A motorcycle lawyer will work on your case from start to finish. A lawyer will always be available to answer your questions. Only a lawyer will negotiate with the insurance companies. We will help you with your property claim for free.
Who Works for You? Your insurance company does not work for you. If you are in an accident, your insurance company will try to pay you the lowest possible amount. Make sure you have the right insurance and make sure someone is working for you if you are in an accident.
We will not "nickel and dime" you on costs. We don't get paid unless you do. Scott O'Sullivan has been helping injured riders since 1996. Call Scott today for immediate help in dealing with the insurance companies, so you can focus on healing and getting your life back together.
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Personal Injury Law Firm 600 Ogden Street Denver, Colorado 80218
303-388-5304 www.OSullivan-Law-Firm.com
THUNDER ROADS® Magazine COLORADO Published by Flying Hound Press, L.L.C. 7477 W. Layton Way Littleton, Colorado 80123 720-458-3134 www.thunderroadscolorado.com feedback@thunderroadscolorado.com
ABATE..................................................................... 6
EDITORS Patrick J. McCauley “5” President and Senior Editor Patrick@thunderroadscolorado.com
Veteran’s Corner.................................................... 17
Reid’s Story............................................................. 7 Scott O’Sullivan....................................................... 9 Colorado Motorcycle Expo.................................... 10 2015 Children’s Hospital Toy Run......................... 14 Calendar................................................................ 18 Events................................................................... 20 Ladies Up Front..................................................... 22
Carrie McCauley Vice President and Editor Carrie@thunderroadscolorado.com
Tasty Recipes........................................................ 27 A Righteous Ride V-Twin Motors 30th Toy Run..... 28
PHOTOGRAPHERS Vickie Jo Mullin, Lead Photographer Vickie@thunderroadscolorado.com
News Bytes........................................................... 30 Biker Friendly Directory......................................... 32
Wayne Madison wayne@thunderroadscolorado.com
Joker’s Wild........................................................... 33 Thunder Cam........................................................ 34
David Campbell davidc@thunderroadscolorado.com
ON THE COVER
ADVERTISING AND DISTRIBUTION REPRESENTATIVES Western Slope Chris Blumke chrisb@thunderroadscoloraodo.com (303)478-2335
Model: Valerie Thompson Motorcycle: Quicksilver Powersports Lubricants BMW S 1000 RR Photographer: Auto Mutt Productions
Greater Metro Denver Area Toby Schmidt tobyb@thunderroadscolorado.com (720)829-7954 Northern Colorado Zak Clayton zak@ThunderRoadsColorado.com (970) 301-4674 LAYOUT & DESIGN Meredith Hancock / Hancock Graphics mhancockgraphics@gmail.com NATIONAL FOUNDERS Toni McCoy Shearon & Brian Shearon 1528 Matlock Drive Chapmansboro, TN 37035 Thunder Publishing LLC, Offices 615-792-0040 thunderroadsfounders@yahoo.com www.thunderroadsmagazine.com ©2015 Flying Hound Press, LLC. All Rights Reserved. No part of the content may be reproduced without written permission. Publisher assumes no responsibility and is not liable for errors beyond the cost of space occupied by the error, slander by any group or individual, failure to produce any issue as scheduled, any and all suits for liable, plagiarism, copyright infringement and unauthorized use of a person’s name or photograph. Opinions and claims made by advertisers and authors/contributors are their own, and do not necessarily represent the policy of Thunder Road Magazine® Colorado, Thunder Publishing. Publisher does not promote the abuse of alcohol or other drugs.
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Want to be a contributor or correspondent? We need contributors and correspondents for dirt bike off-road events, on-road cruiser, sport bike and adventure touring, rides, runs and rallies. Contact us today at contributors@thunderroadscolorado. com or 720-458-3134.
H
appy New Year from all of us here at Thunder Roads Colorado! We are happy to be welcoming the New Year, especially since it is January and January means the Colorado Motorcycle Expo coming the weekend before the SuperBowl.
Thunder Roads Colorado is a proud sponsor this year for the Motorcycle Expo and we will be there up front at the Expo. We hope to see you there too! Stop by and say hello! Happy New Year everyone, hope to see you at the EXPO and throughout the riding year!
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Add your ride, rally or run to our free events listing page Send us your event information whether on-Road or off-road, rides, runs, rallies and events for all types of motorcycles and three wheelers. We will list it free in our events listing for that month! events@ thunderroadscolorado.com or 720-458-3134.
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Patrick J. McCauley “ 5 “ Sr. Editor
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What is a State Motorcycle Rights Organization (SMRO) and what does a SMRO Do? My name is Stump. I’m the Legislative Affairs Officer for ABATE of Colorado (ABATE). ABATE is a State Motorcycle Rights Organization (SMRO). In this article I’m going to tell you a little bit about ABATE; some Legislative issues every motorcycle enthusiast should be concerned about; and what you can do to preserve your motorcycle freedoms and ride your bike the way you want to. ABATE was incorporated as a non-profit SMRO on August 3, 1983. In Colorado, ABATE stands for A Brotherhood Active Towards Education and this is our mission statement: ABATE of Colorado exists to preserve freedom of the road, to unite motorcyclists, to promote fair legislation, safety, and rider education and to provide a network for communication on issues affecting motorcyclists. We are dedicated to: • Fostering brotherhood and unity among motorcyclists. • Promoting motorcycle safety and education for both riders and the public. • Monitoring the government on all levels regarding issues affecting motorcyclists. • Improving driver awareness in an effort to make the roads safer for motorcyclists. • Reporting the facts about issues concerning motorcyclists and countering biased news reporting concerning motorcyclists. • Presenting and reporting a positive public image of motorcycling in Colorado and the nation. As for legislative issues of concern to motorcyclists, the first thing most motorcycle enthusiasts think of is a mandatory helmet law. ABATE supports the voluntary use of rider safety apparel but believes the right to decide belongs to the rider. ABATE does not, and will not, support mandatory helmet laws. In the 2015 Colorado legislative session, one Representative stated he was going to propose a mandatory helmet law, but it didn’t happen. Might someone propose one this year? If statistics show a sharp rise in motorcycle fatalities in Colorado this year, that might prompt some lawmakers to consider a helmet bill. So wouldn’t it be imperative that we keep accurate statistics? Have you seen the new Polaris “Slingshot” or the “TukTuk” (auto-rickshaw) on the roads? Or Toyota’s “Elio” or I-Road (fully enclosed, three-wheeled vehicles with steering wheels, seat belt and airbags)? These are all classified as motorcycles here in Colorado and in many other states as well. With possibly more three-wheeled vehicles coming on the market, is it time to have a separate classification for these vehicles, so as not to skew the statistics about motorcycles? Other states have passed legislation to classify these as 6 Thunder Roads Magazine® Colorado
“autocycles”, should Colorado do the same? So, how many of you ride your bike in HOV lanes? Did you get your transponder yet? Since federal law classifies a motorcycle as a HOV [per 23 U.S.C. 166 (b) (2) (A)], doesn’t it seem wrong that you’d have to set up an account for $35 to ride for free in a HOV lane? Of course, you might not use the HOV lanes on I-25 or U.S. 36 right now or maybe only occasionally, but how about in the future when more and more “toll” roads are implemented the way that CDOT is proposing? How many of you have ridden your bikes or driven in California? Have you noticed or tried lane-splitting? (Legal in California and not currently legal in Colorado.) I’m sure each of you has an opinion as to whether or not it’s a safe practice, or a bad idea. Does lane-splitting alleviate congestion and lessen motorcycle accidents on the highways as a recent U.C. Berkley study indicates or could it create more road rage? Would you believe a lane-splitting bill is proposed to be introduced in the upcoming 2016 Colorado legislative session? How about that traffic light in your neighborhood that doesn’t change because it doesn’t sense your motorcycle when you come up to it and it’s red? After waiting a period of time and there’s no traffic coming in the other direction, you go through the red light, only to have a police officer pull you over. You might be able to explain the light wouldn’t change for your motorcycle and talk your way out of a ticket, but who really enjoys being stopped by a police officer? What if the officer asks to search your saddlebags or wants to give you a breathalyzer test after checking your license and registration? Do you really have time for all that, just because the traffic light wouldn’t change? Other states have passed legislation legally allowing vehicles to proceed through a red light that doesn’t change after several cycles. Shouldn’t Colorado do the same? Another issue is Motorcycle Only Checkpoints. Did you know that some states are targeting only motorcycles and pulling them over for “safety” checks? It’s similar to a DUI Checkpoint where all traffic is pulled over except this is only for motorcycles. Does this sound a little discriminatory or maybe like profiling? Do they really check safety items, such as lights or brakes? Or do they just write tickets for aftermarket exhausts or no insurance (both of which don’t seem like safety items to me)? Some states are making a lot of money with these checkpoints and I haven’t seen any statistics that their roads are any safer. Should Colorado impose such checkpoints or should we pass legislation saying they can’t? How about Right-of-Way violations? Is a minimal fine adequate when a car or truck turns left in front of a biker then pleads, “I didn’t see him”? Or how about texting and distracted driving? These are all serious transportation issues that affect our safety on the roads. For you bike builders or “customizers” out there, how do
January 2016
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you decide which pipes are too loud, which handlebars are too high, can you install your license plate vertically, or use auxiliary lighting? These are all issues that should be addressed legislatively. If something is not stated as legal, does that make it illegal? Lastly, did you realize you’re paying an extra $4.00 every year when you register your motorcycle? That money goes to the Motorcycle Operators Safety Training (MOST) program. The money was initially intended to make rider training more affordable (as in a subsidy) and more accessible. Since 1990, that’s what our money was being used for. As of July 1, 2015, that subsidy has gone away and the money is being used to “administer” the program. Are you concerned how MOST is spending your money? I hope I didn’t overwhelm you with all these issues that should be of concern to all motorcycle enthusiasts. Next time I’ll go into some National issues, such as E-15 fuel, the National Highway Bill, The Driver Privacy Act, and Vision Zero. So what can you do to protect you freedoms and ride your bike the way you want to? Obviously, the first thing I’m going to say is, “Join ABATE”. As a non-profit, grass-roots organization, our strength is in our membership. The more members we have, the stronger our voice is down at the Capitol. If this article didn’t convince you of the importance of joining a SMRO, go to our website (abateofcolo.org) and read more about our legislative accomplishments. You can join ABATE at our website too! Of course, you don’t need to belong to ABATE to have your voice heard by your legislators. And, there are plenty of other issues besides motorcycle concerns that affect your everyday life, such as, health care, education issues and taxes. There were over 600 bills introduced in the Colorado legislature last year, many of which had a direct bearing on your life. Don’t you think you should have a say in the lawmaking process? Your legislators cannot be experts on every topic introduced in all these bills. They actually encourage their constituents to voice their opinions and “educate” them on the effect of certain legislation on individuals. My point is, get involved with legislation! Now that we know there are a lot of issues affecting our ideas of how we want to ride our motorcycles and that there’s a SMRO fighting to keep our freedom to ride, the next step is up to you. GET INVOLVED! Try it, you just might have some fun! In my next article, I’ll mention the National Issues of concern to motorcyclists and more details on how to become involved. The 2016 Colorado General Assembly will be in session by the next issue, so I’ll give a brief update on that also. I didn’t even mention ABATE’s Rider Ed. Program or Operation-Save-A-Life. I might even include some amusing anecdotes and pictures from a 62,000 mile road trip my wife and I took through all 48 contiguous states. I’d like to thank Thunder Roads magazine for allowing me to inform Colorado motorcycle enthusiasts about legislative issues affecting our lifestyle. Remember the old adage, “You don’t know what you don’t know”! Stump Legislative Affairs Officer www.thunderroadscolorado.com
January 2016
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4th Annual Casper Iron Power Sports Expo April 23-24, 2016 The Central Wyoming Fairgrounds 1700 Fairgrounds Road Casper, WY
Inside Vendor spaces $75 for 10’x10’ Outside Vendor Spaces starting at $50 for 10’x10’ Sponsor packages upon request Indoor Bike Show $40 to enter Contact Bobby 307-267-0380 Or Chuck 307-277-3788
Events
Pin-up Girl Contest $10 to enter Sunday April 24 Time TBA
Ride in bike show April 24 $10
Auction for charity at 1 pm April 24
Bike Show Awards 2 pm April 24
More to be announced
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WINTER MOTORCYCLE RIDING TIPS By Scott O’Sullivan, O’Sullivan Law Firm
a motorcyclist gets harder. Cars push the sand out to the sides (which conveniently is also the apex of the corner), so ride in the cleared troughs that their tires create. Be especially careful in corners and at stop signs or lights, as that is where sanding is typically the heaviest.
H
eading out for a winter motorcycle ride? Great! In this article, we would like to share some tips to make you safer on the road and maybe a better rider. Tips for Safe Motorcycle Riding • Get insurance. The most important thing you need is insurance. A lot of people turn their motorcycle insurance off in the winter and then a gorgeous day hits in January and they get their bike out. This is probably the single most dangerous thing you can do. If you get in an accident, everything you own is in jeopardy. Whether you cause it or not, an accident while riding without insurance can devastate you financially. So, make sure you have insurance. If you have any questions at all about the kind of insurance you need, don’t hesitate to call us.
• Watch the weather. You simply don’t want to head out if it’s going to rain or snow. Street bikes are literally awful in snowy conditions. The weather reports should indicate “zero chance of snow” on the day you plan to head out. • Know your route. We all know how Colorado weather can change. If you’re heading out on an “iffy” day, map out your route so that you aren’t surprised by how long it takes or whether you might hit delays. • Don’t push it. Colorado weather is notorious for getting worse in the afternoon and evenings. Don’t get caught out because you pushed too far or too long. • Watch for gravel and sand. In the winter when the plows drop sand and gravel on the road, and your job as
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• Watch for ice. It may be a crisp sunny day but if it was below freezing the night before, you could face black ice. Also, in freezing conditions all it takes is one numbskull to dump his Big Gulp on the ground to create an ice patch. I’ve seen a one-foot swatch of ice drop a bike to the ground in an instant. Don’t get distracted by the scenery; keep your eyes on the road. • Don’t take the lead. If you’re riding in a group, don’t be in front. You don’t want to be the one to discover the ice. Stay in back with a lot of stopping distance between you and the front riders. Hone Your Riding Skills One of Eli’s favorite things to do in the winter is riding dirt bikes! If you love to ride but don’t want to risk the winter roads, get yourself a dirt bike (they are cheaper this time of year than they will be next spring) and find a good dirt bike park. You can ride a dirt bike in all sorts of inclement weather. Not only are dirt bikes fun, but they are a great way to improve your riding skills. You will literally fall over and off your bike dozens of times, and you will learn to navigate tricky obstacles, which is excellent training for the road. Also, riding dirt bikes helps you to learn to control your natural panic reaction in stressful riding situations - and it’s always easier to keep the bike upright when you’re not freaking out. Stay safe out there and have fun this winter! If you have any questions about this article, don’t hesitate to call me: 303-388-5304 or https://osullivan-law-firm.com/
January 2016
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Colorado 38th Annual Motorcycle Expo The 38th annual Colorado Motorcycle Expo will returns to the National Western Complex Jan 30- 31, 2016. The EXPO is the largest indoor motorcycle swap meet in the country with over 300,000 square feet of events, vendors and entertainment. The CME is the largest indoor motorcycle swap meet in the country and includes over 300,000 sq. ft. of events and entertainment. This event has been held annually in late January/early February since 1978. In addition to the swap meet which features over 800 booths, there’s also a huge custom and antique motorcycle show with over 100 vintage bikes and top of the line customs. These bikes are built by some of the best in the business and collectively are worth well over a million dollars! Many of these bikes have never been on public display before. Down in the stadium you can listen to live music from rwo great Denver rock bands. On Saturday you can see Guild of Ages and on Sunday, The Grind 5280 will take the main stage. Also down in the stadium, Blue Rose Tattoo will have great deals on live tattoos and piercings. Taking place on Saturday from 4:30 – 5:15 PM is the wet t-shirt contest, get down to the stadium early because this is usually the biggest attraction of the show. This year’s Expo falls on the weekend before the
10 Thunder Roads Magazine® Colorado
Superbowl, which should mean even more vendors and bike show participants than usual. “Angie and I are looking forward to seeing everyone again this year. Even former owner Jack Portice will be back this year selling Harley parts with Arlen so make sure to stop by and say hello” said show promoter Jeff Brown. This event is a great kick off to the motorcycle season and is the social event of the season for the Colorado riding community. It’s also the ideal place to find awesome deals on parts, accessories and everything else you need for your bike, while having a heck of a good time!
Motorcycle Show Registration
The Colorado Motorcycle Expo Motorcycle Show is by far the largest motorcycle show in the Rocky Mountain region. You’ll compete with well over one hundred vintage and custom bikes brought in from all over the country! This year’s event will be our biggest yet and will feature a prize pool of over $7000 in cash and trophies. At the last show over 30 show participants received cash prizes greater than their entry fee, with best of show getting $500 cash. If you want to match your bike against the best of the best, this is the place to do it! You can register for the bike show until January 27th at 5:00 PM. Visit https://www.coloradomotorcycleexpo. com/show-registration/ to register
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SCHEDULE Saturday January 30, 2016 9:00 am- Doors open. All Day- Motorcycle Swap Meet with over 800 booths. All Day- Custom & Antique Motorcycle Show in Front Room. All Day– Live Tattooing & Piercings in the Stadium downstairs. 10:00-12:00 (Show Stage) Pin Striping Exhibition on panels. See amazing free style artwork performed live by some of the best in the business! 11:00-7:00 Hourly cash giveaways- sign up at Russ Brown Motorcycle Attorneys BAM booth in front room 12:30-1:30 (Show Stage) Educational Seminar. Specific topic TBD by Jan 1 11:30- 1:00 (Stadium) Live music by Denver Rock Band Guild of Ages 1:30 -2:30 (Stadium) Live Charity Auction 3:00- 4:00 (Show Stage) Educational Seminar. Specific topic TBD by Jan 1 3:00- 4:15 (Stadium) Live music by Denver Rock Band Guild of Ages 4:30- 5:15 WET T-SHIRT CONTEST 5:30- 6:30 (Stadium) Live music by Denver Rock Band Guild of Ages 7:00 pm- Expo closes for the day. Sunday January 31, 2016 9:00 am Doors open. All Day- Motorcycle Swap Meet with over 800 booths. All Day- Custom & Antique Motorcycle Show in front room. All Day– Live Tattooing & Piercings in the Stadium downstairs. 10:00- 10:30 (Stadium) Church services performed by pastor Gary with Church in the Wind. 11:00-3:00 Hourly cash giveaways- sign up at Russ Brown Motorcycle Attorneys BAM booth in front room. 11:30-1:00 (Show Stage) Pinstripe Exhibition with live female models. See amazing free style artwork performed live by some of the best in the business! 11:45- 1:00 (Stadium) Live Music on Stadium Stage from The Grind 5280. 1:45- 3:00 (Stadium) Live Music on Stadium Stage from The Grind 5280. 3:00- 3:30 (Show Stage) Motorcycle Show Awards Presentation. 4:00 pm- Show is over- doors close. Visit for more information and to enter to win a leather jacket from Sun Harley Davidson www.thunderroadscolorado.com
January 2016
Thunder Roads Magazine® Colorado 11
2 Wheelers A Bit of Elegance A Lotta Luck A Righteous Ride A Spice Above A.I.M. Abate of Colorado Advanced Products and Services/ Advanced Metal Works AirEffex AKA Biker Chick All Star Dips Ameracan Cycle Parts American Fender Art American Hawg Biker Jewelry American Iron MC American Legends AMPRO AMSOIL - Paul Wyles Independent Dealer Andes Store Imports Angell Sews Antelope Creek Leather Applied Plastic Coatings Artistic Ink Printworks Autism Society of Colorado Auto Express/61 Harley Aztec Jewelry B&G Badass Industries BadGirlBling.com Baggertags Bandidos MC
Bar Enterprises Barbato Cycles Bath Planet of Colorado Bauer Law Beadz Creations Bella Boutique Biff’s Custom Shop Bike Brad Biker Down Bikers + Got It Get It Place/ Esmey’s Gift World/Northside Bronco Stop Bikers Against Bullies Bikers For Christ Bitchn Stichn Black and Chrome BLACK B.A.G. Black Hills Rally Connection Black Sunshine Motorcycle Polishes Black Widow Cams Blacktop Choppers, LLC Bling N Things, Inc Bluegreen Vacations Boozefighters MC 104 Busy D’s Pickles C. L. and Co. Casper’s Leather Cell Block Art Champion Windoows of Denver Chicano Biker Church in the Wind Cindy’s Custom Glass and Embroidery
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CleanRide Clearview Shields CMA - Warriors for Christ CME Colorado Caliber Colorado Crazy Colorado Injury Center Colorado Patriot Guard Riders Colorado Plating Combat Vets Confederation of Clubs - CCOC Cracker Boys Racing CROSS -CMA Cross Eyed Riders - CMA Curvy Riders Custom Breed Custom Creative Candles Custom Jewelers Custom Works Cutarelli Vision CVA D & R Enterprises Dale Patterson Agency Danial James Studio, Inc Dave’s Bike Shop David Uhl Debria’s Designs DeFleece Designs Delkevic Deluxe Motor Company Denver Hot Wheels Denver Motorcyle Detailing, LLC Desloover, Kevin
January 2016
Devils Head Choppers Dirty Biker Products Disciples of Thunder Doc’s Dominguez, Rick DR pan Solutions Dragon Sauces Dragon Wave Designs Elite Painting Engraved By Minchalas Enviedthreads/The Barn Expressions Leather Eye Lab RX Fatboyz Firearm Jewelry Fisher & Associates Fish’s Custom Cycle Fly-in Wheels MC Foresters Financial Services Freakinstine Choppers and Trikes Free Tomorrow MC Freedom Shields Fukt-shirts G. L. and Co. Gallegos Enterprise Geico General Lee Collection Goldco Gonzales, Leo Grabassmary’s Gray Soul Clothing Greatgoody Greeley’s Reliable Used
Motorcycle Parts & Service Green Ridge Metal Works Gypsy Jo’s Footwear Hair Trigger Customs HAN Motogear Harley Davidson Sales Hattast-ique Heathen Wire Works Heavenly Insoles Hellfighters Hells Angels/Colorado Nomads Hide and Soul High Country Almonds High Country Harley Highlands Resorts Hog Killers Hollywood Cowgirl HotRod BBQ Sauces & Rubs Hudson Leather Hull, Bill Ice House Leather Icicles Eyewear In the In Indian Mark’s Trading Post Inferno Art Studio Inferno USA Invaders MC Issues Inc It Works Global Itchin’ 2B Stitchin’ J & P Cycles J10 Customs John Henning Motors
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John May Custom Paint Johnny’s Custom Shop Jonson, Renee Key Counseling Killeavy, Emmett Knight Bodyssey Jewelry KnuckleHeads Kool Kats Tatts/Emporium of Design KWMC Motorcycle Boutique L.A. Cycles Ladies Run of Colorado LaFore’s Larry’s Custom Cycles Las Vegas BikeFest Law Tigers Leather Headquarters Leather Productions Leathers and Lace Rider Resale Let Go Leather Liberty Mutual Insurance Lydia’s Sewing Mad Man Trailers Magrids Closet Marines MC Martyred Angels Foundation Mary Kay Cosmetics MaryAnn Enterprises Maverick Trading Post Mayers Motorcycles, OHVs and Cooters MC Creations Mike’s Metal Polishing Mile High Harley Davidson/Big Iron Sports Minnesota Pneumatic Products Mo-Door Monadavi Marketing Mongols MC
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Montgomery Family Chiropractic Moto Parent Motorado Motorcycle Depot Motorcycle Rider News Newstalgia Custom Paint No School Choppers Ole Grumppy Gringo One Bad Bitch OneSexyBikerChick Outlaw Cycle Products Pain Away Magnetics Papa’s Leather Passanante’s Home Food Services Pat Glenn Photo Patch World PDA Road Gear, Inc Peligrosos MC Pew, Rick Phat Rides Custom Cycles Phil’s Welding Pinstripped by Louie Poorman V-Twin, LLC PowerFX Premier Motorcycle Tours Pristine Powder Coating Pro Promotions RAA Leather Rally Rider Customs Real Time Pain Relief Rector Law Firm - Protected Riders Recycled Mat-ters Red and White Enterprises Renewal by Andersen Revolution Apparel Rick’s Shop
Roadies Performance Rocky Mountain Christian Riders/CMA Rocky Mountain Harley-Davidson Rocky Mountain Racing, LLC Root of All Photography RS Investments Russ Brown S & C Collectibles Sangers Cycles Santa Fe Craftsman Sasquatch Casino Scofflaw Cycles Scooter Trash Seacrest Sports SewJustSew Sharpensbest.com Siegrist, Rick Silva, Pat Siouxicide Choppers Skull Enterprises Smitty’s Chrome Plating Soldier for Jesus MC Sons of Silence Sons of Silence - Eastern Colorado Sons of Silence MC - North Denver Southwest Scooter News Southworth Enterprises Speedway Graphics Sports Gear Trailer SS Designs Stabile, Nick Stan’s Sign Shop Steve’s Leather Street Guys MC Sun Enterprises Sundowners MC
January 2016
Susanne’s T. Nicholl’s Worth Transportation Taint Paint Powder Coating Texas Trends3 The Boutique The BRI Project The Chop Shop The Piper Inn Thomas, Stacy Thunder Mountain Harley-Davidson ThunderBird Motorcycle Tri City Cycles Tribe of Judah Motorcycle Ministry True Kustom Two Footloose Soles US Veterans Riding Club Valiants MC Veterans Motorcycle Club VNVLV MC-C West Plains Cycles Western Slope Parts Wicked Influence Wrap It Upz, LLC Z Clear
Contact the Motorcycle EXPO if you would like to be a vendor!! https://www.coloradomotorcycleexpo.com/vendor-info/
Thunder Roads Magazine® Colorado 13
2015 Children’s Hospital Toy Run By Peggy Bogaard-Lapp
a few toys to the kids at the hospital. Each year it grew as friends of friends wanted to join in and be a part of the fun. Now thirty years later it has become tradition with many riders. Vinny Terranova, owner of Rocky Mountain Harley Davidson, was one of the original group. Troy Terranova, Vinny’s son, says “We are thrilled and humbled at how something like this can start out with a few people and blossom into so many people and huge participation. My dad wanted to do something for those in need, and its better each year.”
T
he December sun was again shining on the 2000+ bikes that roared into the Children’s Hospital driveway on December 6th. A steady stream of holiday adorned motorcycles made their way from Aurora Sport Park and along Colfax Avenue where they were waved on by fans young and old. This year marked the 30th ride to benefit the children who are at the hospital during the holidays, as well as those there in the coming months, with each rider bringing a toy or gift and making this year’s haul close to 2500 toys. Kathleen McBride, a representative for Children’s Hospital Colorado Foundation says that without the donations, many kids at the hospital would be without gifts during the holiday season. “We are very thankful for the donations of toys that the Toy Run brings us. After thirty years we have seen so many wonderful people helping out.”
The purpose of the Toy Run is for the kids, and to make a difficult time for them a little easier. It’s heartwarming to see their joy when they see the bikes and the gifts and the smiles that we bikers bring. If you would like to volunteer or donate to Children’s Hospital Colorado, please visit the webpage at http://www. childrenscolorado.org/donate-volunteer
Originally, the Toy Run was just a few friends who felt the Christmas spirit and decided to donate
14 Thunder Roads Magazine® Colorado
Peggy Bogaard Lapp (Photos: Peggy Bogaard Lapp, Carrie McCauley)
January 2016
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January 2016
Thunder Roads Magazine速 Colorado 15
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January 2016
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by Bill Maddick
VETERAN’S CORNER
The VA Effort Against Homelessness
T
he lobby at 3030 Downing looks like a lobby of any other public health facility. There is a front door in the center, flanked by two large windows on either side, that open into a clean, neat and well lighted room. The receptionist counter is large, revealing tables, file cabinets and phones behind, and there is enough seating to accommodate ten or so, with an internal door adjacent to the main door that intuitively draws your attention. Access to it is gained by completing an intake procedure and being called inside--just like at a doctor’s office. A couple of veterans were seated when I entered, and Missy Mish, Program Manager of the Community Resource & Referral Center (CRRC), noticed the arrival. She said hi and, as anticipated, proceeded to open the internal door for my admittance. Being the Program Manager for the Community Resource & Referral Center, at this location, the entire facility is under her authority. The Community Resource & Referral Center just opened in March of 2012 as the first center of its kind in the country. The VA has been actively dealing with homelessness since the Civil War (those agencies that ultimately merged into the VA, at least) and has more experience with it than any other government agency; so much so that they garnered $1.64 billion for veteran homeless programs in the President’s 2015 budget. The Community Resource & Referral Center is a product of such effort and the VA website summarized it as follows: “Denver has one of a handful of fully operational VA Community Resource & Referral Centers, which are designed to better serve Veterans who are homeless. The Denver Community Resource & Referral Center provides one-stop-shop services to Veterans where they are in the community. On a walk-in basis, Veterans can access job training resources, substance use treatment, mental health counseling, housing resources, showers and hygiene kits, storage for their belongings, and other needed assistance.” Walking through the internal door, a main room filled with office cubicles becomes visible where fifty of the various staff of this facility work. Progressing around on the side of this, we stop at a little open area behind the receptionist counter which appears to be the only space accommodating enough to have an out-of-theway conversation in an otherwise compact facility (the conference room was in use). Here, Missy explains that the focus of this center is outreach and engagement for those who don’t know they have benefits, and that they get forty to sixty people walking through the front door on any given day. “It’s about building relationships,” she says, and offers that there are an estimated 500 homeless veterans in the Denver metro area. Continuing the tour, we approach a couple of private rest rooms with showers that are open to use by homeless veterans (laundry services are also available). There is also a storage area available for veterans use, wherein each person must keep their belongings in a standard tote bag on a designated shelf space for www.thunderroadscolorado.com
up to thirty days. In addition, veterans have access to counselors, VA representatives and employment services here, along with peer groups and PTSD groups. As well, the center keeps three people in the field daily, monitoring food lines of various charities around the city as well as tracking the chronic homeless to let them know that services are available, so that many veterans find their way here by referral. It offers a safe oasis for those in need and for those transitioning, even though there still remains that twenty percent of homeless who seem chronically resigned to the fact that they can never find housing. It is hard enough to hold it together and keep a roof over your head even if you are employed and have a support group. For those without a job or a support group, who may be in poor mental and physical health, and who may be a victim of trauma or catastrophe, trying to keep a roof over your head can become impossibility. One of the tools that the VA uses in its effort against homelessness is the administration of subsidies. Two that Missy explained are: 1) VA Grants that are temporary and function on a per diem basis. These are often applied to a homeless shelter and can sometimes be used at hotels to at least keep a veteran off the street for a brief period of time. 2) HUD vouchers for permanent housing which are provided through a collaborative between HUD and the VA. These are intended for permanent housing and it requires that the veteran pay thirty percent of the rent themselves. Currently, the Community Resource & Referral Center has fifty veterans that are eligible for these vouchers yet can’t find housing in the Denver area because of high rent prices. Further, there are some veterans who have lost their housing, even though they have a voucher, because the price of rent has increased beyond what the government can approve for said vouchers. Essentially, they get kicked out when the rent goes up. Veterans have a higher percentage of homelessness than any other demographic, which is why the VA has put the effort into its outreach programs that it has. It is a serious enough effort that Missy left the homeless program at St. Francis Center to become the director here at the Community Resource & Referral Center. She says that, “You can’t end homelessness at the federal level, it has to be local.” So she continues to successfully run this program at the community level, which was a pilot program just three years ago. And it may be the best program there is, among many, to fight homelessness. When I asked Missy if this location would be the best place to start if anyone was facing homelessness or if anyone knew of someone who was, she was shaking her head affirmatively before I even finished the sentence. Missy and her staff are serious about what they do and they deserve credit for it. So readers, if you might be having a tough time right now yourself or if you might know a veteran who is, your place of refuge and support is the Community Resources & Referral Center at 3030 Downing St, Denver. Or call them at 303-294-5610 for more information. Walk-ins are welcome.
January 2016
Thunder Roads Magazine® Colorado 17
Colorado Motorycle Expo
Colorado Motorycle Expo
JANUARY 2016 Harry Roamers MC Ice Racing 50th Annual Colorado State Championships Ice Racing January 3rd, 2016 Location: Rainbow Falls Mountain Trout Park. Take I-25 to Colorado Springs, to Hwy 24, to Woodland Park, to Hwy 67, 12 miles out. (First right hand turn after Douglas county sign). HRMC presents the 50th Annual Colorado State Championships Ice Racing Series. Featuring the fastest pro and amateur motorcycles, quads and speedway bikes on the lake. For up to date information regarding ice and weather conditions check their website http://www.harrysroamersmc. com/#!ice-racing-colorado/c13ps or their Facebook page https://www.facebook. com/HarrysRoamersMC Ladies Run & Rally of Colorado Fund Raising Event Outriders Greeley 5750 W 10th St, Ste D January 3rd, 2016 2:25 PM Come out to Outriders Bar and Grill and help the Ladies Run and Rally of Colorado raise money for their upcoming charitable causes! We will be having a 50/50 chance to win along with drawings and other fun activities. Come and eat some great food, watch some football and have some fun! Please share this event with all of your friends! Colorado RV Adventure Travel Show Colorado Convention Center 700 14th Street Denver, CO 80202 January 6th – 9th, 2016 10:00 AM Come discover the BEST WAY to HIT THE ROAD! ... at the Largest RV Show in the Rockies! Show Hours Wednesday: 10 am – 8 pm Thursday: 10 am – 8 pm Friday: 10 am – 8 pm Saturday: 8 am – 8 pm Ticket Prices, Adults: $12, Kids 12 and Under: Free, Good Sam Club Members: $6* SEE EXHIBITS of all new 2016 RVs
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ranging from Class A motorhomes to lightweight, easy-to-pull tent trailers, fifthwheels, travel trailers and truck campers, RV and camper accessories, financing options campgrounds and travel destinations. Harry Roamers MC Ice Racing 50th Annual Colorado State Championships Ice Racing Rainbow Falls Mountain Trout Park. Take I-25 to Colorado Springs, to Hwy 24, to Woodland Park, to Hwy 67, 12 miles out. (First right hand turn after Douglas county sign). January 10th, 2016 HRMC presents the 50th Annual Colorado State Championships Ice Racing Series. Featuring the fastest pro and amateur motorcycles, quads and speedway bikes on the lake. For up to date information regarding ice and weather conditions check their website http://www.harrysroamersmc. com/#!ice-racing-colorado/c13ps or their Facebook page https://www.facebook. com/HarrysRoamersMC International Sportsmen’s Expo Colorado Convention Center 700 14th Street Denver, CO 80202 Show Hours Thursday: 11am - 8pm Friday: 11am - 8pm Saturday: 10am - 8pm Sunday: 10am - 5pm Tickets: Adult Admission - $15.00, Youth under 16 - Free! ISE has produced America’s premier sportsman’s shows in the western United States since 1975. Year around ISE’s website, social media and email connect a growing audience of outdoor enthusiasts with the outdoor industry. ISE’s four expos kick-off each new year spotlighting thousands of products and services from 1,500 companies and offering more than 100,000 attendees the largest, finest face-toface marketplace available. Free seminars, contests and hands-on show features educate, inspire attendees--newcomer to expert, youth to senior, man and woman--to
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begin their next outdoor adventure. http://www.sportsexpos.com/attend/denver/ Kicker Loveland Arenacross Budweiser Event Center 5290 Arena Circle, Loveland, CO 80538 January 8 - January 9, 2016 Friday: -Friday’s Events features an open class for amateurs – See website, call or email for details -Registration opens at 3:00pm -Practice starts at 4:00pm -Heats and LCQ’s at 7:30pm -Main event afterwards Saturday:-Registration starts at 9:00am -Mandatory Riders Meeting at 10:00am -Practice begins at 10:15am -Amateur Heats begin at 1:00pm -Pro’s Practice & Pit Bike practice at 4:00pm -Arenacross Main Event starts at 7:30pm Please Contact For More Information: (918) 629-9930 Or email: tod@cyclecitypromotions.com, karen@cyclecitypromotions.com Website: http://www. cyclecitypromotions.com/schedule/theloveland-arenacross Harry Roamers MC Ice Racing 50th Annual Colorado State Championships Ice Racing Rainbow Falls Mountain Trout Park. Take I-25 to Colorado Springs, to Hwy 24, to Woodland Park, to Hwy 67, 12 miles out. (First right hand turn after Douglas county sign). January 24th, 2016 HRMC presents the 50th Annual Colorado State Championships Ice Racing Series. Featuring the fastest pro and amateur motorcycles, quads and speedway bikes on the lake. For up to date information regarding ice and weather conditions check their website http://www.harrysroamersmc. com/#!ice-racing-colorado/c13ps or their Facebook page https://www.facebook. com/HarrysRoamersMC
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38th Annual Colorado Motorcycle Expo National Western Complex, 4655 Humboldt Street in Denver, Colorado January 30th – 31st, 2016 Sponsored by Sun Harley, GEICO, Coors, and Russ Brown Motorcycle Attorneys Doors open Saturday and Sunday at 9:00 am. Admission is $15.00 for one day or $20.00 for both days. The swap meet will have over 800 booths on over 300,000 square foot of indoor space. The vendor fee is $120.00 for a 10’ x 10’ space if you were in the Jan 2015 show and would like the same spot again, otherwise the rate is $135 per booth. The fee to enter a motorcycle in the show is $40.00 which includes two weekend passes to the event. First, second and third place trophies, and payouts, will be awarded in 10 different bike categories. There will also be awards for best paint, best display and best of show awards. The event will also include live music, contests, tattooing and more. For more information call (303) 835-6967, click here to send e-mail, or go to http:// www.ColoradoMotorcycleExpo.com. High Plains Raceway Motorcycles Only Open Lapping January 10th, 16th, 24th, 30th, 2016 High Plains Raceway 93301 East US Highway 36, Deer Trail, CO 80105 The High Plains Raceway Motorcycles Only Open Lapping will be held at High Plains Raceway in Deer Trail, Colorado on January 10th, 2016. Registration: -$100 pre-registration -$120 if not registered and payed in advance The session structure and length will be dependent on participation. Event Hours: -Gates will open no later than 10:00am -Drivers/Riders Meeting will be at 10:40am -Track will be hot from 11:00 am until 4:00pm Website: http://www.highplainsraceway.com/ Phone: (303)769-4771 Harry Roamers MC Ice Racing 50th Annual Colorado State Championships Ice Racing Rainbow Falls Mountain Trout Park. Take I-25 to Colorado Springs, to Hwy 24, to Woodland Park, to Hwy 67, 12 miles out. (First right hand turn after
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Douglas county sign). January 31st, 2016 HRMC presents the 50th Annual Colorado State Championships Ice Racing Series. Featuring the fastest pro and amateur motorcycles, quads and speedway bikes on the lake. For
up to date information regarding ice and weather conditions check their website http://www.harrysroamersmc. com/#!ice-racing-colorado/c13ps or their Facebook page https://www.facebook. com/HarrysRoamersMC
WERE YOU AT AN EVENT OUR READERS MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN?
Let us know about it and give us your story and pictures by emailing us at contributors@thunderroadscolorado.com
January 2016
Thunder Roads Magazine® Colorado 21
Valerie Thompson This month’s Ladies Up front features a story about a remarkable woman, Valerie Thompson. What? You say you haven’t ever heard of Valerie Thompson? Let me enlighten you, Valerie currently holds seven land speed records with her top speed at 217.7 miles per hour. Amazing isn’t it 217.7 miles per hour from a standing stop. She has also achieved a record of ¼ mile in 7.05 seconds. That breaks down to 187.42 miles per hour or, my favorite 186.968 feet per second. That means she covered almost two football fields in one second. Along with her land speed records she has appeared in both a GoDaddy Super Bowl commercial and in the documentary “Why We Ride”. Valerie bought her very first motorcycle in 1999, a Harley Davidson Sportster. When she purchased the motorcycle 22 Thunder Roads Magazine® Colorado
she had never ridden on a motorcycle in her life. Not on the front and not on the back. She purchased the motorcycle first at the urging of a friend after she received an invitation to go for a ride. She tells me that she had no idea what to expect and was “really nervous”. She had to scrounge something together to wear knowing that her friend had a helmet she could borrow. When it came down to time to ride she said “He was so worried about his bike and the bling on the back of my jeans scratching the fender, we took the car instead to enjoy the rest of the afternoon.” Her friend told her at one point; “I can take you to
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the dealership, there are a lot of women who ride bikes. You would be perfect for it!” She went to the dealership and bought a motorcycle before she took the rider course. Unlike a lot of the women rider stories we have published, Valerie’s family wasn’t into motorcycles. Her journey to racing starts with her riding with a group that was in her words “out of control”. She told me that it made her a better rider. She then started riding with another group and they also helped her hone her riding skills. Three months later she purchased a Fat Boy because the Sportster wasn’t big enough to keep up with her friends that were riding in the mountains. She got into drag racing while doing laps on that Fat Boy. She said she “got addicted to it” thinking that maybe she could go 88 MPH or 90 MPH next time. “I am not a firm believer of starting small” Before she started racing, she worked in the banking industry for about 13 years. She started drag racing in 2006 with the All Harley Drag Racing Association and the NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle series. She drag raced for about three years, but she lost her sponsor when the economy turned south. She told us that it took her some time to recover from that. She learned from that experience and created a brand that would withstand a bad or good economy. In 2011 she left drag racing and entered into the world of BMW Land Speed Racing. There are 15 land speed events including the famous one at Bonneville. Valerie told me that she really loves doing the land speed racing because with drag racing “You have to worry about so many more things.” Before 2011 Valerie had never thrown her leg over a sports bike, now she considers herself a sports bike girl. Make no mistake, she still owns that Fat Boy she purchased back in 1999 and rides it to this day, but for speed she races a sports bike. She even admits to www.thunderroadscolorado.com
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saying things like “I would never own a crotch rocket” or “I would never own a rice burner”. All of those negative things, but she assured me that those bikes are amazing and have incredible performance. “It is another breed of animal”. She told me “I have an angel and a devil on each shoulder with the devil pushing me and the angel telling me to slow down.” She obviously doesn’t listen to the angel when it comes to racing because she is sometimes known as “America’s Queen of Speed” because she is an official member of the Bonneville Motorcycle Speed Trials 201 MPH Club (formerly BUB Speed Trials), Mojave Magnum 200 MPH Club, ECTA 200 MPH Club, Texas Mile 200 MPH Club, Colorado Mile 200 MPH Club and lifetime member of the famed Bonneville 200 MPH Club. Being a woman in the racing world can be tough, the first instinct is to act like one of the guys. She told me that when she started “I threw away my girlie side of me. I thought I had to dress and cover up and not show my girlie figure. I did that for six years and I thought it would help me. I tried to play the boy’s role and at the end of the day it just didn’t work out.” At one point she decided that she didn’t need to fit in, she needed to stand out. She decided “I am going to have a pink bike I am going to put my Swarovski crystals on my bike and helmet, I am going to wear my cute little clothes and that was when I started to create my own brand “I would get asked ‘who rides that bike?’” She would respond with “I do!” and the questioner would reply; “Oh I thought you were just the model.” “A lot of them didn’t know I was a girl until I started going in with pink and bling.” Subtle bling as she describes it. Being a woman in a man’s world meant she didn’t have female mentors, so she used the men she raced with as her mentors. Her passion for racing motorcycles is apparent. She told me “A guy once asked me if I was pregnant because I had a glow. I told him I wasn’t, and he said “You just have a glow when you ride a motorcycle.” Valerie has a fierce competitive nature. When she races she tells the others “I want to win the race so I can send you home.” In the end she advises women who have an interest in racing to “Play up that girl role, be real and be real to yourself! Make sure aren’t hiding who you are.” I asked her the obvious question, what does it feel like to go over 200 miles per hour? She told me “It is difficult to understand, or have you understand.” She continued by telling me that “When you are going fast, like anything over 200 MPH, you are concentrating on the dash and your body 24 Thunder Roads Magazine® Colorado
position. You want to be one with the bike. You are going so fast that you have to be really connected with the bike. The adrenaline hits you when you are done and you see the MPH slip. If you did well your confidence level goes through the sky.” I learned that even if she has a few bad days of racing it is truly the final result that matters. She said “You can have two days of bad racing and on the last day you get a 217, then nothing else mattered from the previous days.” Valerie loves to engage the children at these events. If she wins a trophy, she always gives them away to a kid who was hanging around during the races. Her inspiration was Tripp Nobles, because he would take off his face shield, sign it and give it to a kid that he’d spent time with. She loved that would give away his trophies to a special kid. Valerie told me that she loves the kids. Sometimes they are shy around her, but she has had parents tell her afterward that she had a big impact on their daughter. They would tell her “She will not let go of her “hero card” (Valerie makes her own VIP cards for the kids). She signs the back of them with a sharpie, laminates them and puts them on lanyards. She does this all herself. The parents reach out to her later and tell her that she has inspired their child to race. She tried to make the kids feel special by taking pictures with them and giving them a kiss on their cheek. If she sees them in the stands she asks them for a “high five” to give her good luck before the race. She loves to entertain the kids. It is particularly satisfying for her to go back someplace the following year and see all the VIP cards and Valerie Thompson gear. “It makes you feel great” she said. She obviously loves kids because Valerie donates her time to HopeKids, an organization that supports kids with life threatening illnesses. Her annual Motorcycle run and golf tournament help to raise money. She visits the Children’s hospital in Phoenix each month and has monthly “Day at the Movies” and ongoing appearances and autograph sessions. Valerie found herself having to educate her family on motorcycle racing and what it is. She told me that was a challenge in itself, explaining that the Red Hat from Bonneville was very prestigious and how much money and patience it took to earn it. Explaining how there are a lot of people who try for years to accomplish that. Her mom loves that she is racing and will ask her “How fast did you go?” While she was participating in a race in Portland her mom was in the stands taking pictures and cheering her on, even though
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she had lost. Valerie told me “I heard the crowd’s “AWWWWW” and yet my mom was cheering me on telling everyone that I was her daughter.” She does have to hide her passion from her grandmother, she tried to tell her that she went over 200 miles per hour and her grandmother responded with “I don’t want to hear about it” but then again, she is also the woman who refers to motorcycles as a “murdercycles”. I asked her what her goals are this year, she responded with “This year I want to go 220+” When I asked her why she wanted 220+ she responded with “Because I want to go faster each time, I have the greed for speed”. One of Valerie’s newest accomplishments is being the first woman to be inducted into the Colorado Mile 200 MPH club, which is how we found her. She had a top speed pass of 201.2 MPH on her Quicksilver Powersports Lubricants/CTEK sponsored BMW. Valerie started road racing a year ago after attending Keith Code’s weekend road racing school. Before learning road racing she said she only knew going one way. “Now I know it’s side by side and lean, lean, lean.” She told us that she never thought she could do it, but wound up learning very quickly. “You are using your mind and your motorcycle talent. I never learned how good my throttle control was until I started road racing.” She received a certificate and a trophy stating that she is the first female in the 200 Mile per Hour Club in Colorado. You road racers out there can breathe a sigh of relief because Valerie told me that she wouldn’t take it up as a new career. She has two Maltese dogs, Recon and Speedy that go everywhere with her. “Recon was my first and he went with me to all of the drag racing events.” She felt that he would take the attention off of her so she could concentrate on what she was doing. She told us that she has a love for animals and her two dogs are like her best friends. She also has a love for shoes and of course shopping for “Valerie attire”. I asked what that was and she told me “Something girlie”. She admitted to me that “Shoes and bling are my weakness”. She loves to hang out by water and read her girlie magazines (that’s girlie, not girlie) where she can decompress and
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forget about everything. Her busy schedule keeps her on the road two weeks out of most months and she lives in her “house on wheels” with her two dogs. She does ride for pleasure still, but not as often as she would like, she told me that she wishes that she could take her Fat Boy with her to some of the places she travels. Her sponsors are what make all this possible and maintaining and getting sponsors is hard work that takes up a lot of non-racing time. She must be working hard, because to date she has more than nineteen sponsors. Valerie also manages all of her own social media. She is on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter along with having a YouTube channel. She is very active on all of them and loves watching her following grow. She does get the occasional negative comment like “All you do is ride straight, I can do that on the highway”. She takes the time to explain what she does and has the ability to turn people who have negative comments into fans. Her YouTube channel (https://www.youtube.com/user/ ValerieThompson20) has several videos, one of which has the ride along experience and her receiving the 212 MPH slip at the end during the Texas Mile in 2013. A favorite video is one of her land speed records at Bonneville, the motorcycle moves so fast the camera has a difficult time keeping up with her. The quote that graces her Facebook and Web page is “The best protection any woman can have … is courage.” In my short conversation with her, she definitely proved to me that she does have an abundance of courage. In 2016 Valerie will continue to pursue land speed records with her team’s BMW S 1000 RR, but has announced that she will be returning to drag racing and the NHRA. She has a new motorcycle built by George Bryce’s Star Racing team, one of most successful NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle teams. Her crew will be led by Chris Rivas, a former Pro Stock motorcycle racer and four time NHRA event wins and six land speed records. The NHRA drag racing circuit will be in Colorado on July 22nd – 24th, mark your calendars and come out and enjoy the races, we will certainly be in the stands cheering her on. Carrie McCauley
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r Team! u O n i o J o T
WE ARE LOOKING FOR MODELS, MOTORCYCLES AND PHOTOGRAPHERS
Call 720-458-3134 or E-mail us at: models@thunderoadscolorado.com
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January 2016
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Tasty Recipes All of these recipes have been kitchen tested and biker approved.
Sloppy Joes I adore sloppy joes! I got tired of being disappointed by the canned version so many times that I sought out a recipe for homemade. This recipe can easily double and triple to go into a crock pot for a football party. 1 Tbs extra virgin olive oil 1 1/2 lbs ground chuck (80/20) 1/4 cup brown sugar 2 -3 tsp Montreal Steak seasoning (recipe follows) 1 medium onion, chopped fine 1/2 small red bell pepper, chopped fine 1 Tbs red wine vinegar 1/4 tsp mustard powder 1 Tbs Worcestershire sauce 1 1/2 cups tomato sauce 3 Tbs tomato paste 1 Tbs bourbon 8 crusty rolls, split, toasted, and lightly buttered
Montreal Seasoning
This seasoning mixture goes great on steaks, burgers, chicken and more.
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Chicken Strips with Blue Cheese Dressing
Pair this fiery entrée with cool, crunchy carrot and celery sticks.
Heat a large skillet over medium high heat and add olive oil to the pan Brown the meat and add onion and bell peppers to the pan. Add the spice mixture and heat in the pan for 30 seconds. Reduce heat to medium and add the red wine vinegar and Worcestershire sauce and bourbon to meat for and heat for about a minute Add tomato sauce, paste, mustard powder and sugar to the pan Reduce heat to simmer and cook until sauce is thickened Using a large spoon place meat onto sliced and toasted buns Serve with dill pickles, sliced tomatoes or cheddar cheese
2 Tbs smoked paprika 2 Tbs ancho chili powder 1 Tbs crushed red pepper flakes 2 Tbs dry mustard 2 Tbs black pepper freshly ground 2 Tbs Kosher salt
1 1/2 Tbs ground coriander 1 Tbs dried thyme leaves 1 Tbs granulated garlic 1 Tbs granulated onion 1 Tbs coriander; crushed Combine all of the ingredients in a spice grinder or blender and mix well.
Chicken: 1/2 cup low-fat buttermilk 1/2 tsp hot sauce 1/2 cup all-purpose flour 1/2 tsp salt 1/2 tsp smoked paprika 1/2 tsp ground red pepper 1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper 1/4 tsp salt 1 lb chicken breast tenders 1 Tbs canola oil Dressing: 1/2 cup mayonnaise 1/4 cup (1 ounce) crumbled blue cheese 1 Tbs red wine vinegar 1 tsp bottled minced garlic 1/4 tsp salt 1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper To prepare chicken, combine buttermilk and hot sauce in a shallow dish. Allow chicken to marinate in mixture for about 1 – 2 hours. Heat oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Lightly spoon flour into a dry measuring cup; level with a knife. Combine flour and next five ingredients (through salt) in a shallow dish. Drizzle some of the buttermilk into the flour and stir with a fork to create little lumps. Dip the soaked chicken into the flour mixture to coat. Immediately after dredging in the flour, add the chicken to the hot oil; cook 4 minutes on each side or until done. Remove from pan. Set aside, and keep warm. While chicken cooks, prepare the dressing. Combine mayonnaise and next 5 ingredients (through black pepper) in a small bowl. Serve with chicken strips.
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A Righteous Ride – V-Twin Motors 30th Annual Toy Run
M
ention the name Greeley anywhere in Colorado, and chances are you’re going to hear a lot of bad jokes or comments about odor. What you probably won’t hear too often is that Greeley is home to the longest running toy run in Colorado, the one that’s been hosted by A Righteous Ride – V-Twin Motors for the last 30 years. Willie Spaedt, one of the owners of the shop, started the run with his best friend TC in 1984. For the most part, the weather has been in the run’s favor, with bright blue Colorado skies and above freezing temperatures allowing the bikers to gather toys and raise money for the Salvation Army. Randy Haag and Willie have been setting up early and making coffee at the start point for the riders while The New Plantation, a Cajun restaurant in Evans, prepares to receive the crowd at the end of the ride. With large boots to fill, Nacho Alvarado took on the role of Santa after TC passed away in 2014, and he has delighted kids of all ages for the last two years. Nacho led a huge crowd from Greeley to Evans with help from the Evans Police Department. Even the fire department joined in the celebration with lots of lights flashing at the station along the route. Families waved to the riders along the route, and it was hard not to get choked up turning the corner onto 11th Avenue where a crowd of kids stood with a sign thanking A Righteous Ride for their commitment to the community. The two businesses also organize a poker run to benefit the Weld Food Bank on the first Sunday of May every year. 2016 will be the 27th annual event. See ARighteousRide.com for details when the date approaches. Thank you A Righteous Ride – V-Twin Motors and The New Plantation! Abby Clabough (Photos: Abby Clabough) 28 Thunder Roads Magazine® Colorado
January 2016
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News Bytes THE AIM/NCOM MOTORCYCLE E-NEWS SERVICE is brought to you by Aid to Injured Motorcyclists (A.I.M.) and the National Coalition of Motorcyclists (NCOM), and is sponsored by the Law Offices of Richard M. Lester. If you’ve been involved in any kind of accident, call us at 1-(800) ON-A-BIKE or visit www.ON-A-BIKE.com. NCOM BIKER NEWSBYTES Compiled & Edited by Bill Bish, National Coalition of Motorcyclists (NCOM) HIGHWAY BILL SIGNED INTO LAW Passed by the House 359-65 on Thursday afternoon, December 3rd, and approved by the Senate 83-16 later that same day, a long-awaited longterm highway funding bill has been signed into law by President Barack Obama, marking big gains for the nation’s infrastructure and America’s motorcyclists, among others. Overwhelmingly approved by Congress a day before current funding expired, the 1,300-page five-year $305 billion measure increases federal money for transportation infrastructure projects around the country, addressing our aging and congested highways and bridges after years of stymied efforts. The legislation, dubbed “Fixing America’s Surface Transportation (FAST) Act”, takes effect immediately and represents a 25% increase in federal funds committed to surface transportation infrastructure. In addition, the good news for motorcyclists is that the new Highway Bill prohibits the Department of Transportation from awarding grants to local and state governments for motorcycle-only checkpoint programs, effectively preventing such discriminatory roadblocks; Reinstates the Motorcycle Advisory Council (MAC) to advise the federal government on infrastructure issues of concern to motorcyclists; Funds motorcycle safety grants and distracted driving programs, and makes it easier for states to qualify; Establishes privacy and security measures in infrastructure technologies and data retrieval; and Continues funding for off-highway recreation. FEDS INCREASE ETHANOL LEVELS The federal government has substantially increased the mandated amount of ethanol to be used in America’s gasoline next year, from 16.93 billion gallons in 2015 to 18.11 billion gallons in 2016, harkening widespread availability of higher-ethanol fuel blends, such as E15, which can damage motorcycle engines and void manufacturer warranties. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the increase as part of the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS), which mandates the volume of renewable fuels that must be blended into the nation’s fuel supply each year. E15, which is a fuel blend of 15% ethanol, has not been approved by the EPA for use in any of the estimated 22 million motorcycles and ATVs in the U.S., and Congress has considered measures calling for further study of ethanol and its effect on internal combustion engines. Meanwhile, many motorcycle and automobile organizations, among others, continue to lobby against ethanol, not just because its unapproved use can damage fuel systems and internal engine parts, reduce power and mileage, and invalidate warranties, but opponents also argue that ethanol pollutes more than the oil it’s meant to replace, 30 Thunder Roads Magazine® Colorado
takes more energy to produce than it delivers, drives up cost and scarcity of food resources, doesn’t reduce our oil-dependency, and the government subsidies being paid for ethanol production diverts funds that could improve our highways, bridges and infrastructure. HONDA AND BMW PLEDGE TO ADDRESS GLOBAL WARMING As 150 Heads of State and Government convened in Paris, France at the 21st Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, with a goal to “reach a new universal climate agreement that is applicable to all,” the hope is that some arrangement can be reached to help reduce carbon emissions worldwide and keep global warming from exceeding a two degree Celsius rise in the coming years. Emissions legislation and the transition to cleaner energy, both of which are included as strategies toward curbing climate change, have obvious impacts on the motorcycle industry. Europe, for example, has set some of the most stringent emissions standards on motorcycles with further restrictions forthcoming. Further changes are likely to be seen in the U.S. as well, in part because of the pledges two motorcycle companies have made in accord with strategies outlined by the White House in Paris. American Honda Motor Company and the BMW Group are now involved in efforts to address global warming, both companies signing the American Business Act on Climate Pledge. In a press release issued November 30, 2015, by the White House, 154 companies are cited as having signed the pledge, each offering company-specific strategies to combat climate change. American Honda and BMW are currently the only two motorcycle OEMs to sign the following pledge: “We applaud the growing number of countries that have already set ambitious targets for climate action. In this context, we support the conclusion of a climate change agreement in Paris that takes a strong step forward toward a low-carbon, sustainable future. We recognize that delaying action on climate change will be costly in economic and human terms, while accelerating the transition to a low-carbon economy will produce multiple benefits with regard to sustainable economic growth, public health, resilience to natural disasters, and the health of the global environment.” CHILDRENS ADVOCATES DENIED ACCESS TO COURTHOUSE OVER CLUB COLORS The New Mexico Motorcycle Rights Organization (NMMRO) is helping address an issue where a group called the Guardians of the Children, a nonprofit organization of child abuse advocates comprised of motorcyclists, is being denied access to the courthouse unless they remove their motorcycle vests as instructed by the Bernalillo Sheriffs Department. The patches on these vests help identify themselves to the children and families they are supporting. Along with this, many of the members have received rude and uncalled for treatment by several of the officers. GOC President Frank Montano and NMMRO Chairperson Annette Torrez (also a member of the NCOM Board of Directors) met with Sheriff Manny Gonzales along with several officers to discuss the matter. “Sheriff Gonzales received us well, listened to our concerns and apologized for the treatment of the deputies,” reports Torrez. He asked them to report any negative actions from the deputies to their internal affairs division and he will see the issue is addressed.
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As for the removal of the vest, the Supreme Court says; individuals have the first amendment right to wear clothing which displays writings or designs in a courthouse. There are several cases specific to motorcycle club colors, states the NMMRO. Recent Federal Case Law confirms motorcycle organization patches and club colors as a protected expression. A U.S. District Court this past September, relying on Supreme Court precedent, concluded that the government may not impose restrictions on an individual solely because of displaying membership in a motorcycle club. Citing 1985 and 1971 U.S. Supreme Court cases on First Amendment rights states it is not reasonable to prohibit speech in courthouse hallways merely because it may offend someone. “Sheriff Gonzales suggested we now make an appointment with the Chief Justice where we will address the violation of our 1st Amendment concerning this issue or any ban on motorcycle patches and attire in the court house,” said Torrez, who also told TV stations KRQE Channel 13 and Channel 7 KOAT in interviews that; “It is the people’s court and our house and the government may not impose restrictions on an individual solely because of displaying membership in a motorcycle club or organization.” MORE FEMALE RIDERS THAN EVER Motorcycle ownership by women has doubled over the past decade, and female ridership is now at an all-time high. Today, women riders account for 14% of all U.S. motorcycle owners, according to the Motorcycle Industry Council’s latest Motorcycle Owner Survey, well up from the 8% reported in 1998. “Women continue to embrace motorcycling like never before,” said Sarah Schilke, national marketing manager of BMW Motorrad USA and chair of PowerLily, a group consisting of female motorcycle industry professionals. “Of the 9.2 million owners, more of them are women than we’ve ever recorded. In fact, the number of female owners better than doubled from 2003 to 2014. And, among the more than 30 million Americans who swung a leg over a motorcycle and rode at least one time in 2014, a quarter of these riders were women.” Among younger generations of owners, the percentage of women is even higher. Slightly more than 17% of Gen X owners, and 17.6% of Gen Y owners, are women. Among Boomer owners, women make up 9%. www.thunderroadscolorado.com
The Owner Survey also revealed what type of bikes women prefer. Cruisers are the choice of 34% of female riders. Scooters rank a close second at 33%, followed by sport bikes at 10%. In the survey, of some 48,000 American households, women were also asked to share their top three reasons for riding motorcycles. They answered “fun and recreation,” followed by “sense of freedom” and “enjoy outdoors/nature.” When it comes to purchasing a motorcycle, women rate “Fuel Economy” and “Test Rides” as the most important decision-making factors. The study revealed that female riders are safety-conscious. While 60% of women took a motorcycle safety course, only 42% of men had any formal training. In some state motorcycle safety training programs, women make up 30% of the student population. Other key survey results: The median age for female motorcyclists is 39 versus 48 for males; 49% are married; 47% have a college degree; New bikes are preferred over used by 57% of female riders; and 49% of women motorcyclists take care of their own maintenance. WEIRD NEWS: SAUDI PRINCE “GAMER” HAS WOMEN RACING MOTORCYCLES Although the women of Saudi Arabia are not authorized to take the wheel, in a new video game designed by Arab royalty, they ride motorcycles as they race through destroyed and corrupted lands. The smartphone game called “Saudi Girls Revolution” (SGR) was created by His Highness Prince Fahad Al-Saud, the grandson of the Saudi Arabia king’s brother. He’s got an occidental culture, studied at Stanford University, worked at Facebook on the launch of the Arabic version and has lived in Los Angeles and London and has founded several companies including NA3M Games, the company behind “Saudi Girls Revolution.” Will a video game help the fight for more relaxed laws for all women living in the Arabic world? Saudi Arabian women have been fighting for their right to drive for decades, but now they can at least imagine being one of the 8 ladies of the game riding at full speed under dark clouds in a post-apocalyptic Kingdom through hostile landscapes, fighting against brutal tyrants with their abayas in the wind.
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BIKER FRIENDLY DIRECTORY AUDIO
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C & T Tire 228 S Link Ln. Fort Collins CO 80524 (970) 224-0700 DISPENSARIES
3D Denver Discrete Dispensary 4305 Brighton Blvd Denver, CO 80216 (303) (303) 297-1657 INTERNET RADIO
Biker Inner Circle www.bicproductions.com (888) 498-2123 LEATHER GOODS
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Curtis Walton Law Firm 13984 West Bowles Avenue Littleton, CO 80128 (720) 323-9729 32 Thunder Roads Magazine® Colorado
Law Tigers 4828 South College Avenue Fort Collins, CO 80525 (800)529-8443
O’Sullivan Law Firm 600 Ogden Street Denver, CO 80218 (303) 388-5304 The Hall Law Firm P.O. BOX 795 La Veta, CO 81055 (719)742-3614 MOTORCYCLE DEALERS
Pikes Peak Harley Davidson 5867 N Nevada Ave Colorado Springs CO 80918 (719) 278-2300 MOTORCYCLE APPAREL RESALE & CONSIGNMENT
Leather and Lace Resale 15985 S. Golden Road Suite A Golden, CO 80401 (303) 954-0041
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Leather and Lace Resale 15985 S. Golden Road Suite A Golden CO 80401 (303) 954-0041 PLACES OF WORSHIP
Church in the Wind 2411 Alcott Street Denver CO 80211 (720) 635-2897 RESTAURANTS AND BARS
Bruce’s Bar 123 1st St Severance CO 80546 (970) 686-2320 Sunshine Café 1856 Colorado Blvd Idaho Springs CO 80452 (720) 203-4878 WOMEN’S APPAREL
One Bad Bitch https://onebadbitch.com/ Denver CO 80129 (888)244-9299
MOTORCYCLE TRAINING & TESTING
Bluecreek Motorcycle Training 3333 Regis Blvd #6 Denve, CO 80221 (303) 947-6011 Roy Hansen Motorcycle Testing 1800 Airway Avenue Ft. Collins CO 80524 (970) 690-8846 MOTORCYCLE REPAIR/SERVICE/PARTS
EXP Motorsports 3301 W. Hampden Ave. Sheridan Co 80110 (303)688-4401
January 2016
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Santa: Every year, alll I ask for is a big fat bank account and a slim body. Yet again this year you mixed the two up, like you’ve done ever since I was 40 years old. Are you drinking too much of the Elves “special” Eggnog or what? A woman goes into the Bass Pro Shop to buy a rod and reel for her grandson’s birthday. She doesn’t know which one to get so she just grabs one and goes over to the counter. A Bass Pro Shop associate is standing there wearing dark shades. She says, “Excuse me, sir. Can you tell me anything about this rod and reel?” He says, “Ma’am, I’m completely blind; but if you’ll drop it on the counter, I can tell you everything from the sound it makes.” She doesn’t believe him but drops it on the counter anyway. He says, “That’s a six-foot Shakespeare graphite rod with a Zebco 404 reel and 10-LB. test line. It’s a good all-around combination and it’s on sale this week for only $40.00.” She says, “It’s amazing that you can tell all that just by the sound of it dropping on the counter. I’ll take it!” As she opens her purse, her credit card drops on the floor. Oh, that sounds like a Master Card,” he says. She bends down to pick it up and accidentally farts. At first she is really embarrassed, but then realizes there is no way the blind clerk could tell it was she who tooted. Being blind, he wouldn’t know that she was the only person around. The man rings up the sale and says, “That’ll be $54.50 please.” The woman is totally confused by this and asks, “Didn’t you tell me the rod and reel were on sale for $40.00? How did you get $54.50?” He replies, “Yes, Ma’am. The rod and reel is $40.00, but the Duck Call is $11.00 and the Bear Repellent is $3.50.”
On the morning that Daylight Savings Time ended I stopped in to visit my aging friend, Bolo. He was busy covering his penis with black shoe polish. I said to him, “You better get your hearing checked buddy ...... You’re supposed to turn your clock back”. For the New Year, please note that condom makers do not guarantee “Safe Sex” by even a percentage anymore. Case in fact, a friend of mine was wearing one when he was shot 5 times by the woman’s husband that he was humping. Someone broke into my house last week. They didn’t take my TV, just the remote. Now they drive by and change the channels. Sick bastards!!! The Doctor asked a pregnant prostitute, “Do you know who the father is?” She promptly replied, “Hey, Doctor dumb ass, if you ate a can of beans would you know which one made you fart?!”
ALL THINGS POSITIVE FOR 2016 BIKERS! HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ONE AND ALL.
Little Becky was gifted a parrot that cussed like a drunken sailor. Tried as she might, she could not get the parrot to stop cussing so raunchy and acting out. Finally, after an all-day fight and lecture to the bird, Becky, in desperation, threw up her hands, grabbed the bird and stuck him in the freezer. For a few minutes the parrot squawked and kicked on the door. Then, suddenly there was total silence.Fearing that she’d hurt the parrot, Becky quickly opened the door to the freezer. The parrot calmly stepped out onto her outstretched arm and said “I believe I may have offended you with my rude language and actions. I’m sincerely remorseful for my “tude” and promise to be a good bird. Also, may I be so bold as to inquire what the turkey did wrong?
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PHOTOGRAPHER: CARRIE MCCAULEY 34 Thunder Roads Magazine Colorado 速
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