Donny Efta
Remember dreaming of owning your own motorcycle?
So many choices… so many makes, models, colors and
accessories… And once you had that bike sitting in your
driveway you started to think of how to change it up a bit.
How would you make your bike truly your own unique ride?
Airbrush paint work on a bike is the biggest dream of all for
any motorcycle owner in the artistic arena of making a bike a
true one of a kind. And so Donny’s journey with his all black
2005 soft-tail Heritage began.
“I remember I was starting to think he had a little money in
his pocket and I wanted to do something that was different “
he told me. When he met Monte Moore of Maverick Custom
Paint at a bike show the dream of something different came
alive with some great ideas. Monte had a small bike in
his booth with portraits of Marilyn Monroe, Mae West and
other old time beauty queens on it that was catching several
passer byer’s attention. Donnie and Monte started to talk
and the dream of something really special was born.
Donny has always been a Lynyrd Skynyrd fan. It didn’t
take long to decide on a Lynyrd Skynyrd theme, after much
thought a memorial project to the members of the band who
were touring during the time of the tragic plane crash was
now in the works.
Lynyrd Skynyrd known for their iconic songs “Free Bird,” and
“Sweet Home Alabama” lost 3 members of at the pinnacle
of success in 1977 when their plane went down. Singer
Ronnie Van Zant, guitarist Steve Gaines and vocalist Cassie
Gaines.
The gas tank would be done in 2009 graced with three
portraits of Ronnie Van Zant. About a year later some work
on the front fender ws done with four other members Leon
Wilkeson, Steven Gaynes Billy Powell, and Allen Collins.
Guitarist Gary Rossington who is still alive and still with the
band, along with Artimis Pyle the band’s drummer are on
the oil tank. The bike’s back fender proudly bares the name
Lynyrd Skynyrd over a flag design.
Seat has lyrics of the song “Free Bird” the leatherwork done
by Dustin Bustos , and includes the date of the plane crash
Gillsburg Mississippi , October 20th 1997.
If you too are a true Lynyrd Skynyrd fan you will recognize
the outline on the primary chrome piece from the “Street
Survivors” album cover
So what do you with such a fantastic machine, once the
work is done, but always a work in progress? Well if the rest
of us are lucky you show it! Donnie rides this bike and has
had it in several shows. Winning Best Paint, Best of Show
and last year at the Black Hills Motorcycle Show in Rapid
City SD voted best in show by the public choice.
But talking about the awards isn’t what puts the big smile on
Donnie’s face. Talking about all of the people he has met who
love motorcycles and fellow fans of Lynyrd Skynyrd does.
So when the current Lynyrd Skynyrd band members where
in Laramie WY at the same time Donnie was, he just so
happened to meet one of the band’s roadies and they told
Donnie where the band was staying so he went over and
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parked his bike, and waited and waited … someone came
out to smoke a cigarette and came over to see the bike, went
in to get the other members of the band who were already
in bed. They told him be here by 7 am in the morning. And
when Donnie rode up on his Free Bird Bike there were the
members of the band waiting for him in the parking lot!!
Lead singer Jonny Van Zant gave him a hug and everyone
was very appreciative of the work on the bike.
So when you are thinking of making a few changes to your bike
to make it special, just how special are you shooting for?
RIDE ON!!
March 2016
www.thunderroadscolorado.com