Easy Rider - Born To Be Wild

Dennis Lee Hopper, born in Dodge City, Kansas (May 17, 1936 – May 29, 2010) was an American actor, filmmaker and artist. As a young man, Hopper became interested in acting and eventually became a student of the Actors' Studio. He made his first television appearance in 1955, and appeared in two films featuring James Dean, Rebel Without a Cause (1955) and Giant (1956). Over the next ten years, Hopper appeared frequently on television in guest roles, and by the end of the 1960s had played supporting roles in several films.

He directed and starred in Easy Rider (1969) with Peter Fonda, and was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay as co-writer.

Riding an iron horse wrapped in the American flag, Fonda portrayed a modern-day Wyatt Earp alongside a Billy the Kid portrayed by Hopper, dressed in Indian leathers, riding a classic rigid chopper. They explored the anti-establishment, counter-culture of the '60s.

With its portrait of counterculture heroes raising their middle fingers to the uptight middle-class hypocrisies, Easy Rider became the cinematic symbol of the 1960s, a celluloid anthem to freedom, macho bravado and anti-establishment rebellion.

No other persona better signifies the lost idealism of the 1960s than Dennis Hopper's portrayal of Billy Zero.

Biker Chicz TV at Laconia 2010

IT'S OFFICIAL - The East Coast Biker Chicks will begin filming their TV reality series on Saturday, June 19th at Laconia Bike Week.

The "hard riding, easy living, fun loving, charity giving" East Coast Biker Chicks motorcycle club was founded by Lucky Belcamino, a professional poker player and culinary chef in Boston. 




FILMING SCHEDULED TO START FOR NEW REALITY TV SERIES FEATURING BOSTON’S EAST COAST BIKER CHICKS MOTORCYCLE CLUB

BOSTON, MA - 6/2/10 – Eight members of a Boston area all female motorcycle club called the East Coast Biker Chicks, will soon be featured in a new television series. Filming for the Biker Chicz docu-reality series is scheduled to start on June 19th during the annual Laconia Bike Week in Laconia NH, and continue in eastern Massachusetts throughout the summer.

Biker Chicz will focus on the positive aspects of the Harley-Davidson biker lifestyle and is being produced by an Oklahoma production company, Blockhead City Entertainment. “Our intention is to produce a happy, feel good television series that will be enjoyable to watch, and realistically capture the true nature of bikers, their spirit and the Harley lifestyle – this series will be just the opposite of what you see in shows like Sons of Anarchy and Gangland,” said Executive Producer Edward Winterhalder.

Winterhalder, a biker personality, author and the creator of the Biker Chicz TV series, has been riding Harleys since 1974. One of the world’s leading authorities on bikers, motorcycle clubs and the Harley-Davidson biker lifestyle; his books about the biker lifestyle are published in multiple languages and sold all over the world. “Because I have lived the biker lifestyle myself for more than thirty-five years, I feel confident that I can accurately capture for TV what really goes on in the life of a biker on a day-to-day basis,” he said.

“Thank God someone is finally going to show the world that bikers are ordinary people from all walks of life; regular people that have families and jobs, who enjoy riding Harleys in their spare time and giving back to the communities in which they live when they can,” said Lucky Belcamino.

Annie Concemi, recently profiled on TLC's "What Not To Wear," rides a Harley and will also be featured in the Biker Chicz TV series. "Everyone I know is sick and tired of all of the negative television these days, where everyone argues and fights for sixty minutes," said Annie. "Biker Chicz will be a breath of fresh air."

For Biker Chicz TV series details visit blockheadcity.com and click the “Television” button.

Greatest Biker Chicz in Motorcycle Industry

                                                                                

In April 2010, The Biker Chicz Blog  was created to present news, photos, comments and stories from the women Harley riders who are featured in "Biker Chicz of North America", a new book by Edward Winterhalder & Wil De Clercq that will be published in late 2010.

The list of contributors is amazing!

I am pleased to be counted as one of the first 10 "Followers" of the new Biker Chicz - Google Blog and I can highly recommend it to all of my blog readers - especially women riders - because the list of contributors is a real who's who of women in the motorcycle world..

Becky Brown - Founder of Women in the Wind Motorcycle Club with 1,700 members in 29 states and Canada & three-time Motorcycle Hall of Fame inductee.

 

Betsy Huelskamp - Certified Personal Trainer; freelance writer; adventuress; featured in Discovery Channel’s "Motorcycle Women," National Geographic's "Hell on Wheels and TLC's "Faking It."

       
Chris Sommer Simmons -  Co-founder of Harley Women Magazine; freelance motorcycle writer and photographer; author of a photographic history of The American Motorcycle Girls 1900 to 1950; three-time Motorcycle Hall of Fame inductee; married to Doobie Brother band member Patrick Simmons.

Catherine "Katmandu" Palmer - Artist; photograher and contributing writer to Paisano Publication biker magazines for 15 years -- an art teacher in public schools and former parts manager      at a Harley-Davidson dealership.

Gina Woods - Chicago area radio personality; host and executive producer of Open Road Radio (ORR.)

Gloria Tramontin Struck - Member of the Motor Maids since 1946; daughter of the founder of Tramontin Harley-Davidson in NJ

Mandy Campbell - manager at family owned Destination Daytona Harley-Davidson, the world's largest dealer.
Meg McDonough - First female officer of the Jackpine Gypsies, originators of the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally; works in sales for Cowboy Harley in Austin TX.

Joann Begey Bortles - Crazy Horse  motorcycle and hot rod painter; author of six hot-to-paint books available at Amazon; writer & photographer with work published in V Twin, Easy Rider, The Horse, Ironworks, American Iron and Cycle Source magazines. 

Marilyn Elmore Bragg - is a photojournalist and author of  the blog, Chessie's Tales - a rider's journal with spectacular images taken along country roads in Tennessee, North Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia, Kentucky and other points south. She has not owned a car in 25 years and has traveled to 35 states. 

Gevin Fax - Model, actress, musician (Klymax); one of four women profiled on TNT's 1995 documentary about female Harley riders; has an MA in Physical Education.

Sasha Mullins - Author of "The Chrome Cowgirl's Guide to Motorcycle Life" and "Biker Lady: Living and Riding Free"; musician with her own biker band Motorodeo; has appeared in 8 women biker themed TV shows. Amazon -  Books by Sasha Mullins

Danielle "Danni" Stockley - Director of the Ontario Chrome Divas Motorcycle Club and column writer of "Danni's Times" for Riders Magazine.

Ecurie Umgungunhlovu

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Pics of the "Ecurie Umgungunhlovu" racing team's trip to Cape Town races in the early 60's
posted by Bigrog via : forums.autosport.com




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Women Riders Month - Ladies of Harley Aruba Ride

The Ladies of Harley in Aruba joined women across the globe who have taken life by the handlebars. 

Their first ride around the island was May 23rd in celebration of Women Riders Month.

The ride kicked off with a Garage Party, May 22 at Big Twin Harley.

Caroline Peterson, a former Knock Out Model, took up riding this year and was eager to help launch the "Salute To All Women Bike Ride." 

Special Thanks to Caroline for sharing these photos.

Aruba 2011 International Bike Week Rally is October 30th to November 6th.

ebay stuff

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VINTAGE 1930S LEATHER MOTORCYCLE BOOT COVERS SPATS

Vintage 1930s leather motorcycle boot covers or spats. Made of black leather. Each has 4 buckles. They are marked: MOIX 87 9 BUTTIKER 87. They're 9" tall and 14.25" around. In very good condition with a nice patina.

VINTAGE 50'S TRIAL MASTER WAX MOTORCYCLE JACKET RED

VINTAGE EXTRA RARE 50'S TRIAL MASTER WAX MOTORCYCLE JACKET SIZE 38 MEDIUM VERY GOOD VINTAGE CONDITION ,HAS SOME DIRT AND DAMAGE ZIPPER WORK PERFECT SNAP ALSO MADE IN U.S.A.



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Dennis Hopper, Easy Rider R.I.P.

Dennis Hopper was part of a new generation of Hollywood rebels in 1969 when he directed and co-stared in “Easy Rider."

He remained at the edge of what was exciting and new right up to the end, when he died last week at age 74 at his home in Venice, Calif.

He was famous for his portrayal of the crazy misfit in "Apocalypse Now" (1979) and the cult classic, "Blue Velvet" (1986), and was at work on a TV series adaptation of the 2005 blockbuster,"Crash" when he lost the battle in a second round of prostrate cancer.

"Rebel Without a Cause" (1955) with James Dean launched his film career. He also appeared in such notable films as "Hang 'Em High" (1968), "Speed" (1994), and "Waterworld" (1995).

Dennis' free wheeling, free spirited character became the blueprint for thousands of bikers as many tried to emulate his spirit and the Ben Hardy built chopper that he rode in the film.

He gave up drugs and booze and an out-of-control lifestyle in the mid 1980's and excellerated his career. His credits include at least six films released in 2008 and at least 25 over the past 10 years.

Dennis Hopper -- actor, filmmaker, photographer, art collector, world-class burnout, first-rate survivor — never blew it. Unlike the villains and freaks he has played over the decades — the psycho with the mommy complex in “Blue Velvet,” the mad bomber with the grudge in “Speed” — he has made it through the good, the bad and some spectacularly terrible times. He rode out the golden age of Hollywood by roaring into a new movie era with “Easy Rider.” He hung out with James Dean, played Elizabeth Taylor’s son, acted for Quentin Tarantino. He has been rich and infamous, lost and found, the next big thing, the last man standing. -- New York Times.


Ride Easy... R.I.P. Dennis Hopper