Place Best of Show Pro.
The icing on the cake was the Mach Five making the cover plus a six page center spread in the November 2011 issue of Cycle Source Magazine.
The Mach Five is truly a one-of-a-kind motorcycle with over 1200 hours of custom machining, stretching, rolling and welding time put into the build. See the Mach Five all three days in the Kundratic display at the 2012 Timonium Motorcycle Show.
THE PATRIOT – A Tribute to the Corps.
Draped by a U.S. Flag, The Patriot salutes fallen veterans as it passes by Quantico National Cemetery during its daily commute to the Pentagon. The Eagle, Globe, and Anchor on its nose cone remind everyone that U.S. Marines are always the first to land—the first to fight. The collage of the U.S. Constitution, the Capitol, and the Supreme Court on its gas tank highlights our sworn duty – to protect and defend the Constitution against all enemies, foreign and domestic. The raising of the U.S. flag at Iwo Jima on the tail trunk epitomizes the courage of the Corps. – that uncommon valor is a common virtue among Marines. And one of the many quotes that decorate The Patriot reminds the world that there is no better friend and no worse enemy than a United States Marine. The bike was designed by its owner, Walter Gary Sharp, Sr., Lieutenant Colonel, U.S. Marine Corps. retired. The bike was built by Outdoor Motorsports in Spearfish, South Dakota. The bike was custom painted by Garwood Custom Cycles – Superbike Specialists in Lexington, NC, Steve Garwood, Manager; Joe Cochran, Artist.
See this bike all three days of the Timonium Motorcycle Show!
I.C.E. Jeff Kessel
Meet Jeff Kessel with his Biker Build Off winning entry Hammered I.C.E. - All three days
As featured in Hot Bike magazine
Roland Morrison
Meet Roland Morrison along with his World Speed Record Powered StreetLuge All three days
A Tribute to Racing Great Gary Nixon
