It's Been a Great Ride
This page probably looks different to you. This page issue after issue has been the home to an advertisement for KC Creations. As you have probably heard by now, KC Creations has closed its doors. While this may be seen as a sad day by some, we at Wide Open Motorcycle Magazine choose to look at it as the end of a ride. A ride, like many other rides that had its high and low points, but nevertheless, we are better for have taken the ride in the first place. KC Creations, or more appropriately Kim and Cheryl Suter, were not just core advertisers with Wide Open; they were, and are, our friends. In a sense Wide Open and KC Creations are like siblings, we grew up together. . . . .Page 2

Choppers for Children
2008 Music Fest & Bike Rally

Of all the weekend rallies that are on Wide Open's schedule or for that matter even created, this has got to top my list for most likely to succeed. Scott and Kathy Watson, founders of this awesome rally, definitely have a heart for the kids. It reminds me of the line the professor said in the movie Jurassic Park, as he, the professor inventor, is demonstrating the DNA video to the inviting crowd, the professor said, "We spared no expense." Of course, it got them (Jurassic Park) in a hell of a mess!. . . .Page 7

Big Brother
Anybody that has known Ralph Roades for very long can vouch for one thing, if you give him a hard time he is going to get you back in a big way. This is the entertaining little story of what happened to Mark Pearce, owner of Chuck's Boots and Leathers in Lee's Summit. . . .Page 12

The Gail Force Explodes on the
Cover of the Star Magazine
Kansas City, Missouri-June 8, 2008-The cover story for the Sunday Kansas City Star Magazine was everybody's favorite Gail Force super hero, Gail Worth. Even though she may not be able to leap tall buildings in a single bound, she is fast as a speeding bullet when it comes to running the quarter-mile on one of her drag bikes. She built a mountain of a Harley-Davidson dealership when the odds were stacked against her. But what is her most recognizable characteristic? Her laugh!.. . . .Page 14

Black Top
Clay and Mick McCreary, owners of St. Joe Harley-Davidson, are at it again. Clay has a habit of taking a stock Harley-Davidson motorcycle, along with input from Mick, and combining it with his passion to think outside the box. With past creations such as their bobber-inspired "Old School, New Teacher" along with the ultra slick "Casino" bike, the McCrearys have found a way to attract customer attention and make them consider "what if" in regards to their personal bike. You have to admire the brothers' thought process in these builds. .. . . .Page 16

Consultecs - The Man Behind Its Success
When I first met Brad Brooks, owner of Consultechs CNC Machine Tool Service, we were at the Wide Open Bike Show in Kansas City 2007. Brad had entered in the bike show under another company name, which most of our readers know as Mystical Custom Creations, showing off his awesome one-off builds and we are talking builds that have proved themselves at many events such as; The Rat Hole Bike Shows, Choppers 4 Children Bike Shows, Wide Open Bike Shows and the list goes on. What I didn't realize at the time, was not only is Brad known for being one hell of a "One-Off Custom Bike Builder" and the manufacturer of many parts for the infamous "Frankenstein Rear Ends" for Frank Pederson of MC Worx but, he actually is a professional at designing and building parts... . . .Page 20

The 2nd Annual Gailapalooza 2008
Sometimes you just get lucky. With this year's "I can't decide if it's spring or winter" weather pattern, planning an April event was reduced to a crap shoot. Gail Worth must have been born under a lucky star as Saturday, April the 5th5 was one of the few decent days to be had. While the wind was a bit chilly at times for some, ample sunshine was the rule for the day. The sunny rays were enough to entice riders out for Gail's kick- off to the spring riding season.. . . . .Page 22

Mayhem and Wide Open Chopper
This is Tim from Mayhem Custom Paint and Airbrush and I would like to start by saying thanks to Ralph Roades for giving me this opportunity to write this article and be a part of the next Wide Open bike project. It will be a great mix of old school, chopper style and photo realistic airbrush work when we have completed the bike. Bet you won't be able to stop lookin'.. . . .Page 24

Gypsy Rendezvous Nationals
Every year in April something exciting happens in the St. Louis, MO area motorcycle community. I'm talking about the All Harley Drags at Gateway International Raceway in Madison, IL, otherwise known as the AHDRA Gypsy Rendezvous Nationals and once again the event proved itself to be another great year.. . .Page 33

3000 Miles to Warsaw
It all started when Paula wanted to go on a vacation. She had all these places to choose from. But when someone got the idea of the Laughlin River run in Laughlin, Nevada, my ears perked up so the planning started. She got a hold of Dal-Con promotions and bought us a package. So with my bike in the back of the pick-up off we went. We got up early and took off for Laughlin River Run out of Warsaw Mo Everything was going good almost to Tulsa when I called Billy, one of our bike judges at the Wide Open Bike Shows. He lives in Yuma, Arizona. He said, "You dumb ass. Laughlin River Run is next week." I looked over at Paula, she looked in her monthly planner and (Ha, Ha) sure enough we had made a mistake. So I turned around at the next exit and got to thinking this could be a dream-more time to do all the rides around the area so turned around again.. . . Page 48

Frankenstein and the X-Rod
Frankenstein is tearing up Norway. I know what you are thinking. Frankenstein calls Germany home. I am not talking about the fabled monster from the classic Shelley novel. I am talking about the Frankenstein created by Frank Pedersen of Motorcycle Worx and Steinar Bergby. "Frank and Stein "put the creative talents together back in 2005 to provide the world with a trike rear-end like no other. The collaboration resulted in what might be the best looking, strongest, narrowest and lightest trike rear-ends on the market. To achieve their goal, they knew using only the best parts and materials would do. The resulting trike rear-end and trike kits are proudly manufactured right here in the good old USA. With 30-40% of these rear-ends and kits being purchased and shipped to Europe, Japan and Australia, it is nice to see a product from the United States being chosen over something from anywhere else. The guys at Frankenstein Trikes are committed to offer trike rear-ends and trike kits with the highest quality and low maintenance, and they are so easy to install you can do it yourself. Frank and Steinar, realizing we are all not independently wealthy, made sure their rear-ends and trike kits were priced within reach of the common man. It might surprise you to know these engineering masterpieces are some of the lowest priced trike rear-ends available. Frankenstein Trikes also stands behind their products. Their entire line of trike rear-ends and trike kits have a one-year, unlimited-mile warranty covering materials and workmanship starting from the date of purchase. .. . . Page 54

2008 West Side Rally
The summer of 2008 will prove to be a rider's summer. With everything going on, from your local Harley-Davidson dealer party to the Little Sturgis Rally in Kentucky, the opening of the new Harley-Davidson Museum in Milwaukee, and of course, the mother of all gatherings, Sturgis, South Dakota. This is sure to be a great riding year. But what if you could stay a little closer to home and yet still get away? How about a weekend at Lake of the Ozarks West Side? Have you been there? This is a place where you can actually ride where you want to go and not sit in traffic; a place where you can rent cool little bungalows or quaint motels right on the water; a place where the people welcome you with a smile and offer you a good time while you're with them-just a beautiful place to spend the summer. This is Lake of the Ozarks, a secret paradise. I should know, researching this article and section, I've spent a lot of time there and now I have friends there, too. If you like to ride beautiful, two-lane country roads and stopping periodically to relax by the water to enjoy a good meal or to have a cold drink, then the west side is the place to be.... . . Page 86