16 Mar,2014

2014 5th Annual Unity Thunder Car & Bike Show

Routinely we travel around reviewing new vehicles from the exotic Bugattis at the Geneva Auto Show to practical everyday rides such as the Nissan Altima while methodically working with company executives, manufacturers, dealers and other industry cohorts advising on next big trend to hit to scene. That’s the A-side of our lives. Flip to the B-side and welcome to the local level yet equally as important custom car shows such as the Nation Capital’s Unity Thunder Classic Custom Car & Bike show held at the D.C. Armory.

Allow me set the scene for you. The majority of the vehicles present at the show are American Muscle, dating back as far as 1932 to the show cutoff of 1986. Imports here are few and far in between which was more than OK for the droves of attendees that flocked the Armory for a nostalgic look at some of yesteryear’s finest.

The Unity Thunder Car and Bike show is more than just an amazing show of timeless American classics and muscle. It also serves to support and benefit our brave American Vets, past and present with attracting the attention of Fox5 morning news with Holly Morris and car enthusiast, NFL Analyst, and Sports Anchor James “JB” Brown who unveiled his latest creation at the start of the show, an immaculate candy apple coated custom dropped 1969 Chevy Camaro. JB (adopted Honorary Unity Thunder member) was equally at home talking shop and old school cars as he is with in depth NFL analyst.

The automobiles on display include complete restorations with custom paint, updated bodywork, fresh interior and other goodies to completely draw your eye. The attention to detail these vehicles exhibit is nothing short of amazing with custom fabricated parts, painted murals and highly customized engine work with enough horsepower under the hood to shake the rafters of the DC Armory.

Beyond the paint, chrome, and muscle what makes this show so compelling are the stories behind each build. Some built to carry on the memory of a loved-one lost or as a family project. The one story that was a true show stopper was that of Wounded Warrior Jarrad “Hot Rod” Davenport with his patriotically crafted Stars and Stripes custom 2006 Suzuki GSX-R 1000. Built with the support of Garwood Custom Cycles as means to honor and represent his time of service in the U.S. Army, Jarrad deservedly won the Best In Show award. Although not as plentiful as the cars, the show was certainly not without its share of other custom bikes. Local builder “Bay” pulled out his custom low chopper, his pro-charger Harley-Davidson Screamin’ Eagle Street Glide along with his custom candy blue Harley-Davidson Road Glide. Taking a more ghoulish approach was Savage Cycles’ apocalyptic Resident Evil custom chopper.

I love the fact that these shows are family oriented. To see multiple generations of the same family gathering around a vehicle, I can’t help but to flashback on my days growing up attending car shows and look forward to many more Unity Thunder Car Shows.

By Adrian McQueen @aboogie301

ThrottleLife Journalist

With additional photography provided by Insana Collins @InsanaC

writer Insana-Collins

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