Dave Mann Benefit a Huge Success
By Jeremy Povenmire
(from the Oct. issue of Wide Open Magazine)

The David Mann Benefit, last July, was a resounding success. What began as the brainchild of Wide Open publisher, Ralph Roades, became an event that people attended from all over the U.S. to offer their support to David. The great Mann himself was able to attend briefly and thank the crowd for their help (despite a collapsed lung he suffered from a fall a couple of days prior to the event).

While interacting with the crowd, vendors and entertainers throughout the day, it was evident how big a role David has played in everyone's interest in motorcycling. He means many things to many people and they all came together to give him something back. Some donated paintings he had given them in previous years to be auctioned off for his benefit and some just attended and supported the effort in general. Others volunteered their services at the event.

My work for Wide Open Magazine has been the second time David Mann has been in my life. The first time, when he was a friend of my Dad's, I was an infant and have no memory of him before he left the Midwest and headed to Florida (later to California). But there were many people at the event who knew him well during the period of the late 1960's and early 1970's. There were many photos and memories of his early days with the El Forastero Motorcycle Club. Having written about several people in the pictures it was really cool to see their faces for the first time. Some, including the original founder of the EFMC and 42 year member, Tom Fugle, were on hand in person as well as in the old photos from years ago.

Personally the biggest effect David Mann's artwork had on me was that I usually wanted to be the person in his art (unless he was about to hit the back of a Volkswagen). The subject of David's artwork is always a symbol of the biker lifestyle and represents personal freedom. There were several others at the event who felt the same way.

Lonnie and Heather Nye from Fort Madison, Iowa came down for the benefit. They were accompanied by Brian and Marcia Luers from the same area. Brian and Lonnie are firefighters in Burlington, Iowa. "We saw the articles on David's health needs and knew we had to come down. Growing up, my uncle was a motorcycle guy. He had long hair, tattoos and always had lots of David's artwork around his place. I always liked my uncle and loved to look at his copies of Easyriders. In fact it probably influenced me to start riding when I got older," Lonnie says. Brian and Marcia were also celebrating their wedding anniversary. Instead of going to Las Vegas they decided to make the trip to Kansas City and attend the benefit. "Marcia and I have been married for 24 years. That means we have had at least a couple of happy years in that time! Just kidding. It has been great and we are really enjoying the benefit here as part of our celebration. The weather is fantastic and it is a good cause to help David out," Brian says.

In addition to the wrestling, music and vendors there was a great bike show and events that were organized and run (almost flawlessly) by Darrell Wray and Taz Moeller. Both men are members of Freedom of Road Riders Local 28. They have run the events for Wide Open before at other rallies. They do an excellent job of keeping track of everything and getting the job done. They also have some help from their female counterparts with Local 28.

Throughout the day the crowd was entertained by motorcycle stunt master, Jeff Schneider, co-owner of Motorcycle Works in Olathe, Kansas. Jeff does tricks with the Midwest Stunters. On the day of the event he was solo and did a most excellent job of generating lots of gasps and cheers from the crowd. For the most part it was the men cheering and the women gasping in awe. Guess that explains Jeff's popularity with the female readers (and employees) of Wide Open Magazine.

The musical entertainment for the day was run by Russ Niccum, friend of David and Jacquie Mann. His band, Rukus, opened the show and kicked ass! Their website is www.rukus.fanclub.ms. Local favorite, The Bob Harvey Band, went on next for a great set. Also playing was Sugar Bush from Warsaw, Missouri. They were followed by the bluesy sounds of Levee Town. Then the ZZ Top tribute band, Sharp Dressed Man, took the stage to swing their guitars and jam out. Later in the evening KISSED performed their show in full makeup as a tribute to the legendary band KISS. The headliner for the night was Brian Howe, former lead singer for Bad Company. All the groups rocked!

You can't talk about the bands that performed without mentioning the top hat wearing, Wolfman Jack sounding, all around cool guy, Tony Ward, who emceed the show. The Wide Open crew met Tony last June while attending the Sparks America Rally in Sparks, Oklahoma. He was one of the most colorful characters we had ever seen. Tony and Ralph immediately became friends. Tony wanted to help David Mann and agreed to come all the way up from Sparks to volunteer his services as emcee and crowd entertainer. He has a great rally down at his place in June and September. Tony is a true gem in the world of motorcycling. www.sparksamerica.com

The living legend of wrestling, King Harley Race, brought his contingent of well muscled wrestlers who wowed the crowd with their moves. There was something for everyone at this gathering!

In addition to several Midwest bike builders, Billy Lane, with Choppers Inc., dropped by to give his support to David Mann. He signed autographs and helped the girls sell t-shirts. The t-shirt profits went to David. Billy also came to present David Mann with his induction into the Motorcycle Hall of Fame.

One of the highlights of the day was the benefit auction. More than $11,000 was raised from donated items that ranged from motorcycle parts, gift certificates from vendors, prints of David's work and even some original pieces. This part was pretty emotional for many people to watch the helping hand of the motorcycle community in action. Then the big moment started. . .

Ralph Roades received a call from the air conditioned trailer that David Mann was resting in onsite. Ralph was told to announce that David would be coming up to the auction/stage area to speak to the crowd and accept his Motorcycle Hall of Fame plaque from Billy Lane.

Because of David's health, he was brought to the stage area as a passenger in his Cadillac. Several longtime friends were also in the car with him. In true David Mann fashion, the Cadillac was escorted across the grounds and through the crowd by a group of 1%ers leading the way. David has lived the life he created for all of us through his work. He is the real thing.

As the Cadillac arrived to the front of the stage area, Big Dave Hansen spoke to the crowd. Big Dave is David Mann's business manager and longtime friend. He had some moving words to thank the crowd of supporters.
"Thank you all for coming and showing your support. David Mann began his life here in the Midwest and he will end it here. We all hope that isn't anytime soon. Your help will ease some problems for David and Jacquie during this time and it is much appreciated," Big Dave said.

Then Billy Lane came forward and presented the Motorcycle Hall of Fame Award to David. It was a moment filled with some misty eyes hidden behind lots of dark sunglasses. After all the pictures were taken, and Billy and the Mann shook hands, David took the microphone and briefly spoke to the crowd from the front seat of his Cadillac. He spoke about his appreciation to the efforts of all the people involved in the benefit and his love for the Midwest. By the time he finished there weren't too many dry eyes in the crowd.

In addition to Big Dave Hansen there were other west coast attendees including Clean Dean Shawler with Biker Magazine and Kim Peterson from In The Wind. Coming up from the land of Texas was L.B. Johnson and Boggs Johnson of Chromed Out Magazine. They led a group of riders who came all the way from various areas of their home state to the benefit.

"We really appreciate the efforts of other magazines (local and national) that helped us promote the David Mann benefit to help increase attendance. I realize that this involved putting aside competitive issues and working together, but the end results helped a sick man to get the aid he needs. My hat is off to the other media who helped us get the word out to help David," Ralph Roades said.

Speaking of local media that supported the event, you can't talk much about the motorcycle community without the name of "Slacker" coming up. Slacker is one of the hottest talents on the radio in Kansas City and also an avid motorcycle enthusiast. He was at the event with the gang from 99.7KY doing a live remote. Slacker is also one of the costars of the new motorcycle TV show which airs this fall. The camera crew from the show was on hand filming various segments for the upcoming show. Look for some of the footage to be shown on an episode in September.

In recent issues of Wide Open we have featured work by an artist named Tim Bodish. His brother, Bill Bodish, had a booth at the event for his company Ace Fabrication, Inc. He showcased several of Tim's pieces of work along with some of his own personal furniture designs. Creativity runs strong in the Bodish family. Bill's work can be seen online at www.acefabinc.net.

Also on display at Bill's booth was the Panhead frame and fat bob tanks that were donated by Jerry Dever for Tim's project bike when he is released from prison. Jerry was present to show his support for the effort. Among the sponsors and vendors present we have to mention Christine Masters with Waterless Car Wash, Dri Wash 'n Guard. She and her cohorts cleaned a lot of dirty bikes and even took on the task of cleaning Ralph's second home, the Wide Open F-250 Ford Truck. When they got done I had to put my sunglasses on to look at the truck. It was impressive!

While admiring the newly cleaned Wide Open mobile I was able to get a couple of seconds of David Mann's beautiful wife Jacquie's time. She had these words to say. "We really want to thank everyone who worked on the event and also those who attended. It means a lot to David and me that the motorcycle community has shown such great support in David's time of need. It was great to see old friends and new ones at the event. David was only able to attend briefly, but he enjoyed seeing everyone and is thankful for their help," says Jacquie Mann.

If you are young, old or somewhere in between and David Mann's work has meant something to you, now is your chance to give something back to David in his time of need. If you ever wanted to be the guy in the painting (or maybe knew someone who the painting was inspired by) David can still use the ongoing help of his biker following and family.

If you want to contribute to David's fund please send check or money order made out to David Mann Benefit Fund, P.O. Box 8733, Kansas City, MO 64114. Any amount will be appreciated.

Wide Open and the many friends of David Mann also want to thank the sponsors who made this event happen. They include:

Gail's Harley-Davidson, Belton, Missouri; Wright Brothers Bikes, Kansas City, Kansas; Hawg Wyld Cycles, Lee's Summit, Missouri; Chuck's Boots and Leathers, Lee's Summit, Missouri; River City T's, North Kansas City, Missouri; KC Creations, Overland Park, Kansas; Hellraiser Choppers, Lenexa, Kansas; Jack Miller American Thunder V-Twin, North Kansas City, Missouri; Carriage Works, Grandview, Missouri; Segal Fine Art, Louisville, Colorado; 4Print Digital Printing, Kansas City, Missouri; St. Joseph Harley-Davidson, St. Joseph, Missouri.