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Progressive IMS Names Gas Axe Chop Shop 2019 J&P Cycles Ultimate Builder Custom Bike Show Champion

Tim Dixon of Gas Axe is crowned King of Builders at the IMS finale in Chicago

February 20, 2019

Freestyle Winner:

Leaving with the biggest cut of the night was Tim Dixon of Gas Axe Chop Shop, who pocketed $10,000 for his custom hardtail with a springer front end in the Freestyle class. Leatherwood Motorcycle Works dabbed the color onto this Shovelhead-powered build, which also rolls with a handmade frame and wheels by Gas Axe along with other custom features.Manny Pandya/Progressive Motorcycle Shows

Who among us wouldn’t want to bring home the whole enchilada after duking it out with our peers over the course of seven hard-fought contests? That was the setup for the finale of the J&P Cycles Ultimate Builder Custom Bike Show (UBCBS) taking place in Chicago last weekend. Well, the dust has settled and Tim Dixon of Gas Axe Chop Shop was the last one standing, nabbing the coveted top award in the Freestyle category. Additionally, winners were crowned in each of the other categories of Progressive International Motorcycle Shows’ 2018–2019 J&P Cycles UBCBS Championship, and you had separate prizes announced just for the Chicago event. The final throwdown round took place February 15–17 at the Convention Center in Chicago, with winners getting points for creativity, craftsmanship, and building ability from a panel of expert judges that included big names like director Bob Kay, Kevin Dunworth, former UBCBS champion Kyle Shorey, Mark Cresswell, and Max Ness.

Bob Kay went on to note, “The builders’ hard work and passion is evident through the sheer creativity and artistry that each bike encompasses. This year’s reigning champion, Tim Dixon, stood out in the championship round with a 2018 Custom Chopper.”

To see more of the 2019 championship winners keep scrolling and let us know who is your favorite.

Freestyle Runner-Up:

Wayne Burgess and Connery’s custom paint 2006 Shovelhead digger, dubbed “Nancy,” got plenty of eyeballs popping with its hot-rod theme and polished Shovelhead powerplant with diamond-cut heads, a custom exhaust, Mooneyes control pedals, brass accents, and more.Manny Pandya/Progressive Motorcycle Shows

Custom Retro Winner:

This sweet 1966 Triumph T100 hardtail was customized by Anthony Robinson of Anthony Robinson Gasoline & Coffee. The immaculate 500cc parallel-twin engine sports what seems like endless engraving on the cases.Manny Pandya/Progressive Motorcycle Shows

Custom Retro Runner-Up:

Austin Andrella and painter FT Customs/Hamilton Design Company rolled out this absolutely spartan 1976 Yamaha XS650 with an AMO frame, AMO handlebars, AMO fender struts, matching 21-inch wheels, Barnett clutch plates and springs, and AMO gas tank and airbox.Manny Pandya/Progressive Motorcycle Shows

Custom Harley-Davidson Winner:

Eric Bennett of Bennett's Performance Inc. is no stranger to custom Harley builds, and he brought all his skill to bear with a wicked 1977 Harley-Davidson custom sporting the front water-cooled engine out of the twin-engined Jammer Streamliner that raced across the Bonneville Salt Flats in 1978, setting the AMA record at 276.376 mph in the process. Pretty friggin' cool.Manny Pandya/Progressive Motorcycle Shows

Custom Harley-Davidson Runner-Up:

David Dupor and painter Paul Boeckman/Kallemyn gave us this lavish 2006 Harley-Davidson Springer Softail sidecar, complete with a DD Custom Cycle steel tank and steel fenders, DD Custom Cycle Ghost bars, K-Tech controls, Liberty sidecar, Ken’s Factory lighting, one-off spoke wheels and a stroker motor, and tons of other intricate details. This entry also won the Custom Harley class for just the Chicago round of the series.Manny Pandya/Progressive Motorcycle Shows

Custom Street Winner:

Talk about imagination: Juan Rodriguez channeled some serious fire with this 2004 Suzuki Hayabusa-based build, rolling on a 300 rear tire with air suspension. Can’t miss that airbrushed custom paint either, or the LED lights, molded windscreen, custom front fender, polished frame, and wickedly stretched swingarm. It’s no wonder it also won its class for the Chicago round.Manny Pandya/Progressive Motorcycle Shows

Custom Street Runner-Up:

Keith Castellano tore this 2016 Ducati Panigale 959 down to the frame, and worked with his painter Gator to reimagine the subframe and engine (painted black) with backlit Ducati branding and matte-white plastics.Manny Pandya/Progressive Motorcycle Shows

People’s Choice, Chicago UBCBS round

Bryant Levant won the People’s Choice category in the IMS Chicago round with this mash-up of a 1971 VW Trike and Harley Street Glide, featuring an LED light system sound system and a .50-cal replica weapon on the roof.Manny Pandya/Progressive Motorcycle Shows