Pics by Don Coyote

Pics by Terran64 aka Matt

The swag table at the knucklebuster booth - we gave all that away and MORE… a LOT more.

Pic by Locjaw Cycles

Pic by Troy Fab
Keep sending in those pics, I’m still working on putting together a big gallery of greasebag pics.

Greasebag Jamboree 2008 Recap
My current mission is to get hopped up on enough coffee and carbohydrates to make it through a day I could literally sleep through from beginning to end. Coming down off a 3 day adrenaline high is a serious downer and I feel a bit like I’ve been hit by a truck. Subsequently, the following thoughts/recap of the 2008 Greasebag Jamboree may be completely disjointed, missing massive amounts of detail and chalk full of excessive vocabulary as I attempt to overcompensate for my lack cognitive stability. So lets get started shall we?

My one word response on how I feel about the Greasebag this year is: stoked. Every time I looked out into the crowds I saw people smiling, talking shop, laughing, telling stories, looking over bikes, examining details, digging through and buying greasy parts and generally just having a good time. That’s everything it was meant to be, so to me, by all the measures that matter, it was a total success.

That’s not to say it was perfect - there is always room for improvement. I had hoped to see more swap meet vendors this year, and in fact had another 10 “confirmed” vendors who signed up. For whatever unknown reason, they were MIA. My guess is that since vendor space was free, they didn’t really lose anything if they didn’t show up, except for potential sales. If they woke up with a knarly hangover or were just feeling too lazy to load up the truck, they opted out. I think that will change in the years to come, there were definitely people looking to buy parts. As the word continues to spread, I think they’ll catch on that it’s worth getting out of bed for. That said, the vendors that were there were awesome. Tons of greasy parts, great dudes and lots of good stuff to dig through. I have no doubt in my mind that year after year it will get better as we build this event. Just like the crowd that shows up, the vendors help build grassroots events like this, so many thanks go out to all of them for their support. I hope to see all of them back to be a part of year 3.

All that said, the difference from last year was noticeable, and I had a lot of folks tell me that they felt this year was a lot better. Better bikes, better “home-builder” crowd and just a better overall vibe. I was psyched to continue to hear that throughout the day. Every year I strive to make these shows better - not necessarily bigger, but better. By all of my own personal measures and from all the feedback I received that goal was absolutely met.

The prize raffle was retarded. I can’t believe how much stuff was given away - over $3000 worth of amazing swag! Some folks just had all the luck - no matter how much I stirred up those tickets; a lot of the same people kept winning; the midas touch is a nice thing. Congrats to all the winners and thank you to EVERYONE who purchased raffle tickets. The money raised from the raffle is how I’m able to pull this off. As a D.I.Y, grassroots event that doesn’t charge admission, doesn’t charge for vendor space and doesn’t have a big corporate sponsor to pay for all the costs that pile up, every raffle ticket that gets sold helps pay for and support putting on the show.

That brings me to the sponsors - I could have never have pulled off such an amazing pool of prizes to give away without their generosity. I am still blown away and humbled by how much all these guys stepped up and were willing to give. Whether it was by sponsoring a plaque, donating some swag or both, without their support, pulling this off would have been a LOT harder. So to all of them – Biltwell, Four Aces, ImageOne, Chop Shop, Choppertown, BlueMoon Kustoms, Guilty Customs, Butler County Leather, Lowbrow Customs, E-Fab, Heyltje Rose, Fabricator Kevin, Cro Customs, Troy Fab, Biker Radio Magazine, 7 Metal West, Hippie Killer Garage, Dice Magazine and Acme Choppers - thank you for all your help and thank you for helping to build this event.

The bike show portion got off to a bit of a slow start, but by the end there was a group of 20 killer bikes in mix that all had the right attitude behind them. It was a really nice mix of stuff - everything from meticulously finished bikes with killer paint to bikes that had dirt and road debris on them to crazy, mutant, backyard engineered, what the fuck were you thinking rides - exactly how I wanted it to be. I think the slow start was because it took a while for it to sink in that the winners were not going to be judged by “normal” bike show standards. It wasn’t about shiny parts, killer paint, or how much was invested in the bike. Those things weren’t looked down upon - especially when done well - but it was also about the lines of the bike, the stories that you can see etched into it, the madness you must be fueled by to actually put it together (see the VW bike)… it was about honoring the success of a guy with a wrench and a vision to put together something he wants to ride. I think all the bikes celebrated that attitude, and choosing the top 10 was more difficult than I expected - there were 4 other bikes in contention for a top spot. In the end, it just came down to my 10 favorite bikes; it was as simple as that. They were all stylistically different but they all deserved to be in the winners circle together. Congrats to all those guys and to Lock Baker who took home the best-of-show, pinstriped Biltwell helmet. His bike was seriously mind blowing, the level of detail was ridiculous.

A huge thanks to Acme Choppers goes with out saying. Thank you to Wayne and crew for opening up their shop and parking lot to pull this off. A big thank you to that entire crew for helping me out personally though out the day. These guys all “get it” and having a shop of their caliber and attitude in this area is just straight up awesome.

That pretty much sums up my viewpoint of the day. I had a great time, even though by the end of the day, the sun beating on my head had robbed me of my vocabulary and the ability to form complete sentences. It was great to finally meet a lot of you guys and thanks to all of you, including those of you who I didn’t meet, for coming out and supporting this.

With all that said, I’d like to hear what you have to say about the day. I had a pretty limited viewpoint being behind the mic and running around in general all day. So lets hear your stories of the day… What cool shit did you see out back? What parts did you score? What did you really enjoy about the show? What did you wish was different? What would you change? As I said earlier, every year I want to make it better than the previous, and your feedback helps me do that. So consider this an open invitation to speak your mind.

I’ll post some of my pics soon, I’ll probably just do a raw dump of everything I have and then process them later. If you have pics, please post them up or send them to me via email (grail21@gmail.com). Thanks to everyone who’s already posted some pics, it’s great to see them. Here are some that are on the internets already:
http://s117.photobucket.com/albums/o45/Terran64/GreaseBag08/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/doncoyote/sets/72157605608779638/

The full recap of the run to the Farm in VT is coming, but it’s going to take me a few days to capture that epic adventure in words.

Final post before the show:
The van is packed and ready to go. There is enough tools in there to fix just about anything, including a MIG and a generator. However, we won’t be welding roadside, but if that headlight bracket snaps, we can get you fixed up at the farm.

Weather looks good for the show: high 70s and a few clouds.
For the Saturday night run to VT, we might get a little rain, but looks like it would only be some scattered showers. Who knows, you’re big boys, you’ll be fine and too drunk to care.

I’ll be at Acme Choppers tonight around 7pm. If some of you who are vending want to come by and setup/drop off a trailer or whatever, feel free. I’ll be there till about 10pm or so, just call me if you’re going to stop by; my number is at the bottom of this post. If you’re just in the area and want to stop by, feel free to do that as well. Won’t be much going on BUT Wayne has his giganto swap meet parts tent set up, so might not be a bad time to do some digging and swing some deals early bird style.

I think that’s the last bit for me to report, see you fuckers tomorrow.

- grail • 978-590-3412 • www.greasebag.com

Photographers and dudes with video cameras take note
Since I’ll be running the P.A / playing music / making announcements / hustling raffle tickets / selling t-shirts / running around like a mad man in general I will not be able to take as many photos during the show as I would like (although I will be getting out there to snap shots here and there). If you have a digital camera or video camera, please bring it and take lots of pics & vids of the event and then send it my way after. It would be greatly appreciated and for those who do send in a chunk of photos (say 50+) or video tapes, I will definitely figure out some sort of token of my appreciation to send your way.

Click on the image above to download the PDF file that has the final map and directions for the run. Get your paws on it now so you can get familiar with the roads a bit beforehand. We’ll have a bunch of these printed out to pass out at the show. The front has the written directions and a small map (good to tape to your gas tank), the back has a larger map in case you need to look at it in finer detail. If you have any questions, drop me a line.

On that note, I’ve had a few questions thrown my way via email / messageboards, an in case anyone else was wondering the same things, here are the answers:

What happens if it rains?
You’ll get wet. You might also thinking about uttering the phrase “maybe front fenders aren’t so gay.” Short of a monsoon, or hurricane, the run is going down, rain or shine.

What should I bring?
Whatever it’s going to take to get you and your bike through the weekend. You’ll be crashing outside, so a sleeping bag or tent might be on your list… or not if your fine sleeping wherever you pass out. We’ll have a port-o-john, but I can’t vouch for toilet paper, so you might want to bring a roll. Other than that, whatever you need to get you through. If that means a teddy bear and some footsie pajamas, fine (just be prepared to get fucked with if that’s the case). Seriously though, this is not fucking rocket science, we’re only going to Vermont, and it’s only one night so I can’t imagine you’re going to need much. We’ve got the food covered, we’ll haul up your booze for ya, besides a few basic necessities, your pack should be pretty light. But, for the organizationally challenged, here are some suggestions:
• Sleeping bag
• Tent
• Toilet paper
• Money
• Tool Kit (especially if you need Witworth shit, cuz I aint got none)
• Spark plugs
• A helmet (lid law in Vermont)
• Toiletries
• Your brain
• Common Sense
• Self-sufficiency

If my friend and I show up on our newer Harleys, will be shunned by the group? I ride a 1998 H-D Road King, one friend rides a 2005 H-D Fat-Boy and another friend rides a 04 or 05 Heritage. We are looking for a break form the norm, just want to feel welcome.
I can’t speak for the whole group of dudes who are going to be there (especially since I don’t know exactly who or how many of them there are) but what I can say from my end is this: As long as you’re cool, chill, not about how many doodads you’ve bolted to your bike, I don’t care what you ride, you’re welcome to join us and I’m psyched to have you along. There will be plenty of different bikes on the ride, it’s not all hardtails and sprung seats. The binding threads are we all love to ride, hang out, wrench on our bikes, talk about wrenching our bikes, tell stories, bullshit, etc. If you’re down with that, you’re cool by me. Come to the show, feel out the scene and see if it’s your vibe. If it is, saddle up and ride with us for some good time partying. This is not about attitudes or elitism, it’s about a good time.

Do I need a helmet?
Again, in bold type & capital letters — YES. Vermont has a helmet law, you’ll need a lid.

What is food going to cost?
At the show, food prices are as follows: Hot Dogs: $2.50, Hamburgers $3.50, Cheeseburgers $4.00, Water and drinks $1.50. I think that’s pretty damn reasonable as far as event food prices go, and a fucking steal when you consider what others are charging in the area at the time. Food is being handled by an outside vendor who just happens to be a friend of mine, that’s why we’re getting such a sweet hook up on price, otherwise you’d be paying $6 for a burger and $3 for a bottle of water.

Food during the party in Vermont will cost you nothing, we’ve got you covered with burgers and dogs. However, there will be a tips jar near the grill and donations will be gratefully accepted. Buy/bring your own beverages. That includes beer, soda, water, whatever. We’re making a stop at a grocery store mid way through the run so you can buy your supplies and load them into the van, we’ll haul it up to the farm for ya.

How much does it cost to do the run/party?
Nothing. This is not a H.O.G., charity or poker run. This is just a group of dudes getting together for a ride. There are no “road captains”, no police escorts, no hand holding or coddling. While Matt will be leading the way, he will not be holding up just to make sure everyone has made it through that last traffic light. Study the map, tape it to your gas tank, tattoo it on your forearm, whatever you need to do to make sure that if/when you get separated from the lead group, you’ll know how to get where you need to go.

Is there 4-Wheel parking at the show? I was going to ride up, but a bunch of my buds want to go so we were going to chip in on gas and cage it up there if there’s parking.
We’ve got parking at the show and on the run. At the show, there will be parking out back in the field, we’ll direct you to a spot. We’re also looking for other dudes with trucks who can drive chase and throw a broken down cycle in the back just in case it happens. So if anyone wants to do the run in a truck, let me know at the show, I’ll be at the knucklebuster booth and doing all the announcing / give aways / raffle.

The 4 Day countdown is on.

Just picked up the trophies for the bike show. They look fucking sick.
Thanks again to all the sponsors who helped support this event.

I’ve put together the driving directions for the run, I’ve tried to make them as simple as possible. The route is not that difficult, but it’s also not “jump on the highway, ride for 40 miles and then turn around and go home”. If you’re planning on coming along, read through these at least once before you mount up. We’ll be giving out maps and directions at the show, taping them to your gas tank is recommended. I’ve also updated the map with the location of the planned stop.

The simple Directions:
• Take a right out of the Acme parking lot onto Rte 3
• Left onto RT-104
• Turn right onto Rt-3A (Lake Street)
• Go 2 miles and Take a hard left onto West Shore Road (follow west shore around lake)
• Turn left onto Groton Road
• Continue straight on Sculptured Rocks Road (don’t turn onto N. Groton Road)
• Turn left onto Orange Rd
• Turn left onto RT-118 (Parker St)
• Slight right onto US-4 (Church St)
• You’re going to follow and stay on US-4 for almost the rest of the ride. US-4 will merge with other roads and routes, but will always remain US-4, so just stay on that and you’ll be fine.

Planned Stop: In Lebanon, NH – right after passing by the ramps for I-89 we’ll be stopping at P & C Foods Market to pick up beer. This is your chance to grab your booze (and any other supplies) for the weekend and load it into the van. This is the only planned stop we have, and to my knowledge, the store only carries beer and wine (as far as alcohol goes). If you’re wanting to grab some special bottle of boom-boom juice or moonshine, you’re going to have to do that on your own and pack it on your bike. See the map for the exact location of the stop.

• After the stop, get back onto US-4 and keep riding
• Eventually US-4 will turn right and merge into RTE-100
• After turning right on to Rt-100, you’ve got about 25 more miles to go. The farm is on RT-100 in Granville and is right around where RT-100 crosses with Kennedy Rd. We’ll have a sign or something, but I don’t think it will be hard to miss.

Again, if you’re planning on doing this run, please check out the map and directions beforehand and ask any questions now.

If you want to check out the google generated directions, click here:
Greasebag Run Google Directions

Here’s all the info for the Greasebag Run

Date: June 14 2008
Departure Location: Acme Choppers, Meredith NH
Party Location: Matt’s Farm, 4267 VT Route 100 Granville, VT 05747
Festivities: Ride, drink, play loud music, get stupid and pass out

Bike or Hot Rod not finished yet? While this is predominantly a motorcycle run, we’re extending the invite to other cool brohams and degenerates, so come join us, even if it means you have to take the minivan. Dudes who have chase trucks are encouraged to come along.

Part 1: The route
We’re taking off from Acme Choppers at 4pm. The chase van will depart shortly after.
The ride is about 3 hours long, 117 miles of scenic New England back roads; no highways, lots of twisties.

Click on the map above to see a full view of the run route. Written directions will be posted shortly (and on the printed maps we’re giving out at the greasebag). Printed maps of the route will be available at the Knucklebuster booth during the Greasebag show.

The route on the map is the way our point man and chase van will be going; you are free to take any route you want to get from point A to B. We’re not you’re parents or baby sitter, we’re not going to tell you which way to take, only the way WE’RE taking and an invitation to join us. Let me repeat this, because it’s important - the route on the map we give out is the route the chase van will take. If you decide to take a different way of getting there, that’s cool by us, BUT if you breakdown / run out of gas / whatever there will be no chase van to help you out, you’re own your own. We won’t come pick you up or bring you gas.
Read more…

Piles more swag for swag for the greasebag… the amount of cool shit to give away is pretty ridiculous. Check this out….

That’s a 7 Metal West horizontal ribbed oil tank, shit is DOPE. It’s so fucking I honestly really don’t want to give this to you fucks because I’d really like to hold onto it for myself. But one of you lucky dudes is going to be taking it home. Many thanks to Dan for being so generous and sending this in for the raffle. Check out his site, and make sure to peep those beehive oil tanks he’s got if you’re project is in need: http://www.7metalwest.com/

Next Up: Kutty from Hippy Killer Garage sent along a sweet set of urethane metal flake grips as well as a couple of shirts. Kutty builds some kick ass bikes (including the one from Choppertown) and his line of parts rock it hard. He’s got a whole line of grips, footpegs, shifters and kicker pedals done up, so check out his site to peep the sweetness: http://www.hippykiller.com/

Our pal Steve from Troy Fabrication sent us a bunch of stuff: a set of custom aluminum knurled grips (with throttle), one of his brilliant weld on chain tensioners and a triumph rebuild engine stand. Steve’s a local guy (Rhode Island) and I finally got to meet him a week ago at the BIA show. Super nice guy, obviously very generous and his work is top notch. That chain tensioner is seriously brilliant, a lot nicer than the skateboard wheels in my opinion. Steve will be at the show as a vendor and possibly on the run as well, so make sure to stop by and say hello to him. www.troyfabrication.com


Last, but absolutely not least, I’m psyched to confirm that DiCE magazine will be in the house. Matt is flying all the way in from California just to come rock this shit - how rad is that? Matt will have all sorts of goodies to give away - mags, t-shirts, etc - and will also be taking pics of the show and run. We’re psyched that they’re going to join us up here in the Northeast for the first time, and itchin’ to show them how we throw down, so bring your “A” game in drunkenness and stupidity. http://www.dicemagazine.com/

That’s it for now, we’re less than two weeks away, get amped.

A few shots of the Knucklebuster basement laboratory right after I cleaned and organized it a few months ago. It’s complete chaos down there right now. I end up working on my bikes (usually breaking them) mostly in the 10′x8′ shed I put up in my backyard.So the basement is more of a parts storage area now than an actual workshop.