An Annual Favorite is on the Way!

To get you ready for this year's Easyriders Show on January 26, 2013 at The Charlotte Convention Center, here's Stealth's report from 2012 ….

Easyriders Show 2012

By Stealth of TheCarolinaRider.com

It was that time of year again when I go to my closet and grab my "Peter Fonda - Captain America" jacket and head out to the annual Easyriders Bike Show in Charlotte. The Easyriders Show is always a welcomed break in winter. I always look forward to it!

The bike show entries may have been down just a bit but the bikes that were there were all TOP SHELF. Local builders were well represented. Ben Jordan who has had bikes featured right here in The Carolina Rider Scene won a first place award in his class with his 47 Knucklehead. Ben's bikes are always something special. Another local builder with a lot of talent, Chris Wade, won a "Best of Show" award with his 56 Panhead. Mike Steranko won an award for his immaculate 52 Panhead. This bike will also be featured soon here in my monthly column. Eric Stein also had a real nice entry, a rigid Evo. I don’t know if Eric took home an award but it was a killer bike!

One of the greatest rewards for a bike builder is to have his bike admired by other builders. Guys who know what it takes to build a winner at this show: a lot of hard work, a lot of late nights in the garage, and a lot of talent plus a clear vision of what their creation will look like when finished. To see it before it is finished is a great gift. To have all of these elements recognized is a great accomplishment. I really admire the builders at the Easyriders show along with their bikes.

If you are a "Sons of Anarchy" fan then this year's show had somethi ng special for you. Tommy Flanagan who is "Chibbs" on SOA and Winter Zoli who plays"Lyla" were there signing autographs and taking photos with the fans. Anyone who knows me will tell you I am a BIG Sons of Anarchy fan, so I thought it was cool for them to be at the show. The lines were long - I know a lot people got a kick out of it!

This show is always a great place to see old friends and maybe make a couple of new ones. The bikes on display take some of the chill out of winter and makes you start to think about spring. Every year the Easyriders show inspires me and makes me recall why I love this "stuff" so much.

"The BIG RIDE" bus of The Carolina Rider was there, of course. There were a good number of vendors selling everything from t-shirts to jewelry and there were even bikes for sale. There were some great looking hot rod cars on display. Something for everyone! One of my favorite displays was the Dave Mann art display. As I shared in my column in January 9th's e-mag, I collect Dave Mann art and there were some great original prints on display. My garage is decorated with Dave Mann centerfolds and even a few decorate the walls of our house.

It was a great day at the Easyriders show - bikes, friends, music, and the Sons of Anarchy right there! What more could you ask for? The Easyriders show exists for you, the rider, and your support keeps the show coming back every year!

It's time to get your motor running, ... it will be time to head out on the highway soon!