Rick Fairless

A Man of the past, of the times, of the future

When you take one look at Rick Fairless, he is a man that stands out in a crowd, with his customary tie-dyed t-shirt, long hair, and pleasant “how can I help you” demeanor. You also notice right off the bat just how busy Rick is. If he is not in his office taking care of business or talking to someone – he is out walking the premises and again, talking to people and asking how they are doing. He is worst than the energizing bunny!

Another thing that you notice about Rick is all the people he knows and the number of people who know Rick. Take a look at all the pictures in his office and you'll get the idea. Take for instance famous author and motorcycle photographer , Tom Zimberoff, who invited Rick to showcase a few of his bikes at the Clinton Presidential Library (of the 30 bikes there, 3 were Ricks) this past September in Little Rock, Arkansas. Rick was also on the Biker Build Off program for the Discovery Channel and was asked by S&S to build a bike for their 50^th Anniversary this past June and did so (the bike was called PAM for Pam Anderson). Rick was honored and proud to have been selected for S&S 50^th Anniversary that was held in La Crosse, Wisconsin and included 49 other world class builders including Arlen Ness, Cory Ness, and Zach Ness, Jerry Covington, Kendall Johnson, Kevin Alsop of Big Bear Choppers, and Donnie Smith just to name a few builders from America. There were also many other world class builders from other countries at the show including builders from Australia, Sweden, Japan, Canada, and Belgium including one great country named TEXAS! Yes, Rick and TIMM think alike as we feel that TEXAS is its own country.

Now everyone knows that Rick builds some beautiful bikes, like Bettie for Betty Page and Pam for Pamela Anderson. And what is special about these bikes is that the gas and oil fluids are within the bike frame itself. Rick also started Strokers Dallas pretty much from scratch. But not too many people know that Rick is also a College Lecturer, having lectured for the Management Fellows Program at Depauw University in Green Castle, Indiana. He also had his own radio show, The Texas Hardtails Scooter Show on 105.3 FM, with his trusted friends Joe T., Cody, and Marketing/PR gal Meghan. Rick, Joe T., and Cody interviewed some of the top leaders in the motorcycle industry, like the famed Jesse James. According to Rick, when Jesse was on his show – he pulled no punches! Like what is it like to be married to Sandra Bullock - the answer: absolutely wonderful! Rick even had his own TV show on the SPEED Channel called Texas Hardtails.

Some of the new crowd may not even know that Strokers Dallas started out as Easyrider of Dallas, but Rick being Rick, he wanted something different. So when Easyrider dropped their franchise plan in 2002, Rick took the opportunity to create Strokers Dallas with the name coming from his bar, Strokers Ice House. And yes, Strokers Ice House is located right next door on the same premises as Strokers Dallas. Rick also wanted his place to reflect his “goofy life”, as he puts, it – so he started putting “goofy things” in and around his place.

Take for instance, the life size dinosaurs on the roof and the entire place is painted with “goofy” art with psychedelic colors including the buses. Of course, when one walks among the two acres-plus that also houses a manufacturing/fabrication shop, a restaurant/bar, and a tattoo shop, they will see not only beautiful art, but pictures of Rick all over the place.

On any given day you'll see lots of motorcycles coming and going, but on a good Saturday you'll see hundreds if not thousands of bikes, especially on a Sunday,

and did we say hot babes. Besides having music on most weekends, Strokers Dallas also holds car shows, poker runs, Hot Rod Cruise Nights, Battle of the Bands, and lots of events for charity. A good example of a charity cause is the Dallas Cowboys theme bike to be raffled, where all the money will be going to the Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children. Strokers Dallas raised $32,000 with that bike and all the money went to the hospital. Yes, you can say that Strokers Dallas is the place for bikes, babes, music, great food, buy a bike, sell a bike, or just party with your friends. You can even get a tattoo or a body piercing at Strokers Ink, – that is right around the corner but on the same premises.

So who is this great and talented individual who has built an empire that celebrated its 13^th year this past October? All the success is a testament to Rick and his people but mainly to Rick's work ethic and belief in doing the right thing. We said that he likes to wear dyed t-shirts and that he likes to bring “a flower-power element to a heavy metal world”. Really, Rick still lives in the peace and love era of the 60s' and 70s'. Do we dare say “Hippie” or “Beatnik”? Or maybe he just looks like one. They even call Rick, “the Jerry Garcia” of the motorcycle industry and he's proud being called that. And don't forget that Rick is a faithful Dallas Cowboys fan and yep – likes to wear those Cowboys tees as well.

Did we mention that Rick is also a creative kind of guy. Just look at his list of products including “Rick Fairless Eyeball Grips and Pegs”, yes that’s right, eyeballs that go at the end of your grips and pegs. You can even pick the color of the eyes! Other products that Rick has developed include a new bike cleaning product line including a detailer, degreaser, tire cleaner, and hand cleaner. Strokers Dallas currently sells Victory Motorcycles as well as Big Bear Choppers, Big Dog Bikes, custom motorcycle trailers, and get this – Rick has his own line of “Chuckies” - that’s Converse language for you non-Converse wearers or as Rick calls them “Custom Chucks”. “When I wear my Chucks and my tie-dyes it just makes me feel at home” says Rick.

Rick grew up on motorcycles, had a bike at the age of 7, and knew that his world would be filled with that lifestyle. But Rick started out working in the paint business working for his uncle for 20 years and get this – in those 20 years Rick never missed a day of work. Remember that energizing bunny. To Rick's credit, he hasn't missed a day of work at Strokers either! Maybe we should call him “IronMan”!

Rick is up by 4 am, takes a walk from 4-5am, arrives at the shop by 6 am, and goes home at 7 pm everyday. When the alarm rings at 4 am Rick's first question is “What day is it? Because when you work Monday through Friday you look forward to Saturday and Sunday as you have a stopping point. But when you work every day I don't have a clue what day it is when I wake up. And depending on what day it is I know what needs to be done”.

When asked if he had any mentors or heroes, Rick replied, “the guy I always tried to pattern myself after is Arlen Ness and Arlen is a good friend of mine as is his son Cory, and his grandson Zach. And my all-time favorite idol was Tom Landry (former Dallas Cowboys coach). I would say that Arlen Ness is the Tom Landry of the motorcycle business. When I say give someone the Tom Landry service or the Tom Landry price that means the best that you can get. The best there is - second to none. Arlen is a class act. I've been around him a thousand times when people are mobbing him, he shakes every hand and he signs every autograph. And Cory is every bit as classy as his pop is”.

“Being a bike builder is like 5% of what I do” continues Rick. “It's the most fun part, creating a bike and that kind of stuff. But as far as making a living and paying the bills. Joe Martin (Martin Brothers Bikes) said years ago that when he builds a bike he makes about minimum wage. And that's about right because you can build a bike for $60,000 and make $15,000 profit! But it took six months to make it and I can make that much on a Saturday afternoon selling some Big Dogs (motorcycles), t-shirts, beer, and cheeseburgers. But bike building is what lights the fire. It's what gets the creative juices flowing. It's what you get excited about and I get excited about all of it. Days like today, which is why I can't sit here very long. On a Monday I can sit here all day long doing paperwork. On a Saturday and a Sunday I can't sit here for no more than 30 seconds at a time.”

Speaking of bikes, Rick said that he owns some custom bikes and choppers, a couple of custom Triumphs, and his favorite bike is a 1961 Triumph TR-6. “My Dad's best friend bought it new in 61 and in 64 he was on his way to our house for supper and he got killed on it. So the bike was given to my Dad and sat in the garage all those years. Now it sits here in the office after being restored. So I'll never get rid of that Triumph” Rick continued.

Every year Rick and a few of his buddies take what he calls a “Chump Trip”. They take a different route every year, for example starting out at Arlen's in San Francisco and ride into northern California and Utah and work their way back. Rick continues, “ we try and make it so we'll stop and see Matt Hotch, Russell Mitchel, and Pat Kennedy, just whoever is along that route. We don't have a schedule and we don't ride on the highway. I look forward to that every year.”

Regarding the future of motorcycles, Rick replied, “I think that we are headed where motorcycles are going to be like cars where the average guy and the small garage shops can't work on them anymore. Harleys' are getting so computerized that you have to take the bike to a dealer to get the problem diagnosed. And Victory’s are the same way. Everything changes and that’s the direction its changing. I also think more people are going to get into riding, which is a good thing. I think more people are going to get their Motorcycle Safety Test before they get their license – please make that happen. I want people to be more trained than they are now. When a person buys a bike here and they haven't ridden we deliver the bike to their house and one of my guys will go out there and show them how to ride in their own neighborhood, where they know the pot holes and the stop signs instead of turning them loose on Harry Hines.”.

When asked what would be considered his greatest accomplishment, Rick answered “Being inducted into the Hamsters” is one of the proudest days of his life.

Rick was the first Texan to be inducted into the prestigious club in 1999 and has since sponsored another Texan - Mr. Johnny Gill of Johnny's Customs in McAllen, Texas. Johnny was officially inducted in as a Hamster this past August and TIMM is scheduling an interview with Johnny for the near future. Currently there are five Hamsters in Texas with Johnny being the sixth. TIMM will work on possible interviews with the other Hamsters for our readers as time permits. “The Hamsters are all about motorcycles and Johnny and I are all about motorcycles” continues Rick.

For a good ole boy who was born and raised in Dallas, you can say that Rick is doing pretty good for himself, his family, and his friends. So if you are even around the Dallas area, drop in at the World Famous Biker Destination Strokers Dallas, Strokers Ice House Bar and Grill, maybe get a tattoo at Strokers Ink, well – you get the idea. Located on two-plus acres at 9304 Harry Hines. Or you can find them on the World Wide Web at www.strokersdallas.com. And it doesn't matter what you ride whether its a Harley, a Big Dog, Honda, Yamaha, or cage. According to Rick, his place is open to any motorcycle enthusiast, for people who like motorcycles, and for people who like hanging around motorcycle people. You can even get married at Strokers Dallas as Rick has a venue just for parties.

Rick ended the interview by saying that “If you want something bad enough, if you make yourself do it, you can do it. One of my proudest achievements is not missing a day of work when I was working for Gladden Paint Co. And I have been here for 13 years and I still have not missed a day of work.” For a guy who not only dreamed big, but is living his dream, history continues to be made! TIMM