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First Time When an American Wins Custom Bike Building WC

Once described as motorcycling's "Pulitzers, Nobels and Olympics all rolled into one", the Official World Championship of Custom Bike Building is held every year in August since 2004. This year, it was for the first time when the winner of the competition was an American custom bike engineer.

Dave Cook is the winner’s name and his hand-crafted "Rambler" was chosen from a total of 83 custom motorcycles from around the world, compared to 67 in 2008. The Rambler therefore became the first American built World Championship winning custom motorcycle.

The 550cc Rambler’s entire drive line is a combination of extensively modified Honda, BMW, Yamaha donor parts and Cook one-off components. Hand and foot controls finished in laminated layered exotic hardwoods, while the seat upholstery was made by Rich Phillips.

"This is a dream come true", said Cook of Cook Custom Choppers in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. "I have dedicated the best part of three years to trying to win the World Championship, and finally I have achieved the ultimate recognition of my fellow professionals. It is very humbling."

For the first five years of the competition, engineers from Canada, Japan and Europe dominated the event that is always held during the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally in South Dakota. The 51 year old Dave Cook was the only American to score the highest, as it has won fourth place in both 2007 and 2008.

Second place was secured by another American, Kris Krome, of Freeland, Michigan. Third place went to Freddie "Krugger" Bertrand from Belgium (Freddie had scored third place twice before, 2004 and 2005). Fourth place went to 2007 World Champion Stellan Egeland from Sweden, with Satya Kraus of Cazedero, California fifth.
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