Published In The March 2013 Issue Of Cycle Source
Article By: Lucas Joyner Photos By: Lucas Joyner The Factory Metal Works – www.thefactorymetalworks.com
The annual Hot Rod Custom Show in Yokohama, Japan is the Holy Grail of motorcycle shows. For me, it was the show that I just had to be a part of ever since my company, The Factory Metal Works, began over five years ago. I just had this “do or die” feeling. My dream was realized when I became an invited builder two years ago. I was then invited again to build a custom motorcycle for Mooneyes’ owner, Shige Sugunama.
Let me begin by saying that everything about this show exceeded my expectations! Every aspect of it is carefully thought out and planned to the very smallest detail, and in the end, it goes off without a hitch. The Mooneyes’ t crew is like no other! They treat the builders and attendees with much respect; they really go out of their way to make us feel at home while away from home. Nobody is stressed out, each member knows exactly what needs to be done and everybody who is there has the raddest time doing what they love and admiring what we build.
The days that we were there just flew by. The first day was basically taken up with travel by air and bus to arrive in Yokohama. Day two was pretty intense. Todd Asin from Small City Cycles, Mike Davis from Born Loser and I rode our custom builds down the streets of Yokohama in the freezing coldfollowed by a film crew, beside a film crew, and behind one as well for the Triumph portion of the Mooneyes’ video.For me, that was the best part of the whole trip! It was epic and something I will never forget.
Sunday, December 5th, everybody was pumped getting ready for the main event. The doors of the 21st annual Hot Rod Custom Show opened at 9:00. I got there a few hours earlier to snap pictures of all of the eye candy before I had to get ready to ride my build in.
There was such a wide variety of bikes. and cars displayed; it’s insane. There is something for everybody here. Everything from mini bikes (which Rico from Hi-Bond Modified evidentaly loves due to his Mooneyes’ pick for best bike) to full blown engraved crotch rockets. At the beginning of the show, all the invited builders ride their bikes in through the enormous doors to the convention center, and down the main drag which is lined with thousands of anxious guests and journalists snapping pictures like crazy. I must admit, I was a bit intimidated, but excited at the same time. The rest of the show went by incredibly fast. You could see bikes and hot rods for miles; they were everywhere you looked. There was so much to see and drool over. As a matter of fact, outside the doors of the convention center, if you had time to make it out there, were over 5000 more bikes on the surrounding grounds which was a bike show in and of itself.
Some of the builders in Japan spend years building just one bike for the chance to enter and display it at the Mooneyes’ show. As a Mooneyes’ invited guest, me and the rest of the guys were allowed the honor to pick a “Builder’s Choice” motorcycle as their favorite and present the winner with a special award. Here is the bike I chose, and the award I gave to Mr. Takaoka from Snug Motorcycles for his pre-unit rigid Triumph.
Going to Mooneyes is a trip of a lifetime for any motorcycle enthusiast. I hope to be a part of this event for years to come. I’m sure every year will surpass the last, although I’m not quite sure how it could get any better. It’s an honor to be a part of, and to be able to give a peek from an insider’s perspective to such an awesome event! Be sure to check out www. mooneyesusa.com and www. hotrodcustomshow.com along with us at www.thefactorymetalworks. com. Remember to like us on Facebook and be sure to follow us on Instagram.
