By Slick

From all across the nation, famous and unknown motorcycle builders, vendors, industry dealers and spectators, roared into St. Louis the last weekend in February for the 2nd annual Wide Open Bike Show. The largest indoor bike show in the Midwest opened to a line of waiting visitors on Friday at 4 p.m. The Wentzville Convention & Expo Center was filled to capacity. Although the facility offered over 110,000 square feet, every booth space was occupied leaving only room for the isles. With some 200-bike entries, (in addition to the builder's display bikes) there wasn't a spot for one more scooter anywhere in the building. Bigger and better than the 2005 show, this year's event earned rave reviews from participants and spectators alike. Wide Open publisher / owner Ralph Roades sited that the magazine experienced record-setting subscription sales, as well as, a sell-out of the custom T-shirts designed specifically for both the KC and St. Louis shows. Other vendors selling bikes, after-market chrome, boots, leather goods and custom painted sheet metal, also noted stellar sales. There's no denying, after a second successful blowout event, that Wide Open has made an impression on The Gateway City.

Although Wide Open Motorcycle Magazine hosts the show, Roades promotes, organizes and oversees the entire operation. He devoted an entire year of planning to the 2006 show; a necessary time investment in order to pull off an event of this magnitude.

Thanks to the genius marketing strategies of KSHE95 Real Rock Radio and KHITS96 Classic Hits radio stations, attendance was much larger than expected. Numerous patrons told members of the Wide Open staff that they came to the show only after hearing the promo commercials that aired, non-stop, on both stations the week leading up to the event.

Jim Fury owner / editor of Biking Life Magazine, which is based in Illinois, was invaluable as a major supporter of the St. Louis Show. Wide Open wishes to thank Fury for his magazine's coverage of the Bike Show. The publicity Wide Open received in Biking Life was superb. Thanks Jim for being such an upstanding and outstanding guy. Your efforts were greatly appreciated.

Geico® Insurance Company, specializing in motorcycle insurance was another main supporter of the show. At their booth riders were able to get answers to questions and pick up important info. Let's face it; no one likes having to pay bike insurance premiums, but have you ever heard anyone complain when receiving an insurance check after having to file a claim? Geico® is available by phone or on the web 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year, with free online motorcycle insurance quotes. For more details visit www.geico.com and click on the motorcycle insurance link.

March of Dimes Bikers for Babies volunteers worked the door and helped with security. These folks have a vested interest in the show, as Roades always donates a sizable portion of the gate fee to the organization. A whopping $10,000 was presented to the St. Louis group during the closing ceremony on Sunday.

Although the weather was mostly clear there was a cold nip in the air. One can't complain about weather of this kind for February in the Midwest. Saturday morning there was a heavy frost, however this didn't detour scores of bikers from riding in. Dressed in full leather (and probably long johns too) you could tell who they were. Even if they'd already shucked the warm gear, they could easily be spotted with red noses and cheeks, blowing in their hands as they entered the building.

The 2006 Wide Open Swimsuit Calendar proved to be a hot little item. (So were the Wide Open calendar girls that sold and signed them!) I'm glad I was paying attention in Kindergarten when they were teaching the ABC's! At the Wide Open booth I picked up a newfound appreciation for certain letters of the alphabet. D & DD seem to be my favorites. Can I get an "Amen" and a "God Bless America" from all my biker brothers out there? The 2006 Wide Open Calendar is a showstopper. I not only have a new appreciation for the alphabet, I am also in love with every month of the year. Oh, the turning of the seasons is incredible! The calendar features some of the most gorgeous women I've seen and is put together in an ultra professional layout. I was lucky enough, to have most of the girls sign my calendar. Being in St. Louis after having been to the Wide Open Bike Show in KC, allowed me to nearly complete my quest to have a personalized calendar. (I've since requested to be buried with it.) The calendars are available on the website, along with the Wide Open clothing line. Credit card orders are accepted at www.wideopencycle.com.

Not only are the Wide Open Girls amazing to look at, these gals have perfected the art of selling while flirting. I may have worn out my welcome at the booth. I sure loved watching them in action. On a more serious note, these women are troopers. They're sometimes on their feet for 14-hour days with few breaks, and they still have smiles on their faces when helping the very last customer at the close of the day. I know for a fact that Alaina (Miss February) and Val (Miss January) put in some long hours before the show even began, handling details at the check-in table.

The show was a kaleidoscope of rolling iron, chrome and custom paint. From "old school" to "way-cool" the diversity was incredible. Some of the most radical customs I've ever seen came from a group of up-and-coming builders called Chopper Thugs from Tennessee. These guys had 4 of the gnarliest badass rides in the show. In contrast, Mark Langford, owner of Just Us Bikers had retro builds reflective of the late '60's and early '70's.

Larry Curik of Mid-USA Motorcycle Parts took first place in the bobber class. Starting with the popular Mid-USA bobber rolling chassis, Curik added some custom touches to this ride that set it far above the rest. This was one of the sweetest bobbers I've seen anywhere. Rumor has it that Wide Open writer Val Berry is using the same chassis for her custom bobber. I saw her on more than one occasion in deep conversation with Curik as they stood over the bike. It was obvious she was totally impressed with the finished project. It wasn't hard to see the wheels turning in that chick's head as she grilled Curik about his bobber and he didn't look like he minded at all.

Joe Appling and Steve Spanier, first-time builders and two all-around good ol' country boys, took first place in the Metric Class. Starting with a worn out 750 Honda and some spare parts, these fellows managed to piece together a winner. Neon yellow paint with fish tail exhaust really makes this metric a stand out creation.

Dave Wiegand and partner Gary Orban, of The Motorcycle Shop in Rochester Hills, Michigan, won Best Paint with their cycle, which features a paint scheme inspired by the movie Twister. A tornado stretches across the entire length of the bike. The "Wicked Witch of the West" even makes an appearance in paint scheme, although most folks miss this obscure detail. Not only is this machine a work of art, so is the engine. This "natural disaster inspired" bike can blow past you at 250 mph just like a tornado.

Frank Pedersen of Motorcycle Works, (MCWORX) originally from Fredrikstad Norway is quite a character. He's also an all around good guy. Pedersen likes to push the envelope and he walks on the wild side of custom building. On display in the MCWORX booth was his one-of-a-kind custom with dual rear tires. This thing has a massive rear end (It kind of reminds me of my first wife only much more attractive and not nearly as loud.) Pedersen used the tires off a Dodge Viper and mounted them on two Drag Star XP 18X12's. The unique concept of building the frame on the outside of the wheels is something Pedersen believes no one else has ever done. Although many of Pedersen's customs are top end builds, he knows how to cater to the workingman also. One of the bikes for sale carried a modest price tag of only $13,000. You can see more of Pedersen's work in this issue under the title of "Count Frankula's Chrome Chopper."

Famous builders Donnie Smith and Kim Suter had some of their latest works available for viewing (and purchase.) Both master builders were swarmed with a steady stream of spectators asking for autographs and pictures throughout the show.

Seeing the outrageous modifications today's builders make to an engine and a two-wheeled frame can boggle one's mind. I believe the ingenuity of builders "back in the day" is every bit as amazing. The post WW II boys did some amazing things without the help of modern technology. Although riders have been wrenching on, chopping up and stretching stock motorcycles since the late 30's and early 40's, customization did not become a mainstream idea until the release of the movie Easy Rider in the early 1970's.

History class is over, but we still have more chrome horses to talk about, however there were so many incredible machines at this show; we can't possibly report on all of them individually. There is one more that must be mentioned and that is Best of Show. This is the granddaddy of all titles; every builder wants to walk away with this feather in his or her cap, right? The 2006 St. Louis Best of Show was awarded to "Malice" a Wayne Kemp Kustom from Bikers Edge in Wichita, KS. For specs and pictures, see the feature in this issue titled "Creating Malice."

The bands played non-stop throughout the 3-day show, adding a "Hey, the party's in here," atmosphere. A steady flow of Beer and BBQ kept the masses fat and happy. A large seating area just in front of the stage offered spectators a place to rest, visit and enjoy the entertainment.

Special guest Barb Elmore, from Glencoe Campground in Sturgis, came all the way from South Dakota with her crew to inform folks about the new additions and attractions featured at Glencoe and Thunder Road this year. Once again, Wide Open will make Glencoe home base during bike week in August. For more information on Glencoe and Sturgis 2006 see the article in this issue titled "Glencoe and Thunder Road Rock'n the Rally."

Another South Dakotan and good friend of Wide Open made a guest appearance, Debbi Davids, Miss Sturgis. Yes, I'm talking about "THE Miss Sturgis." When Debbi walked through the crowds at St. Louis (in what probably wouldn't classify as clothing) the waters parted. Men and women alike stopped whatever they were doing to watch her pass. It was quite obvious the women were thinking, "Can I kill her and tell God she died?" and the men were thinking, "Man, would I like to _____ ____ !" (Sorry, we can't print what the men were thinking.) Even though Miss Davids is beautiful and has a national following, she is a sweetheart. Debbi is genuine and down to earth and she is a very intelligent woman. I know for a fact that she is warmly welcomed and beloved by all the Wide Open Girls. You can take a gander at the lovely Miss Sturgis by visiting www.debbidavids.com.

The magazine will be adding another Bike Show to the tour in 2007. Tulsa, OK is the chosen location. There's also a major new development in the planning phase for next year, but Wide Open staffers were being tight lipped about it, so I wasn't able to get the whole scoop. All I can tell you is this; it (whatever "it" is) will add an entirely new element to the already awesome shows. Be watching future issues of the magazine for updates and breaking news.

The show ended on Sunday with a closing ceremony. A big fat check was presented to the March of Dimes, prizes were thrown to the audience and drawings for big and small items were held. The weekend climaxed with the bike show awards. (I think Miss Sturgis might have been involved in that.) Nearly 30 classes, with winners in each, were awarded plaques by the beautiful Alli, Wide Open's Miss July.

By hosting the biggest indoor Bike Show in the Midwest two years in a row, Wide Open has proven that when the thunder of V-twin engines roar, lightning can strike the same place twice!