Custom and classic motorcycles from as near as around the corner in Floral City, or as far as Oscoda, Michigan took top awards at the Art & Wheels Custom and Classic Motorcycle Show. The show was hosted by the Florida Artists Gallery on October 6th and ran concurrently with the Floral City Bikes & Bar BQ Festival. The show was based on the idea that art is not just painting or sculpture, but an exercise of the vision and intention of the artist, regardless of medium. In this case, the medium was motorcycles.

Dennis Craig, of Lakeland, Florida won the IronWorks Magazine Best of Show Award with his stunning 1938 Indian Chief, restored to pristine original condition in red and black with gold striping.

Joseph Brinn, of Oscoda, Michigan, won the Outer Image Best Graphics Award with a 2005 Harley-Davidson Ultra elaborately painted with air-brushed scenes honoring America’s men and women in uniform.

The Honda of Crystal River People’s Choice Award went to Jack Pedrick of Hernando, Florida, whose imposing blue and orange Boss Hoss V8-powered three-wheeler raised the most money for Filter Youth Development, the charitable beneficiary of Art & Wheels.

The Florida Artists Gallery Award for Innovation and Social Responsibility went to Steve Simotes of Crystal River for his special-built 2006 Harley-Davidson FLHX trike conversion, outfitted with a wheel chair carrier.  Simotes, who is a paraplegic, has designed an especially simple and elegant way to extend his mobility with his wheelchair-equipped motorcycle.  He hopes to promote the design to returning disabled vets who want to continue to enjoy motorcycles.

Winner of the Harley-Davidson of Crystal River Best American V-Twin Award was earned by Lee Doggett of Brooksville.  His hand-fabricated Harley-Davidson custom, assembled from components from many model years from the 1930s to the present, was singled out by the judges for its elaborate trim and hand fabrication.  First runner-up in the class went to Joe Brinn; second runner-up went to Bob Poorman of Floral City.

The Best Metric Custom Award for motorcycles from Europe and Japan went to Bob Huffhein of Floral City.  His carefully detailed 2005 Yamaha Road Star was a veritable light show of hundreds of tiny LED lights that danced over its black paint.  Runner-up went to Barry Pendry, also of Floral City, for his carefully maintained 2004 BMW Mantauck.

The J. R. Harris Trike Sales Best Three-Wheeler Award was taken by Bill Lenz of Inverness for his eye-popping canary yellow 2006 Boom Ford rear-engine trike.  First runner-up went to Linda Lee Keem and her 2006 Extacy Chevy custom trike, and Jack Pedrick won second runner-up.

Dennis Craig, of Lakeland, topped the Motohistory.net Classics Class with his 1940 Indian Four.  Mack Renick, of Nokomis, Florida got first runner-up for his 1967 Triumph Bonneville.  Bob Poorman’s 1976 Honda Four was second runner-up.

Bill Ashby, Trinity Schmalstig, and Noah Caravetto, all of Inverness, won top door prizes provided by Citrus Cycle Center and the Coney Island Drive-Inn. In addition to Citrus Cycle Center and Coney Island Drive-Inn, Art & Wheels was sponsored by J&P Cycles, IronWorks Magazine, Harley-Davidson of Crystal River, J.R. Harris Trike Sales, Honda of Crystal River, Wayne’s Citrus Cycles, Motohistory.net , and Outer Image, Inc.

Art & Wheels benefited Filter Youth Development, an Inverness-based charity that offers hope and promising solutions to Citrus County children and families. The event was hosted and staged on the lawns of the Florida Artists Gallery, located at the Historic Knight House at 8219 Orange Avenue in Floral City.  The Florida Artists Gallery is open free to the public 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and noon to 4 on Sunday. The Gallery is closed on Monday.  For more information, call 352-344-9300 or go to www.floridaartistsgallery.com .

Source and images: Florida Artists Gallery

Posted by Sam Kanish

Florida Artists Gallery President Ann Covington presents the Ironworks Magazine Best of Show Award to Dennis Craig for his 1938 Indian Chief.

Steve Simotes won the Florida Artists Gallery Award for Innovation and Social Responsibility with his self-built wheelchair accessible Harley-Davidson three-wheeler.

Class winners left to right: Dennis Craig, Best Classic and Best of Show; Joseph Brinn, Outer Image Best Graphics Award; Jack Pedrick, Honda of Crystal River People’s Choice Award; Bob Huffhein, Best Metric Custom Award; Steve Simotes, Florida Artists Gallery Award for Innovation and Social Responsibility; and Lee Doggett, Harley-Davidson of Crystal River Best American V-twin Award. Not shown is Bill Lenz, winner of the J.R. Harris Trike Sales Best Three-Wheeler Award.