American Motorcycle Dealer AMD 240 July 2019 | Page 31

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Rising Thunder Custom Bike Show
Lithuania June 1st, 2019
This was the first year for the
AMD World Championship of
Custom Bike Building at the
Rising Thunder Show in
Lithuania, in a biennial pattern
that will see it alternate with
last year's European Baltic States
affiliate event - MC XIIIs Custom
Bike Show (June 2018) at Cesis
in Latvia.
Staged at Taurage, Lithuania this
year by Twins Forever MC, the
event was first held in 2011, and
in addition to privateer and
shop-based customizers from
Latvia and the other Baltic
States, drew competitors from
Poland and Germany.
Tom Danius, President of the
like the growth will gradually
continue.
"Affiliating with the AMD
Championship gives our 'local'
custom community the
opportunity to reach a wider
audience, to have their work
appreciated internationally, and
we are sure that the opportunity
for winning builders here to
participate in the 'AMD' on a
world stage in Cologne will drive
that growth still further, and
further evolve ideas and
craftsmanship that customizers
here aspire to."
The show is part of the city
festival - an example of the
growing number of cooperation
between municipal managers
and moto clubs throughout
Europe. It was on the suggestion
of city leaders that the event
was not only organized in one of
Best in show - 22 Moto with
a customized 1,000 cc 1973
Ironhead XLH 2000
Twins Forever MC, said that "the
leading customizers elsewhere in
Europe have many opportunities
to have their craftsmanship
recognized, but we started
Rising Thunder so that the
craftsmanship of 'local'
customizers could be seen by
'local' enthusiasts.
"Like elsewhere, the quality and
number of custom bikes being
built here, and of the 'mild to
wild' customizing that is taking
place in general, has been
improving and growing. Rising
Thunder not only showcases the
work that we are now seeing
emerge in Lithuania, but gives
new generations of enthusiasts
the opportunity to get inspired
and get involved."
"We have definitely seen that
the number of those who wish to
participate and present their
ideas has been growing since we
started the show, and it looks
www.AMDchampionship.com
Tommy&Sons won Best Bagger with a Harley-Davidson FLHTKSE
Motorest Custom also won free entry into the AMD World Championship
the central squares, but was
completely free, with a welcome
for everybody.
To mark Rising Thunder
becoming part of the AMD World
Championship, this year's event
was hosted by industry veteran,
rider, author and photographer
Onno Wieringa. When asked
about the event, Onno said: "The
show was great. The
organization was excellent. The
friendship of the organizers,
competitors and everybody I met
from Taurage was awesome. The
international lingua franca of
custom bikes breaks down the
language barriers and creates
one big connected community
with shared passions."
Three participants from this
year's Rising Thunder Custom
Bike Show have been invited to
the 'AMD' at INTERMOT
Customized in October 2020 -
the winner and 'Best In Show'
was 22 Moto with a customized
1,000 cc 1973 Ironhead XLH
2000, with many handmade
components including the
exhaust, oil tank (including
pipes), air intake system,
handlebar and footrests.
Additionally, the drivetrain was
converted from belt to chain; the
carburetor and intake manifolds
were by S&S.
22 Moto wins the main
€ 2,000.00 prize to cover
transport and associated
expenses to compete - along
with two additional customizers
who received an AMD special
invitation for their work -
qualified for free entry into the
AMD World Championship (and a
package of VIP privileges and
benefits), and we also look
forward to welcoming 'Tommy
and Sons' (also Best Bagger and
the 'Public Choice' winner), and
Motorest Custom.
AMERICAN MOTORCYCLE DEALER - JULY 2019
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