2022 - Issue # 2
COGnitions:
Ramblings from the Northeast Area Director
WELCOME SPRING!
photo courtesy Bob Barbanti #7134
Depending on where you are located, Spring season has had a few false starts this year, but now things are looking up. Motorcycle classes start up again this month. The garage warmed up enough in early April to perform a brake & clutch fluid change and other minor maintenance. I managed to find time to get out riding a few times during April for much needed cycle-therapy. I am really looking forward to the trip to Steve Smith #3184 Williamsport and Spring Fling Rally, which is less than a month away. As Jason would say… book those rooms and get registered. Only John P. and I enjoyed a nice lunch in Bethany CT for the March meet & greet. The April meet & greet at Denmos’s in Southbury CT brought out six COGgers – 4 on bikes. In attendance were Doug K., Rich P., Greg M., Ralph G., John P., and me. Local traffic was heavy around the area due to an incident on the interstate. We discussed future possible meet & greet locations. Watch the schedule for new additions. The GPS/Basecamp Essentials webinar series was led by Steve Rutter and me through the winter. We wrapped up last month with a total of 10 one-hour sessions. We focused on the Garmin Zumo XT and using Garmin Basecamp. A couple of home-made Zumo XT retention devices were discussed and made available for sale in one session. In another session some alternate route planning software was discussed. If you missed the live sessions, the video recordings are posted in the COG member library, Education section. The 2022 COG Member Handbooks have been hitting mailboxes recently. The handbook has all the old favorite information, plus some new additions. They were mailed end of March. The US Postal Service received all handbooks to deliver at the same time, but they won't all arrive at the same time. Please be patient with the mailman. Mine arrived in Connecticut third week of April. The Harry Martin cover artwork is so nice that COG Merchandise decided to use it on a T-Shirt from the COG store. Please email feedback, if so inclined, to membership@concours.org A shout out to Jason Kaplitz and Kevin Martin who have been busy scheduling several events in their regions. Jason has one posted on the North Central calendar in Ohio at the end of May. I’ve posted up a few early Spring meet & greets in Connecticut, near me. I hope to add a few rides after getting back from Spring Fling. The two monthly GTA Meet & Greet dinners have resumed. Also on the schedule is a MSF Experienced Rider Course on June 18 in Waterbury, CT that John Purdy and I will be instructing. I think a few COGgers have (Continued on page 2)
Concours Owners Group NORTHEAST AREA NEWS
New Members
First things first, a warm welcome to our Newest NE Area COG members!
Chris Cannie Eric Engel Luke Rauch Ray Domanski Donny Moore Lakshmi Shreenivas Mudumba Denis Claveau Dan Farrell Hugh Boddington Justin Hoover Valentin Dzhegurov
Hightstown, NJ Lunenburg, VT Moon Township, PA Dunkirk, NY Holbrook, NY West Springfield, MA Toronto, ON Gainesville, VA Concord, NH Mercer, PA Montgomery, NY
13608 13607 13611 13612 13614 13618 13620 13624 13625 13633 13647
(Continued from page 1)
registered, but this course is open to the public. Last time I checked 4-5 open spots remain. Jason has already posted up the COG Northeast Dog Days event in Marlinton WV for August 18 - 21, along with a few other spring/summer non-COG events where COG is invited. Check them out. As a reminder, all upcoming club events can be found on the club’s online Event Quick List: https://concours.org/Events/List Don’t forget, any member may submit an event to the COG calendar. It is easy using one of the “Submit an Event” buttons found on the club calendar web pages. Complete the required information on the web form and provide sufficient details for the COG Event Coordinator to post up your event. Contact me if you need assistance posting up an event or just to get rolling with an idea. COG can really use your help. Volunteerism seems to be at a low all over these days and our club is run solely by volunteers. At the national level COG is seeking to fill these positions: Concourier Editor, Membership Officer, IT Officer, Industry Liaison, and Safety Officer. If you have skills to help in some of the above areas, the club may have small projects to help support the officers. Please contact me to discuss and I will be your conduit for consideration with the directors. Here in the Northeast, I am seeking to find more members to host activities. I would also like to fill vacant AAD positions. There is an immediate need for AADs in the New England states ME, VT, NH, MA, CT, RI as well as positions to fill in MD, PA, NY, WV and VA. Literally any region, town or city in the Northeast where someone can help build up club activity. Team up with a COG friend or your spouse as co-AADs. Being an AAD is a relatively easy job that is extremely rewarding and helps you meet more members. Put in as much time as you have to offer. Host an activity or assist others to bring their activity ideas to fruition. If you are interested in helping, please contact me so we can chat and discuss how easy it is to get started. We have a terrific support network to help new AADs. That’s all for now. Be well and ride safe.
Area Director NE Newsletter Editor
Naugatuck CT Tewksbury MA
203-720-7575 978-851-2710
nead@concours.org maryanngeiser@gmail.com
Steven Rutter #9715 George Griffith #6377 Tim Traylor #12811 Steve/Sue Cerutti #6763 Terry Faherty #792 Dave Perkins #5932 Derek Pugh #11636 Christian Dupuis #10098 Claude Doucet #9011
AAD S. Central PA/MD AAD Northeast PA AAD US Capital Region AAD E Hudson Valley NY AAD Metro NY/NJ AAD Greater Toronto AAD Eastern Ontario AAD Greater Montreal AAD Atlantic Canada
Elizabethtown, PA Benton, PA Waldorf, MD Copake Falls, NY Staten Island, NY Toronto, ON Ottawa, ON Sainte-Martine, PQ Middle Sackville, NS
717-361-1189 r 570-925-5010 301-535-6193 914-953-4154 718-227-2099 416-691-2191 613-222-9554 450-427-0182 902-401-6821
ruttersm@comcast.net gbgriff.gg@gmail.com ebonyzg1400@gmail.com Steveonlineusa@gmail.com tmcefah@aol.com perkins43@rogers.com concoursderek@gmail.com d1user@mac.com motorcycleclaude@gmail.com
OPEN POSITIONS—please inquire
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AADs for Central NY, Southeast PA/Philly, DelMarVa, VA/WV, W Hudson Valley NY, Long Island NY, Central NJ, MA/VT/NH/ME and CT/RI
NE AREA STAFF
Steven Smith #3184 Maryann Geiser #4627A
2022 - Issue # 2
Concours Owners Group NORTHEAST AREA NEWS
Eastern Ontario
new cell charger is wired up today. Hopefully your spring maintenance went much smoother than mine and Well I think spring you have been out riding! With has finally and truly Covid restrictions being relaxed, News from your Assistant Area Directors arrived in eastern events and rides are back on in Ontario! Unlike the Metro NY, NJ Ontario finally! Please check the very brief warm day COG calendar for the return of my a few weeks ago, Greeting “Ontario East Visits West COG” ride. yesterday was COGgers! Well This year its scheduled for June 18. beautiful in Derek Pugh #11636 Spring is finally If anyone in Eastern Ontario would Ottawa… the sun here....well was out and I think the temperature like to suggest a ride or get together sorta....kinda? The please let me know and I will happy hit high teens! You could see the Spring Fling in to work with you to get it set up! smile on people’s faces; most left Williamsport is their coats at home and went for a right around the walk. Oh, and I’m betting there corner. Can't wait Terry Faherty #792 Happy riding, were many motorcycles out and to get rolling and Derek see the rest of you miscreants. On about on the roads of eastern Ontario. the home front my old trusty FZ-1 has moved on to a new home. He Sadly I was not one of the bikes out Greater Toronto seems like a real rider and will there but hope to be out today! Last have some good rides courtesy of fall I stripped my C14 down to have my old beastie. Gave him the club the valves checked and a tune up After a few false info and maybe we can have some done. The shop found a small starts Spring has new blood? Time will tell. The new coolant leak on one of the hoses but arrived in its own baby is fully broken in and ready to it was back ordered. I brought the sweet time. The roll. Now if my top case mount bike home and ordered the three rain has washed would arrive that would be main hoses as these were the the worst of the swell! Delivery was pushed back original 12 year old hoses. Bike was crap from the again to the end of May. Thanks a parked and covered in my unheated roads, so riding is lot, Covid! I will be spending the Dave Perkins #5932 garage. Once it began to warm up I safe. I've started week upstate for Americade come installed the hoses but to my my bike but as yet June. I'll try to get a day ride surprise, I found two more hoses I have not been for a spin. The Honey together if anyone is didn’t know about. Who knew the oil -Do list is slowly getting shorter so interested. Can't wait to get the new pump had coolant hoses going to time will free up in the next week or girl out on my favorite roads! As I it… I sure didn’t till now anyways. Of so. I hope! write this I'm route-testing a ride course one of hoses was back Covid is rapidly receding up here so through north Jersey and the ordered, but the weather turned we restarted our two monthly Catskills tomorrow. If it works out I cold and I had family trip out west to meetings in February. Attendance will try to add a day ride in the visit family we haven’t seen since was low at first but has been picking future. I won't be attending the pre-covid so I could wait. up. I expect it to improve as the national this year but I am sure all This has been a good week, arrived weather improves for riding and those who do will have a great home on Monday, got a call that folks overcome their time. Now that I'm no longer a full afternoon the last hose came in and understandable fear of social time worker I will have a much the forecast was calling for good interaction. Both of the venues we easier time getting in rides and weather. So yesterday instead of use have patios which are a bonus rallies this summer. I hope to see riding, I was wrenching. Final new on a warm summer evening. you all out on the road. Let's ride! hoses on, coolant system flushed and plastic back on! I have two (Continued on page 4) Terry small panels left to install after a
Around the NORTHEAST
20202 - Issue # 2
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Concours Owners Group NORTHEAST AREA NEWS (Around the Northeast - Continued from page 3)
After a two year hiatus our Tech Day is back on the calendar. Pete Jackson will be hosting the event again at his home in Trenton, Ontario, about 100 miles to the east of Toronto. This has been a popular and fun event in the past and all are welcome whether to work on their bikes or socialize. These are collegial events and we try to spread as much knowledge as possible in the belief that the stupidest question if the one you don't ask! Check the calendar for details. On a personal note, my wife and I will be driving in the cage out to the west coast in mid-May to visit family and friends in Alberta and British Columbia. She will be returning at the end of May while I will be going on a 10 day bike trip with friends. The trip will take us up into the interior of BC and possibly down into Washington state. They always have a bike for me; this year it will be a 90's BMW K1100LT. I'll have a full report for the next NE newsletter. Speaking of the calendar, members are free to submit events on their own. There is an easy to follow fill in the blanks form available on the calendar page. Maybe you are planning a day ride or a weekender and want some company. So put it on the calendar. Who knows it might become a regular event!! And finally, I offer my usual request for you and those you ride with to be safe. Some folks can't see us; others are looking for us... E-gards! Dave
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South Central PA/MD Most of us have experienced a drop in annual riding miles over the past two years. With motorcycle tires only lasting 8000 miles at best, there is always a Steve Rutter #9715 tire change at least once per season. This coupled with now having two bikes, I skipped nearly two years needing to change tires, and totally forgot how much fun it isn’t to change your own tires. Looking back, I started out by removing one wheel at a time and letting the dealership change the tires. It wasn’t cheap and was time consuming. I eventually got creative with the Pit Bull stand and could take both wheels in on one trip. Each time I was simply hoping the brake rotors wouldn’t get damaged, the tire pressure monitors wouldn’t be snapped off, and that they clean the old bead rubber off the rims, and balance the wheels properly. Despite all of those trepidations, the final push to buy my own tire changer came down to this— I’m impatient and it sometimes took two or more hours for the tech to get around to doing the work. Furthermore, I would roam the dealership floor and convince myself I needed a new helmet or boots. This was adding quite a bit to the tire changes! The COG forum pointed me to the Harbor Freight tire changer which is cheap. How cheap? It’s so cheap that you need to buy a lot of extra stuff including No-Mar bar and heavily modify the wheel clamps as to not scratch the wheels. A good tire balancer is also not cheap. I bet by the time I got that cheap tire
changer tricked out, I was in it for $950.00. I just did my 12th tire change (6 times) with the changer and might be getting closer to breaking even. I don’t factor in having the change my brother’s Harley whitewalls, since that is counted as loss write-off. I can say that as of this week, I have fresh rubber on the C-14, but those Michelin Road 5 GT tires are a beast to mount. A few skinned knuckles and some sore shoulders, and off and riding again for hopefully 8000 more miles. Was it worth it? Can’t say. I do say I wish motorcycle tires would last a heck of lot longer because tires are not cheap. Ride on! Steve
Atlantic Canada Hello from the Atlantic region of Canada! Another motorcycle season is here and I'm hoping it will be good one. Most Covid restrictions have Claude Doucet #9011 been lifted although it's still around everywhere. It was just a matter of time , I ended up being infected in mid-April. Luckily I’m fully recovered after 2 weeks. My first ride this year on my trusty 2014 C14 aka Candy was on March 18 which is pretty good for these parts. Honestly, I just couldn't wait any longer. A few days later, I bumped into our newest COG member Derek at the local coffee shop. I had met Derek last year so it was nice to find out (Continued on page 7)
2022 - Issue # 2
Concours Owners Group NORTHEAST AREA NEWS
RIDES & EVENTS
Time listed is START time. Visit www.cog-online.org for updates and more details. (NS) Sat, May 7, 9:15AM Bike Blessing Great kick-off for the new season. Meet up at Tim Hortons, 6739 Hwy 2, Enfield, NS near the Big Stop at 9:15. After coffee and snacks, kick stands up at 9:45. Then ride to the Bike Blessing in Victoria park in Truro. Scheduled to arrive at 11am at Victoria park 29 Park Rd in Truro Nova Scotia. CLAUDE DOUCET claudedoucet@yahoo.com (ON) Tues, May 10, 6:30PM COG GTA Meet & Greet COG GTA Monthly Meet & Greet second Tuesday. We'll meet at The Red Harp Pub 137 Mill St. E, Acton, ON from 6:30 - 8:30 for a casual get-together of COG members and like minded riders. All are welcome. DAVE PERKINS 416.691.2191 perkins43@rogers.com (ON) Wed, May 11, 6:30PM COG GTA East Meet & Greet COG GTA East Monthly Meet & Greet second Wednesday. We'll meet at Royal Oak Pub, 617 Victoria St. W., Whitby, ON from 6:30 - 8:30 for a casual get-together of COG members and like minded riders. All are welcome. DAVE PERKINS 416.691.2191 perkins43@rogers.com (PA) Thu—Sun May 19—22 Northeast Spring Fling Rally See Page 6 for details (MA) Sat May 28, 8:00 AM Quabban Reservior Ride Join Kevin Martin on a ride out to the Quabbin Reservoir stopping for lunch in Belchertown before visiting the Quabbin Winsor Dam and scenic overlook. After visiting the Reservoir, we’ll return via Routes 32 & 62, stopping at the Sterling Ice Cream Stand for a treat. Ride ends at Dunkins on Rt-119 in Groton, MA. Ride starts at 8 am from Johnson’s Restaurant, 164 Boston Rd., (Rt-119) Groton MA 01450. Get there early if you want breakfast, please gas up before the ride starts. Lunch at McCarthy's Pub, 5 E Walnut St. Belchertown, MA, 01007 Mile / Time: 168 / 5:15 hrs. (not including stops) KEVIN MARTIN cog145@comcast.net (OH) Thu—Mon May 26—30 Memorial Day Weekend Getaway See Page 6 for details (NH) Sun, June 12, 8:00 AM Lake Sunapee Ride Join Kevin Martin for a ride up around Lake Sunapee and stop for lunch in Newport NH.
20202 - Issue # 2
Looks like the old 50’s Car Hop that closed a few years ago has re-opened under the name “Dad’s” with the same outdoor Car Hop style dining like before, so that will be our planned lunch stop on this ride. Ride starts at 8 am from Dunkin’ Donuts, 788 Boston Rd. (Rt-119) Groton, MA 01450. Lunch at Dad’s Restaurant, 308 Sunapee St, Newport, NH 03773 Estimated Miles / Time: 160 miles / 4:25 hours KEVIN MARTIN cog145@comcast.net (ON) Tues, June 14, 6:30PM COG GTA Meet & Greet See May 10 for details
eastern Ontario COG is going to meet up with them! I will be riding to Trenton for a visit with our friends from the west. If you would like to join me please mark it on your calendar. I will be leaving from the Timmies in Carlton Place at 8:30 and heading to Pete’s home at 28 Dorthy Drive in Trenton. Lunch and soft drinks about noon-ish by Peter Jackson who is our host in Trenton. A donation is requested to defray expenses. RSVP so we can get a head count. DEREK PUGH 613-222-9554 concoursderek@yahoo.ca PETE JACKSON 416.254.6322 pj.ecotec@gmail.com
(ON) Wed, June 15, 6:30PM COG GTA East Meet & Greet See May 11 for details
(ON) Sat, June 18, 8:00 AM—5:00 PM CPG GTA Tech Day After a two-year and unavoidable hiatus GTA COG is having another Tech Session at his (CT) Sat, June 18, 12:30 PM—6:30 PM home at 28 Dorthy Drive in Trenton, OntarConnecticut Experienced Rider Course io. Pete has a spacious shop with room for four It has been many years since we organized any local rider training events and I’ve been bikes at a time. He has a compressor and a great selection of tools BUT he asks that you asked a few times over the past few years bring your own if possible. Please plan to bring when we could do another, so here goes... your bike and get it ready for the riding season. John Purdy and Steve Smith are scheduled to The event begins at 8 am on Saturday, June instruct a one-day, Experienced Rider Course 18th and goes till approximately 5:00 PM. (ERC) on June 18, 12:30 PM – 6:30 PM in Previous projects have included all types of Waterbury CT. The ERC will be open to the brake repair, fluid changes, C10 valve adjustpublic, but COG is getting the info first to be ment, electrical accessory installation, carb ready to sign up. Registration opens on Feb- synchronization, compression tests, etc. Please ruary 22 and it would be terrific if this course bring your own supplies; Pete can look after any is filled with COG riders and friends. hazardous disposal. It is expected that 2022 cost will be the same There will be attendees there who have experias 2021: $100 for the rider; $20 for optional ence with repairs primarily on the C10 and passenger. some experience with the C14. If you have any For course registration and information visit specific maintenance or repair you want to attempt please contact Pete directly. Though the college's motorcycle training web registration is not required please contact Pete page: https://nv.edu/motorcycle It is strongly recommended to review all the directly if you are attending DEREK PUGH 613-222-9554 information on this web page to understand course requirements and registration process. concoursderek@yahoo.ca Download the 2022 Course Schedule, when PETE JACKSON 416.254.6322 available (to get the course name and number pj.ecotec@gmail.com
needed fro registration). Download and completely review the Student Registration and Information Packet. For information specific to the ERC, scroll down the page and select Experienced Rider Course Description. There is email & phone contact information on the web page for questions specific to the motorcycle course If there is interest, we can plan to do lunch before or dinner after nearby. Register fro this event with COG to recieve updates about this. STEVE SMITH nead@concours.org
(VA) Fri—Mon, May 6—4 4th of July Weekend See Page 6 for details (WV) Thu—Sun, Aug 18—21 Dog Days 2022 See Page 7 for details (ON) Tues, July 12, 6:30PM COG GTA Meet & Greet See May 10 for details (ON) Wed, July 13, 6:30PM COG GTA East Meet & Greet See May 11 for details
(ON) Sat, June 18, 8:30 AM Ontario East COG Visits West COG After a two-year and unavoidable hiatus GTA COG is having another tech day on June 18 in Trenton at our hosts Pete Jackson’s home (https://concours.org/event-4793007) and
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Concours Owners Group NORTHEAST AREA NEWS
Upcoming Overnight Events Northeast Spring Fling Rally May 19 - 22, 2022 Jason Kaplitz COG #32 The COG Northeast SPRING FLING RALLY is headed back to Williamsport, PA. The historic Genetti Hotel is in a central downtown location within walking distance to many great restaurants, taverns, and two new brew pubs for evenings out off the bike! The host city of Williamsport has so much to offer as a rally location and is only a day ride for many Northeast and North Central members. It takes minutes to be out of town, and the surrounding area has terrific riding and sightseeing. Take a ride to the Pennsylvania Grand Canyon overlook, the elk viewing area, grab a sammich at Wolfe’s General store in Slate Run, or ride to the summit of Hyner View State Park. Event details are here: https://concours.org/event-4378495 A limited block of rooms will be held until 4/20/2022 at a special block rate - book early. https://www.genettihotel.com/
Memorial Day Weekend Getaway May 26 - 30, 2022 Jason Kaplitz COG #32 I am inviting COG to join in the fun for great weekend of riding in S.E. Ohio and the delightful town of Marietta. We will be based out of the historic Lafayette Hotel at the confluence of the Ohio and Muskegon Rivers. You can watch the barges navigate the river from the roof top patio of the Lafayette! Many of you have heard about the famed triple nickel, Route 555, but this is just one of many great roads in the area. While they may lack the elevation changes of other locales, these road are a delight to ride. Serpentine ribbons of asphalt laid over the contours of the land challenging every rider’s skills! You won’t be disappointed. Checking out the Windy 9 website is a great place to start planning your trip: www.windy9.com Event details posted here: https://concours.org/event-4593667 Book your room now and come out to share in the fun. This event is open to Concours Owners Group member and non-members and is not an official event of COG.
4th of July Weekend July 2 - 4, 2022 Jason Kaplitz COG #32 Come enjoy the wonderful town of Floyd, Va and the Hotel Floyd! This is a great destination and offers some great riding on the Blue Ridge Parkway and many side roads. The Music in town is wonderful and the Hotel Floyd is simply beautiful. This event is open to Concours Owners Group member and non-members and is not an official event of COG. Hotel Floyd, 300 Rick Lewis Way, Floyd, VA 24091. No room block held, just call or book online. 540.745.6080 https://www.hotelfloyd.com/ For more details, visit https://concours.org/event-4602734
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2022 - Issue # 2
Concours Owners Group NORTHEAST AREA NEWS (Continued from page 6)
Dog Days 2022 August 18 - 21, 2022 Jason Kaplitz COG #32 This is a weekend ride-in with limited planned activities (other than riding the great roads of West Virginia). Please mark your calendars and check back for additional information. The riding in this area continues to be AWESOME!!!! 219 North & South is great! 39 East and West is great!! The Highland Scenic Highway is great! We rode to Lewisburg, WV one Saturday and had a great time and lunch at the Del Sol Cafe. I recommend it! Oh, and the Mountain's won't disappoint cooling you off! Even if you're coming from somewhere that's been oppressively hot, pack something for under your riding jacket. We’ll be staying at the Marlinton Motor Inn, 21507 Seneca Trail, Marlinton, WV, 24954. Make sure to mention you're with the Concours Owners Group to get the group rate. Phone: 304.799.4711 Everyone will cover their own food, drink, and lodging expense. No organized group dinner.... However, we will all go to an onsite restaurant at the same time one evening. Although there are no registration fees, we are asking everyone to register so we have a headcount. Tourist information can be found here: https://www.pocahontascountywv.com/ More detailed informationn on the event can be found here: https://concours.org/event-4455430 (Continued from page 4)
he had joined. I recently posted an event, the first one in quite some time since this Covid business started. It's a ride to the Bike Blessing in Truro on May 07. For a lot of riders , it's a good way to kickstart the season. (cue Kickstart my Heart from Motley Crue :) ) For the rest of the season, I'm playing it by ear and hopefully will be posting more events soon. If you have any ideas, it's easy to create an event. Feel free to send me ideas or if you want me to create an event. Ride Safe! Claude aka MotorcycleClaude 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 https://concours.org/library 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
Derek’s 2008 and Cluade’s 2014 C14
2022 - Issue # 2
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