www.thunderroadslouisiana.com
February 2016 Volume 13 Issue 2
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Happy Birthday Kimberly!
Louisiana’s #1 Biker Magazine For Over 12 Years
Special Thanks & Contributors
Letter From The Publishers
Thunder Roads magazine louisiana
Starting a journey on your bike without a set destination in mind can be relaxing to say the least. But the majority of the time when we set out to ride, we have a goal in mind from point A to point B and arriving safely. If your goal is to discover some place new, then man oh man do we have the ride for you! Louisiana has some of the post beautiful hidden and undiscovered destinations anywhere, and we invite you to join us in a 6 month state wide “RIDE & WIN” campaign. (Please see article in this issue) The LOUISIANA THUNDER RUN, its sponsors and designated ride stops are trademarked and copyrighted for Thunder Roads Louisiana and RIDE &WIN is sanctioned by our Thunder Roads Founding Headquarters. We kick off this statewide and coastal run March 1, and ends September 1, 2016. We will be printing over 15,000 “RIDE & WIN” CARDS sequentially numbered and FREE to all riders, no matter if you drive, ride on the back, or in a side card. If you would like a particular business included in our LOUISIANA THUNDER RUN, please send us a message on our facebook page and we will try to add them to the list, as long as it is a “biker friendly” destination. This can include dealerships, bike shops, tattoo shops, restaurants, bars, tourist businesses, ect…At each of these stops they will be willing to provide you with a discount and a log in sheet to sign in to making you eligible for monthly prizes from every place you visit! We would like to thank all of our sponsors, advertisers, readers, and volunteers for your continued support over the years keeping us STILL the #1 biker magazine in the state! Bottom line our goal is to CONTINUE to grow and develop this magazine and to maintain our position as #1 in Louisiana. We all know the Thunder Roads Brand is synonymous with motorcycle riders across the state. “WE AIN’T GOIN NOWHERE BABY” That means a quality publication and organization that actually have standards and positive objectives in mind. One that we are proud to print, and place directly into the hands of motorcycle enthusiasts in Louisiana. We will continue our support of A.B.A.T.E. because “Bikers lives Matter”…Until next month, watch out for us in venues across the state and make sure you visit our newly re-constructed web site.
Owner/Publisher / Creative advisor / PHOTOGRAPHY Andrew Fehn andres21jurgen@gmail.com / 504-606-9525
Andrew and Renee R.I.P. to all our brothers and sisters who lost the ride.
National Founders Toni McCoy Shearon & Brian Shearon
1528 Matlock Drive / Chapmansboro, TN 37035 Thunder Publishing, LLC Offices: 615-792-0040 e-mail:thunderroadsfounders@yahoo.com / www.thunderroadsmagazine.com © ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. NO PART OF ITS CONTENT MAY BE REPRODUCED WITHOUT WRITTEN PERMISSION. PUBLISHER ASSUMES NO RESPONSIBILITY AND IS NOT TO BE HELD LIABLE FOR ERRORS BEYOND THE COST OF THE SPACE OCCUPIED BY THE ERROR, SLANDER OF ANY GROUP OR INDIVIDUAL, FAILURE TO PRODUCE ANY ISSUE AS SCHEDULED DUE TO REASONS BEYOND OUR CONTROL, 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 ARE THEIR OWN, AND DO NOT NECESSARILY REPRESENT THE POLICY OF THUNDER ROADS MAGAZINE OR THUNDER PUBLISHING. PUBLISHER DOES NOT PROMOTE THE ABUSE OF ALCOHOL OR OTHER DRUGS.
First and foremost we would like to express our sincere thanks to our advertisers and sponsors without whom this magazine could not exist. To all of our faithful readers who provide us with their stories and information every month. Please keep them coming! Thanks to our facebook followers that post the cool pictures. To all of our contributors that help make all of our special photo shoots and charitable events a success. And a special shout out of love to our beautiful Louisiana Ladies that model for us every month for our readers viewing pleasure! Your grace, beauty, style and class are priceless to our magazine!
PO Box 502 • Metairie, LA 70004
Owner/Publisher/Operations/Event Coordinator Renee Harrall reneethunderroadsla@gmail.com / 504-234-4032 WEBMASTER/ GRAPHICS/TECHNICAL EDITOR Blasko Train blasko357@hotmail.com Staff WriterS Michael “Happy” Horton- Featured Columnist Jmhorton681@yahoo.com Maritime Bikers-Steve Dupre-send submissions to captstevetrmla@gmail.com Lipstick Riders-Dina Moore Pastors Corner-Pastor T. Lobell Legal Articles - Glenn McGovern – Biker law, legal counsel, personal injury biker attorney Lamothe Law Firm/ Frank Lamothe III CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Andrew Fehn, Clarke Jones, Jerry Forstater, Blasko Train Layout & Design Warren Ells / Art Director, Thunder Publishing REGIONAL SALES MANAGER/STATEWIDE SALES Renee Harrall reneethunderroadsla@gmail.com / 504-234-4032 CENTRAL LOUISIANA-LAFAYETTE Hondo Lane-newyorkbikerintn@gmail.com phone (337) 852 7118 SOUTHEAST LOUISIANA / District Sales Manager Rodney “Rodster” Ordoyne Rodsterdean@Yahoo.Com 985 665-4323 NORTHSHORE/MISS.GULF COAST Brittney Williams (731) 267-6503 NEW ORLEANS/WESTBANK/BATON ROUGE District Sales Manager/Jerry Forstater Uncle.Jerry@Att.Net – 504 231 0266 LAKE CHARLES-SULPHUR-LEESVILLE James Happy Horton Jimhorton681@yahoo.com Shreveport/Bossier City Crystal Williams Chandler twistedc_creations@outlook.com DISTRIBUTOR/EVENTS COORDINATOR West La./Baton Rouge - Lisa Reid - ( 225) 236-6508 Distribution: Lake Charles - Jeff Winters And Happy Horton Shreveport - Crystal Williams Chandler New Orleans - Eastbank - Westbank - Jerry Forestater & Clarke Jones Southeast Louisiana - Rodney Ordoyne
2 THUNDER ROADS MAGAZINE LOUISIANA
Maritime Biker...........................................................4 Biker Friendly Directory.............................................5 10 Things About Sidecars...........................................7 Thundercam 1..........................................................11 Pastor’s Corner.......................................................12 Lipstick Riders.........................................................13 Tech Tips.................................................................15 NCOM News Bytes............................................16-17 Calendar....................................................18-19 Thundercam 2.........................................................20 Mardi Gras Bikes.....................................................21 Girls Of Thunder......................................................22 Letter From A Reader.............................................25 Joker’s Wild............................................................26 LA Thunder Run......................................................27 40 Years With Dirty Ed.............................................28 Bullet Points............................................................29 Helping Homeless Veterans....................................30 Jandy’s Customer Appreciation...............................31 Upcoming Events....................................................32 Eaglerider Ride To Mooney’s...................................33 Honoring Your Memory............................................34 Uninsured Motorist Coverage.................................35 Who Reads Thunder Roads....................................35 Bike Nights..............................................................36
ON THE COVER
Bike owner: G.Smith Motorsports Photographer: Andrew Fehn Model: Kimberly Pecorino Graphic Design: Warren Ells
Welcome Blasko Train webmaster technical editor
THUNDER ROADS MAGAZINE LOUISIANA 3
Maritime Biker
by Captain Steve
some stickers... I made these things not to make money off my fellow mariners, but I was doing something no one else was doing. I was putting our name out there. I can’t tell you how many times I try to explain what we do and people are just clueless to the hard work we do. I basically wanted to give us tugboaters a way to be proud of our profession and show off our hard work and accomplishments. Then, in 2013 I met the love of my life, Joselyn, and anyone being on boats knows how hard it is to maintain a healthy relationship, and finding her was the greatest thing that has ever happened to me. She is a graphics design artist herself so us pairing together was a gift from God. She inspires and helps me and loves me unconditionally which allows me to stay on the boats and run the Tug Life business on the side. She actually created a site and product line called Tug Wife because just as many men are out here there are the same amounts of women waiting on land for them. It’s a tough yet rewarding life. As far as the motorcycles go I LOVE the feeling of getting onshore and firing up a motorcycle and just hitting the open road. That freedom...the pride, and...everything about it. I spent a few years on bikes but taking it more easy these days making sure I stay healthy for kids. But given the opportunity I would saddle up for a quick ride anytime :) Thanks Captain Steve! “ Thank you Don Diggi, for representing us hardworking maritime bikers and telling your story. Get out there and ride whenever you get the chance bro ! You can check out Don’s work at TugLife.org or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/thetuglife. Keep the thunder rolling and tell me yours, if you would like to be featured as one of our Maritime Bikers, send me pictures of your work, your ride and a story of what you do and what you ride for to captstevetrmla@gmail.com and each month we pay homage to a hardworking maritime biker.
Happy Mardi Gras My Brothers! Doing it right this year at HOME where the party’s at... Everyone have a great time and as always, stay safe This month I got to meet a guy who singlehandedly created an image that we have come to know in our industry called Tug Life, I was rocking one of his cool images before I even got to meet him and have him tell his story. Seems we all have the same things in common, the life on the tugboats and the freedom of riding when we are home. The best part about this article is meeting these killer people and telling what they do. We live on the boats and only visit our life at home, but.... when we are home we RIDE. So, this month I would like to give a big shout out to Capt. Don Diggi, the creator of TugLife. A hardworking maritime biker who made us some awesome images that represents exactly what we do, the TUG LIFE. Here’s the story he sent me and I thought he said it best in his own words.. Don Diggi wrote; “ I came from a long line of navy and merchant mariners so naturally I kind of fell into this line of work. I started the day I turned 18 and never looked back... I got my first Capt. license when I was 20 and started offshore... About 6 years later, I got an opportunity to upgrade to inland towing and made that move and have been there ever since. Back in 2012 or so I was seeing tug life and all it was about and I sat down at the computer one night and started playing in photoshop to make a tug life image. I uploaded it to a site on facebook and the rest took off from there. The response was incredible. I had people messaging me and asking me for more images, shirts, stickers or whatever I could come up with. Initially I had no plans of doing or selling any of this but I could not ignore the demand or requests. So, I started making more and more images and learning new techniques and got even more interest in it. So after a year, or I started with some t-shirts and
Life’s a Hitch, so keep working hard and keep the shiny side up ! Captain Steve Dupre 4 THUNDER ROADS MAGAZINE LOUISIANA
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Ten Things I Bet You Didn’t Know About Sidecars But Were Afraid To Ask!
By Glenn C. McGovern, Attorney and MSF Instructor My fourth child, Elena, is 9 years old. She is the joy of my work. It had to have a rear sub frame to simplify the sidecar life. She is my entertainment package! I have tried to share installation. I wanted something reliable but with character my love of motorcycles with her to no avail, until recently. and good performance. I looked at the Russian made Urals. Same for my wife, Erika. Sure they would support my riding The idea of a sidecar that could be used off-road and due by coming to motocross races and road track days with me. to its two-wheel drive was interesting. Also it was pretty Elena, just one year old, was on my back in a baby carrier exciting seeing the factory videos of the units with the optional as I walked the track at the World Veterans Championships grenade launcher, 50-caliber machine gun and anti-tank in 2007 at Namur, Belgium. I had the honor of being the first rocket launcher in use. Borders of Russia are patrolled by competition licensed American FIM motocrosser. Elena and troops in Armed Ural motorcycles, named after the mountain my wife Erika, both really enjoyed the camping at vintage and range separating Europe from Asia. Crime in Orleans is a national motocross races but they never wanted to ride with problem, but I decided I did not really need the Ural’s ballistic me on a two-wheel motorcycle. Street riding with me was options and two-wheel drive. Its low recommended top not something I could get them to do. I pretty much gave cruise speed of 55 mph was a deal breaker for me. I wanted up. It bothered me I could not share my love of motorcycles to cruise on the interstate at 70 mph. I fell in love with the with them. Motorcycles are still a mystery to me. They are Triumph Scrambler and Bonneville series. The Triumph marvelous. Either you love or hate motorcycles. I love them Scrambler Steve McQueen edition with tachometer was all—street, cruiser, sport bike, endure, motocross and my beautiful, fast enough to cruise at 70 mph with no vibration favorite: sidecars. I wanted desperately to share my passion, or shaking, reliable and a great proven choice for a sidecar. love and joy of the experience of riding on a motorcycle with I found Bill Cozzi in New Jersey who built a lot of Triumph them. It was frustrating. sidecars. After several phone calls and emails I purchased Then one day we saw a movie about dogs and sidecars, “Sit, one recently. It is beautiful! I got the dog restraint tie down in Stay, Ride.” Elena got excited watching the movie. The movie the floor and seat belt for children. showed dogs with Doggles (goggles for dogs to protect their I have had more fun motorcycling with this sidecar than eyes) on their head riding in sidecars with owner and riders. riding alone. I am just as excited about going to Elena’s Elena laughed and said, “That is so neat!” and said she would school with the sidecar with Elena as I was at a national “love” to ride in a sidecar with her dog, a Corgi named Jules. I motocross race on my KTM SX250 race bike or track day asked Elena where she would want to ride in a sidecar. She on my Aprilia Tuono sport bike at NOLA Motorsports. Getting said to school, the store, camping trips. Hallelujah! Thank involved in sidecars has been an adventure with many you Jesus! This was the answer to my prayers and dream of surprises I will share with you. sharing my passion with my child and wife. Here are some things you may not know about sidecars: I started researching sidecars. I was intrigued with the Sidecars are tremendous fun! Her dog Jules loves history of them. I read as much as I could off the United to ride and now even the dog gets excited every time I go States Sidecar Association’s site. They had an Internet near the sidecar! Jules wants to go! The sidecar is now my forum with sidecars for sale section. I looked and looked daughter Elena’s preferred mode of transportation. We go for sidecars. I was not happy with the quality of the used to school, church, the store and just ride for fun on the spur sidecar rigs. I decided I would have one put together for me of the moment. Elena will say, “Dad lets take a ride in the by a professional. I then looked for what motorcycles would sidecar with Jules.” I’ll say, “Where to?” and she will say, “Lets go all over town.” The extra time shared with my wife and daughter chatting on the intercom and leaning into every turn is priceless Non-motorcyclists treat you completely different in a sidecar. I have a new Triumph Scrambler with a Cozi Rocket sidecar with seatbelt, luggage rack, fog light and dog restraint anchor point in the floor to secure the dog safely if a squirrel or cat pops out in front of us. People take your picture. Cagers (i.e. car drivers) roll their windows down and pull up to chat. They follow you to your destination to chat. They love it when the dog and Elena is riding and everyone smiles at you. Jules just stares and looks cool in her Doggles at the Cagers. This was completely surprising. No one does this when I am on my sport bike. Some people literally hate motorcyclists, especially sport bikes. (I know this from jury trials and the focus groups we do on all our motorcycle cases.) I have had things thrown at me on my Aprilia and Hayabusa. I have seen obscene hand gestures directed to me when am just riding legally and in a safe manner. People often glare at you on and off the bike in my protective gear. This does not happen on a sidecar rig! All people love sidecars. You need to plan more time to get anywhere in a sidecar. People will want to talk to you about your rig and their experiences with sidecars. When you stop anywhere, people will want to take pictures of your sidecar. That’s a continued next page
good thing. It is a rolling public relations tool to promote that motorcyclists are nice people. No one thinks that myself, Jules, the Corgi, or Elena, age 9, could possibly be “gang members” or “1%ers” for sure. People who talk to you about their experience fall into two categories: 1.) People who had a Triumph or BSA years ago and loved riding but gave it up reluctantly or 2.) People who tried to drive a sidecar, (always without instruction or study), but crashed and never tried again. This leads me to my next point. Get instruction before getting on a sidecar! It is totally different than a two-wheel motorcycle. Finding instruction is not easy to do. I was shocked the MSF (Motorcycle Safety Foundation) does not offer any sidecar instruction courses. I could only find three schools in Washington State, Richmond, Va., and near Orlando. I went with a private certified instructor in Orlando before sitting on my sidecar. Riding on a motorcycle is all about risk management. It was time and money well spent. My fears of sidecars dissolved after I “flew” my sidecar in complete control. (By fly I mean when the sidecar driver can hold the sidecar wheel off the ground and go forward.) I strongly suggest you join the United States Sidecar Association to learn of all courses and dealers available.
Sidecars steer like cars with the sidecar wheel on the road. You steer left to go left and steer right to go right in a sidecar. It does not counter steer like a two-wheel motorcycle. (Unless you lift the sidecar wheel off the road.) This can be confusing at first but with instruction you adopt quickly. But to get on a sidecar with no idea of the physics will probably end in a crash in the first right turn. Like Arnold Schwarzenegger who crashed a Ural sidecar rig on his first ride. Even the Terminator needs sidecar instruction. When you turn right into the direction of the sidecar, it will lift off the ground depending on steering input and the body position of the rider. This can happen at low or high speeds but is controllable if you know your sidecar physics. You can “fly” the sidecar and keep it under control. If you don’t understand yaw and the limits it will bite you. But if you understand the physics and limits, it is no big deal. Sidecars are safe. Sidecars are very safe and in a lot of ways are safer over two-wheel motorcycles. European studies show sidecars are statistically safer due to increased visibility of their larger size and extra lights. Loose gravel and wet roads are less of a problem than for two-wheel motorcycles due to the extra third tire on the ground. Emergency braking is easily done under control due to the extra traction the sidecar tire provides.
You have to be careful with how you load your motorcycle and sidecar. I am a pilot and familiar with center of gravity. You have to load your airplane properly to be safe or it won’t fly stable. Like an airplanes has center of gravity (CG) limits that cannot be exceeded, the sidecar has yaw points that cannot be exceeded. Exceed the yaw points will make recovery impossible in certain turning situations. It is not recommended to put a passenger in the sidecar and another passenger sitting in the back of you on the motorcycle. You will probably exceed the yaw limits on most sidecars with a passenger sitting behind you on the motorcycle. Sidecars are really practical. I always had a problem going to work or court with my sport bike. There is no storage for your gear. You can’t walk around in your Alpine Star boots, helmet, gloves and protective jacket, pants etc. There is no storage on a sport bike. Carrying a brief case or lap top bag is unsafe on a sport bike, but not on a sidecar rig. You can carry a change of gear, shoes etc. You have plenty of storage for work tools like laptops. Sidecars are really practical. It is much easier to ride in the rain or loose gravel since it is so stable with the third tire on the road. You can leave your rain gear in the sidecar for any unexpected rainstorm-a big plus in the New Orleans area. I have storage and a luggage rack with my sidecar. This makes it really versatile actually practical for everyday use. I can’t wait to get my next Christmas tree with the sidecar! Grocery shopping is an adventure! Insurance is very reasonable and available. Sidecars are cheap. You can insure the whole rig at low cost. A really good sidecar for the highway use can be purchased for $4,000. There are cheaper ones that are light duty and I would not recommend them. Get a pro to put your rig together. I had added stabilizers, shimmy dampener and fork braces. It burns more fuel than a two-wheel motorcycle but I get over 20 mpg riding around town and on the highway at 65 mph. I can go faster, but the aerodynamics of the extra noise and drag make it less comfortable to cruise at 70 mph or more. Besides, Elena has problems hearing her Katy Perry songs through the Bluetooth headset in her Aria helmet at speeds above 65 mph. For her dog Jules, the more wind in the face, the better she likes it! Also, I have dual sport tires to be able to fly through turns in a three-wheel drift on gravel roads in the spillway! That is a rush! Try doing that in an Aprilia! I enjoy the ride more. Time stops. I am not in a rush to get to my destination in a sidecar. Whatever my current problems are for me or my clients dissolve in my sidecar—especially with my daughter and her dog! And that is well worth the low cost of admission to the wonderful world of sidecars.
8 THUNDER ROADS MAGAZINE LOUISIANA
1
lawyers on wheels E.J. Young III
Misty Dunton
Stacy Knapp
Serious Personal Injury | Wrongful Death Cases When your attorneys are also motorcycle enthusiasts, that’s a winning combination. Frank Lamothe and Richard Martin are active motorcyclists. Both are track day riders. Frank has competed and placed in regional and national enduro events. He is a long distance rider and many times veteran of “The Tail of the Dragon.” More importantly, they are aggressive trial lawyers who understand the culture and technology of motorcycling. These guys are
Glenn McGovern
Natasha Wilson
Dawn
not waxers. They are real motorcyclists who also happen to be kick-ass lawyers.
When you need an attorney, call the real deal. Call the Lamothe Law Firm.
400 Poydras Street, Suite 1760, New Orleans, LA 70130 | 504.704.1414 | motorcycleinjuryattorneys.net
Frank Lamothe, Member of
Frank Lamothe, Member of
Frank Lamothe, Listed in
Suthurn Touch
2015
The Birthday Girl and Black Family THUNDER ROADS MAGAZINE LOUISIANA 11
Pastor’s Corner
never faileth: … Notice if you will several things; 1. REAL LOVE DOES THE RIGHT THINGS FOR THE RIGHT REASONS: When I was little I use to watch the TV show “Leave it to Beaver”. Do Well, it’s Valentine’s Day and of course romantics all over the world you remember the character Eddie Haskell? He’d act one way around will be finding clever ways to express their love to their Valentine with grown-up and totally different around Wally and the Beaver! That’s chocolates and hearts and roses! called being two-faced or a hypocrite. Paul says real love does things I am not a poet – the only poem I know is “Roses are red, violets are from a pure motive and to do otherwise profits nothing! blue, sugar is sweet and so are you!” My wife is getting tired of hearing that one! Because I recognize my lack of ability with words, I am thankful 2. REAL LOVE HAS CERTAIN ATTRIBUTES: Growing up in rural Swamps of Livingston parish we’d say go get me a for Hallmark. “coke” and really any soda would do! To me Coke was a generic name But when it comes to love I believe the bible does a better job than for any kind of soda pop the local store had in stock! But the CocaHallmark can ever do, because it talks about the great love of God! Cola Company spends millions of dollars to let us know that “Coke” is Perhaps one of the best known verses in all the bible is John 3:16 “For the real thing. In the above passage Paul says real love has certain God so loved the world …” I trust that most of know that God loves us. But I do meet people that say unmistakable qualities. “God can’t love me. Especially after the mistakes I’ve made.” Please hear 3. REAL LOVE STANDS THE TEST OF TIME: me when I say “nothing can separate you form the love of God”, and He Paul concludes this wonderful chapter on love in verse 13 by saying that in the end there are three essential things that will matter – FAITH, has a plan for your life. A plan to bless you, to prosper you, even if you can’t see it. My prayer is that we not only realize God’s great love for us HOPE and LOVE and the greatest of these is real love! I want you to know that God’s love for us is a love that endures. So with this thought but we allow His love to flow through us. in mind, I remembered a song I use to sing when I was younger, maybe The bible helps us to understand the real nature of this thing called you will remember also and sing it with me. LOVE. “Jesus loves me this I know, for the bible tells me so, little to ones to I Cor. 13 - Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and Him belong, they are weak but He is strong”. have not Love, I am become [as] sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. Come on and sing it with me ... “Yes Jesus loves me, yes Jesus loves And though I have [the gift of] prophecy, and understand all mysteries, me, yes Jesus love the bible tells me so”. and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove Now don’t you feel loved? And isn’t the bible better than Hallmark? I mountains, and have not Love, I am nothing. And though I bestow all believe so. my goods to feed [the poor], and though I give my body to be burned, and have not Love, it profiteth me nothing. Love suffereth long, [and] is Blessings Pastor T kind; Love envieth not; Love vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not its own, is not easily provoked, Mobile Temp Inc thinketh no evil; Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; Beareth Terry M. Lobell all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. Love Cell 225-328-1414 www.mobiletempinc.com
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2120 Broad Street, Lake Charles, LA. 70601 337 436 0022 12 THUNDER ROADS MAGAZINE LOUISIANA
Lipstick Riders Happy Valentine’s Day ! It says a lot about a person’s heart by the amount they give.... This months Lipstick Rider has a really big heart and is all about giving, especially to the biker community. Stacy Knapp, of Denham Springs has given her time and love to countless charities like St Jude, Veterans Affairs, animal shelters, benefits and poker runs for cancer ( of any kind ) and The Falling Riders Organization. Being a former fire fighter, AND she loves protecting children with B.A.C.A. , a great group of bikers that protect children from their abusers. Stacy Knapp also serves the biker community by opening Magnificent Monograms in Denham Springs, where she has a large variety of leathers and anything else a biker could want and need on one side of her store and on the other side she makes the world beautiful with her art of sewing, making her items personally beautifully. On either side of her store or on the road she is known as “Stitch”..... Stacy has been riding for over 35 years and now she is rocking a killer 2014 Soft Tail Slim, with fork tubes as big as Popeye’s arms. After countless surgeries and heart bypasses, she hasn’t found anything to stop her from riding and loving it ! In fact, she loves riding so much that
every year her and her road crew take a 3 to 4 week vacation touring as many states as possible on her bike, taking in all that the open road has to offer. That’s one BAD ASS LIPSTICK RIDER!!!!! So, next time you are in Denham Springs, stop in and check her out over on North St. where she can deck you out in some cool leathers, sew on some patches or create beautiful monograms for a personal touch. So, Thank You Stacy Knapp, for all you do in the community and for being a home grown business that caters to us bikers! There’s Stacy’s story, tell me yours. My goal in writing this column is to show everyone that we have some bad ass Lipstick Riders in Louisiana! Everyday women that love to ride just as much as the guys do. It doesn’t matter what you ride, all that matters is THAT YOU RIDE..... I love getting to meet all of the lady riders out there and tell our readers about our Lipstick Riders. So, if you would like to be featured as one of our Bad Ass Lipstick Riders, send me your story and pictures to lipstick.riders.trmla@gmail.com and let your story be told. Till Next Month, Dina Moore
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T E C H Lithium Ion Batteries
SPORTS BAR 10 AM - TILL
No Drama! Just Fun! Monday Bike Night 7pm steak and oysters
$2.00 Tuesdays well drinks and buckets of beer FOXY FRIDAY well dressed ladies drink 2 for 1 Karaoke Jullio every Sunday
All Bikes -All Clubs Welcome 504-309-9133
1530 lapalco blvd. (westbank) gretna, la 70058
BIKER OWNED
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Service And Repair On All American Made V-Twins And Harley Davidsons Spot Painting And Paint Repair Custom Pin Striping Available
1764 Canal Blvd. Thibodaux LA
985 447-9764
dels Early Mo e Welcom
Ask For Joe 14 THUNDER ROADS MAGAZINE LOUISIANA
Incredible. This is the shortest tech in history and partially because of the new product. Batteries are dirty, grubby, heavy, nasty bastards and they throw sparks when you least expect it. About 10 years ago, the whole battery acid nastiness disappeared with the sealed batteries, a major step in the right direction. They kept improving and becoming more reliable, and then some mastermind started to develop lithium ion batteries. For awhile, Matt Hotch and another industry designer scrambled to build a little dinky battery capable of spinning over any 124-inch stroker motor all day long. Those puppies were amazing. Anti-Gravity batteries started to bring the technology to the general market, but now Biker’s Choice and Twin Power have taken the technology mainstream with a complete line of lithium ion batteries for stock application and we were fortunate to get our grubby hands on a new one for a test.
T I P S battery into, or expose the battery to water like we did with our Anti-Gravity battery at Bonneville. We buried it with wet salt. Avoid impacting, throwing, and twisting the battery. Keep the battery away from children or pets. Do not allow discharge below 12.8 volts (resting voltage). Do not allow charge voltage in excess of 14.8 volts. Please fully discharge before disposing the battery. Charging: The new battery can be used directly if the voltage is higher than or equals 12.8 volts. If you want to fully charge the battery before using, a conventional lead-acid battery 12-volt charger (without pulse charging function) or specially designed LifePO4 battery charger can be used for charging. The standard voltage for charging is 14.4 volts. The maximum is 14.8 volts. - See more at: http://www.bikernet.com/pages/Bikernet_Tech_V_TWIN_POWER_NEW_LITHIUM_ION_BATTERY_INSTALL.aspx#sthash.1kj4BltU.dpuf
Here are the high points: • The most advanced high-power lithium iron phosphate battery technology from Twin Power. • Ultra high-cranking amps from a super lightweight battery. Only one-third the weight of a lead acid battery, if that. • Cylindrical cell with energy storage. Welding technology for higher output. • Built-in charge and equalizing protection board, preventing battery from over-charging. • Remarkably low self-discharge for extended storage periods up to one year. • Suitable for low temperature environments. • More than twice the service life of conventional lead acid batteries. • Superior vibration-resistant construction allows multidirectional installation without damage. • No corrosive liquids and no toxic heavy metals make Twin Power lithium ion batteries environmentally friendly. • Two-year warranty. If you are not familiar with lithium ion technology, you need to read the benefits once more. It will take awhile to soak in. Imagine if someone handed you a flashlight battery and said, “This will crank your stroker motor all day long, and you can mount it anywhere, even upside down.” Let’s look at the Twin Power cautions: Do not short-circuit the battery terminals or reverse connect the terminals. Do not connect the battery with a power socket directly. Do not open or damage the battery case. Although the battery is water-resistant, do not drop the THUNDER ROADS MAGAZINE LOUISIANA 15
News Bytes NEW YEAR BRINGS NEW LEGISLATION Along with the new year comes an onslaught of new legislation, as new legislative sessions across the nation consider a myriad of motorcycle laws such as helmet legislation in ARIZONA that would charge riders a fee to ride without one. Prefiled on January 6, 2016, H.B. 2052 introduced by State Representative Dr. Randall Friese (D-Tucson) would modify their Under-18 helmet law to read; “An operator or passenger of a motorcycle, all-terrain vehicle or motor driven cycle who is at least eighteen years of age is exempt from the helmet requirement if the owner pays a (as yet undetermined) fee when registering their vehicle.”“A person who violates this section is subject to a civil penalty of five hundred dollars,” and a ‘portion’ of the fees collected from the pay-to-play p-pot plot would be “deposited in the Spinal and Head Injuries Trust Fund.”Meanwhile, in INDIANA S.B. 157 would “eliminate the portion of the motorcycle registration fee that is currently distributed to the spinal cord and brain injury fund.”MISSOURI is considering numerous motorcycle-related bills, including seven helmet bills; one would repeal the law for anyone 18 or over (HB1663), another would exempt motorcyclists 21 or older from wearing a helmet if they have appropriate health insurance coverage (HB1464), one “Prohibits law enforcement from stopping a motorcycle for failing to wear protective headgear” (HB1957), while (HB1371) treats the infraction as a secondary offense, requiring another reason to pull a rider over, and four separate bills concern autocycles and primarily exempts certain operators of motorcycles and motortricycles from wearing protective headgear (SB659, SB694, SB851 & SB1732).Threewheelers are of concern in several states, as legislatures struggle with defining and regulating “autocycles,” and in KANSAS House Bill 2436 would allow persons to take a motorcycle license driving exam on a 3-wheeled motorcycle and would restrict such licenses to trikes.In NEW HAMPSHIRE, as in some other states, the state legislature will consider HB 1308 to allow motorcycles to travel between lanes of traffic in certain instances, a.k.a.; lane-splitting. HB1347 would “establish a committee to study sharing the road with bicycles and motorcycles.”Also in the Granite State, Senator Andrew Hosmer, a Democrat from Laconia, has introduced SB 360 to repeal the statute restricting handlebar height and legalize socalled “ape-hangers”. New Hampshire is currently among more than 30 states that limit the height of motorcycle handlebars.Since 1967, existing statute prohibits handlebar grips “higher than the shoulder level of the driver when in the seat or saddle” and also prohibits riding a motorcycle with “improvised, defective, or repaired handlebars.”“I applaud Senator Hosmer for sponsoring this bill,” said Charlie St. Clair, executive director of the Laconia Motorcycle Week Association. “I have never heard the height of handlebars presented as a safety issue,” he told the Laconia Daily Sun. “There is no history of accidents caused by high bars.”Without a federal standard, the regulation of handlebars on motorcycles rests with the states. Currently, 12 states limit the height of handlebars to 15 inches above the saddle. 5 others require the handlebars to be below the height of the shoulder. Last summer, South Dakota, which hosts the annual Sturgis Rally became the most recent state to repeal its shoulder level statute. SHARE WHAT’S HAPPENING IN YOUR STATE “At our annual NCOM board meeting in November, the board discussed what information would be beneficial to share with attendees at our annual NCOM Convention in May,” says NCOM Board & Legislative Task Force member Annette Torrez, who is also chair of the New Mexico Motorcycle Rights Organization (NMMRO), adding that “We decided on a session on
News Bytes
state legislative victories and defeats. We all face similar and different issues in each state during our legislative sessions, and by sharing the outcomes on bills that were sponsored, passed, failed and the details, we can learn from each other. By the sharing of information we may be able to advance many of the same victories or avoid the pitfalls faced.”The National Coalition of Motorcyclists (NCOM) welcomes your input, and encourages you to share your information with Annette Torrez at atorrez2@msn.com (505) 730-0435 and/or NCOM Board Member John Bilotta, also Operations Director of ABATE of Virginia, at abateregion3@ yahoo.com.The 31st annual NCOM Convention will be held Mother’s Day weekend, May 5-8, 2016 at Harrah’s Resort, located at 777 Harrah’s Blvd in Atlantic City, New Jersey, so reserve your room now for the special NCOM rate of $109 by calling (888) 516-2215.To pre-register for the 2016 NCOM Convention, contact the National Coalition of Motorcyclists at (800) 525-5355 or visit www.ON-A-BIKE.com. NCOM CONFERENCE CONVENES IN UNITY, COOPERATION & RESPECT The chill air in Kansas City, Missouri reverberated with the thunder of dozens of motorcycles as riders from a six-state area converged on the Holiday Inn KCI Airport November 21, 2015 for the National Coalition of Motorcyclists (NCOM) Region 2 Conference, which comprises Missouri, Oklahoma, Texas, Kansas, Nebraska and Iowa. This year, the Conference was hosted by the newly-formed Missouri Confederation of Clubs and Independents, and chaired by NCOM Region 2 Co-Directors “Tiger Mike” Revere, President of Central OK District ABATE and Liaison to the Oklahoma Confederation of Clubs, and Tony Shepherd of ABATE of Missouri.Following is a conference report submitted by Tiger Mike: “Riders from the Region 2 member states were both excited and thirsty for information on important issues, especially hoping for an update on the horrific Waco, TX event of May, 2015. Bikers were also apprehensive about whether the Waco tragedy might negatively impact attendance. As it turned out, the opposite was true, featuring a standing-room only crowd!The Conference convened off with “Tiger Mike” Revere and Tony Shepherd, NCOM Region 2 Directors, welcoming attendees and addressing “Freedom of the Road throughout the Nation”, followed by NCOM Executive Coordinator “Sarge” Matthews covering “Discrimination among Ourselves/Outlawing our Existence as We Know It”. NCOM Attorney Joey Lester covered Court Case Updates, including judicial victories regarding “No-Colors” Policies at Fairgrounds where Bikers are ejected because of their Patch Insignia.After lunch, attendees participated in a forum dealing with “The Tragedy of Waco”, featuring Joey Lester, TXCOC&I Chairman “Gimme Jimmy”, and Louie Nobs and Dwayne Gryder from NCOM Christian Unity. A lot of accurate updates were shared to combat the disinformation advanced by the Media and Law Enforcement, and the program to raise funds to assist Waco Victims and their families was outlined. Go to www.onabike.com and contact NCOM Christian Unity for more information. NCOM Christian Unity Texas will be getting a Special Award for their hard work at this year’s NCOM Convention in Atlantic City, and Christian Unity Liaison to the NCOM Board Louie Nobs is receiving the 2016 Ron Roloff Lifetime Achievement Award for his considerable efforts on behalf of Bikers everywhere over a lot of years.Also featured at the Conference was “Gimme Jimmy” talking about the importance of the U.S. Defenders Program in the light of the Waco shootings; and “Double-D” and “Twitch” from the Washington Confederation of Clubs, who spoke on “Anti-Profiling Laws and How they Affect your State”. This was an important topic, since several COCs are very interested in getting this type of legislation passed in their states.The Conference continued
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with the Regional Meeting, where Motorcycling Rights representatives spoke of Legislative and Legal Issues in their respective areas; and the Confederation of Clubs Regional Meeting, where COC Officers and representatives in attendance spoke of legal and lifestyle challenges and accomplishments.The NCOM Regional Conference concluded with the Christian Unity Seminar and Meeting for spiritual riding groups, and following the Spiritual Service and Blessing of the Bikes on Sunday Morning, riders went their separate ways refreshed, informed and resolved to vigorously continue the defense of Biker Liberty into the New Year.”
only applies to street legal motorcycles that can go over 45 mph. The federal tax credits are available in all 50 US states and apply to electric motorcycles and EV chargers purchased in both 2015 (retroactive) and 2016.
MOTORCYCLE THEFT STATISTICS The National Insurance Crime Bureau has released its latest bike theft report, and while much of their annual report is predictable, such as most thefts occur in the summer, some statistics reveal some interesting nuggets of information:Nationally, the NICB’s “2014 United States Theft and Recovery report for 2014 and 2015” is better than in 2013. There were MORE AIRBAG BIKES COMING 42,856 motorcycle thefts recorded in 2014 (17,757, or 41% of motorcycles While automotive airbags first appeared in the 1970s, it took decades for the were recovered) which is a 6% decrease from the year prior. Considering technology to spread to motorcycles, and now ten years after the introduction motorcycle sales have increased 4% from 2013 (465,783) to 2014 (483,526), of Honda’s airbag-equipped Gold Wing comes another airbagger from the this is good news. The number of thefts decreased is a sign of steady decline Japanese giant.While the Gold Wing remains the only bike currently on the in motorcycle thefts since 2011, with 8% fewer thefts in 2014 compared to market equipped with airbag technology, Honda’s latest inflatable is revealed three years prior. The top three states for motorcycle theft last year were in a new patent and demonstrated with an airbag fitted to the firm’s NC750S, California (6,355), Florida (3,981), and Texas (3,274). The state with the which isn’t sold in the U.S. marketplace.The main difference from the Gold fewest thefts was Wyoming, with a total of 23 last year. There are 16 states Wing bag is the shape and size, with the new design gaining a long, vertical that saw an increase in the number of motorcycle thefts in 2014 compared extension above the balloon-shaped main part of the airbag to help counter to 2013, with DC having the highest increase (54%). There are 35 states the fact that most bikes will pitch forward in a frontal collision, throwing the that saw a decrease in the number of motorcycle thefts in 2014 compared to rider upward as well as straight ahead. The idea is that the lower part of the 2013, with Wyoming having the highest decrease (-43%). airbag will cushion the rider’s chest and stomach, slowing him down before his head impacts the extended upper section.As on the Gold Wing, the new WEIRD NEWS: RIDER LEARNS HARD LESSON IN JURISPRUDENCE system is specifically aimed at frontal impacts and is therefore triggered by a A California man who lost a lawsuit over an erection has had his hopes sensor in the bottom of the fork. Highsides, lowsides, or any other accident for justice deflated once again, as a state appeals court in San Francisco where the impact is not directly from the front will not engage the airbag affirmed an earlier judgment against him in a 2012 suit he brought against system.Although airbags are never likely to be as effective on bikes as they two motorcycling companies.The plaintiff biker claimed an acute case of are in the confined space of a car, where drivers can be surrounded by priapism, or painfully prolonged erection, due to seat vibrations, and sued them on all sides; Honda hopes that the combination of modern safety gear, both BMW and seat maker Corbin for product liability seeking damages due including airbag-equipped leathers and airbags fitted to bikes themselves, will to negligence and infliction of emotional distress. The biker lost his case but hold some promise of reduced injuries in the future. decided to appeal, which turned out to be a big mistake, as the appellate court ruled that he failed to demonstrate any new intelligible argument and E-MOTORCYCLE TAX CREDIT REINSTATED AND RETROACTIVE failed to comply with the rules of appellate procedure and ordered him to pay The E-motorcycle Federal Tax Credit, also known as the 2-wheeled plugthe defendants’ costs on appeal, a sum likely to be in the tens of thousands in tax credit for electric motorcycles, was included in the “last minute” tax of dollars. extenders bill approved by Congress and signed into law by President Obama on December 18, 2015. It covers 10% of the purchase price up to QUOTABLE QUOTE: “If it can be destroyed by the truth, it deserves to be a maximum of $2,500, with an additional tax credit approved which covers destroyed by the truth.” electric motorcycle chargers with a 30% tax credit up to $1,000.The credit Carl Sagan (1934-1996) astronomer and author THUNDER ROADS MAGAZINE LOUISIANA 17
Ask For Shawn
February
Models: Sherrie “Chi Chi” Marks & Shawn Lauchner Photographer: Andrew Fehn Bike Owner- “A.J.” Cajun Harley Davidson
Model Kimberly Pecorino Photographer- Clarke Jones Bike owner-Lisa Reid
THUNDER ROADS
2 Biker John Teche ABATE Chapter President
Happy Birthday Mrs. Buckskin Bill Black
s a r g i d r a m
s e k i b
Mooney’s Gang
Shriners
Mardi Gras Bike On Display
Gumbo Cookoff
At Mooney’s On The River
Mardi Gras On Bourbon Street
Trike Rolling Through New Year
My Flower Matches Lisa’s Bike!
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Overdressed To Ride But Not To Party!
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s l r i G f o THUNDER
Model: Dawn Fontenot Photographer: Andrew Fehn Bike Owner: Leprechaun 22 THUNDER ROADS MAGAZINE LOUISIANA
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By: E.J.Young III Biker’s Heart is a 501 c(3) charitable interest that is intended to enable the charitable activities of the local biker community by providing all the trappings of runs and rallies that we all enjoy. If you’re holding a charitable fund raiser and need a dunking booth, or a prize wheel for poker runs or tables/chairs/pop-ups, Biker’s Heart will be there to assist. The motorcycling community is unique among all other groups in its sense of family and community spirit and willingness to act to make things better, the way it should be. On any given weekend we take to the roads and fairgrounds to do good charitable things for those we find in need. However, not everyone who wishes to help is equipped to handle a charitable run and make things happen, but that’s when you can turn to Biker’s Heart. In addition to helping with runs and rallies through equipment loans and consulting, Biker’s Heart is home to the Wind Therapy Program, which exists to provide motorcycling opportunities to folks like cancer patients and veterans with PTSD as a means to promote well-being through inclusion and hope as they enjoy the camaraderie of the road. Please visit www.BikersHeart.org or see us on Facebook as BikersHeart. You can enjoy the services or volunteer time or equipment. We all know bikers have heart. We are there to help you show it. Welcome Bikers Heart is here to be a resource for local motorcycle clubs and motorcycle ministries to use our lesson plans to work with children in their organization. Thunder Roads Louisiana Magazine will be co- sponsoring some of our events to show their support as well. bikersheart.org
Letter from A Reader Most see motorcycle businesses and charities on the weekends at events, but what you don’t see is all of the hours given during the week. I run a motorcycle charity reaching out to cancer patients along with military and law enforcement battling PTSD. I also have horrible anxiety problems. As you might imagine it isn’t easy to get the word out about what we are doing without putting myself in crowded situations. For the last few years Ms Renee( from Thunder Roads La. Magazine) has been working with me on my writing. She has taken so much time with me to help me be able to write what my nerves won’t allow me to say in a crowd. She has stood behind me taking so much time to teach me and give me feed back, and asking nothing of me in return. She has offered to publish some of my writing, and soon I hope to let her. For now I wanted my first writing to be published as a thank you letter to her for all that she has done for me over the years out of the goodness of her heart while no one was looking. People like her do more to help others than anyone will ever know so from the bottom of my heart thank you Ms.Renee. By: Drifter’s Heart- Founder of Biker’s Heart
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BOOKING BANDS AND MODELS FOR YOUR BUSINESS OR CLUB QUALITY BANDS AND BEAUTIFUL GIRLS AND GUYS
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For booKIng: renee 504.234.4032 andrew 504.606.9525 ClarKe 504.919.1874 2120 Broad Street, Lake Charles, LA. 70601 337 436 0022 24 THUNDER ROADS MAGAZINE LOUISIANA
THUNDER ROADS MAGAZINE LOUISIANA 25
RIDE N D R A C RIDE WIN!! N U R R E UND ®
TH All of the ten senior members of the Board of Directors of the company were called into the Chairman’s office one by one until only Bob, the junior member, was left sitting outside. Finally it was his turn to be summoned. He entered the office to find the chairman and the ten other directors seated around a table. He was invited to join them, which he did. As soon as he had sat down the chairman turned to Bob looking him squarely in the eye, and with a stern voice, asked, “Have you ever had sex with Ms. Foyt, my Secretary?” “Oh, no sir, positively not!” Bob replied. “Are you absolutely sure?” asked the chairman “Honest, I’ve never been close enough to even touch her!” “You’d swear to that?” “Yes, I swear I’ve never had sex with Ms. Foyt anytime, anywhere.” “Good, then by process of elimination; you’re the one that needs to fire her. Redneck Security System: When out of town, leave note on door: Bubba: Me and Earl went to town for more beer & ammo. Be back in an hour. Don’t mess w the pitts. They got the mailman this morning and messed him up real bad. Don’t think Mangler was involved but hard to tell with all the blood. Had to put them all inside house in case cops come. Best to wait outside. Be right back buddy. Goober So I finally landed a job as a Smart-Mart Greeter, which is a good find for many retirees, unfortunately I lasted less than a day. About two hours into my first day on the job a very loud, unattractive, mean-acting woman walked into the store with her two kids, yelling obscenities at them all the way through the entrance. Per my greeter training manual I said pleasantly, “Good morning and welcome to Smart-Mart.” “Nice children you have there. Are they twins?” The ugly woman stopped yelling long enough to say, “Hell no, they aint twins. The oldest one is 9, and the other one is 7. Why the hell would you think they’re twins? Do you need glasses, or are you just plain stupid?” So I replied, “I’m neither in need of glasses nor stupid, madam. I just literally could not believe someone actually slept with you twice. Have a good day and thank you for shopping at Smart-Mart.” My supervisor said I probably wasn’t cut out for this line of work. I think I’ll try the mattress store that just opened up down the road.
Booger died in a fire and his body was burned apparently beyond recognition. The morgue needed someone to identify the body, so they sent for his two best friends, Cooter and Gomer. The three men had always done everything together. Cooter arrived first, and when the Mortician pulled back the sheet, Cooter said, ‘Yup, his face is burned up pretty bad. You better roll him over.’ The Mortician rolled him over and Cooter said, ‘Nope, aint Booger.’ The Mortician thought this was rather strange. So, he brought Gomer in to confirm the identity of the body. Gomer looked at the body and said, ‘Yup, he’s pretty well burnt up. Roll him over.’ The Mortician rolled him over and Gomer said, ‘No, that can’t be Booger ‘ The mortician asked, ‘How can you tell?’ Gomer said, ‘Well, Booger had two buttholes.’ ‘What? He had two buttholes!!?’ exclaimed the Mortician. ‘Yup, we never seen ‘em, but everywhere we went, everybody always used to say: ‘There’s Booger with the two buttholes.’ When I was 13, I hoped that one day I would have a girlfriend with big boobs. When I was 16 I got a girlfriend with big boobs, but there was no passion, so I decided I needed a passionate girl with a zest for life. In college I dated a passionate girl, but she was too emotional. Everything was an emergency; she was a drama queen, cried all the time and threatened suicide. So I decided I needed a girl with stability. When I was 25 I found a very stable girl but she was boring. She was totally predictable and never got excited about anything. Life became so dull that I decided that I needed a girl with some excitement. When I was 28 I found an exciting girl, but I couldn’t keep up with her. She rushed from one thing to another, never settling on anything. She did mad impetuous things and made me miserable as often as happy. She was great fun initially and very energetic, but directionless. So I decided to find a girl with some real ambition. When I turned 30, I found a smart ambitious girl with her feet planted firmly on the ground, so I married her. She was so ambitious that she divorced me and took everything I owned. I am older and much wiser now, and I am just once again simply looking for a girl with big boobs.
n i W n ‘ e Rid IANA
DS R ROA
DE THUN
LOUIS NE OF AGAZI
M
You are invited to Join the MOST EXCITING, State Wide MOTORCYCLE PROMOTION being offered this season!!
Thunder Roads Louisiana is proud to present the 2016 Louisiana Thunder Run Ride n Win riding contest! It is a season long (March 1st to September 1st) riding challenge hitting the coolest riding destinations and events across Louisiana and the coast. The 2016 Louisiana Thunder Run! This is a riding contest like no other and features great prizes every month with grand prizes given away at the beginning of October for the big party! The idea is for riders to get out and discover new destinations and frequent their favorite stops. The ride card program is FREE to anyone who rides, rides on the back or rides in the sidecar. Go to one of the DESIGNASTED REGISTRATION STOPS that will be listed in our March through September issues and get your free ride card. When you register you will be asked to provide you name, address, phone, and email. These are necessary so you can be contacted in the event you are a prize winner, etc. Don’t worry, our information will only be used by Thunder Roads for this purpose but, may be shared with participating dealers. After you get your card (looks like a credit card), you will see you have a unique number. This number is assigned only to you! Check the list of registration and ride stops and go check-in throughout the month as you choose. A REGISTRATION STOP IS ALSO A RIDE STOP, so just because you may not have gotten your ride card there you can now go there to check –in, After you register for your card, you are off and running. You can hit as many or as few ride stops each month as you choose. The list will change from month to month with some new stops being added each month.
JUST GET OUT AND RIDE !!
Throughout the sixth months, every check-in is another chance to win the grand prizes at the end!! Here are two of our sponsors and prizes to be given away with more to come!
I was leaving a Valentine’s Day party and may have had one too many “lover’s martini’s”. I saw the flashing lights and heard the siren.... Cop: Please turn off the truck and exit the vehicle. Me: I’m too drunk; why don’t you get in. Happy Valentine’s Day All You Loveable Bikers!
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Ride card program is a registered prize winning promotion and all copies or duplicates of the program are strictly prohibited)THUNDER ROADS LLC
40 years with Dirty Ed
Honor, respect, loyalty, trust, and a definite love for this man, who has given the last 40 years to his club and brothers. These are just a few words to describe Dirty Ed, as he is much more than that. His sense of humor and his forthrightness are other noticeable qualities you experience when you are in his presence. People came from all over the state to show their respect and love for this man. There were so many bikes and people there that we
Photos by Clarke Jones
couldn’t count them.. Some of the crew from Thunder Roads, and the band Suthurn Touch came out for the party at River Rats. Thank you to Eclipse for inviting us and to all that attended. Thank you to River Rats and the staff for throwing one helluva party. Happy anniversary Dirty Ed, and we wish you and your lady love 40 more years of celebrating and life !
If you are thinking of cutting into trees along the former battlefields of the Eastern Front, you might want to grab a metal detector and check them before cutting into them. As chronicled by a post on Ghosts of the Eastern Front, a group that follows the hobby of relic hunting along the old WWII battlefiels throughout Easter Europe, apparently a full-sized tree was found grown around what looks to be a spike bayonet from a Russian M91 Mosin-Nagant rifle. These pig stickers are almost two feet long, which means the tree itself has been around for awhile as only the socket is still hanging out.
In Russia it seems, guns really do grow on trees. As well as grenades, helmets and machine guns. These photos below were taken outside of St. Petersburg around the Nevsky Pyatachok area which shows it is in fact not an uncommon occurrence.
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Excellent Automotive Service FAIR PRICES HONEST WORK FAST SERVICE
A Complete Automotive Facility For All Cars And Trucks Foreign And Domestic
504.780.7448
BODY & PAINT WORK
Danny Escalante Owner
member
112 Spar Street Metairie, LA 70001
Helping Homeless Veterans by Tai Velasco I’ve lived in Lafayette la for the last 2 years since I got out of the military. I’ve been riding with Combat Veterans Motorcycle Association ( CVMA) for the last year. I was/am trying to bring more awareness to our area about supporting our homeless Veterans and helping them better their lives. So I did a little research and contact at St Michael’s homeless shelter for veterans, which is the local homeless shelter in Lafayette. I spoke to their program director and got a list of things they needed. I talked to my local chapter, and spread the word amongst local friends and independents. On a cold and overcast day with cold winds snapping on our letters, I was able to get I believe 16 bikes and two cages.
Magnificent Monograms A.K.A. Stitch Stacy Knapp
We rode for approximately 55 miles around Lafayette and surrounding areas nonstop. After that ,as it was just a first year event and not knowing how big it would be, we ended it at my home. Little over 10 pounds of Boudin, that was smoked, & a little over 5 gallons of Gumbo was made to warm up every thankful soul that was able to contribute to a great cause. After speaking with my chapter and my local friends, we hope to turn this into a yearly if not a bi yearly event.
owner
After all was said and done we were able to donate right at $850 in supplies to St Michael homeless shelter for veterans. Thank you to all that helped out and attended.
225-235-2577
Jandy’s
Customer Appreciation Party Bikes, beer & babes, (plus a few dudes), were on hand for Jandy’s Appreciation party on Nov 14, 2015. Jan & Andy always throw a great party & this was no exception. The crowd was thick with lots of happy faces, all enjoying the music, food & cold beer. This is an annual event where bikes and loyal customers come from all around to spread some good cheer. If you are looking for leather or any other accessories for your bike, come to Jandys, if they don’t have it in stock, they can order it. Jandy also has plenty of patches in stock & they will sew them on while you wait. They are located in Slidell on Old Spanish Trail about 1/2 mile from I-10. When you go by there, tell them UNCLE JERRY sent ya. UNCLE JERRY
202 North Street, Denham Springs LA 70726 stacyknapp@yahoo.com www.facebook.com/Magnificent Monograms
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EagleRider Ride to Mooney’s
Check out MORE events AFTER Print Deadlines at www.thunderroadslouisiana.com FEBRUARY 2016 20th Motorcycle Swap Meet-@ Magnificent Monograms- bring your motorcycle parts- buy sell or trade and come hang out! No charge to bikers to sell your items!! 9:30 am to 3pm. -202 North Street- Denham Springs, La. 20th Benefit for JAY “GRUMPHY” CHARRIER at the The Kamp Bar Hickory Street in Harahan Jay had a stroke 1pm
18th Nola Motorsports Park-Avondale La-Vintage Grand Prix- The AHRMA Vintage Motorcycle Road Race series returns with tasty food and local vendors, great music, a swap meet, a pinup contest, and more. We’ve even got a Kid Zone, so you can be sure the whole family will have a great time. 19th Houma Hog Chapter-annual poker run-Mike Bruno Harley Davidson-Houma –for more info-985 637-9534
20th Benefit for Herbi Este Fireman in Gretna Tillies Bar & Smokehouse 5201 4th St,Marrero (formaly Moe’s Corner Bar) Live music,, food, prizes Bloodmobile on site for donations Proceeds to help with medical expenses
20Th Big Al (From Big Al’s Seafood & Bar-B-Q Westbank & Wherehouse Bar, Covington Presents “Ride For Jude Benefit” Come Ride From All Over To Wherehouise Bar, Covington 1115 N.Collins, Covington To Support 8 Year Old Jude Brooks Diagnosed With Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy FREE to enter, Plate Lunches Sold In Advance $10, $15 At Door (Catered By Big Al Himself) Donations Can Be Made At Any Capital One Bank In His Name Music By Rockin’ Doposie, Cypress & Instigators Call 504-264-0881 For Info & Food Tickets Call “Uncle Jerry” 504-231-0266 For Food Tickets
MARCH
APRIL
4th Rally at the capital baton Rouge-Report fair motorcycle Legislation. If you ride and want to maintain your rights then be there!!
2nd Kajun Iron Horse Poker Run –Cecille Rousseau Poche Memorial Park- Parks, la. For more info contact Dwayne Broussard337-523 2382
5th 8 am. Carmel Inn & Suites in Thibodaux 400 E 1st Thibodaux, LA 70301 Why: to help raise money for the Louis Infant Crisis Center which is a non-profit organization run by the state. And it is an all boys home. Contact information: Harold Driggers (985) 397-6500 Troy Lanegrasse (985) 665-6052
8th thru 10th Crawfish Festival Little Black Creek Campground Lumberton Mississippi
4th to 13th Daytona Bike week-Daytona Beach Florida 19Th Garage Sale, Motorcycle Swap Meet & Craft Vendors At The Swamp Inn, 385 Louisiana Ave, Westwego, Next To Shrimp Market Benefit For Heartland Specialties, An Animal Rescue 501-C3 Organization Timmy Lirrett With His Smokehouse Will Be There To Fill Your Bellies Dj & Live Music To Enjoy Tables Are $10.00 Each 10X10 Limited Number Of Tables See “Uncle Jerry” For Info Or Call 504-231-0266 Or Email Uncle.Jerry@Att.Net 18th to the 20th-- 25th Anniversary party-pin Hide Map Armed Forces of America Motorcycle Club, Mississippi Chapter 11007 Wolf River Rd, Gulfport, Mississippi 39503
Once a month for the next 11 months EagleRider of New Orleans will be hosting a 200 mile roundtrip ride to a destination in Louisiana. On Sunday January 24th, despite the cold snap ( 34 degrees that morning) we set out to ride and spend the day with Mooney’s in St. Amant, La. We were joined by riders that met us there and the crew of Mooney’s went way out to make sure everyone had a good time. There was some awesome BBQ chicken waiting on us with all the fixings, and music by Suthurn Touch rocked us all afternoon. 2015 Thunder Roads Model of the Year Kimberly Pecorino pulled some door prize tickets to raise some money for Fallen Riders of Louisiana and the Thunder Roads crew took many photos of the event along with Big Easy Rider Kurbster and his drone making an historic tour and filming the action. Thanks to all that came out and special thanks to Angie, Sonja, Mooney, and Scott for being such awesome hosts. When you are on the river make sure you go by and tell them we sent you.
9th and 10th 5th Annual Cane River Thunder Bike Rally Registration 11:00 AM April 9 Historic Downtown Riverbank Natchitoches, LA Vendors, Bike Games, Escorted Ride, Special Veteran’s Ceremony at 3 PM Sponosred by The Priesthood MM-Nakatosh Chapter For information contact Darrell Armstrong 318-663-8672
MAY 27th to 29th GulfCoast Memorial Day Blowout –see our event posting on facebook-Friday- Suthurn Touch/Daisy Duke Contest/Saturday My Hero the Villian- Angel Siren and TRAPT GulfPort Dragway
JUNE 11th Alexandria Bike Fest-downtown next to city hall-915 Third Street- vendors-music-grand prizes
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Honoring Your Memory
Exclusively for Thunder Roads Louisiana By Blasko.
John “Frank” Lewis was an upright man of great honor, integrity, courage of conviction, clarity of purpose and massive energy. I had the honor to get to meet with him on several occasions during his time serving the motorcycle community in the state of Louisiana as the president of the Confederation of Clubs- time and effort that will not be forgotten nor will the service to his country within the United States Military. The first time I met him, I was able to experience his leadership ability, presence, intelligence and humor first hand. As the few years passed by, I realized we shared mutual friends and acquaintances. The stories I’ve been honored to have been told, by those who knew him best, were the things that four words; “love, loyalty, respect and trust” are made of. These words are a rarity these days in normal society, but in this world, they survive and thrive through John’s immortal memory and legacy. The ideals he held will never fade away because he taught those principles, not through words alone, but by his actions. He held those beliefs and never waived on the loyalty he had to himself and those around him. He believed in keeping to those four simple words through the good times and the hard times.
WHO READS THUNDER ROADS? Indian/Victory Motorcycles Of New Orleans 10567 Airline Highway, St. Rose, LA
504-305-5436
20% off Tires s e i r e t t a B d n a I leave this with a quote from the man himself... “The greatest honor in my life is to be a Gray Ghost and to become its president. I will do my best to serve with dignity, tenacity, integrity, maintaining the mission and spirit in which this club was created in 1994; to ride our m/c and celebrate the brotherhood only a great m/c like the Gray Ghost can bestow. ~ JF 34 THUNDER ROADS MAGAZINE LOUISIANA
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s t h g i N Bike Tuesdays
Plaisance’s Bar 1920 Pratt Street Gretna, La. The Daiquiri Station 1113 N 5th St Leesville, LA Hooters of Denim Springs 254 Range12 Bovd. Denham Springs, La Crazy Cajuns Bar & Grill 10922 Hwy 182 East Service Rd Amelia ( 985) 631 0043 7PM Free Food And Discount Drinks Just One More 6545 West Main Street Houma, LA Steaks 5:30 to 7:30 985 873-9923 Tuesday Steak night 5:30 to 7:30
Wednesdays 2nd and 3rd Wednesday (steak night on 3rd) Cajun Country Lounge 8448 Main St. Houma, La Crazy Dave’s Daiquiri Bar 28293 S. Frost Rd Livingston, LA 70754
Thursdays
Twin Peaks 6990 Siegen Ln Baton Rouge, LA 70809
PopaTop Lounge 1288 Smede Hwy Broussard, LA 70518
The Infirmary Bar 15885 Lake Charles HWY Leesville, LA
Bar 61 6115 Airline Dr. Metairie, LA 70003
Lamplighter 1906 Martin Luther King Lake Charles, LA
Dago’s Cantina 2101 Williams Blvd. Kenner, LA 70062 Region: New Orleans
ROCKIN C’S 1919 N. MacArthur Dr. Alexandria, LA 71303 Santa Fe Cattle Co. & Hammond H-D 2035 Hammond Square Dr. Hammond, LA 70403 Shelly’s Frozen Sun 201 Albertson Pkwy, Ste A Broussard, LA 70518
Corner Spot No Drama-Just Fun 1530 lapalco Blvd. Getna, La 504 309 9133 Steaks and grilled oysters
Coyote’s Bar & Grill 1618 Market St. Shreveport, LA 71101
Saturdays
Retired American Legion Post 387 500 Vernon St. New Llano, LA 71461
Rene’s Blue Moon 100 N. Willow St. Lockport, LA 70374
The Kamp 2317 Hickory Ave. River Ridge, LA 70123
BOMBSHELLS BAR AND GRILL 1420 Airline Hwy Suite B Laplace, La. Bike And Steak Night
McGuire’s Pit Stop 4117 Jefferson Hwy Jefferson, LA 70121
Fridays
Fox Den Pizza 3112 Pontchartrain Dr. Slidell, LA 70458 Cajun Country Lounge 8448 Main Str. Houma, LA
Mike Bruno’s Bayou Country Harley-Davidson 1740 Martin Luther King Blvd Houma, LA 70360
Bailey’s Bar & Grill 102 N. Main St. Loreauville, LA 70552 Culpepper’s Saloon 2024 W. Summers Dr. Abbeville, LA 70510 36 THUNDER ROADS MAGAZINE LOUISIANA
Drago’s Alley Presents Hot Rod & Bike Night 1201 Lakeshore Dr. Lake Charles, LA New Orleans Harley Davidson 6015 Airline Dr. Metairie, La. 2nd and 4th Saturday Triple T’s 6271 West Main Houma, La