For 4 straight years Eagle Leather has been the #1 Gerbing’s Heated Clothing Dealer in the Western Region and in the top 10 Nation wide. With special thanks to all you that have supported Eagle Leather over the years. Congratulations to all our customers who have supported us in our growth into the largest motorcycle apparel dealer on the west coast and the #1 Gerbing’s heated clothing dealer in the western region.

“this was a genius promotional marketing idea” said a group of friends who had entered the drawing and ridden together to Eagle’s new 22,000 sq. ft. motorcycle accessories super store. “the tickets did not cost a dime an it gave a chance to check out the new store”, they continued. I must say I heard those same sentiments repeated over and over throughout the day.

For those that missed out, it was pure pandemonium inside and outside the store. Over 3,000 people showed up to see if they would become the lucky winners of new Harley-Davidson. The bike tickets were free, but you had to be present to win. Again, great marketing by Eagle Leather. In addition to the motorcycle give-a-way, Eagle Leather gave each person on Saturday a ticket entering them into a separate drawing for a chance to wind one of several names drawn that would win hundreds of dollars worth of Eagle merchandise.

A couple of hours before the designated 5 pm drawing, anxious customers squeezed through the doors to shop, wait and turn in last minute entries. The cash registers and employees were working at a frenzied pace to keep up with the customers. This was no easy task in light of the huge turnout, yet the staff remained professional, courteous and helpful.

The spinning ticket drum was crammed full of hopeful winner names. I couldn’t help but look around at the vast crowd and wonder which man or woman would indeed win.

Prior to the drawing, Eagle Leather randomly selected an adorable little girl, Jennifer, with the honor of hand picking the winning ticket.

At 5pm the big moment had arrived. The drum was spun several times to insure a good mix of the tickets. The crowd was nearly silent, waiting with anticipation of the name that would be announced…

“Brian Lester you are the winner of a new 2008 Harley-Davidson Dyna Superglide” Instantly I heard a lady squeal, the a big hearty “WoooWhooo” which was followed by the crowd roaring and clapping. As the masses parted, a big ‘ol guy with a grin a mile wide stood before me. Along side him was his wife, Keri, who I’m sure was responsible for the squeal I heard!

Brian stepped up tot the mic, completely blown away that he was the winner. He thanked Mike Toursal, owner of Eagle Leather and his fantastic staff for making it possible.

Brian and his wife stopped by Eagle Leather every day for a month to shop, pick up a ticket and enter, hoping to improve his chances of winning. It definitely paid off for him.

There was something about 36 year old Brian that oozed ‘nice guy’. I had a chance to sit and talk with him for a while after the shock of winning had begun to wear off and really had set in. I found that my instincts were right on, he is a genuinely down to earth, nice guy.

I asked Brian how it felt to win. He replied “Surreal. I can’t believe it’s mine. Man, how do you properly thank a guy who basically hands you a new 2008 Harley? How do you show that kind of appreciation?” Brian is by his humble words “just an average, married, hardworking guy”. He and his wife, Keri have been together for 9 years and married in April, 2006. They have 3 sons ages 9, 14, and 16, who all share a passion for motorcycles. The first thing Keri did was call their sons at home and say, “Your Dad just won the Harley!” Apparently the kids had bet each other $1 that Dad would not win. Ah, boys don’t you know that Dad’s never wrong!

Brian currently rides a 2007 Road King Custom, but has no intention of selling the Superglide he won. He said, “it’s not only a great bike, it’s a conversation piece.” Hmmm, I couldn’t help but think it seemed to fit his wife, Keri pretty good when she sat on it for pictures… you never know. He did mention changing a few things, some new pipes, forward controls and new bars. You can’t blame a guy for customizing the bike to suit his, or is it her, needs!

It seems that Brain’s life is continually getting better with each passing day. Not long ago Brian found his biological father and their families bonded immediately. Their goal is for his father to buy a Harley-Davidson Road Glide that he has been eyeing so that the two of them can ride side by side to Sturgis next year for some long awaited father and son time.

On behalf of Eagle Leather and the staff at Quick Throttle Magazine we wish Brian Lester and his family the very best. Keep the rubber side down!

Written by Diana Olmstead, Quick Throttle Magazine November 2007

To celebrate the Grand Opening of the new store and their 12th year in business, Eagle is giving away a brand new 2008 Harley-Davidson Dyna Super-Glide Custom. Each time you visit Eagle Leather you will be given a free raffle ticket just for stopping by. You can earn an additional raffle ticket with any Eagle Leather purchase. The bike drawing will be held, November 3rd, 2007. If you haven’t stopped by to check out Eagle’s new store you don’t know what you’re missing out on. Not only are they the biggest leather store in Washington state, they have an astonishing assortment of riding gear and accessories ranging from hard to fit adult sizes to childrens sizing. Looking for a helmet? Eagle has it in just about any size and style you could imagine. Looking for new leathers? This is the place to find what you need. They have a great selection of jackets, chaps, and pants for men and women at an excellent price. They carry ICON, Firstgear, Joe Rocket, and Gerbing’s Heated Clothing, just to name a few of the top motorcycle apparel lines available. At Eagle Leather you’ll find an array of T-Shirts, vests-reflective and leather, skull caps, facemasks, eyewear, raingear, gloves, patches, wallets, Harley-Davidson boots, motorcycle luggage, and saddlebags. Eagle Leather has dedicated, knowledgeable, and friendly staff available to assist you with sizing and questions. Yueh, Eagle’s renowned leather seamstress, is available on site for alterations and patch sewing.

Eagle Leather has been in business since 1995. Mike Toursal, owner, has had a passion for bikes since his childhood days in Algiers, located on the Mediterranean Sea, in the north-central part of the country of Algeria, when he rode his first bike, a CMG. That bike kick started his dream of dedicating his future to the motorcycle community. Mike immigrated to the United States, a land of opportunity and American bikes, on April Fools Day, 1991 to pursue his goal of understanding and providing motorcyclists with what they needed most, leather. Mike is a genuine biker at heart. He owns and rides 3 Harley-Davidsons and a Boss Hoss V8. He’s traveled to all of the major motorcycle events around the U.S. including Daytona, Laughlin, Street Vibrations, and Sturgis. It was at these events that Mike set up shop selling leathers while getting to know, respect and party with riders of all walks of life. The more Mike spoke to riders the more he came to realize that these riders were in need of a central location and a larger selection of motorcycle gear. He opened a series of stores dedicated to his passion. He quickly out grew his original 1,500 sq. ft. store, moving up to a 3,000 sq. ft. store, then to 9,000 sq. ft., and now to a whopping 22,000 sq. ft. store centrally located off of I-5 at exit 127!

An interesting fact that few may know, is that Eagle Leather provided leathers that were worn by the Del Fuegos in the hit movie Wild Hogs staring John Travolta, Tim Allen, Martin Lawrence, William H. Macey, and Ray Liotta. Stop by Eagle Leather for great deals all year round at the new location 10222 South Tacoma Way, Lakewood, WA. Or visit their website at www.eagleleather.com

Written by Diana Olmstead, September 2007

Quick Throttle Mag

Eagle Leather Supplies Wild Hogs With Motorcycle Jackets!!!

When cast members of the movie “Wild Hogs” climbed aboard their Harleys to ride to the No. 1 spot at the box office earlier this month, some of them were wearing leather jackets from Tacoma. The Eagle Leather Co., 2510 S. 84th St., (now located at 1022 South Tacoma Way) sold 17 jackets to the production last May after costume designer Lisa Jensen saw the garments on the store’s Web site, said spokesman Graeme Bulloch. Eagle’s clientele is primarily motorcyclists. Bulloch believes most of the jackets were worn by extras, but Mike Toursal thinks star John Travolta also may have worn one in some of his scenes. - Soren Andersen, The News Tribune (March 2007)