Biker celebrities

Motorcycle custom-bike builders and celebrities are in town for Bike Week and we got a peak into why they like to ride bikes.

Paul Teutul Sr., of Orange County Choppers and star of the show, American Choppers, got into bike building after bringing some of his custom bikes he built to Biketoberfest in Daytona Beach in 1999.

He has about 100 personal bikes of his own and loves to to out to the Rocky Mountains and mountains in Colorado to ride for a week or two. "I just enjoy the open space. I enjoy the sound of the motorcycle.  It's like you are out  in the elements. I just love it," he said.

He likes Daytona Bike Week "because it's probably one of the bigger shows out of all of them." He talked about the show and how he is more mellow than he appears -- just not when he's around his sons. He admits he can have a bad temper when provoked and can't stop himself.

He says fame has its "pluses and minuses like everything else." He's built for numerous celebrities, including actor, Bill Murray, he said.

What was life like before the show? He said "a lot easier." Though, he said he always was on the go and "living on the edge."

"I don't ever relax. I don't sit on the couch. I have 38 acres. I have animals and a pond I fish in," he said.

Other celebrities in town, include Michael Jordan, who owns Michael Jordan Motorsports. He'll be riding a new Suzuki around town. He grew up riding dirt bikes. Jordan enjoys the athletic challenge of racing, team officials said.

"It's one of those sports you can actually see the athlete work and see what the athlete is doing on the motorcycle, hanging off the side. It's a very physical process," said Kreig Robinson, director of new business development for Michael Jordan Motorsports,

Tra Thomas, of the Philadelphia Eagles, a native of DeLand, is also getting into motorcycles. He picked up  one last week at Red Ember Cycles. He likes riding because it's relaxing and there are no distractions, like people talking and music. 

Dan Haggerty, star of the 70s show, "The Life and Times of Grizzly Adams," knows how physical riding bikes can be. He's been in several accidents, including one that left him in a coma for period. But he continues to ride. He has four Harleys. 

He likes getting the "wind in your face and it gives you time to think. It gives you a look at the planet instead of being behind the windshield of the car."

As far as the old T.V. show, he hopes to soon work on a contemporary Grizzly Adams that would be filmed partly in Daytona Beach. 

He wouldn't have his bear, Ben, who he said died a couple of years ago at age 31. The bear was actually a female though played a male on the show. 

"She was my Sophia Loren in a fur coat. She was quite a gal," he said.

Vinnie DiMartino, formerly of American Chopper, and now with V-Force Customs, will also be in Daytona Beach. He hopes to start filming his own reality show in mid-summer and instructional videos on bike building. His parents have had a winter home in Palm Coast for about 20 years so he said coming to Daytona Beach "feels like home." He personally has eight bikes, mainly scooters and a dirt bike. 

He's always liked working with his hands and hopes he can encourage other young people.

For more on appearances during Bike Week and interview go to www.news-journalonline.com