Bike Week in Daytona Beach

2006/03/06 / mine posted in other, television / 1 Comment

LOCATION 1 OF 3: V-Twin TV (Speed Channel)

Travel Day:
6 March:

I just flew into Florida and boy are my arms tired! (Ha!) Back to Florida for Bike Week in Daytona Beach. I’ll be here all week… (No, that’s not a punch line to a joke.) We’re featuring some of the celebrities in the custom bike world. The show’s called V-Twin TV (airs on Speed Channel) and part of Easyriders Magazine.

I’m one of two camera teams covering the event. They’re expecting some quarter-million folks. Seems about right. I went to the corner market for some water and snacks and at one point I could hear in complete 360° a cacophony of rumbling choppers and roaring street bikes. Don’t know how much I’ll have to detail but I’m sure I’ll find something worth talking about.

(I can never get over the view from thousands of feet above the world.)

(The road from Orlando to Daytona seem to be all one-way with old growth trees on either side. It reminds me of “Miller’s Crossing”.)

Day 2:
8 March – Destination Daytona:

Not much to say so I’ll just show you my journal entry in pictures with a few notes.

It’s the winner of the Easyrider magazine 35th anniversary bike give-away. With the winner is Eddie Trotta – the bike’s designer/builder.

Eddie Trotta

The handlebar from the bike that was given away.

One of the bikes that I just loved – reminds me alot of the bike in Akira.

The food at the event almost unanimously sucked – save one place. This place had the best pulled pork sandwich I’ve had in a long time. I’ll be back again tomorrow!

No, that’s not a man – but yes, a little creepy. She’s one of the “beer girls” – they sell beer at booths.

Tim – the sound mixer assigned with me. Great guy and great mixer!

Now, your moment of Zen… You get two for today!

…any takers!

Day 3:
9 March – Beach Street & Destination Daytona

(Our team at Beach Street.)

(Back to Destination Daytona. Under the sign, just to the left of the freeway sign, is the two story, Harley Davidson dealership. Part of the project also includes hotel rooms and condominiums – all pre-sold before ground broke.)

(Oh you silly folks from Québec!)

As you most likely know, costal Florida is mostly swamp land. All over the place you’ll find marshes, swamps and pools of water. You’ll even find little canals and pools near the markets that look like motes and you really can’t help but wonder are they trying to keep the Evil Knight from getting in!

Day 4:
10 March – Biker Build-off & Awards

(We started our day with a visit to a swap meet where bike builders buy parts. Among the carney food vendors was one that had home made ice cream. The ice cream sucked. Next…)

Sa500435
(Billy Lane checking out and encouraging another local bike builder’s 10 day build.)

(It’s like this all over the place)

(Some homies from the old country. Love it! …at least they didn’t have a sicker with an ox on the side of the tank! Ouch!!!)

(If you look at the middle of the picture, that guy is chugging a 5 litre bottle of Jack Daniel’s – that bottle, incidentally, was one of three bottles passed around to the audience.)

• • • What did we learn today? That during spring break and Bike Week in and around Daytona Beach, you’re more likely to find big bellies on the street than big boobies. Very sad! • • •

One last bit of business, I won’t be home again until March 22. I’m off to South Dakota and then North Carolina. I miss Cali.

Day 5:
11 March – Blood, Guts and Gears & Dyno Drag

The week is over and so is this leg of the shoot.

(One of the coolest cars – I wish it was mine.)