Rev. Al Paquette didn’t build Doin Time to collect trophies. He built it to go somewhere most custom motorcycles never see: inside prison walls. Since finishing the machine in 2005, the Florida-based builder and minister says he has taken it into 136 prisons, using the bike to start conversations with men who might otherwise never come to hear him speak.
There is plenty to look at, from authentic prison hardware to artifacts Al says came from Alcatraz. But in this Cycle Source TV Outta Focus feature, the story behind the machine matters every bit as much as the parts bolted onto it.
How Doin Time Got Started
Al says he has been involved with prison ministry since 1985. During one visit, he brought a full-dress motorcycle into a facility. The reaction stayed with him: men who hadn’t seen a bike in years came over for a look. He realized a motorcycle could get the attention of people who might skip a religious event.
That experience led to the idea for a prison-themed custom. He already had a tank and fender and started collecting parts. A motorcycle company he approached wasn’t interested in the project, but his wife urged him to build it himself. It took seven months, and the bike was finished in 2005.
The whole point was to bring something people wanted to see. Once they arrived, Al could spend time talking with them. The motorcycle wasn’t the entire message. It was a way to open a door.
Real Prison History Built Into the Bike
Plenty of theme bikes use paint to tell a story. Al went after the real thing. He identifies jail bars and an official badge that he says came from Alcatraz, along with other badges and pieces collected during prison visits. The collection gives Doin Time its unmistakable character.
Among the most unusual items are objects he says came from prison contraband boxes. Al recalls wardens allowing him to look through confiscated items. In the interview, he points out shanks, a tattoo gun and tear-gas-related hardware incorporated into the bike. He also discusses muzzle-blaster components used in prison security, right down to the motorcycle grips associated with them.
It’s a bizarre collection of materials, but not a random one. Each part has a connection to the places Al visits and gives him another way to start a conversation. That is a different design brief from building a custom solely to win a show.
Bringing a Motorcycle Behind Prison Walls
Al says Doin Time has entered 136 prisons. The visits are often part of larger programs with music, entertainment and personal stories. He explains that people who might otherwise avoid the ministry’s program come out because they’re curious about the motorcycle.
Once the crowd is there, Al and the others share experiences, listen and talk about second chances. He makes the point that he isn’t there to force religion on anybody. Just spending time with people and showing that somebody on the outside still believes in them can mean a lot.
The bike makes an introduction easier, but the work goes beyond its fabrication. It gives Al a common interest to build on, something the motorcycle world understands well. Two people can come from entirely different places and still find a reason to talk when there’s an interesting machine between them.
The Mission Continues
At the time of this interview, Al says he is 72 and continues visiting prisons weekly. He also talks about going to death row monthly as a spiritual adviser. Much of that work is listening to people whose situations are difficult and whose futures may be uncertain.
He recalls a man he had known for decades who eventually reached out from a hospital, asking about the peace Al had found in his life. The story is a reminder that these relationships can last well beyond a prison visit or a motorcycle show.
It’s easy to get caught up in the startling details on Doin Time. Authentic Alcatraz pieces and confiscated objects make for a custom unlike most others. But what really sets it apart is where Al takes it and why. Twenty-one years after building it, he is still using the same machine to connect with people.
Watch Rev. Al Tell the Story of Doin Time
Hear Rev. Al explain the motorcycle’s history, the prison artifacts and the reason he continues doing this work in the complete Outta Focus feature.
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