The Strong Survive – 4th Independence Day Custom Show

Why Independence Day? Well with no sign of Will Smith or aliens with advanced technology, whose computers get hacked at just the right time, even though they are a different language and configuration altogether, Jeff Goldblum manages to kill their alien Pc’s and destroying the force field in the process, maybe I should get him round here to sort out my wireless connection, see how far he gets with that.
Anyway Why Independence Day? Well the very first show was on, well you guessed it, American Independence Day, and every show from that point on will be on the nearest Sunday to July 4th, with the next July 4th to fall on a Sunday being in 2010.
The Strong Survive are a small club, but manage to put on one hell of a show, and you can see the hard work that goes into it, as they barely have time to stop. The show is at the Hurt Arms in Derbyshire which has a huge open site and is on the A6 nr Matlock, which also means that there is a hell of a lot of passing trade. And with the weather being over generous, lobsters and Panda eyes were a plenty (I was safe after Blue kindly reminded me to use my sun cream and put on my hat, I don’t do hats, but after a good head burning at the ace café the day before, it was a wise choice) There was a pretty decent turnout by the time I had arrived, which seemed to continually expand all day.
The variety of quality machinery was excellent; Streetfighters were in abundance, as were quality V Twins with Ako’s Monster Bobber walking away with top place (and engineering and paint) it is a truly awesome bike, mixed in with the chops and Streetfighters was a 1940 Indian, which was in an amazing used condition. The trikes were varied with a Kawasaki powered trike called Excalibur theme on it, the lines and stance of this trike flowed really well, and deservedly so won best bike trike.
The stars of the show for me where two Lambretta Scooter Chops, the engineering and detail is impressive, the pictures do not do these bikes justice at all, with one winning best lowrider, and the other getting Runner up in Engineering.
The bike park held just as many interesting bikes as the show did, and I noticed a few bikes I wouldn’t mind taking home with me, with my favourite being a little black Harley bobber.
The heat was having its affect on people and by late afternoon, and people started dwindling away the trophies were awarded before the heat started to take victims, and in proper Custom Show style there were a multitude of categories, with both winner and runner up (except for Best in show), following on from the trophies was a mass exodus as everyone decided too call it a day, and one hell of a motorcade followed.

Best In show
Ako – Monster Bobber

Landlords Choice
Frec – Yamaha Warrior

V-Twin
Winner Phil Piper – El Bruto Chop
Runner Up Ilen 1978 Shovel

StreetFighter
Winner Pete Hallam – Katana
Runner Up Unky – XJR 1420 Turbo

Engineering
Winner Ako – Monster Bobber
Runner up Karl Hissey - Lambretta

Chop
Winner Steve Wheeler -  Ace of Spades
Runner up Alex – Harley Chop

Classic
Winner Jess – 1940 Indian
Runner up Linz – 1959 Triton

Jap
Winner John Boy – Vmax
Runner up Pete Hallam – Katana

Lowrider
Winner Poe – Lambretta Li185
Runner up Sandy – FXR

Paint
Winner Ako – Monster Bobber
Runner Up – Conor – 650 Honda

Brightwork
Winner Unky – XJR 1420 Turbo
Runner up Darren Wright – Hardcore Chopper

Trike (Bike)
Winner Eric Richardson – Excalibur Kawasaki
Runner up Ray + Lyn Marston – Honda Valkyrie

Trike (Car)
Winner Lee Jones – Diesel Engine Trike
Runner Up  K Platt – Jag Engine Trike