As you can see The Rat from the Rat’s Hole Show is well and alive and never looked so euphoric. Must be because the Rat’s Mates are much prettier than at the time, many years ago, when I was the Head Judge of the Bike Shows. This intro (I had to find one) to remind you that the 13th Leesburg Florida Bikefest, one of the most important 3-day Show in the US, is this weekend April 24/25/26th.
And of course, Ted Smith and his friendly staff have put up not 1 but 2 bike competitions. This Friday April 24th, there will be a Sport Bikes Cruise-In block party. On Saturday April 25th the Bike show is open to all bikes with 24 different classes and there will be a Rat’s Mate Contest while you wait to know if you got a big trophy . Then on Sunday 26th, it will be a “Bobbers Only” Show with another Pin-up girl and Tattoo competition. I hear that Jay from the TV show “American Thunder” will be there to film your ride. You can pre-register your custom bike by going to the Rat’s Hole Website.
We will be there with 4 bikes on Saturday, Looking forward to Leesburg, the best bike event Florida has to offer by far.
If you hav’nt been, you dont know what you are missing, Give it a try.
Steve Carr
Lightning Rod Motorcycle
RE:
“… Rat’s Mates are much prettier …”
Ya, the “Rat’s Hole” is not exactly what i had in mind either…….. 🙂
-nicker-
Trying to upstage “Willie’s Tropical Tattoo Old Skool Show”?
Weather is going to be in the 80’s and vroom vroom vroom we are riding in on Thursday to the Leesburg Bikefest.
If you haven’t been, you better go…unless you got something in Daytona that makes you go, forget Bikeweek and make the Leesburg Bikefest a must go to event.
Boss Hawg
The Leesburg Rats Hole show, and Willies Show are like night and day. Willies is in a class by its self. The leesburg Ratshole show is open to just about any kind of bike you can bring there and there should be a class for you. This give anyone who enters a chance for their bike to be noticed and possibly if its good enough get an award.
Willies show is for bikes that are vintage Harley, Indian, BSA, Triumph type bikes. If you have a newer type bike, you dont stand a chance.
The Rats Hole show allows lots of room for bikes to be spread out so that you can actually look at the bike you want to see.
Willies show, bikes are stacked in there like cord wood, and you have to climb over 3 or 4 bikes to see the bike you want to see if you can even do that much.
The Rats Hole show has been around for over 30 years.
Willie’s Show, not quite that long, but a few years for sure.
The Rats Hole Show actually has judges that look at each and every bike, and choose winners according to each bikes potential.
Willies Show, the winners are chosen as you pull in and sign up,
The Rats Hole gives awards to bikes that desreve to win in each class
Willie’s Gives awards to the people that can best promote His Tatoo shop, such as well known Builders, or bikes that may be 50 yrs old and leaking oil from every gasket.
Is the Leesburg Rats hole show “Trying to upstage “Willie’s Tropical Tattoo Old Skool Show”?”
I dont think this is the case at all.
They are 2 totally different bike shows not meant to compete against eachother. There is room for both in this world of bike shows and events.
First off the two shows are totally different for sure. Bikes are not picked as they sign up ,there are up to five JUDGES besides Roadside Marty who pick bikes out of the crowd of hard core bobbers and rats and cool choppers .But the show is about building and riding cool bikes and does very little to promote the tattoo studio . the money raised in past years went to the VFW and other charities .this year money went to rescue pets for ARNI FOUNDATION. one year there was up to ten guys trying to pick winners and some times the same bike is picked by five or six people we have had the Horse back street choppers ,CYCLE SOURCE,MAGAZINE,BILLY LANE,TRAILER TRASH CHOPPERS and,COCHISE CHOPS,ROAD SIDE MARTY, TITTO LONESOME LOSERS,MONK DIXIE BIKER,AND STEVE THE HORSE BACK STREET CHOPPERS,ENGLISHMAN,PAUL AND CREW FROM LIMPNICKIE LOT ,AND SEAN FROM TTC. there is always the secret three who don,t want to be named .but bottom line there is so many cool bikes there. every one is a winner because if they rode it there and built it they are winners,and out of 130-140 bikes some get plaques but they are all winners…… its the real deal but its for hard core bikes not show chrome billet bikes sorry.Bottom line if you like what you got just ride and be happy its yours.
Steve, where did you get that info you have posted on Willie’s Show? I guess I’ve been in the dark, because this is all new to me and I think I’ve only missed one of his shows.
I won’t get in a pissing contest with anyone over this, but there are a few holes in your observation of Tropicals Chopper show, notabily the fact of newer bikes not winning. Porkchop won 2 years ago with an Evo.
Anyway, I’d like to know how you came to these conclusions.
P.S. I agree, it’s hard to see the bikes up close.