BACKROADS • OCTOBER 2021
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BACKLASH From the Beginning Shira and Brian, The year, 1997. The place, Moroney’s in Newburgh, NY. Ya see I worked for a government agency and during this particular year I transported many ‘clients’ who did wrong things and were sentenced to time in our state penal system. Downstate Correctional was the receiving facility in Fishkill. My partner loved motorcycles and we had to stop at Moroney’s EVERY single time to check out new bikes. I saw your magazine on the table and would peruse it reading different articles. Eventually my mind came around and I took an MSF course at Happy Valley (HVCC or Hudson Valley Community College) in Troy and really enjoyed the thrill of riding so my first learner bike was a Yamaha Virago 750. I rode that bike every evening all over Albany County. Eventually I graduated to larger Yamahas, but my true interest was the Honda Gold Wing. Bought on in ’02, crashed it in ’07 and bought a Honda Trike in ’08. So, you crazy kids of Augusta, you got me interested in riding from the terrific articles in your magazine and I’ve enjoyed you mag for over 20 years. Unfortunately, family obligations as well as some health problems have popped up recently and my riding days have come to an end. I just wanted to say THANKS for working tirelessly putting your magazine out every month for me to enjoy reading it. I’ve saved a few articles thinking to myself that my family will get there someday, but alas on four wheels (Mustang convertible for now). Larry Walley – Albany, NY Paul, Just a thank you for sponsoring the “Welcome to the Jungle“ page. I really enjoy this each month. Regards, Steve
Letters to the Editor Did like Dan Bisbee’s piece on the 1874 Mill River flood in Massachusett’s Hampshire county. My Northampton High School buddies and I would swim in the polluted Mill River in the 1950s. Authorities say the river has been cleaned up now, but none of us seemed to have died of the pollution back then. Great photo of Joe Salluzzo, whom I worked with back in the 1980s in the old Road Rider magazine days. Clem Salvadori, Atascadero CA Hi Shira & Brian, Another fun time at the Gray Ghost! We enjoyed our visit poolside, met some new people, saw some new places and were able to help out a friend in need. Thank you for all that you do. Tom & Kathy
Fueling the Fires Brian, It’s funny, most times I read ‘Free Wheelin’ the same thing you’re talking about, I’m experiencing. So, my 15 year+ VP fuel dealer is not selling fuel anymore and I had to find a new dealer a half hour away just now. I tend to use the VP “Vintage” with and without leaded. That goes in all the vintage bikes. If I go out for a ride and have to stop for pump fuel it gets drained out via my electric pump as soon as I get home and replaced with VP non-ethanol. So last week I was riding my ‘74 Trident to a friend’s house then a bike show. I tried to do it on one tank of fuel not to mix pump fuel; guess what, my reserve petcock on my fine 70s British bike ran 5 miles on reserve before running out of fuel at night on 195. Had to push the bike 5 miles, no one stopped to help. Be careful some other makes of VP fuels “do” have ethanol for their top octane models. Ethanol is a cheap octane booster. VP fuel lasts 5 years in the 5-gallon sealed can, once you pour it in your tank it lasts for 2 years Continued on next page
