I listened to Rick Fairless’ radio show for the week of Oct 28th and he had Darcy Betlach as his guest. I was surprised to learn that the breakfast(s) that are held in Daytona for bike week and Sturgis for bike week will NO LONGER carry his name. The breakfast’s will carry the name of different people each time on a rolling basis. Darcy Betlach is the woman behind these events and was Billy’s P.R. person.We understand that relationship has also changed. Darcy is a teriffic gal and a very important force in the motorcycle industry. She said she is now doing some work with Russell Mitchell as well as other things. It was interesting to find out that Russell is a lisenced vetinarian(which we knew) and he was also the Marlboro man which we did not know) It seems Russell’s work in modeling and as the Marlboro man built his stake to open Exile Cycles. Darcy also said that Russell is doing a t.v. show with animals( dogs, cats, etc).She said Russell is a fascinating guy,completely different) than his public personna. This we also knew.
It seems like Billy is really starting to implode.There is no joy in that kind of information.
Beach
Yes, when we met Rusell at Sturgis this year I found him to be such a warm, engaging, courteous young man. (Sorry Russell if I’m smudging your “tough guy” image. :-))
He was so polite and pleasant to me and Beach even though he had just gotten off stage at some award show they were doing, it was hot as hell, and there were people jostling and shoving each other all over the place. I was even more impressed after meeting him in person than I had been.
Russell is A OK in my book!
Have either one of you ever met and talked to Billy Lane?
If so, how do you compare the two?
Yes,
I have met Billy Lane several times at bike shows. He was always charming and friendly.He was great with his fans. I am NOT a friend of Billy Lane nor am I an enemy.
I have met Russell several times also at shows. He was mostly quiet. He was friendly but reserved. He seemed like a nice guy. We saw both most recently at Sturgis.Billy was not accessable when we saw him.Russell was being Russell.
I want to say that we have nothing personal against Billy Lane.We were not attracted to his on air attitude.I am old enough to know what things were like before Billy and of course after.I care about how people represent ” the life “. This goes back a long time before the accident.Again, we are very sad about what happened and do not wish it on anyone. We feel for The Morelock Family as well as Billy Lane and his family.
It seems that people have a love-hate feeling for Billy Lane. There are many who love the guy and some who hate him.I think he liked it that way as his “karma” made him rich and famous.His “karma” also got him into the trouble he is in.We have tried to report objectively on this tragedy since day one.We try and stay objective on everything we report. We do have opinions but, when you do what we do how could we not?
We love the motorcycle industry and many of the people who inhabit it.We care about all the great folks we know.It is astonishing to me that anyone who followed the career of Billy Lane would be surprised at what happened.Shit happens when one starts to live the hype. Look at all the hollywood types who get in deep trouble.Look at all the athletes,politicians, who end up in trouble or jail.The tragedy is that this time someone lost their life.
We have interviewed over 20 of Billy’s peers in The Family Jewels. Each one had an opinion. It is fair to say that most everyone likes him and has respect for his talent.Maybe we have given too much attention to this matter but, our readers and family have shown more interest in Billy than anyone else, anything else we have covered.This was and is the “karma” that brought Billy everything he had and unfortunately seems to have led to his down fall.
Beach
After reading some of your archives, you have made it very clear that you do not like Billy.
In my opinion there are 3 kinds of bikers.
The first type – Bikers like Billy Lane, Mondo, Kendall Johnson, Aaron Green, Russell and a lot of people I ride with.
The second type – RUBS
The third type – Weekend warriors.
I’m not sure what you call it when you throw all of these types in one city for a bike event. This is where you see all 3 types in bars consuming large amounts of alcohol and then getting on their bikes and riding off.
Someone needs to stand up and start promoting not drinking and riding, especially during these events.
Billy is an excellent candidate to do that. Can you think of another well known biker that could also do this? Can they say “Look what happened to me and this is what it has done to my life”?
It is obvious he has changed his life. What will do more for the cause – throw him in jail and forget about him or let him remind people every time they see him?
Hey Ford,
I don’t know Mondo although I know a bit about him. I have met Aaron a couple of times and the same with Russell.I have met Kendall several times and he is a first class guy. I met his wife who could not have been nicer.
Listen, the biker world is not that much different than real life.People generally have a couple of close friends and they may come from inside or outside the industry.I think all the people who command respect, respect each other.These folks see each other at shows but mostly live all over the country, the world actually.
You would be correct if you said I don’t like the way Billy handled fame and some things he did. It is incorrect to say I don’t like him. I do not know Mr. Lane in a way to make that judgement even for myself. He was a force in the industry and has done some pretty good things. I have stated that repeatedly.It’s not cool to kick someone when they are down and I won’t do that.Billy can definitely do good things if he wants to.Neither you nor I know if he will get the chance for awhile or how he feels.He doesn’t get to control his own fate now unless he is able and willing to do a plea bargain. Of course the state of Florida has to agree.
In short, I have gotten the opportunity to meet a lot of Hamsters this year.There are about 275 of them and most try and support each other if they can.They do good things for people and support charities.Sturgis is the BIG event for them.They have a dinner, induct new members and get to spend a little time together.There are some who get rowdy on occassion but to me, they represent the kind of brother and sister I think is what it’s all about.I am quite sure there are many, many others out there that measure up to my definition of earned respect.I know a bunch I feel that way about who don’t belong to anything.
Listen man, it may sound corny but I live by a code.I have all my life.I have been riding a very long time. The great part of being part of the motorcycle world is that generally speaking, bikers are the best, most giving people in the world.As i have grown older I realize that being a tough guy,fighting, womanizing, and attitude don’t make a man.Walk the walk and you get my vote every time.
Thanks for writing and I hope you will continue to share your ideas and opinions with us.
Peace
Beach
Ford, I think Beach said it for a lot of us. Billy is no doubt a good man. In the beginning a lot of us questioned his builds as being winners , when the bike was incomplete. And we felt he won only because of his fame and persona. Not the build. It is as we all know television. And we take it for what it is . Beach has a heart for Billy as I do. But we all have to pay for our wrongs. And he reports the latest news be it Billy or Jesse and the Fed’s It is news nothing personal. Knuck
Thank You Knuck,
You said it well!! Everyone has a right to an opinion.We’ll post anyone’s thoughts as long as they are not offensive or intimidating to our family and readers.I mean you don’t get to call someone names and try to make them look bad for having an opinion.It would be a pretty boring world if we all agreed on everything.We only moderate stuff that is not fit to print.We haven’t had to do that at all in quite awhile.We’re all about freedom, integrity and our biker brothers and sisters period!!!
Beach