Motorcycle Hall
of Fame announces more celebrities included in exhibit
By the Staff of Clutch and
Chrome
April 16th, 2008
The
Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum, the country’s premier
showcase of motorcycling heritage and history, has revealed
the names of more than 25 significant personalities and
groups to be featured in the upcoming “MotoStars:
Celebrities + Motorcycles” exhibit. The exhibit will
spotlight the world’s most recognizable enthusiasts and
present priceless machines, exclusive memorabilia and tales
from celebrities’ favorite two-wheel adventures. Featured
MotoStars, Motorcycle Hall of Famers, industry leaders and
enthusiasts will gather on the grounds of the Museum in
Pickerington, Ohio, June 27-28, 2008, for the exhibit’s
grand opening and the “MotoStars: Celebrities + Motorcycles”
Ribbon-Cutting Weekend.
Prominent personalities from a variety of industries have
offered motorcycles and ephemera to the exhibit. Notable
athletes include Jeff Lacy, super middleweight boxing star,
and Wally Dallenbach, Sr., champion race car driver and
founder of the Colorado 500, a charity dirt bike ride now in
its thirty-third year. Barrett Brooks, Super Bowl-winning
Pittsburgh Steelers tackle, will lend his Sara Liberte-built
custom bike, as well as personal memorabilia.
The music industry is also well-represented in “MotoStars:
Celebrities + Motorcycles.” Queensryche guitarist Mike
Stone’s Buell motorcycle and Erik Buell-designed guitar will
be featured alongside custom motorcycles built for Def
Leppard drummer Ric Allen and Blink182 drummer Travis
Barker. Additionally, a leading Buddy Holly collector will
provide rare ephemera from the rock n’ roll legend.
Hollywood’s longtime romance with motorcycling is chronicled
in the exhibit. Chad McQueen honors his legendary father,
the late actor Steve McQueen, as “MotoStars: Celebrities +
Motorcycles” presents memorabilia, photos and McQueen’s
competition motorcycle from the International Six Day
Trials. Actor and motorcyclist Francesco Quinn will lend the
motorcycle he rode in the new Quentin Tarantino and Larry
Bishop film “Hell Ride,” in addition to offering an intimate
glimpse into the two-wheel passions of his father, legendary
actor Anthony Quinn. Dan Haggerty, known worldwide as star
of the television series “Grizzly Adams,” will also
participate in the exhibit. A Hollywood stuntman, biker
movie actor and bike builder for celebrities like
Ann-Margret, Haggerty helped create the chopper featured in
the most famous motorcycle movie of all time, “Easy Rider.”
The iconic motorcycle television series “Then Came Bronson,”
starring Michael Parks, will be represented through a custom
Harley-Davidson. Additionally, Perry King, star of over 50
films and television movies and spokesperson for Los Angeles
Olive Crest, an organization providing Homes and Services
for Abused Children, provides a motorcycle from his stable.
“MotoStars: Celebrities + Motorcycles” will also display a
rarely seen custom motorcycle built for the flamboyant
Oscar-winning star of screen and song, Cher.
Finally, through the eyes of respected stunt people, the
exhibit offers a rare look behind the scenes at Hollywood’s
portrayal of motorcycling. Stuntman Gary Davis, whose skills
lit up the screen in everything from “Viva Knievel” to
“Terminator 2,” and stuntwoman Debbie Evans, who dazzled
viewers in “Terminator 2,” “The Matrix Reloaded” and the
Brad Pitt - Angelina Jolie thriller “Mr. & Mrs. Smith,” both
contribute high-flying insights.
“MotoStars: Celebrities + Motorcycles” exhibit curator David
Morris is dedicated to relating the diverse nature of
motorcycling aficionados. The breadth of motorcycling’s
cultural impact is portrayed by renowned artists, such as
Charles Schulz and David Hockney. Schulz’ son Craig, a
competitive motocross racer, will lend the exhibit a full
size statue of Snoopy as “Joe Motocross.” Craig will also
provide artwork drawn by his father inspired by Craig’s
racing adventures. David Hockney, one of the twentieth
century’s most important exponents of the Pop Art movement,
will partner with Dr. Charles Falco, co-curator of the
Guggenheim Museum’s seminal “Art of the Motorcycle” exhibit,
to present a unique view of the motorcycle experience.
“MotoStars: Celebrities + Motorcycles” is also privileged to
have the participation of Thomas Krens, Director of the
Solomon R Guggenheim Foundation.
Custom motorcycle builders, now recognized as artists in
their own right, are also highlighted in “MotoStars:
Celebrities + Motorcycles.” Ed “Big Daddy” Roth pioneered
the new wave with his outrageous and visionary creations.
Son Darryl opens the family vault to bring “Big Daddy’s” art
and legendary trike to the exhibit. He is joined by “Big
Daddy” contemporary Carl Morrow, a legendary builder whose
past clients include the King of Malaysia. The art of Von
Dutch, Hollywood motorcycle cult figure, is also represented
courtesy of a prominent collector. Contemporary creators
showcased include Cyril Huze, a member of the International
Master Builders Association Hall of Fame, and Sara Liberte.
Liberte, represented through the bike she created for
Barrett Brooks, will lend insights into the world of
customization from the perspective of a female builder. As a
writer and photographer, Liberte is uniquely positioned to
share her story. Her latest project is garage-girls.com.
Celebrities from a variety of industries have been
instrumental in the success of charity motorcycle rides.
“MotoStars: Celebrities + Motorcycles” will present the
story of the country’s most well-known charity rides. These
include “The Love Ride,” the largest charity motorcycle ride
in America, “The Ride for Kids,” “The Buffalo Chip at
Sturgis” and the “Camp Boggy Creek’s Ride for Children.”
“We are thrilled by the personalities and groups who have
offered to support ‘MotoStars’ and look forward to
announcing further exhibit contributors in the coming
months,” says Mark Mederski, executive director of the
Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum. “The Museum is committed to
making ‘MotoStars’ as diverse and comprehensive as possible,
and the industry leaders already contributing are making
this goal a reality. We are eager to share the stories of
these prominent motorcyclists and show visitors the strength
and passion of the motorcycling community.”
“MotoStars: Celebrities + Motorcycles” is the latest in a
series of award-winning exhibits at the Motorcycle Hall of
Fame Museum. For an online tour of current Motorcycle Hall
of Fame Museum exhibits and a schedule of upcoming events
and special activities, please visit
www.motorcyclemuseum.org.
In Writing: “MotoStars: Celebrities + Motorcycles,” The Book
The Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum will release “MotoStars:
Celebrities + Motorcycles,” The Book, in conjunction with
the exhibit. The coffee-table volume will complement the
exhibit, presenting a comprehensive examination of the
relationship between celebrities and motorcycling. In
addition to exploring celebrities’ fascination with
motorcycle culture, the book will delve into the impact of
celebrity culture on the motorcycle industry. More details
about the book, “MotoStars: Celebrities + Motorcycles,” are
available at www.motorcyclemuseum.org. |
