For the first time ever, you can pick-up one of these limited edition Rick Howard boards.
The Ben Davis monkey parody was the top graphic of Rick’s 1991 “NEW GRAPHICS” board. The original intentions were to use this as the bottom graphics on the next batch but Rick got swooped up before this could happen. So what we have here is a NBI (never been issued), the board that should have been but never was (but now is).
It’s a great logo drawn by Ron Lemen that was forced to live it’s life belittled as simply a top graphic... until now, it will finally given the premium bottom board placement it deserves.
Oh and here’s the story behind it...well let’s just start out by saying that this was the workwear era in skateboarding with many skaters buying (increasingly) oversized uniform pants and shirts at thrift stores and swap meets, it was all about Ben Davis, Dickies and Red Kap. But my ears are still ringing from the second part of the story....
While on a cross country tour with the young guns (I believe Rick Howard, Omar Hassan, Steve Berra and Andy Brayman), we stopped on the side of the road at a fireworks stand. You can’t buy (exploding) firecrackers in California so we were thrilled to find them and stocked up. Well the boys couldn’t wait and firecrackers started exploding inside the tour van with increasing numbers and closeness to the driver (me). My fuse was getting shorter as I screamed out “if anyone lights off one more #%@&ing firecracker I’m going to.....”. Meanwhile Rick was sitting right behind me and was trying to blow out the firecracker he had just lit...on my headrest! It exploded in my ear and I swerved to the side of the road and slammed on the brakes. Before I could even get my seatbelt off all the guys were already out the door and scattering like hunted bunny rabbits across the flat field. I threw all their skateboards out of the van and drove away...stopping up the road a bit to cool down. Apologies were made and we headed east in silence apart from the ringing in my ears....and there you have it, that’s the story behind the firecracker on Rick’s board.
An essential part of Blockhead and Rick Howard’s history, this board is limited to a maximum run of 120 (depending on pre-orders). These will be signed by Rick (if he is available but no guarantee) and hand numbered (boards are signed on top).
Dave B.
Details:
- Solid color stains (brown, blue, black, orange, natural)
- Tri-split stains (assorted, see photo compilation for possibilities).
- White dip
- Art by Ron Lemen
- Bottom: 3 color screen printed graphics
- Top: Screenprint graphic and laser burn logo
- Dimensions: 9.625 x 32”, 6.5” Tail, 6.625” Nose,14.25” Wheelbase
- Same shape as “NEW GRAPHICS” board
- Old school hole pattern
- 1991 era concave
- Construction: 7-ply maple
- Stained laminates, rails are natural (except white dip)
- Manufactured by Watson Laminates, San Diego CA
- Originally planned release date 1992, Limited issue 2018
