WOG Magazine

Jason has always been into hot rods and bikes. He was trained as a machinist during high school, and after losing his job, he went back to welding school, with no jobs available after completing the course. He then took a job at a local HOG shop, and worked for a company that made museum displays as welder and fabricator through a temp agency. But all of that wasn't working! Jason needed more for his children/family.

So Jason started the South Side Kustoms, and to date Jason is still working out of his garage, selling aftermarket parts and apparel over the internet.

"The charity bike started as a promise", Jason said: "I promised God if He helped me out I would do my part for the community. Which in part I believe we as business owners need to do. So the Charity Bike was born. Every year we seek sponsors, and I pour my heart and soul into these bikes that are raffled off with the proceeds to go to Charity and someone to win a great bike! Last year's charity bike was the Jack-A-Lantern Bike which was also South Side Kustoms' first built bike under the business. This year's (2007) charity bike is going to be an Americana Themed Old School bobber with memorials to certain events in America's History. The bike will have a tattered American Flag over the whole bike, sprung seat etched with artwork by our seat guy - 80" Evolution Motor - probably use a kick start as well as an electric, but everyone will just have to wait and see."

See: www.south-side-kustoms.com for raffle tickets and everyone can participate (you don't have to be present to win). Tickets will be $10.00 each with only 4000 available. Raffle will be held on Nov. 12 2007. The benefiting Charities are "The VA Hospital of Buffalo and Buffalo City Mission." South Side Kustoms also hosts a Christmas party every year that benefits Toys For Tots.

South Side Kustoms believes that the customer comes first, whether a custom build or just buying a part or t-shirt. We try to give you the best experience and involve the customer fully. It's their dime they're spending. South Side Kustoms is a Registered Builder (so you get a vin#), Certified Welder, Machinist who knows their way around a motor. We believe in building bikes for the working man/woman. Our bikes range from $19,000 - $40,000. The motorcycle industry has gotten out of control with pricing and we just believe the average Joe should be able to afford his dream. I'd rather build 10 bikes at a lower cost to people than 4 bikes at a higher price tag. Plus we believe in involving the customer with their dream all the way through the process. South Side Kustoms also sells aftermarket parts/accessories and apparel at lower prices than most, and also have our hands into the car industry by selling air/hydraulic suspensions as well as billet/wire wheels.

The dream is to have a building with South Side Kustoms Hotrods on one side and South Side Kustoms Kustom Motorcycles on the other.

"I am by no means perfect" Jason says. "I swear worse than a sailor some days, I still have a drink and I still smoke, I don't even go to church like I should. BUT I love, fear and respect God. I know He has been by my side through everything. I was raised Catholic and walked away from God for sometime, I was lost and now I am found! I ended up coming back to God, got saved and was baptized all over again. Hence my tattoo on my arm of the Sacred Heart with the words under it that says "Faith". By no means has life been easy for me. I grew up in a broken home with an angry drunk for a father, and it seems that life has always been a struggle. But I know in my heart God has been by my side through everything and has the prize waiting just on the other side of this struggle. In March 2006 after starting my business, my little shop burnt to the ground, while I was standing in it, with the door shut. God got me through the fire and all that has transpired since. God also blessed me with a wonderful wife ­ Cheri, who has been by my side and my best friend thru everything (ten years this March). God also gave me two beautiful children, my boy Caleb 8 and my daughter Arian 4. We may not look like your typical Christian family or always act like it. But we pray at dinner time without fail, and if I forget, my children remind me that we have to. At night when I tuck them in we say our prayers, we send our tithes to a local church and we trust in God to take care of everything. Which believe me was a lesson in itself.

God reminded me to trust in Him, when one day while at the local park, we found a piece of paper with scripture on it that said: "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future" Jeremiah 29-11. This now hangs on the refrigerator door as a constant reminder.

I hope all this information helped you and gave you an insight to South Side Kustoms that is rarely seen or shared. I pray that, it will be a testimony to someone, knowing that if they push hard enough with God by their side, they can do anything.