SEPT2011 ISSUE6 VOLUME4
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THIS MONTH 04 Publisher’s Note Time to take our annual break
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06 Common bonds Grave commitment to service
08 Do You Know? Fred & Jackie Ingraham
10 Johnny & Jay
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Quite the adventure
12 V8 Choppers Something unexpected in Sturgis
14 Side car racing More fun than a barrel of monkeys
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16 Hand wave Motorcycle hand wave revealed
18 Nights & Rallies Who, what, where and when
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Publisher & Advertising: Roderick “Caine” Kabel roderick@throttlermagazine.com 515.210.7066 Vice President & Circulation: Scott “Kong” Chambers scott@throttlermagazine.com
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President & Accounting: Stacy “Fancy Face” Kabel stacy@throttlermagazine.com Motocross Editor: Sean “Wide Open” Goulart Graphic Design Intern: Amanda “Hulkster” Strong Editorial Contributors: Tony Tice, Johnny Lange, Luuezz Denise Gasper Jay Barbieri, Dean Lambert
Policies: All content is 2011 copyright THROTTLER MOTORCYCLE MAGAZINE L.L.C. THROTTLER MOTORCYCLE MAGAZINE L.L.C. is published and distributed throughout IA, IL, KS, MN, MO, NE, SD, WI. Readers are permitted one free copy per month; contact the publisher for additional mailed copies at $6 each. THROTTLER MOTORCYCLE MAGAZINE L.L.C. is not responsible for loss, damage or any other injury of unsolicited material. THROTTLER MOTORCYCLE MAGAZINE L.L.C. does not knowingly accept false or misleading advertising or editorial, nor does THROTTLER MOTORCYCLE MAGAZINE L.L.C. assume responsibility should such advertising or editorial appear. Statements of fact and opinion in articles written by contributing columnists and writers are solely those of the author alone and do not necessarily imply those of THROTTLER MOTORCYCLE MAGAZINE L.L.C. Material may not be reprinted in any form without expressed written permission from the publisher of THROTTLER MOTORCYCLE MAGAZINE L.L.C. All data and information provided is for informational purposes only. Throttler Motorcycle Magazine makes no representations as to accuracy, completeness, currentness, suitability, or validity of any information written and will not be liable for any errors, omissions, or delays in this information or any losses, injuries, or damages arising from its display or use. All information is provided on an as-is basis.
throttlermotorcyclemagazine 03
Be the hero of your own life Do something that gives you that “moment” in life
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t’s that time again when we take our winter break to await the snow fall and thaw. No, we’re not closing our doors for those of you new to Throttler magazine. This will be our fith year in print and it’s our way of regrouping and gearing up for the 2012 riding season.
While we’re out we would love to hear from you about any interesting articles we should consider next year. Just drop us an email and we’ll get back to you on specifics.
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This month’s issue has an interesting article that’s not our typical read. Dean Lambert takes us into a realm that we’re not comfortable with as riders and looks at funeral directors. Not the kind of work one would think, such as, as biker clubs. This month is the 10th anniversary of the horrible attack on America on 9/11. I vividly remember every minute of that day ten years ago. Where I was. Who I was with... And how I hugged my family and wept. We encourage everyone to thank any and every soldier you encounter and thank them for their service to our freedom and free land. Lastly, We found early on that here in the Midwest it’s pretty hard to have a dedicated
SEPTEMBER2011
motorcycle magazine 12 months of the year. The fact is, advertising dollars run short in the Fall for many businesses. Likewise, as a fan of Throttler magazine you have definitely noticed we partner with quality advertisers dedicated to the motorcycle industry. We’re not in the business of soliciting non-industry businesses at all. I mean, who benefits from crossword puzzles and food recipes anyway? So instead of filling our pages with garbage we’re taking our annual winter break until the snow is gone and our March issue arrives. We want to take a minute to remind everyone that even though there is snow on coming we all should continue to support our local motorcycle businesses as well as continue to service and buy accessories during non-riding months here in the Midwest. We would like to thank all of our writers as well as our wonderful advertisers. With out them we wouldn’t exist. R. Kabel, Stacy Kabel and Scott Chambers
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11 Common Mistakes by Motorcycle Riders and How to Avoid Them
#1 Way to Avoid an Accident and 9 Insider Secrets to Avoid Costly Mistakes By COREY WALKER Corey@IowaInjured.com
Iowans who ride motorcycles are beginning to realize that they should learn about how to avoid an accident and if they have been in an accident how to avoid costly mistakes. Some riders fail to bring their case within time limitations (which can be as short as 6 months to provide notice) while others do not learn about their rights. A New Book about Iowa motorcycle accidents is being offered at No Cost, Risk or Obligation which reveals: • #1 Way to Avoid a Motorcycle Accident • 9 Insider Secrets to Avoid Costly Mistakes • 7 Things to Know Before Talking to the Insurance Adjustor or Hiring an Attorney and much more. Why offer a Book at No Cost? Because since 1997, Iowa Personal Injury Attorney Corey Walker has represented hundreds of injured Iowans including many who have been injured in motorcycle accidents and he has seen too many make mistakes resulting in
them losing thousands of dollars. Franklin of Washington, Iowa says “Corey’s book includes information that most people don’t know but should in case of an accident.” James of Sioux City says “I would recommend this book to my friends because most riders I know are informed with their bikes, the roads, and their abilities, but not the laws.” Why offer a free book? Because after having represented hundreds of injured Iowans, Iowa Injury Attorney Corey Walker has seen the consequences of costly mistakes. Finally, you can learn about motorcycle accidents in the comfort of your own home with no risk or obligation. If you own a motorcycle; or if you or a loved one have been injured in an accident and do not have an attorney then this book is for you. Claim your copy (while supplies last) Call Now (800)-707-2552, ext. 215 (24 Hour Recorded Message) or go to www. MotorcycleAccidentBook.com. Our Guarantee- If you do not learn at least one thing from the book let us know and we will donate $100 in your name to ABATE (A Brotherhood Aimed Towards Education which works for you, the motorcycle enthusiast.)
throttlermotorcyclemagazine 05
Common bonds
T
ByDean Lambert
here are tens of thousands of motorcycle clubs (MCs) around the world. They often start out with a couple of friends getting together on a regular basis for day rides or weekend jaunts. The group grows over time as the friends invite others to ride along, and before you know it, someone brings up the idea of formalizing things… A motorcycle club is born. For many riders, sharing the experience with others makes it even more the richer. There are motorcycle organizations such as the Harley Owners Group (H.O.G.) and Yamaha Riders Club, whose members are passionate about their brand or motorcycle type. Some MCs are formed on the basis of shared experience. A number of veter-
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ans’ clubs are allied by branch of service, theaters of war, military unit, and even rank. There are women MCs, organizations chartered on ethnicity and common origin, fraternal affiliation, and even survivors of life-threatening illness. Of course you’ve heard about the 1%ers — so-called outlaw biker clubs whose members are just as passionate about their commitment to creed, purpose and brotherhood as anyone else. Still other clubs are formed based on the members’ common professions such as law enforcement, aviation, public safety, and even funeral directing. Considering the number and often-
violent nature of motorcycle fatalities, one might think few funeral directors would ride. But many are avid bikers and there is in fact one motorcycle organization made up of funeral directors and people allied with that profession: the Trocars. Named after the medical instrument used in the embalming process, the group was founded in 1998 by Chris “Chief” Wiest (VP) and Ron Winge (President), two Chicago-area funeral directors. Ron bought a 1993 HarleyDavidson Heritage Softail Classic that year, and he and Chris began riding together pretty regularly. They soon discovered several of their colleagues had bikes and joined up with them for weekly rides. “We had a lot in common,” says Ron. “There was the work, and the hobby.” Ron believes the hobby takes away the stress of the work. “We are helping people on a daily basis, who have experienced the worst day of their lives. Being on the bike, it definitely helps clear your mind.”
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One motorcycle organization’s grave commitment to service Mike “Mikey G” Grabowski was patched in 2000. He is the Trocars’ secretary. A funeral director for more than 20 years, he spends most of his time embalming. A typical day for Mike might begin with what funeral directors call a “removal,” picking up the body of a deceased person from the hospital or a home, depending on when and where death occurs. Once another funeral director on staff makes the arrangements, he uses his skill and experience — part technician and part artist — to restore the corpse to presentable form. For many families this is the final image of their loved one that will be etched in their minds. It has to be as close to reality as possible. Depending on the cause of death, it can be painstakingly difficult. Restorative arts takes many years to master because every so often, something an embalmer has never seen before is brought into the preparation room. From gunshots to drowning, car accidents or suicide, sometimes the level of disfigurement is beyond comprehension to even the most seasoned funeral director. I was curious about what goes through a funeral director’s mind when embalming. Does it ever become routine? What do you feel or think? “Every situation is a little different,” says Mike. “Children and babies hit home pretty hard as opposed to someone 99 years old who has lived a full life. I have kids, and it’s difficult to put yourself in the parents’ shoes. I would say it is never easy, but it is harder to deal with when it’s a child.” Mike says he has taken care of family members who died. “Both grandmothers, my wife’s grandmother, and one of my uncles. When it is an immediate family member, you do process it differently,” he admits. “Myself, I wouldn’t want anyone else handling the case. I have enough experience, knowledge and skill to do the best job.” Mike believes it is actually a form of closure. “Regardless of my experience over all these years, it is an emotional time and I sometimes find myself talking to a relative.” Other funeral directors and embalmers echo this. Some explain what they are doing as if the deceased
were listening. One might sing a favorite song as they apply cosmetics that feign blood under the flesh, bringing some semblance of life back in view. “It might sound weird,” Mike says. “But it’s no different than when someone is standing next to the casket at a wake, saying their last goodbyes.” Funeral directing and embalming has been a passion for Mike since his junior year in high school. His second cousin owns a funeral home and he had the opportunity to visit his cousin at work fairly often. “I just got caught up in all of the things a funeral director does and decided I wanted to do this for a career,” he says. “Being in this business you’re really aware that you don’t ever know what’s going to happen next. I can remember this one case — a 4th of July weekend and these four kids were coming home from fireworks at the lake and got in a car crash. All four died and were brought to the funeral home. Chris (Wiest) took care of two of the boys and I took care of the other two. Two were brothers, 18 or 19 years old. I don’t know if it’s the fact that they were teens, but definitely when it’s a younger person, it brings home that each day is a gift and precious
because you just don’t know.” I spoke to Ron Winge, Trocars president, while he was taking a short break from a difficult embalming case. Ron is a trade embalmer, called upon by many Chicago-area firms. It was nearly 9:00 p.m. “A lot of us get a great deal of self-esteem from doing what we do. But it does get tough. In the old days, when I first got into the business, it was much more difficult.” Like others in stressful professions — doctors, police officers and firefighters alike — some funeral directors once turned to alcohol or other vices to deal with the pressure. Today there is occupational therapy and training that helps people better cope with high-stress jobs. Some also happen to take on hobbies that get the adrenaline going such as motorcycling, and the fellowship of motorcycle clubs. Ron: “It’s sometimes difficult to talk about work at home with my wife, because it is difficult to process for people who aren’t in the profession no matter how close you are. It could be frustrating at times, until we started the club. Now I hang out with a lot of guys who not only do what I do as a job, but also do what I do for fun. We let off steam, maybe talk about difficult cases. It’s an outlet — almost therapeutic.” Mike agrees. “The brothers understand what you’re going through because they’ve been through it. And if there’s something new, you can actually help one another, especially if you’re having a tough time dealing with it emotionally. When it’s Wednesday night during riding season and we get together, the tough days seem a little better. Sometimes we talk about work; sometimes we just ride. But each of us knows what we went through during the day. It’s a common bond and we’re there for each other.” “Even the B.S. stuff that happens in regular life is better because of the Trocars,” says Ron. “It really clears your head when you’re riding, or even just hanging out at the clubhouse.” The Trocars are a structured organization. They have bylaws and meet regularly in their clubhouse, an apartment above a house owned by one of the members. They have officers, trustees, even a chaplain. “Chappy has helped me with throttlermotorcyclemagazine 07
Dean Lambert
some tough things I have been through in my life,” says Ron. Scott “Chappy” Pace is a warm-hearted and easygoing funeral director who recently started a company called Director On Demand, a job placement service for the licensed funeral professionals. “Chappy” is viewed somewhat as the Trocars’ spiritual conscience. He initiated the Trocars’ annual Bike Blessing and offers prayers before every ride. Somebody up there must be listening, because so far all Trocar meeting rides and overnighters have been incident-free. Like the more traditional motorcycle clubs, the Trocars come to the aid of its members — and their families — in need. When one of the brothers’ wives was out of work, they were able to find a job for her at one of the funeral homes where another member was employed. When someone is sick or in need, the group comes together to provide support or assistance. If a member can’t make it to a meeting or event, everyone understands. “God, family, country, Trocars,” says Ron, who just during our interview may have invented the organization’s creed. “You gotta put your
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priorities in perspective.” Because of the nature of their work, and the fact they are reminded any day can be their last, the Trocars are committed to demonstrate the importance of a quality, balanced life while also giving back to others through various charities. The organization is particularly fond of supporting philanthropies committed to veterans’ affairs. Mike sums up the Trocars experience quite nicely, and perhaps expresses the sentiments of all motorcycle clubs and organizations founded on common professions: “It’s cool, man, to see the brothers in their vests, knowing they share the bonds of biking and funeral directing. We have the same training, similar experiences at work. You know, it’s just very cool knowing you can enjoy a part of your personal life with people who truly understand the work life.” About the author: Dean “Lambo” Lambert is a frequent editorial contributor for Throttler Magazine. He is VP-Marketing for a Des Moinesbased company that provides insurance funding for funeral homes that offer advance funeral planning. He joined the Trocars in 2009.
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Do You Know?
F
red Ingraham grew up in Minneapolis attending the University of Minnesota receiving a degree in Art. He later worked for his family at Mid-West Spring where his father transferred him to the Marshalltown plant bringing him to Iowa.
A mutual friend introduced Fred to his long-time wife Jackie during the closing of the plant. “I needed help and Fred worked for me because he was on winter layoff from the Harley-Davidson dealership. Fred lived in Laurel Iowa where his father owned a gas station and I’m sure that helped his love of motors and making things go fast,” Jackie says. Fred purchased his first Harley at 18 and that’s when his need for speed started. Jackie says that, “When I met Fred he was drag racing his bike and dreaming of a bigger faster bike which he started and he did very well. He finished number 2 in Top Gas in the AMRA circuit in the next to the last year of racing. We started F&J Racing but
Fred & Jackie Ingraham
we no longer had time to travel all over the country racing. Fred and Jackie own the prestigious F&J Racing in Marshalltown, Iowa. They do it all with a total machine shop, repair, service, bike builds and of course Fred’s head work, which he does for shops all over the country. Though they do not paint, they utilize many of the talented painters around the Midwest. Jackie says her husbands true love of the sport and his knowledge of motorcycles are what make F&J Racing stand out among the rest. “We pride ourselves in being fair and producing good work, which he totally stands behind. Fred can work on the oldest Harleys up to today’s new models. We had a call the other day (a Sunday) from a National Guard soldier who was in Marshalltown at the armory four hours from home and he had a bad tire. Fred came into the shop and installed a new tire and got him on his way. That is very typical of my husband,” Jackie asserts. Jackie pushed Fred to go off on his own and start F&J Racing. Fred had worked at the local Harley dealership until it sold. He then worked at Hyperformance in Des Moines, Iowa, for 7-1/2 years. “I told Fred that
I could push papers all day long but I knew nothing about motorcycles. I learned fast though. When we first got started he taught me how to tear down a motor and how to use the parts washer and bead blaster. Who would have thought! I gave up my horses for the business. I raised and bred Arabians and showed them at different contests. As Fred said, he went from horse shit to horse power. I still miss the foals in the spring though. Our business grew and we started to need help, which was a great thing. We have had some great help over the years,” Jackie says. “We do get to see our racing friends at the dealer products shows every year. We miss having time for our grand kids working six days a week and taking care of our acreage is very time consuming. The kids like to come out and ride the go-karts and they help us clean the shop. It is a busy life but we have made some wonderful life-time friends because of it,” Jackie says. Do us a favor… the next time you’re in Marshalltown drop by and tell Jackie Throttler magazine says “hi.” Also while you’re there, schedule some time for Fred to give your ride the once over, you’ll be glad you did.
Occupation: Self Employeed/Harley-Davidson Certified Mechanic • Hails from: Marshalltown, IA Motorcycle: 1981 FLH Harley-Davidson and 1983 XR1000
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Sturgis 2011
On the Road with Johnny & Jay
Johnny Lange and Jay Barbieri
Quite the adventure By Jay Barbieri and Johnny Lange Jay Barbieri produced and hosted American Thunder of the Speed Channel, authored the “Bikers Hand Book” and is currently the executive producer and host of Two Wheel Thunder on the Discovery Networks HD Theater. Johnny Lange is the founder and owner of Strip Club Choppers.
W
hen the Strip Club Chopper’s posse rolls into a town for an event we are often the center of attention and building a bike with a fully functional dance pole that shoots 4 foot flames only serves to magnify the attention.
certs at our vending area and the crowd literally formed a traveling circle around us as I drove carefully though the crowd with SCC girl, Lara on the pole while it shot flames 4 ft into the clear Sturgis sky. To say the reaction was favorable is an under-
The new Stripperglide was a long time in making and could not have been completed without my good friend Tim Kirsch and his guys, Robert and Chris who did all the hands on building and design. When you want a stripper pole on your bike that shoots flames there is no catalog to order from… just sayin.’ Special thanks go out to Kevin from American Drag Seats for the custom bag lids and seat; John Shope from Sinister for the bags and rear fender; Ken from Tricky light for the LEDs; Fullsac performance pipe; Tailgunner exhaust; Bill from Legends Supreme and Biktronics. Without all the contributions from these companies the project could not have been completed. We debuted the bike between con-
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statement. You know my mantra “HAVE POLE WILL TRAVEL.” I guess now its “HAVE FLAME THROWING POLE WILL TRAVEL.” My good friend and fellow Englishmen, Steve Kelly did a great photo shoot of the new stripperglide at the new and improved Glencoe Campground. Look for these in a magazine feature very soon. Big thanks to Sean and Jason from Glencoe for their hospitality. When I started SCC 8 years ago, my goals were to party, travel and meet females. This year in Sturgis my priorities came full circle. I got engaged and spent way too much time babysitting one of my franchises. It’s scary that I am now the voice of reason and setting the example of how to behave… careful hell may freeze over soon. We now have 18 states that have franchise representation and I would like to officially welcome aboard SCC of Indiana and Florida. Next year will see a reduced tour schedule for the SCC roadhouse as we turn over the events to our family of franchises. Wow the times they are a changing, but for the better. For additional info visit www.stripclubchoppers.com
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V8 Choppers
Something unexpected in Sturgis’ sea of monotony
O
By Tony Tice
n a recent journey to Sturgis I happened across some really nice looking, fat tired, choppers sitting beside a beautiful, all black hauler. The crew was setting up a booth for display of their custom made bikes. As we drove past their display area the first time, I noticed the bikes were Chevy Small block V8 powered; I didn’t give it a second thought.
They were positioned right next to Corbin seats and I needed to talk with Corbin about a seat for my new K1600GTL. While I was talking with the Corbin guys, my travel partner, Scott, was next door checking out the bikes, which I had no real interest in, just another over-powered foot-forward bike that is of little interest to me. Before I was done with Corbin, Scott came back to the Corbin booth and insisted I have to check these bikes out. I half heartedly agreed to pacify him. I inspected them closely; the construction quality was
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beyond the other V8 powered bikes I had seen previously. All the chassis welds were excellent and left bare, just painted over so you could see the “stack of nickels” welds. The wires were hidden, the controls were typical Harley fare, the lights were HID, the turn signals and brake lights were LED, the whole bike looked thoroughly thought out and very clean. Each bike was a little different but they all were rigid chassis, appeared to have the same fork set-up, used the same brake set-ups, and had radiators that were larger than most are used to. There were all kinds of little intricate details that laced the bikes together but also made them unique from one another. The one thing they all had in common though, was a little brace under the steering head with a V8 emblem water jet cut into it; very cool. Its little details like this used throughout the entire bike that
set them apart from the other V8 powered bikes I have seen and ridden. My interest had been piqued; I wanted to know more now. I asked one of the guys setting up the display area about the construction of the bikes. He was very polite and answered all my questions in detail, apparently they send along well informed individuals to the rallies. Scott and I left the booth and continued our journey through the massive amount of displays being set up around the city. But for some reason I can’t really explain, I was drawn back to this group of highly informed, articulate people that we visited with earlier and the V8 powered bikes. As it turns out, I was speaking with Stan Hughes, the owner of V8 Choppers, from Miami, Oklahoma. The instant he found out that I both wrote for Throttler Magazine and also co-host a motorcycle radio/internet show, he introduced me to his son, Cody, who is the Marketing Director for V8 Choppers. The whole family works there! Suddenly this became more involved and Cody pointed out the dedication and belief they have in their products. V8 Choppers has been manufacturing bikes and trikes with V8 power for 8 years,
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they are all-in! I had found out earlier they used Dart engines in their bikes so they don’t have to rely on any of the “Big 3” for parts. Using an aftermarket engine opens up a whole new dimension of freedom that can’t be afforded by the “Big 3.” None of the manufacturing tolerances allowed by a standard engine could meet the precision of a race engine. This makes the durability and consistency of the engines much higher. I also found out that the bike I was drawn to happened to be the highest hp engine there, less the bike with the 200hp shot of NOS. When I had asked about the chassis ride quality, Stan assured me that riding one of these bikes would change my mind about any previous experiences I had with other brands of V8 powered bikes. The proprietary single speed transmission would make riding the bike easier than what I had experienced as well. The left handlebar lever is actually the rear brake, there is no foot controlled brake lever. I also found out that 65 percent of the bike’s weight is carried on the rear tire. I surmised that the rear brake would actually help stop the bike, as it turns out, that is an understatement. In my way of continual over-analysis, I also thought it might be difficult to get used to not using a clutch, and that it would be hard to ride at slow speeds, blah, blah, blah. All preconceived notions from previous experiences. These bikes sit incredibly low with a 22” seat height. Something that I found out would help to control this bike’s 400 ci, cast iron, 520 hp engine’s quaking and shaking at idle at the traffic lights. And as you can imagine, the gyroscopic effect of a longitudinally mounted, extremely high performance V8 engine, has a huge effect on the bike’s stability while sitting still, and the desire to constantly fight its affect is also a preconceived notion, a small seating adjustment while stopped makes it easy to compensate for. Even though Stan had pointed out earlier that the effect the crank has at idle is lessened as soon as the motor is above idle and proved it while the bike was on the sidestand, it’s scary to watch. This engine sounds like it has asthma; it constantly seemed as if it were going to die right there even though it was idling at 1000 rpm. The carbureted engine’s lumpy idle is indicative to the state of tune the engine is in, and instantly snaps out of its wheezing and gasping sounds it makes at idle when
throttle is applied. I wanted to reach for the bike repeatedly to keep it from falling off the side stand to the right. Stan and the others just stood there seemingly completely oblivious to the shaking and quaking that was taking place, repeatedly assuring me it won’t fall over. The instant the throttle is touched, the bike stabilizes onto its stand. This gyroscopic effect also stabilizes the bike at really low ground speeds. The second the bike begins to move, it’s completely possible and safe to put your feet on the pegs. When rolling and the engine is at idle, the shaking and quaking can be felt but is of no consequence. Turning city street corners also proved no problem. Just turn as necessary. Obviously, it’s a long motorcycle with a 92” wheelbase so, doing figure 8s in the width of a parking space is out of the question but, it does turn easily in every situation I threw at it. OBVIOUSLY (like this is even a question), I was interested in the performance capabilities. This is a heavy motorcycle but nothing like you would think. As I was talking with Stan, the calculator in my head was running. I’m not doing this to pick on the Gold Wing; I’m doing it because the weights are very comparable. A Honda Gold Wing weighs in at 928 lbs, it’s 125 hp, 1800 cc engine can propel these bikes with surprising performance. That is 7.4 lbs/hp for the ‘Wing. V8 Choppers’ bikes weigh 900 lb dry; add fluids and you’re probably looking at close to 950 lbs. With 520 hp, that would be 1.8 lb/hp! That would put it at the same lb/ hp as a current 600cc sportbike. I pretty much knew what the power was going to feel like going in, not feeling any trans shifting was different though. Which begs the question, why would you need a trans that needs to shift to the next gear to go fast? The answer; I don’t think it’s necessary after riding this bike. Twist the throttle, it responds. Simple. Just a constant, seamless stream of acceleration follows. Really strong acceleration. Sitting upright makes a huge difference
in the way the bike feels when accelerating too. This thing feels like it wants to rip your arms off and beat you with them. It’s fierce to say the least. Adding to the ferocity is the rumble of that large displacement, Dart V8 (there are 3 engines available, 300hp 350ci, 430 hp 375ci, 520 hp 400ci, they also have all aluminum engines as well), which is something that you cannot get away from when riding this bike. The omni-present throb of a well built V8 engine is both pleasing and strangely relaxing. If heedfulness is your intent while riding this machine, there is no doubt it will be shared by many who witness the bike firsthand. It does not fail to garner its share of attention by passersby. Sitting at a stop light in the middle of motorcycling’s nirvana, it gathered everyone’s ears, while they searched with their eyes. Once they locked onto the noise center, the stares were incredible, overlaid with wonderment and desire, and a lot of finger pointing. It was a feeling I had never experienced on a streetbike before. EVERYONE looked and stared. Strangely entertaining. Clearly, buying one of these bikes is not for the faint of heart or someone with little riding experience. It takes a fair amount of control to usher this bike around in city streets crowded with people and traffic. Thank Stan for the excellent brakes! It also is not for the faint of wallet. The bike I rode with the motor package, chrome extras, and custom paint came in at $54,000. But $45,500 will get you a ‘base’ model bike with the 350ci motor. For your $45,500 you also get a 1 year warranty, which in my eyes is huge, not in the sense that it will break but, in the comfort of mind knowing that they are willing to stand behind something at this level. During this whole process of ordering or buying the bike you want, you will most likely become acquainted with Stan Hughes, and if you’re like me, I believe he will do all that is within his power to make purchasing and maintaining your bike a positive experience. I know from just the short time I got to talk to him and his crew, they are fully invested in making you feel at ease. Visit http://www.v8choppers.com for more info. Being the enthusiast that I am, owning a V8 Choppers’ bike that has a 520 hp, 500 ft/lb, V8 built by Dart Racing Engines, isn’t that far out of the realm of possibilities. That being said, what would be wrong with a 1000 hp, intercooled, twin turbocharged, fuel injected engine? It’s a sickness I have, isn’t it?! Maybe some traction control would be good, too? But I digress...
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Side car racing
Marie and Paul Whittaker
Kat Collins with her driver.
R
More fun than a barrel of monkeys
By Luuezz Denise gasper
acing vintage sidecars are high- powered motorcycles with a platform known as a rig and a third wheel attached.
Sidecar rigs are actually purposely built rather than modified motorcycles. The whole platform sits as low to the ground as an open wheeled racer, with barely 2-1/2 inches of ground clearance. The driver lies flat on his stomach over the motorcycle, with the shifter and rear brake far behind, next to the passenger. The bars that control the machine were originally mounted to the motorcycle, you actually steer it like a car. There is no counter steering; the rig goes where you point it and racers will reach speeds of 80 - 100 mph. The side car racing team is the driver and the co-pilot. Most are husband and wife teams, some are father and daughter, sisters, or male teams and must have the ultimate total trust in each other including the fact there are no safety harnesses. Side car racing takes shear nerve, team work, machine pushing and physical stamina for raw power. Spectators don’t have to see a crash in sidecar racing to see something dramatic. Kat Collins 38, of Milford, NH and Marie Whittaker 58, of Gilmour, Ontario are the passengers, who prefer to be called “co-pilots” rather than the known slang as “monkeys.” The co-pilot’s signature position is like 14 throttlermotorcyclemagazine
Pink 8 Balls
a circus of actions that are thrilling and dangerous at the same time. They say the co-pilot’s job is to balance the weight of the bike as it takes sharp corners, otherwise it would go head over head into a crash. Entering a right hand turn, the driver shifts down and the co-pilot must get up from the platform and literally climb head first over to position her body over the rear wheel in sidecar turns, the co-pilot’s face only inches away from the pavement. Their feet stretched in one direction, their arms in another. For a left hand turn, precise movements are even more crucial for the copilot. Hanging onto grips, all their weight must be shifted to the left of the platform, resulting in over half of her body extending the rig. Their helmets and shoulders are grazing the asphalt as the fly around the bend; like a kid who just flew out of a go-cart hanging on at 90 mph. Centrifugal force keeps them in place. “A lot goes through your mind while on the platform, who’s ahead of you, behind you, and beside you. The platform that you are riding is your world and you need to pay attention to what’s right there,” Whittaker said. Winning takes growing as a team and building trust in each other. The pilot has to trust where his co-pilot is going to be and the co-pilot has to trust in the pilot’s judgments of the track. The trust is like a combat fighter pilot has in his wingman. Marie and Paul 67, Whittaker has been practicing trust for 40 years of mar-
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riage so this comes easier for them. It also takes strength and sheer guts, which is why sidecar drivers and co-pilots have long been considered by some as idiots. Kat Collins of Milford, NH and Marie Whittaker of Gilmour, Ontario are a lot of things. Idiot is not one of them. Sidecar crashes don’t happen that often with vintage racing but it does happen and it still is very dangerous. Racers have to watch out for the other racers hitting them, near misses, falling off in a practice or running off the track in corners. Whittaker had the misfortune of falling off once and luckily all she received was a sprained ankle. For anyone who is considering side car racing, Collins and Whittaker advise people to make sure they have the best riding gear possible, go to a race school and talk to the other racers who are doing it. Everyone is encouraging and will offer you a lot of information. Be informed and at the top of the list should be your gear. A good back protector, gloves, leathers and spine protector is a must! The Whittaker’s have been racing for 10 years. Their achievements have been 50-65 wins and they hold the number one place three times with the Vintage Road Racing Assoc VRRA. Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in Lexington, Ohio offers Vintage Sidecar Racing which allows viewers to experience driving the track from both the driver’s and co-pilot’s (or “monkeys”) perspective.
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To wave, or not to wave? The Peace Brother
The secret motorcycle hand wave revealed
M
By Roderick Kabel
y wife have a major issue letting our children ride motorcycles and would not allow my daughter to ride with me until she was in her teens. And even after my daughter grew older, my wife still had a hard time letting her “baby” get on a motorcycle, even with Daddy.
So one day, when mom was out of town, I winked and pointed at my bike — to my then twelve year-old daughter Brynn (Bren). She grinned with excitement and then fear blanketed her face. She envisioned her mom finding out about our little secret ride. I told her I would take the heat, and to grab mom’s helmet. We were off. At this point, I had been riding for many years and there wasn’t much on my mind as I rode casually around our streets, other than enjoying ourselves. This is when the secret hand wave came into my daughter’s world. Brynn: “Who was that guy?” Me: “What?” Brynn: “Do you know that guy you waved at?” Me: “Who?... That rider... No!” Brynn: “But, you waved. Who was he?” Me: “I don’t know!” Brynn: “Why did you wave if you don’t
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know him?” Me: “You just do, Honey! He’s on a bike.” From what I can tell, there are about five different waves; The Peace Brother - This is the holy grail of all waves. The low, two-fingered Peace sign hung down tight to the bike, can last for 50 yards or more. Depending on the rider, this wave can be done “cool” or full on “dork.” Coolness ranges by how low you can get your hand to the ground. Dorks usually stick their left hand out so far they can touch the mailboxes across the road. This wave is the one most riders give out, and most want to receive. It’s a “Hey! Nice ride. See ya down the road again, brother” wave that implies the two of you are equals and friends. The Two finger Flick – This is lackadaisical, and possibly shows the rider is new to riding and is afraid to take his hand off the grip. It only lasts a few seconds, and is hard to see when it happens. However, at the least, it shows that Joe New Rider acknowledges you with a “dude!” or a “hey, man.” It’s still a good feeling to know the two of you are similar riders. The Nix – No wave or hand gesture can mean a lot, but usually it’s just that Joe New Rider isn’t paying attention. Then again — you know them when you see them — the “Hard Core Hank” that
wouldn’t wave to his mother, and sure as hell wouldn’t give you two spits if you were on fire in the ditch. The down side is not knowing that it’s “Hard Core Hank” until you’re ten yards away. By then, you’ve probably already committed to laying down your own wave, and the feeling of being dissed sets in and you’re pissed at him and yourself. The Snub – This wave is where the left hand rests on the rider’s leg not moving. This is a sure sign that the rider is your jerk neighbor and you two still hate each other over his weedy yard or this rider thinks you will never be welcome in his world and more likely he isn’t a rider that a person should mess with. But again, you’ll never know until you’re ten yards away. But make no bones about it: this is a signal of disrespect. Then again, the guy’s arm could be tired, right? The Nerd – This wave is the hand (left or right) held up waving with all fingers and is straight from the first day your mommy dropped you off at kindergarten. It’s also a “Hey, fellas! Want to see my Star Wars action figures?” type of wave that shows one thing: this guy’s a newbie and can finally ride two wheels with one hand. Good job, son! Lastly, these waves have much to do with who you are, what you look like and what brand you ride. Many riders prefer to stick with similar riders as a way of unity.
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The Two finger Flick
1. If you ride a Harley or metric cruiser, and another comes towards you, there is a high probability you’ll get a wave. The same goes between sport bikes and touring bikes. Everyone likes to see someone with the same tastes as you do. 2. Helmet wearing riders vs. non-helmet wearing riders can offer a 50/50 chance of a wave. But usually it still goes back to what you brand or model you are riding.
The Nix
The Snub
3. Harley and cruiser riders usually don’t wave to street bike riders, though. There is the real fact that many H-D riders strongly live by the “American Made ONLY” aspect and will shun foreign made bikes. Even though their comfy Sunday afterchurch-loafers with the Velcro straps are actually made in China. However, if a H-D or a cruiser is riding in a group that includes a street biker, then most likely waves will be offered to on comers because make and model have no baring whatsoever on them. I have since introduced my son to the rights of passage riding a motorcycle and it’s presumed etiquette towards other riders. He has a blast trying to get any and every on coming rider to wave at him. Make and model are never on his mind however, any cute girl he sees his biker coolness disappears and he inadvertently throws a Nerd wave during his excitement. There you have it. The secret hand waves revealed. Use this information well, Grasshopper.
The Nerd throttlermotorcyclemagazine 17
Email your event to scott@throttlermagazine.com Iowa - Bike Nights Monday’s Fireside Grill Tuesday’s Victory Lane Car & Bike Night @ the Fairgrounds Brooklyns Bike Nights
Altoona
Des Moines Des Moines Ottumwa
Saturday’s Booneville Bar Boonville Water Street Bar & Grill Cambridge Iowa – Rally’s & Events Sep 9 – 10 Classic Flat-Track & AMA Grand Nat’l Champ Knoxville Sep 9 – 11 Davis Motorcycle Rally New Hampton Sep 16 – 18 End of Summer Rally Keosauqua Sep 17 Car & Bike Showcase @ Val Air Ballroom West Des Moines Oct 1 Fall Open House @ Hawkeye H-D Coralville
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Thursday’s Duluno’s Pizza (Every 1st Thur.) Cowboy-Up Bike Night (Every 2nd Thurs.) Mad Jacks Sports Bar (Every 3rd Thurs.)
Minneapolis Plymouth Brooklyn Park
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Minnesota - Rally’s & Events Sep 2 – 4 Max’s Bash – 27th Annual Sep 24 Zylstra H-D Hog Roast
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Forsyth
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Bourbonnais Tinley Park
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Maplewood
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St Charles St. Charles
Saturday’s Big St. Charles Motorsports Bike Night Marshfield Downtown Bike Night (Every 2nd Saturday)
St. Charles Marshfield
Missouri - Rally’s & Events Sep 15 – 18 Lake of the Ozarks Bikefest Sep 18 Moolah Shriner’s Ride @ Gateway H-D Sep 24 Free Motorcycle Giveaway @ Gateway H-D Oct 22 Homebrew Competition @ Gateway H-D Nov 5 Veteran’s Day Motorcycle Raffle for the USO of Missouri @ Gateway H-D Kansas - Bike Nights Thursday’s Old Town Bike Night @ Emerson Biggins’ Alefs H-D Bike Night Kansas - Rally’s & Events Sep 23 – 25 Big Bend Bike Rally
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