Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/714189
41 www.thunderpress.net THUNDER PRESS nSeptember 2016n giant display to someone called simply "Creeps Selling Garbage," any possi- ble item you might need to improve your chopper experience was there to be had. Heck, there were at least two barber booths on duty to give an emer- gency trim to your man bun should that need arise. Especially heartening was the abundance of artists out there in the booths. Sculptors, painters, leather workers and stripers were working away all weekend. A central feature of Born Free is the bike giveaway. For $25 you could buy a chance to win one of three bikes. You must be present to win, so natu- rally the fi eld in front of the main stage was packed elbow to elbow each day with hopeful ticket holders. The Saturday bike was a super- sweet 1953 Panhead built by Chopper Dave. The fi rst name called in the raf- fl e was not there (how bummed would you be?) so they waited fi ve minutes and drew again. The incredibly stoked winner bounded to the stage with a howl. Sunday's giveaway bikes were a 2016 Low Rider S, courtesy of Harley- Davidson, and a wonderful 1940 Knucklehead built by Jeff Leighton. Best of Show award went to Jeff Leighton of Wretched Hive for his baby blue UL Flathead with the unusual 2-into-4 pipes. Jeff gets a trip for him and his motorcycle to the Mooneyes Hot Rod & Custom show in Yokohama, Japan, this December. The winner of the Builders Choice Award, as voted by the other builders, was Kiyo from Kiyo's Garage who won $10,000 and a trip for him and his crazy twin CV750 to the Mooneyes show in Yokohama, as well. The Born Free award went to Dalton Walker from Split Image Kustoms for his screaming orange Triumph-carrying hot rod that looked like a Revel model kit from the '60s. So, as the scorching Sunday Sun dropped to the horizon, the vendors were packing up and the happy chop- per fans roared off towards cooler climes. With the memory of hot metal, cool people and good times fresh in mind, Born Free number 8 goes in the books as yet another astounding success. Pretty good for a "glorifi ed barbecue." 4 WINNERS LIST Best In Show: Jeff Leighton, 1942 Harley UL Invited Builder First Place: Kiyo's Garage, dual engine CB750 Invited Builder Second Place: Arie Vee, 1941 Knucklehead Invited Builder Third Place: Jeff Leighton, 1942 Harley UL People's Choice: Ryan Grossman, 1947 Harley Knucklehead Best Chopper: Ryan Grossman, 1947 Harley Knucklehead Born-Free Award: Dalton Walker, Triumph Pre-Unit Founder's Pick: Prism Motorcycles, 1941 Harley Knucklehead Best Knucklehead: Arie Vee, 1941 Harley Knucklehead Best Panhead: Max Schaaf Best Shovelhead: Andy Carter Best Sportster: F'N'A Cycles Best Flathead: Mike Silvio, Harley 45 Best Bobber: Go Takamine, 1939 Indian AMCA Pick: Matt Walksler, 1928 Harley JDH Best Original: Matt Walksler, Harley Knucklehead Coker Tire Award: Matt Walksler, 1928 Harley JDH Best Japanese: Kiyo's Garage, dual engine CB750 Best Indian: Brian Bell, Indian Scout Best PreUnit: Brian Thompson Best British: Choppahead Best Modern: Oliver Jones, FXR Best Competition: Justin Walls, 1927 Harley JD Best Paint: Matt Motorcycle Tire Center, Dyna Arlen Ness Digger Show First: Dalton Walker Harley Panhead Second: Pascal Boyer Harley Shovelhead Third: Eric Allard San Diego Customs FXR Show Home Built First: Carey Hart Shop Built First: Oliver Jones Ugly Doug, Oliver Shokouh, Nancy Davidson, Willie G. Davidson and motorcycle attorney Steve Schapiro Born-Free Award winner Dalton Walker's Triumph PreUnit hauler San Diego Customs FXR show