Thunder Roads Ohio April 2015 by Thunder Roads Ohio Magazine

THUNDER ROADS ROADS®® MAGAZINE MAGAZINE OHIO OHIO THUNDER

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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 & EDITOR Derek Armstrong Smith • ThunderRoadsOhio@gmail.com • (440) 785-7331 ASSOCIATE EDITOR Aimee Ritz • tro.aimee@gmail.com • (614) 636-1876 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

FROM THE PUBLISHER

his summer I would like to encourage everyone to become a little more involved. Involved in what you ask? In the general sense, I’d say involved in the riding community – but overall, I’d say ANYTHING. Far too many folks are on the sidelines these days. I know that everyone is busy with their own routines – be it work or family, but I would encourage everyone to consider expanding your circle and include more community in your to-do list. In terms of the riding community as a whole, I’d like to invite you to become an active participant. Instead of just riding in random poker runs this summer or attending rallies as just another face in the crowd, I’m inviting you to become involved and part of the process. Even if you’re relatively new to riding and not already a part of any riding organization, there are countless opportunities to become involved as a volunteer. All you have to do is pick a cause or event that you believe in and make a phone call or shoot out an email. Organizations all across the state are in need of help – both as volunteers and members. In most cases they will welcome your offer and tell you how to jump in. Volunteering for a specific event will allow you to get insight into the organization and see if it’s a good fit for you longer term. Statewide organizations such as ABATE are actively looking for new members and volunteers. (abate.com) If you enjoy writing, taking pictures, or simply riding - I’d invite you to become part of the Thunder Roads Ohio Team. We are a grassroots organization that is dependent upon the work of Reps and Contributors all across Ohio to service the riding community and tell its stories. Instead of just showing up to ride, you can represent the Nation’s Largest Regional Motorcycle Magazine and help organizations deliver their message to riders all across the Midwest. Riding a motorcycle down the road can be an exhilarating celebration of freedom and escape from our daily routines – but the iron and wind is only part of the “motorcycle experience”. The sense of brotherhood or sisterhood completes it, and you can’t experience that on the sidelines. Email us at ThunderRoadsOhio@gmail.com or simply join us on facebook for information on how you can get involved. Ride Safe, Live Strong!

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

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

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

THE CHAMP

FROM THE PUBLISHER

TRIED AND TRUE

ROAD TALES

30 BIKER’S SPRING BREAK

FROM THE BACK OF THE BIKE

34 HISTORY OF MOTORCYCLES: PART 3

AMA REPORT

ABATE OF OHIO

17 CMA 38 EVENT 101: SPONSORSHIPS AND 20 BUCKEYE THUNDER RUN YOUR MARKETING PLAN 58 TRACKSIDE 42 2015 HONDA RUCKUS

50 TRO CALENDAR EVENTS

TABASCO REPORT

IRON & INK

68 BUCKEYE FIREARMS REPORT

52 CUSTOM FEATURE: FINICKY

THE TRO NETWORK

76 MARKETPLACE

DELIGHTS AND DESPAIRS OF THE FEMALE RIDER

37th ANNUAL MOTORAMA RACES AND SHOWS

CUSTOM FEATURE: 2015 YAMAHA XLR 1300 RACER

84 UPCOMING MOTORCYCLE EVENTS 92 RECIPES 94

FUNNY STUFF

SPONSOR INDEX

ON THE COVER Our Own Associate Editor Aimee Ritz posed on Ron Finch’s FINICKY at the Easyrider Invitational in Columbus. Photo By Bob Mazur

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As Told By

THE IRON COWBOY

Broken Spoke Coming to Sandusky

Jackass Flats becomes The Rip Rap Roadhouse

ne of the coolest stories out of Daytona Bike Week was the Re-Opening of the Broken Spoke Saloon. Under new management, this legendary location looked better than ever! The trees were all illuminated and the entertainment was top notch. And of course, the

bartenders were amongst the hottest in Daytona! For us Ohioans, it was even more exciting as their next stop is SANDUSKY for Ohio Bike Week. As we announced last month, our friends at Ohio Bike Week have teamed up with The Broken Spoke crew to transform the Erie County Fairgrounds into THE BROKEN SPOKE SALOON & CAMPGROUND! And in typical OBW fashion they are kicking things up with a world class FREE concert! On Wednesday, June 3rd; SAVING ABEL will be performing at the Campgrounds! 6

fter more than a year of turmoil and transition, a new owner has taken the helm at one of Ohio’s most popular ride stops – Jackass Flats. I had the chance to talk with Jason, the new owner; and rest assured – it seems as though the Flats is in good hands. He has some big plans for the property, but rest assured that Jason is a motorcycle enthusiast, with a love of vintage bikes and the riding culture. And he recognizes that in the Dayton area, Jackass Flats has been a big part of that culture. In talking with him, it’s clear that he both appreciates this and recognizes that there are opportunities to further develop the venue he now owns. Over the winter he’s invested a tremendous amount into the property and building, and it’s clear that his vision is of offering much more to riders and guests coming out. With the improvements, he’s introduced a new name – The Rip Rap Roadhouse. “By adding a full service kitchen, totally renovating the bar and making improvements on the outside, the place is going to be more than just an upgrade to The Flats, so a new brand makes sense. It is also a way to get people who

may have stopped coming to The Flats to come back and give it another try, “ Jason explained. He added, “For those of you who don’t like change, look at it this way you’ll be able to tell all the new people that you were coming here since it was Jackass Flats. If you are an old-timer, you can say since it was McNasty’s. If you are a really, really old-timer, you can say you used to bale hay in the barn “back in the day” for $.10 an hour.” As most of you know, the motorcycle community isn’t big on change – and there has been some backlash. To these folks, Jason asks that you give them time and let them show prove themselves. “I promise I’ll try not to do anything to screw it up. I’m very dedicated with both time and money to make this something that you and future generations will view as one of the best places to eat, drink, and have a great time in the Miami Valley.” As the new web site says: “In 2053 our barn will be 200 years old. Everything we do today is to make sure that the Rip Rap Roadhouse is still in business for the bicentennial and that it is viewed as one of the places that make Dayton and the Miami Valley unique and special to those of us who live here.” At this point, the plan is to kick off the season with the first official bike night on Wednesday, April 29th. Thunder Roads Ohio is planning on being there, so stay tuned to our facebook for updates. www. facebook.com/ThunderRoadsOhio

South Dakota Speed Limit Raised

f you’ve ever traveled on I-90 or I-29 through South Dakota, you’ve likely noticed the 75 mph speed limit signs and the multitude of motorists who blow right by them at a minimum of 80 mph anyway. Maybe you’re one of those speed demons in the passing lane on your way to the Sturgis Rally, or maybe you’re watching license plates cruise on by you. Either way you’ll want to listen up, because an amendment to South Dakota Senate Bill 1 passed Tuesday, effectively changing the speed limit on the state’s two interstate highways. So, all you lead foots don’t have to spend as much time watching your mirrors for the fuzz, and you Sunday drivers can twist the throttle a little farther…if you want to, that is.

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STURGIS UPDATES Top Builders Bare All in 2015 Motorcycles as Art “Naked Truth” Exhibition

turgis, SD (March 12, 2015) – In the ultimate expression of human creative skill and imagination, custom motorcycle builders create incredible beauty, sweeping lines that beg for the wind paired perfectly with precise feats of mechanical engineering. The Sturgis Buffalo Chip®’s 2015 Motorcycles as Art™ Exhibition presents famed photographer Michael Lichter’s “The Naked Truth – 35 Customs / 35 Years / Motorcycles Exposed.” This exhibition will lay bare the raw talent of 35 world-renowned bike builders, most of whom are building their creations specifically for this exhibition. Each of these rolling metal sculptures will be displayed exposed and naked, unencumbered by paint and graphics, atop elevated pedestals to better give guests an open view from every angle. “Naked Truth” is free to the public and will be open from Saturday, Aug. 1 through Saturday, Aug. 8 in the Buffalo Chip’s Russ Brown Events Center. “Unlike any other exhibition before, nothing will come between the viewer and the bikes’ most basic elements of shape, form and design,” said Michael Lichter. “Each builder’s passion and talent will be revealed through the fine details of craftsmanship evident in every aspect of their work. The builders are exposing themselves, as well as their work, in this show. Without the cloak of paint or graphics, the bikes’ most basic form right down to it’s smallest details are naked and open to examination. There is no hiding behind a slick paint job, enhancing a line or curve with a brilliant graphic; the beauty comes strictly from the hand of the man who fashioned it.” “Michael is the world’s premier motorcycle photographer,” said Buffalo Chip President Rod Woodruff. “He has been shooting bikes and the biker culture for more than 35 years, and his expertise and knowledge of motorcycle culture makes him the perfect person to curate the Motorcycles as Art exhibits at the Chip. We are honored to host his “Naked Truth” exhibition this year.” Appropriately, hanging alongside these “naked” bikes, will be more than one-hundred photographic prints chosen from curator, Michael Lichter’s archives. Exposed as his subjects appeared, without retouching and enhancement, Lichter’s photographs have captured the changing face of the

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motorcycle world from the 1970s to today. The custom motorcycle artists scheduled to present their stunningly naked creations at the Buffalo Chip’s 2015 Motorcycles as Art exhibit are:

Aki Sakamoto - Hog Killers, Hawaiian Gardens, CA Alan Stulberg - Revival Cycles, Austin, TX Ben Jordan - Jordan Designs, Waxhaw, NC Bill Dodge - Bling’s Cycles, Daytona Beach, FL Bill Rodencal - Harley-Davidson Museum, Milwaukee, WI Billy Lane - Choppers Inc., Daytona Beach, FL Brandon Holstein, Brawny Built, Signal Hill, CA Brian Klock - Klockwerks, Mitchell, SD Bryan Fuller - Fuller Hotrods, Atlanta, GA Cristian Sosa - Sosa Metalworks, Las Vegas, NV Dale Yamada - Mad Jap Kustoms, Calgary, Alberta, Canada Dalton Walker - Split Image Kustoms, Hanford, CA Dan “Bacon” Carr - DC Chopper, Austin, TX Dave Perewitz - Perewitz Cycle Fabrication, Bridgewater, MA Jeff Cochran - Speedking Racing, West Harrison, IN Jeff Wright - Church Of Choppers, Des Moines, IA Jim Nasi - Jim Nasi Customs, Phoenix, AZ John Stein - Stage Fright Drag Racer, Pacific Palisades, CA Jordan Dickinson - Union Speed and Style, Monticello, MN Kaichiroh Kurosu - Cherry’s Company, Tokyo, Japan Ken “Kenji” Nagai - Ken's Factory, Nagoya, Japan Lock Baker - Eastern Fabrications, Los Angeles, CA Matt Olsen - Carl’s Cycle, Aberdeen, SD Nate Jacobs - Harlot Cycles, Murfreesboro, TN Ola Stenegard - Gotland, Sweden Pat Patterson - Led Sled Customs, Dayton, OH Paul Cox - Paul Cox Industries, Brooklyn, NY Paul Wideman - Bare Knuckle Choppers, Wright City, MO Paul Yaffe - Paul Yaffe Originals, Phoenix, AZ Rick Bray - RKB Kustom Speed, Fresno, CA Roland Sands - RSD Design Shinya Kimura - Chabott Engineering, Azusa, CA Warren Lane - Atomic; Miami Beach, FL Yaniv “Neevo” Evan - Powerplant Choppers’; Los Angeles, CA

The exhibit, displayed in the Sturgis Buffalo Chip’s Russ Brown Events Center, will be open and free to the public Saturday, Aug. 1 through Saturday, Aug. 8, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. THUNDERROADSOHIO.COM

Sturgis Updates courtesy the Buffalo Chip. For more information visit them online at www.BuffaloChip.com

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FROM THE BACK OF THE BIKE

BY NANCY BEACH

pril flowers bring Biker hours…to ride, that is! We survived the winter. With record cold and snowfall, I think it is time to break some records of our own! Let’s see if we can all ride more this year than ever before. Let’s go to new places, enter new poker runs, explore on the open ride and make new memories! Let’s meet new people…new friends and enjoy the sunshine that we deserve after this long winter road. So, I survived the winter by looking at all of these bikes in the barn. It was sooooo cold, we didn’t get out there as much. We do have a wood burner but when it’s below 0…it’s just too cold! However, looking at bikes, wrenching on bikes, taking pictures of the bikes all seems to help the winter blahs! That and the fact that April is here. Before we get into summer with all of those fun holidays that provide long weekends, we have one more holiday that is appropriate for gift giving. Yes…we are never too old for an Easter Basket! Usually they are full of chocolate bunnies and those really really good chocolate eggs that you cannot eat just one of! More like 6 or 8! Or the whole bag! You know what I‘m talking about! You can put more than candy and eggs in an Easter Basket and I am going to give you a wonderful suggestion. If your mate does not have a guardian bell, that is perfect to place in an Easter Basket. Plus, you lose the good luck if you buy it for yourself. The Guardian Bell is a small metal bell that you attach to your bike to ward off evil spirits. And they work better when given as a gift! The legend is that there are evil spirits or road gremlins that will latch onto your bike. These spirits cause mechanical problems and bad luck on your rides. But, if you attach a guardian bell to your bike, the evil spirits will become trapped inside the guardian bell. The constant ringing of the bell will drive them insane, making them lose their grip until they fall to the ground. There are many guardian bells to choose from with designs, in various shapes or just plain. And you can find them at any bike shop or online. There are inexpensive and really make a great gift for that special person that rides. But remember…don’t buy it for yourself. So ladies…this is a great idea! Guys…leave this magazine open to this article so your significant other reads about the bell! I have bought several…every bike in that picture has a bell on it! I also bought one for my son. Have a Happy Easter and get that bike out on the road. And I will be on the back of the bike with bells on!

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REPORT American Motorcyclist Association Bike Nights at Cycle Gear celebrate AMA Go Ride! Month

ICKERINGTON, Ohio -- American Motorcyclist Association members can win cool gifts, support their riding freedoms and get great deals on parts and gear at 112 Cycle Gear locations nationwide during AMA Go Ride! Month in April. “AMA Bike Nights at Cycle Gear give AMA members a destination where they can enjoy good food, drink, music and fun with friends,” said AMA Chief Operations Officer Jeff Massey. “Thanks to Cycle Gear’s generous support, all AMA members who join, renew or bring a friend to join get special gifts. We also have incentives for clubs that encourage their members to join the AMA at these events.” Those who join or renew with the AMA at a Cycle Gear location during April get a free AMA patch and an AMA koozie. AMA members who bring a friend to join also receive a free Stockton 15-in-one utility tool. Current AMA members also Cycle Gear has over 100 locations in 34 states – in Ohio we have just one at get a free “Touring Tips, Tricks and Techniques” this point, in North Olmsted. booklet and an AMA decal just for showing their valid AMA cards. Month. Every April, AMA Go Ride! Month celebrates the riding AMA-chartered club representatives also can receive an season by highlighting the fun recreational riding opportunities AMA-chartered club patch for each club member they sign on the AMA calendar, from dual-sport events to poker runs to up to join the AMA. Clubs that sign up five new club members swap meets to road rallies. AMA Go Ride! Month is the AMA’s as AMA members earn an AMA flag for their club. (AMAreminder that motorcycling is the best way to experience this chartered club verification required for patch or flag.) great country. In addition to these membership incentives, Cycle Gear is Learn more about AMA Go Ride! Month in the April issue providing a range of discounts exclusive to AMA members. The of American Motorcyclist, the official journal of the AMA. For discounts range from 10 percent to 20 percent off regularly more information about AMA Bike Nights at Cycle Gear, see priced items. AMA Bike Nights at Cycle Gear are part of AMA Go Ride! www.americanmotorcyclist.com/amabikenight.

#AMARaffleRestore

Restoration In Progress

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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SIGN UP FOR MEMBERSHIP AT THUNDERROADSOHIO.COM 1988 Electra Glide Classic: The Harley That Took A Victory Lap Of America From The AMA Motorcycle Hall Of Fame Collection

SPECIFICATIONS Engine: Overhead-valve four-stroke V-twin Displacement: 80 cubic inches (1,300cc) Ignition: Electronic Brakes: Double-disc front, single-disc rear Transmission: Five-speed belt drive Condition: Original unrestored disenchanted with motorcycles, and Harley was on the ropes again. In June 1981, a team of Harley executives bought the company from AMF and set about improving quality and expanding the model line. After staggering losses in 1981 and 1982, they turned a profit in 1983. But that was only a temporary situation. By the end of ’85, Harley was nearly forced into bankruptcy when it had to restructure its debt. And the situation remained precarious until the Motor Company went public in June 1986, bringing in a stable source of cash.

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.

So when the company’s 85th anniversary rolled around in 1988, Harley had a lot to celebrate. And when its president, Vaughn Beals, took this 85th Anniversary FLHTC on a cross-country ride, it wasn’t just a commemoration of that milestone. It was a victory lap of America. Beals was inducted into the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame in 2008. The exact motorcycle Beals rode—number 106 of only 850 anniversary editions built—is currently on display at the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame at AMA headquarters in Pickerington, Ohio.

his 1988 Harley-Davidson FLHTC Electra Glide Classic was built to commemorate the company’s 85th anniversary. On the surface, that may not sound like a terribly significant milestone. But in fact, it may have been the company’s most important anniversary—ranking ahead of last year’s gala 100th anniversary celebration. Why? Because 85 was the anniversary that almost didn’t happen. Within years after its founding in 1903, Harley-Davidson had grown to become one of the country’s biggest motorcycle manufacturers. And when archrival Indian went out of business in the 1950s, Harley was the sole survivor of more than 150 motorcycle brands that had once called America home. But then came the ’60s, when Japanese companies challenged H-D’s share of the U.S. market. And by the end of the decade, the company agreed to a purchase by recreational-equipment giant AMF to stay in business. With an infusion of AMF money, production increased, but quality and relations with customers and dealers declined. By the late 1970s, AMF was

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ABATE OF OHIO, INC. Safety & Education Report

i Friends, Let’s start by talking about fatalities, which is not something that I like to talk about, but lowering these numbers is our most important mission. We are looking better than last year and that is good. I pulled these facts on the 10th. In 2014: Crashes - 65 and Fatalities – 1 and in 2015 Crashes – 17 and Fatalities – 0. This year we are off to a good start. Most of our state this year has been very cold; last year the southern half had some nice days. Let’s look at what we are up to now that it’s getting warm and out comes the bikes. In Northwest counties we have one fatality on one of our river roads. This road has not had enough time to wash off all the salt dust, loose gravel and loose asphalt that will be a pot hole soon. And down goes a bike. In Southern counties we have bikes going down due to speed, and on one of the very first nice days. Now let’s talk about what you should be doing on that first day out. This is after you or your favorite mechanic has checked out your bike. Take a little time and go down to a big parking lot to tune up your riding skills. Do a few figure 8’s, a panic stop or two, and practice slow riding. Get the feel of

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that bike again. It has not changed but you have lost some of that feel over the last several months. I like to go back to the Motorcycle Ohio Riders program and take one of their great courses. If you want or need to take the course go to www. motorcycle.ohio.gov. ABATE of Ohio Inc. has the best road side sign - Look Twice Save a Life. It is easy to read at any speed. If you wish, you can get signs with your Company name at the bottom or In loving memory of someone’s name. And if you like to go big, we do offer a 4X6 sign. If you ride or a family member rides, you should have a sign out front. Also you can get Watch Out For Motorcycles magnets for your cars and trucks. If you don’t see them at motorcycle functions to pick up, just call me. We all, the old biker that has always been around and the new biker who just knew that he always wanted to ride, need to get involved. Going to a meeting or just supporting with your money, you can make a difference. The world is changing and we need to keep informed, because some day they will be making laws that we never heard of. Last year we passed the parking bill and the handle bar height bill. We are still working on the right of way bill and the road guard bill. And now we have Congress looking at Vision Zero. This is the concept of dropping fatalities to zero and in my thoughts this will only happen if we do away with motorcycling altogether. They feel a reduction in speed of 19 mph city (where there could be non-fatal contact between pedestrian and cars (motorcycles)) and 43 mph on all other roads would help accomplish their goals. Sorry but this has been adopted in some of our large cities to slow accidents down. So the purpose of my babbling is to get people to join ABATE of Ohio Inc. and protect our rights as we know them today. Just imagine what will happen if no one stands up to the do-gooders and says “NO”. May is Motorcycle Awareness Month and where are you going to be on May 2nd at 10:00am? You need to be at A.D. Farrow Harley Davidson, I-71 @ exit 131, Sunbury, Oh. 43074. This is the starting point of the Motorcycle Awareness Rally that happens every year when we ride to the State house. Then we all gather on the Statehouse steps and read Proclamations from the Governor and Mayors from around the state. Then off to an After Rally party. Just a great day to let everyone know we are back out on the roads throughout this great State. Check out the flyer in this Magazine. Ride within your limits Mike Stock Safety and Education Director ABATE of Ohio Inc. mikestock419@gmail.com 419-654-5446 THUNDERROADSOHIO.COM

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SUPERIOR MOTORCYCLE COVERAGE IS CLOSER THAN IT APPEARS.

ANXIETY VANISHED AT THE LAST REST STOP.

IT’S TIME TO RIDE.

Ride with Rider. Get your quote today. Visit rider.com or call (844) 276-0165. Available in Delaware, Indiana, Maryland, Michigan, New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia.

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CMA

The Sum of His Thoughts

am at my second major biker event within the past 3 weeks. The first was in the colder climate of central Ohio called Easy Rider Bike Show in the warmth of a convention center with countless bikes on display including a rat bike made with a diesel Mercedes engine and the frame was heavy duty wrenches welded together. Needless to say there were countless custom bikes of varying sizes, shapes, and colors. Today I am in sunny Daytona Beach, Florida, during Bike Week. There is a huge difference between the confines of that large convention center and the wide open space of Daytona Beach. But, the bikes are just as unique and sometimes strange. Another nice part about this event is you can actually hear the rumble of those V-twins and the screaming of the imports hitting the rev-limiters as the operators share their bikes majestic power, sound and paint schemes. At Easy Rider Bike Show you could plainly see the anticipation on the faces of those who hadn’t been able to ride for several months due to the weather, but yet they were eagerly looking forward to when. . . . Here at Bike Week for those unloading their bikes as they have traveled from the cold north country, you could see the total anticipation of excitement of being on those iron horses again and experiencing the freedom and wind in their faces, while others were already straddle their machines and rolling down the road. Both are joyous sites to see and experience. This reminds me of Psalm 139:14, NKJV, “I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made, Marvelous are Your works, and that my soul knows very well.” These custom bikes and those manufactured bikes which have been tweaked to our liking are unique and branded as ours. Whether it is their sound, design, or paint scheme; it is a representation of us and it is ours. God in the same manner has made each of us unique, with our own special sound, and has covered us with a special scheme of His own. Verse 17, “How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God! How great is the sum of them!” As we consider how often we admire and think of our bikes and their specialness, God does the same of each of us – but even more. In fact verse 18 tells us about God’s

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thoughts of us, “If I should count them, they would be more in number than the sand; When I awake, I am still with You.” Understand, God loves you that much! If you tried to count the number of times He thinks just about you, it would be more in number than the sand. WOW! I don’t know about you, but that sure is a lot and I cannot fathom anyone loving me so much they would think of me that much – But God does. And, He thinks of you that often. God Loves You! 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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PRESENTED BY GEICO INSURANCE & THUNDER ROADS OHIO MAGAZINE Thunder Roads Ohio is proud to announce that this summer; we will once again be hosting the BUCKEYE THUNDER RUN - a state-wide, summer-long riding challenge hitting the coolest riding destinations and events across Ohio, presented by GEICO Insurance! This is a riding challenge like no-other and features great prizes every month that you earn by simply getting out to ride!

The Way it Works

ach month Thunder Roads Ohio will announce a list of Thunder Run Stops each month. These stops are selected based upon the recommendations of our readers and confirmed by our editors. ALL STOPS have been screened by our Editors and are places we feel comfortable recommending to you. We never simply add a stop because they are willing to write a check. Riders can then hit these locations and present their Rider Cards in order to register at each stop. Once a Rider has registered at the stop - their Card number is then entered into the drawing for that stop. Thunder Roads will then select rider checks-in’s randomly each month from across the state for special prizes and incentives. Extra “check-in’s” are awarded for ride stops more then 100 miles from home. Prizes are developed by both Thunder Roads and our sponsors - allowing for some exciting options. They may include stays at exciting locations, riding gear or accessories, gift certificates, cash, rally passes, concert tickets, and even the opportunity to win factory and custom motorcycles! The beauty and simplicity of this program is that anyone can win with any check-in, but your chances of winning are increased by the amount you ride! The dedicated

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rider treking across the state has a greater chance of accumulating prizes - but the couple that can only get out a few days a month to ride can also win! Every check-in counts as an entry in the “drawing” - so if you hit 40 stops in a month, you have twice as many chances of winning as someone that only hits 20. The more you ride - the more opportunities you will have to win! That’s the whole idea - to encourage everyone to get out and ride!.

State and Stop Prizes

very month the TRO staff will randomly select winners from the check-ins. Some prizes will be specific to the particular stop - and usually sponsored by that stop. For instance, a leather shop may award a custom leather vest to someone visiting their store during the month of June. That would be a prize specific to that stop and only riders checking in at that location would be eligible for that prize. Other prizes will be state wide, with everyone checking in at any location eligible to win!

The Winners

f your check-in is drawn, Thunder Roads will post your card number both online and in the magazine. Riders will then have at least 45 days to “claim” their prizes. For state-wide prizes, winners will often have the opportunity to select from a number of prize options. For instance, a rider might have the option of winning an Ohio Bike Week® Rally Package that includes accommodations and extras for attending

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North Coast Thunder Rally. If that rider isn’t able to take advantage of that prize - they might opt for a Premium Leather Jacket instead. • Riders are able to win multiple prizes - based upon the drawing of their check-in’s. • Some prize drawings are specific to only check-in’s for the particular month - while others prizes are drawn from checkin’s season long. • ALL CHECK-IN’s remain in the system for end of the season prizes! • Riders are able to check-in once a week at a stop (Monday-Sunday), for a maximum of 4 check-in’s per month (not counting bonuses). In 2014, riders had the chance to win 4 different motorcycles, hundreds of VIP Passes and tickets to some of the most exciting motorcycle events in the state, and hundreds of other great prizes!

2015 WILL BE EVEN BIGGER with MORE PRIZES, MORE RIDERS, and EVEN MORE EVENTS!

BONUS Check-in´s!

he 2015 Buckeye Thunder Run is supported by our sponsors, so we want to encourage everyone to support them in turn. For that reason, we will issue a BONUS CHECK-IN to riders spending $10 or more at the stop. The bonus criteria may be adjusted at some stops to accommodate riders on particulars of that stop. Specifics of each stop will be listed each month in Thunder Roads as part of the Stop Listing.

It’s really that simple! 1. Get your Ohio Ride Card. 2. Get the list of stops each month from your Thunder Roads Magazine, the website (ThunderRoadsOhio.com), or facebook. 3. Ride out to these stops and show them your card. 4. And then you win cool prizes, including cold hard CASH! THUNDER ROADS® OHIO MAGAZINE

The first step will be for riders to register for their Thunder Roads Ohio Ride Cards. A number of select locations will serve as Registration Centers. Riders can easily register at these points – free of charge. They will then receive their Ride Cards.

You can request a Ride Card through our website!

ou can now go online and register for your Thunder Run Ride Card through our website – www. ThunderRoadsOhio.com. Simply head to the TRO Online Store and order your Ride Card. There is a $5 convenience fee for this option – but ALL PROCEEDS are applied to our Warrior Fund, sponsoring charitable motorcycle events and organizations across Ohio. PLEASE NOTE - You can still use your previous Ride Cards. All Ride Card registrations carry over, however you are welcome to pick up a new shiny one if you’d like. We have all new cards for 2015. Thunder Roads will also be registering riders for Ride Cards at specific events throughout the year as we distribute magazines. Key events, such as Ohio Bike Week or Bike Nights will have special booth for Ride Card registrations. In most cases, we will be offering special incentives both for those registering for the cards and those checking in with their previously issued cards at these stops. Thunder Roads will also be working with charities and various non-profit events to include them in the Run schedule as well. This will be an easy means of encouraging participation and attracting riders from outside the local communities. In many cases, we will have specific prize drawings for those at these events. The Ride Cards will allow participants to easily and safely check in at all stops. Some Thunder Roads Sponsors will also be offering discounts to readers that present the cards. Thunder Roads will be listing special discounts and offers in the magazine throughout the year as an added

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value to readers and means of encouraging our partners to offer these extra savings. PLEASE NOTE: Once you have received your OHIO RIDE CARD, you will not be asked to provide personal information or emails at any location for check-in. You simply enter your ride card number! One key aspect of the BTR is that we will be limiting the number of stops to a reasonable amount each month. We are NOT simply adding anyone willing to write a check. We will be considering stops recommended by our readers and editors, and we will only select those that offer a legitimate interest to riders – making them worth the ride to visit. We are not hosting the run as simply a means of supporting the magazine, but as a fun way to promote partners and cool destinations all across the state. This is not simply a “Chinese fire drill” or mad-dash across the state. This is a Ride program. It is meant to be a means for readers to discover new riding destinations and enjoy the ride there. In fact, we have designed the program to encourage folks to break out of their local routes and trek to the furthest corners of the state.

Just Get Out and RIDE!

ne of the really exciting aspects of the program is that the Buckeye Thunder Run can be modified and added to throughout the summer – if not the entire year. We will be adding and dropping stops each month. Readers will be able to nominate stops, we’ll investigate them, and if we agree that it’s a suitable stop – they’ll be invited to join the run. Some stops will only run a few months – and possibly not consecutive. A cool winery in Geneva might be a stop early in the season, and then we bring them back during the harvest season! We can also modify the run if it turns out that something just isn’t working. We want to keep things exciting for you – the readers and riders on the run. We’re bikers and it’s all about the ride. We want to help create fun experiences for you and share some cool spots in our state. And we want to discover new spots as well, which is why we are encouraging everyone to nominate their favorite riding destinations. Again this is not simply a sales tool for us or meant to subsidize the magazine! We have designed this run to entertain and challenge our readers – as well as promote our partners. As with the magazine itself, the Buckeye Thunder Run is presented through the support of our sponsors and partners all across the state. We have secured several key sponsorships already, but opportunities remain. If your business would like to get involved, this is a great way to promote yourself all across the state in a positive manner. Even if your organization is not a riding destination you might become a sponsor for the tremendous promotional value it offers through the constant media attention it will receive.

Obviously this will be a heavy focus within the magazine but we are also working with radio and other media outlets to help spread awareness of the run. Sponsors are able to tap into this network and enjoy great exposure. We also have a number of unique opportunities for branding - including being featured on contest motorcycles, jackets, shirts, and other opportunities. The exact number and nature of these options will be determined as details are finalized and as the promotion develops over the summer. Sponsors will ALWAYS have first priority in these placements. Sponsors will also have the opportunity to team up with Thunder Roads to help promote various charity events across the state. The Buckeye Thunder Run is a great vehicle to help promote non-profit events in communities all across the state. With the support of regional and state-wide sponsors – Thunder Roads can help promote these community events to a larger audience. Thunder Roads is involved in countless charitable events all across the state already – but with the support of our sponsors, we will be able to assist even more. Partners can assist in the sponsorship of specific events, areas of concern (such as breast cancer, child abuse, or animal shelters), or other specific areas. For more information on sponsorship, please email us at ThunderRoadsOhio@ gmail.com Of course one of the key components in this whole program, second only to the riders themselves, is the stops. The Thunder Roads team has spent a lot of time collecting nominations and researching stops for the Run; but there are undoubtedly plenty of more stops out there. If you have a venue or event that you would like to get involved in the run, please don’t hesitate to let us know about it. If it’s your place, we will get in touch shortly with more information on the run and what’s involved. If you are recommending a spot for someone else – we will reach out to them and let them know they have been nominated. If you can suggest a contact person, that can help expedite the process. You can send information to BuckeyeThunderRun@gmail.com As we mentioned, this is a dynamic event – intended to be tweaked and developed over time. If you have ideas, suggestions, or concerns – please don’t hesitate to let us know. You can email us at BuckeyeThunderRun@gmail.com

The RIDE kicks off in MAY! Pick up your card this winter at local shows or stops and get ready for a great summer! 22

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FEATURE PRIZES TO BE AWARDED IN MAY 2015: VIP ALL-ACCESS PASSES TO OHIO BIKE WEEK OHIO BIKE WEEK CONCERT TICKETS GAS CARDS AND OTHER GREAT PRIZES!

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the

CHAMP Brian “The Bull” Holstein

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Interviewed by Aimee Ritz, Associate Editor TRO Editor

The hero and the coward both feel the same thing, but the hero uses his fear, projects it onto his opponent, while the coward runs. It's the same thing, fear, but it's what you do with it that matters.

ating back further than Ancient Rome, boxing can be considered one of the world’s oldest sports. As old as the sport itself may be, watching two people get in a ring and duke it out is still a truly exciting experience. Requiring extensive, intense training, boxing tests the endurance and fortitude of a fighter. Those that excel in the sport of boxing are extraordinary athletes, and Columbus’ own Brian ‘The Bull’ Holstein is no exception. Hailing from Westerville, a suburb of Columbus, Holstein took the title of Ohio State Cruiserweight Champion in March at the Arnold Sports Festival in downtown Columbus. With a record of 9-2-1 with 6 knockouts, Holstein has been lighting up the ring throughout his career as a professional boxer. At 27 years old, Brian embodies the statement “Work Hard, Play Hard”. Holstein is trained by Olympic Gold Medalist Jerry Page. His strict regimen is complimented by the fact that he is an instructor at the Title Boxing Club in Powell. He lives and breathes boxing. When we talked as he was preparing for his title bout, he was drinking a beet smoothie. He commented on the ‘earthy’ flavor. That meant it tastes like dirt. Yuck! That’s what I call dedication. Holstein’s fitness and flair sent Joe Paintiff (now 10-21) home on March 7th after 8 rounds of punishing shots. Not deterred by Paintiff’s strong jaw, Holstein changed his footwork to gain an advantage. Holstein’s hooks connected solidly, but not wearing down Paintiff as soon as they should have. “This guy was just game. I could see he came to fight,” Holstein said. It was a slugfest as the fight continued. Holstein delivered brutal body blows and never backed off of Paintiff. After the 8th round with both men still standing, the judges agreed that Holstein had dominated the fight and awarded him the title. When asked about his ultimate goal, Brian tells me “World Champion!” as if there was no other option. His biggest fear is himself. “I fear that I didn’t do everything I possibly could to prepare for a fight. Did I run far enough, lift heavy enough, get enough rounds in sparring at the gym… etc. It’s a never-ending challenge to be content with myself and my training.” I asked him what the road to the World Championship looks like. “It’s a path less-traveled, behind the flash and glamour is a lot of personal sacrifice… family, friends, self. It’s mentally draining as well as physically, but all worth it to hear the people screaming for you as you cross the ropes in that ring. It’s a surreal experience.”

— Cus D'Amato, legendary professional boxing manager

To keep up with ‘The Bull’ and his journey, keep an eye on facebook.com/ThunderRoadsOhio for news on his next fights.

Photo credits to Harney Photography

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TRIED & TRUE

67 SHOVELHEAD 1967 HARLEY-DAVIDSON Trans: 67’ 4 Speed Frame: 138 Cycle Fab Front End: Tried & True Front Wheel: 21” Avon Spool Back Wheel: 19” Firestone Sporty Paint: Good Times Reform Tried & True Garage 9038 Gold Park Dr Hamilton, OH 45011 Model: Jennifer, TRO Photos: Bob Mazur, TRO

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DATONA BIKE WEEK

SPRING BREAK FOR BIKERS

eems like this has been one of the coldest and snowiest winters ever for those of us in Northeast Ohio. Well for that matter pretty much everywhere. But it's that time of year to head south for the 74th Annual Daytona Bike Week and the chance to ride in what we hope is warmer weather and most importantly sunshine. The leathers are packed and the bikes are loaded and we head south to meet old friends and to make new. I always look forward to the the usual haunts in downtown Daytona where you can find a cold beer and hot bands pretty much all day and night at places like the Full Moon Saloon, Dirty Harry's, Bank and Blues, Main Street Station and the ever Famous Boot Hill across from the cemetery. It's a great place to people watch and the endless parade of bikes running up and down Main Street. Destination Daytona is just a short ride North where endless vendors are available with anything you need for your bike. Demo rides are available from all manufacturers at Daytona International Speedway. You can ride The Loop or take a leisurely ride to St. Augustine to visit the oldest City in America. Of course you can get your race fix by taking in some awesome AMA Flat track racing or the Daytona 200 on the high banks of Daytona International Speedway. For those of you that had the opportunity to go this year, you were not disappointed. The weather was beautiful and it appeared to be record crowds. For me it was a chance to do some riding, spend time with my husband and some of our best friends. Our internal batteries are charged enough to carry us to Spring in Ohio where we will once again get the chance to enjoy the fresh air, absorb some sunshine and do what we do best RIDE. Next year Daytona will celebrate it's 75th Anniversary. It's a great place to go to shake off some cobwebs of Winter. Spring Break for bikers. Gotta' love it! 30

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Photos courtesy of Kris Struhar and Denise Kennedy

By Denise Kennedy, TRO Contributor

Visit us our facebook for hundreds of more Daytona photos…visit our facebook page. www.facebook.com/thunderroadsohio THUNDERROADSOHIO.COM

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MOTORCYCLE 101 The History of Motorcycles PART 3

n the earliest days of motorcycle production the biggest players in the industry remained the bicycle manufacturers. They began adapting their designs to accommodate the up and coming internal combustion engine. As engines became more powerful and designs began to outgrow their bicycle origins, the number of motorcycle producers increased. With so many people trying to succeed in the motorcycle industry, many of the 19th century inventors inevitably moved from motorcycle development to automobiles. Survival of the fittest at its finest, and at the turn of the century the first major mass production firms were established. 1894 marked the year of the first production motorcycle in Germany. Hildebrand and Wolfmüller developed the “Motorrad”. They even patented the Motorrad engine, a revolutionary 1488 cc model, but only a few hundred bikes were ever completed. At the same time the term “motorcycle” was first used in the English language when it appeared in materials promoting machines developed by E J Pennington. Sadly, Pennington’s designs never progressed past the prototype stage. In 1896 The Excelsior Motor Company began selling motorcycles to the public in Coventry, England. (Excelsior would also operate a company in the U.S. from 1905 – 1931) 1898 presented us with a U.S. development in the industry, when the OrientAster was built by Charles Metz at his factory in Waltham, Massachusetts. At this point in the game, many names that have become household standards began to emerge. The first familiar name in motorcycles appeared out of the bicycle era in 1898…Triumph. Triumph extended its production focus to

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include the motorcycle, and by 1902 had successfully produced its first model for sale. The first Triumph was essentially a bicycle fitted with a Belgian built engine that boasted a whopping 2.2 HP, and a short year later Triumph had emerged as the largest producer of motorcycles boasting an annual production of over 500 units. Clearly not considered “mass production” by today’s standards, but in 1902?? Triumph was kicking some serious ass in the motorcycle revolution. By 1907 Triumph had perfected a new 450 cc 3.5 HP engine and was producing 1,000 units annually. 1901 was the birth year for the famed Indian Motorcycle Manufacturing Company. The love child of two former bicycle racers, Indian quickly became (and has remained) a beloved name in motorcycles. Their first design was the “diamond framed” Indian Single. Its engine was built by the Aurora Firm in Illinois per Indian’s specifications. The Single was made available in one color…Deep Blue. Indian also increased its production to over 500 bikes by the close of 1902, making Indian a strong competitor for Triumph. Along the way, Indian pushed the evolution of the motorcycle in several ways…in 1902 Indian produced the first chain driven bike sold to the public, as well as released the first American V-Twin in 1906 (which remains the most popular motorcycle engine today). 1907 brought the first police unit to NYC (Indian bikes were chosen by all), and by 1914 Indian had created the “loop frame” positioned gas tank, swing arm and leaf spring suspension, and the world’s first electric lights and starter. No more need for a flashlight, or parking your bike at dusk…diehards could now ride all damn night! Indian would continue to rise in the

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production game as well, up to 32,000 units per year (its best ever) in 1913. 1901 also brought an eager young man by the name of William S. Harley into the biking world. At the age of 21 he completed his first blueprint of a bicycle engine. In 1903, William and his partner Arthur Davidson produced their first motorcycle in their meager 10 by 15 foot factory. Henry Meyer of Milwaukee bought the original 1903 model directly from the founders…Meyer obviously had no idea what a lucky bastard he was! In 1904 the first Harley dealership was opened in Chicago, Illinois by C. H. Lang, where one of the first production models was sold. In 1907, Harley becomes a corporation and builds a new, larger factory. In 1908, the first HD motorcycle is delivered to the Detroit Michigan PD for Detroit’s first motorcycle patrol unit. The following year, for the first time ever, spare parts for the HD V-twin were made available for sale…makes me wonder what the hell you did before that if your bike broke down?? By 1914 Harley had introduced the world to the renowned bar and shield logo, begun production of the “F-Head”, and brought us sidecars…the beginning of the tag-along rider (insert apology here).

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By this time, mass production was in full swing, and competition was in full force. Experimentation and innovation were taking over and being further driven by the growing sport of motorcycle racing. A powerful incentive to produce tougher, faster, more reliable machines was on the rise. While initiated for the racing world, these enhancements were to quickly infiltrate the public’s machines as well. Remember that mention of the U.S. Excelsior Motor Company? Well those cats can be thanked for being a huge driving force behind why that bad ass bike parked in your driveway does more for you than just take you from point A to point B. We will delve into our need for speed next time… Melanie Schwarte, Thunder Roads Magazine of Iowa Melanie@thunderroadsiowa.com For the first installment of this series, please see our January 2015 Issue of Thunder Roads Ohio. If you don’t have a print copy of the magazine, you can always view them online through our website. ThunderRoadsOhio.com

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EDITOR’S NOTE: We have received a tremendous response to our How To Host A Poker Run series, which we will have available online at ThunderRoadsOhio.com. We have decided to broaden the scope to include other events as well. This article is an updated version of one previously ran.

EVENT 101: Sponsorships and Your Marketing Plan

ponsorships can make or break an event – often times allowing an event or ride to be in the black before the first motorcycle is even fired up. Unfortunately, though, they are often one of the most challenging aspects of hosting an event. Obtaining a sponsorship basically involves you selling your event to a local business or organization – often times to a person that isn’t a rider and doesn’t really understand our culture. For many, the “sales” aspect makes it even more of a challenge. However there are some basic tips which can greatly improve your success rate. These are fundamental considerations that you need to understand before making your first pitch. The most important thing to understand when it comes developing sponsorships is to understand that it’s a business decision – not a charitable one. In most cases, businesses are deluged with requests for charitable contributions – and 90% of them are worthwhile causes. Unless the person you’re pitching just won the lottery or is Bill Gates, chances are that they can’t possibly support everyone that knocks on their door. Even if your event is about saving puppy dogs or preventing child abuse – two causes that will pull on anyone’s heart strings,

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reality will dictate that most businesses will only be able to donate a nominal amount if you’re simply asking them to donate based upon the cause. If you want to get more than a t-shirt or small gift certificate as a donation, you need to recognize that event sponsorships are not philanthropy for most businesses – they are marketing opportunities. And you need to present your event as such an opportunity. When crafting your presentation or sponsorship packages we would offer these tips: 1. What is the potential sponsor looking for? In most cases, they want to align their business with a good cause. They want exposure in front of your audience, and they want to effectively deliver their message (including their involvement) to their target market.

They may also want exclusivity, if you can offer it.

2. Know what you have to offer. What are your demographics? How many people will see their brand placement? Will you be including tickets, access to the event? How can they deliver their message to your crowd? Do you have a guide? Banners? Can they set up a display or be involved in the event? If a ride, can they be a stop? (Does that make sense for you or your riders?)

What can you offer, that others can’t?

Source: IEG / Performance Research Sponsorship Decision-maker Study, 2011

3. Know WHEN to pitch your event. Timing is everything when it comes to pitching sponsorships. The vast majority of companies make their sponsorship decisions in the last quarter of the year – October through December. That’s when they are making up their budget for the next year. In many cases it’s easier to get $1,000 in November for next year’s ride, than it is to get $100 in June for an event in a few weeks.

Understand that business decision makers work on their own time frame, not yours. A last minute request by your organization may be important in your eyes, but to them it may simply convey poor planning and not feasible for their internal processes.

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Sponsorships and Your Marketing Plan

4. Know WHO to pitch the sponsorship to. It’s important to deliver your request and presentation to the right person. In many cases, this is the hardest part of the entire process. Is it the marketing team? Or should it go to the owner? Is there a community relations department?

Every business is different, but it’s important that you identify who the actual decision maker is and make sure that they get your full message.

Often times, your most effective approach is to develop an “advocate” inside the company. In many cases this may involve you talking to a lot of folks about what you’re doing and what your cause is. In the case of restaurants or bars, this might involve you spending time talking with a long-time bartender or manager. Create a fan within the organization and they can help guide you through the process.

It doesn’t have to be a direct connection, but can simply relate to their position in life.

For example – most motorcycle events are predominantly attended by riders over 40, which own their own homes, and have a household income of over $50,000 annually. Those are the average demographics of motorcycle owners in Ohio. Those statistics may offer specific appeal to a different set of business than you might otherwise consider for your motorcycle event. Roofing companies, home remodelers, and even chiropractors have proven to be solid sponsors for us in regards to motorcycle events we have been involved with. You might not consider them motorcycle related, but they recognize that your average ride is exactly who they are looking for.

The following table was presented as part of a webinar by Aimee Dunsmore, Development Director of the Utah Arts Festival, on her secrets to getting HIGH DOLLAR sponsorships. It might get you considering some new angles to achieving your sponsorship goals.

Source: IEG / Performance Research Sponsorship Decision-maker Study, 2011

5. Target businesses that make sense for your event. Consider the event itself, not just the cause – when considering what businesses to approach. You are offering them the opportunity to market their company to your audience – does this make sense for their business and the products or services they offer?

6. Create a specific opportunity with specific goals. Don’t simply walk in and ask for “help”. Walk in with a specific proposal with clearly defined components and investment levels. I always present a few options and at least one or two potential sponsorship levels for them to consider.

Consider the fit between your audience and their businesses – include this in your presentation.

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Explain exactly what they will receive with their sponsorship and recognize it as an INVESTMENT. Clearly identify

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what BENEFITS you are offering them. Clearly spell out your marketing plan – and how they will be involved. Identify clear numbers in terms of impressions (the number of folks seeing their name) and specific placements.

Address what THEY WANT and how they will achieve it by investing in your event.

7. Create opportunities for Employee Engagement. More and more studies are showing that employees who volunteer together are happier and more productive at work. Chances are that the business owner is aware of this and might jump at the opportunity to encourage employees to support a cause that they have invested in.

This allows the business to tack on yet another reason to support your event… Marketing Exposure, Community / Civic Responsibility, and now Employee Engagement!

Oh, and as an added bonus – you get more volunteers to help with your event!

8. Have a clearly defined Marketing Plan to convey real value to your sponsors. A concrete marketing plan gives far more value to your event when it comes to sponsors. Not only are they going to be presented to your event audience – but everyone seeing your flyers, reading your eblasts, or hearing your

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commercials. This gives REAL value to your sponsorships – far beyond the number of actual riders or attendees.

A vague reference to flyers or facebook posts, doesn’t do it. Especially when you’re pitching to a larger company. They want real numbers and they need to justify their investment in terms of marketing dollars.

The bottom line is have an organized approach to your potential sponsors. At the end of the day their impression of you and your organization is just as important – if not more, than the cause you represent. If your presentation appears disorganized and poorly planned, they will assume your event will be as well. Have a solid game plan that you understand and have confidence in, and sponsors will get behind you. NEXT MONTH: Developing a Marketing Plan for your Event

Derek Smith is the President of Iron Cowboy Productions, a marketing firm specializing in motorcycle events and the publisher of Thunder Roads Ohio. For information on their services or partnering with TRO on your event – email ThunderRoadsOhio@gmail.com

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2015 Honda Ruckus

Not Your Average Scooter

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he scooter scene is a fairly unique one, often populated with colorful rides known as Stella’s and Vespas. And while these 50 to 150cc scoots generally present themselves as friendly, inviting rides getting sometimes as much as 100mpg; there is one denizen of the crowd that clearly stands apart – The Ruckus. The Honda Ruckus is a more utilitarian beast with rugged steel tubes and an off-road look emphasized by knobby tires and twin headlights which are often covered with grates or other protection. Even with its 49cc standard engine, the Ruckus is usually the brawler, Sgt. Of Arms of the scooter crowd – looking like it “could survive a nuclear blast and come out swinging.” And that’s just stock! Its basic, stripped down look is an invitation for enthusiasts to customize and make it their own.

2015 HONDA RUCKUS KEY FEATURES • Lightweight 49 cc four-stroke OHC liquid-cooled single-cylinder engine provides ample power for in-town riding and over 110mpg! • One-speed automatic transmission means no shifting ever—not even into park or neutral. Automatic Honda V-Matic belt-drive transmission provides spirited acceleration and requires virtually no maintenance. • Fuel-sipping constant-velocity (CV) carburetor with automatic choke. • Simple push-button electric starter. Turn the key, press the button, and go! • Compact engine-mounted radiator has aluminum fins for optimal cooling in all riding conditions. • Front and rear drum brakes offer predictable, powerful stopping. THUNDER ROADS® OHIO MAGAZINE

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2015 Honda Ruckus In addition to the stock 2015 Ruckus, we thought we might share some customized incarnations and some of their riders. We also broke down one customized Ruckus for a closer look at how it was transformed. For the hardcore close minded crowd that is scoffing at how we could possibly include these in our motorcycle mag – I would encourage you to take one out for a ride. Throw on a rubber nose and wig if you must, but you need to see what the Ruckus is all about before casting any dispersions. They are a lot of fun to ride and have some clear practical advantages over bigger rides – far beyond the over 110 mpg fuel efficiency. How about the flexibility of being able to easily throw one in the bed of your truck – or even the back of the Tahoe or van! And before you question the “manhood” of a fellow riding an undersized scooter – I would argue that it takes much more “gumption” to ride a 200 pound bike, seated a mere 28 inches from the pavement than a 900 pound sofa on wheels. Not to mention that John Penton, undoubtedly one of the toughest riders in the history of riding cemented his place as a legendary racer on a 175cc NSU. I happen to have one of those 900 pound touring beasts which I will crisscross the state on this summer, but I’m thinking that a Ruckus is just the thing for blasting around at rallies and for fun around town. Always remember – it’s about THE RIDE, not what you ride! Although in this case, this is a cool little ride! The Iron Cowboy

SPECIFICATIONS

ENGINE Engine Type 49cc liquid-cooled single-cylinder four-stroke Induction 18mm CV carburetor with automatic choke Ignition CD Bore And Stroke 37.8mm x 44mm Compression Ratio 11.9:1 DRIVE TRAIN Transmission Automatic V-Matic belt drive CHASSIS / SUSPENSION / BRAKES Front Suspension Twin-downtube fork; 1.9 inches travel Rear Suspension Single shock; 2.6 inches travel Front Brake Drum Rear Brake Front Tire 120/90-10 Rear Tire DIMENSIONS Wheelbase Curb Weight Fuel Capacity Miles Per Gallon

Drum 130/90-10

49.8 inches Seat Height 28.9 inches 194 pounds (Includes all standard equipment, required fluids and a full tank of fuel-ready to ride) 1.3 gallons 114 MPG - Honda's fuel economy estimates are based on EPA exhaust emission measurement test procedures and are intended for comparison purposes only. Your actual mileage will vary depending on how you ride, how you maintain your vehicle, weather, road conditions, tire pressure, installation of accessories, cargo, rider and passenger weight, and other factors.

RUCKUS CUSTOM BUILD | 2011 HONDA RUCKUS | 171CC

his Ruckus is a 2011 I built along with the help of Ruckhouse. I paid $2500 for the stock ruckus from the dealership. Here's a list of some of the mods and work that was done. We used a Composimo motor mount to lower and stretch the rear end, added a Dorf seat frame, and extended throttle/brake cables. Then we installed a brand new 2013 long case GY6 engine that is bored out to 171cc, ported and polished, with an A12 cam, 30mm carb, Mikuni fuel pump, Standard Functions fuel pump mounting bracket, fuel filter, K&N air filter, NCY oversized intake manifold, NCY Transmission, Bando VS belt, JDM Password Power pulley type 1, and Composimo variator cover. The oversized exhaust header pipe is from Monster GY6, and the silencer is a Yoshimura stainless with a custom mount. The rear frame was completely shaved and powder coated black. The front frame/tank were stripped and painted a matte black to match the rest of the bike. FLP frame covers (splitter and front frame cover) are painted matte black as well. The rear suspension is a Fox shock DHX 5.0 pro pedal that had to be custom CNC milled to fit properly to the Composimo mount. Dingleberry license plate mount, Peg Legs foot peg mounts. Password JDM: frame sliders, gas cap, foot pegs front/rear, handlebar stem, ignition cover, oil reservoir, kevlar air scoop, and red anodized bolts. Pro Taper handlebars 7/8” NCY: 'Glock' kickstand- black, performance quick throttle and tube set w/bearings. The rear wheel is a 12x8in custom Ruckhouse 2 piece 5 star style (red anodized and black powder coated), rear hub adapter 4x110 wrapped in a Greensaver GT radial tire.

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NO CREDIT? BAD CREDIT? DON’T SWEAT IT!

WE HAVE OPTIONS! 1557 Oak Harbor Rd. Fremont, OH • 419-332-9902 SchietsMotorsports.com THUNDER ROADS® OHIO MAGAZINE

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Photo by Bob Mazur, Thunder Roads Ohio | Model: Aimee Ritz, Thunder Roads Ohio

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FINICKY

4 Open House & Chili Cookoff Hales Harley-Davidson

SAT

Buckeye Bombshells Casting Call Buckeye Harley-Davidson Dayton, OH

Honda Demo Days Honda Marysville Motorsports. Marysville, OH

Eastgate Harley-Davidson Bike Night Cincinnati, OH

Seldom Seen CyclesPackard Museum. Warren, OH

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

12th Annual Rally For The Troops. Cleveland, OH

26 27 28 29 30

Earth Day

Iron Cowboy Productions, LLC 2015 ÂŠ

Community Blood Drive at Gover Harley-Davidson. Piqua, OH

8th Annual Fisher Hosue Ride C&A Harley-Davidson Plain City, OH

19 20 21 22 23 24 25

TAX DAY

12 13 14 15 16 17 18

EASTER

5 6 7 8 9 10 11

April Fools Day

1 2 3

SUN MON TUE WED THUR FRI

APRIL 2015 THUNDERROADSOHIO.COM

CUSTOM FEATURE

FINICKY

By FINCH CUSTOMS

on Finch has been building truly unique, award winning choppers since the 1960’s. At the Columbus Easyriders Invitational, he invited us to take a few shots of one of our favorites – Finicky! At 76, he’s truly an icon and one of the real legends in the industry. We felt honored to have the privilege. 93 c.i. Shovelhead • Extended fins on the motor. • Finned gas tank under the seat. • Fins on the custom air cleaner, primary, floor boards, and exhaust. • Each side has a different custom paint scheme. For more on Ron you can find him on facebook or visit his website – finchcustoms.com

Photographer: Bob Mazur, TRO | Model: Aimee Ritz, TRO 52

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Older shots and images courtesy of Finch Customs. THUNDER ROADS® OHIO MAGAZINE

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Delights and Despairs of the By Holly Prather, TRO Contributor

Female Rider

ast year at the Cleveland Motorcycle Show, I left in despair. Literally, I almost cried. I wanted so much to go find a bike that would fit me. I’m little - 5'2" (ok, 5'2 3/4") and pretty tiny, but curvy. Last year there were so many bikes I could just barely tiptoe, totally useless for me. I remember there was just one that I felt comfortable on: the tiny Suzuki S50. This year, I found 4-5 bikes that not only I could sit on with my feet flat on the ground, but that they were not so heavy that I couldn’t hold them up. Last year’s show I would spot some cruiser with a low seat, and I’d get excited: “look, a bike that’s short, a bike that’s short!” I’d then get on it and say, “oh gawd, I can’t even lift it off the side stand!” It seemed like every manufacturer was racing to make bigger and heavier bikes, ignoring the growing women’s market. So I’m absolutely delighted that this year not only were there a bunch that fit me and that I could lift and ride, but there was one that I loved now all I need is $7000 to buy it! I need new gear. My boots are worn out. My mesh jacket is worn out, my non-mesh jacket is worn out with broken snaps, my pants are totally worn out with broken zippers. My gloves are worn out. Literally the only thing I have is a helmet. I’ve been looking for new gear for ages - literally a couple of years now. I’ve ordered so much gear and sent it all back, because nothing fits. If I can get it around my hips, the waist is so huge I could ride while pregnant. If the legs are the right length, the knee pads are around my shins. If my jacket fits my body, the armor is so loose it flops around so uselessly that there is next to no chance it would cover my shoulders or elbows in a crash. If I get a jacket where the armor fits correctly, it’s so tight that I can’t breathe. And you can forget about finding a jacket that has multiple liners that pull out - with the liners in, it’s breathtakingly tight. If you pull out the liners leaving only the shell, it’s so loose you can pull it off me without undoing the zipper! So as usual, I hunted around for some women’s gear at the show. I found that there was less, far less available than in previous years. I talked to the owner of a British gear booth, and he said that they don’t even sell women’s gear anymore, and pointed me towards the men’s extra small, in hopes it might fit. He said that many motorcycle gear manufacturers, them included, have abandoned making women’s gear because it’s next to impossible to fit women - and as a result, they were having between an 80% to 95% return rate. He said women’s bodies were too varied and hard to fit, and women were too picky when it came to their gear. He said women would try on gear while they were standing up, thinking that they should fit like they were regular clothes - but in fact it should fit for when they are seated on the bike. This is why the arms and jacket back would be made longer, and the knee armor would be low. However, when women would try the gear on, they’d instantly 56

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declare it too big or ill-fitting, and send it back. His parting words were, “I’m sorry, I don’t envy you. It’s just a waste of money trying to make gear for women, it’s a horrible business choice.” So what do I do? I have a small curvy body. I need gear! It almost seems like men’s gear is designed without comfort even taken into account - but then you look at your body, and it’s pretty much straight up and down, so it’s easy to get something that’s going to fit fairly well. So if you have hips, and a tiny waist, like me, and you try to move, it’s pulling in ways that is uncomfortable, it’s hard to be comfortable. All women know how hard it is to find clothing that fits AND is comfortable. So motorcycle gear on top of that is just a nightmare. Because you’ve got to be comfortable if you’re riding for hours. And it has to fit, or else the pads won’t stay in place, they won’t stay where they’re supposed to be. You can’t have loosefitting stuff. If I wore a men’s extra small, even if the sleeves were short enough, it’s going to be too wide and moving too much. Even my mesh jacket today, I’m constantly having to pull the pads back to where they’re supposed to be. And it’s nearly

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BRIEF HISTORY OF PACKARD

impossible to find a jacket that has multiple layers - if it fits with the inner layer, by the time you take those liners out, the armor flops all over the place. So I always need multiple jackets, I can’t have a jacket that adjusts to the weather by adding or subtracting layers. Which means I need to have enough storage on my bike to carry along an extra jacket. So I am looking forward to getting on my new CTX700...but the search (so far in vain, for two years now) for new gear goes on. Read more: http://goldwingdocs.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=25719#ixzz3TOwXYiNX THUNDER ROADS® OHIO MAGAZINE

he Packard Story begins in the 1820s shortly after the establishment of Warren as the “capital of the Connecticut Western Reserve.” Warren Packard, son of Lordstown’s first postmaster William Packard, came to the village of Warren in the 1850s just as an era of new business and industrial growth was underway. Hardware stores, lumber and planing mills, hotels, and an iron/rolling mill manufactory all soon carried the Packard banner during the years that Packard and his wife raising their two sons and three daughters. The sons, William Doud Packard and James Ward Packard, put their college training and business experience to practical use with the establishment of the Packard Electric Company in 1890, the year Warren entered the “age of electricity.” The first Packard Motor Car was built in Warren in 1899 at the Packard Electric Company’s subsidiary plant, the New York and Ohio Company. Manufacture of a successful automobile brought about the formation of the Ohio Automobile Company, which evolved into the Packard Motor Car Company in 1902. One of the early cars, the 1903 Model F, was sent out on a transcontinental journey that year to test and market the durability of the Packard Motor Car in a trip from California to New York City. The famous endurance run of this car, dubbed “Old Pacific,” was recreated in 1983. The “Old Pacific,” along with an exhibit of Packard Motor Car memorabilia, is on display at the museum. In 1911, due to the Packard brothers’ success, Warren became the first city in the United States to light its streets with incandescent bulbs. The Packard Electric Company made incandescent bulbs and other electrical products. With the building of the Packard Motor Car came the necessity of developing an improved electrical system for the automobile. The production of high quality Packard cable became a dominant part of the Packard brothers’ operation. Packard Electric became a division of General Motors Corporation in 1932 and is known today as Delphi Packard Electric Systems. From those early days as the leader in producing vehicle wiring systems, Delphi Packard Electric has built and maintained global recognition for excellence in this field.

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TRACKSIDE WITH MIKE WEBER

s an attorney who handles injury cases I have seen more ways that people get hurt than most people. Several times a week we see new injuries walk in the door. However, after 25 years the way people get hurt starts to be repetitive. For motorcycle crashes most of our cases have occurred at an intersection, or when a car turns in front of the bike. What is also repetitive is the relationship between the severity of the injury and the safety gear worn. Appropriate safety gear clearly reduces the injury. Head and shoulders above every other piece of gear is the helmet. This piece of equipment can save more lives and reduce more injuries than leather coats, gloves and boots combined. By the time you read this spring will be upon us and most of you will be getting out on a regular basis. Before your next ride spend some time out on the net looking up statistics relating to motorcycle crashes. (The Hurt report from way back in 70’s is still a valuable piece of information.) When you are trying to get fit there is the saying, “the mirror don’t lie”. Well, it’s the same with statistics. If you want to fool yourself that you are somehow better off without a helmet go right ahead. However, I didn’t rely on statistics when I decided to always wear a helmet. I developed my theory through many hours of playing in motorsports and crashing the heck out of quite a few different things. WHY SHOULD YOU WEAR A HELMET? There is a saying in motorsports that you can’t really go fast until you get a big one out of the way. A big one refers to a big, stick it on its head and tear the crap out of stuff, crash. This saying does not question whether you might crash; it assumes that you will be spectacularly crashing rather early on in your career.

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Simply by riding a motorcycle on the street you are involved in motorsports. If this logic holds correct you will eventually have an incident. There is a second saying; there are two types of motorcycle riders, those that have crashed and those that will crash. Again, this is not a small drop it in the garage and scratch some paint crash. Nor is it the hit some gravel in a parking lot and do a Tommy tip over. No, we are referring to a real, ought to be on YouTube, crash. If this saying is correct, yes, you will have a crash. Odds are you will suffer no major injury, but those odds improve with appropriate safety equipment and preparation. This article may alienate the American V-Twin riders who read this magazine. Why? Because you guys (and girls) are notorious for not wearing helmets and I am going to suggest you wear one, at least for a while. On a recent Saturday I was out riding my bicycle through New Richmond trying to burn off some excess calories. It was a beautiful day and I saw approximately 50 motorcycles during my ride. About 45 of these were American Twins and out of these bikes only one rider had a helmet

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on. The other riders and passengers did not. The remaining 5 bikes were BMW’s and Sport bikes. Each of these riders and any passengers were wearing helmets. That started me thinking about this topic. I do not believe the government should force people to wear a helmet. However, I do not believe there is any valid reason not to wear a helmet. You have the right to make a choice not to wear a helmet. But, herein is my theory. You are not qualified to make that choice until you have crashed the crap out of a motorcycle. Only after you have tumbled down the road, got up seeing stars, and asked the ambulance crew to answer the damn phone are you qualified to say, “I am not going to wear a helmet today”. Until then you are just not experienced enough to make that call. What is your current reason for not wearing a helmet? “It’s too hot.” Please. “It’s too heavy.” Is that the best you can do? So is a wheelchair. “It takes away my peripheral vision.” Wives’ tale. “It may catch and hurt my neck”. Statistically wrong. “I don’t want the government telling me what to do.” It is really your decision. I am not telling anyone they have to wear a helmet but I am suggesting a new way of looking at this. Be sure you are truly qualified to make the decision. None of the above excuses are valid. In fact if you have truly taken a tumble and still don’t wear a helmet, (and are not suicidal) please send me an email. I am curious why you do not wear one. In a recent survey the NHTSA concluded that helmets are 37 percent effective in preventing

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fatalities and 67 percent effective in preventing brain injuries. For every 100 people killed without a helmet almost 40 could survive. For every 100 traumatic brain injuries that happened to non-helmet wearing motorcyclists you could prevent 67 by wearing a helmet. I am not playing those odds. I can assure you that I am not an ivory tower academic spouting statistics. If I am qualified to discuss anything it is crashing. My resume is impressive (not sure that is the best adjective). I have crashed the sprint car hard enough to make the front page of Lawrenceburg’s newspaper three times. I have been upside down in a sprint car nearly 10 other times. I have low sided at Mid Ohio at over 80 miles per hour. I have driven off the track at Mid Ohio at over 70 miles per hour into freshly rained upon grass in the run off area. This one tested the motorcycle sudden-stop, rider-ejection theory. I have broken three helmets crashing bicycles in competitive group rides or races. I have had a helmet on for each one of the above. I can’t thank the Bell, Arai and Giro Helmet companies enough. If your resume is more impressive and you still don’t wear a helmet give me a call. I would be happy to stop by your nursing home and we can talk. 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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37th Annual

Motorama Races & Shows February 21-22, 2015 | Harrisburg, Pa Story By: Invictus Motor Gear Photos By: Steve Westby

This story is dedicated to and in memory of Armin H. Hostetter.

first attended this show back in the early 1980’s to sell handlebars and spark plugs to the racers inside the Harrisburg Farm Show complex. My two best memories of my first time there were, “man this is cool”, and secondly, “damn it’s cold in here!” There were three days of racing offering motorcycle flat track on Friday night followed by two days of motocross racing on Saturday and Sunday. Racers and fans came from all over the northeast and mid-Atlantic for a place to race during the winter. We as vendors lined the outskirts of the arena to sell parts to the racers and we would sleep in our lawn chairs overnight because we were idiots. Armin Hostetter was the promoter and owner of Trail-Way Speedway in Hanover, PA. The facility there was first started for riders and racers alike to just have a place to ride. I remember rolling in with our dirt bikes and you could drop $5.00 in a box and ride all day (on the honor system of course). The venue eventually turned into a place to race motocross and flat track and still operates today as a premier facility for AMA Motorcycle Flat Track racing and an oval track that offers weekly sprint car racing. Back in the late 70’s, Armin and his three boys had the idea to rent the farm show complex to offer the racers of the area something to do during the off season. I don’t believe they realized at the time, but they became pioneers in the sport of indoor arenacross racing. Let’s fast forward close to 40 years 60

The main attraction – arenacross racing.

Everybody loves the Miss Motorama Pageant. later and all I can say is “Wow!” And I’m not talking about the kind of wow your better half gives you when you do something really stupid. I’m talking about wow, this is freakin’ cool! No one thought back in the day that this event would last this long and certainly nobody realized what it would grow into. As I mentioned earlier, us diehards would trek through the snow and pit in the freezing cold to watch a few hundred guys bang bars indoors for

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something to do during February. This year’s event attracted over 500 motocross racers in 27 different classes and probably 25,000 fans to not only see indoor motorcycle racing, but also go-cart and quarter midget racing along with two RC car events as well. There is a speed show hosting custom cars and motorcycles and 100’s of vendors offering everything from motorcycle and car parts to dog bones (heat even comes along with your space now). In addition there is Robot OHIO’S MOTORCYCLE MAGAZINE

Vendors line the show hall offering everything imaginable for the off road rider.

Custom bikes like this 100th Anniversary Softail were on hand.

Custom car shows go down all weekend. Conflict, tons of activities for the kids, rod and custom car show awards along with a bikini contest and a Miss Motorama Pageant - who knew it would turn out this awesome over the years? I dedicate this story to Mr. Hostetter as he did not make it to this show. We lost Armin just a few weeks before, at the age of 87. Armin was quite a legend in his own right who excelled at many things in his life. As a young man he played baseball and was good enough to earn THUNDER ROADS® OHIO MAGAZINE

a tryout with the Pittsburgh Pirates and he played semi pro football in York and Carlisle, PA. Armin raced motorcycles too with his career highlight being riding for the Norton Factory on the beach in the Daytona 200. He went on to be a local farmer, race promoter and a pillar in his community serving on school boards,

starting kids’ sports programs and was president of the local Rotary. I’d like to thank Armin H. Hostetter and his sons for having the vision to launch such an event and the staying power to stick with it. It is because of him we get to kick off our year of motorcycling here in south central PA, no matter what Mother Nature throws at us.

To see the race results for this event or to get info on next year’s show check out their website at: www.motoramaevents.com or find us on Facebook at Invictus Motor Gear. THUNDERROADSOHIO.COM

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2015 YAMAHA XJR1300 RACER CUSTOME FEATUR Geoff Baldwin, Return of the Café Racers Thunder Roads Ohio Contributor

’ve been covering the Yamaha Yardbuilt series of custom bikes for some time now and have really enjoyed the projects they’ve collaborated on. If you follow Return of the Cafe Racers on Instagram you may have noticed that I was recently invited by Yamaha to attend the global launch of the 2015 Yamaha XJR1300 Racer in Sydney. The XJR1300 Racer is Yamaha's newest addition to its “Sport Heritage” series where it joins the SR400 and the XV950 ‘Bolt’. The XJR1300 Racer is a variation of the standard XJR1300 with design features inspired by current trends is the custom motorcycle, much like BMW’s R Nine T. A few days ago I jumped on a plane and met up with the other bloggers and journalists invited to the launch where we were treated to 3 fun days getting to know the 2015 XJR1300. Our itinerary began with a presentation on the 2015 XJR1300 by Yamaha product manager Shun Miyazawa at the Deus Ex Machina “House of Simple Pleasure” in Camperdown, Sydney. Shun explained the development process of the 2015 XJR and it’s variant the XJR ‘Racer’. While much of the bikes engineering and mechanics remain closely aligned with its predecessors the 2015 version has undergone styling changes based on an “Old is New” approach. What this means, in a nut shell, is that Yamaha has recognised the appeal of classically styled motorcycles in todays motorcycling community and has attempted to create a bike that will appeal directly to this audience, and I think they’ve done a pretty good job of it. Back in 1995 when the XJR was first released it fell into the naked sports 62

category of bikes. This basically meant they removed the front fairing from the design leaving the sports style tail end, a design I’ve never really been fond of. It’s like wearing a shirt with only one sleeve rolled up, it simply doesn’t look right. Thankfully Yamaha looked much farther back than the nineties for their design influences. It was the classic lines and forms of the XS Eleven that they used as an example for the development of the new XJR. The balanaced horizontal line of the XS Elevens tank and seat, its slimmer profile and its simple headlight and instrument cluster. The new XJR’s tank is lower and slimmer dropping 6 litres in capacity and exposing the engine to the rider. The tail is shorter and completely covered in leather with a Cafe Racer style bump at the end and the sub frame sits 10cm lower bringing the rider closer to the bike and the road. Black is the new black! The XJR is covered in black bits. A blacked out engine, black frame and swing arm, black exhaust and the first entirely black forks I’ve ever seen. It also features very few visible plastic bits, opting instead for milled or pressed alloy parts like the drilled headlight stay, side number plate airbox cover and exhaust heat shields. Paint choices are, you guessed it, black, flat metallic grey and a very nice “power” blue (my personal favorite). “Born for Speed”. The XJR1300 Racer is of course the bike that really

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gained my interest. It transforms the XJR1300 into a more aggressive looking and riding, Cafe Racer styled beast. The big changes come in the form of a carbon fibre front “race” cowl, a carbon fibre short fender, a carbon seat cowl and a set of low clip on handlebars. When I first saw photos of the racer I was worried that the shape of the front cowl was too complex, but seeing it in the flesh changed that opinion straight away. During the presentation at Deus the XJR Racer on display had been kitted out with the full range of Yamaha catalog accessories. LED indicators, bar end mirrors, rear set foot pegs, billet engine dress up parts and an Akrapovic muffler. It looked the business and you could easily see how its design was influenced by the Yardbuilt series, especially since Yamaha had also flown them over for the event! As well as getting to see the new bike I was lucky enough to get a close up look at the ‘Eau Rouge’ from Deus Ex Machina Italy and Keino Cycles ’Rhapsody in Blue’ and yes they look just as good in the flesh as they do in the photos. The following day we went out on our ride. The bikes we were given were in their “from the dealership” form so all of the fancy bits had been removed. I started out the day on an XJR Racer and agreed with Ross from The Bike Shed, who had a standard XJR ,that we’d swap a few times during the day to get a feel for both versions. While I wasn’t too OHIO’S MOTORCYCLE MAGAZINE

fussed about the bulkier, incandescent indicators or the stem mounted mirrors on the stock Racer, the mid set foot pegs were a little confusing. With such a forward leaning riding position it seemed to me that the rear sets should be a standard feature of the Racer as the mids started to become a tad uncomfortable after our first 100kms. The bikes steering was direct and the whole package felt well balanced and while the power delivery wasn’t as aggressive as I was expecting, there was plenty of it. We spent the first half of the day on some pretty relaxed roads and got rained on a fair bit, but that didn’t stop me from enjoying it...especially as I was one of the only riders with a full faced lid. After stopping for lunch our Yamaha ride leader told us the best part of the route was next. We headed from the coast into the hills where the roads turned into a mixed bag of tight bends and long sweepers. The Racer cut a very nice line allowing me to really lean in tight and because of it’s low height you really feel like your skimming the surface of the road on every turn. The stock XJR had completely different steering dynamics with its high/wide tapered bars, but when I positioned myself right up on the tank with my elbows high I had my toes scrapping on every other corner. I’m not about to start telling you about the power-to-weight ratio or how many miles the XJR gets to the gallon, but what I will say is that it was a great bike to ride. The XJR Racer spec sheet is an impressive list of go fast facts sure to please any die hard fan of the XJR series. While the bike boasts a huge 1300cc engine it’s power delivery is smooth and manageable. The air-cooled, parallel 4 THUNDER ROADS® OHIO MAGAZINE

produces around 98bhp and just under 110Nm of torque, which was capable of rocketing me from zero to “I’d lose my license if a cop saw me now” in no time at all. The brakes worked (phew), the suspension was a little stiff, but is fully adjustable and there weren’t any odd wobbles or unusual quirks to speak of. As a daily ride it’s probably a little larger than I’d like and the engine produced a fair bit of heat, but I wouldn’t hesitate lane splitting on the XJR to avoid the latter

“In terms of style, we were inspired by the design of the late ‘70s and ‘80s, with simple and pure shapes and authentic materials. The DNA is also racing inspired. Long and narrow tank, dynamic seat, race number plate with intakes… and we thought a lot about the customising. This XJR is an easy base to pimp!” and despite the former. With customisation being one of the key selling points for the XJR300 Racer, Yamaha are working with 6 different workshops in 2015 to produce 6 new “Yardbuilt” XJR’s. The workshops taking part are Copenhagen’s Wrenchmonkees, Portugal’s ItRocks!Bike, Numbnut Motorcycles in Amsterdam, those crazy Spaniards at El Solitario, Iron Heart Denim UK and Rough Crafts in Taiwan. These bikes will then form the basis for a range of custom “bolt on” parts for the

XJR1300. Along with the 30 genuine accessories offered by Yamaha these parts should provide XJR enthusiasts with enough options to create their own custom variation with ease. Now that’s something I’m really looking forward to seeing! FROM THE FACTORY he XJR1300 is back! 20 years of evolution have delivered a stunning take on the icon. With the largest displacement inline-4 air-cooled engine in the market, the raw power commands respect. Yamaha’s search for innovation has led to collaborations with the world’s most talented custom bike builders, including Deus Ex Machina who created the beautiful Eau Rouge and provided inspiration for the XJR1300 Racer. The carbon cowling and front fender, racer tank and clip-on bars show off the air-cooled engine. The riding position is focused, with a narrower, more forward sportier feel. A shorter tail adds to the muscular silhouette with the narrower front tank. Details • 4-cylinder DOHC 1,250cc air-cooled engine • Café Racer style carbon cowling • Carbon short front fender • 98hp - 108 Nm • Carbon seat cowling • Clip-on handlebars • Muscular, stripped back functional beauty • Largest displacement air-cooled engine • Aluminium side covers with racing plate style • Slim fuel tank design with race-bred look • 4-2-1 matt black exhaust and new design end cap • Solo-style seat design

Special thanks to Yamaha Motorcycles for the opportunity to be a part of the launch and to Bell Helmets Australia for the awesome new Bell Carbon Star RSD Technique you can see me wearing in the last photo. Ross Sharp from The Bike Shed, Scott Hopkin from Pipeburn and Orazio Scamporrino from Rocket Garage it was great to meet you all. I'm looking forward to when we can all talk bikes, blogs and drink beer together again. THUNDERROADSOHIO.COM

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RESPECT YOURSELVES

opened the year with a few articles on some solid Biker Organizations. I’m attempting to write a little more main stream in 2015. The truth is what my life is about is the MC lifestyle, but I understand that Thunder Roads Ohio Magazine goes out to Bikers of every type. There has been much more support than crybabies about what I have written, and I thank the “Iron Cowboy” for always having my back on this Editorial Column. So I will do feature articles throughout the year covering other aspects of our Biker Lifestyle other than just the club life. But not this month. I have some fairly intimate structure knowledge of many types of clubs. MC’s, RC’s, MM’s, Social Clubs and the like from the Diamond on Down. I see many things that look decent, and other things that are way off the mark in my opinion. But I guess it all depends on what type of “Club” you claim to be. Are you a club that tries to respect and keep the “Protocols” of the old school days alive and well? Or are you that new generation of breed that has no desire to respect the history of the MC Lifestyle? It seems that there are many of both types out here these days. I find is so difficult to really understand what “Old School Protocol” is anymore. I read several published Biker columns, and am impressed by the deep knowledge some seem to have on the subject. I think that many clubs that try to live the lifestyle have actually no idea of what the old school rules actually were. Do you know why? Because there was never one handbook written laying out those “rules”. One protocol that most “Real Three Piece MC’s” seem to agree on is that Women don’t wear the club colors (Men’s Patch). I mean that’s how it is in every modern “Real Three Piece MC” I 64

know. But did you know that at one time some of the oldest, largest clubs that still exist in our nation today once had women wearing the club colors? So is it the fact that they no longer allow it that sets the standard of “Protocol”? Pretty confusing isn’t it? Do you wear your hard patch when riding in a vehicle? “Protocol” says that you shouldn’t. But checking with my Old Man, who was a member and for a time the President of one of the largest MC’s around here in the 1960’s, and he said not wearing your Rag in a cage was never even discussed. You did or didn’t, not that anybody would care either way. Probate or Prospect patches have as many different styles as there are ways and time frames to earn the full patch. Who’s right? Truth is they all are. Here’s what I think now. Not what I’ve always thought. Most Big respectable (In the MC World) Clubs have been around for decades. Times have changed, and so have club protocols. Each of them have their own identifying “Protocols” which

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as they say; “it is what it is”. Most all of them have their Dominant club, and a support or affiliate club of some fashion. Join one of them. Follow their protocols. If you do, you will be mostly respected by those in your area, and possibly by others in the nation. Do you respect the President of your Club, and respect each other? How do you show it? Does he have wisdom from which you have gained knowledge? Do you protect him when you are out as a group? Are your eyes on your Leadership, or are they too drunk to even pay attention? If you treat your leadership as if they should be respected, others will respect them too, and in turn OHIO’S MOTORCYCLE MAGAZINE

respect you. Don’t forget, the leadership position is just that, a position. A position that you may someday find yourself in, teaching our younger or newer generations. How does your club carry itself? Are you in “Club Mode” when at events, bars or out in public? What is “Club mode”? I’ve spent much of the past decade teaching “Club Mode” to my young Brothers. When you roll into a place are you all aware of your surroundings. Do you look like it too? Oh, you don’t have any enemies so you don’t need to worry about that? When you wear a Rag everyone is a potential enemy. From the Redneck drunk at the bar spouting off at the mouth or the group of 4 or 5 drinking buddies out

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for a good time, and a fight. They’re out there in every bar. How embarrassing would it be to your club to be caught off guard and get your Boss sucker punched

or his a$$ handed to him in a public bar? No club I’d be proud to represent. Most “protocols” are not much more than common sense, and self-respect. How do you possibly expect other clubs, or the general public to respect your organization if you don’t even look like you respect yourselves? Do you respect yourselves? Show it at every opportunity! Thanks for reading, and Keep it Real! Tabasco Tabasco.tro@gmail.com

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 BY VARG FREEBORN REPORT The difference between “qualification” and “training”

et’s talk about the difference between “qualification” and “training”. Do you believe that because someone has taken a concealed carry course they are now proficient in employing a weapon safely and effectively in a fast moving deadly confrontation? Or that someone who has hunted and been a recreational shooter all of their life is thereby skillful enough to operate effectively in a gun fight? Do you believe that because a police officer has completed the academy and carries a gun every day in his or her job that they are expert gun handlers and shooters? If you answered “yes” to any of those questions, then you have mistaken “qualification” with preparedness and training. As a society, we are taught from a very young age to achieve nothing more than proficiency and qualification in order to get our reward. All through life, from grade school and into adulthood, it is memorization by rote that wins you grades, status, positions, salaries, authority, etc. Memorize a set of information, perform a mock-up of skills and pass a test; you are now “qualified” and “entitled” to a certain

status/paycheck/right. As Paul Howe (U.S. Army Delta Force Ret.) puts it, “Minimums. We have become a society that strives for the minimum standard, and this is how we live our lives.” This method of doing things is so pervasive in our world that most of the public put all of their trust into these resultant qualifications. When we see someone who is licensed or commissioned to do a particular job, we believe that they have been taught the ins and outs of that job and that they have at some point “proven their proficiency” in the job in order to have become officially qualified. Often, we not only trust that they are proficient and qualified, we believe they are experts. I mean, they are licensed or commissioned and have obviously been taught all of the aspects of that job, right? Unfortunately, qualification by way of proficiency examinations does not make experts. In fact, it doesn’t even weed out the inept. Life is dynamic, demanding and unpredictable. It is a thinking person’s world. Someone can be completely stellar at memorizing information and performing particular movements

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or operations in a testing environment, yet go on to completely fall apart under the pressure of a real life situation. An officer or concealed carry civilian can be an excellent marksman on the range in front of a static target, yet not be able to hit anything when stress is induced and the blood begins filling with the chemicals of fight or flight. It happens all of the time. As a defensive firearms instructor, I am an instructor of deadly force; to put it any other way would be a form of denial. Of course, I teach gun safety, general awareness and avoidance. I instruct on ways to deescalate and diffuse a confrontation. But sometimes a situation has to go all the way and there is no safe avenue of escape; it has to be stopped with deadly force. Proper training must ultimately consider this as a final result. Whether it is a civilian looking for defensive concealed carry training, or a law enforcement officer looking to improve his or her skills, the end result is preparation for those worst-case, high-stress, dynamic and unpredictable confrontations. The problem is that not one common qualification

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requirement that certifies someone to carry a gun in public ensures that the civilian, or officer, can actually operate the weapon safely or effectively during a dynamic, high-stress, life or death decision making encounter. Even though it is the very reason they will be carrying a gun--to prepare for that eventuality--it simply is not required to be trained for that eventuality. You only need to exhibit safe gun handling and minimal marksmanship under semipleasant, controlled conditions on static targets. This is not to say that all concealed carry or law enforcement training is void of any quality training, there are some good instructors on both the civilian and law enforcement sides of the issue. What I am talking about here is the actual requirements for someone to be certified to carry a loaded weapon in public, both civilian and law enforcement. Unfortunately, a lot of CCW and LE instructors alike are programmed to “get you in, done, and out.” For myself, I look at getting my own training the same way that I look at teaching others: if you are going to spend your time and money doing it, you should get the most out of it.

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BUCKEYE FIREARMS REPORT Never seek the path of minimal effort. I don’t care how long you have been doing it, or what you think you know, you do not know everything. In Ohio, where I am located, civilians must complete a 12 hour course on gun safety and handling that consists of 10 hours of prescribed topics and a minimum of 2 hours of live-fire range time. (On March 23, 2015 this will be reduced to 8 hours total). There is no mandatory minimum of rounds that must be shot on target, and there is not an annual re-qualification. Even though the CCW license allows the civilian to carry a loaded gun in a holster in public, courses are not required to even cover holstering or un-holstering a loaded and chambered handgun safely. The class need only be completed safely and, in most cases, you will be certified. While there are no statistics available on how many rounds the average concealed carry citizen fires in practice yearly, we can make a safe bet that most of those rounds are fired under lax conditions, gun already out of the holster, at static targets. Sadly, most believe that because they have a ccw license, and because they are able to operate a gun well enough to hit a static target, they are done with training. For police officers in Ohio (and similarly nationwide), the OPOTA certification requires as low as a 25 round test, again shot at static targets. In fact, according to nationwide studies, an overwhelming majority of officers fire an average of less than 100 rounds per year in practice and qualification. Due to budget cuts in departments across the nation, training is the first thing to be cut and qualification requirements have consistently been reduced and shortened. For example, Ohio revamped their Carbine rifle OPOTA qualifications recently and the new test does not involve any shooting behind cover or shooting and moving. The test consists of positional fire at a static target from 15 feet out to 150 feet. It was later amended to ease requirements on the 150 foot section because many departments do not have access to a 150 foot range to qualify on. All too often qualification requirements and training needs are reduced due to budgetary concerns, lack of ammunition availability, lack of training facilities, etc. An NYPD officer, who had a military background and therefore had a stronger perspective on training, commented on

this to the New York Times following an investigation into police involved shootings: One officer, who joined the force with a military background and spoke anonymously because he feared reprisals, said the problem was training. The department has “a factory line” approach to weapons training in which officers “get the basics — breathing, trigger control,” but not much else, he said. “It’s very brief, minimal. Firearms training is important — it’s very important,” the officer concluded. “And it’s something that is not taken seriously.” Given the very low frequency that officers train/practice and the low standards of qualifications, is there any wonder why, when the FBI police-involved shooting statistics are released, they indicate officers’ accuracy nationwide is 15%20%. That means statistically about 80% of officer-fired rounds in deadly confrontations are complete misses. Many of those rounds end up injuring innocent bystanders and hostages. It’s a safe bet that many officers themselves were injured due to them failing to stop a threat in time because they could not hit the suspect(s) with effective fire. Now, this is not an indictment of qualification nor is it an attack on those who do not train harder, per se. While I do personally believe that firearm qualification requirements for both police and civilians are extremely low, the problem we face has more to do with our perspective on being qualified versus actually being trained to operate a gun in a high stress event. What we need to do is push the educational aspect of gunfighting to the point where people understand that being able to put a predetermined amount of holes in a target from a prescribed distance in a controlled environment in no way, shape or form prepares you for a deadly confrontation. Nor does it give you ANY idea how you will perform or shoot in said confrontation. There are many levels to the knowledge of fighting. Fighting with a gun is no different, it is still fighting. It is, in fact, a martial art. Stance, grip, motions of the draw, balance, leverage, explosive movement, fast reaction times—all of these apply in gunfighting as much as they do in hand-to-hand combat. You do not walk into a martial arts dojo, spend 12 or 20

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hours with an instructor and walk out an expert with a high-ranking belt. Nor would strapping on that belt every day for five or ten or twenty years magically make you a fighting expert. Yet, that is exactly how many feel about the gun. After a qualification course for a firearm, while you may walk out with a gun license or commission, you are not an expert. Nor are you prepared to deal with a deadly confrontation based upon that certification alone. Solid shooting instruction that focuses on the fundamentals and the mechanics of the shot is a good place to start. But when you take solid shooting instruction and mix it with induced-stress drills and a good dose of Survival Mindset training, you end up with a winning combination. Let’s take a look at Charles Darwin’s famous statement about survival: “It is not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent; it is the one that is most adaptable to change.” When applied to deadly force encounters, that statement rings truer than anything else you could say about surviving a life or death struggle. You can be the greatest static marksman on the range. You can be the strongest and fastest shooter, on the range. But when a real life or death situation happens, environment and circumstances are very rarely ideal in the sense that you would have plenty of time to get your stance just right, line your sights up, take your time deciding what to do, etc. Most gunfights are over in a matter of seconds and usually happen in extremely close quarters and less than ideal environmental conditions. The only thing that will prepare you to adapt your decision making and shooting skills to those rapidly changing factors is realistic, defensive training that encompasses shooting skill, stress inoculation, high-speed decision making, and survival mindset. Strength, marksmanship and even intelligence all together are not enough. While it is understandable that many people, civilians and officers alike, are not aware that this other level of training exists, it is out there. We try our hardest to encompass those training criteria in our One Life Defense program here in NE Ohio. There a few other programs in Ohio and several across the nation that also offer excellent training in lethal force preparedness. The first step is understanding that it is necessary to truly be as prepared as you can be to handle a confrontation with one or more violent human beings. Even after you have received some solid training, these skills are perishable. Six months, a year, or more, down the road if you find yourself in a situation, you may be fatally surprised at your lack of ability. There is no embarrassment in seeking further training, and it’s usually a fun thing to do as well. Even if you are at a good level now, going out to train once in a while will keep your skills sharp and gives you a chance to see how you stack up to the skills of others. In the end, actual training is truly an investment in something that could save your life or the life of someone around you. The same cannot be said about a simple qualification. Train. Learn. Practice. Varg Freeborn is owner and head instructor at One Life Defense, LLC Defensive Firearms Training (www.onelifedefense.com). THUNDER ROADS® OHIO MAGAZINE

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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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Hudson Leather 14700 Ohio 15 Pioneer, OH 43554 (419) 485-8531

SALES (MOTORCYCLE)

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

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

Rod Prater 313 Jameson Ave. Lebanon, Ohio 45036 (513) 292-2497

Adventure Harley-Davidson 1465 State Rt 39 NW Dover, OH 44622 (330) 364-6519

The X Point LLC 1551 Laval Dr. Cincinnati, Ohio 45255 (513) 602-2219 www.zxpoint.com info@zxpoint.biz

American Heritage Motorcycles 2821 Bishop Road Willoughby Hills, Ohio 44092 (440) 943-3400

RIDER ORGANIZATIONS ABATE of Ohio, Inc. 1 800-25-BIKER abate.com

10575 Loveland Madeira Rd Loveland, OH 45140 (888) 713-3949 Buckeye Harley-Davidson 7220 North Dixie Dr. Dayton, Ohio 45414 (937) 898-8084

RETAIL

AMA 1 800-AMA-JOIN americanmotorcyclist.com

Evolution Machine & Cycle 15385 Gaskill Rd. Alliance, OH 44601 823-5454 IMBBA Certified!

Avon Boot Shop 38450 Chester Rd. Avon, OH 44011 (440) 934-3230

American Legion Post 496 Streetsboro, Ohio (330) 673-9743

C & A Harley-Davidson 7610 Commerce Place Plain City, Ohio 43064 (614) 764-2453

Hog Shop Cycles 440 S. Riverside Dr. Batavia, Ohio 45103 (513) 735-9900

Baker Built AirWings, Inc. 11877 Walnut Grove Ch Road Ohio City, Ohio 45874 (800) 451-9464

Dayton Motorcycle Club 417 Grants Trail Dayton, Ohio 45459 (937) 609-0931

Carlton Harley-Davidson 11771 State Route 44 Mantua, OH 44255 (330) 274-3141

Knuckleheads Performance Cycles 5877 Cook Rd. Unit B Milford, Ohio 45150 (513) 602-9884

Biker to Biker Consignment Shop 489 Batavia Pike Cincinnati, Ohio 45244 718-7559

Greater Akron Motorcycle Club 1540 Smith Road Akron, Ohio 44313 (330) 760-3715

Century Harley-Davidson 3053 Eastpointe Drive Medina, OH 44256 (330) 721-1702

Overkill Motor Works 8750 Sprucevale Rd Rogers, Ohio 44455 (330) 227-2161

Bison Leather Co. 7409 W. Central Ave Toledo, Ohio 43617 (419) 517-1737

Moose Riders of Dayton 1134 Richfield Center Dayton, Ohio 45430 (937) 431-5162

Competiton Accessories 343 W. Leffel Springfield, OH 45506 (937) 323-0513

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Eastgate Harley-Davidson 699 Old State Route 74 Cincinnati, OH 45245 (513) 528-1400

Lake Erie Harley-Davidson 38401 Chester Rd Avon, OH 44011 (440) 934-5000

South East Harley-Davidson 23105 Aurora Rd Bedford Heights, Oh 44146 (440) 439-5300

Cycle Analysis 4984 West 150th St Cleveland, OH 44135 (216) 362-9060

Gover Harley-Davidson 1501 E. Ash St. Piqua, Ohio 45356 (937) 773-8733

Lehman’s Big Open Road 401 N. Wooster Ave. Dover, Ohio 44622 (330) 364-6936

Sporty’s Trikes & Bikes 7426 North Dixie Dr Dayton, OH 45414 (937) 387-6294

Cycle Tech 950 W. Mansfield St. Bucyrus, OH 44820 (419) 562-6931

Hale’s Harley-Davidson 1400 Harrington Memorial Road Mansfield, Ohio 44903 (419) 522-8602

Mad River Harley-Davidson 5316 State Rt. 250/Milan Rd Sandusky, OH 44870 (419) 502-2244

Thiel’s Wheels 350 Tarhe Trail Upper Sandusky, OH 43351 (419) 294-4951

Dougherty’s Motorcycle Repair 21941 Forbes Road Bedford, Ohio 44146 (440) 439-8688

Harley Davidson of Chillicothe 818 Eastern Ave. Chillicothe, Ohio 45601 (740) 773-8826

Mathias BMW Cycle 851 Commercial Ave SE New Philadelphia, OH 44663 (330) 308-8868

Thoroughbred Harley-Davidson 8025 Action Blvd Florence, Kentucky 41042 (859) 282-2111

Evolution Machine Cycle 15385 Gaskill Dr. NE Alliance, Ohio 44601 (330) 823-5454

Harley-Davidson of Cincinnati 1799 Tennessee Ave Cincinnati, OH 45229 (513) 641-1188

Napoleon Harley-Davidson 862 American Rd Napoleon, OH 43545 (419) 592-7123

Harley-Davidson of Erie 3712 West 12th Street Erie, PA 16505 (814) 838-1356

Neidengards Harley-Davidson 284 Canton Road Wintersville, OH 43953 (740) 266-6188

Honda East 1230 Conant St. Maumee, OH 43537 (877) 437-1631

Northern Ohio Ducati and Triumph 1955 Brittain Rd. Akron, OH 44310 (330) 630-9340

Honda Marysville 640 Colemans Crossing Blvd Marysville, OH 43040 (937) 645-4080

North Ridge Yamaha 5929 North Ridge West (Rt. 20) Geneva, Ohio (440) 466-2712

Indian Motorcycle of Erie 10320 Wattsburg Road Erie, PA 16509 (814) 825-2396

Off Road Express 10320 Wattsburg Rd Erie, PA 16509 (814) 825-4747

Indian Motorcycle of Toledo 1212 Conant Street Maumee, OH 43537 (419) 891-1230

Powder Keg Harley-Davidson 2383 Kings Center Court Mason, OH (513) 204-6962

Iron Pony Powersports 5370 Westerville Rd Westerville, Ohio 43081 (614) 942-0063

Rock N Roll City Harley-Davidson 14550 Lorain Ave. Cleveland, OH 44111 (216) 252-3111

Joe’s Cycle Shop 3315 N. Dixie Dr. Dayton, OH 45414 (937) 278-8081

Rubber City Harley-Davidson 32 E. Cuyahoga Falls Ave Akron, OH 44310 (330) 535-9900

Johnny K’s Powersports 420 Youngstown-Warren Rd Niles, Ohio 44446 (330) 544-9696

Schiets Motorsports 1557 Oak Harbor Road Fremont, OH 43420 (419) 332-9902

8450 Orrin Dr. Burbank, OH 44214 (330) 302-4155

South East Cycles 23105 Aurora Rd Bedford Heights, OH 44146 (440) 439-5300

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Tri-County Harley-Davidson 5960 Dixie Highway Fairfield, OH 45014 (513) 874-4343 Triumph of Cincinnati 3251 Highland Ave Cincinnati, OH 45213 513-631-2000 triumphofcincinnati.com Warren Harley-Davidson 2102 Elm Rd Cortland, OH 44410 (330) 395-4700 Western Reserve Harley-Davidson 8567 Tyler Blvd. Mentor, Ohio 44060 (440) 974-6900

Flame Thrower Customs 18139 James Way Doylestown, Ohio 44230 (330) 604-6559 Iron Hogz Powersports 6387 N. St. Rt. 48 Lebanon, OH 45036 (513) 836-3824 Overkill Motor Works 8750 Sprucevale Rd Rogers, Ohio 44455 (330) 227-2161 Renegade Gentleman Customs Orwell, OH (440) 413-6136

SERVICE (MOTORCYCLE)

South East Cycles 23105 Aurora Rd. Bedford Heights, OH 44146 (440) 439-5300

Balcer Performance & Restoration 565 Broadway Ave Unit R Bedford, OH 44146 (440) 945-6829

Toyz Cycle Center 141 Melcher Rd. Bucyrus, OH 44820 (419) 563-9748

Bent Wrench 2709 St Rt 60 Loudonville, Ohio 44842 (419) 994-5812

Tried and True Garage 9038 Gold Perk Dr Hamilton, Ohio 45011 (513) 479-3924

Chrome & Speed Cycle 3490 Dayton-Xenia Rd. Beavercreek, Ohio (937) 429-5656

Warrior Racing 38 Weller Drive Tipp City, Ohio 45371 (937) 667-6418

Cleveland CycleWerks 1265 West 65th Street Cleveland, Ohio 44102 (216) 651-0657

SPECIAL INTEREST STOPS

Criminal Customz Shop 1053 Broadway Lorain, Ohio (440) 245-8626 THUNDERROADSOHIO.COM

MAPS Air Museum 2260 International Pkwy North Canton, OH 44720 (330) 896-6332 Marlboro Volunteers Maximo, Ohio 44650 (330) 206-1629 OHIO’S MOTORCYCLE MAGAZINE

National Packard Museum 1899 Mahoning Avenue NW Warren, Ohio 44483 (330) 394-1899

Pain & Pleasure Tattoo & Body Piercing Studio 6015 Milan Rd Sandusky, OH 44870 (419) 625-0069

TATTOO SHOPS

Therapy Ink 7668 Leavitt Rd. Amherst, OH 44001 (440) 984-3099

Extreme Tattoo 120 W. Water Street Piqua, Ohio 45356 (937) 778-1055 Greater Good Tattoo Company 201 S. Franklin St. Ashley, OH 43003 (740) 413-4042 Hammer’s Tattoos 1840 Whipple Ave. NW Canton, Ohio 44708 (330) 478-1070

TECHNICAL TRAINING PowerSport Institute 21210 Emery Rd Cleveland, OH 44128 (216) 587-5000

TRIKES Adventure Motorcycle & Accessories 20660 US RT 6 Weston, OH 43569 (419) 669-4709

Ink Up North 109 East 5th Street Marysville, Ohio 43040 (614) 900-1350

Schiets Motorsports 1557 Oak Harbor Rd. Fremont, OH 43420 (419) 332-9902

My Museum Tattoo 209 E. Ohio Ave. Dover, OH 44622 (330) 343-8500

Sporty’s Trikes & Bikes 7426 North Dixie Dr Dayton, OH 45414 (937) 387-6294

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NORTHWEST OHIO EVENTS

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APRIL 1, 2015 Honda Marysville & QSL Bike Nights Quaker Steak & Lube 6500 Lyra Dr. Columbus, OH hondamotorsports.net APRIL 2-4, 2015 Hale’s Harley-Davidson Open House Sat, April 4th - Battle of the Biker’s Blood Drive 8a-2p Sat, April 4th - Chili Cook Off. Bring Entries 9a-11a For more details, visit us online: www.HalesHD.com APRIL 4, 2015 Easter Egg-stravaganza!! South East Harley-Davidson 23105 Aurora Rd. Bedford Heights, OH 44146 southeastharley.com APRIL 4, 2015 Tri-County Easter Party! Tri-County Harley-Davidson, Fairfield, OH Fun and games with the Easter Bunny! 10am-4pm HOG Chili Cookoff For More Info Call: (513) 874-4343 APRIL 4, 2015 Brunch With The Easter Bunny! Lake Erie Harley-Davidson 38401 Chester Rd. Avon, OH 44011 lakeerieharley.com APRIL 4, 2015 The Family Inc. “Help To Build A Wheel Chair Ramp” Poker Run Oak Grove Tavern 8340 Alkire Rd. Galloway, OH 43119 Any questions contact: Bulldog (614)406-9011 or Sassy (740)629-299 APRIL 4, 2015 Family Fun Day & Easter Egg Hunt Harley-Davidson of Erie 3712 W. 12th St. Erie, PA 16505 hderie.com

CENTRAL OHIO EVENTS

APRIL 4, 2015 DAM FOOL’S RIDE C&A Harley-Davidson 7610 Commerce Place Plain City, OH 43064 ca-hd.com

APRIL 12, 2015 Akron Motorcycle Swap Meet Greater Akron Event Summit County Fairgrounds Arena Complex 229 E. Howe Rd. Tallmadge, OH For More Info Call 330 324-7230

April 10, 2015 Children's Hospital Toy Drive Lynn’s Night Spot 334 E. Cuyahoga Falls Ave. Akron, OH 44310 APRIL 11, 2015 Lake Erie H-D / LifeShare Blood Drive Lake Erie Harley-Davidson 38401 Chester Rd, Avon, OH http://www.lakeerieharley.com/ APRIL 11, 2015 Gover Harley-Davidson Protect Your Melon Event Check your helmet and enjoy free refreshments. Gover H-D, Piqua Ohio www.GoverHd.com

APRIL 16, 2015 BUCKEYE BOMBSHELLS Casting Call Thunder Roads Ohio Event Open test shoot for models as well as any bikes that are interested in being featured in Thunder Roads Ohio Magazine. Choosen models will have additional promotional opportunities representing Buckeye Harley-Davidson and TRO! 6-8pm - For more information call 937-898-8084 Buckeye Harley-Davidson 7220 North Dixie Dr. Dayton OH 45414 www.buckeyehd.com APRIL 18, 2015 Honda Demo Days Honda Marysville Motorsports 630 Colemans Crossing Blvd Marysville, OH 43040 Demo Days at Honda Marysville - free food, music and prize giveaways

APRIL 11, 2015 Rubber City HD Jam Greater Akron Motorcycle Event Live Music and Open House Rubber City Harley-Davidson Cuyahoga Falls rubbercityharley.com APRIL 11, 2015 The American Dawgs - Annual Spring Dance Cheviot Eagles Hall 3807 Glenmore Cheviot, OH 45211 road-dawgs.com

APRIL 18, 2015 Seldom Seen Cycles - Annual Antique Motorcycle Exhibit Packard Museum, Warren Ohio Through May 30, 2015 Special Screening: THE JOHN PENTON STORY http://www.packardmuseum.org/

APRIL 11, 2015 Columbus Chrome Divas Celebrate 5 Years! Lazy Chameleon 4028 Presidential Pkwy Powell, OH 43065 8pm

APRIL 18, 2015 Ohio Mini Roadracing League Round 1 Circleville Raceway Park 19413 US 23 Circleville, OH ohiominigp.com

APRIL 11-12, 2015 AMA Amateur National Motocross ChampionshipMid-east Area Qualifier Malvern MX- Waynesburg, OH mxsports.com

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APRIL 18, 2015 The Greater Columbus Scavenger Hunt & Pink Sugar’s Great Ohio Tour Quaker Steak & Lube 8500 Lyra Dr. Columbus, OH 8:30-3:30 ColumbusChromeDivas@gmail.com

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APRIL 18, 2015 HARLEY DAVIDSON OF EASTGATE - OPEN HOUSE 699 Cincinnati-Batavia Pk. Cincinnati, OH 45245 10AM to 5PM 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 19, 2015 Kingdom Knights Blessing of the Bikes & Fun Run Music, Fellowship, and Celebration By Donation Starts at KKMM Clubhouse 330 E South St. Akron, OH Blessing at 1:00 pm 1st out 3pm, last in 5pm For information call Wally 330-807-8469 APRIL 19, 2015 Support The Troops Spring Dice Run American Legion Post 389 5th St. Beverly, OH 45715 For More Info Contact Brad @ (740) 350-7489 APRIL 21, 2015 Blues, Bikes, & Brews South East Gears & Cheers 23333 Aurora Rd. Bedford Heights, OH 44146 segearsandcheers.com APRIL 22-26, 2015 Laughlin RIver Run Colorado Belle Casino Resort 2100 S. Casino Drive Laughlin, NV laughlinriverrun.com

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APRIL 23, 2015 Eastgate Harley-Davidson’s 1st Bike Night Eastgate Harley-Davidson 699 Cincinnati Batavia Pike Cincinnati, OH 45245 eastgateharley.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 THUNDER ROADS FEATURE EVENT / RIDE STOP 9am-Start @ C&A Harley-Davidson 7610 Commerce Pl. Plain City, OH End @ Quaker Steak & Lube 8500 Lyra Dr. Columbus, OH $20/bike $5 Pancake Breakfast ohiocvma.org APRIL 25, 2015 Century H-D Bike Blessing Medina, Ohio www.CenturyHD.com APRIL 25, 2015 Competition Accessories Blessing of the Bikes 5th Annual Event with Live Music, Vendors, Free Food and Beverages. Hosted by CMA Yeshua’s Cross Riders 11am - 3pm, Bike Blessing 1pm ridemotorcyclesinc.com APRIL 25, 2015 Out of Hibernation Run 2015 Abate Region 16 American Legion 9150 SR 83 Holmesville, OH 44633 For More Information Contact: Cowboy Whitman @ 330-201-1330 or Chuck Austin @ 330 234-8483 APRIL 25, 2015 Community Blood Drive Gover Harley-Davidson East Ash St. Piqua, OH goverhd.com

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CENTRAL OHIO EVENTS

APRIL 25, 2015 Chrome Divas of Dayton - Spring Ride 2pm Villa Tavern- 6303 Rip Rap Rd. Dayton, OH 45424 APRIL 25, 2015 Rubber City HD Jam - Greater Akron Motorcycle Event Live Music and Open House Rubber City Harley-Davidson Cuyahoga Falls rubbercityharley.com APRIL 25, 2015 Capital City Bullrun to the Brewery Starts in Delaware, OH, Ends @ Land-Grant Brewing Co. 424 W. Town St. Columbus, OH https://www.facebook.com/ events/1562352207347124/ APRIL 25, 2015 Annual Bike Blessing & Ride Freedom in the Wind Church 1232 SR 131 Milford, OH 45150 freedominthewind.com APRIL 25, 2015 1st Annual MX/Dirt Bike/ATV/ SxS & Vintage Dirt Bikes Swap Meet & Show Miami County Fairgrounds Troy, OH For more information contact Greg Harris at 937-478-6805 APRIL 26, 2015 Spring Fever Motorcycle Swap Meet Sandusky County Fairgrounds 901 Rawson Ave. Fremont, OH 43420 9am-3pm APRIL 26, 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 1, 2015 Fostoria Awareness Rally Fostoria Courthouse Lawn 213 S. Main St. Fostoria, OH 44830 Noon abate.com

SOUTHERN OHIO EVENTS MOTOCROSS/RACING EVENTS

MAY 1, 2015 1st Annual Raffle to benefit Toledo Area Charity Organizations @ Local 12- Sponsored By Napoleon Harley-Davidson & Jeep Unit Community Service Committee For More Information Contact: Scott Fisher 419-902-4342 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! Flanagan’s Taver, Blacklick, Ohio For more information, visit www.Abate.com MAY 2, 2015 Cinco De Mayo Party Lake Erie Harley-Davidson 38401 Chester Rd. Avon, OH http://www.lakeerieharley.com/ MAY 2, 2015 Community Yard Sale at Gover H-D 9a-4:30p $20 per booth. World Famous Hot Dogs and Demo Rides Gover H-D, Piqua Oh www.GoverHD.com MAY 2, 2015 9th Annual International Female Ride Day!!! Ladies - Just get out and RIDE! MAY 2-3, 2015 Rubber City Ball of Steel Bash Live Music and Open House Rubber City Harley-Davidson Cuyahoga Falls rubbercityharley.com MAY 2, 2015 After Rally Rally Flanagan’s Tavern 3001 Reynoldsburg New Albany Rd. Blacklick, OH 1:30pm-5:30pm abate.com

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MAY 2, 2015 Ohio State & Michigan Mystery Poker Run American Legion Riders Post 468 5580 Centennial Rd. Sylvania, OH For More Information Call: (419) 276-3062 MAY 2, 2015 Blessing of The Bikes South East Harley-Davidson 23105 Aurora Rd. Bedford Heights, OH 44146 10-11 DAV 10-3 southeastharley.com MAY 2, 2015 Christian Motorcycle Association Cincinnati East #627 Run For Son Ride Union Township Park Cincinnati, OH 45245 For More Info Call: 513-659-1925 MAY 2-3, 2015 Dayton Motorcycle Club Swap Meet and Motocross Demo Rides THUNDER ROADS FEATURE EVENT / RIDE STOP Dayton Motorcycle Club’s 1st Annual Motorcycle Swap Meet that is combined with a New Bike Displays from five local motorcycle dealers. Buy, Sell, Trade - New and Used Motorcycle Parts and Accessories. Swap meet with American, British, Japanese, Euro, Dirt Bikes, parts, used and new, Leather, Patches and Sewing, Food and drinks are available at the event. Admission: $7.00 for adults and children 16 and under are free with an adult. Vendor Price: $20 for a 10 by 10 The show must go on, rain or shine. 8 am to 5 pm. Located at the Dayton Motorcycle Club grounds 3515 Stony Hollow Rd. Dayton, Ohio 4541 www.daytonmc.com/ MAY 2-3, 2015 AMA Amateur National Motocross ChampionshipNortheast Area Qualifier HIgh Point- Mount Morris, PA mxsports.com

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MAY 2-3, 2015 H-D Ball of Steel at Rubber City HD Akron, Ohio http://www.rubbercityharley.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 EVENT CANCELLED MAY 8, 2015 Tri-County Harley-Davidson BIKE NIGHT KICK-OFF! Live Music, Fun, and Prizes! Tri-Country Harley-Davidson Fairfield, Ohio http://www.tricountyharley.com/ MAY 8-17, 2015 SPRING BEACH RALLY Garden City Beach, SC springbeachrally.com

CENTRAL OHIO EVENTS

MAY 9, 2015 1st Annual Blessing Of The Bikes & Memorial Poker Run American Legion Riders Post 221 427 Lincoln Way East Massilon, OH 444646 alrpost221.com MAY 9, 2015 Cincy Chrome Divas Golf Outing Neumann Golf Course Bridgetown Rd. Cincinnati, OH For More Information Contact Tracy at wannabemoe@yahoo.com MAY 9, 2015 The LeaveAMark Biker Blessing Toy Drive & Ride A.D. Farrow Co. Harley-Davidson 7754 St. Rt. 37 E. Sunbury, OH 43074 leaveamark.org MAY 9-10, 2015 AMA Amateur National Motocross ChampionshipMid-east Area Qualifier Daniel Boone MX- London, KY mxsports.com MAY 13-25, 2015 Run for the Wall http://rollingthunderrun.com/ MAY 16, 2015 Blessing of the Bikes at Lake Erie H-D Ride-in Pancake Breakfast! Lake Erie Harley-Davidson 38401 Chester Rd. Avon, OH http://www.lakeerieharley.com/

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SOUTHERN OHIO EVENTS MOTOCROSS/RACING EVENTS

MAY 16, 2015 ABATE of OHIO, Region 4: MOTORCYCLE AWARENESS DAY Live Music, Food, Door Prizes Registration begins at 11am, Ride begins at 1pm sharp. Starts at Northwest State Community College, East Parking Lot

MAY 16, 2015 Seldom Seen Cycles - Annual Antique Motorcycle Exhibit Packard Museum, Warren Ohio Through May 30, 2015 11am VINTAGE GROUP RIDE (All motorcycles welcome.) http://www.packardmuseum.org/

MAY 16, 2015 South East HD CRUZIN’ IN Bike and Car Show 23105 Aurora Rd. Bedford Heights, OH 44146 SouthEastHarley.com

MAY 16, 2015 Fallen Brothers Run Red Dog Saloon 7151 Sherman Church East Sparta, OH 44626 For More Info Call: 330 224-3069

MAY 16, 2015 11th Annual Armed Forces Day Ride American Legion Post 532 1571 Demorest Road Columbus, OH 43228 columbusvets.org

MAY 16, 2015 Ohio Patriot Bikers & Dakota’s Roadhouse Poker Run Dakota’s Roadhouse Chillicothe, OH For More Info: 740-466-8902

MAY 16, 2015 22nd Annual Biker’s Memorial Fund Poker Run This is the famous T-Shirt run, where your shirt is your ticket to the ride, dinner, and all the fun! Field events, bands, vendors, and so much more! All done in memory of our fallen Brothers and Sisters - and the monument in their honor. American Legion Shelter House, 3615 S Hayes Ave Sandusky, OH 44870 Gates open at 9am. www.bmfohio.org

MAY 16, 2015 Eastlake VFW Open House Free food, drinks, and entertainment in honor of those who have served on Veteran’s Day Willowick Eastlake Post 678 American Legion 570 East 328 St. Willowick, Ohio 44095 www.post678.com

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MAY 16, 2015 1st Annual Poker Run Ride for Aubrey and The Shriners Quaker Steak & Lube 8500 Lyra Dr. Columbus, OH thelube.com

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MAY 16, 2015 1st Annual Memorial Brick Run American Legion Post 557 1212 Two Ridge Rd. Wintersville, OH For More Info: (740) 317-0901 MAY 16, 2015 1st Annual YMCA Poker Run YMCA of Greater Cincinnati 5000 YMCA Dr. Blue Ash, OH For More Info Call: (513) 791-5000 MAY 16, 2015 Two-Rivers Chrome Divas Ride In Movie Night! Kinman Farms- Burlington, KY chromedivas.com MAY 16-17, 2015 AMA Adventure Riding Series Buckeye Dual Sporters McArthur, Ohio AmericanMotorcyclist.com

CENTRAL OHIO EVENTS

MAY 16-17, 2015 Missing Link 2nd Annual Spring Motorcycle Swap Meet Annual weekend motorcycle swap meet runs Saturday through Sunday, with over 20 acres to buy, sell, camp, or just hang out. Open to all motorcycle / biker related items and all are welcome. Admission is just $6 / day or $10 for all weekend, with primitive camping included. Located just 16 miles south-west of Columbus off 71 and Route 56, exit 84. 9715 Anderson-Antiock Rd, Mt. Sterling, OH www.missinglinkmcnational.com MAY 16-17, 2015 Mtn. Dew AMA ATV National Motocross High Point- Morris, PA atvmotocross.com

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SOUTHERN OHIO EVENTS MOTOCROSS/RACING EVENTS

MAY 17, 2015 Blessing Of The Bikes Presented with: Abate Of Ohio Region 6, Dayton #73 Moose Riders, Crystal Lake #2464 Moose Riders Festivities begin at 10am at Welcome Stadium. Stunt Show, Vendors, Bike Show, and Blessing Officiated by Clergy from the Archdiocese of Cincinnati BlessingoftheBikesSWOhio.com MAY 17, 2015 7th Annual Bike Blessing Fort Ancient- 6123 SR350 Oregonia, OH 45054 ironsamaritans.org

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MAY 22, 2015 Tri-County Harley-Davidson BIKE NIGHT! Live Music, Fun, and Prizes! Tri-Country Harley-Davidson Fairfield, Ohio http://www.tricountyharley.com/ MAY 22-25, 2015 MEMORIAL DAY APPRECIATION WEEKEND THUNDER ROADS FEATURE EVENT / RIDE STOP A great tradition of Riding, Fun, and Friendship! BBQ, Live Music, Bike Show, Vendors, and LOTS MORE! Hudson Leather Factory Outlet 14700 State Route 15 Pioneer, Ohio www.HudsonLeather.com

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MAY 22-24, 2015 AMA Amateur National Motocross ChampionshipMid-east Area Qualifier Briarcliff MX- Nashport, OH mxsports.com

MAY 30, 2015 Memorial Veterans Sunset Run Fire & Ice Bar and Grill 1941 Triplett Blvd, Akron Ohio For Information, call TODD 234-678-6172

MAY 23, 2015 H-D Bikes, Burgers, and Blues at Rubber City HD Akron, Ohio http://www.rubbercityharley.com/

MAY 30, 2015 Veterans Honor Ride American Legion Post 279 279 Veterans Ave. Elmore, OH 43416 For More Info Contact: alr279@hotmail.com

MAY 23, 2015 ABATE of OHIO: MEMORIAL RUN Presented by Region 14 Starting at Lil Mexico Restaurant Ada, OH 45801 ABATE.com MAY 25, 2015 2nd Annual JUDI Run ABC Motorcycle Ministry 20 Mile Parade Ride - ends at the Vietnam Wall in Clinton, OH ABC International 481 E. South St., Akron Info - Pastor Howard Duma 330-990-0757 MAY 29, 2015, JUNE 7, 2015 OHIO BIKE WEEK THUNDER ROADS FEATURE EVENT / RIDE STOP Sandusky, OH ohiobikeweek.com MAY 30, 2015 South East H-D Outdoor Swap Meet 23105 Aurora Rd Bedford Heights, OH 44146 SouthEastHarley.com MAY 30, 2015 Fundraiser For Wright Patterson Fisher Houses American Legion Beavercreek Memorial Post 763 3200 Dayton-Xenia Rd. Beavercreek, OH 45434 For More Info Call: (937) 429-2816 MAY 30, 2015 4th Annual Bikers for the Battle / Blessing of the Bikes Marion Radiation Oncology 1150 Crescent Heights Rd Marion, OH Food, Door Prizes, and more... Reg starts at 11am and bike pull out at Noon For information call: 740-375-6080 Find us on facebook

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MAY 30, 2015 Lost Creek Divas 5th Annual Run For Courage Mountain Top VFW Pleasant Hill, OH chromedivas.com MAY 30, 2015 Annual Hospice for Heroes Run VFW Post 3762 335 Veterans Way Washington C.H, OH 43160 MAY 30, 2015 Ride For Warriors Poker Run Start: Victory Motorsports of Dayton 2135 S. Dayton-Lakeview Rd. New Carlisle, OH Ends @ Jackass Flats 6024 Rip Rap Rd. Huber Heights, OH greenknights32.com MAY 30, 2015 Fallen Riders Memorial Fund 3rd Annual Bike Show Fox Cycles 1011 Fremont Ave. Sandusky, OH frmf4t.com MAY 30, 2015 Uncle Sam’s Avengers Poker Run Starts @ Buckeye Harley-Davidson 7220 N. Dixie Dr. Dayton, OH Ends @ Night Gallery Lounge 1610 Mitchell Boulevard Springfield, OH 45503 For More Info Call: (937) 234-7366 MAY 31, 2015 Akron BMW Annual Club Poker Run Starts at Mogadore Moose Club 4095 Mogadore Rd, Mogadore OH Info - Dana McMahan at 330-618-2816 or email Dana_McMahan@att.net

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UPCOMING MOTORCYCLE EVENTS Presented by

Cincinnati 513.794.3426 | Cleveland 440.777.7272 | Columbus 614.336.4240

NORTHWEST OHIO EVENTS

NORTHEAST OHIO EVENTS

MAY 31, 2015 11th Annual Firefighters Memorial Ride Cleveland Firefighter’s Memorial 362 Erieside Cleveland, OH firefightersmemorialride.com JUNE 1-6, 2015 Americade Lake George, NY americade.com JUNE 3-6, 2015 2nd Annual Trikeapalooza! Camp Sandusky- 3518 Tiffin Ave Sandusky, OH 44870 1-800-431-7749 JUNE 5, 2015 Tri-County Harley-Davidson BIKE NIGHT! Live Music, Fun, and Prizes! Tri-Country Harley-Davidson, Fairfield, Ohio http://www.tricountyharley.com/

CENTRAL OHIO EVENTS

JUNE 5-7, 2015 Lake Erie Harley-Davidson DEMO DAYS! Come on out and take a demo ride on the NEW Harleys! Lake Erie Harley-Davidson 38401 Chester Rd, Avon, OH http://www.lakeerieharley.com/ JUNE 6, 2015 Reliability / Dual Sport Run presented by Ohio Valley BSA Owners Club A fun run for British & European Classics, Vintage Enduro Machines and Modern Dual Sports Cable Creek Campground Toronto, Ohio OhioValleyBSAOwnersClub.com JUNE 6, 2015 Queen City Mods & Rockers Rally EVENT CANCELLED Cincinnati, OH queencitymodsvsrockers.com

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SOUTHERN OHIO EVENTS MOTOCROSS/RACING EVENTS

JUNE 6, 2015 Harley Davidson of Eastgate Open House 10am-5pm 699 Cincinnati-Batavia Pk. Cincinnait, OH 45245 JUNE 6, 2015 2nd Annual Portage Lakes Kiwanis Poker Run Starts at 725 Portage Lakes Drive Akron Ohio Food, Door Prizes, Live Band, 50/50 Call 234-231-1213 for more information. JUNE 7, 2015 Walneck’s Motorcycle Swap Meet Clark County Fairgrounds 4401 S. Charleston Pike Springfield, OH walneckswap.com

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JUNE 7, 2015 Founding Fathers RC 4th Annual Freedom Run Benefiting local organizations fighting Post Traumatic Stress Disorder American Legion Post 496 1945 Mogadore Rd. Kent, Ohio For information call 440-915-3134 or email: FFRC.Patch@gmail.com JUNE 11, 2015 OHIO GWRRA Buckeye Rally Bike show, vendors, light parade, door prizes, entertainment, food and more Canfield Fairgrounds, Canfield, OH OhioGWRRA.org

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JUNE 11-13, 2015 Capital City Biker Bash Charleston, West Virginia www.CapitalCityBikerBash.com

JUNE 13-21, 2015 Laconia Motorcycle Week Laconia, NH laconiamcweek.com

JUNE 11-14, 2015 Republic of Texas Biker Rally Travis County Expo Center Austin, TX rotrally.com

JUNE 14, 2015 11th Annual LCpl Daniel Nathan Deyarmin Jr. Memorial Benefit Poker Run 484 East Ave. (Rt 18) Tallmadge, OH 44278 (Tallmadge Middle School) dndfunds.org

JUNE 12-14, 2015 BikerFest - Rushing Wind Biker Church Join fellow bikers for a weekend of food, fun, and fellowship. Held at Rushing Wind Biker Church 5715 East Pike Zanesville, Ohio 43701 RushingWindZanesville.com JUNE 13, 2015 Queen City Greyhounds Benefit Hosted by Tri-County Harley-Davidson Fairfield, Ohio http://www.tricountyharley.com/ JUNE 13, 2015 American Legion Rider’s Ride for the Heros - Van Wert, Ohio American Legion Rider’s Chapter 178 631 W. Main St., Van Wert, OH Registration begins at 10:30am. For information call 419-203-1727 www.chapter178.webs.com.

JUNE 15, 2015 Ride Your Motorcycle to Work Day www.RideToWork.org JUNE 19, 2015 Tri-County Harley-Davidson BIKE NIGHT! Live Music, Fun, and Prizes! Tri-Country Harley-Davidson Fairfield, Ohio http://www.tricountyharley.com/ JUNE 19, 2015 South East H-D FERRARI NIGHT THUNDER ROADS FEATURE EVENT / RIDE STOP 23105 Aurora Rd Bedford Heights, OH 44146 SouthEastHarley.com JUNE 19-21, 2015 June Jam! Hocking Hills- Logan, OH Sponsored By Abate of Ohio, Inc. abate.com

JUNE 13, 2015 3rd Annual Run for Joseph House Benefiting Homeless Veterans Powder Keg Harley-Davidson Mason, Ohio

JUNE 19-21, 2015 Armory Fest Military Vehicle Show Alliance, OH marlborovolunteersinc.com

JUNE 13, 2015 3rd Annual Battle for Breath Charity ride on scenic country roads to benefit the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation Games at every stop. Free food and live music at the end. Hosted by C&A Harley-Davidson Plain City, Ohio www.templarknightsohio171.com/ battle-for-breath.html

JUNE 20, 2015 2nd Annual Knox County Humane Society Poker Run Knox County Humane Society, 400 Columbus Rd, Mount Vernon, OH Visit us on facebook or http://knoxhumanesociety.org/

JUNE 13, 2015 Roger Looney Memorial Poker Run Kingdom Knights Motorcycle Ministry 330 E. South St., Akron OH Info: Wally Hopkins 330-807-8469

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JUNE 20-21, 2015 Aires AMA/NATC Mototrials National Championship Series Toronto, OH amaracing.com, mototrials.com JUNE 20-21, 2015 Harley-Davidson Famous Demo Fleet C&A Harley-Davidson 7610 Commerce Place Plain City, OH For More Info: (614) 764-2453

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RECIPES

Creamy Tomato Bacon Soup

Pizza Stuffed Chicken over Pasta Serve 4 (or 2 hungry bikers) Ingredients: 4 lg chicken breasts 1 jar spaghetti sauce (or your own home made) 30 slices of pepperoni 2 cups mozzarella, shredded 4 oz Italian sausage 4-5 med mushrooms, diced 1 lb uncooked pasta (penne, rigatoni, etc...) Instructions: • Preheat oven to 350 • Brown the Italian sausage and drain off excess grease, set aside to cool • Pound out each chicken breast to a 1/4 - 1/2 inch thickness and lay in a cookie sheet or clean work surface that you can easily clean • In a DEEP casserole dish, empty the box of DRY UNCOOKED pasta Liquid that cooks out of this dish will be sufficient to hydrate the pasta so need to add additional liquid. • Pour 1/2 cup sauce over pasta and mix well to coat • Spread 2 tbps sauce on each pieces of chicken • Place 1/4 of the sausage on one end of each piece of chicken, then add 2 tbsp cheese over that, then 2 tbsp mushrooms over that and finish with 4 slices of pepperoni • Roll the chicken breast up from the stuffed end and place seam side down on the pasta • Once all rolls are in the dish cover everything with the remaining sauce, sprinkle with any mushrooms left and sprinkle with 1 cup cheese • Place pepperoni pieces over that then finish with remaining cheese • Bake for 30 minutes covered with tin foil, uncover and bake another 30 until cheese is golden brown

Serve 4-6 (or 2 hungry bikers) Ingredients: 1 lb bacon (half for soup half crumbled for garnish) 1 cup onion dice onion 3 large garlic cloves minced 1 tbsp bacon grease (left over from cooking your bacon) 3 14 oz cans of Hunts Fire Roasted Diced Tomatoes 1 tsp black pepper 2 cups chicken broth 1 tsp fresh basil, chopped 3/4 cup heavy cream 1 cup cheddar shredded for garnish 1 tbsp basil ribbons for garnish 1 box garlic croutons Instructions: • In a large frying pan, cook bacon, remove half while still soft but cooked through,(this will be used in the soup) cook the rest till crispy, remove to paper towel to cool (this will be used as the garnish) • In the same pan, sauté onions and garlic, in the bacon grease until soft. • Then add the tomatoes, pepper, and broth to the pot and cook over medium heat for 25 minutes. • Then add the cream and basil until warmed through and blend the soup until smooth in batches in a blender or use a submersion blender • Serve with crumbled bacon - I also add shredded cheddar cheese and garlic croutons

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

You can use ANYTHING in the stuffing you would usually have on your pizza. 92

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

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

man was in his front yard mowing grass when his beautiful, blond, female neighbor came out of the house and went straight to the mailbox. She opened it, looked inside, slammed it shut, and stormed back into her house. A little later she came out of her house again, went to the mailbox, again opened it, and slammed it shut again. Angrily, back into the house she went. As the man was getting ready to edge the lawn, here she came again. She marched to the mailbox, opened it and then slammed it closed harder than ever. Puzzled by her actions, the man asked her, “Is something wrong?” To which she replied, “There certainly is! My stupid computer keeps telling me I’ve got mail!” A biker was riding along a California beach when suddenly the sky clouded above his head and in a booming voice the Lord said “Because you have TRIED to be faithful to me in all ways, I will grant you one wish.” The biker pulled over and said, “Build a bridge to Hawaii so I

can ride over anytime I want.” The Lord said, “Your request is materialistic. Think of the enormous challenges for that kind of undertaking. The supports required to reach the bottom of the Pacific! The concrete and steel it would take! It will nearly exhaust several natural resources. I can do it, but it is hard for me to justify your desire for worldly things. Take a little more time and think of some thing that would honor and glorify me.” The biker thought about it for some time. Finally he said, “Lord, I wish that I could understand my wife. I want to know how she feels inside, what she’s thinking when she gives me the silent treatment, why she cries, what she means when she says nothing is wrong, an how I can make a woman truly happy!” The Lord replied, “You want two lanes or four on that bridge?”

“Ten years!” he says. She reaches over, unzips a waterproof pocket on her left sleeve and pulls out a pack of fresh cigarettes. He takes one, lights it, takes a long drag and says, “Man, oh man! Is that good!” Then she asks, “How long has it been since you’ve had a drink of whiskey?” He replies, “Ten years!” She reaches over, unzips her waterproof pocket on the right, pulls out a flask and gives it to him. He takes a long swig and says, “Wow, that’s fantastic!” Then she starts unzipping this long zipper that runs down the front of her wet suit and she says to him, “And how long has it been since you’ve had some REAL fun?” And the man replies, “My God! Don’t tell me you’ve got a motorcycle in there!”

A man is stranded on a desert island, all alone for ten years. One day, he sees a speck in the horizon. He thinks to himself, “It’s not a ship.” The speck gets a little closer and he thinks, “It’s not a boat.” The speck gets even closer and he thinks, “It’s not a raft.” Then, out of the surf comes this gorgeous blonde woman, wearing a wet suit and scuba gear. She comes up to the guy and she says, “How long has it been since you’ve had a cigarette?”

A serious drunk walked into a bar and, after staring for some time at the only woman seated at the bar, walked over to her and kissed her. She jumped up and slapped him silly. He immediately apologized and explained, “I’m sorry. I thought you were my wife. You look exactly like her.” “Why you worthless, insufferable, wretched, no good drunk!” she screamed. “Funny,” he muttered, “you even sound exactly like her.”

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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....................................................... 12 Action Extreme Sports............................. 46 Action Sport Cycles................................. 73 Adventure Motorcycle & Accessories..... 39 American Heritage Motorcycles...... 24-25 American Motorcyclist Association (AMA)............................10, 11 AMSOIL............................................. 15, 94 Anger Management Customs................. 76 Art’s Parts.................................................. 75 Avon Boot Shop....................................... 77 B.G. Motorcycle...................................... 73 Bailey Road Tavern................................. 72 Balcer Performance................................. 75 Bears............................................................5 Bears - Seat King..................................... 83 Bent Wrench.............................................74 Biker to Biker............................................ 77 Bison Leather............................................ 73 Broken Spoke Saloon ........................................ Inside Back Cover Buckeye Harley-Davidson....................... 29 Capital City Biker Bash........................... 89 Carlton Harley-Davidson........................ 16 Cash for Cycles........................................ 83 Carmel’s................................................... 41 Chaps Saloon.......................................... 40 Chuggers.................................................. 32 Criminal Customz.................................... 75 Cycle Analysis.......................................... 75 Cycle Tech................................................ 75 Dayton Motorcycle Club Hill Climb Races....................................... 91 DMC - Swap Meet.................................. 80 Eastgate Harley-Davidson...................... 55 Erie BikeFest............................................. 87 Evolution Machine Cycle........................ 77 Extreme Tattoo......................................... 67

Flamethrower Customs / Steven Hennis........................................... 76 GEICO.........................................................1 Gover Harley-Davidson.......................... 13 Greater Good Tattoo Company............ 67 Guardian Oil............................................ 76 Hale’s Harley-Davidson.......................... 81 Hammer Tattoo........................................ 67 Harley Davidson of Chillicothe.............. 95 Hi Point Firearms...................................... 68 Hog Shop Cycles..................................... 77 Honda Marysville.................................... 45 Hudson Leather........................................ 90 Indian of Toledo..........................................9 Iron Pony................................................... 31 Irv’s Leather Outlet.................................. 77 Johnny K’s Powersports........................... 47 Knuckleheads........................................... 48 Knuckleheads Performance Cycles........ 75 LA Alterations........................................... 76 Lake Erie Harley-Davidson ........................................ Inside Front Cover Legends.................................................... 72 Lehman’s Big Open Road........................74 Lynn’s Nite Spot....................................... 41 Majestic Trailer........................................ 79 Mantua Corners...................................... 32 MAPS........................................................ 35 Mike Weber............................................. 59 My Museum............................................. 67 Napoleon Harley-Davidson................... 48 Norton Sporting Goods.......................... 70 OHIO BIKE WEEK.....................................3 Ohio Bike Week Bike Show................... 93 Old School Biker Brew............................ 39 Original Margaritaville..............................2 Overkill Motor Works...................... 73, 74

Packard Museum........................................8 Point Blank - Gun Range / Shop............ 71 Powder Keg Harley-Davidson................ 14 Powerhouse Bar & Grill........................... 72 PowerSports Institute.........................46, 79 Quaker Steak & Lube Valley View......... 57 Quaker Steak & Lube Vermilion............. 15 Quaker Steak & Lube, Medina.............. 33 Quaker Steak & Lube, Sheffield............. 95 Ralph Buss................................. Back Cover Renegade Gentleman............................. 75 Rey’s Rt 62 Bar & Grill............................ 72 Rider Insurance........................................ 13 Rip Rap Roadhouse................................. 88 Rolling Chassis............................................8 Sassy’s...................................................... 23 Schiets Motorsports................................. 49 Soles Motor Sports LLC........................... 73 South East Gears & Cheers.................... 37 South East Harley-Davidson................... 36 Sporty’s..................................................... 48 Sturgis Ring............................................... 15 Tattoo Your Chrome................................. 76 The Vault Tavern....................................... 48 The X Point LLC......................................... 73 Therapy Ink............................................... 67 Toyz Cycle Center................................... 76 Train Stop................................................. 40 Treva’s....................................................... 72 Tri-County Harley-Davidson.................... 19 Tried & True.............................................. 83 Twisted Tea............................................... 18 Vandalia Range & Armory..................... 69 Villa Tavern............................................... 65 Warrior Racing........................................ 77 Youngstown Cycle................................... 48 Zeppe’s Pizza.......................................... 32

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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