Story and photos by Chris Denison
It’s Saturday night, the Dealer Expo is hoppin’ and the mean streets of Indy are filled with some of the most inebriated individuals in the motorcycle industry. Me? I’m sitting in my hotel room downloading photos from the day so that I can bring you, our loyal reader who may not have gotten the chance to attend this year’s show, some images from the event. How’s that for a happy Valentine’s day?
By now, you’ve seen the first two product blogs and I can say with some degree of certainty that I handed Pete Peterson his behind as far as collecting cool products goes. But it’s not over yet: PP still has a chance to redeem himself tomorrow. Can he do it? No. But I think he’ll still pull through with some decent coverage.
In all seriousness, this year’s show has proven to once again be the place to be when it comes to seeing dirt-related goodies. Yet while the focus of the Dealer Expo is on the product side, there is a certain amount of fun and amusement to the event. The following images capture the spirit of Indy in all its anodized, two-wheeled neon splendor. Enjoy!
Yes, you are looking at a motorized snowboard. How long would it take to white wash yourself on one of these, you ask? About as fast as you can yell "Avalanche", that’s how long! Indy sure has some strange sights!
Aside from all the dirt stuff, Indy also has its fair share of….well, street crap. There are more leather tassels and metal beads on this isle than a Village People concert!
I spotted FMX legend Carey Hart eating breakfast at the bagel joint this morning, and I just had to paparazzi a photo of the due while he was chowing down his egg Mcwhatever. You think People or Us would want to buy this shot?
Hmmm…a metal scorpion. Now that won’t give me night terrors for the next three weeks!
Some of the best laughs at Indy are made at the annual Racer X hockey game, which pits Team USA against Team Canada for interstellar domination. I stayed for the entire game and was totally disappointed to see that Canada stomped our side by about four points. Where is Damian Ercole when you need him?!
Bob "Hurricane" Hannah was in the house to sign autographs, shake hands and show off his new line of underground street graffiti. One of the three previous statements is an absolute lie. You figure it out.
Trials ace Ronnie Commo is now riding for TM and Maxxis. This kid is a ripper on an Endurocross course, although he was no match for the dream team of myself and Team Joe Gibbs Racing at the South Carolina round last year. Unfortunately, I lost that ride about as quickly as I earned it and am now bikeless and, to be perfectly honest, pretty jealous of Ronnie’s G-Ride. This thing is clean!
The Godfather of Freestyle, Mike Metzger, was in the house at Indy to chill and paint some stuff at the Kali Protectives booth. Not only is this guy a class act and a sick rider, he’s also a top-notch artist. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: Mike Metzger is my hero for life.
"Oh look, a Rhino on its roof. Now that’s something you don’t see every day!" he quipped knowingly.
I think this booth was selling benches. That, or this is an episode of "Punk’d" waiting to happen. Where’s Ashton?
More and more new Husabergs are popping up every day. This bad boy was in the Motion Pro booth, and got just as many gawkers as the new MP goodies did!
One Industries rider Jason Lawrence picked a fight with Lance Bryson on the wrong day and finally got what’s coming to him. You mess with the bull, you get the horns! Notice former Dirt Rider ad ninja Bill Keefe holding down the TV in the background.