On this edition of Corbin’s Ride On, we’re checing out the school that has started thousands of men & women in the motorcycle industry, MMI…plus there’s more of our J&P Motorcyle Makeover…&, some quality time with Harold Pontarelli & the crew at HD Performance.

HD Performance
Vacaville, CA is the location of HD Performance, a custom bike shop under the direction of Harold Pontarelli, a gear-head who made the switch from custom cars & hot-rods to motorcycles.  The paint’s the point with Harold, but his custom creations are as much about go as show, as we found out on a ride through the back-roads twisties with Harold on one of his one-off machines.  He’s definitely a detail man, & has no plans to grow HD Performance beyond the half-dozen or so new bikes he & his crew are currently turning out annually.  It’s all part of Harold’s comittment to doing things differently, so that every one of his bikes will be as unique & special as the last!

J&P Motorcycle Makeover
It’s more progress in the J&P garage as the guys get another step closer to finishing what began as a J&P Catalog kit bike, & will wind up a frame-up custom one-off in the retro style of a ‘50s panhead bobber to be donated to the National Motorcycle Museum fo a fund-raising raffle.  Follow this makeover at jpcycles.com!

MMI: The Motorcycle Mechanics Institute
The Mecca of Motorcycle Mechanics, MMI has campuses in Phoenix & Orlando.  On a recent visit to Florida we met with several students & faculty.  We found that the specialized, hands-on training at MMI is sponsored & supported by every major OEM from Harley to BMW, taught by an experienced, race-savvy faculty & supported by life-long employment placement service for grads, along with fianancial aid & more.  Wanna wrench?  Check out MMI’s website, www.uticorp.com!