TRIP TO TIJUANA CHOPPER SHOW - BRIGHTON TATTOO CONVENTION

“So the story is…these guys are heading to a party in Tijuana, Mexico.  It’s one helluva long ride, so a stop over is needed.  A fire is built, smoke some weed, drop some acid and crack open a few beers!  Riding free, living the dream…just you’ your buddies and your motorcycles”

It’s a glorious sunny day on Brighton sea front and the crowds are gathering outside the Brighton Centre for the 10^th Brighton Tattoo Convention.  Taking place over two floors it was the biggest and best convention yet, featuring nearly 300 tattoo artists from over 32 countries, with every style of tattooing you could wish for!  They was also a plethora of trade stalls, a Judas Priest inspired painted leather jacket exhibition and the return of live music in the evening!

However! There was one main reason why we were at the convention this year, and that was for the ‘A Trip to Tijuana’ Chopper Show!  Organised by the Trip Out’s Andy and Anna Porter, along with Paul Savigar (Pacoima Motorcycles) and Dan Haines (Period Custom Cycles), it is the first time this amount of 60’s and 70’s period choppers have been brought together for their own unique show!

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Located downstairs in the Brighton Centre the show had its atmospheric space inspired by the cool art of David Mann, who painted incredible pictures of the 60’s/70’s chopper scene.  Parked up on side of the room set against a large backdrop of one of Mann’s chopper bar paintings were an inspiring collection of bikes, that included, Andy Porters awesome ‘Dirty Needle’ 1972 Harley Shovelhead, Paul Savigar’s mind blowing 1947 Harley Knucklehead, Adam Brinks 1950 Triumph Thunderbird chopper and Spike Judd’s 1976 Harley Shovelhead.

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Across from the bar took you into the Mexican desert, set against a trippy mountain backdrop painted by Nik Gernert parked around a camp fire were more of the UK’s finest period choppers.  These included such fine machines as Dan Haines blue and polished 1952 Panhead, Steve Elder’s 1949 Panhead with a subtle but excellent tank paint job, Andy Porters 1949 survivor Panhead and riding all the way from Belgium was Gilles pink 1953 pan.  

The show enjoyed a steady stream of people passing through during the weekend who were all suitably impressed with the machinery on display, as well as taking time to enjoy some of the 60’s and 70’s biker B movies being shown, such as the classic ‘Easy Rider’ along with ‘The Wild Angels’ and ‘Werewolves on Wheels’!  The show also featured a chopper inspired art show by the ‘Mystical Freaks’, a collective of chopper riding artists, photographers and designers.  For those with some extra cash in their pockets there was also selection of stalls selling bike related goods, including jewelry from ‘The Great Frog London’, clothing from those cool ladies at ‘Born Bitchin’ and bike parts from ‘Period Custom Cycles’.  Big thanks to all involved and Woody for letting this excellent show take place at the tattoo convention.  

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