Monday, June 29, 2009

Dago's Speed Shop-Part 1

A couple of weeks ago I had a chance to drive to Whittier and meet up with Rene Astengo of Dago’s Speed Shop. I wanted to shoot his 78' Shovelhead that he had built and the 68' Sportster XLCH that was a project that he and his nephew built together. I arrived late in the day and Rene was getting cleaned up from a hard days work of laying a brick foundation for his new addition he is doing to his home. He showed me the progress he has made to the addition and said a lot of it is help of friends and trading hours of work with each other. He builds them bitchin bikes and they help him get his dream house together. Not bad because he is saving a boat load of money doing the add on himself.


The Shovelhead is a 78' FXE. “I bought it only because it had a good motor in it, everything else was so funky on it. It had a King Sporty tank in bare metal, the forks were about 12” over, the rear wheel on it now was the actually the front wheel and it had a 16” in the back. So you can just imagine how funky of a look it had with a wide front wheel with a 12 over glide.” So Rene went to work and put his own touches into the bike. The bike had a full fender which Rene has since removed and modified to fit another bike he has got going in his shop. “The front wheel I ended up putting in the rear.




That’s the only reason it’s on there, because I would never have gone with a 18” aluminum wide wheel like that. That’s just not my style. But it kind of just worked out that way and it works. Everything on that bike is just stuff I have laying around the garage and swap meet finds.” Other modifications include the rear fender which is actually a Vulcan front fender. The stock strut is cut and reformed. “A lot of people are tripping out on that.



This is something I’ve always done. This is kind of the formula that I always go by.” There is full travel in the shocks as Rene has used a 12” shock. “They look so much lower because the way the fender sits on the tire. You create that illusion, that’s what it’s all about. Normally everything I build is super low. My thing is to get them as low as you can possibly get them.” The Bates front light is also another swap meet find. “ My thing is to try not to buy stuff out of the big catalogs for parts. I rather get a Harley part and modify it.”
The second part of the story will continue with the 68 Sportster.

Friday, June 26, 2009

Scott Di Lalla's Triumph

Drove down to Venice today after work to meet with Scott Di Lalla.  I had been wanting to shoot his Triumph for awhile now so we finally had a chance to hook up.  Scott and his partner are the guys behind the Choppertown series of DVD's.  Check out their online store at: www.choppertown.com.  Scott and I plan to meet for lunch next week and I will get the specs and story behind this bike.  I plan to work on the Rene from Dago's Speed Shop stuff this weekend so I should have new pics and story to post up on Monday.

Thanks again Scott for today.

Thursday, June 25, 2009

NHL Draft Tomorrow

Tomorrow is the NHL Draft.  Hoping the Kings make a big splash tomorrow.

VBS.TV

Got a email from Rory at Vice Magazine about a video they did with pro surfer Brad Gerlach and surfboard shaper Chris Christensen.  They did a little motorcycle/surf road trip up and down the craggy Northeast Coast.

Saturday, June 20, 2009

Dago's Speed Shop

Had the pleasure to meet Rene Astengo of Dago's Speed Shop in Whittier today.  He was kind enough to let me shoot his 78' Shovelhead and the Badass Sporty that he and his nephew had built together.  I will be posting pics of both bikes and a little interview I did with Rene.  Stay tuned.

Flyin' Dutchman Blog

In case you didn't get the memo, Flyin Dutchman's new blog address is: http://www.dutchmanphotos.blogspot.com/

Friday, June 19, 2009

Going to shoot some stuff this weekend. So I should have some new stuff to post soon. In the meantime go check out so cool shit over at the "Low and Slow" blog of the Los Boulevardos guys.
 
Picture taken from their blog.

Monday, June 15, 2009

Open for Business

Andrew Quinones

On our trip up to Salinas to shoot with Cole I had the pleasure to meet Andrew Quinones.  He  has been working with Cole for a little while now.  During the shoots Andrew helped out quite a bit so I was able to keep shooting with Cole.  Andrew is working on a pretty cool Shovelhead and I look forward to being able to get shots of it to present to you the viewers.  Thanks Andrew for all your help.  For more on Andrew check him out on the Salinas Boys website.  www.salinasboys.com



Sunday, June 7, 2009

COLE FOSTER-JOYRIDES SHOWCASE

It took me awhile to get it done, but it's done.  A new Joyrides Showcase is up and featuring Cole Foster.  Go check it out at www.joyridesartcompany.com.  Thank you Cole and Susan for letting us do this with you.

GARAGE SERIES-NEW T-SHIRT

New Joyrides Art Company Baseball T-shirt for sale in the Joyrides Art Co Online store.  This is a first in a series we have created called, "Garage Series".  The Garage Series is about builders who are building killer stuff out of their garages.  The first feature we are doing is "The Rusty Nail" Panhead that Brandon Holstein of Brawny Built had done.  Read the story behind Brandon and then read how the Rusty Nail came to be.  When you finish with that  go and buy your shirt.



2007 Top Shelf Custom Rigid For Sale

Top Shelf Custom Rigid For Sale. 
S&S 113" Show Polished Engine, Baker 6-Speed, Chassis Design Frame w 35 degree rake, Pro  One 2" Over forks, PM Domino Wheels and Brakes, PM Hand Controls, low milage.  Email if you are interesed to info@joyridesartcompany.com

Friday, June 5, 2009

Joyrides Art Co. Website

We've been busy working on a new Joyrides Art Company Showcase. This will be our biggest ever and the most rewarding and I think you all will enjoy it. We are also ready to release a new Men's Baseball T-shirt featuring a local builder and an awesome Panhead that he built. This is a first in a new series that we have called the "Garage Series". So get ready this week for the new website to be up and continue to log onto our blog if you haven't already done so. www.joyridesartcompany.com and www.joyridesartco.blogspot.com

Thank you all for showing interest in our little company and the continue support.

Ride Hard-Ride Fast!
Yours Truly, Mark and Liz Kawakami

Thursday, June 4, 2009

Scooter McRad Pt 4





I've been busy for awhile and I haven't been able to get out and shoot stuff.  It was great to get out and break out the camera and concentrate on some shots.  It's like batting practice.  Gotta get out and hit some balls once in awhile to keep you sharp.  Thank you Scott for letting me come down and hang out and shoot photos while you worked.  

Scooter McRad Pt 3






Final series of shots tomorrow.

Wednesday, June 3, 2009

Scooter McRad Pt 2





Tune in tomorrow for more shots.

Tuesday, June 2, 2009

Scooter McRad Pt 1

A few shots of Scott of Scooter McRad at work.




Monday, June 1, 2009

Saturday Photoshoot

I went down to see Scott of Scooter McRad Whatchaworks blog to see what he was up to.  I will post photos from my shoot with him tomorrow. 

Monday again

I was going through some old surf shots that I had taken so I thought I'd post them to start the week off.
Luke Stedman getting ready to get worked.  Pipeline.
This is a shot from the back porch of the rental house at Rocky Point, Hawaii.
Dusty Payne freesurfing down at Lowers, San Clemente.
Cheyne Magnusson surfing Rocky Point, Hawaii.
Dion Agius surfing Rocky Point, Hawaii.
Mike Losness cutback.


Alex Gray surfing Off The Wall, Hawaii.