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Al @ MFX
5th April 2007
James
It seems if you're not going to be just anyone on the scene, you gotta have a custom painted lid. Its just a fact, look at the top 20 in most downhill races and nearly all will have a custom design splashed all over, complemented with clothing to match the design. Very changing rooms!
Al from MFX Air Art has been making a name for himself recently, and not in a bad way either, he's provided helmets for many racers across the scene, including Superfly and Helen Gaskell. You can either provide the design yourself, or work with Al and his many artistic talents to produce a truly bespoke helmet design to your requirements.
Unlike many other painting businesses he is quite happy to provide information on how to do it yourself - but without the kind of equipment and experience at MFX its unlikely that you'll match them for quality. This kind of down to earth attitude has meant that the company has gained a lot of respect, especially up North and we thought that we needed to have a chat...
A is for age
Lost since 73' you work it out?
B is for last bike ridden
Morewood ndiza
C is for current career
Sometime painter / airbrush wannabe
D is for favourite drink
Belhaven Best, single malt
E is for essential possessions
Phone, pc, bike, camera, guitar, kilt
F is for film you love
TV show Firefly, unjustly cancelled, and its movie, Serenity
G is for future goals
To race DH 2007 series
H is for hometown
Strathaven
I is for most painful injury
Handlebar through the pelvis.
J is for first job
Marquee erector
K is for whose arse you'd like to kick
Russell Brand
L is for location you wish you were now
New Zealand (with my wife)
M is for best memory
Malverns 1997 great week!
| N is for your full name
Allan Doyle
O is for one wish
Fitness of an average level
P is for last product purchased
Tickets to see Jesse Malin
Q is for quote
“Everyone's your friend till the rent comes in”
R is for random fact about yourself
I'm Scottish
S is for sports you like to do
Mountain-bikes & hill walking / climbing
T is for the trail you love
I love em' all, just happy to get to one these days!
U is for ultimate sandwich
Peanut butter and jam (possibly banana)
V is for your favourite vegetable
n/a
W is for worst habit
Nails....biting nails.
X is for X-rays
Ribs... 3 times, all at fort bill.
Y is for when you were young what you wanted to be when you grew up
A member of metallica.
Z is for zodiac sign
Cancer
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What made you want to start up MFXAIRART & How did you starting painting?
I always wanted to draw and paint as a young un' but my old man soon seen to that, never encouraged I just doodled here and there, I waited till I was 31 years old to do anything about it, my uncle (Mick) took me on at www.mfxltd.com which is a vehicle body shop and custom paint shop, after being there a while and some in's and outs, I decided to carry on alone but having built up the name and profile of the airbrushing / artistic side of the business whilst working for him under the name mfxltd, I decided to pick a name that was related to the hard work I'd already put in and mfxairart.com was born.
The reason I'm now so embedded in the bike trade is I've rode mountain-bikes since I was about 14-15 and I always wanted to do something in the sport, this way I can ride with great people, sponsor folk, help guys out and generally enjoy my work, I wanna' bring this type of work to the masses and the folk who cant afford the top whack, I'm not the ultimate painter by a long shot, but I hope I can give folk a bit of joy for their hard earned.
What are your plans for the next year? Anything exciting?
Oh Yes...... This year (when I've had the time to finish them) I have Lewis Buchanan, Ruaridh Cunningham, Chris Ball, and Jaymie Mart all on my helmet paint, also Brian Gibb www.cyclejersey.com and I have confirmed Chris Hutchens, Joe Barnes, Chris Coates and Brian Middleton DH for team cyclejersey / mfxairart this coming season, we've got some great backing from the likes of Orange, 661, Hope, justridingalong.com and mojo, so watch this space!
I also have some exiting business plans, but I'm keeping them close to my chest right now.
If Mr Troy Lee asked you to work for him, what would you say and why?
Well, the lifestyle would be great eh, glass fronted workshops, ultimate workspaces, very best tools and equipment, hob nobbin' with the elite, but at the end of the day, I'd be working for someone else again, and I don't want to, I cant really answer that Question right now, as my work (in my opinion) ain't comparable, I'd like to try and build my business like he did, keep helmet paint cheap and accessible whilst enjoying the experience, I have a made a lot of friends in a lot of places since I started this up, and I'm grateful for all of them, I could list them but it would take all day so I'll just say thanks for the support.
Go visit MFXAirArt.com for all your artful requirements.
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