Born to Ride Southeast #126 - August 2023

BORN TO RIDE

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

Erick Runyon , Peter Soutullo, Craig Miller art@borntoride.com

OFFICE ADMINISTRATION

Deb Galletti DGalletti@borntoride.com

SALES & MARKETING

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ROAD CREW

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

SCENICRIDECONSULTANT

Steve Finzelber-Finz Finds

ON THE ROAD TEAM

John & Heather

CONTRIBUTORS

JP Brady, Neale Bayly, Susan

Hurst, Spyke & Mike, Eric

Albright, Paul Murray, James Gladstone, Scott Odell

Indian Rider Bill.

The Phantom

PHOTOGRAPHERS

Ron & Selena Hawks, Doug Bright

Daniel Gallant, Scott Odel, Eric

Albright, Chopper Dave, JP Brady, Erick Runyon, Craig Miller

Vic Lawall

LAW FIRM

FRAN HAASCH LAW GROUP

www.LawFran.com

866 LAW Fran

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BORN TO RIDE OFFICE

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HOWDY BROTHERS AND SISTERS!

DAVE NICHOLS HAIL TO THE KING!

Hey, who’s that on the cover of the August issue of Born To Ride? It’s the King, baby! It’s the very same image of Elvis Presley on a righteous KH Model that graced the cover of the May 1956 issue of Harley-Davidson’s Enthusiast magazine and our way to pay tribute to the awesome 120th anniversary of the Harley-Davidson Motor Company.

Bikers from all over the world enjoyed the biggest “Homecoming” ever, riding into Milwaukee in July for the biggest motorcycles and music festival ever. This issue of Born To Ride takes you there and offers up a look back at 120 years of Harley history in the great new book, The Harley-Davidson Motor Co. Archive Collection. That special feature alone makes this August issue a Collector’s Edition you’ll want to keep forever!

Did you catch the photo of none other than Willie G. Davidson himself, reading Born To Ride magazine? Speaking of Harley books, Willie G.’s new memoir book Ride Free is a must read! It takes you through his family history and chronicles his rise in the Motor Company as the Vice President of Design. Chances are, you’ve owned and ridden a bike that was styled by Willie!

Cave Spring Rally in Georgia was a big success see page 28 for a preview to next month. Also Next Month the winner of the Boots & Dukes contest Haileigh Sealock will be featured here in the pages of Born to Ride.

Hawgfest is the biggest and best biker party on the planet, and it all happens this September 21st through the 24th in Carlsbad, New Mexico. Get ready to rock with such live tribute bands as Kid Cocky, a Kid Rock tribute, the AC/DC tribute The Jack, the ZZ Top tribute band ZZKC, and the Def Leppard tribute band Def Leggend. Come on out to Hawgfest, throw back a refreshing Number JUAN tequila, and enjoy your summer while supporting a great cause. It all kicks off this September 21st at the Eddy County Sherriff’s Posse Arena in Carlsbad.

Plus, this August issue is packed to the seams with great information about the lifestyle you love. Born To Ride is the place to advertise your biker-friendly business, run or rally. If you’re doing something in the two-wheeled world, we want to know about it and get the word out to our thousands of readers. When you support Born To Ride, you’re making the world a better place for bikers everywhere.

Just turn the page on this scorchin’ issue and dare to read the thoughtful words of our own American patriot Nefarious James as he reminds us that our lifestyle is all about freedom! And remember brothers and sisters, Born To Ride is the best FREE biker magazine in the world. If it is of interest to the riding community, you’ll find it right here.

Don’t forget to join our Facebook Group to keep tabs on the latest rides and happenings and tune in to Boss Hogg Radio (the mouth of the South) for Born To Ride Radio every Thursday night to get great talk and interviews with riding legends. We’re here for ya and proud to bring you the very best motorcycle madness in print each and every month. As the King of rock ‘n’ roll might say, “Thank you… thank you very much.” Now let’s get out there and ride!

— Dave Nichols

BIGGER, BADDER, BOLDER.

Curtis /Hawgfest the new Ride 2023 Bigger, Badder, Bolder. Tell me about this great event!

Thank you, Ron for the amazing job you do with Born To Ride. Such a great publication. You know, I have been to large events across the country for fifteen years now. I find myself admiring different aspects and visions of other organizers, and throughout the years, have tried to learn from some of these great folks. Hawgfest is a culmination of concerts, food, vendors, bikes, beer, cannabis and of course the massive carnival. It’s like a mini theme park; on one end of the property you have badass bands playing, on the other you have thrill rides, full bar, Number JUAN Tequila flowing with vendors in between. Oh, and a cool adult Cannabis Expo in the middle with an outdoor lounge area. Something for every demographic and loaded with fun.

Alex/ Number JUAN Tequila is on fire. In a crowded platform how do you separate from the others? Give us a little background of this fabulous brand.

Number JUAN believes in three things: Quality, FUN, and Community.

Any success is because we work hard at FUN and people respond when you genuinely care about their experience. People trust us with their FUN and we are men of our word.

I’ve been enjoying Tequila since before I was legally allowed to. It was 2011, with both Ron White’s and my comedy careers in full throttle. During a drinking crawl (as we call them) in Mexico, Ron and I literally stumbled into the Rivesca Distillery. We were merely in search of a great day of drinking and to add another fun story to our long relationship. We had no idea

that we were about to become a bridge to sharing an amazing Tequila with the USA. After tasting, it was obvious to us both that the entire lineup was (in our opinion) the best Tequila we had ever consumed. We simply wanted to drink it from then on. We learned that Rivesca had no presence in the USA, and we just couldn’t allow that to be the case any longer. We truly admire this small batch (NO DIFFUSER or ADDITIVE), family-owned distillery that has been producing amazing Tequila for nearly seven decades now. They have been farming their lands for almost a century and they simply will not compromise the integrity of the soil, agave, or distillation process for mass production. They are artists true to their craft, which is why Ron and I were drawn to and respect the Rivesca Distillery aka Familia Rivera. Our vantage point in this crowded platform has very few but much respected peers. Cheers to all great Tequila makers, we’re Number JUAN!

Alex/ Being the presenting sponsor of HAWGFEST how do you see this relationship growing and what can we expect to see at the event from you?

New Mexico has always been a special state to me both comedically and

personally. I have many great friends and fans throughout the state. The state has embraced Number JUAN Tequila and so it only made sense to give back by being a part of one of Carlsbad, New Mexico’s great traditions;,HAWGFEST. Raising money & awareness for a great cause while having FUN... Number JUAN is all over it. I will personally be on hand instigating FUN anywhere and anyway I can. Number JUAN promises to offer delicious Tequila and refreshing cocktails with no artificial sugars = A NO HEADACHE PARTY! We look forward to working with Curtis and all the HAWGFEST sponsors to enhance what’s always been a great party into a BIGGER & BETTER PARTY... The Number JUAN HAWGFEST ever!

Curtis / Number JUAN Tequilas commitment to HawgFest is powerful and strong to help the New Ride roll with power. How important is it to support this brand?

When I first met Alex, I was very impressed. Alex is one of the hardest working people I know. His commitment to his comedy, his family, and now Number JUAN Tequila is infectious. Alex is always looking to be the best and that is exactly the kind of partnership Hawgfest needed. I am always looking to learn and watching Alex and learning from him is such an amazing opportunity for me and Hawgfest.

Curtis / You chose to leave Budweiser and moved to Miller / Coors brands.That was a bold move. Why did you do that, and do you have regrets?

I had worked with Budweiser for over a decade. Our local distributor is awesome, seriously good people. When I saw the ad campaign from Bud Light, I had to

make decisions. Look, I don’t judge people for their life decisions. Honestly, I don’t shove my beliefs in marriage or God or the differences between a man and woman down people’s throats and I don’t want it shoved down mine. To each their own. That said, I am not making Hawgfest a political playground. It’s not that. I made the decision to end my relationship with Budweiser and didn’t look back. It opened the door for some amazing opportunities with Coors, Miller DosEquisXX, Corona, Twisted Tea and other brands that just blew me away. They care about selling beer, supporting Hawgfest and not all the stuff that divides us. I can’t speak highly enough about the folks we are working with now.

Curtis / You have the carnival, the live entertainment and the true history of Carlsbad New Mexico all part of your demographic. The economic impact you are bringing to your City and State are very valuable. Congratulations! Why do people need to be at Hawgfest?

Carlsbad, New Mexico is home to the Carlsbad Caverns National Park, the Pecos River and a great community. Watching Hawgfest grow and bringing people to town makes me proud. Knowing that folks get to see the beauty of the desert and all our community has to offer makes me proud. The sense of family and friends coming to New Mexico and enjoying a few days of fun together, that makes me proud... it’s priceless.

Curtis / With biker clubs lately being tied to violence, are bikers welcome? Are clubs welcome? Explain your stance so everyone will know.

Of course, bikers are welcome. Everyone is welcome. You know, it makes me sad

to see the violence happening around the country. It’s like we’ve lost our way. The Red River shooting scared folks. I started watching events cancel and that sucks. As a promoter, I have to ensure people feel safe and do my best to make that happen. I made the hard decision to not allow colors at the event. I of course had Veterans and non 1% clubs telling me their club was not a 1% club and they should be allowed to wear

apologize for trying to keep our event as safe as possible so our attendees are comfortable.

Curtis / Your commitment to charity says a lot about you. Give us a update on how you are giving back to your community and why.

their colors. Unfortunately, Joe public doesn’t understand the ways of that lifestyle, they can’t differentiate. They see the patches and assume what they assume. The no color rule is across the board at Hawgfest. I do want to say this to the people upset about that rule. It’s not me or other promoters that wanted to do this. We had to. Insurance costs, public safety, all that comes into play. When these clubs have an incident at an event, like Red River, they are not thinking about the impact it has on every aspect of not only the event but the community, the kids there, etc. I ride and have my whole adult life, so I get it, but I also understand that we have to make tough decisions, and if that upsets people, I apologize. But I will not

My wife and father are cancer survivors. Until I saw first hand how hard that road was for them, I hadn’t thought much about cancer. Yeah, I knew it was bad, but out of sight, out of mind. After I saw the great work the American Cancer Society did for my family, I knew Hawgfest had to get involved and join the fight. This is dear to me now. Alex will tell you the same. We want to help all we can. I understand Hawgfest won’t be the end all or anything like that, but if our donation can make any sort of impact with research or helping a family with hotel expenses, food, whatever, then that is a total success in my book. The American Cancer Society and Fork Cancer do great work and we are extremely happy to partner with them.

Alex / Last words ? Curtis / Last words ?

First, thank you Ron for everything you do. You have always been a huge supporter of Hawgfest and me personally. Second, find a store and pick up a bottle of Number JUAN Tequila. You won’t find better. Trust me! Seriously, come to Hawgfest. We are all a big family and we love making new friends. You won’t regret it. I want to thank all of our sponsors that make this happen every year and tell all of our Hawgfest friends that we love and appreciate you folks. Thank you, Ron. SEE

The Harley-Davidson Motor Co. Collection

We have all heard the rags-to-riches history of one of the most revered motorcycle marques in the world, Harley-Davidson. We’ve heard the story of three Davidson’s and a Harley starting the company in a backyard shed and building three vehicles back in 1903. Much of the early history of the company is the subject of conjecture and speculation, but some things we know for sure.

In 1903, there were more than 150 domestic motorcycle manufacturers in the United States, 7 of which were located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, the same city in which Harley and the Davidson’s began building motorcycles. As with most industries in their infancy, the majority of these motorcycle companies were short lived, either due to under capitalization or to an inability to develop a distribution network and market, and then consistently serve that market. Harley-Davidson

had sufficient capital and was able to develop an outstanding distribution network and market.

By 1920, Harley-Davidson had become the largest motorcycle manufacturer in the world, and by 1953, there were just two American motorcycle manufacturers left standing: Harley-Davidson and Indian, based in Springfield, Massachusetts. That same year Indian closed its doors. Today, Harley-Davidson corporate offices occupy the same buildings that used to house the original factory, which are just a stone’s throw away from the location of the original shed. From the very beginning, all things Harley-Davidson came from Milwaukee. By 1973, when vehicle manufacturing moved to York, Pennsylvania, more than 1.25 million motorcycles had been built and shipped from this site. The Juneau Avenue complex, as it is now called, is listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

Housed in the 3800 Building is the HarleyDavidson Archives, a 3,100-square-foot area containing the company history in the form of historic corporate documents, literature dating back to 1905, service manuals, owner manuals, tens of thousands of images and photographic negatives, point-of-sale and advertising materials, dealer correspondence, rider apparel, and all manner of Harley-Davidson collectibles. This collection creates a rare historic timeline, preserved from the very early years of the company. A separate space houses the vehicle collection, and above the padlocked gate, a sign reads: “Through this gate pass the oldest and greatest motorcycles in the world!” That’s what this book is all about: the Harley-Davidson vehicle collection. It’s the first comprehensive look into the only collection of its kind in the world. Many have speculated over the years about why the vehicle collection was started,

question for which there is no concert explanation. Whatever the reason, the fact remains that it does exist, and includes more than 450 vehicles. The core of the collection consists of vehicles from 1915—the year the collection was started—to the present. Most of these vehicles were taken directly from the production line and, in some instances, may have been engineering prototypes or test units. Vehicles from 1914 back to 1905 were actually re-purchased, either from owners or dealers in the field. To this day, at least one vehicle from each model year takes its place within the collection. There are special-interest vehicles, as well as a Harley-Davidson boat, snowmobiles, golf cars, police vehicles, and prototype models that never saw their way to production. There are special, one-off customs used for advertising or dealer point of sale. No other motor vehicle manufacturer had the foresight to save what Harley-Davidson has saved for more than 100 years. The archival artifacts chronicle more than just Harley-Davidson history; they represent the evolution of technology, styling, advertising, and product development. Most important, however, is that the collections reflect the lives of those who built, sold, and rode a true American Legend. To dealers and riders of yesterday as well as today, thank you for keeping the Legend alive.

The Harley-Davidson vehicle collection is actually composed of three distinct groups of motorcycles: the core collection, vehicles from 1914 back to Serial Number One, and vehicles purchased from collectors and restorers around the world to fill holes in the collection. The core collection consists of at least one model from each model year beginning in 1915. As required, these motorcycles are disassembled, and each piece is meticulously cleaned by hand using non-abrasive cleaning agents so as not to degrade original pinstriping or other cosmetic details like decals and appliqués. At no time are parts re-plated, painted, or replaced. Items that deteriorate over time, such as rubber hand grips, tires, and seats, are replaced as required, although the vast majority of the collection vehicles retain these original items. The vehicles from 1914 back to Serial Number One, excluding the 1909 twin, were purchased by the Motor Company from riders or from dealer inventory, probably in 1915. Some of these machines have been modified in some minor ways, but otherwise they have been retained in the collection in the same condition as originally acquired. As with the core collection, these vehicles have been disassembled, cleaned, and re-assembled. Serial Number One was restored for the company’s celebration of its 95th anniversary.

ARE YOU BORN TO RIDE?

THE LIFE & TIMES OF MOTORCYCLES

MOTORCYCLES & THE PEOPLE WHO RIDE THEM

The 1909 twin was retained from the original production run and is completely original. The last group of vehicles consists of those purchased to fill holes in the collection. Were we to have saved one of each model vehicle from each model year, several buildings the size of our Juneau Avenue facilities would be required to house them, so vehicles in the core collection were usually those deemed historically significant at the time of their manufacture. Over time, other vehicles that weren’t selected at the time of manufacture have attained historic significance. When a vehicle is later deemed important to the collection, Archives acquires the best available example of that vehicle. These acquisitions, if not accurately restored, are completely disassembled. Proper finishes and plating are then applied, incorrect parts are replaced, and the vehicle is reassembled. The Archive collection of photographs, manuals, bills of materials, and same-era reference vehicles ensure the accuracy of the restoration. As a rule of thumb, full restoration is only used as a last resort, for a vehicle is original only one time, yet can be restored many times. Motorcycles like King Kong, the Rhinestone FLH, and the 1939 and 1955 Servi-Cars, for example, have been retained in their as-acquired condition other than superficial cleaning. To restore these vehicles would remove the patina acquired over time, and they would not be original anymore.

“Untouched for 82 Years”

The Harley-Davidson Archives vehicle collection is currently housed in a 94-year-old building within the Juneau Avenue complex. Known as the “3800 Building,” it had been used for American Lightweight production from 1948 to 1966. Prior to that, the 3800 Building housed single-cylinder flathead engine, transmission, and vehicle production. It also served as the center for shipping and for spare-parts storage. In a way, the building itself is somewhat of a time capsule, complete with ceiling brackets that held shafts and wood pulleys to drive leather belts that ran lathes, drill presses, and milling machines. The concrete steps are worn concave, evidence of those who came before us and who worked their craft in the early years of the company.

The process of vehicle conservation can at times be somewhat tedious, with literally weeks spent in cleaning one cylinder and similar time spent in conserving original sheet metal with its varnish top coat. Yet every once in a while, as we disassemble an early model, the past speaks to us. One such moment recently occurred while disassembling a 1925 JD that had not had a wrench put to it for more than 80 years. As the tank halves were unbolted, it became a rather solemn moment. It required two pairs of hands, and you can imagine our reaction when the tanks were split, revealing a clear, distinct thumbprint on the inside-left tank

half. There were also a couple of trial stripes on the inside as well. One can’t help but wonder who the person behind this thumbprint was? How old was he? Was he married? Did he have children? For an instant, we were taken back to another time and briefly touched the hand that was the first to assemble this piece of history

The Harley-Davidson Museum

Since the very beginning, Harley-Davidson has been located and headquartered in a part of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, known as Concordia/ Merrill Park, the latter named after one of the early city fathers. The famous “shed” was located on the southwest corner of what is now 38th Street and Highland Boulevard. When you consider the fact that at the turn of the last century, there were more than 150 domestic motorcycle manufacturers, it is amazing that only Harley-Davidson has survived. As we reflect on the last 100-plus years, one asks why all the others didn’t make it. What formula did HarleyDavidson have that the others lacked? The simple answer is that the company provided a dealer organization that met customer needs, be those needs for sales, service, or socialization. Each dealership had and has its own personality and unique atmosphere. Today, as always, HarleyDavidson dealers are as much enthusiasts as the customers they serve. They too ride, race, and love Harley-Davidson motorcycles.

Theindividuals who comprise HarleyDavidson management were and are great savers of everything pertaining to the business, and in the Harley-Davidson Archives resides literature dating back to 1905, as well as more than 100,000 negatives and images dating back to the early days of the company. The Archives also houses advertising pieces that chronicles the design and development of Harley-Davidson products to this day, miles of early racing and motorcycle club event footage, vintage clothing and race gear, trophies, awards, signs, clocks, and AMA memorabilia, not to mention more than 450 motorcycles beginning with serial number one, the first V-twin from 1909, military vehicles, police vehicles, dragsters, factory customs,

and prototypes, all part of a rich heritage. The document collection itself dates back to 1903 and consists of millions of pages, including customer communications with the factory as well as personal diaries and scrapbooks, a true mosaic of the company’s early development. The Archives collections house the company history, dealer history, and most important, rider history. For, in the end, were it not for loyal HarleyDavidson customers from the very beginning, this book would not have been possible. To celebrate the company, the dealers, and the riders, the Harley-Davidson Museum was conceived and designed as a fitting place to house the collections, and in what better location than the place where it all began: Milwaukee,

Wisconsin. The museum is located on a 20-acre parcel of land at the corner of Sixth and Canal Streets near downtown Milwaukee and features vintage and special interest motorcycles and related memorabilia, as well as a restaurant, café, retail shop, meeting space, special events facilities, and the company archives. The total square footage of the Museum is approximately 130,000 square feet, and includes both permanent and temporary exhibit space.

Inthe museum, visitors will be able to view motorcycles from every model year, right up to the present day. Early racing exhibits will show how important racing was in the early days of the company, and how the saying “Race on Sunday, Sell on Monday” came about as a result of the popularity of racing in the teens, twenties, and thirties. In those days, racing was the best form of advertising for Harley-Davidson dealers nationwide. And the rivalry between Indian and HarleyDavidson drew huge crowds until Indian closed its doors. Exhibits will provide visitors with a snapshot of HarleyDavidson’s vehicle support of allied troops in two World Wars and include a special model XS designed for use in North Africa, a vehicle featured in this book.

Visitors to the museum will experience the Motor Company’s role as a creator of American folk art when viewing early “bobbers” and the Billy and Captain America reproductions from the cult-classic movie, Easy Rider. They will be reminded of how important police vehicles have been to our society from the teens to the present. Through letters, scrapbooks, and diaries, they will relive the experiences of dealers and riders from the now-distant past and better understand why Harley-Davidson is a survivor.

HARLEY-DAVIDSON HOMECOMING FESTIVAL

CELEBRATING 120 YEARS OF MOTO CULTURE

MILWAUKEE (JULY 17, 2023) – THE HARLEY-DAVIDSON® HOMECOMING™ FESTIVAL, THE BIGGEST MUSIC-ANDMOTO EVENT TO HIT MILWAUKEE THIS SUMMER, TOOK PLACE FROM JULY 13-16 AT VENUES ACROSS THE MILWAUKEE AREA. MOTO ENTHUSIASTS FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD ENJOYED THE FESTIVITIES CELEBRATING THE RICH, 120 - YEAR HISTORY OF THE WORLD’S MOSTDESIRABLE MOTORCYCLE BRAND, HARLEY-DAVIDSON. THE COMPANY ALSO ANNOUNCED NEXT YEAR’S HARLEYDAVIDSON HOMECOMING WILL BE JULY 25-28, 2024

Some key highlights of the 2023 Harley-Davidson Homecoming Festival included:

VETERANS PARK ON THE MILWAUKEE LAKEFRONT –PERFORMANCES BY GREEN DAY AND FOO FIGHTERS

On Friday and Saturday night at Veterans Park, music headliners Green Day (July 14) and Foo Fighters (July 15) performed to massive crowds on the Milwaukee lakefront. The shows gathered more than 80,000 moto and music enthusiasts throughout the weekend. Leading up to the headlining acts at the Veterans Park venue, key performances on July 14 included Abby Jeanne, KennyHoopla, Phantogram, and The Cult. On July 15, performances included Ghost Hounds, White Reaper, Joan Jett and the Blackhearts, and Cody Jinks. In addition, Nitro Circus, the most explosive crew in action sports, provided an action-packed freestyle motocross show, plus the exhilarating stunts of the Ives Brothers Wall of Death & Ball of Steel, food and beverage vendors, and special merchandise added to the family-friendly entertainment. Matty Matheson hosted a Burger Build Off, where legendary chef, actor, author, and restauranteur Matty Matheson created the ultimate, showstopping burger in a head-to-head cookoff.

HARLEY-DAVIDSON MUSEUM – MILWAUKEE

Activities kicked off at the Harley-Davidson Museum grounds on Thursday with Bike Night and continued through the weekend. 73,000 bikes lined the museum grounds and Sixth Street over the four days. 130,000 attendees enjoyed food trucks, Flat Out Friday Boonie Bike races, motorcycle displays and demo ride opportunities with LiveWire®, and Stacyc® electric vehicles, the Division BMX Stunt Show, custom and vintage motorcycle shows, and evening musical entertainment. The music line-up included headliners Hairball, The Jimmys and The Now Band, Rust Bucket Road Trip, and The Toys and Rebel Grace.

HARLEY-DAVIDSON POWERTRAIN OPERATIONS –MENOMONEE FALLS

The Harley-Davidson Powertrain Operations in Milwaukee suburb, Menomonee Falls, hosted demos of 2023 Harley-Davidson motorcycles, factory tours, and Police Skills Riding Demonstrations.

HARLEY-DAVIDSON 120TH ANNIVERSARY MOTORCYCLE PARADE – DOWNTOWN MILWAUKEE

The 2023 Homecoming event concluded on Sunday with the HarleyDavidson 120th Anniversary Parade, winding through Wisconsin Avenue to the heart of downtown Milwaukee, ending at Veterans Park on the lakefront. 7,000 motorcycles participated in the parade to the cheers and waves from crowds gathered along the route.

RIDE IN ROUTES

All roads led to Milwaukee as Harley-Davidson plotted six exciting Ride In routes, each starting from the furthest reaches of NorthAmerica and leading to Milwaukee, to arrive for Homecoming festivities. This provided an opportunity for riders to join at any point and ride at their own pace while mingling with fellow H-D riders. Each daily Ride In segment began and ended at an authorized

Harley-Davidson dealership, with a mid-day stop also at a H-D dealership, to meet other riders, chat with local staff, eat at local food trucks, and conduct bike maintenance, as needed.

NEW 2023 CUSTOM VEHICLE OPERATIONS™ (CVO™) MOTORCYCLES

Homecoming weekend was also the official consumer debut of the new 2023 CVO™ Street Glide® and CVO™ Road Glide® models showcasing advanced technology, enhanced rider comfort, and dynamic performance propelled by the powerful new Milwaukee-Eight® VVT 121 engine, with a technical display in the Harley-Davidson Museum Garage area and demos at the Company’s Powertrain Operations facility.

HARLEY-DAVIDSON DEALERSHIP EVENTS

Six Milwaukee-area Harley-Davidson dealerships hosted events and entertainment. Dealerships that participated included House of Harley-Davidson (Greenfield), Milwaukee Harley-Davidson (Milwaukee), Suburban Motors HarleyDavidson (Thiensville), Uke’s Harley-Davidson (Kenosha), West Bend Harley-Davidson (West Bend), and Wisconsin Harley-Davidson (Oconomowoc).

MOTO ENTHUSIASTS FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD ENJOYED THE FESTIVITIES CELEBRATING THE RICH, 120 - YEAR HISTORY...

RIDE APPALACHIA

COAL TRAIN 421

Just off of Exit 90 on I-75 in Richmond, KY is the beginning of one of the greatest rides or drives you will find here in Central Appalachia. This 130 Mile GPS-Enabled Trail Route in our Backroads of Appalachia Mobile Application, Appropriately Named “COAL TRAIN 421”, is an amazing journey through the heart of Eastern Kentucky and Appalachian Coal Country. This incredible ride on “The Road Less Traveled” will connect you with many of our other routes as you enjoy the scenery and curves on the roads that once hauled coal from our mountains and many of the small communities you will visit and experience along the way. Just 20 minutes from the start of “COAL TRAIN 421” is our Freedom Ridge Welcome Center in Mckee, KY, a general store atmosphere were you can rest, have a cold drink and snack, and get some great Backroads of Appalachia Merchandise as well as learn about the Civil War History of Jackson County, KY. The building itself is part of this history as it was once a Civil War Hospital and holds many pictures and relics of the era inside for you to enjoy!

On our Freedom Ridge Trail Route you will find many Civil War Skirmish sites including the Battle of Big Hill and also the Jackson County Veterans Memorial in Downtown Mckee. One of the most amazing Veterans Memorials in the State with tributes to all eras on display to honor our Nation’s Heroes. Head further south on 421 and it will connect you with many of our popular routes North including “Ridge Runner Road 587”, “Ride the River Dragon”, and “To the Holler” just to name a few. As you continue your journey you will enter Clay County and the “Land of Swinging Bridges”! The City of Manchester, is steeped in rich coal history with many great things to see and do from Swinging Bridges, to the Train Depot, to the one and only Pat’s Snack Bar which

happens to have one of the Best Burgers in the whole state as ranked by Travel 7. Trust us It’s true, we have been there… Allot. If there is one thing we love here on the motorcycle side as much as we do riding it’s food! If you look closely at our mobile app you will notice that some of our routes stop or start at or near a great place to eat as we are all about supporting our small businesses. We even have a Trail Route named after a restaurant! We are Bikers after all! Speaking of great restaurants to visit on this trip, when you reach Harlan, KY and the end of line on “Coal Train 421” look up and you will see the Harlan County Beer Company, Yep you caught us! Did I mention cold beer and killer food? Around the corner you will find Sassy Trash, the coolest store you will ever go in. Harlan County is the Capital of Kentucky’s Coal Mining History and here you will find many of our most popular routes South including the trail that started it all for us, The Dragonslayer 160 and our welcome center in Lynch, KY. You will also find Portal 31, a tourable coal mine that once was the biggest in the world. There are so many great things to see and do in Harlan that we do not have enough space to tell everything but stay tuned as we continue to give you the scoop. So what are you waiting for, get on the rails and ride “Coal Train 421” from Richmond, KY to Harlan, KY Today!

Let’s Ride Coal Train 421 Appalachia!

-Jay Fryman Founder, Whitley County Motorcycle Group Backroads of Appalachia Journalism Team

IT’S ALL ABOUT FREEDOM

Welcome to August everyone. For those that read my articles, it can be perceived that I’ve been leading to writing about politics. I wanted to take this moment to maybe set the record straight in a small way. You may ask, what does this have to do with motorcycling and the biker lifestyle? That’s incredibly easy to answer. It’s all about freedom.

Why do we ride? We love the feeling of how it makes us feel free from our daily burdens and relieves stress. The exhilaration of it all. The freedom of it. Why do some of us live the biker lifestyle? Again, it is based on the freedom to do as we please and express ourselves how we see fit. Why motorcycles? Those machines which bring it all together as personal expressions and as mobile art that help others see our freedom of expression for our lifestyle.

There’s more to this but I think you get the picture. All of these things combined are bound together by one very important thing. That thing is the FREEDOM to do so. Without freedom we risk the loss of it all. All the things we have taken for granted for generations.

There’s a quote from a book by G. Michael Hopf. “Hard times create strong men, strong men create good times, good times create weak men, and weak men create hard times.”

Unfortunately, the good times are past us and the hard times are upon us. I find it hard to stomach the possibility that men of this generation have become so weak that instead of facing the possibility of losing all of our freedoms that our veterans have fought for in the past, that they would rather identify as women instead of manning up.

free society? For if they don’t live in a free society, they will surely be enslaved by those pulling the strings. We used to live a moral code. We used to have social standards. We used to have the choice to live our dreams.

Here is something to ponder on. Like him or not, President Ronald Reagan quoted this very profound statement that rings so true. “Perhaps you and I have lived too long with this miracle to properly be appreciative. Freedom is a fragile thing and it’s never more than one generation away from extinction. It is not ours by way of inheritance; it must be fought for and defended constantly by each generation, for it comes only once to a people. And those in world history who have known freedom and then lost it have never known it again.”

This country desperately needs the return of the strong men, and women, if we are to recover from this steady downslide we are in. Why would we not want our future generations to live in a

I don’t know how this can be stated any clearer. I’ll take this moment to thank Born To Ride Magazine for allowing me to deliver these messages to you through there pages. They are another example of how we still have our freedom to do so. Support your local freedom fighting businesses. They need our help.

Ride Free my Friends.

Ride Free Nefarious James American Patriot

“All of these things combined are bound together by one very important thing. That thing is the FREEDOM to do so. Without freedom we risk the loss of it all. All the things we have taken for granted for generations.”

I It is truly amazing the number of people I have met due to our mutual love of motorcycles. And Saturday, August 19th at 10:00 am will be no exception!

Lucky for me, I have been invited to Gator Harley Davidson, a family owned and operated dealership, in beautiful Leesburg, Florida for their next great event. Why might you ask? Well to share years of knowledge and wisdom in the financial services arena. Sometimes your “Knight in Shining Armor” is really a biker in dirty leathers.

My name is James Irwin, and I am a financial professional with a very unique approach. I help people find money they are losing unknowingly and unnecessary and then show them how they can save that money for their financial future without impacting their current lifestyle.

There are only two ways to help people financially. You can either help them find them find a better product than they have today, one that potentially pays a higher rate of return but may require more risk. OR you can help them be more efficient with the money they already have.

I believe in the latter of those two approaches, and that there is more opportunity to serve my clients by helping them avoid losses than by predicting the winners. You are probably wondering how I do that. Well, there are five major areas where most people are losing money unknowingly and unnecessarily.

Make sure to stop by Saturday, August 19th at 10:00 am for coffee and doughnuts to find out what those five major areas are and how we can help. And please don’t worry, no one who has ever worked with me has been put on a financial diet. No one wants to do that!

We want to buy Harley’s from Gator and live a stress-free life in retirement.

What do all bikers like least when we’re out on our bikes? Rain! I know none of us like to

Bikers

JAMES IRWIN

TRUST ME TO HELP YOU GET THAT NEW MOTORCYCLE OR RV !

ride in the rain, but beware there is a “storm” heading our way called HIGHER TAXES. Former US Comptroller, David Walker, has predicted that taxes will double by 2030 if things continue the way they are. We already know the Trump Tax Cuts are scheduled to go away in 2026 if Congress does nothing. For the last 20 years, we have enjoyed the lowest tax rates ever. Believe it or not, tax rates in the past have been higher than 90%. What’s that old adage, those that don’t study history are destined to repeat it?

As the worker-to- retiree ratio continues to drop (Baby Boomer Era), the solvency of Social Security, Medicare and other entitlement programs have been placed in jeopardy. You see, when The Social Security Act was passed into law, the official retirement age was 65 and average life expectancy was 62. At that time, there were an astounding forty-two workers putting money into Social Security for every one person taking money out. Now, that same worker to retiree ratio has dropped to 3 to 1 and is continuing to fall.

Fellow bikers, the US has trillions of unfunded obligations. 92 cents of every tax dollar are spent on Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid and interest on debt. Often, clients mistakenly think they will be in a lower tax bracket in retirement. This is likely not true, since most deductions and credits will be gone (some examples include, mortgage interest, children, retirement plan contributions). Further, did you know that Required Minimum Distributions (RMD’s) can put some in a higher tax bracket?

As crazy as things are now, you need to start planning now to lower your tax bracket in retirement. Taxes in fact are on sale now!

Come to Gator on Saturday, August 19th at 10:00 am and ask us how, plus learn additional strategies to boost your retirement income. Don’t get mislead by bad advice and get stuck paying higher taxes on Social Security, due to provisional income.

Many Americans are surprised to find out they are in a partnership with Uncle Sam on their retirement savings. They mistakenly believe that all the money in their retirement account is theirs. When in fact, many IRA’s, 401Ks, etc. are just an IOU to the IRS for a

TAX AMOUNT nobody can predict. What a frightening reality that is! These life-changing subjects, in addition to questions about MEDICARE and SOCIAL SECURITY, will be answered on Saturday. I am a Certified Senior Advisor (CSA)®, and with me on Saturday, I will so have a special guest who is a National Social Security Advisor (NSSA)®.

Did you know that greater than 90% of Social Security beneficiaries have not maximized their Social Security benefits? What an amazing fact that is!

I have helped numerous bikers over the years; many of them famous people you would know. They all agree that when you’re wearing a motorcycle helmet, people don’t know who you are, so they just wander around and love it. Maybe you can guess the next celebrity turning 65 next month? He is known for saying, “You might be a biker if you recognize your friends by the sound of their pipes.”

My experience has always been that bikers are very charitable people who love giving back to the community in meaningful ways. I’m of course a fellow biker as well. For that reason and with the help of many generous people, we are offering “The Mission ONE Million” book FREE to all “Born to Ride” readers.

I along with other financial experts have watched too many people’s lives crash at the end, because they were not financially prepared. Go to my website now! It is: www.healthinsurance65. com or call 833-467-2865 and get your “Mission ONE Million” book now.

The book is for anyone wanting to get out of debt, build wealth, and create financial independence! The book retails for $24.95, but I bought your copy for you. That’s right, the book is FREE to Born to Ride readers. A Biker helping bikers, that’s what it’s all about!

-James Irwin

WILLIE G READS IT!

CHRISTIAN MOTORCYCLISTS ASSOCIATION

We often ride our motorcycles in groups to find a sense of family. The biker communities can be a fairly tight knit group and today I enjoyed that fellowship at our biker breakfast. Once a week about eight to twelve of us in our CMA chapter get together for breakfast.

Traveling from different parts of the county, we roll into our favorite breakfast spot on our motorcycles and line up in front of the building. Backed into our spots sit our clean Harley bikes, trikes, and even a honda or two. As we laugh and joke with one another before entering the restaurant, you can tell there is something special about the community of bikers.

Inside, it is welcoming and friendly. There is greeting with handshakes and jokes about how late we were that morning. While waiting for the rest of the group to arrive, we ask about everyone’s ride in from their little neck of the woods. Once all together and seated, the waitress, who knows each of us by name, asks us if we want the usual. With our orders in, the loud sound of several conversations going all at once begins again. The smell of food being prepared fills the room, while the soft and relaxing music from the sixties and seventies can be heard playing in the background.

Several minutes after ordering we begin our breakfast by grabbing everyone’s attention and asking if there are any prayer requests. This is the time we share difficult situations

with the group and receive support from one another. We then all join hands to pray over the requests and food we are about to enjoy. Soon after our food comes out. The conversation turns toward stories of answered prayer. These moments are exactly how we are called in the Bible to fellowship as a tight community.

There are many examples written about this kind of close knit family in the book of Romans starting at verse nine of chapter 12: Don’t just pretend to love others; really love them. Hate what is wrong and hold tightly to what is good. Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other. When God’s people are in need, be ready to help them. Always be eager to practice hospitality. Be happy with those who are happy, and weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with each other. Don’t be too proud to enjoy the company of ordinary people, and do all that you can to live in peace with everyone.

Teach’s Takeaway,

- A close knit group is centered in love.

- Always be ready to help those who are in need.

- Celebrate in the victories and share in the hardships. Go and live in harmony and peace with one another. If you are not part of a community like this, then let it begin with you. Ride on.

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

wayne.masiker@att.net

RONNIE and EMILY’S RONNIE and EMILY’S