did you look at the member photos? it's kind of funny. Roy, Ria, Lucien, and Dominique all have these very understated pictures, but Glen's are all dramatic and full of pathos... that vespa photo alone... i think Glen wants to be a movie star.

Vespa?! What kind of biker rides a Vespa? A faux wussy biker from Belgium with aspirations to stardom, that's who.

I also got a kick out this rally poster advertising BBQ, strippers, and a Discobar. Being deaf, I guess they turn the bass all the way up and turn everything else all the way down. Bet their neighbors love that.

Why did I have a feeling if anyone would dig that link, you would, Matt? :)

Red Devil Deaf Bikers of Antwerp forever!!!

I really enjoy riffing on the dichotomy between reality and the image we have here in the U.S. that Europe is filled with highly sophisticated, slightly effete snobs who look down their noses at all things American.

I lived in Germany for a couple of years, and I'll tell you that they've got a thriving redneck culture that's every bit as low-brow as what we've got here. The difference is that Americans tend to be proud of their low culture while a lot of Europeans try to pretend they don't have any.

For example, my German landlord was a classic dirtball. He ran a fish farm, was a hunter, and fancied himself as some sort of Hell's Angel. He had a really nice Mercedes, but he traded in to buy himself a Harley, and putzed around on it for a month or so, but the neighbors complained about the noise, so he eventually traded it in on a huge gas-hog SUV.

He also used to walk along the fish ponds at night and shoot eels with his rifle.