Russ Tom Interview
The Only Thing Constant Is Change
The interview will return later. In honor of Russ who
passed away October 8th 2006 please
continue reading.
High resolution photographs of Russ Tom are available by
calling 206-650-9102.
Unauthorized use of our copyrighted photographs is against
the law. (and you know who you are Q13, KOMO and other local media).
For our readers please continue to read...
Russ Tom passed away October 8th, 2006 while piloting a small
helicopter over Lake Tapps.
Russ Tom, son of Carmen Tom, is best known for taking over his
fathers motorcycle business, Downtown Harley-Davidson in Seattle
Washington in the late 1990’s. The dealership was later moved to
Tukwila and eventually purchased by Bob Lanphere Jr. in 2006.
Russ Tom was a lover of motorcycles as well as other motorsports.
Whether it was restoring old bikes, creating parts for current bikes,
building custom one off’s or driving fast cars, Russ Tom was a motorsports
enthusiast at the highest level.
As a child Russ Tom would venture down to Seward Park in Seattle on the back
of his fathers Honda Dream, along with his other three brothers on
board. Over the years he enjoyed riding various motorcycles inspired
through his father who owned a motorsports dealership that carried a
variety of brands over his four decades of being in business.
Whether it was British, Italian, Japanese or American brands, father
Carmen Tom was a force in the motorcycle business over the last four
decades of the 20th century in Seattle.
Together with his father Russ helped develop the “Coffin” gas
tank that became a part of custom motorcycle history. Back then they
called them ‘choppers.’ Through various magazine advertising the Tom
family sold hundreds of the fuel tanks, all the while continuing
their business of selling motorcycles locally.
Russ Tom eventually created his first chopper – a 1972 Honda
CB750 became his first project. Later he moved to creating choppers
well defined and unique beginning with Harley-Davidson’s and ending
with – Russ’s own concoction. His art was featured in a number of
popular publications including Easy Rider and other magazines.
Northwest motorcycle enthusiasts will remember creations like the
Mean Streak and Beluga as predecessors to the custom bikes of today. Rather
than following the mode of others Russ created customs with a
futuristic approach rather than more common gothic-retro stylings.
Later bikes each retained their own H-D frame and motor numbers
making them fully licensable by the final owners who would purchase
them for well beyond the price the bike started life with. Much of
this occurred before the spoon-fed custom-bike build-off shows
we see today from cable television channels. Tom was a force to be
reckoned with on a worldwide scale and no doubt had an influence on those who followed.
In the late 1990’s and early 2000’s the Tom family supported the
Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) with rides that began at their
dealership and ended at Emerald Downs Race Track for the Seattle
Mile flat track races held there each year. Russ was also one of
three ley franchise owners to raise money for the Boyer Children's
Clinic in Seattle.
Although Russ Tom will best be remembered for his years at
Downtown Harley-Davidson, there are those of us who know he also
loved the essence injected into motorcycling through Soichiro
Honda’s guided hand. The 1970’s was a window that bred many of
today’s motorcycle enthusiasts. Russ Tom had a hidden passion for
the Honda Mini Trail 50 of that era, and at any given time he may have been
holding onto a dozen relics or more, restoring them and bringing them
back to their original beauty.
Whether it was creating a chopper, preserving a relic or watching
a flat track racing extravaganza, Russ Tom lived it all and he’ll be
remembered by many motorsports enthusiasts in many ways.
Russ Tom supported the first Northwest Motorcycle Display put on
by Sound RIDER! at Qwest Field Center in 2001 providing his first
chopper, a restored Mini Trail 50 and several custom
Harley-Davidsons. We appreciate the mark Russ left on Northwest
Motorcycling History and wish the best to his family and children.
PT/Fall 2006
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