This a post I made back in February of 2009 when Matt Stier mentioned meeting Ron Finch.
Ron Finch is a classic example of what legend is in this industry...... I thought I'd reshare it with you guys now that we're compiling a little history type stuff here as well.
 

A little over 25 years ago, a local shop in Dallas put on a huge Motorcycle Show .. with pretty hefty prizes to be had.. I think it had over 300 bikes in it...Bikes from California.. Massachusetts, New York .. From all over the country.. They hired Arlen, Perewitz, Donnie Smith, Finch and myself to do the judging with the help of some locals.. .. ( man, you couldn't get me down offa that cloud .... being included in that group..) lololol..

I remember Custom Bike did a feature on that show and the article mentioned that they had "flown in luminaries the likes of Arlen, Finch, yaddy.. yaddy .. yaddy.." and then my name ...... Man I was pumped up for a bit there..lololol... (I had to look in a Funk and Wagnel to see just what a 'luminary' was ...)

Then the locals helped us and drove us around in golf cart type thingys ... Thats a lot of bikes to judge in one night basically..Plus we all had to bring feature bikes as well .. and set them up ..A couple of us had turntables and displays .. so it setup took some time .. then into judging ..(I was much younger then..lolol)

At the judges meeting.. they were assigning classes and categories ... Of course .. the other guys jumped on the Big Twin, Sportster, and Open classes.. Then it came to the Asian stuff.. The Promoter looked at me automatically and said "Tommy ??"... But of course .. I knew why I was there ..lololol.. But there needed to be another major judge.... and all were quiet for a bit.. Then.. I could barely hear Finch from behind me say .."I'll do those with Summers... and then maybe he can help me with the Europeans too." .. What a guy .. Man .. Finch volunteered to help me .. and .. he even knew who I was.. PHUCK.. you couldn't me offa that cloud for weeks.. lololol...

If any of you get near his place any time .. you should make the effort to at least meet him ...
He's a very, very talented builder and an artist ...in his own right....
Everything he touches is ..off the hook.....
He was doing theme bikes way before Paul Sr. ever rode a bike... and before Pauly Jr.was even a twinkle in Sr's eyes ....lololol..
He was doing his thing before Ness even had a shop ...
He was always a really quiet, unassuming, and pretty humble guy...
He definitely has, and always has had my respect ....

Sorry for dragging this out .. but I had to tell you guys how kool Finch really is,...