Continued....

Themed bikes have been much in vogue lately, although I'm pleased to say that few make their way into the pages of this particular periodical. While the very mention of just such a custom derivative is enough to make me reach for the AK47, when Alain Bernard at Santiago Chopper Specialties in Florida told me the rhyme and reason behind 'Jessie's Ride', the trike to which he'd just put the finishing touches, I was more than happy to do my best to publicize the sad and tragic circumstances that inspired its construction.

Jessica Marie Lunsford was just nine years old when she was abducted from her home in Homosassa, Florida, in the early hours of February 14th 2005. Her abductor was·a neighbor, a 42-year-old convicted repeat sex offender and crack addict called John Couey. He held the little girl captive for three days, raping her at least twice before tying her up in a bin liner and burying her alive in a shallow grave. On 7th March 2007, Couey was found guilty of all the charges against him relating to Jessica's kidnap and murder and, despite an appeal, was sentenced to death by a Florida court in August of the same year. Which probably means that the bastard will be kept alive on 'Death Row' for umpteen years as the legal scavengers wring as much money as they can out of the case with appeal after appeal before the sentence of the court is (maybe) carried out with a painless lethal injection. If they can't find a needle, I'd be happy to do it slowly -and painfully -with a blowtorch, a pair of molegrips and a claw hammer. Following the death of his daughter, Jessica's father, Mark Lunsford, started a campaign to demand stringent tracking of sex offenders after their release from prison. Aided by public outrage at Jessica's murder, the Jessica Lunsford Act was finally made law in not only in Florida, but subsequently in forty-two other states, introducing a mandatory sentence of twenty-five years in prison and lifetime electronic monitoring of any adult convicted of sexual crimes against a victim under twelve years old. However, the original Jessica's Law passed in Florida demands the death sentence, or life imprisonment without parole, for the rape of a child under twelve.

Mark Lunsford's appeal for tougher monitoring of convicted sex offenders gained a great deal of support from the local bikers in the Tampa area. As part of that support, Alain Bernard at Santiago Choppers contacted friends in the custom bike industry with the idea of building a trike in Jessica's memory, and to help her father's attempts to publicize the need for more severe measures against the rapists, nonses and child abusers that were being allowed to rejoin society with little or no supervision.

Alain's plea was answered by offers of parts and services by everyone he contacted, all of whom were more than happy to help out. Alain himself provided many of the basic components, along with the fabrication of the chassis and fuel tank. The trike is powered by a lOO-cubic-inch RevTech 'Evo' engine which is fitted with a 42mm Mikuni carb sporting a one-off dolphin air cleaner -a large purple cuddly dolphin was Jessica's favorite toy. The motor is coupled to a six-speed RevTech gearbox by a BDL belt primary drive, the chain final drive terminating with a custom VG rear axle modified by Alain. Powder coated and painted to match the engine, the distinctive American Suspension springer front end is mated with a Weld Racing 21 x 3-inch five-spoke cast aluminum wheel, coated in white to match the super-wide 12" x 19" Chevrolet Corvette rear wheels. The finished machine is being used to bring the against pedophiles to national attention throughout the USA, and to promote greater awareness of the need to strengthen the laws governing child predators. But Alain Bernard's generosity and big heart didn't end there. He also built two more choppers which were raffled off earlier this year to raise money for the Jessica Marie Lunsford Foundation. Bristling with accessories from its many sponsors, the Santiago Choppers trike sits Iowan' lean, while the stunning paintwork by Ron Rh::h at Creator Customs depicts images of Jessica, her beloved dolphins and a poignant sentiment from Matthew 18, verses six and seven. that reads, But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a great millstone fastened around his neck and to be drowned in the depth of the sea. Woe unto the world because of offences tor it must needs be that offences come; but woe to the man by whom the offence cometh!

Owner
Built in memory of Je$sica Marie Lunsford, (06/10/95-24/02/05), to help her father, Mark Lunsford on his mission. Info on the Jessica lundsford Foundation is available on www.Jessicamarielunsford.com

Engine
RevTech 1OOci V-twin with diamond cut finish on top end, SCS exhaust system with Killa glass coating, Mlkuni HS42 carburettor with custom-made Technoplus billet aluminium air filter, SCS billet aluminium head breather filters, Crime Scene Choppers oil tank & oil filter, Hot Toppers cylinder head bolt covers, RevTech 6-speed gearbox, BDL enclosed belt primary drive & clutch, Jay Brake primary cover, OMP hydraulic dutch conversion, copper oil lines by SCS.

Frame
Santiago Chopper Specialities custom-made trike frame, Excel Components forward control assemblies.

Front End
American Suspension forks, Weld Radng 21 x 3-inch five-spoke cast aluminium wheel with 21" Metzler tyre, Cruzin' Machine mirrors, Paul Yaffe handl~p~rs, OMP brake & clutch master cylinders with stainless stefi!1 braided lines, Alloy Art handlebar grips. SCS custom made fuel tank with Crime Scene fuel cap & copper lines.

Rear End
SCSNG custom rear axle, SCS custom brake discs & caUpers with Excel Components master cylinder & braided stainless steel line, Chevrolet Corvette 12 i< 19~nch ally wheels with BF Goodridge tyres. Crime Scene seat upholstered by Hot Rod Walt, AAA Sign dolphin mQtif.

Electrics
Custom wiring & e:lectrlcs by SCS, aftermarket custom headlight, turn signals & billet aluminium rear light/licen-ce plate.

Paint and Finish
Custom palntwork & artwork by Ron Creator Custom. Powder coating by Specialized Industrial Coating.

Engineering
Trike designed & built & all engineering & fabrication by Alain Bernard, Mike & Remy at Santiago Choppers, 9879 U5Hwy 415, Gibsonton, FL 33534, USA. Email: Website: www.santiagochopper.com

Thanks To
Ron Creator Custom-s, PPG Paint Products, Technoplus, ~merlcan Suspension, Weld Racing, Paul Yaffe, Hot Rod Walt,AAA Sign, HHI, Diamond Hea.d, Killa, Specialized Ind Coatin.g, OMP, Tim Estes, Guibert Adams, Cruzin'g Machine, Excel Components, Alloy Art, Hot'Toppers, Jer·zees, Gary Kaplan & Bob Sargent.