Donnie Smith Bike Show, March 2008

I've been attending the Donnie Smith Bike Show every year since 2008, 2 years before I even started this blog.  When I did start the blog, I posted all my photos in black-and-white.  In part, it was artsy, in part, it was different, and in part, my camera & software weren't very good and I could hide a lot more in black-and-white.  Eventually, when my daughter was born, I got a better camera and I've been posting in color ever since.  My photography and editing have also improved with time too.  Since I'm on a slideshow kick, I wanted to make slideshows for the Donnie Smith show and, before I did that, I figured I should re-work my black-and-white 2009 & 2010 show photos (here and here) and include never-before-posted 2008 photos.  So let's step WAAAYYYY back in time and relive 2008 starting with David Polgreen's "King Diamond" (and check out the vintage CoC shirt in the background).

Where have all the over-the-top themed sport bikes gone?

Indian Larry bike for Yarusso's.

Some eye-catching airbrush.

Back in 2008, American Chopper was still airing new episodes and George W. Bush was still president.  This is the O.C.C. National Guard bike.  It was a different time.

I appreciate the weirdness.

Pointy things were also very trendy.

Giant rear tires and airbrush was the style of the day.

Not everything fit the stereotypical mold.

Very nice looking panhead:

Tom Rad and his chopper.

An early Kevin Baas bike:

Evel Knievel had passed away only 4 months before this show.

The O.C.C. influence was strong back then.

I wish I got better pictures of this thing:

A few parting shots of the show floor.  The show is pretty much the same then as it is today... only the bikes change.

Think that was a blast from the past?  2009 and 2010 (remastered and in full color) are up next.