The Idea
That simple question, posed innocently enough by a fellow rider from Illinois, sparked the effort now called Two Wheel Oklahoma. It became a mission to document the scenic highways in and around our state, and what better way, than to do it on motorcycle.
The
destinations might be a historic site, a winery, a town in itself or
just a scenic stretch of highway. It could be a weekly bike night or a
greasy spoon. It might be a curve where the sunsets live. And the best
way to get there may not be the shortest.This project is the brainchild of Brad Mathison and Rex Brown, long-time motorcyclists from Tulsa, Oklahoma. With the help of Retro Spec Films, what began as a simple video project has become the weekly, half-hour television program called Two Wheel Oklahoma.
The Hosts
Brad Mathison was born in 1964, in Long Beach, California. After moving back to Big Cabin, Oklahoma with his family in 1978, he attended NEO A&M College, then Spartan School of Aeronautics. Growing up racing motorcycles and cars, Brad spent all of his free time either racing, building or playing on one of them. Brad went on to build and operate the racetrack, Beeline Motocross Park until moving back in to the city of Tulsa to spend the next eight years helping to set up and run an Engineering firm in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Brad moves up to a Benelli at age 6.
That's Rex with his first bike, a Speedway Super Spyder
In 2007, he quit his day job and followed his passion to be the Executive Producer and co-host of the popular half hour travel series, Two Wheel Oklahoma. After a run on paid commercial television, the series was broadcast on OETA then syndicated to multiple states around the U.S., as well as most of Europe and New Zealand. Brad still resides in Tulsa, Oklahoma and can be found out traveling on his motorcycle when not working on the show and is still active in the car and motorcycle community. Brad has enjoyed traveling from when he was a child, making the trips back to Oklahoma to visit family on Rt. 66, and that has carried through to the rest of his life. He believes firmly in the preservation of not just Rt. 66, but all of the roads and highways that have been bypassed, leaving the towns and people behind. He currently serves on various Rt. 66 committees.
Rex Brown is a native Tulsan, born in 1960, who attended Booker T. Washington High School and the Spartan School of Aeronautics. Learning how things work has been a lifelong passion, no matter whether it was his first dirt bike, a camera or a website. His passion for cars lead to a nine-year endeavor as the owner of an Italian automotive accessory shop.
In “real life” today Rex is a network administrator, but known more widely as the co-host of the television travel show, Two Wheel Oklahoma. When not traveling the backroads of Oklahoma he manages the Two Wheel Oklahoma website, Places2ride.com and writes the blog Oklahoma Modern. His other hobbies include film making, photography and cartooning. Two of his short films, Zen and the Art of Lawn Maintenance and Because We’re Dix, were official selections of the Tulsa Overground Film Festival. He has also been active with a number of community organizations, and is currently on the board of the Tulsa Foundation for Architecture.
The Show
Beginning in October 2009 the first episodes were aired on KMYT-TV in Tulsa. The response was incredibly positive and eventually four shows were produced. Viewers enjoyed the unusual destinations we visited and our casual approach punctuated with offbeat commentary.
Later that year the Oklahoma Educational Television Authority was approached about adding the show to their lineup. They agreed to pick up the show for their Spring 2010 season. Beginning April 4, 2010 viewers across all of Oklahoma, and parts of Kansas, Texas, Arkansas and Missouri, could enjoy Two Wheel Oklahoma on OETA every Sunday at 8:30 a.m.
Today Oklahoma. Tomorrow the World.
We think the concept of Two Wheel Oklahoma could easily be applied to other states- or the nation. The way we present touring America "off the beaten path" is something people enjoy. Even if they have never been on a motorcycle!
If you or your company would be interested in sponsorship we urge you to contact us.
Brad Mathison
Two Wheel Oklahoma
1956 Utica Square
Suite 106
Tulsa, OK 74114
918-798-2664
brad@twowheelok.com
