On Location: The David Mann Chopperfest

The David Mann Chopperfest is one of the premiere chopper shows in the United States. The event is held in honor of legendary biker artist David Mann and brings hundreds of custom motorcycles and kustom kulture artists to the California coast each winter. This recap film covers the 17th edition of the festival, held at the Ventura County Fairgrounds on Sunday February 12th, 2023. Thank you to Rets Riding Glasses for sponsoring our coverage of the event.

Our recap video contains nearly two hours of footage of the best Knuckleheads, Panheads, Shovelheads, Triumphs, Evolution Big Twins, Sportster choppers, and many many more. We also interviewed some talented builders and artists to dig deeper into some of the stories behind these bikes. 

The David Mann Chopperfest pays tribute to the brilliant artist who continues to inspire so many bike builders to this day, and is named in his honor. Tragically, the chopper community recently lost another influential member in David "Huggy Bear" Hansen(right). David founded David Mann Chopperfest 17 years ago and has been organizing the event ever since. He also owned and ran The Shop in Ventura, which has been a staple in the vintage bike scene for 50 years. We were lucky enough to speak with David Hansen and his son Tory while we filmed this video back in February. Our video is dedicated to David's memory and we thank him for his numerous contributions to the culture we all enjoy so much.

Chopperfest: Website / Facebook /Instagram

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See you there!

We are heading to the David Mann Chopperfest this Sunday. Be sure to swing by our booth, we'd love to meet you. Advance tickets are still available until Friday and general admission access is also available at the gate beginning at 8 am.

Every advance ticket holder will receive this free limited-edition poster when you redeem your ticket at the gate. Click here to move forward.

The Chopperfest is coming!

The 17th Annual David Mann Chopperfest will be held on Sunday, February 12, 2023, at the Ventura County Fairgrounds in Ventura, CA, from 8 am-4 pm.

The event features:
A very special David Mann and Friends Motorcycle Art Exhibit, an All Brand Antique and Custom Motorcycle Show; Custom Bike Builder Displays featuring World Class Bike Builders; Hundreds of Motorcycle/Culture Vendors; a New and Used Motorcycle Parts Swap Meet; Live Rock and Blues Bands, Food and Beer. General admission is $15, Military with ID $10, kids 12 & under are free. Note: No Colors, No Pets, No Outside Alcohol.

The "If you build it they will come" All Brand Motorcycle Show will feature 22 classes of motorcycles from Antique and Old School to Special Construction and Radical Design classes. Check out the Bike Show link for more details on all the classes and entering your motorcycle(s). If you have a bike that fits one of these classes, please enter it, it's only $40, and you get 1 admission and a David Mann Chopperfest event t-shirt. The trophies are amazing one of a kind pieces of art by Falu Carolei. It's going to be another fun-filled day for the whole family with all sorts of cool stuff on 2 wheels. We hope to see you there!

Thank you to our sponsors:
Russ Brown Motorcycle Attorneys, 805 Firestone, Ventura Harley Davidson, Chop Cult, Duane Ballard Custom Leather, The Shop, Choppers Magazine, Sonny Boy, Schapiro and Leventhal Motorcycle Attorneys, Paughco, Kiwi Indian Motorcycles, Easyriders Magazine, Biltwell, Choppertown, KD Customs, My Garage, Barnett, Cycle Source Magazine, Jims Machine, Black Bike Wheels, Learn to Ride VC, Born Free, Chopper Kings Handlebars, Tobacco Motorwear, Trulers, Motul, USA Parts Co.

We'd also like to thank all the attendees, volunteers, friends and family who help make this event happen and keep David Mann's spirit alive.

We would like to thank you for your ongoing support of the David Mann Chopper Festival. Be sure to check our website for details, secure a vendor or swap meet space, and register your motorcycle in the bike show. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram.

Join us on December 11, 2022, at the Ventura Fairgrounds for the 17th Annual Chopper Festival.

8 am - 4 pm. General Admission is $15 Military with ID $10 Kids 12 and under $5.

CHOPPER FEST MOTORCYCLE CULTURE, ART, AND MACHINERY

"The Chopper Fest pays tribute and commemoration to honor renowned American artist David Mann, whose biker art and culture illustrations have timelessly impacted us all forever. Mann, unfortunately, passed away at age 64 in 2004, and with the help of Chopper Fest, his legacy lives on, giving many like-minded artists and builders from around the country a showcase haven to display their works of art." 

Read more.

From our friends at the Chopper Festival!

We're back and excited to announce the 17th Annual David Mann Chopperfest will be taking place on Sunday December 11, 2022, at the Ventura Fairgrounds from 8 am - 4 pm. The show will feature a very special David Mann and Friends Art Show with tons of original and tribute art on display and for sale. The "If You Build It They Will Come" all brand antique and custom motorcycle show features over 20 classes with something for every motorcycle enthusiast. There will be hundreds of motorcycle culture vendors as well as a new and used parts swap meet, world class bike builders showcasing their latest builds, Rock and Blues Bands. Come join us to celebrate the legendary David Mann, the artist whose work influenced and inspired so many! For more info go to chopperfestival.com. Thank you to our sponsors, we appreciate your support!

Russ Brown Motorcycle Attorneys
805 Beer
Easyriders Magazine
Duane Ballard Custom Leather
Ventura Harley-Davidson
Trulers
Barnett Clutches and Cables
JIMS
Sonny Boy
USA PARTS CO
Born-Free Motorcycle Show
Cycle Source Magazine
Paughco Inc
My Garage Ventura
Motul USA
Tobacco Motorwear Company
Biltwell Inc.
Choppers Magazine
The Shop: American Motorcycle Specialists
ChopCult
Learn To Ride VC
Black Bike Wheels
Kiwi Indian Motorcycles
Schapiro And Leventhal 

FYI: The Chopper Fest moves to 2022

"We are sad to announce that the Chopper Fest is postponed till December 11, 2022. It was a difficult decision to make but by the time we got the go-ahead from the City and Fairgrounds, it was too late to organize and promote the quality event that our sponsors, vendors, attendees, artists, and builders deserve and expect from us. There was also a chance of the City canceling it last minute if Covid cases spiked in Nov/Dec so we had to make the tough decision to wait till next year. This will give our team plenty of time to organize a great come-back event for everyone, and allow that time for our artists and builders to create David Mann tribute art and bikes for the show. Thank you all for your support on social media and in emails, we appreciate all your kind words and understanding. See you next year!"

- The Chopperfest Family

THANK YOU!!!!

I want to thank everyone that supported the David Mann Chopper Fest on Sunday and those that visited the booth during the day. Your kind words of support will not be forgotten, and your purchases are much appreciated. Keep an eye out for a full featuring hitting the website soon. -Lisa

Save the date: December 10, 2017 - Chopper Fest

It's that time of year again, and we are delighted to be supporting the 14th Annual David Mann Chopper Fest! Check out their website for complete information and give them a follow on Facebook and Instagram. Be sure to swing by our booth during the day. We'll see you soon!

New Feature: Nick Takes On The Chopper Fest

Big thanks to Nick Faught for covering the Chopper Festival for us. Take a moment to read his thoughts and give him a follow on Facebook and Instagram. We appreciate your help, Nick!

Chopper Fest coverage from Johnathon Martin

Just a taste of the goodness captured by contributor Johnathon Martin. More to come.

Chopper Fest photos by Jeff Lisowski

I would like to thank Jeff, Ryan, and Johnathon for helping me cover the Chopper Fest. Be prepared for numerous posts and videos coming to ChopCult soon. Until then check out this sweet eye candy captured by Jeff aka @thehardroad.-Lisa

Be sure to follow Jeff on the OL' GRAM!

See you soon!

Be sure to swing by our booth during the Chopper Fest!

For more information go to Website / Facebook / Instagram.

Win two tickets to the Chopper Fest

Head over to Instagram to enter. We'll announce the winners on Thursday night. Best of luck!

If you build it they will come

Photos by Johnathon Martin

Just some of the eye candy spotted at last year's Chopper Fest "If You Build It They Will Come" bike show. See more here.

Save the Date: December 11, 2016 - Chopper Fest

We are thrilled to be supporting and attending the David Mann Chopper Fest once again. Do us a favor and give them a follow on Facebook and Instagram!

Click here to see last year's coverage. Photos by Johnathon Martin.

David Mann Chopperfest coverage from Jeff Lisowski

I have the distinct pleasure of meeting fellow members and followers at every event I attend on ChopCult's behalf. I've been following Jeff Lisowski's Instagram for awhile and love his photography. We got to talking and I thought it would be cool for him to give his thoughts on the recent Chopperfest. Enjoy, Lisa.

Myself and some good friends from Blue Collar Choppers in Imperial Beach woke up nice and early- well some of us hadn't actually gone to sleep- to make the three-plus hour trek to Ventura from about as far south as you can get in California. We arrived shortly after 9 AM and grabbed some refreshments. The BCC guys walked around while I stayed behind at the show portion of the festival to grab some shots of the bikes in that morning sun. Elliot Grosshans' 1961 dual carb swing-arm Panhead was stunning in the light. Brent Rogers' 1946 Knucklehead was also immaculate in the morning glory. The show was soon brimming with people, bikes, and vendors. As with most shows, I ran into old friends and made new ones. I stopped by JP Rodman's booth to see his 1977 Frank Frazetta inspired "High Brasil." When I first saw this bike at Born Free 7, I didn't fully appreciate all the details that went into JP's build. So, I spent a good amount of time with JP talking and trying to capture the essence of this beautiful build.

The art show had a ton of talent packed into one small building. Hand tooled leather, custom painted helmets, paintings and a whole lot more. I wandered the vendor booths checking out all the goods. L.A. Speed Shop had a killer 1950 Panhead painted by Buckwild Brand. Cro Customs had a gorgeous 1976 Shovelhead that caught everyone's eyes. eventually caught back up to my friends. Soon it was time to roll south to Neptune's Net in Malibu. No trip down the coast is complete without stopping in for some seafood goodness.

Check out Jeff's website for more event coverage and give him a follow on Instagram.