Biker Legend Jody Perewitz

CHRISTMAS

Well, I made it through Thanksgiving, Black Friday, Small Business Saturday and most of Cyber Monday. This was an easy task largely because I had no money to waste on things that I don’t really need. Although the desire is there to spend on the people I care about, it is an impossible feat without the necessary funds. Commercialism aside, there are a lot of valid reasons to enjoy this time of year. If you ignore all the ads, come-ons and deals you can’t live without and then simply focus on what you do have – and not what you want, a certain sort of peace will come over the chaos that roars on in your head and heart. It’s okay to want things, but if you cannot afford those things it’s better to just forget about it and move on. It seems to work well for me, but I’m not suggesting that you should think the way that I do. After all, it is a dark and disturbing place in what remains of my mind!

Originally, we were all taught that Christmas is the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ. Although the census among the scientific community suggests that the event didn’t really happen during the winter, if it happened at all. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion and the ability to practice their own religion. Scientists do not profit at this time of year but the commercial entities certainly do. Some of us simply try to remember the story as told in the Bible and let that be profit enough. (It took me several minutes to decide not to use the word ‘prophet’ in that sentence, instead of profit – levity resides in the aforementioned ‘dark’ areas of my mind.) Although it’s difficult to be comedic at times, if you are me then it just sort of rolls out usually to the disdain of those listening. Thankfully for you, my dedicated readers, you don’t have to hear all the crap because you simply read whatever drivel I put in this column - or you just put it down and not read it – and then make colorful comments about my existence. It’s okay. I’m used to it. … I think as we get older, some of the magic and mystery of Christmas sort of fades away. The beauty and meaning of the holiday; however, seems to be intensified the farther you progress in life. Once you get past 6 or 7 years old, you begin to not believe in Santa Claus and begin believing in Amazon.com. … I, however, still believe in Santa Claus because every time my dogs come back into the house from the yard they have sandy claws. Plus, I know for a fact that Santa frequents the Gentlemen’s Clubs. I have actually seen him there. Although he didn’t have on the red suit, I knew it was him because he kept bellowing out “Ho Ho Ho” and throwing cash around. The unmistakable long white beard and rosy-red face couldn’t have been attributed to the double vodkas he was drinking, could it? I used to think he only liked eggnog and cookies, and then I remembered that most of the eggnog that I have consumed contained a fairly good amount of alcohol. So, whether you believe in Santa or not, I suppose that it doesn’t really matter. I mean after all, everyone needs to have something to believe in, so I believe I will have another beer!

This particular holiday has a lot of different meanings to a variety of people. I certainly do enjoy it, and of course it would be a lot more fun if I had some cash – but I never worry. I just wish everyone peace on Christmas and remember to do something nice for folks that need it. As bikers, we know how much love is spread around this time of year for those in need. Countless toyruns charitable poker runs and other events are occurring as we speak, and there are scant few days before the actual celebration of Christmas arrives. I appreciate all the efforts of those that give back to the community from behind this keyboard and it’s a blessing that this old-parts computer is still serving me well enough to allow me to send this important message to my readers. Anyhow, don’t think that I am nuts because I still believe in Christ and still give all I have. I also believe that Christmas itself brings people together and when people get together, great things happen! Just remember what the true meaning of this holiday is and do your best to enjoy it! Remember, just a few days after all the presents are unwrapped and the turkey is eaten, we once again gather together to celebrate the arrival of a new year. This is another great holiday because the new year often brings hope and prosperity to those that don’t wake up with a horrible hangover. When we make all those resolutions that we never keep, we can always remember the great times we had with family and friends during this wonderful season. And then, it’s back to work! May God bless you and all your people during this most joyous time of year! Hey! See ya’ll next year and until then - speed safely!!

CRAVEN

Photos Michael Lichter

Michael Lichter

THIS ISSUE IN BIKER LEGENDS WE FOCUS ON JODY PEREWITZ, the fastest woman on two wheels and daughter to world renowned custom bike builder and the “father of flames” Dave Perewitz. Jody grew up around motorcycles and bikers, hanging out at Dave’s shop in Brockton, Massachusetts. She currently runs the marketing side of the business at Cycle Fab. She is also a bike builder in her own right and is one hell of a racer. Jody currently holds sixteen Land Speed records, one of which is a World Record. She is the fastest woman to ever ride an American V-twin-powered motorcycle over 200 miles per hour on the Bonneville Salt Flats. She has earned four AMA number one plates.

Jody is also a racer each year at Billy’s Lane’s Sons of Speed antique races at the New Smyrna Beach raceway during March Bike Week in Daytona Beach, Florida. Sons of Speed is a motorcycle race inspired by early 20th-century board-track racing, featuring stripped-down bikes with pre-1925 American V-twin engines tearing around a steeply banked, racetrack. Back in the 1930s over 300 motorcycles companies had sprouted up in the world, including over 100 American motorcycle marquees. After World War II there were only three left; Harley-Davidson, Indian, and Excelsior-Henderson. But today, some of those venerable old motors live on.

The Sons of Speed vintage races began a decade ago and make a home at the New Smyrna Speedway’s half mile track. These races offer thrilling, wide-open motorcycle racing at its best. We’re talkin’ about race bikes with no brakes, no clutches, and a deadman’s switch. We asked Jody to tell us about a close call she had while

racing at Sons of Speed in 2018. “Well, I had three bikes I was racing that year. I was in the Hot 61-inch Class, the Classic 61 Class, and the 45-inch Class. During practice, I was literally jumping off one bike and getting on another. My Hot 61 bike was a 1919 Harley and it blew a valve in practice. So that one was out. And we were having issues with the 45 WR because the oil pump was going. So my one shot was the 1920 Indian PowerPlus I was running in the Classic 61 Class.” “My team pushed the bike to start me. I got it around turn one and I heard a big pop, then something hit my leg. I looked down and saw the cap that goes over the valves to adjust them, had blown off! I’m like, what the heck, because I had won my heat race with the Indian and knew I was going to be a contender. Then when the valve cap blew off, it was like the cap hit me in the chest! I was so bummed. I was literally almost in tears I was so mad. We just couldn’t catch a break that day.”

Jody limped the Indian to the side of the track and waited… defeated. Suddenly, her boyfriend ran up with the valve cap in his hand. “So I steered the powerless bike to the side of the track and sat there. The

pace bike caught up to me and they all went by. And out of nowhere, my boyfriend Guy Lafleur came running with the cap in his hand. As he’s yelling for me to move my leg, he’s tossing the cap from hand to hand because it was so hot! One of the other guys on our team, Jeremy Ohr, came running with these big pliers so he could tighten it. And this all happened within a matter of minutes. They got it on and shouted, ‘We’re going to push you!’ The bike started right up. I caught up to the pack as they were waving the green flag.”

Michael Lichter