Hoosier Daddy Choppers wins Ultimate Builder in Cleveland

Jon Shipley picked up a check for $3000 in addition to being invited to the 2012 World Championship of Custom Bike Building

John Shipley of Hoosier Daddy Choppers left the Ultimate Builder show in Cleveland, OH, with $3000, a class winner's trophy and a guaranteed World Championship spot after taking first place in the Freestyle class with 'Whiskey Bent', a heavily customized 1977 Ironhead featuring a bar stool seat and 102 year-old brass headlight. Last year's winner Jesse Bassett of The Gasbox was runner up with a 1949 Panhead, and Misfit Custom Cycles was third.

The Modified Harley-Davidson class was won by Gilliland Customs' 2011 World Championship 7th place entry 'Sudden Impact', with H-D BikeTown second and Russell Batchelor in third place.

In Performance Custom, the win was taken by Ed Vanaman and Stan Liepert with a 1964 Triton (Norton Atlas with 650cc Triumph engine) and Giovanni of Blacksmith Motoring Co added another trophy to his cabinet by winning the Retro Mod class with 'El Vaquero'.

The Ultimate Builder series now moves to Minneapolis, MN, on February 3-5, and continues in Chicago, IL, on February 10-12. The final 'regional' show takes place in Charlotte, NC, on February 24-26 before the United States Championship at Daytona on March 14-17. 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.