Place: Sin Central Garage, Adel, Iowa Handle: @sincentralgarage URL: sin-central.com
What do you do for money?
Customize bikes, build hot rods, product spokes work, emcee
How did you get into motorcycles?
I just wanted it. It was cool, I was young and my parents didn’t like it. There was something about the idea of being able to get on a motorcycle, nobody in your ear, alone and free for as long as the gas would last that attracted me to the lifestyle.
What was your first motorcycle?
1953ish Panhead with a shovel front head. Its cool now, then I just didn’t have any money and figured out how to run it out of necessity.
What do you currently ride?
I ride a 1997 H-D Road King that is in its 13th or 14th recreation.
What is your all-time favorite motorcycle?
Anyone I’m riding at the time but I’m pretty open. I love the nostalgia of the older bikes but the rideability of the newer ones. I’m a Harley guy for sure. Big fan of the Evo motor.
What attracted you to motorcycles?
Now you see a bike in every garage but when I was growing up it was something that distinguished you from the normal citizen. I wanted to identify with a nostalgic lifestyle, culture and brand that seemed to point to some long forgotten set of American values of rebelliousness, individuality and freedom.
What do you like about riding motorcycles?
When I was riding the older iron I used to joke that the vibration made my balls jiggle. For me it is still about experiencing the wide openness of forgotten places in our country. It affords me the opportunity to meet new, often like minded people and have a sense of camaraderie.
How have motorcycles changed your life?
Damn man where do I even start. I have a Masters degree in Theological Studies and did my Doctoral work in Anthropology so the normal thing for me would be to teach in an ivory tower somewhere. But, because my heart was rooted in motorcycles I new that nothing could define me except for my passion. Motorcycles saved me from being pigeon holed an academician. It opened up opportunities for me to follow a lot of passions that otherwise would have been suppressed.
Who or what have you gained inspiration from?
There are a number of people and circumstances that have inspired me. My ex and current wife being single moms and still carving out awesome careers and raising great kids. My Father, who is a pastor, in-mid life was able to reexamine lots of faith issues, like homosexuality, and hear a new story and change his heart. My four adult children, who between them had two moms and three dads but still turned out amazing, having every excuse in the world to be pieces of shit. So, I guess, I find inspiration in people that fucking do their shit regardless of what they’ve been handed. People that determine who they are rather than having their past, present or even their own beliefs determine what the future looks like.
What has changed your life for the better?
My present wife. I have been a rowdy son of a bitch. Some might say I still am. But, when she met me I solved every confrontation efficiently with my fists. She was able to be something for me that allowed me to calm down. It gave me a chance to look up and be a better parent, partner, co worker and human being.
What has changed your life for the worse?
The influence of corporations on the motorcycle industry. They bring an unwanted element of posers to the table and have made 90% of the industry about selling shit to other posers.
Any other statements or slander you would like the world to know?
Fighting, fucking and drinking have been and always will be a part of the motorcycle culture. If you don’t like that then go ride a moped and leave me the fuck alone.
