The Legend of Butch Brinza
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Pinstripe Legends Lifetime Achievement Award
Each year a Lifetime Achievement Award is given to further showcase pinstriping as fine art. Butch Brinza was the first
honoree in February 2003. Butch continued to donate numerous pieces of his art from 2003-2023. Pinstripe Legends is a group of well over 75 accomplished artists dedicated to expanding the recognition of pinstriping as a fine art form. To achieve
this, they host an annual pinstriping fine art exhibition at the I.S.C.A. Milwaukee World of Wheels Car Show that includes at least one live art auction daily to benefit the Children’s Hospital Wisconsin charity. Since its inception in 2002, Pinstripe Legends has raised over $1,000,000 for Children’s Hospital Wisconsin.
The artists donate their time, artwork and talent to be auctioned. Vendors donate materials for painting and displays. Event management donates valuable floorspace and entrance fees for artists. And there is a tireless team of anonymous volunteers operating behind the scenes.
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Blue Flame
Artistry at 622.407 Miles per Hour
Butch’s talents reached far beyond traditional automobiles and motorcycles. He painted the legendary Blue Flame rocket car driven by his friend Gary Gabelich. On October 23, 1970, the Blue Flame set a world land-speed record at the Bonneville Salt Flats, reaching 622.407 mph. This achievement at Bonneville Salt Flats record still stands to this day, connecting Butch’s craftsmanship to one of the most significant moments in land-
speed racing history.
The Blue Flame LSR built by Reaction Dynamics, is now on permanent display in the Technik Museum Sinsheim in
Germany.
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Harley-Davidson Heritage
A Lasting Mark on an American Icon
Butch’s relationship with Harley-Davidson became an important chapter in his custom-painting career. In 1979, he created a matching candy root beer over black pearl finish for a Harley-Davidson Sportster and Corvette giveaway. The combination proved so memorable that Harley-Davidson later offered a similar custom color in its early-1980s lineup. His hand lettering and pinstriping can also be seen on the restored 1903 Harley-Davidson “Serial Number One” displayed at the Harley-Davidson Museum in Milwaukee.
