Gravesend Cycles wins Ultimate Builder in New York

Copper Mike Cole won a free place at the 2012 AMD World Championship in Sturgis in addition to a cash prize

Copper Mike Cole of Gravesend Cycles booked his place at the 2012 AMD World Championship and took home a $3000 cash prize by winning the Freestyle class at the Ultimate Builder show in New York. Mike's bike "Steampunk", based on a 1973 Harley-Davidson Shovelhead, features a rebuilt engine with engraved heads and 10:1 compression and numerous re-purposed antique gauges and parts rebuilt into functional pieces. He built a hand clutch with an old Harley mouse trap. The bike is fabricated from equal parts copper and brass. Runner-up was Stu Spiegel of Stu's Auto and Cycle Service, with George Stinsman of Chaos Cycle third with "Model 33".

The Modified Harley-Davidson class was won by Steve Iacona of Iacona Custom Cycles with "Challenger", his 2011 Modified Harley World Championship runner-up. Roman Levin of FOH Cycle Fab won Performance Custom for the second year running, this year with "FOH Cafe", a 2002 Suzuki, and the Retro Mod class was won by Fred Montalto with "Spitshine", a 1960 Harley-Davidson Panhead.

The Ultimate Builder series now moves to Cleveland, OH, on January 27-29, followed by Minneapolis, MN, on February 3-5. Entries are welcomed at ultimatebuilderbikeshow.com or call Biker Pros on 919-886-5075 for details. Cash prizes are awarded to class winners who also receive a free entry and automatic place at the 9th annual AMD World Championship of Custom Bike Building in Sturgis, August 5-8 2012.