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Hollywood legend Stan Winston only styled one Victory custom, but it was a beauty – and it will be sold at auction this summer to raise funds for two worthy causes.
The Stan Winston-styled Victory Vision that will be auctioned to raise funds for:
• Camp del Corazon, a pediatric heart patient camp that hosts kids who have undergone invasive and life-changing operations.
• Operation Homefront, an organization that benefits the families of American soldiers.
The fund raised through the auction for these two agencies will serve as yet another tribute to Winston, who was regarded as a kind, humble man in the ego-driven world of Hollywood, and whose talents earned him the respect of the entertainment industry and movie-goers worldwide.
Winston died Sunday, June 15, at his home in Malibu, California, following a years-long battle with myeloma. He was 62.
Friend of Victory Rider Tom Arnold
Among Winston’s close friends was actor, comedian and Victory Rider Tom Arnold. The two were part of a group of friends who regularly rode motorcycles together in California (see below), and it was Arnold who recruited Winston to direct the customizing of the Victory Vision that will be auctioned for the charities.
Arnold will emphasize Winston’s contributions to the bike project by talking part in the grand opening of the MotoStars: Celebrities + Motorcycles exhibit at the Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum in Pickerington, Ohio.
The exhibit will spotlight over 100 of the world’s most recognizable motorcycle enthusiasts and their bikes. The Stan Winston-styled Victory Vision will be among the many priceless machines and exclusive memorabilia featured in the exhibit. Arnold is hoping to attend the exhibit’s grand opening festivities, which will include:
Friday, June 27
• MotoStars VIP Gala with stars such as Tom Arnold scheduled to attend
Saturday, June 28
• 1 p.m.: Official MotoStars ribbon cutting ceremony
• 2-3 p.m.: Panel discussion moderated by actor and motorcycle enthusiast Perry King
• 3-4 p.m.: Autograph session
The MotoStars exhibit will be housed in the Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum,
which is located at: 13515 Yarmouth Dr.,
Pickerington, OH 43147, phone: 614-856-2222.
Bike To Be Auctioned in July
The bike will be up for auction on eBay in July, 2008. The winning bidder will have the option of accepting delivery of the bike at the 2008 Sturgis Motorcycle Rally in August.
So, come July, Victory Riders should log on to eBay and enter key search words: Tom Arnold Charity Victory Vision. Make a bid and this incredible, one of a kind Victory Vision styled by the late Stan Winston could be your next ride.
Stan, Tom & Riding Friends
This excerpt from an article in the Winter 2008 issue of Victory Rider describes how Tom Arnold came up with the idea for the Stan Winston Victory Vision custom.
[Tom Arnold’s] regular riding group in California [a few years back] was like a who’s-who of the film industry, all brought together in a “six degrees of separation” manner. Tom Arnold first connected with another Arnold – California Gov. Schwarzenegger – while filming “True Lies” (1995). “The Governator” – a five-time Mr. Universe seven-time Mr. Olympia” – had teamed with director and producer James Cameron to create the “Terminator” franchise. The make-up and special effects for those films were created by legendary artist Stan Winston, the creator of the T-Rex in “Jurassic Park” and the make up genius for the “Alien” and “Predator” films.
Arnold, “Ahnold,” Cameron and Winston. Not bad company for monthly rides near scenic Malibu, California.
Fast-forward a few years. By 2007, Tom Arnold has had a chance to sample almost every Victory model – even borrowing a Vegas Jackpot on a 2007 trip to Des Moines for another State of Iowa promotional tour.
“I stood in front of a room of legislators and told them how proud I was to be from that great state – even telling them that the best motorcycles in the world were made in Spirit Lake!” he recalled.
With fame comes influence and Arnold has been using his cachet not only to promote tourism in his home state, but also to raise funds and awareness of his chosen charity – Camp del Corazon, a pediatric heart patient camp that hosts kids who have undergone invasive and life-changing operations. They are treated free of charge to the summer camp, where they’re overseen by volunteer doctors and nurses.
“A friend of mine had a kid go through a critical surgery and I was introduced to the camp,” the actor said. “That changed my life. Despite all these kids have gone through and the challenges they face, they are the most inspirational people I have ever met.
“And don’t think they go to camp to relax!” he laughed. “Those kids wear me out!”
A Team Custom Project
Charitable inspiration hit and Tom turned to Victory for a motorcycle, old riding buddy Winston for the design and a handful of elite aftermarket suppliers for custom parts to create an inspired motorcycle that will be auctioned off to support two charities: the Camp del Corazon and Operation Homefront, an organization suggested by Schwarzenegger that benefits the families of American soldiers.
“I’ve worked with the USO and toured battle zones to do what I can for troop moral – our troops are heroes – and family support is critical in their lives. That’s where Operation Homefront comes in,” Arnold said. “We decided to split all the money raised from this auction between the two charities.”
Choosing the Victory model was easy. The Victory Vision has already garnered Bike of the Year awards from two magazines and it draws attention wherever it’s seen. Stan Winston Studios, inspired by colors used in [“Iron Man,” starring Robert Downey, Jr.,] created a rendering that became the guide for the finished bike.
Victory personnel called in some more favors and the resulting custom Victory Vision was unveiled in December at the Long Beach International Motorcycle Show (IMS). As the silk cover slid off the machine Arnold was stunned into silence – for all of one minute – before his excitement for the final project bike spilled out. That full-throttle enthusiasm continues to this day.
“This bike is unbelievable,” he said. “I am truly touched by everybody involved in the design and by the donations for this bike. It is awesome, and I’m so proud of the final result.”
Godspeed, Stan Winston
Along with the four Oscars he won, Stan Winston was also nominated for Oscars for his work on "AI: Artificial Intelligence," "The Lost World: Jurassic Park," "Batman Returns," "Edward Scissorhands," "Predator" and "Heartbeeps."
In 2001, he was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
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