RAPID CITY, S.D. – A quote from Kurt Koffka, one of the founders of Gestalt psychology, in his book, Principles of Gestalt Psychology, says, “The whole is more than the sum of its parts.” Koffka was simply making an assertion that relationships between the elements or components of a system contribute to the nature of that system in a way that is separate from any contributions made by the elements.
That’s kind of “heady” stuff, but there are a few folks in the motorcycle industry that would agree, wholeheartedly, with Koffka’s statement. Just ask Tom Binyon. Binyon is the owner of BaggerWorks Custom Touring Motorcycles in Wichita, Kansas, and the builder of a one-off custom bagger, “The Dakota”, that will be the featured auction item at the 2008 Kids & Chrome benefit dinner and auction, which will take place on Wednesday, August 6, 2008, in Spearfish, SD during the 2008 Sturgis Motorcycle Rally.
Binyon was introduced to Kids & Chrome during the 2007 Sturgis Motorcycle Rally, and was so impressed by the mission of Kids & Chrome, which is to enrich the outreach and programs provided by Children’s Home Society (the “Kids” in the foundation’s moniker) and Sturgis Motorcycle Museum & Hall of Fame (the “Chrome”), that he contacted the Kids & Chrome Foundation to offer to donate his services on the build for 2008.
Binyon, along with Ted Sands, Vice President Sales & Marketing for Performance Machine and long-time friend and supporter of Kids & Chrome, and Jim Burgess,
co-owner of Black Hills Harley-Davidson and Board President of Kids & Chrome Foundation, went to work to enlist partners to supply parts and components for the build.
A generous industry quickly responded. The one-off custom bagger’s list of components reads like a corporate whose-who of the motorcycle world. BaggerWorks is contributing a custom built frame by Rolling Thunder Frames, a Matt Risley fuel tank, a custom Perse Performance front end, a special Baker 250 RSD (right side drive) transmission, and a detachable front fairing from Kevin Evans, as well as many other components. Black Hills Harley-Davidson is building and contributing a fuel-injected Harley-Davidson 110" TwinCam "B" engine, as well as many other Harley-Davidson components to the build. Performance Machine is contributing the wheels, brake systems, hand controls, and many other components from its Contour line. The bike will also feature a Legend Air suspension, a Vance & Hines custom exhaust, a Corbin FLH Bagset and rear fender, a Danny Gray seat, as well as numerous parts and accessories from Arlen Ness, Drag Specialties, Headwinds, Metzeler and others.
And, while the above-described “sum” of parts is pretty impressive, the “whole” will blow you away, as industry folks will see when the 2008 Kids & Chrome bike, The Dakota, is revealed in the lobby of the Duke Energy Center on the opening day of the V-Twin Expo in Cincinnati the first weekend in February.
“I’m really excited about this build. I’ve put my heart and soul into this. It’s been an exciting and challenging opportunity for me, and goes to show you how this industry comes together for a great cause. That’s why I named this bike ‘The Dakota’. The name, Dakota, is derived from a Sioux term meaning friends or allies”, commented Binyon. Binyon was quick to point out that the build would have been a much greater challenge without the generosity and support of Ted Sands and Jim Burgess. “Both Jim and Ted worked tirelessly to solicit the donation of parts from their peers in the industry”, Binyon added.
“This bike will undoubtedly be the showpiece of the Kids & Chrome benefit auction”, Burgess said. “Tom’s just done a phenomenal job on this build. We believe this bagger will be the ‘crown jewel’ of the Kids & Chrome auction. It will make a huge contribution toward helping our kids at the Children’s Home Society, as well as our friends at the Sturgis Motorcycle Museum, and that’s what this is all about.”
Through its fundraising efforts, Kids & Chrome provides the Children’s Home Society with funding to support a home, school, and therapy for children, primarily ages 4 to 13, with emotional or behavioral problems. Most are victims of severe abuse and/or neglect. CHS also provides foster care, adoption services, and emergency shelter services for children who are victims of domestic violence. Additionally, Kids & Chrome provides funds to the Sturgis Motorcycle Museum, established in 2001, to underwrite new museum exhibits and further archiving efforts in order to continue its mission of preserving the great history of motorcycling and honoring the men and women who have advanced the sport and lifestyle.
For a sneak preview of the 2008 Kids & Chrome Bike “The Dakota” by BaggerWorks, or for more information on the 4th Kids & Chrome benefit dinner and auction held on Wednesday, August 6, 2008, during the 2008 Sturgis Motorcycle Rally at the Spearfish Holiday Inn & Convention Center, Spearfish, SD, go to www.kidsandchrome.com. For sponsorship and auction donation information, contact Darla Crown at Children’s Home Society at darla.crown@chssd.org or phone 605/391-5555. For event or ticket information, contact Stacey Sharp, Kids & Chrome Event Coordinator, at stacey@thesharpagency.com or phone 605/341-5226.
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