Custom made chopper donated to Crazy Horse
Bike is called ‘Commitment’
On Tuesday, August 4, Crazy Horse Memorial Foundation officials took possession of a custom made motorcycle created by Eric Gorges, Voodoo Choppers out of Clinton Township, Michigan. With the mountain as the backdrop, the unveiling took place on the viewing veranda in front of a standing room only crowd.
The handcrafted bike features a custom black, cream, and red paint job with a Crazy Horse Memorial theme. Gorges appropriately dubbed the bike ‘Commitment’ in a parallel drawn to Crazy Horse sculptor Korczak Ziolkowski’s grit and determination to carve a mountain.
Gorges visited Crazy Horse Memorial in 2008 and was immediately inspired by the project. In an effort to help with the fundraising, Gorges put his natural ability and talent to work and created this one-of-a-kind chopper that he donated to the Memorial to raffle off.
He is the founder and owner of Voodoo Choppers, which began its custom made bike business in 1999.
This bike represents the 5th annual bike raffle fundraiser sponsored by the Crazy Horse Memorial Foundation. It is now on display in the Visitor Center. Tickets are one for $20 or three for $50. They may be purchased at the Memorial or by calling 605.673.4681. All proceeds will be used as a match towards the $5 million dollar Sanford challenge grant and will be used exclusively for the mountain carving.
The winning ticket will be drawn on Sept. 6, 2010, celebrating what would have been sculptor Korczak Ziolkowski’s 102nd birthday and honoring Crazy Horse’s death date in 1877.
Following the bike presentation, the crowd was treated to one of the biggest blasts of the season, removing 2,450 tons of rock off the mountain.
For more information on Eric Gorges and Voodoo Choppers, visit his website at www.voodoochoppers.com/index.html.
Crazy Horse Memorial is a nonprofit educational and cultural project honoring all American Indians. Located on Highway 16/385 between Hill City and Custer, it is just 17 miles SW of Mt. Rushmore. For more information on the Memorial and upcoming events, please call 605.673.4681.