Bling Johnson's Harley for Ian Surprise
UPDATE AS OF 7/21/14 at 2:40pm: Coming down the home stretch! Got the flat black paint done, new seat, mirrors and a bunch of other parts. Adding some custom paint detail to the tank, pipes should be in today and the air cleaner will be in tomorrow. Can't wait until Wednesday when we give it to him! I have about $4,000 into the project so far and while I certainly don't expect to raise that amount any help would be appreciated. See you all at Nutty Brown Cafe Wednesday night at 7:30pm for the presentation!
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Here's the bike I just picked up for him Thursday night. This is the "before" picture. The customization begins now.
*** PLEASE KEEP THIS CONFIDENTIAL AND IF YOU KNOW IAN DO NOT SPEAK A WORD OF THIS TO HIM. IF YOU DO, I WILL PERSONALLY HUNT YOU DOWN.
We started filming The Bling Johnson Show for TV over 3 years ago. I have been extremely fortunate to have so many people help over the years voluntarily and because they believed in what we are trying to do with the show, which is to give artists a platform on television to grow their audience. Ian Manzak has been my right hand man during this time always there to film whatever footage is needed and has never been paid for his work.
Ian is in his mid-twenties and has recently declined a couple higher paying jobs that would have required him to move out of town so he could continue his work in the Dripping Springs area with children. He has put in years at the YMCA and has been an influential part of many kids lives and always does it with a great attitude and a genuine care and concern for these kids. He also stayed so we could continue to try and get our tv show to a national level.
Last year we had a group of us go to Sturgis to film the tv show. Even though Ian didn't have a motorcycle of his own he went anyway riding on the back of bikes, in the back of a pickup and anywhere we needed him to be to film riding footage and interviews. And I'll admit, we've even had to share a bed at hotels numerous times because I was too cheap to stay at nicer places that had two beds.
In 3 weeks we are headed to Sturgis again and I want to surprise Ian with his own Harley-Davidson Sportster. I have located a pre-owned Harley and am buying it. In 2 short weeks I will be putting a custom paint job on it as well as some other custom parts so it fits him perfectly and looks cool. We will be surprising Ian on Stage at the KOKE FM Free Texas Concert Series at Nutty Brown Cafe in Austin on July 23rd just in time for him to be able to take it to Sturgis with us at the end of the month.
While I am spending my own money on this project and will be doing most all of the work myself at my shop "Let's Get Famous Customs" I can't do everything I want to do for him by myself. Over the next 2 weeks there will be a lot of work to do and a lot of parts and materials to buy. If you can help by making a donation to the project I know Ian would appreciate it and I will be able to give him a better bike than I could on my own.
Also, plan on coming to Nutty Brown on Wednesday July 23rd where Whiskey Meyers is the band in concert that night. It's a free concert and we will surprise Ian on stage at 7:30pm. We will be filming this entire process for the tv show as well. ANY amount helps whether its $1 or $1,000 and your money will go directly towards this custom Harley and a very deserving guy. THANK YOU and LET'S GET FAMOUS!
- Bling Johnson
