Thunder Road Ohio December 2016 by Thunder Roads Ohio Magazine

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THUNDER ROADS® OHIO MAGAZINE

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OHIO’S MOTORCYCLE MAGAZINE

THUNDER ROADS® OHIO MAGAZINE

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OHIO’S MOTORCYCLE MAGAZINE

THUNDER ROADS® OHIO MAGAZINE

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OHIO’S MOTORCYCLE MAGAZINE

THUNDER ROADS® OHIO MAGAZINE www.thunderroadsohio.com www.facebook.com/thunderroadsohio

MAIN OFFICE: 12467 Kinsman Rd, Burton, OH 44021 • (440) 273-9000 • (440) 425-0314 fax RETAIL STORE & OFFICE HOURS: Monday - Thursday • 10am - 4pm PUBLISHER & EDITOR Derek Armstrong Smith • ThunderRoadsOhio@gmail.com • (440) 785-7331 SALES & MARKETING

Iron Cowboy Productions, LLC • info.ironcowboy@gmail.com • (440) 678-8608 Cincinnati Area Managers • Doug & Cheryl Taylor • doug@thunderroadsohio.us Northwest Ohio Area Manager • Mike Stock • mikestock.tro@gmail.com LAYOUT & DESIGN Bob Mazur • Bobmazurphoto.com SUBSCRIPTIONS TO THUNDER ROADS OHIO are available for $34.95. Check or Money Order, payable to Iron Cowboy Productions, can be sent to: Iron Cowboy Productions 12467 Kinsman Rd, Burton, OH 44021 You can also order online - www.ThunderRoadsOhio.com To update your address or other questions, email: Acct.TRO@gmail.com

FROM THE PUBLISHER As we wrap up 2016, I can’t help but look back at an incredible year. So much has happened, not only in our lives – but within the motorcycle community and nation as a whole. Without a doubt, it’s been a challenge at times; but we have thankfully made it through. It’s an exciting time for everyone as we prepare for 2017 and all opportunities it presents. One of our primary goals has always been to serve as THE resource for Ohio riders. Regardless of what you ride, we aim to ensure that Thunder Roads Ohio is your best source for information about our riding community. Along these lines, we have always strived for a consistent balance in terms of content. Certainly we are primarily a V-Twin oriented magazine, which reflects the interests of the majority of our riders. However, we also work to maintain quality content and event listings of interest to riders with other passions. This past year we have considerably increased our focus on racing and the competitive side of things. Over the last several years, we have become increasingly involved in the Oregonia Hill Climbs and our partnership with the Devil’s Staircase. It’s a tremendous event that we see grow every year. Beyond the hillclimb races, we have also become involved in a number of flat track and motocross events as well. As we look towards 2017, we anticipate this aspect of the magazine growing even more as we become more involved with regional and national motorcycle racing events. Possibly in contrast, Thunder Roads Ohio has also become increasingly involved in the production of Vintage and Custom Motorcycle Shows. This past year we helped produce more than a dozen, including the International Master Bike Builder Association National Championship at the Cleveland I-X Center. This was quite an honor, and we are even more proud to host it yet again in 2017. We’ve also already identified at least four or five new bike shows that we will be hosting, as well as a handful of new rallies and major events we will be a part of in 2017. Looking towards 2017, I would ask that you take a minute and let me know what you’d like to see in Thunder Roads Ohio. Are we covering the events and rides you want to participate in? Are we covering the topics you’re interested in, and do you find yourself identifying with our writers as you turn the pages? If you have an opinion on such things, please take a moment and let us know what you think. As always, you can reach met at ThunderRoadsOhio@gmail.com. It’s only with your input that we effectively meet your needs in terms of being OHIO’S motorcycle mag. To close, I would like to thank you for your support this past year and as we head into the next. I’d like to wish you and your family the very best for this Holiday Season and upcoming year. And lastly, I’d like to wish you safe travels and the best of fortune as you set out this upcoming year.

NATIONAL FOUNDERS

Toni McCoy Shearon & Brian Shearon 1528 Matlock Drive / Chapmansboro, TN 37035 Office 615-792-0040 / Fax: 615-792-7580 email: thunderroadsfounders@yahoo.com

Derek Smith, Publisher - Thunder Roads Ohio Smith.Ironcowboy@gmail.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

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TABLE OF CONTENTS FEATURES

1946 H-D SERVICAR

TYKE’S BIKE

OVER THE POND ENGLISH BIKE FEATURE

HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE

DEPARTMENTS 04

FROM THE PUBLISHER

ROAD TALES

AMA REPORT

ABATE OF OHIO

OPERATION GUIDED VALOR

CMA REPORT

VIEW FROM PARIS

CALENDAR FEATURE

ADVENTURE TRO

IRON AND INK

FINAL WORD

BUCKEYE FIREARMS REPORT

TRO NETWORK: Where to get the mags!

SERVICE SPECIALISTS

MARKETPLACE

UPCOMING MOTORCYCLE EVENTS

SHOP TALK WITH WALT

RECIPES

WORD SEARCH

FUNNY STUFF

SPONSOR INDEX

ON THE COVER: Our Iron Angel, Katie D and her daughter Lorraine pose with a 2017 Triumph Bonneville shot at Iron Pony in Westerville. Photo and cover design by Bob Mazur, Thunder Roads Ohio. THUNDER ROADS® OHIO MAGAZINE

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As Told By

THE IRON COWBOY

WRENCH AGAINST THE MACHINE ESQUIRE NETWORK TUESDAYS, 9PM “The country’s most prestigious bike builders put their reputations on the line in the ultimate test of creativity and craftsmanship. Each episode pits two teams in a head-to-head battle, with only three days and $3,000 to transform basic stock motorcycles into rowdy, riding, works of art.” Admittedly, I had never heard of the Esquire Network before – not really a TV guy. But when I heard about WRENCH AGAINST THE MACHINE, I found myself picking up the remote and trying to see where the network was. Yes, it’s another Biker Build-Off show – but this one is all about the build and it was inspired by Clevelanders Dani Pajak and Brian Schaffran. Dani is the owner of Disowned Customs, an award winning custom shop that specializes in affordable metric creations. Brian is the creator of Skidmark Garage, Ohio’s first community motorcycle garage. Both are great guys that we are big fans of. So, Tuesday, November 15th the show premiered and several watch parties were held around Cleveland. One at Ohio City Moto and another at Skidmark Garage on Cleveland’s downtown eastside. I stopped by both and saw a lot of familiar faces, as well as meeting some great new folks – all members of Cleveland’s motorcycle community. I thought that the show was pretty cool, although it was clear that Esquire apparently hijacked the entire thing and twisted it around into something a tad different than the original concept. It was no longer a down and dirty bike building binge party, there were now shiny modern motorcycles and celebrity judges. Despite all that, the show was still a no fluff, get-it-done biker build-off challenge. They weren’t shipping things off to painters or sending stuff off to the CNC Shop to get done. These guys are scrounging motorcycle graveyards and 8

applying rattle can paint jobs as they transform their bikes. They are doing all the work and not sleeping much in the 72 hours they have to wrench. In at least the first episode, Dani and Brian didn’t seem to get enough screen time as the hosts. Of course, that may be the result of them scoring Roland Sands, Alan Stulberg (Revival Cycles), and Michael “Woolie” Woolaway (Deus Ex Machina) as judges. Hard to imagine a more cutting edge group of judges and their involvement certainly had to be a game changer. Regardless of their screen time and future involvement, it’s clear that WRENCH AGAINST THE MACHINE will be a springboard for both Dani and Brian. Skidmark has moved into a new bigger location and Dani is jet setting around the country as I write this, exploring new and exciting opportunities. We all wish the best for both of them and are pleased to see a TV show that truly is REALITY based. Congratulations! For photos from the watch parties, check out our ThunderCam on page 32 or visit our facebook page.

ARENACROSS RIDER REGISTRATION IS UNDERWAY! January 7, 2017 US BANK ARENA, Cincinnati Registration is now open for riders interested in competing in the AMA ARENACROSS SERIES as it comes to Cincinnati in January. Riders qualify in Cincinnati to compete for an AMA National Championship! In AMSOIL Arenacross there are over 31 classes, for all age and skill levels to compete in. Thanks to the major manufactures for putting up over $1.5 Million dollars in contingency- Kawasaki, Suzuki, Husqvarna, Yamaha and KTM! Pre-register to race online at arenacross. com and save $10 on your race entry fee. Pre Registration not only saves you money, but it also will get you a better gate option for your heat races! Pre registration closes for Cincinnati Monday, January 2 at 12PM EST.

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OHIO’S MOTORCYCLE MAGAZINE

OHIO’S MOTORCYCLE MAG! EASYRIDERS CUSTOM MOTORCYCLE SHOW ROLLS INTO COLUMBUS Once again, Columbus will host the Easyriders 2017 Bike Show Tour’s final stop and Invitational Show at the Greater Columbus Convention Center. The two day show will be held on February 11th and 12th of 2017. As in previous years, the show will feature all of the top bike builders from around the country, who qualified at the previous Easyriders shows, as well as challengers entering the specific Columbus show. It’s a mix of antique, old school and specialty builds – always featuring amazing rides that you’ll see nowhere else! This year’s special guests include Paul Yaffe of Bagger Nation and Jason Wilson, founder of the Douche LaRouche Chopper Club and Sacred Steel. Jason has been featured on the Discovery Channel’s new series Sacred Steel Bikes. Their bikes utilize old stock Harley frames and custom fabricated parts – the way it has been done since World War II. Come check out these ground-up custom creations that will be on display at the event.

The Easyriders Bike Show also hosts a multitude of the motorcycle industry’s top vendors showcasing some of the most up-to-date biker goods available in today’s market. The bike show competition is open to the public, and it’s free for a basic 5’x10’ bike display. Applications for the bike show competition can be found at www. easyridersevents.com. A limited number of complimentary displays are available for custom bike shops bringing a minimum of 5 bikes to showcase. For more information please call 1-800-962-9857 or visit them online.

Once again, the lovely Lisa Ligon, founder of the Purrfect Angelz, will serve as the Master of Ceremonies. The Purrfect Angelz will also be performing their choreographed dance performances live on the main stage and offering attendees photo opportunities. The Angelz will also be recognized as the “Flaunt Girls” at Full Throttle Saloon in Sturgis.

TRO SCAVENGER HUNT As things cool off outdoors, we thought that we would bring back our “indoor scavenger hunt” through the pages of Thunder Roads! Find our PRIZE LOGO in this month’s edition for your chance to win your choice of several great prizes – including gas cards, gift certificates, rally passes, and TRO Gear! Email us with the location of the PRIZE LOGO at BuckeyeThunderRun@gmail.com Please include SCAVENGER HUNT in the subject line. Watch upcoming issues of the magazine for your name, and if you see us announce you as a winner – email us at the above address with WINNER in the subject line! November Winners: Gary Glueckert, Ernie Cook THUNDER ROADS® OHIO MAGAZINE

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TRIUMPH ANNOUNCES BRUTAL BEAUTY TOUR TO SHOWCASE 2017 LINEUP As Told By

THE IRON COWBOY

TRIUMPH ANNOUNCES BRUTAL BEAUTY TOUR TO SHOWCASE 2017 Triumph Motorcycles America announced the Brutal Beauty Tour. The tour will make over 50 stops at Triumph dealerships and unique venues across the U.S. and Canada to showcase the recently unveiled Bonneville Bobber, Street Scrambler, Street Cup, T100 and T100 Black. The tour kicked off in downtown Los Angeles, Calif. with the North American unveiling of the new Bonneville Bobber. Triumph invited celebrities as actors Norman Reedus, John Hensley, Theo James and E! News’ Jesse Giddings all had a chance to swing a leg over the new motorcycles. OHIO STOPs: Tuesday, January 3, 2017 6-10pm Cleveland Thursday, January 5, 2017 5-10pm Triumph Cincinnati Norman Reedus (Walking Dead, Riding with Norman Reedus) at LA Triumph Event.

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Get Endorsed Learn More: motorcycle.ohio.gov

Basic Rider

Become an instructor: motorcycle.ohio.gov/ instructors.stm

For newer riders. Earn a waiver for the motorcycle endorsement skill test. No experience necessary. Motorcycles and helmets provided.

Basic for Returning Riders

Skill test waiver course for riders over 18 who have been riding with a temporary permit for at least 1 year. Also great for those returning to riding after an extended time away.

Basic Rider 2

A great early-season refresher, to bond with a new-to-you motorcycle, or to gain experience / improve control riding with a passenger. Requires a valid Temporary Instruction Permit Identification Card (TIPIC) or motorcycle license or endorsement. Passengers permitted, only for riders with a motorcycle license or endorsement. Successful completion earns the BMV skill test waiver for a motorcycle endorsement.

Advanced Rider

For experienced riders. Complements and refines existing skills and helps with personal risk assessment. Motorcycle endorsement required.

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REPORT AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days: A Three-day Motorcycle Fest! It was 1947. You just picked up a one of the last Knuckleheads to roll out of Milwaukee, an EL 74. With the hand-shift four-speed transmission, wraparound oil tank and chrome accents, you were the king of style -- and king of the road. Or, perhaps it was the summer of 1968, and you were riding one of the alltime utilitarian motorcycles, a Norton Commando. With the punchy 750cc powerplant and next-generation frame geometry, you ruled the twisty backroads. Then again, maybe it was a 1974. You were 15 years old and came home from school one afternoon to find a Honda CR125 Elsinore sitting in the driveway, next to your dad, grinning ear to ear. Memories like these make it obvious why we call them “vintage” motorcycles. And there’s one place where you’ll find these memories come alive -- a bike, a part or even a racer, pitching it sideways in turn one or dueling through the esses. That’s AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days, held at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in Morrow County, Ohio. And for 72 hours every July, it becomes the center of the vintage motorcycling universe. And, for a whole new generation of motorcyclists, it’s a doorway to a simpler time of air-cooled motors, classic designs and laid-back competition, where having fun with friends is more important than collecting trophies. Every year, tens of thousands enthusiasts join the AMA and the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum, and nearly 1,000 independent vendors, at vintage

motorcycling’s biggest bash. The event includes racing, the country’s largest motorcycle swap meet, seminars, stars from the sport’s past and present, bike shows and more, all designed to recapture what’s fundamentally cool about motorcycles. If cool people and cool motorcycles are your thing, you need to check out AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days -- the country’s grandest rally for vintage motorcycles. AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days is all-in with racing, a massive swap meet, thrill shows, bike shows, live music, seminars and more. It all goes down at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in Lexington, Ohio, July 7-9. Gates are open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day.

1966 Electra Glide

Raffle Bike ENTER FOR YOUR CHANCE TO WIN!

A minimum donation of $5 per ticket, or $20 for ﬁve tickets, is suggested. www.MotorcycleMuseum.org or call (800) 262-5646

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STAY IN THE KNOW Make sure you are up-to-date on all things AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days:

•

‘Like’ us at Facebook.com/ AMAVintageMotorcycleDays

•

Join the official 2017 Facebook Event

•

Follow along on Twitter and Instagram at @ama_ riding and @ama_racing and/or search #AMAVMD

• •

TRO EDITOR’S PICK: This is truly one of the most unique events of the year – a true celebration of riding that’s great for the entire family. There’s something for everyone – riders of all backgrounds and passions. Racing, metrics, v-twin – just about everything is represented. Sure there are thousands of incredible vintage bikes – but there are also demo trucks with the newest models for display and testing. It truly is a celebration of motorcycles – past and present. It’s hard to imagine a better place to celebrate everything about riding. We’ve long advocated that the AMA should simply call it MOTORCYCLE DAYS!

AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days July 7-9, 2017 Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course Lexington, Ohio

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ABATE OF OHIO, INC.

SAFETY REPORT Hi Friends, Here we are in December but I’m writing this article on November 1st so I will give you the news thru October. In 2015 at this date we had 3552 crashes with 152 fatalities and now in 2016 we have 3753 crashes with 170 fatalities. With the month of November looking like we are going to have nice weather, these numbers will be going up. At this time we are still at 54.3% biker at fault. For as long as I have been doing this we have never been under 50% and it has been in the 60% a few times. If we could just slow down and not run off of the curves we could be below 50%. Remember “Ride Within Your Limits”. Motorcycle Ohio is starting a new curriculum. They will be teaching Ohio’s own program and it will be taking into consideration Ohio problems. From what I have seen it looks very good. If you have not taken the course before now you need to do this one. Registration will start on January 23 2017. If you have never taken a class you will learn something and you may get a discount on insurance.

Last month I gave you FOMO, Fear Of Missing Out. It is saying that the phone is more important than driving. Now I give you

the 3-D’s, “Drunk Driving, Drugged Driving and Distracted Driving”. We need to work on ways to get these under control. The new “Drugged Driving” is the hardest to beat because when people are under the influence of drugs, they believe they are good drivers. It is also the hardest to detect. Over the years we have been educated to change our behavior, then new rules are enacted and they don’t work because we have no enforcement. So now we are going to let the cars do the thinking, and that is a whole new story. We have talked about Road to Zero and Vision Zero programs, which seek to have zero crashes. I have been following these very closely. To get these programs to work we have tried programs like Awareness and Education, new laws and more enforcement. This has to help but has not been enough to make the goal of Zero crashes. Now we are going to make cars and bikes do our thinking. If this does not work then maybe we will just start getting rid of the problem and Motorcycles are a problem. Smart cars are being tested but not with motorcycles in the equation even leaving out pedestrians and bicycles. We as motorcyclists need to stay on top of all these programs and be ready to act.

To make all that I have been talking about work in our favor, everyone needs to join a Motorcycle Rights Organization. I would like to see every biker in Ohio be a member of ABATE of Ohio, Inc. That would make every state Legislator and Official listen. On the back page of this Magazine is an application. Remember that you are not required to come to meetings but you are required to Vote to save our right to ride. With your membership you get the Outspokin’ Magazine, in paper or online, and you will get a $3,500 Accidental Death and Dismemberment Insurance policy. We have a lot to fight for and we can only do it with numbers, so join now. Even with the riding season slowing we still have a lot going on. Cleveland IX center is having some great shows coming up and Easy rider will be back in Columbus with the Bike Show. I heard that a parts EXPO is coming to Columbus also. In April ABATE will be hosting a statewide Legislative and Safety and Education Seminar - more to be coming. I would like to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year Ride Within your Limits Mike Stock Safety and Education Director

LEGISLATIVE REPORT Hello, All: By the time this article will be read, a few historic events will have transpired. One in the world of baseball, the other more important event being the Presidential Election. I trust that more attention was paid to the election, than to the World Series. Having gotten past all of the political BS, I can only hope things have settled down and MAYBE some real accomplishments are on the horizon. At least, we will know who got elected and re-elected, so we will know who we are dealing with. Hopefully, all of our allies were re-elected and we can move forward. Here in Abate, we are also facing important elections in December, both on the Statewide, Regional and County levels. Here again, I urge everyone to participate in the process, and install your future Officers. Also, think about throwing your hat into the ring to cover some areas where there may 16

not be anyone in the running. Levelheaded leadership will be the key to this organization’s future. As far as our legislation is concerned, no movement will have occurred till November 16, when the legislature will be back in session. After the election, I will be meeting with Rep. Landis (who I am confident will be re-elected) about the direction and future of HB115. I will also be checking on HB 154. On the Federal level support should be given to the following: HR 21, HR 704, HR5180, HR4715 and HR 831. All of these are House Resolutions; HR 831 concerns the topic of Motorcycle Profiling, which is a disturbing trend that affects all motorcyclists, not just patch holders. The growing harassment of law abiding riders and the various tactics being employed is eye opening. Also, a planning meeting has been held to start planning the State Seminar 2017. A flyer should be in this issue of the Outspokin.

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Please keep in mind the silent auction items will be needed for this event. It will be April 7/8 at the Doubletree by Hilton Hotel in the Akron/Fairlawn area. Please circle the dates and plan on attending. More details will be forthcoming as they are fleshed out. Another disturbing trend being reported is an 8.3% rise in motorcycle fatalities in 2015, which I am sure will just be more ammunition for the usual nationwide helmet law push. As always we will, with the help of the AMA, MRF and other SMROs, continue to fight against this and all other threats to our freedoms. Remember...eternal freedom demands eternal vigilance.

Respectfully submitted,

Kolman Legislativedirector@abate.com 614-332-0198 OHIO’S MOTORCYCLE MAGAZINE

ABATE OF OHIO, INC.

FROM THE CHAIRMAN Merry Christmas to One And All! Do remember that a Membership in ABATE of Ohio, Inc. makes a great Christmas Gift. We have reloaded the ½ of the Offices on the State Board of Directors with the exception of the Office of “Chairman of the Board” , this contest is decide by a mail in ballot by the General Membership, the only Official Ballot is printed on the inside back cover of the December issue of the Outspokin Magazine. Please let your voice be heard and return you Ballot to the State Office Postmarked no later than December 31, 2016. A complete list of contest winners can be found at abate.com. I am excited about the Strong Foundation, State Government Relations Director, Kolman Fuzy is building with our Elected State Legislators and hope to make major strides for Motorcycle Rights in the upcoming 132nd General Assembly

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2017-2018. We must be ever vigilant as Motorcycle Fatalities rose during 2016 so we have to be ready for a knee jerk Mandatory Helmet Law popping up in the near future, and we want to rework our Road Guard Bill and give it another spin. I attended the “Toward Zero Deaths” Seminar with Mike Stock and Jim Sprague October 20, 2016 @ the Ohio State Highway Patrol Academy. The Seminar was dedicated to Distracted Driving a very in-depth study including brain scans of how our perception is affected by Texting and Driving and also many other distractions motorists fall victim to as they are operating a Motor Vehicle. The texting part of the study concluded that when you text and drive you compact your sight line to about 10 inch by four inch box while you are driving, kind of like scraping a small hole on a frosted windshield when you are

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running late on a cold winter morning and you take off driving while you wait for the windshield to completely defrost, very scary, some people do this constantly. You may ask why, mobile device manufactures’ do not install a program to disable device when in motion in a motor vehicle, answer number one of many is, no Legislature is going to pass such an ordinance because they will not infringe on a citizen’s right to Freedom of the Road. Go Figure. United We Stand, Jim “SNAFU” Elgin

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By Keith “Elmo” Tickle, Ohio State President -- U.S. Veterans MC (USVMC)

As the sun sets on yet another riding season and we throttle our way back to the daily grind, we shift our focus from the open road to what is always quite an eventful time of year … the college bills start coming in. And for those of us that have members of our family attending college; the overwhelming anxiety of paying for school can consume us. We take on additional jobs and/or take out loans simply to provide our loved ones with the very best opportunities we can. But no worries; you may have the Post 9/11 G.I. Bill coming to the rescue. What is this you may ask? The Post- 9/11 GI Bill is an education benefit program for individuals who served on active duty after September 10, 2001. So if this applies to you, what do you have to do is probably your next question. To begin with, if you have eligibility for the Post-9/11 GI Bill and any other GI Bill program you must make an irrevocable election of the Post-9/11 GI Bill before you can receive any benefits. This is a very important step and one most individuals overlook. But how do I know if I am truly eligible? You may be eligible if you served at least 90 aggregate days on active duty after September 10, 2001, or were honorably discharged from active duty for a service-connected disability after serving 30 continuous days following September 10, 2001. That’s it … not too hard! But there is a little known fact about this Post-9/11 G.I. Bill that can really ease the aforementioned anxiety should your loved one be a child of a true American Hero that passed during their line of duty. Children of a member of the Armed Forces who died in the line of duty on or after September 11, 2001, may be eligible for Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits under the Marine Gunnery John David Fry Scholarship Program. This is probably one of the most underutilized educational programs the VA has. So many times, the despair of the loss of the loved one puts the blinders of pain on our face and we never truly utilize the benefits entitled to survivors. If you know of anyone this applies to, please ensure they know about the Marine Gunnery John David Fry Scholarship Program. Can I transfer my entitlement to my dependents? You must be a member of the uniformed services to transfer your unused benefits to your spouse/dependent(s). Generally, you must agree to serve 4 more years when transferring benefits.

So you do all the requirements needed and now you’re ready to see your educational entitlements. I am always asked; “Elmo, what do I really receive from the Post 9/11 G.I. Bill?” It is a little tricky to follow but let me explain. You may very well receive a percentage or all of the following payments: 1) Tuition and Fee payments (paid to your school on behalf of the Veteran), 2) Monthly Housing Allowance (MHA) that is equal to the basic THUNDER ROADS® OHIO MAGAZINE

allowance for housing (BAH) payable for the zip code of your school to a military E-5 with dependents for students pursuing resident training, 3) Books and supplies stipend of up to $1000 per year. WOW!! Now that is a stress reliever there!!

So this is amazing but how many months of assistance can I receive and how long am I eligible? Generally, you may receive up to 36 months of entitlement under the Post-9/11 GI Bill. Doing the math, that is 4 years with 9 months of school in each year. Hence, that is a 4-year degree!! But we know, sometimes we don’t use the Post-9/11 G.I. Bill immediately after you depart honorably from the service but don’t worry. You will be eligible for benefits for an incredible 15 years from your last period of active duty of at least 90 consecutive days.

All this information is great, but what are the types of training you can use the Post 9/11 G.I. Bill for? You can use the Post-9/11 GI Bill at colleges, universities, trade schools, and for on-the-job training, apprenticeships, and flight schools. To see what programs are currently approved for VA benefits, go to: www.benefits.va.gov/gibill You can use Post-9/11 GI Bill for tutorial assistance, licensing (attorney license, cosmetology license, etc.) and certification tests (SAT, LSAT, etc). What is the Yellow Ribbon Program? The Post-9/11 GI Bill can cover all in-state tuition and fees at public degree granting schools, but may not cover all private degree granting schools and out-of-state tuition. The Yellow Ribbon Program provides additional support in those situations. Institutions voluntarily enter into an agreement with VA to fund uncovered charges. VA matches each dollar of unmet charges the institution agrees to contribute, up to total cost of tuition and fees.

Well there you have it, the Post-9/11 G.I. Bill! Now it is time to pull off the road and soak this achy body from the ride to and from Sturgis. Loved seeing all my brothers and sisters enjoying themselves. Although next weeks topic of cemetery services seems a little difficult to talk about, it is probably the single most important element of family planning. Until then; ride safe, and always keep the doors of wisdom open. USVMC is a non-profit 501(c) (19) organization driven to show respect and support for all Veterans who served honorably. USVMC is a proud member of the Ohio Confederation of Clubs (COC). Ohio COC is rich in Veteran support initiatives and can assist with critical Veteran necessities.

If you have a Veteran need, please speak to a member of COC or please email elmo.usvmcoh@gmail.com

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‘46 M

y trike is a 1946 Servicar, which I built after purchasing it in three boxes back in 1981. The restoration took eight years and I learned a great deal during that time. In 1993, I went to an Antique Motorcycle Club meet and started to judge for the AMCA. I have since earned my Senior Judge Status, and function as the Deputy Judge and a Director of the Lake Erie Chapter of the AMCA. I was recently appointed to the Board of Directors on the Antique Motorcycle Foundation.

Denise A Rich-Gross

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CMA

Christmas

Christmas is a celebration of God’s gift to us. That gift is His son, Jesus Christ. For me Luke 2 says it best, “Now in those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus, that a census be taken of all the inhabited earth. This was the first census taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. And everyone was on his way to register for the census, each to his own city. Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David. While they were there, the days were completed for her to give birth. And she gave birth to her firstborn son; and she wrapped Him in cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. “In the same region there were some shepherds staying out in the fields and keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord suddenly stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them; and they were terribly frightened. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” And suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased.” When the angels had gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds began saying to one another, “Let us go straight to Bethlehem then, and see this thing that has happened which the Lord has made known to us.”

seen this, they made known the statement which had been told them about this Child. And all who heard it wondered at the things which were told them by the shepherds. But Mary treasured all these things, pondering them in her heart. The shepherds went back, glorifying and praising God for all that they had heard and seen, just as had been told them.” NASB In our home when we gather around the Christmas tree before opening gifts, I read this passage of scripture for our family again. It’s important we do not lose sight of the facts about the first Christmas. Heavenly Father, I pray right now for all who read this article. I ask Lord, You permit the Holy Spirit to speak to each one and awaken again the spirit of joy that can only come from You and through You. I pray for the prisoner held captive by the bars and walls; I pray for those who think they are free yet held captive by their sin or lack of understanding of Who You are; I pray for the hurting who don’t know where to turn; I pray for those who think they have it all but have not included You in their lives. Lord, I pray today that from the scriptures shared all will come to know You love them and desire to have a relationship with them. I pray they will come to know without Jesus there is no Christmas. Amen. Merry Christmas! GR (Jerry) Niver

“So they came in a hurry and found their way to Mary and Joseph, and the baby as He lay in the manger. When they had

Christian Motorcyclists Association COME RIDE WITH US! CMA is a servant minded interdenominational motorcycle ministry with a nondenominational message of hope and love through Jesus Christ. Enjoy the family atmosphere, make life-long friends, and join an army of people dedicated to changing the world, one heart at a time in the highways and byways. Visit us at www.cmausa.org for more information. Have a message you’d like to share? If you have a message that you’d like to share with riders across Ohio and the Midwest, let us know. TRO welcomes the opportunity to work with established motorcycle ministries. Feel free to share upcoming events with us as well, by emailing information to Events.ThunderRoads@gmail.com 22

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2001 Harley-Davidson Sportster Builder: Tried & True Customs Frame: Led Sled Paint: Good Times Reform Flames / Pinstriping: Tried & True Handle Bars: Shakey Mike Front Fender: Missing Rear Fender: Led Sled Seat: Fad Kevin Oil Tank: Led Sled Taillight: Low Brow Model: Melissa K Photographer: D.A. Smith

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Buying the Best Helmet is All About Fit

By Paris Wolfe

In the 1969 movie Easy Rider, Wyatt (Peter Fonda) and Billy (Dennis Hopper) ride from southern California to New Orleans in search of America. Washed up lawyer George Hanson (Jack Nicholson) is impulsively invited along with a simple: “You got a helmet?” With dramatic, Jack Nicholson-sass George delivers: “Oh, I’ve got a helmet. I got a beauty!” It’s almost ironic that a drug dealer in a counterculture movie brings up a safety concern like the helmet. But it becomes comic relief when George shows up with a navy-striped, gold football helmet. With the plastic bubble on his bean and a Cheshire grin above his chin, George settles onto the back of Wyatt’s Captain America chopper. Gary and I recently went shopping for new helmets, something so far removed from Jack Nicholson’s useless bucket. In addition to safety, we wear helmets to house our communications system and protect us from sun, bugs and noise. We appreciate internal drop-down visors on sunny days and the helmet warmth on cool days. 28

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Our “old” helmets had been starters. Now we wanted something that fit better. Anyone with a helmet that’s five-plus years should do the same. That’s because padding breaks down with time and so goes the safety value. Shopping for “a beauty” can be confusing with so many options on the market. Shape is, perhaps, the place to start. After all, if you don’t like the shape you won’t wear it. And then owning a helmet is pointless. Shape choices include: •

Half ... Complies with the law.

•

Three-quarters ... Good

•

Flip-up or modular ... Better

•

Full-face helmet ... Best

What to choose? People on the front lines of helmet protection say “full face.” Perry (Lake County) fireman Matt Wollerman advises, “Just buy the highest-rated helmet you can find and full-face is the best. The more you protect the better off you are.” Sonja Stiller, a credentialed emergency room doctor from Concord Township (Lake County), adds, “For the sake of the motorcyclist, the more coverage the better. ER staff and doctors are trained to take off helmets while protecting the c-spine.” She says chin guards are unlikely to cause injuries and helmets with them offer more benefits than risks.

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To replace our once-shiny, black helmets – which cost about $200 -- we went to Iron Pony for the broad range of selection. The 130,000-square foot superstore in Columbus carries more than 17 helmet brands. Helmets were the first thing we saw when we tripped the automatic doors. Half-helmet brain buckets were displayed on boxes near the entrance and further into the store black metal shelves were stacked at least 10 feet high with square, cardboard helmet boxes. The store carries all four shapes, priced from under $100 to nearly $1,000, in a variety of sizes, colors and graphics. Materials and features vary among

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models. Shopping quickly became overwhelming. That’s why we needed a help. So, we enlisted helmet specialist Jake Allen. His first words were: “You want a solid helmet that fits your head shape and fit snugly.” Jake, who’s been riding a year and selling helmets for more than five years wears an Aria full helmet. We told him we wanted maximum safety. And, experience told us we wanted the flexibility of the modular. Being able to flip up the chin guard means we don’t have to remove helmets at pit stops, especially drive-through orders and quick consumption of food and beverages.

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Choosing modular limited us to 10 brands. We tried a few for fit. “You have to make sure it fits correctly,” says Jake. “You don’t want any play at all. You want that chipmunk cheek look. That’s because the cheek pads break in the most and will loosen up the more ride.” Sounds easy enough, but heads like bodies come in different sizes and shapes. In fact, the Hohenstein Institute in Germany, examined 6,000 heads and narrowed them to five basic shapes – “extremely round” and “round” through “normal” and “oval” to “extremely oval.”

Schuberth makes a helmet for the most common head shape, “intermediate oval.” The only helmets without gaps or pressure points for my partner Gary were the Japanese brands SHOEI and the German brand Schuberth. Gary was torn. He liked the SHOEI, but would have needed a half size between XL and XXL. And, that doesn’t exist. The Schuberth C3 Pro felt right. He chose that in matte black.

Intrigued by Schuberth’s offering of a Simone Morlock, who was in charge of women’s model – C3W (“w” for woman) the project at the Hohenstein Institute, Pro – I snugged into a medium pearl pink says, “Since people only wear head helmet. Chipmunk cheeks, check. No protection systems consistently if they pressure points, check. Then, I strapped are comfortable, getting the best possible on a black unisex helmet. The medium fit is very important.” was two big and the small too small. “You don’t want any gaps between your head and helmet, because the event of an incident there will be a time gap between impact and head hitting the side,” explains a spokesman for Germanybased helmet manufacturer Schuberth. “Gaps will ruin the safety effectiveness.”

That’s one of the differences of the woman’s helmet ... it’s about a halfstep between unisex helmet sizes. The company says it has been “optimized for smaller head shapes and takes into account the natural shape of a woman’s face.” I don’t have enough helmet experience to judge, I just know it fit better than others including my current

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lid. And, I must admit I’m partial to the colors -- matte black (with a burgundy liner) pearl white, glossy white or pearl pink. While Gary and I chose matching matte black Schuberth helmets, Jake says couples shouldn’t force that match. “Sometimes it works out, sometimes it doesn’t. Some times because of the shape of the head you need to go to a different brand. You may still be able to go to the same color.” The best way to shop may be to narrow your shapes and brands, research them online and then, get out there and try on several for comparison.

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FROM ACROSS THE POND

“THE HISTORY OF THE TRIUMPH BONNEVILLE” THE VERTICAL TWIN IS BORN Triumph approached the vibration problem from a whole new direction. Engine designer Edward Turner, who also designed the Ariel Square Four, came up with the Parallel or Vertical Twin, which used two smaller pistons making up 500cc, rising and falling together on a 360-degree crankshaft. The crank rode on just two main bearings, just like the big singles, which saved on tooling costs. The new 500 twin was brought to market as the 1938 Triumph 5T Speed Twin. It was an instant hit. Unfortunately, World War II started just 2 years later and civilian production didn’t resume until 1946. But when it did, Speed Twins were selling as fast as Triumph could build them. Joining them in 1946 was a new, hotter version of the 500 twin. With higher compression and wilder cams, the Triumph T100 Tiger was the hottest thing going at the time.

MORE POWER, SCOTTY! IN THE BEGINNING Like most British motorcycle companies of the era, Triumph started out making bicycles. Formed by Siegfried Bettmann (a German, not a Brit) in 1883, by 1902 they were building motorcycles. They quickly established a reputation for quality and performance. By the onset of World War I, they were well enough established to provide 30,000 motorcycles to the British Army, where they were respected by British troops for their reliability in the ﬁeld, prompting the nickname “Trusty Triumph”. Throughout the 1920s and 1930s they continued to develop better and more powerful machines.

BIG SINGLES RULED

By the mid-1930s, virtually the entire industry had settled into one basic engine design that was more or less universal. Basically, with few exceptions, everyone was building pushrodoperated OHV air-cooled singles with small bores and long strokes (undersquare). By this time, engine displacement and performance were approaching their practical limits at about 500cc and 30 horsepower, respectively. Anything more induced wicked engine vibration. Lots of things were tried, but nothing could counteract the forces of that one big heavy piston ﬂying around the cylinder at high speed.

But in the motorcycle business, “too much is never enough”. What’s more, Triumph’s biggest market was America, and Americans wanted power and lots of it. During the next 20 years or so, Triumph built its reputation on ﬁelding fast, greathandling, handsome machines that could beat just about anything on the street. To accommodate this growing trend, Triumph added displacement and horsepower. In 1950, they bored and stroked the 500 twin out to 649cc, creating the ﬁrst Triumph 650, the 1950 6T Thunderbird. Another instant hit, but before long more power was needed. They applied the “Tiger treatment” (higher compression and hotter cams) to the new 650 to create the more powerful 1954 T110 Tiger. (In Triumph parlance, these designations are supposed to reference the top speed of the bike. Thus, in theory, a T100 was good for 100 MPH, and so the larger, faster 650 version must then be able to hit 110, hence the T110 moniker.)

The 1950 6T Thunderbird was the ﬁrst Triumph 650.

MORE POWER...AGAIN!

1948 Triumph 5T Speed Twin. It set the pattern for nearly every British bike built for the next 30 years

Classic-British-Motorcycles.com. 36

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This was soon followed up by yet a faster version in 1956 called the TR6 Trophy, sporting a new alloy cylinder head called the “Delta Head” that offered improved cooling and ﬂowed better for even more power. This was not only a more powerful engine, but it was stripped down for off-road or desert racing, although street versions still had lights. The TR6 had a smaller, shapelier ʻteardropʼ tank and bodywork, better seats and trim, and slim fenders, compared to the Thunderbirds and Tigers with their stodgy headlight nacelles and full-valance mudguards. During this time, Triumphs were not only winning in the showroom, they were dominating road racing, off-road scrambles and particularly desert racing, which evolved into motocross. THUNDERROADSOHIO.COM

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THE BONNEVILLE IS BORN Regardless, more power was needed. So, in 1959 Triumph reworked the Delta head and mounted two carburetors on it, and created a whole new bike, the 1959 T120 Bonneville. At the time, nearly every bike was running a single carb. It looks like an obvious improvement now, but it was revolutionary at the time and boosted the Bonnevilleʼs image even more than itʼs actual performance. The twin carbs helped mostly at high RPMs, but didn’t add much in trafﬁc, and they proved fussy to tune. But, who cared? The new 650 Bonneville was THE fastest thing around, on 2 or 4 wheels.

TRIUMPHʼS HEYDAY The 1960s were Triumphʼs heyday, and the Bonneville led the way. Faster than just about any other motorcycle on the road, and faster than most cars, the Bonneville took on a mystique, and icon-status that was bigger than life. If you wanted to be cool, back in 1965, you rode a Bonneville. Sales were peaking, and every year Triumph made improvements and reﬁnements to all their bikes, so that by 1970, the Triumph 650, both Bonneville and TR6, had probably reached their zenith. At this same time, the entire British motorcycle industry was going belly-up. BSA, who in 1960 was the world’s largest producer of motorcycles and one of the biggest multi-national corporations on Earth, by 1970 was broke. Bad management, an unfriendly socialist government, and changing times would have done them in anyway. (Continued Next Page)

The new-for-1959 Bonneville was styled like Triumphʼs commuters, not the sport bike that it truly was.

CLUNKY STYLING But Triumph, usually a styling leader, totally missed the mark when styling the 1959 Bonneville. It came clad in the clunky ʻold-manʼ bodywork from the Thunderbird and Tiger, with its old fashioned headlight nacelle and massive full-valance mudguards, all in an odd 2-tone paint job of orange and cream. Probably the most ʻmachoʼ bike on the market at the time performancewise, it looked like an old fuddy-duddy. Many a buyer had the dealers install the more attractive TR6 bodywork on their new Bonnevilles before picking them up. From 1960 on, the Bonneville was styled like the TR6, but with its own unique paint scheme, which changed every model year.

This 1965 T120 Bonneville shows how beautiful Triumphs were. It was one of their hallmarks. Power, speed and handling were others.

Starting in 1963, the Unit This Pre-Unit Bonneville shows Construction engines how the engine, primary case incorporated all these and gearbox were all separate components bolted together in components into one unitized casing. It was neater, lighter & the frame. more compact.

UNIT CONSTRUCTON The next major change in the Bonneville lineage came in 1963 with the adoption of “Unit Construction”. Triumph 650 twins built prior to this are called “Pre-Unit” or “Non-Unit” bikes, which signiﬁes that the engine, the primary chain case, and the gearbox were all separate components that were bolted together with a system of brackets. In 1963, all of these components were incorporated in one integrated casting (in two halves), as one “Unit”, hence the name “UnitConstruction”. This allowed for a lighter, more compact engine package that was easier and cheaper to assemble, had fewer maintenance and repair problems, was quieter, cleaner, and stronger. Strong enough hopefully to withstand the next wave of horsepower enhancements. THUNDER ROADS® OHIO MAGAZINE THUNDER ROADS® OHIO MAGAZINE

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FROM ACROSS THE POND

“THE HISTORY OF THE TRIUMPH BONNEVILLE” NEW OIL-IN-FRAME BONNEVILLE

(From P.37) CHANGES WERE COMING But, by this time, Honda, Yamaha, Kawasaki and Suzuki were ﬂooding the market with cheap, reliable bikes that were getting faster and better every year. By 1970, Honda was building more bikes in one month than the entire British motorcycle industry built in a year. The poor Brits just couldn’t compete, and they weren’t willing to change. Of course, they were perpetually strapped for cash, so big changes weren’t necessarily an option. However, itʼs clear that the Brits intended to continue building the same Triumphs, BSAs and Nortons they always had, in pretty much the same way, just improving them year-by-year. Meanwhile, the Japanese were embracing all the latest manufacturing techniques, anything that would increase production volume. And their bikes were getting faster every year. The ﬁnal death blow was the introduction of the seminal 1969 Honda 750 Four. Triumph and BSA managed to beat the mighty Honda to market by a few months with their own multicylinder super bikes, the Triumph 750 Trident and the BSA 750 Rocket 3, both with three cylinders.

The new Oiler 650s weren’t warmly received in 1971, although they were handsome machines. Triumph had updated their looks considerably, bringing them closer to the mainstream, but still retaining their British character and the Triumph look. In 1973, they punched it out to 750cc and the T120 became the T140 Bonneville, while the TR6 became the TR7. 1973 also brought a much-needed 5-speed gearbox and front-disk brake. By this time, they’d sorted out most of the Oilersʼ earlier problems and they were becoming very nice bikes to ride, as long as you didn’t press them too hard.

BSA BUNGLING The Bonneville was suddenly outclassed. Already making around 50 horsepower, they couldn’t push it much farther without suffering reliability problems. Parent-company BSA in their inﬁnite wisdom, became famous during this period for their total ineptness and stupidity. For the 1971 model year, BSA spent millions developing new frames for BSA and Triumph 650 twins. Saddled with antiquated engines, oil leakage problems, vibration problems, sketchy electrics and a growing reputation for poor reliability, BSA put their money into a new frame (which was already one of the industry’s best). Not new engines, or better electrics. And these new frames carried their oil inside the backbone of the frame itself, rather than in a separate oil tank. Because of this, 1971-and-later Triumph 650 and 750 twins are called “Oil-in-Frame”, “Oil-Bearing” or “Oilers” for short.

This 1982 750 Bonneville TSS was Triumphʼs last gasp at relevance. It had a 4-valve-per-cylinder head. Alas it was too little, too late.

THE END DRAWS NEAR As BSA imploded, they merged with Norton, so Norton now owned Triumph and they wanted to close down Triumphʼs legendary Meriden plant and move Triumph production to Nortonʼs factory. In 1974, the workers rebelled, blockading themselves in the factory and keeping any bikes from leaving. Norton relented in 1975, allowing the workers to buy the company and form the Meriden Co-op. They never had enough capital to make the venture work and struggled along, producing fewer and fewer Bonnevilles (now the only model they produced), and some rather interesting “specials”, until they ﬁnally gave up the ghost in 1983. BSA built its last motorcycle in 1972, and the last Norton Commando rolled off the line in 1975. Triumph was the last one still standing. In 1983 the beleaguered Co-op built the last Bonneville... almost. After the fall, a rich British developer bought what remained of the company and reintroduced the Triumph Bonneville to the world in 1990 as a totally new, modern bike that is still with us today. For more on Bonnevilles and all classic Brit bikes, visit: Classic-British-Motorcycles.com.

This 1971 T120 Bonneville displays the look of the new “Oilers”. The styling was much more current, yet classically Triumph. 38

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by Andy Tallone

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holiday GIFT GUIDE A collection of gift suggestions for the motorcycle enthusiasts in your life.

GIVE THE GIFT OF OHIO BIKE WEEK! The largest motorcycle event in the entire Midwest is Ohio Bike Week!, It’s ten days of Ridin’ and Rockin’ as riders from across the country converge on Sandusky and destinations across the state. An insider’s secret to the event is the VIP AllAccess Passes, which Ohio Bike Week offers for sale leading up to the Rally. The All-Access Passes allow riders priority access to various events, priority parking, free admission to many additional events, and all sorts of extra perks. This year they offer even more value, as expanded AAP Holder-Only areas are offered throughout the Rally – including special front of stage areas that include special bars, complimentary food, and other perks. The specifics vary each year, but it’s always a great deal for anyone attending the rally. During the Rally the passes are offered for $150, but the Ohio Bike Week folks offer special Holiday discounts that make them the perfect gift! The last few year’s OBW has introduced the passes as part of a BLACK FRIDAY SALE the day after Thanksgiving. That BLACK FRIDAY price is always the BEST DEAL OF THE YEAR on the passes. As OBW approaches the rate just goes up – until they are SOLD OUT as they have the last few years. So, strike fast and early – and give the gift of ROCKIN’ AND RIDIN’ throughout the MIDWEST’S BIGGEST MOTORCYCLE EVENT!

Get UP FRONT and PERSONAL with a VIP All-Access Pass from Ohio Bike Week. Photo by Dan Hare

For more information on Ohio Bike Week and their Black Friday Sale – visit OhioBikeWeek.com AIR CAM Photo of Ohio Bike Week Montgomery Gentry Concert at the Broken Spoke Saloon / Erie County Fairgrounds 42

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BIKERS

holiday

GIFT GUIDE

Save your Bags! For those of you that prefer stripping off the hardbags on your touring bikes either for storage, cleaning, or simply for a leaner look on your bike – we’d like to introduce the Saddlebag Saver! These saddlebags holders come in a variety of styles to allow cleaning and storage for all standard hard bags. These holders were designed by industrial engineers using the same materials and production processes that produce OEM protective packaging used by the manufacturers to protect motorcycle and automotive parts throughout the process – from production, to assembly, and to dealerships all around the world. This material has been tested with most popular cleaners to ensure compatibility – and they don’t absorb water or cleaners either while you’re cleaning your bags. Saddlebag Savers have also been tested by inserting and removing bags over 1000 times without any wear or deterioration. That’s equivalent to using them every week for over 20 years! So whether you are looking to hold, store, clean, or transport your saddlebags – Saddlebag Saver is the perfect option. They also make a great gift for the enthusiast that goes the extra mile to take care of their bike! For more information and to order online, visit www. Saddlebagsaver.com Holiday Special – FREE SHIPPING on orders through 12/25! Just tell them that Thunder Roads sent ya!

The Basic TRO Gear! When it comes to sporting the gear, it’s always best to start with the basics – and that would be T’s and Tanks. Thunder Roads Ohio offers a variety of basic TRO Tanks and T’s in colors such as Turquoise, Fuscia, and Army Green to supplement the Red and Blacks that they’ve offered for years. We also offer “Safety” versions of our Ohio Biker T’s – which are sure to make you stand out. Neon Yellow, Green, and Pink have all proven to be exceptionally popular with those comfortable with a little extra attention. -

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Only $15 at ThunderRoadsOhio.US

The Neon “Safety” Yellow T-Shirts make the perfect gift for anyone needing such gear for roadside work or serving as Road Guards for rides.

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BIKERS

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GIFT GUIDE

2017 AMA Hall Of Fame Calendar

A great gift for any motorcycle enthusiast for only $15 The motorcycles in this calendar are special. They aren’t just pristine examples of engineering excellence or three-dimensional works of art. They are authentic artifacts of motorcycling’s rich history in America. These very machines were ridden, raced, built or owned by some of the most influential people in motorcycling. They may have carried a world champion to his greatest triumph, taken motorcycle technology in a brave new direction or helped establish an industry icon. They are not replicas. They are the actual motorcycles that have done these incredible things. Over the next 12 months, you’ll read their stories and enjoy their images as you learn about their role in shaping our world. Despite the scope of their impact, however, they represent only a portion of the motorcycles and people who are in the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame, which boasts hundreds of inductees, motorcycles and memorabilia from motorcycling’s greatest moments. The mission of the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame is to celebrate and preserve the rich tradition of motorcycling in America. The Hall of Fame, a 501(c)(3) charitable organization, does this through contributions from the AMA, the industry and individual donors. By purchasing this calendar, you are supporting the Hall of Fame and its important mission. All the proceeds from this fundraiser are donated to the Hall of Fame to help it continue its work on behalf of motorcycling. Visit the AMA Website for this and many more great gift ideas! http://americanmotorcyclist.com/Shop/2017-Calendar

Future Biker Gear For our youngest bikers, Thunder Roads offers our “Future Biker Gear”. A collection of t-shirts, onesies, and sweatshirts in a variety of colors in sizes from infant to toddler.

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BIKERS

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GIFT GUIDE

Quality Boots

Far too often we scrimp on the little things that can really make a difference in our lives. And there’s probably no better example of that than when it comes to footwear – especially in terms of riding boots. Proper, comfortable riding boots can make all the difference after a long day of riding, working, or simply walking. Far too often, though, we scrimp on boots refusing to spend a few more dollars for a step up in quality that might transform our entire day. For something classy – nothing jazzes up an outfit like a nice pair of exotic boots. For ladies or men, stylish cowboy boots can transfo rm your t-shirt and jeans outfit into the stuff of rockstars. When it comes to boots – there’s one stop that immediately comes to mind and that’s the Avon Boot Shop. Avon Boot is one of the coolest stops I know when it comes to finding cool practical stuff for riders. From quality leathers to an endless array of boots - Avon Boot is a great place to shop. For the guys, not only do they have boots - they just happen to have a nice selection of very stylish purses and other lady stuff for that special gift. You can get something all pretty and lady like, without having to go into one of those shops that will leave you smelling like something dainty by the time you walk out the door. Plus, they have a GREAT staff that is extremely helpful – always a HUGE BONUS!

Avon Boot Shop 38450 Chester Rd. Avon, OH 44011 (440) 934-3230 MENTION THUNDER ROADS OHIO and SAVE $10.00 OFF YOUR PURCHASE OF $50.00 MORE IN THE MONTH OF DECEMBER! (Some restrictions apply.)

There’s only one Iron Pony – and for those in the Columbus area it’s in your backyard. For those of you elsewhere – it’s worth the drive. Iron Pony is a veritable dreamland for motorcycle enthusiasts with just about everything you could ask for in one location – so of course they have boots! In fact they have an incredible selection of riding boots for riders of all styles and sizes. Better yet, they have friendly sales staff that can help you make the best choice for you or that special person on your gift list.

Iron Pony Motorsports 5436 Westerville Rd Westerville, OH (877) 799-7669 www.IronPony.com

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Range Membership / Classes Purchasing a gun is only one step in a long process leading to proficiency and confidence with that firearm. This process should include plenty of training and practice – and that means time spent at a range, preferably with someone that really knows what they are doing. Far too many people just head off to the range with their gun – either by themselves or with another person that is either unexperienced or may have never received structured training. This leads to bad habits, bad experiences, or at worst – bad accidents. A range membership or certificate for professional instruction make a great gift for just about any adult. Most quality ranges will offer professional instruction either privately with certified instructors or in group classes. If you’re fortunate enough to be in their area, we would recommend either Point Blank Range in Mentor or Vandalia Range and Armory, just north of Dayton. Both are well run facilities that offer well lite, comfortable ranges and a variety of membership packages. They also offer a wide range of classes and instruction, suited for novices to the trained professional. We’d recommend visiting their website or calling for more information. hickory Ridge 2323 Pearl Rd. Medina, OH (330) 220-4206 Vandalia Range & Armory http://www.vra-ohio.com/ 100 Corporate Center Drive Vandalia, Ohio 45377 (937) 387-0485

For the gun enthusiast that has “everything”…

Vandalia Range & Armory are also the experts when when it comes to “NFA” items such as suppressors. While certainly not the whisper silent stuff of Hollywood spy movies - the reality is that sound suppressors are a great option for hunters and recreational shooters alike. VRA can answer all your questions and even introduce you to them on their state of the art range.

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EDITOR’S CHOICE LITTLE ONE NOT READY FOR A BIKE? GET THEM A QUAD! Fisher-Price Power Wheels Hot Wheels Kawasaki KFX Available from Walmart.com for $173.59 + FREE Shipping Not sure that our little ones were quite ready for the Razors or anything powered on two wheels, so we opted for a Fisher-Price Power Wheels – the Kawasaki KFX.

At less than half the price of a video game console, this seems like a fantastic alternative and easy means of keeping the kids outside! I’d highly recommend one for any kids on your gift list.

I did a fair amount of research and found that this one seemed to have great reviews and a fairly reasonable price. I found that the best price online was through Walmart at the time – including free shipping. So I pulled the trigger, and within a week it was at our door. I had high expectations after reading the reviews, and I wasn’t disappointed. It seems about as rugged as you could get with it being heavy plastic. There was minimal assembly, and it just needed a top off on the battery – and the boys were off! Without a doubt, this is easily my most satisfying purchases ever for the boys. They LOVE IT. It’s big and rugged looking, and handles the grass without any problem. It easily carries two kids on it, without losing all its get up and go! Within a relatively short amount of time, our 4 year old was tearing all over on it. Even our 2 year old took it for a spin or two, but it was a bit of a challenge for him at first.

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AMA Membership

merican Motorcyclist Association Membership offers so much! The perfect gift for the motorcycle enthusiast that hasn’t gotten around to signing up. The AMA represents motorcycle owners and enthusiasts all across the country – and membership is essential to ensuring the rights of riders in these turbulent times. AMA membership also has plenty of moneysaving, practical aspects as well – including free AMA Roadside Assistance—which covers all the member’s vehicles and those of the member’s family members—is worth many times the $49 membership dues alone. Plus members get discounts on gear, hotel stays and much more. Also, your gift will include the American Motorcyclist magazine, which includes a full listing of rallies, rides and races each month. And, most importantly, you are helping protect their right to ride and race. Help protect motorcycling. Gift the gift of AMA Membership. And if you’re not a member yourself – treat yourself, for the sake of everyone! Why Should You Join The AMA? (from the AMA website) The AMA protects your future, keeps you safer--and makes the ride better on the street. Are you in danger from distracted drivers? The AMA is an active participant in the war on distracted driving, including taking part in national summits on the issue. Would you like Roadside Assistance for your motorcycles? AMA members enjoy at no additional charge AMA Roadside Assistance, which includes:  24-hour roadside assistance for your motorcycles and all the rest of your vehicles, including cars, trucks, RVs and trailers. Coverage is included for your spouse and dependent children living at home or away in college. Trip-interruption insurance, limited legal services and more is available. 50

Do you ride sportbikes? The insurance industry tried to ban sportbikes before, but the AMA convinced the U.S. senator who introduced their bill that the insurance industry had no proof that sportbikes should be banned. Do you like to save money? Gear and parts from Bike Bandit, Schampa, ActionStation/Bohn Body Armor, MADMaps, AMA Supercross and Arenacross tickets, along with discounts on rental cars, hotels, and much much more. Do you ride in High Occupancy Vehicle lanes in larger cities around the country? Though motorcycles were at first banned from HOV lanes, the AMA fought for, and won, the right for motorcyclists to use them as taxpayers whose funds helped build them. Do you have health insurance? The AMA is actively working to make sure that you can’t be denied coverage for injuries from a motorcycle crash. Do you like to ride without discrimination? When cities try to ban bikes from streets, the AMA fights back. For example, the AMA successfully turned back proposed bans in Chicago and Delray Beach, Fla. That’s thanks to AMA efforts to get Congress to pass a law barring bike bans on streets built or maintained with federal funds. Do you think motorcycles should be singled out by law enforcement? The AMA opposes the discriminatory practice of motorcycle-only traffic checkpoints in New York. The AMA is fighting a federal grant program to expand the program to other states as well. Do you want to improve motorcycling safety? Thanks largely to the lobbying efforts of the AMA, the federal government has launched a national study into the causes of motorcycle crashes, the first in three decades. Do you believe motorcyclists should be able to modify their machines? New laws in California and elsewhere aim to require stock exhaust systems from the bike’s manufacturer. The AMA works to convince officials that there’s a better way to control

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motorcycle sound. Do you think motorcycle engine output should be limited? The insurance industry is pushing for these laws, and others that specify certain types of equipment, like anti-lock brakes. The AMA is fighting back. Do you think motorcyclists should have access to liability insurance? There was a time when many insurance companies refused to insure sportbikes. The AMA convinced those companies to drop their blacklists. Do you believe in freedom of choice when it comes to safety gear? The AMA believes riders should wear all the safety gear all the time. But the AMA also believes riders -- rather than government -should make the decision. Do you believe motorcycling should be protected?  The AMA maintains a fulltime staff in Ohio, Washington, D.C. and California that works diligently to protect your right to ride. Do you like to be entertained and informed on the latest in the world of motorcycling? American Motorcyclist magazine covers all facets of motorcycling, including the most in-depth stories on legislative issues that affect your right to ride and a comprehensive calendar of AMA road-riding and competition events. Looking for the latest updates in motorcycling? AmericanMotorcyclist. com is your online source for all things motorcycling, including special membersonly content. In addition the members-only AMA Extra e-mail keeps you in the loop. Do you enjoy rallies, poker runs, adventure rides and more? The AMA sanctions more than 3,000 road riding and amateur racing events each year. Search for events online or see the calendar section in American Motorcyclist magazine. Do you like to ride with friends? Get in touch with fellow riders in one of more than 1,200 AMA-chartered social clubs. Find a club near you. Do you like to ride with peace of mind? Optional medical and insurance coverage is available for AMA members participating in sanctioned events. OHIO’S MOTORCYCLE MAGAZINE

Give the Gift of Thunder Roads Ohio!

f course, the ideal gift for any Ohio motorcycle enthusiast is their own personal subscription to Thunder Roads Ohio! Each month we will ship a copy of the magazine directly to their home, office, or shop - whatever they would like. While others are scrambling to make sure they get their TRO before they disappear from the local shops, your lucky recipient will have their own copy delivered right to them! And in the spirit of the season, we’ve decided to sweeten the deal a little bit. For a limited time, we are offering a special Holiday Package which includes an Official Thunder Roads Ohio - “OHIO BIKER” Shirt as well as the subscription for only $40! (+ S/H and Tax if applicable) We will also throw in a Christmas Card as well - indicating who the gift is from as well. You can order this Thunder Roads Ohio Gift Package online or by calling (440)273-9000.

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Locking Oil Cap

I think it’s safe to say most of us take pride in caring for our motorcycles. Unfortunately, there are individuals out there who have no regard for other people’s property, and will potentially do something to cause harm or loss. This is why many motorcycles have alarm systems, locking gas caps, steering locks, ect.. One area that often gets overlooked is the oil cap. Think of how accessible and easy it would be for someone to put something in your oil. It’s the lifeblood of your engine. Sadly, there are people out there that think about doing something like that, and do it. How can you protect your oil from someone contaminating it? A locking oil cap is the answer. The Guardian Oil Protector™ makes a simple yet very functional locking oil cap for most bikes. Installation is a simple couple minute process. If you have a dipstick, simply remove it from your old cap. The new cap unthreads to allow for installation of the dipstick. Then simply put the cap on like normal, and lock. The kit comes with installation instructions, locking cap, and two keys. It provides peace of mind, taking the worry away that no one but you can access the oil tank. - Walt Snider, Thunder Roads Ohio Contributor For the rider in your life, a Guardian Locking Oil Lock makes the perfect gift. A little extra piece of mind that they may not think of themselves. Visit them online at www.KBents.com to check out their locking oil caps and find one for your bike.

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PHOTOGRAPHER: SHANTON W ,TRO MODEL: KATIE, IRON ANGEL 52

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EMAIL EVENTS.THUNDERROADSOHIO@GMAIL.COM TO GET YOUR EVENTS LISTED.

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GARAGE MEMBERSHIP

For those of you with a spouse, son, daughter, boyfriend, or girlfriend that has taken over your garage, basement, or even kitchen with a bike building project – here’s a gift idea that you might really appreciate if you’re blessed with living in the Cleveland area. Skidmark Garage is a 10,000 community garage that offers a lift, workbench, and tools for gearheads to work on their own projects. Yup, at their garage – not yours! Gifting them a membership might not only be the coolest gift ever – it might also allow you to park in your own garage over the winter! A double win – how cool is that?! Brian Schaffran launched Skidmark as Ohio’s first community motorcycle garage – a place where you can work on your own motorcycle with the assistance of other gear heads. Skidmark provides the tools, space, and a community of like minded folks for support. I’ve heard the phrase that it takes a village to raise a child – it’s kinda like that, with motorcycles. Tools and a variety of expertise are all available to help out as needed. It’s really a cool concept. They have a variety of membership packages – which are roughly $125 a month or $1,000 a year for a bike lift, work bench, and access to just about every tool imaginable. It even includes coveralls, shop rags, and discounted or free how-to classes on topics such as fabrication, welding, and vapor blasting. For more information, visit them online or friend their facebook page. www.SkidMarkGarage.com Skidmark Garage 5401 Hamilton Ave Cleveland, OH 44114 440-591-4822

“Cool Stuff for Old Farts!” That’s the tag line for a fun line of clothing that always seems to get a chuckle and would certainly be a fun gift for any mature bikers on your shopping list – SONS OF ARTHRITIS. Whether you’re a member of the IBUPROFEN or shopping for someone ridin’ HYDROCODONE – they have the gear. This year they’ve expanded beyond the standard “SOA” themed stuff with more options on the website. These include BIKER LIVES MATTER and VETERANS CHAPTER gear. Check them out online www.sonsofarthritis.com

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My Hall of Fame My Hall of Fame is a program that, for a $20 donation, allows you to place a 3-inch-square photo on the wall of the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame museum entrance foyer in Pickerington, Ohio. What you put in that space is up to you: your picture, your family, your friends, your bike, your company logo -- anything appropriate for public display. For the motorcycle enthusiast that has everything – this is a chance to give them something they might have only imagined of – their name at the Hall of Fame! You can bump up your gift and the size of the display, up to 8”x8” for $180. Through the AMA Website (AmericanMotorcyclist.com) you can easily choose the size you want, upload your photo, and the AMA Staff will handle the rest. They will produce the piece for display and mount it on the wall for you. They even get you a nice Certificate, which you can then frame and wrap. And of course, your donation goes to help support the Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum! Not only can their name then be found at the entrance of AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame, it might even be alongside ours – Thunder Roads Ohio! Of course, we had to make sure we were represented! Hope you join us as well!

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Rick Rak! Now this suggestion is for the touring bikes. If you travel at all on your bike, it’s inevitable that you will run out of space in your saddlebags and tour pak. It’s only a matter of time, before you’re looking at other options. And that next step is to add a tour bag, which would generally mount above your luggage rack. The challenge though is how do you mount it to your luggage rack. Most use straps that usually make a mess of things and quickly loosen up. During our last run down to Daytona, we found an alternative that we wanted to share – RickRaks! “When you use the RickRak, you will be amazed at how quickly and easily your tour bag is mounted on your bike. No more straps to loosen up, break, or lose. Remember a broken strap can cause serious damage to your paint. By simply placing the notched end onto one side of your luggage rack and then bring the clamps down to the other side and tighten, secure your lock, and you are ready to ride in less than 20 seconds… with no straps!!! Removal of your luggage rack is just as simple. With over 25,000 test miles we experienced 100% reliability and never did a clamp loosen up.” Available through RickRak.com

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Local Shop Shirts Undeniably the “ugly sweater” gift for any rider is the Big Box Store t-shirt with the name of tv bike builders from 10 years ago or the latest biker soap opera. Don’t be that person and avoid the awkward moment when they open the present and are afraid you’re going to expect to see them wear it – ever. A MUCH BETTER choice and certainly one to score you points is to support a local bike shop or garage and give some of their gear as gifts. Most local shops will have at least t-shirts for sale, while some will have far more options for men and women. Don’t be surprised if you find a selection of tank tops, sweatshirts, and possibly even coffee mugs at your local shop

For Skidmark Garage gear visit SkidmarkGarage.com

For Renegade Gentlemen gear – visit them on facebook or check out their gear at ThunderRoadsOhio.com SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL INDEPENDENT SHOPS – whenever possible! THUNDER ROADS® OHIO MAGAZINE

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Enduro Racing: The Basics Enduros are one of the oldest forms of motorcycle competition. Run on a challenging route that includes wooded and desert terrain, more difficult “test” sections are connected with roads, fire roads or easy two-track trail. Enduros can vary greatly across the country, but one thing is certain everywhere: They are one of the most enjoyable, thrilling and fulfilling forms of motorsports competition. Small rows of riders -- generally three to five a row -- are flagged off in one-minute intervals. Aided by a route sheet that includes mileage, turn and time information, riders follow a marked course. Scores are collected at checkpoints along the way. Once all riders have finished, scores are compiled and results are posted. In general, there are two types of scoring methods for enduros. Traditional enduros penalize riders for arriving early or late to a check. Startcontrol enduros only penalize riders for arriving late to a check.

Gary Enman, a 15-year-old hare scrambles racer from Bangor, Pa., admits that he wasn’t sure what to expect when he started enduro racing. “For the most part, I didn’t have any idea what I was doing when I lined up for my first enduro,” says Gary, who decided to try the national enduros when he was just 13 years old. “My younger brother, Neil, and I were looking for something different. Our dad used to ride traditional time-keeping enduros, so we decided to give enduros a try. It wasn’t that hard to transition into.” The Enman brothers say their parents are their pit crew, but their dad hopes to ride with them in the future. On occasion, the boys get to ride on the same row, and that adds to the camaraderie-building experience. “The enduros have a great community vibe,” Neil says. “It’s like being part of a huge family. Someone is always there to help when you need it.” While racing is the main focus of the weekend, the Enman brothers say they enjoy camping, hanging out with their race friends and checking out the terrain. They also try to experience something local to the race location, whether it’s seeing a national landmark or eating at a local restaurant. “If you’re someone wondering if you should try enduros, I say just go for it,” Gary says. “It’s nice to go out and race all day, but be able to take breaks and reset your mind. For me, it’s been really fun to ride.”

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Traditional Time-Keeping

Format Basics

Enduro Essentials Without a route sheet holder (top) and route sheet, you won’t know where to go or when to arrive. The transponder (middle) has modernized racing. It’s mounted underneath the visor of a rider’s helmet and scores the rider electronically when he or she rides through checkpoints, rather than manually writing the score on a paper under the pull scorecard (bottom) mounted to the front fender. For decades, traditional time-keeping enduros were the most popular. Many enduro series still operate this way. Traditional enduros often use public roads to route riders to different sections of the course. This requires the rider to have a motorcycle endorsement and a motorcycle registered as a street-legal vehicle. They date back to the 1920s. Early enduros were road courses. A typical modern enduro is mostly woods. The 75- to 150-mile competitions consist mainly of single-track trail where racers ride from checkpoint to checkpoint, ultimately returning to the start. Riders leave in small groups of three to five. These groups, also referred to as “rows” or “minutes,” typically start at 10 a.m. and every minute thereafter until everyone has entered the woods. Because of the desire to limit the number of riders in each group and to make sure everyone can finish by a reasonable time, enduros cap the number of groups and riders they can accommodate. Each rider is individually scored based on when his or her row is scheduled to arrive at each checkpoint. Rows usually include riders competing in different classes, allowing friends to ride together. For example, a single row might include a dad racing the 40B class, his son racing the 200A class, and a friend competing in the Open A class. Each rider will be assigned a number that reflects the row, or minute, the rider is on. So, riders on row 20 might be given numbers 120, 220, 320 and 420—or perhaps 20A, 20B, 20C and 20D.

Riders equip their bikes with a route sheet holder, scorecard holder and odometer. They also need a way to track their time, such as a wristwatch or a enduro computer. The route sheet lists key turns on the course and the correct time and mileage for arrival. The arrival time is based on a required average pace, typically 24 mph. The scorecard is used as a backup for, or in place of, electronic scoring. It mounts on the front fender. Check workers record each rider’s official arrival time at the checkpoints on the scorecard. The rider’s goal is to check into and out of each section as close to the assigned minute as possible. Riders who arrive at a checkpoint when they aren’t supposed to are considered “off their minute.” A rider who shows up early is said to have “burned” that check. The route sheet lists a lot of information. The first row of a route sheet might read: 1R | 1.82 | 10:04:33. This tells the rider that the first turn is right, that the correct mileage at the turn is 1.82, and that the rider should arrive there at 10:04:33. The listed arrival time is calculated from a start time, or “key time,” of 10 a.m. In this case, it means the rider should arrive at the first turn 4 minutes and 33 seconds after starting the enduro. Regardless of the rider’s row or minute, the wristwatch or computer should be set so that it will tick over to 10 a.m. when the rider starts the enduro. Then, the rider simply compares the time on the watch to the time on the route sheet to know if he or she is early or late. Most clubs also mark the course with arrows and post signs that state when a rider should have arrived at that intersection.

There are two broad types of enduros most popular today: traditional timekeeping enduros and start-control/ restart enduros. THUNDER THUNDER ROADS® ROADS® OHIO OHIO MAGAZINE MAGAZINE

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Start Control/Restart Start control/restart enduros have grown in popularity. In 2007, the AMA National Enduro Championship Series switched to this format. Simply put, this format doesn’t penalize a rider for arriving early at a check. Riders are checked in and out at points along the course, and all competition takes place in closed-course sections. Because riders can’t burn a check, they simply ride as fast as they can. Transfer sections route the racers from the end of one timed section to the start of another. If riders arrive early at the start of a section, they just wait to enter until the check workers indicate it’s time for their row to leave, usually with a flip board that displays the current minute.

Riders receive penalty points for arriving too early or too late at a checkpoint. One penalty point is assigned for each minute a rider arrives late. Two penalty points are assigned if a rider burns a check by one minute. For each additional minute a rider arrives early, five penalty points are assigned. Regular checks are scored by the minute. Socalled “emergency checks” are scored based on the second, counted from the minute the rider was due to arrive. For example, a rider due on minute 20 who comes in at 21:30 receives a score of 90 seconds for the emergency check, not one point. Because of penalty for arriving early, traditional enduros aren’t a flat-out race. Although many sections are difficult and only the best riders are at risk of burning them, easy sections and checks in unexpected locations can catch riders who are riding too fast. Many riders prefer traditional enduros becaue they reward experience and mindfulness, as well as speed. Although traditional time-keeping enduros have a reputation among new enduro riders as tricky or difficult, they are fairly simple. Riders will know whether they are riding in an easy section (where they’re at risk of going faster than the average) or in a difficult section (where they can ride as fast as they can and still not burn the out-check). Thanks to the enduro format, a new rider likely will be on a row with an experienced enduro rider. Because this rider is most likely in a different class, they’ll almost certainly be willing to help the newcomer. 60 60

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For most riders, the start-control/restart format is the most accessible, particularly in cases where bikes aren’t required to be street legal. “Even with the computer mounted on my bike, I burn checks because I ride too quickly,” says Zach Klamfoth, a rider who competes in the Appalachian Championship Enduro Series as well as national enduros. “The start-control/restart format takes the thinking out of it.” The start control format also makes scoring simpler. The nationals use transponders so no manual scoring is required. “Under the traditional time-keeping format, the series got 200 to 300 riders,” says Alan Randt, who runs the National Enduro Promotions Group, which contracts with the AMA to promote the national series. “Now, we get anywhere from 500 to 600 riders.” 100-Year Success Story There aren’t many forms of racing in which you can ride alongside your buddies throughout the entire race and chat during breaks. Maybe that’s the draw of enduros. Maybe it’s the challenging tight-woods trail—a reason you should have hand guards mounted on your bike. Maybe it’s the great family atmosphere. Whatever the reason, enduros are alive and well. Well over 100 enduros are held each year throughout America. You can find many regional races right here in Thunder Roads Ohio – or you can also visit the AMA Website – AmericanMotorcyclist.com Photos courtesy AMA

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Randy Jenkins My Museum Tattoo New Philadelphia, OH

It’s that time of year!

Work in Progress

The leaves have changed and are mostly on the ground, and the forecast is already calling for the first snow of the season. You’re digging out the sweaters and ski masks to stay warm – all the signs are there, yes – winter is here. And while it may not seem like the best time to get a tattoo – it really is!

For those of you contemplating larger pieces, you can also consider the appearance of work in progress. Depending on where you are having the work done, it’s most likely easier to cover up during the winter. Have an old school “prison tattoo” that you’d like covered up or re-worked – now’s the time to get it done. Even if it requires a lot of work, you can unveil it in the spring after a number of sessions.

The Comfort Zone

Time Management

Actually, this is the best time of year to get a tattoo and I’m going to tell you why. First of all, you and the artist are going to be a lot more comfortable. Although tattoo studios have air conditioning in the summertime, it’s hard to keep them cool in a business where doors are constantly being opened. During the winter the studios are much more temperate and it’s easier for the artist to concentrate when they don’t have to keep wiping beads of sweat from their brow. But that’s only a minor reason why winter is the best time for a tattoo.

Waiting time is another thing to consider. The winter is the slower season for most studios, which means you won’t have to wait behind a bunch of people to get your artwork done. During the busier season you can wait as much as 2-4 hours while the artists are busy with other customers. Artists are not nearly as rushed during this season, and it is easier for them to give you their undivided attention.

Healing & Appearance Another good reason to consider is the healing. The less exposure your skin gets to the elements, the better off your tattoo will be to heal. Sweat can aggravate a new tattoo and so can the sun. During the winter, your body isn’t exposed to these things as much and tattoos can heal much more quickly without as much chance for infection. Appearance is certainly a good reason. During the healing process, your tattoo goes through a few “ugly” stages - scabbing, peeling, the works. If you get your tattoo during the colder months, it will be covered up during this healing process and by the time summer rolls around - your artwork will be completely healed and ready to show off!

Cover up piece by Joe, Greater Good Tattoo, Ashley OH 64

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Brian Harris, Eclectic Tattoo, N Ridgeville

Money in Your Pocket Another nice thing about coming in during the slower season is that many artists are more willing to give a better deal on your piece. It’s also that time of year when you might be receiving some money from friends and relatives. The upcoming winter is as good a time as ever to put that money toward the tattoo you’ve been wanting but couldn’t afford. Even if you don’t get enough to cover the entire tattoo, it gets you started in the right direction and you have months to go before Spring arrives.

Cold Facts One downside to getting a tattoo in the wintertime is the chance of colds, flu and other viruses. These illnesses can drain your immune system and make it more difficult for your body art to heal. It is important that you take vitamins and keep yourself healthy if you are considering getting a tattoo during this time of year. If you are showing any signs of illness, wait until you are feeling better before you make your appointment. Vitamins that are known to boost your immune system are C and Zinc. Please consult your doctor and see if these vitamins could be helpful to you.

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Rose City Tattoo, Springfield

Enjoy the cold of winter and get your artwork done now. When summer comes and you start pulling out your shorts and tank tops, you’ll be all set to show off your new body art! You can find some great artists right here in the pages of Thunder Roads! Find one with a style that you like – and give them a call! And of course, tell them Thunder Roads sent ya for extra love! When it’s all done, send us a pic so that we can share with everyone as well! You can email us photos at ThunderRoadsOhio@gmail.com

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FINDING FREEDOM What the hell is wrong with freedom? That’s what it’s all about.

ensuring you make it home to the burbs in time for your spouse not to yell at you.

Oh, yeah, that’s right. That’s what’s it’s all about, all right. But talkin’ about it and bein’ it, that’s two different things.”

So now you got the itch. You want more. You see a flyer at the local bike night advertising a poker run. This involves not one local cantina…..but four or five…..and one is a genuine biker bar with a name like Choppers, Kickstands, or Springers. You spend the day riding from one bar to another in some prescribed order. Sticking around at each one for a drink or two, until you are told by the group it is time to go. Eventually you end up back at the same bike night joint you started at. Sound like freedom?

If you do not recognize the above quote, you should go back and take a look at the movie Easyrider (1969). So how and where can we stop talkin’ about it, and start bein’ it? Plain and simple….. on the road. For many, “on the road” holds different meanings. Today, most start out at the occasional weekday bike night. Where those in close proximity, ride their like-new, recently purchased bagger (manual still in the bags). Dressed in brand new Harley boots, brand new Harley jeans, brand new Harley belt, and “complementary” dealership t-shirt for spending 25k on a bike that will doubtfully see enough miles to warrant an oil change. (by the way, let me know when you are ready to sell cheap). At this point, as you might have guessed, you are still talkin’ it. Unarguably there is little to no freedom found eating a few wings and drinking a couple of light beers while

Eventually you start seeing t-shirts from bigger venues. Events like Daytona Bike Week, Sturgis, Laconia, Chillicothe Easy Rider rodeo, start to get your attention. Events that would require multi-day trips. This my friends, is where we begin the move from talkin’ about it, to bein’ it. At this stage you will either develop a love for two wheels on the road, or you will invest in a truck and a trailer. You will either spend 12 hours a day in the saddle, or you will swap drivers between gas and fast food stops.

When you get there, it’s definitely a party. For most it is about all the party they can handle…..but don’t get it twisted, these events mean nothing. The venues themselves are fraught with little more than rampant consumerism, alcohol, drugs, and debauchery (and a great time to be sure). However, Life is a journey, not a destination. Nothing is more freeing than riding long distances. It doesn’t matter if it is a trip through twisted mountain roads, or blasting down a multi-lane interstate for hours on end. Being on the road is where you can find solace is an otherwise stressful world. There are no cell phones to bother you, no emails to answer, no one to answer to. It is just you and the road with nothing between you but (hopefully) a well maintained and well running machine. At this point you generally get to make an interesting and sometimes difficult choice. There are few people out here really striving to find freedom the way we do. Many of the friends you started with, will still be in the same old routine. The same old bike night, no mileage crowd that does their level best to make it home before getting yelled at. Maybe a few of your buddies ended up in the poker run scene. There is nothing inherently wrong with either of these scenarios…..but this is freedom through being on the bike we are talking about…..and you have tasted it. You fell in love with it, and now you have to leave what can’t keep up behind. It’s a tough call but as with being free, it is yours alone to make. So this was my first article for Thunder Roads Ohio. I sincerely hope you have enjoyed my point of view. If not, you can GFY. With that, I will leave you with this…..I never said it would be easy, I only said it would be worth it. See you on the road.

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BUCKEYE FIREARMS REPORT

Choosing a Firearms Instructor by Gary Evens, Buckeye Firearms Association

When you decide to take a firearms training course, what criteria do you use to choose which one to take? Is it the content of the course? The cost of the course? When the course is available? Or, what the qualificatioAns of the instructor are? When you take your first course, the factors that guide you are probably a combination of the content of the course—i.e. what you want to learn or get out of the course—, when it is available, and the cost. Little thought is probably given to the qualifications of the instructor. Indeed, information about the instructor’s qualifications may not even be available other than that they are “NRAcertified”, etc. If all you are interested in is getting your concealed carry license, instructor qualifications and course content are probably of little concern as long as you get the course completion certificate at the end of the training so you can get your license. This is unfortunate, because your instructor’s qualifications can make the difference between a meaningful exchange of information, knowledge, and skills or just “filling a square”. Upwards of 95% of the individuals that take firearms training never bother to continue that training by taking other classes to advance their skills. As a result, it is important to get the best quality of training as possible especially if this is going to be the only class you take! This is very frustrating for me as I know there is a lot more to learn about how to competently use a handgun than can be taught in the standard 8 hours of training required to obtain an Ohio Concealed Handgun License (CHL)—the amount of training required by many other states is even less. Ohio law defines the minimum content of the course and what topics must be covered. Unfortunately just covering the mandated minimums takes nearly the entire 8 hours, especially when the class is made up of individuals that have little or no previous experience with handguns. Recently Dave Spaulding, one of the top firearms instructors in the U.S.—who just happens to live in the Dayton area— went on a Facebook “rant” regarding the current state of firearms training (see https:// www.facebook.com/

PanteaoProductions/). (I have trained with Dave before and I very much respect him. Even his “rants” are well thought out and logical.) Dave was frustrated by an individual that questioned his credentials as a firearms instructor when he had no military background. As Dave points out, the primary weapon used by the military is the rifle, while the primary firearm for armed citizens is the handgun. So, if you want to learn how to use a handgun, why wouldn’t you want to seek training from someone that is an expert in the use of a handgun? As Dave says, the handgun is the primary weapon used by law enforcement and thus firearms instructors with a law enforcement background are much more likely to be an expert with a handgun than someone coming from a special ops military background is. (I’ve been in classes with some former special ops veterans and I wasn’t all that impressed with their handgun skills.) However, the vast majority of law enforcement officers are far from being experts in the use of the handgun. Indeed, their duties are such that for most of them the only times their handgun is used is during annual training and the training standards used by many police departments is pitifully weak. (I am aware

uckeye Firearms Association is a grassroots Badvancing organization dedicated to defending and the right of citizens to own and use firearms for all legal activities, including self-defense, hunting, competition, and recreation.

or more information, including information Fbuckeyefirearms.com on membership, please visit them online:

(Continued Page 70) 68

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BUCKEYE FIREARMS REPORT (From Page 68)

Choosing a Firearms Instructor by Gary Evens, Buckeye Firearms Association

of at least one former police officer that claims to have been able to successfully pass his annual firearms qualification training while wearing a blindfold!) A step up would be a SWAT-experienced officer as they spend much more time training with their firearms, but most SWAT teams primarily use the rifle or submachinegun rather than the handgun. An officer that served as their department’s training officer would likely be the most qualified in the use of the handgun. In addition to Dave Spaulding, Greg Ellifritz (from the Columbus area) and Tom Givens (from Tennessee) fall into this category and they all have excellent reputations as firearms instructors.

are in high demand and often travel a lot to provide their training courses rather than operating from a “fixed base”—the While it may be very glamorous to take exception being training schools such as training from some special ops combat Gunsite, TDI, Thunder Ranch, etc. As a veteran, the reality is their skill set has result, in addition to their time conducting little resemblance to what the armed citizen may be confronted with. Instead of the training the price they charge for their courses must cover their travel expenses, learning essential skills that apply to their real world environment, students that seek supplies they provide, classroom and range rental, etc. A cost of $100-400 per day “highspeed, special ops” instructors are per student is not out of line for these top often “wannabe commandos” that never notch instructors. were in the military and want to live out their video game-inspired fantasies. This is A pet-peeve of mine is the firearms fine, but you need to take it for what it is and realize that it won’t help you confront instructor that never or rarely seeks a mugger at midnight if you find yourself in training from other firearms instructors to improve their own skills. Such instructors the bad part of town after spending time have stagnated, in my opinion, and are in a local pub. unable to incorporate new concepts or techniques into the training courses Dave was also frustrated by those individuals that seem to think they can get all the firearms knowledge they need off the Internet. While watching training videos does have some value, it is nothing compared to what can be gained from hands-on instruction from a competent firearms instructor. Indeed, it is that hands-on training that is essential in developing the muscle memory needed to properly employ a handgun during a high stress violent encounter. Of course, just because someone can shoot well does not mean they are good at teaching others how to shoot. Skills and experience in public speaking, teaching, adult learning techniques, and the use of presentation materials are also essential instructor qualifications. Indeed, I think they are even more important than being able to shoot tiny cloverleaf-size groups at 25 yards are. Training provided by highly qualified firearms instructors is not cheap! They 70

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they offer. As time goes on, the training they provide tends to become less and less relevant. Those instructors that do seek regular training must include the cost for that training in the price they charge their students so they can recoup previous training costs and save for future attendance at training classes. Maintaining firearms instructor skills is not cheap and most instructors only teach part-time. For the top notch instructors it is a full-time job and their only source of income so that also factors into the price they charge.

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course—or when one of your friends ask you about your recommendations—factor in the qualifications of the instructor. Better training will be the result. Your life or the life of someone you know could depend on it! Gary Evens is a NRA-Certified Instructor and Range Safety Officer.

A final concern that I have is with those instructors that offer “high volume, low cost” classes. While the cost per student is low, and thus attractive to many, the large number of students that must comprise each class to cover all the instructor’s costs limit the amount of individual attention each student is given. It also limits the number of student questions that the instructor will be able to answer within the allotted time for the class. Instructors that offer lower studentto-instructor ratios must necessarily charge each student more to cover their operating costs, but it also means each student will get more one-on-one time from the instructor. What is the right ratio? One instructor for every 4 to 6 students, especially for live fire training, is probably about right. So, the next time you consider taking a firearms training THUNDER ROADS® OHIO MAGAZINE

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MARYSVILLE MOOSERIDERS 1561 MILFORD AVE MARYSVILLE, OH 43040

RETAIL

MOOSE RIDERS OF DAYTON 1134 RICHFIELD CENTER DAYTON, OHIO 45430 (937) 431-5162 MOOSE RIDERS OF AKRON 4444 STATE RD PENINSULA, OHIO 44264 (330) 928-6323

THUNDERROADSOHIO.COM

BUCKMINN’S D&D H-D 1213 CINCINNATI AVE. XENIA, OHIO 45385 (937) 376-3344 C & A HARLEY-DAVIDSON 7610 COMMERCE PLACE PLAIN CITY, OHIO 43064 (614) 764-2453

AMERICAN LEGION POST 496 STREETSBORO, OHIO (330) 673-9743

GREATER AKRON MOTORCYCLE CLUB 1540 SMITH ROAD AKRON, OHIO 44313 (330) 760-3715

DOWNTOWN COLUMBUS 491 W. BROAD ST. COLUMBUS, OHIO 43215 (614) 228-6353

BEECHMONT MOTORSPORTS 646 MOUNT MORIAH DRIVE CINCINNATI, OH 45245 (513) 752-0088

DAYTON MOTORCYCLE CLUB 417 GRANTS TRAIL DAYTON, OHIO 45459 (937) 609-0931

AFFLICTION AFFLICTIONCLOTHING.COM

A.D FARROW HARLEY-DAVIDSON NORTHSTAR 7754 ST. RT. 37 E. SUNBURY, OHIO 43074 (740) 965-9900

VIVID JEWELERS 27217 WOLF RD BAY VILLAGE, OH 44140 (440) 835-0111

AMA 1 800-AMA-JOIN AMERICANMOTORCYCLIST.COM

ADAM AND EVE 1231 E. ASH ST. PIQUA, OH 45356 937-773-1200

ADVENTURE HARLEY-DAVIDSON 1465 STATE RT 39 NW DOVER, OH 44622 (330) 364-6519

BAIR’S POWERSPORTS 4617 EMMETT BOYD CIRCLE NW NORTH CANTON, OH 44720 (330) 966-2247 BAIRSPOWERSPORTS.COM

TAZ GARAGE 386 W. MAIN STREET ( REAR) WALDO, OHIO 43356 (740) 223-5564

L.A. ALTERATIONS 526 FOUSE AVE. AKRON, OH 44310 (330) 375-1850

ACTION EXTREME SPORTS 241 16TH ST SW NEW PHILADELPHIA, OH 44663 (330) 365-9022

NORTON SPORTING GOODS 100 NORTON RD WALDO, OH 43356 (740) 726-2616

RIDER ORGANIZATIONS

PATCH SEWING

SALES (MOTORCYCLE)

SOLES MOTOR SPORTS LLC 101 NORTH DEFIANCE ST STRYKER, OHIO 43557 (419) 682-1108

WITCHDOCTOR’S 2164 ELM RD NE WARREN, OH (330) 856-6924

SALES (TRAILERS) MAJESTIC TRAILER & HITCH 1750 E. WATERLOO ROAD AKRON, OHIO 44306 (330) 798-1698

ACTION SPORT CYCLES INC. 11333 UNION AVE NE ALLIANCE, OHIO 44601 (330) 821-8777

BISON LEATHER CO. 7409 W. CENTRAL AVE TOLEDO, OHIO 43617 (419) 517-1737

EAGLERIDER 1-800-900-9901 EAGLERIDER.COM

TRIED & TRUE 9038 GOLD PARK DR. HAMILTON, OH 45011 (513) 479-3924

Law Offices of

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CCM OF NORTHERN KENTUCKY INDIAN, VICTORY & SLINGSHOT 10915 A DIXIE HWY WALTON, KY 41094 (859) 534-2240 CENTURY HARLEY-DAVIDSON 3053 EASTPOINTE DRIVE MEDINA, OH 44256 (330) 721-1702 CYCLE SPECIALITIES 6175 HARRISON AVE CINCINNATI, OH 45247 513-574-7878 CYCLE SPECIALTIES 7220 DIXIE HWY FAIRFIELD, OH 45014 513.860.3232 WWW.CYCLESPECIALTIESUS.COM

OHIO’S MOTORCYCLE MAGAZINE

THE TRO NETWORK Presented by The Law Offices of Ralph C. Buss | www.RalphBuss.com DISOWNED CUSTOMS 3619 WALTON AVE. CLEVELAND, OHIO 44113 216-220-6964 DISOWNEDCUSTOMS.COM EASTGATE HARLEY-DAVIDSON 699 OLD STATE ROUTE 74 CINCINNATI, OH 45245 (513) 528-1400 HALE’S HARLEY-DAVIDSON 1400 HARRINGTON MEMORIAL ROAD MANSFIELD, OHIO 44903 (419) 522-8602 HARLEY DAVIDSON OF CHILLICOTHE 818 EASTERN AVE. CHILLICOTHE, OHIO 45601 (740) 773-8826 HARLEY-DAVIDSON OF CINCINNATI 1799 TENNESSEE AVE CINCINNATI, OH 45229 (513) 641-1188 HARLEY-DAVIDSON OF ERIE 3712 WEST 12TH STREET ERIE, PA 16505 (814) 838-1356 HONDA EAST 1230 CONANT ST. MAUMEE, OH 43537 (877) 437-1631 INDIAN MOTORCYCLE OF ERIE 10320 WATTSBURG ROAD ERIE, PA 16509 (814) 825-2396 INDIAN MOTORCYCLE OF TOLEDO 1212 CONANT STREET MAUMEE, OH 43537 (419) 891-1230 IRON PONY POWERSPORTS 5370 WESTERVILLE RD WESTERVILLE, OHIO 43081 (614) 942-0063 JIM’S HARLEY-DAVIDSON 7172 STATE ROUTE 707 P.O. BOX 166 MENDON, OH 45862 (419) 795-4185 JOE’S CYCLE SHOP 3315 N. DIXIE DR. DAYTON, OH 45414 (937) 278-8081 LAKE ERIE HARLEY-DAVIDSON 38401 CHESTER RD AVON, OH 44011 (440) 934-5000 LINK RACING LLC 35 LINK ST. CHICKASAW, OH 45826 (419) 925-2781 MAD RIVER HARLEY-DAVIDSON 5316 STATE RT. 250/MILAN RD SANDUSKY, OH 44870 (419) 502-2244 MOTORSPORTS OF DAYTON 2135 S. DAYTON-LAKEVIEW ROAD NEW CARLISLE, OH 45344 (937) 849-4800 MATHIAS BMW CYCLE 851 COMMERCIAL AVE SE NEW PHILADELPHIA, OH 44663 (330) 308-8868 MOTORSPORTS OF DAYTON 2135 S. DAYTON-LAKEVIEW ROAD NEW CARLISLE, OH 45344 (937) 849-4800 NAPOLEON HARLEY-DAVIDSON 862 AMERICAN RD NAPOLEON, OH 43545 (419) 592-7123

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NEIDENGARDS HARLEY-DAVIDSON 284 CANTON ROAD WINTERSVILLE, OH 43953 (740) 266-6188

WARREN HARLEY-DAVIDSON 2102 ELM RD CORTLAND, OH 44410 (330) 395-4700

TRIED AND TRUE GARAGE 9038 GOLD PERK DR HAMILTON, OHIO 45011 (513) 479-3924

NORTHERN OHIO DUCATI AND TRIUMPH 1955 BRITTAIN RD. AKRON, OH 44310 (330) 630-9340

WESTERN RESERVE HARLEY-DAVIDSON 8567 TYLER BLVD. MENTOR, OHIO 44060 (440) 974-6900

WARRIOR RACING 38 WELLER DRIVE TIPP CITY, OHIO 45371 (937) 667-6418

NORTH RIDGE YAMAHA 5929 NORTH RIDGE WEST (RT. 20) GENEVA, OHIO (440) 466-2712

SALES (CARS & TRUCKS)

SPECIAL INTEREST STOPS

MCCLUSKEY CHEVROLET INC 9673 KINGS AUTOMALL RD CINCINNATI, OH 45249 (513) 679-9160

MAPS AIR MUSEUM 2260 INTERNATIONAL PKWY NORTH CANTON, OH 44720 (330) 896-6332

SERVICE (MOTORCYCLE)

MARLBORO VOLUNTEERS MAXIMO, OHIO 44650 (330) 206-1629

PALE HORSE KUSTOMS 8781 STOUTSVILLE PIKE STOUTSVILLE, OHIO 43154 (740) 207-0033 PIQUA HARLEY-DAVIDSON 1501 E. ASH ST. PIQUA, OHIO 45356 (937) 773-8733 POWDER KEG HARLEY-DAVIDSON 2383 KINGS CENTER COURT MASON, OH (513) 204-6962 RIDE 1 POWERSPORTS 3747 PARK MILL RUN DRIVE HILLIARD, OHIO 43026 (614) 771-0771

343 W. LEFFELS LN. SPRINGFIELD, OH 45506 (800) 543-8190

ROCK N ROLL HARLEY-DAVIDSON 4985 W. 150TH STREET CLEVELAND, OH 44135 (216) 252-3111 ROEDER RACING & SERVICE 3684 US HWY 20 W MONROEVILLE, OH 44847 (419) 465-2247 RUBBER CITY HARLEY-DAVIDSON 32 E. CUYAHOGA FALLS AVE AKRON, OH 44310 (330) 535-9900 SCHIETS MOTORSPORTS 1557 OAK HARBOR ROAD FREMONT, OH 43420 (419) 332-9902 SOUTH EAST CYCLES 23105 AURORA RD BEDFORD HEIGHTS, OH 44146 (440) 439-5300 SOUTH EAST HARLEY-DAVIDSON 23105 AURORA RD BEDFORD HEIGHTS, OH 44146 (440) 439-5300 SPORTY’S TRIKES & BIKES 7426 NORTH DIXIE DR DAYTON, OH 45414 (937) 387-6294

BALCER PERFORMANCE & RESTORATION 565 BROADWAY AVE UNIT R BEDFORD, OH 44146 (440) 945-6829 BENT WRENCH 2709 ST RT 60 LOUDONVILLE, OHIO 44842 (419) 994-5812 B.G. MOTORCYCLE 110 WEST POE RD. BOWLING GREEN, OH 43402 419-352-6640 CLEVELAND CYCLEWERKS 1265 WEST 65TH STREET CLEVELAND, OHIO 44102 (216) 651-0657 CYCLE ANALYSIS 4984 WEST 150TH ST CLEVELAND, OH 44135 (216) 362-9060 CYCLE TECH 950 W. MANSFIELD ST. BUCYRUS, OH 44820 (419) 562-6931 DISOWNED CUSTOMS 3619 WALTON AVE. CLEVELAND, OHIO 44113 216-220-6964 DISOWNEDCUSTOMS.COM EVOLUTION MACHINE CYCLE 15385 GASKILL DR. NE ALLIANCE, OHIO 44601 (330) 823-5454 KUSTOM EMPORIUM MOTORCYCLES 11123 READING RD SHARONVILLE, OHIO 45241 (513) 722-0888 OVERKILL MOTOR WORKS 8750 SPRUCEVALE RD ROGERS, OHIO 44455 (330) 227-2161 RENEGADE GENTLEMAN CUSTOMS ORWELL, OH (440) 413-6136

T REX MOTORSPORTS 7444 TYLER BLVD MENTOR, OH 44060 (440) 946-8739

ROD IRON CREW INC. 865 W. LIBERTY ST UNIT 270 MEDINA, OHIO 44256 (330) 952-2912

THIEL’S WHEELS 350 TARHE TRAIL UPPER SANDUSKY, OH 43351 (419) 294-4951

ROEDER RACING & SERVICE 3684 US HWY 20 W MONROEVILLE, OH 44847 (419) 465-2247

TRI-COUNTY HARLEY-DAVIDSON 5960 DIXIE HIGHWAY FAIRFIELD, OH 45014 (513) 874-4343

SOUTH EAST CYCLES 23105 AURORA RD. BEDFORD HEIGHTS, OH 44146 (440) 439-5300

TRIUMPH OF CINCINNATI 3251 HIGHLAND AVE CINCINNATI, OH 45213 513-631-2000 TRIUMPHOFCINCINNATI.COM

THROTTLE-UP MOTORSPORTS 490 W. CHURCH STREET MARION, OHIO 43302 (740) 223-1583

WALKER POWERSPORTS 8457 SPRINGBORO PIKE MIAMISBURG, OH 45342 (937) 433-4950 WALKERPOWERSPORTS.COM

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TOYZ CYCLE CENTER 141 MELCHER RD. BUCYRUS, OH 44820 (419) 563-9748

THUNDERROADSOHIO.COM

NATIONAL PACKARD MUSEUM 1899 MAHONING AVENUE NW WARREN, OHIO 44483 (330) 394-1899 TATTOO SHOPS GREATER GOOD TATTOO COMPANY 201 S. FRANKLIN ST. ASHLEY, OH 43003 (740) 413-4042 HAMMER’S TATTOOS 1840 WHIPPLE AVE. NW CANTON, OHIO 44708 (330) 478-1070 INK UP NORTH 109 EAST 5TH STREET MARYSVILLE, OHIO 43040 (614) 900-1350 MY MUSEUM TATTOO 209 E. OHIO AVE. DOVER, OH 44622 (330) 343-8500 ROSE CITY TATTOO 1145 N. BECHTLE AVE SPRINGFIELD, OH 45505 937-505-5406 TOWING LUDT’S TOWING 450 MCCLURG ROAD BOARDMAN, OHIO 44512 (330) 757-2222 TRACKS AMHERST MEADOWLARKS FACEBOOK: AMHERST.MEADOWLARKS

6600 CROSS ROAD, AMHERST, OH 44001

WWW.MEADOWLARKS.ORG DIRT COUNTRY RACEWAY 6911 OH-133 BLANCHESTER, OH 45107 (513) 625-7350 TRIKES

ADVENTURE MOTORCYCLE & ACCESSORIES 20660 US RT 6 WESTON, OH 43569 (419) 669-4709 BLACKBURN TRIKES 1410 MEDINA ROAD MEDINA, OH 44256 (330) 239-1926 PARADISE BIKES, TRIKES & TRAILERS 1673 E. ST. RT. 73 WAYNESVILLE, OH (513) 897-1364 SCHIETS MOTORSPORTS 1557 OAK HARBOR RD. FREMONT, OH 43420 (419) 332-9902 SPORTY’S TRIKES & BIKES 7426 NORTH DIXIE DR DAYTON, OH 45414 (937) 387-6294

OHIO’S MOTORCYCLE MAGAZINE

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UPCOMING MOTORCYCLE EVENTS Presented by NORTHWEST OHIO EVENTS

Cleveland 440.777.7272 | Columbus 614.336.4240 NORTHEAST OHIO EVENTS

Visit us on Facebook for more events and last minute updates. www.facebook.com/ ThunderRoadsOhio December 1, 2016 Ladies Night 6-8pm Western Reserve Harley Davidson 8567 Tyler Blvd. Mentor, Ohio 974-6900 Self Defense Class at 7pm Wine Snacks & Games All Night Reserve your place today! WRLadiesNight.eventbrite.com or call 440-974-6900 December 3, 2016 Joe's Cycle Shop - Open House! New Bikes and Fun at Dayton's locally owned and operated dealership - serving the area since 1963! 3315 D. Dixie Dr, Dayton OH www.JoesCycleShop.net December 3rd, 2016 Lake Erie HD- Christmas Open House 11am-4pm photos with Santa, spend the orange & Black friday Christmas Cash. 38401 Chester Rd. Avon, OH 44011 http://www.lakeerieharley.com/ whats-going-on--xcalendar

CENTRAL OHIO EVENTS

December 3, 2016 @ 5:00pm Cycle Gear Bike Night Food, Refreshments, Vendors, and Raffles 25102 Brookpark Rd. North Olmsted, OH 44070 http://cyclefish.com/ motorcycle_event/28900 December 3rd, 2016 10am- 7pm Columbus Camaros 2nd Annual Toy Drive Columbus Camaros teamed up with St. Vincents for the toy drive, come show off your ride and make donations. Walmart Reynoldsburg 2793 Taylor Road Exit Reynoldsburg, OH 43068 http://www.oldride.com/ events/7642345.html December 3rd, 2016 Red Cross Blood DriveNapoleon HD 9am- 2pm in the Hog Room 862 American Rd. Napoleon, OH 43545 http://www.h-dsales.com/ whats-going-on--xcalendar December 3, 2016 Santa Shuffle The Draught House219 W. Federal Street. Youngstown, OH For More Information Call: (330) 550-4000

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SOUTHERN OHIO EVENTS MOTOCROSS/RACING EVENTS

December 3, 2016 Ugly Sweater Contest Southeast Harley Davidson 23105 Aurora Road Bedford Heights www.southeastharley.com December 6th, 2016 Annual December Dinner Bair's Powersports 7pm-8pm at Mulligan's resturant and pub. 4118 Belden Village St. NW Canton, OH 44718 www.bairspowersports.com December 9th-11th, 2016 Thiel's Wheels- Christmas Extravaganza Santa will be there all weekend bring a camera and get pictures for no charge, Free cookies & Gift Wrapping, and earn Thiels cash on purchases. 350 Tarhe Trail, Upper Sandusky, OH 43351 http://www.twheelshd.com/ check-out-our-events-xcalendar Dec. 10, 2016 Christmas Gathering ABATE of Ohio, Region 8 Vaughan's, St Rt 212 NE Bolivar, OH 44608 Live Music, Covered Dishes welcome & Appreciated.

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Saturday December 10, 2016 Santa Visits Centennial 12-3pm Centennial Park Harley Davidson 12477 Broad St. Pataskala, Ohio Bring your own phone or camera! December 10, 2016 Secret Santa - Ornaments full of surprises Southeast Harley Davidson 23105 Aurora Road Bedford Heights www.southeastharley.com December 10, 2016 Christmas Open House Napoleon Harley Davidson 862 American Road Napoleon, Ohio Pictures with Santa 1-4pm Licensed Hoodies 15% Off, All Kids Licensed Products 20% Off Gift Card Drawing Cookies, Hot chocolate & Kids Crafts

Visit us on Facebook @ facebook,com/ thunderroadsohio or for up to the minute event listings, thunderroadsohio.com

OHIO’S MOTORCYCLE MAGAZINE

For info call Southeast HD Motorclothes@ (440)439-5300 December 10, 2016 Ugly Christmas Sweater Competition & Pictures with Santa Western Reserve Harley Davidson 8567 Tyler Blvd. Mentor 10am-4pm Ugly Sweater Competition 12-3pm Pictures with Santa

Visit us on Facebook for more events and last minute updates. www.facebook.com/ ThunderRoadsOhio

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Lake Erie HD 38401 Chester Rd. Avon, OH 44011 Call to RSVP a table to compete http://www.lakeerieharley.com/ whats-going-on--xcalendar December 10, 2016 Breakfast & Photos with Santa Tri-County Harley Davidson 5960 Dixie Highway Fairfield, OH All-You-Can-Eat pancakes and sausage, juice, coffee and milk from 10am-1pm. Pictures with Santa 11am-2pm. www.tricountyharley.com December 11, 2016 Breakfast with Santa Tri-County Harley Davidson 5960 Dixie Highway Fairfield, OH All-You-Can-Eat pancakes and sausage, juice, coffee and milk from 11am-1pm. www.tricountyharley.com

December 11, 2016 Rocking in the Holidays with Erie Shore B.A.C.A "Bikers.Against.Child.Abuse" 50/50 Raffle, Chinese Auction, Cookie Decorating Cookies & Holiday Fun Burton Fire Dept. 2:00-5:00pm 13828 Spring St. Burton, Ohio

Saturday December 17, 2016 Santa visits Downtown & Northstar 12-3pm A.D Farrow Harley Davidson

December 15,2016 Men's Night Out 6-8pm Games, Food & Guns Western Reserve Harley Davidson 8567 Tyler Blvd. Mentor Special Presentation by Point Blank Range & Gun Shop

December 17, 2016 North Side Saloon 639 E. Cuyahoga Falls Ave. Cuyahoga Falls 44310 Christmas Party Food & Drink Specials, Great Times, Good People

RSVP at wrhdnight@ eventbrite.com or call 440-974-6900 Saturday December 17, 2016 Stuff the Bus for Sub Zero Mission Western Reserve Harley Davidson 8567 Tyler Blvd. Mentor Collecting Donations Dec. 12-17 Bus on Site Sat. Dec. 17 subzeromission.org

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Downtown 491 W. Broad St. Columbus, Ohio Northstar 7754 St. Rt. 37 E.Sunbury, Ohio Bring your phone or camera!

December 17, 2016 Breakfast & Photos with Santa Tri-County Harley Davidson 5960 Dixie Highway Fairfield, OH All-You-Can-Eat pancakes and sausage, juice, coffee and milk from 10am-1pm. Pictures with Santa 11am-2pm. www.tricountyharley.com

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EVENTS

December 10th, 2016 4th Annual Coquito Contest

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December 10th, 2016 "Gentlemen's Charity Auction" by Southeast HD Southeast Metric Building 23333 Aurora Rd. Bedford Heights, OH Cocktail Casual, 6:30pm7:30pm Meet and Greet, Auctions is at 7:45pm, $10 tickets advance, $15 at the door, Refreshments included, Proceeds go to Neopat.

UPCOMING MOTORCYCLE EVENTS Presented by NORTHWEST OHIO EVENTS

Cleveland 440.777.7272 | Columbus 614.336.4240 NORTHEAST OHIO EVENTS

December 18, 2016 Breakfast with Santa Tri-County Harley Davidson 5960 Dixie Highway Fairfield, OH All-You-Can-Eat pancakes and sausage, juice, coffee and milk from 11am-1pm. www.tricountyharley.com December 18, 2016 Christmas Party @ Lake Erie H-D! Lake Erie Harley-Davidson38401 Chester Ave. Avon, OH Music by Colin Dussault LakeErieHarley.com

CENTRAL OHIO EVENTS

December 20, 2016 Customer Appreciation Night South East Gears & Cheers 23333 Aurora Road Bedford Heights, Ohio 44146 6:30-9:30 Burnt River playing, Pictures with Santa on his Harley! Holiday Food Specials December 31 Rockin' New Years Eve Party South East Gears & Cheers 23333 Aurora Road Bedford Heights, Ohio 44146 Nostaglia Cleveland playing, Champagne Toast at midnight Special Group Rate at Hampton Inn Solon with Shuttle Ride to & from party!! Reservations Neccessary - Call 440-232-0029

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SOUTHERN OHIO EVENTS MOTOCROSS/RACING EVENTS

January 6-8, 2017

Cavalcade of Customs Duke Energy Convention Center, Cincinatti For information on participating in the Motorcycle Show or exhibiting, email us at thunderRoadsOhio@gmail.com Autorama.com January 7th, 2017 Cycle Gear Bike NightNorth Olmsted, Oh 25102 Brookpark Rd. North Olmsted, 5pm- 8pm http://blog.cyclegear.com/ locations/cycle-gear-northolmsted/

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THUNDER ROADS OHIO FEATURE EVENT January 7-8, 2017

AMSOIL ARENACROSS US BANK ARENA, CINCINNATI www.ArenaCross.com January 8th, 2017 Medina Indoor Swap Meet Medina County Community Center- 735 Lafayette, Medina Admission- $5.00 per person, Childern under 12 free, 8am-3pm http://www.allohioparts.com/ medina.html

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January 20-22, 2017 World of Wheels - Pittsburgh David Lawrence Convention Center, Pittsburgh Autorama.com

THUNDER ROADS OHIO FEATURE EVENT

January 22, 2017 Walneck’s Motorcycle Swap Meet - Springfield admission: $7.00 Vendor price $40.00 Clark County Fairgounds (Exit 59 off I70) Springfield, Ohio www.walneckswap.com/

THUNDER ROADS OHIO FEATURE EVENT

January 28-29, 2017 33rd Annual Chicago Motorcycle Show Custom Bike Show & Swap Meet $5,000 Cash Prizes plus Trophies chicagomotorcycleswap.com

January 27-29, 2017 Progressive International Motorcycle Show Cleveland I-X Center, Cleveland, Ohio motorcycleshows.com/ cleveland

January 28th-29th, 2017 V-Twin Expo By EasyRiders Duke Energy Convention center (building A,B, and C) 525 Elm St. Cincinnati http://www.vtwin-expo.com/

January 29th, 2017 Northern Ohio Racer's Swap Meet January 28, 2017 Saturday Admission $5(Childern under 11 free) serves Breakfast & GARAGE BREWED A curated show that showcases Lunch, free parking, 735 lafayette, Medina. some of the most incredible custom bike builds you'll http://www.allohioparts.com/ Visit us on Facebook @ facebook,com/ ever see. Held inside the medina.html thunderroadsohio Rhinegeist Brewery, Cincinnatior for up to Elm St. the minute event listings, 1910 garagebrewed.com

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Febuary 10th- 12th, 2017 Timonium Motorcycle Show Maryland State Fairgrounds2200 York Rd. LuthervilleTimonium, Maryland, Adults: $17, Childern (10-15): $5, Frisat 10am-9pm sun:10am-6pm. http://cycleshow.net/

THUNDER ROADS OHIO FEATURE EVENT Febuary 11th-12th, 2017 Easyriders Bike Show Columbus Coonvention center 400 N. High St. columbus, Sat10am7pm, Sun10am-5pm, admission- sat:$25 Sun:$20 weekend:$35, www.easyridersevents.com/ March 4th-5th, 2017 Proformance Swap Meet Stark County Fairgrounds305 Wertz Ave NW Canton Sat: 8am- 4pm Sun:8am- 3pm, Admission: $7 per person, $10 for weekend pass, Children under 12 free. http://www.autoevents.com/ event-info

Rocking in the Holidays with Erie Shores Ohio B.A.C.A.® BIKERS AGAINST CHILD ABUSE®

50 / 50 Raffle

Chinese Auction

Join us for Cookies and Holiday Fun When: Sunday, December 11, 2016 from 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm Where: Burton Fire Department 13828 Spring St, Burton OH 44021 For more information – email President@es-oh.bacaworld.org

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EVENTS

January 22, 2017 Miller Lite Canton Motorcycle Swap Meet 10am until 4pm w/ over 170 booths $40 for a 10x10 space. For information call 800-372-3726 ext 443 Start County Fairgrounds, 305 Wertz Ave Northwest, Canton

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January 15, 2017 21st Annual Motorcycle Swap Meet Delaware County Fairgrounds 9am-2pm Admission $5, under 12 Free

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OfficialBikeWeek.com THUNDER ROADS OHIO FEATURE EVENT March 12, 2017 Walneck’s Motorcycle Swap Meet - Springfield admission: $7.00 Vendor price $40.00 Clark County Fairgounds (Exit 59 off I70) Springfield, Ohio www.walneckswap.com/

THUNDER ROADS OHIO FEATURE EVENT March 17-19, 2017 Piston Powered Auto-Rama "The World's Largest Indoor Custom Vehicle Show" HOST OF THE IMBBA NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP Cleveland I-X Center, 6200 Riverside Dr., Cleveland OH 44135 IXPistonPoweredAutorama.com May 6, 2017 Blessing of the Bikes Fundraiser for the Christian Motorcycle Association, (Run for the Son Missions) with the Christian Cruiser Chapter of Toledo Ohio. This is a FREE event including coffee and donuts in the morning, followed by a 100 mile ride. Donations accepted at the event. "Blessing of the Bikes" event begins at 11:00AM and the ride begins about 12:30 For more information, call 419-297-7719

May 12-21, 2017

Myrtle Beach Bike Week

www.MyrtleBeachBikeWeek. com

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EVENTS

DAYTONA BIKE WEEK

May 21, 2016

Old Fashioned Days Car, Truck, and Motorcycle Show

Registration begins at 9:00 AM and we will accept vehicles up until 2:00 pm. There will be many door prizes given out throughout the day. The show is open to any make or model vehicle, and will be held on Troutwine Auto Sales’ (paved) Parking Lot (9 N. Main St. Arcanum, OH 45304). PreRegistration will be $5.00, and registration the day of will be $8.00.

THUNDER ROADS OHIO

March 10-19, 2017

For more information, call 937-692-8463

THUNDER ROADS OHIO FEATURE EVENT May 26-June 4, 2017

OHIO BIKE WEEK

The Midwest's Largest Motorcycle Event returns bigger and better than ever before! Stay tuned for monthly updates right here in Thunder Roads Ohio! Event locations range across the state.

OhioBikeWeek.com THUNDER ROADS OHIO FEATURE EVENT June 4, 2017 Walneck’s Motorcycle Swap Meet - Springfield admission: $7.00 Vendor price $40.00 Clark County Fairgounds (Exit 59 off I70) Springfield, Ohio www.walneckswap.com/

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EVENTS THUNDER ROADS OHIO

MARCH

17–19

2 0 1 7 Best of Show $5,000

2ND Place $1,000

Duck Award $1,500

Pro Builder $1,000

3RD Place $500

Bike Classes 1. American Custom 2. Antique 3. Metric Custom 4. 5. 6. 7. 8.

MOTOR CYCLE ALL REGISTERED VEHICLES WILL RECEIVE:

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Two All-Event Participant Badges One Three-Day Event Parking Permit One Outdoor Trailer Parking Space An Event T-Shirt One Admission to the Thursday Burger Bash

Touring Custom Sport Custom Old School Bobber Factory Custom Radical

9. Vintage 10. Vintage Custom 11. Garage Bike 12. Three-wheeler 13. Custom Paint & Airbrush

ALL 13 CLASSES RECEIVE A 1ST, 2ND & 3RD PLACE TROPHY 2017 THUNDER ROADS OHIO PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARD

IF A PISTON MAKES IT GO, IT'S IN THIS SHOW! PistonPowerShow.com

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SHOP TALK Wintertime

Walt Snider, Thunder Roads Ohio Contributor

So here we are heading into the end of 2016. For most of us, that means riding season is pretty well on hold for a bit. Although, as of writing this, we still haven’t had any snow and I’m still riding. Still, what better time to get your bike into the shop and have some work done? You won’t lose much, if any, riding time. And your bike will be ready for when riding season is back. Now is the time to get into the shop and talk to them about what you want done. Shops will fill up with work fast this time of year. Engine rebuilds and paint jobs, plus major customizing is the majority of work thru the winter for many shops. Larger projects that take more time are typically scheduled more for the winter months. If you’re looking to have anything like that done, get to the shop and get it scheduled. Even if you’re just looking for a tune up or oil change, schedule it now. That way you can ensure your bike is ready to roll when riding season returns. And any potential problems can be identified and fixed before as well. Depending on what you’re having done, you might even get some free heated storage out of it.

Some shops are prepping for the upcoming shows next year already, and have their own promotional projects getting lined up. Many do inventory, cleaning and reorganizing, and end of the year financial stuff as well. In other words, shops are going to be busier this time of year. And it’s typically first come first serve. Some shops will run end of the year specials or deals. You might be able to save a little cash on your project, or gear. Nothing like having something new to show off. I know I’m anxiously waiting to see all the projects everyone is working on. Plus we’ve got a few of our own to show off soon. I’m curious to see what rolls into my shop next. And what we’ll be rolling out of it over the next year. From the shop floor Walt Renegade Gentlemen Customs, LLC Walt Snider Owner/President

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Upcoming Events Sun Jan 8 , 6th Annual Hastings (MI) Swap Meet

Sun Jan 22, 33rd Annual Peotone, (IL) Swap Meet, Sun Feb 5, 2nd Annual Muskegon (MI) , Swap Meet Sun Mar 19, 44th Annual Kalamazoo MI , Swap Meet Sun April 9, 37th Annual Grand Rapids MI Swap Meet

Custom Bike Show $5,000 Cash & Trophy Awards Swap Meet Vendors, Bikes, Parts, Leather, Food, Beer Promoted by:

Paragons Promotion Inc 800-800-6034

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Sat April 15 16th Annual Cadillac (MI), Swap Meet Sun May 28 , 29th Annual Valpo-Fest Motorcycle & Car For complete event listing, visit

ParagonsPromotion.com OHIO’S OHIO’S MOTORCYCLE MOTORCYCLE MAGAZINE MAGAZINE

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RECIPES

Chocolate Peppermint Brittle

Apple Cranberry Stuffed Pork Roast

4 sticks butter (cut into pieces) 2 cups sugar ¼ tsp salt 2 cups roasted nuts, chopped 2 cups bittersweet chocolate, finely chopped ½ cup crushed candy canes

Serve 6 people (or 3 hungry bikers) 3-4 lb boneless pork loin Salt and freshly ground pepper 1 cup seasoned croutons 1/2 cup chicken stock 1 cup apples, peeled chopped finely 1/3 cup dried cranberries, chopped 1/3 cup walnuts, chopped 1/4 cup onion, chopped 2 tbsp honey 2 tbsp garlic, minced 2 teaspoon minced rosemary 2 apples, sliced (for bottom of the pan) 2 onions, sliced (for bottom of the pan)

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Preheat oven to 325°F. Coat the bottom of a roasting pan with cooking spray or a little olive oil, set aside Butterfly the roast by first cutting lengthwise about halfway through the roast so you can open it up like a book. Cover with 2 layers of plastic wrap and pound with a meat mallet to flatten as much as possible. Remove plastic wrap and season salt and pepper and set aside. Mix croutons and stock in a small bowl and let sit for 5 minutes, until the croutons have softened, mush them up a bit with a fork. Stir in the apples, walnuts, cranberries, onions, honey, garlic, and rosemary. Lay the pork so the center uncut line is running left to right (like the pages of the book are sideways). Spread mixture over surface of the pork. Starting with the side of the meat closest to you, roll up the meat and stuffing tightly and secure with kitchen string. Tuck a few sprigs of rosemary under the strings. Place sliced apples and sliced onions down in the bottom of the roast in the pan, lay roast on top and cook at 325°F, uncovered, for about 1 hour or until the pork reaches an internal temperature of 140-145. Let stand for 10 minutes.

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Remove the kitchen string and slice.

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For more great recipes, visit www.facebook.com/TheBikerChicksKitchen 92

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Prepare a rimmed baking sheet with a LOT of butter In a heavy metal saucepan (4 to 5 quarts), over medhigh heat, melt together the butter, sugar, and salt, whisking until smooth. Bring the mixture to a boil, stirring constantly for 10 to 20 more minutes, until the mixture is a deep golden color (the hard-crack stage, or 300 degrees on a candy thermometer). Watch the mixture carefully during the last few minutes and stir thoroughly to prevent the mixture from burning. Immediately stir in the chopped nuts, then carefully pour the hot toffee into the center of the greased baking sheet. Using metal spatula, smooth the toffee flat until it’s about ½-inch thick. Let the toffee cool for a minute or two, then sprinkle the chopped chocolate (or chocolate chips) over the surface of the toffee (this will melt really quickly). Once melted spread the chocolate evenly across the toffee with the spatula.

Let cool for about 5-7 minutes or so, then dust

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the chocolate with the crushed candy canes. Place the tray of toffee in the freezer and freeze until the chocolate layer is firm, about 30 minutes.

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Remove from freezer and break toffee into pieces.

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Layer between sheets of parchment paper and store in an airtight container at room temperature; the toffee will keep for about two weeks

Have a recipe that you’d like to share? Write it all down and send with a picture – to ThunderRoadsOhio@gmail.com Put RECIPE in the subject line. If we use it, we’ll send you copies of the magazines and a TRO T-Shirt – so include your address and t-shirt size as well! Thanks! -The Iron Cowboy

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T H B M E L A S U R E J V W E

S L T R I U M P H A N T L O N

E A R R T R A D I T I O N N A

G M M M A X A M G L M H M D C

O I F T G E C C P W Y N S E Y

O S E D S X N M U T N L C R D

R T K V P I J O I L E K M M N

C L M M I C R V E I O E R E A

S E T W Y T I H G C H U R N C

V T J A T T S H C E A G S T G

N O I T A R B E L E C E Q B K

L E Y N B E S H F M I R P H P

M B A N L S T X K P X N E V G

J I X L T E X B H H S A A I Z

U D S E B T S I R H C W C S J

•BETHLEHEM•CANDYCANE•CELEBRATION• •CHRIST•CHRISTMAS•FESTIVE•JERUSALEM• •MIRACULOUS•MISTLETOE•NATIVITY• •PEACE-ON-EARTH•SCROOGE•SLEIGH-BELLS• •TRADITION•TRIUMPHANT•WONDERMENT•

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FUNNY STUFF BECAUSE EVERYONE NEEDS A GOOD LAUGH NOW AND THEN...

‘Twas the night before Christmas, and all through the pad, There was nada happenin’, now thats pretty bad. The woodstove was hung up in that stocking routine, In hopes that the Fat Boy would soon make the scene. With our stomachs packed with tacos and beer, My girl and I crashed on the couch for some cheer. When out in the yard there arose such a racket, I ran for the door and pulled on my jacket. I saw a large bro’ on a ‘56 Pan Wearin’ black leathers, a cap, and boots (cool biker, man). He hauled up the bars on that bikeful of sacks, And that Pan hit the roof like it was running on tracks. I couldn’t help gawking, the old guy had class. But I had to go in -- I was freezing my ass. Down through the stovepipe he fell with a crash, And out of the stove he came dragging his stash. With a smile and some glee he passed out the loot, A new jacket for her and some parts for my scoot. He patted her fanny and shook my right hand, Spun on his heel and up the stovepipe he ran. From up on the roof came a great deal of thunder, As that massive V-twin ripped the silence asunder. With beard in the wind, he roared off in the night, Shouting, “Have a cool Yule, and to all a good ride!” 94

“Hi! My name is Gertrude,” said the lady next to him on the plane. “It’s so nice to meet you! I’m flying to New York for my grandson’s third birthday. I’m so excited! I remember when he was just a little thumbkin and now he’s already three! It’s really hard to believe. He’s the most adorable thing you’ve ever seen! You know what? Hold on, I think I might have a picture on me. Let me take a look in my purse, yes, here it is, just look at him, isn’t he adorable. Do you see his dimple on his left cheek? Simply adorable! I could stare at his picture all day. Oh my, and you should hear him on the phone! He is just the cutest, he says to me in the cutest voice “Hi Grandma!” It just gets me all teary eyed.” After what seemed like two hours for the poor man sitting next to her, Gertrude seemed to realize that perhaps she was talking a bit too much. “You know, I feel terrible! Here I am just talking and talking without letting you get in a word edgewise! Tell me..what do you think about my Grandson!” When I was 6 I got coal from Santa. The next year I decided to get back at him and poison the cookies. Somehow, the bastard found out and killed my dad. Tonight a friend asked if he could crash on my couch. I had to explain to him i was married now and that’s where i sleep.

Jim’s car is swerving all over the road so a cop pulls him over, “Step out of the car” says the cop, “I am going to need you to take a breathalyzer test.” “I can’t”, Jim responds “You see I have very bad asthma, that can set off an attack.” “Alright,” says the cop, “then you’re going to have to take a blood test.” “Can’t do that either,” Jim responds, “I am a hemophiliac, if a wound is opened, I won’t stop bleeding, and I could bleed to death.” “Ok,” the cop answers “then I will need a urine sample.” “Sorry,” says Jim “I also have diabetes, that could push my sugar count really low.” “Fine, so just come on out, and walk a straight line for me.” “Can’t do that either” responds Jim. “Why not?” Demanded the exasperated cop. “Well, because I’m drunk!” The leader of the vegetarian society just couldn’t control himself anymore. He just needed to try some pork, just to see what it tasted like. So one summer day he told his members he was going on a vacation. He packed out of town, and headed to the nearest restaurant. After sitting down, he ordered a roasted pig, and impatiently waited for his delicacy. After just a few minutes, he heard someone call his name, and to his great chagrin he saw one of his fellow members walking towards him. Just at that same moment, the waiter walked over, with a huge platter, holding a full roasted pig with an apple in it’s mouth. “Isn’t that something,” says the leader after only a moments pause, “all I do is order an apple, and look what it comes with!”

Sometimes I hide my wife’s inhaler. Then the neighbors think I’m a stud because they hear her panting heavily “Give it to me!”

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SPONSOR INDEX WE WOULD LIKE TO THANK ALL OF OUR SPONSORS THAT HELP MAKE THIS MAGAZINE POSSIBLE. IT IS ONLY WITH THEIR SUPPORT AND COMMITMENT THAT WE CAN PRODUCE WHAT WE BELIEVE TO BE THE FINEST REGIONAL MOTORCYCLE PUBLICATION IN THE NATION. A.D. Farrow Harley-Davidson .......................................Inside Front Cover Abate of Ohio......................................... 16 Action Extreme Sports............................71 Action Sports Cycle................................35 Adventure HD.........................................71 Adventure Motorcycle & Accessories...47 Allstate Insurance....................................71 American Motorcyclist Association ........... (AMA).......................................... 12,44,50 AMSOIL ArenaCross Event...................63 Atomic Dice............................................. 81 Avon Boot Shop......................................47 B.G. Motorcycle.....................................71 Bair’s Powersports..................................46 Balcer Performance................................75 Barney Debrosse, Law Firm of...............69 Bears.......................................................... 5 Bears - Seat King....................................79 Bent Wrench...........................................72 Biker Central............................................56 Biker to Biker...........................................77 Bison Leather...........................................73 Blackburn Trikes...................................... 31 Bob and Peg’s Handlebar.....................40 Bojangles Road House Inc.................... 21 Bostic Time..............................................72 Bout Time Tavern....................................72 Brackens Pub........................................... 41 Brick House Tavern................................. 41 Buzz Rag................................................. 76 Cash 4 Motorcycles............................... 81 City Mission Ride....................................49 Cycle Tech...............................................75 Delaware Swap Meet -Eddie Williams....87 Disowned Customs.................................75 EasyRider Show......................................66 Evolution Machine Cycle.......................75 Fat Boys Country Club...........................72 GEICO....................................................... 1

Greater Good Tattoo Company...........65 Guardian Oil......................................51,76 Hale’s Harley Davidson.........................45 Harvester................................................. 41 Hi Point Firearms (MKS supply)............71 Hickory Ridge Firearms..........................70 Hog Shop Cycles....................................73 Indian of Toledo........................................ 6 Iron Horse Campgrounds...................... 81 Iron Pony ( Pony Powersports Group) ..........................................................2-3,49 JIM’S HD................................................. 74 JIMMY T’S...............................................40 Joe’s Cycle Shop.................................... 74 KD’s Sunglasses.....................................80 Knuckleheads Performance Cycles.......75 Knuckleheads Saloon............................72 Lake Erie Harley-Davidson.....................86 Link Racing LLC.......................................75 Love Jugs.................................................80 MAPS.......................................................40 McClusky Chevrolet..........................14-15 Morton’s Pharmacy................................80 Muffler Shop Warehouse...................... 76 Mugg Shotz............................................35 Napoleon Harley-Davidson..................84 Nashville Bike Week..............................88 North Side Saloon.................................34 Old School Biker Brew........................... 81 Original Margaritaville..........................35 Paradise Trikes........................................79 Paragon Promotions...............................85 Piqua Harley-Davidson.......................... 17 Piston Power Show..................................89 Powder Keg Harley-Davidson............... 74 Powerhouse Bar & Grill..........................72 Progressive International Bike Show .......................................Inside Back Cover Queen City Harley-Davidson (formerly Tri-County H-D)....................... 21

Ralph Buss................................Back Cover Renegade Gentleman............................75 Rey’s Rt 62 Bar & Grill...........................72 Rick Rak...................................................51 Ricks five Star Limo/Party Bus...............73 Rod Iron Crew Inc................................... 74 Roeder Racing........................................75 Rose City Tattoo......................................65 Saddle Bag Saver..................................43 Sassy’s..................................................... 31 SHALE TAVERN AND GRILLE...............72 Sneaky Pete and The Players................77 Soles Motor Sports LLC..........................73 SONS OF ARTHRITIS......................34,77 South East Gears & Cheers...................95 South East Harley-Davidson..................23 Stadium Bar and Grill............................34 Streets Bar and Grill...............................34 Tackett’s BBQ..........................................40 Taz Garage.............................................73 The City MIssion.....................................49 The Field..................................................34 The Mason Jar........................................72 Thiels Wheels .........................................83 Throttle-Up Motorsports.........................72 TNT Bar...................................................35 Toyz Cycle Center.................................. 76 Train Stop................................................ 41 Treva’s......................................................72 Triple Nickel Saloon...............................34 Twisted Tea................................................ 7 Vandalia Range & Armory..............48,69 Veteran’s Crisis Line................................90 Walneck’s................................................85 Western Reserve Harley-Davidson.. 18,87 Whitehorse Biker Church.......................90 Zeppe’s Pizza......................................... 11

OHIO’S MOTORCYCLE MAG! We’d also like to thank all of our subscribers... and of course the avid readers that bring it all together. Thank you for making all of this possible, for supporting this organization, and our families. Sincerely, The Thunder Roads Ohio Team 96

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JANUARY 27-29, 2017

I-X CENTER CLEVELAND

Participating manufacturers vary at each show and are subject to change