“We are extremely fortunate to have partnered in this adventure. Mike is a walking Harley Davidson encyclopedia and Eddie is an absolute wizard in the spray booth. John gets it all together and gets it all done.  Our combined knowledge of both metric and American motorcycles, coupled with our united lovefor the sport of cycling has led us to develop a true “One Stop Shop” for bikers from all walks of life.  Come see us when you can!”

                                                                        Mike, John and Eddie

MIKE CASEY

Born and raised in upstate New York, Mike’s cycling experience began at the age of 8 when he got his first bike a 1925 Indian single.  From there, at age 18, he graduated to his first Harley Davidson, a Sportser Basket Case, and has been riding ever since.  His first Superglide came later at age 24.  During his lifetime, Mike has owned and serviced all makes and models of bikes, from BMW to Yamaha.  All total, he’s got about 250,000 miles under his chaps and has built and restored classic motorcycles for years.

His history includes 6 years in the United State Air Force. In 1975, Mike came to Georgia and began attendance at UGA and graduated from in 1982. In 1984, he had a serious wreck totaling his Superglide. During his year and a half recovery, he rebuilt the Superglide into an FLH. Due to the friendship of the Cycle World owners and his mechanical skills he was able to continue his employment at Cycle World of Athens as a motorcycle mechanic.  He also worked from 1976 to 2007 at DuPont in Athens, Georgia.  Due to the shift rotation, he was able to continue his love for bikes and stay on at Cycle World.  In 1996, Mike started his own motorcycle service center at his home in Crawford, Georgia.  Then in 2008, he met John, because of their love of classic cars and motorcycles , they started M & J Motorworks, Inc., and the best is yet to come.

JOHN WILLIAMS

Born in Weatherford Texas, John has been engulfed in the world of hot rods and fast bikes all his life.  Having grown up in Louisiana working at his dad’s Conoco service station, he learned to service and repair all makes and models of gasoline and diesel powered vehicles at an early age.  That was the days of muscle cars and drag strips… the best days of all! 

At the age of 8 he was personally introduced to motorcycles when he learned to ride a Cushman Super Eagle.  He began seriously falling off of and repairing dirt bikes at age 12.  From 12 to 16, he rode and wrecked a Kawasaki Samari 250, a Yamaha Big Bear 250, and a Kawasaki Big Horn 350.  

At age 16, he moved into street bikes.  He rode, maintained and modified his Yamaha 350, a Triumph Tiger 500, and a Triumph Bonneville 650.  While in high school, he built and drag-raced a ’57 Chevy 2 dr hardtop, a ’65 Pontiac GTO, and a ’68 Plymouth GTX.

After graduating from high school, John pursued a career as a long haul truck driver.  He continued to ride and maintain his motorcycles during his off time. His first Harley came along in ’83, a “Twin Belt Wide Glide”. Boy Howdy!!!!  From 1985 till 1991, he and a couple of friends built bikes in a home based shop… everything from minor rebuilds to strokers.

In August of 2005, John was diagnosed with throat cancer. After 8 weeks of radiation & chemo- therapy, his cancer was gone. It took 4 months to recover from the treatments but he was finally pronounced fit to return to work. He decided to leave the long road behind and return to the thing that he had always loved most.    
       
John has stepped out of the truck and back into the wind…. on his 2000 Yamaha RoadStar and has begun his new life, his real dream career…. M & J Motorworks, Inc. 

"LITTLE EDDIE" SELF

Born and raised in the place he still calls home, Eddie is an Oconee County man through and through.  He began his biking adventure much like Mike and John… young and flexible! 

Eddie started riding dirt bikes at 7 years old and on his first street bike came at 18. At 26, he bought his first Harley. It was a first-run Softail Custom with an Evolution motor, four speed & kicker. Currently he is building a custom Softail powered by an 89 c.i. S&S motor with a Revtech 5 speed. 

Eddie grew up in the automotive repair shop built by his father. At age 15 he began working for Tony Elder, another well-known Oconee County paint & body man. He learned from Tony the value of patience & persistence. Eddie first tried his hand with the spray gun at age sixteen. Although the results were not quite what he had in mind, it set Eddie’s path. He continued to learn & honed his skills.

After serving in the U. S. Army, Eddie took over Self’s Automotive in 1997 and eventually changed the name to A-1 Automotive. He read everything he could get his hands on about custom paint & bodywork. He watched videos & DVD’s. He spent many long nights in the shop practicing on old hoods & fenders.  In 2001, he was ready. He installed a profession paint booth in his shop & made a personal commitment to do whatever it takes to produce paint & body work that is “a cut above” the rest. 

A-1 Automotive then became A-1 Customs.  Several of his custom paint jobs are shown in our photo gallery, and can be seen regularly on the streets of Oconee County!