Press release from Custom Bike Show 2012 (3.6.2012)High class at the show but few visitors was the fact at Custom Bike Show in Norrtälje this year. Rain, rain and rain, is perhaps how many will remember the day. The comment of the day among the visitors still were:
-We will be back next year!
2000 courageous visitors and some hundred competitors from Finland, Norway, Denmark, Germany, France, Switzerland, Italy, Russia, Estonia, Latvia and of course Sweden were represented at the Custom Bike Show in Norrtälje on Saturday. Although the weather there was high standard of the bikes and winners were appointed in classes HD Chopper, Chopper, Custom, Classic, Custom, Classic, Trike and Modified Harley. The winning bikes were of good standard and none of the winners had to be ashamed of the reduced line-up.
Claes Wärefors from Strängnäs became the big winner of today, first as a 1st prize in the Custom Class and then the deserving of to win the jury's choice. This means that Claes will represent Scandinavia in the World Championships in motorcycle building in Sturgis, USA in August this year. Tickets for the European Championship finals took
Samuli Kaiuola, Finland and Peo Josefsson from Motala.
The class Modified Harley and Best Paintjob was won by Mike Wiråker from Kalmar with his bagger bike - Lord of the Rings.
Despite wetness the was crowd active and many of those present took the opportunity to SMS vote for John Mathisen from Hägersten which won the audience vote with his Choppster. A happy winner, who could leave Norrtälje with a brand new engine for his next building project.
The great festival atmosphere never really arrived, persistent rain and 8 degrees meant that visitors were reduced to a fraction of what is tradition. But those who defied the weather got a show with high quality and a great stage entertainment, or as one of the visitors put it:
-A fucking weather but great entertainment.
The event with a mix of exhibition, fair and festival is normally one of the largest of its kind in Europe, and is organized by Twin Club Mc in Norrtälje. This year was Custom Bike Show arranged for the 38th time, which is now and an established arena for motorcycle building in Scandinavia and Europe and which also has a good reputation in the United States, homeland of motorcycle buildings.
Motorcycle Building has a nearly 50 year tradition in Sweden, and is therefore a pioneer, closely behind the U.S. where the culture really took off in the 50s. To rebuild or build your very own motorcycle has not been entirely clear, but interest has been around. Sweden has been a trend-setter in the culture and there is a "Swedish style" in the world. Custom Bike Show is one of the events in a good way of handling the culture and contribute to their survival and makes an impression on the rest of the motorcycle world in the world!
Winners Custom Bike Show, 2.6.2012 HD Chopper | | | | | |
1. Plats | 105 | Make Ahonen | Chopper Junkies | Finland | HD |
2. Plats | 113 | Peo Josefsson | | Motala | Harley |
3. Plats | 107 | Markus Pulkkanen | OHNO MC | Finland | |
| | | | | |
Chopper | | | | | |
1. Plats | 200 | Jude | Homegrown Choppers | Finland | BSA B33 |
2. Plats | 201 | Brage | Primares | Norge | Indian |
3. Plats | 202 | Petri Ruusunen | Huudi Choppers | Finland | Honda |
| | | | | |
Classic Custom | | | | | |
1. Plats | 302 | Kaj Lönnvik | | Finland | Showelhead Eagle 1 |
2. Plats | 309 | Samuli Kaiuola | | Finland | -78 Shonel |
3. Plats | 300 | Arne Abrahamsson | Stompers MC | Katrineholm | HD knucklehead 1946 |
| | | | | |
Custom | | | | | |
1. Plats | 414 | Claes Wärefors | | Strängnäs | Gryphon |
2. Plats | 422 | Franklin Chop-Works | | Italy | Panhead 48 Model E |
3. Plats | 404 | Sebastian Lönnvik | | Finland | HD Electra glide |
| | | | | |
Klassiker/Classics | | | | | |
1. Plats | 500 | Tommi Niemelä | | Finland | HD |
2. Plats | 503 | Tore Landfald | | Spånga | HD WL 1946 |
3. Plats | 502 | Matti Runsala | Container Mc | Tyresö | Krighre Org 750WLA |
| | | | | |
Trike | | | | | |
1. Plats | 602 | Lars Eriksen | | Norge | Trike |
2. Plats | 604 | Pål Steenersen | Rulpers Hog Sky | Norge | Harley |
3. Plats | 600 | Michael Kantola | Mohill MC | Finland | Harley Trike |
| | | | | |
Modified Harley | | | | | |
1. Plats | 705 | Micke Wiråker | | Kalmar | Lord of the Kings |
2. Plats | 700 | Northside Custom | | Sweden | Streetglide Danne |
3. Plats | 706 | Janine Nikula | | Södertälje | HD Sportster |
| | | | | |
Bästa Lack/Best Paintjob | | | | | |
1. Plats | 705 | Micke Wiråker | | Kalmar | Lord of the Kings |
| | | | | |
Juryns val/Jury's Choice | | | | | |
1. Plats | 414 | Claes Wärefors | | Strängnäs | Gryphon |
2. Plats | 309 | Samuli Kaiuola | | Finland | -78 Shonel |
3. Plats | 113 | Peo Josefsson | | Motala | Harley |