Born into a life of motorcycles, Art and Hot Rods - I was destined to a life of motorcycles and cool 
stuff!
stuff!My childhood was filled with Car Shows, Van trips, Frank Frazetta paintings and the smell of race gas. Dad and I used to camp in the Glen’s Supermarket Parking lot in our 1979 Econoline van for the annual St Ignace Car Show. We always parked on the curve - by the church - right in front of that bush. We would watch all the cars roll into the city and it was an easy walk up or down the road. We used to frequent the National Trout Festival as well in Kalkaska, Michigan. That’s where my love for custom started - Car & Bike Shows.
Since I was shorter - I was the wheel guy. I kept those Cragar Wheels shining using the purple window cleaner and a few of Dads secrets. We used to always go to the car wash in Kingsley which is where I took the photos of the van in front of the Antique store. Everything I do has a purpose. I took those photos intentionally to always remember the days of cleaning the rims there.
At an early age I was instilled with my love for bicycles and motorcycles. We lived on a hill on Merritt st in Fife Lake - so rolling down the hill either way into town or towards blue road was a daily occurrence. Naturally my first bike was a mini bike with no motor I would ride down the hill and make my sister push it back up for me.
Just before Merritt st - Dad lived in the Rock Shop that was a garage at the Sullivan house - just left of the Ballpark. One year I had a 3 wheeled Power Wheels and wore the battery out so Dad would pull me around the yard after drilling a hole in the front number plate - using an orange extension cord with an end cut off. Dad’s cousin Vince brought his four wheeler up one time from Houghton lake and pulled me around all over the yard!
My first actual Motorcycle was a PW50 - as most of you have seen. We rode all over through the trails and rode a lot as a family. The first trophy I won racing was August 11th in Newaygo back when we had rubber band starting gates. I went on to a 1984 Kx60 we bought from Cody Castle out of Mesick. And Eventually a brand new 1994 kx80. Dad would load us up in the truck and we hit the local tracks most every weekend in the summertime. We raced competitively for about 6 years going all over the state and raced in the Pontiac Silverdome in 1993. But I was a shithead kid and disrespected my Dad so our racing days ended in 1996. My bike was stolen earlier that year and it was never the same. Dad and I argued over dumb shit because I didn’t realize how good I had it. He was my biggest fan and I turned my back - rode a race bike from another family and that was the end of our racing days. Cadillac Mx Track was the last time we packed up as a family. I still have all the gear I wore that day except the boots.
Around that same time I fell into car audio and custom stuff pretty heavily. I bought my first Lowrider Magazine in March of 1996 at Piggly Wiggly in Daytona Beach, Florida. I still had the magazine until Hurricane Michael here in Panama City in 2018.
Dad and I would frequent car shows in Daytona during spring break - the spring break nationals Sound off and at the Speedway. The next 20 years would be pretty consumed with custom cars and trucks. Custom Interiors, Import Motor Swaps and automotive window tint.
During the years I shifted into Vtwin Service & Repair - Dad dove head first into Automotive detailing. And he loved the dirt road work trucks, dog hair covered Subarus and the French fried Mom Mobiles. And he was so good at it!
It was also around these years that he discovered his love for spray can art and Bob Ross style painting. I tell people he is an Artist first because although he had a very successful career in the Oil field - his passion for Art is truly the mark he will leave on this world. If you are lucky enough to have one of his pieces - please cherish it forever - knowing my father was so passionate about his Art. He used to always say he could never have enough paint brushes and blank canvas to use them on.
One of the greatest days of my life was giving Dad his 2004 Road King for his birthday in 2016. I built it with the help of my mechanics and PCB motorcycle community to match the Van - black and chrome. I am forever grateful for all the help and the opportunity to give him the bike that year.
Within a few minutes he was riding around town - HIS town when he grew up most all of his life. That was the greatest feeling watching him ride that day.
Due to life and a shop fire - It took about 3 years until we got to go ride for a long ride together. We left Fife Lake to Kalkaska, through the curves by Crossroads and then Elk Lake road to Elk Rapids. We rode to Harbor Springs and the tunnel of Trees up to the famous Leggs Inn - It was the perfect day. We rode back to Kalkaska passing cars together at 80+ mph and everything was right in the world. We glanced at each other and smiled under our helmets. It had been over 20 years since we rode together and truly a day I will never forget.
During the pandemic the following year we rode to Grand Rapids, Michigan and took my sister Brandi on a ride for her birthday. That was the first time in over 25 years we all rode together. Again - another day that was absolutely perfect. The weather was clear and we explored the areas of Holland the western shores of Michigan.
The COVID Pandemic brought on an early retirement for Dad so that’s where talks of a shop together really got serious. He always lived vicariously through me and always told me when he retired he wanted to work together. So, in the winter of 2021 we sat down to finalize plans for opening a shop in Kalkaska in the Spring of 2022.
The building was one I had worked in 22 years prior and had the perfect setup for a small showroom with a shop space for American Vtwin Service and a detail area for Dad. The parking lot was going to be perfect for community events, Poker runs and shows. I even had verbal approval to show movies on the side of the Auto Value building next door.
The shop would be called 8FIFTY Two. The Initial shirt designs included a 
for the Two as a throwback to my Dads Hippy days where his love for vans really started. But life had other plans.
for the Two as a throwback to my Dads Hippy days where his love for vans really started. But life had other plans.On January 7th 2022 my Dad suffered Cardiac Arrest and was miraculously SAVED at home by family & Kalkaska EMS. The incident accelerated his dementia and short term memory loss. But he’s still kickin, makin jokes and overall quite happy!
While it may have put a halt on the shop plans - we still have continued to hit car shows across the country including the 49th annual Van Nationals in Old Washington, Ohio later that year in July of 2022. The show itself was awesome but a real highlight of the trip was stopping to see Bryan of Clems Speed Shop in Clinton Township, Michigan. Despite being a busy shop owner - Bryan took the time to meet my Dad and check out the van. Their enthusiasm about custom stuff was infectious and I am beyond grateful for his hospitality that day.
In August of 2023 we hit the Metro Cruise in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Dad and I drove down from Fife lake on Friday - the weather was again perfect. We cruised - windows down - smiling at each other heading down the highway once again. We jammed out on the stereo I installed back in 1996 and everything was right in the world yet again. Although my phone ended up in Brandis hot tub that weekend after I took so many photos of Dad and I together - the memories of that weekend will forever be engrained in my memory.
The last driveway photo was taken in August of 2021 long after our last ride together on motorcycles. We also took some shots of the vans together that month in front of the building with the intention of using them for advertising and promotional for the new shop.
That day never came but I’ve learned to cherish the memories and enjoy the time we have together even more.
My time with my Father was more meaningful and heartfelt than ever. The last weekend I was home in April 2024 we sat outside for hours in the sun on a 44 degree day and talked about the trees and way the leaves are blown into the yard.
And I wouldn’t have it any other way.
I love you Dad.
My father passed away June 9th, 2024 peacefully at home with us.
Enjoy the Ride!