Ryan Schmitt

Ryan has been driving this 55 olds daily since his high school days. Other cars will come and go but he will drive this one to the grave.

Randy Schmitt

Today we traded warm clouds for cold sunshine. I drove south finding myself in Streator IL. and met up with Randy and his son Ryan. I've known these two for a few years now and was finally able to check out their shop.

Winter wheat

Randy's Cadillac and amazing shop

Wild One

I stepped outside this morning and was amazed at how warm it was. The sky looked curious but I wasn't gonna let this day slip by. Just as I started kicking the rain started falling. Anxious to get on the road I slipped out the back door for some instant loneliness on an open road. It's very rare that I would pop some headphones in but I wanted my mind to melt into the storm clouds with some Steve Von Till. The rain drops immediately grew in diameter becoming painful to the lips and a distraction to the eyes. In the haste I forgot to check my fuel level before leaving the drive way. A few coughs and a pointless switch to reserve I was out of gas. I wasn't off the bike for two seconds when a older bearded gentleman pulled up and offered to run into town and fetch some gasoline. He returned with enough gas to get me to the gas station which was when the rains really started to come down. My piece of shit rear tire wasn't gripping the pavement very well slipping through a few intersections. I was hearing a weird noise and finally realized it was the tornado sirens. I later found out that some tornados ripped up Rocktown pretty good. destroying farms and flipping school buses. 70 degrees today 20 degrees tomorrow morning. The weather has been a bit out of the ordinary.

Peace Pipe

This is the painting I did for the Forever Rotten show.

Acrylic on illustration board.

Whoopsie Daisy!

Keep it coming

I thought the last time was a few days ago. I was ripping down Cherry Valley Blacktop with the throttle pinned wide open when I realized that I had no brakes what so ever. I used my engine to brake, got home and parked it in the garage thinking the weather was about to change anyway. The neighborhood has been deafly quite the last few days. I was working in the garage and heard the kids running around outside. I figured I had better jerry-rig my brake to get a few miles in.

Cowboys and Indians! It's not a game it's a lifestyle. These kids are always on the hunt. There's another I see quite often that wouldn't be caught without his cowboy boots, cuffed pants and button up shirt but his mom yells at him when he comes to close to the motorcycle house.

The days are growing shorter

R.I.P Krazy Kevin

Photo stolen from the White Knights blog

Sadly..... Krazy Kevin passed away early this Saturday morning. Most people probably don't even know who exactly Krazy Kevin is..... but I largely credit him for the resurgence of period choppers which seem to be ever so popular these days. In a time of easter egg pro street machines and fat tires Kevin stayed true to what he knew and passed his wisdom on to guys much younger than himself. After breaking out of a New York jail in the 80's he spent a good amount of time in California. He shared his knowledge with fresh blood such as Rico Fodrey, Jason Jessee, Tom Foster and so many more in the area. These are all guys that were "cool" before it was cool all because of a man named Krazy Kevin. Even right up to current day where he was a major influence on the young guys in New York who are now building some of the most amazing bikes I have ever seen.

Kevin.... you will be greatly missed and you are a legend in my book

For more info stay tuned to the WHITE KNIGHTS IN THE HOUSE OF KOLOR

Chris Laurin's Shoebox

We took turns shooting each other on this afternoon. Chris is a great kid and can squirt some paint as well. I'm loving his Ford more and more every time I lay eyes on it. It's the perfect season to own an old automobile and I'm wishing I had one right about now.












Check out his work here...... Chris Laurin

Self Indulgent

It feels a bit weird publishing a post with a bunch of pictures of myself but it seems the photographer is like the drummer in a band. Nobody ever takes pictures of the drummer. Last weekend I was at my good friend Mike's house and he was up my ass about getting some good shots of me on my bike before I tear it apart for the winter. Chris was on his way in from the south side of Chicago so Mike drove and Chris hopped in the back with my camera in hand. Maybe he should think about picking up photography. He got some great shots and I'm very greatfull to have some good snaps of myself in motion. Thanks guys

All Photos: Christopher Laurin

May 29, 1966

FTWCO

I think I'm still trying to recover from Jeff and Fatty's last visit to Chicago. They are like a well oiled party machine and also know how to document their good times. These men are jack of all trades and excel at everything the put their minds to. This is what they captured while they were in Chicago.

See more at FTWCO and CHURCH OF CHOPPERS and FTW RACING

Rallye Bob

My uncle Bullet bought this Olds Rallye 350 brand new in 1970. He still has it to this day. He went from drag racing illegally at the end of North State Road in his teens to racing it for glory on the Dragstrip now in his 50's

I'm sure there are a few empties kick'n around the floorboards.

Bullet getting down....

Pit Stop

It's all fun and games until your sack gets wet........



It wouldn't be the mile without rain.

Wes Lang

I met Wes in Sturgis a few years back. We tore the place up on 70's Superglides.

While I was in New York I visited his studio.

I've always admired this photograph.... but it never occurred to me that the two handsome men in this image is actually Copeland and Lang.

Brooklyn

After some tacos we booked it to the studio so Chopper Dave could get the worlds fastest tattoo before catching his flight back to the west coast.

Wes and Dave

The Cold......

........ cuts deeper and deeper into my cheeks with each passing day.

Small town Halloween march.... I didn't mind waiting this one out.

I visited Blackhawk Saturday

Tonight... headed home without a headlight.