Thunder Roads Ohio January 2015 by Thunder Roads Ohio Magazine

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MAIN OFFICE: 12467 Kinsman Rd, Burton, OH 44021 • (440) 273-9000 • (440) 425-0314 fax RETAIL STORE & OFFICE HOURS: Monday - Thursday • 10am - 4pm PUBLISHER Derek Armstrong Smith • ThunderRoadsOhio@gmail.com (440) 785-7331 SALES & MARKETING Iron Cowboy Productions, LLC • info.ironcowboy@gmail.com (440) 678-8608 LAYOUT & DESIGN Paul Malanij • PJM 23 Design 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 order also order online - www.ThunderRoadsOhio.com To update your address or other questions, email: Acct.TRO@gmail.com

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

FROM THE PUBLISHER

elcome to the January edition of Thunder Roads Ohio – Ohio’s Motorcycle Magazine. This is a title we take seriously as a commitment to the local riders that support our magazine. It’s our goal to serve as the best possible regional resource for motorcycle enthusiasts of all types. Along these lines, I’m proud to announce that Thunder Roads Ohio has entered into a new partnership with the American Motorcyclist Association. For 90 years, the AMA has promoted the motorcycle lifestyle and protected its future. The AMA is the world’s largest motorcycling organization – yet many don’t realize all that it has to offer. TRO is proud to join their fight and will work hand-in-hand with them to share their message over the upcoming year. It’s a perfect partnerships as we share much the same mission – though, on a more regional level. While on the topic, I’d like to thank another key partner in our plans for the upcoming year – your local motorcycle dealership. The dealerships within this magazine are committed to supporting the local riding community and their customers. They provide our magazines as a service to local riders and help support other events in the surrounding area through it. Don’t underestimate how important their support is to efforts such as this. I believe that we provide a real service to the motorcycle community by keeping everyone informed of rides, events, and issues that concern you. We do this through a high quality magazine that is distributed free of charge to motorcycle enthusiasts. We couldn’t do this without the support of the local dealerships found within our pages. Next time you’re stopping by your local dealership to pick up your Thunder Roads Ohio Magazine, please take a minute and let the dealership know how much you appreciate their support. None of us can take this for granted. Every one of these organizations is a real business that has a bottom line that it must feed. We have built our entire business plan around the belief that fully supporting the riding community and focusing on the big picture is good for our business as well as the riders we serve. It’s important that dealerships also recognize that it’s good business for them to be active members of the riding community as well. It’s not enough to simply sell motorcycles – they need to service the lifestyle also, and that’s where we come in. Let them know you want your TRO! As always we appreciate your support and look forward to serving everyone over the upcoming year! Best Wishes to All for 2015! .

Derek Smith, Publisher - Thunder Roads Ohio

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. NO PART OF ITS CONTENT MAY BE REPRODUCED WITHOUT WRITTEN PERMISSION. PUBLISHER ASSUMES NO RESPONSIBILITY AND IS NOT TO BE HELD LIABLE FOR ERRORS BEYOND THE COST OF THE SPACE OCCUPIED BY THE ERROR, SLANDER OF ANY GROUP OR INDIVIDUAL, FAILURE TO PRODUCE ANY ISSUE AS SCHEDULED DUE TO REASONS BEYOND OUR CONTROL, ANY AND ALL SUITS FOR LIABLE, PLAGIARISM, COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT AND UNAUTHORIZED USE OF A PERSON’S NAME OR PHOTOGRAPH. OPINIONS AND CLAIMS MADE BY ADVERTISERS AND AUTHORS ARE THEIR OWN, AND DO NOT NECESSARILY REPRESENT THE POLICY OF THUNDER ROADS MAGAZINE OR THUNDER PUBLISHING. PUBLISHER DOES NOT PROMOTE THE ABUSE OF ALCOHOL OR OTHER DRUGS.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS FEATURES

DEPARTMENTS

18 POLARIS SLINGSHOT

FROM THE PUBLISHER

ROAD TALES

ABATE OF OHIO

BACK OF THE BIKE

14 CMA 40

MOTORCYCLE 101

50 CALENDAR 58 TRACKSIDE

22 CUSTOM BIKE CELESTE 26

AMA HISTORY

32 PROGRESSIVE IMS SHOW 36

FALL PHOTO CONTEST

TABASCO REPORT

IRON & INK

72 BUCKEYE FIREARMS REPORT 76

THE TRO NETWORK

THE MARKETPLACE

UPCOMING EVENTS

MACHINE GUN PREACHER RAFFLE

DEVIL’S STAIRCASE

CUSTOM BIKE OF THE YEAR: EYE SPY

KTM FEATURE

FUNNY STUFF

GNCC 2014 SEASON RECAP

SPONSOR INDEX

PARTING SHOTS

92 RECIPES

ON THE COVER Tiffany posed with this 2015 Harley-Davidson Street Glide at Lake Erie H-D in preparation for the Progressive International Motorcycle Show on Jan 30-Feb 1, 2015. For more information, check out the story on page 32 or visit them at www.motorcycleshows.com. Photo and Design by Bob Mazur. THUNDER ROADS® OHIO MAGAZINE

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As Told By

THE IRON COWBOY V-TWIN EXPO RETURNS TO CINCINNATI February 7-8, Duke Energy Center

he V-Twin Expo is an industry only tradeshow focused on V-twin motorcycles. It features a complete hall full of exhibitors and attendees from within the industry. The show also includes professional seminars aimed at those in the business. This year’s scheduled seminars include: Powering Your Business, Social Media Best Practices, and Advanced Fuel Injection Tuning. Industry leaders such as S&S, ThunderMax, and Baker Drivetrain also hold tech seminars designed to familiarize shops and dealers with the latest products that they have to offer. Please note that this show is not open to the public. You MUST be a bona fide motorcycle retailer, service shop, manufacturer, or other related business in order to enter. You will be required to show proof of business before being admitted. For more information visit www.vtwin-expo.com

AMA PARTNERS WITH THUNDER ROADS OHIO MAGAZINE

hunder Roads Ohio Magazine is extremely proud to announce that we have entered into a partnership with the American Motorcyclist Association (AMA). Founded in 1924, the AMA is a notfor-profit member-based association whose mission is to promote the motorcycle lifestyle and protect the future of motorcycling. As the world’s largest motorcycling rights and event sanctioning organization, the AMA advocates for riders’ interests at all levels of government and sanctions thousands of competition and recreational events every year. TRO is proud to partner with the AMA with the goal of assisting in the distribution of information to our readers and at events throughout the country. You will see more and more of the AMA within our pages and at our events. TRO will also become more involved in the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame in Pickerington, and Vintage Motorcycle Days – one of the largest motorcycle events of its kind in the country. We encourage all motorcycle enthusiasts to join us in this effort to support the AMA and help ensure the future of riding in our nation. An AMA membership is only $49 annually and includes AMA Roadside Assistance. This service covers ALL of the vehicles in your household – including motorcycles, cars, trucks, RV’s, and trailers. ALL family members living in your household are covered and eligible for towing services should the need arise. For more information and convenient AMA membership registration, visit our website – ThunderRoadsOhio.com

INTERNSHIPS AVAILABLE WITH THUNDER ROADS OHIO

e are accepting applications for PAID and UNPAID INTERNSHIPS with IRON COWBOY PRODUCTIONS and THUNDER ROADS OHIO. This would be a great opportunity to get some great experience in a wide range of areas, including: GRAPHIC DESIGN JOURNALISM MARKETING / PR SALES EVENT MANAGEMENT SOCIAL MEDIA Interns don’t have to do everything and you can focus on

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a particular area of interest, but you might just find yourself getting involved in a lot more than you expected! We all wear a lot of hats and you may find that there are other areas that you enjoy as well. Just about the only things we won’t ask you to do is fetch coffee! Work would primarily be out of our Burton, Ohio offices - however there are also opportunities for those based out of Columbus, Dayton, and Cincinnati. Email us at ThunderRoadsOhio@gmail. com with your resume and a short introduction. Please put INTERNSHIP in the subject line.

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EXPLORE OUR NATION’S WILDLANDS – FOR FREE!

ashington, D.C.: Four federal agencies have announced dates during the coming year when the public can enter designated areas without paying a fee. The Bureau of Land Management, the Fish and Wildlife Service, the Forest Service and the National Park Service are making fee-free access available under the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act. (Source – AMA) Our national parks are one of the greatest resources we have as a nation, and we encourage everyone to take advantage of these “open days” to get out and blaze new trails!

NEW SUPPORT SERVICES FOR MOTORCYCLE EVENT ORGANIZERS also added an expanded selection of offerings in a more formalized package – making it much more convenient for event organizers to make the most out of our involvement. It all depends upon what your needs are. In some cases, we simply promote the events within the magazine and our digital outlets. We can also coordinate radio and other media buys – serving as the ad agency for the event. In many cases, we are able to maximize the buys by leveraging with other campaigns. We can also become part of the show itself by presenting signature TRO promotions such as a hosted Bike Show or Model Contests. Biker Games and MC services get the party rolling and energize the crowd. Contact Thunder Roads Ohio for more information regarding Event Services by emailing Events.thunderroads@gmail.com with information on your event.

N OI

THE AMA

T OD

Thousands of riders like you join the AMA to unite together for a common goal – to protect our freedom to ride. The AMA is where you belong.

hunder Roads Ohio and Iron Cowboy Productions have expanded their focus on local motorcycle events and are now offering a variety of new services to organizers / promoters in order to make the most out of our partnerships. Thunder Roads Ohio takes part in more Ohio motorcycle events than any other magazine in Ohio, and we don’t simply show up to take pictures when we do! In the past, we’ve done everything from designing the posters to hosting oil wrestling contests – and everything in between. We’ve arranged the entertainment, coordinated vendors, and have even MC’d more events than we’d care to admit. All of which helps take the pressure off the organizers – allowing them to keep their eye on the big picture. For 2015, we’ve decided to formalize these efforts into more of a TRO TOUR – recognizing the events we are partnered up with. We have

AmericanMotorcyclist.com (800) AMA-JOIN THUNDER ROADS® OHIO MAGAZINE

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Indian and Indian Motorcycle are registered trademarks of Indian Motorcycle International LLC. Always wear a helmet, eye protection, and protective clothing and obey the speed limit. Never ride under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Victory® and Victory Motorcycles® are registered trademarks of Polaris Industries Inc. Always wear a helmet, eye protection, and protective clothing and obey the speed limit. Never ride under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

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ABATE OF OHIO, INC.

Safety & Education Report

i Friends, I would like to give you a good report but it’s not going that way. Pulled the facts on the 10th and this is it. In 2013 Crashes 3751 and Fatalities 133 and in 2014 Crashes 3426 and Fatalities 135. Now for my insight on all this; we, as Motorcyclists, are not staying focused on riding as if it was the beginning of the season. Let’s talk about one of the problems that keeps coming up and that is maneuverability. Throughout the year we keep seeing the single vehicle accident, running off curves and just plain running into things. To correct this we need to practice and think about our riding skills. Take a Sunday morning early before large parking lots get busy and practice panic stops, figure eights, stopping in a curve and slow ride maneuvering. If you think you need it, take a Motorcycle Ohio course. Sign up will start at the end of February.

Smart Vehicle Technology – what is it and how is it going to change motorcycle riding? This is just in my thoughts but I have been riding with a friend who has a new car. It has sensors that tell him when something is in his blind spot. My question is, does it always work on motorcycles? Will the driver get so reliant on this that they will not really look for motorcycles? Just something to think about and I will be writing on this later after more thought and research. I will be calling out to Safety and Education Directors and anyone interested for a planning meeting in February. How we can reach out and get more people and organizations involved in Motorcycle Awareness? The planning has started for the Motorcycle Awareness Rally on Saturday May 2, 2015 in Columbus Ohio. Please make plans to make the ride and try to bring a group of friends. It is the beginning of Motorcycle Awareness Month. Starting the first of the year you can find samples of the Proclamation and a cover letter on the Web Site, www.abate. com. We need to get a proclamation from every town and village in Ohio. Stop in the local Mayor’s Office and show them a sample. If you need tips, give me a call. It is nice when they ask you to come in front of the city council and tell them why we need Motorcycle Awareness. Remember if you love the freedom of motorcycling, you need to support your local rights organization. They are watching new laws and how they will affect you, and writing new laws that will make our sport better. If you would spend $25.00 to ride free, then join ABATE of Ohio Inc. Let’s ride safe in 2015 and enjoy the freedom of the road. See you down the road. Ride Within Your Limits, Mike Stock Safety and Education Director ABATE of Ohio Inc. mikestock419@gmail.com 419-654-5446

THIS PAGE IS SPONSORED BY IRON COWBOY PRODUCTIONS, LLC AND THUNDER ROADS OHIO IN SUPPORT OF ABATE OF OHIO AND THE WORK THAT THEY DO FOR THE RIDING COMMUNITY.

For more information on ABATE of Ohio, please visit www.abate.com 10

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FROM THE BACK OF THE BIKE

appy New Year! And I hope it is a wonderful year for all of you! Now I have said before, I really don’t do the “resolution” thing. I do not believe in disappointing myself with unrealistic goals or putting additional pressure on my already stress filled life...which I know we are all stressed at one point or another. I do think of some potential goals that I may want to accomplish throughout the year but nothing is certain. Unless it is the simple…like enjoy life a little more and take time to smell the flowers. I may, not saying I will, try to eat healthier. There is potential for eliminating chocolate as one of the four food groups. I’m thinking of some exercising…possibly. I am working on being more diligent about getting this article in on time…you’re welcome Derek! But nothing is carved in stone! So, having said that…I would like to tell you a story that happened recently that all of you guys and all of you ladies may be able to relate to. And, I am not mentioning any names but you know who you are. A friend of mine, could possibly be my son, took a ride on his bike on one of those great and rare nice warm days in late October. He parked the bike in the driveway anticipating he would take another ride later that day. Unfortunately, a trip to the ER ensued and admission to the hospital. (He is fine now) Scarlett, the bike, was still sitting in the drive way. Scarlett is not used

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BY NANCY BEACH

to being out all the time. Scarlett likes it cozy in her garage. My friend’s significant other, possibly my daughter-in-law, thought she could walk Scarlett with the help of her son…let’s just call him my grandson. Scarlett is a little heavy so they started her up and moved her gingerly into the garage. Feeling very proud, she turned off the bike thinking the kick stand was down. It wasn’t. Now this could have been a disaster. But Scarlett slowly fell against some stuff that was in the garage that happened to be soft and rested comfortably without a scratch. The moral of this story is…the next time you think you should clean out your garage, take a ride instead! There is always something about January. It’s almost like the countdown is on. It’s the New Year so winter will only last 3 more months…if we are lucky. And the way times flies, if you have some wrenching that has to be done before spring, don’t wait any longer. Riding weather will be here before you know it! Let’s start this year off right! Message me on Facebook with some of your cool stories so we can share. And we always enjoy seeing pictures! And, just so you know, that daughter-in-law is planning on taking the bike course this summer! I hope your 2015 is wonderful and healthy and happy! Stay warm and enjoy time with family and friends. And if my “wrenching” advice is taken by one particular individual, I may be sitting on the back of a bike that is overdue to be finished!

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CMA

New Year Resolutions

et me start off by saying right up front, I’m not a big advocate of making New Year’s Resolution(s); but, I know this is the time of year numerous New Year’s Resolution(s) are made – some kept, and most forgotten. What really is a resolution? A resolution is described in the dictionary as, “a decision or determination; a resolve: to make a firm resolution to do something”. Do you know what the top 10 New Year’s Resolutions are? According to the internet let’s take a look: 1) Lose Weight; 2) Improve My Finances; 3) Exercise; 4) Get a New Job; 5) Eat Healthier; 6) Manage Stress Better; 7) Stop Smoking; 8) Improve a Relationship; 9) Stop Procrastinating; and, 10) Set Aside Time For Myself. Here’s an interesting list to look at as well; the Top 10 Most Commonly Broken New Year’s Resolutions: 1) Lose Weight and Get Fit; 2) Quit Smoking; 3) Learn Something New; 4) Eat Healthier and Diet; 5) Get Out of Debt and Save Money; 6) Spend More Time with Family; 7) Travel to New Places; 8) Be Less Stressed; 9) Volunteer; and 10) Drink Less. As I look at these lists I find it interesting the top one on both list are the same – Lose Weight. As I look at these lists I also find it interesting that nothing is mentioned about prayer, Bible reading, Church, or God. Wonder why that might be? The definition of resolution was a decision or determination or to be resolved. Do you think if we approached a New Year Resolution from a different angle we might be more successful? Let me explain by giving you an example of what has happened to me this past year. In September 2013 I prayed about my desire to lose weight. In the past I have tried different fad diets, dieting programs with varying results. I was often successful in losing 5 to 10 pounds but it wasn’t long before I put those 5 to 10 pounds back on, plus some. I prayed about my desire to lose weight and I expressed my inability to do it on my own. It wasn’t long before God provided me with a way that I could work with which brought me success at losing 76 pounds in 12 months. No it wasn’t surgery. It wasn’t pills or medication. It was a program that provided me with tools to help keep me accountable. See I just loved to eat. My portion sizes were way out of

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control. But because I prayed about my desire and express my inability to do it on my own, God was faithful and provided a system of accountability He and I knew I needed to be successful. Matthew 6:26, “Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?” ESV. As you look at the birds they don’t have homes, they don’t plant crops, they don’t wear fancy clothes, nor shoes on their feet. God loves them enough to provide all they need. Notice I said all they need not all they want. Some may say according to this scripture I don’t need to worry about working or laboring to provide for my family. Nothing could be farther from the truth. What I am challenging you to understand is, God cares about the little things in your life as well as the big things. Yes God will provide for your needs, but as you present your desires through prayer God listens. Will He answer the same way as He has for me? I don’t know. That is in God’s hands not mine. But rest assured God will hear your prayer and He does care about your prayers. If a New Year’s Resolution is in your plans for 2015, why not include a resolve to pray more, read your Bible more, attend Church more, or include God more in your life. Remember 2 Timothy 2:15, ESV, “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.” GR (Jerry) Niver – CMA Ohio State Coordinator

Christian Motorcyclists Association COME RIDE WITH US! CMA is a servant minded interdenominational motorcycle ministry with a non-denominational 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

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Polaris “ It really is as cool as it looks.” - THE IRON COWBOY

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pparently not content to leave all the excitement within their motorcycle divisions, Polaris has introduced an entirely new concept to the powersports industry with their 3 wheeled SLINGSHOT™. Clearly, this appears to be yet another game changer for the company from Minnesota. Brian Floom, General Manager of American Heritage Motorcycles in Willoughby Hills, arranged for a test drive of the loaded SLINGSHOT™ SL and we jumped at the opportunity to get behind the wheel.. The initial reaction for many is – “What is it?” That appears to be the big question as Polaris rolls its unique vehicle out. For just about every state, the Slingshot is categorized as a motorcycle. The Department of Transportation in Texas, however, declared that motorcycles have a “seat that the rider straddles” and cars have steering wheels. The Slingshot has two sports car inspired bucket seats and a steering wheel – as well as seat belts. They then declared the Slingshot to be a car – despite its earlier designation by the Texans as a motorcycle. Ohio, though, has ruled her to be a motorcycle – although clearly the debate rages on. During my test drive, I had the unique experience of throwing on a motorcycle helmet and then buckling my seat belt. I’ve heard that some states don’t require a helmet – even if they require one for motorcycles – due to the seatbelts. I spoke with several Ohio police officers that gave differing opinions as to what the Buckeye State

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would require. Apparently they jury is still out. Regardless of whether you consider it a car or motorcycle – it is clearly FUN to “ride or drive”. The ergonomics of the Slingshot resemble that of a high performance sports car, with a ground clearance of only 5 inches and a center of gravity that begs you to cut the corners. With us on our best behavior with the high demand vehicle entrusted to our care, we certainly didn’t do anything too crazy with her. However, it was easy to push the envelope compared to less exotic vehicles – and I certainly walked away with a grin. There clearly is nothing on the road that resembles the Slingshot, other than possibly the Batmobile as seen in recent movies. During our drive around town, we witnessed some bystanders literally walking into parked cars as they watched us pass by. The Slingshot comes standard with a number of electronic aids designed to balance fun with control / safety. ABS Disc Brakes, Electronic Power-Assisted Steering, Traction Control, and Electronic Stability Control all come standard on the Slingshot. All of these work together to ensure that you maintain control of the vehicle, even when you’re pushing the limits. The Slingshot is built around a 2,384cc inline-Four Ecotec engine from GM. This is a lightweight, aluminum block engine from General Motors that’s proven itself in a number of much larger chassis. In fact, I was surprised to discover that it’s the same engine that’s in my GMC THUNDERROADSOHIO.COM

Terrain. In the Slingshot, however, it generates some much more impressive effects. It delivers a reported 173 horsepower at 6200rpm and 166 ft-lbs of torque at 4,700rpm in terms of crankshaft. Sitting inside the cockpit – and there’s no other way to describe it, you control the Slingshot through a responsive, easy to handle five speed manual transmission and electronic assisted steering. Acceleration is quick and responsive as the Ecotec delivers more than enough power to move the 1,743 lb vehicle. Comparisons can be made to the Can-Am Spyder and Morgan 3 Wheelers – all of which are classified as motorcycles in most states. The Can-Am’s are a few thousand dollars more, while the Morgan starts at roughly $50,000 $80,000 for the modernized version of the three wheeled car first introduced in 1919. The Campagna T-Rex is another 3 wheeled motorcycle that starts around $58,000. Compared to these the base Slingshot is a stylish bargain with a MSRP of $19,999. The Slingshot SL adds snazzy Red Pearl paint, a windshield, upgraded wheels, and a media console that includes a backup camera – with a MSRP of $23,999. With no center mirror and no ability to look back, I couldn’t imagine driving this around town without the backup camera. However, I soon forgot about that limitation once I got behind the wheel. The Slingshot is all about moving forward… and never looking back! Regardless of what you consider it to be – car or motorcycle, it’s undoubtedly a BLAST. Even sitting still, it just oozes excitement and begs to be taken out to prowl the streets and tear around the corners. In terms of the wow factor – it’s hard to imagine anything delivering as much for the price. Purists might raise their nose and dismiss it as a “cage” – but it’s clearly not. The open air cockpit and sensation of sitting inches above the ground give you more of a “one with the road” feeling than any of the before mentioned 3 wheeled incarnations. OHIO’S MOTORCYCLE MAGAZINE

For more information on the Polaris Slingshot, we’d recommend visiting one of these preferred dealerships: American Heritage Motorcycles North Coast 2821 Bishop Road Willoughby Hills, Ohio 44092 (440) 943-3400 American Heritage Motorcycles Cincinnati 10575 Loveland Madeira Road Loveland, OH 45140 (888) 713-3949 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 Johnny K’s Powersports 420 Youngstown-Warren Rd Niles, Ohio 44446 (330) 544-9696 Thanks to American Heritage North Coast for providing the Slingshot. Thanks to Meghan, Iron Angels, for modeling with it.

2015 POLARIS SLINGSHOT SPECIFICATIONS

SLINGSHOT

MSRP $19,999 Horsepower 173 crank horsepower @ 6200 rpm (claimed) Torque 166 ft-lbs of torque @ 4700 rpm (claimed) Engine Capacity 2,384cc Engine Type DOHC Inline-Four Ecotek Bore x Stroke 88mm x 98mm Compression 10.4:1 Fuel System EFI Transmission 5-speed manual Steering Rack-and-pinion with electronic power assist Final Drive Belt Frame High-strength steel frame Front Suspension Double-wishbone with sway bar 20

SLINGSHOT SL

$23,999 173 crank horsepower @ 6200 rpm (claimed) 166 ft-lbs of torque @ 4700 rpm (claimed) 2,384cc DOHC Inline-Four Ecotek 88mm x 98mm 10.4:1 EFI 5-speed manual Rack-and-pinion with electronic power assist Belt High-strength steel frame Double-wishbone with sway bar

Rear Suspension Monoshock, Monoshock, single-side swingarm single-side swingarm Front Brakes Twin, vented, 298mm discs Twin, vented, 298mm discs Rear Brakes Single, vented, Single, vented, 298 disc 298 disc Front Wheel Cast, 8-spoke Forged, 10-spoke Front Tire 205/50-17 225/45-18 Rear Wheel Cast, 8-spoke Forged, 10-spoke Rear Tire 265/35-18 255/35-20 Ground Clearance 5.0 inches 5.0 inches Wheelbase 105.0 inches 105.0 inches Curb Weight 1,725 lbs 1,743 lbs Fuel Capacity 9.77 gal 9.77 gal Electronics ABS, Traction Control, ABS, Traction Control, Electronic Stability Electronic Stability Program Program Warranty 2 Years 2 Years

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SLINGSHOT

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SLINGSHOT SL

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Celeste

A labor of love

1998 Harley Davidson Sportster Custom Café Racer by Speedy Motorsports

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CUSTOME FEATUR

Marybeth Sullivan, Thunder Roads Ohio Contributor

bought the 883 Standard in 2011 from a girlfriend who was upgrading. While I was hesitant to buy a Harley I could not find a sport bike that would safely fit my short stature. There were many I adored, but I could only picture myself falling over at a red light in front of everyone and their brother. I had recently had back surgery and was simply looking for something I could ride without issue, something that was cheap, good-looking, and most of all dependable. In 2013 I decided it was time to convert the motor, and my boyfriend Matt had the cylinders machined and installed a 1200 conversion with Wiseco pistons. He also added a K & N Air Charger filter into the Screaming Eagle Air cleaner. It made a huge difference, but I still wanted something that looked racier. In the spring of 2014, I had my 3rd surgery, and my surgeon and I realized that the trauma of riding everyday on the stiff sportster suspension was going to be a problem. Upon some research, Matt found the answer to the problem. He began plotting a plan to transform the little Harley into a Café racer, moving the weight off of my lower back and onto my feet and simultaneously ending my

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constant complaining about wanting to drag a knee now and then. Matt started by rebuilding the rear sub frame and replacing the fender and seat with a tail piece and seat indicative of the café racer style. Instead of buying an aftermarket one, he fabricated it out of my stock gas tank which had already been dented by the previous owner. This was the bulk of the fabrication for the entire build. He dropped in a set of Progressive Suspension lowering springs bringing the front end down a full inch and installed clip on style handle bars which put me over the gas tank where I wanted to be ergonomically. We just reused the Harley triple trees. We kept the stock rear suspension and got some sticky Metzeler sport bike tires for it. I painted the letters white with a paint pen to keep with the race theme. Kathy Zamesko, Theresa Roth and Joe Lewandowski at Weaver Fab and Finishing powder coated my stock mags black to match the frame. We found some very unusual L.E.D. turn signals for the front from Justin at New Rage Cycles. It’s a fun game we play when we are out somewhere to ask people to try and find them. Once he was satisfied with his partially finished product he test drove it and it handled amazing - so much more nimble than in its previous form. When he rode it to dinner that night, in bare metal, to a Barberton Chicken house, everyone stopped to look at it. I’m still not sure as to whether they were admiring it or just trying to figure out what it was. Either way, right then I knew we had something special on our hands and I got butterflies. He moved on to hand making a seat for it. He shaped the seat foam and upholstered it himself. We sent all of the sheet metal and the new fairing off to Tom Wasil for paint and he prepped it and laid a beautiful coat of Chrysler “Blue Streak Pearl” with some extra metal flake in it. After clear coat it was gorgeous. I mean I was grinning so big you couldn’t smack the smile off me for days. We added a simple chrome Harley bar and shield as the only badging so as to not take away from the paint. Matt Smith from 840 Designs in Akron, OH, THUNDERROADSOHIO.COM

Owner Builder City Engine Pipes Front End Bars Front Turn Signals Foot Controls All Fabrication Paint Painter Wheels Pin Striping Photographer Model

Marybeth Sullivan Matt Snyder/Speedy Motorsports Barberton, OH 1200 Harley Davidson One off custom fabricated straight pipes Progressive 1” lowering kit Clip ons from Pure Drive Customs New Rage Cycles Ryca rear set Speedy Motorsports/Matt Snyder Barberton, OH Chrysler Blue Streak Pearl Metallic Tom Wasil Akron, OH Weaver Fab and Finishing Akron, OH 840 Designs/Matt Smith Akron, OH Shawn Berila Photography Allison Wodzak

actually came to the house to stripe the wheels with a subtle blue pinstripe that compliments the paint perfectly. We never even had to remove the wheels. Next Matt installed the rear set we got from Ryca that moved the pegs and controls back and under me for a solid stance when I sit on the bike. The ergonomics are much like a dirt bike, putting my body weight onto my feet and off of my back. This made a huge difference in my riding comfort. Then he fabricated a one-off exhaust for me with street sweeper style tips and finished it with hot rod inspired header wrap. We decided on “titanium” instead of the everyday black color that everyone uses, and it looks great even after the hundreds of miles I’ve already put on it. We chose to side mount the license and I found a star shaped tail light. I have a thing for stars. They always seem to refresh childhood memories of Evel Kneivel. I had to have it, and it has become a topic of conversation to almost everyone who notices it. It’s my everyday rider, it’s little, light and has just enough power. I love the rideability and how nimble it is. Such a huge difference from its original form. I just couldn’t be happier with my little racer. I’m a lucky girl to be so spoiled with this amazing scoot. OHIO’S MOTORCYCLE MAGAZINE

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The

AMA

Photos courtesy AMA and TROH / TRPA Staff Photographers

Nine Decades of Motorcycle Enthusiasm

Contributed by Ed H, Editor TRPA

ounded in 1924, the American Motorcycle Association has been serving the motorcycle community for nine decades. It is the largest member-based advocacy group in the world and aims to “Promote the motorcycle lifestyle and protect the future of motorcycling for generations to come.” That’s a pretty bold statement but one that has a generational track record of success. Without any hesitation, the AMA gives credit to the organizations from which it was born – the Federation of American Motorcyclists (FAM) and the Motorcycle and Allied Trades Association (M&ATA). The really cool historical note is the FAM began with the New York Motorcycle Club, whose members saw the need for a national organization and on September 7th, 1903 had a meeting at their clubhouse where 93 bikers got the ball rolling. Good to know some things never change. Some of the best charity runs and motorcycle 26

events we covered this year got their start around a clubhouse table. One of the premier attendees at that first meeting was George H. Hendee of the Indian Motorcycle Company who brought 109 membership pledges from the New England area. In the original constitution the FAM stated “Its objects shall be to encourage the use of motorcycles and to promote the general interests of motorcycling; to ascertain, defend and protect the rights of motorcyclists; to facilitate touring; to assist in the good roads movement; and to advise and assist in the regulation of motorcycle racing and other competition in which motorcycles engage.” Sound familiar? The FAM lasted 16 years and peaked at 8,247 members before WWI decimated the potential membership. While the FAM was struggling, the M&ATA was founded. Although controlled by the motorcycle industry, the M&ATA began registering clubs and supporting motorcycle activities including the Gypsy Tours. A competition

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Committee was founded to fill the void left when the FAM was no longer able to oversee the responsibilities. After a steady growth over the next five years the M&ATA Riders Division was named the American Motorcycle Association. Over the next several decades the M&ATA eventually merged with the West Coast Motorcycle Safety Council and in 1969 became the Motorcycle Industry Council we know today. Upon it’s founding in 1924 the slogan of the now stand alone AMA was – “An Organized Minority Can Always Defeat an Unorganized Majority.” Sounds like echoes from that 1903 clubhouse table…. Ratification of the AMA was August 1, 1924 and within the month they had operated the first nationally sanctioned AMA event which was most likely the national Six Days Trial held from August 25 through 30 in Ohio, Pennsylvania and adjacent states. The 1,400-mile endurance run started and ended in Cleveland, Ohio. In 1928, the AMA moved headquarters OHIO’S MOTORCYCLE MAGAZINE

Marybeth Sullivan, Thunder Roads Ohio Contributor

away from the M&ATA location in Chicago to Columbus. The AMA moved around Columbus a few times and eventually settled in Pickerington, about 10 miles from the original location. Today the Headquarters building sits on a site with the incredible Hall of Fame Museum. If you have never taken a moment to head on out to Pickerington to visit the AMA Hall of Fame Museum – rework your schedule and ride on out. Whenever we are anywhere near, we make time for a quick run through. The tours change regularly and the motorcycles, gear and historical paraphernalia on display will remind you of the great history that had been bestowed upon us by the greats that carved out motorcycling as we know it today. By 1993, AMA membership had topped 200,000. With an estimated 25 million on-and off-road motorcyclists in America, the advocacy needs of the diverse membership base was needed more than ever. Over the decades the AMA has consistently championed the rights of motorcyclists. Fighting THUNDER ROADS® OHIO MAGAZINE

government restrictions and access and outright bans such as the ones attempted St. Louis and Brockton, Massachusetts, no other organization has so consistently represented the interests of motorcyclists. Along with the advocacy, the sanctioning of the events has allowed American motorcycling to climb to world-class status in all types of events. From GNCC, Road Racing, Hillclimbs and many other AMA events, riders across the country benefit from the decades of work from the dedicated folks at the AMA. At the final race of the AMA sanctioned 2014 GNCC series held in Crawfordsville, Indiana the crowds and racers each set records for attendance. Our sport and lifestyle continues to grow and with that growth the AMA’s role is more vital than ever before. To get an idea of the scope – the AMA sanctions more motorsports and motorcycle recreational events than any other organization in the world.

Membership benefits are huge including everything from discounts on gear, hotels, motorcycle transport, tickets to events and insurance. Members also get a monthly magazine dedicated to all national current events and news updates. Their website is also a great resource and the site header sums it up perfectly – AMA Rights. Riding. Racing. Next time you are out there with the wind and the road, take a minute to thank the folks at the AMA. Even better, take a ride on out to the AMA Hall of Fame Museum in Pickerington and walk through the fantastic exhibits and immerse yourself in the history of this great shared passion and lifestyle we call motorcycling. It’s a celebration of riding and racing – and the history of riding. It truly is a shrine to our passions – and it’s located right here in OHIO! We promise, you’ll come away better for the trip and ready to throw a leg over.

For more information on the current exhibits visit – www.motorcyclemuseum.org For more information or to sign up for your AMA membership visit – ThunderRoadsOhio.com THUNDERROADSOHIO.COM

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THE PROGRESSIVE INTERNATIONAL

MOTORCYCLE SHOW

JANUARY 30 – FEBRUARY 1 | CLEVELAND I-X CENTER

intertime is time for indoor bike shows here in Ohio, and the first big one on the schedule is the Progressive International Motorcycle Show (IMS). These shows have been touring the nation for over 30 years, offering a taste of just about everything “motorcycle” that you could think of. IMS differs from many of the other winter shows due to the fact that it has the full support of virtually every manufacturer out there. All the big boys – Victory, Triumph, Ducati, KTM, BMW, Indian, and of course Harley-Davidson are all represented – to name just a few.

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Fri. January 30, 2015 3:00pm - 8:00pm Sat. January 31, 2015 9:30am - 9:00pm Sun. February 1, 2015 9:30am - 4:00pm Admission is $15 – but there are special $21 combo tickets offered online that include your choice of either a T-shirt or a copy of the WHY WE RIDE dvd. If you don’t already have a copy of this movie – we strongly recommend you take advantage of this offer! IMS is where the manufacturers introduce the year’s new bikes to the consumers – and in many cases they have their entire lineup on display for consideration. Motorcycle enthusiasts can view just about every new motorcycle offered all in one place – under the same roof. I can’t think of another opportunity anywhere for that. Most of the bikes are also right there on the floor where riders can climb on and really get a feel for them. Another unique aspect of the IMS shows is that they cover virtually the entire scope of the motorcycle community – much like Thunder Roads! Dirt bikes, touring bikes, street bikes, scooters, and even ATV’s and side by sides are all on the floor. And not just the new ones. Incredibly restored vintage bikes, legendary rides from years past, and incredible custom builds are all on display. The IMS shows also feature the J&P Cycles Ultimate Builder Custom Bike Show as well. Custom builders from around the world and in our own backyard are invited to compete for nearly $80,000 in awards in six different classes. It’s not just the money, though, for many of the builders. The chance to showcase their builds in the midst of all the industry giants and in front of THOUSANDS of motorcycle enthusiasts brings out the very best that the builder community has to offer. Top it all off with high energy stunt shows, celebrity appearances, free seminars, and so much more! What more could a Midwest rider ask for in the middle of winter? For more information and advance ticket sales, go online: http://www.motorcycleshows.com/ cleveland THUNDER ROADS® OHIO MAGAZINE

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Fall Photo

Motorcycle

hunder Roads Ohio Magazine invited riders to submit photos for a Fall Photo Contest this past fall. Amateurs and professionals were encouraged to submit photos in their choice of the following categories: Motorcycle – primary subject is a motorcycle w/o an accompanying model. Scenic – a location within Ohio. Model – featuring a male or female accompanying a motorcycle or in a motorcycle themed layout. Candid / Event – An event photo capturing a specific moment. Open voting was held online through Facebook and judges from within the industry were given the opportunity to select their choices as well. One photo from each category was selected as the winner by combining each set of voting – with the judge’s scoring given additional weight. We’ve also recognized several photos in each category as worthy of Honorable Mention. Thunder Roads Ohio will be contacting all winners in January regarding their prizes, or you can email us directly at ThunderRoadsOhio@gmail.com to make arrangements when convenient. We would like to thank all that participated in this contest – both as photographers submitting and as enthusiasts voting. Based upon the overwhelming response to this contest, we have already begun plans for another one to be held this summer. We also invite everyone to consider becoming a regular contributor to the magazine. 36

WINNER: JACKIE KRUM

HONORABLE MENTION: ELIZABETH ROSE

HONORABLE MENTION: MICHELLE DEEHR

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HONORABLE MENTION: MIKE DAUGHERTY

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Contest

Scenic

You can view these and other contest photos online at: www.facebook.com/ThunderRoadsOhio

WINNER: JEFFREY HOCKENBERRY

HONORABLE MENTION: KIM DENTY

HONORABLE MENTION: TIFFANIE MORA THUNDER ROADS® OHIO MAGAZINE

HONORABLE MENTION: AMY KRUGER THUNDERROADSOHIO.COM

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Fall Photo Model

WINNER: KEN HAMILTON

HONORABLE MENTION: JEFFREY HOCKENBERRY

HONORABLE MENTION: KEN KEYES

HONORABLE MENTION: SANDRA KOUBECK

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Contest

You can view these and other contest photos online at: www.facebook.com/ThunderRoadsOhio

Candid / Event

WINNER: DAWN BRINSON

HONORABLE MENTION: ELIZABETH ROSE

HONORABLE MENTION: JIM EGGEMAN

HONORABLE MENTION: KEITH SERVERNS

HONORABLE MENTION: RANDY HARROD

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MOTORCYCLE 101 How to Choose a Motorcycle Dealer Unfortunately, though, not all dealerships are built or ran the same. Some businesses are focused purely on the sales alone either by design or just lack of focus. It’s important to consider the service aspects of and customer focus of a dealership before you make your purchase. Saving a few dollars at the point of purchase isn’t worth tying yourself to a bad dealership. There are some basic steps you can take to help ensure that you buy your bike from the right dealership and avoid headaches down the road.

hether you are a novice or experienced pro, finding a good motorcycle dealer that you can work with can sometimes be a challenge. It’s important, though, to find a dealer that you’re comfortable with when shopping for a bike. Even beyond the purchase itself, the dealership should serve as a resource for you in terms of servicing and maintaining the bike – as well as connecting with other riders. A well run dealership recognizes that their commitment to customers and the riding community in general – goes far beyond simply the sale of motorcycles alone. Even if you’re an experienced motorcycle mechanic or just believe that wrenching on your own bike is part of being a biker – you’re going to need a reliable and reasonable resource for parts and sometimes even advice. Even if you have the experience or determination, there are also times when the task is just beyond your ability, the tools and equipment you have access to, or simply the time you have available. If you’re purchasing a new motorcycle, it may also be an issue of work being covered by warranty. In those instances, the dealership you purchased the bike from should serve as a solution to your problems. 40

1. Decide on the style of bike you’re interested in. There are many different types of bikes, and your first step is to narrow down the selection and decide what style you’re interested in. Sport bikes have a sleek, more modern look and position the rider generally higher and more forward in most cases. Touring bikes are intended for longer trips and rider comfort. Cruisers are more powerful street bikes that tend to hold the rider upright or slightly leaned back. Dirt bikes are designed to be ridden off-road and Adventure Bikes are intended for slightly rougher roads and an occasional jaunt down a trail or field. These are some basic generalizations, but it’s important for you to consider what type of bike you’re looking for. Most dealerships will focus on a particular type of motorcycle and you don’t need to waste your time at ones that don’t cater to what you’re looking for. 2. Research Dealers Once you find a few dealerships that offer your type of bike – start researching them online. Contact them directly and ask specific questions. Contact several locations and ask questions. Do they offer new and used bikes? Ask them about

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your preferred model. Do they have in-house financing? Ask about their hours of operation and maintenance process. Dealerships that don’t have time or interest in answering your questions should trigger alarms. It may also be a warning sign if they are hard to reach.

3. Check the Reviews These days there are numerous services that allow customer reviews to be posted online. Once you have a list of prospective dealers, check for customer reviews. Often a basic google search will yield these for you. In many cases they will tell you about the quality of customer service you will receive if you shop the dealership in question. Reviews also inform you about the reliability of products in the store. Avoid any dealership that has shoddy products, high prices or bad customer service. Look closer at dealers with strong customer service reputations. As with any business, read these reviews carefully. Understand that more unhappy customers leave reviews than happy ones. Satisfied customers are enjoying the afternoons riding their bikes. There are also simply bad employees that can tarnish the reputation of a dealership undeservedly. Contacting the owner or management after a bad experience or simply a concerning impression may alert them to a problem down the road – or one that they simply haven’t chosen to address yet. 4. Visit the Dealership Once you have narrowed your list, it is time to visit locations and begin shopping. If you find a machine you like, speak with a salesperson. Focus on OHIO’S MOTORCYCLE MAGAZINE

how he or she is talking to you. Note their knowledge level, kindness, honesty and quick service. The most essential quality is trust. If you don’t feel like you should trust the dealership or salespeople, walk away. Take the time to check out the service area as well. Ask them how far out they are scheduling appointments and how quickly you can expect to get your bike back for something basic – such as changing tires or a particular upgrade you’re considering. If they have a schedule that is full for weeks in advance that isn’t always a good sign. A well run dealership will add staff or extra hours to meet the needs of their customers. Look for signs of activities or involvement within the motorcycle community. Dealerships, especially large mainline factory ones, can serve as hubs for local riders and sources of information on upcoming events. Posters for local rides, rallies, or charity events is a good sign. Riding magazines, such as Thunder

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Roads Ohio, are made available by dealerships focused on serving as a resource for their customers. Dealerships that prohibit local motorcycle mags are often concerned about being compared to other dealerships within the area. This is a short sighted and naive approach, since most riders can easily search online and find information on other shops. Well run dealerships won’t make an effort to hide other options from their customers, having faith in their own operations. If you don’t see the magazines on display, ask a staff member if they have Thunder Roads Ohio or other regional magazines. Don’t just assume they don’t if you can’t find them right away. Many dealerships stock the magazines in a variety of places – and most go through their allotment of magazines quickly. However, if the person scoffs and says that management doesn’t allow them – alarms should go off. Yes – this sounds like self-serving advice; but we aren’t saying that they

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have to offer Thunder Roads Ohio in order to be a credible dealership. However, refusing to offer any is a bad sign.

5. Choose Your Motorcycle Dealer Once you feel as though you have found a good dealership, inspect the bikes and start considering the specific inventory available. Sometimes, a dealership will permit a trusted mechanic to check the vehicle before you purchase it. If you have chosen a good shop, they won’t object. Don’t expect them to allow it to be taken off property, though. Once you have found a good dealership and a bike that meets your needs, you can feel more comfortable with your purchase and your experience afterwards. - The Iron Cowboy, Thunder Roads Ohio Copyright 2014, All Rights Reserved. May not be Reproduced without written authorization.

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65 ANNUAL th

DEVIL’S STAIRCASE AMA PRO HILLCLIMB RACES

REGONIA, Ohio - The Dayton Motorcycle Club hosted the final round of the 2014 VP Racing Fuels AMA Pro Hillclimb series on their Devil’s Staircase hill on Sunday, October 12th. It was the 65th year of this historic race being held on the hill in southern Ohio. At the end of the day, series championships were decided with Vinny Nuzzolilli, John Koester and Matthew Walker clinching titles in Unlimited, Xtreme, and Pro Sport classes, respectively. Competition in the Unlimited class had been particularly fierce throughout the series with the lead alternating between Nuzzolilli and Sallstrom until they tied it up at 160 points apiece in the seventh round. Only the number of wins separated these two riders. Sallstrom, the 2011 and 2013 champion, won four rounds, while 2012 champion Nuzzolilli won three. Nuzzolilli finished two places ahead of Sallstrom at Oregonia, enough to earn the Unlimited class hillclimb title. Koester dominated the Xtreme class for the second year in a row, winning five rounds and netting 163 out of a possible 175 points after seven rounds. He finished fourth on the day and easily scored enough points to fend off his nearest challenger, Sallstrom, and take home the Xtreme class title. Walker took the Pro Sport title in his rookie year with the series, despite missing Round 4. He stood on the podium in rounds one, two and three and won rounds five through seven. Walker finished in fifth place in Oregonia and took the series title with a nine-point margin over his nearest rival, Kyle Welch. Pro Sport riders tackled the hill 42

first, with Walker at the top of the order. He crested the hill in 10.172 seconds to set the pace. Nathan Prebe broke the 10-second barrier and took the lead with a 9.523 E.T. Devin Sweitzer wedged into second at the half, posting a 10.035-second time. When Pro Sport riders made their second run at the hill, Prebe waited to see if his time would hold for first place. Welch moved into second with a 9.884 E.T. while Holmes took over fourth-place, just 0.001 of a second behind Sweitzer. In the end, Prebe chose to ride anyway and proved that his first ride was no fluke, as he topped the hill in 9.311 seconds and took home the win in only his second appearance on the circuit. Welch and Sweitzer rounded out the Pro Sport podium. Xtreme class followed Pro Sport with Koester setting the pace at 8.619 seconds. Phil Libhart took over second place from

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Greg Dunbar with an 8.647-second ride. Robby DeBusk upped the ante, cresting the hill in 8.469 seconds for the lead at the half. In second-half Xtreme action, DeBusk waited and watched while rider after rider tried to best his time. Only Libhart did, crossing the line in 8.285 seconds and forcing a second ride by DeBusk. Nuzzolilli wedged into third with an 8.583-second E.T. Then DeBusk rode, besting his own time but not Libhart’s. DeBusk finished in second behind Libhart, with Nuzzolilli in third. Scott Wentz, Jr. rode first in the Unlimited class, posting an 8.636-second time. Koester quickly eclipsed Wentz with an 8.101-second E.T. Libhart rode, posting a time of 8.400 seconds, followed by Sallstrom with an 8.546-second ride. Nuzzolilli stopped the clock at 8.400 seconds for an exact tie with Libhart. At intermission, Koester led OHIO’S MOTORCYCLE MAGAZINE

Race Results Unlimited: 1. Phil Libhart (Triumph) 2. Vinny Nuzzolilli (Honda) 3. John Koester (Honda) 4. Jay Sallstrom (Yamaha) 5. Scott Wentz, Jr. (Yamaha) Xtreme: 1. Phil Libhart (Triumph) 2. Robby DeBusk (Yamaha) 3. Vinny Nuzzolilli (Honda) 4. John Koester (Honda) 5. Jay Sallstrom (Yamaha) Pro Sport: 1. Nathan Prebe (KTM) 2. Kyle Welch (Honda) 3. Devin Sweitzer (Honda) 4. Adam Holmes (Honda) 5. Matt Walker (Honda)

TODD LIBHART

with Libhart and Nuzzolilli on his tail. Koester played the waiting game when Unlimited climbing resumed. Libhart laid down a perfect ride at 7.898 seconds, jumping into first and forcing a ride by Koester. Nuzzolilli nearly tied Libhart again, but was just 0.009 seconds off the pace. Koester rode, but not fast enough to take back the lead. It was Libhart, Nuzzolilli and Koester, in order. Libhart’s wins in both expert classes THUNDER ROADS® OHIO MAGAZINE

is a feat accomplished by few riders, but even more amazing is that he did it at Oregonia two years in a row. Scott Wentz Jr. won side-by-side exhibition Hill-Cross, beating out Sallstrom and Koester. The AMA Pro Hillclimb Series receives sponsorship from VP Racing Fuels, Wiseco Performance Products, ALCO Cleaning Products, PSYCHMX Graphix, and Tilt-A-Rack. THUNDERROADSOHIO.COM

Thunder Roads Ohio, The Dayton Motorcycle Club, and AMA Pro Racing were saddened by the loss of Todd Libhart, an AMA Pro Hillclimb expert competitor who passed away Sunday, Oct. 12 following a run during the 65th annual Devil’s Staircase Hillclimb event in Oregonia, Ohio. The thoughts and prayers of the entire racing community were with his family and friends. Libhart was an expert licensed rider in both the Xtreme and Unlimited classes and competed with AMA Pro Hillclimb since the 2009 season. The 44-year-old Pennsylvania native raced for the Kreeger and Sons Pro Hillclimbing Team alongside his brother, Phil. OHIO’S MOTORCYCLE MAGAZINE

THE 65 ANNUAL DEVIL’S STAIRCASE th

DEVIL’S STAIRCASE

THE WORLD FAMOUS PARTY ON THE HILL!

s exciting as the races are themselves – the party surrounding them is certainly a huge part of the draw to this historic event. Known as the World Famous Party on the Hill – the hillclimbs draw enthusiasts from throughout the Midwest and even as far away as Quebec to the old school bash. Thunder Roads Ohio Magazine and Led Sled Customs hosted their 2nd Annual Bike Show and vendors circled the field – offering race fans plenty to see and do while attending the races. Pro Sport riders tackled the hill And yes – they really do sell beer by the gallon!

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DEVIL’S STAIRCASE

CUSTOM BIKE GIVEAWAY!

o help celebrate the 65th Anniversary of the Devil’s Staircase Pro Hillclimb Races, The Dayton Motorcycle Club and Thunder Roads Ohio teamed up with The Law Offices of Ralph C Buss and Miller Lite to award a custom motorcycle build by Led Sled Customs to one lucky race fan. Every admission ticket for the event was an entry for the drawing, but the winner had to be present at the time of the drawing to take ownership. Angela Ledbetter, from Lebanon Ohio, happened to be on just about the other end of the property when she heard her name announced. Thousands cheered as she made the dash to the podium to redeem her ticket and win the bike. The customized Sportster was built by Pat Patterson and his team at Led Sled in honor of the event; and was meant to capture the rugged feel of the event with traditional race style cues.

For more photos from this event and many others, please visit our facebook page: www.facebook.com/ThunderRoadsOhio

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Bike: Josh D. Krager | Photo by Bob Mazur, Thunder Roads Ohio

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2014 LONE STAR RALLY, TEXAS

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2014 SPORTSTERZ THUNDER ZONE

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Progressive International Motorcycle Show at I-X Center, Cleveland

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Progressive International Motorcycle Show at I-X Center, Cleveland

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2014 CUSTOM BIKE OF THE YEAR

EYE SPY W

e were first introduced to Josh’s ultimate Rat Bike at this year’s Sportsterz Thunder Zone Bike Show, which seemed only fair since it was the winner of last year’s show that provided the inspiration for this monstrous creation according to its creator. Then we saw her at the Piqua BikeFest Bike Show, followed by the Devil’s Staircase Bike Show. At each of these we witnessed the same shock and awe by those passing by, and at each show – the bike took BEST OF SHOW. Then Josh brought her down to the Lone Star Rally, and I started getting calls from Thunder Roads Publishers down at the Galveston rally. “We just saw the most amazing bike from Ohio…” And she once again was honored as THE PEOPLE’S CHOICE WINNER. While “What the @%&#!?” seems to be the most common reaction to her, we felt certain that this Diesel Mercedes driven bike had to be our 2014 BIKE OF THE YEAR.

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From the Design Scientist, Josh D. Krager: It all started approximately mid-March 2014 while cleaning my 6,000 square foot shop. There I stood, looking at a motor, housed 15 feet up on pallet racking, mixed in amongst mud truck parts. This isn’t just any motor. It is a 1968 Mercedes 2.1L Diesel Power Plant with 23,000 actual kilometers. I pulled this doozy of an engine down and placed it on my work bench. And there it sat for four weeks – and my mind started thinking…”What can I do with this engine?” Friends would come over and the first thing they would ask is, “What are you going to do with that engine?” After hearing the same question over and over, just to shut my friends up and yes, being the smart ass that I am; I said I was going to build a motorcycle. Well, that shut them up! Except for one longtime friend. He bet me that I couldn’t build a bike with that engine AND there was no possible way I could finish the project for Geneva-On-The-Lake’s, September 3, 2014 - Thunder on the Strip Bike Rally. And so the challenge began…… With the ’68 Mercedes 2.1L Diesel engine on the bench, I built the frame around the motor. 15 (fifteen) Giant Iron Worker Wrenches and round tubing became the frame for the bike. I then slept on the idea and awoke the next morning with the next step. I had to call in favors for the wheels. The front wheel: a Harley Davidson Road King spoked wheel and tire. The rear wheel: (I have no idea the exact type) Harley Davidson Reproduction Pie Crust Drag slick. The forks: fabricated by me are Girder style that use 2 (two) air shocks to raise and lower the front with an air compressor mounted under the saddle. The rear end is rigid, so to maximize ride comfort; a suspension was used under the saddle. Back to sleep… Along with the engine came the original ’68 Mercedes manual 4 (four) speed transmission with Reverse. This was coupled to an industrial style, right angle, 1:1 ratio gear box linked with a #50 chain. The cooling system: Honda Aspencade with electric fan and Ford F350 heater THUNDER ROADS® OHIO MAGAZINE

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EYE SPY core. Overflow for the cooling system is a vintage brass fire extinguisher. Front brake: stock Harley Davidson. Rear brake: stock Harley Davidson disc brake. Braided stainless brake lines tied it all together. Another night to sleep on things… Clutch: Honda Goldwing master cylinder, Toyota Land Cruiser slave cylinder and stock Mercedes single disc with a nickel copper clutch line. Electrical system: 60 (sixty) amp screw in fuse – found in homes, with vintage cloth covered wiring leading to vintage knife switches for headlamp, turn signals and air system controls. The headlamp? A barn find. I have no idea the make or year – just that it’s really cool! Front turn signals: 1930’s glass door knobs, Rear brake and turn signals: Vintage Power Pole insulators. All are LED illuminated. Fuel Tank: US Military Jerry can that is secured with a manure spreader chain. Fuel lines: custom formed nickel copper tubing. Foot boards: Vintage 1950’s water skis. Horn and cheesy siren: donated by my best friend. Rear fender: inverted 1950 Ford 8N tractor fenders. Front fender: Old school post hole digger. Chin fairing: an old cultivator plow blade. Handle bars: Right angle Iron Worker Spud Wrenches. Rear View Mirror: Moon Eyes Peep Mirror. Saddle: Vintage Youth saddle. Why yes, yes my ass DOES fit in the saddle. Rear rack: an old iron fence. Finishing touches are left for another day… The friends that asked what the hell I was going to with the Mercedes engine were invited over for an unveiling, so to speak. Or better yet; a Christening. We threw back a gallon of Fireball and too many beers to count, all the while watching the fabulous Scott Menke, Master Pinstriper, add the finishing details to the Rat Bike. Where did I get all the “stuff” you ask? Garage and Barn sales. Auctions. Antique stores. Picking my friends and family members junk piles. My junk piles. Donations left at the shop door. EBay. Craigslist. Swap Meets. I will admit, the majority of the “stuff” was already in my shop. I just made it work. How did I come up with the different ideas? Well, as I have shared…..I slept on it and awoke with the solution. How long did it take to build? Slightly over 4 (four) months however; less than 250 (two hundred fifty) man hours. How much does it weigh? 1312 Pounds (One Thousand Three Hundred Twelve) How fast does it go? 55MPH - Yes, it Rolls Coal! Mileage? 40 MPG Titled 2014 Ohio Motor Vehicle! So about the name… Have you ever seen the Eye Spy Books or played the children’s game while driving? “I spy a water ski….” “I spy a vintage door knob….” “I see a Jerry Fuel Can…” Yup – I think it’s the perfect name!

PHOTOS by BOB MAZUR and CONTRIBUTED BY OWNER. 54

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EL RATON ASESINO

CUSTOME FEATUR

THE YAMAHA YARDBUILT CUSTOM MOTORCYCLE SERIES

XV950 by Walz Hardcore Cycles Geoff Baldwin, ReturnofTheCafeRacers.com -Thunder Roads Ohio Contributor

amaha have released details of the third XV950 in their Yardbuilt custom motorcycle series. German born builder Marcus Walz has taken a similar approach to the builders before him and transformed the cruiser styled XV950 into a more aggressively styled cafe racer. Named “El Raton Asesino” the bike, like many of Marcus’ builds uses prototyped parts and top of the range components to ensure it’s performance is as impressive as its appearance. To transform the XV950 cruiser into a cafe racer styled machine Marcus began by dramatically modifying the bikes rear end. The stock swingarm was modified to accept taller Ohlins rear shocks and a custom subframe raises the rider to sit level with the fuel tank. LSL clip-on bars and custom rear sets reposition the rider for a more aggressive riding position and “prototype” progressive springs in the forks manage the change in rider weight placement. A set of lightweight magnesium Marvic, hand-cast wheels replace the stock Yamaha rims and modified brake calipers mounted to wave rotors dramatically improve braking

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performance. The fuel tank is also a custom made item along with the low profile tail section and hand stitched leather seat. LED rear light units have been integrated into the tail loop while up front things are kept clean with bar end indicators and a custom made headlight cowl. The custom controls mounted to the LSL clip ons include MotoGadget switch gear and “tiny” tachometer, a custom quick throttle system, LSL master cylinder and adjustable clutch and brake levers and a set of MotoGadget M-Grips. While the engine internals remain stock it’s exterior has been tarted up with cylinder head plates, custom Walz casings and a custom forward facing, twin air intake. Finally to add a bit of extra performance bite and plenty of audible bark SC-Project created a custom set of headers feeding a beautifully simple SC-Project muffler. Dressed in a retro inspired Yamaha blue with classic Yamaha speed blocks this is yet another dramatic transformation of the XV950 and has me wondering how Yamaha wants it’s customers to look at the XV range? Is it a street cruiser or a potential cafe racer? What do you think?

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Photos courtesy Walz Hardcore Cycles | Walz-Hardcore-Cycles.com

“I have to admit, after more than 25 years in this business there are only a handful of bikes I have avery special relationship with, and one of them is this Yamaha.” - Marcus Walz

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TRACKSIDE WITH MIKE WEBBER

Buying Your First Track Bike

“B

atman, Batman, Batman.” ”What Robin?” “I have been reading those articles about doing my first track day on a motorcycle and I finally found the bike I want to buy. I am pretty sure it will dust the Batmobile.” “Bite your tongue, nothing beats the Batmobile. What bike are you looking at?” “It’s brand new from Kawasaki. It is a 476 pound sport bike that makes 300 horsepower out of its 1000 cc motor. It is called the H2R. The racers and track day addicts are all excited about it. That crazy attorney who writes this column is calling everyone he knows to see if he can get a long term loaner H2R because he calls himself a ‘journalist’. “ “Holy crustaceans Robin, 300 hundred horsepower in a proper sportbike. That is nearly 80 horsepower more than a moto gp bike and 120 more horsepower than most sport bikes make now. I think we might have to take the batmobile in for a little, umm, tune up. How do they do that?” Announcer: “Fair citizens of Gotham City. Robin is right, the sport bike world is abuzz right now. In the first significant development in the field since BMW introduced their dominant S 1000RR liter sport bike, Kawasaki has really thrown down the gauntlet with the H2R. This bike is made to go only to the track, with little concern for the government regulations that affect street legal bikes. It comes without a muffler and tests out at 120 decibels. The H2R engine is a 998 cc inline 4, four-valve, dual overhead cams with a two-speed, centrifugical supercharger that makes a claimed 300 horsepower. The H2 has a tubular, thin-wall steel trellis frame and a single sided swing arm with traditional sportbike wheelbase. With Brembo brakes and truly bespoke components the expectations are sky high. Unfortunately so is the price.” Director, Off Camera: We contacted our friends at Cycle Specialties in Cincinnati to see what it would take to put one of these in the Bat Cave. Nick, the sales manager, informed us that the H2R will cost $50,000. They are special ordered and require a $2,000 deposit. They also offer the H2 which is a street legal version with slightly less horsepower that will cost $25,000 and require a $500 deposit. He indicated there was 58

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Kawasaki H2R a very limited crew of Kawasaki employees who would build these bikes. At this time he could not offer an estimate when an ordered bike might arrive. “Robin, how much am I paying you?” “Minimum wage, you tight a$%.” “Yeah, well it costs a lot to keep the Wayne Estate up and running. Robin, I don’t think you are going to be able to afford that and I am too cheap, err, too thrifty to give you a raise.” “Holy bank accounts, I have to admit you are right Batman. I do have another idea. I have been cruising around EBay and they have used track bikes all day long. They range in price from $3,000 to $6,000, some even less. They seem to be already converted with race plastic, frame sliders, exhausts, suspension, rear sets and all kind of racing goodies. Just because I have to drive to Montana to get the one I really like shouldn’t be too much of a problem. What is 37 hours each way in the Bat Truck if I am getting a deal on a track bike.” “Robin, not only is there EBay, there are hundreds of sources to find a track bike. These include Wera sites, Nesba, CCS, STT and Craigslist. Just Google these terms and they will come up. You will also see lots of articles about first time track days. Obviously, you are buying a bike that has been

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used in a high performance setting that may have experience a small tip over or even worse. You will either need to be fairly knowledgeable or have a mechanic check the bike out. I will send Alfred along to look after you. If you can find a bike that has already been converted you are ahead of the game. The cost of putting race plastic, rear sets, exhaust etc all quickly add up. If this is your first track day experience I suggest going smaller (600cc) and cheaper as you are more likely to fall over in the beginning of your track day career.” Announcer: “Fair citizens who want to really wick it up on a racetrack, listen now and hear me later. Now is the time to make the commitment. Whether you go to the highest end or

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the lowest end of the spectrum the amount of fun really won’t change much. Do what it takes to get access to a bike you can take out on the track. You will find it is a lot more fun than riding around the streets of Gotham City, what with all those weird criminals we have. No other city seems to have felons dressing up in costumes to go commit crimes. Go figure.” Mike Weber, Attorney, handles motorcycle accident, automobile accident and workers compensation cases in Ohio and Kentucky. If you have been injured in any way or have questions please give him a call. He can be reached at 513 621 2260 or at MLWeber@fuse.net.

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2012

PROJECT BIKE

KTM 450 XC-W

RENEGADE GENTLEMEN CUSTOMS

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t started out as a standard dirt bike. We bought the KTM back in late July with a few light modifications. Once we had the bike for a few weeks, the question came around, “What are you going to do to it to make it yours?” After doing a lot of research, we determined that the super moto conversion gave the bike the look that we were after. The conversion also greatly improves the handling and the way the power is put to the ground. We started by ordering Warp9 17 inch wheels that we wrapped in Bridgestone S20 street tires. With these tires being smaller than the stock ones, we regeared the bike with a smaller final drive sprocket to keep the top speed close the same. Next, we wanted to make it look more street legal so we added a brake light switch, license plate light, integrated turn signals, a new headlight with high beam and low beam, and even a mirror. With all of these new electronics we had to completely rewire the bike and while we were at it we threw a power programmer in to help tune the bike to the KTM race exhaust. Now that it had all of this new found power and handling it would be irresponsible to not upgrade the braking system. From the factory the KTM comes stock with very capable Brembo brakes so all we had to do was add a larger front rotor spec'd at 320 m.m. and relocate the stock caliper using the Warp9 bracket. With just these few mods we managed to improve on the handling, power, and stopping capabilities of this already able bike. Not to mention it added some killer looks to it too. And it meets the DOT regulations for a street legal motorcycle as well.

Tyler & the guys at Renegade Gentlemen Customs

Starting Poin

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GNCC 2014 Season Wrap-Up

Contributed by Ed H, Editor TRPA

he 2014 GNCC Series was one for the record books. Attendance of both riders and fans were at an all time high and for good reason. Course modifications and phenomenal media coverage created more excitement throughout the events. Combining the best of several types of racing, this series truly sets the bar for the best of the best and builds upon decades of tradition. Whether you are new to off-road motorcycling and ATV’s or an experienced racer the GNCC weekend events showcase the best riders and sponsors in the industry. Even if you are just a fan or are looking for an introduction to motocross racing, GNCC events offer exciting opportunities to discover all the sport has to offer. Most of the riders, from the pros on down, are approachable and happy to chat with fans and give advice on riding and gear. Corporate sponsors set up tents with product specialists to walk you through all the latest technology and upgrades. As we put 2014 in the books, we congratulate all of the riders on their season and wish the best for them next year. For more information on the upcoming 2015 season visit – www.gnccracing.com

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2014 GNCC SERIES FINAL TOP 20 BIKES Place Make Nbr Name Points 1 KTM 1 KAILUB RUSSELL 348 2 YAM 4 JOSH STRANG 241 3 YAM 7 JORDAN ASHBURN 223 4 KTM 112 CHARLES MULLINS 208 5 KTM 8 GRANT BAYLOR 202 6 HSQ 10 ANDREW DELONG 178 7 YAM 5 PAUL WHIBLEY 177 8 KTM 514 STEWARD BAYLOR JR 134 9 HON 3 CHRISTOPHER BACH 123 10 YAM 212 RICKY RUSSELL 117 11 HON 18 TREVOR BOLLINGER 110 12 HON 12 TAKESHI KOIKEDA 105 13 HON 989 THADDEUS DUVALL 99 14 KTM 264 RYAN SIPES 95 15 KTM 222 NICK DAVIS 77 16 HON 17 LAYNE MICHAEL 62 17 KTM 9 JASON THOMAS 58 18 HSQ 27 CRAIG DELONG 57 19 KTM 229 JESSE GROEMM 45 20 KTM 22 CHRISTOPHER DOUGLAS 42

2014 GNCC SERIES FINAL TOP 20 BIKES Place Make 1 SUZ 2 YAM 3 HON 4 HON 5 YAM 6 HON 7 SUZ 8 HON 9 YAM 10 HON 11 HON 12 YAM 13 YAM 14 KTM 15 HON 16 YAM 17 YAM 18 HON 19 HON 20 HON THUNDER ROADS® OHIO MAGAZINE

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Nbr 1 2 521 10 15 9 4 997 11 6 341 5 20 376 149 7 8 564 17 21

Name Points CHRIS BORICH 308 WALKER FOWLER 303 ADAM MCGILL 250 JARROD MCCLURE 212 COLE RICHARDSON 172 BRYCEN NEAL 159 CHRIS BITHELL 157 MARSHAL GOINGS 140 JAY SHADRON 135 BRADEN HENTHORN 123 BRIAN WOLF 123 KEVIN YOHO 115 JOSHUA MERRITT 112 LANDON WOLFE 96 BRENT STURDIVANT 90 JOHNNY GALLAGHER 85 JEFFREY PICKENS 74 MARTIN CHRISTOFFERSON 67 FRED MARLEY 57 RANDY HAMILTON 28

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JUST BECAUSE YOU CAN DOESN’T MEAN YOU SHOULD

thought that perhaps I would start the year out on a positive note. I don’t typically mean to portray negative feelings about subjects when I write, but it often sounds that way. Honestly my objective is to educate the masses on Club lifestyle, experiences, suggestions, rules, etc. It’s not to dissuade readers from enjoying the club life; it’s to help to ensure that the integrity of those who have gone before us and laid down the path for us to follow is respected. I personally see it as a positive start to 2015 that SOA is done and over. Yes, I get it that it was only a TV show. Unfortunately the general public didn’t always get it and there have been countless pop up clubs of every origin of people who ran out and bought a bike, and who have sewn on a patch with a few of their former bowling buddies without any knowledge or even consideration for the actual lifestyle since the show aired. I hope the trend starts to go the other way. The market will be flooded with used bikes with low mileage. I recently posted on my Facebook page a picture of a dude wearing a SOA back patch on his vest with an MC Cube and on Ohio Bottom Rocker (that someone obviously added) and TRO Editor “The Iron Cowboy” re-posted the picture on the TRO Page along with a Public Service Announcement suggesting that it probably isn’t a good idea to go running around pretending to be a clubber when you aren’t. That single post garnered over 8,000 likes and close to 9,000 comments from as far away as Canada and England. By far the most responded to subject matter we have ever posted. In fact as I write this article several weeks after that original post, I am still getting notifications today of new comments being posted on the picture. Some are just silly, but most are very passionate

THE PICTURE THAT SPAWNED 8,000 COMMENTS

either pro or opposed to the message. I was pleasantly surprised at the majority of posers who got the message and agreed. The ones who simply didn’t get it, or who were adamant in their opinions regarding a “Free Country” to wear whatever you want, well those are the people I don’t want anywhere near my club or me. Isn’t it odd that shows like “ER” and “Greys Anatomy” were just as popular, but there wasn’t a big influx of people running around pretending to be doctors. It’s not lost on me that it may seem a bit silly to get all up in arms about a TV show. After all, it’s not any more real than the Looney Tunes many of us grew up watching on Saturday mornings. The issue becomes when people who lack the respect or simply the knowledge go out into the real world and try to act out what they see on TV. I don’t recall too many 6 foot chickens running around the farm I grew up on beating our dog with a stick. It was only made worse by the “Reality” shows that tried to follow on the heels of the success of SOA like “Warlocks Rising” or “The Devils Ride”. I found those profoundly odd knowing

what I know about the history of some of those clubs and clubs associated with them. In the case of one, I understand it didn’t get much past their leadership before the show was cancelled and possibly some chapters shut down from what I heard. I’ve seen a few documentary type shows that offered a slight glimpse inside the MC walls,(other than the Gangland Sensationalism) but never a full blown series with any respectable MC that would allow cameras into their world. I was raised to consider it an honor and a privilege to be invited in the company of these men, the very men I ride with today, and not from your couch with a bowl of popcorn every Tuesday evening. Over the years I’d get asked from time to time if I saw this episode or that episode of SOA. Well we used to have our weekly club meetings on the night SOA aired so I’d simply respond that I wasn’t watching it on TV, I was out living Club Life in its reality. Of course we all know this is ‘Merica, the land of the Marketing Executives right to make millions of dollars for Holly-weird. So perhaps Disney will buy the rights to SOA, because that’s where it belongs in my opinion, in cartoon land. Fear not Loyal Fans, I hear a sequel may be in talks… So, in keeping with the “Positive” vibe I had hoped to start off the year, let’s all pray the nonsense subsides, and the pretenders go back to their less dangerous hobbies of Golf or Softball, and the leave the MC lifestyle to those that actually live it and respect it. There’s a saying my Ole Lady and I have used in many circumstances from Karaoke Singers to Strippers; “Just because you can, doesn’t mean you should.” As always, thanks for reading. Keep it REAL! Tabasco

I always welcome open dialog on any subject matter I write. Feel free to email me or visit the “Tabasco – Thunder Roads Ohio Magazine” Facebook Page and leave an intelligent comment. The link is www.facebook.com/TabascoThunderRoadsOhio or email me at Tabasco.tro@gmail.com.

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BUCKEYE FIREARMS REPORT

BY JIM IRVINE

GOVERNOR KASICH SIGNS LANDMARK FIREARMS LEGISLATION INTO LAW

overnor John Kasich signed HB 234 (Allow Noise Suppressors While Hunting) on Friday, December 19. It will become effective after 90 days, or about March 20. (We will update the article when an official date is published.) A signing ceremony was held at the statehouse to allow the many people involved to witness the signing of this significant piece of legislation. HB 234 started out as a simple bill to allow the use of suppressors while hunting. Suppressors are legal. Hunting is legal. Essentially the only questions was, “should it be legal to chew gum and walk at the same time?” This bill should have swept through the statehouse quickly, but confusion about what a suppressor does (it’s not a “silencer”) and myths about their use by poachers and assassins (not anywhere near as often as Hollywood portrays) caused delays. There was also confusion about the process of addressing the issue legislatively versus via

hunting regulations. As a result, time, money and energy were needed to pass as simple of bill as one could have on firearms. In any lame duck session, it is common to combine or “Christmas tree” bills by hanging on other provisions in a bill that legislators think will pass. This session was no different. Portions of HB 203 (Concealed Carry & Self-Defense Law Reform), HB 191 (Align Firearms Definitions), SB 338 (Concealed Carry Reform), and HB 454 (Rule Modification for Concealed Carry in School Zones) were amended into a giant substitute bill in the Senate, as it became apparent that only one gun bill was going to reach the Governor’s desk this session. Unfortunately, the HB 454 sections were removed before passage, but some other provisions were picked up. Representative Cheryl Grossman (R) obviously deserves thanks, as it was her bill that completed the process and will become law. Senator Joe Uecker (R) has also been

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outstanding to work with as his bill, SB 338 was introduced, fast tracked, delayed, modified, and finally died. His work on his bill allowed for amendments into HB 234 before passage. Senator Uecker is certainly a team player who put in significant effort that resulted in a better final product for gun owners. Representative Terry Johnson (R) also deserves huge credit for his work on HB 203 - another bill that will not become law, but his work getting his bill through the House with a strong vote under difficult circumstances deserves strong mention. Johnson never quit on his bill, the contents, or the ideals he continually strives for. He has worked three firearms bills though the Ohio House, but only HB 495 became law (last session). It would be easy to overlook Johnson, but that would be a huge mistake. His work on the issues made it possible to amend large sections of HB 203 into HB 234 in the Senate. Johnson is a consummate professional who puts the cause of restoring our Second Amendment rights above himself. Chairman Bill Coley (R) has had his work cut out for him in the

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Senate Civil Justice Committee. With many gun bills, extreme emotions, and little time, he packed the most amount of meat he could into one bill and moved it through his committee. While he was not able to bring all groups on board, changes were made at the behest of the NRA, Buckeye Firearms Association, Buckeye State Sheriff Association, Ohio Prosecuting Attorneys Association, American Silencer Association, and numerous legislators. That is a tall task, especially under the time constraints of a lame duck session. In the end, HB 234 is a fairly complicated 88 page act that is the product of many people’s hard work. We must also thank Speaker Bill Batchelder (R), Senate President Keith Faber (R) and Senator Larry Obhof (R) for their leadership in passing a good bill, and coordinating efforts to bring it all together on time. As we have done with past large bills, we will cover various aspects of the bill in a series of articles to help gun owners understand the various changes to Ohio law.

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BUCKEYE FIREARMS REPORT continued

Firearms Association is a grassroots organization dedicated to defending and advancing the right of citizens Bto uckeye own and use firearms for all legal activities, including

self-defense, hunting, competition, and recreation. For more information, including information on membership, please visit them online: buckeyefirearms.com

Here are the issues addressed in HB234: • Hunting with suppressors will be legal. • Sheriffs shall sign Form 4 CLEO signoffs under the same process and fees as a CHL. Improved reciprocity/recognition that will make an Ohio CHL accepted in more states. • Ohio CHL will remain valid until expiration date for someone who moves out of state. • Non-residents working in Ohio may be issued an Ohio CHL. • Eligibility for a CHL is closely aligned with “allowed to own a gun under U.S. laws.” • All restorations of rights will now work for all gun rights. • Minor Misdemeanors are not a disqualifier for CHLs. • OPOTC training good for CHL, no expiration. • DD-214 valid for 10 years from issuance (currently 6 years). • NICS compliant background check for CHLs • Training reduced from 12 to 8 hours, incl. 2 hours range time. Competency standard unchanged. • Classroom training can be done in person or online. • Instructors from any national gun advocacy organization now eligible to conduct training. • Sheriff may use CHL funds for other firearms-related training. • Attorney General to maintain Application Form (text of Application Form no longer in statute). • Correct definition of an “Automatic Firearm” (Delete 31 round magazine rule). • Ability to purchase long guns in any state (currently only allowed in bordering states). • Parking lot carry not municipal trespass (already not state trespass). • Buckeyes can carry on non-resident licenses, but only from states with written reciprocity agreements from substantially similar states. This will function like current law.

Each of these is an improvement to current law for gun owners. While different people will benefit from different sections of the bill, no group of gun owners is being harmed to help out some other group. Some provisions of this bill will take time before the benefit is felt by many people, but in time we expect this bill to benefit most gun owners. Lastly, we thank all gun owners who took the time to call/ write/email their elected officials. A special thanks goes out to those who worked on campaigns for endorsed candidates. Without grassroots support for the work we do, we would not have the success we’ve had. Jim Irvine is the Buckeye Firearms Association Chairman, BFA PAC Chairman and recipient of the NRA-ILA’s 2011 “Jay M. Littlefield Volunteer of the Year Award” and the CCRKBA’s 2012 “Gun Rights Defender of the Year Award.”

For more information on “silencers” and suppressed firearms, we recommend contacting our friends at Vandalia Range and Armory. They are the experts on the equipment and what’s all involved. www.vra-ohio.com (937) 387-0486 for Vandalia Range and Armory

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hunder Roads Ohio is pleased to recognize these partners as businesses that we recommend. These are also locations where you can pick up your Thunder Roads Ohio copies each month. For information on adding your business to this listing and joining the TRO Network - please call 440-678-8608.

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PARTS AND ACCESSORIES Amsoil Thunderroadsohio.com ANAC Baggers 4033 E. Main Street Whitehall, Ohio 43213 (614) 745-1077 Arts Parts Custom Cycle & Service 35 E. Church St. Marshallville, OH 44645 (330) 855-3762 B.G. Motorcycle 110 West Poe Rd Bowling Green, Ohio 43402 (418) 352-6640 Bear’s Vintage MetalWorks 408 West Main St Ravenna, OH 44266 (330) 297-7755 Evolution Machine & Cycle 15385 Gaskill Rd. Alliance, OH 44601 823-5454 IMBBA Certified! Papa Bags P.O.Box 1673 Medina, Ohio 44258 (330) 242-1588 Overkill Motor Works 8750 Sprucevale Rd Rogers, Ohio 44455 (330) 227-2161 Robert’s Cycle 1201 N. Main St. Marion, OH 43302 (740) 223-0999 Soles Motor Sports LLC 101 North Defiance St Stryker, Ohio 43557 (419) 682-1108 VIP Autoworks 7564-A Mentor Ave Mentor, OH 44060 (440) 527-8743 THUNDER ROADS® OHIO MAGAZINE

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PATCH SEWING Irv’s Cycle Leather Outlet 9156 State Route 14 Streetsboro, OH 44241 (330) 626-9600 L.A. Alterations 526 Fouse Ave. Akron, OH 44310 (330) 375-1850

SALES (TRAILERS) Majestic Trailer & Hitch 1750 E. Waterloo Road Akron, Ohio 44306 (330) 798-1698

RETAIL Avon Boot Shop 38450 Chester Rd. Avon, OH 44011 (440) 934-3230 Biker to Biker Consignment Shop 489 Batavia Pike Cincinnati, Ohio 45244 718-7559 Bison Leather Co. 7409 W. Central Ave Toledo, Ohio 43617 (419) 517-1737 Damsel in Defense Joanna Haslam Independent Damsel Pro (614) 374-0602 Guardian Oil Protector kbents.com Hudson Leather 14700 Ohio 15 Pioneer, OH 43554 (419) 485-8531 Irv’s Cycle Leather Outlet 9156 State Route 14 Streetsboro, OH 44241 (330) 626-9600 Kames Sports 8516 Cleveland Ave. NW North Canton, OH 44720 (330) 499-4558 Norton Sporting Goods 100 Norton Rd Waldo, OH 43356 (740) 726-2616

SALES (MOTORCYCLE) Action Extreme Sports 241 16th St SW New Philadelphia, OH 44663 (330) 365-9022 Action Sport Cycles Inc. 11333 Union Ave NE Alliance, Ohio 44601 (330) 821-8777 Addy Polaris 2143 Brightwood Rd. New Philadelphia, OH 44663 (330) 339-3351 Adventure Harley-Davidson 1465 State Rt 39 NW Dover, OH 44622 (330) 364-6519 Adventure Motorcycle & Accessories 20660 US RT 6 Weston, OH 43569 (419) 669-4709 American Heritage Motorcycles 2821 Bishop Road Willoughby Hills, Ohio 44092 (440) 943-3400 10575 Loveland Madeira Rd Loveland, OH 45140 (888) 713-3949

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Buckminn’s D&D 1213 Cincinnati Ave Xenia, OH 45385 (937) 376-3344 C & A Harley-Davidson 7610 Commerce Place Plain City, Ohio 43064 (614) 764-2453 Carlton Harley-Davidson 11771 State Route 44 Mantua, OH 44255 (330) 274-3141 Century Harley-Davidson 3053 Eastpointe Drive Medina, OH 44256 (330) 721-1702 Competiton Accessories 343 W. Leffel Springfield, OH 45506 (937) 323-0513 Eastgate Harley-Davidson 699 Old State Route 74 Cincinnati, OH 45245 (513) 528-1400 Gover Harley-Davidson 1501 E. Ash St. Piqua, Ohio 45356 (937) 773-8733 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 Harley-Davidson Sales & Service 862 County Rd R3 Napoleon, OH 43545 (419) 592-7123 Honda East 1230 Conant St. Maumee, OH 43537 (877) 437-1631

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THE TRO NETWORK Presented by The Law Offices of Ralph C. Buss | www.RalphBuss.com Honda Marysville Motorsports 640 Colemans Crossing Blvd Marysville, OH 43040 (937) 645-4080 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 Joe’s Cycle Shop 3315 N. Dixie Dr. Dayton, OH 45414 (937) 278-8081 Johnny K’s Powersports 420 Youngstown-Warren Rd Niles, Ohio 44446 (330) 544-9696 8450 Orrin Dr. Burbank, OH 44214 (330) 302-4155 Lake Erie Harley-Davidson 38401 Chester Rd Avon, OH 44011 (440) 934-5000 Lehman’s Big Open Road 401 N. Wooster Ave. Dover, Ohio 44622 (330) 364-6936 Mad River Harley-Davidson 5316 State Rt. 250/Milan Rd Sandusky, OH 44870 (419) 502-2244 Mathias BMW Cycle 851 Commercial Ave SE New Philadelphia, OH 44663 (330) 308-8868 Napoleon Harley-Davidson 862 American Rd Napoleon, OH 43545 (419) 592-7123

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JANUARY 21, 2015 QSL Valley View Indoor Bike Night! THUNDER ROADS FEATURE EVENT / RIDE STOP Quaker Steak & Lube 5935 Canal Rd. Valley View, OH 44984 OFFICIAL CALENDAR GIRL SEARCH - MODEL PARTY! TRO Photographers on Site! Chance to win modeling contract! Music by DJ Brian w/ Blueprint Entertainment Biker Games, Vendors, Prizes and MORE! JANUARY 23-25, 2015 Progressive International Motorcycle Show Dallas, TX http://www.motorcycleshows.com/ JANUARY 24, 2015 Used Bike Showcase South East Harley-Davidson 23105 Aurora Rd Bedford Heights,OH 44146 9am-5pm Partnered with South East Metric Motorcycles southeastharley.com JANUARY 24, 2015 EASYRIDERS 2015 BIKE SHOW TOUR Charlotte, NC JANUARY 24, 2015 Street Glide Give Away! Century Harley-Davidson 3053 Eastpointe Dr. Medina, OH 44256 centuryhd.com JANUARY 24, 2015 Stichter Auction Miami County Fairgrounds Duke Building- 650 N. County Rd. 25-A Troy, OH 45373 JANUARY 30- FEBRUARY 1, 2015 PROGRESSIVE INTERNATIONAL MOTORCYCLE SHOW THUNDER ROADS FEATURE EVENT / RIDE STOP I-X Center One IX Center Drive. Cleveland, OH 44135 Ultimate Bike Builder Show, Demos, Entertainment, Celebrity Appearances, Vendors, and More! motorcycleshows.com/cleveland OHIO’S MOTORCYCLE MAGAZINE

FEBRUARY 6-8, 2015 Timonium Motorcycle Show Maryland State Fairgrounds 2200 York Rd, Lutherville-Timonium, MD 21093 For More Info Call: 410-561-7323 FEBRUARY 6-8, 2015 Progressive International Motorcycle Show Minneapolis, MN http://www.motorcycleshows.com/ FEBRUARY 6-8, 2015 Amsoil AMA Arenacross Mohegan Sun Arena Wilkes-Barre, PA arenacross.com FEBRUARY 7, 2015 EASYRIDERS 2015 BIKE SHOW TOUR Nashville, TN FEBRUARY 7-8, 2015 V-TWIN EXPO This is a TRADE ONLY show. You must be a bona fide dealer / retailer to attend this trade show. Cincinnati, Ohio www.vtwin-expo.com FEBRUARY 13, 2015 Steak Fry Lake Erie Harley-Davidson 38401 Chester Rd. Avon, OH 44011 Call For Reservations. Limited Seating 440 934-5000 FEBRUARY 13-15, 2015 Progressive International Motorcycle Show Chicago, IL The ultimate motorcycle manufacturers show - featuing all the new models, the J&P Custom Builder Series, and vendors from across the nation! http://www.motorcycleshows.com/ FEBRUARY 14, 2015 Winter Melt Down Party Sponsored by A.B.A.T.E of Ohio Region Zero Sail Inn- Milton, OH FEBRUARY 15, 2015 Zanesville Trail Riders Motorcycle Swap Meet & Bike Show Muskingum County Fairgrounds 1300 Pershing Rd. Zanesville, OH 43701 Admission: $5 Children 12 and Under FREE zanesvilletrailriders.com THUNDER ROADS® OHIO MAGAZINE

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OHIO’S MOTORCYCLE MAGAZINE

UPCOMING MOTORCYCLE EVENTS Presented by

Cincinnati 513.794.3426 | Cleveland 440.777.7272 | Columbus 614.336.4240

NORTHWEST OHIO EVENTS

NORTHEAST OHIO EVENTS

FEBRUARY 20-22, 2015 Indiana Motorycle Expo Exposition Hall at the Indiana State Fairgrounds 1202 E. 38th St., Indianapolis, IN indianamotorcycleexpo.com FEBRUARY 21, 2015 Cabin Fever Soup Cook-Off Lake Erie Harley-Davidson 38401 Chester Rd. Avon, OH 44011 Call To Reserve Your Spot In The Competition! @ 440 934-5000 FEBRUARY 21-22, 2015 Easyriders Bike Show THUNDER ROADS FEATURE EVENT / RIDE STOP Greater Columbus Convention Center 400 N. High St. Columbus, OH 43215 “The Biggest,Baddest, Bike Show in North America!” easyriderevents.com MARCH 6-15, 2015 Daytona Bike Week Daytona Beach, FL officialbikeweek.com MARCH 14, 2015 MONSTER ENERGY AMA SUPERCROSS Lucas Oil Stadium. Indianapolis, Indiana amasupercross.com

CENTRAL OHIO EVENTS

SOUTHERN OHIO EVENTS MOTOCROSS/RACING EVENTS

MARCH 20-22, 2015 I-X Piston Power Show THUNDER ROADS FEATURE EVENT / RIDE STOP THUNDER ROADS OHIO FEATURE EVENT The ultimate custom show with more vehicles on display than any other show in the nation. www.pistonpowershow.com MARCH 21, 2015 MONSTER ENERGY AMA SUPERCROSS Ford Field. Detroit, Michigan amasupercross.com MARCH 25-29, 2015 Arizona Bike Week WestWorld of Scottsdale 16601 N Pima Rd, Scottsdale, AZ azbikeweek.com APRIL 11-12, 2015 AMA Amateur National Motocross ChampionshipMid-east Area Qualifier Malvern MX- Waynesburg, OH mxsports.com APRIL 12, 2015 Akron Motorcycle Swap Meet Summit County Fairgrounds Arena Complex 229 E. Howe Rd. Tallmadge, OH For More Info Call 330 324-7230

#AMARaffleRestore

Restoration In Progress

April 18-19, 2015 AMA Amateur National Motocross ChampionshipNortheast Area Qualifier Pleasure Valley Raceway-Armagh, PA mxsports.com APRIL 18-19, 2015 AMA Amateur National Motocross ChampionshipMid-east Area Qualifier Wild Cat Creek MX- Rossville, IN mxsports.com APRIL 22-26, 2015 Laughlin RIver Run Colorado Belle Casino Resort 2100 S. Casino Drive, Laughlin, NV laughlinriverrun.com APRIL 24-26, 2015 19th Annual Leesburg Bikefest Leesburg, FL Free admission, live bands on 8 stages, over 40 free concerts, demos, ms. bikefest contest, and more! APRIL 25, 2015 8th Annual Fisher House Ride Quaker Steak & Lube-Columbus, OH www.combatvet.org/events/month.asp

2015 Raffle Bike

1965 HARLEY-DAVIDSON FLH ELECTRA GLIDE Buy a Ticket and Follow the Build at www.MotorcycleMuseum.org (800)342-5464 Proceeds benefit the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame

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UPCOMING MOTORCYCLE EVENTS Presented by NORTHWEST OHIO EVENTS

Cincinnati 513.794.3426 | Cleveland 440.777.7272 | Columbus 614.336.4240 NORTHEAST OHIO EVENTS

APRIL 27, 2015 12th Annual Rally For The Troops Start: 100 Public Square. Cleveland, OH 44113 End: Rock & Roll Harley-Davidson 14550 Lorain Ave. Cleveland, OH 9am-3pm MAY 2, 2015 ABATE OF OHIO MOTORCYCLE AWARENESS RALLY THUNDER ROADS FEATURE EVENT / RIDE STOP 9:30am - 11am Registration at A.D. Farrow H-D 12 noon Escorted Parade leaves for State Capital 1:30 - 5pm After Rally Party! For more information, visit www.Abate.com MAY 2-3, 2015 AMA Amateur National Motocross ChampionshipNortheast Area Qualifier HIgh Point- Mount Morris, PA mxsports.com MAY 2-3, 2015 AMA Amateur National Motocross ChampionshipMid-east Area Qualifier Baja Acres- Millington, MI mxsports.com MAY 3, 2015 Blessing of the Bikes & Show Sponsored by Abate of Ohio Region 16 Wiley’s Lounge 518 West Main St. Amherst, OH 44074 MAY 3, 2015 32nd Annual Louie Run Lake County Fairgrounds-Painesville, OH louierun.org MAY 8-17, 2015 SPRING BEACH RALLY Garden City Beach, SC springbeachrally.com

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CENTRAL OHIO EVENTS

SOUTHERN OHIO EVENTS MOTOCROSS/RACING EVENTS

MAY 9-10, 2015 AMA Amateur National Motocross Championship Mid-east Area Qualifier Daniel Boone MX- London, KY mxsports.com MAY 16-17, 2015 Mtn. Dew AMA ATV National Motocross High Point- Morris, PA atvmotocross.com MAY 23-24, 2015 AMA Amateur National Motocross ChampionshipMid-east Area Qualifier Briarcliff MX- Nashport, OH mxsports.com MAY 29, 2015- JUNE 7, 2015 OHIO BIKE WEEK THUNDER ROADS FEATURE EVENT / RIDE STOP Sandusky, OH ohiobikeweek.com JUNE 1-6, 2015 Americade Lake George, NY americade.com JUNE 6-8, 2015 Queen City Mods & Rockers Rally Cincinnati, OH queencitymodsvsrockers.com JUNE 7, 2015 Walneck’s Motorcycle Swap Meet Clark County Fairgrounds 4401 S. Charleston Pike Springfield, OH 8am-3pm Admission $7 For More Info Call: (630) 985-2097 walneckswap.com JUNE 11-14, 2015 Republic of Texas Biker Rally Travis County Expo Center- Austin, TX rotrally.com

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JUNE 13-21, 2015 Laconia Motorcycle Week Laconia, NH laconiamcweek.com JUNE 19-21, 2015 Armory Fest Military Vehicle Show- Alliance, OH marlborovolunteersinc.com JUNE 20-21, 2015 Aires AMA/NATC Mototrials National Championship Series Toronto, OH amaracing.com, mototrials.com JUNE 27, 2015 Thunder In The Boro Chuggers Bar & Grille 9244 Market Square Dr. Streetsboro, OH 44241 For More Info Call: 330-422-0400 JUNE 27-28, 2015 AMA Amateur National Motocross ChampionshipMid-east Area Regional Sunday Creek Raceway (Youth)- Millfield, OH mxsports.com JULY 4, 2015 Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship Red Bud National- Buchanan. Michigan promotocross.com JULY 10-12, 2015 AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course- Lexington, OH Swap Meet, Stunt Show, Road Racing, Motocross, Hare Scramble, Trials, Dirt Racing, Demo Rides, Seminars, and More! AMA Member Weekend Pass-$45 in advance, $25 day pass in advance Kids Under 12 Are Free americanmotorcyclist.com JULY 15-18, 2015 ROAR ON THE SHORE Erie, PA One of the fastest growing rallies in the Midwest. roarontheshore.com

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RECIPES Bacon and Caramelized Onion Savory Pie

Hot Fudge Oreo Gourmet Cheesecake

Serve 4-6 (or 3 hungry bikers) Ingredients: 1 can readymade pie dough (comes with 2 sheets) 4 strips smoked thick cut bacon, diced 2 medium white onions, diced 1 tsp garlic, minced 1 tsp dried rosemary, minced 1/2 cup shredded parmesan 1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese 1/2 cup walnut, chopped black pepper 1 egg 1 tbsp milk Instructions: 1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees and allow pie crust to come to room temp 2. Heat a large sauté pan over medium-low and slow cook the bacon to render off most of the fat 3. Continue cooking the bacon until it starts to get crisp, remove the bacon to a paper towel lined plate to cool. 4. Drain off grease to a heat safe container – don’t waste it down the sink 5. Add 2 tbsp bacon grease back to the pan and add the onions and garlic 6. Slowly cook the onions over a low heat for about 20 minutes until caramelized 7. Place the pie dough on a greased cookie sheet 8. Start by mixing the two cheeses together with the herbs and pepper then divide in half. 9. Sprinkle over each piece of dough leaving about 1 1/2 inches around the edge free 10. Spoon half the onions over the cheese followed by the bacon and walnuts 11. Fold the edges of the dough up and over the filling. 12. Mix the egg with the milk and brush the edges of the pies. 13. Bake for 20-30 minutes. The pie is done with the crust is slightly golden brown and shiny.

Thanks to The Biker Chick’s Kitchen www.facebook.com/ TheBikerChicksKitchen 92

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Ingredients: 1 (18 ounce) package chocolate sandwich style cookies, divided (I used Oreo cookies.) 1/4 cup butter, melted 3 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese, softened 3/4 cup sugar 3 eggs 16 ounces sour cream 2 tablespoons flour 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 1 (11 3/4 ounce) jar hot fudge Instructions: 1. CRUST: Coarsely chop half of the cookies and set aside. (I used a food processor.). 2. Finely crush the remaining cookies, add the butter, and mix. (I used a food processor.). 3. Press firmly on bottom and about 1 1/2 inches up sides of 9-inch springform pan (doesn’t need to be perfect). Pan, especially a non-stick pan, does not have to be greased since there is a lot of butter in the crust. 4. Bake crust at 325 degrees F for about 4 minutes to set it. 5. FILLING: In large bowl with electric mixer at medium speed, beat cream cheese a little. 6. Add sugar and beat until creamy. 7. Blend in eggs, sour cream, flour, and vanilla. 8. Fold in coarsely chopped cookies by hand. 9. Pour batter into prepared crust. 10. Bake in 325 degree F oven for 50 to 60 minutes or until set.(I baked for 50 minutes and next time I may bake a few minutes less.). 11. Cheesecake should still jiggle in the center when taken out of oven. DO NOT OVERBAKE. 12. Cool at room temperature for 1 hour. 13. Refrigerate at least 4 hours, but better to make 1 to 2 days ahead. 14. Best way to cut a cheesecake is when it is very cold, using a hot knife(wiping in between cuts), and cutting the entire cake before removing a piece. 15. Heat hot fudge on high for 30 to 45 seconds until warm and pourable consistency. 16. Spoon hot fudge over each slice of cheesecake. 17. For a change, substitute malted milk balls or milky way bites instead of the Oreo cookies in the filling. THUNDERROADSOHIO.COM

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

biker went to a bar and ordered a drink. As he sat sipping his whiskey, a young lady sat down next to him. She turned to the biker and asked, “Are you a real biker?” He replied, “Well, I’ve spent my whole life on Harleys. My momma was pregnant with me when she rode on the back of my Daddy’s Harley, then as a little boy I rode on the back with my Daddy until I finally got my own Harley. I’ve been riding a Harley ever since. So yes, I guess I am a real biker.” She said, “I’m a lesbian. I spend my whole day thinking about women. As soon as I get up in the morning, I think about women; when I shower, watch TV, eat, whatever, everything seems to make me think of women.” Then she got up and left. The biker was thinking about what just happened when a man sat down next to the biker and asked, “Are you a real biker?” He replied, “I always thought I was, but I just found out I’m a lesbian.” A little 80 year old woman had always wanted to join a local bikers club. One day she goes up and knocks on a biker’s door. A big, hairy bearded biker with tattoos all over his arms answers. She proclaims, “I want to join your club”. The guy was quite amused, but explains that she needs to meet certain

biker requirements in order to join the club. The biker asks; “Do you have a motorcycle?” The little old lady replies, “Yep, my bike’s parked over there” and pointed to a flamed black Harley chopper in the driveway. The biker asks, “Do you drink?” The little old lady replies, “Yep, drink like a fish. beer mostly, whiskey when I’m shooting pool.. I’ll drink everyone in your club under the table”. The biker is surprised but then asks, “Do you smoke?”. The little old lady replies, “Yep, smoke like a chimney. At least two packs of cigarettes and three joints a day and cigars when I’m drinking whiskey and shooting pool”. The biker is very impressed and asks, “Last question, have you ever been picked up by the fuzz?” The little old lady thinks for a minute and says, “Nope, but I’ve been swung around by my nipples a few times!” An engineer dies and goes to hell. He’s hot and miserable, so he decides to take action. The A/C has been busted for a long time, so he fixes it. Things cool down quickly. The moving walkway motor jammed, so he unjams it. People can get from place to place more easily. The TV was grainy and unclear, so he fixes the connection to the Satellite dish and now they get hundreds of high def channels, although they still cannot watch Breaking Bad on AMC. One day, God decides to look down on Hell to see how his grand design is working out and notices that everyone is

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happy and enjoying umbrella drinks. He asks the Devil what’s up? The Devil says, “Things are great down here since you sent us an engineer.” “What?” says God. “An engineer? I didn’t send you one of those. That must have been a mistake. Send him upstairs immediately.” The Devil responds, “No way. We want to keep our engineer. We like him.” God demands, “If you don’t send him to me immediately, I’ll sue!” The Devil laughs. “Where are You going to get a lawyer?” A guy walks into a bar, orders 12 shots and starts drinking them as fast as he can. The bartender asks, “Dang, why are you drinking so fast?” The guy says, “You would be drinking fast, too, if you had what I had.” The bartender asks, “What do you have?” The guy says, “75 cents.” While I was working at a delicatessen in Sydney, Australia, a woman overheard my accent and asked if I was American. “Lovely!” she exclaimed when I told her that I was. “I’ve been looking for one of your lot. My son is living in the States with his American wife, and she sent me a recipe that calls for half-and-half. Could you tell me, luv, half of wot and half of wot?”

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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. ABATE....................................................... 10

Gover Harley-Davidson.......................... 45

Quaker Steak & Lube Valley View......... 31

Action Extreme Sports............................. 63

Guardian Oil............................................ 80

Quaker Steak & Lube, Medina.............. 25

Adventure Motorcycle & Accessories............................................... 41

Hammer Tattoo........................................ 71

Quaker Steak & Lube, Sheffield............. 95

Harley Davidson of Chillicothe.............. 15

Ralph Buss................................. Back Cover

Hi Point Firearms...................................... 72

Renegade Gentleman............................. 79

Honda Marysville.................................... 62

Rider Insurance........................................ 29

Indian of Toledo..........................................3

Robert’s Cycle.......................................... 79

Iron Pony......................................................9

Route 42................................................... 71

Irv's Leather Outlet................................... 81

Sassy’s...................................................... 31

Johnny K’s Powersports........................... 21

Schiets Motorsports................................. 49

Kames Sports..................................... 66-67

South East Gears & Cheers.................... 30

Knuckleheads........................................... 48 LA Alterations........................................... 84

South East Harley-Davidson...................................... 28

Lake Erie Harley-Davidson............ Inside Front Cover

Sporty’s..................................................... 80 Therapy Ink............................................... 71

Majestic Trailer........................................ 83

Thoroughbred Harley-Davidson...................................... 63

American Heritage Motorcycles....... 16-17 American Motorcyclist Association (AMA)..............................7, 88 AMSOIL.................................................... 63 Art's Parts.................................................. 79 Avon Boot Shop....................................... 81 Balcer Performance................................. 79 Bears............................................................5 Bears - Seat King..................................... 84 Biker to Biker............................................ 81 Cacklebery Campground....................... 82 Carlton Harley-Davidson........................ 34 Chuggers.................................................. 24 Criminal Customz.................................... 79 Cycle Analysis.......................................... 79 Cycle Tech................................................ 79 Damsel in Defense................................... 80 Dragon Precision Machining ................. 83 Eastgate Harley-Davidson...................... 55 EasyRiders Show..................................... 85 Evolution Machine Cycle........................ 83 Extreme Tattoo......................................... 71 Flamethrower Customs / Steven Hennis........................................... 84 GEICO.........................................................1

MAPS........................................................ 13 Mike Weber............................................. 59 My Museum............................................. 71 Napoleon Harley-Davidson................... 48 Norton Sporting Goods...........................74 OHIO BIKE WEEK.....................................2 Old School Biker Brew............................ 25 Point Blank - Gun Range / Shop............ 75 Powder Keg Harley-Davidson................ 12 Progressive International Motorcycle Show.......... Inside back Cover Quaker Steak & Lube Lakewood / Vermillion............................ 15

Toyz Cycle Center................................... 80 Train Stop................................................. 69 Tri-County Harley-Davidson...................................... 47 Twisted Tea..................................................8 Vandalia Range & Armory..................... 73 Vault Tavern.............................................. 69 Villa Tavern............................................... 69 Warrior Racing........................................ 81 Youngstown Cycle .................................. 84 Zanesville Trail Riders.............................. 87 Zeppe’s Pizza.......................................... 24

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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LATEST MODELS + DEMONSTRATIONS + MUSIC + GEAR

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