The Annual Artistry In Iron Master Builders Championship is a major highlight of Las Vegas Bike Fest (October 2-5) For the 11th edition of this bike show competition, 22 award winning builders have been selected and were invited to participate. Artistry in Iron participants include builders that have shaped the industry and who are participating in establishing new trends in custom bike and engineering and building. “Each year we invite those on the cutting edge as well as some past favorites. You cannot enter year after year. We’re excited that so many builders have accepted our invitation,” commented event producer Mindi Cherry, CEM. “It solidifies the importance of the championship.”
The bikes are judged solely by the master builders themselves, and the winner is announced on Saturday, October 4 and presented with a check for $10,000.
The public is invited to visit the bikes during Rally Central hours and to meet the participating builders during autograph sessions throughout the weekend. The 2013 Champion Rick Bray of RKB Kustom Speed, will be back to defend his title. Jimmy Todorovitch of Profile Cycles, the winner of the 2013 Custom Bike Show Radical Class, will also present an entry.
Confirmed participants include:
Shannon Aikau, Count’s Kustoms – Las Vegas, NV
Lock Baker, Eastern Fabrications – Branford, CT
Rick Bray, RKB Kustom Speed – Hanford, CA
Tim Dixon, Gas Axe Chop Shop – Ten Mile, TN
Daniel Donley, Pandemonium Choppers – Defiance, OH
Jason Grimes, Northeast Chop Shop – Windham, ME
Iliya Hamovic, Steelborn Choppers – New York, NY
Max Hazan, Hazan Motorworks – Venice, CA
Dar Holdsworth, Brass Ball Cycles – Oklahoma City, OK
Ken Nagai, Ken’s Factory – Nagoya, Japan
Caleb Owens, CRO Customs – Newberry Park, PA
Pat Patterson, Led Sled Customs – Dayton, OH
Chris Phillips, Doomtown Choppers – Port Huron, MI
Paul Ponkow, Bones Legacy Las Vegas – Las Vegas, NV
Chris Richardson, LA Speed Shop – Alhambra, CA
Kosuke Saito, Sunrise Cycles – Los Angeles, CA
Aki Sakamoto, Hog Killers – Hawaiian Gardens, CA
Daniel Sanchez, Cut Throat Customs – Humble, TX
Jon Shipley, Hoosier Daddy Choppers – Bloomfield, IL
Jesse Srpan, Raw Iron Choppers – Chardon, OH
Jimmy Todorovitch, Profile Cycles – Beaumont, CA
Dalton Walker III, Split Image Kustoms – Hanford, CA
Las Vegas BikeFest is also unveiling the new look logo for the Artistry in Iron competition. “We wanted something that was representative of the industry and the creativity of the competition,” stated Mindi Cherry. “We tasked Williams Graphics of Joliet. IL, to come up with a new design and we are happy to present their work.”
Las Vegas BikeFest features Rally Central at Cashman Center, which holds over 250 vendors of motorcycles, motorcycle parts, accessories, apparel, jewelry, riding gear, and more. In addition, the rally includes non-stop musical entertainment, contests and activities throughout the weekend.
Registration and hotel information for the 2014 Las Vegas BikeFest are available on the event website. Las Vegas BikeFest 2014 will be held October 2-5, 2014 at Cashman Center, 850 Las Vegas Blvd. North, Las Vegas, NV 89101, as well as holding registration at the headquarter hotel, the Golden Nugget Hotel & Casino on the world-famous Fremont Street Experience. More information regarding vendor space or event registration can be found at Las Vegas BikeFest or by calling 1-866-BIKEFEST (1-866-245-3337).
Except one, never heard about these builders!
New Blood!
Kurt, Neither have I, but we may, any industry needs new blood to move forward. Media, please just don’t start calling everyone who has built a bike or two a “Master Builder” let them earn it, takes years!
Some hard working, talented fellas in this list that have proven themselves, and will not disappoint. Good luck to you all!