2024 - Born Free 15, Oak Canyon Park, California, USA
Across the Customverse
Let’s think about the art of wrenching on Harleys as a limitless space, of which you only ever see a tiny, tiny part. Let’s say you’re fiddling with a home baked belt shroud, or you’re trying to apply your own sense of style to a Panhead rear fender you picked up for cheap at the swap meet, and all you’re missing is a vintage tail light that’ll pull everything together. Faster than you can say "rabbit hole" you’re on a journey to nowhere …
Once a year though a window opens into the bigger customverse: The Born Free Motorcycle Show at Oak Canyon Park, in, sure enough, California, USA.
Words (and pics) are not nearly enough
to convey the full force of the impressions that came splattering down on innocent wrenchers’ minds like a hailstorm: Outrageous new builds conceived and executed with visibly insane effort down to the last microscopic detail sit alongside seemingly randomly assembled "barnfinds", parked between shining gems of chopper culture made from assorted handlebars, exhaust pipes and seat combinations of all ages.
From Thursday the grounds filled
at the speed of light with Harleys from all style galaxies, and we went for a quick space walk before the masses arrived at the gates. The 30 invited builders had created their own galaxy of stardust, then there were 6 more who had had the honour to be asked to work their magic on the latest H-D models on behalf of The Company. Add to these the countless bikes that populate the many vendors’ stalls (as did our Baja Twins again). In addition for the show days there were the grass pass bikes – and then there were the bulging parking lots.
Oh, and the pre parties
such as the Brixton Pre Party… aaaand the Cook’s Corner party, where they elected the "People’s Champ". Are you ready for your ride across the customverse?
