Every summer, the Queen Mary takes a break from its daily grind of being a floating hotel to play host to the Los Angeles Calendar Motorcycle Show in Long Beach, California. It's a great chance for builders, both of American and metric bikes, to show off their work. Last year marked its 15-year anniversary.
Held July 15-16th of 2006, the bike show was a chance for riders to stand in the blistering sun, drink beer, enjoy live entertainment, and check out some pretty cool custom rides at the bike show. Famous builders were on hand to talk to folks while showing off their motorcycles, including Jesse Rooke, Russell Mitchell, Counts Customs, Roland Sands, and Mike Stafford. Additionally, Jesse and Russell played Q and A with the audience at the Bike Builder Seminar.
But the builders weren't the only entertainment. Jardine held its World Championship Dyno Shootout, while Zepparella did a great job covering Led Zeppelin's work, and the Purrfect Angelz heated up the stage with a series of steaming dance numbers. After playing in the heat all day, attendees were welcome to hit the Queen Mary on Saturday night for the after party.
As for the Performance Machine Calendar Bike Show on Sunday, the event's Best of Show winner was Russ Hess of Cowboy Custom Bikes in Jacksboro, Texas. There were also awards for best PM-equipped bike, radical pro custom, as well as categories for various customs, Sportsters, vintage scoots, and sportbikes/racebikes. All told, $70,000 in cash and prizes were awarded to the hard-working folks that built these beautiful two-wheeled creations, which isn't a bad way to say, "nice work."