ME AND MY CAR/MOTORCYCLE #2

This month we have a reader entry from Chris Gibbany (Arkansas USA) who sent us these pictures and description of her awesome looking customised 1981 Harley Ironhead Sportster. We love custom motorcycles here at Veloce! She won an Essential Buyer's Guide book of her choice. Please keep your entries coming in, and you never know, it could be YOU in this space next month!

My name is Chris Gibbany and my husband and I built my 1981 Harley Ironhead Sportster. My goal was simple: I wanted a really cool looking bike, something you didn't see every day. I also wanted something that didn't scream to the world "I am owned and ridden by a woman." So I came up with the design for what I call a "Billy Bike". I had an idea in my head but had never seen a bike in any magazine or in person of exactly what I wanted. The challenge was relaying the information to my husband, Gabe. I had to describe in detail exactly what I wanted without exactly knowing how to tell my him what I wanted. It was definitely a lesson in communication. In the end, I ended up with the bike I'd dreamed of. I love the bike's appearance most of all. I love the way it looks from all angles. I just love how my ideas all came together, and that is really what building a nice-looking bike is all about — making it flow and all work together. I travel everywhere on it when the weather's nice. I'll take it to town with a backpack on and get a few groceries. For some reason no one expects me to get on the bike and ride off. My Billy Bike has gotten good reaction from judges, too. At the first show in which it debuted, it won Best of Show. In 2010 it took Best of Show/ People's Choice awards at five of six shows. We have been married for nine years and have been building bikes together for almost six. Each bike is designed and assembled in secret, and no one sees them until the project is complete. It's really more of a hobby, but we usually have two or three for sale. Eventually we'd like to do this as full time business. We are currently building my '56 Panhead in our living room and I also just got another "secret" project I am working on. My husband just got a 1949 Panhead built that he is riding. I breed hedgehogs for a living and here is my website.

Chris selected BSA 500 & 650 Twins - The Essential Buyer's Guide by Peter Henshaw as her prize!

STOP! Don’t buy a BSA Twin without buying this book first!
Having this book in your pocket is just like having a real marque expert by your side. Benefit from the author’s years of experience, learn how to spot a bad BSA Twin quickly and how to assess a promising one like a true professional. Get the right bike at the right price!
More info.


Do you have an unusual car/motorcycle with a story to tell?
We want to see it! Send photos & description to prize@veloce.co.uk
We will pick one a month, and any we feature will win an Essential Buyer's Guide (worth £9.99 / $19.95) of your choice.
Click below to browse the whole series.