Jeremy Cupp Takes Ultimate Builder Custom Bike U.S. Championships
Jeremy Cupp took the title, with his custom 1976 883 Harley-Davidson, at the Ultimate Builder Custom Bike U.S. Championships during the final judging in Daytona Beach, Fla.
Cupp, of LC Fabrications, Mount Crawford, Va., took the 2012 Grand National Championship title and won the Freestyle Class by beating a field of 19 competitors.
Jeremy Cupp’s TT Deluxe. Cupp took the title with another of his bikes, the Old Black.
“I am incredibly humbled to receive this award, and am still in shock that I actually won the Grand National Championship,” Cupp said. “The entire field of competitors brought amazing motorcycles down to Daytona, and each one was world-class in its own right.”
Steve Iacona, of Brooklyn, N.Y.-based Iacona Custom Cycle, took first place in the Modified Harley category with a 1996 Harley XL. Mark Webster of MW Performance in Flower Mound, Texas, won in the Retro Mod category with a 1973 Yamaha TX 650 creation; and Mike Beland of A1 Cycles in West Palm Beach, Fla., won the Performance Custom category with a modified 2012 A1 Street Racer.
Cupp takes home a $6,000 cash prize and an invitation to the World Championship this summer in Sturgis.
His 1976 Harley XL, named “Old Black,” sports an 883cc Harley motor modified with two rear heads which were reversed and dual Amal carburetors. But it’s Old Black’s chassis which helped Cupp take the title.
“Truly separating itself from the rest of the custom builders along the tour, the Hillclimber chassis gave the motorcycle an aggressive appearance with dual jackshaft drive chains mounted on the rear tire,” said a spokesperson for the Progressive International Motorcycle Shows.
Cupp took first place at the show in Charlotte, S.C., to earn a spot at the Daytona championships. The freestyle category was sponsored by Street Chopper.
In the Modified Harley category, sponsored by Hotbike, Iacona’s 1200cc Harley features a hand-formed sheet metal chassis, traditional bobber style and hardtail modification. Iacona’s “Challenger” has Buell heads, dual 30mm Mikuni carbs and a paint scheme by Hub Grafix.
Iacona came to Daytona after winning first place at the New York show and collected his $4,000 cash prize and a new Screamin’ Eagle motor worth about $7,000. Iacona also receives an invitation to the world championships in Sturgis.
The Retro Mod category, sponsored by Motorcyclist, gave Webster’s 1973 Yamaha TX 650 with a 650cc engine and a chopped and lightened Street Tracker chassis. The bike features head porting, stainless valves, R&D springs, a Boyer Brandson ignition, a Mega Cycle 20.0 cam, competition clutch, Akront wheels, Barnes quick change rear hub and KYB Piggyback shocks. Webster came to Daytona after taking first place at the Dallas IMS show. He wins a $2,000 cash prize and an invitation to the world championships in Sturgis.
In the Performance Custom category, sponsored by Super Streetbike, the A1 street racer named “Janet” gave Beland top honors along with a $2,000 cash prize and an invitation to compete in Sturgis. The bike features a 140ci Turbo Nitrous engine and Pro Street chassis. Modifications include a hand-built, mono-shock, Hayabusa stretched swing arm, hand-laid fiberglass, a hand-built tank and a custom front end. Beland also came to Daytona after winning honors in Charlotte, according to show management.
For more information, visit www.motorcycleshows.com.
