American Motorcycle Dealer AMD 226 May 2018 | Page 14

Lichter at Buffalo Chip -
BRIEFS “Passion Built - Garage to Gallery”
NEWS
Dealer registration is now open
for the 2018 American
International Motorcycle Expo
presented by Nationwide.
Making its “West Coast” debut
at Las Vegas this year (October
11-14), important recent show
news has included the addition
of Parts Unlimited/Drag
Specialties and Tucker
Rocky/Biker’s Choice to the
exhibitor line-up.
Florida is the 43rd U.S. State to
reclassify driving requirements for
Slingshot three-wheeled Roadsters.
The State’s “Autocycle” classification
now allows residents to operate a
Slingshot with a standard driver’s
license, it now being regarded as a
three-wheeled motorcycle rather than
a car, and therefore exempt from
needing to meet automotive safety
standards.
Controversial billionaire activist
investor Carl Icahan looks set to
pocket $5.4bn from the sale of
Federal Mogul to Monroe shock
absorber owner Tenneco.
Federal Mogul owns a number
of businesses and brands that
make powersports industry
product of various kinds - most
notable though are Italy based
Ferodo brakes and Champion
spark plugs and filters. This will
not be Tenneco’s first
involvement in the motorcycle
industry in Italy, having bought
(2008) then ultimately closed
(2015) Marzocchi suspension.
For the 10th year, custom bikes
built from the pure passion and
love of the machine will be
exhibited at the Buffalo Chip in
August, free to the public, with
legendary custom bike and
lifestyle lensman Michael Lichter
curating.
“The pure love of art and
motorcycles will bring together
a stunning collection of
masterpieces for the Sturgis
Buffalo Chip’s 2018 ‘Motorcycles
as Art’ exhibit,” says Buffalo
Chip supremo Rod Woodruff.
The exhibit will feature the work
of over 40 builders and artists
who demonstrate inc redible
passion and have built
motorcycles especially for this
show. All support themselves by
other means, yet they all are
building professional-quality
custom motorcycles outside of a
professional workplace. Each
bike will be lit with theater
lights and displayed atop an
elevated pedestal to better give
guests an open view from every
angle. The Sturgis Buffalo Chip
will host the exhibit in a 7,000
sq. ft. dedicated gallery in its
Event Center.
“Michael has once again
brought together a group of
incredible artists and builders,
who all have a real passion for
motorcycles. The fact that these
people are creating these bikes,
mostly in the evenings or at
weekends, after a full work
week, is amazing. We will clearly
see their love for the work.”
The ‘Motorcycles as Art’
exhibition has become more
than just a bike show in its 10-
year residency at the Buffalo
Chip. Industry professionals
frequent these one-time
collections to examine the new
ideas and trends put on display
by builders from all walks of life
and geographic locations.
“We are looking for the best
custom bikes these builders can
produce, hopefully the best they
have ever built, to show off how
diverse the world of custom
bike building is,” said exhibit
curator Michael Lichter.
“It isn’t just a small handful of
professionals who are driving
this world and deciding where it
is headed, nor has it ever been.
Now, through new means of
communication, these non-pros
have a bigger voice than ever
before.”
As a follow up to the 2017 ‘Old
Iron – Young Blood’ exhibit,
which focused on the work of
builders under the age of 35,
this exhibit broadens the
diversity of the artists to
include those passionate about
custom building motorcycles
even through retirement.
Most of those chosen for the
2018 exhibit must find the
energy and passion to work on
their projects after returning
home from a full-time day job.
Some, such as Harley-Davidson
Motor Company Vice President
of Styling & Design Brad
Richards, work in the industry,
but must still find personal time
to fuel their passion for
building.
In addition to the custom bikes
and work of individual artists
on the walls, the show will also
include a display of ten hand-
painted helmets, each from a
different artist, provided by
Biltwell Helmets, an exhibition
sponsor.