The World Famous Wheelie-ing Elvi... (or, Elvis goes wild on a Honda 50!)

[Eric Ellis (57HotrodVW)]

A number of years ago, I found a random Internet photo of a guy dressed like Elvis doing a wheelie on a vintage Honda Trail 50.

Until this past July 4th weekend, I had no idea of the origins of that picture. It turns out that the guy was one of the members of the World Famous Wheelie-ing Elvi, who are from right here in the Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas area. Unbeknowst to me, they've been participating local parades for years - small world!

I met the "Elvi" when I went to the Crape Myrtle Festival in Waxahachie. I spent a good amount of time talking to the guys before the parade, then "shadowed" them along the route by walking in the midst of their group, shooting pics and video along the way. They put on a great show, and it was a lot of fun to see the reactions from the crowd, the interaction of the Elvi with them, and what a good time was had by all.

If you're interested, you can check out the World Famous Wheelie-ing Elvi page on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-World-Famous-Wheelie-ing-Elvi/146958014783

Here are a few photos that I shot. There are ~125 more at http://www.photobucket.com/TWFWE (slideshow view here)

Enjoy!

[speedwell]

 

[Rick Meredith]

Only in Texas! 

[Lids]

I was going to say only in America

[Rick Meredith]

I was going to say only in America

If they were Gay Wheelie-ing Elvi in rainbow jump suits, then they would be out of Cali. 

[Eric Ellis (57HotrodVW)]

Look what fell into the bed of my truck last night...  

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[60gulfvdub]

I see a BeDazzled white jump-suit in your near future.  No wonder your loosing interest in your oval  ;- ).
Em

[Eric Ellis (57HotrodVW)]

I see a BeDazzled white jump-suit in your near future...

I think we're about the same size - can I borrow one of yours??

[60gulfvdub]

You saw my ad on CL?  I was carefull not to use my real name... Which one do you want, only 2 left. They 're going fast 
Em

[Eric Ellis (57HotrodVW)]

I turned my mini-Elvi in training (daughters) loose on the 50 over the weekend. I was amazed how quickly they picked it up, and were flying up and down the street

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/rSh4h_199Ow" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/v/rSh4h_199Ow</a>

[Eric Ellis (57HotrodVW)]

Anyone in these pics looks familiar??

[Eric Ellis (57HotrodVW)]

How about some video of the Elvi in action??

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/qBDIk9NFM4Q" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/v/qBDIk9NFM4Q</a>

[Eric Ellis (57HotrodVW)]

My future's so bright, I gotta' wear shades...

[Trond Dahl]

Haha suits you very well!

[Eric Ellis (57HotrodVW)]

More Elvi silliness went on last weekend, at a local Mardi Gras parade... (I'm the guy in the white jumpsuit )

[Fiatdude]

More Elvi silliness went on last weekend, at a local Mardi Gras parade... (I'm the guy in the white jumpsuit )

I've never saw you look so GOOOOOOOOD Eric

[Eric Ellis (57HotrodVW)]

I've never saw you look so GOOOOOOOOD Eric

Well...you know...I do what I can for the fans...

Actually, that guy (Cameron) and his antics are hillarious. I grin every time I think about his performance, which involves speeding towards an unsuspecting crowd of people, and then slamming on the brakes in a tire squealing power slide with an Elvis finger point. It's great!

I bought another Honda minibike - this one is a little more vintage. For more details and the "build" thread, see http://tinyurl.com/TxZ50RD

[gibber!]

I turned my mini-Elvi in training (daughters) loose on the 50 over the weekend. I was amazed how quickly they picked it up, and were flying up and down the street

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/rSh4h_199Ow" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/v/rSh4h_199Ow</a>

Wow...! Those girls are brave!
The first time I went out on a 50 my Dad had made for us as kids I ended up tearing a pretty good hole in my knee!?!
Here's my Monkey which (if anyone is brave enough to look) can be found somewhere in my parents garage:



And my recently finished Dax or Mini Trail to you- one owner, original paint and included it's last Road Tax disc form June 1975:

[Eric Ellis (57HotrodVW)]

Wow...! Those girls are brave!
The first time I went out on a 50 my Dad had made for us as kids I ended up tearing a pretty good hole in my knee!?!

Yeah, I was surprised and proud of how quickly they were blazing up and down the street, as fast as they could go. After the day that I filmed that video, we went to a local cycle shop and picked up a set of elbow/forearm and knee/shin guards, to prevent said holes in knees

We've got a couple of open fields ~2 minutes from our neighborhood, and the girls have been honing their riding skills and having fun there. It's safer than the concrete streets, and not really close to houses, so we don't have to worry about complaints.

I've taken my youngest daughter (now almost 8yrs old) out to a local off-road motorcycle park a few times too. She had fun riding the motorcycle and I tagged along on my mountain bike. Good times and good excercise!


(click to view larger images)

Here's my Monkey which (if anyone is brave enough to look) can be found somewhere in my parents garage:
...
And my recently finished Dax or Mini Trail to you- one owner, original paint and included it's last Road Tax disc form June 1975:
...

Nice bikes! I've been surprised by how many VW guys (especially Europeans) are into early Honda minis - lots of Monkeys, Gorillas, and Dax/CTs.

Here are a few recent photos of me, my Z50RD, and some of my Elvi brethren, which were shot at a Saint Patricks Day Parade in my home town (including a drag race down Main Street! ):


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