Thought I'd run some thoughts and observations by you folks...
I went to Daytona Beach this year, for the first time, since I was 9 yrs old, for Bike Week 07. To say things have changed, is an understatement. I'm not even sure that Bunnel, Holly Hill, or Orange Park even existed the last time I was there !
I went, reluctantly, at the insistance of Carl and Sarah Bedford, from Starke Fla....some of you met them at the Dixie meet this year. They have a signshop and screen printing business about 10 miles from me.
Anyhow, Carl has been going to these things for 20 years, so he knew his way around. All he wanted to see was titties, with a few bikes thrown in, but I was more interested in the stunt driving and other grunt activities. They did a good job of keeping me oriented.
So I just wanted to comment on the paint jobs I saw.
I saw some very detailed, top of the line airbrushing, like Cris Cruz, or Alicia Jennings might do.
Then I saw tons of striping, all lookin' good, and a world of flame jobs. Probably too many flames. But they were all traditional...very few "true flames". I was flamed out 25 miles before I ever got to Daytona itself.
I did see some lace work, and it looked good to me. I think we are fixin' to have a revival of lace paint jobs. Especially when you consider that now-a-days, you can paint over machine lace, which does not harm Grandma's version.
Shame to anyone who ruins something grandma took half her lifetime to make, know what I mean ?
So returning back to DT, I was surprised, actually, to observe that approx 80% of the bikes there were NOT custom painted.
There were 5 or 6 airbrushing and stiping booths that I saw...I actually thought I was going to see Vince Balestreri there, but it was all just too big for that to happen.
There was I chick there, with a trike, decked out as a firetruck, complete with real hand-spun gold leaf, and hand-done everything. It recieved a round of applause as it cruised down Main Street.
There were also a few patriotic, red, white and eagle-looking things...but not enough to suit me.
In the Harley shop on I-95, there were some muralists at work..talked to one of the dudes for awhile...they are at artarmy.net
So all I can say is...there is alot of room for creative thinking, when it comes to bikework. 90% of everything you see is just a variation of something you've seen before.
But the ones that are different and totally creative, are unforgettable...which is why a few, just a few, people, will pay just about anything to have a unique bike, something nobody else has.
Think about that, next time you design something.
Posted by Sue Brown (Member # 6677) on :
We have some customers whos companies were there .. They are suppost to come in and show us some pictures.. We did have some banners we make travel there with them.. Would have loved to look around and see all the goodies..
Posted by Bryan Quebodeaux (Member # 48) on :
Daytona '07 was a blast. I road 850 miles to get to Daytona and loved every minute of it. Although I was not business minded. That is my annual pilgrimage. 20 years ago I used to live in Titusville. My daughter was born there so I guess I have sentimental connection to that area. In all the years that I have traveled the area, I never stopped and visited St. Augustine, until this year. What a beautiful city! The archetecture and signs are breathtaking. Looking forward to Daytona '08!
