We're out with Metal of Honor today and tomorrow for the 2009 SuperRun Car and Bike show in Henderson, NV. The event is free and families are encouraged to attend. Water Street (henderson's main drag) and many of the side streets are shut down for the next few days while classic, custom and show cars and bikes take over the city's downtown Business District.

When we came in at 7:30 this morning, it was already packed. One of the fellows at the gate found us a place for the trailer - even though we had to squeeze in. His dad is a Pearl Harbor Survivor and the pictures of the many Survivors on the trailer swayed him right to our side. So we got all set up on Panama and Pacific street next to a sweet blue Mustang.

Then I went wandering and met the VFW guys in the parking lot at The Rainbow Club. The GM and the Assistant GM immediately invited us to move the bike and trailer over here once I showed them a picture. Someone hadn't shown up and they had THE PERFECT SPOT open for both the bike and the trailer. I guess it was fate. Metal of Honor is parked in front of the trailer and getting all kinds of "stop in their tracks" looks. The staff and security here at The Rainbow are the friendliest and most professional of folks. Next time you're in Henderson, you should stop in for some of this old-fashioned hospitality!


We put out last week's four 1st Place plaques from the Cub Scouts Car and Bike Show at Red Rock Harley. It was a small show, but you can tell the boys worked so hard on the plaques. We wanted them to be on display in case any of the boys and their family come down. Plus, I'm very proud of my first sweep of trophies for Metal of Honor. It's like seeing your kid get an "A" on her first spelling bee. Baby steps to greatness ;)

On Saturday, September 12th, AIGA held its Tenth Anniversary Las Vegas Work Show to showcase the best graphic design artists in Nevada.

We're going to send these posters to the printer this week. These gorgeous images were taken by our friend Nate over at Black Diamond Digital and the poster was put together by Krystal (the Marketing Director) with a great deal of over the shoulder direction by yours truly.

The 36" x 24" glossy posters will be available for purchase both here on the blog and when we do appearances with Metal of Honor.

If you'd like one, they are just $10 + $2.50 shipping. You can email Krystal to preorder one until we get the order button up on the blog. You can also request that we toss in a bumper sticker for $2 more.


Proceeds from these two items will be used to offset the travel costs to take Metal of Honor out on display. The truck and trailer average about 8-11 miles per gallon.

While we're on that subject ... did you remember to make plans to join us at the big finale party for The Honor Run? We'll have Metal on stage with John Finn (if his health allows). We also heard Gary Sinese and his Lt. Dan Band are on board for a concert.

In preparation for our appearance during the Honor Run with John Finn at the big finale party on September 5th, we just sent these bumper stickers off to the printer. We'll have them for $2 each and will make them available for purchase on the blog once they get back from the printer around 8-20. Maybe we can raise enough cash to pay for the gas to get Metal and the trailer to Mesquite, then down to California and back.

The alternate design had the flowers & blue from the top of the blog, but Dana said that just wasn't gonna cut it for being put on a Harley. So I created this more reserved design. They look very good on his truck and we made it small enough (8" wide by 3" high) that it can go on the saddlebags of a motorcycle or helmet.

We'll be joining The Honor Run on September 3rd in Mesquite,NV with Metal of Honor. We are thrilled to be part of this great project and hope you'll ride with us in support of our returning heroes. It's just $35 to ride. Register or donate here.

I went with Dana today to pick Metal of Honor up from Chrome Fusion. She was in the shop having her pipes re-coated. The original black powder coat was flaking off. The new powder coat has a high gloss instead of matte finish. Dana isn't sure he likes it as much, but it will wear MUCH Better and hopefully not flake off.


Here's Dana and Sandy (he did all the hand engraving on Metal of Honor) with the bike inside the shop. As you can see, Sandy is a very busy man with a bunch of projects in the hopper. He says he going to stop doing small projects and focus on full bike jobs, like Metal. So if you wanted an engraved bike, well now you know who to call!



We didn't bring the trailer so Dana rode Metal over to Red Rock Harley where she has to go into the shop again for a factory recall to replace something or other. He rarely gets to ride her and LOVES how loud and fast she is. Don't really get to open her up in traffic since I don't think we went over 40mph. A pretty sedate ride for him, but I did get to drive the large and luxurious Ford Explorer (or whatever this giant SUV is that he owns) behind him on the way over. No way am I letting some idiot get behind him and damage "my" Harley! I usually drive a tiny Nissan Versa and well, you certainly feel much more invulnerable in one of these tanks! Once I figured out where the parking brake was hidden so I could disengage it so it would quit beeping at me, I quite enjoyed the air conditioned seats. It was a mind-numbing 110 degrees in Vegas today, in case you were wondering.

Dana checking out the new tank guard leather piece from Shirley over at BadAss Seats.



Watch out - Woman driver with a camera! (hey, I can poke fun at myself but you better hush!)

We had a great visit today with the Las Vegas PHSA Chapter out at Nellis AFB Officer's Club. The Survivors were very moved to see the bike and thrilled to see themselves on Metal's trailer. Quite a few of the officers and airmen going in to lunch stopped to check out the bike as well.


Pearl Harbor Survivor Jack Gold (93, oldest member of Las Vegas PHSA) stands proudly with Metal of Honor at the Nellis Officer Club. The Harley Davidson Cross Bones is owned by Dana Harbaugh, Las Vegas author and Navy Veteran. He created the bike with help from several local artisans to honor all those involved in the attack on Pearl Harbor.



Dana shows LV PHSA Chapter President Ed Hall, the detailed engravings that adorn Metal of Honor. The bike features over 100 images telling the story of the attack.


Nearing 90 years old, Las Vegas Survivor Clifton Dohrmann climbed right up on Metal of Honor for a picture. He was just delighted to see the bike and his picture on the front of the trailer. Once up on the bike, he gave Metal a good look over. He seemed very touched by the tribute to him and those he served with at Pearl Harbor.

Many thanks to Cate Berry for making sure security let us in the gate :)

A while back Dana took Metal of Honor over to a local school. He just recently received the sweetest Thank You card from the teacher and her kids.

The USS Arizona Memorial in Pearl Harbor is under going a huge renovation in preparation for it's grand reopening in December of 2010. Dana really wants to take Metal of Honor, the truck and the trailer over for the ceremony, but I can't even fathom how much that would cost! So he says to me.. "Hey I bet some high muckety-muck General could make this happen." I started laughing , but then I remember one of my guiding rules in life.. " if you don't ask, they can't say yes!"

So I'm asking. Anyone have any bright ideas on how to get the truck, trailer, and bike to Hawaii for the ceremony ... without it eating up the printing budget for the book, I mean.

Ok, back to the real world now.

David Melchior kindly sent this video over of Dana showing some guests at gathering held Joe & Lil Larkin's house all the engravings on Metal of Honor.





At the Joe Larkin's in San Diego, Dana Harbaugh goes over features of his customized 2009 Harley Davidson that is dedicated to Pearl Harbor survivors. He is explaining to Medal of Honor recipients SP4 John Baca, USA and Colonel Bob Modrzejewski, USMC. Also pictured is retired Marine Captain Joe Larkin. Metal of Honor is a play on words by Dana. His website is: http://www.pearlsofhonor.com. Dana served in the US Navy.

I've been retouching pictures for the past couple of days. Our photographer did a great job, but Metal is a giant mirror with all that chrome. There were a lot of reflections that had to be removed or disguised. Here are just a few of the final pics.

Dana just called from John Finn's 100th birthday BBQ. being held about 10 miles from his ranch house in the high desert. It was supposed to be a "small affair" with just 20 people or so. It is, in fact, a huge soiree with over 4,000 in attendance! Metal of Honor is parked on the stage near where John is seated. Dana says she is drawing a LOT of attention. I should have pics to post later today.

Metal of Honor got her day in the sun yesterday as the very talented Nate from Black Diamond Digital took over 400 photos of every angle of her gorgeous curves to document the engravings and for publicity use.

The first ones out of the gate will most likely go to Hot Bike Magazine as they have requested a cover story feature on Metal on Honor.

We shot up at Desert Shores on a corner that put the lake in the background. Our unseasonable cool weather has bid us ado and it was a sweaty 90 degrees plus, even at 8am. Metal and the trailer drew quite a few onlookers among the dog walkers and joggers. Lots of people stopped to check her out and ask about the project.



Of course, for all this Nate got some amazing shots. Dana and I are still sorting through them. You can see a few more over at Nate's blog.

Here's a few shots of the finished pipes. (large resolution photos.... click on photo to see close-up)

A good friend of mine, Debbie Reiter, mother of Mountain View Lutheran School 4th Grader Bobby Reiter, asked me to bring Metal of Honor over to the school on Monday, June 1st. The 4th and 5th grade class was full of questions about the bike, the attack and World War II. One young man was certain that one of the Survivors pictured on Metal's trailer looked exactly like his grandfather.



As my schedule allows,I hope that I can bring Metal to more schools so kids of all ages can experience this rolling history lesson and maybe have more appreciation for the veterans in their own families. You can request an appearance at your school or event.

Speaking of events, I have plans to ride Metal of Honor for the last leg of The Honor Run from San Marcos, CA to Oakley Sunglasses Headquarters in Foothill Ranch, CA for the big finale party. On the way there, the riders will be greeted by 1,000 American flags being flown along I-5 near Camp Pendleton. Dave Barr (the organizer of the Honor Run), and the 10,000 other riders expected to join him during the run, are raising money to care for our wounded veteran's needs.

I had heard about the run and was anxious to bring Metal up to Mesquite, where they will overnight on day 7 of the 9-day run. Then I saw the note on the ad that no more vendors were being accepted. Eariler this week, out of the blue, I got a call from one of the organizers who had heard about the bike through John Finn's people inviting me to join the run in Mesquite and appear with John at the finale party (if John's health allows). I am thrilled to be part of such a worthwhile cause. Watch the blog for more info as the date gets closer.