here is a lot going on all week at the Top 50 Rally Park, but this year Independent Cycle Inc. and Legend Air-Suspension have joined forces to celebrate and honor women bikers by continuing the new Sturgis tradition of Top 50 Rally Park’s      “Women’s Day” Thursday, August 7, 2008.
     The highlight of the day is the Bike for Breast Cancer Awareness - EWC Top 50 Rally Park Charity Ride. This year’s event will benefit Brenda Fox, a motorcycle journalist and spokesperson for women in motorcycling. Brenda has been battling breast cancer issues and rising medical bills. This year’s ride and charity auction proceeds will assist her in getting through this difficult time, allowing the industry to give back to a woman who has helped so many motorcycle builders and parts manufacturers. The ride begins at 1:00 p.m. and promises to be an off-the-beaten-path adventure through the Black Hills region. Registration begins at 11 a.m. Registration is $15 per person.
     The day will include short seminars designed for women, from two well-known women in the industry, Laura Klock and Jody Perewitz. Klock, the world’s fastest bagger record holder from Klock Werks Kustom Cycles with a land speed record of 147 mph, will share riding tips for the racer or the daily rider at 12:00 noon before leading the charity ride along side Brenda Fox. Perewitz of Perewitz Cycle Fabrication has been on and around bikes her whole life. At 3:00 p.m. she will guide bike owners from of all levels of experience through motorcycle maintenance and customizations that anyone can do for themselves.
     Top 50 Rally Park is a premier vending and events destination during the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally, exclusive home to Jason Britton and Jason Pullen stunt performances, exhibits by Drag Specialties, Supertrapp, Klock Werks, Joker Machine and more. For further information on the park itself, special guests, and events exclusive to Top 50 Rally park go to www.Top50RallyPark.com

“The motorcycle industry had given me support at a time my life crashed. I look forward to raising awareness for the Every Woman Counts Cancer Program and this ride will allow us to reach out to a much bigger picture. I am grateful to have the opportunity.” Brenda Fox

hunder Road will once again be home to the annual Michael Lichter Custom Motorcycle Art Exhibition. Under Lichter’s direction, and with the blessing of the late Johnny Chop’s family, this year’s exhibition, titled “Stay Gold,” is being held to honor Johnny Chop and will feature builders who approach their work with the same passion that Johnny demonstrated in each bike he built throughout his short life. This passion radiated from Johnny’s being and was enthusiastically expressed on his knuckles, which were tattooed with the eight letters - S-T-A-Y-G-O-L-D - that became the exhibition’s namesake.
     To participate in the “Stay Gold” exhibition, the builders must be living their passion of building custom motorcycles or making art about them, but they cannot earn a living off their endeavors. Some make their livings doing service work in bike shops, while others support themselves as tattoo artists, contractors or within the confines of a straight 9 to 5 job. Among the more than twenty bike builders participating are: Ben Jordan, Bill Steele, Jeff Decker, Kutty Noteboom, Michael Pugliese, Nik Pew, Skeeter Todd, Steve English, Tattoo John Surprenant and Tom Foster. Some of the artists included in the show are Anthony “Scout” Underwood, Armando Salbana, Cole Foster, Jeff Cochran, Jeff Decker, Nik Pew, Seth Liebowitz and Tattoo John Suprenant.
     “Stay Gold” will be on display in Thunder Road’s Thunderdome from August 1 through August 8, and operating hours will be from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily. Admission to the Thunderdome is $5, but there is free parking and Glencoe Gold campers get in free.
For additional information visit: www.thunderroadsturgis.com or www.lichterphoto.com

The art of Seth Liebowitz will also be featured in the Lichter exhibit at Thunder Road.

“Tattoo John” Surprenant is one of the participants in this year’s Custom Motorcycle Art Exhibition by Michael Lichter.

hunder Road, known as the “Custom Capital of Sturgis,” is home to some of the motorcycle industry’s hottest customs during Sturgis Bike Week. This year will be no exception as Thunder Road prepares to host the Dave Perewitz Custom Paint Bike Show, on Wednesday August 6th.This event is sure to highlight some of the industry’s best art. This premier event will be sponsored by Kryptonite Locks.
     Instead of focusing on the machines themselves, as most shows at Sturgis do, this day will be all about the industry’s artistic side. The Dave Perewitz Custom Paint Bike Show will focus on the paint and finishes industry professionals use to achieve those slick custom looks.
     The show’s namesake, Dave Perewitz, will also be exhibiting some of his famous customs. Dave has been building and customizing motorcycles since the early 1970s, and his celebrity clientele has includes the likes of Hulk Hogan, Brad Whitford and Kyle Petty. Considered a master of all aspects of the customization process, from engineering to aesthetics, Dave’s bikes are regarded as “art in motion.”
     Awards will be given in a variety of categories, including best pearl, best candy, best use of color, best artwork, best graphics, best in show and Perewitz best flames.      The show runs from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., and the awards will be announced at 5 p.m.
The Dave Perewitz Custom Paint Bike Show is sponsored by Kryptonite Locks and will be held in Thunder Road’s Thunderdome, located 3 miles east of Sturgis on Highway 34. Admission to the Thunderdome is $5, but there is free parking and Glencoe Gold campers get in free. For more information, please visit www.thunderroadsturgis.com.

The Dave Perewitz Custom Paint Bike Show will be a real highlight of the Sturgis Rally. Come learn about painting from one of the best in the business.

oin Metzeler on Tuesday, August 5th for one of the Sturgis Rally’s signature events; the Metzeler Custom Bike Contest. Back for its sixth consecutive year, this is the industry’s best V-twin custom builder competition, with incredible guest judges and one-of-a-kind prizes. In addition, Metzeler has partnered with the Custom Bike Association to implement more standardized judging procedures, elevating the competition to a whole new level.
     The only CBA-sanctioned event in Sturgis this year, the Custom Bike Contest will again offer some of the finest prizes at the rally: A trip to Metzeler Headquarters in Germany and the Faakersee Bike Week in neighboring Austria; an American Iron feature story; a once-in-a-lifetime apprenticeship with building legend Eddie Trotta, an appearance in Metzeler’s 2008 marketing materials; tires, merchandise and more. Of course, you’re going to have to impress some pretty tough critics. Working in conjunction with CBA Master Judge Robert Filla, this year’s judging panel is an impressive who’s who of American custom building: Metzeler Custom Bike Contest spokesman Eddie Trotta, Donnie Smith, Paul Cox, plus guest judge Chris Maida of American Iron and more. Each one will bring years of experience to the task at hand: the battle for Best in Class and, ultimately, Best of Show. And don’t worry – the ever-popular People’s Choice Award will be back, too!
     The 6th Annual Metzeler Sturgis Custom Bike Contest will be held Tuesday, August 5th, 2008 in the Thunderdome at Thunder Road, 3 miles east of Sturgis at 12990 State Hwy 34. Open registration from 8 a.m., doors open at 9, awards start at 5 p.m. For more information, including contest rules and registration forms, visit www.us.metzelermoto.com/sturgis.

Greg Carter of Vicious Cycles won the big prize at the 2007 Metzeler Custom Bike Contest.