Southeast #123

BORN TO RIDE

PO BOX 3021 Brandon, FL 33509

PUBLISHER

Ron Galletti

813-785-3895

888-795-5779 rg@borntoride.com

CO PUBLISHER

Deb Galletti dgalletti@borntoride.com

EDITOR

Dave Nichols editor@borntoride.com

ART DIRECTOR

Peter Soutullo art@borntoride.com

CREATIVE DIRECTOR Erick Runyon

ART DEPARTMENT

Juan Guzman, Erick Runyon , Peter Soutullo, art@borntoride.com

WEB DESIGN/ELECTRONIC MEDIA

Juan Guzman

OFFICE ADMINISTRATION

Nancy Ray nray@borntoride.com

MULTI-MEDIA SPECIALIST

Jared Hartman, Craig Miller Jasper Harris

SALES & MARKETING

888-795-5779

ROAD CREW

Vick Velosity, Mark Crowder, Doug Bright, Birdman Mike,

SCENIC RIDE CONSULTANT

Steve Finzelber-Finz Finds

ON THE ROAD TEAM

The John & Heather Show

CONTRIBUTORS

JP Brady, Neale Bayly, Susan Hurst, Spyke & Mike, Paul Murray, James Gladstone

PHOTOGRAPHERS

Ron & Selena Hawks, Scott Odel, Chopper Dave, JP Brady, Erick Runyon, Craig Miller

LAW FIRM

FRAN HAASCH LAW GROUP

www.LawFran.com

866 LAW Fran

BORN TO RIDE OFFICE

888-795-5779

HOWDY BROTHERS AND SISTERS!

TO THE BEST OF US

This marvelous May issue of Born To Ride has much to celebrate and honor this month as we tip our caps to all the women in our lives as well as those who paid the ultimate price to keep us all free. Mother’s Day happens on May 14th and Memorial Day takes place on May 29th. So, to begin this month’s two-wheeled tirade, I’d like to thank those without whom none of us would be alive. Here’s to women and to the mothers who birthed us. The entire May issue is packed with material featuring women who ride and who make a real difference in the world.

Mississippi riders and Businesses,Born to Ride is ready to magnify your biker community as we are excited to be working with Mike Mikola and Lust for Steel to help create some of the best biker events and promotions going today. For more information on how to get into this magazine call 813 785 3895.

Carolians Full Throttle Magazine is putting on a benefit Ride for Zack Shipwash and his family Saturday June 24th. Leaves Pine Tree Tavern 10 AM in Winston Salem NC. See their ad on pg 26. Our Woman’s World feature this month showcases the amazing Rebecca Kuo Ryan who is both an orthopedic surgeon and a biker, riding her BMW S1000 R sport bike. She is extremely precise both on the racetrack and in the operating room. We also bring you the Queen of Speed; one of the fastest women on two or four wheels in our story about Valerie Thompson. She is an inductee in the Sturgis Motorcycle Hall of Fame, a member of several 200 MPH clubs and one 300 MPH club.

Put all of the above together and you have a terrific tribute to women who were truly Born To Ride. But the month of May is also known for our tribute to all the servicemen and women who keep America Free. Ride with us as we present the meaning of Memorial Day in an effort to never forget our veterans who serve. This special dedication began three years after the end of the civil war in May of 1868. The first large observance took place at Arlington National Cemetery in Washington, D.C. and the ceremonies were presided over by General Ulysses S. Grant. While the observance of Memorial Day has evolved over the decades, in

December 2000, Congress passed “The National Moment of Remembrance” Act to encourage the people of the United States to give something back to their country and to commemorate the over 1.1million Americans who have died in the nation’s wars. We bikers are a patriotic bunch and are proud to honor all those who have served and are still serving this great country. Ride forever!

But that’s not all in this Spring bonanza of biker goodness. We are bringing you a killer look back at Motorcycling in the 1970s by Richard Skelton. We all remember our first motorcycle and this glance in the rearview is sure to bring back your early motorized memories and scooter adventures. Remember when the Honda 750cc four-cylinder came out? How about the slick BSA and Triumph street machines that every kid was drooling over. Yeah, I know… I’m old. But, if you were part of those good ol’, bad ol’ days, you will love this article!

We’ll also check in with that biker helping other bikers, Mr. James Irwin and get the latest from Nefarious James. We’ll bring you wise words from the late, great Craven Moorehead, and offer up our movie review of Chopper Chicks in Zombie Town. Big bad Roxx and her Cycle Sluts roar into town where a mad scientist is creating living dead zombies. What’s not to like?

Don’t forget, if you have a biker-friendly business, let us get the word out to all the riders about your products and services. Born To Ride reaches thousands of motorcycle enthusiasts every month. For all you loyal Born To Ride readers, catch us every Thursday on Boss Hogg radio and join our Facebook Group to keep up with all the latest rides and parties. You can catch Born To Ride’s Choppertown Live chopper shows in the biker’s bible, Easyriders magazine.

Here’s to Born To Ride’s own Mother Superior, Debbie Galletti! We love ya, Deb! Don’t forget to buy Mom some flowers for Mother’s Day and let’s remember all those who serve our land to keep America free. Now let’s get out there and enjoy that hard-won freedom by twistin’ the grip.

— Dave Nichols editor@borntoride.com

It’s the soundtrack to every motorcyclist’s nightmare: you’re sitting astride your bike at an intersection, patiently waiting for the red light to change to green, when you hear the screech of tires. Next you’re flying through the air and into the intersection. You’ve just been rear-ended by an inattentive driver who was too busy dialing his cell phone to notice you stopped at the red light.

Strategy: Remember, even to attentive drivers, motorcycles are difficult to see—especially at night. Remain aware of the fact that drivers approaching an intersection may not see you. Frequently check your mirrors to monitor traffic approaching from the rear, keeping an eye out for fast-moving traffic approaching from behind. Flash your brake light. If you do notice a car speeding toward you, move to one side or another to get out of its way. Don’t shift into neutral when stopped at an intersection. Keep your bike in gear, so you can quickly escape if a dangerous situation arises.

For more info www.msf-usa.org

Women’s World

Dr. Rebecca Kuo-Ryan is Skilled on the Track and in the Operating Room

“What are you doing?”

This was Rebecca question to her boyfriend Robert when he bought a motorcycle.

Rebecca had never been around bikes but as an orthopedic surgeon with a specialty in spinal injury and as the daughter of an orthopedic surgeon, she’d seen several people who’d wiped out and ended up in the operating room.

She noticed that Robert was a very careful rider and soon, knowing how much it meant to him, Rebecca gave it a try. Despite seeing results of accidents, she wasn’t afraid on the back of his BMW touring bike and quickly began to enjoy it.

“What if he’s injured or something and I need to go for help?” As a mother of two and a doctor, Rebecca was used to being prepared to handle anything. To answer her own question, she decided to learn to ride. Just in case!

After taking the rider safety class Rebecca bought a BMW S1000 RR sport bike even though Robert hates what he calls, “crotch rockets.”

When Robert and Rebecca became engaged the photographer asked about their common interests. When she heard about the motorcycle riding she suggested a few engagement photos with the bikes, besides the lake with the Chicago skyline in the background. Great idea!

A medical assistant in Rebecca’s office is married to a guy who organizes events at a sport bike track. Rebecca accepted her invitation to visit and fell in love with track racing. Robert was reluctant to join her at first but then he loved it, too.

Now she rides her ‘road bike,’ a Honda VFR to work and her sport bike on the track. Robert added a Zero SR Electric motorcycle as his ‘track bike.’

“The fast curves and leaning close to the ground,” Rebecca says, “It’s like skiing only on a bike!” She further explains that you aren’t racing other motorcyclists as much as you’re racing against your own best ride. The rides aren’t timed but are coached and judged according to exacting technique. You’re working on your speed, performance, and control. Rather than winning a race, your reward is challenging yourself and still leaving the track with a shiny bike and no broken bones!

Track riding constantly tests and increases your technique and

control. Sort of like an advanced skills class. The techniques learned and practiced on the track also come in handy on the road when you hit a patch of ice or must maneuver quickly to avoid an accident and if you go into a corner too hot you can adjust and prevent

wiping out. In some ways, the track is safer than the road she says because you’re more visible and there are no cars, trucks, and intersections to deal with.

Exacting technique, skill, and speed also are important in the operating room. Wouldn’t you want a surgeon who’s skilled, thinks fast and is precise? Rebecca sees her share of motorcycle accidents in the operating room, including some from the track she rides on.

Rebecca was called to examine a guy in his early twenties who’d wiped out on his bike. The parents weren’t exactly happy when she walked into the exam room in full motorcycle gear, carrying her helmet. They were hoping he’d get a lecture on the dangers of motorcycles. Instead, he got a lesson on the importance wearing the proper gear and advancing his skills.

Besides commuting to work on her bike and riding at the track regularly, Rebecca often takes short motorcycle road trips with Robert during the spring, summer, and fall before the Chicago winters cover the track with snow.

If you or someone you know rides her own and has an interesting story to share contact Myra@MyraMcElhaney.com and maybe, you’ll be featured in the Women’s World column.

Myra McElhaney

THE MEANING OF MEMORIAL DAY NEVER FORGET OUR VETERANS WHO SERVE

I have approached this subject several times over the years, Memorial Day is not the official start of summer, nor should it be the reason for a 3-day long weekend of parties, barbecues, or car sales.

Memorial Day has had several names over the 150 years of its existence; however, the reason for Memorial Day stays the same. The day is for honoring and showing respect for those who have been killed while serving in the military, beginning with the Civil War through current military engagements.

Over the years Memorial Day has diminished as a national holiday and has become the unofficial start of summer and

big box store specials. Why has it gotten to that point?

Simply stated, people don’t seem to care as much as they have in the past. With only 10% of the American population having served in the military, the other 90% seems to have forgotten what the actual cost of freedom is, those who have given their lives. Cemeteries will have small American Flags placed on the final resting places of our warriors and American Flags should be flown at half staff from dawn until noon at which time they will be brought back to full staff (or to the top of the pole). To properly bring the Flag to the half staff position the flag

should be raised to the upper most position on the staff and then lowered to the half way position.

Now you should have some idea as to what Memorial Day represents and what respect and dignity the day should be shown.

Please say a special prayer for those who we have lost over the years. God Bless America and those who serve in uniform. It’s not about the war; it’s about those who serve to protect us.

-Terri Longpree

JAMES IRWIN

HAVE YOU MET JAMES IRWIN?

TELL US A LITTLE OF YOUR BACKGROUND AND EXPLAIN WHAT A CSA IS?

I am in financial services. I help people avoid transferring money unknowingly and unnecessarily. Sure when you say financial services it can have many meanings. Of course we help people invest their money and find places for them to put their money. What I do that’s UNIQUE is I help people find places where they could be transferring money unnecessarily and then I bring that back to them. First, to increase their accumulated assets to make their future more solid. And secondly, to help people increase their present lifestyle so that the journey along the way is pleasant. That is what I do. I help people find money that they are losing unnecessarily.

A CSA is a special designation. The Society of Certified Senior Advisors (SCSA) educates and certifies professionals who work with seniors. The Certified Senior Advisor (CSA)® credential applies to professionals who are able to demonstrate their competence and knowledge of working with older adults into their professional practices. By creating a network of qualified professionals, SCSA strives to create a strong and safe environment for seniors and those working with them. The Society of Certified Senior Advisors (SCSA) educates and certifies professionals who work with seniors. The Certified Senior Advisor (CSA)® CSAs understand how to build effective relationships with older adults because they have a broad-based knowledge of the health, social, and financial issues that are important to older adults. Through certification, Certified Senior Advisors agree to uphold the Highest ethical standards for the benefit and protection of the health and welfare of older adults. Currently there are less than 3400 individuals nationally in financial services that have earned this recognition.

In addition I am also a chapter president of AFEA The Nation’s leader in non-profit financial education! AFEA is a an IRS approved 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, AFEA’s mission is toinform and empower Americans to take control of their finances by providing comprehensive financial education in communities nationwide.

A BIKER HELPING BIKERS, TELL US ABOUT THAT CONCEPT AND WHY YOU ARE AN AVID RIDER?

It’s a way to give back to the community I love. Bikers have told me in the past they don’t want to work with the suits of society when it comes to financial services. Even though my national HQ is located in the most prestigious building in Tampa loaded in suits, you’ll never see me in one. I usually ride my Harley to work

and enjoy setting of car alarms in the garage from the rumble of my bike.

I got my first minibike at age six. Had a brief sponsorship from Ducati racing sport bikes and have owned numerous Harleys. There have been only a few years when I have not owned a motorcycle in my lifetime. The feeling and therapy it affords me is priceless. I will never stop riding.

HOW IMPORTANT IS IT TO YOU TO HELP VETERANS GET EVERYTHING THEY ARE ENTITLED TO AND GIVE US A FEW EXAMPLES HOW YOU CAN HELP?

Veterans are the reason we enjoy our freedom! A country that creates them needs to take care of them. We can never THANK them enough. I have found many get frustrated trying to understand what they are eligible for. The general information that are given is like trying read an IRS tax code. I have helped many enhanced their health benefits, reduce Medicare cost,gain disability benefits and help with long term care benefits. As a CSA we are educated on ways to help.

WHAT IF WE ARE ON MEDICARE OR KNOW SOMEBODY WHO IS? WHAT CAN WE DO TO AVOID SCAMS?

Just call me 833-467-2865 it would take pages to list all the ways people get victimize and many don’t know till they use the plan. I get calls everyday about this. As a CSA a lot of people who were mislead get referred to us. I offer unbiased advice based on your needs not mine.

healthinsurance65.com IS YOUR WEBSITE, YOU CAN HELP WITH RETIREMENT INSURANCE, MEDICARE, SOCIAL SECURITY,VA AND LIFE PLANNING AS WELL AS INVESTING IN THE FUTURE.HOW IMPORTANT IS THE TRUST LEVEL THAT YOU CAN BE THAT PERSON TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN YOUR CLIENTS FUTURE?

Its very important! My services are unique since they is no cost to the client and without judgement. I have worked with folks with hundreds of dollars to well know celebrities with millions of dollars. Everybody get’s the same treatment. Most Financial Advisors charge a fee just to talk, I don’t. In the past before slowing down in my sixties I was for several years the #1 producer in the country with many well-know insurance companies. I was always unbiased and did what was best for the client not me. This is how I built my business. My dad alway said to me “ You brought this on yourself” and “What goes around comes around” and of course “One day you’re gonna thank me for this” So this upbringing has earned me a blemish free reputation.

TELL US ABOUT THE MOVIE YOU WERE INVOLVED IN THE” THE BABY BOOMER DILEMMA”?

The move is a documentary critically acclaimed a must see by Forbes magazine among others. The trailer to the movie is on my website www.healthinsurance65.com anyone who goes there can request a FREE movie streaming pass since it is no longer in theaters.

YOU OFFER A FREE BOOK MISSION ONE MILLION ON YOUR WEBSITE HOW DO WE GET IT AND WHY READ IT?

It’s an interesting short informative read. Not dull and boring. Everyone who reads it or watches the Movie has said they are glad they did! I guess eventually someone will give it negative reviews but so far all positive!

IS IT TRUE YOU OFFER MONEY SCHOOL WEBINARS SEEMS LIKE A GREAT WAY TO LEARN AND THEY ARE ONLY 20 MINUTES FREE OF CHARGE?

Yes the Money schools webinar invites are easy to watch and simplify complicated subjects free of charge.The book is for anyone wanting to get out of debt, build wealth, and create financial independence.

People will have a chance to meet you at Gibtown bike fest and Thunder by the Bay this year. WHAT IS YOUR MESSAGE TO THEM AND WHAT KIND OF QUESTIONS SHOULD THEY BE ASKING?

They can ask me anything love talking motorcycles. And they should be asking themselves if they current financial plan (Only works in good times?) Or (causes you stress?) Or (is your 401(k) now a 301(k) or a 201(k) If any of those questions are yes they don’t have the right financial plan.

As you know bikers are very charitable people giving back to the community in many meaningful ways. I’am of course a biker and that why with the help of many generous people we offer these FREE BOOKS ,WEBINARS, MOVIES and CONSULTATION. A biker helping biker that’s what its all about!

VALERIE THOMPSON

is without a doubt the QUEEN OF SPEED She is the world’s fastest female motorcycle streamliner racer, hitting an incredible 328.467mph on the BUB 7 Streamliner motorcycle and is an eight-time Speed Record holder. She is also an inductee in the Sturgis Motorcycle Hall of Fame, a member of numerous 200 MPH Clubs and one 300 MPH Club. She is also known as Australia’s fastest female motorcycle land speed racer and was recently included in the Dealernews “Top 100 Leaders in Powersports” list. And that was all before lunch.

Most of us who ride motorcycles have “gone fast” on a bike. But we’re talking topping out at like 110 or 120mph. The fastest I ever went was 160mph on a 1000R Ninja. Even at that speed, the wind becomes a solid wall of force. So I had to ask Valerie, what does it feel like to pilot a Streamliner to over 300 miles per hour?

“It starts with me walking to the streamliner in my fire suit and helmet. Focusing. Getting my head around what is about to happen. My team is pushing and pulling me into a tiny cockpit that was made just to fit me. I am form-fitted into it, being strapped in, like a sardine in a can. They close the canopy over me and it is quiet for a moment but my focus is to make history. “The engine comes to life and I get a burst of energy

but then I go into a calm zone… totally focused. I touch the controls and know I won’t let go of them until the run is over. Then I am off! The experience is loud and bumpy and yet somehow serene. I am going very fast and the ground is very close. But I can’t afford any distraction. I get tunnelvision, only paying attention to the RPMs and I go for it. Your peripheral vision helps you focus on where you are on the track. In first gear you’re going 199 mph. In second gear you’re up to 255. In third gear you hit 335 and in fourth you can hit 363 mph.”

“Oddly, it all happens in slow motion. I don’t think about how fast I’m going and inside the streamliner you don’t feel the wind so you don’t feel how fast you are going. Sometimes the run that feels the slowest is actually your fastest. My execution has to be perfect and every run is a chance to make history. When you’re racing, you have to manage your fear. You have to understand the limits of your machine and manage risk. You have to have confidence in yourself, your vehicle and your team.”

I asked Valerie what inspires her to take these risks. She smiled and said, “The challenge.” When asked how she got into racing, what inspired her, she says, “Nobody inspired me to race. It was the challenge. I was always told I couldn’t do it. Mainly, I wanted to avoid getting tickets on my street bike. I was in my late 30’s when I started racing. I was told that I was out of control and that I should take it to the racetrack. I took my bike to a drag strip to see how fast it could go. Once I started, I never left. My local H-D dealership sponsored me and in my second year of racing, I placed third in the All Harley Drag Racing Association (AHDRA).”

Jesse Jurrens of Legend Air was a big inspiration to Valerie, sponsoring her racing efforts. “He invited me to the Bonneville Salt Flats to race my motorcycle. I thought I’d slip and fall on the salt. Even though I was worried, I bucked up and went out

there. I went 153 mph on my V-Rod, doing everything I could to hold on, rookie-style. The wind became a solid force and my helmet started choking me out. Luckily, I had a lot of great teachers who took me under their wings. I learned a lot from famous racer Wink Eller.”

Valerie’s racing career led her into the biker lifestyle, not the other way around. In 2018 she was inducted into the Sturgis Motorcycle Hall of Fame. Now she’s on a mission to rewrite motorsports history in 2021 with the Target 550 streamliner team in Australia this coming March at the Dry Lakes Racing Association (DLRA) Speed Week competition by breaking the current FIA conventional wheel-driven, piston-powered automobile class speed record of 415.867 mph.

But that’s not all. Valerie and Team 7 Racing plan a minimum of two events for 2021 for the famed BUB 7 motorcycle

streamliner, including a private testing session and competing at the Bonneville Motorcycle Speed Trials August 28 –September 2nd.

If successful with both the Target 550 and Team 7 Racing teams, Valerie will become the first woman to ever go over 500 mph in a car and over 400 in a streamliner motorcycle. Her success story and relentless quest to become the world’s fastest motorcycle racer is a key plot line in “Rockets and Titans” an upcoming film documentary about the competitive world of land speed racing. You may have also seen Valerie featured in the award-winning documentary films, including “Why We Ride” and “Mega Speed” (Discovery Channel).

This year, Valerie could actually become the first woman to go over 400 mph both in a car and a motorcycle. Already ranked #7 on the world’s fastest motorcycle racers of all-

Most of us who ride motorcycles have “gone fast” on a bike. But we’re talking topping out at like 110 or 120mph. The fastest I ever went was 160mph on a 1000R Ninja.

Even at that speed, the wind becomes a solid wall of force. So I had to ask Valerie, what does it feel like to pilot a Streamliner to over 300 miles per hour?

time list, Valerie has become the first woman in the seat of the incredible Treit and Davenport Target 550 Streamliner. While other women have reached fabulous speeds in a car and others in a motorcycle streamliner, no woman has done both. The net result might be the first driver over 500 mph in a piston engine car, and over 400 mph in a motorcycle. Something that NOBODY, man or woman, has ever accomplished.

You can become a part of this history making quest by sponsoring Valerie and her independent team to shatter barriers and set new speed records! Visit ValerieThompsonRacing.com for more information or follow her on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

— Dave Nichols

THE DYING BREED: THE OLD COUNTRY STORE

We’ve seen these monuments to days past still clinging to their rich history and foundation of our region and Nation. Their weather-beaten gray barn board facades dotted with the occasional Coke sign, 4H placards and a mix of petrol and feed signs. The rusted hobbled together tin roofs and a tattered flag projecting the grit and determination that built them is their genuine curb appeal.

Most often, we’ve ridden by them casting a casual glance telling ourselves, next time I’ll stop. Well friends, now is the next time because these monuments are closing one by one-General Stores. Que Doyle Lawson and Quick Silvers song-Country Store.

There are five iconic general stores in and around the east Tennessee region that collectively have over 534 years of service to their communities and passers-by. While some are much older than others, Rabbit Hash general Store in Kentucky boasting almost 192 years of continued operation-save being closed due to floods and a fire in 2016. While others like Halls Grocery in Madisonville, TN and the iconic Dinner Bell off of I-75 in Sweetwater (recently demolished), didn’t accumulate generations of presence, but local communities wouldn’t be what they are without them.

The secret to their collective longevity rests in their ability to be community centers as well as for everyday pantry stocking needs. Whether it’s a family lunch after church on Sunday, or farmers getting the latest update on grain and cattle market prices, weather and the talk of the town, these hubs were the original social media.

The location of these stores is no mistake. Take Forbus General Store in Pall Mall, TN. Forbus was erected in 1892 to serve the growing community of Pall Mall, which by the way is the historic birthplace of Sgt Alvin York-WWI Recipient of the Medal of Honor for single handily capturing 135 German soldiers. Forbus still stands tall on Route 27 and locals still come to play a card game called, Pig. You’ll see a deck of cards at every table in the back near the giant woodstove.Others, like Cumberland Mountain General Store in Clarkrange, TN (now closed after 100 years of operation), were relocated to keep up with the needs of local residents that needed sundry items. Loafers Glory off of Old Murphy Rd. (NC 64) weren’t full blown general stores, but more like old convenience stores that were still beacons to gather. I’ve visited many stores in this area and I know what to expect when I stop. Decent food at a decent price served with hospitality that one only gets south of The Mason Dixon

Line, or perhaps it’s just to reach down through an arm’s length of ice to grab a frosty cold soda. Stepping onto the creaky wooden porch, giving a nod to patrons sitting in a rocking chair as I hold the screen door so that it doesn’t slam behind me, I know I’m in the right place to get either.

As odd as it may sound, leaving is almost the best part as I anticipate the country thank you-”ya’ll come back now, hear”.

Our desire for quick, cheap and easy access to what we need has created a paradox. Now, old storefronts are being replaced with Dollar General outlets. The nostalgic whiff of Kerosene lamps and Country Ham are being replaced with express line check-outs.

Fortunately for us in east Tennessee, a friend of all things old and good has understood this for years and generates weekly rides that get us on the backroads and into living history. Tom Ronn and his Project Ridemore, out of Smoky Mountain Harley Davidson, in Maryville, TN has logged thousands of miles zig zagging his way across county roads while sharing his treasures with riders.

The rides are free, with the understanding that there’s a per-person cost at a diner or eatery. Often, Tom suggests bringing along a sack lunch for those out of the way rides just to see our incredible countryside. More info at: www.facebook.com/ProjectRidemore

RIDE APPALACHIA

Spring has sprung here in the Appalachian Mountains as the leaves return and the flowers bloom along our 52+ trail routes here on the Backroads of Appalachia throughout Eastern Kentucky, West Virginia, Southwest Virginia and Eastern Tennessee. I think I speak for all riders across the country when I say we are all ready to ride and we are all glad that old man winter is going away after a long season of our Iron Horses being corralled. All of us bikers are ready to make some thunder and some more memories as another riding season begins to take shape. Here on the Motorcycle side of Backroads of Appalachia, the all volunteer Whitley County Motorcycle Group Road Crew is already putting the miles down to prepare for our biggest season yet as riders across the country start to discover our Backroads of Appalachia Mobile Application and the best riding in the country, on the road less traveled, here in the Central Appalachian Region. We want everyone who comes here to our backyard to have the best and safest riding experience possible and we train and check our routes each year to make sure that is exactly what happens. This season the Backroads of Appalachia/WCMG team will attend 6 major motorcycle rallys and host over 30 events

and rides for charity as we continue to spread the word and bring the bikes here to the small towns across our trail system helping them economically develop after years of hardship since the coal industry left us.

So

who is

the Whitley

County Motorcycle Group(WCMG) and why

do we do what we do? The Whitley County Motorcycle Group(WCMG) is a Motorcycle Riding Group and Community located in Eastern Kentucky. We are part of Backroads of Appalachia, a 501c Non Profit, and our mission is to create and develop the best riding/driving routes and motorsports events in the Appalachian region. We help the small towns and small businesses across the Appalachian Region economically develop through Motorsports Tourism. We are a public Facebook riding group composed of members from the local area as well as around the world. All of our events are for charity and everyone is welcome to join us regardless of what you ride or what other groups you belong to. If you love to ride and you are looking for information on what Kentucky and the Central Appalachian Region has to offer join us by finding our group on Facebook. We are patches with a purpose and as grassroots as it gets and we are

on a mission to help those in need as well as an entire region with every trail route we map, event we host, and charity we support. We know there are many places you can go this year and many other groups out there you can belong to but in our riding group everyone is welcome and what makes us unique is that you can ask questions and gain information about our events, rides, routes, and local area directly from the riders who live here in these mountains. We are a community by bikers for bikers regardless of what you ride and our motto is “It doesn’t matter what you ride, as long as you ride.” Come and ride with us this year in the place we call home by attending one of our events or by using our Backroads of Appalachia GPS-Enabled Mobile Application to start your Appalachian Adventure today without the traffic or high cost of travel. Every time you come here and ride you are helping an entire region begin to recover and prosper with every stop you make along the way and trust us there are many amazing places to see here. No stop and go traffic in these parts, Just open road, plenty of curves, and the incredible scenery and history that only exists right here on the Backroads of Appalachia!

Let’s Ride Appalachia! - The Backroads of Appalachia Journalism Staff

Craven Moorehead

MAY I SEND YOU A MESSAGE?

code. On Born To Ride radio it simply has its own cameras and it’s a topic of discussion on most of the shows but not the most important of topics. I love doing Talk-Radio, and I know that Lynne and Eddie do also, but we are trying to do something good for our local community and worldwide.

With all the recent activity in my life, it becomes unusually difficult for me to enjoy just hanging out or being my usual rotten self. I have been constantly reminded of my degenerate lifestyle and lack of reasonable income, plus the fact that no matter what I do, some kind of crap comes up that prevents my happiness and success. Well, not really. I mean, it could be worse - much worse.

Here’s an example: I had to go to the office today to do some business and when I left there, RT60 was in total Eastbound chaos. There was some sort of serious accident involving a motorcycle which spread small pieces of debris and parts all the way across the 3 eastbound lanes. If I had arrived an hour later, I wouldn’t have been able to make the turnaround to the BTR office. Evidently, this was fairly serious and every type of police and emergency vehicle were present on the scene. Every month I remind all of you, my dedicated readers, to look out for and respect the motorcycle riders that are out there using our nation’s highways. I suspect that most of you actually have and ride a motorcycle, but this message goes out to the general public: Watch out for and respect motorcyclists and remember to share the road! Correctly. … And we all said please and Amen. (No, I’m not really a preacher)

Originally, I was going to write the majority of this story about Lynne’s hair. You see, Eddie and Lynne are Co-Hosts on Born To Ride radio on Tuesday night. We have a lot of fun doing it and it provides a ton of valuable information to those of us who ride. But Lynne’s hair is so large it allegedly has its own zip code and area

I can’t seem to avoid the “Talk-Radio” circuit because I have a really cool radio on the bagger, and infrequently the radio in my old pickup still works. I used to listen to the CD player on the bagger or try to find the ‘one out of many’ stations that didn’t play the same worn out seven songs between commercials. Good radio is hard to find nowadays – especially when you want to rock out or enjoy some progressive country music that doesn’t make ya want to cry in your beer. Anyhow, following talk-radio has brought me to the same plateau that watching television does. Maybe I shouldn’t say plateau, I should say cliff. Yeah you know, the one you wanna jump off when you’ve had enough BS in your life from the regulated media. And this revelation that I was given by listening to regular radio be it talk, music, or a combination of both brought me back to my abnormal reality.

So with all the aforementioned conflicting and sometimes useless information that I am supplying you, I decided to get back in the Internet broadcasting business, largely due to the fact that I had extra room in my new location and moreover my personal desire to try to make things better for the general public and bikers, whether that constituent is listening or not. Honestly, I hate to just talk about radio in general and I am continually trying to change it with the help of Born To Ride.

The truth of the matter is that wherever you go, you will still be exposed to the same ‘media’ slant that all the regulated outlets cram down your throat. Unless you live in a small town where you can actually call into a radio station and get your request played, you are pretty much stuck with what you get. … I am trying to change that.

For what it’s worth, I believe that in the very near future the Internet is where all you regular people will get all your entertainment. It’s alarming to observe the huge number of people who get all their content from their phones ... be it TV, radio, or movies the Internet has taken the forefront in the delivery of your content. For better or worse, just live with it. You are stuck with it.

Don’t forget to tune in to Born To Ride radio every Tuesday night between 8 PM and 11 PM. I thank you and so does Lynne’s hair. …

‘Motorcycling in the 1970s’ is a series of five eBooks about motorcycling. The books are designed to be read together, but can also be enjoyed separately. The first volume, A Brief History of Motorcycling from 1887 to 1969, is a general history, swiftly told, of motorcycling in Britain from its beginnings at the end of the 19th century up until the dawn of the 1970s (interwoven to an extent with two-wheeled goings on in the USA and elsewhere). It charts motorcycling’s pioneering years, skips through two world wars, tells of social acceptability in the 1920s, hard times in the 1930s and slow decline in the 1950s and 1960s. This first book attempts to make sense of the two-wheeled world order, and of motorcycling’s place in society and everyday life, and sets the scene for larger, more detailed volumes which follow.

Volumes 2 - 4 are subtitled Funky Motorcycling 1 - 3 and together they form a comprehensive, in-depth history of the bikes and motorcycling trends and events in the

1970s. These three books tell the story of the arrival of the Superbike, the continuing and inexorable rise of the Japanese motorcycle industry and, partly from an insider’s point of view, the wasteful, lingering death of its British equivalent. They tell of the thrilling and extraordinary sporting machines from Italy and of the bulletproof BMW twins designed in Bavaria. They tell of motorcycling culture and of two-wheeled life and lives. In the 1970s, motorcycling became a leisure activity in a new and exciting way, there were more motorcyclists than ever before, or since, and dozens of new and ever more fabulous and technologically advanced motorcycles crammed the showrooms every year. It was the time of Jarno Saarinen and Giacomo Agostini and of Kenny Roberts and Barry Sheene. The time of British magazines Motorcycle Sport and Bike, and of Cycle in the USA, the time of journalists Cook Neilson, Mark Williams and LJK Setright in his pomp. These books set out the argument that although the protagonists were large-

ly unaware of it at the time, the 1970s as a whole can now be seen to have been a golden era in the history of the movement, a pivotal decade which represent a high point in the history of motorcycling that is never likely to be matched. The final book in the series is entitled ‘The Magic of Motorcycling.’ Something of a bonus volume that takes a sideways look at the 1970s classic motorcycle scene in the second decade of the 21st century, and explores what it is that makes motorcycling so special to so many people yet an anathema to a great many more. It also includes a comprehensive set of appendices – listing nostalgic, amusing and sometimes poignant reminders of the life and culture of the 1970s, reminding us of the global goings-on and domestic backdrop underlying the motorcycling scene and of course all lesser matters! The story of the project... My first book, Funky Mopeds, was published by Veloce Publishing in 2004, and considering it is about a very British phenomenon (the short-lived 1970s sports

Motorcycling in the 70s by Richard Skelton available at Amazon.com

moped craze and its social impact) I think it is fair to say it has sold reasonably well (5,000+ copies). Motorcycling in the 1970s is a follow up of a sort but much broader in scope. It took me some years to get around to writing it and several more to get it done. There were a few books out there on the 70s, but they tended to focus on glamorous superbikes or certain marques, so I thought there was room for an encyclopedic cultural history of motorcycling of that time. That is what I set out to achieve. I completed the manuscript in April 2013 and sent it to publisher Rod Grainger of Veloce. Rod said he liked and admired the project, but because of its huge size (getting on for 300,000

commercial potential. To keep cost down, he suggested a book without any images, but I felt pictures were needed to illustrate the text. I decided to self-publish, and in October 2013 I engaged a company to undertake the design and layout of an eBook. What followed was something of a trial. Many weeks passed at a time without progress, communication was abysmal, and the people working on it routinely ignored my instructions.

Finally, in May this year, I made the decision to take the project away from the firm, even though it was not completed. A fee was agreed and paid. Fortunately, the next people I engaged, www.ebooksbydesign.co, proved excellent. A series of eBooks were produced quickly and easily; the process was straightforward and enjoyable.

I launched the book on Amazon and other platforms in July 2014. Reviews so far have been generally positive, but I received criticism about the cover designs which have consequently just been changed. I have also just raised the price to $2.99

Motorcycling in the 70s by Richard Skelton available at Amazon.com

the 70s by Richard Skelton

per volume (at $1.99 the royalties were negligible - Amazon certainly take their pound of flesh!). So that is where the project currently stands. I hope you enjoy it as an eBook and that one day, perhaps in an abridged form, it can be produced as a physical thing.

ABOUT ME

This collection of books is, in some respects, a love letter to motorcycling. It is certainly written from the heart. I was born in late 1960 and I started riding powered two-wheelers in 1976, on a fabulous little 50cc ‘popsicle purple’ Yamaha FS1-E. Straight away, I felt that riding set me free in a way that was not only instantly joyful but also deep meaningful and somehow

I was stepping into a great, flowing river of history and I was deeply glad of it. I quickly became as interested in motorcycling’s past as its present – hungry to find out about the fascinating machines and singular people that made motorcycling what it was and had been. And I began to explore what it was that set motorcyclists apart from the majority and made biking so uniquely enjoyable. As an avid rider and reader, I became a student of ‘the sport.’ Those thoughts and feelings have endured for nearly 40 years now. And while I still find motorcycling in all its aspects as boundlessly fascinating as did my teenage self, it is the period in which I plunged in and joined the flow, the time when I was at my most impressionable and when my

mind was at its most absorbent that still holds the greatest interest for me todaythe 1970s. The time when I fell in love with motorcycling.

FUNKY MOPEDS - THE 1970S SPORTS MOPED PHENOMENON

When I entered my forties at the beginning of the 21st century, I began to become nostalgic about my first year of motorcycling. The 12 months I spent on my fabulous little Yamaha FS1-E between November 1976 and November 1977. In late 1972 the British Government raised the minimum age for riding motorcycles to 17, obliging all 16-yearold would-be motorcyclists to ride shopping mopeds for 12 months, or so they hoped, decide to give bikes a miss

altogether. But completely unwittingly, they created an entirely new category of two-wheeled machine (the sports moped) which brought about a cultural phenomenon and a fuelled a motorcycling boom. There was a frenzy of innovation from motorcycle manufacturers, each intent on offering the most exciting machine possible packing only 50ccs. These super little bikes became ‘must have’ objects for many thousands of British teenagers, including me. It was wonderful. The bikes were fast (or so we thought), we were free (or so we believed) and it was great fun. Joyful, in fact, and many of us became hooked into motorcycling for a lifetime as a result of our shared and happy experience. The government changed

the law again, redefining the moped as a machine with a design speed of 30mph (20mph less than fabulous little mini motorbikes like the FS1-E and 30mph less than some Italian machines). It killed the breed and cut off at the root, British motorcycling began to wither away. Nearly 40 years later I decided to write a book about the 1970s sports moped phenomenon.

WHAT HAPPENED NEXT

After my Yamaha FS1-E I had numerous ‘proper’ bikes but it would be many years before I came to own a Ducati. Significant machines in chronological order include: Honda CB200, Triumph Bonneville (T140V), Honda 400/4, Moto Guzzi 850 Le Mans, Yamaha FJ1200. Then, after a break, Yamaha 600 Fazer, Ducati 748, Ducati Multistrada, Moto Guzzi V11 Le Mans, Triumph Bonneville (modern type) and now a BMW R1200R. I left school at 16 and worked in the printing industry until I was made redundant in 1980. In 1981 I got a job with a small independent film company and made my own 16mm documentary film about sidecar racing called ‘Sidecar’ which is still available from Duke Marketing on the Isle of Man. Then I worked in professional

television production for many years, starting off as an assistant film editor at Yorkshire Television and then becoming a freelance sound editor. During this time I rode sporadically. Some years many miles, some none at all.

My TV career continued until 2010, but in 2003 I found time to write my first book, Funky Mopeds and from 2004 for three years I worked part-time as a reporter and feature writer covering the British Superbike Championship for British publications BikeSport News and Motorcycle Racer. At that time Alan Clark (my friend’s Yamaha RD200 riding brother in the above story from 1975) was running a two man team competing in the 125GP support class so it was an especially enjoyable time. In recent years television work has tailed off (many reasons) and my wife and I have earned a crust by running a bed and breakfast business in our home and operating a small company renting out classic cars. More recently, we have started a new business selling souvenir toy bears (www. summerwineclassics.co.uk). I have also spent time writing Motorcycling in the 1970s and Chris Carter at Large. Other projects are in the pipeline.

THE LOVE OF RIDING

For many people, there is nothing like the feeling of hitting the open road on a motorcycle. Whether it’s the sense of freedom, the rush of adrenaline, or the camaraderie of riding with friends, the love of motorcycling is a passion that millions of people worldwide share.

One of the reasons that people love motorcycling is the sense of freedom that comes with it. Riding a motorcycle allows you to feel the wind in your hair (or when you get older, your bald spot, bald head, or thinning hair) and the sun on your face.

Motorcycles allow you to experience the world in a way that is impossible in a car or on foot. You can take the scenic route, explore winding roads, and discover hidden gems you would never have known existed. Another reason that people love motorcycling is the thrill of the ride. There is something uniquely exhilarating about the speed and power of a motorcycle, as well as the challenge of navigating twists and turns in the road. Whether cruising along the highway or tearing up a dirt track, riding a motorcycle is an experience that will surely get your heart racing. They offer a way to feel you are in control of your actions and your life.

For many riders, the love of motorcycling is also about the sense of community that comes with it. Bikers are a tight-knit group,

and there is a strong sense of camaraderie and mutual support among those who share a passion for two-wheeled machines. Whether joining a local motorcycle club, attending rallies and events, or simply riding with friends, motorcycling is a social activity that brings people together. The love of bikes brings all walks of life together under a single common bond.

craftsmanship and engineering that goes into creating a great bike. From sleek lines and powerful engines to intricate details and custom accessories, motorcycles are works of art designed to be beautiful and functional.

New locations and experiences await your arrival. You can’t experience life living online or surfing your couch. Getting out there experiencing life, good or bad, may open your eyes and heart to the rest of the world. You might discover a love for motorcycling and all that it brings that lasts a lifetime. There are times in life when you feel that memories are the only things you have left. Riding may help fill that void. Flood your mind with the memories of good times riding with friends, having two-wheeled adventures or even when you’re riding alone and enjoying your own company. Your time on this planet is limited and tomorrow isn’t guaranteed. Don’t waste your precious time on trivial crap.

Live every day of your life like it’s your last. You control what makes you happy. Do what puts a smile on your face.

Motorcycling may be your missing link. Until next time.

Finally, the love of motorcycling is often rooted in a deep appreciation for the

— Nefarious James Patriot & Freedom Fighter For the American Way

“Another reason that people love motorcycling is the thrill of the ride. There is something uniquely exhilarating about the speed and power of a motorcycle, as well as the challenge of navigating twists and turns in the road.”

Out of all the ‘biker exploitation’ movies I have reviewed, this one may be the funniest! The 1991 film features Billy Bob Thornton, MTV VeeJay Martha Quinn, and a few other B movie celebs. This movie has it all – hot chicks, lesbians, motorcycles, midgets and a troop of blind orphans - who wouldn’t love it? First off I must tell you the Chopper Chicks don’t actually ride “Choppers” but they do ride Sportsters, all equipped with engine guards and various custom paint jobs. The girls in the film are members of an all female motorcycle gang called the “Cycle Sluts” which in itself is funny. They do have the usual trappings of women traveling in groups, such as being on the rag, and searching for meat.

Anyway, the film begins when the Cycle Sluts cruise into the small town of Zariah looking for a good time. In Zariah, an evil scientist turned mortician has been killing local townspeople with the help of dwarf that he continually abuses. After turning the folks into zombies, he uses them as labor at an abandoned mine. The mine is too radioactive after underground nuclear testing to be mined by living people. He later admits the real reason he’s doing it isn’t for the money, it’s because he’s just plain mean. The zombies are released when a curious little boy opens a door in the apparently abandoned mine, thus releasing the un-dead, and of course this act is his un-

doing. In the mean time, the girls are in town, and decide to split up and go look for some meat. One of them is run over by the mortician, and is turned into a zombie, while the others find their way into various sexual situations with the local guys. This is where we first meet Billy Bob who plays the ex of one of the chopper chicks. They meet in a church where the dwarf is attempting to shoot her, and retreat to his trailer for some fun. Another mistake for the midget, and more punishment later, the zombies are still marching on, and they are getting hungry!

On the way to town the zombies encounter a group of blind orphans, who are stranded just on the outskirts after their bus breaks down. Luckily for the kids their bus-driver always keeps an Uzi on the bus (for sentimental reasons) and while the driver seeks help the kids (shooting blindly) manage to hold off the zombies until the chopper chicks arrive to rescue them in a hearse. Even though the girls are doing some good deeds, the locals don’t seem to like them too much and repeatedly attempt to run them out of town. That is until the town is overrun by blood thirsty zombies! But wait – the town folk refuse to help the girls fight the zombies because “they are all family.’’ Hordes of zombies begin eating their relatives as the girls fight them off. The dwarf decides to turn against the mortician, and tells the girls that the only way to kill the zombies is to “cut their heads off.” The chopper chicks use baseball bats, chainsaws, and other devices to do away with many of them, but just when they think they have won, dozens more arrive. The girls devise a plan to lure all the remaining zombies into the church using raw meat as bait. They load the meat truck with dynamite, and crash it into the church. The timer on the dynamite goes off and the church goes up in flames burning up most of the remaining zombies.

In the final scenes the Cycle Sluts are rewarded with a sack full of cash and induct the dwarf and several of the blind orphans as honorary members of their gang. They then ride out of town with some of the men folk (their new ‘bitches’) on the back of their bikes and toss wads of money into the wind as they roll down the road to a new destination and adventure.

This review could not possibly expose you to all the hilarious action that this film provides. It is sometimes so ridiculous that you would find yourself rolled up in a knot from uncontrollable laughter. It takes shots at old films, TV and life in general, but it never leaves you bored. I admit that I have a sick sense of humor, but for some unknown reason, I actually liked this film! (I usually don’t) Try this one out. It’s available on DVD from Troma Films, www.troma.com or at your local ‘strange DVD dealership.’ I have to give this one 4 out of 4 stars just because it’s super-funny. … Till next month. ...

Philip

Paul Clark RIP, GOD BLESS

CHRISTIAN MOTORCYCLISTS ASSOCIATION

Have you ever said “if only”?

“If only I had done this”, “if only I had said that”, “if only I had gone this way or left earlier”. We all make mistakes, and sometimes those mistakes result in consequences. Whether on the motorcycle or in our home life, we look back and think about how the past could have been different. It is easy to question those “if only” moments and play out a new path in our mind.

I recently had an “if only” moment: I was in a bike crash with a car. I was in heavy traffic, following a little too closely to the car in front of me, when they spiked their brakes. Although I walked away with only a broken rib and damage to the front end of my bike, I keep replaying the entire scenario in my mind wondering “if only”. I know I have to get back on the bike and I know these thoughts can take away my peace. So, what can help me move past these “if only” thoughts?

There was a song written in 1897 you may recognize and remember the melody to:

When upon life billows you are tempest tossed,

When you are discouraged thinking all is lost.

Count your many blessings every doubt will fly, And you will be singing as the days go by.

Count your blessings, name them one by one.

Count your blessings, see what God has done.

Do you see where our focus should be in troubled times? In the Bible it says: 1Th 5:18 Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.

It is easy to forget to focus on the good things in the midst of our “if only” moments. I, for one, am thankful for the many blessings that came from the bike accident. You see, we are free to choose how we react to each circumstance in our life. Our choice to react positively and give God thanks in our circumstances will allow each of us to learn, mature, and grow from them. Our CMA biker community is a group full of people who want to encourage you through these moments, so let us surround ourselves with people who will help us count our blessings.

Teach’s Takeaway,

- God is good and He is your answer.

- When you can be thankful, the problems will grow smaller.

- Our focus on God’s blessings will get us through the “if only” moments we face.

- Try naming your blessings one by one; it will help you see them more clearly.

As I count my many blessings during this time, I regain the peace that was lost. I am still working though the consequences of what happened but am thankful for the lessons I am learning in the process. Ride on.

Fellow Soldier in Christ, Wayne (Teach) Masiker Christian Motorcyclists Association

wayne.masiker@att.net

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