Motorcycle shows are the Disneyworld to bikers. Everything and anything to do with our favorite two-wheeled past time, beautiful women and fantastic live music. Our out and about correspondent Nick DeCondio found himself taking it all in during the West Springfield Motorcycle Show in this edition of Readers Writings.

Click any of the pictures for a larger version.

Setting up in the Eastern Exposition Hall, in West Springfield, Massachusetts, the Springfield Motorcycle Show was billed as a high-end, top shelf event bringing together a combination of manufacturers and retailers. Past motorcycle shows in this area, by the same organizers were a huge success and riders were promised more to look at and do at this years event.

Having any kind of event in the northeast United States organizers face the cold weather of winter. Outside may have been cold but organizers Doug Sousa and company made sure the show was hot, hot, hot.

Held January 18th to 20th inside two large buildings, and even though the New England Patriots were continuing their record-making season later that afternoon there was still quite a crowd on the Sunday. Not surprisingly, some of the vendors had televisions set up as not to miss any of the pregame action.

The show was as promised, jammed packed with top-shelf manufacturers, builders and show events suitable for everyone of all ages. The range of products and vendors across the showroom floors made it a perfect opportunity to find something for every motorcycle enthusiast in your life.

With Springfield being considered as the birthplace of the American motorcycle, one of the highlights of the show was a collection of Springfield Motorcycles and a display outlining their history.

The Springfield Motorcycle Show special guest was the beautiful Michele Smith, host of Speed TV's “American Thunder”. Not only was this the third year she's attended the event, but her own show has become the longest running TV motorcycle program in America.

Definitely an American theme to the motorcycle show.

Another surprising fact came out of this meeting of motorcycle enthusiasts, yours truly has more in common with Michele Smith than most may think. Before internet rumors of secret weekends or lavish love affairs start to work their way around the internet, the connection is more innocent than any red-blooded male would like to think.

I first met Craig Smith last year at the Connecticut Easyriders V-Twin Bike Show. He has a work in progress (five years now) of a wood carving depicting the two riders from the movie Easy Rider. Craig quite kindly let me sign the back of the wood-carving, with my John Hancock going right next to Michele Smith's autograph.

Practically family.

Speaking of artists, attendees to the show had the honor of seeing the artwork of John Guielmette with his canvas paintings and portraits that I am told appeared in motorcycle magazine's such as V-Twin, Easyriders and others. Other local artists making the show were Karl Piedra and Ed Estabrook from Glorified Graffiti who specialize in custom airbrushing.

But it was a motorcycle show after all, so how were the rides?

Plenty of bike-builders made an appearance; Strong Island Choppers, Tribal Iron Custom Choppers and many others. One in particular has made an impression on both the organizers as well as the local fans. Kevin Boyle of Motorcycle Medic who only had one motorcycle at the show previously, brought seven for this years event.

Seven was the lucky number for Kevin who not only won first place in the Street Sport, Modern Classic and Dresser Classes but won the Tattoo Competition on Saturday as well. Now that’s what you call one Happy Biker.

Keeping it in the family, Sara, Kevin’s wife was also there with her green, black and purple Harley Davidson Electra Glide.

Another familiar face from last years Connecticut Easyriders V-Twin Bike were the band Shovelhead, but the show also included a local band called Hooked who played their own original music. A new but old western Massachusetts based rock group whose members have reunited after 15 years apart when they toured and performed countless shows as Naughty in the early 90's.

No show could happen without the sponsors; Trantolo and Trantolo motorcycle attorneys were the trophy sponsor for the Best Bike Competition. Michelle Smith even stepped up to the sponsor plate when she donated a basketful of goodies just for the a winning lady. The winner was interestingly enough dressed in a costume from one of the sets which was depicting Halloween.

As I said in previous articles, its so impressive how many talented people there are in the motorcycle industry and its great to see a slew of them in one place displaying their awesome works of art.

So until the next show

To the two and three wheelers of the world: Freedom surrounds you wherever you go. Lay a path of new tracks for the future riders to follow their dreams.

Chevediamo
Nick DeCondio

Click here for more pictures from the show.