Born Free 5 - Faces In The Crowd

Born Free 5 Traffic Jam

After I was done setting up my booth and ready for the start of Born Free 5 I wanted to go out and get some pictures of guys riding in.  Just outside the gates I saw an endless line of cars waiting to get in.  Groups of bikes would slip on by as the people in cars waited to get in.  Little did I know that this line of cars backed up past the toll roads down the street.  Chopper Dave told me he waited 2.5 hours to get in and I heard other people saying they waited 3 hours.  This just goes to show how well Grant and Mike built up the show over the years for people to wait that long to get in.

I may have found the reason for the long traffic lines.  Somebody left these guys in charge of traffic.  

John Edwards was smart.  He rode his bike and saw how long the line was and turned around to tell his lovely wife Fawn to park the truck at a friends house in the area and jump on the back of the bike. They avoided the long wait and cruised right in.

I HAD THIS DREAM.....

.....Grant had called my winning ticket and I was going straight for this bike to claim as my own.....then I woke up.  Well at least I know the builder and can shoot pictures of it and hang in my room.  Way to go Caleb.  Another stunner.  Nothing less. Cro Customs.

Born Free 5

The calm before the storm.  The Speed Merchant, Brawny Built, Joyrides Art Co., Old Tyme Custom Paint, Len Higa and Stance Socks.  Getting ready and setting up.  Some of the vendors got caught in the traffic and was late for set up, but it turned out to be a great day with great friends.  Thank you to the people who stopped by the Joyrides Art Co booth and supported my cause.  Stay tuned as I will be posting photos from the show through out the week.

Kutty Noteboom Photoshoot in New Hot Bike Magazine

Photoshoot I did with Kutty Noteboom at the Hippy Killer Compound a few months back now. See the photos and read the article in the new Hot Bike magazine on Newsstands now.

Check out Kutty's site here: www.hippykiller.com

Remebering Bob Meistrell

In Loving Memory-Bob Meistrell from Body Glove on Vimeo.

Anyone who owns a small business can relate to the story and success of Bob and Bill Meistrell, founders of Dive N Surf and Body Glove International.  They loved what they did and did it to fuel their passion for the ocean.  Enjoy what you do and work hard to keep that love alive.

RIP Bob Meistell

This past Sunday I was on the road to Las Vegas with my co worker to go set up our booth at a tradeshow.  Matt and I were talking about work and life in general having a pretty good time as we drove down the 15 Fwy.  Minutes before we hit Barstow I checked my phone on got some horrible news.  Robbie Meistrell, son of Bob Meistrell, said his dad had just passed away 90 mins ago.  Matt and I pulled in to a parking lot just shocked and silent for minutes not knowing what to do.  Bob and his family were in Catalina for the Rock to Rock paddleboard race and Bob was the lead boat as always escorting the racers out of Catalina.  The Disappearance, Bob's beloved boat, suffered double engine failure.  He said that never has happened before.  While down in the engine room trying to get the boat going again, he suffered a heart attack.  Relatives, nephews, his son and then lifeguards all did CPR for 2 hours trying to bring him back.  It has been an emotional roller coaster these last few days, but glad I got to spend them with both Robbie and Billy (Bob's Nephew) in Vegas.  The pain is still there for them and will be for awhile but I think it was good for them to get away from it all for a little bit.  Bob was the co founder of Body Glove and Dive N Surf with his twin brother Bill.  I am fortunate and honored that I was able to work for Bob and be part of his family for almost 19 years.  I will miss the random breaks at work to go diving off his boat or hear his incredible stories and most of all his laughter.  Bob worked hard to build the empire of Body Glove to fund the lifestyle he grew up to love. Being out on the ocean.  RIP Bob Meistrell.  You will be sorely missed but glad you passed away doing what you loved on the Disappearance.  I am sure you and Bill are back together laughing and talking stories like the good ol days. Body Glove and Dive N Surf are in good hands and will carry on your legacy.

Chopper Dave - Born Free Builder Invite Video

Born-Free 5 Invited Builder Series-Chopper Dave from Born-Free on Vimeo.

Brawny Built -Born Free 5 Invited Builder

Dennis Levine 67 Ferrari Photoshoot

Shot with Dennis Levine today at his warehouse in Torrance.  Car is going off to auction this Monday in Newport Beach.

Powerplant Born Free Builder Video.

Scott "T-Bone" Jones - Noise Cycles

Check out the article in the new issue of Greasy Kulture magazine on Scott Jones of Noise Cycles and the Shovelhead he built.  One of my favorite bikes I've shot so far.  Check out his blog here.

Len Higa - Oni Motorworks

Kosuke of Sunrise Cycles