Feb. 25th – Classy Chassis Shop Party
info@usedhd.ca for more info go to www.usedhd.ca or 1399 8th Line Smith, Lakefield, 11am – 3pm. Come on out www.bensmotorcycles.ca to the Shop and Join the Party! For more info call 1-888- Mar. 11th - Clare’s Cycle & Sports Fenwick’s & Clare’s 292-8305 Harley-Davidson® Niagara or email info@usedhd.ca or go to www.usedhd.ca Spring Open House Feb. 25th – Clare’s Cycle & Sports Fenwick’s At Both locations, 799 Hwy #20 W in Fenwick and 590 York Road, Niagara on the Lake. Early Bird Coffee and Do ATV Workshop 799 Hwy #20 W in Fenwick. ‘If Mud Ain’t Flyin’ – You Ain’t nuts, Door Prizes, Draws and Specials throughout Both Tryin’. 10 am – 12 Noon. Learn safe riding techniques and Stores. It doesn’t matter what you Ride, Clare’s can have have some fun at the same time. Door Prizes and Coffee you ready for Spring. Check it out at www.claresharleydaavailable. RSVP www.clarescycle.com or call 905-892- vidson.co or www.clarescycle.com 2664. Mar. 18th – 6th Annual ABATE
Feb. 26th - The Annual Big Al’s Swap Meet
Charity Pool Tournament
Mar. 4th - Classy Chassis & Cycles Road Captain Seminar
Mar. 25th – 26th – The 27th Annual Motorcycle Springshow Toronto
At the Dundas Community Center, 10 Market St. in Dun- At Hustler Billiards, 1116 Dearness Dr., London. Registradas. 10am – 3pm, $5 Admission, Kids under 12 free. For tion starts at 10:30am Games Start at 12 Noon, $15 Entry fee. For more information Contact Joker: 519-671-0078, table information call 905-746-7077. Deb: 226-456-1693 or Horse: 519-983-5324. March 1399 8th Line Smith, Lakefield, 12pm Curtis Little will be At the International Centre on Airport Rd. in Toronto, Satinstructing, Join with fellow riders interested in the safe urday 9am – 9pm and Sunday 10am – 5pm. For more Inexecution of group riding. Must Pre-Register call 1-888- formation www.motorcyclespringshow.com 292-8305 or email info@usedhd.ca for more info go to April www.usedhd.ca nd
Mar 11th - Classy Chassis & Cycles Emergency First Aid & CPR Course
Apr. 2 – The Spring Motorcycle Swap Meet Peterborough
At The Morrow Building, 151 Lansdowne St. West, in Pe1399 8th Line Smith, Lakefield, Intructed by Canadian terborough. 9am to 3 pm. Get there early and get the Red Cross, 3 Year Certification. Course Fee $90 You Must deals, Admission only $10, Tons of Vendors, North AmerPre-Register Space is Limited call 705-292-8300 or email ican & Metric, Park and Sell your Bike or become a Ven-
THE RIDERS MAG -----PAGE 4
dor. For more Information call 705-340-2130 or email ptboswapmeet@hotmail.com or check out their Facebook Page www.facebook.com/ptboswapmeet
May May 6th – International Female Ride Day There are Rides set up all over the Country.
May 7th - Fort Erie Motorcycle Swap Meet
West End Arena, Ridge Road, Fort Erie. 10am-4pm For more info: Contact 905-347-2001 or email shawnmccooey@yahoo.com
May 13th – 8th Annual Trooper Mark Wilson Ride
The Event will be held at the Parkwood Hospital, 550 Wellington Road in London, There will be a Poker Run around the GLA (Greater London Area) and other activities to include a Show ‘n Shine, a BBQ and entertainment provided by the Plan B Band. For More Information check tional War Museum in Ottawa. The Ride then continues through Ottawa past Parliament Hill and ending at Beechout www.tmwr.weebly.com wood Cemetery. Check www.heroeshighwayride.ca or May 27th - 5th Annual Ride 2 Reach Charity Ride find us on facebook fb.com/Groups/heroeshighwayride At Motorcycle Enhancements 427 Speers Rd. Unit 9, th th Oakville, For More Contact John at Motorcycle Enhance- June 10 – 7 Annual Lisle Legion Br. 559 Show & Shine ments 1-888-842-2123 At the Legion in Lisle, 8439 Main St, Sponsored this year or register online at www.ride2reach.com by the Ghost Riders RC, Registration starts at 10am, Lots May 27th – Fallen Riders Memorial Run - Algoma of Classes to enter, Live Music and BBQ on The Largest At Stratclair Park, 1000-1050 Trans-Canada Hwy, Sault Patio in Ontario. All Makes and Models are Welcome, and Ste. Marie. Starting at 11am for more information check Vendors call about space (price donation only). For More out their Facebook Page at Fallen Riders of Algoma or call Info: 705-424-2995 or email lisle.legion@gmail.com Roger at 705-541-8604 th
May 27th - Classy Chassis & Cycles 11th Anniversary BBQ Bash
June 11 - Quinte Ride For Paws Poker Run
At Centennial Park Amphitheater, 236 Couch Crescent in Trenton. Ride starts at 11am, $10 per Bike , BBQ and Live 1399 8th Line Smith, Lakefield, 11am - 3pm. Where thou- Entertainment to follow the ride. For more info contact: sands of bikers meet each spring for an afternoon of fun 613-392-0759 or 613-847-7670 to kick off the riding season! For more info visit www. July usedhd.ca or call 1-888-292-8305 July 1st –Lincoln County M.C. Show & Shine June At the L.C.M.C. Clubhouse, 4859 Hillside Dr. Beamsville. June 3rd – The 3rd Annual All-Ways Apsley Gates open at Noon, Judging at 3:00pm, Awards at 4:30. $10 per entry, Trophies for the Winners. More Info: 905 Motorcycle Rendezvous At North Kawartha Community Centre, 340 McFadden 563-4267 or email lcmc1967@hotmail.com Rd., Apsley. 9a.m. - 4p.m.Ride, Show & Shine, Games, th Awards, Food, Vendors, and much more. Rain or Shine, July 8 – Annual Lucan Baconfest Everything Bacon and Bikes, The Big Summer Event in Lufor more information check www.all-waysapsley.ca or can Ontario, A Whole day of Family Fun with something Twitter/Facebook @AllWaysApsley for everybody! Bike Show, Swap Meet, Poker Run, Kid’s Zone, Vendors, Bands, Beer Gardens, and More Bikes June 3rd – Scotty’s Cycle Shoppe and of course BACON! Check out more details at http:// Grand Opening Party Come see our New Shoppe at 133 Head Street South in www.baconfestlucan.ca or see or follow us on Facebook Strathroy and enjoy a Great Day with the Newest Motor- fb.com/LucanBaconfest or Twitter @lucanbaconfest for cycle Shoppe in Strathroy! For more info check out www. updates and times. scottyscycleshoppe.ca or Call 519-245-4205. July 14th – 16th – Rideau Rendezvous Motorcycle Rally rd th In Downtown Smiths Falls a full weekend of Music, VenJune 3 – 9 Annual Heroes Highway Ride Starting at the National Air Force Museum, 220 RCAF Rd., dors, Stunt Riders, Show ‘N’ Shine, Poker Run (in Support CFB Trenton, Astra Ontario and finishing up at Memo- of The Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario), Bike Rodeo rial Park, Port Hope, Ontario. Come on out and Support and Lots More. Plenty of Camping is available so “Come those who Serve, Ride the Highway Of Heroes with Great On Out and Join The Party on The Rideau”. For more Info Events to follow in Port Hope. check out their Facebook Page at fb.com/rideaurendezCheck it out at www.heroeshighwayride.ca or find us on vous. For Vendor information Call 613-406-7433 or email facebook fb.com/Groups/heroeshighwayride www.rideaurendezvous@gmail.com
June 4th – Birth Of A Nation Ride/ National Memorial Ride Celebrating the 150th Anniversary of Canadian Confederation and The 100th Anniversary of The Battle of Vimy Ridge.
August
Aug. 4th–6th - “Hogs For Hospice” Leamington’s 2nd Annual Motorcycle Rally
A very busy weekend of events in Downtown LeamingCheck out their website for the full list and times The Ride starts at Historic Fort Henry in Kingston, and will ton. of events. www.hogsforhospice.com connect up with The National Memorial Ride at The Na-
THE RIDERS MAG ----- PAGE 5
Thanks for your support
Bling your Things Debbie started riding in 1989 on a 250 Honda before graduating to a 1990 Heritage Softail and then stayed with Harley-Davidson through the years and now rides a 2015 Harley-Davidson Free throttle Trike that she has fully blinged out to enhance the incredible paint scheme. Debbie doesn’t just like bling, she loves bling does bling and takes bling to a whole new level. When Harley-Davidson stopped producing blinged up accessories she found herself in a dilemma as no one else was offering much to suit her or support her need for all things! She started creating her own, just to support her own insatiable cravings and then found others who shared her desire to sparkle and glisten in the sunlight! So she started Bling Your Things and is her own little ray of sunshine! Watch for her at Bike Shows, Swap Meets and other events. She’s not hard to spot. Just look for the bright spot! Bring your Sun glasses!
THE RIDERS MAG -----PAGE 6
Martin’s Custom Motorcycles Martin has been advertising with us for a long time now but has been building classic custom motorcycles and various essential components for far longer. He started out riding a 1953 BSA 500 Goldstar which he rebuilt totally by hand and had it ready for when he turned sixteen and has been a rider and a big part of the motorcycle scene throughout the many decades since. He has seen a lot of changes in the years since he started manufacturing parts such as frames, springer front ends, handle bars, pans and such for Kenny Kerr, Donny Peterson and other shops all over the Country. He has evolved through many changes and a number of shops since his first one back on Birchmount in 1970 then onto an industrial unit on Kingston Rd. in Scarborough before heading out to Cobourg where he set up shop in an industrial unit before making the move to his current location at 4307 Burham St. North in Cobourg which is an 1800 Sq. ft. building. He is slowing down some these days but has done some incredible work over the years doing from the ground up custom builds and working his magic with metal!
THE RIDERS MAG ----- PAGE 7
Wow! Another year is officially in the books for the Riders Mag and we are now 19 years old and still rolling along! We have seen many changes along the way which included me taking over at the helm and have so far, seemed to have survived the transition. We have survived some choppy seas and nasty weather but the good Ship “The Riders Mag” is still afloat and chugging along! We are continuing with our move to each of our coasts from east to west and into Newfoundland and we have editorial support and distribution support wherever we have landed but the advertising revenue from some of these areas is not happening and without that revenue our presence there is not sustainable. We have also spread west into B.C. and have two lovely ladies who are just getting started. We will turn our attention to the other Western Provinces and have a representative in Calgary and will work on the other Provinces as we get to them. We are not in a great rush to be a huge presence but we do need to gain some advertiser support from those areas in order to justify the cost of producing and shipping additional Mags to those areas. It is my belief that once the readers and advertisers in those areas realize that they are properly represented, they will get on board. We are looking forward to a bunch of events coming up in the near future and the not so near future, The Annual
THE RIDERS MAG -----PAGE 8
Big Al’s Swap Meet in Dundas which is always a huge draw, The Spring Motorcycle Show at the International Centre out by the Airport and the Fort Erie Swap Meet that always draws a huge crowd I can hardly wait to see what Sean McCooey has in store this year. There are some exciting updates on The Rideau Rendezvous that is happening in Smith’s Falls, this coming July. More things to do are being added to the roster and the Town’s total commitment and co-operation in making this a first class event is confirmed. The Whole Town is solidly behind this event! There are bands and other top notch entertainment being booked, more indoor space is being offered so plans can be expanded even further. There is definitely a lot of camping spaces and showers and hundreds of vendors have already signed up and more are being added all the time. We will keep you posted! Part of my duties and responsibilities with the Mag is delivering to our various distribution points throughout the Province. My delivery areas have been juggled many times over the past four years as delivery crew members come and go or vacations and other things occur and I have to adapt to all these factors. At some point or other I have covered most or all of the routes throughout the Province. I do enjoy getting out there as I have always loved to drive and meet the people at the spots that carry the Mag. My usual routes consisted of my Westerly run that saw me load up The Mags at the warehouse in Aurora and head up through Orangeville, Tiviotdale, Moorefield, Elora, Woodstock, Ingersoll, London, Windsor, Chatham and back through Mississauga. The next day I would do the lower portion of York region the northwest end of the city and back up through, Bolton, Loretto, Tottenham, Schomberg and back to Newmarket. The next day would see me head to the high spots in and around Uxbridge, Udora, Pefferlaw, Port Bolster, Beaverton, Virginia, Virginia Beach, Sutton, Keswick and Sharon before calling it a day. These are full days of driving and delivering and I take few, if any breaks along the way. This Month I changed things up as I now had to do the Norfolk deliveries which covers Tillsonburg, Port Burwell, Simcoe, Turkey Point, Port Dover, Selkirk, Dunnville, Cayuga, Jarvis, Hagersville, Caledonia, Ohsweken, and Brantford before heading home to Newmarket. This adds a lot of miles to my F150 each Month and eats up considerable time. I do have a couple of new people coming on board in the next while to cover some of the ground but If anyone out there would like to deliver Mags in one of these areas (Norfolk/Pt. Dover would be one I would like to hand off.) let me know. That being said, I do enjoy doing these runs especially when I have good company along for the ride. Bad Bob came with me for the Norfolk through Brantford run and it was a great time although we did get turned around a bit in Simcoe, Hagersville and Brantford. Not so much turned around but addresses didn’t exactly jibe with the list! Addresses had physically changed but the list hadn’t been updated (Or at least not on my copy). The GPS in my truck is sometimes not
the most helpful at times and is lucky that it is firmly secured into the dashboard! If it would had been a portable device it would have been in a ditch somewhere in Norfolk County. We did OK for the most-part but we were a long time on the road and there were a couple of stops that didn’t get their Mags last Month. Thanks Bob for your help and your patience! I’m lucky that the GPS does not record the names that it was called throughout the day and report back to some central agency! I was lucky to have Anne one of our newest additions to The Riders Mag crew. She to come along with me as I covered the wilds of Uxbridge, Beaverton, Pefferlaw, Georgina, through Sutton and Keswick. She is a fascinating lady, great company and knows that area really well. She showed me shortcuts and places along the way that I had no idea existed. It was like travelling with my own personal tour guide as I learned the history of the area, various landmarks and attractions as we rolled along roads that I’d never been on before. She also introduced me to a great Pub/Restaurant that I will now make sure is part of my route. The Lake Simcoe Arms in Jackson’s Point.
It is a great looking spot with a great patio. The food and the service were fantastic! I got to speak to the manager, a delightful lady by the name of Becky. It turns out that Anne and she have known each other for a long time. The three of us got to chat awhile and I took a few pictures and I got some history on the place before we dragged ourselves away to carry on with our deliveries. This place, was only a secret to me evidently, as she said that they get a lot of riders stopping in there all the time! The Riders Mags are now available at this is really great spot. I now know where I will be stopping for lunch when I’m in the area from now on. I am continually finding some really great spots quite by accident. Such was the case with a great little bar in Mississauga called Oliver’s Ale House at 6155 Tomken Rd., Unit 1. I have driven by the spot thousands of times as I worked out of Canada Cartage which is just up the street. I was in the area to see my Surgeon to get further assessment of my shoulder that was injured in a fall last March, and was
I had never been here before and I now figure I was really missing out all these years that I’ve been rolling through the area. It is a fantastic spot and apparently I am one of the few who were unaware of its existence, as I see that it is on the OCC (Ontario Confederation of Clubs) “White List” of Biker friendly establishments. This is opposed to their “Black List” of establishments that aren’t. To check out these lists go to www.occ4u.org .
THE RIDERS MAG ----- PAGE 9
to do an interview with a gentleman involved with an Anti-Bullying program at a nearby Martial Arts Gym called Kombat Arts Training Academy. I was early for the appointment and needed something to eat and a beer. I spotted the sign for Oliver’s Ale House and figured that that would be a good spot as the Gym was in the same complex. It is a great looking establishment and there were a couple of great looking ladies (Always a great thing to see when I walk into any Bar!) behind the bar. Noting that it was an Ale House I figured that since my favourite, 50 was an ale, that there might be a good chance of finding one here. This was not the case here today, as they serve only craft beer and not the Major Labels. But as they carry 130 different kinds of beer and ale, there was a real good chance that they could find me something similar. They gave me samples of several before I settled on one of them and settled down to enjoy it along with some conversation with Marianne, and Kelly. It was an enjoyable time and it turned out that Marianne and husband/partner, Dave’s Son, Oliver (Not just coincidental that they have a Pub called Oliver’s Ale House!) trains at that gym with the gentleman I was supposed to interview. I further discovered that she and Dave rode and I went out to the truck to grab some Mags to leave with them. On the way out I ran into two gentlemen who were on their way in and while one of them recognised me the other turned out to be Dave, the owner and Chef. We struck up a conversation in the doorway before I continued on out to grab the Mags and brought them in and we carried on with our talk. It was a great time yacking away and getting some history on the bar which has been there since September 2014 and the people who own it and work there. Dave and Marianne aren’t new to the business as they ran a great Italian fine dining restaurant called Piccolo’s in Mississauga for fifteen and a half years until the economy tanked and they fell victim to the slump. They pride themselves on the quantity and quality of their beer list and their extensive wine list and with vintages dating back to 1952. Another source of pride is the food that is prepared by Dave. They boast a great menu which features a huge variety of wild game such as Bison and Alligator along with traditional fare! They have live Jazz and Blues bands in every Saturday that are getting really popular. I had a great time but had to go and get on with my day before I got too comfortable which wouldn’t be too difficult at a place like this! Stop in and check them out sometime. Tell them Critter sent you! Bully be Gone Bullying is a topic that is of great concern in our society today and has been in the news a lot lately. There are many children and adults who have fallen victim to it and has resulted in depression, isolation, injury and suicide. I heard about this particular program through a friend and decided to do an interview the gentleman who started it, David Edwards and find out what it was about. I now feel that this program has plenty of merit and I’d like to help increase awareness of the problem. I’d further like to inform the public that a program like this exists and that there are positive steps that can be taken to counter the very real and potentially devastating effects of Bullying. You may ask why I would include something like this in a “Biker Magazine”. I do because this is an issue that is not confined to any one particular group. Bikers are real people and have real families and struggle with the same types of problems. This is a very
THE RIDERS MAG -----PAGE 10
real problem that can affect all families, rich, poor, black, white and everything in between. There is not just one method with which to deal with problems such as this and what works for some, won’t necessarily work for others. However If you want to deal with an issue, you have to explore all methods that are available in order to start the process. This is one method that has been very successful in many cases. You have to decide if it suits your particular situation and can investigate it further if you feel it might work for you. David Edwards developed the program as he was himself a victim of bullying all through grade school from grade two through grade seven. It was especially hard to deal with as back then as there were no programs, no counselling and you never talked about it. You just lived with it in whatever way you could. Everyone deals with things differently. In the case of bullying, some will avoid social interaction and become more and more reclusive, others can turn violent and others suicidal. David found his way out through his involvement with the gym and physical activity and being able to refocus. He worked out at the gym as a student, then became an instructor and taught and continues to teach The Mini Dragons, students that range in age from six to ten. Today they have 20 plus students. In 2012 he approached Kru Edgar Obregon and Kru Joey De Los Reyes with his idea to offer his program to others in similar situations and they encouraged him and donated space in their gym for him to develop Bully Be Gone. His initial intention was to do this as a non-profit mission but soon discovered that doing it that way would deflect his focus, dilute his efforts and things would become convoluted and counterproductive. So in 2013 he developed a logo, registered the Company and Bully Be Gone was born. He works in conjunction with Kombat Arts Training Academy which is an incredible gym where they teach Muay Thai, boxing, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, cross fitness, Olympic weight training and much more. None of David’s accomplishments would have been possible if not for Kru Edgar and Kru Joey who are, in David`s words, not just the founders, but the heart and soul of a Gym that started out from very humble beginnings with Kru Joey teaching private students in a parking lot at Dundas and Dunwin in Mississauga. He then rented a small space at Gold`s Gym, also in Mississauga with a very small number of dedicated students and instruc-
tors. Here he built his reputation as an excellent teacher and soon had over 150 Students and moved to a bigger location in 2002, settling in at Burnhamthorpe and Mavis in a small complex of about 3500 sq. ft. More classes were added to facilitate the increasing student base and the growth continued. In 2004, the team decided to really expand and once again moved to a much bigger location of about 5500 sq. ft. in the Kamato and Tomken area. For the first time, the Kombat Arts Training Academy had enough space to put in a boxing ring, separate areas for grappling and stand-up. In 2013 the gym was still experiencing tremendous growth and the decision was made to move the academy once again to a 13, 000 sq. ft. facility where they now have over 20 instructors and close to 10 different Martial Art programs. They have been very supportive of David and his Bully Be Gone program as they are all about community, family values and humanities. They work within the Community as a whole and support many charities. They had a Catering Company donate food and went out Christmas day and fed approximately 150 needy and homeless people Christmas dinner. They also collect donations of new and gently used clothing and donate to The Salvation Army and half way houses. So with gentlemen such as this as role models and mentors and with their support and encouragement David has developed his self-confidence which allows him to work directly with the victims and their families and deal directly with the issues at hand. He strives to assess individual situations and provide support and
THE RIDERS MAG ----- PAGE 11
THE RIDERS MAG -----PAGE 12
encouragement that enables victims to regain the self-confidence and inner strength to refocus and work through the problems, deal with issues that arise, get on with their lives while re-establishing and reinforcing strong family values. David doesn`t just teach in the Gym but travels to a number of schools throughout the GTA to inform students that they are not alone and what may seem insurmountable, really isn`t and that there are solutions and there is support and that they are not alone! For more information on the Bully Be Gone program call David Edwards at 416 997 1837 or bullybegone.ca or Kombat Arts - 905 804 8158 or www.KOMBATARTS.COM The Bacchus - Ingersoll Swap Meet Bad Bob and I headed out to check out this annual event and rolled into to the Legion and were not at all surprised to find the parking lots and side streets packed with vehicles and people. We lucked out big time as a space had just opened up on the side of the street right beside the Legion and I quickly slid into it. We gathered up a few bundles of Mags, along with my camera and wandered on over. There were people lined up the stairs and into the parking lot and this was well after opening time which was a real good indication of the size of the crowd that were already packed inside. I ran into a lot of people I knew out in the parking lot and had to stop and yak awhile giving Bad Bob a chance to grab a quick smoke. There was a large contingency of Paradice Riders who had made the trip out to look for some parts and support this Club in their Venture. The Bacchus MC are a great bunch of guys and get support from a great many other MC’s. Bob and I managed to find our way in, dropping some Mags off at the entrance and then just went with the flow of the crowd. To call it a flow would be technically wrong as it was more of a slow waddle and at times a complete stoppage. It did give you time to thoroughly inspect all that was on a table and visit awhile as you got to it, stuff under the tables presented another problem as there wasn’t room to bend over and when and if you were able to perform that maneuver you ran the risk of an intimate situation with the guy behind you. But it is all good and all part of the experience. There were lots of vendors with lots of good stuff but you had to be patient. I spotted Deb from Bling Your Things during one long pause in the flow and was able to talk awhile until the crowd once again started to move and I got swept away in the human tide. In the end, there were lots of good deals and it gives you a chance to get out and mingle with friends that you may not have seen for a while because this is a great Swap Meet and people come here from miles around. I ran into (Or got stalled in front of or beside.) many of the Bacchus MC Members in my travels through and they have come to conclusion that they may have outgrown this particular venue and are searching for a larger spot in the area for future Swap Meets. I knew that our Riders Mag Rep out that way, Irish was going to be there as well but we never ran into him. A call to him confirmed that he had been there but was heading back again. It is good to see the support that these type of events receive from the people. They are a great
social event as well as a great source for affordable parts, accessories and the like. We made our way out and headed for home with our goodies. See you guys next year! The London Swap Meet
I picked up Deadly Doug at his place in Aroura then headed out to Burlington to get Bad Bob and then proceed on to London. This trip was going to prove to be an adventure, as heavy snow and high winds were making the roads a tad treacherous, but we soldiered on and arrived in good shape and in decent time despite the poor driving conditions. It was evident from the long lines of cars and trucks parked on both sides of the road as we approached that the shitty weather hadn’t had an adverse on attendance. I decided to take a chance on finding a spot in the parking lot as we had Mags to be brought in and didn’t feel like carrying them for a half or mile or so down the road. I wheeled into the driveway with no problem and dropped Bob and Doug by the door with a bunch of Mags and I would try to track down a spot to park. As luck would have it, a spot opened up as I rolled up. Ray and James volunteers from Pace Law had set up at the entrance where they were also promoting The Rideau Rendezvous event in Smith’s Falls this Summer and I stopped to talk to them a while before venturing on in to the meet itself. As expected the place was absolutely packed and I knew that it would be another slow tour to get around. What the Hell it afforded me lots of time to visit with people along the way and as it turns out, I seem to know a lot of people. There were a lot of familiar faces there today some driving in from miles away like Fred Hale and his lovely daughter Amy who were occupying a whole lot of real estate with their huge assortment of parts that they brought down from their fine store, Strictly V Twin in Pefferlaw.
The lovely Krystle was out dressing up the large booth along with her Dad, Phil and the crew from PD Restoration right here in beautiful London had set up and they had tons of great stuff for sale at great prices. There were lots of other fairly local shops set up there as well. Dave Green from his fine establishment down in Aylmer had lots of stuff as did Scotty’s Cycle Shoppe up in Strathroy. Scotty is going to be featured in an upcoming issue of the Mag and I got the time to work out a few details. The Red and White had several huge tables selling 81 support gears from different chapters as well. The crowd was almost suffocating at times and all the bodies in the room had temperatures rising rapidly so I was happy to spot Sue at her usual spot at this event up on the stage and when I came to the doorway I broke away from the crowd and headed up to visit her, check out her large selection
THE RIDERS MAG ----- PAGE 13
of stuff and just sit for a while and grab some pictures as it was even too close quarters at times to raise my camera. That is a good thing though as it shows the tremendous support that this event gets and proves that it is viable to continue with. We finally made our way through enough times take it all in. We had all scored some good deals on stuff we really needed and headed for the exit. Doug was really happy as he found stuff for his beloved Panhead and some great contacts for more. He was just beaming as he loaded his goodies and himself in the truck for the return trip. The weather had cleared and the mood was good and after a stop for lunch at Chuck’s Road House on Wellington at Exeter Rd. in London (They are carrying the Mags there now as is the Ingersoll location.) we headed for home. Any day that you can spend with friends doing what you love to do and picking up some items that you need is a good day and this, was a very good day! Thanks Bob and Doug for keeping me company. Motorcycle Enhancements - Shop of the Month Photo shoot. I woke up to find that the mix of freezing rain snow and other assorted crap that was happening the night before when I went to bed was not only still happening, and it was getting worse.
THE RIDERS MAG -----PAGE 14
I elected to skip my morning coffee and breakfast in order to allow even more time for the drive to Oakville. I loaded up my gear and headed on down the road past the spun out cars and such that hadn’t fared very well in the white Hell that Mother Nature had doled out for us and now sat forsakenly in the frozen ditches like trolls. I pressed on, electing to take the 407 and spend the extra bucks in favour of sitting in long lines of traffic in the cheap lanes because, over 50 years of driving, (Most of that in tractor trailers going through all kinds of shit in all kinds of adverse conditions.) has taught me the following; a generous portion of the drivers on the road think that the 4X4 decals on their recently purchased SUV gives them super human powers! These powers not only render them invincible from the perils of winter driving but affords them special winter driving skills that prior to the purchase of said SUV with the all empowering 4X4 decal, did not possess, because: a) where they came from they did not ever see such a thing as snow and ice. Or b) they had no previous driving experience as they got their license courtesy of their cousin who actually took the test for them and their other cousin who got a job as a tester at the MTO. Much like the cartoon Hercules raising his ring towards the heavens and with a mighty clap of thunder and a bolt of lightning, that decal gives him the power to overcome all the nasty shit that was coming his way (Too bad that his annoying little side kick didn’t have to serve as sacrifice to the Gods to make it happen!) only to spin out wondering why the SUV God has forsaken them! Then there are those who instead of just staying home in bed with the covers pulled over their heads, chanting “Make this Evil white crap go away!” venture out onto the highways and byways white knuckling the whole way while chanting “Please make this evil white stuff go away!” The rest of us just try to get by them all and get to our destinations without incident! Such was the case on this day when I discovered that the extra time that I allotted was not sufficient and I should have left an hour earlier. I arrived around 10:15 instead of the planned 9:30 AM as I knew that the model had to be gone by noon so time was already tight. The model, the lovely Julia and I arrived at the shop at the same time but she discovered that a key piece of her wardrobe had been left behind in a bag at home in Stoney Creek. She was now scrambling to get a suitable replacement and went out in search of said item. The search was successful but it was now after 11:00 AM and not a picture had been taken other than shop shots. John had got the bike started and moved through the snow covered driveway to a neighbouring shop with more open space where we were to do the shoot. Anyhow the very lovely Julia got back with her complete wardrobe and we got it done, maybe not as complete as any of us would have preferred but we got it done despite all the obstacles that we had to overcome. Sometimes that is even more satisfying when you look at the final results and they work out just fine! Thanks Julia! You are a trooper!
BOTB Throttle Itch 2017 This has always been a fantastic event and I have been coming to them for years! They used to be a whole lot larger and held at large venues like Muscleman’s Lake and the Markham Fairgrounds but it came to the point where they were just too overwhelming for the membership to handle and favoured venues were no longer available to them. They decided to downsize and hold the event at their Clubhouse instead and the event still has all the character it always did with a fraction of the work and worry. This year they were blessed with snow storms that made it more of an adventure to get there and back especially for The Brothers of the Wheel members who came up from the USA to support the Club and the cause!
Jerry who had stopped by earlier in the day with his snow plow and cleared the snow out of the Driveway and parking lots without even being asked to do so! This Club is blessed with phenomenal support as they are a phenomenal Club and deserving of it! I swung by and picked up my brother Bronson and took him up for an evening out! He is always welcome here and wouldn’t feel at all out of place as many of his Club Brothers would be along as well later in the evening. The food was incredible, as usual and the raffle prizes that were on display were fantastic! It was a very busy night and very well attended! This Cub gets incredible support from many different Clubs from all over the Province as well as the USA. The Aces and Eights MC, Paradice Riders MC and a large representation of The Last of Us MC to name a few came out to participate and enjoy the festivities!
It was particularly great to see Harl out as he has been going through some hard times lately. I wish him well! There were lots of people there, some who I haven’t seen for a while, Kim and Steve, Peppermint Patty and so many others that I’ll recall when I look at all the pictures. It was another tremendous evening but I had to cut it short as I has an early start the next morning! So I headed for Home! Inkuisition Tattoo Studio – Feature shoot I don’t get down to the city, proper, very much anymore, so when spoke to Trevor and he signed up for the Tattoo feature I was a little apprehensive as the hustle and the bustle of heavy city traffic and such holds very little appeal for me anymore. This trip held promise to be a particularly interesting day as we had been inundated with large amounts of snow the day before and overnight and my memories of the city immersed in snow ae not happy ones. They conjure up bad memories of huge traffic jams and of Mel Lastman calling in the troops to dig the city out from under! An incident that will forever bring ridicule and shame to not just the city of Toronto but the GTA and the entire Province of On-
THE RIDERS MAG ----- PAGE 15
tario and will never live down in the minds of the rest of the Country and beyond. But you have to just suck it up and get it done! So I loaded my camera into my big black truck, defrosted and removed the snow from the whole truck, turned on my heated seats, switched to four wheel drive cued my GPS (hoping that she wasn’t in one of her bitchy moods today.) and headed on down. Traffic flowed surprisingly well the whole way down and I arrived in good time and in good shape on the Danforth and actually found a parking spot right out front of the Shop albeit in a snow bank but The truck has four wheel drive so WTF? The parking meter was screwed so I just hoped that a ticket wouldn’t appear on my windshield during my visit. I wandered on in and a gentleman who I found out later was Gord let me in and introduced me to the crew who were gathered in the back and we sat back there a while and I made notes for the article that I would be writing. More people arrived every minute or so, one of them I spotted on the closed circuit monitor was our photographer J.S. who was to come in and do the photography end of the gig. This works out well as I can
THE RIDERS MAG ----- PAGE 16
try my damnedest to get all my facts straight and not have to apologise after the article is printed or make retractions and other stuff that makes people question my professionalism. I sat with Trevor and a whole crew of guys who were wearing Black and Brown vests with a Joker or Jester head as the centre piece and huge letters running across the bottom spelling out GTA. I had no idea what it was about at first as I had never seen it before and I’m not up to date on every new club that pops up and I keep an open mind until I can get more information. It turns out that it is indeed a new Riding Club who know and observe the protocol that should be followed whenever you form a club like that. Some don’t however, and at some point may come back to haunt them. Anyhow Trevor is one of the Founding members of The GTA Crew and through past affiliations, interactions and encounters with several of Toronto existing MC’s over the years went through all the right channels and they are evidently good to go. There was a good number of them that showed up at the Studio and they sure seem to be a very solid, respectful and enthusiastic group of guys who are anxious to get out there and ride their motorcycles and interact with other existing Clubs. They claim no territory and have no business that would bring them any grief! The staff from the Studio also appeared and I tried to get accurate notes which in itself is a real accomplishment for me. I started off with Trevor who is the owner but wanted the focus of the article to be on Michelle as he puts tremendous faith in her to run the Studio and be the main player and he will back her up. I met them all starting with Gina with whom I share several mutual acquaintances with some of the BDR members in general and Johnny Sombrero in particular. She is an extremely talented tattoo artist and brings a lot to the table. The next lady I met was Michelle
who is as personable as she is cute and it was very enjoyable talking with her. I was able to gain more insight into her involvement, inspirations and goals while she did a Riders Mag tattoo on my left forearm. I’d wanted to do it for some time and now the time just seemed right. She took a picture of the logo on my shirt and then drew it out and then it was done. It was just the rider in the spade outline at this point and I will have her finish it off at a later date by adding the wings and shading it all in. I just needed to commit to it to get it started. Like I said I’ve wanted to get it done for some time now but I usually found that I was too busy to sit still for that long or found some other excuse, but here I was, with no valid excuse, in a tattoo Studio with a talented and very amicable young lady ready, willing and able to do it with tattoo gun primed and ready, so I did it. She did a fantastic job and I’ve already started setting up with her to finish it off. I also discussed getting a couple of my own drawings done up as well, I’m working on a variation of the dragon that is on Petoonia’s new faring and maybe even one of my “Critters”. I also really liked her Boba Fett drawing! Jordan busied himself getting shots of the shop, the GTA Crew and my tattoo in progress. There was another artist that was missing at the start but I’d made note of a Carol and near the final stages I noticed that another lady had joined the crew in the
shop and it turned out to be Carol. She is another very talented individual with lots of experience in all areas of art, commercial and otherwise and so with her interview done and my arm wrapped up in a sleeve, my work there was done. So I thanked them all for their co-operation and hospitality, bulled my way out of the snowbank and headed off for home before the traffic got too intense!
THE RIDERS MAG ----- PAGE 17
Inkuisition Studio has been recently renamed, rebranded, reopened, renovated, rejuvenated and ready to go under the guidance of veteran Tattoo Artist, Trevor and the management of the lovely and very talented Michelle Misketis. Not wanting to over-simplify the journey as the actual transition consisted of many twists, turns and a lot of interesting experiences along the way and that would take far too many pages. Then again, some things that may, or may not, have happened in those early days, just shouldn’t or can’t be divulged. However, I do feel safe in saying that Trevor sort of evolved into the tattoo industry, starting as an aspiring artist, working in a bunch of different mediums while expanding his talents, knowledge and experience. Somewhere along the way, he rediscovered the World of tattooing and decided that that was the direction for him to go. While he did quite well in other mediums like airbrushing, traditional artwork and leatherwork he followed his heart and threw himself headlong into the lifestyle and the culture as a self-taught tattoo artist and has now been doing tattoos for over twenty years and can boast a broad range of experience in the industry. He has mentored many successful Tattooists over the years with at least four leaving him to start their own successful Studios. That is the way of the industry, you find someone to teach you and show you, not just the basics of tattooing but the ins and outs of the business and how to avoid the pitfalls that can be the difference between success and failure. You learn, expand your own style spread your wings and then start out on your own. That is the evolution of the art form and the nature of artists and the process of life! You learn, you grow, you go out on your own exploring and expanding your own horizons and then you become the teacher and the process begins again.
THE RIDERS MAG ----- PAGE 18
For the most part, Tattoo studios in general, have themselves, evolved and are no longer the dingy little hole in the wall, tattoo parlours that were common in the seedier parts of towns, in days gone by. They were frequented mainly, by bikers, sailors, truck drivers and such. So too, the subject matter of the tattoos has changed over the years. While skulls, daggers, dragons, and such still remain popular, they now share space in the portfolios of artists with flowers and pretty things to suit the ever growing, feminine portion of the clientele. To say that clientele has changed dramatically as has acceptance of tattoos over the years would be an understatement. Tattoos are no longer just the mark of the rough and tough culture or hard core elements of society and now adorn the bodies of a whole range of people who would previously have scoffed at the very idea of a tattoo and they have now, not only embrace the art but the culture of the tattoo community. Inkuisition has changed with the times and subsequently taken things to a whole new level. The attitude of the staff and customers here is different from any other that I’ve experienced. The love of tattooing and furthering of the art form and the culture of tattoo is extremely strong, but the atmosphere here is very unique. Humour and social interaction seems to be the theme and the character of this studio. Recognizing this shift in public perception and acceptance of the art form, but wanting to remain true to their roots, which includes motorcycles and bikers, Inkuisition further opened themselves up and embraced the public and the results have been remarkable as the public acceptance and reception was incredible! They put on neighbourhood barbecues and get-
togethers in the lot out back or even the sidewalks out in front of the Studio. They open the big garage door on the front of the studio when weather permits and have tattoo parties! Inkuisition is a place where the contrasts between the various elements of society seem to blur and blend and a new relationship is born. The Studio itself is comfortable, bright and airy with décor well suited and reflective not only of those who work here but their clients as well. There is an incredible sound system with two turntables and mixing boards and great
tunes are playing constantly! Motorcycles are prominent in the décor and lend to but don’t dominate or overwhelm the environment or atmosphere. There are several work stations on the upper level and the piercing area has its space in the basement. The crew here are an interesting blend of individuals, each bringing their own personal talents, flare and style to the studio and the blend gives their clientele a greater choice in what they want in a tattoo. Trevor has been tattooing for over twenty years and is well versed in all styles of tattoos and specializes in realism, themed pieces with great attention to detail suited to back pieces and sleeves. He does incredible dot work and Calligraphy and is also skilled in Japanese styles. Michelle has been doing tattoos since 2009 coming from a formal trained artistic background before focussing on tattooing. Trevor, who has known her and her family for a long time, recognised her talent and her business acumen and brought her in as manager/artist and she is a great fit to this very busy shop. While she can do all styles of tattoos including black and grey shading, she leans toward Neo Traditional or New School which uses vibrant colours and fantasy themes. Her artwork adorns the walls in her station and there were several pieces that caught my attention, her Boba Fett drawing in particular peaked my interest and I may just go back and get that one myself. Gina and Carol are very talented and versatile apprentice artists/tattooists and have been with Trevor for about four years. Gina is incredibly knowledgeable and skilled in all styles of tattooing. She is high energy and very enthusiastic and brings her own distinctive element and persona into the mix. Carol is part time and gets in as many hours as she can and works as a commercial artist and illustrator when she is not here. Her poise, quiet demeanor and pleasant personality fits well with the rest of the crew. Rounding out the crew is Mike, “the piercing master” and Gord, who looks after the books, bookings and all
things paper related (Not to be confused as a mere paperpusher.) and he manages the khaos that is a daily occurrence here. Chief serves as Sr. advisor and provides moral support and encouragement as needed. Inks, the feral kitten who was brought here from farm country where she was found orphaned in a field with the umbilical cord still attached six years ago and has found her home here and is in charge of security and pest control. They have many plans for the future to better promote the shop and the tattoo culture in the city and will announce some very exciting events that are in the works as things get finalized. They will have a booth at the upcoming Northern Tattoo Convention (NIX) here in Toronto June 9th – 11th. They have an enormous social conscience and continue to support many different charities and causes throughout the City and the Province. Inkuisition intends to be a bigger presence in the World of tattoos and is willing to take their show on the road with mobile units at many events in support of charities or causes as long as insurance and sanitary conditions permit. They have earned a spot and seem to fit quite nicely at 1769 Danforth Ave. stop in and see them sometime!
THE RIDERS MAG ----- PAGE 19
One for the road Almost as good as sex!
That feeling that you get when signing those papers is almost as good as sex! ALMOST! (and I’m not referring to divorce papers, but I’m sure that it’s somewhat relative). I’m referring to buying your bike. That bike that you saw, went back and looked at again, and once you’ve heard those twin cams purr, and the rumble of the pipes, you just about wet your shorts! Those papers! I’m onto my third bike. My love. My first was the initial phase. The shock of actually having the cahonas to get the license, buy the bike, and then experience that open road for the very first time. I loved that bike. But the time had come where I realized that I was the pip squeak trying to keep up with the big boys and their big 1700 engines. I moved onto a V-star 1100, and when Mike painted it matte black for me, I was in love...again. But there is always THAT bike! That one bike that you keep thinking about, looking at. Looking at again. Mine was a Heritage Softail! And if you follow my stories, you’ll remember that I bought it at the big auction that Classy Chassis has in October. (May I suggest that as being your starting point in looking for you’re a-ha bike).
The bikes that they pulled off the floor, and the prices that they let them go for is just a crime. But that feeling, that OMG moment took me about a week to comprehend. Even after riding it home, the first few days it didn’t feel real. Like I said, ALMOST as good as sex. Now, if you’ve bought a bike recently, and you’re waiting on a few modifications to be made, or just storing it
THE RIDERS MAG ----- PAGE 20
…..with Lil Red
until that first beautiful spring day allows you to take that long, therapeutic ride, you’re probably jumping out of your skin. The impatience, I mean I was a general pain in the ass. I kept calling, asking if it was ready. Could I pick it up? Could we drive there to just look at it while it’s in the shop? That’s when you know that you have found YOUR bike. Or…a pharmaceutical remedy, but I’m going with the bike analogy. A few of my lady riding buddies have recently bought new rides, and it seems Harley is the choice as of late. Terry bought her purple number last year, piped it up and added her personal touch to make it her own (and she’s still looking to add more!) Then, Diana, another lady rider friend of mine went to the January bike show and was surprised by her hubby with a nice l’il Red (get it, shameless pun..sorry) number. And while she has it in getting all customized to her specifications, yet another girl bought a Harley.
At the bike show, we were with some friends Kate and Rod. Rod had mentioned that Kate had eyed a little blue number, so we pushed ourselves over to Mackey HD to have a look. And while checking out all the little custom add-ons that the last owner did, more folks were sniffing around this two wheeled beauty. Not to say that Rod, Mike and I didn’t pressure her like an 18 year old horn dog male trying to get his virgin girl to give it up (cause we did). She, still thought long and hard on the pros and cons. She liked her bike, but she kept going back to this blue vixen. I simply said this, go sit on your old bike. You’ll know right then and there if you want this. This is a previously loved bike, but as I’ve said before, sometimes a previously loved bike, with all it’s customization, can be more of what one wants than a new, off-the-assembly-line model. Needless to say she bought it! And I’m shameless, I sat on it. More than once actually. Hey, it’s been awhile. Motorcycle auctions and bike shows are worth their weight in gold. Well winter, that proverbial bitch that she is, is still hammering us to no avail. And if you’re anything like Mike, once in awhile you start up your bike, just to hear it roar to life, just to smell that motorcycle aroma that fills the house and vibrates the floors…... You all keep your bikes in the family room right? Following my groups on facebook, I see pics of the odd
crazy-ass, hopping on their bike at 2 degrees, braving the elements just to get in a ride. Are you folks high?? Perhaps I’m just an over-the-top worried old fart, but I love my ride way too much to expose it to these harsh, cold elements, not to mention the sand and salt that’s currently violating our roadways. Kudos to you for braving it but I’m not sure whether it’s balls or a mental disorder that’s drawn you out. Then again, it’s riding, and we can all name more then a few times that we’ve taken out our rides on a less-thanideal trip, just to get a ride in. After all, it’s the reason I own a heated vest. Mike and I have the Enduros that we can ride, but since wiping out face-first on one that a 5 year old could operate, my ego is a little hurt. Well…., and my face….., that hurt too. A concussion would explain a lot! Now I’m a chick, so I do occasionally partake in the past time of mall window shopping. Okay, I buy stuff, but come on, it’s winter PMS and buying bike stuff makes me feel better. Well to my surprise, our friends over at Ride for Paws let me know of a Harley dealer that was temporarily opening up in Quinte Mall. And me, not needing an excuse to go, trucked my ass over to introduce myself to Nicole. She’s the promo girl there, and she was all too happy to include herself as a vendor for the Ride for Paws. You heard right. A Harley dealer will be there, so bring your money folks.
Oh, and what the hell? I was under the impression that big, burley bikers were not bashful (say that three times fast), yet you people have eluded me and not contacted me to be part of a fundraising calendar for our furry friends. All you gotta do is pose with a furry buddy and your bike, to help raise money for some of the local organizations that put forth so much time and love towards our four legged buddies. So get on it! You got my email: lilred@theridersmag.com or catch up with me on facebook at L’il Red ‘The Riders Mag’ and let me know when you’re coming. With March upon us, the events, meetings and get-
togethers are coming. Bad Examples Riders Club is having Ozone Baby, a Zeppelin tribute band at Olde Walkerville Theatre in Windsor on March 11th. I’d love to go, and on the bikes it’d be worth the ride, but being confined in a truck for that long does not appease my inner monster. I can be bitchy. But I might still go. Recently I met up with our editor Al, and had the pleasure of finally officially meeting with Ray, James, Catharine and Lori to discuss The Rideau Rendezvous. This event promises to be a weekend-filled party, with food, live bands, a show n shine, rodeo games and even a kid zone. If you’re a biker, then this promises to be the place to be as I’m sure we’ll end up in some sort of delicious trouble. And no good story is without trouble. Kawartha Bikers Church is having an info night at 1000 Fairbairn Street in Peterborough, starting with a pot luck dinner. Wanna share an event? Wanna know where the events are gonna be? Clubs and individuals alike can bring info sheets to spread the word out. Plus, it’ll be nice to catch up with our biker buddies that have become hermits in the winter months (like myself). I, myself will be heading out to catch up with our Bancroft friends Fabian and Jody, to discuss some ideas for an epic Wheels, Water and Wings event this coming summer. Last year was bigger than the one before, and I think if they get some drinking and dining establishments on board, it could make
THE RIDERS MAG ----- PAGE 21
for a great destination ride! Plus, they have beautiful scenic roads out that way! The Motorcycle Spring Show is coming March 25-26 at the International Centre. Mike and I scored some sweet bike apparel there last year, and are looking to repeat the adventure this year. For those of you I missed at the January bike show, hit me up at the Riders Mag booth at this event.
One more thing…Mike and I have had a long-standing interest in B.A.C.A. Living in Campbellford, the main city out our way is Belleville, maybe Trenton (we got the air
THE RIDERS MAG ---- PAGE 22
base after all) and the like. Now, this past summer we had the opportunity to venture out further, to cover more people and events such as in the Durham region, Port Perry, all the way up to Brockville, and even Smith Falls (The Rideau Rendevous) and everywhere in between. I mention this for two reasons. One, back to my main statement regarding a long-standing interest in B.A.C.A. Realizing the closet chapters to us is Ottawa and Toronto, we’ve thought about how great it could be to support a more local chapter, like in Belleville! There is still some research to be done, and if there is a need and rider numbers would justify such a venture, we have considered speaking with the big wigs at B.A.C.A about a possible chapter in our area. Any thoughts? The second reason that I mention these cities and towns in between, is that events are everywhere. And as long as we’re riding, we’ll cover it. Bike events, the new friends we meet and old ones we catch up with along the way, make the summer all that it is. A summer to remember. And we’d like to include you in it! Plus, who DOESN’T like getting their pic taken for such a cherished mag, right? So…as always, catch me via email or on facebook. I’ll try to keep you up-to-date on biker events coming (and I’ll probably include the odd foolish humour to make my day!)
Many years ago, because of back problems I had to stop riding my ’82 “shovel” and switch to riding ‘Wings. Now, out of necessity my back is killing me because of a shovel (not H.D. but C.T.C. kind) Mother Nature has not stopped shitting on us for nearly a month now here in the Maritimes! First we got hit with an ice storm that glitched our power here at the ranch enough that I had to reset clocks etc. several times until we lost power for six and a half days! Luckily, due to my supreme intelligence (or shit luck) the boss and I a year + ago had the house rewired to switch to generator in such situations. We bought a medium size Honda generator from J.H. Stewart (a Mag advertiser) and converted to woodstove heat from Stewart Hearth (no relation, but a distributor of the Mag). So we were pretty well off, considering the situation. I would also like to thank Thebeau gas station for having the ingenuity to quickly convert their gas pumps to generator power supply fuel for the area’s “generator only” people (also a distributor of the mag.) But I regress, before this weather crap, the TV news had an ongoing report all over the Maritimes of the “biker war” happening in Charlottetown PEI. What the facts are, is that there was an ACC meeting, which unfortunately I could not make, and the press, police and the government of PEI big wigs turned around the words to downgrade our way of life, liberty and freedom. In a press release written by Robin Angel, 81 Nomad, ACC member, says everything better than I could. Statement for Immediate release BY THE ATLANTIC CONFEDERATION OF CLUBS January 20th 2017 Due to the negative coverage as of late by the news media, particularly the press conference held today in Prince Edward Island, we felt that we should address the membership. We believe the actions taken yesterday to be fear mongering by the police and political pandering by the Premier. We hope to address this at the meeting and advise our members to be prepared for harassment by law enforcement on Saturday. We encourage all members to come out in full force to show the powers that be that we, the motorcycle community, will not be intimidated and threatened or allow our charter of rights and freedoms to be eroded for political gain or law enforcement agendas. Contact your member of parliament and express your displeasure as citizens and voters of the great country we reside in. Please let anyone and everyone know that these meetings are open to the general public and we encourage anyone who wishes to know what our agendas are to come and sit in. We as a confederation stand with the motorcycle clubs in PEI, and we hope your communities stand behind as well. As the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedom states: Everyone has the following fundamental freedoms (a) Freedom of conscience and religion; (b) Freedom of thought, belief, opinion and expression, including freedom of the press and other media of communication;
(c) Freedom of peaceful assembly; and (d) Freedom of association We ask that our membership not spread the propaganda by the media, and that you instead respectfully spread awareness, and truth in your words and your actions. We must take a stand, this is our lifestyle, not a tv show. Great release, thank you Robin and hope to keep in contact! I did hear from members of Bacchus MC and Miramachine Riding Club that they were stopped at the Confederation bridge going across to PEI and turned back if they were wearing colours, forcing some to tuck their vests under the car seats! Maybe it’s a good thing I didn’t go, ‘cause, I don’t think I could do that. Hopefully we will change the attitude of the general public soon!
Moncton motorcycle & ATV show
Mother Nature gave me a break and I was able to make it down to the Moncton motorcycle and ATV show after finding the truck (again) and clearing the snow bank it was parked underneath. Yes I screwed up, with two bikes left in parts in the garage; the Boss’s truck is still outside! We headed down to the show. It was a great venue with most bike manufacturers strutting their stuff, with a noticeable and commented no show from the famous Harley-Davidson . Although, a somewhat smaller show I was able to talk to many dealers and a great number of clubs and ride promoters, which we will hear about in future issues, We did have the pleasure of meeting up with Rob Barrett (our new columnist from Nova Scotia) and had a great time with him. What a pleasure having him help me out in the Maritimes. Great show and between the Boss, myself, Rob & Ian (Carter customs) we managed to distribute about 150 mags ‘cause that’s all I could scam from my N.B./Nova Scotia distributors. Speaking of Rob Barrett, he has sent me his first article from N.S. which is included with mine this issue, but will be his own column in the future. Drum roll and cymbal crash, here’s Rob with Nova Scotia News.
THE RIDERS MAG ----- PAGE 23
Nova Scotia News: Let me start off by laying claim to East Coast bragging rights for getting the first ride in for 2017 I got out for a little burn on Friday, January 13th. (Port Dover shout out) Roads were salt free and dry after a two day downpour and plus 7 temperatures. I joked about taking a scoot over to New Glasgow, but decided against it and settled for a “local” toot. If you question my sanity, I have pictures to prove it, thanks to Mark Goudge.
B.A.C.A.TruroTempChapterreceivingtheircutsupporterpatchesat first public meeting. In attendance and in no particular order Pretty Boy,Gypsy,Shorty,BigB,Tiny,Hillbilly,Pappy,Smiley,Bear,Cupcake
The Truro Temp Chapter of the international organization Bikers Against Child Abuse (B.A.C.A.) had its first Nova Scotia public meeting on Friday, January 20th at the Valley-Kemptown Fire Hall (Thanks Eugene Adshade and the firefighters for use of the hall). It was well attended by the chapter executive board and cleared supporters and the meeting was called to order by the President Big B. The others sitting on the executive board are Shorty (Vice-President), Cupcake (Secretary), Gypsy (Treasurer) and Tiny (Security Officer) helped get things rolling and are part of the core group that helped make B.A.C.A. a reality in Nova Scotia. There was one attendee from the general public who was there to check things out. The chapter was supported at this first run through by the B.A.C.A. Atlantic Reps from Moncton and Woodstock chapters (Pappy and Hillbilly) and they offered their guidance on aspects of the meeting and added their wisdom to some areas of the agenda.
THE RIDERS MAG ---- PAGE 24
The next Truro Temp Chapter public meeting is scheduled for Friday February 24th, 7 PM at Valley-Kemptown Fire Hall. B.A.C.A. is an International organization dedicated to empowering abused children; it exists with the intent to create a safer environment for abused children. For more information check out www.bacaworld.org. I had a brief chat with President Fraser Chabassol and Secretary Debbie Tattrie of the Tri County Riders. It is a group of like-minded riders, with thirty plus members, who range in age from mid-40’s up into the 70’s. This group focuses on just getting together to ride and they have representatives from Colchester, Cumberland and Pictou counties within their fold. Made up of health care workers, first construction DebbieTattrieTriCountyRiders(sec- responders, workers, fishermen, etc. retary)displayingtheTriCountyRiders they are a diverse group Colours.Uniquely,theladieshavea who do not discriminate pinkbackgroundthegentlemanred other than for the love of the road. They have participated in rides like Camp Connect (Aug. 16th), The Blessing of the Bikes in Truro (May 6th) and Pugwash (May 20th). Although they do participate in some charity activities this is not their focus, they just want to ride! If you are interested in participating or just want to check it out they hold their regular monthly meetings on the last Thursday of each month. The group doesn’t meet in January and February and their next regular meeting, and when they will choose this year’s executive, will be held Thursday, March 17th at 7PM at the Tatamagouche Library. A couple of members Terry Rafuse and Rick Jollymore are a couple of Tri County members who are into building bikes just for the fun of it. You will see more on their builds in a future article, but they include a 95 Kawazaki Vulcan they turned into a bagger and the trike Terry likes to ride that started off as an 1100 Honda Shadow. They are presently finishing up an 1800 Suzuki that is just about ready for paint. Excited to see this when completed! Thanks Rob for all your help it’s vary much appreciated by myself and the Mag! That’s it for this month, now I have to go out and find the Boss’ truck again and dig it out of the 5 foot snowbank which our driveway is again! Come on spring!!! Atlantic Jeff signing off, Be well!
Hello all, it’s been a long winter, and at least here in Southern Ontario, things are starting to look like spring. I haven’t written anything all winter, too much time thinking about all the riders we lost last year to accidents, and the loss of some very good friends around Christmas. Hoping for a better and safer riding season for sure. With that, it’s time to think about getting prepared for the new riding season coming up, time to get the bikes tuned up, fluids changed, and give ‘em that once over to make sure all our safety equipment is operational, and ready for the season ahead. I would also like to point out here, that it is a good time for us a riders to tune ourselves up, and get ready, make sure all our safety equipment is operational and ready to go. We have to ride defensively all the time, no lapses in judgment, we have to watch out for the cars, trucks .pedestrians, animals, road debris, and other riders that aren’t being so careful. Let’s gear ourselves up for a long and happy riding season, where we don’t have to fill up the “Gone but not Forgotten” pages of this magazine. I look forward to seeing and riding with many of you this year. On a happier not, our first swap meet of the season sponsored by Northside Cycles is coming upon us quickly Sunday March 19th at the K of C hall in Tilbury, hope to see many of you out there. Ride safe. Lockup Well it’s March! Sun is up sooner and going down later…. all I have to say is hoo! raaay! Because I, as many of you…. PMS is killing me! Just been to much salt out there for my likings this year, but to the brave of heart that couldn’t take it anymore and have been out and about …you rock! This time of year there is not many motorcycle event type things going on here in the Deep South as they call us, so now is a good time to do a heads up about having your event advertised in The Riders Mag. Take a moment and think of Mag as a travel guide and your event as a destination “Day Trip” if you want to call it that…not just local, attract some interest from other parts of Ontario or for someone that may be traveling thru at the time and would like to see this area. $25.00 for a little guided tour with perks and some new friends is a dam good deal in my eyes. Always have a door prize for the person whom has traveled the farthest to attend… I have done this over the years, seen the best of someone else’s backyard, met really great people and had a blast! took home a few prizes too! Let them know you are here! The Deep South has plenty to offer! So contact us! We can start working with you now on how best to make a little go the miles for your event or Business! The Bacchus MC Chatham Swap Meet Chatham November 6th, 2016 You couldn’t ask for better weather on a November day, it was a beauty run from Windsor to Chatham for the 4th Annual Bacchus M.C Swap Meet and a vendor sell out at that. The hall was full of some of everything from motorcycle parts old, used and new, to lots of bling as I call
it (leather bags, jewelry, helmets, gear, gloves and more) cleaners, fluids, and the Latest and Greatest Support Gear Selections… you know all the good stuff! ….yes we all go looking for stuff! They changed up the Vendor mix this year and there is stuff for the not only for the guys but for the lady riders too!......sweet! Made my rounds along with a steady stream of other people and yes added a few new items to my stuff for the 2017 riding season, and info on some new products that are on the market. With a small donation at the door this is one of the best Swap Meets in this area, I enjoy attending… not too big, not too small… You could also purchase Coffee and cold refreshments at the bar, along with food and baked goods were available to fill your hunger pains as well. Also I have to mention the wonderful group of Ladies from Big Fix TNR & Grassroots Cat Rescue Group that work hard in the community taking care of the stray / feral cats in that area and to the Bacchus M.C Chatham in its support. Looked at lots of stuff, got new stuff and had the most amazing ride home from Chatham to Windsor on a November day… Keep this one in mind for next year folks! I am… Keep’in it Simple, Kathy
THE RIDERS MAG ----- PAGE 25
The Obama era is gone leaving behind a world fraught with many political changes. The status quo is no more - And, to the surprise of the general population, overt discrimination has shaken the usual attributes of our society. But this is nothing new to the bikers of Ontario, who have been the victims of an ongoing reduction of civil liberties that spans a chasm of over twenty years. And biker discrimination is spreading – fuelled by the scare tactics of law enforcement propaganda and bullying. The latest trend is for some motorcycle events being manipulated (and suffocated) by circuitous law enforcement interference. In 2017, a few organizers of motorcycle events are in lockstep with the ‘No Colours’ policies utilized by local law enforcement (usually OPP contractors) who march to the dictates of the Biker Enforcement Unit. This structure is fuelled by blatant discrimination, false and misleading propaganda, sprinkled with a stiff dose of fear mongering scenarios. One such, so called, biker event is the Wasaga Beach Motorcycle Rally. The organizers of this mockery are quick to point out that they do allow ‘Colours’ and support clothing but, with nearly all local businesses posting ‘No Colours’ dress code policies, it’s a ‘No Colours’ event – IMHO, this is a clubber ban and not worthy of attendance. Eh Ollie? Fortunately, there is another event, organized by ‘real standup bikers’ who are pushing back against the dictates of law enforcement and the posers who kneel before them. The event is the ‘Rideau Rendezvous Motorcycle Rally’ in Smiths Falls Ontario – the dates are July 14th – 16th. This event is endorsed and supported by the Riders Mag and the Ontario Confederation of Motorcycle Clubs. Another discriminatory event has also morphed from the ashes of yet another previously discriminatory event – not sorry to see that MF’er gone, Eh Ollie? The new (but definitely not improved) event is called Bikers Battling Cancer but, considering their political stance, it should be Bikers Spreading Cancer due to the event posting a ‘No Colours’ policy on their website. Yes, discrimination is a ‘cancer’ that suffocates freedom and limits access to a certain segment of our society. To the cop-buff organizers of this event . . . stop calling yourselves bikers! You may own a motorcycle but that’s where it ends. Biker 101 . . . Ours is a lifestyle, born on freedom, whose only currency is RE-
THE RIDERS MAG ---- PAGE 26
SPECT – a commodity of which you are sadly lacking. The biker lifestyle is a very open and welcoming place. All you really need is a motorcycle and you are treated with respect (by everyone including patch holders) and allowed to participate without restrictions. This is both a character trait and flaw. Being so open and honest with strangers has allowed malingerers and malcontents to slip through the cracks. To them, let me be candid – you’re not fooling anyone. Experienced members of our society recognize you for what you are . . . you are not invisible when you’re out amongst us. Kinda like transvestites in the women’s washroom . . . somewhat familiar but strangely different, Eh Ollie! These event organizers explain that banning M.C. patches is in the interest of public safety – this is law enforcement speaking through these ventriloquist dummies. Many, many events do not ban ‘Colours’ and thrive without incident. Friday the 13th has never resorted to the pressures of police involvement and throughout the event, many bikers, local citizens, clubbers, and police brush shoulders in mutual enjoyment without incident. Perhaps it is time that those other community leaders get off their knees and stand up to the snide implications, from prejudicial law enforcement personnel, of impending violent outbursts by patch holders - and host an event that would actually be financially beneficial to their community? Hell . . . sporting events for minors see more violent outbursts than biker events! The OCC hosts a FB page titled The Ontario Biker Black List, which is dedicated to shining a bright light on these bullshit biker events – readers of this mag are invited to check the list periodically for any other such discriminatory events or businesses to avoid. Fuck ‘em - we’ll spend our money (and our respect) where it’s welcomed. Our biker lifestyle was founded & established by free expression & free thought. Sure, there have been biker situations bordering on lawlessness but they are strictly historic anomalies. But, these fade in comparison to unlawful acts (verifiable by statistics) which have been committed by other members of our society i.e. clergy, child coaches, law enforcement and many professional service providers operating from a position of trust. Why are they allowed to enjoy social activities without being banned from certain social events? Hollywood always seeks to create villains amongst bikers which usually plays to the stereotypical image of blood seeking, two-wheeled gangsters but is, in reality, a myth born of sensationalism. There is no impending biker war. This is a fable, created and published (by law enforcement) via a media thirsty for sensationalism in order to create fear, uncertainty, and loathing amongst the general public. Banning club identifiers and support clothing will never eradicate violence or discourage criminality - this is fallacious psychology and a blatant discriminatory act against a visible minority. OCC - ONE COMMON CAUSE Rooster Rider - OCC Treasurer Rooster Rider @roostahrider
THE RIDERS MAG ----- PAGE 31
Motorcycle Enhancements has long established a solid reputation as one of the best, most innovative shops in not just the GTA but the province and beyond. They have done so by producing some incredible motorcycles that have been winning acclaim and awards at all the Major Motorcycle Shows for many years now. While owner John Cosentini and his amazing crew pride themselves on not just creating some great looking and great performing motorcycles. They stress that they are not just a “Custom Builder”. They have earned the reputation as being a down to Earth shop where they value and listen to their customers and riders feel comfortable intrusting them with their prized machines and this is where they really shine! They do all the day to day maintenance and repair as well at prices that are realistic and affordable to regular average Joe and treat them fairly with courtesy and respect. Motorcycle Enhancements strives to be the “One Stop Shop” and can do custom, frames, exhaust and suspension systems all in house. They boast a huge inventory of chrome accessories and aftermarket parts, tires, and batteries to meet the needs of their customers. They also have a huge network of suppliers, from Specialty Shops and OEM Parts Suppliers and when that’s not enough they custom make parts so that “Nothing is Impossible and No Job is Too Big or Too Small”. They do fantastic custom fabrication of body parts as well so custom fairings, fenders, bags and other items can be skilfully produced to suit whatever look or purpose John, his crew or his customers can imagine or need. Custom paint is also available but outsourced to one of the many highly skilled painters that John trusts to produce only the best. John is constantly adding to and expanding his machine shop and keeps the shop up to date with state of the art tools and diagnostic equipment to ensure that he can do the jobs that he needs to do when he needs to do it! Some of these tools are one of a kind, custom designed and custom made right in his shop as some of what he does has never been done before and the tools to do some of the jobs he does didn’t exist! The tools are sometimes as unique as the machines that he builds. The term unique is not just applicable to the many designs of the bikes that are constantly emerging from
THE RIDERS MAG ---- PAGE 36
this shop or the tools that he builds to accomplish the projects. Despite his notoriety as being one of the best custom builders around John is still humble and easy to talk to. He has seemingly, endless energy, patience, perseverance, imagination and creativity while being one of the most laid back, easy going people you would ever want to meet. The crew here has created some of the nicest and prettiest motorcycles to grace the highways and byways and they have many trophies to prove it! I will mention right now that this is also a place where pretty isn’t always considered to be the main criteria of a custom build. Some are born from some of the simplest beginnings and then just evolve into a major project! If you take a tour of the large, extremely functional but not particularly neat or tidy shop you will see piles of metal, frames, tanks, wheels, handle bars and other such stuff in stashes here and there or hanging from rafters or walls, throughout the building. To some, this may just look like clutter. But to John Cosentini and his remarkable team these are all projects waiting to be brought to life when the inspiration bug bites, and the creative juices flow and imaginations run wild. That is when the magic happens! This is the case of one of their most recent (There is always something new going on here and always a new creation in some stage of completion on the bench!) projects that somewhat defies description, “The Steampunk Ratbike”! I’m not sure which of the many unusual items that went into this build was the actual spark that inspired the creation of the “beast” that garnered so much attention at The Supershow in January, but sometimes that is the way it goes with creative people. They spot something or something tweaks an idea (In my experience the start is usually prefaced by “Hold my beer and watch this!” and away they go!) The following is a list of the items that successfully came together and function as a fantastic, rideable motorcycle that mesmerizes and fascinates anyone that sees it. The initial reaction of “Wow! or WTF? Is always followed by slow and close inspection to identify all the items that went into it and see how it all functions together.
Powered by a Yamaha Roadstar 1600cc , This Truss frame design is unique to the Motorcycle world that took four months to build, this project took up many long hours to complete. A passion like no other. Many details to look at Features: * Truss Frame design * Air bag suspension, front and rear * Custom air bagged springer front end with wrenches as rockers * BMW air compressor pump * Oxygen tank for air reservoir with air pressure gauges * Air solenoids to control the up and down * 1600 cc with Hi Compression Pistons * Oil can oil tank up front. * Quick release tractor seat * Chevy 409 Valve cover gas tanks * Chrome Wing Nuts on the valve covers * Custom gas cap made with upside down piston, chain and a wrench for cam lock * 1935 Burdock bitters, made in Toronto medicine bottle for gas gauge * 1941 Chevy , Made in Canada headlight * Many tools that were made in Canada are used as mounts * R6 connecting rods as Motor mounts * Custom intake manifold * Holley 2 Barrel Marine carb * Moroso velocity stack * Custom gear driven throttle control * Custom made 1-1/4” handlebars * Leather wrapped , studded grips made from a ladies belt. * Copper pipes for oil lines * Copper pipes for wires * Copper pipe for gas line * Copper pipe for airline * Electric gas pump * Canadian Club whiskey bottles with LED lights for front turn signals * Pistons, Connecting rods and HD lenses with LED light for rear turn signals * Sprockets for fender struts * Train lantern with LED lights for a tail light * Custom copper dash panel with Oil Pressure, Volt Meter, Tach and Air press gauges * Rear fender with riveted copper overlay * Twisted sissy bar * Antigravity Lithium battery * Ammo box * Custom foot controls w/ sprockets and 50mm bullets * Custom Shifter comprised of a grenade, ratchet, connecting rod, cam, cam sprockets and chain. * Auto clutch * 26” two stage powder coated front billet wheel * Metzler front tire * 16” custom painted wagon wheel, Oak and mahogany wood grain * Firestone dual white wall cocker tire. * HD Springer front brake calliper and mount. * Modified rear HD calliper and rotor. * Custom made Steam whistle cam chain activated. If you are in the Oakville area, stop by Motorcycle Enhancements and meet John and his crew. They are top notch people from the front office where Elaine keeps things flowing to John and his incredible, talented team who perform the Magic in the shop right down to the two shop dogs Panda and Rocco.
THE RIDERS MAG ---- PAGE 37
After a res�ul night in the Drammen, Norway clubhouse, we have a delicious breakfast cooked and served by the boys. The hospitality is second to none. We head out to the Eskilstuna, Sweden clubhouse for the next night of congeniality before leaving for Stockholm, Sweden and the mega ferry across the Baltic Sea to Estonia. There are so many cities in this world that most in North America have never heard of. Even regions like the Baltic States (Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania) are unknown or certainly misunderstood. What better reason to visit. The people are friendly and hospitable as the reader will see. Crossing into Sweden from Norway. We have left The ability to drink Vodka is an asset. Drammen Norway and are heading for Eskilstuna, Mountainous Norway changes into rolling hills and atlands as we enter the south of Sweden. Northern Sweden for the night. Sweden has low lying mountainous terrain. Wherever, on the property. one travels, the land is lustrous green with foliage. There seems to be a heavy bag and workout equipment We are missing many potential stops at clubhouses we stay. This is no exception. I find the bag along the way but our schedule is dictated by the 18 hour everywhere and do a few rounds before sitting down for drinks and ferry/cruise from Stockholm, Sweden across the Baltic more great food with even better conversation. Sea to Tallinn, Estonia. There is too much to see and many friends we miss visiting on our ride. It only gives me a reason to travel this way again to hit all the places and people we did not see on this ride. Come to think of it, this may take several trips. When I rode across Thailand, I met a brother near Bangkok from Eskilstuna. I could not pronounce the name nor could I figure out where it was in Sweden. Now, I will see the city, the clubhouse, and the boys. Furthermore, I can now pronounce the name easily. The city is not on the ocean coast like Stockholm but a short distance inland. We hope to stop at the Stockholm clubhouse for a drink Gold plated AK (inoperable, of course) mounted on and good conversation. This did not work out. The ferry the wall over a piano waits for no one. We awake in the morning to warm rain. We don our The Eskilstuna clubhouse is fascinating with equal rain gear and head out for the ride to Stockholm. The hospitality to all the places we visit. After parking our boys here have left for the Big Party, the day before. bikes, we were shown our bedrooms in separate cottages We arrive at the massive ferry terminal. In this part of the world, ferries are very necessary and www.scottyscycleshoppe.ca scottycycleshoppe@gmail.ca many times the fastest way to travel. We could have ridden south from Drammen to Malmoe Sweden, take a massive and stunning ocean bridge over to Denmark, then gone south into Germany, across Germany
Service Package 519-245-4205 Call For your appointment t o d ay
Change engine oil & filter Change primary fluid Change transmission fluid Inspect air filter Check tires & adjust pressures Check drive belt tensios Inspect spark plugs Check all lights, horn, controls & cables Inspect brake pads Inspect front & rear suspension Check exhaust system Full Vehicle Assessment
THE RIDERS MAG ----- PAGE 34
O n l y $1 2 9 . 9 5 Free Pick up and Drop Off
and into Poland to Warsaw. However, I had never been to the Baltic States, so what other reason does one need to take this beautiful round about route. We will see Germany and Denmark on the way back home to Bergen.
Swedish Chopper. This rider bolted a front fender on for the ride.
Ferry Cruise ship in Stockholm harbor ready for loading and the overnight trip across the Baltic Sea to the Estonian port of Talinn. Ferries over here are more like a cruise ship with lots of parking.
Stockholm Fjord is the entrance to the Baltic Sea from Stockholm, Sweden to Talinn, Estonia
The Stockholm Fjord is not really a true �ord but a grouping of islands in the ocean. True �ords found in Norway, northern Scotland, and northern Newfoundland are deep intrusions from the sea up to 200 kilometers long and may reach depths of 1.3 kilometers. The igneous (volcanic) rock framing these majestic vistas is ancient. One reason distances between cities is great is that the multitude of �ords must be ridden around. This is inconvenient until seeing how beautiful the countryside is. After tying our bikes down, we head for one of the bars with a view of the stunning passageway into the Baltic Sea. We lazily watch sailboats and the oceanfront properties. Then we hit the dining room for some great food. Andreʹ hands his phone number to many of the waitresses but none call him although they are interested in this tall blond Viking. Egil explains that they all have husbands or boyfriends waiting for them in port. We have rented a cabin. Ship’s cabins are exceedingly small with two sets of fold down bunk beds.
We care not as we sleep like babies rocked by gentle ocean waves. We enter Talinn harbor early in the morning. Around 10am we disembark the bowels of the ferry on our bikes. There is only one road until we hit the main thoroughfare that follows the sea coast.
THE RIDERS MAG ----- PAGE 35
The map for the Run to the Big Party near Warsaw, Poland this past summer.
THE RIDERS MAG ----- PAGE 36
We have a surprise. Police spotchecks are conducting breathalyzer tests on randomly selected cars and bikes. These are not targeted towards any group like us but are truly random. This is something I am not used to as I get randomly checked each and every time in Canada. I think I might have a record at Toronto airport where I was selected randomly 22 times in a row for secondary customs checks. Lucky me! The officers were on a first name basis with me. I asked why they kept pulling me in when they never found anything. The reply was, “We know Don but the orders to stop you come from so high up, we cannot see exactly where they come from.” Only one of us gets checked in the harbor breathalyzer stop. The officer simply holds the hand held device near your mouth. You blow and it reads your breath without benefit of the tube. Feel like dicking them around with controlled blowing and you can sit in a jail cell until changing your mind. I thought drinking and driving laws in Canada overly restrictive but now realize We are riding the they are not compared to Europe. our penalties are multilong way in a big Surely, layered from excessive towing bills, circle through 8 criminal charge(s), license suspension, countries (Norway skyrocketing insurance rates etcetera. [Bergen to Drammen}, The penalties are much the same in Sweden [Eskilstuna Europe but much stiffer for much less. level for criminal charges is and Stockholm], 18 in Our excess of 0.80. Most countries in hour Baltic Sea Ferry, Europe is 0.20. This allows for maybe Estonia [Talinn and one light beer, so what is the point? Tartu], Latvia [Riga], Still this is risky and not worth it. Lithuania [Kaunas], Once charged, it is straight to jail time. ple infractions are not tolerated Poland [Warsaw], Multi period. It is far stricter in Europe. Germany [Berlin], Next issue, we will visit the boys of Denmark [Odense], Tallinn in their ocean front clubhouse and the 18 hour for some good conversation, then head North Sea Ferry from to Tartu, Estonia. I will try to avoid Vodka but at least the boys from Hirtshals, Denmark to the Moscow taught me the correct way to Stavanger and Bergen, drink Vodka last time I visited them. The Norway). boys from Tartu do it much the same but a twist with the accompanying and very necessary eating while drinking. Donny Petersen The Ironhead Sportster: 1957 to 1985 (1036 pages) is finally available. www.iUniverse. com, Amazon, online everywhere I will have copies at the Spring Bike Show with other specials on my books.
Well here we are heading, into March and already people are getting that longing to head out on the road. Nothing makes you more aware of that then seeing the attendance of any kind of show or event that is related to motorcycles and in early February. That was abundantly evident at the Greely Swap Meet. Each year this event gets bigger crowds and tables are sold out weeks ahead. By early morning the parking lot was filled to capacity with cars and trucks parked along the roadway. This swap meet is also one of the first places that clubs start to promote their upcoming events and encourage the motorcycle community to come out and participate. Many of them beat me to the punch and before I even had the opportunity to walk around. I was visited by many of them bringing me flyers and posters of their event. Hillbilly from the Capital City Bikers Church was one of the first to drop by and we talked about a number of things including the news that the Bikers Church is going to celebrate their 15th Anniversary this summer around the first weekend in August. I will certainly let you know the exact date in a later column when Hillbilly gives me the final particulars.
anniversary should be a big hit. That reminds me that Hillbilly dropped off some of the posters and flyers for the CCBC’s annual Spring Swap Meet which is being held on May 6th and as usual the vendor space is free although it disappears quickly. So, if you are considering participating by selling some swap or promoting any events I would certainly get in touch with him in the near future.
In one of the few chances I had to walk around I stopped by the Simple Men MC table to not only say “hi”, but also to have a final chat with Muffin aka Sean Guest (who by the time you are reading this will be working for Voigt’s Harley Davidson out in Fort McMurray for the season). Considering that the evening before the club had held a benefit dance up in Cobden for the food bank I have to admit they all looked surprisingly in good shape and no worse for the wear. I have enlisted Muffin to keep me informed of some of the events and what is happening in the motorcycle scene out in northern Alberta.
Some of you may be thinking that is the same weekend as Big Daddy’s but Greg and Sue have decided to take a break from putting on their weekend party and spend a little personal time on themselves. While at the swap meet they informed me that they are both going on a trip to Ireland and while their event will be missed. I am sure we may well see another Big Daddy’s in the years to come. In my discussion with Hillbilly I gather that the Biker’s Church intend to make their celebration a weekend event. This
THE RIDERS MAG ----- PAGE 37
Last month I mentioned that Perry and Geneane Montgomery stopped by at the Toronto show and they also came by at the swap meet to give me further info on their ride. It’s on May 27th in Cornwall for the benefit of the Children’s Treatment Centre. Perry mentioned that they have changed the ride route and he kindly thanked me for promoting his ride because they had a noticeable turnout from Ottawa including members of B.A.C.A (Bikers Against Child Abuse). He is looking forward to even more folks from the Ottawa area comings down for the day. Al Vachon came by to say “hello” and at the same time he dropped off a flyer to promote a swap meet that he will be holding in Gatineau next October 7th. I suspect you will be
THE RIDERS MAG ----- PAGE 38
seeing an ad for it near the end of the summer so keep an eye out for the information. Speaking of west Quebec, the annual swap meet that takes place at the Legion on Maloney Blvd West is happening on Saturday April 15th. The first chance I had I snuck away to take a quick peek at the show and to do a bit of catching up with people. I met with Peri and Tim Poirier, from B.A. Machine Performance Cycles. As usual they were very busy because, even when people are not buying from them, they are trying to get some information on what they can do to fix up their bikes or book times to get into the shop and have Tim work his magic with that Dyno setup. Their shop has become the stopping point for people who have the desire to make their Harleys not only stand out in looks but also in performance. I have to add to the list of kudos, Peri and Tim are supporters of The Riders Mag and you will find their advertisement around my column each month. I also would like to thank B.A. Machine for their support of The Celtic Brotherhood and our Brain Injury Awareness Campaign. You all should take note that the Awareness Ride for Brain Injury Awareness will be taking place June 10th and the ride will be leaving from B.A. Machine and ending at the Greely Legion on Mitch Owens Road. Another ride that happens to be departing from B.A. Machine in May is the B.O.B (Burn Out Boys) on Sunday May 21st. Last year the ride attendance was pretty awesome and the ride ends south of Ottawa. At that point the party begins and if you are not used to burnouts, then I highly recommend that you bring some earplugs with you and stand upwind because it can be a lot of smoke and noise. I had a chat with the father/son duo of Doug and James Taylor who always have some great swap if you are into building bikes. As I have been saying for years, Doug’s hybrid Harley is still one of the most sanitary and attractive motorcycles you can find and almost always has a crowd standing around it in amazement. I stopped by the table of Marie Paule Phillion and Lucie Guilbeault where they were promoting the popular Ride Woman Ride calendar that promotes women who ride and come from the eastern Ontario motorcycle community. It is in the support for those with MS and both these lovely ladies often take photos with me. One of the lovely ladies who modeled for the calendar and who came by several times during the show to chat was Brikhowz Barbie Marshall. Hopefully, one of these days our schedules will line up and we will be able to do a photo shoot together at B.A. Machine. As they often say in the photo world, the camera loves Barbie because you can see she loves life especially when she is riding her bike. Emily Turner who is a rider from up the
Ottawa Valley and tries as often as possible to get out to events (especially those supporting brain injury and PTSD) stopped by to say hello several times during the show and
to find out what new events might be taking place this coming Summer. Gary from the 6*0*1 MC stopped by and mentioned that John Gibson wouldn’t be able to make the show but that they wanted to be sure that I do put an ad in for their 2nd Annual 601 Motorcycle Kickstart Classic. It will still start at the Spencerville Hotel and the rest of the event, after the ride is over, will take place on private property. That same day, the 5th Annual Ride for Autism will take place in Ottawa and I think it will be back at Brown’s independent in Stittsville again. That location appears to perhaps become the home of this event with lots of space and access to great ride routes. Back at the booth, Muffler John from the Outlaws MC, came by and I was happy to see how well he looked because it wasn’t all that long ago he was in the hospital. Snax also stopped by and informed me that if I don’t get his picture in the Mag soon he is going to protest and stop reading the Mag. Although I don’t believe it, I will make sure I get him in one of the upcoming issues because that is what friends are all about. Speaking of the A.O.A I want to remind everyone that this June 17th they will be celebrating their 40th Anniversary in the Ottawa area. Their annual rodeo should be a great time for all who attend so if you get the chance drop by and show your support because they support other events in the Ottawa area. Throughout the day my favourite redhead, Kathy Dorion, came by and this time I was all smiles because she had no idea that a number of people (especially her two partners in crime, Melanie Froggatt and Julie Birket Hitsman) had brought a cake to the swap meet to publically celebrate Kathy’s birthday. It was a hell of cake and loaded with candles. We all know ladies never get older than 29, but two things that truly amazed me. One was that the flame from those 29 candles didn’t set off the sprinkler
system. Secondly, Kathy was able to blow all of them out in one shot to which I congratulated her on an epic blow job!
After the cake ceremony I paid a visit to Bill Amell of B.A.K Mobile Memorials. They sell portable urns that you can place on your handle bars and carry the ashes of either a brother or sister who has passed on. Perhaps also for your beloved Biker Dog, so that they are always with you when you ride. While I know this isn’t for everybody I personally have one for Garth, my wonder Doberman and service dog. Bill’s ad is also always around my column. One last event that was brought to my attention is the Knights of the Inferno Firefighters MC and their Ride for ABI or Dylan’s Journey which is being held on April 29th in Embrum east of Ottawa. It is taking place on the same day that, along with other clubs, we will be participating in the S.O.A.R (Society of Ottawa Area Riders) at Ottawa’s City Hall promoting the declaration of May as Motorcycle Awareness Month. I hope I am able to make it out, along with some of the TCB for the last half of the event. A new event, the “Rideau Rendezvous” is taking place in the town of Smiths Falls on July 14-16th which promises to become one day the largest motorcycle events held in our part of the province. Those of us in the far east of the
THE RIDERS MAG ----- PAGE 39
province always find ourselves heading out to other parts of the province for large venue motorcycle events, but we may finally see the beginning of one of our own and in Smiths Falls. I will be keeping you all updated on this incredible opportunity for us to have a major event and actually have people from outside eastern Ontario come to ours. At this point in time I can tell you that on the Friday night there will be a ‘Welcome to Smiths Falls” Kick-Off Party and Concert. On Saturday July 15th there is a Biker Breakfast, which will be provided with smiling faces from members of The Celtic Brotherhood. Shortly after, there is a motorcycle
poker run which should bring everyone back between 12:00 & 1:00pm. It will be followed by entertainment such as a stunt motorcycle group called the Ruff Riders on Saturday & Sunday. There will also be demonstrations by “Bully Be Gone”, a program created to teach children to have some self confidence when confronted by bullies. It is sponsored by Pace Law Motorcycle Division. There is going to be a Rendezvous Rodeo and, while not confirmed yet, a local group well known to us for their rodeo ability. There will be a large vendors area outside and, I believe, also inside one of the arenas. There will likely be a variety of food vendors, making this worth taking part in. Some of the other interesting events that have been scheduled up to this time are things like a ‘walking poker run’, which allows participants to see some of the incredible scenery of Smiths Falls. Perhaps at the same time, people can enjoy a beverage or two. Because this is a regional event there will be beer gardens, hosted by a local craft
THE RIDERS MAG ----- PAGE 40
brewery. Smiths Falls is known for its train museum, and while not confirmed at this time, I believe that actual train rides will be available. For some under a certain age, this could be a first for some of you. Saturday night a concert will be held on the grounds. Sunday will include another “Biker Breakfast” put on by The Celtic Brotherhood and then followed by the Ride 4 Pet Rescues. There are also events like a Strongman Competition. And what would a Biker Weekend be without a Show & Shine? TCB will also be putting on demonstrations of the Busted Bucket Challenge to promote brain injury awareness throughout the weekend. This is an opportunity for our part of the province to finally have a first class event develop within our boundaries and I hope that many of you will give the idea of taking part in it a lot of consideration. You will find adverts for the Rideau Rendezvous in the Mag and if any of you would like some further information please don’t hesitate to get in touch with me personally. At The Riders Mag we are all about the people who ride the motorcycles, not the bikes. We want you to be proud
that you are Bikers because you can’t get any better than that. As always I remind you to please support the rides and events that are created by riders in your area and their clubs because they are the same people that come to support your events and rides. Please remember to spend your money with the businesses that advertize in our Mag and/or have proven they are truly Biker Friendly, because they have shown support for our lifestyle and deserve our support back. Also, if you have an event/ride or you are a business that deals with either motorcycles or the people who ride them, you might like to advertise or even become a distributor of The Riders Mag. If so, please contact me by email or by phone. As always please remember that we make our motorcycle communities stronger..by making them better! Brotherhood! Motorcyco Beau Email: theridersmag.beau@gmail.com Twitter: Riders Mag East @ Motorcyco_ Beau Instagram: motorcyco_beau Read us online : www.theridersmag.com/ online
What a great winter, as far as temperatures go, so far, am I right? Compared to winters past, where temperatures were in the -30°’s to -40°’s for weeks on end. It appears the ground hog is going to be right this year, with an early spring. I would like to clear up a mix-up that occurred last month. Northern Ontario’s newest writer, brother Rebar, had written his first article, but due to some fancy file conversions we had to do from an Apple computer product to a normal computer, his words got lost in the system. Somehow his pictures got through, but the write-up got lost. You can read all about it, and view a couple of other pictures, in this month’s issue. My apologies Rebar; I hope this does not deter you from covering more events as you did a great job! Thank you! Ridin’ the island of Maui, Hawaii What would a biker wedding in Hell, Michigan on Friday the 13th at 13 hours and 13 minutes, be without a honeymoon riding the narrow, breathtaking roads of the island of Maui, Hawaii? For those of you that haven’t figure it out yet, Frost and I tied the knot this past January, after Hell froze over, in what I can only describe as the upmost, biker fashion type, celebration. No details were missed; from waiting on the perfect date, time and location, to being dressed in black and red and decked out in skulls, to going so far as picture taking at a century old cemetery. It was certainly one for the books! Once in Kahului, Hawaii we contacted Maui Harley-Davidson to check on our bike rentals and met up with Russ, the new dealer as of last fall. This dealer is on the right track, as his awesome cus-
tomer service skills and friendly personality are second to none. We felt right at home, although we were 7,245 kilometres away. Top notch all the way! It was a pleasure doing business with you Russ, thank you! By the way, should anyone reading this find yourself going out to Maui for a holiday, you won’t have to miss out on your favourite Mag as they are now distributors of this soon to be, worldwide, best biker magazine. Welcome aboard Maui Harley-Davidson! Make us proud! What a Ride, Hairpin curves and Narrow roads, going up the crater, through the wind and clouds. As we reached the summit, 7000’ above sea level, we found out that we couldn’t see anything downwards and the Higher we went the wetter we got. The clouds had moved in, during our trek up the massive hillside, and covered the entire area preventing us from an amazing view. Our visit to Haleakalā National Park could have included a glimpse of a rare native bird, The Nene, a hands-on experience with Hawaiian culture, and breezes through the bamboo forest, or warm sun on our backs, as we rode the volcanic landscape. Somewhat disappointed, we headed back down thinking that it wasn’t that bad as we were riding bikes in the middle of January, in warm temperatures, and wearing “perma smiles” on our faces making us look like weirdos. If we already didn’t look like that before…lol. This road was one of the most winding roads I’ve ever undertaken, but it was no match to what was coming our way the next day! Riding the green, lush, countryside roads, with the stereo blaring, it was enjoyable to listen to Hawaiian music while looking at the local farms and enjoying the scenery. We ended up at a local vineyard and took advantage of tasting pineapple wine. While there, we met a local chapter of the KOA PUNA m/c, a family oriented club, doing a memorial run in tribute of fallen members. “Quite a friendly bunch” as Frost would testify, while checking out the custom creations of some of the members. We enjoyed some time with them before we parted ways to continue our journey. Not certain how many of you have seen the movie Ground Hog Day, but although it wasn’t quite February, it sure seemed to be one of those days during one particular section of our quest. You see, we’re always up for trying different popular
THE RIDERS MAG ----- PAGE 41
restaurants, and visiting oddities, so we decided to try and locate a particular diner that had been featured in the TV show Triple D (Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives). After consulting the local map, Frost indicated the location wasn’t far from us at that point, and “I’ll lead …. I know where this is”. Being I was there to relax and not care how fast we arrived there, I sat back and let her roll. About 10 minutes later, I noticed we had arrived at the same intersection, from the same direction twice already, and started to look around more and question my navigator. Frustrated, she looked at me and said “we’ll find it”. After being at the same intersection for a third time, she pulled off to check her map, once more, only to find out we were just across the street from our destination. So off we go and pull into the parking lot of the famous DaKitchen restaurant only to find out that is was closed on Sundays! What a disappointment after all the effort we put in to get there. Oh well, I guess its back to our favourite local pub, The Ale House, for beer and wings for dinner! Awesome!! The Road to Hana, (which the locals call “far better that the Tail of the Dragon”) it’s 68 miles of winding, up and down roads, and 59 single lane bridges, complete with 620 turns on a ¾ lane road. It is shared with oncoming traffic. Oh, did I fail to mention that on one side, your elbows would graze the rock cut while the other side, which had no guardrails...by the way, it has a 2,000’ to 3,000’ drop? That’s right…kinda hard to wrap your head around it, but if you ever get a chance to experience it for yourself, or talk to someone that has done it, you’ll be amazed there aren’t more accidents. There were times we waited 20 to 30 minutes for the road to be cleared, due to the ever-occurring landslides. We welcomed these breaks to enjoy some of the most scenic, but heart stopping and challenging roads that we’ve ever seen. At one point, Frost was leading, and she came upon this 180° hairpin curve, it then turned to an 25% uphill climb... that brought her bike to standing stop.
THE RIDERS MAG ----- PAGE 42
I immediately got ready to go help when I noticed she was looking at me with her teeth clenched, feet still on the boards and let out a yell while cranking the throttle down making the bike roar and finally move forward before the center of gravity had her on her side! Wow what determination… she made me proud of being with a rider of that caliber as most would have just given up and let it drop. She showed that 726-pound machine who was boss! Well I’m going to stop here as I’m sure my editor is going call me longwinded again only to say a couple more things. Lol…thought I was going to stop, heh?!? This was by far the most amazing bike trip I’ve ever taken, whether it be the scenery, the great food and people, or just the warm temperatures. The fact that I’m riding a bike in mid-January, with the company I had, was the bestest! If you ever plan such a trip, one piece of advice I must share with you is bring a GoPro as there were times when stopping for a picture was impossible. As far as a GoPro is concerned, rent one, buy one or steal one, but make sure you have one!!! Brotherhood Lately, there’s been a lot of talk about what brotherhood is and what it means to certain people. Some would say that because we entertain certain same aspects of life, we are brothers from another mother. In fact, the Brotherhood goes a lot deeper than just riding bikes and having similarities. It goes as far as supporting your brother through thick and thin, is having earned the love, honor and respect of another man, hell it’s going as far as taking a bullet for another man. Of course, like everything else, there are multiple levels of brotherhood. It all depends on the level of Respect, Trust as well as Loyalty and Honor that you’ve earned. So by all means, please start earning these credentials before you start making a fool of yourself in public. Found this quote from Breeze that leads me to believe that he gets it…. Brotherhood Side by side we ride across this land Brothers by choice more than the shake of a hand Damned for the patch you fly Wanting to be free and high Like the desperados of old Riding free and being bold From long hair and leather to the iron on your side From horses to steeds of steel The wind is what you long to feel Brothers in arms protecting each other from harm Brothers not of kin but brothers in the wind. Breeze Tuckaho Northern Ontario As I requested in my last article, we are still looking for assistance from like-minded individuals who want to get involved with “The Rider’s Mag” in the Northern Ontario
region. Whether it is delivery or event reporting and picture taking, we welcome all you can offer. Take my newest friend Roger from Sault Ste. Marie - he has been putting The Mag on the map for at least 10 years now and he’s doing an amazing job distributing to the various groups such as, but not limited to, the Ironworkers M/C, Goldwing Riders, Dan’s Custom Cycle, Big Dave’s Tattoo Studio, a couple of 1% clubs. I, for one, am looking forward to visiting all of you in your great city of Sault Ste. Marie this coming summer. Should you want to hook up prior to that, feel free to look me up and it would be my pleasure to accommodate this as much as possible. Roger is also active with the Biker’s Rights Organization (BRO), as well as with the upcoming FALLEN RIDERS MEMORIAL RIDE coming soon on May 27th, 2017. Find them on Facebook at ‘Fallen Riders of Algoma’. All groups, independents, and families are invited. The event will go as planned, rain or shine. Save the date! Now I’m going to leave you with a few words, as well as brother Rebar’s article from last month. Awesome work Rebar! Looking forward to seeing more of it. The Biker code reads, all men are created equal, then some step up and become bikers! A class above! Friday the 13th By Rebar - Northern Ontario’s newest contributor! Its -21° this morning. Welcome to Sudbury. But that will not stop the adventurous bikers from heading out to the local Harley-Davidson dealership to celebrate Friday the 13th. The parking lot was full at 1:00 p.m. but that did not deter our northerners from parking their trucks on the snow banks. The Rock Harley-Davidson is presenting us with a Friday the 13th celebration, starting at the dealership on Long Lake Road and ending with “Rocking the Rock” in the evening at the Caruso Club. The Rock Harley-Davidson venue is glittered like chrome. Let’s all go in there! Out of the gate is a row of venders with products on display. Allstate Insurance has a table set up where you can roll the dice to win a 2017 Harley Sportster. I meet Reaper there and we try to keep the dice rolling. No luck. Next time - maybe. Boston Pizza is giving away slices of hot meat, stacked, pizzas and coupons at the next table. We meet Dave, who has a custom air brush business called “DOC HOUSE” from Sault Ste. Marie. He has an impressive display of his work to admire. And that is all just in the entrance area! Now walking into the showroom, we meet two lovely girls from the Sudbury Burlesque’s team of dancers; they perform a modernized version of burlesque in the area. A night out to see Starlotte Lagunna and their chorus of dancers would be a salacious, but graceful performance I’m sure. There is a “Dare to Ride In” draw for a $250 Rock Harley-Davidson gift card. I did get a picture of one brave biker who rode in today. The owner of the Rock dealership, who was gracious enough to kick this event into existence for our community, and the Elgin Street Mission, is on hand to greet the lucky people who attended. It’s always nice to meet Mike, from Skin Illusions, with his team of excellent Tattoo artists. It’s not uncommon to run into them at any biker event, but always a pleasure. Can’t talk too long at this location, the
artists are very busy. It’s almost time to head out to the Caruso Club for an Italian dinner. Hats off to the hardworking coat check girls; they deserve every cash tip that was dished out. I see smokers checking coats in and out quite often. “Great job” girls! Sitting at a table, along the path to the bar section, is our friend Rev. Rene Soulliere, his lovely wife and the Rock Harley-Davidson owner, Greg. Nice to have a chat with this fine group, on the way to the bar. Nice set up for beverages of all sorts. Waterloo Brewing Company is set up and giving out samples of their fine product. I tell you the good things that happen at this event never seem to end. I must say that Laker is a good tasting beer. Now we run onto Serge, who works part time at the Rock, when the biking season is on a busy roll. A big thanks to you, Serge, for buying us a VIP table and letting us sit with you and your lovely date. People are rolling in and the place is filling up, just the way we all like to rock, in a big crowd with bikers. First band up is Alcoholic - great sound and very talented. If you’re a Metallica fan, you’re enjoying this band. Next up is Krystal Beth. I think some people believe this is really Kiss. Well it’s not. They sure as hell look and sound like it though. It’s now a challenge to get to the front of the stage to get a picture of the rocker crowd. The Rock Harley-Davidson people may be good at selling and servicing our Harley’s but they obviously have another good talent. That would be hosting bike events with a follow up Rock concert. It’s almost time to arrange a ride home now. Remember brothers and sisters - do not drink or text and drive!
THE RIDERS MAG ----- PAGE 43
Welcome to Alberta
Welcome to Alberta’s own section of The Riders Mag! The days are getting longer and the 2017 riding season is fast approaching. We dream of the warmer days and the beautiful open roads that Alberta has to offer. Its these roads, events, and people that have been welcoming our local riders, beckoning to the long travelers, and offering so much to the Alberta riding community. With a thriving riding community, established club culture and too many support organizations to mention, we have something for everyone. As we get prepared for the season, I find myself planning rides, reviewing destination and the rally’s. With Two Hills voted ‘Canadas Most Rider Friendly Town’ to Motorcycle Madness in the Wayne / Drumheller area. From the club rides to the private runs, the public fund raisers to small town gatherings, we have it all and deciding what to take in is only a matter of choosing a direction and letting friends know where you will be camped. Best of all, whatever the direction, good people and good times are easy to find. As we dream and plan our excursions, I sincerely hope the Riders Mag will help provide everyone with some background and rider pertinent info as we trek around this beautiful province. If you have an event you would like covered or are interested in placing an ad, please send me an email at dtremblay09@gmail.com or a phone call @403 443 3126. Following are some of my favorite pics I have collected from runs around the province. If you see a familiar face, bike, or location, give me a call and let me know what you think either way. DanT
THE RIDERS MAG ----- PAGE 44
Williams custom Bikes
Introducing new to Alberta and Canada alike our very own home grown custom motorcycle company setting out in Alberta. Introduced at Black Jacks Road House in Nisku Alberta, November 2016 by WILLIAMS CUSTOM BIKES of Canada. Unveiled at the gala was the “Irv Special 100”. Take a look at the photos as they speak for themselves, this is one beautiful ride. This Alberta Based company, soon to be producing its own engine and a purpose built trike to add to its line up of options. Irv Williams, Sven Bernard, Travis Bakko, and William Clark were all present to answer any questions and to help fill us in on what we can come to expect from the now eight-person company. Most impressive was the fact that Williams Custom Bikes was formed back in Sept of 1989! That’s right, no one is rushing into this proving a long standing commitment to the product and the business, and of course to us, the customers. This commitment stems from the fact that all members of the Williams
Custom Bikes team are riders with an understanding of rider’s passion for custom and a pulse on riders needs. From the short rider to the Harley Hard-core enthusiast, Williams Custom Bikes is ready to deliver. With the capacity to produce approximately one complete unit per day, attention to quality and detail are priority number one. Important to the company as well is its commitment to producing one of custom bikes as ordered by the customer in approximately fourteen days from order. That’s right, your choice in paint, engine, are just few of the options available. So, what can we expect from this company in the coming years? Up to six new and different models are set to be introduced. With this exciting news, they sky is the limit to what we may see from these up and commers. If you are interested or have any questions, these guys are ready and willing to work with you to produce your dream custom built ride.
THE RIDERS MAG ----- PAGE 45
First question… Are you ALL getting excited yet..??? Days are getting longer, a bit warmer and the Leathers are getting dusted off… Bring on the RIDIN’ BABY… So I popped into the Vancouver Motorcycle Show out here in Abbotsford B.C. on January 20th, 2017 checking stuff out and once again was a GREAT turn out. Chatted with some old and met some new including Angela Young “The Riders Mag” rep on Vancouver Island – good lady. Saw lots of BIG Vendors Harley Davidson, Honda, Indian etc., I myself like to take note of the “Little Guy” just starting out. These vendors have so much to offer and actually give you the time if you have any questions AND it doesn’t matter what you ride. I have so many favorites its crazy and some I have known for years. For us in B.C. we love to support local so I will give props to the ones I believe need some recognition. A.I.M (Association for Injured Motorcyclist), Gospel Riders, Lords of GasTown, Up Your Leather and Jarz. These are just a few, but these are the ones that stand out for me. Each is very unique in their own way. A.I.M are pretty self-explanatory, some great people that do some extremely awesome work for those who need help after an accident – look them up at www. aimvancouver.com. A.I.M also has a “calendar” you can check out upcoming local events. Gospel Riders - a small group of men and women who show support all over B.C. Doesn’t matter what your “Higher Being” is, no judgement here they just want to show the love and ride. Big shout out to Dan… Woot Woo Buddy… www. gospelriders.com Lords of Gastown – these guys have come a long way from a group riding their chopped up hoppers to selling clothing. They ride throughout B.C and into the USA and hold their annual shine in downtown Vancouver B.C. Awesome clothing for the Ladies… www.
THE RIDERS MAG ----- PAGE 46
lordsofgastown.com JARZ - I LOVE JARZ. JARZ is a locally owned motorcycle shop to take your ride in and have her checked. They got parts, kits and clothes. My hubby takes his girl in every year to get her ready for the season and would recommend this shop to EVERYONE. www.jarzperformance.com Up Your Leather – Leather, Leather and more Leather…
all the riding gear you need and very reasonable. Bags, jackets, chaps, boots, I could go on forever. Warren is one GREAT guy… www.upyourleather.com I checked out some of the BIG guys and was impressed with some of the rides. I was a little set back at the fact that I was waiting to see “Custom Alley” again, nope wasn’t there, BUT Batman left his car on the red carpet. Couldn’t find Batman so I can’t tell ya how it handled. It’s the 2017 Slingshot, it looks like a Dune Buggy on steroids. The 2017 Indian was a B-E-A utiful bike, this ride has some of the smoothest lines you can imagine. Love it when OLD meets New. Thank you for bringing back the Indian – fine job. Saw a “VESPA” and soooo wanted a scoot on it, but they wouldn’t let me. Not sure why??? There was something for everyone and a need for everything. There was kids on dirt bikes riding in an enclosed circuit with tons of gear on. Wondering what they’re thinking – “Hey mom and dad I want one of these…!!!” And it begins, it’s in the blood and the fun at 10 becomes the passion at 50+. Stopped in and saw my riding instructors at Pacific Riding School – Dat Louie and Mark “Kramer” Kruger who
taught me the basics almost 15 years ago. I would highly recommend Pacific to anyone, young or old who want to learn to ride. Great and patient bunch of instructors. Check them out at – www.pacificridingschool.com
Oh man, let me tell you about the FOOD TRUCKS… Hunger Management and Pub Grub. All I can say is OMFG… Full… Burp… Excuse me… And of course to finish off our 5 hour tour of the show we stopped into the “Gardens” for a nice cold bevy X 2. This is the place where you run into the peeps you don’t see during the “Hibernation” season and start making plans for when and where with who and riding what.
I have to make sure that I give credit where credit is due, so I got to mention my hubby. Love you Baby and thanks for putting up with me. My mom, Lesley Read who has been punching out patches on her embroidery machine since July 2015 – Love you Momma. My kids Stewart, Graham, William and Melanie for putting up with moms crap… You are my BIGGEST cheering section and I love you all… kisses Some rides and poker runs coming up in B.C. are: April 23, 2017 – 31st Annual Classic & Vintage Motorcycle Swap & Shine – info: 604299-0020 May 28, 2017 - West Coast motorcycle Ride To Live – info: www.ridetolive.ca June 03, 2017 – Castaways Poker Run – info: Dean 604-315-7381 email: tuffasnails69@ hotmail.com July 28 – 29, 2017 – Classic Car & Motorcycle Cruise-In – info: www.rideintohistory.ca July 30, 2017 – Sasquatch Inn’s 12th Annual Show n’ Shine – Mission BC There will be lots more coming as the season gets started. Check out my FaceBook page for more events, Twisted Pistons productions or Stitch By Witch Custom Embroidery for custom patches. Thanks for reading my crap and supporting “The Riders Mag”… Rubber side down my friends… Stacy Stone - OUT
Island Angela Reporting
On the weekend of January 20th the 2017 Vancouver Motorcycle Show rolled into the Tradex Centre in Abbotsford BC. It is always a great Show and draws huge crowds of those wanting to see the latest in motorcycles and accessories or just socialize with other bikers. There was a huge presence of venders with a wide variety of parts, accessories and services to fit all your biking needs. All of the major Motorcycle companies were represented and showing off their latest offerings including some custom builds from Barnes HD in Victoria BC. Something else that I found extremely interesting was Williams Custom Bikes of Canada display. They are building the only production bike in Canada and have several models to choose from. The factory is located in the little town of Heisler AB. and they were getting a considerable amount of attention! They even offer the option where you can come in to the factory witness the actual building of your motorcycle after a three day course. It will be interesting to see how this upstart Canadian company fares in today’s very competitive market. There was certainly a lot to see. Outside, there were demonstrations of flat track racing, off-road bikes and ATV’s and stunt riders. Inside, the place was crowded with people having fun, checking out the bikes while enjoying the beer gardens and food vendors. I met up with my counterpart Stacy Stone form Abbotsford when I got here and we managed to work out some details on how best to represent The Riders Mag in our respective areas. The Riders Mag is getting a real good reception out here and they can’t keep them on the shelves in all the outlets that we currently have them in! The riding season is almost here! Can’t wait! Until later....Angela
THE RIDERS MAG ----- PAGE 51
NCK Cycle Salvage
Len’s Automotive
PD Restoration
Hastings Starter Alternator
125 Main St. Woodstock,Ont. nckcycle.com 519-533-5177
A.M.P. Cycle
1221 Sundowner Rd. Midland Ont. L4R 4K4 ampcycle.ca 705-526-7500
Hawg Worx
Black Gold Leather 12278 Gorham St #2 Newmarket, Ont. 416-804-2292
Mario’s Bake Shop
9 Ferndale Dr. North Barrie Ont. L4N 9V3 705-503-5343
13305 Hwy 27 Nobelton, Ont. mariosbakeshop.ca 905-859-2253
Tar’d and Feather’d Bar
K&P Auto & Marine Electric
358 Bay St. Beaverton, Ont tardandfeatherd.ca 705-426-9464
Fred Hale Motors & Strictly V-Twin 29945 Highway 48 Pefferlaw, Ont. strictlyvtwin.com 705-437-2291
Sprucedale Hotel 2502 On-518 Sprucedale Ont. P0A 1Y0 sprucedalehotel.com 705-685-1260
Classy Chassis
1399 8th Line of Smith Lakefield. Ont. usedhd.ca 888-292-8305
Recycled Gear
16 Pigeon Lake Rd. Lindsay Ont. K9V 4R6 recycledgear.ca 705-320-7777
160 Pony Dr. #8 Newmarket Ont. kpautoelectric.com 905-895-5832
A.L. Choppers 1119 Main St. E. Hamilton, Ont alchoppers.com 905-545-5139
Metal N Ink Tattoo Studio 189 KING ST E Hamilton, Ont. metal-n-ink.ca 905-524-1745
Franks Magic Crops 480 Guelph Line Burlington, Ont 905-333-3282
Motorcycle Enhancements
427 Speers Rd., Unit 9 Oakville, Ont 905-842-2123
THE RIDERS MAG ----- PAGE 48
4192 Perkins Road, London, Ont. pdrestoration.ca 519-652-6200
Action Trailers 4728 Egremont Dr. Strathroy, Ont. actiontrailers.ca 519-245-8802
Hog Town Cycles 164 Main Street, Lucan, Ont. hogtowncycles.ca 519-227-1331
DG Custom Cycle 51999 College Line Aylmer Ont. dgcustomcycle.com 519-773-3735
Wighty’s Repairs
Hwy 8, 122 Huron Rd. Mitchell Ont. wightysrepairs.com 519-384-0404
Whip’s Performance Cycle
535 Vidal St. S, #3 Sarnia Ont. whipsperformancecycle. ca 519-339-0003
Tiny’s Ltd.
184 Carnegie St. Ingersoll Ont. tinysingersoll.com 519-425-0033
Scotty’s Cycle Shoppe
133 Head Street South Strathroy Ont. scottyscycleshoppe.ca 519-245-4205
2002 Main St Jarvis, Ont. N0A 1J0 lensauto.ca 519-587-5041
19 King St E Hagersville, Ont. N0A 1H0 hastingsstarter.ca 905-768-7688
The Back 40
7 Cayuga St N Cayuga, Ont. N0A 1E0 theback40cayuga.ca 905-772-7275
On The Fringe Leather Destination 13 225 Main St Port Dover Ont. N0A 1N0 519-583-0023
Kreative Khaos Tattoo 300 Colbourne St Brantford, Ont. N3S 3M9 kreativekhaos.com 519-758-8242
The Dam Pub
53 Bruce St. S Thornbury Ont. N0H 2P0 thedampub.ca 519-599-2110
I’m Sooooooo Bad
110 Main st. Mount Forest Ont. 519-323-9969
Smiley &Co.
2549 6th Concession Ripley Ont. N0G 2R0 519-832-7232
Tiny’s Cycle Shop 5026 Hwy. 21 RR#1 Port Elgin Ont. tinyscycleshop.com 519-832-1612
Leather Works Plus
Aviation MotorSports
149 Lorne St. Sudbury, Ont. leatherworksplus.com 705-674-5757
848 Lakeshore Road East Mississauga, L5E 1E1 aviationmotorcycle.com 416-477-7089
Signatures Restaurant
Leather Unlimited
3702 Hwy 144 Chelmsford, Ont signaturesrestaurant.ca 705-855-9021
1981 Boylen Rd. #10 Mississauga, Ont. 905-671-0037
Buzzy Browns Brasserie
9699 Jane Street #18 Vaughan Ont. L6A 3X5 lordsinktattoo.com 416-855-2600
1984 Regent St. Sudbury Ont. buzzybrowns.com 705-522-6284
The Beausejour Inn & Restaurant 1527 On-64 #1, Alban Ont. thebeauinn.com 705-857-2193
Lavigne Tavern 10521 Hwy 64 Lavigne, Ont. Lavignetavern.com 705-594-2301
Duke’s Harley-Davidson®
5 Classic Car Drive Blenheim, Ont N0P 1A0 dukeshd.com 519-354-0650
Leather King
2822 Howard Rd. Windsor, Ont. N8X 3Y2 leatherking.ca 519-254-8331
Colchester Bar & Grill
67 County Rd. 50 W. Harrow Ont. N0R 1G0 519-738-6198
Lord’s Ink
Authentic Custom Cycle
Bridge 12 Pub & Eatery
10 River Rd. Port Robinson, Ont 905-384-1967
Quinns Custom Motorcycles 22 Hellems Ave Welland, Ont. 289-820-7954
Triple K Upholstry 432 Pearson Rd Welland, Ont. triplekupholstery.com 905-735-7216
The S-Bend Family Restaurant
3595 St. Clair Ave. East Scarborough, Ont. M1K 1L8 maliciouscycleshop.com 416-666-5827
Carter’s Customs
219 Sweeney Lane Miramichi, N.B. E1V 3A6 506-251-0291
Jack’s Oasis
J.H. Stewart Ltd
D.A.M. Enterprises
Malicious Cycle and Clothing
4520 Rue Principale, Saint-Antoine NB, E4V 1R1 506-525-2464
Kosmic Arts
Eagle Eye Custom Cycles
1898 Baseline Rd. W. Bowmanville Ont. L1C 3K3 spoiledsports.com 905-436-6487
Paysan Family Restaurant
447 King George Hwy. Miramichi N.B. G1V 1L8 506-836-2845
20 Riordon St #2. St. Catharines, Ont 905-684-6790
Spoiled Sports Motorcycles
1450 Vanier Blvd. (exit 310) Bathurst, NB E2A 7B7 506-548-3335
5801 Hwy. 3 Sherkston, Ont. sbend.ca 905-894-4072
310 Main St., North Markham, Ont. L3P 1Z1 authenticltd.com 905-471-3021
1501 Hopkins St. Whitby Ont. L1N 2C2 eagleeyecustomcycles. com 905-665-7400
Atlantic Host Hotel & Convention Centre
76 Ridley Rd. Unit #2 St Catharines, Ont. 905-688-1386
Task Performance
7616 Mud Street Grassie Ont. taskperformance.ca 905-945-5372
Tons of Bike Gear 4179 RR.20 Saint Anns Ont. tonsofbikegear.com 905-386-0377
Thirsty Cactus 2 King St. East Dundas Ont. thirstycactus.ca 905-627-8488
Harley-Davidson®, Honda, Suzuki Sales & Service 564 Water St. Miramichi, NB 506-622-3405
Miramichi Motorsports
8 Gordon Rd. Miramichi, N.B. E1N 3A5 506-773-9565
Dannys Bar And Grill
7684 Rt. 116 Bass River, N.B. E4T 1L9 506-785-6660
S&A Motorcycle Dyno Stonewall, MB 204-513-0561
Continued on the Next Page
THE RIDERS MAG ----- PAGE 49
Union Street Bar
7 Union St., Smiths Falls Ont. 613-205-1632
Players Sport Bar
140 Lombard St. Smiths Falls, Ont 613-283-8886 www.playerssportbar.ca
Milano Pizzeria 14 Main St. E. Smiths Falls Ont 613-283-3333
Meetz Small Engines 427 Albert St. Waterloo, Ont meetz.ca 519-885-3860
RNR Custom Cycle
108 Beaumont Cres. Guelph, Ont. rnrcustomcycle.com 519-821-8666
B.A. Machine 7174 Bank St. Metcalfe, Ont. bamachine.ca 613-821-9090
THE RIDERS MAG ----- PAGE 50
Good News About St. Patrick, Lucky Charms, and the Patron Saint of Beer! (More myth busting by the anti religion pastor...) I’ll bet you’re glad your birthday is not March 17, St. Paddy’s Day...gives you another day to party, eh? Yeah, I always try to look on the bright side. But there’s a lot of myth about St. Paddy (not to kill the party mood...) because he was not a real, canonized Saint of Rome but was a very successful missionary in Ireland starting on or about the year 436 A. D. He did not rid Ireland of snakes, as there never were any there to begin with. However, being a man of faith and a missionary, he still fits the Bible’s description of a saint! The Bible teaches us to “hang out with the saints” (Hebrews 10:25) and to “pray for the saints” (Ephesians 6:18) and that means pray for the living believers, not to pray for Saints in Heaven. So if you are a believer, you are a modern day saint! Fill in this blank with your name: Saint _______. Cool, eh? St. Paddy’s Day would be maybe a little more legit if they added another saint: Saint Arnold of Soissons who is a bona fide Roman Catholic Saint (A. D. 1040-1087). He saved a lot of lives by telling his parishioners not to drink water, drink beer, as the water was polluted and rife with disease in Belgium at the time. His beer jus wasn’t green yet. Clearly, many churches have no problem with consuming beer, so why would anyone think that having a couple should stand in the way of having genuine faith in God!?. Can you believe I am writing about drinking beer in a positive light in my faith article!? I am so in trouble... Not! Er, well...we’ll see... Now a word from this month’s sponsor: Lucky Charms. I was always bummed that my Mom would not buy Lucky Charms for breakfast. Magically delicious, she said it ws not good for us (probably too expensive for a house with four kids). It brings up a point of order for me as we gear up for the riding season as motorcycle ministries and biker churches across the country get ready to do bike blessings. Whether we bless your bike, give you a cross to remember to pray or give you a pocket sized Bible so you can read God’s word, or pray at your event, we are not giving you or being your lucky charm. We are actually praying for you that your faith is increased if just by a little bit this year and of course we ask for a little damage control for your bike and passenger. I want you to believe just a little bit stronger. That’s why I call myself the anti religion pastor because the most important thing is to believe in God. “Believe in the lord Jesus, and you will be saved (set aside for Heaven), you and your household” (Acts 16:31). Pray with me now: Father in Heaven, please forgive my shortcomings because I believe in you and that Jesus is your living Son because you raised Him from the dead. I want you to make me a part of your family and to give me peace. Amen. God bless you this March! See you on the road soon. Pastor Ken 905-870-8584 kenang@cogeco.ca hamiltonbikerschurch.com
THE RIDERS MAG ----- PAGE 51
Ok so I have been AWOL from the Mag for quite a stretch...for the last several months just chilling like an old dog on the porch....but soon we all get itch to get off our proverbial asses and exercise the grey matter.. Also for the first time in many years I have become a club-less heathen.. I do miss the hombres of the old MC..and hope to see them soon. One thing I have kept up is the music...in and out of bands all my life, it’s just a habit I cannot shake..in the last few years getting booked often playing here and there between Pickering and London, and as the song goes...cause I don’t mind the money.. So allow me to back things up and catch up with you good readers ... I hit the bike show and my first stop was to offer a beverage to Critter ...caught him at his usual spot in Hall 5...figured he could use a break from the MAG’s booth.... where every 2 minutes he meets someone he knows...he does this from Friday nite till Sunday nite...exhausting in my opinion. Donny Petersen does the same as he inhabits the same space as Critter to display his award winning HD tech books...both are such well known personalities ...also saw the MAGS editor the good man AL who hauls the heavy load of gluing all the pieces together for each issue.. So after the refreshments Critter tells me I would be welcome to come back and spew my usual bullshit ...so here goes nothin’ I have faint memories of owning a Hardly Daleyson motorscooter .....I believe back in No-
THE RIDERS MAG ----- PAGE 52
vember the one I owned was pushed to the back of the ole garage...covered up and a ton shit piled in front of it...What I write now will be in March issue...so maybe I will begin the process of digging it out if the creek don’t rise.. Dreaming again ... I sent a message to one of the Rider’s Mag stellar advertisers (RIDE ARIZONA- JCR TWO WHEEL TOURS) re transporting my road glide down to Phoenix in April. I have made peace with my brother Dirty Bert who has a place in Lake Havesu and promised to try and get my ass down there. It’s been 10 years since my last tour thru AZ/NV/CALI and 4 different Hd’s since then... so fingers crossed and if the stars align off we go...fly down and pick up it in Phoenix and ride for 10 days or so.. What else?..oh yah i got on with a TV series...Many of you know biker/musician/amigo Johnny B (Fogman)... last March he called me and said to send in a picture of myself and my bike to a casting agent for the Gangland Undercover season 2 Well I guess I have the right stuff or maybe just cause I do ride and own the correct make of bike..I was selected.. So head out for the first day..I see the familiar face of Big Ed from East. They dress us in ragged clothes as members of an MC (Pagans)..and off we go riding up and down Midland Avenue roaring just by mere inches away from the main character that is on a bicycle.....they shot it several times from back to front.. and then we went back to one of the bars in the show (in this case the old Knobby) ...did some scenes just hanging out drinking water out of beer bottles and smoking some kind of herbal non tobacco ciggies (no readers it wasn’t weed lol)..... you do this over and over as they shoot it from different angles. It was pretty cool to see how it all gets done ...We became fast friends with the other background Pagan guys.. Lee Baldwin, Jawny (Gypsy). The next day we go to another bar which is supposed to be the Pagan hangout...and the main character actor Damon Runyan of the show comes in on his own and gets tuned up by the Pagan President Crowbar ...Damon fights back and Lee and I get to throw Damon thru the door out into the parking lot...got a wee
bit to carried away on the first try and we nailed him hard and we all landed on the floor...he shook it off and we tried again and again till we got it right...I imagine Damon had a few bruises, but he is a pro.. During the days we got to know another primary actor Steven Eric McIntyre who plays the DEVIL president of the local Virginia Chapter of the other MC ...on screen he is one scary guy ...but this is acting and when the camera is off he is just a laid back easy going dude...... Interesting to see how they can turn it off and on...(but then again we all know some “bad actors”) Days later we dirty Pagans are brought back into the shooting to mix with the “other” main club in the show...as the story goes there is much tension between the two clubs ...over disputes about territory (parts of Virginia) After hours of hanging out we background guys (those of us that were actual riders became great friends) Lee Baldwin .... Ralph Hachey (ralph was the cast favorite) ...Bob Gorza...Terry Stokoe...Big Ed.. Gary Legacy Jim Loker and Steve Jacobsen...sorry if I missed any others.... They sure picked the right guys as background as most have been “around” and add reality to the show...some are current “clubbers” and a few are past members I as learned and from different areas of Ontario. What also was cool some of the main actors hung out with us...namely Bullet played by Thomas Mitchell who is upbeat avid Harley rider, he loves this show you can tell...he has played in many different movies and TV productions ...a righteous dude.. Thomas has come out on several rides and events with some of the background boys ...also we met Todd Sandomirksy who plays Gator national Pres of the “other mc” has made it out hear my band play...All the actors and crew are 100% Cdn’s it is amazing to watch it all moving from place to place...trucks/crew/ food/cameras/lights/sound...is nothing short of army of ants rushing from set to set... So the Pagans did about 7-8 days...the “other mc” in the show did a lot more...bottom line we all really had a good time...long hours just waiting around the set for the next part we are in....all this time we got to know each other...the show has aired once and I am told it will be shown again (History Channel or A & E ) not sure when but watch it...and fingers crossed there will be season 3 as we all would love to do it again... Ok what else...oh ya me and bride of Frankenstein went to Mexico for a week in Jan...down to Hautulco again at a very nice resort joint...what i like it’s mostly Canadians and Americans there....on the Pacific side way down near the Guatemalan border ...Just ate and drank enough fill a swimming pool...we went into town saw a clubber of some type a (mex club)...he and passenger were travelling and sun and wind burned...the roads and weather down there are treacherous to say the least...no Sunday Tim Horton’s riders will you see in that mountainous region of SW Mexico.. I hope you all have made it thru winter without too many down days....you only get so many riding seasons in your life to ride so let’s make this next one a good one....take the trip...buy the bike...spend the money..whatever it is you have been holding off doing.... Lastly we lost a very very cool guy a few months back...a rider of the 10th degree...Gus Sevink...aka General Guster...I have a 100 stories I could tell you...up and down and sideways thru North America...15 hour days in the saddle..only stop for gas/coffee/muffin and a piss and off he’d roar...he rode a 97 Heritage Springer till the wheels fell off...hardly ever maintained it...bald tires...no oil in it half the time...he wore his clothers till they fell apart...Gus was never one to give up on garment or his scooter...and I know he could have afforded it...a true old school road warrior....super intelligent and with just one look at you could shut you up...here’s pic of him with my brother Dirty Bert...(Gus on the right) I shall raise a glass to him ...and those that read this and know him miss him...I wish I had spent more time with such a man... So people stay well..hope to see you all soon...please excuse..my poor grammar...bad spelling...lack of punctuation as I did try my best to polish up this turd of a submission...>>BWTF ...that’s all folks....
THE RIDERS MAG ----- PAGE 53
There was a period of silence. I thought the call had been dropped, but then I heard his voice. He barked, “I dropped you off!” Now it was my time to be silent. Embarrassed, I said, “Well, come and get me.” He retorted, “I will, as soon as I convince this policeman I have not stolen your car. “Yep, it’s the golden years.“
Several days ago as I left a meeting at a hotel; I desperately gave myself a personal TSA pat down. I was looking for my keys. They were not in my pockets. A quick search in the meeting room revealed nothing. Suddenly I realized I must have left them in the car. Frantically, I headed for the parking lot. My husband has scolded me many times for leaving the keys in the ignition. My theory is the ignition is the best place not to lose them. His theory is that the car will be stolen. As I burst through the door, I came to a terrifying conclusion. His theory was right. The parking lot was empty. I immediately called the police. I gave them my location, confessed that I had left my keys in the car, and that it had been stolen. Then I made the most difficult call of all, “Honey,” I stammered; I always call him “honey” in times like these. “I left my keys in the car, and it has been stolen.”
A man got on the bus with both of his front trouser pockets full of golf balls and sat down next to a beautiful (you guessed it) blonde. The puzzled blonde kept looking at him and his bulging pockets. Finally, after many glances from her, he said, “It’s golf balls.” The blonde continued to look at him for a very long time, thinking deeply about what he had said. After several minutes, not being able to contain her curiosity any longer, she asked . . . “Does it hurt as much as tennis elbow?” A young monk arrives at the monastery. He is assigned to helping the other scribes copy the old canons and laws of the church by hand. He notices, however, that the monks are all copying from other copies, not from the original manuscript. So, the new monk goes to the Abbot to question this, pointing out that if a scribe made even a small error in the first copy, it would never be picked up! Any error would be continued in all subsequent copies. The Abbot replies, “We have been copying from the copies for centuries, but you make a good point, my son.” The Abbot decides to check so descends into the dark caves deep below the monastery where the original
THE RIDERS MAG ----- PAGE 55