s we were developing the story of the new 330 tire for Avon in this issue, we learned of Cory Ness’ fantastic “Three-Headed Monster” project bike. A couple of phone calls later, we had images of it for our front cover and inside. As you will read in this issue, the machine was built for a recently-aired Great Biker Build-Off program on Discovery Channel. It was no surprise to us to learn that Cory won the contest in that show.
     As we began our search for photos of the bike, we were directed to famed motorcycle photographer Michael Lichter. He had them on file and we welcome Michael as a contributing photographer for the first time and look forward to featuring more of his great work in upcoming editions.
     In this issue we are featuring a pictorial from the V-Twin Expo by Easyriders that was held in Cincinnati in late-January. What a great event that was! The show continues to improve and grow and I’m not just talking about pure “numbers.” What has impressed me most about this show each year has been the number of top custom builders who are there either as exhibitors or as attendees. There were so many top names there this year it was hard to keep track. My apologies to those I miss here, but people we noted at the show included Arlen and Cory Ness, Donnie Smith, Aaron Greene, Randy Simpson, Eddie Trotta, Tony Cenzi, Roland Sands, Billy Lane and Don Hotop, plus many other people in the industry who make and sell parts and pieces and are pretty good builders in their own right.
     Speaking of Don Hotop, this issue includes a great-looking Drag Specialties FatBook bike project that he built. It’s a great-looking bike, and be sure not to miss the point that this is a stock-framed Harley-Davidson customized with goodies from the Drag Specialties FatBook catalog.
     We continue to stress how significant people are in making the industry grow and this issue again spotlights some important people in the business. We have a report about what Tony Cenzi has coming down the pike for a Drag Specialties FatBook bike project in an upcoming issue. We also go behind the scenes with Eddie Trotta and show off a little of his new store he has just moved into down there in Florida. And be sure to check out the story on what Accutronix, Headwinds and LePera are doing too.
     Once you’ve absorbed all the information about the latest in accessories that you can stock in your store, I invite you to read my story on the “Back Page.” My dad raced Harleys and Indians back in the 1940s and I recently came across a copy of the Harley-Davidson’s “Enthusiast” magazine from 1947 that promoted Floyd’s victory of the Milwaukee dirt track National. That was a great day for my parents, but as the story tells, it didn’t seem a week earlier that there would be much to celebrate. It just goes to show that you never know what tomorrow may bring.