Nerdsrock22
02-17-2010, 09:35 AM
This situation is too awesome for words, so here's pics, and then some words anyway.
http://cache.gawkerassets.com/assets/images/12/2010/02/500x_gator_bike_1.jpg
http://cache.gawkerassets.com/assets/images/12/2010/02/500x_gator_bike_3.jpg
http://cache.gawkerassets.com/assets/images/12/2010/02/500x_gatorbike_poster.jpg
This is Jimmy Jablon. This is his motorcycle. He is going to raffle it off at a ceremony in Florida where a 22-year-old girl dives into a pool of live 'gators. What more do you need to know?
Not much, as it turns out: The motorcycle was assembled by 60-year-old Swedish craftsman Benny Ohrman over the course of twelve months and at a cost of roughly $80,000. It contains the skin and skull of one Florida alligator; the animal was caught by Florida wildlife authorities as part of of an effort to combat overpopulation. The alligator, which was originally ten feet long, had to be soaked in Ohrman's swimming pool for three weeks before it could be molded onto the bike. The skin is detachable, but the head is permanently affixed to the handlebars. Gauges live in the back of the skull, and an Ultima V-twin provides power.
Raffle tickets cost $100, and only 1000 will be sold. (You can purchase tickets here.) The winner will be decided in what is quite possibly the most amazingly awesome contest conclusion ever: Each entry will be printed and tossed into a swimming pool full of live alligators, and a 22-year-old model named Amara Tamura will dive in and grab one (an entry, not a 'gator.) According to Jablon, the entire process is completely safe:
"It's not dangerous," he said. "We're not going to attach cooked chicken to her or anything."
So, you know, she's got that going for her. Which is nice.
http://cache.gawkerassets.com/assets/images/12/2010/02/500x_gator_bike_1.jpg
http://cache.gawkerassets.com/assets/images/12/2010/02/500x_gator_bike_3.jpg
http://cache.gawkerassets.com/assets/images/12/2010/02/500x_gatorbike_poster.jpg
This is Jimmy Jablon. This is his motorcycle. He is going to raffle it off at a ceremony in Florida where a 22-year-old girl dives into a pool of live 'gators. What more do you need to know?
Not much, as it turns out: The motorcycle was assembled by 60-year-old Swedish craftsman Benny Ohrman over the course of twelve months and at a cost of roughly $80,000. It contains the skin and skull of one Florida alligator; the animal was caught by Florida wildlife authorities as part of of an effort to combat overpopulation. The alligator, which was originally ten feet long, had to be soaked in Ohrman's swimming pool for three weeks before it could be molded onto the bike. The skin is detachable, but the head is permanently affixed to the handlebars. Gauges live in the back of the skull, and an Ultima V-twin provides power.
Raffle tickets cost $100, and only 1000 will be sold. (You can purchase tickets here.) The winner will be decided in what is quite possibly the most amazingly awesome contest conclusion ever: Each entry will be printed and tossed into a swimming pool full of live alligators, and a 22-year-old model named Amara Tamura will dive in and grab one (an entry, not a 'gator.) According to Jablon, the entire process is completely safe:
"It's not dangerous," he said. "We're not going to attach cooked chicken to her or anything."
So, you know, she's got that going for her. Which is nice.