2018 - Issue #5
COGnitions:
Ramblings from the Northeast Area Director It’s December, and as the snow and salt begin to hit the road the riding season is probably ending for many except the heartiest Northeast Area members. Instead of wondering how bad of a winter we can expect, let’s think ahead to next riding season and get some fun COG activity posted on the club calendar. It’s the plentiful and diverse local activities that makes the NE Area shine, but we need your help. Please contact me or another NE Staff member if you have ideas and would like to add to our 2019 Northeast Event Calendar. Steve Smith #3184 If you’ve ever wanted to get more involved with COG, now is the time. There are immediate openings on the NE Staff. There are states, and regions that do not have a COG advocate bringing members together. For instance, we really need to fill AAD positions for CT, VA, WV and others. Look at page 10 and contact me if you see a gap you can help fill. While on the subject of NE Staff… I wish to send a THANK YOU out to each one for what they do for the betterment of our club. You gals and guys are awesome and together we continue the tradition the staff before us began, and allows us to continue to say in our best GBYII impersonation, “the Northeast Area Rules.” The Northeast rallies are opportunities for many of us to gather. Here’s a list of our planned 2019 rallies so that you can pencil in dates… Spring Fling 2019 registration is open. See the announcement and registration form in this issue. We cannot stress this enough… We negotiated a terrific discount for those who reserve early. BOOK YOUR ROOM BEFORE MARCH 1, 2019 TO GET THE DISCOUNTED RATE. Our room block prices increase $30 per night after this date. For our summer rally we will be celebrating COG’s 30th anniversary together at the COG “Keystone” National Rally 2019 in Williamsport, PA, July 22-26. If you wish to help at the rally, contact Jason Kaplitz or me to volunteer. Registration will open early 2019. The rally web page can be reached from the club’s home page: www.cog-online.org Fall Rally 2019 is being planned for Alexandria Bay, NY, September 19-22. Steve & Sue Cerutti are finalizing rally plans at a very nice waterfront motel and restaurant. Details coming in 2019. Happy holidays to all. Have a safe, healthy, and happy New Year That’s all for now – Ride safe
photo courtesy Bob Barbanti #7134
Concours Owners Group NORTHEAST AREA NEWS
New Members
First things first, a warm welcome to our Newest NE Area COG members!
Jeffrey Gibson Terry Murphy Jeffery Gilbert Robert King JT Wieme David Hannon James Connolly Tom Dumbrell
12876 12877 12878 12879 12880 12882 12895
Souderton, PA Wayne, PA King of Prussia, PA Palmyra, VA Philadelphia, PA Landing, NJ Basking Ridge, NJ Carleton Place, ON
Concours Owners Group 2019 Northeast Area Spring Fling Rally May 16 - 19, 2019 Matamoras, PA Let’s kick off the 2019 riding season with your fellow COGger’s for what promises to be a fantastic season opener. Working off a great suggestion from long time member Kevin Martin, the Spring Fling 2019 will return to Matamoras PA. The rally location is near the borders of PA, NY, NJ along the Delaware River. This tri-state area location provides easy access to the Catskill Mountain, Delaware River Valley, and northern NJ riding. Ride the short, but well-known section of RT 97 at The Hawk’s Nest. We will reuse all the terrific sample routes from the last rally here. The GPS and route sheets are available online now. Online registration open now. Get the early-bird rally fee discount by registering before March 31. Register online at the event page on www.cog-online.org or register by mail. Complete details on the registration form in this issue. We were able to get a fantastic room rate discount that is only $9 more per night than the last time we were there in 2012. The catch… DISCOUNTED ROOM RATES ARE AVAILABLE ONLY UNTIL MARCH 1 2019. Reservations made after March 1 will be $30 more per night. Make your reservations early… you can always cancel. Rally Headquarters: Best Western Inn @ Hunt’s Landing, 120 Rt. 6 & 209 (570) 491-2400 www.bestwestern.com/innathuntslanding A block of rooms is being held at a special rate of $99 double/night (+tax); $104 king/night (+tax). The hotel was recently completelty renovated. Full hot breakfast and free WiFi included. Mention "Concours Owners Group 5/16/19" to get special rate. The group banquet will be at the hotel. BOOK YOUR ROOMS AND REGISTER SOON TO GET THE BEST PRICING AND WE WILL SEE YOU AT SPRING FLING
Concours Owners Groupsm
NORTHEAST AREA NEWS Published 5 times a year for the Concours Owners Group and distributed to Northeast Area members. Past newsletters are archived in the club’s online member library at www.cog-online.org Also available at: issuu.com/cognortheast Written (most formats except Works) & photo (most formats) submissions are welcomed and members are encouraged to share their COG experiences. Please send to: Email: NECOGEditor@gmail.com Snail Mail: COG NE Newsletter c/o Maryann Geiser 139 Kennedy Rd Tewksbury MA 01876
Editor’s Corner As the year is winding down I want to thank everybody who helped me make this newsletter successful. I am grateful to all of you who provided articles, ride reports and photos to be included. Without your help, this newsletter would contain a LOT of white space and free clip art. Thank you! Special thanks go out to Steven Peck (COG #12281) for writing a detailed account of his post-retirement cross country ride. I was talking to him at the November Meet & Greet that Tracey and Greg hosted and was listening to his tales of the road. I mentioned that his story would make great content for the newsletter, and a few days later I had part one of the story in mail email box. You’ll find the first part of his journey starting on Page 8, with more to come. Thanks again, Steven, for writing this up for us all to read.
Maryann Geiser #4627A
Happy New Year to all my COG friends and their families. I hope the new year brings lots of time in the saddle, beautifully paved roads, and safe travels. Maryann
© 1989-2018 Concours Owners Groupsm
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2018 - Issue #5
Concours Owners Group NORTHEAST AREA NEWS
Around the NORTHEAST News from your Assistant Area Directors (complete list of AADs on back page)
Metro NY, NJ Season's Greetings to all! I probably say it every December newsletter but where did the season go?! Unfortunately, due to a change in work schedule, my season was a bit curtailed. Terry Faherty #792 The wet weather didn't help much either! We had seven folks come out to our annual after show gathering this year at Javitz. The show itself was just about the same as the last few years, which is to say short on vendors. With the move to the holiday season small vendors can't afford hotel rooms at the premium rates so it's starting to show. Even perennial
attendees like Backroads Magazine no longer attend. The only major vendor for gear was Cycle Gear, but they did have a wide selection of items on hand. Most of the major manufacturers were present, but Can Am was a no show and so was KTM. All in all still an enjoyable excursion but not the source of good deals as in days of old. The internet seems to be taking it's toll. I'm just as guilty as everyone else! Next year is shaping up to be a good one so far. I'm planning on attending the Fling in Matamoras, PA. And if I can score the
2018 - Issue #5
vacation pick the national in Williamsport is a must. Maybe I can even convince the bride to drive out for the festivities? She goes in for a knee replacement in January, so if all goes well ole Terry boy might be looking for a two up bike again soon! Don't forget the Thousand Island Rally coming in the fall - that looks to be quite the shindig and in a area COG hasn't explored yet. As long as I get the days, I'm there! Enjoy the holidays all and have fun installing all the pretty new farkles the season brings. - Terry
rejoiced and sang (there was great cheer!). And we were all happy. Thank you John! Planning for the upcoming 2019 will get
MA, ME, NH, VT As I write this, my bike sits in our garage with a fresh batch of oil, a clean and oiled K&N air filter, and juice from the battery tender. Tracey’s bike Greg & Tracey Habel is lonely as it #7010/7010A sits by itself in the distant garage at my parents; ousted due to the Can Am’s width that we don’t have room for in our garage. However, it won’t be long before they awake from their slumber in early spring; just as the daffodils and tulips break through the earth; as does my excitement awake pondering country hills and twisties. On November 10th our last Social of the season was extra eventful in that John McClean from Ontario presented Pat Mulloy with a unique memory and plaque. John regaled tales of his ‘86 Connie which was named “Flux” after a comedic (not so comedic at the time) circumstance of the domino effect involving multiple bikes; thus breaking his front foot peg. After the culmination of the story of the repair at a distant welding shop; John proudly presented the foot peg and repair bracket on a lovely wooden plaque for mounting in Pat’s garage to immortalize the famous “Y” weld made popular in Back to the Future as the Flux Capacitor. And we
underway soon in January. Please, please, please contact us to volunteer to host a ride or event. We really loved the diversity from last year – car factory, submarine museum, rides, scrumptious meals, great scenery, and of course great friends new and old. Look for a start of the year social sometime in January or February; likely back at the Horseshoe Pub in Hudson, MA. Winter is great for maintenance projects. Please take care of your bikes so they can continue to bring you enjoyment for years to come. - Greg & Tracey
Eastern Ontario What happened here? Where did fall go? Seems we lost a season in Eastern Ontario; we were riding one day and within a few days we had snow on the ground…. not to mention bone chilling cold (-20C in November… Derek Pugh #11636 absurd)! I seem to remember thinking we missed spring this year to… Oh well, no fighting it, winter has arrived. Here in Ottawa the white stuff arrived several weeks ago and although Mother Nature has given (Continued on page 4)
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Concours Owners Group NORTHEAST AREA NEWS (Around the Northeast - Continued from page 3)
us a few warm days it’s still white out there. The C14 is covered and parked till spring. I had thought it might be trailered south for several weeks come the New Year (I hear Florida riders aren’t complaining about the heat and humidity this time of year! LOL) but the fiancé suggested a 10 day Caribbean cruise…. and who am I to argue! I will be planning our usual mid-winter social on the Saturday February 9th, 2019 at the Red Dot Café in Osgoode, Ontario. We have some new COG members that I hope we can meet there…. and I’ll be there showing off my tan! Riders of eastern Ontario feel free to offer your ideas, let’s work together to have a great 2019. Merry Christmas to all and please have a safe happy holiday season. - Derek
South Central PA/MD It looks like winter has taken up residence in the MidAtlantic region. At least it has stopped raining every other day (snow is NOT rain). We're in the midst of the holiday season, and I hope you all are doing Greg Puterbaugh #6163 well and not getting sick and tired of all the family crap you must attend. But seriously, love your family (and your motorcycle) as much as possible while we all still occupy the surface of the planet. We don't have an organized ride scheduled until March 24th, the annual Crab Cake Ride, put together by Russell Fleming, Steve Rutter, and Tim Traylor. There will be three separate starting locations-Hanover, PA, White Plains, MD, and Mt. Joy, PA, all ending at a very fine seafood restaurant in Chesapeake City, MD. In the meantime, on Jan.27th, Jack Frederick and Deb Bahn will be hosting the fifth annual Big Chill at their lovely home in York,PA, and then, on Feb.17th, we will gather at the J&P's Italian restaurant in
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Manchester, MD. P lease take a gander at the website calendar and later in this newsletter for event details. Wishing you all a safe and happy holiday! - Greg
Greater Toronto Greetings from southern Ontario where winter has set in and bikes are all nestled snug in their garages with the batteries on trickle charge and the front wheel is pointing at the door awaiting a clear winter day to Dave Perkins #5932 blow the stink off. Right. As I write we are pulling plans together for the COG booth at the annual Toronto International Motorcycle Show, January 4-6, 2019. This is the largest bike show in North America, drawing folks from eastern Canada and the border states of the US. COG GTA has been doing this for almost 20 years and it affords us an opportunity to speak with riders and spread the word about COG and the Connie. Space is provided at no charge to clubs and service organizations such as the Red (Firefighters), White (EMS), and Blue (Police) Knights. I wonder if the Green Knights ride electric bikes! Bike dealers and clothing and accessory vendors are out in force. Kawasaki is the only manufacturer that participates and presents new bikes in this show, the others opting for the manufacturers show which goes on in February in downtown Toronto. Big K has come through for us most years with a C14 to put on display and we hope this year will not be an exception. Nonetheless, a members bike will be on display for folks to throw a leg over. On a personal note, one event I've participated in for the past three or four years each fall is the Toronto Waterfront Marathon. It attracts over 25,000 runners from around the world for the full marathon, half marathon and a 5k. No, I was not a running participant (my running days ended about 100 years ago
in high school!) but one of the fleet of 25 support motorcycles and riders working in the foreground and background for the event. The Chief Wrangler of the bikes and riders is Andre Harris of Yamaha Canada. We were all required to wear safety vests and though we were not dressed alike we all came ready in proper riding gear and we looked good!. Our duties ranged from carrying passengers such as VIPs, course marshals, judges for the various demonstration and booster venues along the course and, in my case, transporting one of the four videographers (AKA camera guys) who cover the race for broadcast to fans around the world. Please note that the camera guys face backwards with an 810 kg camera resting on their shoulder. Regardless of their task all of the bikes must be quiet running with stock exhausts preferably and be in good tune. The last thing a runner on the course needs is the distraction of a loud exhaust or to breathe in unburned exhaust gases. Weather can be problematic. In 2017 it was a balmy 55 to 60F, very comfortable. This year is was 34 to 36F! with rain and SNOW in the forecast! The latter can royally mess up your day; fortunately it did not materialize. Fellow COGger Richard de Jong and his friend Stephen Henry have been doing the Toronto Marathon for about 10 years. They also do support for other marathons and triathlons in the US and Canada. They both ride C10s, Rich on a '98 and Steve on an '03 (I ride an '06 so we have the green-red-blue primary colours covered!!). The fourth rider was on a BMW GS1200. The C10 is an ideal platform for this activity with lots of controllable power. Rich and Steve have set up their bikes with small tail cases to carry the Dejero electronic gear that transmits the signal to the control centre through the cellular network (the camera guys are in one-way communication with the control room), a spare battery pack for the camera, and a power cord tapped into the bike for the Dejero unit. The case also gives the camera guy something solid to lean against. For the comfort of the camera (Continued on page 5)
2018- Issue #5
Concours Owners Group NORTHEAST AREA NEWS (Around the Northeast - Continued from page 4)
Atlantic Canada
We'll in less than a week it will officially be winter, but on the upside the days will start to get longer. I think most people in the Northeast will agree that this Fall has been really weird. It was like a Claude Doucet #9011 switch had been turned on to “winter” a month early I stored my C14 early November because I looked at the extended forecast and it didn't look good. I planned a few events in the Fall but I was the only attendee. That's OK, I still managed to enjoy the rides and if someone shows up that's a bonus. I will keep trying but it's challenging when you have several hundred kilometres between members. Overall my season was quite good almost guy, the saddle bags are removed. All of turns at low speed. Add 180 to 200 lbs of tallying 17,000km or 10,500 miles. For our bikes have trailer hitches with cross passenger and gear to the mix it can be anyone in my neck of the woods that bars clamped on in front of the hitch ball an armful. Fortunately there were no manages to ride 15,000km, they're doing to act as a footrest for the camera guy. spills by any of the motos on the course. good. We run 35 to 40 lbs in the rear shock as Rich was on the course for 2:07 hours, Technically well. Steve for 2:09; I was about 13 minutes my season Anyone can ride fast but we ride very behind with the top female at 2:22. The isn’t over slowly, mostly in 1st and 2nd gear (elite BMW covered the top Canadian female since I've runners do the 26+ miles in just over two runner, coming in at 2:32. Afterward we had my 250 hours; that's an average speed of just returned to the bike paddock for restreet and over 12 mph) and sometimes with tasking as necessary. trail out a passengers unfamiliar with two-up This was just one more experience to put few times. riding although we were lucky this year in the personal log book. I look forward Looking at the forecast I might take a as all of the camera guys were to next year and I hope my schedule is spin in before Christmas! experienced passengers. To prepare clear to help out again. I've asked Rich I'm looking forward to the annual them for the turns we would give them a for suggestions on modifying my bike to Motorcycle and Powersport Atlantic direction and distance countdown as a improve my passenger's comfort without show in Halifax March 1-3, 2019. It looks turn approached. Rich and Steve had sacrificing my own or the stability of the like the Moncton show is officially gone two-way comms with their camera guy bike. These will be addressed in the since it's not advertised and it's the while I had to rely on verbal and hand spring. It's all part of the fun! second year that it's a no go. If anyone is signals. Next year... That said, from all of the COGgers in the in the area for the Halifax show, drop me Richard was covering the elite male GTA I extend to the Northeast a very an email and we could meet up. runners and was out in front. Steve was Happy Holiday season! And a wish for a Later in 2019, I'm planning on attending slightly behind, pacing the lead Canadian short winter!! the National in Williamsport PA. It's a male runner. I was pacing the elite - Dave great venue with lots to do and women runners, again slightly behind surrounded by beautiful roads. I would the men. Typical of marathon courses love to also do the Fall Rally but it there were elevation changes, long doesn't look like it will be possible. straight stretches separated by the I don't plan on organizing any big local numerous turns, three of them fairly events this year but will continue with sharp hairpins. As C10 owners will attest smaller ones. the top-heavy bike doesn't like these Happy Holidays!
2018 - Issue #5
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Concours Owners Group NORTHEAST AREA NEWS
Event Reports Kawasaki C14 Riders and Friend’s Ride Sunday September 30, 2018 It was finally a beautiful day for riding motorcycles! Much of the conversation pre-ride centered around how bad the riding was for most of the summer. The 24 or so that showed up for the ride were throttled up and more than ready to pile on some miles. Russell laid out a new route, and it swung by his house, no doubt to pick up Vickey. Nearly everyone on the ride ended up stopping at Russell’s house, and it had the nostalgic feeling of a North/South event. After the beans in the field behind his house were well watered, we re-shuffled the riding groups and most but not all rode the twisty scenic roads to the lunch spot at Brown’s Orchard in Loganville, PA. - Steve Rutter
My Favorite Neighborhood Ride What can you expect after a soggy summer of riding? You got it, more of the same in late October. That didn’t deter 5 riders from starting out in Hagerstown MD to ride Greg Puterbaugh’s favorite roads. If you know the tunnels on the PA turnpike, imagine the roads that twist up and over those multiple mountains and long scenic valleys in between. Greg knows roads, and we tease him that he is going to get PA Route 26 tattooed on his arm because the road is that good. Jack Frederick wasn’t riding because he was at his cabin. Fortunately his cabin is only a few miles from the tail end of our planned 165 mile route, so we got an invite. As we were riding it started to rain, and then as we climbed the ridges, the clouds turned purple and we got snow showers! So we stopped and punched in the coordinates of Jack’s cabin and made a beeline for the wood stove and hot coffee. After the nice visit with Jack and Deb, the 30 Mph winds quickly dried up the roads, and we rerouted and basically rode the route backwards at that point. The pace was brisk all day long and we had a great time! - Steve Rutter
with tales of heavy rain and poor visibility. But Saturday the sun came out and the wind dried the roads off and was a fine day to ride. On the Blue Ridge Parkway we stopped to celebrate Russell's C-14 turning over 100,000 miles; only 150,000 to go to catch up to his C-10!
The Pink Cadillac Restaurant did a good job of providing most of our breakfasts and dinners, while the hike to and from the camp ground provided plenty of exercise. So much so that some folks were looking at the newly remodeled motel that shares the parking lot with the restaurant. Other advantages of moteling it include a level place to park a motorcycle, and not tripping over tree roots during those night time jaunts to the bath house when nature calls. On Sunday morning, as we headed for home, the BRRR Ride lived up its name by sending us off in 20 degree, but sunny, weather. A very fine weekend indeed! - Greg Puterbaugh
Return of the monthly Connecticut Meet & Greet
It’s been a while, and thanks to the efforts of Dana Zinick and Andy Howgego, this event got the push it needed to restart. In September Dana planned a dinner gathering at AJ’s Steak & Pizza in Goshen, CT. It was a nice kick off and the food was good. Andy planned the October gathering at the Sycamore Drive-In Bethel, CT, a landmark drive-in burger joint. After taking a Nov/Dec break for the holidays, the next gatherings Andy will host will be his last 2 events before his busy work season begins and he will be unavailable. On January 26 we will have a lunch meet & greet at House of Bones BBQ in Derby, CT. Then in February we are planning to visit the New England Motorcycle Museum in Vernon, CT and grab lunch at a nearby spot. On March 23 we will once again do the End of Winter CT Gathering at Tavern 1757 in Seymour, CT. Check out the calendar for details. Connecticut has been without an AAD for a few years. I have tried to fill that void the best I can, but my personal responsibilities and those as Area Director limit how much more I can take on. I am thankful for members like Andy and Dana who have stepped up to organize activities. For better structure I would really like for a Brrr Ride member in Connecticut to reach out to me to take the role as NE Though the BRRR Ride is no longer an official COG event, it was attended by mostly COG members - about 20 in number. The ride AAD-CT. As with all COG volunteer positions, the position is what you make it. Put in as much effort as you have time to give. down to Natural Bridge on Thursday was outstanding. Russell Help others learn their potential by offering COG mentoring. Give Fleming led a small group on a 300 mile trek that featured one me a call and let’s discuss. great back road after another. Friday it rained, and while many - Steve Smith went for a ride (not yours truly) most came back wet and cold
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2018 - Issue #5
Concours Owners Group NORTHEAST AREA NEWS
RIDES & EVENTS
(CT) Sat, February 23, 10:00 AM New England Motorcycle Visit & Lunch This museum recently opened and we thought Time listed is START time. it would be a good place to meet, enjoy good Visit www.cog-online.org for updates and more company, shenanigans, and camaraderie. We details. will meet at 10AM when the museum opens and plan to eat lunch at an interesting place a (ON) Tue, January 8, 6:30 PM few minutes away. Admission to the museum South Central Ont. Meet & Greet nd 2 Tuesday each month at Mohawk Inn, 9230 is $10. New England Motorcycle Museum, Guelph Lane, Campbellville, ON, just North of 200 W. Main St., Rockville, CT 401. All welcome. Many hungry people arrive https://www.newenglandmotorcyclemuseum.org/ Please RSVP so we can alert the museum and earlier to get their dinner. A mainly social restaurant. function to meet other riders, shoot the ANDY HOWGEGO 845.517.7306 breeze, plan rides. ahowgego@yahoo.com DAVE PERKINS 416.691.2191 STEVEN SMITH 203.720.7575
limited block of rooms with a special room rate of $99/night for a double including breakfast is only available until MARCH 1, 2019. (the rate jumps $30 after) Call now to book your room, you can always cancel. Best Western at Hunt’s Landing, 570.491.2400. Mention Concours Owners Group on 5/16/19 to get our special pricing.
(PA) Mon - Fri, July 22-26, 2019 COG Keystone National Rally Williamsport PA 2019 marks the Concours Owners Group 30th anniversary. No other group dedicated to the Kawasaki Concours has been around this long. Let's perkins43@rogers.com nead@cog-online.org celebrate together. Most in attendance at the 2016 COG NE Spring Fling indicated they (ON) Mon, January 14, 6:00 PM (ON) Tue, March 12, 6:30 PM wanted to return. Instead of keeping it a GTA East - Meet & Greet South Central Ont. Meet & Greet regional event, it was decided to make it a big 3rd Monday EVERY MONTH at Tartan Tavern, See January 8 for details. party. 555 Rossland Rd East, Oshawa, ON. All Rally Master Jason Kaplitz, Northeast Area welcome. Arrive early to kick tires and tell lies (ON) Mon, March 18, 6:00 PM Director Steve Smith, and the entire NE Staff in the parking lot (weather permitting). A social GTA East - Meet & Greet and 2019 Rally Team are excited to invite all function to meet other riders, discuss tech See January 14 for details. to the… COG Keystone National Rally issues, shoot the breeze, and plan rides. 2019, Williamsport, Pennsylvania, July 22ndDAVE PERKINS 416.691.2191 (CT) Sat, March 23, 12:00 Noon 26th, 2019. perkins43@rogers.com End of Winter M&G at Tavern 1757 Back due to positive feedback, we will meet at The "rally central" venue is in the heart of the quaint and small Williamsport PA downtown, (CT) Sat, January 26, 12:00 Noon Tavern 1757, 318 Roosevelt Dr., Seymour, which is easily walkable from the selected CT Lunch Meet & Greet CT for good food and good company. hotels. There are plenty of places to eat & It's time to get back together to enjoy good STEVEN SMITH 203.720.7575 drink, small shops to browse, and even a company, shenanigans, camaraderie, and nead@cog-online.org Wegmans. food. Thanks to Andy Howgego we can join There is terrific riding, and wonderful scenery him to help celebrate Australia Day. No event (MD & PA) Sun, March 24 in Pennsylvania and the Finger Lakes region fee, just buy your own lunch. Crab Cake Ride House of Bones BBQ, 1 New Haven Ave (RT This ride has 3 starting locations and will end of New York. Visit the Wellsboro, PA area, less than an hour north. It is one of COG NE 34), Derby, CT at Schaffer’s Canal House, 28 Bank St, favorite rally destinations which still has gas Sign up for this event here so appropriate Chesapeake City, MD at approximately street lighting, lots of small shops, and a small seating is available. 1:15pm. central green with the unique Winken, Blinken ANDY HOWGEGO 845.517.7306 Location1: Sheetz, 1841 Baltimore Pike, ahowgego@yahoo.com and Nod statue. The Pennsylvania Grand Hanover, PA (intersection of Rte 94 & STEVEN SMITH 203.720.7575 Brunswick Dr.). Kickstands up at 10:30am for Canyon is located near Wellsboro. This nead@cog-online.org region is home to a large elk herd. The Elk a 90 mile ride through southern PA and Country Visitors Center, Winslow Hill Elk northern MD. RSVP to Greg. (PA) Sun, January 27, 12:00 Noon Viewing Area, Dents Hill Elk Viewing Area are Location 2: Wawa, 4210 Crain Highway, 5th Annual Big Chill Meet & Greet a couple hours northwest of rally central. White Planes, MD. Kickstands up at 9:30am Gather once again the warm carriage house for a 130 mile ride across the Bay Bridge and Longer day excursions in PA are possible to of Deb and Jack Frederick at 50 Walden visit Gettysburg, Lancaster County (PA Dutch up the eastern short. RSVP to Tim. Court, York, PA for great food and even Location 3: Sheets, 1555 E. Main St., Nt. Joy , country), or Flight 93 National Memorial. greater conversation. Deb and Jack look Head north to New York and tour the Finger PA. Kickstands up at 10:30am for a 75 mile forward to meeting up with old friends and Lake region. Visit some wineries, Watkins ride through southern PA Amish country. hopefully some new. Please RSVP so they Glen State Park, Glenn Curtiss Museum, RSVP to Steve. have an accurate count. Corning Glass Museum, or Wings of Eagles GREG PUTERBAUGH 717.632.3324 JACK FREDERICK 717.764,9091 Discovery Center. pbaugh1@comcast.net debbahn@gmail.com TIM TRAYLOR 240.416.9250 Visit the rally web pages at: (ON) Tue, February 12, 6:30 PM South Central Ont. Meet & Greet See January 8 for details. (MD) Sun, February 17, 1:00 PM Meet & Greet @ J&P’s Illiano's Restaurant Join us for enjoy good Italian food and great company. IJ & P lliano's Restaurant, 903 S. Main St., Hampstead, MD, 410.239.2515. Please RSVP for an accurate head count. GREG PUTERBAUGH 717.632.3324 pbaugh1@comcast.net
(ON) Mon, February 18, 6:00 PM GTA East - Meet & Greet See January 14 for details.
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ebonyzg1400@gmail.com
STEVE RUTTER 717.361.1189 ruttersm@comcast.net
(PA) Thu - Sun, May 16-19, 2019 NE SPRING FLING RALLY Matamoras PA The last rally we did in Matamoras was in 2012 and we had a blast. Thanks to a suggestive nudge from Kevin Martin we will be going back there this spring. There is great riding in Delaware River Valley of north NJ & PA, as well as Hawks Nest and Catskill Mountains of NY. More info will be available in the next newsletter and online. This is only preliminary information to allow you to mark you calendar and book your room. We have a
www.concours.org/national/2019-national-rally
The rally web pages already have lodging and reservation details. The pages will continue to be built out and expanded in coming months.
2018 - Issue #5
Retirement, Cross Country Ride Report by Steven Peck I actually don’t remember just when I truly decided to really do this. Like most people I am not really a planner. So, to say I would ride a motorcycle for a month or more and see the continental United States was mostly just a wish. My friends and relatives would humor me and listen for at least one or two sentences before they would change the subject to something real. Having just survived another accident in which my beautiful Yellow Kawasaki ZR7S was carted away, never to be seen again. I understood their dismissal of my optimistic plan. Hell, even I laughed at it myself. This kind of trip would require planning and training, it would require camping! Something I swore in the rain in Montreal in ’67 I would never do again. Still, it was something I had been talking about doing as soon as I retired. I had been talking about it for years. It reminded me of a plan I had for when I finished college and the threat of being drafted had past, buy a corvette and Route 66 here we come, my best friend and I would argue who would drive first. We didn’t even come close to that trip. The closest was a trip my wife and I took with our year old son in our 74 AMC station wagon to Chicago for my best friend’s graduation from medical school. Well it’s 2017, college was 50 years ago. I’ve been riding a motorcycle for a dozen years and I’ve been retired over a year and the snow in Massachusetts has finally melted. My window shopping for a replacement for the Kawasaki that I left in Pennsylvania 10 months previously was going well. I had found two bikes that I liked, one newer and one older; considering my past I choose the older (cheaper) one, a 2006 Concours. This bike has a history of being perfect for my dream trip, so now the trip is definite? All I have to do is learn to ride a bike that falls over at almost every stop, learn to camp, plan where and when to go, and save some money for the trip! Oh and get all the gear I would need, wait I skipped some steps; like find out what I would need, wait there was one more thing, yes, tell my wife. But, first things first, join COG! I started with planning a route. I opened my Base Camp and started listing the all the places, the first was easy, home! After that I started to open all those motorcycle mags and re-read where they suggested to go to. Well I added my sister’s place in California, Mount Rushmore and the Rock and Roll hall of Fame. Okay, that’s 8,000 miles. Add a few more points, Mom in Florida, Maxine in Texas and the Potato Museum in Idaho and I’m over 10,000 miles. I bought a sleeping bag and a tent and tested them at the MMA Fall Round UP (Massachusetts Motorcycle Association). A great group of experienced riders/campers helped me. I learned so much, mostly camp near someone who has food! Okay I have a route! Now all I need is a date and to tell my wife. Over the winter I did lots of talking about the trip, trying to get someone else to go with me. 6-8 weeks of camping and riding. I did a lot of listening too. Okay, I would get new tires and a synthetic oil change, a SPOT device for SOS situations and Medjet Insurance. The big question was should I bring my Patriot’s Super Bowl winners hat? Or my Stetson? All of a sudden it was April, the bike was ready, the GPS was loaded as were my two Givi Dry Bags and the snow had melted and I could roll the bike onto the driveway. I was almost ready to leave. A call to my sister in Oceanside NY where I planned my first night set the date, she and my brother-in-law Eric could
2018 - Issue #5
[Part 1]
put me up on Wednesday the 11th! It was appropriate that I start the trip this way because Eric was the one who suggested I start riding a motorcycle. He and his friends have done an annual long distance ride. The day had come, I was up at 7:30 with a 9AM planned start. Keep in mind I really only had planned 3 things so far, leave at 9, stay at my sister the first night and my cousin the second night. I had not planned on waking to only 31 degrees and a frost covering everything. I had not done a test of my load and it took a while to get everything on the bike and by the time I was done the temperature had risen enough that I felt safe to go. The odometer was 41,013. I had planned to end the trip at Americade in Lake George the first week of June, but my nephew’s wedding at the end of May cut the trip to just 6 weeks. My friends had wanted to bet how soon I would be back! They all wanted the same day, tomorrow! From Marlborough MA I headed south and took the ferry to Orient Point, I was in my 3rd state. I grew up on Long Island, so this was a chance to visit some old haunts (and the ghosts). My brother-in-law, who had followed my SPOT all day, reviewed the route I had taken and the places I visited. 4909 Merrick Rd in Massapequa was the home of “Peck’s Meat Market.” My dad’s butcher shop, my dad being a butcher makes me an SOB! My brother-in-law questioned me about the plan, how many miles per day, points of interest and etc. None of which I had too many answers, he suggested I might have bitten off more than I could chew, and I was thinking maybe he was right. Still, my answer was I could always just come home anytime I wanted. I hadn’t told anyone I was coming. I would just call when I got close. I had done over 200 miles that first day, well short of what I would have to do to finish in the 6 weeks I planned. I learned that looking at a map of the USA on my cell phone kind of made almost everything seem close. My cousin’s home in New Jersey was only another 73 miles on day two and the mud in their driveway was where I dropped the bike for the first of what turned out to be many times. I did learn I could not lift the bike with my bags on the bike or the bike in the mud, LOL. Still it was only the second day and I this was my 4th state and 3rd visit with family and friends. So far I’ve had a solid roof over my head and good food and drink. The weather was also warming as I continued south. From Jersey it was on to the Front Royal in VA, 4 more states and a chance to use my new and expensive National Senior Park Pass to save a few bucks on Skyline Drive and on to the Blue Ridge Parkway. I had expected to spend a day doing the 600 miles, oops. The nice lady at the visitor’s booth explained I should have planned more time.
(Continued on page 10)
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Concours Owners Group NORTHEAST AREA NEWS C o n c o u r s
O w n e r s
G r o u p
Northeast Area Spring Fling Rally May 16 - 19, 2019 Matamoras, PA
It’s SPRING FLING time. Let’s kick off the 2019 riding season with your fellow COGger’s for what promises to be a fantastic season opener. The rally location is near the borders of PA, NY, NJ. This tri-state area location provides easy access to the Catskill Mountain, Delaware River Valley, and northern NJ riding. Lodging: DISCOUNTED ROOM RATE ONLY UNTIL MARCH 1 2019. Reservations made after will be $30 more per night. Rally Headquarters: Best Western Inn @ Hunt’s Landing, 120 Rt. 6 & 209 570-491-2400 www.bestwestern.com/innathuntslanding A limited number of rooms are being held at a special rate of $99 double/night (+tax); $104 king/night (+tax). Full hot breakfast and free WiFi included. Mention "Concours Owners Group 5/16/19" to get special rate. Registration: Save time & postage – register online through online COG Calendar of events. Early registration fee: before March 31 2019: ($US) $42 each member or associate; ($US) $52 each guests or non-member. Standard registration fee: ($US) $50 each member or associate; ($US) $60 each guests or non-member. Walk-in subject to seating availability. Rally fee covers Saturday dinner, door prizes, and other rally expenses. Wristbands may be used to identify registered attendees. Refund Policy: Prior to 4/24/19, on request, refund rally fee less $5.00 per person. No refund may be issued after 4/24/19. Events: There will be a Saturday evening banquet buffet in the hotel restaurant. Riding: Sample self-guided ride routes / GPS files download available from online member library. Registration Questions: Steven Smith 203.720.7575 / nead@cog-online.org Rally web page: can be found on the Northeast Area online Calendar of Events at: www.cog-online.org If registering by mail: complete one form per person & mail with rally fee payable in $US to “Concours Owners Group” to: Steven Smith / Spring Fling 2019, 39 Alison Ave, Naugatuck, CT 06770-3566
(Cut & return this section) 2019 Spring Fling Rally Registration Form (Please PRINT Clearly) Name: (One form per person) ____________________________________________ AMA # _____________ COG #____________ Street: ____________________________________________________________________________________________________ City: ________________________________________________ State/Province: ________________ Zip Code: _______________ Phone: __________________________ E-Mail: __________________________________________________ Country: _________ I will be a: rider / passenger / guest
Motorcycle model: _________________________ License tag # __________________
Emergency Contact Information:
Name:
________________________________________________________
Phone No.:
_________________________Relationship: ____________________
Please read and sign the following Concours Owners Group Release: I understand that the Concours Owners Group (COG) cannot assume responsibility for my personal safety in this event. I choose to participate in this event voluntarily, based on my own assessment of my abilities, the routes conditions and facilities, and therefore assume all risks. I release and hold harmless COG, its officers, agents and members from any and all injury and/or loss to my person or property that may result from my participation in this event. I further certify that my vehicle and I are in compliance with all applicable license, insurance and financial responsibility laws applicable to my participation in this event. All participants under 18 years of age must have their parent or guardian sign the following additional release. As the parent or guardian of the above participant, and being informed or familiar with the risks normally associated with motorcycle events, I hereby consent to his or her participation in this event, and accept and adopt all the representations and assumptions of risk set forth in the foregoing release. Participant
Signature: ________________________________________
2018 - Issue #5
Parent or
Guardian (if applicable) __________________________________
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Concours Owners Group NORTHEAST AREA NEWS (Continued from page 8)
photo courtesy Kevin Martin #145
It was a perfect day, so many beautiful vistas; speed limit 35 MPH; ouch! After the 6th stop at beautiful pull offs, I started to just roll through the pull offs. It was my 4th night out and time to use the tent. The camp grounds were nothing special except for two things, the Girl Scouts that were next to me with food and song and the price, $39 for a camp site. That turned out to be one of the most expensive ones. On this parkway it was hard to do much more than 200 miles a day. It took 2 days to get to North Carolina. After North Carolina came Tennessee. They call it the Blue Ridge partly because it runs on a ridge on the top of a mountain chain. Mountains are called mountains because they are high, remember “Rocky Mountain High” I found out what happens on the top of mountains in April? SNOW, the true four letter word on a motorcycle. It started as rain and I got wet. I pulled into a closed gas station to change to my wet weather gear and the
weather changed to Snow. A friendly old man coming the other way told me there was an accumulation on the parkway and I should get off the mountain while I could. Not a moment too soon it turned out. Well things were not going according to plan, wait I didn’t have a plan. Things were perfect! I had found Tennessee. State number 10. But now I was not where I was and there was no way to get there! 75 miles in the wrong direction fixed everything. Now I was where I was and I had my highest mileage day, 402!
I had reached a great motorcycle campground, Hunt's Lodge Motorcycle Campground in Tellico Plains. Lori and Jack were wonderful hosts. I could have stayed a week or two or more in the area and still not ridden all the great roads. This is one place I’m coming back to. My first week was over, only 1,837 on the odo. Lots of miles to go, but I’m not turning back! [Editor’s note—Steven’s story will continue in the next few issues of the newsletter.] .
Area Director
Naugatuck CT
203-720-7575
nead@cog-online.org
Greg/Tracey Habel #7010 OPEN—please inquire Bob Chappell #1283 Greg Puterbaugh #6163 Steven Rutter #9715 George Griffith #6377 OPEN—please inquire Tim Traylor #12811 Jim Ansbro #8443 OPEN—please inquire Steve Cerutti #6763 OPEN Stephen Strock #10396 Terry Faherty #792 OPEN—please inquire Dave Perkins #5932 Derek Pugh #11636 Christian Dupuis #10098 Claude Doucet #9011
AAD MA/VT/NH/ME AAD CT/RI AAD DelMarVa AAD S. Central PA/MD AAD S. Central PA/MD AAD Northeast PA AAD VA/WV AAD US Capital Region AAD Southeast PA/Philly AAD W Hudson Valley NY AAD E Hudson Valley NY AAD Long Island NY AAD Central NY AAD Metro NY/NJ AAD Central NJ AAD Greater Toronto AAD Eastern Ontario AAD Greater Montreal AAD Atlantic Canada
Hopedale MA
508-444-2235
COG7010@verizon.net
Claymont DE Hanover PA Elizabethtown PA Benton PA
302-791-0582 717-632-3324 717-361-1189 r 570-925-5010
cog1283@comcast.net pbaugh1@comcast.net ruttersm@comcast.net gbgriff@epix.net
Waldorf, MD Newtown PA
301-535-6193 215-805-0909
ebonyzg1400@gmail.com bluecon06@gmail.com
Copake Falls NY
914-953-4154
Steveonlineusa@gmail.com
Syracuse NY Staten Island NY
315-492-6032 718-227-2099
cogcny@gmail.com tmcefah@aol.com
Toronto ON Ottawa ON Sainte-Martine PQ Middle Sackville NS
416-691-2191 613-222-9554 450-427-0182 902-252-5062
perkins43@rogers.com concoursderek@gmail.com d1user@mac.com motorcycleclaude@gmail.com
OPEN—please inquire Maryann Geiser #4627A
NE Webmaster NE Newsletter Editor
Tewksbury MA
978-851-2710
maryanngeiser@gmail.com
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NE AREA STAFF
Steven Smith #3184
2018 - Issue #5