2013 LA Calendar Motorcycle Show Report

The 22nd edition of the annual LA Calendar Motorcycle Show marked its return to the Queen Mary Seawalk Village in Long Beach, California with hometown boy Sam Baldi taking the Bike Building Championship’s Best of Show trophy with a Jimmy Todorovith/Profile Cycles built Big Twin custom named “Lost Angel.”

This year’s Calendar Show showcased not only top builders but selected vendors and exhibitors, and of course the Calendar Girl Music live performances. And as always, this year’s show celebrated the world premiere of the 2014 FastDates.com Motorcycle PinUp Calendars, featuring the world’s top SBK World Superbikes, sport and cafe bikes, and custom motorcycles with the beautiful Calendar Kittens. On hand throughout the day to meet with fans and pose for pictures were Calendar Kittens Apple Price, together with official SBK World Superbike grid girls Jessica Harbour and singer/songwriter Sarah Horvath.

Sam Baldi first premiered his Calendar Best of Show winner at the 2013 Grand National Roadster Show at Pomona earlier this year, where he took top prize for the 3rd year in a row with different builds. Another notable contender for Best of Show was former Bobber Class winner Ron Baldonado of Rock Bottom Customs in Thousand Oaks, California, with a ground-up custom fabrication of a 1920′s-style board tracker racer that took First Place in the Classic American Class.

Exciting attractions at this year’s Show included the new Yamaha Star Bolt Motorcycle Road Tour to showcase the Japanese manufacturer’s new affordable $7,999 list price Bolt V-twin custom in a cafe/bobber style that is easy to ride and designed for easy and affordable customizing. The Bolt Tour display included product giveaways and the opportunity to register to win a free Bolt motorcycle.

Other major Show attractions included the return of legendary West Coast builder Ron Simms with his big rig display; Keith Ball of Bikernet.com fame, showing off his latest V-twin custom project bike; and a new line of Bikernet Apparel; Tom Hicks of Southern California Motorcycles who showcased his great line of Triumph, Ducati, Victory and Royal Enfield motorcycles.

Former Bike Show winner Jim Giuffra presented the AFT Customs Visionary Award Trophy, for the most innovative and exciting bike at the event, to Chris Redpath of MotoGPwerks.com who premiered a custom built Suzuki TL1000 V-Twin naked streetfighter that would take the Sportbike Class win. Richard Pollock of Mule Motorcycles showed his latest Triumph Streetmaster build. And Steve Storz of Storz Performance premiered his new SP1200RR Cafe Racer.

2013 Calendar Bike Building Championship Results:

Best of Show: Sam Baldi, “Lost Angel” Air Ride Monoshock Custom by Jimmy Todorovitch / Profile Cycle, Patrick Racing 113ci V-Twin.

Pro Builder: 1. Lenny Meyer – Big Boy Choppers, Buell; 2. Ron Simms Red/Black Custom; 3. Bruce Ivfursfen – Boss Hoss, 383ci Chevy.

Street Custom: 1. Jack Kirkpatrick, H-D Road Glide Bagger Custom: 2. Rich Robertson / Chuck Zettner, Custom, STD Shovelhead 132ci; 3. Bryan Cossette, H-D Electra Glide Custom Bagger.

Bar Hopper: 1. Alan Beatty, Retro Custom Brown/Tan H-D Sportster; 2. Denny Nelson, Red/Black H-D Softail, El Bruni 127ci; 3. Mark Dugally, Yamaha Vino 125ccRat Scooter.

Sportbike: 1. Chris Redpath, Custom Suzuki TL1000 Streetfighter; 2. P&M Racing, Harley Drag Bike; 3. Jason Moore, Honda CB 350 Cafe Bike.

Classic American: 1. Ron Baldonado / Rock Bottom Customs ph 805-497-3470, Full Custom Board Track Replica H-D Flathead; 2. Frank “The Rat” Romero, H-d Classic Chopper; 3. Rick James, H-D 1983 XLCR.

Classic Metric / European: 1. Adam & Lisa Gaspic / Gasser Customs Honda CB350 Cafe Bike; 2. Rick James, Yamaha Warrior; 3. Christopher Warhop, Yamaha R1.

By Jon Langston