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 AMA Report............................................................. 8 Dallas Hageman.................................................... 12 Ride Pride: Gold Digger........................................ 14 Calendar................................................................ 18
EDITORS Patrick J. McCauley “5” President and Senior Editor Patrick@thunderroadscolorado.com
Historic Female Riders.......................................... 20
Carrie McCauley Vice President and Editor Carrie@thunderroadscolorado.com
Skin Art.................................................................. 23
Scott O’Sullivan..................................................... 22 Events................................................................... 24
PHOTOGRAPHERS Vickie Jo Mullin, Lead Photographer Vickie@thunderroadscolorado.com
Tasty Recipes........................................................ 29 News Bytes........................................................... 30
Wayne Madison wayne@thunderroadscolorado.com
Biker Friendly Directory......................................... 32
David Campbell davidc@thunderroadscolorado.com
Joker’s Wild........................................................... 33 Thunder Cam........................................................ 34
CONTRIBUTORS Adventure Hermit (Joe Trey) joe@adventurehermit.com Peggy Bogaard-Lapp peggy@thunderroadscolorado.com
ON THE COVER
Scott O’Sullivan http://osullivan-law-firm.com
Model: Danny Martinez Jr. Photographer: Vickie Jo Mullin
Stump - Abate stump@thunderroadscolorado.com Whiskyman whiskeyman@thunderroadscolorado.com ADVERTISING AND DISTRIBUTION REPRESENTATIVES 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 ©2016 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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Another mild month in March, we can’t believe this, can you? We officially entered springtime in the Rockies and you know what that means? 78 Degrees one day and snow the next. Take heart, real riding season is close and we have been fortunate to have a bunch of warm days this winter.
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Colorado’s 2017 Legislative Session is Half Over Hello Concerned Motorcyclists, Today, March 18th, is the Day sixtysevemn of the 120-day Legislative session. So far, 249 Senate Bills and 272 House Bills have been introduced. There has not been an over-abundance of transportation bills, as most of the bills seem to be related to education and health care. But there have been a few that concern motorcyclists, so I have been meeting with the Senate Transportation Committee members recently and attending some committee meetings. HB17-1044 (Autocycle bill) was sent to the Governor and is awaiting his signature. As passed, this bill: still classifies autocycles as motorcycles, (therefore eye protection is required and helmets required under 18); requires children under 8 years old to use a child restraining seat (which can’t be properly installed in an autocycle so it basically bans them from autocycles) and doesn’t require an “M” endorsement to drive one. The MOST Program Bill was drafted this week and was supposed to be read and assigned on Friday, but I have not read it yet. After talking to the sponsors a couple times this week, I have been told that the following will be the only elements in the bill: the MOST Program will be under the Colorado State Patrol (CSP); it will have a three year sunset clause; and the minimum size of training bike will be increased to 500cc. Colorado State Patrol was very adamant about not having any other changes in the bill and they would only accept ownership of the program if it was transferred over as is. The next important step is to pass the bill through the rest of the process to get it to the desk of the Governor. Once that happens and CSP takes control, the rules will have to be re-written. That is when we have to be ever vigilant and see if we can get our concerns heard and some changes made. Initial conversation with CSP sounds like they are open to hearing from the stakeholders so we can only keep our fingers crossed at this time. Another bill of concern to motorcyclists is SB17-213: Concerning Authorization for Automated Driving Systems to Control Motor Vehicles Throughout Colorado, the ADS bill for short. This bill was introduced on Tuesday, 3/7, somehow rushed into the Senate Transportation Committee schedule and discussed on Thursday, 3/16. Bruce and I had met with the Senate sponsor of the bill earlier and expressed our concerns with the bill. I also met with the drafter of the bill and he explained my “misinterpretation” of the verbiage which was our concerns. It was standing room only at the committee meeting with 18 people signed up to testify: 8 proponents; 3 opposed; and 7 testified neutral. The proponents were the “heavy-hitters” from Lockheed-Martin, General Motors; and Panasonic. I testified neutral claiming that ADS vehicles don’t see motorcycles and more testing is needed. I quoted an article from Crash Incidents with Tesla Autopilot, which is the name of their software in autonomous vehicles – “Autopilot should be used only on limited-access highways, and sometimes it will fail to detect lane markings and disengage itself. In urban driving the system will not read traffic signals or obey stop signs. The system also does not detect pedestrians or cyclists.” I also said this bill seems like an inroad to do more testing of ADS vehicles 6 Thunder Roads Magazine® Colorado
and if they really wanted to test the vehicles for seeing motorcycles they should go to Sturgis, SD the second week in August! Two amendments were added: one to clear up lines 19 23 on page about the “local authority” under CRS 42-4-111; and another deleting “should create new jobs” in Section 1, Legislative declaration on page 3. Sen. Todd introduced an amendment requiring a person behind the wheel as a failsafe control, but it was shot down. Because of all the neutral testimony, the sponsors agreed that maybe the bill needs a little more tweaking, which could easily happen at the 2nd or 3rd reading in the Senate Chambers or at the House Transportation & Energy Committee meeting, or even at the 2nd or 3rd reading in the House Chambers. (Lots of time to add amendments.) As for the Resolution on “May is Motorcycle Safety and Awareness Month”, the sponsors will introduce it in a couple of weeks, still giving enough time to pass through both chambers. Lastly, another thing I keep track of as I read all the bills, are “dumb” and “frivolous” bills. As Bear mentioned in his latest MRF Reports article, the dumbest bill so far is probably SB17093: Concerning the Operation of a Bicycle Approaching an Intersection. The bill would permit a person riding a bicycle to pass through a roadway intersection without stopping at a stop sign. A person riding a bicycle may also proceed through an intersection with an illuminated red traffic control signal. Luckily that bill was killed in committee. “Frivolous” bills are another story. Some bills seem unneeded, but it is the only way wording can be changed in our laws. Such as: HB17-1258 - Concerning renaming Delta-Montrose technical college to Technical College of the Rockies; or HB171205 - Concerning changing the definition of ‘salvage vehicle’, which really does not read as a change at all to me. But a true “frivolous” bill was HB17-1226 - Concerning the designation of daylight saving time as the standard year-round time within the state. Two sponsors had introduced HB17-1118 - Concerning an exemption from daylight saving time, which was killed in committee. Then the same two sponsors introduced HB171226, but that was killed in the same committee! On a serious note, I have the utmost respect for the Colorado Legislature and I can only imagine how difficult their jobs are. They pass laws that effect our very lives on a multitude of topics, some of which they don’t have a clue about. That’s why we need to be involved legislatively. Legislators want our input. They need to know how their constituents feel about various topics. It really is a disservice to our Public Officials and to ourselves when we don’t make our voices heard. It does not have to take a lot of your time, like attending every one of your Legislator’s open houses (but it might be a good idea to attend at least one) or every committee meeting, but a brief email or phone call to express your concern on a particular topic, lets them know they have constituents that pay attention and might even teach them something about issues they don’t know about. Everyone needs to get more legislatively active. Try it; you just might have some fun!!! Stump ABATE of Colorado – Legislative Affairs Officer
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REPORT U.S. World Trophy Team: 2016 AMA Motorcyclists of the Year PICKERINGTON, Ohio -- The American Motorcyclist Association announced today that its 2016 AMA Motorcyclists of the Year are U.S. World Trophy Team members Taylor Robert, Kailub Russell, Thad DuVall and Layne Michael. On Oct. 16, 2016, they accomplished something that no team of American motorcyclists had done before: They won the Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme’s International Six Days Enduro. “This shared achievement of Taylor, Kailub, Thad and Layne is historic,” said AMA President and CEO Rob Dingman. “Generations of AMA members have chased the ISDE World Trophy, and these four riders have finally caught it for all of us.” The AMA Motorcyclist -- or Motorcyclists -- of the Year is the individual or group of individuals who have had the largest positive impact on motorcycling in the calendar year. Since 1913, the ISDE has invited the countries of the world to send their best racers. It is a crown that has always eluded American racers. Until now. “This triumph is unprecedented, and it is my honor to recognize these riders as the 2016 AMA Motorcyclists of the Year,” Dingman said. The 2016 ISDE was Oct. 11-16 in Navarra, Spain. The U.S. World Trophy Team started strong, powering to a 26.02-second gap on the first day. The team added to its lead on the second and third days, slipped a bit on Day 4, then held fairly steady on Days 5 and 6, finishing 3 minutes, 38.66 seconds ahead of the second-place Great Britain team. In addition, Taylor Robert won the individual overall at the event, only the second time in history an American has accomplished that goal. The U.S. World Trophy riders led a strong U.S. effort that saw the Junior team finish second in its division, the Women’s team come in fourth, club teams finish second and third, and American Fred Hoess win the FIM Vintage Trophy. “For decades, American teams have struggled to win at the ISDE, but in 2016, all those efforts paid off,” Dingman said. “While Taylor, Kailub, Thad and Layne would surely be the first to give credit to lessons learned in previous years, they are the riders who hoisted the ISDE World Trophy for the first time in history.” Profiles of Robert, Russell, DuVall and Michael can be found in the January 2017 issue of American Motorcyclist, the official journal of the AMA. 8 Thunder Roads Magazine® Colorado
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Photo by Zayne Watson, courtesy of the American Motorcyclist Association.
AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days, July 8-10, 2016 at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in Lexington, OH.
American Motorcyclist Association appoints Kevin Crowther as Director of Racing PICKERINGTON, Ohio -- The American Motorcyclist Association has appointed Kevin Crowther as the association’s director of racing. Crowther, who vacates the position of director of Supercross and pro racing relations, will oversee all AMA amateur and professional competition operations, including maintaining his management responsibilities with respect to AMA Supercross. ”As the largest motorsports sanctioning body in the world, the AMA maintains a world-class racing program, and Kevin is well-qualified to help us meet and exceed that goal,” said AMA President and CEO Rob Dingman. “From the beginning, motorcycle racing in all its forms has been core to the AMA’s mission. Kevin will provide the day-to-day guidance and hands-on leadership to ensure the association continues to deliver for AMA members in the racing community.” In addition to serving as director of Supercross and pro racing relations, Crowther has been the AMA’s director of technical development and the chief technical inspector for the AMA Superbike Championship Series. By virtue of his positions with the AMA, the U.S. affiliate of the Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme, Crowther also has served in various roles for World Superbike, MotoGP, MXGP and the Motocross of Nations. “Since Christmas morning in 1971 when I found a 1971 Yamaha Mini Enduro under the tree, motorcycles have always been a big part of my life, and I’m excited to continue that journey in this new role,” Crowther said. “I will put forward all of my experience to guide the AMA’s racing department into the future. We have a strong, efficient and experienced racing staff, and we will work hard with our promoting and operational partners to continue to better serve our racing members across all disciplines, from trails to Supercross.” Prior to working for the AMA, Crowther was an amateur competitor in motocross, off-road and road racing. He also has built or developed race bikes for road racing, drag racing, motocross, Supermoto, off-road and dirt track. A veteran of the U.S. Navy, Crowther also was a certified Motorcycle Safety Foundation Instructor on the Naval Air Station North Island in California. Crowther replaces outgoing AMA Director of Racing Bill Cumbow, who has held the position since 2014. Cumbow, who will maintain an advisory role with respect to day-to-day operations, has been a key member of the AMA racing staff since 2006 and was instrumental in the 2014 effort to shepherd the promoting responsibilities for the AMA Superbike Championship to MotoAmerica. Cumbow will continue his AMA responsibilities with respect to MotoAmerica and the FIM. “One of Bill’s many strengths is that he considers all AMA racers and their interests to be equally important, whether they are competing in a local enduro or the U.S. round of MotoGP,” Dingman said. “I’m pleased that Bill will remain involved in AMA racing activities as Kevin transitions into his new role.” For more information on this or other related AMA News and Events, visit www.AmericanMotorcyclist.com www.thunderroadscolorado.com
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Car ool Night sra Hot CarsCC su nce In e om hr by Show
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Featuring HOT CARS COOL NIGHTS CAR SHOW SATURDAY, MAY 27, 2016 11am-9pm CIVIC CENTER PARK, FORT COLLINS Start this Memorial Day Weekend with the Young Realities Riders’ Bicycle Parade as we open the Rally with the Presentation of the Colors and Free Apple Pie in the Park! Hot Cars Cool Night Car Show opens at Laporte and N. Howes at 10am ◆ Enjoy this All-American weekend with: Live Music ◆ Beer Gardens ◆ Food & Merchandise Vendors Dunk Tanks ◆ Patriotic Pin-Up Girl Contest FMX Motorcycle Stunts ◆ Hot Wing Eating Contests Free Realities Ride Tattoos Headlining Band at 7:30pm: Honky Tonk Happy Hour with John Magnie and Friends
SUNDAY, MAY 29, 2016, Starts at 8am
THUNDER MOUNTAIN HARLEY DAVIDSON, LOVELAND Every Mile Helps in the Fight Against Child Abuse! Skydiving Presentation of the Colors ◆ Breakfast & Coffee Free Realities Ride T-Shirt (if pre-registered by May 14) Dickey's BBQ Lunch ◆ Live Music at Every Stop A chance to Win $250 at Each Ride Stop!
PRE-REGISTERED RIDERS RECEIVE Free Realities Ride T-Shirt ◆ 3 Entries to Win the Custom Paint Job Pre-Registered Riders’-Only Drawing for a 55” TV Priority Ride Day Check-In ◆ First Chance to Buy VIP Tickets Pick Up Your Rider Band on Saturday for Beer Garden Discounts
SUNDAY, MAY 29, 2016 12am-5pm CIVIC CENTER PARK, FORT COLLINS
Join us back downtown as the 2-day Rally continues Budweiser After-Ride Party - With Live Music from 12am - 5pm Beer Gardens ◆ VIP Area ◆ Webb’s Colorfest Tattoo Contest Silent and Live Auctions ◆ FMX Stunt Shows ◆ Food Vendors Quality Merchandise Vendors ◆ Dunk Tank Presentation of all the Ride-Day Prizes including the $1,500 Best Poker Hand and Custom Paint Job! After Sunday's After Ride in Old Town, join us at Hooters in Loveland.
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Saving the scoot
What will be the future of motorcycles? By Dallas Hageman
This is it. I feel this may be my last article. Not because Thunder Roads has wised up and finally decided to throw me to the street… no, I feel it may be my last due to the subject matter that will no doubt end in my tar and feathering like in Ye Olden Times; effectively rendering me a large, gangly chicken unable to write anymore. I will however, continue these pieces of provocative thought until such time occurs or the good Lord takes me (or the fine folks at Thunder Roads Colorado decide throw me to the proverbial curb). I am writing today about the future of motorcycles and you, as a human being which sucks air no doubt have an opinion on this as I am sure a good many other things. Taking into consideration my outlook on this particular subject you may whole heartedly agree, or you may want me run out of town for this, but that is a risk I am willing to take. Opinions are like butts, everyone has one and they usually smell the same. I am in no way different and from time to time tend to smell more than most. SO, in the name of stinking up the atmosphere, let us dive in to the future of motorcycles. For the past 10 years or so the large motorcycle manufacturers have been wising up to a very real and present danger, the lack of interest with two wheels. Granted, sales of motorcycles have grown exponentially over the recent years but looking at the industry from a so-called 30 thousand foot view, trouble is a brewin’ on the two wheel front. How do I know… Well, being in the position I am on-air and speaking with people from all over the globe, I have had the pleasure of making numerous and high level connections deep within the industry. Now, before you think I intend to point fingers in efforts to bolster my argument please know I would not dare expose any of the names or what position they hold for the sake of anonymity. I will say though, that every single one of 12 Thunder Roads Magazine® Colorado
them is worried to the point of a knot in their stomach about the coming five to ten years. Every. Single. One. Obviously these individuals would not open up to the general populace about such worries but I can assure you that behind the iron curtains, in the hallowed halls of corporate boardrooms, there are numerous heated and intense meetings discussing what can be done to attract new and younger riders. The reason for these knockdown, drag-out inter office panic attack meetings? Attracting the coveted potential new riders just is not happening on a level that will provide a continuous flow of revenue as each manufacturer has been enjoying in the past. It seems that no matter what each of the big motorcycle makers concoct (whether in marketing, new fancy-pantsy financing or new products), the industry is continuing to grey. I have spoken with many leaders in dealerships who confirm the only large and unencumbered segment of populace which continues to purchase the same models year after year are aging and dying off at a rate that is overtaking the lackluster interest of fresh, young blood. The tactics which have been dredged from the depths of desperation to drum up new business are not taking flight like most manufacturers would hope and in turn the industry is beginning to go down a slow and painful spiral.
Who is to blame? And at this point of the article I plan to (but hopefully not) alienate my entire audience. I do believe that the blame for a shrinking interest in motorcycles lies on everyone, myself
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included. It would be easy to point at the millennial generation. Think about it… currently these men, women seem to be the most entitled, whiny, limp backboned and pathetic generation of kids these United States has ever churned into existence… or are they? Studies are beginning to show that Millennials are much different than their predecessors in a couple of ways that are flying under the radar. One way that differs is the lack of debt they want to incur. For the most part Millennials are laden with HUGE amounts of nearly worthless student loan debt, so much so it is to the point of soul crushing. Naturally, not wanting to pile even more debt to the mountain that is already on their shoulders, they look to inexpensive was to enjoy their hobbies and lifestyles… and really, who could blame them?! Furthermore this same generation could not care one iota about name brand anything. From clothing to food to motorcycles, they want cheap and they want quality. Now, given what I just told you about said younger people does it not stand to reason most motorcycle manufacturers in the U.S. will be dead in the water under fifteen years unless tactics are changed in a hurry? These manufacturers have enjoyed a plethora of years where big, expensive, name brand baggers rule the roads. Now that the younger generation is opening up their pocketbooks for naked type scramblers these same manufacturers are finding what they have to offer just won’t cut it for most newcomers into the market (at least in the future). Millennials aren’t the only ones causing motorcycles to suffer a sluggish decline into the new era however. The perpetuation of anything, whether religious beliefs, way of life, manners, hobbies, etc. begins with parents. You see if you want kids to take an interest in your interests you have to train them. You have to take them and show them the ropes. Instead of recommending kids for car seats until they are 16 years old (no, unfortunately I’m not making that up) why not put them on the back of your bike and take a trip around the block. And, on a side note, if other parents on the block don’t like how you raise your kids may I suggest giving them a long, pointy stick to place firmly in their backside. Raise your kids to love adventure, to take life by the handlebars and actually LIVE, not just exist. It’s parent’s job to raise their kids the right way and unfortunately this day and age not many are doing that. Yes it takes effort to raise a kid, much more than creating them… but if you have them it’s your responsibility to raise them the right way. If we start raising kids with a wonderment of motorcycles then motorcycles will live on far into the future, if we don’t we’ll get more of the same “participation award” entitled brats running around just ripe for a butt kicking. At the risk of bloviating too much more in this article I do want to now turn attention to the motorcycle industry… (you know, the ones that are worried sick about reaching younger riders). The motorcycle industry as a whole has been digging their grave for years. It’s not due to innovation however. In fact, I think that most manufacturers, yes even Harley Davidson, have come out with some really impressive pieces of machinery recently and the technology that is wrapped up into a small frame and two wheels is nothing short of leprechaun magic. I mean heck, there are motorcycles now www.thunderroadscolorado.com
that run on glorified double A batteries… we as a collective ridership have come light-years by way of technology, unfortunately that technology has a hefty price tag. That price tag ladies and gentlemen, is where the grave is the deepest. With the outrageous prices motorcycles are going for nowadays it’s no wonder younger people (and even budget conscious older folks) are turning away from them. Look, I love motorcycle (obviously) but even I wouldn’t drop 45k +/on a new ride. It’s not just that, but the parts, accessories and everything else are so overpriced that any one daring to enter the “new culture” of riding better have a big Santa Claus style sack of cash before waltzing through their nearest dealership. People, Millennials especially, are very attuned and cautious of taking on debt, and since they don’t care about brand they are creating a moving target for manufacturers to hit. While the Board of Directors of major motorcycle manufacturers turn every which way to attract new clientele I feel, from a consumer standpoint, what is needed is very, very simple. What can be done HA! There’s the million dollar (or billion dollar) question. I won’t pretend to know all the answers and if I did know them I would sell them to the highest bidder, buy and island and build a motorcycle racetrack on it to live out the rest of my days. Believe me, any company that figures out what to do first will be the new (or defending) champion for the next 30 - 50 years. It will be akin to the moment Harley buried Indian when receiving a military contract for their bikes some 80 +/- years ago. Now I know that some of this is above my pay grade but honestly, I genuinely feel that people can overthink processes, procedures and economics from time to time. So here it is, my take on what needs to be done to save the industry. Ready for it… Drop prices. Like… right now. That’s it. Simple right? Take smaller dividends on portfolios, cut out some of the fat the companies have no doubt been living off of like life support for 20 years. Slash prices on everything from new motorcycles to shoe laces and people will respond. Price and quality drive this new industry. In summation and for those of you who still may think I’m a total idiot, or maybe that I don’t know what I’m talking about; let’s bring up one particular motor manufacturer that did this. Remember during the recession when all but one of the big car manufacturers were sucking off the teat of Big Government? What did Ford Motor Company do? That’s right, they gave employee pricing to customers and it was one of the biggest windfalls in the company’s history. Others thought they were crazy and would lose all types of business but Ford offered good quality at a low price. VIOLA! They did so well that DURING the recession the New York Times reported that the car maker would pay bonuses of $5,000 and more to its hourly workers (and a year before that the same paper was sounding the death bell on auto makers). Quality and price never… NEVER go out of style. So, motorcycle manufacturers, you want to win in business and attract younger people to your products? Offer good deals coupled with great financing and top quality products… Stop the price gouging and start employee pricing.
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RIDE PRIDE
GOLD DIGGER
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t the Sacramento Easyriders Show in January, TRM NorCal had the pleasure of meeting Norman the owner of this month’s RIDE PRIDE feature. His bike was definitely getting its fair share of attention from bike tour attendees coming in at the main entrance. It was strategically positioned in front of the bike builders, John Shope’s booth – Dirty Bird Concepts. At one point, Norman came by our booth and asked if we would be interested in featuring his Road King sometime and I said “hell yes!” Now the bike had been spending most of the time in Arizona while Norman was hard at work so it took a while to get access to it for a shoot> We finally managed to coordinate our schedules to meet up in Reno. One thing lead to another and we ended up shooting this bike and another one that will blow your socks off that we will bring to you in the future. Now all of that gold on this bike is not only super flashy but it does have significance. It just so happens that Norman also co-owns a gold mine in Northern California and as an avid motorcycle rider it just made sense to combine his passion for motorcycles and
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gold as the theme for this build. What a spectacular job! This bike has won the 2015 Bagger Show in Sturgis and several other awards along the way! It is easy to see why. As we were going to print, we heard that Norman’s ride was once again winning in Sturgis. This time 1st Place in the Bagger category as well as Best of Show at the Rat’s Hole Custom Bike Show! Congratulations to Norman and John Shope of Dirty Bird Concepts on this outstanding bike build and thanks a bunch for sharing it with all of us. Article and photos by Stan Hill
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HISTORIC FEM PART II
The following is the second in a four-part series showcasing 12 female riders with historic significance.
motorcycle dispatch rider in WWII. She even won a flat track race while disguised as a man, of course, she was refused her prize money once she took her helmet off and revealed her true gender, but she had proved her point. Women can really ride. In the 1950s she made Miami her home and continued to ride, tour and enjoy life on two wheels. She also became a nurse and founded the Iron Horse MC Club. In the years that followed she became known as the ‘Motorcycle Queen of Miami’.
Bessie Stringfield Facts: Founder of the Iron Horse Motorcycle Club, she fought through the barriers of being a black, female motorcycle rider and became an Army motorcycle dispatch rider in WWII. She became an AMA Hall of Fame Member in 2002.
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s a teenager, Bessie made a name for herself by traveling around the United States on a perpetual quest for adventure. In 1929 she became the first AfricanAmerican woman to travel across the US alone, on a motorcycle. According to the legend, Bessie started riding as a teen and would flip a coin onto a map of the US and then ride to that point. Truly a free spirit, Bessie even spent time as a stunt rider in regional carnivals and was known for her signature move of standing on the seat of one of the 27 Harley Davidson motorcycles she owned over the years. She is also credited with eight transcontinental rides and is supposed to have ridden through all lower 48 states. This charismatic gal fought through a lot of obstacles along the way including the fact that she was a black woman and she was a woman riding a motorcycle by herself. She toured the deep-south, where racism was prevalent and dangerous for anyone of color, but she deserves credit for doing as she darn well pleased on her mission to share her joy of riding with anyone she came in contact with. Adeline van Buren’s effort from 20-years earlier paid off for Bessie when she managed to become a civilian Army 20 Thunder Roads Magazine® Colorado
Linda Dugeau Facts: Founder of the Motor Maids, she was inducted to the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame in 2004. Linda starting riding in 1932 and the tales of her riding adventures graced the pages of many of the leading motorcycle publications at the time. Dugeau had a real knack for riding as she used motorcycles to get to and from college, and later as part of her daily commute through the sketchy city streets of Boston. In yet another example of the old six-degrees of separation, she met a fellow female rider who made her aware of the famous 99 Club made up entirely of female pilots (Remember, Gussie van Buren was both a 99 and a woman rider). In 1938, she initiated a campaign to form a women’s motorcycle club. She spent the better part of a decade petitioning females who owned and rode their own motorcycles to join her club until a fortuitous meeting with Dot Robinson helped it all come together. The pair made it their three year-long mission to recruit 50 female riders who owned and rode their own motorcycles. Eventually, the Motor Maids of America was established in 1940 with Dugeau as founder and Robinson serving as club President. The club was awarded it official AMA Charter in 1941, making it the oldest AMA recognized motorcycle club for women in the USA. The Motor Maids gained popularity rapidly through their regular participation in AMA races and events. The members, dressed in their signature long white gloves, would parade on the race courses much to the delight of men and women alike. Linda Dugeau would be inducted to the AMA Hall of Fame in 2004.
April 2017
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MALE RIDERS
the rally until the day she passed away in 2005 at the age of 99 and was inducted into the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame in 1991. She will always be known as the “First Lady of Sturgis.” The first six women highlighted were all women who deserve to be recognized for the pioneering effort and riding spirit in the early years of motorcycle history. The transcontinental rides, the breakthrough in women’s rights and the formation of clubs and events like Sturgis are all huge accomplishments that deserve to be remembered. The funny thing is, that each of them started out with a simple passion for motorcycles. It’s the same burning desire to feel the win on our face and that freedom and independence that exemplifies what it means to ride a motorcycle.
Pearl Hoel Facts: Known as the First Lady of Sturgis, Pearl and her husband Pappy founded the legendary Sturgis Rally and was inducted into the AMA Hall of Fame in 1991. Pearl is not on this because of her amazing riding feats, instead she makes the cut because of her contribution to the motorcycle industry. As a recognized pillar of the community and long-time member of the Sturgis municipalities, she was instrumental in getting the townsfolk of Sturgis to accept her husband’s wild ideas. It’s a good thing they did as their annual motorcycle rally attracts riders from all across the United States to their little piece of heaven in the Black Hills. Her husband gets the official credit for forming the Jackpine Gypsies Motorcycle Club and the Black Hills Motor Classic event, but the story is that Pearl had the influence that made it all happen. Basically, she was the glue that held all the many complicated pieces together and allowed the Sturgis Rally to persevere and grow. Her reputation and influence over the wives of the local businessman was a key ingredient to the recipe for success.
We will continue to ride the way-back machine for a little while longer by taking a peek at the accomplishments of a few ladies that know a thing or two about twisting a more modern throttle. As the decades transitioned from the 50s and 60s to the 70s and 80s the emphasis on riders that have done memorable things seems to have revolved around racing exploits. For that reason, the next batch of battling beauties starts with a few gals who made a name for themselves by riding a motorcycle a few miles per hour beyond its limits.
The couple established their Indian Motorcycle Dealership which was the conduit to the creation of the Jackpine Gypsies, men-only club for the folks who bought Indians from the dealership. In 1937 the Gypsies invited the Rapid City Pioneers Motorcycle Club to Sturgis for the inaugural Black Hills Motor Classic and the rest as they say, is history. The Sturgis business owners were happy to see the people coming into the town from all over, just to participate in the event and together with the Hoel family, they laid the foundation for what is arguably the most recognized motorcycle rally on the planet. What started as a handful of enthusiasts riding around the old horse flat track for fun and camping in the backyard of the Hoel residence has evolved into an event that brings in a halfmillion riders to the region. As the years went by, the Sturgis Rally grew beyond anyone’s wildest expectations, and Pearl has served as the constant presence through it all. She was also the conduit to the original history of the rally, responsible for telling tales, recounting facts and sharing that information with anyone, journalists in particular, who asked for her help. She was active in www.thunderroadscolorado.com
April 2017
Source: J&P Cycles
BRITISH MOTORCYCLE ASSOCIATION OF COLORADO Meets 1 st Saturday of every month, 10 am South Side Johnny’s 528 S. Tejon Colorado Springs, CO www.bmacinc.com All makes and models of bikes welcome! Contact John @719-213-3239 or 5pointsltd@gmail.com
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Eight Things to do at the Scene of an Accident If you have ever witnessed an accident, you know that the people involved can tend to act abnormally. Victims jump up from seemingly destructive impacts, witnesses shrug and move on, guilty parties split the scene. In this article, I want to share some things that you should keep in mind if you’re in an accident.
In order to illustrate this point, consider the following real-life story from The O’Sullivan Law Firm files: Patrick was riding his motorcycle southbound on a busy, four-lane road. A northbound driver turned left in front of him and Patrick barely had time to hit the brakes. He hit the car and sustained a shattered left collarbone, broken ribs, torn ligaments in his knee, and other injuries.
If You’re in an Accident, What Should You Do? Let us say that you are in an accident and you are coherent enough to take action. These are the steps you should take: 1. If you’re not in danger from traffic, you should leave your car or motorcycle right where it is. If you are in danger, and if your car or motorcycle can be moved, get yourself off the road and out of traffic. 2. Call 911. 3. Never, ever stand behind or near your car or motorcycle as you wait for police to arrive! Do not even sit in your car. Your car or motorcycle is an obstacle to other drivers and it can get hit again. Stay away from it. 4. Exchange insurance information with the other party. Get his or her name, telephone number, email address, mailing address, and insurance information including policy number and insurance company name. (Cell phone cameras make this easy.) 5. Even if it is a minor accident and you do not think you are hurt, do not let the other person leave. At a minimum, get his or her driver’s license number. 6. If the other party drives away, you stay right there and wait for the cops. 7. Get pictures. Use your phone’s camera and take as many pictures as possible. Take shots of the intersection, damage to your car or motorcycle, witnesses, debris on the road – anything in or around the scene of the accident. 8. If you are taken to the hospital, use your health insurance. Often, when a victim checks into a hospital after an accident, he gives the hospital the other driver’s insurance information. Hospitals take that information but they can’t do anything with it. So, essentially, you’re not covered for the medical treatment they are providing. Also, since Colorado is a tort-based system, the at-fault driver’s insurance will not pay for anything until all expenses are settled, which can take a very long time. In the meantime, your bills are piling up, you are receiving calls from collections agencies, and your credit score is dropping. Therefore, use your medical insurance! (Please read my previous blog titled “Illegal Hospital Billing” to learn about some underhanded tactics that hospitals are using in how they handle insurance.) Why Are Witnesses So Important? Statistics have proven that people who run red lights or stop signs are likely to lie. They say, “The light was green!” or “I came to a complete stop!” They will lie to you and they will lie to their insurance companies. When it comes down to your word against theirs, you need proof. You need witnesses. 22 Thunder Roads Magazine® Colorado
The police arrived. Because Patrick had no traumatic head injury, he was able to explain the accident. However, one witness told the police that she had seen Patrick earlier riding his motorcycle erratically. She admitted, however, that she did not see the accident. Two other witnesses saw the accident and said Patrick was not at-fault and that he had the right-of-way. The police officer gave Patrick the ticket. Patrick asked The O’Sullivan Law Firm to represent him and we visited the scene of the accident. We were able to collect witness statements from people who worked in a nearby restaurant. These witnesses also said that Patrick was driving legally and had the right-of-way. We took those statements to the prosecutors promptly dropped the case against Patrick. And yet, the at-fault driver’s insurance company continued to deny responsibility until we filed a lawsuit and took the witnesses’ depositions. Finally, the insurance company dropped their defense and accepted full responsibility. Clearly, in Patrick’s case, witnesses made all of the difference. Your Behavior at the Scene of an Accident Your behavior at the scene of an accident can impact your case’s outcome later. Here are two tips that you should follow after an accident: 1. Don’t diminish the incident. We live in a society where people are expected to be tough! We also tend to be helpful and polite, genuinely wanting to help each other. But if you’ve been in an accident, don’t walk around saying, “I’m fine. I feel great!” Auto accident injuries tend to reveal themselves 24 hours after an accident. Anything you say at the scene of an accident can affect your case later. 2. Settle down. Your demeanor at an accident can also be used against you later. If you walk around angrily, yelling and screaming, that can also affect your case. A final note that bears repeating: It is crucial to call 911 when you have been in an accident. If you don’t call the police and you discover injuries from the incident 24 hours later, you won’t have a record of the accident. We have never had someone regret calling the police to the scene of an accident... but they do regret it if they don’t! If you have any questions at all about this article, don’t hesitate to call us at the O’Sullivan Law Firm
April 2017
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S K I N A R T
APRIL 2017
Rebel Queenz April Birthdays LEATHER ‘N LACE Event 4/1/2017 8:00 PM – Close Y-Not Bar 6331 Washington Street Denver, CO 80216 $10 per person $15 per couple Entry fee includes a plate and drink. Raffles and great music! Ladies put on your sexiest leather or lace and come party with Denver’s favorite female biker babes and celebrate a few of the girls including my birthdays!!! It’s going to be great night so save the date!! Gentlemen you’re going to want to be there!!! Get Outta Your Cage Run 4/2/2017 10:00 Registration Rudy’s BBQ 315 S. 31st Colorado Springs, CO 80904 1st Bike out at 10:30 AM Last Bike Out 11:00 AM Ends at VFW Hall 841 Santa Fe Drive Denver, CO 80204 $10 per person includes 3 raffle tickets $15 per couple includes 6 raffle tickets Speaker, food and raffle Ride to Cripple Creek 4/8/2017 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM 8000 W Colfax Ave, Lakewood, CO 80214 Widows Sons Masonic Riders Association will be taking a day-trip from Denver to Cripple Creek. Starting at Avalanche Harley Davidson Avalanche HarleyDavidson Call (303) 919-0825 - Manny Hernandez or email: mdjh4444@gmail.com Devil Dog MC 4th Annual F* Cancer Ride 4/22/2017 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM 1350 S. Broadway Street Denver, CO Registration begins at 9:00 am and motorcycles go out at 12:00 pm. There is no ride fee but donations will be accepted. Auctions of donated items will be held before the ride. The ride will include stops in Golden, and at Ft. Logan Cemetery before ending in Denver. Stops will include food, a chance to meet the guest of honor, and a tribute to our fallen brothers and will end with the guest of honor, family, friends and more. This ride is to honor a child who is battling cancer or is in remission from Cancer. This year we honor a little boy who has battled brain cancer. Proceeds go to the child and his family. The 4th Annual Devil Dog MC F* Cancer Ride will be held in Honor of Sean Terry. This is a charity ride to benefit people who have cancer. (719) 393-2220 www.devildogsmotorcycleclub.com www.facebook.com/events/741760309309081/ 24 Thunder Roads Magazine® Colorado
AMSOIL AX Arenacross - Denver 4/22/2017 – 4/23/2017 4600 Humboldt St Denver, CO 80216 4/22/2017 Main Event (Opening Ceremonies) - 7PM Doors Open - 6PM Sunday Amateur Day - April 23, 2017 Main Event (Opening Ceremonies) - 12PM Doors Open - 8AM Ticket Prices Tickets start at $15 Sunday General Admission - $10 * Additional fees may apply. **Prices subject to change. Track Party Get an up-close look at the riders, machines, and obstacles used to soar through the air at unimaginable heights and speeds. Take pictures and get autographs with the AMSOIL Arenacross riders, Monster Energy Girls and ACMnominated DJ KO as they pump up the pre-race adrenaline and get the night started in the most exciting way possible! Bring an empty Monster Energy can to recycle and get free entrance to the track party. Track Passes will also be available for sale at the box office and ticket outlets for $10. A Track Pass and valid event ticket are required for entry. Rider autographs are not guaranteed. Entry to track party closes at 5:45pm. 800-216-7482 rtillman@feldinc.com www.arenacross.com/
MAY 2017
Valiants MC 2nd annual charity poker run 5/6/2017 9:45 AM - 4:00 PM 6013 S College Ave Fort Collins, CO 80525 Valiants MC North Chapter 2nd annual poker run benefiting Healing Warriors program. Healing Warriors is a local charity that’s helps veterans with injuries, PTSD, as well as their families. Matts Place Bar and Grill Call 970-646-1253 or email S.conaway@live.com for more information Look Twice Save A Life 5/13/2017 8:00 AM 2885 W. County Line Road Littleton, CO Sponsored by Biker Down The ride starts at Rocky Mountain Harley-Davidson. Registration is from 8:00 am to 9:30 am and motorcycles go out at 10:00 am. The ride fee is $20.00 per person. Preregistration is available online and those who pre-register will be guaranteed to receive a t-shirt. The ride will end in Parker with 50/50 drawings, door prizes, auctions and more. For more information go to http://BikerDown.org.
April 2017
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Pinup Girl Poker Run 5/13/2017 3005 West 29th Street F Greeley, CO 80631 The start location for the Poker Run is at the Airborne Aces Flying Tigers’ parking lot. Registration starts at 10AM and KSU at 11AM. The fee is $20/rider and $15/passenger. You Must Be 21 to Participate. Best Poker Hand Worst Poker Hand Best Pin-Up Contest 50/50 Raffle Bikini Bike Wash There will be awards for the best hand, worst hand, and pinup contest. Phone: 970-352-2042 www.facebook.com/events/1612159939092723/ 2017 Sandhills Poker Run 5/14/2017 9:00 AM 1600 Main St. Fort Morgan, CO 80701 ABATE of Colorado D1 is hosting the Sandhills Poker Run. Come join us for Cash Prizes, Door Prizes, Music and More Registration begins at 9 AM $25 per person First 350 to Register Receive a Free T-Shirt. Riverside Park Call 910-768-2989 – Bill or go to http://abateofcolo.org/ event/2017-sandhills-poker-run/2017-05-14/ 8th Annual National Armed Forces Freedom Ride 5/20/2017 12311 Pine Bluffs Way Parker, CO 80134 Bikers across the Nation Will Ride to Honor and Show their Support for all Armed Forces Veterans of War, Pow, MIA, KIA, WIA and Our Troops! Takoda Tavern Go to http://cofreedomride.com for more information Frank’s Ride for Children 31st Annual Poker Run 5/20/2017 8:00 AM to 7:00 PM 1548 - 2200 Pratt Street, Longmont, CO Frank’s Ride for Children 31st Annual Poker Run to benefit the Make a Wish foundation of Colorado. Registration begins at: 8:00 AM Donation of $20 each for adults and $10 donation each for ages 13 - 20. Registration is at the Longmont Loyal Order of Moose Lodge 1548 - 2200 Pratt Street, Longmont, Colorado. Breakfast will be available at Registration for a $5 Donation All participants must have a photo ID The last stop is at Anderson Farms 6278 County Road 3-1/4, Erie, CO 80516. There will be food, drinks, live entertainment, bike games, raffles, door prizes, auctions, merchandise, and more. For more information and to register, go to http://www. franksride.com. www.thunderroadscolorado.com
Rocky Mt Cycle Plaza 2nd Annual Swap Meet & Show 5/20/2017 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM 412 North Chelton Road Colorado Springs, CO 80909 2nd Annual Swap Meet & Show All brands welcome. Bring your old project, parts, literature, etc to sell or trade (European, Japanese & Domestic). Or just bring out that old bike to show everyone what you have. This is our second year having a Swap Meet in the parking lot at Rocky Mountain Cycle Plaza and we would like to thank them for providing a huge parking lot for the event. Call 719-660-7252 - Randy Triplett for more information 9th Annual Support-A-Soldier Poker Run 5/20/2017 9:30 AM to 5:00 AM 10392 Reed St. Westminster, CO 80021 The 9th Annual SUPPORT-A-SOLDIER Poker Run is a Run that gives back to the military community. It directly affects our deployed military in all branches. Come out and join us, ride your motorcycle, dust off that Hot Rod, all vehicles welcome. All proceeds benefit SUPPORT-A-SOLDIER a 501 (c) 3 non profit organization. www.facebook.com/SupportASoldier/ www.supportasoldier.us/ We are currently accepting Sponsors for this event, if you are interested contact one of the hosts. Call (720) 276-4186 – HOLLYWOOD or visit http://www. facebook.com/events/378304349221217/ for more information 10th Anniversary Defenders of Freedom Veterans Recognition Ride 5/21/2017 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM 6436 US-85 Fountain, CO 80917 10th Anniversary of the “LONGEST ESCORTED MOTORCYCLE CHARITY PROCESSION IN COLORADO” NEW ROUTE Over 48 Miles FULLY ESCORTED from Sarge’s Grill in the City of Fountain through El Paso County and Ending at Pikes Peak International Raceway Route and Information Available on Website (www. VeteransRide.org) Registration Begins: 9:00am Safety Briefing & Presentation Of Colors: 10:30am Motorcycle Procession Departs: 11:00am Register at Starting Location Donation: $20.00/Bike (up to 2 riders) Cash Only Proceeds benefit the El Paso County Homeless Veterans Coalition (www.EPCHVC.org) Call 1-719-528-6672 - Brian L. A. Wess or email VetsRide@ gmail.com for more information http://www.VeteransRide.org Burnout Competition 5/21/17 11:00 AM Greeley’s Reliable Used Motorcycle Parts & Service LLC 115 N 8th Ave, Greeley, Colorado 80631
April 2017
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Realities Ride and Rally 5/27/2017 – 5/28/2017 Begins at 11:00 AM on Saturday Civic Center Park, Fort Collins, CO 80521 Join us on Saturday, May 27th and Sunday, 28th in beautiful downtown Fort Collins for the 2-day Rally festival! The Rally is a FREE community event in the grassy and shady comfort of Civic Center Park. This event offers something for everyone in the family. If you ride, this is your party! We offer closed off streets for ‘bike-only parking’ and biker-related merchandise and displays just for you. If you don’t ride, this is a 2-day festival with music, food and entertainment for the whole family. The Realities Ride & Rally is a Memorial Day weekend celebration that “ain’t your grandma’s back yard picnic!” Be ready to rock the park with some of the best live music in the Front Range, great food, dunk tanks, games, beer garden, vendors, FMX Stunt Show and much more! Because of our amazing event sponsors each year, truly 100% of all funds raised during this annual event benefit local children who have been abused, neglected or who are at-risk. Visit www.RealitiesForChildren.com to learn more about what we do and how we serve the most vulnerable in our community. Come join us for our 2nd Annual Burnout Competition! Day full of family fun. Food and drinks available. Come and participate in the burnout and get 20% off your new tires. Winner gets brand new tire and install. Viewers choose winner. Raffle with tons of prizes. Burnouts start at 2pm. Come join us and watch rubber burn. Beautifully located in downtown Fort Collins, in Civic Center Park (corner of LaPorte Avenue and Howes Street), the Realities RALLY (Saturday and Sunday) offers a Need Your Oil Changed? unique ‘All American’ 2-day music, merchandise and food fest for everyone to enjoy. From the Young Realities WE’LL TEACH YOU HOW Riders, Patriotic AT OUR “HARLEY Bicycle Parade, the Hot Cars Cool Nights MECHANICS 101” CLASS. Car Show, Free apple pie in the park, youth In 1 Day you will learn how to performances, FMX change your Harley’s fluids, stunt shows, great live adjust cables, and more. music on the Thunder
Visit the Rally page to learn more! And if you ride, make it count! All bikes and all riders are invited to be part of the World’s Largest Poker Run! The RIDE (Sunday) includes a skydiving presentation of our Nation’s Colors, breakfast for riders, and a parade route of thousands of bikers coming together to make a difference in the lives of local children who need to know someone out there cares for them. The scenic 100-mile route features ride leaders, traffic controlled intersections, and live music at every stop! This is a ride not to miss: it offers one of the most enjoyable and safest rides of the season and over $2,500 in cash prizes! To learn more, visit The Ride page now or Register to Ride Today! http://realitiesforchildren.com/realities-ride/
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.
DO IT YOURSELF!
Mountain Harley Stage and a chance to thank our vets and the Realities Riders that are helping children in need, this is a weekend you don’t want to miss.
CALL US FOR MORE INFO
Thunder & Lightning Cycles LLC 3986 S. Broadway Englewood, CO 80113 720.287.1670 thunderlightningcycles@live.com
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April 2017
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April 2017
Thunder Roads MagazineÂŽ Colorado 27
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April 2017
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Tasty Recipes All of these recipes have been kitchen tested and biker approved.
Blue Cheese and Bacon Potato Salad This is some of the most addicting potato salad I have ever had. I had it the first time at a picnic and found out it was store bought. I purchased some of it and went to work deciphering the recipe. This is what I came up with. Ingredients 5 cups ice water 1 pound small red potatoes 4 slices bacon 1/4 cup white wine vinegar 1/4 cup olive oil 3 tablespoons mayonnaise 1 teaspoon stone-ground mustard salt and ground black pepper to taste 4 ounces crumbled blue cheese 4 green onions, thinly sliced Instructions Fill a large bowl with iced water. Line a baking sheet with a dish towel. Place potatoes into a large pot and cover with salted water; bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer until tender but firm, about 18 to 20 minutes. Drain potatoes; transfer to bowl of iced water to stop cooking process and to cool. Remove the potatoes from the water and place on a pan lined with paper towels to dry. Cut potatoes into quarters or 1 ½ - 2 inch pieces. Place the bacon in a large skillet and cook over mediumhigh heat, turning occasionally, until evenly browned and crisp. Drain and cool bacon slices on paper towels. Crumble the bacon into small pieces. Cut green onions into thin slices (both white and green parts) Whisk vinegar, olive oil, mayonnaise, and mustard together in a large bowl. Season with salt and black pepper. Add potatoes and green onions; stir to coat. Top with bacon, blue cheese, and green onions, do not over stir or you will break apart the potatoes. Chill for at least an hour or overnight for all the flavors to develop.
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Rainbow Bundt Cake This cake gets so many oohs and aahs and it comes out different every time you make it. I use a regular Bundt pan, I have tried the “fancier” ones and the cake doesn’t come out as spectacular. Ingredients 1 box white cake mix Substitute milk for the water Substitute melted butter for the vegetable oil Add one additional egg to the mix (if the box calls for three, use four) Yellow, red & blue food color Prepared vanilla or white frosting Procedure Heat oven to 325°F (315°F for high altitude). Generously grease 12-cup Bundt cake pan with shortening or cooking spray. Make cake mix as directed on box, using milk, melted butter and eggs. Divide batter among 3 bowls. Add few drops yellow food coloring to 1 bowl; mix well add enough color so that the batter looks yellow. Add a few drops of red food coloring to second bowl to make pink. Add an even amount of red and blue food coloring to third bowl to make purple. You want the colors to be fairly bright so that they show up when the cake is cooked. Pour half of the yellow batter into Bundt cake pan. Carefully pour half of the pink batter over the yellow batter. Again, carefully pour half of the purple batter over pink batter. Repeat the layers and do not mix the colors. Bake as directed on box until toothpick inserted near center comes out clean. Cool 10 minutes; remove from pan to cooling rack. Cool completely, about 1 hour. Place cake on serving plate. After the cake is cooled completely, divide the frosting or glaze among 3 small microwavable bowls. Microwave 1 bowl on High about 5 to 10 seconds; add few drops yellow food color and stir until frosting is smooth enough to drizzle. The frosting should “stream” off of the spoon. Using a spoon, drizzle yellow frosting back and forth over cake until all of the yellow frosting is used. Allow the frosting to drip over the sides and middle of the cake. Microwave second bowl of frosting; add equal amounts of the red and blue food color to make purple. Drizzle frosting over cake in same pattern used for the yellow frosting. Repeat with last bowl, adding red food color to make pink frosting, drizzling on the cake. Allow the frosting to set before serving.
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News Bytes by any other person is unlawful, except: (1) with the owner’s consent, (2) in response to a court order, or (3) by a dealer or automotive technician to service the vehicle. Certain violations are to be treated as unfair or deceptive acts or practices under the Federal Trade Commission Act.
NCOM BIKER NEWSBYTES Compiled & Edited by Bill Bish, National Coalition of Motorcyclists (NCOM) CONGRESSIONAL BILLS REINTRODUCED TO CURB ETHANOL Calling the Federal Ethanol Mandate “a Flop,” a bipartisan group of lawmakers have re-introduced two bills in the U.S. House of Representatives to cap the ethanol content of commercial gasoline and decrease the total volume of renewable fuel that must be contained in gasoline on the American market. “It’s time the ethanol mandate became a thing of the past. While wellintentioned from the start, after a decade of this policy it couldn’t be more obvious that the RFS is a flop,” announced Congressman Bob Goodlatte (R-VA) on March 2, 2017 after introducing two bills to alter the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS), the RFS Elimination Act (H.R. 1314) and the RFS Reform Act (H.R. 1315). Reps. Goodlatte, Jim Costa (D-CA), Steve Womack (R-AR), and Peter Welch (D-VT) issued a joint statement after reintroducing H.R. 1315; “The Renewable Fuel Standard is a well-intentioned flop…it’s clearer than ever that the federal government’s creation of an artificial market for the ethanol industry has resulted in a domino effect that is hurting people across the country.” The RFS Elimination Act (H.R. 1314) has the support of 60 bipartisan cosponsors and would repeal the Renewable Fuel Standard which mandates that 36 billion gallons of renewable fuels (primarily corn ethanol) be part of our nation’s fuel supply by 2022. The RFS Reform Act (H.R. 1315), which has the support of 42 cosponsors, “eliminates corn-based ethanol requirements, caps the amount of ethanol that can be blended into conventional gasoline at 10 percent, requires the EPA to set cellulosic biofuels levels at production levels, and decreases the total volume of renewable fuel that must be contained in gasoline sold or introduced into commerce for years 2017-2022.” BLACK BOX PRIVACY PROTECTION ACT H.R.736, the “Black Box Privacy Protection Act”, was introduced in the House on January 30, 2017 by Rep. Michael Capuano (D-MA). This bill amends the Automobile Information Disclosure Act to require manufacturers of new automobiles to disclose on the information label affixed to the window of the automobile: (1) the presence and location of an event data recorder (commonly referred to as a “black box”), (2) the type of information recorded and how such information is recorded, and (3) that the recording may be used in a law enforcement proceeding. The bill sets forth similar requirements for motorcycle manufacturers. An “event data recorder” is any device or means of technology installed in an automobile that records information such as automobile or motorcycle speed, seatbelt use, application of brakes, or other information pertinent to the operation of the automobile or motorcycle. The bill prohibits the manufacture, sale, offering for sale, or import into the United States of an automobile manufactured after model year of 2016 that is equipped with an event data recorder, unless the consumer can control the recording of information. Violators are liable to the U.S. government for a civil penalty of up to $5,000 for each violation with a maximum penalty of $35 million for a related series of violations. The event data recorder in an automobile or motorcycle, and any data recorded, shall be considered the property of the owner of the automobile or motorcycle. Retrieval or downloading of recorded data 30 Thunder Roads Magazine® Colorado
IDAHO SENATE KILLS ANTI-PROFILING BILL THAT HOUSE UNANIMOUSLY ENDORSED Idaho senators killed a proposal outlawing motorcycling profiling, which had passed the House unanimously, defeating H.B.123 on the Senate floor by a vote of 22-13 on March 15. Several senators said they’d spoken with their local sheriffs or other law enforcement and learned there had been no complaints of motorcycle profiling, that law enforcement opposed the bill, and one senator testified that his local sheriff said if the bill became law a motorcycle gang member wearing colors who was stopped for probable cause would get a plausible defense. The bill would have banned motorcycle profiling by state or local law enforcement, which it defines as “the arbitrary use of the fact that a person rides a motorcycle or wears motorcycle-related paraphernalia as a factor in deciding to stop and question, take enforcement action, arrest or search a person or vehicle.” In 2011, the state of Washington passed a further-reaching law, which also included requirements for training for law enforcement. Advocates reported that complaints about motorcycle profiling there dropped 90 percent after the anti-profiling law took effect. In 2016, Maryland became the second state to enforce such anti-profiling measures. “This bill is consistent with good police practices, which relies on conduct for making a stop,” said Senator Jeff Agenbroad (R-Nampa), the bill’s Senate sponsor in an interview with The Spokesman-Review newspaper. WASHINGTON ACTIVISTS RALLY FOR LANE-SPLITTING Motorcycle advocates rallied in Olympia on Friday, March 17 in support of state Senate Bill 5378, which would allow motorcycles to go in-between cars stuck in traffic, or “split lanes.” Some motorcyclists are demanding a public hearing. The bill has passed in the Senate with a bipartisan majority but has since been stuck in a House committee for weeks. Motorcyclists want a vote on it, and before that can happen, it needs a public hearing. The issue has created a firestorm on social media, pitting many drivers against motorcycle riders who want to see the legislation pass in Washington State. “In most cases we can split a lane and not interfere with anybody or not hit anybody, and we can move on right down the road,” Andy McAfee, a member of Spanaway ABATE, told CBS-affiliate KREM-2 news. Basically, the law would allow motorcyclists to ride between lanes of cars in heavy traffic. They would have to keep their speeds below 35 mph and go no more than 10 mph above flow of traffic. If passed, the legislation would also make vehicle drivers guilty of an infraction if they intentionally block a motorcycle from splitting lanes. Currently, lane splitting is only legal in California, though similar measures have recently been introduced in Texas (S.B.288), Oregon (S.B.385) and Hawaii (H.B.727).
April 2017
GEORGIA BILL WOULD ALLOW MOTORCYCLES TO FILTER FORWARD AT SIGNALS www.thunderroadscolorado.com
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Introduced February 27, House Bill 490 in Georgia would allow the operator of a motorcycle to “overtake and pass in the same lane occupied by the vehicle being overtaken under certain conditions”: (1) The vehicle being overtaken is stationary in traffic awaiting the change of a traffic-control signal; (2) The motorcycle is not traveling more than ten miles per hour; and (3) The motorcycle is being maneuvered to be placed in front of stationary traffic or to gain access to an adjacent turning lane. ARIZONA HELMET LAW DECISIVELY DEFEATED “In Arizona, you don’t mess with regulations on who can ride in the back of a pickup truck, and you don’t force a helmet on a motorcyclists’ head,” stated the Arizona Republic newspaper in reporting the demise of a Pay-toPlay helmet law proposal in committee. “That was made clear Wednesday (Jan 18), when a bill to mandate helmets got its first public consideration in years and promptly died.” Even the Democratic colleagues of the bill’s sponsor, Rep. Randy Friese (D-Tucson), voted against House Bill 2046. “Although no one could immediately pinpoint the last time the issue came before a committee, the prior proposal inspired bikers to circle the Capitol mall, longtime staffers said. The rumble from the engines was so loud it was heard inside House and Senate chambers and shook office partitions.” Bikers decked out in leather and bandanas told lawmakers the greater peril came from cars and trucks and said more education for all drivers is the better solution. The eight members of the House Transportation Committee sided with the bikers, voting unanimously to reject the bill. H.B.2046 would have imposed a fine of $500 on violators, with $300 of the fine going directly to a fund for head trauma patients, and in a twist, proposed that riders could pay a fee when registering their motorcycle allowing them to purchase an exemption to the law. DRIVERLESS BIG RIGS NEARLY ROAD READY
or won¹t go -- is actually easier than it is for cars. This is because these trucks spend most of their road time on open highways, where there is less stopping and fewer traffic rules than in areas with pedestrians, according to Anthony Levandowski, CEO of Otto, an autonomous-trucking company he co-founded early last year. Speaking at the annual Mobile World Congress in Barcelona this week, Levandowski, a former software engineer on Google¹s self-driving car project, added that despite racking up only 5.6 percent of all the miles driven in the U.S., trucks are found to be at fault for nearly 9.5 percent of the country¹s driving fatalities. Many proponents of self-driving technology believe it can reduce human error, often brought on by fatigue. Otto, which Uber bought in August 2016, also wants to enable driverless commercial trucks to operate in carefully synchronized fleets. “Truck Platooning,” explains Jim Elgin, Chairman of ABATE of Ohio, “is a fast track issue” using radar and vehicle-vehicle (V2V) technologies to form and maintain close-headway formation between two or more in-lane vehicles. Smart tailgating, but “The big question,” asks Elgin, “is it MotorcycleFriendly or not?” Truck convoys are nothing new, of course, but a computerized driving system could theoretically let them safely drive even closer together, reducing the wind drag that makes engines work harder and burn more gas. For obvious reasons these trucks could also stay on the road for longer stretches, giving drivers some much-needed downtime rather than keeping them at the wheel well past exhaustion. OWN EASYRIDERS MAGAZINE “I AM OVER THE HILL!!!,” exclaims 76-year old Joe Teresi, owner and publisher of Easyriders magazine, among other titles. The past 46 years have “been a HELL of a ride,” but Teresi is ready to “ride off into the sunset” and rather than post an auction notice “I would prefer to sell to or through someone reading this.” For more info, visit www.PaisanoAuction.com. NCOM CONVENTION SHUFFLES INTO RENO CASINO
Self-driving big rigs that improve logistics, cost savings and road safety, could be on freeways even sooner than autonomous passenger cars, which have been hogging most of the limelight.
The 32nd annual NCOM Convention will be held Mother’s Day weekend, May 11-14, 2017 at the Silver Legacy Resort-Casino, located at 407 N. Virginia St. in Reno, Nevada so reserve your room now for a special NCOM rate of $99 by calling (800) 687-8733 and mention “GNCOM17”.
The process of automating long-haul freight trucks -- the behemoths that deliver food and goods, often to places airplanes, boats and trains can’t
To pre-register for the 2017 NCOM Convention, contact the National Coalition of Motorcyclists at (800) 525-5355 or visit www.ON-A-BIKE.com.
www.thunderroadscolorado.com
April 2017
Thunder Roads Magazine® Colorado 31
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April 2017
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I’m a gal, he’s single... He lives right across the street. I can see his place from my kitchen window. I watched as he got home from work this evening. I was surprised when he walked across the street, up my driveway and knocked on the door. I opened the door, he looked at me and said, “I just got home, and I have this strong urge to have a good time, dance, get drunk, and have wild sex tonight. Are you doing anything? “I replied, “Nope, I’m free!” “Great,” he said. “Can you watch my dog?” _______________________________________________________ A little silver-haired lady calls her neighbor and says, “Please come over here and help me. I have a killer jigsaw puzzle, and I can’t figure out how to get started.” Her neighbor asks, “What is it supposed to be when it’s finished?” The little silver haired lady says, “According to the picture on the box, it’s a rooster.” Her neighbor decides to go over and help with the puzzle. She lets him in and shows him where she has the puzzle spread all over the table. He studies the pieces for a moment, then looks at the box, then turns to her and says, “First of all, no matter what we do, we’re not going to be able to assemble these pieces into anything resembling a rooster.” He takes her hand and says, “Secondly, I want you to relax. Let’s have a nice cup of tea” and then he said with a deep sigh ............ “Let’s put all the Corn Flakes back in the box.” _______________________________________________________
With a very seductive voice a wife asked her husband “Have you ever seen $20 all crumpled up?” “No” said her husband. She gave him a sexy little smile unbuttoned the top three buttons of her blouse and slowly reached down in her cleavage created by a soft, silky pushup bra and pulled out a crumpled twenty dollar bill. He took the crumpled bill from her and smiled approvingly. She then asked “Have you ever seen $50 all crumpled up?” “No I haven’t” he said, an anxious tone in his voice. She gave him another sexy little smile pulled up her skirt, seductively reached into her tight sheer panties and pulled out a crumpled fifty dollar bill. He took the crumpled bill and started breathing a little quicker with anticipation. “Now” she said “Have you ever seen $50,000 all crumpled up?” “No way” he said becoming even more aroused and excited to which she purred: “Go look in the garage.”
Two old drunks are sitting in a bar when the first one says, “Ya know, when I was thirty and got an erection, I couldn’t bend it, even using both hands. By the time I was forty, I could bend it about ten degrees if I tried really hard. By the time I was fifty, I could bend it about forty five degrees, no problem. I’m gonna be sixty next week, and now I can bend it in half with just one hand.” “So,” says the second drunk, “what’s your point?” “Well, I’m just wondering how much stronger I’m gonna get.” _______________________________________________________ A robber was inside a house. All of a sudden someone said, “Jesus is watching you!” “What?” said the robber? He started to pick up the MOXI, he heard “Jesus is watching you!” The robber pointed his flashlight at the voice and asked, “Who said that?” It was a parrot. “I’m Moses,” said the parrot. “Who in the world would name you Moses?” asked the robber. The parrot answered, “The same man that named the pit-bull in the corner Jesus!” www.thunderroadscolorado.com
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PHOTOGRAPHERS: VICKIE JO MULLIN
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Angel City
Where the Angels have Horns and whips
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