Thunder Roads Ohio February 2017 by Thunder Roads Ohio Magazine

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

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

NATIONAL FOUNDERS

Toni McCoy Shearon & Brian Shearon 1528 Matlock Drive / Chapmansboro, TN 37035 Office 615-792-0040 / Fax: 615-792-7580 email: thunderroadsfounders@yahoo.com ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. NO PART OF ITS CONTENT MAY BE REPRODUCED WITHOUT WRITTEN PERMISSION. PUBLISHER ASSUMES NO RESPONSIBILITY AND IS NOT TO BE HELD LIABLE FOR ERRORS BEYOND THE COST OF THE SPACE OCCUPIED BY THE ERROR, SLANDER OF ANY GROUP OR INDIVIDUAL, FAILURE TO PRODUCE ANY ISSUE AS SCHEDULED DUE TO REASONS BEYOND OUR CONTROL, ANY AND ALL SUITS FOR LIABLE, PLAGIARISM, COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT AND UNAUTHORIZED USE OF A PERSON’S NAME OR PHOTOGRAPH. OPINIONS AND CLAIMS MADE BY ADVERTISERS AND AUTHORS ARE THEIR OWN, AND DO NOT NECESSARILY REPRESENT THE

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FROM THE PUBLISHER Like many of you, I’m caught in the grip of cabin fever as I look towards the summer and yearn for warmer days and drier roads. My case might be worse than many of you, though, as it seems every day is spent preparing for rallies, bike nights, bike shows, and so much more for the months to come. We’ve been working with clubs, dealerships, and promoters all across the state as they prepare for their events and plan things out. As always, Thunder Roads will be out and about – not only covering these events, but helping to host and plan as well. All the talk of riding, racing, and rockin’ has me even more pumped for the upcoming riding season. Although, it has been an interesting Winter, in terms of the industry. The V-Twin Expo and International Motorcycle Show allowed us to catch a glimpse of some cool things to come, and we also joined in the introduction of some exciting new Triumph’s as they brought out the 2017’s at unveil parties in Cincinnati and Cleveland. Their new Bonneville Bobber was a noteworthy addition to their lineup and we snapped a few pictures that we share in this month’s magazine – on page 52. We also shared in the pain of other owners as Polaris announced the end of their ground breaking Victory line of motorcycles. In this month’s magazine we spend some time discussing their “Announcement” and some of the backstory behind it. You’ll find the article and actual announcement on page 26. We also invited Victory owners to share pictures of their bikes and we present some of this in a gallery following the article. You can visit us on facebook for quite a few more Victory Reader’s Rides. If you’re not already a friend on facebook, you really should stop by and check us out. Over the past few years, we’ve built up quite a following – more than 200,000 on our main facebook page alone and thousands more on various regional pages. You can also follow us on Instagram and Twitter @ThunderRoadsOH. This upcoming year we plan on doing a lot more on these other social media networks, sharing updates and photos from events all across the state. We will also be sharing from some of the national rallies as well. It’s a great way for you to stay connected and catch of glimpse of events that you might not be able to attend yourself. We will be featuring a lot more events on our facebook page, especially anything that we will be at. If something catches your eye, I’d encourage you to check in on the page. We will be updating a lot of the event pages as new things come up and it’s a great way to find out if things are cancelled due to weather or other issues. You can also ask questions in real time, and the actual event organizers may answer back on anything relating to them. I’m also betting that you’ll find out about a lot of new events, ones you may not have ever heard of before. This year we plan on being at even more events than ever before – covering a far broader segment of the motorcycle community. We plan on attending a lot of racing events – including motocross and flat track races all across the state. Even if you’ve never done a minute of off-road riding or know a thing about flat track – we’d invite you to join us at the races. I’m betting that you’ll have a blast! If you’re not online and don’t know the first thing about Instagram, snapchat, or even facebook – don’t despair! We will continue on with our hard copies and you’ll always find the region’s most complete listing of motorcycle events right here in the pages of THUNDER ROADS OHIO! As cool as all the digital stuff is, I still enjoy the feel of a high quality magazine in my hands – and we will always work to ensure that TRO is one of the best! As always, we appreciate your continued support and I look forward to seeing you out on the road! Sincerely, Derek A Smith “The Iron Cowboy!” Smith.Ironcowboy@gmail.com

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TABLE OF CONTENTS FEATURES

26 VICTORY - THE ANNOUNCEMENT

OVER THE POND ENGLISH BIKE FEATURE

38 AN OHIO BIKER IN GERMANY

46 EASYRIDERS SHOW PREVIEW

TRIUMPH BOBBER

58 ARENACROSS

DEPARTMENTS 04

FROM THE PUBLISHER

ROAD TALES

AMA REPORT

ABATE OF OHIO

OPERATION GUIDED VALOR

CMA REPORT

VIEW FROM PARIS

CALENDAR FEATURE

ADVENTURE TRO

IRON AND INK

FINAL WORD

BUCKEYE FIREARMS REPORT

TRO NETWORK: Where to get the mags!

SERVICE SPECIALISTS

MARKETPLACE

UPCOMING MOTORCYCLE EVENTS

RECIPES

WORD SEARCH

FUNNY STUFF

SPONSOR INDEX

On the Cover: Iron Angel Meghan poses with a custom Harley from Iron Horse Cycles. Photo by: Jeff Anderson

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As Told By

THE IRON COWBOY

2017 BUCKEYE THUNDER RUN OHIO’S MOTORCYCLE MAGAZINE PRESENTS AN UPDATED, MORE EXCITING VERSION OF THE RIDE CARD PROGRAM. Thunder Roads Ohio is proud to present the 2017 Buckeye Thunder Run (BTR) as a state-wide, riding contest hitting destinations and events across Ohio – as selected by our editors and the readers of Thunder Roads Ohio (TRO). This is a riding contest like no-other and features great prizes every month – all in an effort to not only maintain, but to build interest in the contest over the course of the entire riding season! During the off-season, riders still carry RIDE CARDS and enjoy discounts and special opportunities offered by TRO partners. Starting with the winter bike shows, throughout the entire ride season, and right up through the holidays – we will be signing up motorcycle enthusiasts for their Ride Cards. With these cards, riders will be able to “check-in” at stops all across the state. Their check-in’s make them eligible for monthly prize drawings June through October – while the cards themselves entitle riders to savings and special opportunities throughout the year! TRO also conducts special drawings during offseason events such as the International Motorcycle Show and Easyriders Invitational. For 2017, we will once again be expanding the program with more stops, more media partners, more events, and MORE PRIZES! A renewed commitment will be made to ensure the quality of the stops and encouraging riders to get out and explore! We are STILL NOT simply adding anyone willing to write a check. We will be considering Ride 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 and adding legitimacy to our ride program. If you own a business or host an event that you would like to be a ride stop, you can email BuckeyeThunderRun@gmail.com for information on how you can apply to be a stop. You can also email that address if you would like to nominate a location for consideration. You can register for a Thunder Run Ride Card online at ThunderRoadsOhio.com 8

NEW FOR 2017 – Social Media and Photo Check-In’s!

The nationally recognized law firm of Russ Brown joins TRO as the new Presenting Sponsor of the 2017 Buckeye Thunder Run. As the “Original Attorneys Who Ride” they have focused on motorcyclists since 1975 – long before others jumped on the band wagon. Russ Brown also introduced their BAM Roadside Help service – coordinating a nationwide network of riders helping riders. Thunder Roads Ohio is proud to welcome them aboard.

Riders will be encouraged to check in at stops through their social media accounts and by sharing photos of them at the stops. Special placards and banners will be displayed at Ride Stops in positions that allow riders to take a photo alongside. For those not online or social media savvy, riders will also be able to sign in with the traditional clipboards at each stop or simply take a photo and text it to a special number.

TRO WINTER SCAVENGER HUNT With the cold weather seeming to have finally shut down the riding season for most of us, we thought we’d offer some extra entertainment to stave off the pending cabin fever. It’s our special, indoor THUNDER RUN through the pages of our very own magazine. Hidden someplace within the depth of these pages is a special TRO PRIZE LOGO – see the sample here. When you find it, shoot us an email at BuckeyeThunderRun@ gmail.com with SCAVENGER HUNT in the subject line. Let us know what page and exactly where the logo is in this month’s magazine and we will put you in the drawing for some great TRO prizes – including some great gear and subscriptions to the magazine! How cool is that?! January’s Scavenger Hunt Winners: Candace Thaxton Shirley Witt

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attorneys who ride

1-800-4-BIKERS

PISTON POWER SHOW ACCEPTING BIKE SHOW ENTRIES! A limited number of spots remain for the chance to win more than $10,000 in Cash and Prizes! Builders and custom bike owners from across the country are invited to bring their bike and take part in the 2017 I-X Piston Powered AutoRama being held at the Cleveland I-X Center March 17-19, 2017. Once again, The International Master Bike Builders Association (IMBBA) and Thunder Roads Ohio Magazine (TRO) present have teamed up to host the motorcycle aspect of the world’s largest indoor custom vehicle show. The alliance will once again bring the IMBBA and their judges to the I-X Piston Powered Auto-Rama to judge all the motorcycles in 13 classes along with the Duck Award, Best in Show and Pro Builders class of bikes. In each class, trophies will be awarded for First, Second, and Third Place. Thunder Roads Ohio Magazine will host the Thunder Zone at the I-X Center and will collect ballots from show-goers for the “People’s Choice” motorcycle award. This year’s show will feature an expanded motorcycle area and for the first time – a dedicated motorcycle stage. The entire motorcycle zone, though, is focused on the IMBBA’s quest to find their National Champion. The IMBBA and Thunder Roads Magazines across the country have invited bike builders from qualifying shows nationwide to attend the show as part of a National IMBBA Championship. Winners from as far away as Hollister California have earned spots in the show. The top cash prize of $5,000 will be awarded on Sunday, March 19 for the “Best in Show.” The highest scoring custom build will also receive a magnificent Championship Ring valued at $3,500 which is designed and sponsored by Vivid Jewelers in Bay Village, Ohio. Recognition and awards will be given to both pro builders and enthusiasts in an effort to select the best of the best. In 2016, Cole Rogers won the National Competition in Cleveland, Ohio and received the ring valued and will be the defending IMBBA National Champion. To register for the show, visit www. PistonPowerShow.com. Don’t delay, though, as a limited number of spots remain and it closes out every year well before the actual show. THUNDER ROADS® OHIO MAGAZINE

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

THE IRON COWBOY

HONDA UNVEILS SELF-BALANCING ROBOTIC MOTORBIKE HONDA UNVEILS SELF-BALANCING ROBOTIC MOTORBIKE “Riding Assist” can actually move without a rider! Honda has unveiled a new robot motorbike that won't fall over and can even move without a rider at the 2017 Consumer Electronic Show (CES). The futuristic two-wheeler comes equipped with self-balancing technology that the Japanese company says could greatly reduce accidents in slow-moving traffic. The new technology, calling Riding Assist, is still in the prototype stage. But Honda says it has the potential to cut road deaths and improve the riding experience.

Instead of using heavy gyroscopes, like the Segway, to stay upright, Riding Assist's selfbalancing mechanism employs technology from Honda's Uni-Cub personal mobility devices. The system disengages the handlebars at speeds of 3mph or less and transfers control of the front wheel to the computer, which senses the bike leaning and makes tiny adjustments to the wheel to counteract it. There is no date set for when Riding Assist will come to market, but Honda says it "envisions a future where vehicles will communicate with each other and infrastructure to mitigate traffic congestion and eliminate traffic fatalities, while increasing the productivity of road users and delivering new types of in-vehicle entertainment experiences".

Honda introduced the revolutionary prototype motorcycle by remote control, having it roll out from their booth in front of spectators without a rider and without falling over. Lee Edmunds, of Honda’s motorcycle division, said: “This would be for those who want to relax a little bit and not stress out about falling over, if they’re older or a little shorter in stature or the bike is heavier. This takes away that anxiety.”

WHO’S THAT?

Yes, that’s Walt Snider, owner of Renegade Gentleman Customs and TRO Contributor on the cover of our sister publication - Thunder Roads Michigan! Congrats to Walt on winning their Cover Contest and being featured in this great magazine! Makes me wonder though, is it just me or are Frankie (his bike) and him starting to look more and more alike? I know they say people often resemble their dogs or pets, but their bikes as well? 10

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REPORT American Motorcyclist Association objects as U.S. seeks 100 percent tariff on some European bikes PICKERINGTON, Ohio – The American Motorcyclist Association strongly objects to a federal agency’s attempt to tack a 100 percent or higher tariff on motorcycles made in Europe as part of a trade battle over hormones in U.S. beef. The Office of United States Trade Representative requested comments on Dec. 28 regarding its proposal to include tariffs on motorcycles with an engine size between 51cc and 500cc imported from the European Union. The American Motorcyclist Association opposes the proposed tariff, because trade disputes residing within the boundaries of the agricultural industry should not be solved with trade sanctions levied against non-agricultural products. “There is no logical link between motorcycles and beef,” said Wayne Allard, AMA vice president of government relations. “It is absurd to even consider such a move. The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative is responsible for developing and coordinating U.S. international trade, commodity and direct investment policy and overseeing negotiations with other countries. The head of USTR is the U.S. Trade Representative, a Cabinet member who serves as the president’s principal trade adviser, negotiator, and spokesperson on trade issues. If the agency enacts this motorcycle tariff, serious and potentially irreversible harm will be done to American small- and mediumsized business owners selling the vehicles and to American families who buy these motorcycles for commuting and outdoor recreation. “Should the availability of motorcycles be hindered by these unjustified trade sanctions, dealerships may close, leaving countless Americans without jobs,” Allard said. “The negative effects of the proposed sanctions will not only harm the motorcycle sales industry, but will spread through the aftermarket equipment sector, recreation equipment sales, the sports entertainment industry and further down the line.” Affected manufacturers include Aprilla, Beta. BMW, Ducati, Fantic, Gas Gas, Husqvarna, KTM, Montesa, Piaggio, Scorpa, Sherco, TM and Vespa.

The same agency tried the same tactic in 2008, but the effort was thwarted when the AMA, the Motorcycle Industry Council and bike manufacturers and retailers rallied motorcyclists against the plan. At that time, the U.S. Trade Representative instead raised the tariff on a variety of European food products.

2017 AMA Member Sweepstakes Members who join or renew their AMA membership from Jan. 1, 2017, through Dec. 31, 2017, are automatically entered to win one of these awesome motorcycling prizes! You can join or renew your membership by visiting ThunderRoadsOhio.com

Grand Prizes -- 2017 Yamaha FZ-09 and 2016 Suzuki GSX-S750.

1966 Electra Glide

Raffle Bike ENTER FOR YOUR CHANCE TO WIN!

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

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ABATE OF OHIO, INC.

SAFETY REPORT Hi Friends, How do you start a Motorcycle Safety and Education article on the first day of January and its cold outside and you’re going to read it in February? It’s tough. I have lost most of New Year’s Day due to getting home at 5am from driving the van (as I call it the drunk bus) all night taking happy people home to keep them and everyone else safe. We would pick up at bars and private parties and deliver someone home within 10 miles of Bowling Green. The program is called “Swallow Your Pride and Call for a Ride” and this was our 4th year. Wood County Safe Communities puts this on with the help of many businesses advertising for us with table tents, stickers on pizza boxes and posters. There was also a very high police presence and many stops we saw began with no head lights or no turn signals. The program is also offered on St. Patrick’s Day. We feel we are making a difference, and this is one example of how you can get involved in your local community. I feel some people have a better opinion of bikers because I am involved in this program. 2016 is over and we did not do very well. This is due to several factors - very good weather for most of the year and more motorcycles on the roads. 2016 was the 2nd highest in the last 10 years with 4,159 crashes and 195 fatalities. Motorcycle Ohio

trains us and motorcycle manufacturers build better bikes with the best ever brakes, and we still kill ourselves. In 70% of fatalities the rider was at fault. Some very important facts from Motorcycle Ohio, June and October accounted for most of the fatalities, 48% were single unit crashes, 26% were alcohol related, 70% had the rider at fault, 60% of fatalities happened on the weekend, 62% occurred between 2-9pm and 37% of the fatalities were from fixed objects. A fact I look at every year is how many fatalities were passengers. In 2016, 21 passengers died. After you read all those facts you say how can we fix this? Every motorcyclist needs to get some training, every motorcyclist needs to be endorsed and we need to ride SMART. Car drivers are distracted, possibly drunk and drugged drivers keep getting behind the wheel. We need to ride more aware than ever. This year the ABATE of Ohio, Inc. State Seminar will be held on April 8th. It will be a day of information, motorcycle legislation information, Motorcycle Ohio updates, motorcycle awareness and safety and education. This is a great place to get to meet the people that are working hard to make motorcycling safe and free. The seminar is open to the public and to all riders.

May is Motorcycle Awareness Month and time to let every Motorist know that we are back out on Ohio roads. On Saturday May 6, 2017 Abate of Ohio, Inc. will host the Motorcycle Awareness Rally and After Rally Party. Every year we have riders come to Columbus from all around the state to take part in this great ride. It starts at 10am at A.D. Farrow, Harley Davison, Sunbury. The police close down Rt 71 and we head to the Statehouse, park around the square and stand on the State house steps and read Proclamations from all over this great state. And then to the after rally party at Victory just 2 blocks away. This is a great way to let everyone know that we are riding the roads of Ohio. I’ve said enough so I hope all stay warm and get those bikes repaired and ready for a long and great riding season. Ohio has many great roads to ride and so many places to visit that I know we will run into you someplace. Stay safe

Ride with in your limits Mike Stock

Safety and Education Director

419-654-5446

Mikestock419@gmail.com

LEGISLATIVE REPORT Hello All: I trust everyone had a Merry Christmas and a safe and Happy New Year. The EPA has issued it’s mandates regarding the amount of ethanol in the nation’s fuel supply for 2017. That amount is scheduled to be increased by 6.5 percent, from 18.11 gallons to 19.28 gallons. This will result in an increase in the amount of E15 in the marketplace and a probable decrease in the amount of EO available. These numbers are in spite of strong opposition by the AMA, the MRF and SMROs. These groups will continue their efforts to amend or repeal the Renewable Fuel Standard. Also on the Federal level, the AMA, MRF and SMROs are urging the Department of Transportation to include motorcyclists in the discussions and planning of the Road 18

to Zero initiative. This plan aims to reduce to zero road fatalities by 2030. The coalition involved includes NHTSA, the Federal Highway Administration, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration and The National Safety Council. Motorcycles are conspicuously absent from this discussion. The questions being asked are, «Was the exclusion of motorcycles intentional?» and “Is a ban on motorcycles part of the plan to achieve zero deaths?” Obviously, there are serious questions regarding both the safety and the future of motorcyclists and motorcycling. These issues are being pressed by all the above mentioned groups. In Ohio, as of this writing, on December 1st, there was no movement on HB 115, the Road Guard Bill. There were three, possibly five sessions left in the Lame Duck Legislature, one would have to assume that no action will have occurred. Meetings have been scheduled

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with Reps. Green and Landis regarding this bill. Also, no action on HB 154, which contains a red light component. Planning continues on the Seminar 2017, and by the time this is read, the election cycle for new officer positions will have been concluded. I would like to add my thanks to all who held offices in 2016, and to those who are returning in 2017 and I welcome those new to officer positions in 2017. It is never too early to mention the Awareness Rally 2017. The Rally will be on the first Saturday in May, 2017. Stay tuned for details regarding the After Rally activities. Respectfully submitted, Kolman legislativedirector@abate.com 614-332-0198

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Get Endorsed Learn More: motorcycle.ohio.gov

Basic Rider

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

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

Basic for Returning Riders

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

Basic Rider 2

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

Advanced Rider

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

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

What a month January was! Trying to catch up after the holidays is always a challenge as we put away trees and other decorative items we pulled out. Now that I am able to take a break from all the clean up, it is time to get back on the Guided Valor Road. This month’s travels are going to address some of the “SERVICES” portion of your Survivor Benefits. This is the second half of the Dependent/Survivor Benefits that we addressed last month. So let’s pull out on the road and head down Beneficiary Financial Counseling Service and Online Will Preparation St, and turn left onto Children of Vietnam Veterans with Certain Birth Defects Ave while finishing up this ride at our watering hole on Fiduciary Services Rd. So let’s twist it out and go!

Our first discussion point of interest takes us along Beneficiary Financial Counseling Service and Online Will Preparation Street. Beneficiary Financial Counseling Service (BFCS) provides beneficiaries with free, professional financial advice from FinancialPoint, an independent company whose team of professionals are experts in handling a wide range of financial matters. Beneficiaries can access this service online 24/7 to request a financial plan. You simply enter your information into FinancialPoint's website, and a financial professional will prepare a customized financial plan based on the details provided. You can also call or e-mail to get quick answers to simple financial questions. In-person meetings with financial professionals are also available upon request. Beneficiaries have lifetime access to these services. Switching gears, another beneficiary service is the Online Will Preparation Service. This service enables beneficiaries to quickly and easily prepare a will without an attorney. After answering a series of straightforward questions, the beneficiary will receive a legal will, valid in all states, ready to print and sign.

How to Access These Services? It is as easy as riding on the open highway to get your will done. Simply follow these six steps: 1) Go to www.financialpointplus.com, 2) Register as a firsttime user, 3) Use "BFCSVA" as the Organization Web ID, 4) Have your eight-digit SGLI, TSGLI, FSGLI, or VGLI claim number available, 5) Select FinancialPoint to submit information that will be used to create a personalized financial plan for you, 6) Select EstateGuidance® to create and print a will. Note: If you do not have your claim number, please call the Office of Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance at 800-419-1473. Please download Financial Counseling Services docs here:

http://benefits.va.gov/INSURANCE/forms/BFCSBrochure1.htm http://benefits.va.gov/INSURANCE/forms/BFCSBrochure2.htm

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Now let’s turn left onto Children of Vietnam Veterans with Certain Birth Defects Ave. Children who have spina bifida or certain other birth defects and are biological children of Veterans with qualifying service in the Republic of South Vietnam or Republic of Korea may be eligible for various VA benefits, to include monthly monetary compensation, health care and vocational training depending on the child's degree of disability. The monetary compensation may be paid at one of three disability levels, based on the severity of the disability.

A male or female Veteran's child may be eligible (Spina Bifida) if: 1) The Veteran parent served in the Republic of South Vietnam during the period from January 9, 1962 through May 7, 1975, OR 2) The Veteran parent served in or near the Korean demilitarized zone (DMZ) during the period from September 1, 1967 through August 31, 1971 and was exposed to herbicides (service between April 1, 1968 and August 31, 1971 in or near the DMZ presumes exposure to herbicides.), AND the child was conceived after the date on which the Veteran parent served in either the Republic of South Vietnam or the Republic of Korea, AND the child has been diagnosed with a form of Spina Bifida other than Spina Bifida Occulta. NOTE: VA has no requirements regarding the character of the parent's discharge or the length of his or her service. For birth defect eligibility, evidence requirements and how to apply; please see this link: http://www.benefits.va.gov/compensation/claims-specialbirth_defects.asp As we approach our watering hole in distant at the end of

Fiduciary Services Rd, let me address that last “service” of the dependent/survivor benefits program. The purpose of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Fiduciary Program is to protect Veterans and beneficiaries who are unable to manage their VA benefits through the appointment and oversight of a fiduciary. If you have been determined unable to manage your VA benefits, the VA will conduct a field examination to appoint a fiduciary to assist you. This is an incredible program and hopefully can provide you with much needed assistance. Please go here http://benefits.va.gov/fiduciary/index.asp to see more.

Well, I am here already and time to cleanse the pallet with a nice libation before heading out next month on the ever critical Crisis Prevention Highway. Until then; ride safe, and always keep the doors of wisdom open. USVMC is a non-profit 501(c) (19) organization driven to show respect/support for all Veterans who served honorably. USVMC is a proud member of the Ohio Confederation of Clubs (COC). Ohio COC is rich in Veteran support initiatives and can assist with critical Veteran necessities. If you have a Veteran need, please speak to a member of COC or please email elmo.usvmcoh@gmail.com

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CMA What’s In A Name What comes to mind when I say, Harley Davidson; Honda; Suzuki; Yamaha; Moto Guzzi; KTM; Cushman; Kawasaki; Ducati; BMW; Hodaka; Indian; or Ridley? To some these names mean nothing, nor stir any emotions. Undoubtedly, if I have mentioned your “name” brand your eyes light up; your heart begins to race; or your interest is stirred. If you made it to the IMS Show in Cleveland in late January you undoubtedly had the opportunity to sit on that brand-named motorcycle that peaked your interest. You either have experienced a ride on one of these brand-named scoots or you have a dream of one-day you will experience a ride on one of your own! If it’s a road machine you are dreaming about you probably looked to see what you would change, i.e. exhaust, intake, installing a kit for more power or putting on that seat that will give you the comfort you’ve been looking for. With the off-road machines you’ve probably thought about the tires you’d need to get the grip you want, or the aftermarket exhaust and rejeting to allow more air and fuel producing more power, what about those sprockets which will give you the power & speed you are going to need. Just maybe your dream bike only needs one thing and that’s you on it.

These names are derived from the Hebrew language. They are used in the Old Testament of the English Bible to describe God. You can know God as: Elohim – Powerful God; Adonai – Lord; El Elyon – God most high; El Shaddai – Almighty God; Yahweh – Israel’s Covenantal God; Jehovah Jireh – Lord provides; Jehovah Rophe – Lord Heals; Jehovah Nissi – Lord is my Banner; Jehovah Mekadesh – Lord who Sanctifies You; Jehovah Shalom – Lord is Peace; Jehovah Tsidkenu – Lord is our Righteousness; Jehovah Rohi – Lord is my Shepherd; Jehovah Shammah – Lord is There. Knowing God can bringing us greater emotions of anticipation than reading about, dreaming about, riding on, or spending time working on that favorite motorcycle. We have to spend our hard earned cash in order to enjoy our rides; but, getting to know God and growing in our knowledge of God only requires us surrendering to Him, spending time in His Word and spending time with His people. The rewards are out of this world! Just like you, I enjoy my ride and I enjoy tinkering with it. I take pride in owning it as well. But I find greater joy in living for Jesus, getting to know Him better, and I take pride in letting Him own me. 1 Corinthians 6: 20, “For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God with your body.” NASB GR (Jerry) Niver CMA Ohio State Coordinator

What comes to mind when I say, Elohim; Adonai; El Elyon; El Shaddai; Yahweh; Jehovah Jireh; Jehovah Rophe; Jehovah Nissi; Jehovah Mekadesh; Jehovah Shalom; Jehovah Tsidkenu; Jehovah Rohi; or Jehovah Shammah? To some these Names mean nothing, nor stir any emotions. Undoubtedly, if I have mentioned a “Name” you have knowledge of your eyes light up; your heart begins to race; or your interest has been stirred.

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

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KENNEDY STYLE

by: Denise Kennedy, TRO

How do I get my kids started in racing? Kids often imitate their parents so as riders our kids may have a natural interest. Perhaps you have a dirt bike or ATV that they ride with you or they are at the point where they can handle the bike themselves. So maybe your next question is “How do I get my kids started in racing?” I would like to introduce you to my friend Sam Snellenberger. Sam has multiple championships in a variety of series and at various tracks. Sam started at age 20 as a street rider and went on to stunting, roadracing, dirt and woods racing. He says his route was the opposite of many and now at 43 is getting into Motocross. His wife Shelby rides dirt bikes too. Sam’s kids Amelia (10) and Sammy (8) have been exposed to motorcycles since they were born. They really don’t know a life without motorcycles. So

you would think they would follow in their parents footsteps. Sam says of course they have encouraged riding but likewise encourage them to participate in other activities. Sam’s recommendations are dependent on the age of your child and the path you want to take them. For MX or woods racing try www. pitracer.com and look for tracks, races and groups of people that fit your schedule and budget. Road racing typically can’t be done before age 16 or maybe age 14 in some places. Look for track time so that they learn some skills and look for races to enter. Although Amelia rode in the yard when she was much younger she stopped riding. With Sammy however the apple doesn’t fall too far from the tree. He has graduated to a KTM SX 65 motocross bike. This is his first

bike with a clutch and he is making the adjustment along with the power delivery of a 2 stroke bike. First and foremost however Sam recommends that you give your kids the right equipment, put time aside to get them to places where they can learn and encourage them to develop friendships with other kids that ride. When asked if he would encourage his kids to street ride as well he says he has a healthy respect for things that can go wrong on a street bike. As a parent he wants his kids to understand and respect a motorcycle and he will leave the decision to ride on the street theirs when the time is right. I guess what Sam is saying is that with anything support your kids interest and if that’s riding give them the tools and knowledge to ride or race safely. As always ride safe, Denise Kennedy Photos courtesy of Phillip Botta, Brian (CJ Davis Photography and Ken Stern)

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THE ANNOUNCEMENT Polaris decides to streamline their motorcycle business. The Iron Cowboy, Thunder Roads Ohio Editor Polaris Industries shocked many when they announced on January 9th that they would be immediately begin “winding down its Victory Motorcycles brand and related operations”. For diehard Victory riders, fans, and even some dealers – there seemed to be complete disbelief. Polaris began producing the first Victory motorcycle, the V92c, back in 1998 from a production line in Sprit Lake, Iowa. It was an American-made cruiser being introduced as an alternative to the clear industry leader – Harley-Davidson. While there was clearly a learning curve to be conquered – Victory scored some early success with the motorcycle press and built a loyal following of owners. Polaris seemed dedicated to not only competing in the motorcycle market, they were willing to blaze their own path with their own style and some truly unique designs. Probably nothing said this more than the introduction of the Victory Vision in 2007.

Victory’s final lineup of motorcycles included 12 models spanning the cruiser, touring, bagger and electric classes: Octane; Vegas 8-Ball; High-Ball; Gunner; Vegas; Hammer S; Vision; Cross Country Tour; Cross Country; Magnum; Magnum X-1; and Empulse.

A New Addition to the Family

Previously introduced in 2005 as a concept bike, the production version was no less groundbreaking with a design and presence unlike anything else on the road. The result of a reported four years of R&D and a $20 million dollar investment by Polaris, the Vision was a clear statement that Polaris was focused on creating their own interpretation of “the motorcycle”. In the case of the Vision, the fixed fairing touring bike has an almost fanatical following. I’ve never once met a Vision owner that didn’t swear it was the most comfortable bike they’d ever ridden. This is further supported by the fact that you almost never see them for sale. At the time of writing this, ebay motors has only 6 of them listed for sale across the entire country and craigslist came up with 2 in the state of Ohio.

Victory’s future may have been sealed though, when Polaris acquired the name and heritage of Indian Motorcycle in 2011. This gave Polaris possibly the one thing that Victory lacked – a history and a legacy of success. At the time of the purchase, Polaris affirmed that they would be continuing the Victory line as an independent brand. This was supported with the launch of the actual new production Indians - designed from scratch and produced without any real crossover from the Victory line. Three years later, Indian now has nine models with even more promised even this year. Each completely distinct from the Victory models from development to production. Certainly, though, the success of the Indians seemed to dominate the industry buzz and draw sales from everyone in the market – including Victory.

This passion for Victory Motorcycle amongst their riders is further evidenced by a 2015 Consumer Reports survey that rated Victory as the motorcycle brand with the highest owner satisfaction, besting even Harley-Davidson. In fact, eighty percent of Victory owners responded that they “would definitely buy again,” versus 72 percent of Harley-Davidson owners. (Of course, Harley owners dispute the relevancy of this survey by simply asking “Why would I ever want to buy another motorcycle, I’m happy with my Harley!”)

This past year, an attempt was made to further distinguish the Victory and Indian brands for consumers. Indian would be the heritage cruisers, more traditional and nostalgic. Victory would transition to more of a power cruiser, the embodiment of “AMERICAN MUSCLE”. Polaris invested heavily in Victory race bikes – both gas and electric, and introduced exciting new concept bikes with an emphasis on power and performance. It seemed an easy distinction to make and one that resonated with riders.

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However, it would appear that the cost of developing and operating two independent lines of motorcycles finally became too burdensome and Polaris decided to pull the plug on the Victory line. I’m guessing that there had to be outside factors to explain the abrupt change in course, and financial gurus are pointing to Polaris acquisitions and costs well outside the two-wheeled world as the cause. Regardless, it seems a shame to countless Victory riders. Fiscal responsibility has just never really been a top consideration to American riders.

The Sun Will Come Out Despite the many dramatic headlines (“Polaris Industries KILLS Off Victory Motorcycles” – Forbes), current Victory owners really don’t have too much cause for real concern. As Jon Petrich, owner of Witchdoctors Specialties - a Victory aftermarket manufacturer and distributor, pointed out in his facebook live “Why is everyone going crazy? … As far as I know today, everyone’s bike still started… There’s no reason for anything to change for us!” When you boil things down, Polaris is simply not producing new Victory motorcycles. They haven’t “gone out of business”. Polaris is a powerhouse and clear industry leader within the powersport industry and they aren’t going anywhere. Polaris is still committed to the consumers and dealers that have invested in the Victory brand and will continue to supply parts for at least another 10 years. Polaris will still continue to provide service and warranty coverage to both the Victory dealers and owners. You might compare the situation to when GM discontinued their “We Build Excitement” division – Pontiac. Almost 8 years later, there’s certainly no challenge to get your Grand Am or even Prowler serviced. You just take it to any GM dealership. I think that it’s safe to assume that’s going to be the case with Victory motorcycles. OHIO’S MOTORCYCLE MAGAZINE

Brett Moxley, General Manager of CCM of Northern Kentucky (A Victory, Indian, and

Slingshot Dealer), affirmed “We’re going to be here for the riders. We are committed not only to our current customers, but any Victory riders looking for support and service. Our mechanics are certified, we have all the specialty tools, we know we can get parts for another 10 years and Polaris will stand behind all the factory warranties and any recalls.”

Bair’s Powersports, in North Canton, has been a Polaris dealer for 50 years and in a notice posted on their facebook page they voiced both the disappointment they shared with riders and their faith in the company. “You are hurt. (We are hurt.) You are upset. (We are upset.)…However,..we chose to trust the judgment of Polaris going forward. Over THUNDER ROADS® OHIO MAGAZINE

the 50 years of experience with the company.. They always resolve and overcome.” “We feel confident that the positive aspects of the Victory brand will be further introduced into the Indian motorcycle line-ups as time goes on.“ Bairs closed with the statement that “The Victory motorcycles already on the road are not going away.. Victory motorcycles will remain an integral part of our story, your story,..and for that we are very grateful!” A contact at one dealership even went a step further, speaking off the record. “We have plenty of bikes still, and chances are that there are going to be some great incentives coming down the pike as Polaris is committed to helping dealers move their existing inventory.” THUNDERROADSOHIO.COM

“I really like several of the new Victory’s – and I’m thinking that this might be the best time ever to get one.” Are there going to be 2018 Victory Motorcycles – no. But that’s ok, because there are plenty of great new 2016 and 2017 Victory motorcycles still out there for those looking to get one. And one only has to go to AMA Vintage Days in Lexington to recognize that there’s still quite a future for these motorcycles. Just ask anyone riding or even racing a Norton, BSA, or Bultaco! How many 50’s era Indians are still out on the road – still being rebuilt, repaired, and ridden? You can see them all over – especially if you’re in the Dayton area! And those companies all shut down completely, and that’s not what’s happened here in the case of Polaris. OHIO’S MOTORCYCLE MAGAZINE

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How I Learned to Love the Motorcycle Traveling the United States in an RV has been a “plantasy” – plan plus fantasy – of mine since childhood. So, in January 2015 Gary and I decided to research the idea at the RV show at the IX center. There we walked through a toy hauler – basically an RV with a “garage” for hauling horsepower. Offhandedly, or so I thought, he said it would be great to take along a motorcycle. As we were simply fantasizing, I didn’t think much of it. But, the idea was rooting. Two months later he was clicking through online ads. By April we owned a motorcycle, helmets, a blue-tooth communication system and black, nylon armor jackets. At this point, I hadn’t been a passenger for about eight years and then it was merely a quick spin on my uncle’s vintage blue Harley-Davidson. Gary had done plenty of two-wheel time in the Army. This was natural for him. Within a month I was smitten ... the motorcycle was my Zen. I was one with the environment. I could see, smell, hear, feel and, yes, sometimes, taste everything while riding. It was totally unlike a caged experience. Nearly every day we fastened our helmets, turned on the communication system and rode. We flew. Time flew. We rode to Katie’s Korner in Geneva-onthe-Lake or Scooter’s in Mentor-on-theLake for ice cream. We took backroads 30 30

for an hour to grocery shop at Wegman’s in Erie. We took field trips to the Homer Laughlin factory in West Virginia to buy Fiestaware and to Niagara Falls to see the water. It was usually about the journey, not the destination. When we visited his daughter in San Diego, we spent a day traveling each south, east and north. In 2016, we put more than 10,000 miles on our bottoms driving the Blue Ridge Parkway, Pennsylvania’s Laurel Highlands and Alabama/Florida Panhandle, not to mention regular outings.

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We’ve been drenched by rain and gotten sunburned noses. No complaints. The worst experience, knock on wood, was a painful bee sting which has left a scar. While I knew I’d be happy in black leather, I had no idea how much flow I’d feel on the back of the bike. Next up, the RV! Tell us how you fell in love with riding and/ or what you love about it in 500 words or less. Your story may be picked for a future issue. Email it to pariswolfe@yahoo.com. Include your contact information and a picture. OHIO’S MOTORCYCLE MOTORCYCLE MAGAZINE MAGAZINE OHIO’S

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FROM ACROSS THE POND “British Choppers”

by Andy Tallone

reading a chopper magazine back then and seeing a purple BMW chopper with a cofﬁn tank, and those big ugly cylinders hanging out the sides. The article said it was owned by a member of the music group “The Association”. I donʼt care who he was, the bike was hideous. But it just went to show how far people would go to chop whatever they had, in those days.

CHOPPERS FROM BRITAIN? For our purposes, here, weʼre not talking about choppers built in England. Instead this is a study of choppers and bobbers built right here in the good ʻol US of A, using British motorcycle engines.

This 1950 Triumph 650 shows the classic look of the old school British chopper. Triumph ran rigid frames through 1953.

This could be the only Ariel Square Four chopper in captivity.

THE CHOPPER EXPLOSION

Square Fours had two counter-rotating crankshafts and were extremely smooth, just not very fast.

In a way, this is my story. Because I grew up in the era when chopping your Triumph

THE BRITISH CHOPPER

650 was a fairly common practice. Back in the 1960s, choppers built around Harley engines were everywhere, mostly Panheads with stock Harley rigid frames. Back then, they were considered a sign of rebellion, a refusal to go along with convention. But not everyone wanted to be a badass, or had or could afford a Harley. When the 1969 movie “Easy Rider” introduced the mainstream world to Harley choppers and the biker lifestyle, suddenly everyone wanted a chopper. And many chopped whatever they had. In my high school alone, two guys had matching (other than paint) chopped Honda 350s. I was helping another guy in my metal shop class make extended forks for his Honda 175! Myself and two of my friends had mid-60ʼs Triumph 650s, two bobbers and a chopper. Mine was a bobber, meaning no extended forks. Tons of chrome though, a sweet little peanut tank painted black, a banana seat, megaphones and high bars. People were chopping everything, in those days. There was a Honda 750 Four chopper in my home town that looked wicked! I remember 34

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From the mid-50s through the late-60s, Triumph, BSA, Norton and the other British motorcycle manufacturers were enjoying big sales in America. British bikes were everywhere, and quite cheap. I paid $650 for my 1964 Triumph TR6 bobber in 1971. So, when the chopper frenzy hit in 1969, there were plenty of British bikes around to chop. Of course, Triumph being the best-selling of the British brands, most of the British choppers you see will be powered by Triumph engines, usually 650 or 750 twins. But BSAs, Nortons, Vincent V-twins, and even Ariel Square Fours, and other Brits have been chopped, some beautifully, some horribly. During this same era, British bobbers and rat bikes grew in popularity also, often built out of necessity because their owners couldnʼt afford the expensive chopper parts (rigid frames, extended forks, raked necks, etc.). If choppers were a culture, then non-Harley choppers were a subculture within it. Lots of Japanese bikes were chopped over the years, some with great success. But the British choppers were at the root and the center of this movement from the beginning, and have continued to be an important part of it.

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a new chopper boom on. Overnight everyone wanted a chopper, and companies sprang seemingly out of nowhere to accommodate the demand, providing aftermarket engines, trannies, rigid frames, springers, wheels, and tanks. Artisans like Arlen Ness went from being small-time builders to major manufacturers of custom parts. And the market for these modern-day, high-tech choppers just seemed to keep growing. Many of the orthodontists and paving contractors traded in their stock bikes for wild new choppers, joined by legions of new riders, and people trading out of other bikes. Once again, choppers became almost commonplace. It had the looks, the stance, and the chops to win an award at this show. The engine is a 60s-era BSA A65 650 twin.

CHANGING TIMES Alas the 60s-and-70s chopper craze had peaked by the late 70s. By this time, Harley choppers had taken on a bit of a negative image, being associated with outlaw biker hooliganism. However, around this same time, Harley-Davidson was getting their act together and began pouring gorgeous, reliable bikes off the assembly line, where they were snapped up by orthodontists and paving contractors, and the whole image of Harleys changed. The oily old chopper got parked in the back of the garage to make room for the new Super Glide. Choppers, Harley and otherwise, seemed to disappear from the landscape, replaced by a tsunami of brand new Harleys, a dizzying array of other modern bikes and a whole new rider demographic.

1970 Triumph TR6 engine, stock frame converted to rigid, stock Triumph tank, ʼ71-72 conical hubs and those giant 5.00X16 wheels and tires make for a tough modern look. Built in 2011.

Does this thing scream the 70ʼs, or what?! Built around a ʼ69 Triumph TR6 650 engine.

THE NEW CHOPPER BOOM Fast forward to 2000. Chopper builder Jesse James launches his new TV show “Motorcycle Mania” on the Discovery Channel. The show followed his personal life, but mostly concentrated on his business of building custom motorcycles (all with Harley or Harley-like engines, ie: S&S, Revtech, etc.). America took notice and suddenly there was THUNDER ROADS® OHIO MAGAZINE

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FROM ACROSS THE POND “British Choppers”

LONG IN THE TOOTH Like all booms, this new chopper boom went through its life-cycle of birth, growth, maturity, peak and then decline. British bikes did the same thing, lowriders and street rods too. And someday, maybe even my beloved muscle cars will peak and decline. Maybe they already have. Thatʼs not to say that there are no more lowriders or street rods. But the market for them has peaked, the genre has advanced forward. What used to be unique about them is now mainstream, even old school. Some of the faithful stick to the old ways no matter what, but many choose to embrace new directions with their hobbies. Street rods, for instance, continue to break new ground virtually every year, always striving to create something that has never been seen before. The new ʻHail Maryʼ is to drop a huge tank engine, or a radial airplane engine in your street rod! Thatʼll get ʻem every time.

Todayʼs builders can go wild and somehow get away with it. This Triumph Bonneville-powered creation is a rolling sculpture.

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THE MODERN BRITISH CHOPPER The same thing is happening today in the chopper industry, to a lesser extreme. Some chopper builders are looking for unusual engines to power their bikes that will help them stand out in an ocean of Harley V-twins. One encouraging offshoot has been the rediscovery of classic British motorcycles. Many modern chopper builders today are building incredible, gorgeous, in some cases outrageous custom motorcycles around Triumph twins and triples, BSA 650s, Vincent V-twins and more. In the process, theyʼve discovered not just how naturally-attractive British motorcycle engines are, but how compact and light they are when compared to a Harley V-twin and gearbox. Among the many builders embracing British power, Southern California-based Falcon Motorcycles, has built an entire line of incredible choppers and bobbers around various British powerplants with awesome results. These bikes really stand out at shows. Itʼs been a long time since many of these fans have seen so many British motorcycle engines, some never have, and this could lead to a renewed interest in classic Britishmotorcycles at large. For that I am hopeful. Somehow a new generation of enthusiasts must embrace our beloved classic British motorcycles if they are to survive into the future. If it takes choppers with Brit engines to do that, then Iʼm all for it. Please visit my website at www.Classic-British-Motorcycles.com. For more British Choppers, Bobbers & Rat Bikes, go to www.Classic-British-Motorcycles.com/choppers.html.

Falcon Motorcycles in SoCal names all their bikes. This one is “The Kestrel” and is powered by a 998cc Vincent Black Shadow V-twin.

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An Ohio Biker in Germany By: Kim Denty So a German and an American, walk into a bar in Turkey... Sounds like the start of a joke. However, in this particular case it was true. I was sitting at the bar drinking a beer, and a fellow walks in and does the same. He says, I couldn’t help but notice your shirt. Do you ride a Harley? The normal conversation follows, each of us sharing a few stories. As the evening was ending he says, “Hey, if you’re ever in Frankfort, you should come riding with my buddies and I”. Generic words that pretty much anybody would say, knowing it would never really happen. But perhaps, he didn’t realize who he was talking to!?? A few e-mails back and forth. Some rough details on a ride from Germany to France and how to rent a Harley in Germany and so on. And SHAZZAM!!!!! Here I was, sitting in Wiesbaden Germany waiting on the Harley shop to open. It was almost surreal. How did a biker from Marengo,Ohio end up here? And yes, more than once I asked myself what in the heck I was doing. And after picking out a nice looking Fat Boy, about an hour of instructions, and signing my life away, we are off!!!

Day #1. Five of us finally on the road. Cutting through the streets of Germany to pick up our 6th and final rider who decided he’d like to rent a Triumph. Good looking bike! 38 38

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As we all know, when riding for a long time, our brains cannot sit idle and can’t help but notice the “Exit” signs. In the English pronunciation of course. Aus Fart = Exit! How appropriate!! Putting a grin on my face like an 8th grader. And again, only 26 miles to the bad and drunken! Let’s go there! And on the way we go through Frankenstein. Really? This is just too much! Immaturity plays a big part in entertaining myself during times like this. I should mention there is a destination we are trying to get to in the French mountains. While riding through every village and sets of roundabouts, it is fun, but difficult to make good time. So conveniently we hop on the Autobahn for about an hour. You will notice, their are zero pics from the Autobahn. There’s a reason. Riding at speeds up to 150 km/hour (100mph) I was doing good just to hold myself on the bike. Lesson #1. While a Fat Boy with no windshield looks really awesome in a picture, it totally sucks at 100mph. My body becoming a sail, it was all I could do to hold onto the handlebars and not get lifted off the bike! I had not realized in my 40+ years riding, that I had become so spoiled with a windshield. Note taken. Additionally, even at high speeds, you must look very carefully in your mirror before you pass. Several times, I could see a car way back, but by the time I could react to pull out, it was passing me like I was sitting still. I have a whole new respect for the Autobahn in Germany. Regardless, an hour was enough and we hit France. Still remnants here from the old Passport Control stations when all European borders were closed to each other. Crossing over here would sometimes take hours and followed very strict rules.

We rode about 8 hours through mountains and miles upon miles of vineyards. I had no idea where we were going or when we would stop. But when we rolled into this little mountain village, it all became crystal clear why we had ridden so far to be here. Absolutely beautiful! THUNDER THUNDER ROADS® ROADS® OHIO OHIO MAGAZINE MAGAZINE

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Day #2. We all got up, ate some breakfast, then took a stroll through the village. It was like something straight out of a story book. First established in 1291.

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Then off for a ride. Another 8 hours of adventure up into the mountains in the north of France. Way up! Here we are at 880 meters. (About 3000 ft). On our way to about 1400 meters. (4000+ ft) The weather ALWAYS changes at these altitudes. Unfortunately, because of the fog and curvy roads, it was almost impossible to get out my phone, unlock it, and snap pics with one hand, while riding this way. Which brings me to Lesson #2. For rides like this, when others are dictating the speed and the stops, you definitely need some sort of “Go Pro” type camera. Then, everything you see can be taken off the movie as a pic. Note taken.

Additionally, on the road, there was a bicycle race going on, from one side of the mountain to the other. Hundreds of bikes. Tour De France style. Watching these poor guys painstakingly pedaling up the mountain, I think to myself, WHY? Why would anybody pedal since motors have been invented? Just kidding… nothing but respect! Wow!

Talk about some drastic downhill biking. Bikes and riders come up on the lift, near the top of the mountain. Then disappear flying back down the trails! Seems to be about one brick shy of insane!!!

8 hours later, back to the hotel. Now if I can just remember how to get to my room. Not exactly Holiday Inn style.

1. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

6. 7. 8. 9. 10.

Hang a right on he 3rd floor exit Another right, then more steps Then left and up a few more steps Circle around he next set of steps And Cha Ching....

In the door and Down the Steps Past Reception Down a long narrow hallway Turn Right, Into Stair casing Up the spiral concrete steps

Cha Ching

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Then it’s time to wind down with some brew, socializing, and story telling with friends.

Day #3. Time for a final walk through the village, then time for another 8 hours on the. road

The “To do List” in German: 1. Make a list 2. Celebrate that you’ve made a list 3. Have a beer 4. And repeat 5. Or something along those lines. After about an hour on the road, we roll up on this site. Turns out, back in time, it was actually the King of France’s Castle! How cool is that?

Judging from the thickness of the door and the gun ports I’d say it was relatively well protected.

Then, some time later, one of the coolest signs ever. Strasbourg or Paris? Wow! Legendary! And then, of course, back into Germany. Which in German, is Republik of Deutschland.

Then again, back in time, it’s guys exactly like these that they would want protection from!!!

Day #4. The next morning was as simple as getting up early, returning the Harley, and catching a 2:00 flight out of Frankfort back to the USA. Well, almost… Let’s call this lesson #4. When they tell you, there is a maximum mileage of 700 km allowed on the bike when it’s returned, they mean it! After that it’s a flat 50 cents per mile. Ooooops!!!!

And the last night at a cozy little Bed & Breakfast. 40 euro/night. And visited the home of one of our fellow riders to watch Germany in the soccer championships. We were always meeting people and making new friends along the way.

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And the final, lesson #5. When opportunity knocks on your door, answer it. There will always be risk. But the rewards are big! There’s a lot of life out there to live.

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The Easyriders 2017 Invitational Bike Show Columbus, OH Feb 11-12, 2017 One of our favorite and certainly most unique bike shows of the year returns to Columbus in February – as the EASYRIDERS 2017 BIKE SHOW TOUR concludes with its traditional finale in the Buckeye State. This show brings the most celebrated custom bikes from across the country to the Columbus Convention Center to compete for top honors. This isn’t a dealer show, although there will be factory bikes on display. This show is all about making a bike your own and pushing the limits as to what custom fabricators and painters can do. These are truly rolling works of art and worthy of showcasing them in an event such as this. Many of the industry’s top vendors will also be showing off their products and onhand to answer questions. And of course, Thunder Roads Ohio will be there! The Thunder Roads Ohio crew will once again host a Thunder Zone right there in the midst of the show in support of our Easyriders friends and all of the bike exhibitors. We will have many of our Iron Angels™ on hand as well to pose with fans and the bikes. Cover and Calendar girls and other feature models will be available as well to autograph magazines and posters. We will also be checking in Ride Card holders for chances to win great prizes – including a $500 Gift Card. If you don’t already have a card – don’t despair! Those same Iron Angels and TRO Staff Members will be able to quickly get you set up with your own, for Free! Just stop by the Thunder Zone and we will take care of everything!

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Celebrities and Entertainment

PURRFECT ANGELZ

This is an exciting show with something happening throughout the weekend on the main stage and podiums set up throughout the show. The lovely PURRFECT ANGELZ from NBC’s “America’s Got Talent” will be performing live throughout the weekend. This year’s show also features the lovely Lisa Ligon as MC / Announcer and live music by Dixie Revival. Ohio’s own NTC Drift Trikes will be doing live demos amongst old school hot rod displays! Michal Ballard from the hit TV show “Full Throttle Saloon” will also be on site and available for autographs as well. Jason Wilson of the Discovery Channel’s Sacred Steel Bikes and the legendary Paul Yaffe will also be at the show, talking with attendees and showing off their creations.

Exhibiting Your Bike If you’re a professional, part-time, or even recreational bike builder – the Easyriders Bike Show is an incredible opportunity to showcase your work and possibly get it featured in national publications. And incredibly, it’s FREE to enter your bike in the show! Compete for your chance to take home one of over 40 Custom Bike Show Trophies and the bragging rights that go with them! Judging of the bikes includes both public voting and scoring by official show judges. There are fourteen classes and four special categories to be awarded – including Best of Show, People’s Choice, Editor’s Choice, and the John Green Award. The John Green Award is given to one old school, bad-ass bike that is selected in the spirit of the legendary promoter and host of the Easyriders shows. Basic 5’x10’ bike display spaces are FREE! Of course, you can upgrade your space for additional costs – but the basic spots are offered free of charge. The only catch is that they do ask for competitors to pay standard entry fees for the shows.

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AMPLIFIED AWARENESS CONCERT 2-11-17 THE ALAROSA VILLA Once again, Thunder Roads Ohio has teamed up with The Make It Fit Foundation for their AMPLIFIED AWARENESS BENEFIT CONCERT to benefit kids with Autism and Tourette Syndrome. This is a tremendous event that we are proud to be a part of. Held at the legendary Alrosa Villa, the concert features a lineup of BLUE SPECTRUM, SCOTTY BRATCHER, and JASMINE CAIN. JASMINE CAIN is a perennial favorite of this event, Ohio Bike Week, and motorcycle rallies all across the country. This is a great “after party” attended by many of the builders and celebrities from the show. It’s not to be missed! The show is held each year over “Easyriders Weekend” and falls on Saturday, February 11nd this year. Doors open at 7pm. Tickets are $10 in advance, and can be purchased online through Ticketmaster – or $15 at the door. For more information, you can visit www.MakeItFit.org or www.Alrosavilla.com.

100% OF THE TICKET SALES GO TO HELP KIDS WITH DISABILITIES!

EASYRIDERS INVITATIONAL BIKE SHOW Saturday Feb 11 and Sunday Feb 12, 2017 Greater Columbus Convention Center 400 North High Street, Columbus, OH 43215 Show Hours: Saturday, February 11, 2017 10am-7pm Sunday, February 12, 2017 10am-5pm Admission: Saturday $25, Sunday $20, Weekend Pass $35 Kids: 6-12 $10 each day. 5 and younger FREE Tickets sold at the door. 48

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PHOTOGRAPHER: MIKE DRAKO MODEL: KATIE, IRON ANGEL 50

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

Iron Cowboy Productions, LLC 2015 ©

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THE TRIUMPH 2017 BRUTAL BEAUTY TOUR Our British friends take to the streets to introduce a FACTORY Bobber! Despite their retro styling and being the definition of the British motorcycle scene, Triumph has certainly taken off the gloves and gotten aggressive in terms of new models and integrating modern convenience and technology into their bikes. After crossing the line and introducing a full family of liquid cooled Bonneville’s in 2016 – 2017 seems to be the year of specialized designs such as The Street Twin, the T120, and the Thruxton R. And then when you thought that they couldn’t possibly do anything else – they unveil their top-secret surprise… a Triumph Bobber at a series of stylish parties all across the globe! The Thunder Roads crew came out and joined in the festivities at Ohio’s two unveil parties – in Cincinnati and Cleveland. Yes, Cleveland. Apparently the folks at Triumph got so caught up in the YEAR OF CLEVELAND hype – that they forgot that they didn’t have a dealer actually in Cleveland. That’s ok, Triumph apparently wasn’t looking to actually host the unveil parties at dealers. Instead they choose to host them at theatres, nightclubs, and cool hip art galleries across the country. In Cleveland, the Triumph Bobber Tour landed at the 78th Street Studio. Billed as the largest fine arts complex in NE Ohio, it was an interesting setting for the motorcycle event. If nothing else, they were certainly catering to a particular crowd. The event required advance registration and was really not promoted to the general public at all. Triumph of Warren and Northern Ohio Triumph seemed to collaborate on the guest list, and their principles played host throughout the night. Local TV Celebrity Dani Pajak, from Wrench Against the Machine, was on hand with one of his Triumph Flat Track Racers. We also had the chance to meet Christine Cottrell, the owner and CEO of the new STEEL SHOE NATIONALS Flat Track Race Series. The Burning River Roller Girls were on hand passing out hors d’oeuvres and there were a few vintage pinball machines in the corners. In Cincinnati, the event was held at The 20th Century Theatre and hosted by Triumph of Cincinnati. It was certainly a more grandiose setting than the Cleveland party, but the invite list was still focused on existing Triumph riders and fans.

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So how about the bikes? Well, they certainly looked cool! Hosting the parties in Ohio during January certainly limited the opportunity to test out the bikes, so guests were limited to being able to sit on them and get their pictures taken. Triumph execs rode the Bobbers into the rooms, while the other featured bikes were introduced with the pulling of the cover. So we did get to hear the Bobber – and it sounded great. Sitting on her, we were able to play with the adjustable seat – which seemed like a novel concept. We will delve into more of the particulars of the bike after we have a chance to

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really take one out for a spin, but she certainly looked pretty cool in our eyes. In fact, she did look like a classic “American” Bobber.

2017 TRIUMH BONNEVILLE BOBBER

That was in fact the most novel part of the bike – the fact that it was a Triumph factory bobber. Yes, it’s still a British company – and yes, this really is a tribute to the bobber styling which really is an American concept. The classic bobber styling comes from the US, where bikers stripped down the vintage European bikes to push their performance and cut out anything that wasn’t necessary. The end result – a Bobber. The term itself refers to removing the front fender and shortening the rear – “bobbing it”. This was done to reduce the weight from the superfluous extra metal. So, this brings us to the question of the night – is there really such a thing as a “factory bobber”? If “bobbing” is all about taking away from what the factory delivered – where does this leave this? I am thinking that this really should be called a “Bobber Inspired” motorcycle – and with that in mind, I think it’s pretty cool. Not everyone has the technical skills to truly create their own Bobber. And there is something to be said for having the reliability and support behind a factory built bike. Now, I know that some of you may be horrified by me saying this and scoffing at the idea that any real biker would buy a “factory bobber”. I would dismiss that as similar to the nonsense that you’re not a real biker if you trailer to Sturgis or Daytona. Sure, it’s cool to be able to do that – but for many it just isn’t practical and doesn’t make sense. Similarly, there are plenty of folks that would love to ride a cool, reliable stripped down bike like this – but they may not have the technical knowledge or time to build their own. For them, Triumph offers a really cool modern alternative – and I think that’s great!

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2017 AMA National Adventure Riding Series schedule released Series features 20 events dispersed throughout United States PICKERINGTON, Ohio – The AMA National Adventure Riding Series provides American Motorcyclist Association members the chance to put their larger-cc machines to the test throughout the United States in 2017. Adventure riding is one of the fastest growing classes of motorcycling for good reason. Adventure bikes are some of the most versatile and capable motorcycles you can buy. They are comfortable enough to conquer hundreds of miles of interstate without a whimper, and they are rugged enough to climb the highest mountain passes. The AMA National Adventure Riding Series offers the best routes, roads and two-track trail for showcasing the abilities of adventure bikes like these. Not only do these two-day events include ample, challenging rides that are well marked and thoughtfully designed by local clubs, but they are built around a full weekend of activities that typically includes bonfires, camping, food and prizes. “The AMA National Adventure Riding Series was developed in 2007 due to the growing interest in larger, adventure-style motorcycles,” said AMA Recreational Riding and Volunteer Manager Marie Wuelleh. “Many dual sport trails are not conducive to bigger machines, and clubs and promoters have developed trails specifically to meet the needs of these riders.”

The 2017 schedule includes:

March 3-4: Devil’s Creek Adventure Ride Dixie Dual Sport – Brooksville, Fla. March 18-19: 2 Sun Adventure 2017 Tucson Dual Sport, LLC – Amado, Ariz. April 22-23: Slate Creek Adventure Ride Appalachian Trail Riders – Bybee, Tenn. May 6-7: 2017 Yosemite Adventure Tour Family Off-Road Adventures – Buck Meadows, Calif. June 3-4: Black Dog Northwest Tour & Trail – Hood River, Ore. June 3-4: Show Me 500 National Adventure Ride Midwest Trail Riders Association – Bixby, Mo. June 10-11: Durty Dabbers Great Adventure Dual Sport Durty Dabbers – Lock Haven, Pa. June 10-11: 2017 Ride for Research Wisconsin Dual Sport Riders – Wabeno, Wis. June 23-25: PA Grand Canyon 300 (Three-day event) Pine Barrens Adventures, LLC – Gaines, Pa. June 24-25: Big Bear Run Big Bear Trail Riders – Big Bear, Calif.

Aug. 19-20: Rat Dog Northwest Tour & Trail – Tillamook, Ore. Sept. 9-10: Blue Ridge Adventure Ride Appalachian Trail Riders – Pineola, N.C. Sept. 23-24: 2017 Acadiana Adventure 400 Acadiana Dirt Riders – Boyce, La. Sept. 23-24: 2017 Big Woods 200 Wisconsin Dual Sport Riders – Wabeno, Wis. Sept. 30-Oct. 1: Renfro Valley Adventure Ride Appalachian Trail Riders – Mount Vernon, Ky Oct. 14-15: Buffalo 500 National Adventure Ride Stoney Lonesome Motorcycle Club – Columbus, Ind. Oct. 21-22: Howlin’ at the Moon Arizona Trail Riders – Payson, Ariz. Oct 27-29: Pine Barrens 500 (Three-day event) Pine Barrens Adventures, LLC – Hammonton, N.J. Nov. 24-25: L.A. - Barstow to Vegas District 37 Dual Sport – Palmdale, Calif. For more information visit www. americanmotorcyclist.com/Riding/AdventureRiding

Photos courtesy American Motorcyclist July 15-16: Mountain Madness Dual Sport and Association Adventure Rally Coconino Trail Riders – Flagstaff, Ariz. 54 54

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2017 Beta AMA National Dual Sport Series schedule announced Nineteen events to take place across the country PICKERINGTON, Ohio – Thousands of AMA members search for new trails to ride and sights to see on their dirt bikes each year. The AMA National Dual Sport Series, sponsored by Beta for the third consecutive year, boasts 19 two-day events for 2017. The Beta AMA National Dual Sport Series includes some of the most amazing singletrack trail in the country, all tied together by incredible backroads through America’s countryside. Designed to provide the perfect off-road riding experience, these two-day events include ample, challenging routes that are well marked and well designed. This series is intended for serious off-roadoriented dual sport motorcycles. For larger adventure-style bikes, consider events in the Beta AMA National Adventure Riding Series. “The AMA National Dual Sport Series traces its roots back to 1987 and has been providing an avenue for some of the country’s top dual sports to be featured at the national level,” said AMA Recreational Riding and Volunteer Manager Marie Wuelleh. “AMA-chartered clubs and promoters organize thousands of miles of trail for AMA members to enjoy on their dual-sport machines every year. The noncompetitive events often include meals, a t-shirt, after-ride activities, camping, camaraderie and more. Be sure to mark an event, or several, on your calendar for this year.” The AMA oversees the series, which provides great riding trails and features additional perks for participants. Every rider will be entered to win a Beta motorcycle in a year-end sweepstakes. “Beta is proud to be the title sponsor of the AMA Dual Sport Series,” said Beta Marketing Manager Tim Pilg. “We see the importance of being a part of the series as it has grown over the past few years. We have been working hard developing our RR-S models, and it has been nice to see more and more Beta riders signed up every year.”

The 2017 schedule includes: March 3-5: Devil’s Creek Dual Sport Brooksville, Fla. March 18-19: 2 Sun Adventure 2017 Tucson Dual Sport, LLC – Amado, Ariz. June 3-4: Show Me 200 National Dual Sport Ride Midwest Trail Riders Association – Bixby, Mo. June 3-4: Black Dog Northwest Tour & Trail – Hood River, Ore. June 10-11: Durty Dabbers Great Adventure Dual Sport Durty Dabbers – Lock Haven, Pa. June 10-11: 2017 Ride for Research Wisconsin Dual Sport Riders – Wabeno, Wis. June 24-25: Big Bear Run Big Bear Trail Riders – Big Bear, Calif. July 15-16: Mountain Madness Dual Sport and Adventure Rally Coconino Trail Riders – Flagstaff, Ariz. Aug. 19-20: Rat Dog Northwest Tour & Trail – Tillamook, Ore. Sept. 9-10: LBL 200 National Dual Sport K T Riders - Golden Pond, Ky.

Sept. 9-10: Baby Burr Dual Sport Enduro Riders Association – McArthur, Ohio Sept. 23-24: 2017 Big Woods 200 Wisconsin Dual Sport Riders – Wabeno, Wis. Sept. 23-24: 2017 Yosemite Dual Sport Adventure Family Off-Road Adventures – Buck Meadows, Calif. Sept. 30-Oct. 1 (pending U.S. Forest Service permit): Shenandoah 500 Washington Area Trail Riders – Mount Solon, Va. Oct. 14-15: Buffalo 500 National Dual Sport Stoney Lonesome Motorcycle Club – Columbus, Ind. Oct. 21-22: Howlin’ at the Moon Arizona Trail Riders – Payson, Ariz. Nov. 4-5: Hammer Run Tri-County Sportsmen – Port Elizabeth, N.J. Nov. 18-19: There Will Be Dust Trail Riders of Southern Arizona – Tucson, Ariz. Nov. 24-25: L.A.-Barstow to Vegas AMA District 37 Dual Sport – Palmdale, Calif.

Supporting sponsors of the series include ADVMoto, Seat Concepts, Sena and Sidi. THUNDER THUNDER ROADS® ROADS® OHIO OHIO MAGAZINE MAGAZINE

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OFF-ROAD EXCITEMENT IN DOWNTOWN CINCI! by: Shanton Wilson, Thunder Roads Contributor

It was a super cold chilly morning January 7th, so cold that when I went to open my car door I had to use two hands as it was almost frozen shut. Good ole Ohio weather….. I warmed the car up, fought traffic and made the 2 hour drive down to the Queen City of Cincinnati Ohio for the 1st stop of the Amsoil Arena Cross 2017 indoor series at U.S. Bank Arena. Let’s not forget how cold it was that day. I’m talking single digits! Now if you are reading this you are a throttle ripping, back tire burning, two wheels move the soul type of person right? Well I have news for you. These men and women have a love for two wheels that goes far beyond that. This was clearly represented by the fact that the pits were also outside. I parked my car, got out and heard what I have been waiting for the entire drive….. That oh so sweet sounds of 2 stokes idling and revving. I made my way through the parking garage and walked into the arena with the smell of race gas in the air and heaters on full blast from every direction. I passed guys I’ve seen on YouTube like the famous 2 stroke badass Gared Steinke to a group of 9 year olds ready to rip around the track fully suited jumping up and down trying to stay warm and ready to go. The Amsoil Arena Cross Series starts out in Cincinnati, Ohio Dubbed the “Ricky Carmichael Cup” The series stops in 14 cities across America. It is what you would call the farm teams of major league baseball. This indoor smaller technical track is where the riders grow and graduate into the larger bigger and even more technical racing of super cross “Big leagues”. 58

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The age classes start out as young as 9yrs old on a 50cc mini bike and can be in a class as young as 14 years old in a pro class on a 250cc bike. Now anyone can come to one of these races and rub elbows in moto. If you check http://www.arenacross. com you can see what stops allow for amateur entries on Friday and Sunday. The main goal for all of the riders that attend this series is to secure a top ten spot in point standings and be invited to the Monster Cup in Las Vegas as the final showdown for the season finale. If they are lucky they will then be able to hold up the Ricky Carmichael Cup atop the 1st place podium.

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FEB 18 & 19

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To describe the passion I saw in the racers that single digit cold day will be hard. From the guy who drove himself to the arena in a Toyota corolla with his bike in pieces in his front seat to the full factory rides with a semi-truck backing them, every single person had the heart, soul and determination to win. No one wanted to lose and every rider was ripping the throttle like there life depended on it every single lap. People were helping each other out backstage swapping wheels , gears, sleeping on the concrete floor in between motos , I even saw a guy swapping clutches with his bike lying flat on the ground with full gear on before some people came over to help him get squared away so he could make his moto. Everyone was helping everyone. It was a big family and the main thing they had in common was two wheels and of course wanting that Carmichael Cup. To sum up a Amsoil Arena Cross event I can tell you if you want to see some elbow rubbing , turn hugging, 2 stroke screaming, music to your ears wide open throttle straight away one wheel riding, heart pounding racing it’s the event for you. They have a meet and great for the riders and fans along with free swag giveaways throughout the day and a great way to see if it’s a sport you would like to try and at least take the family out for the day.

All Photos by Shanton Wilson, TRO THUNDER ROADS® OHIO MAGAZINE

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Barstool Bike Club Is it just me or has anyone else noticed the plethora of “MC’s” that only ride from bar to bar? I might be a traditionalist, but I don’t think riding with your pack five minutes between stops actually qualifies as a “bike run”. I do understand the difficulty of being a small club with perhaps only one or two clubhouses. The larger clubs have so many more options to ride within their own organization. I used to quarry complaints from members of our own former MC that “all we do is ride to other clubs events”. Well, that’s because we could only have so many events within our own small group. I always felt it better to ride to another MC’s party and hang out with likeminded people and create relationships than to hang out every weekend in a bar dealing with drunken citizens.

Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy getting out to a few Bike Nights and local watering holes occasionally. I am witnessing so many clubs that the only time they are together is out at a bar, and their “runs” consist of bar hopping form bar to bar, all within a 15 mile radius. That is not keeping to the traditions of the MC Lifestyle. I understand that if you are not a “Support Club” for a larger MC it would seem that your options might be limited, but I say that isn’t true if your club is getting out and being an active member of your MC community. I made it my mission over the past several years to get out and communicate with other respectable MC’s and invite them to our events, as they did us. And we actually made it a point to show up at their events. That goes a long way in earning respect for your MC, as well as ensuring that they will show up at your events. There isn’t a respectable REAL MC within a two hour radius that I don’t either know their National, State or Chapter President, or at the very least know a few members that I stay in touch with. At one party we had 17 different patches represented. Of course we were cognitive not to invite clubs that have issues with each other. We weren’t trying to get involved in their differences. We simply chose to invite the clubs we had the most interaction with.

On the flip side of that coin are the clubs that never leave their clubhouse. They ride “compound to compound”, never actually participating in their local community. If you have, or want to recruit younger blood for your club, this type of activity isn’t going to keep their interest. We have a few “young bloods” in our crews. Of course they like to get out and raise a little hell, chase some pretty young Phillies and see and be seen. If your club hangs out behind a stockade fence every night telling each other how cool you are, there isn’t much chance of recruiting many local supporters, and you will bore the ones you have to tears. I for one am of the age I prefer to be back at my clubhouse at a decent hour. I don’t dig hanging out in bars until 2am these days. I hate dealing with drunken fools who always end up pushing my buttons. I do enjoy getting out for a few hours, check out some bands, and mix it up with the locals. When traveling to other clubhouses, I’m typically the early crowd. I’m usually among the first to arrive, and head out at decent hour depending on distance. I really can’t party like I want to there and then risk the ride back. I’d rather get back to my clubhouse where I’m closer to home and can always

get a sober ride if needed. But I showed up and participated, that’s the key. I have been associated with both extremes. Bar Bikers and Big Clubs. It’s all a balance, but the one fundamental element should be actually riding your motorcycle more than bar to bar in your local neighborhood. That is if you want to actually be considered an REAL MC and not one of the hundreds of pop up Turd Clubs who have recently begun pretending that they are actually an MC, but three years ago didn’t even own a bike nor had ever ridden one. They are Posers, and we all know who they are, but everyone starts somewhere. I’m not saying that their aren’t some serious bikers who have organized or joined clubs in the past decade, I’m just saying that if your club travels an average of 20 miles on a Saturday, you’re not really doing the MC Tradition or your club any favors, and you might just be a Barstool Bike Club. Keep it Real! Tabasco Tabasco.TRO@Gmail.com

EDITORS NOTE - This is a reprint of a previously ran article, with a message that we felt worth repeating. As with any article or aspect of this magazine, we welcome your thoughts and comments. If you disagree with something that is said, you’re welcome to present an opposing viewpoint or call us on anything you feel is incorrect. Mistakes happen, and we are far from perfect. You can email us anytime at ThunderRoadsOhio@gmail.com or our contributor at the above email. You are also welcome to email us with a “H@#k Yeah!” Either way, we look forward to hearing from you.

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BUCKEYE FIREARMS REPORT

773 Teachers and Staff Members Get “Armed” Active Killer Training When an active killer targets a school, the standard protocol is to wait for law enforcement to arrive on the scene to stop the violence. In 2013, that protocol started to change for many schools with the introduction of the FASTER Saves Lives program, which provides lethal force training and medical response to teachers and staff members. Now after four years, FASTER Saves Lives has trained 773 school teachers and staff members from 194 districts in 8 states. This includes teachers and staff in 74 of Ohio’s 88 counties. FASTER stands for Faculty / Administrator Safety Training & Emergency Response. Created by concerned parents, law enforcement, and nationally-recognized safety and medical experts, FASTER is a groundbreaking, nonprofit program that gives educators practical violence response training. The program offers a carefully-structured curriculum offering over 26 hours of hands-on training over a 3-day class that exceeds the requirements of the Ohio Peace Officer Training Academy. The purpose is not to replace police and EMT, but to allow teachers, administrators, and other personnel on-site to stop school violence rapidly and render medical aid immediately. To date, the non-profit Buckeye Firearms Foundation has provided over $500,000 to fund this program. According to program director Joe Eaton, the training has quickly gone from a radical idea to a widely accepted concept. “In 2016, we saw unprecedented support not only from school districts but also from county sheriffs across Ohio,” Eaton said. “As one example, a sheriff worked to get the last 4 districts in his county authorized and trained. We used the sheriff’s range and the school buildings to conduct the classes. It was truly awesome seeing the entire community come together to put school safety first!” 2016 also saw many firsts for FASTER. The program started offering independent trauma medical training, hosted the first law-enforcement only class to Ohio police officers, and worked with an Eagle Scout who wanted to put trauma kits in every classroom in his home district for his scout project. “We expect 2017 to be another year of growth,” continued Eaton. “With the passage of SB199, we expect many universities to now join the FASTER program. We will also host our first FASTER Saves Lives for businesses, churches and the public as a fundraiser for Buckeye Firearms Foundation.” 66

Changes to Ohio concealed carry law coming March 21, 2017

 Allow active military members who have

by Chad D. Baus Buckeye Firearms Association is pleased to announced that changes made to Ohio law via the recently-passed Senate Bill 199 will take effect on March 21, 2017. The changes and improvements made to Ohio law for gunowners include the following:

 Prohibit a business entity, property

the same or greater training than that required to obtain a concealed handgun license (CHL) to carry a concealed firearm as a license-holder to carry without a license.

 Allows the sale of firearms to active duty

military members without regard to their age. Current law prohibits those under 21 from purchasing a handgun.

owner, or public or private employer from banning a person who has been issued a valid CHL from transporting or storing a firearm or ammunition when the items are locked in a person›s privately-owned motor vehicle on company property.

 Allow CHL-holders to keep their

handgun locked in a motor vehicle on school premises.

 Allow colleges and government bodies to decide for themselves if concealedcarry should be allowed.

 Allow CHL-holders to carry on private

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aircraft, in the non-secure area of airports and in day-care centers (unless the day care posts a “no-guns” sign). THUNDERROADSOHIO.COM

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

or more information, including information on Fbuckeyefirearms.com membership, please visit them online: OHIO’S MOTORCYCLE MAGAZINE

AMERICA’S

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CARBINE $335 MSRP (9MM RED DOT)

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CARBINE $335 MSRP (9MM 4X SCOPE)

Whether you’re a varmint hunter, plinker or target shooter, no one else delivers so much solid, reliable performance, for so little. Hi-Point carbines are available in 3 hard-hitting handgun calibers – 9mm, .40S&W, and .45ACP; and Hi-Point handguns in 4 popular calibers - .380ACP, 9mm, .40S&W, and .45ACP. Maybe we are bragging, but we truly believe that handsdown, Hi-Point is America’s Best Firearm Value.

HANDGUN $199 MSRP (.40S&W/.45ACP)

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HANDGUN $151 MSRP (.380ACP)

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*Available

through your local gun dealer

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hunder Roads Ohio is pleased to recognize these partners Twhere as businesses that we recommend. These are also locations you can pick up your Thunder Roads Ohio copies each

QUAKER STEAK & LUBE 4900 TRANSPORTATION DRIVE SHEFFIELD VILLAGE, OHIO 44054 (440) 934-9464

THE RUSTY NAIL 339 ST RT 126 MIAMIVILLE, OHIO 45147 (513) 831-6245

REY’S RT 62 BAR & GRILL 2109 W. STATE ST ALLIANCE, OHIO 44601 (330) 821-7862

THE TRAIN STOP “THE MONKEY BAR” 7837 OLD 3C HIGHWAY MAINEVILLE, OH 45039 (513) 683-0207

RIP RAP ROADHOUSE 6024 RIP RAP RD DAYTON, OHIO 45424 (937) 236-4329

THE UGLY MUG BAR AND GRILL 9645 BASIL WESTERN ROAD CANAL WINCHESTER, OHIO 43110 (614) 920-1604

SASSY’S BAR & GRILL 10755 RAVENNA RD. TWINSBURG, OH 44087 (330) 486-0978

TNT BAR 529 SHERMAN ST. GALION, OH 44833 (419) 777-7477

SHALE TAVERN AND GRILLE 40965 ST. RT. 154 LISBON, OH 44432 330-420-0045

TREVA’S 704 EAST AVE. DOVER, OHIO 44622 (330) 602-8425

JIMMY T’S 1922 LAGONDA AVE SPRINGFIELD, OH 45503 (937) 327-9263

SHAMROCK SPORTS BAR & GRILLE 251 MAIN STREET ADDYSTON, OHIO 45001 (513) 941-8277

TRIPLE NICKEL SALOON 2590 OLD RIVER RD. ZANESVILLE, OH 740-819-5752

KNUCKLEHEAD’S SALOON 2012 CLEVELAND RD W HURON, OH 44839 (419) 433-6944

SOUTH EAST GEARS & CHEERS 23333 AURORA RD. BEDFORD HEIGHTS, OH 44146 440-232-0029 SEGEARSANDCHEERS.COM

ZEPPE’S TAVERN & PIZZERIA 11110 KINSMAN RD. NEWBURY, OH 44065 (440) 564-1300

month. For information on adding your business to this listing and joining the TRO Network - please call 440-678-8608.

ATTORNEYS BARNEY DEBROSSE 503 S. FRONT ST. #240 B COLUMBUS, OHIO 43215 BARNEYDEBROSSE.COM 614-326-1919 BROWN, KORO & ROMAG LLP RUSSBROWN.COM MICHAEL L. WEBER 1726 YOUNG STREET CINCINNATI, OHIO 45202 (513) 621-2260 BANDS SNEAKY PETE & THE PLAYERS WWW.SNEAKYPETEBAND.COM BIKER FRIENDLY ESTABLISHMENTS FOR FOOD AND DRINK AMERICAN LEGION POST 496 1945 MOGADORE RD. KENT, OH 44240 BAILEY ROAD TAVERN 2920 BAILEY ROAD CUYAHOGA FALLS, OHIO 44221 (330) 920-8350 BARREL HOUSE SALOON 101 E. SHORELINE DRIVE SANDUSKY, OH 44870 BLUTO’S SPORTS BAR & GRILL 33 E SEMINARY ST. NORWALK, OH 44857 (419) 668-8862 BOB & PEG’S HANDLE BAR 24951 AURORA ROAD BEDFORD HEIGHTS, OH 44146 (440) 439-7365 BOJANGLES ROAD HOUSE BLUES 48400 OH-14, NEW WATERFORD, OH 44445 (330) 846-0124 BOSTIC TIME 4218 PARK AVE W. MANSFIELD, OH 44903 (419) 522-1002 BRACKEN’S PUB 106 MIAMI ST. URBANA, OHIO 43078 (937) 484-6098 CITY GRILLE & BAR 37 E 4TH ST MANSFIELD, OH 44902 (419) 709-9919 CORNERSTONE BAR & GRILL 586 PARK AVENUE EAST MANSFIELD, OHIO 44905 (419) 522-5523 CRAZY FOX SALOON 114 WEST MANSFIELD ST. BUCYRUS, OHIO 44820 (419) 562-1256 DUSTY ARMADILLO 3147 ST RT 44 ROOTSTOWN, OHIO 44272 (330) 877-9097 GUILFORD LAKE GRILLE 7094 E LAKE RD LISBON, OH 44432 (330) 222-9611 HARVESTER INN 2045 LAGONDA AVE. SPRINGFIELD, OH 45503 (937) 717-5493

HILLSBORO GRILL & TAVERN 804 MCLISTER AVENUE MINGO JUNCTION, OHIO 43938 (740) 282-5599 HOOTERS 4782 MONROE ST TOLEDO, OH 43623 (419) 473-8661 HOT RODS AND HARLEYS SPORTS BAR AND GRILL 1240 E. RUSS RD. GREENVILLE, OH 45331 (937) 548-0019

LEGENDS SPORTS PUB & GRILLE 1840 TOWN PARK BLVD. UNIONTOWN, OHIO 44685 (330) 896-4433 MASON JAR 4408 W MASON RD. SANDUSKY, OHIO 44870 (419) 359-1159 MICHAEL’S PIZZA FOLDOVER & MORE 1640 MARION RD. BUCYRUS, OH 44820 (419) 562-1911 M.T. POCKETS BAR AND GRILL 2759 MANCHESTER RD AKRON, OH 44319 (330) 745-6677 MUGG SHOTZ 29012 EUCLID AVE WICKLIFFE, OH 44092 (440) 516-0773 MUSKETEERS BAR & GRILL 3027 BRECKSVILLE RD RICHFIELD, OH 44286 (330) 659-4111 NORTH SIDE SALOON 639 E. CUYAHOGA FALLS AVE. CUYAHOGA FALLS, OHIO 44310 (330) 794-5229 ORIGINAL MARGARITAVILLE 212 FREMONT AVE. SANDUSKY, OHIO 44870 (614) 354-2196 PORCH BAR & GRILL 37638 VINE ST. WILLOUGHBY, OHIO 44094 (440) 463-5928 PUB 400 400 N. STONE STREET FREMONT, OHIO 43420 (419) 334-9244 QUAKER STEAK & LUBE 4094 PEARL RD. MEDINA TOWNSHIP, OH (330) 723-5823

7834 REYNOLDS ROAD MENTOR, OHIO 44060 (440) 954-9464

5150 LIBERTY AVE. VERMILION,OH 44089 (440) 967-3724

5935 CANAL ROAD VALLEY VIEW, OH 44984 (216) 986-9464

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SPORTS ROCK BAR & GRILL 453 OLD ST RT 74 MT. CARMEL, OHIO 45244 (513) 688-1009

25780 MILES ROAD BEDFORD HEIGHTS, OHIO 44146 (216) 378-9400

CAMPING AND LODGING

SPORTSTERZ 5422 LAKE RD E. GENEVA, OH 44041 (440) 466-2361

CAMP SANDUSKY 3518 TIFFIN AVE. SANDUSKY, OH 44870 (419) 626-1133

SPOTTED DOG 9617 CLINTON ROAD CLEVELAND, OHIO 44144 (216) 939-9052

COMFORT INN 987 E. ASH ST PIQUA, OH 45356 937-778-8100

STADIUM GRILL 8330 TYLER BLVD MENTOR, OH 44060 440-205-4745

IRON HORSE CAMPGROUND 20446 STATE HIGHWAY 79 STURGIS, SD 57785 605-450-0321

STEEL CITY BAR & GRILL 1418 E. MIDLOTHIAN BLVD. YOUNGSTOWN, OHIO 44502 (330) 781-0600

SHADE VALLEY CAMPGROUND 20158 137TH PLACE STURGIS, SD 57785 (605) 347-5556

STREETS TAVERN 9107 OH-14 STREETSBORO, OH 44241 (330) 626-2277

CCW CLASSES & FIREARM DEALERS

SUMMIT LOUNGE 1010 TOD AVE. WARREN, OHIO 44485 (330) 647-7799 TACKETT’S SOUTHERN BARBEQUE 2094 HARDING HWY EAST MARION, OH 43302 (740) 262-3346

HICKORY RIDGE 2323 PEARL RD. MEDINA, OH (330) 220-4206

TAYLOR’S PUB 5131 ST RT 322 & 534 WINDSOR, OHIO 44099 ( 440) 272-9191 TEN MILE INN 7229 WEST BROAD ST GALLOWAY, OHIO 43119 (614) 984-5908 THE FIELD RESTAURANT & SPORTS BAR 4112 STATE ROUTE 43 BRIMFIELD PLAZA KENT, OHIO 44240 (330) 346-0106 THE LAKE TAVERN 6071 STATE ROUTE 46 MECCA, OHIO 44410 (330) 637-1971 THE NEW BRICKHOUSE TAVERN 958 E. MIDLOTHIAN BLVD. YOUNGSTOWN, OH (330) 782-6000

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HI-POINT FIREARMS HI-POINTFIREARMS.COM

STONEWALL LTD. GUN SHOP AND PISTOL RANGE 100 KEN MAR INDUSTRIAL PARKWAY BROADVIEW HEIGHTS, OH 44147 (440) 526-0029 VANDALIA RANGE & ARMORY 100 CORPORATE CENTER DRIVE VANDALIA, OHIO 45377 (937) 387-0485 RATTLESNAKE HILL SPORTING GOODS 675 STATE ROUTE 534 NW NEWTON FALLS, OHIO 44444 (330) 898-8176 CONCESSIONS

TRIPLE D CONCESSIONS CRESTLINE, OH 419-632-1818

INSURANCE ALLSTATE INSURANCE ROBERT FUSCO AUSTINTOWN, OH ROBERTFUSCO@ALLSTATE.COM (330) 793-6262

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attorneys who ride

1-800-4-BIKERS

GEICO INSURANCE SIDNEY TAGHIOF CINCINNATI, OHIO 45236 (513) 794-3426

MUFFLER SHOP WAREHOUSE 1111 N. BELMONT AVE SPRINGFIELD, OH 45503 937-724-4400

MATT CLEGG COLUMBUS, OHIO 43235 (614) 336-4240

JAMES MOYER NORTH OLMSTED, OHIO 44070 (440) 777-7272

OVERKILL MOTOR WORKS 8750 SPRUCEVALE RD ROGERS, OHIO 44455 (330) 227-2161

RAFIDI INSURANCE 3627 SOUTH AVE YOUNGSTOWN, OH 44502 (330) 783-2226 LIMO/TAXI

PARADISE BIKES, TRIKES & TRAILERS 1673 E. ST. RT. 73 WAYNESVILLE, OH (513) 897-1364 PARAGON LEATHER WWW.PARAGONLEATHER.COM 7215 S. WESTNEDGE AVE. PORTAGE , MI 49002 (269) 323-9483

GUARDIAN OIL PROTECTOR KBENTS.COM

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

HEART & SOUL CUSTOM ART 4953 WEST TUSCARAWAS STREET CANTON, OH 44708 (330) 904-8843

GRAVITATE CLOTHING GRAVITATEJEANS.COM

KARATE COWBOY KARATECOWBOYSPIRIT.COM NORTON SPORTING GOODS 100 NORTON RD WALDO, OH 43356 (740) 726-2616

AMSOIL THUNDERROADSOHIO.COM

RENEGADE GENTLEMEN CUSTOMS 7935 CHARDON RD. KIRTLAND, OH (216) 970-4437

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

ANAC BAGGERS 4033 E. MAIN STREET WHITEHALL, OHIO 43213 (614) 745-1077

ROBERT’S CYCLE 1201 N. MAIN ST. MARION, OH 43302 (740) 223-0999

RENTALS, MOTORCYCLE

ARTS PARTS CUSTOM CYCLE & SERVICE 35 E. CHURCH ST. MARSHALLVILLE, OH 44645 (330) 855-3762

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

ATOMIC DICE STUDIO ARTS - CUSTOM PAINT 10985 JOHNSON ROAD N. BENTON, OHIO 44449 (330) 277-9279

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

PARTS AND ACCESSORIES

BALCER PERFORMANCE & RESTORATION 565 BROADWAY AVE BEDFORD, OH 44146 (440) 945-6829 B.G. MOTORCYCLE 110 WEST POE RD BOWLING GREEN, OHIO 43402 (419) 352-6640

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

PHARMACY

COLUMBUS CAR AUDIO & ACCESSORIES 2975 MORSE ROAD COLUMBUS, OHIO 43231 (614) 475-6695 CONDOR CONDOR-LIFT.COM (800) 461-1344 CYCLE ANALYSIS 4984 WEST 150TH ST CLEVELAND, OH 44135 (216) 362-9060 CYCLE TECH 950 W. MANSFIELD ST. BUCYRUS, OH 44820 (419) 562-6931 EVOLUTION MACHINE & CYCLE 15385 GASKILL RD. ALLIANCE, OH 44601 (330) 823-5454 IMBBA CERTIFIED! HOG SHOP CYCLES 440 S. RIVERSIDE DR. BATAVIA, OHIO 45103 (513) 735-9900 KNUCKLEHEADS PERFORMANCE CYCLES 5877 COOK RD. UNIT B MILFORD, OHIO 45150 (513) 602-9884 LOVE JUGS LOVE-JUGS.COM

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MORTON’S PHARMACY MORTONS-PHARMACY.COM (740) 353-1147 RETAIL AFFLICTION AFFLICTIONCLOTHING.COM AVON BOOT SHOP 38450 CHESTER RD. AVON, OH 44011 (440) 934-3230 BAKER BUILT AIRWINGS, INC. 11877 WALNUT GROVE CH ROAD OHIO CITY, OHIO 45874 (800) 451-9464 BIKER TO BIKER CONSIGNMENT SHOP 1232 STATE ROUTE 131 MILFORD, OHIO 45150 (513) 718-7559 BIKER CENTRAL 114 E. 6TH STREET NEWPORT, KY (859) 360-3694

BUCKMINN’S D&D H-D 1213 CINCINNATI AVE. XENIA, OHIO 45385 (937) 376-3344

AMA 1 800-AMA-JOIN AMERICANMOTORCYCLIST.COM

C & A HARLEY-DAVIDSON 7610 COMMERCE PLACE PLAIN CITY, OHIO 43064 (614) 764-2453 CCM OF NORTHERN KENTUCKY INDIAN, VICTORY & SLINGSHOT 10915 A DIXIE HWY WALTON, KY 41094 (859) 534-2240

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

DAYTON MOTORCYCLE CLUB 3515 STONY HOLLOW RD, DAYTON, OH 45417 (937) 609-0931

CASH 4 MOTORCYCLES CASH4MOTORCYCLES.COM

BUCKEYE HARLEY-DAVIDSON 7220 NORTH DIXIE DR. DAYTON, OHIO 45414 (937) 898-8084

ABATE OF OHIO, INC. 1 800-25-BIKER ABATE.COM

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

BLACKBURN BIKES & TRIKES 1410 MEDINA ROAD MEDINA, OH 44256 (330) 239-1926

RIDER ORGANIZATIONS

BAVARIAN SPORTS CLUB 2101 LAGRANGE ST. TOLEDO, OH 43608 419-356-3541

BAIR’S POWERSPORTS 4617 EMMETT BOYD CIRCLE NW NORTH CANTON, OH 44720 (330) 966-2247 BAIRSPOWERSPORTS.COM BEECHMONT MOTORS 646 MOUNT MORIAH DRIVE CINCINNATI, OH 45245 (513) 752-0088

EAGLERIDER 1-800-900-9901 EAGLERIDER.COM

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

BEAR’S VINTAGE METALWORKS 408 WEST MAIN ST RAVENNA, OH 44266 (330) 297-7755

CENTENNIAL PARK HARLEY-DAVIDSON 12477 E. BROAD ST. PATASKALA, OHIO 43062 (740) 964-2205

HUDSON LEATHER 14700 OHIO 15 PIONEER, OH 43554 (419) 485-8531

RICK RAK WWW.RICKRAK.COM

RICK’S FIVE STAR LIMO/ PARTY BUS (330) 704-2760

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

CENTURY HARLEY-DAVIDSON 3053 EASTPOINTE DRIVE MEDINA, OH 44256 (330) 721-1702

GREATER AKRON MOTORCYCLE CLUB 1540 SMITH ROAD AKRON, OHIO 44313 (330) 760-3715 MARYSVILLE MOOSERIDERS 1561 MILFORD AVE MARYSVILLE, OH 43040

COMPETITION ACCESSORIES 343 W. LEFFEL SPRINGFIELD, OH 45506 (937) 323-0513 CYCLE SPECIALITIES 6175 HARRISON AVE CINCINNATI, OH 45247 513-574-7878 CYCLE SPECIALITIES 7220 DIXIE HWY RT 4 FAIRFIELD, OH 45014 513-860-3232

MOOSE RIDERS OF DAYTON 1134 RICHFIELD CENTER DAYTON, OHIO 45430 (937) 431-5162

DISOWNED CUSTOMS 3619 WALTON AVE. CLEVELAND, OHIO 44113 216-220-6964 DISOWNEDCUSTOMS.COM EASTGATE HARLEY-DAVIDSON 699 OLD STATE ROUTE 74 CINCINNATI, OH 45245 (513) 528-1400

MOOSE RIDERS OF AKRON 4444 STATE RD PENINSULA, OHIO 44264 (330) 928-6323 SALES (TRAILERS) MAJESTIC TRAILER & HITCH 1750 E. WATERLOO ROAD AKRON, OHIO 44306 (330) 798-1698

HALE’S HARLEY-DAVIDSON 1400 HARRINGTON MEMORIAL ROAD MANSFIELD, OHIO 44903 (419) 522-8602

SALES (MOTORCYCLE)

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

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

HARLEY DAVIDSON OF CHILLICOTHE 818 EASTERN AVE. CHILLICOTHE, OHIO 45601 (740) 773-8826 HARLEY-DAVIDSON OF CINCINNATI 1799 TENNESSEE AVE CINCINNATI, OH 45229 (513) 641-1188

CHALET PREMIER BEER, WINE AND LIQUOR 10000 MARKET ST NORTH LIMA, OH 44452 330-549-5228

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

HARLEY-DAVIDSON OF ERIE 3712 WEST 12TH STREET ERIE, PA 16505 (814) 838-1356

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

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HONDA EAST 1230 CONANT ST. MAUMEE, OH 43537 (877) 437-1631

RIDE 1 POWERSPORTS 3747 PARK MILL RUN DRIVE HILLIARD, OHIO 43026 (614) 771-0771

INDIAN MOTORCYCLE OF ERIE 10320 WATTSBURG ROAD ERIE, PA 16509 (814) 825-2396

INDIAN MOTORCYCLE OF TOLEDO 1212 CONANT STREET MAUMEE, OH 43537 (419) 891-1230

ROCK N ROLL HARLEY-DAVIDSON 4985 W. 150TH STREET CLEVELAND, OH 44135 (216) 252-3111

JOE’S CYCLE SHOP 3315 N. DIXIE DR. DAYTON, OH 45414 (937) 278-8081

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

JOHNNY K’S POWERSPORTS 420 YOUNGSTOWN-WARREN RD NILES, OHIO 44446 (330) 544-9696

RUBBER CITY HARLEY-DAVIDSON 32 E. CUYAHOGA FALLS AVE AKRON, OH 44310 (330) 535-9900

SCHIETS MOTORSPORTS 1557 OAK HARBOR ROAD FREMONT, OH 43420 (419) 332-9902

8450 ORRIN DR. BURBANK, OH 44214 (330) 302-4155

LAKE ERIE HARLEY-DAVIDSON 38401 CHESTER RD AVON, OH 44011 (440) 934-5000 LINK RACING LLC 35 LINK ST. CHICKASAW, OH 45826 (419) 925-2781 MAD RIVER HARLEY-DAVIDSON 5316 STATE RT. 250/MILAN RD SANDUSKY, OH 44870 (419) 502-2244 MATHIAS BMW CYCLE 851 COMMERCIAL AVE SE NEW PHILADELPHIA, OH 44663 (330) 308-8868 MOTORSPORTS OF DAYTON 2135 S. DAYTON-LAKEVIEW ROAD NEW CARLISLE, OH 45344 (937) 849-4800 NAPOLEON HARLEY-DAVIDSON 862 AMERICAN RD NAPOLEON, OH 43545 (419) 592-7123 NEIDENGARDS HARLEY-DAVIDSON 284 CANTON ROAD WINTERSVILLE, OH 43953 (740) 266-6188 NORTHERN OHIO DUCATI AND TRIUMPH 1955 BRITTAIN RD. AKRON, OH 44310 (330) 630-9340 NORTH RIDGE YAMAHA 5929 NORTH RIDGE WEST (RT. 20) GENEVA, OHIO (440) 466-2712 PALE HORSE KUSTOMS 8781 STOUTSVILLE PIKE STOUTSVILLE, OHIO 43154 (740) 207-0033 PENN-OHIO CYCLES 6915 MARKET ST. BOARDMAN, OHIO 44512 (330) 788-9078 PENNOHIOCYCLES.COM PIQUA HARLEY-DAVIDSON 1501 E. ASH ST. PIQUA, OHIO 45356 (937) 773-8733 PONY POWERSPORTS 5370 WESTERVILLE RD WESTERVILLE, OHIO 43081 (614) 942-0063 POWDER KEG HARLEY-DAVIDSON 2383 KINGS CENTER COURT MASON, OH (513) 204-6962

2ND LOCATION: 343 W. LEFFELS LN. SPRINGFIELD, OH 45506 (800) 543-8190

SOUTH EAST CYCLES 23105 AURORA RD BEDFORD HEIGHTS, OH 44146 (440) 439-5300 SOUTH EAST HARLEY-DAVIDSON 23105 AURORA RD BEDFORD HEIGHTS, OH 44146 (440) 439-5300 SPORTY’S TRIKES & BIKES 7426 NORTH DIXIE DR DAYTON, OH 45414 (937) 387-6294 T REX MOTORSPORTS 7444 TYLER BLVD MENTOR, OH 44060 (440) 946-8739 THIEL’S WHEELS 350 TARHE TRAIL UPPER SANDUSKY, OH 43351 (419) 294-4951 TOLEDO HARLEY-DAVIDSON 7960 W. CENTRAL AVE. TOLEDO, OHIO 43617 (419) 843-7892 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 WALKER POWERSPORTS 8457 SPRINGBORO PIKE MIAMISBURG, OH 45342 (937) 433-4950 WALKERPOWERSPORTS.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 SALES (CARS & TRUCKS) GANLEY FORD WEST 16100 LORAIN AVE CLEVELAND, OH 44111 (216) 941-9800 MCCLUSKEY CHEVROLET INC 9673 KINGS AUTOMALL RD CINCINNATI, OH 45249 (513) 679-9160

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SERVICE (MOTORCYCLE)

SHIPPING

BALCER PERFORMANCE & RESTORATION EDWARDS AUTO TRANSPORT NOVA, OH 565 BROADWAY AVE UNIT R 440-725-9598 BEDFORD, OH 44146 (440) 945-6829 SPECIAL INTEREST STOPS BENT WRENCH MAPS AIR MUSEUM 2709 ST RT 60 2260 INTERNATIONAL PKWY LOUDONVILLE, OHIO 44842 NORTH CANTON, OH 44720 (419) 994-5812 (330) 896-6332 B.G. MOTORCYCLE 110 WEST POE RD. BOWLING GREEN, OH 43402 419-352-6640 CLEVELAND CYCLEWERKS 1265 WEST 65TH STREET CLEVELAND, OHIO 44102 (216) 651-0657 CYCLE ANALYSIS 4984 WEST 150TH ST CLEVELAND, OH 44135 (216) 362-9060 CYCLE TECH 950 W. MANSFIELD ST. BUCYRUS, OH 44820 (419) 562-6931 DISOWNED CUSTOMS 3619 WALTON AVE. CLEVELAND, OHIO 44113 216-220-6964 DISOWNEDCUSTOMS.COM

MARLBORO VOLUNTEERS MAXIMO, OHIO 44650 (330) 206-1629 NATIONAL PACKARD MUSEUM 1899 MAHONING AVENUE NW WARREN, OHIO 44483 (330) 394-1899 TATTOO SHOPS 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

EVOLUTION MACHINE CYCLE 15385 GASKILL DR. NE ALLIANCE, OHIO 44601 (330) 823-5454

HAMMER’S TATTOOS 1840 WHIPPLE AVE. NW CANTON, OHIO 44708 (330) 478-1070 INK UP NORTH 109 EAST 5TH STREET MARYSVILLE, OHIO 43040 (614) 900-1350

IRON HORSE CYCLES 5350 SMITH ROAD BROOKPARK, OHIO 44142 (216) 323-1196

MAIN STREET STUDIOS II 23 EAST 4TH ST. MANSFIELD, OHIO 44902 (419)775-7703

KUSTOM EMPORIUM MOTORCYCLES 11123 READING RD SHARONVILLE, OHIO 45241 (513) 722-0888

MY MUSEUM TATTOO 209 E. OHIO AVE. DOVER, OH 44622 (330) 343-8500

OVERKILL MOTOR WORKS 8750 SPRUCEVALE RD ROGERS, OHIO 44455 (330) 227-2161

ROSE CITY TATTOO 1145 N. BECHTLE AVE SPRINGFIELD, OH 45505 937-505-5406

PRO-ACTION SUSPENSION & MOTORS 3611 8TH AVENUE BEAVER FALLS, PA. 15010 WWW.PRO-ACTION.COM (724) 846-9055 RENEGADE GENTLEMAN CUSTOMS ORWELL, OH (440) 413-6136

TOWING

ROD IRON CREW INC. 5281 ENGLE ROAD BROOKPARK, OHIO 44142 216-716-4190 ROEDER RACING & SERVICE 3684 US HWY 20 W MONROEVILLE, OH 44847 (419) 465-2247 SKIDMARK GARAGE 5401 HAMILTON AVE. CLEVELAND,OHIO 44114 (440) 591-4822 SOUTH EAST CYCLES 23105 AURORA RD. BEDFORD HEIGHTS, OH 44146 (440) 439-5300 THROTTLE-UP MOTORSPORTS 490 W. CHURCH STREET MARION, OHIO 43302 (740) 223-1583 TOYZ CYCLE CENTER 141 MELCHER RD. BUCYRUS, OH 44820 (419) 563-9748 WARRIOR RACING 38 WELLER DRIVE TIPP CITY, OHIO 45371 (937) 667-6418

THUNDERROADSOHIO.COM

LUDT’S TOWING 450 MCCLURG ROAD BOARDMAN, OHIO 44512 (330) 757-2222 TRACKS AMHERST MEADOWLARKS FACEBOOK: AMHERST.MEADOWLARKS 6600 CROSS ROAD, AMHERST, OH 44001 WWW.MEADOWLARKS.ORG DIRT COUNTRY RACEWAY 6911 OH-133 BLANCHESTER, OH 45107 (513) 625-7350 TRIKES ADVENTURE MOTORCYCLE & ACCESSORIES 20660 US RT 6 WESTON, OH 43569 (419) 669-4709 BLACKBURN TRIKES 1410 MEDINA ROAD MEDINA, OH 44256 (330) 239-1926 PARADISE BIKES, TRIKES & TRAILERS 1673 E. ST. RT. 73 WAYNESVILLE, OH (513) 897-1364 SCHIETS MOTORSPORTS 1557 OAK HARBOR RD. FREMONT, OH 43420 (419) 332-9902 SPORTY’S TRIKES & BIKES 7426 NORTH DIXIE DR DAYTON, OH 45414 (937) 387-6294

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Service Specialists

attorneys who ride

THUNDER ROADS OHIO

1-800-4-BIKERS

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“BEST INVESTMENT ON MY BIKE.” Andy D.

Merced, CA

+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + ++ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +

What makes our shocks better? + Long travel + Gas charged with coil-over spring + CNC machined aircraft-quality billet aluminum + Hard anodized + Three-stage pressure sensitive, self-adjusting compression system + Two-stage catch-valve rebound system + Hand-adjustable spring preload + External free-bleed compression adjustment + Proudly made in the U.S.A. + Available in 11”, 12”, and 13” lengths, with standard or heavy duty springs. *Also Available for Harley-Davidson three-wheeled motorcycles. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + ++ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +

“I could not find a sweet spot on my 2014 Harley Ultra for a comfortable ride on the back as we have air shocks. My wife and I met George (the owner) at an event in Ohio, he needed our riding weight with luggage. He put on a pair of Pro-Action Street Shocks and told me to take it for a ride— with no mention of money! How many people do that today? On the first trip we were close, but not what I was looking for. He made a quick adjustment and sent me back out. What a difference after a two-second adjustment! Now he said, you and your wife both go for a ride. She couldn’t believe the difference. No more slamming on her spine as we rode the same roads as before. George asked, “So, what do you think?” We both said, “Just amazing,” and he then asked if we would like a pair and we said, “yes.” So I asked, “What would you have done if I had said no?” His quote was, “Put your air shocks back on.” What a great experience it was to talk and deal with you.” Keith and Emily B. Ashtabula, OH

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“I got the shocks Thursday night about 7:15. Put them on the bike and left for Reno at 9:00 am. I rode 250 miles the first day. Loved them. Great improvement. Best investment on my bike.” Andy D. Merced, CA + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + ++ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +

S T R E E T

S E R I E S

S H O C K S

724-846-9055 • www.pro-action.com

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UPCOMING MOTORCYCLE EVENTS Presented by NORTHWEST OHIO EVENTS

Cleveland 440.777.7272 | Columbus 614.336.4240 NORTHEAST OHIO EVENTS

February 4, 2017 11-2pm Powder Keg Tailgate Party Free Nacho Bar at 11 - Family Friendly Event - Wear NFL Gear to win prizes! Powder Keg Harley-Davidson 2383 Kings Center Ct, Mason, OH Information : (513) 204-6962 February 4th-5th, 2017 Tax Free Weekend Saturday 10-5 Sunday 11-4 Lake Erie Harley-Davidson 38401 Chester Road Avon, Ohio Get your taxes done for free and apply your refund towards a purchase at Lake Erie HarleyDavidson For More Information Call 440-934-5000

CENTRAL OHIO EVENTS

February 4, 2017 Great Harley-Davidson Garage Sale Doors open at 10 Toledo Harley-Davidson 7960 W. Central Avenue, Toledo, Ohio Our employees & HOG members cleaned out their closets and garages and offer you these pre-owned H-D products at Garage Sale prices. February 4, 2017 9am-2pm Red Cross Blood Drive Napoleon Harley-Davidson 862 AMERICAN ROAD NAPOLEON, OH For More Information: 419.592.7123

SOUTHERN OHIO EVENTS MOTOCROSS/RACING EVENTS

Febuary 10th- 12th, 2017 Timonium Motorcycle Show Maryland State Fairgrounds2200 York Rd. LuthervilleTimonium, Maryland, Adults: $17, Childern (10-15): $5, Frisat 10am-9pm sun:10am-6pm. http://cycleshow.net/ February 11, 2017 H-D 101 Tech Talk 11:30-1:00 Have a question for a Harley technician? Here's your chance. Bring your questions during this open discussion with technicians. Free Lunch at 12 - While Supplies Last Powder Keg Harley-Davidson 2383 Kings Center Ct, Mason, OH Information : (513) 204-6962

February 11, 2017 Chili Bash & Salvage Day 9-5 South East Harley-Davidson 2305 Aurora Road Bedford Heights Bring a Heaping Helping of your prize recipe Chili! Prizes Awarded For more information: southeastharley.com or 440-439-5300

THUNDER ROADS OHIO FEATURE EVENT February 11th-12th, 2017 Easyriders Bike Show Columbus Coonvention center 400 N. High St. columbus, Sat10am-7pm, Sun10am-5pm, admission- sat:$25 Sun:$20 weekend:$35, www.easyridersevents.com/ bikeshow-2017-columbus.php

attorneys who ride FREE CONSULTATION

2017

CHILI BASH!

FEBRUARY EVENTS

Saturday, Feb. 11th 9am-5pm

SEE US AT The International Motorcycle Show

Bring A Heaping Helping of Your Prize Recipe Chili! $350 in Total Prizes! Call 440-439-5300 to Enter!

Donate Blood For Your Chance To Win A $250 SE H-D Gift Card!*

MARDI GRAS PARTY Pick A Bead To Reveal Your Surprise! Food & Beverages 11am Til Gone! $500 SE H-D Gift Card* Drawing at 4pm!

JAN. 27- 29

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Saturday, Feb. 18th • 10am-3pm

Saturday, Feb. 25th

AT THE IX- CENTER! 80

BLOOD DRIVE

*May not be used toward motorcycle purchase.

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February 17, 2017

14th Annual Charity Reverse Raffle Western Reserve HOG Mentor Chapter Croation Lodge Party Center Lakeshore & 91 Eastlake Doors open at 6, Dinner at 7 $75 single, $100 couple Purchase Tickets at sharonvee@att.net or jymvee1@att.net February 18, 2017 Greater Akron MC Foundation Spaghetti Dinner & Raffle GAMC Club House- 1540 Smith Rd. Akron, OH 44313 Tickets $10 Each Includes Food & Beverages Info Call Rich @ 330 760-3715 or email gamcrr@neo.rr.com

February 18, 2017 Battle of the Bikers Blood Drive 10am-3pm South East Harley-Davidson 2305 Aurora Road Bedford Heights For more information: southeastharley.com or 440-439-5300

February 18, 2017 7th Annual Chili Cook-Off at Powder Keg Harley-Davidson 11-2pm Contestants must arrive between 11 & 12 Peoples Choice Judging, Trophies awarded at 2pm Register with dvice@ powderkeghd.com Deadline for Registration. Feb 15, 2017 Powder Keg Harley-Davidson 2383 Kings Center Ct, Mason, OH Information : (513) 204-6962

February 25, 2017 Community Blood Drive 9am-1pm

February 25, 2017 10-3pm Soup Cook-Off and Battle of the Bikes Blood Drive Lake Erie Harley-Davidson Lake Erie Harley-Davidson 38401 Chester Road Avon, Ohio For More Information Call 440-934-5000

February 23-25, 2017 SUMMIT INDOORS MX Summit County Fairgrounds 800 North Ave, Tallmadge OH www.SummitIndoorMX.com

Piqua Harley-Davidson 1501 E ASH STREET (US 36) PIQUA, OH 45356 For More Information Contact: 937-773-8733 February 25, 2017 2017 WAL Qualifier - Arm Wrestling Tournament Starts at 1:00 Knuckleheads Saloon 2012 Cleveland Road Huron, Ohio Proceeds go to BAANC Free Admission, Raffle Tickets Sold Info:Jennifer 419-202-3400

February 25, 2017 Mardi Gras Party 6-9pm Signature Harley-Davdison 1176 Professional Drive , Perrysburg, Ohio Info Contact: 419-873-2453 February 25, 2017 Mardi Gras Party Food & Beverages 11am-til gone Pick a Bead to reveal your prize South East Harley-Davidson 2305 Aurora Road Bedford Heights southeastharley.com or 440-439-5300

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

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

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

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

Paragons Promotion Inc 800-800-6034

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

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

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EVENTS

February 18, 2017 10am-3pm Western Reserve Winterfest H-D Parts Swap Meet, On-site Tattoos & Service Show On-Site Tattos from Catch 22 Tattoo - Tattoo Contest Lunch Served from 12 til gone Play Price is Right for your chance to win Western Reserve H-D, 8567 Tyler Blvd. Mentor, Ohio Have parts to sell? Call to reserve your table! 440-974-6900 www.wrhd.com

THUNDER ROADS OHIO

February 12, 2017 J & M Collectibles Motorcycle Swap Meet Allen County Fairgrounds 1-75 Exit 125 Lima, Ohio 10am-3pm For More information: J & m Collectibles 419-795-4185

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UPCOMING MOTORCYCLE EVENTS Presented by NORTHWEST OHIO EVENTS

Cleveland 440.777.7272 | Columbus 614.336.4240 NORTHEAST OHIO EVENTS

CENTRAL OHIO EVENTS

February 25, 2017 11-2pm Powder Keg Singer/ Songwriter Series Indoor Performance with a local artist - Artist TBD Free Lunch served at 12 While Supplies Last Free Family Friendly Event Powder Keg Harley-Davidson 2383 Kings Center Ct, Mason, OH Information : (513) 204-6962

March 4, 2017 Mardi Gras at Powder Keg Harley-Davidson 12:00-1:30 Powder Keg Harley-Davidson 2383 Kings Center Ct, Mason, OH Information : (513) 204-6962

March 4th-5th, 2017 Proformance Swap Meet Stark County Fairgrounds305 Wertz Ave NW Canton Sat: 8am- 4pm Sun:8am- 3pm, Admission: $7 per person, $10 for weekend pass, Children under 12 free. http://www.autoevents.com/ event-info

OfficialBikeWeek.com

March 10-19, 2017

DAYTONA BIKE WEEK

Saturday: Breakfast Available All Day Seminar Awards Banquet Dinner Silent & Live Auctions

March 11, 2017 St. Patty's Day Event at Lake Erie Harley-Davidson Details coming soon! Lake Erie Harley-Davidson 38401 Chester Road Avon, Ohio For More Information Call 440-934-5000

THUNDER ROADS OHIO FEATURE EVENT

March 11, 2017 St. Patty's Day Event 6-9pm Featuring Irish Band Katie's Randy Cat Toledo Harley-Davidson 7960 W. Central Avenue, Toledo, Ohio

Friday Night: Meet ‘n Greet & Games 4 PAC Fund Fundraiser

SOUTHERN OHIO EVENTS MOTOCROSS/RACING EVENTS

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

THUNDER ROADS OHIO FEATURE EVENT March 17-19, 2017 Piston Powered Auto-Rama "The World's Largest Indoor Custom Vehicle Show" HOST OF THE IMBBA NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP Cleveland I-X Center, 6200 Riverside Dr., Cleveland OH 44135

IXPistonPoweredAutorama.com

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

Main Event April 8, 2017 Doors Open @ 9am Seminar Starts @ 9:45am

DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Akron - Fairlawn

3150 W Market St Akron, OH 44333 Deadline for Block Rooms: March 17, 2017 (330) 869-9000

Sunday Morning: See you at breakfast! Have a safe trip home & see you next year!

Deadline Friday, March 31, 2017 Name: ________________________________________ Name: ———————————————————— Credit Cards accepted, call: Phone: 800-25-BIKER or 614-319-3644 Address: ______________________________________ Pre-Registered MRO Member: $30 each X __ = $______ (with current MRO ID) City: __________________ State: _____ Zip: ________ Pre-Registered Non-Member: $35 each X __ = $ ______ Phone: _______________________________________ Saturday Dinner Buffet included with Seminar cost. Checks or Money Orders payable to: *** Day-of-Seminar Prices are an additional $5 per ABATE of Ohio, Inc. person on the above listed rates. *** Mail to: ABATE of Ohio, Inc., State Treasurer, Additional Donations Accepted P.O. Box 1658, Hilliard, Ohio 43026

614-319-3644

www.abate.com

800-25-BIKER

ABATE of Ohio, Inc. is a 501(c)(4) "Not for Profit" organization. Dues, donations/contributions, event funds and ABATE products are NOT tax deductible as a charitable contribution.

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March 26, 2017 Art Mitchell Enduro Race Ray, Ohio Hosted by: Chillicothe Enduro Riders ACES Series AMA Event For More Information: chillicotheenduro@yahoo.com April 2, 2017 Akron Motorcycle Swap Meet Tallmadge, OH General Admission- $5 Children 12 and Under Free To get your events listed here, email complete details and contact information to Events.ThunderRoads@ gmail.com. If you have a flyer or photos available, please attach those as well. April 7-8, 2017 Abate of Ohio, Inc. State Seminar Open to The Public! Pre-register by March 31st! Doubletree By Hilton- 3150 West Market St. Akron, OH Abate.com April 23, 2017 Spring Fever Motorcycle Swap Meet Sandusky County Fairgrounds-901 Rawson Rd. Fremont, OH 43420 $5 Adults, $2 Children Under 16. -9am-4pmInfo MIke @ (419) 862-1516 April 29, 2017 18th Annual Motorcycle Awareness Ride "Back In The Saddle" Plaza Lanes- 264 E. State St. Fremont, OH (Ends at Big Shots) For More Information Call: 419 463 8484 THUNDER THUNDER ROADS® ROADS® OHIO OHIO MAGAZINE MAGAZINE

EVENTS

April 29, 2017 Cinco De Mayo Party at Lake Erie Harley-Davidson Details coming soon! Lake Erie Harley-Davidson 38401 Chester Road Avon, Ohio Information Call 440-934-5000

THUNDER ROADS OHIO

March 19, 2017 Yankee Lake Annual Spring Motorcycle Swap Meet Sponsored by Crazy Cycles and Yankee Lake The swap meet will be held at the Yankee Lake Ballroom, 1814 State Route 7 NE in Brookfield beginning at 10 am. information call (330) 448-2074

May 5-7, 2017 3rd Hopewell BMW Road Rally Hocking Hills State Park- 19852 State Route 664 S. Logan, OH Go To: https://www.facebook. com/events/342410479444560/ For More Info! May 6, 2017 Blessing of the Bikes Fundraiser for the Christian Motorcycle Association, (Run for the Son Missions) with the Christian Cruiser Chapter of Toledo Ohio. This is a FREE event including coffee and donuts in the morning, followed by a 100 mile ride. Donations accepted at the event. "Blessing of the Bikes" event begins at 11:00AM and the ride begins about 12:30 information, call 419-297-7719

Visit us on Facebook for more events and last minute updates. www.facebook.com/ ThunderRoadsOhio THUNDER ROADS OHIO FEATURE EVENT Saturday, May 6, 2017 MARGARITAVILLE DECK KICK-OFF PARTY! Live Music w/ Rock & Roll Outlaws 2p-6p Prizes, and the TRO IRON ANGELS! Original Margaritaville, Sandusky OH themargaritavilleonline.com

May 12-21, 2017

Myrtle Beach Bike Week MyrtleBeachBikeWeek.com

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Thunder Roads comes out to Chickasaw to hang with the Link Racing Crew and kick off the season! Come on out and join in the fun! We will be shooting customer bikes and hosting a calendar search contest! So bring yours out and you might just find it in the mag! Link Racing 35 Link ST. Chickasaw Ohio www.LinkRacing.com May 21, 2017

Old Fashioned Days Car, Truck, and Motorcycle Show

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

OHIO BIKE WEEK

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

Registration begins at 9:00 AM and we will accept vehicles up until 2:00 pm. There will be many door prizes given out throughout the day. The show is open to any make or model vehicle, and will be held on Troutwine Auto Sales’ (paved) Parking Lot (9 N. Main St. Arcanum, OH 45304). PreRegistration will be $5.00, and registration the day of will be $8.00. For more information, call 937-692-8463

OhioBikeWeek.com

May 26th- 29th, 2017 Memorial Weekend Rally & Blessing Hudson Leather Factory Outlet- 14700 St Rt 15 Pioneer, OH 43554, Live bands, Food, Fundraising, Bike Show, and Vendors, http://www.cyclefish.com/ motorcycle_event/38050

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

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

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EVENTS

Link Racing Open House!

THUNDER ROADS OHIO

May 13, 2017

June 3, 2017 Car & Bike Cruise In at Lake Erie Harley-Davidson Details coming soon! Lake Erie Harley-Davidson 38401 Chester Road Avon, Ohio For More Information Call 440-934-5000

THUNDER ROADS OHIO FEATURE EVENT

Saturday, June 10, 2017 from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM

2017 Ride for Warriors Poker Run

Hosted by: Green Knights MMC, Ch. 32 Area: Dayton, OH Come out and support a worthy Veterans cause, helping those that have served us. Early Registration: www. greenknights32.com/ events/2017-poker-run/

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MARCH

17–19

2 0 1 7 Best of Show $5,000

2ND Place $1,000

Duck Award $1,500

Pro Builder $1,000

3RD Place $500

Bike Classes 1. American Custom 2. Antique 3. Metric Custom 4. Touring Custom 5. Sport Custom 6. Old School Bobber

MOTOR CYCLE ALL REGISTERED VEHICLES WILL RECEIVE:

• • • • •

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

7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13.

Factory Custom Radical Vintage Vintage Custom Garage Bike Three-wheeler Custom Paint & Airbrush

ALL 13 CLASSES RECEIVE A 1ST, 2ND & 3RD PLACE TROPHY

2017 THUNDER ROADS OHIO PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARD

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

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THUNDER ROADS OHIO: FEATURED CLUB

18WHEELS MA American Truckers Uniting! The life and spirit of today’s trucker mirrors that of the old west cowboys and cowgirls so similarly that the two can be divided by evolution and progress alone. Just as the early cowpokes and wranglers were determined to drive their products to market from one town to another across the vast countryside, so does today’s trucker across the same backgrounds – from small towns to big cities, from across town to cross country. The stars and prairies have remained the same but these lone drifters have evolved into the asphalt cowboys and gear jammers of today. Not everyone is able to call the open road their workplace and playground – but we do. We are the Steel Horse Cowboys and Cowgirls of the 18 Wheels Motorcycle Association. We’re dedicated to the trucking industry and to those that spend their days and nights behind the wheel in a love / hate relationship with not just a job – but a way of life! Motorcycles allow us to enjoy the freedom of the open road away from our rigs and truly celebrate our brother and sisterhood. We’re law abiding and have members from every walk of life – from a tractor to a one ton. We are AMERICAN TRUCKERS. 18Wheels MA was established in 2012 as a motorcycle organization structured for Class A & B truck drivers, both local and long haul. It’s a family oriented organization that is active in the COC of several states – including Ohio. We display a Blue & White rag from the left side of our bikes so that other truckers will recognize us on the road. If you would like more information about us, please visit our website www.18WheelsMA.com or contact our Ohio State Representative Robert “T-Bone” Seelig at 937-926-9066.

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RECIPES

Crock Pot Cordon Bleu

Serve 4-6 (or 3 hungry bikers)

Stuffed Jalapenos Ingredients:

1 lb ground sausage (HOT if ya like! ) 22 jalapeños... 1- 8 oz block cream cheese, softened 1 cup grated cheddar cheese

•

Preheat over 425.

•

Cook sausage until browned, set aside.

•

Mix cream cheese with cheddar cheese.

•

Add cooked sausage to cheese and mix well.

•

Cut each jalapeño lengthwise and remove seeds and veins.

•

Stuff jalapeños with sausage mixture and place on a foil lines baking sheet

•

Bake for 20 minutes until tops are golden brown.

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

4-6 boneless, skinless chicken breasts 4-6 slices swiss cheese 4-6 thin slices ham ¼ cup flour Black pepper 1 cup milk 1 can cream of chicken soup ¼ cup chicken stock 1/2 cups, swiss, grated 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese 2 tbsps butter 1/2 tsp onion powder or sautéed onions 1/2 tsp pepper 1/2 tsp salt 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes, optional 2 tsps granulated sugar •

Place a piece of chicken between two pieces of plastic wrap and pound to 1/4 inch thickness.

•

Season each piece of chicken with salt and pepper.

•

Place 1 slice of cheese and 1 slice of ham on each piece of chicken.

•

Roll up each breast, tucking in any loose stuffing, and using a toothpick to secure.

•

Melt a bit of butter in a pan and lightly brown on all sides.

•

Place browned chicken in the bottom of the slow cooker.

•

In a pot over medium heat, whisk together milk, soup, stock, butter, onion powder, salt, pepper, red pepper and sugar.

•

Turn heat to low and add the grated swiss and parmesan cheeses.

•

Stir well until nice and smooth and the consistency of thick gravy.

•

Pour the sauce over the chicken in the slow cooker and cover with the lid.

•

Cook on low for 5-6 hours or until chicken is fork tender.

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

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I Y L L R L H D S R E W O L F

Meatloaf Meatballs

Makes 24

3 slices white bread 3/4 cup buttermilk 1/3 cup chopped fresh parsley 5 cloves garlic, minced 2 large eggs 1 tbsp powdered beef stock ¼ c ketchup ½ tbsp cayenne pepper 3/4 tsp crushed red chili pepper flakes ½ tsp fresh ground black pepper 8 oz lean ground beef 8 oz ground pork 8 oz ground veal or turkey 3/4 cup grated parmesan cheese 3/4 cup olive oil 1 med zucchini finely grated 1 med yellow squash, finely grated •

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

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Cut the bread into small cubes.

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In a small bowl mix the buttermilk, parsley, garlic, eggs, beef stock powder, ketchup, cayenne pepper, crushed chilies, zucchini, squash, and black pepper.

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Mix in the breadcrumbs and work into a paste.

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Gently add in the beef, pork, veal, parmesan cheese and mix well, but DO NOT OVER WORK THE MEAT or it will make tough meatballs.

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Form the mixture into 24 big meatballs and place into 2-24 count muffin pans. Cook until the internal temperature reaches 155 degrees F.

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When the meatballs are down in the oven, set pans on the counter to cool.

•

Eat a few and freeze the rest for another meal. I serve them on spaghetti with my favorite sauce or sub rolls with ketchup, mayo and mozzarella cheese (and a nice side of caramelized onion and greenbean bake doesn’t hurt)

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FUNNY STUFF BECAUSE EVERYONE NEEDS A GOOD LAUGH NOW AND THEN... Worst thing to say on a first date

Roger, who was 19 years old, was buying an expensive bracelet, to surprise his girlfriend on Valentine’s Day, at a very smart jeweller’s shop in Hatton Garden, London. The jeweller inquired, ‘Would you like your girlfriend’s name engraved on it?’ Roger thought for a moment, grinned, then answered, ‘No, instead engrave “To my one and only love”.’ The jeweller smiled and said, ‘Yes, sir; how very romantic of you.’ Roger retorted with a glint in his eye, ‘Not exactly romantic, but very practical. This way, if we break up, I can use it again. One morning Emma woke up with a start. Her husband Jim asked what was the matter, she told him, “I just had a dream that you gave me a pearl necklace for Valentine’s day. What do you think it means?” “You’ll know tonight,” Jim said. That evening, Jim home with a small package and gave it to his wife. Delighted, Emma opened it - only to find a book entitled “The meaning of dreams”.

• I used to have a real bad bedwetting problem ... but the last couple of weeks I’ve gotten it under control. • I know we just met and this might seem a little sudden ... but could I borrow five hundred dollars? • Go ahead and Super Size - I found spare change in the sofa today. • Something tells me that you’re very special ... but with medication I can usually ignore it. • I don’t see my ex-girlfriend that much ... thanks to the U.S. Department of Justice.” • Do you want to play doctor? That’ll be five hundred dollars. • Wait till my wife hears about this! • I had a good time tonight. I’d love to see you again in six to eight months with good behavior. My high-school English teacher was well known for being a fair, but hard, grader. One day I received a B minus on a theme paper. In hopes of bettering my grade and in the spirit of the valentine season, I sent her an extravagant heart-shaped box of chocolates with the preprinted inscription: “BE MINE.” The following day, I received in return a valentine from the teacher. It read: “Thank you, but it’s still BE MINE-US. Jim asked his friend, Tony, whether he had bought his wife anything for Valentine’s Day.

Every Valentine’s Day our campus newspaper has a section for student messages. Last year my roommate surprised his girlfriend with roses and dinner at a fancy restaurant. When they returned from their date, she leafed through the paper to see if he had written a note to her. Near the bottom of one page she found: “Bonnie—What are you looking here for? Aren’t dinner and flowers enough? Love, Scott.” Driving through Southern California, I stopped at a roadside stand that sold fruit, vegetables and crafts. As I went to pay, I noticed the young woman behind the counter was painting a sign. “Why the new sign?” I asked. “My boyfriend didn’t approve of the old one,” she said. When I glanced at what hung above the counter, I understood. It declared: “Local Honey Dates Nuts”

‘Yes,’ came the answer from Tony who was a bit of a chauvinist, ‘I’ve bought her a belt and a bag.’ ‘That was very kind of you,’ Jim added, ‘I hope she appreciated the thought.’ Tony smiled as he replied, ‘So do I, and hopefully the vacuum cleaner will work better now.’

IF YOU GO DOWN, CALL RUSS BROWN

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