This year marks the 25th anniversary of the Rolling Thunder Ride for Freedom, taking place at our nation’s capital in Washington, D.C. on May 27. To commemorate the occasion, four top-name bike builders will each build a tribute bike in honor of each branch of the U.S. Armed Forces. The build project is being facilitated by Jay Allen of the Broken Spoke, and supported by S&S Cycle and Baker Drivetrain. Builders are “Kiwi” Mike Tomas of Kiwi Indian Motorcycle Company, Dar Holdsworth of Darwin Motorcycles, Brigitte Bourget of Bourget’s Bike Works and Billy Lane of Choppers Inc.
Jay Allen’s custom-built U.S. Army bike, powered by an S&S Cycle engine and Baker Drivetrain transmission, was the inspiration for the bike build tribute. Jay says, “This history-making tribute bike build is coming together so beautifully. S&S Cycle and Baker Drivetrain are the definition of American-made pride and they’ve stepped up to the plate, bringing their high-quality products to this entire project.”
In addition to Jay’s Army bike, Kiwi Mike’s team will build the Coast Guard theme bike, Dar Holdsworth and crew are building the Navy bike, Brigitte Bourget’s team will create a Marine Corps bike and Billy, unassisted, is constructing the Air Force bike behind bars, with the permission of the Avon Correctional Facility and the help of several generous donators.
The bikes will be unveiled at Rolling Thunder’s 25th anniversary event on May 26. They will then be taken on tour around the U.S. with the traveling “Wall that Heals” for various military- and motorcycle-related events. For additional information as more details unfold, go to www.rollingthunderrun.com. And for more information about Rolling Thunder and its mission to publicize POW-MIA issues; to educate the public that many American Prisoners of War were left behind after all previous wars, to help correct the past and to protect future Veterans from being left behind should they become Prisoners of War-Missing In Action, and to helping American Veterans from all wars, go to www.rollingthunder1.org
