Last Saturday, Steve and I decided to go check out the Toy Drive Kick-Off Car and Motorcycle Show at Superstition Harley Davidson in Apache Junction, AZ. At the last minute, he decided to enter his bike in the competition. He has won several awards with his 2007 Screaming Eagle Road King, but he decided to see what his project bike could do.
She is a ‘95 Bad Boy (hmmm…maybe I should say, “Bad Girl”?) with a Wide Glide front end. She is painted Hot Rod Black Satin with old school pinstriping by Bugs Auto Art, with a tailpiece commemorating Steve’s service as a Vietnam era veteran (‘73-‘84), and a POW/MIA challenge coin mounted on the tank.
My husband is a long-limbed, long-haired biker with 48 years of riding experience, so of course she’s going to feature 14” ape hangers, forward controls, and fishtail pipes. If we were ever in an emergency situation where I needed to ride for help and his was the only transportation available, I would have to sit on the gas tank to reach either the handlebars or the shifter and foot brake. I doubt I could reach both at the same time. Guess I’m walking to the closest gas station. 😉
Many years ago, she wiped out in an accident that should have killed her, and for seven years her remains sat in a box in a dusty corner of a friend’s garage. When Steve acquired her, she was a bike-in-the-box project that had almost every part she was supposed to have. As she fought her way back to life, her rocky resurrection earned her the name “Sybil.” The recovery was long and fitful, but the end result embodies Steve’s distinct classical badass vision. She’s a beauty.
And apparently the Seductive Car Club members who ran the event agreed.
We left Superstition after the winners of the motorcycle class were announced, headed for a second show in Queen Creek where we were meeting up with friends. We were disappointed that Sybil hadn’t placed, but you never know. Honestly, with so many low-riders in the car show, it wasn’t terribly surprising that the big wheel bikes (the motorcycle equivalent of the low-riders) would take the Peoples’ Choice awards.
And that was that.
Until two days later.
On Monday, as Steve was getting ready to leave for work, he got a text: “Hey, you won an award. I guess you left before it was announced. When do you want to come pick it up?”
Um…what?
Little did we know, People’s Choice were not the only awards given. Sybil had earned the favor of the car club members and had been selected as “Seductives Choice.” Recognition by the aficionados; those with experience, knowledge, and discerning taste.
Sybil had earned her place in the garage.
Looking back, I realize that the plaques were laid out on the table prior to the votes being counted, but neither of us had sauntered over to check it out.
So, very cool. Sybil won. Steve is happy. And we chalked up another life lesson: it ain’t over ‘til it’s over…and always check to see what’s on the table.
