WITH VIDEO: Custom motorcycle unveiled at Soaring Eagle Casino and Resort
What most bikers would consider a lifelong dream is now a reality for the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe.
The Tribe can now claim ownership of a motorcycle built and designed specifically for them by Orange County Choppers.
The chopper was unveiled to the Tribe Saturday afternoon outside the Soaring Eagle Casino and Resort, 6800 Soaring Eagle Blvd., in front of a crowd of about 15,000.
The bike was presented by Orange County Choppers founder Paul Teutul, Sr. who stars in the Discovery Channel series, "American Chopper."
"It's an honor to be here," Teutul said as he unveiled the chopper. "This was great project for us, the whole thing was really cool."
The motorcycle is equipped with birch bark paint, rims resembling dream catchers, feathers, a seat woven with baskets, a Soaring Eagle image on the back and a 100-inch Indian motor.
The bike received a traditional Indian blessing with smoke and feathers during its unveiling. Tuetul told the audience it has one of the best engines ever made.
"Want me to fire it up?" he asked the crowd, which gave entheusiastic screams of excitement in response.
Fireworks filled the sky as the chopper sped off the stage with screaming fans swarming its departure.
The motorcycle was then put on display in the VIP room of the Soaring Eagle's hotel conference center.
Other Orange County Chopper bikes were on display throughout the casino.
The casino's parking lots were filled with motorcycles, the drivers of which came from all across the state to view the new Chippewa bike.
Holly resident Mike Gutterviers, a member of the Flint chapter of the Warthogs motorcycle club, traveled two hours to the unveiling and said the bike turned out great.
"Paul was right about the Indian engine," he said. "I liked the dream catcher rims, this was great for the tribe."
Albion residents Kevin Huffman and his wife Denice traveled two hours on their bikes to see the custom motorcycle.
Kevin Huffman said he enjoyed the way the Indian culture was incorporated into the chopper's design.
"It looked like they put a lot of attention to detail into," he said. "It was definitely worth coming out."
Ithaca resident Vicki Wideman said she loved the motorcycle's sound.
"I liked the color, the style and the seat," she said. "It was better than I expected."
news@cm-life.com
