Still Split’n Lanes … No Gutter Balls for 2026
Every show we’ve had has been slightly different in scope and focus. This year we’re going to have more space to show bikes which means … more machines! We’re loosening up the parameters of what we’ve shown before; even more juxtaposition, with custom / stock / choppers, etc.
It’s back after seven years …
One of the city’s most beloved vintage motorcycle shows – albeit with an abbreviated name – is setting up for a thundering September strike.
But with its almost Lazarus-like resurrection from the depths of the Covid years, leaving the ‘Gutters’ behind seems almost prudent for the birth of Basket Case Production’s Still Split’n Lanes: A Classic Motorcycle Show, set to take over Williamsburg’s Wythe Avenue and Brooklyn Bowl Sept. 13, 2026.
“!t’s a grassroots, curated event, born out of a never-ending appetite for all things motorcycle, with a mandate to make moto history accessible to both enthusiasts and the general public,” were the words we used back in 2018 to describe the Split’n Lanes & Dodgin’ Gutters.
We sat down with BCP’s Girard Fox and Tim Warner recently to get the lowdown on the event’s triumphant return to Brooklyn, what kickstarted the revival and what to expect from this local homegrown gem.
Basket Case Productions organizers and vintage bike enthusiasts Girard Fox and Tim Warner — Rahoul Ghose
1) Firstly, congratulations to you both for getting this quintessential event back on the NYC moto calendar. The news definitely put a smile on our face.
Thanks! Lots of friends and people in our moto community kept asking us when we’re doing another show … We had always intended to do another one, so I think the voices finally got loud enough to jolt us into action.
We felt we owed it to ourselves … we weren't finished yet because it felt like there were more machines to share with NYC, and new directions to explore. We entertained the idea of other venues but ultimately kept coming back to The Bowl. The team there have been beyond accommodating, and (were) genuinely psyched to have us back.
3) Did the collapse of Split’n Lanes Hits the Road in 2021 (due to venue issues), while covid distancing mandates were still winding down, take the wind out of your sails for a few years, in regard to organizing large events, and how did you get that enthusiasm back?
Well yeah, we were majorly bummed to have to cancel that show. But there were a mounting number of challenges that ultimately led us to the difficult decision to cut our losses. It definitely took the wind out of our sails for a minute or two, but we ended up learning a lot from that experience! What to do (and not do) for our future events. Ultimately, the Moto gods were looking out for us, as the three days of the scheduled event were a total washout … a complete monsoon. That woulda sucked!
Classic racers, customs, choppers and vintage iron have all had their day in the spotlight during past events at Brooklyn Bowl. — Rahoul Ghose
(The cancellation of Split'n Lanes Hits the Road in 2021) definitely took the wind out of our sails for a minute or two, but we ended up learning a lot from that experience! What to do (and not do) for our future events.
4) Why the shortened name this time around … does the renaming have any particular significance for you both?
We went back and forth on changing the name up completely but realized that people over the years know the name ‘Split’n Lanes’ … so we just decided to lean into it and let everyone know we’re still here and we’re STILL Split’n Lanes out there!
5) Together with The Lot – an off-year outdoor show in 2017 – you’ve hosted six shows in Brooklyn … 2014, 2015, 2016, 2018 and 2019. How will this seventh incarnation be different?
The Lot still feels like a frantic fever dream for us both … it was hotter than the sun that day.
Every show we’ve had has been slightly different in scope and focus. This year we’re going to have more space to show bikes which means… more machines! We’re loosening up the parameters of what we’ve shown before; even more juxtaposition, with custom / stock / choppers, etc. … but in the same breath trying to make it more intentional and curated. We’re also putting together a pre-party at TV Eye in August … It's just going to be bigger and better in every aspect this year!
6) You have been very active on social media revealing some of the bikes you’ve already secured for the event. How many bikes will you be displaying in September, what are your considerations in choosing these bikes and do you have any early favorites … ones that you feel particularly chuffed at acquiring for display.
Man, we’re so into that sneak peek sizzle reel our friend Lee Landel put together for us. It's great, right? We’re extremely stoked on the bikes that we have confirmed so far but are still looking for a few more deep cuts. We’re going to have more bikes than ever this year, and we always overshoot by 10 to 15 percent because inevitably we always get the call that someone’s pet Guinea pig is under the weather or there is too much morning dew on their driveway.
There are some mind-bending ‘60s and ‘70s survivor choppers that we’re both pretty psyched about! We’ll leave it at that.
Past events have also attracted a wide variety of enthusiasts and characters in the vintage and builder moto community — Rahoul Ghose
We’re extremely stoked on the bikes that we have confirmed so far but are still looking for a few more deep cuts. We’re going to have more bikes than ever this year, and we always overshoot by 10 to 15 percent because inevitably we always get the call that someone’s pet Guinea pig is under the weather or there is too much morning dew on their driveway.
7) Are you still accepting submissions through your website?
Yes! Send us A PICTURE of your sweet machine either through the submission form on the website: basketcaseproductions.net Or email us directly: info@basketcaseproductions.net Include a brief description of the bike, please.
8) Is this the first year the event is charging an entry fee ($15)? How are ticket sales so far?
Tickets are moving online but we are expecting the majority of people to simply come and purchase them on the day of the show. Cash or card at the door. Yeah, we’re charging admission for the first time, but we feel $15 is a sweet deal for the experience plus, NOTHING (especially gas) is cheap right now!
Tickets: (ticketmaster.com)
9) What are your goals for this year’s event and are you looking forward to possibly again making Still Split’n Lanes an annual fixture?
Same as every year…makes some new friends, some new fans, and gather a mob of bikes out front for good times all around! There will absolutely be more Basket Case Productions!
The scene outside Brooklyn Bowl on Wythe Avenue is also buzzing with photographers, cool bikes and interesting people. — Rahoul Ghose
(On the NYC Moto Community) We just know that if you put out the word for a ride, a swap meet, or a questionable late-night garage session, people tend to show up. It's a mix of builders, racers, tinkerers, commuters, artists, and complete weirdos, all connected by a shared love of motorcycles and the adventures, frustrations, and friendships that come with them.
10) One of the past mandates of the shows was to highlight the history of these vintage rides and to allow show attendees to interact with the bike’s owners, ask questions and keep moto history alive. Is this still the general philosophy of the show and is it getting harder to keep that history alive for younger generations?
The short answer is yes. There are less and less sketchy, obsolete, old bikes on the road these days (especially in NYC). But the chopper scene has gotten super popular and is attracting a younger set that is just as hungry and crazy about old builds as anyone. This city isn’t friendly to Old Iron and it takes a concerted effort to keep them maintained. This year we’re honored and proud to have the Antique Motorcycle Club of America (AMCA) as a contributing sponsor! They are providing all attendees a digital membership to their fine organization, which has been nurturing & supporting the restoration and use of vintage machines since 1954. They want to continue to grow and build their membership with a new generation of riders … Wait. That was not a short answer.
11) What do you both ride now and how long have you had these bikes? What keeps you riding and maintaining them?
Tim Warner: I still have my ‘70 Bonneville (albeit with a rebuilt top/bottom end last summer) that I've had for about 10 years now. I also have my late friend B’s 2012 Softail that is an absolute beast and a blast for longer hauls.
Girard Fox: My daily rider is a 1949 Harley-Davidson Panhead … built to be fairly stock in appearance. That was a two-year project, and I’ve been riding it for a decade or so. I also have a 1940 HD Knucklehead Chopper, originally built by Chase Stopnik in Los Angeles … and have continuously tweaked and ridden into the ground by myself. I race a 1942 WLA Forty-Five, that was built by my brother Gregory, from a rusty pile of former Wall-of-Death parts. I’m currently attempting to build (well, I look at it a lot, at least), a ’59 / ’66 HD Pan/Shovel chopper. We’ll see?
Girard Fox helps with load-in at Brooklyn Bowl for the 4th Annual Split'n Lanes Dodgin' Gutters Vintage and Classic Motorcycle Show in 2018. — Rahoul Ghose
There are less and less sketchy, obsolete, old bikes on the road these days (especially in NYC). But the chopper scene has gotten super popular and is attracting a younger set that is just as hungry and crazy about old builds as anyone.
12) Can we expect another event poster / illustration for the event like in past years? Who is the artist and what attracted you to them.
Our show poster is out there, and we must say it's probably our favorite one yet (besides Ray Abeyta’s original painted one from the first year). It's a departure from the style of our past show, but we were drawn to Shinnosuke’s (@fatrat1976) work by his creative non-rigid design and fonts. He does a lot of moto-centric art that is uniquely different from anything else out there. We couldn’t be happier with what he created for us!
13) In terms of the organizing company – Basket Case Productions – that you both run, it appears you’re expanding your horizons to create regular community rides, bike nights, etc. What are your goals for this expansion and how successful have the rides you’ve organized so far been?
Honestly, the rides have grown pretty organically. We'll decide, "Let's throw something together next Tuesday," put up a post, and people will show up. There's a like-mindedness and collective spirit among folks who just want to ride, hang out, and meet other riders. We definitely want to keep doing the random bike nights, along with the New Year’s Day Cannoli rides, but we'd also like to branch out into some longer rides with an actual destination and a reason to rip a little longer ride. People tire of fighting crosstown traffic at 6 PM on a Tuesday just to stand around kicking tires.
14) If you could describe the NYC Moto Community in a few sentences, what it means to you both, and what makes it special … what would you say?
We're probably not qualified to offer any profound insight into the NYC motorcycle community. We just know that if you put out the word for a ride, a swap meet, or a questionable late-night garage session, people tend to show up. It's a mix of builders, racers, tinkerers, commuters, artists, and complete weirdos, all connected by a shared love of motorcycles and the adventures, frustrations, and friendships that come with them.
15) Any final words for those considering coming to this year’s show?
Come by. Ride in, take the train, hitchhike, whatever. There will be a room full of beautiful, questionable, and occasionally brilliant motorcycles, along with the folks who dig them. That's reason enough.
Reflecting on past BCP events. — Rahoul Ghose
For more information on Basket Case Production’s Still Split’n Lanes, visit their website at basketcaseproductions.net and follow them on Instagram and Facebook.
Tickets ($15 pp) for the Sept. 13 show at Brooklyn Bowl will be available at the door or you can purchase them online and in advance on Ticketmaster.
Galleries from previous events: SLDG 2019 | SLDG 2018 | The Lot 2017
Past Features:
Split'n Lanes Hits the Road (February 2021)
'Split'n Lanes Dodgin' Gutters’: highlighting a world without cruise control (July 2019)
'Split'n Lanes Dodgin' Gutters’ returns to The Bowl (July 2018)
THE LOT calling out NY Vintage Riders (August 2017)
Other Recent Features:
One Day at a Time
Such a pleasure to have this incredible bike show back on the calendar!