The International Master Bike Builders Association takes great pleasure in identifying and presenting to the world "Hall of Fame" Master Bike Builders, who have exceeded the level of Master Bike Builder by giving back to the community and industry through many forms of events, sponsorship, youth training, and charities; and/or through the development and improved quality of motorcycles, riding and motorcycle safety. These individuals are to be commended and honored for their contributions to the industry and the wonderful motorcycles they have built. The IMBBA does not endorse or represent these individuals, and they do not endorse or represent the IMBBA. Hall of Fame inductees are chosen by member votes and/or by Board of Director nomination after their individual points far exceed those needed for Master Bike Builder certification. We are pleased to share information about these giants in the motorcycle industry, including links to their websites and/or contact information.
ARLEN NESS - IMBBA "HALL OF FAME" - USA MASTER BIKE BUILDER LEVEL II
Starting out of his garage in 1967 with the money he won as a semi-professional bowler, Arlen bought his first Harley.
Armed with no more than a spray gun and a dream, Arlen stripped down his Harley Knucklehead and gave it a paint job of his own creation.
After many an appraising eye set sight on his creation, Arlen entered it in a custom show.
First show, First place! Then he was off, with nights spent in the garage working on a growing list of customers bikes, it wasn't long until he rented his first store on East 14th Street in San Leandro, CA.
More work, more shows and more trophies. While still working at his full time job, Arlen worked the store in the evenings. With his wife Bev doing the books, and his 2 kids (Sherri & Cory) in tow, Arlen took a big step out onto thin air. He left his job and went out on his own full time.
His refusal to imitate others, his sense of style and his willingness to take risks is still seen today in their slogan of "Always innovate, never imitate".
In March of 2003, Arlen Ness and approximately seventy hand picked employees opened the new World Headquarters in Dublin, CA. This 68,000 sq. ft. building has a sales showroom, parts department, apparel store, service department, shipping & receiving warehouse, photo studio, museum of Arlen’s famous builds, production area for the new line of NESS MOTORCYCLES, LLC, and Arlen’s and Cory’s workshop where you can actually see the masters working their motorcycle magic.
STURGIS 2005, marked the launch of the new line of “CUSTOM PRODUCTION” motorcycles from NESS MOTORCYCLES, LLC. Three NEW motorcycles, the Low Liner, Speed Liner and the High Liner already have production lines screaming. Over 50 bikes have been sold since Sturgis in August. These bikes have been labeled “custom production” motorcycles because they will accept the nearly 3,000 Arlen Ness custom parts; making each production motorcycle an Arlen Ness custom creation.
DONNIE SMITH - IMBBA "HALL OF FAME" - USA MASTER BIKE BUILDER LEVEL II
Born in 1942, Smith was raised on his parents' dairy farm in Donnelly, Minnesota. After moving to Minneapolis, Smith got into racing dragsters before entering a two-year tour of duty in the United States Army. Upon returning home, Smith opened up Smith Brothers and Fetrow, a race shop/auto parts shop with his brother Happy and his buddy Bob Fetrow. After chopping and raking a motorcycle frame for his uncle Elwood, Smith Brothers and Fetrow caught the rave and began producing motorcycle frames full time, which eventually lead to Donnie becoming one of the top designers and fabricators of complete custom built bikes today.
Donnie is accredited with establishing a competive Invitational for High School Students to build and compete in motorcycle building annually, High School students from North America work feverishly to build a motorcycle under the direction of IMBBA certified Motorcycle Instructors. This Annual event has inspired youth to reach higher in learning the motorcycle trade.
Lifetime achievement award from Hot Bike Magazine
Lifetime achievement award from V-Twin Magazine
1995 inductee to Sturgis Hall of Fame
2007 Inductee into IMBBA Hall of Fame
DONNIE SMITH
BOB MCKAY - IMBBA "HALL OF FAME" - CANADA MASTER BIKE BUILDER LEVEL II
Bob's Career in custom motorcycles began in 1969. He started his apprenticeship at a Honda Dealership in the early 70's but quickly moved on to Harleys and custom motorcycles running Bob's Custom Cycle through the mid 70's. Throughout Bob's career he has worked in almost all aspects of the motorcycle industry from parts manager and service manager for a multi-line dealership to owning and operating his own custom shop as well as 18 years as the owner of his own dealership Bob Mckay's Harley Davidson in Ontario Canada. Through these years Bob has taught the trade to many young apprentices, some of which are very successful with their own shops in Canada such as Glenn Yard , Glenn's Cycle Works, Greg Taylor, GT Cycle and Ryan Robinson, RNR Custom Cycle. Bob sold his dealership 2002 and went back to where he started with his renamed custom shop that he has run since 1973, now Mckay's Cycle Creations. In 1996 Bob began designing a variety of parts and accessories for such companies as Custom Chrome, Drag Specialties and Sumax. Along with this he has been featured in over 100 magazines worldwide. Some notable examples are VQ Master Builder and two Easyrider three part features on Worlds First Twin Cam Chopper and First V-Rod Custom. He has written a variety of tech articles for Hot Bike and Canadian Biker Magazines and competed in and won the Televised Canadian Biker Build Off Series 1 and 2. Bob's charitable acts include sponsoring a Major Junior Hockey Team, donating his time to Motorcycle Experience TV show to do a series on motorcycle customizing and a segment from the Rats Hole Show in Daytona about the Worlds Influence on American custom motorcycles. He has raised funds for Participation Lodge which is a full time live in facility for challenged or handicapped adults. Being a member of the "Hamsters" Bob is involved in raising money for Children's Care Hospitals in South Dakota which totalled $291,000 last year and $185,000 the year before. Bob adopted the Bernice MacNaughton High School's Bike Klub program run by Marc Mazerolle and supports it by donating his time and expertise to help the students learn the motorcycle trade. He is active in helping with a Canadian Military Riding Club "The Cav" in his city of Kingston Ontario. This group is dedicate to helping Veterans and their families. His most recent endeavour was accepting the appointment to be the IMBBA representative for Canada assisting other bike builders from Canada in achieving Motorcycle Certifications and training. Bob also being a certified Master Judge is helping to organize IMBBA sanctioned Motorcycle Shows in Canada.
DAVE PEREWITZ - IMBBA "HALL OF FAME" - USA MASTER BIKE BUILDER LEVEL II
In the world of custom motorcycle fabricators, there are people who are well-liked and people who are respected. Only a few are both, and among them, even fewer are acknowledged as deans of their industry. Dave Perewitz is a member -- many would say a leader -- of that very elite group.As for why he's so respected, five minutes of viewing -- and riding -- one of his custom creations will tell you everything you need to know. Custom-fabricated motorcycles are a delicate blend of engineering, design, aesthetics, performance, power, personality and beauty, and Perewitz is a master at giving each element its due. When you cruise the streets on a Perewitz custom motorcycle (100% are street ridden and daily driven) it is beyond doubt, “ART IN MOTION”.
Dave was hooked on motorcycles in 1967 when he bought his first bike, a 1964 Harley-Davidson Sportster. He learned from trial and error. To gain experience Dave would often do jobs for free for his friends and riding companions. Dave has had over 30 years experience building and customizing motorcycles. Perewitz is a self taught designer, mechanic, painter, and fabricator. Selling t-shirts and apparel is perhaps the “weakest link” of the business. Instead, Perewitz lets his employees handle apparel so he can concentrate on what he does best… one-of-a-kind, hand-built choppers that are as comfortable and reliable as they are beautiful.
He, along with his dedicated wife Susan, their three hard working children Jesse, Jody, Jaren have joined forces with his crew and his right hand man, Kory Souza in working hard together to make the new shop a success. Everyone in the Perewitz family, Susan, Dave, Jesse, Jody, Jaren. and Kory work at the shop everyday.
Dave finished filming the Biker Build-Off II series for the Discovery Channel in 2003. Filming began in February at the Bridgewater shop. After the bike was completed, Dave had to ride this new bike from Pensacola, Florida to Dallas, Texas while the cameras were rolling. Bike and rider never missed a beat.
This ride was a once in lifetime experience. The Perewitz crew and Dave’s son Jesse and daughter Jody got to ride beside one another through beaches of Florida to the bayou of Louisiana to the big city of Dallas. The ride ended at the Easyriders bike show in Dallas. The show has been aired numerous time on the Discovery Channel.
FRED KODLIN - IMBBA "HALL OF FAME" - GERMANY MASTERBIKE BUILDER LEVEL II
Fred began his career at the age of thirteen in 1973 when he got his very first small motorcycle: A 50 cc Zündapp moped, which he soon started „customizing“;. 1975Fred builds his first motocross-bike 1976Fred buys a Zündapp KS 50 Supersport at the age of 16. 1978At the age of 18 Fred buys his first real motorcycle: The Suzuki GT 500 Twostroke. Still in the same year, he switches to another classic: Honda CB 500 „Four“. Fred becomes a heating installer by profession. After his apprenticeship of three years, he keeps on working for one more year. At the beginning of the ‘80ies he starts getting into contact with American companies to get motorcycle parts for prices that retailers pay. 1981-82Fred builds his own shop at Jesberg, state of Hessen/Germany. 1982 Foundation of his first company „Chopperschmiede“. 1985 The chamber of crafts requires a master craftsman diploma to run the business. Fred consequently passes the tests for „master forger“ and for „master vehicle builder“ in one fell swoop. He also achieves the additional qualification of an welding-expert and passed successfully the final examination of the welding apprenticeship.
Until the middle of the 90ies hundreds of those ducktail shaped rear- ends leave the company and make the distinctive Kodlin line known all over germany and europe. Here the „Early Nineties“ bike.
1990Fred travels to the US first time with his bike. He rides to Sturgis and wins the prize in his class at the Rat’s Hole Show right away. What Fred calls „The American business“ begins . Between 1986 and 1994 Fred imports an average of 300 used Harleys® each year and sells them. Middle of Best of Show“ at the Daytona Bike Week. 1997Fred builds the legendary „F1-Bike“, the mother of all formula 1 bikes. This bike wins at the Rat’s Hole Show at Daytona and Fred gains the respect of the US-bike builders. 1998Construction of the first own frame. It’s being tested by the technical inspection agency TÜV and passes. Fred becomes a motorcycle producer. 1999Moving to the current business premises at Borken, state of Hessen May 2004Fred rocks the biker scene with his new „Shine“: Hubless wheels that work and ride and a stunning gold-leaf paint-work. It’s the „Queen of motorcycles“. 2005In March of this year Fred enters the great halls of Walhalla: He is voted „Bike Builder of the Year“ at the Bikers’ Ball.
2007 Fred is inducted into the International Master Bike Builders Association “Hall of Fame” The top award on the international level.
INDIAN LARRY - IMBBA "HALL OF FAME" - USA (4-28-1949 TO 8-30-2004) MASTER BIKE BUILDER LEVEL II
Desmedt founded the Gasoline Alley custom motorcycle shop in New York City in 1991. His "old school" choppers quickly won renown in the motorcycling world. The Coney Island Psychoholic Side Show debuted in Richmond, Va at Cycle Expo 1998, which featured English Don and The Coney Island characters The Pain Proof Rubber Girls, Combustible Kiva, The Great Fredini and his soon-to-be wife, Bambi The Living Mermaid. This event spawned all the rest of the special appearances of the motorcycle customizers who came to be known as master builders, celebrity builders and feature builders at events across the United States. No one ever came close to the character and quality or the public appeal of Indian Larry.
His motorcycle "Grease Monkey" was named Easyriders magazine's Chopper of the Year and he was a winner of three Discovery Channel Bike Build Off Trophies. His second trophy was cut up and shared with his opponent Billy Lane and the audience, when he unexpectedly announced an exact draw after winning. His last build was the Chain of Mystery bike, in which the frame was made of welded tow chain. This amazing bike proved itself, as all of Desmedt's bikes did, by maintaining speeds well in excess of 100MPH for sustained periods of riding. After his death another Discovery Channel's Biker Build-Off episode a tribute bike was built by his long time partners, Paul Cox and Keino, Billy Lane and Kendall Johnson. Indian Larry is credited with re-popularizing the stripped down, tall handlebar, foot clutched, jockey shifted, no front brake or fender, small gas tank, open piped, kickstart only, stock rake choppers that prevailed in the 60s, before long front ends became popular. Films
Indian Larry was also an accomplished stuntman and actor. Desmedt played himself in the film Rocket's Red Glare. He performed stunts for the films Quiz Show, Muscle Machine, My Mother's Dream, and 200 Cigarettes. He also appeared on The Late Show with David Letterman.
One of his famous trademarks was a tattoo on his neck, just below his chin. It read, "In God We Trust - Vengeance is mine sayeth the Lord - No Fear." The middle two lines were in reverse so that he could read them when looking in a mirror. Death
Indian Larry was performing a motorcycle stunt at the "Liquid Steel Classic" and "Custom Bike Series" in Concord, North Carolina on August 28, 2004. In the stunt, he was standing on the moving motorcycle. As the stunt progressed the bike began to wobble out of control and he was thrown from the motorcycle, sustaining serious head injuries. He was then taken to the Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte, North Carolina, where he died on August 30, 2004 from the head injuries sustained in the mishap. Larry was not wearing a helmet at the time of the accident.
Two books were published on Indian Larry in 2006 including "Indian Larry: Chopper Shaman," by Dave Nichols with Andrea "Bambi" Cambridge and photography by Michael Lichter as well as "Indian Larry" by Timothy White. His autobiography, Grease Monkey, The Life and Times of Motorcycle Artist Indian Larry, written shortly before his death, is scheduled for publication. There is another book called "Borderland Biker: ... in memory of Indian Larry and Doo Wop music" written by Derrel Whitemyer which dedicates the book to Indian Larry.
MONDO PORRAS - IMBBA "HALL OF FAME" -USA MASTER BIKE BUILDER LEVEL II
Mondo Porras, owner of Denver’s Choppers, started building custom bikes with his partner Denver Mullins in San Bernardino, CA in 1967. Denver’s Choppers was instrumental in starting the after market industry that is flourishing today with custom parts including; frames, custom choppers and especially our custom springer front ends. Denver’s Choppers started manufacturing parts for their own custom motorcycles and designing the stretch bikes which are in vogue today. Denver’s Choppers was the first company to manufacture the long down tube stretch frames, or the Swedish style as they became known, which was actually Denver’s style (there’s even a motorcycle club in Sweden called Denver’s Choppers, so named after the long stretch bikes.)
Denver’s Choppers became famous worldwide in the early 1970’s, and their parts have been used by world renowned bike builders over the last three decades. Denver’s Choppers has been and will continue to be one of the leading trend setters in the industry.
Mondo featured in motorcycle publications world wide as well as hardcover books. Currently Mondo is filming his own Reality Show that will be broadcast in the years of 2007. Mondo Has been dubbed as "THE GODFATHER OF CHOPPERS" by his peers.
PAUL YAFFE - IMBBA "HALL OF FAME" - USA MASTER BIKE BUILDER LEVEL II
Paul was born and raised in Los Angeles California where he spent his first 25 years. He then moved to Arizona to attend The Motorcycle Mechanics Institute. Paul Graduated top in his class in 1991 and immediately opened his first shop, American Legend Motorcycle Company in Phoenix. Since the Paul’s career has skyrocketed placing Paul Yaffe and his current company Paul Yaffe Originals and one of the most respected and well known custom motorcycle designers in the world!
Paul has graced the pages of over 320 magazines world wide with almost 200 covers. He is the most published and awarded Builder designer in the world. (true fact) He was even featured in Phoenix magazine in the” Famous People that you didn’t know lived here” article. He has been honored as “Builder of the Year” twice in his career as well as” Trend Setter of the year” twice. When it comes to people that are fans of custom motorcycles and even some that aren’t, Paul Yaffe is certainly a household name.
Paul has helped raise millions of dollars for charities across the country such as, The Arizona Craniofacial Foundation,The Taser Foundation for Families of Fallen Officers, The SeattleChildrensHospital,The Boys and Girls clubs of Fort Lauderdale as well as many others.
RON FINCH- IMBBA "HALL OF FAME" - USA MASTER BIKE BUILDER LEVEL II
Ron Finch has been building custom motorcycles since 1965, when he opened Finch’s Custom Styled Cycles in a small building in Pontiac, Michigan. For over 45 years his professional career has been devoted to designing, building, and painting customs in his own unique style! His first nationally known custom was a 1966 BSA named “Kaleidocycle”, which prompted Ed Roth to headline him as “Michigan’s Motorcycle Madman” and the 1969 Cycle Guide Custom Annual to title their article “The Fabulous Finch”. In 1970 his creation of a 1965 Panhead, named “Odin’s Axle” was named “Best U.S. Custom” by Motorcycle World Magazine. Restored in 2005 for Donna & Darryl Smith of Rochester, New York,it has recently made appearances in numerous shows including the Clinton Presidential Library in Little Rock, Arkansas! In 1968, only three years after opening his shop, Ron married Ruth and together they built the business. He taught Ruth how to ride and built her a custom 1966 Triumph, which was painted orange and white pearl and named after her favorite treat a”Creamsicle”! They could be seen riding together with Ron on his three cylinder BSA, called “Ron’s Rocket” and Ruth on her rigid frame Triumph chopper! Ron and Ruth were partners in another venture…the raising of four children, Caryn, Marc, Gail and Sara. Family life was very important to them and proved to be both challenging and fulfilling. The business was growing in the early 1970’s, and it was time to move to a new facility, which Ron helped to design and build.He used his unlimited imagination to create a unique place where he could serve his customers.He used his love of metal to add sculpture to the architecture and even create hand made showcases. His vision for the use of scrap material led him to use large chunks of scrap glass in the corners of the building, which allowed diffused light to come through, and prompted some to call the building “Finch Castle”. It was from this location that Ron and his crew worked for almost 30 years building, painting, repairing and selling parts and accessories.He designed, manufactured, and distributed such items as seats, frames, front ends, electrical boxes, mirrors and taillights. The career of Ron Finch was interrupted in 1981, when he was hit from behind by a drunk driver, who left him and his motorcycle lying on the road! He spent six long weeks in the hospital in traction and was told that he would never walk again! His crew came in and installed wheels, a gas tank, handlebars, and a headlight on his hospital bed, so Finch could keep on riding! He left the hospital in a wheelchair, but soon progressed to crutches and eventually to his own leg power! Throughout the years, Ron built some amazing customs for his own personal use! In the late 1970’s, he built a Triumph Trident three wheeler named “Trilogy”, that features the “tri” theme throughout with triple gas tanks, rear fenders, exhaust and a front end that resembles the number three. In 1982 he completed a 1970 Ironhead Sportster that hides the gas tank in the rear fender and has a two-part detachable frame. The neck tubes attach to the engine as the arteries to a heart, inspiring the name “Aorta”! Later in that decade, he built his first “bagger”! He called it “Loophole” because the exhaust pipes artistically loop through the frame above the engine…… another loophole in the Law of Average! In the early 1990’s, Ron built a very industrial looking custom, this time hiding the gas tanks in the floorboards!Since it was one of the first motorcycles in the U.S. featuring the 80 spoke wheels, it was called “Outspoken”. In 2003, Finch completed another outrageous personal custom that was affectionately called “Wing and a Prayer”.The multi-functional aluminum saddlebags house the 3.5 gallon gas tanks and also provide storage space! In the spring of 2001, the Home Depot made the Finch Family an offer that they couldn’t refuse. They sold their property and moved into semi-retirement.Once again Ron’s imagination led him to build a unique studio where he can focus on painting and building customs at his own pace. He brought with him the beautiful glass rocks and built a two story tower that glows from within during the daylight hours and glows from without at night! He began a new venture that he calls METALife that allows him to bring metal to life making creatures and plants using “found metal”. When “the Biker Build-Off” competition engaged Finch in 2004, he responded with a winner called “Double Cross”. The asymmetrical frame crosses over the motor and the handlebars and exhaust and many of the rod work accessories also have the crossover design. Competing with the top builders of today, at the Biker Build-Off Finale in Las Vegas in April of 2005, Ron was awarded the “Biker Blacksmith Award” for extreme metal fabrication for his creation of “Double Cross”. He was also recognized in Daytona Beach in March of 2006 at the V-Twin Biker’s Ball with the Lifetime Achievement Award! As he gratefully accepted the award, he assured the crowd that his life’s work was not finished, and he had plans to do much more!
RON FINCH
DOUG KEIM -"HALL OF FAME" - USA MASTER BIKE BUILDER LEVEL II
Doug Keim, Master Bike Builder Level II , Doug has dedicated his life to custom building motorcycles. with a complete service and repair shop, Doug has demonstrated complete control and mastery in bike building, Doug also extended his expertise to metric customizations a truly challenging endeavor. Doug has contributed his time and knowledge to many through extending his heart and passion in influencing and training many individuals who now still remain in our profession of bike building.
Charity contributions:
Creative Cycles continues to help fund the RAACE Foundation Doug Keim is the industry ?spokesperson? for the RAACE Foundation (sent you a link to this)
Title sponsor of POW / MIA Rolling Thunder Chapter 2 NJ?s BBQ and Family Fun Day Grand Marshall of POW / MIA Rolling Thunder Chapter 1 NJ?s ride to the Battleship New Jersey in Camden, NJ
Habitat for Humanity Monmouth County NJ ? Creative Cycles has participated and held a ?shop ride? for their charity event ?00 thru ?04, ?06, ?08 and ?09 (this year has not happened yet)
Member of the 200 Club of Monmouth County which aids the families of police, fire, first aid, EMT?s injured in the line of duty. Gives college educations, and managed funding to cover mortgages, expenses, etc. I have been a member for well over 15 years now (sent you a link some time ago)
USO ?Operation Care Package? participant St. Vincent?s Hospital for abused children St. Jude Children?s Research Hospital ? both Doug Keim individually and Creative Cycles have been financial supporters for well over 10 years (many times this amount was over 10% of our yearly net income)
Shannon Rodman Benefit (Shannon is the owner of RMD Billet and was found to have cancer back in May, he has several very young children and of course a wife) Creative Cycles donated many items for their silent auction as well as having purchased 100 raffle tickets (had we won, we were planning on giving the money back to Shannon and his family? but we did not win!)
Donated parts to the Virginia Tech Bike built by Milwaukee Iron II
Rick Fairless -"HALL OF FAME" - USA MASTER BIKE BUILDER LEVEL II
By the mid 90′s I was growing tired of corporate life. I was big into customizing Harley’s by then and I noticed that Easyriders custom bike shops were starting to pop up around the country. I thought, I hope someone opens one up in Dallas so I can see and buy parts from guys like Arlen Ness and Pat Kennedy. Then I thought, why can’t that guy be me? Why can’t I open up an Easyriders Franchise in Dallas? The thought scared me. Could I really do that? Could I really leave a job that I have had for over 20 years?
So, I own Easyriders of Dallas. Now what? I wanted a place that was very different from the HD shops. I wanted my shop to reflect my personality. So I opened the store in an old building that was built in the 30′s. It’s on 2 acres of land just six miles NW of downtown Dallas. I’ve decorated the place with goofy stuff that reflects my goofy life. I even put life size dinosaurs on the roof. It’s a cool place that’s very different from any place else you have ever been. I also wanted a bar next door. It took me awhile (would you give me a liquor license?) but, I got it done. The bar is relaxed place to hang-out, play shuffle board or pool and just be you. I like it and think you will too!
In 2002 Easyriders decided to drop the franchise plan and all the stores had to come up with a new name. Since my bar was called Strokers Ice House I decided to call my shop Strokers Dallas. At first I was scared to lose the Easyriders name, I had worked hard to promote for so many years. You know, it didn’t hurt me a bit. Things are booming. We are selling lots of Big Dog and Big Bear and Victory motorcycles, building our own custom bikes and selling lots of beer and partying on the weekends. We work very hard and we love what we do!
My bikes have appeared in most of the major magazines around the country. I was on the Easyriders Centerfold Tour that takes me all over the country. I did a Biker Build-Off for the DISCOVERY Channel and I had a TV show on the SPEED Channel. How the hell did I get here? It seems like only yesterday I was selling paint and then again it seems like another lifetime
I am proud to announce to you that on Tuesday, August 9th 2011, I was inducted into the International Master Bike Builders Association (IMBBA). This is a very big honor for anyone in my profession.
The IMBBA is an international community of bike builders & industry professionals. All of our members have vowed to leave the motorcycle industry better than the way we found it – through education, training & leadership by example.
I am very proud to have been inducted into this fine organization & I will continue to live my life & conduct my business in a way that justifies such an honor. Please check out their website www.masterbikebuilders.com I want to thank Jeff Starke for allowing me to be a member of such a fine organization. I am very proud & humbled!
Lee Wimmer -"HALL OF FAME" - USA MASTER BIKE BUILDER LEVEL II
LEE WIMMER- "King of Intakes"
First and foremost I want to acknowledge the true honor of being associated with the IMBBA and the master builders and hall of famers in this organization. To be in the company of these industry giants is very humbling for me. My background is a journeyman tool and die maker that has proved to be immensely helpful in the manufacturing of parts and accessories as well as custom motorcycles. Every since I was a kid I enjoyed motorcycles and have been riding since I was 15. Over the years I have been extremely fortunate to be able to manufacture and design unique performance parts. Best known in the industry for my air intake systems. I have taken great pleasure in seeing my parts on some of the most beautiful bikes in the WORLD. I have taken great pride working with the top names in this industry and appreciate their support over the many years. I have also taken great pride in giving back by training other people, adults as well as children. While being a big supporter to various charities
I have really enjoyed the years of hands on training and donation of parts to various schools and clubs. I am always willing to share the knowledge and training of our great industry. I have also enjoyed being an ambassador to other countries representing the IMBBA. My passion has led me to a very successful manufacturing shop as well as a custom building and repair shop. My heartfelt gratitude to Jeff Starke and his mission to leave this industry a better place than we found it.
Lee Wimmer = Master Bike builder Level II - Hall of Fame Inductee.
Lee Wimmer, has achieved the Life time Achievement Award earned over decades of time and experience. He has contributed to the development and certification of his fellow builders. Has given a tenure of dedication to the development and preservation of our industry by giving of his free time and at many times form his personal resources to see the development and fairness to judging upheld while being a invited judge to one of the worlds top Chopper shows. Lee continues to give his time and expertise to high school programs and educational training materials and now spends some of his time abroad traveling as an Ambassador to our profession. His contributions and development of his products has significant impact on the bikes we ride and see in magazines. And IMBBA is proud to welcome Lee to IMBBA's Hall of Fame!
