Dave Perewitz-The King Of Flames

Hey,

I am writing about some of my favorite people in the industry. I started with the great Bert Baker and tonight it’s grand master Dave Perewitz.

  Dave has been designing motorcycles, building his dream machines, fabricating parts and of course doing the paint on some of the finest machines ever made. Dave has been at it for awhile now and is acknowledged by peers and enthusiasts alike as one of the all time greats.He is also a man I admire for who he is as a person and all he does for charity and the industry itself.Dave is a man I have admired for a long time from a distance and Train and me have been lucky enough to get to know him a lot better over the last couple of years.We are enlightened and priviledged for the the opportunity.

  Dave is a life long Massachussetts resident.He has seen it all and he continues to elevate his work every year.He is a founding member of “The Hamsters” along with his equally great life partner and wife Susan.His daughter Jody is, in her own right a kick ass builder and an integral part of the business. She has blossomed as an influental person in the industry and is deeply involved in teaching and promoting the “two wheeled world” to women.She and Sarah Liberte work closely together on many “female builds” and travel the country to promote women riders and the work she does.All of the Perewitz clan are great people as anyone who knows them can tell you. There is no one   that has had a greater impact on the motorcycle industry than Dave and no family that stands as tall as the “P”s as a clan.

  I wanted to talk about the fall charity event that The family holds every year. We had the opportunity to attend the ”fall fling” last year and we had a blast.There were a lot of people who came to support the Perewitz’ and their charity “MS”. There were many Hampsters who made the trip from all over the country. There were local people who are friends of the family and others as well. I can’t give you an exact number but I would conservatively say more than 200. This event takes an enormous amount of time and work to set up and somehow “the family” gets it done.There was a silent auction, an open auction, great food(New England Lobster), rides(New England in the fall is breathtaking) and Dave opens his home for everyone.Susan makes clam chowder(a lot of it) and you feel like part of a big extended family.We got to talk to some amazing people(Donnie Smith, Joe Pro, Scott Webster) and others plus I got some time with Zippy who is part of the family and we made friends.

  There were two things that really struck me. Dave and Susan introduced a friend of theirs who was having some hard times. Her husband was ill and there were some big medical bills to be paid. Dave presented her with a large check to help out and the gesture and her reaction made me proud. I also talked with Joe Pro about a serious medical problem he had and he told me about how the “P” s and the Hamsters made the big difference in his recovery.Joe and Dave go way back. I saw the bike Dave had built for Joe. I had seen it in a magazine but it was amazing to see it in person. I think this was the sixth or seventh bike Dave had made for Joe.Dave’s work is just incredible.

  I won’t forget this experience as it was what I think about when I think about the motorcycle culture, the ideals I have, and the amazing talent a man like Dave Perewitz has.I was also struck by the friendship I felt that Dave has with many people and how he and Donnie Smith( another legend) support each other in all that they do.

  O.K. I know this is a little mushy but it has always been my intent to get people to know the people they admire from afar.I did an interview with Dave which is also in the Family Jewels part of the website and as with Bert Baker, we will make it available to all of you at no cost.As with Bert, I am amazed at the energy Dave has. He too is everywhere and somehow finds time for family, friends, and charity.We dig the P’s even though they root for the patriots, the red sox and probably every other home team. I bet they are excited with what the Celtics are doing this year. It’s been awhile www.perewitz.com Eddie Trotta is up next.

                      Beach