Saturday 3/21/09

I am in Denver on business. This will be a quick trip out tonight and back to Menasha.

Sassy, Classy in Pirate's Alley

This is in the old town area of Charlotte Amalie on St. Thomas USVI. We had a great time, especially since it was winter time in Wisconsin. We would love to go back at some time in the future.

308

This exquisite work of art was done by two talented people -Joel Witmeyer shot the photo and digitally enhanced it. The shot was taken under the Racine Street bridge with Downtown Menasha across the Fox River in the background. David C. Treichel restored and enhanced this car into a rolling beauty. The body work is impeccable. He added the euro front valence, 17" custom wheels and euro bumpers.

Sturgis 2008

Dave Ogilvie and I traveled to Sturgis in August of 2008. We went to check out our investment in Independent Cycle, Inc and visit with owner Jesse Jurrens. A consumate entrepreneur, Jesse started the Top 50 Rally Park which was a great location to launch from during the Sturgis Rally. On the right, Dave is seen with Jeff Ulvestad, Sales Manager for Independent Cycle, Inc/ Legend Air Suspension Systems. I was posing with the Top 50 Rally Park Hotties. Who's working hardest???

Memorable Rides

My Buddy Greg Galecki and I at the Depot at Prarie du Chiene, Wisconsin. Greg had connnected with his soulmate Barb on E Harmony. She lives in Black Earth, Wisconsin south west of Madison. Greg flew into Madison, rented a Road Glide at Capitol City H-D. Met Chris and I at a road side bar near Black Earth. We had a great lunch, rode to Prarie du Chiene, then along the Mississippi River to La Crosse where we had a great dinner, drinks at a Jazz Club and crashed at the Holiday Inn near the river. We got up the next day, had breakfast and Greg and Barb headed back to Black Earth, Chris and I headed back to Menasha. A memorable ride with memorable friends. Definitely a Defining Moment.

Four Wheels can be Cool, Too!

1977 Ferarri 308 GTB and 1982 Porsche Cabriolet on Cleveland Street with the Land Rover Freeloader. Beautiful day, beautiful vehicles.....life is good!!

Katie in the Big Apple

Daughter Katie Putman, as a member of the Chopper Chick Crew, built this motorcycle in 8 hours from parts in New York City at Rockefeller Plaza on the CBS Today Show with Campbell Bown and Lester Holt in July 2007. The Chicks started at midnight and cranked up the bike at 8:00am on the Saturday morning program. Brother Andrew Putman flew in from San Francisco to support sister Katie and we all had a great time. Chopper Chick Crew members Joanne Bortles, Jamie Gray, Vivian Charros and Athena "Chickie" Ransom completed the bike within the time alloted. The bike was donated to the Boys and Girls Club of Broward County, Florida where it was raffled off to support the organization.

Mitch Bergeron Bobber

Finally Mitch got the bobber done. I had a chance to ride it . It was loud, rode rough and was really Bad Ass! 127 inch engine, stainless exhaust, custom everything. This thing rocks. I named it "Snake Bit" for many reasons!

This bike is for sale - $31,500. Own a piece of Mitch Bergeron history.

Call me at 920-809-9950 I will deliver to a 200 mile range from Appleton, Wisconsin. You pay for the locations outside of Appleton.

Palm Springs Follies

How is this for a trifecta? 430 Ferarri, Sport Bentley and the Mitch Bergeron Biker Build off Chopper in front of the Parker Palm Springs Hotel!

I couldn't pass up the photo opp.

Palm Springs Parker Hotel

Chris and I stayed at the Palms Springs Parker Hotel on Hwy 111. My Mitch Bergeron custom bobber was not ready to ride - he doesn't have the Midwestern work ethic, though he is Canadian from Montreal. As a punishment, I took the motorcycle Mitch built for the TV Show -Biker Build Off. He won the contest in which he challenged Kendall Johnson in Build Off #4. This bike looks unwieldy, but handles like my softail. It is powerful and handles well, but is hell on the inner thighs. Mitch mounted the oil tank just under the seat. The oil tank dissipates the heat from the engine and in the case of this bike it goes right to your legs. This was an attention grabber at every stop. I drove it up to the high desert and then back to the Parker. Mercedes Benz was holding a driving session for magazine writers from around the world. They would get into various 600 SL models in LA and then drive to the desert and into the mountains. They would end up at the Parker where they would be wined, dined and party into the night. I was trying to get a ride in one of the new SLs, but to no avail. None of the Teutonic dudes would let me drive one of the special rides. I did, however, let them sit on the famous bike and take pictures.

Whiskey Run

This is the site where it is said that Robert Johnson sold his soul to the Devil, Mr. Olegba, in exchange for becoming the greatest bluesman ever. This is the famous "Crossroads" of Highways 61 and 49 in Clarksdale, MS. One of my favorite movies, Crossroads is named after this site. It looks much different in the movie.

Whiskey Run

I am sitting outside the Ground Zero Blues Club in Clarksdale, Mississippi. The club is named after this Delta area that has produced so many great blues players. They consider Clarksdale "Ground Zero" for the blues. Many early players cut their teeth here and traveled up Hwy 61 to Memphis to make a bigger name for themselves. This club is owned by Morgan Freeman and his attorney. Clarksdale was the highlight of our trip when my friend's bike broke down and forced us to spend the night in Clarksdale. This overnight was not planned and it was a bit disconcerting, but we had a ball at Ground Zero and closed it up at around 2:00am. I would recommend this as a destination.

Whiskey Run

In June of 2006 I traveled south with a friend on what we called the Whiskey Run. We were planning to ride our motorcycles on two lane roads to and from Menasha. One stop we made was at the Makers Mark distillery in Kentucky. Here I am dipping bottles of the hooch in their signature red wax. They made great gifts.

Photos of Fun

Geoffrey Cook shot this photo of my 2000 H-D Ultra Classic on the tracks behind the Locker Room bar in Menasha.

Ride to Blog

My Friend Donna Gehl motivated me to start this Blog. I don't know what to expect from this, but I am up for a new experience.