Michael's Blog

A quiet moment in the BC Moto invitational bike barn before the main event.

The TMMR (Tennessee Motorcycles & Music Revival) is just around the corner, and I'm headed that way now.

Lots of fun had at the Boogie East custom bike show in Ormond Beach during Daytona Beach Bike Week

Matt and Tori, the coolest looking couple at Boogie East

Harley riding Octogenarian Gloria Struck having fun at the Broken Spoke Saloon downtown with her Motor Maid MC sisters during the Sturgis Black Hills Motorcycle Rally 2010. Photo ©2010 Michael Lichter.

Gloria Struck recently had her 95th birthday, so just to keep the accolades rolling, I want to wish her an incredible belated happy-happy birthday and add to everyone else’s praises as to how wonderful this woman is. 

Harass the Police, Sturgis, SD 1980. Photo ©1980 Michael Lichter

Flag Bike. Milwaukee, WI. 2008. Photo ©2008 Michael Lichter

Sebastien Lorentz of Lucky Cats Garage in Chartres, France piloting Belgian custom bike builder Brice Hennebert’s 2018 Indian Scout Bobber LSR racer repurposed for ice racing at the Baikal Mile Ice Speed Festival. Maksimiha, Siberia, Russia. Friday, February 28, 2020. Photography ©2020 Michael Lichter.

With summer in full swing, let’s cool down a bit. I hope this image makes you feel like you’re standing in front of an air conditioner on full blast. That’s what it was like in Siberia at the Baikal Mile

Bean’re pushes Timo Richard for miles back to base at the Wharf Rat Rally. Digby, Nova Scotia. Canada. August 30, 2012. Photography ©2012 Michael Lichter.

This is how you do it when you breakdown. WOW - is Beanre' really still in Vietnam? After 8-months riding all over the country (and missing our COVID lock-down), is he really coming home as he says he is?

Labor Day Run. Lake Perry, KS. September, 1984. Photo ©1984 Michael Lichter.

I have to do some digging, but I believe this was shot at Lake Perry in 1985. Maybe you recognize the scene and can confirm, but in the meantime, it makes me think of summer, and then my mind wanders to music like “Summertime, and the livin' is easy, Fish are jumpin' and the cotton is high” by George Gershwin/DuBose Heyward (covered by Janis Joplin with Big Brother, Billie Holliday, Ella Fitzgerald and basically everybody.) 

Riding Into the Weir's, Laconia, NH, 1999. Photo ©1999 Michael Lichter. It builds all week. By late afternoon Thursday, bikes are overheating and backed up over a mile waiting to get into the Weir’s. They turn their engines off and coast down the long hill beside the Lobster Pound. They tell stories and jokes. Visitors and locals line the gauntlet as they cheer, heckle and taunt. Occasionally their cries are answered with a burnout or dropped top. It's all part of the week and part of the fun.

Riding Into the Weir's, Laconia, NH, 1999. And a Happy Father's Day to all you fathers out there. In an unusual twist, with more than 30 years of Father’s Days in Laconia for Motorcycle Week, not today. Instead, I’m looking forward to dinner in the yard with my kids this year. Looking back, this image was made during the peak years. 

Late Night at Rudy's. Sturgis. SD. 1981. Photo ©1981 Michael Lichter.

Sturgis is on, even if it's not what it was 40 years ago (or even 2-years ago!) Who knows, maybe it will be more like 40-years ago than 2-years ago! Anyone out there remember "Chef Rudy’s,” the truck stop at exit 30 we used to eat at? I titled this one "Late Night at Rudy's. Sturgis. SD. 1981". #sturgis, @sturgisrally, #sturgisrally, @sturgisrallysd, @harleydavidson, #harleydavidson #harleydavidsonmotorcycles, #nikonlove, #nikonlife, #nikonnofilter, @nikonusA

Ryan Allen of NM takes a break from riding his 1916 Indian at the Mesa Trading Post in Arizona during the Motorcycle Cannonball Race of the Century. Stage-11 ride from Durango, CO to Page, AZ. USA. Wednesday September 21, 2016. Photo ©2016 Michael Lichter.

This photo of Cannonballer Ryan Allen of NM with his 1916 Indian Powerplus keeps growing on me. It was taken on a break from the 2016 Cannonball Centennial Run (all 100-year-old bikes) at the Mesa Trading Post in Earp, AZ (I got the town name from one listener, and then Ryan posted that it has since been demolished and replaced by a modern gas station). We were riding from Durango, CO to Page, AZ and it was plenty hot. This was the photo I talked about last week with Jason Sims, Ron Nussbaum, and Chris Callen during my “Thousand Words” segment of the Wednesday night weekly Cannonball Chronicles podcast.

Lee Donham rides the Tail of the Dragon with Jayme Gunderson on back on day two of the Big Mountain Run - ride from Maggie Valley, NC to Relience, TN. USA. May 20, 2010. Photography ©2010 Michael Lichter.

Wall of Death rider Lee Donham riding the 318 curves on the Tail of the Dragon at speed with Jayme Gunderson on back. He kept pushing closer and closer, rubbing his front tire on the toe of my left boot (as I'm hanging off the back of a bike backwards) and so we kept going faster as well. What a rider, and what fun we had! 11-miles of fun to be exact!

Aaron Greene of Paramount Customs wheelies his big twin through the Avenue of Giants beside his good friend Ray-Ray during the Kiwanis Original Redwood Run. Humboldt County, CA, USA. June 11, 2011. Photography ©2011 Michael Lichter.

The 43rd Annual Redwood Run would be happening today if we weren't dealing with COVID, so I thought a few photos from this great event would be appropriate. The big standout is that it is located in one of the most beautiful places anywhere! Everyone goes off riding all day, and then there's the party. With the exception of Harry Fryed (of the Fryed Brothers Band) doing what he loves to do (in addition to playing his fiddle), I focused on being out and about. And how cool is it that I ran into Ray-Ray and Aaron Greene wheelying