Arctic Directory: 50th Anniversary chopper displayed during statehood celebration

In December Unique Machine, LLC in conjunction with Orange County Choppers announced that they where having a special chopper built to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of Statehood.

The bike is to be display at the Dena’ina Convention Center beginning in January.

Unique Machine, a Sumitomo Corporation of America subsidiary, has operated in Anchorage for 35 years. They are the largest machine shop in the state of Alaska and are a staple figure in Alaska’s oilfield, mining, fishing and construction industries.

The bike was unveiled to Unique Machine’s employees and press December 29th at their Old Seward Hwy location.

After being on display at the Statehood Celebration, Unique Machine will continue to display the bike at various locations throughout Anchorage for several weeks of the new year. There will then be a drawing held some time in March, with fifty percent of the proceeds from ticket sales going to the Children’s Hospital at Providence.

The idea for the bike came from wanting to do something special for the employees of Unique Machine. This then evolved into a 50th anniversary bike with the former owner of the company, Ken Bystedt, being instrumental in the design. “It then became an opportunity to give back to Alaska’s youth and their families,” said Dana Dosark, administrative assistant at Unique Machine. “It is our responsibility to the next generation that we provide them every opportunity so that they can carry us through the next 50 years.”

The Children’s Hospital at Providence has been providing healthcare and emergency services for families and children all over Alaska since the early 1990’s.

For more information on ticket sales or a schedule of places where the bike can be viewed, contact Dana Dozark at 907-563-3012 or visit Unique Machine’s website at www.umalaska.com