Every year, #THE1MOTO Champ of Champs Award Belt hand-crafted by the one and only @sandwitchleather becomes more than an award…. It’s a piece of art and history made for one of the builders who brought something unforgettable to The One Motorcycle Show.
This year the Champ of Champs Award (The Overall Champion Bike) was awarded to @bite4size Jenna Forstrom’s 1969 Harley-Davidson/Aermacchi Rapido 125 MLS 🏆
Shoutout to @harleyhomeless for capturing a small piece of the story behind it!
This motorcycle has a story. It was built in 1969 in Lake Varese, Italy. It was imported into Yakima, Washington, USA, in 1970 and last registered in Oregon in 1972. La Leonessa (The Lioness) has been a winter project of learning, history, blood, sweat, and tears.
Since La Leonessa’s story is now part of my story, I’m so grateful to have connected with a local female painter @simulatedsummer , who not only got rid of that awful orange (sorry, not sorry) but incorporated Italian-inspired “tiles” into the racing stripe across the tank.
Galileo’s Star, to honor the history of this Aermacchi Rapido, sand dollars, representing being raised on both the east and west coasts of America, Khmer tiles highlighting my time in Cambodia, and of course, mermaid scales - because why not?
I’m continuing to learn and build this bike and can’t wait for what is in store for us in our next chapter. La Leonessa, the 1960 Aermacchi Rapido 125 MLS.
13 years of “gotchas” ♥️ Earlier this summer, it seemed impossible to arrive to this day. And while you have aged well, we had some scares. I remain incredibly grateful to be your mom. Thanks for the snuggles, the snores, the overwhelming cuteness, gentle care and pestering positive presence when food is around. You continue to be the bestest boy.
After a few years of voting abroad while overseas. Tonight, Bullet and I curled up on the couch and read through my Oregon Voters Pamphlet and some online research via VOTE411. Tomorrow, we will walk to the mailbox to send in my vote and I’ll keep my eye on my email and text confirmation that my vote was counted. I am grateful to live in a country with the freedom to vote and thankful to live in a state where I can do it from the comfort of my home on this dark and rainy night.
To my American friends abroad - Please vote.
To my Oregon and out-of-state friends - please vote too!
Putting feelers out there - anyone interested in renting a four bedroom / two bath in inner southeast? My house will be available for rent starting in September. (I’m still living in the ADU so don’t stress).
In September, I landed back in the US in a pretty bad mental state. I took a motorcycle course to get my license. At the end of the course, the instructor pulled me aside and suggested I become an instructor and listed off some skills both on and OFF the bike. Needless to say, I needed the encouragement. I felt seen and appreciated for the first time in awhile. Today, I became an instructor. I’ve made loads of new friends and am looking forward to teaching more folks (especially womxn) to ride. ❤️
