Ask the experts

Name
Chris Carr

Age
50 years young

Your Company
Essex County Choppers

Your day-to-day role
Builder, painter, parts, man you name it, I will do it

Toughest day ever
I had two bikes to get out.  One was a repaint job, the other was a new tank repaint and engine work and it was booked in the Bulldog with a week to go.  Then my mum unfortunately passed away.  For three nights I worked until midnight to get the two bikes finished before I could finally shed a tear.

Greatest day ever
When one of my bikes took two pots and £250 in cash.

What one thing makes your company stand out?
We do most work in house.  Plus I ride and race bikes – not like a lot of others out there!  Every job I do, I do it as if it was my own bike.  We can take on any job and get it done to the highest level with this philosophy.

What led you into the world of custom bikes?
I have been painting custom bikes for as long as 22 years now.  It all started with a few old tanks!  Then, about 6 years ago, something said ‘go for it’ and so I did the best thing I’ve ever done.

Would anything cause you to turn your back and leave the scene?
NO.

What do you think of the UK scene?
It’s hard over here at the moment.  The scene’s big here but not huge like the States.  Just look at the London International Custom Show.  The scene needs something like this but we need to get started again and we all need to try harder and offer support to shows.  We shouldn’t turn our backs to a big show.

Any little secrets or inside stories for the year ahead?
Yes lots!  There are two new bikes to come of Essex County Choppers.  They are so fucking cool.  We will be hitting the scene more this year.

Will you be at any shows?
Yes.  Not London anymore but definitely the Bulldog Bash and a few more.

Will we see you on the pages of BSH?
I certainly hope so!  BSH can have first dibs on the two I’m building now and I hope everyone will love them.