Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/693447
64 nJuly 2016n www.thunderpress.net THUNDER PRESS touches that make a bike unique. A hand-tooled leather seat. A custom kickstand. Milled and engraved fl oor- boards. Creative inventions such as a bottle opener just where you can't lose it made me smile, as did a Band-Aid on a rusted rat tank. These were the special touches that made a bike show special. Creativity, ingenuity, design, engineering, and art were blended together and on display for all. Camaraderie abounded here in Snohomish. I could not go more than a block or so without meeting old friends and new ones. On this day, the memories came rushing forward as I met one after another of the original Sky Valley members. As I held back a tear for Jeff Rasmussen and Buck Kelley who only walk the streets in memory, I smiled as I hugged each old friend, and we reminisced on the chal- lenges that we conquered and asked, "Where did the time go to make this event 20 years old?" Getting to show day Volunteers worked behind the scenes for months to prepare for the event. Sky Valley members still hand- tie-dye shirts for staff and a few extras to sell to visitors while meeting with potential vendors, arranging for enter- tainment, and adjusting the fl oor plan. The fi nal days before the event were a fl urry of activity. Volunteers placed street closure notices and temporary signposts around the show footprint areas on Wednesday to provide the required 72-hour notice of closure. They marked placement of vendor spaces with white spray paint on the asphalt. Porta-potties were delivered near the command center at Cedar and First Street. Trucks with barricades parked behind the old train depot build- ing, until staff pulled the barricades out early Sunday morning. T-shirts, trophies, and memorable souvenirs were ordered and readied for display. Security plans were made. Staff volun- teered, and the day fi nally arrived. History lessons in an antique town Sky Valley Coordinator Rod Reddog Hobleman walked up to me and said, "It's your fault. You started it." If you know the history, you know what he means. But really, we all did it. The originals, the later members, the businesses and sponsors who appreci- ate a community event, and good ol' THUNDER PRESS writers who reported on the event and our struggles with City Hall for years. The bike builders and the riders. You all made it happen. It started out as a dream of bring- ing a hundred or so bikes and riders to the self-anointed Antique Capital of the Northwest 20 years ago. With no large event experience, no idea of city procedures or event processes, and tons of enthusiasm, Sky Valley Chapter, ABATE of Washington, set out on an adventure that resulted in the largest one-day spring event in the state. For 20 years, ABATE has planned, hoped for, and delivered a fun-fi lled day of bikes, vendors, music, trophies, and just plain good fun in a downtown full of historic buildings and unique shops on the banks of the Snohomish River. Bill Mahosky, owner of the Oxford Saloon on First Street, approached Sky Valley Coordinator Jeff Rasmussen with the idea of a small motorcycle show in this historic town just 40 min- utes north of Seattle. Rasmo, Buck Kelley, T-Bone Anderson, and Bill met at the Oxford to discuss the idea and who would be responsible for what. Bill agreed to be the liaison with the Downtown Business Association and City Hall, and ABATE agreed to pro- vide promotions, judging, trophies, and of course, bikes and vendors. Sky Valley Chapter accepted the challenge and ran with it. Pat and Gina Tarter from Cowhide & Chrome in Monroe offered to cover the cost of trophies. I designed fl yers, and Bullet Graphics provided free print- ing. The chapter borrowed the vendor list from the ABATE of Washington Spring Swap Meet to offer space to sell their wares. The Seattle Cossacks Motorcycle Stunt Drill Team was booked to entertain. The Pacifi c Northwest Museum of Motorcycling agreed to set up a photo display on the history of racing in the Northwest. The initial chapter goal was to have about 100 bikes attend, and over 600 bikes showed up that fi rst year. The Sky Valley ABATE crew never looked back, and never stopped dreaming. Each year, the show grew in attendance and footprint. By year fi ve, more than half of the 58 businesses See "Sky Valley" page 85, column 1 Sky Valley Continued from page 60 People's Choice Keith, 2013 Street Glide 250cc & Under Hans Bersteisen, 1969 MV Agusta American Full Dresser Gary La Flame, 2015 Roadmaster American Half Dresser Stan Wilkins, 2006 H-D Road King Classic (1955–1975) Randy Carrol, 1966 H-D Police Special Custom Trike Ryan & Amber Devine, 1973 Driftility Trike European: Jon Miller, 1973 Norton Factory Trike Katheryn Henry, Boss Hoss '57 Chevy Japanese Barry Brannmar, 1978 Honda CB750 Four Manufactured Custom Dan Taylor, 2005 Party Chopper Manufactured Full Dresser Randy Heiden, 1996 Honda Manufactured Half Dresser Anthony Ingraham-Lock, 2008 Yamaha Metric Chopper Brad Suryon, Honda Metric Custom Matt Sterette, 2016 VT1300 Fury Mild Custom Joe Bunich, 2013 H-D Road King Old School Chopper Robben, 2001 H-D Sportster Chopper Radical Custom Daniel Smith, 2016 Erebus Rat Jeff Cody, 1985 Homebuilt Chopper Sport Bike Robert Frisbee, 2004 Suzuki Hayabusa Stock: Ben Surdi, 2016 Indian Woman Rider Kristie Aenberg, 2015 Harley-Davidson 2016 Winners Dan's 2016 Erebus, built by Lastat's Customs in Everett, won First Place for the Radical Custom category Founding members reunite to celebrate 20 years of bikes on First Street. (L.–r.) Beryl Kelley, Rod Hobelman, Rolla Pierce, Garth Renando, Stacey Renando, Rose Anderson, T-Bone Anderson (kneeling), and Steve Pierce