ust about the time we put a Drag Specialties FatBook bike on our cover that we think is our best yet, along comes another to contend for those honors. That was surely the case this month when we got the photos of the NYC Choppers' Bobber. We've had some great ones in the past, but this thing is really hot. Read the story carefully and you see all the many details that they went through to give this bike such a great look. Our best cover bike yet? We think so.
     We've said it many times, but it's still true that the people in this business are what make it so great. In this issue we have features on some very innovative people. People like custom gas tank maker Kyle Krejci of Independent Gas Tanks; Karl Horshel of Jaybrake; Gary Chipp of Fatbaggers, Inc; and Keith Terry of Terry Components.
     Everyone loves motorcycle events, so our report on the 2005 Sturgis Rally should be fun to look at and read. We have a first-ever report in Drag Specialties Magazine from Horst Ršsler, a well-traveled photojournalist...or "Motographer," as he calls himself. Through the pages of the issue, you'll find various reports on other happenings at Sturgis such as the "Kids & Chrome" banquet, the Metzeler Custom Bike Show, Billy Lane's "Blood Sweat and Gears" bike giveaway and more.
     With 500,000+ motorcyclists in town, the speed of the bikes running around in Sturgis generally tends be a little on the slow side. But about 500 miles southwest of Sturgis, there was an event going on in early September at the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah where everything was going fast...very fast! Check out our report on the 2nd Annual Motorcycle Speed Trials.
     On the business side, August was the time for the annual gathering for those involved in the world of Drag Specialties and Parts Unlimited. It was time for Showcase 2005 and what is known as"NVP." With that event over, the countdown to 2006 has begun!
     Just before we wrapped this issue up, I was in Daytona for Biketoberfest. Things were busy, but definitely a little less crowded this year than usual. There was a pretty valid excuse, however. Hurricane Wilma was trashing Cancun as we went into the weekend and then she made her turn for Florida. Luckily she did not arrive until Monday, so the many brave riders that did turn out for the rally were on their way home when she roared over Daytona. The impact of the event was huge when thousands who had planned to come cancelled, fearing the storm would get there over the weekend.
     I did get a chance to see first-hand Bruce Rossmeyer's impressive new "Destination Daytona" that we reported on in our September issue. I also spent some time at Carl's Speed Shop, Miller's and a few other key stores in Daytona.
     Lastly, a special event at Biketoberfest was a private press viewing of the new movie "The World's Fastest Indian," starring Academy Award Winner Anthony Hopkins. The movie is schedule to debut nationwide February 3rd, 2006 and let me say as one of the first to see it, that it will be a big hit with those who love motorcycling. I'm not enough of a movie critic to know if it will earn Hopkins another Oscar, but his leading role in the movie as Burt Munro is very endearing and well done.
     We'll have more on all that in the next issue. Until then, ride safe.