A local motorcycle enthusiast won the Best in Colour Award at this year’s Sturgis Motorcycle Rally.
Trevor Wasylyshen was the first Canadian to win the award at the annual Dave Perewitz Show.
“The Perewitz paint show is one of the most prestigious shows in Sturgis. We took down a bike that we’ve been rebuilding since the COVID lockdowns and this bike plays at the same level as the top, top, top builders in the industry,” he said. “It’s a full 32-inch layframe road glide.”
Fifty bikes were entered in the show, which only has three awards - Best in Colour, Best Use of Graphics and People’s Choice - with Wasylyshen placing second in the People’s Choice.
“We showed up late, too, so that could have played a factor in voting. A lot of the voting was done through the cell phones,” he said.
Wasylyshen admits he was blown away by his win.
“We go down there annually hoping to win something. It’s just a very cool experience. I’ve looked up to a lot of the guys in the industry over the years and we’ve become more than just acquaintances. I talk to these guys on a daily basis and everyone was very happy for me, not only for myself, but for the guys that helped me at home here building the bike. So it was a really cool experience,” he said.
Wasylyshen had help from two friends locally and another friend from Lockport who did the paint job.
Von Knobb Kustom Paint, Wasylyshen said, is one of the best in Canada and the two have been friends for years.
“We got the first paint job from him and he’s done every bike for me since,” he said.
Wasylyshen hopes to defend his title next year with another bike that is being built for the 2024 show.
“This bike is now going to stay as a show piece for myself,” he said.
Wasylyshen thanks everyone who has supported him over the years.
“Even if names aren’t mentioned, family and friends that have stuck by my side through a lot of the crap. There’s a lot of tension when it comes up close to the show,” he said. “It’s not a local Friday or Saturday night bike meet. These are guys that are spending hundreds of thousands of dollars to basically prove themselves. It’s a big ordeal. It’s definitely a huge accomplishment.”
Wasylyshen said his bike was just featured on Street Biker Magazine.
“It’s pretty cool,” he said.
