MAGAZINE ®
VOLUME 1 ISSUE 3 SEPTEMBER 2009
Pennsylvania
Smoker Boys Ride Again
Cover photo by Sheldon Smoker
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Smoker Boys - Greg Allman - Medal Of Honor - Rod And Gun Club Crossword - Pittsburgh - Calendar Of Events
AMERICA’S FASTEST GROWING BIKER PUBLICATION
C. R. Lapp’s is donating $1.00 back to Joni and Friends for every breakfast purchase
Editor / Owner Robin Montgomery Lapp 717-682-7529 thunderrdspa@yahoo.com Sales Staff Robin Keys 717-286-4689 reller65@aol.com Tony Montgomery 717-431-4551 tmonty22@comcast.net Jason Shiflet 717-201-7675 teufelheunden@hotmail.com David Peterson 215-439-5271 davidapeterson@verizon.net Layout and Design Warren Ells, Art Director Thunder Publishing Warrenlayout@yahoo.com Tom Roe Tom Roe Photography Cover and Calendar Photo tomroe.photography@yahoo.com NATIONAL FOUNDERS Toni McCoy Shearon & Brian Shearon 1421 Chapmansboro Road Chapmansboro, TN 37035 Office: (615) 792-0040 Fax: (615) 792-7580 Email: thunderroadscharter@charter.net
As I was putting this issue together I started to reflect. Ah… The Smoker Boys~less then a year before their ride, one of them almost lost his life in a motorcycle ride. His passion for “The Ride” has never slowed him down. What do they say…if you fall off of a horse, get back up and ride. You are either passionate about it or not! No matter what the obstacles or challenges, it is your life and you ride. You can’t describe it to a person who doesn’t ride and have that passion. You true Riders know what I mean and no explanation needed. Enough Said! RIDE! Enjoy the magazine and keep sending stories and pictures. I am really looking for those 2009 Sturgis stories and photos. Also, join us on Face book ! I AM HAVING A BLAST! I have met so many incredible people in the last few months. Ride Safe, Ride Friendly, And Feel The Thunder! Don’t Forget…The only way this magazine happens or can continue is with the support from our advertisers. Please support them so we can keep sharing and bringing you good information and just plain fun stuff that may put a smile on your face. Remember; Happiness Is A Choice!
IF THIS WAS YOUR AD Thousands Of Riders Would Be Seeing It Right Now
“Few things are needful to make a wiseman happy, but nothing satisfies the fool;-and this is the reason why so many of mankind is miserable”~Rochefoucauld~
© THUNDER ROADS MAGAZINE IS PUBLISHED MONTHLY BY THUNDER PUBLISHING. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. NO PART OF ITS CONTENT MAY BE REPRODUCED WITHOUT WRITTEN PERMISSION. PUBLISHER ASSUMES NO RESPONSIBILITY AND IS NOT TO BE HELD LIABLE FOR ERRORS BEYOND THE COST OF THE SPACE OCCUPIED BY THE ERROR, SLANDER OF ANY GROUP OR INDIVIDUAL, FAILURE TO PRODUCE ANY ISSUE AS SCHEDULED DUE TO REASONS BEYOND OUR CONTROL, ANY AND ALL SUITS FOR LIABLE, PLAGIARISM, COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT AND UNAUTHORIZED USE OF A PERSON’S NAME OR PHOTOGRAPH. OPINIONS AND CLAIMS MADE BY ADVERTISERS AND AUTHORS ARE THEIR OWN, AND DO NOT NECESSARILY REPRESENT THE POLICY OF THUNDER ROADS MAGAZINE OR THUNDER PUBLISHING. PUBLISHER DOES NOT PROMOTE THE ABUSE OF ALCOHOL OR OTHER DRUGS.
Correction:
I would like to apologize! Last Issue we did an article on Ed Freeman. He served in the Vietnam War, not the Korean War Thunder Roads Magazine 2
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KEVIN’S KORNER From
ALASKA
Mom came to visit. We took a little trip to Girwood, Alaska. A little windy, but what a view!!! Fishing on the Kenai River
Last Tuesday Randy and I went to Summit Lake Lodge. It was 83 degrees when we left Anchorage. Had a great ride, ate good food, and met a big friendly dog. Kevin
A Little father daughter bonding time the Alaskan Way!
Born and Bred in PA Thunder Roads Magazine 4
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THE SMOKER BOYS RIDE AGAIN During the summer of 08’ I had the privilege of going on a motorcyle trip out west with my father and grandfather. That’s right…three generations on an unbeatable vacation. We spent eight days riding and camping in some of the most beautiful scenery in Colorado, and Utah. the one, and only, problem with the trip was that it was too short!!! No matter where you are, it is always a great feeling to be on your motorcycle, but when you are riding through some of the most unique landscapes in the world there are simply no words to describe it.
It took a little bit of time and careful maneuvering to set up this picture. Early that morning we were riding through the cool air of the rocky mountains in Colorado, and later that day, after putting on a couple hundred miles, we were in the completely different climate of Utah.
If, for a second…you can get your eyes to look past the cool dude in the picture you will notice the breathtaking scenery in the background. No matter where we were riding, if you took a moment to look in the distance u would see an image that looked like it should’ve been on a postcard.
“Unbelievable”
“Like Father Like Son”
Granpa is 81 years old and still riding. He rides a trike and pulls a matching trailor on trips like “Like Grandfather Like Grandson” I guess the important things in life were passed down through these. It’s a big rig, and there is no denying that he looks pretty good on it. If you look really generations. close you will notice that his right arm is actually a hook. Its always entertaining to watch people when they pass us. (which doesn’t happen too often) some people do double takes while others point and smile. Riding motorcycle with my grandpa is such a great experience, and I will forever cherish the memories.
This was in Arches National Park in Utah. the rock formations were amazing. They seemed to pop up out of nowhere, but I gotta say that this picture does not do any justice to the actual size of the rocks.
The higher we rode the colder it got. This picture was at the top of the pass in Rocky Mountain National Park, and yes that is snow all around us.
“Open Roads Baby!!!” Thunder Roads Magazine 6
We trailored our bikes to Boulder Colorado, parked the truck and trailor and took off for the week. The day we arrived it was pouring rain. We unloaded our bikes, all our stuff, put on our raingear, and headed out. this picture was the This picture sums it all up. “good times with next morning with nothing but blue skies, and “Pop” soaking in the sun with the great feeling of good company” like “pop” always says…”live… the beginning of a vacation. especially this type laugh…ride” of vacation. Thunder Roads Magazine 7
The Medal Of Honor The Medal’s History On December 9, 1861 Iowa Senator James W. Grimes introduced S. No. 82 in the United States Senate, a bill designed to “promote the efficiency of the Navy” by authorizing the production and distribution of “medals of honor”. On December 21st the bill was passed, authorizing 200 such medals be produced “which shall be bestowed upon such petty officers, seamen, landsmen and marines as shall distinguish themselves by their gallantry in action and other seamanlike qualities during the present war (Civil War).” President Lincoln signed the bill and the (Navy) Medal of Honor was born. The Medal of Honor The Medal of Honor is the highest award for valor in action against an enemy force which can be bestowed upon an individual serving in the Armed Services of the United States. Generally presented to its recipient by the President of the United States of America in the name of Congress, it is often called the Congressional Medal of Honor. Lt. Gen. Victor H. Krulak, Marine Behind U.S. Landing Craft, Dies at 95 “The marines,” he wrote, “are an assemblage of warriors, nothing more.” Colonel Donald Blakeslee, Decorated World War II Flying Ace, Dies at 90 In his four years in the European theater, Colonel Blakeslee flew nearly 500 missions and had about 1,000 combat hours to his credit. Raymond Murphy, 77, Medal of Honor Recipient During the Korean War, Dies He was awarded the Medal of Honor for leading his platoon to take a hill, even though he was painfully wounded. Jay Zeamer Jr. a Pilot in WW II, and a Medal of Honor Recipient, Dies at 88 Jay Zeamer Jr., a World War II bomber pilot was awarded the Medal of Honor for fighting off enemy attacks during a photographic mapping mission. Guy Gabaldon, 80, Hero of Battle of Saipan, Dies Guy Gabaldon, a Marine private in World War II used extraordinary grit and a smattering of Japanese phrases to capture more than 1,000 Japanese soldiers single-handedly in the battle for Saipan Medal of Honor Citations Iraqi Conflict Army Sergeant First Class Paul R. Smith of Tampa, Florida Marine Corporal Jason Dunham of Scio, New York to Receive the Medal of Honor Medal of Honor Citations Vietnam War 1964-1972~246 Medal Of Honor Recipients September 11, 2001 We Will Not Forget 11 September 2001. People desperately look out of the burning North Tower of the World Trade Center. They are above the point of impact, and are unable to escape. The heat and smoke from the fire caused by the collision is so intense that their last refuge is the cool air temperature by the broken windows. September 11, 2001 2,750 civilian men and woman perished in the destruction of the World Trade Center complex. When you include the plane that crashed in a field in Pennsylvania, and the plane that slammed into the side of the Pentagon, a total of 2,974 fathers, mothers and friends never came home again after 11 September 2001. “Only in winter can you tell which trees are truly green Only when the winds of adversity blow can you tell whether an individual or a country has steadfastness.” John F. Kennedy, 35th President of the United States: 1961-1963
James Montgomery Flagg, 1917 Thunder Roads Magazine 9
“’Cause I’m free as a bird now, and this bird you’ll never change… We all know the classic Lynyrd Skynyrd Tune “Freebird”, but what about Freebyrd, the motorcycle shop? Located in the rural town of Brogue, Pa. Freebyrd Custom Motorcycle, LLC. has certainly made its mark in the small town. Family owned and operated by Mike, and his wife Pam, it certainly gives a refreshing outlook on the motorcycle industries capabilities. But don’t let the name fool you, we work on Harley’s and even a few metrics. We offer a wide array of services including: state inspections, customization, ground up builds, oil services, tire changes, plus all of the other basic services to keep your bike running. Our shop in Brogue, Pa. will certainly have you leaving with a smile on your face, and a little extra dough in your wallet, because we pride ourselves in affordable parts and accessories, along with an even more affordable labor rate. The heart of Freebyrd started with a man and a dream. Beginning with building motorcycles in his basement, and fed up with the hustle and bustle, and certainly lack of customer service in the motorcycle world, Mike decided it was time for a change. With his Daddy’s wisdom and life lessons in his back pocket, he called it quits to his fancy suit & tie job, for something better, … for something bigger. The something bigger came in late 2007 when 2515 Delta Rd., Brogue, Pa. became the official home for Freebyrd Custom Motorcycles, LLC. On March 12, 2007 officially opened it’s doors. Since the Freebyrd has had three successful Open Houses, visited Bike Week’s, both locally and nationally, as well as currently running a bike night every Wednesday at Ruby Jade’s in York. But most importantly, we have built more than just bikes; we’ve built relationships with our customer’s. What’s the bottom line? Freebyrd is for the customer’s; the goal is customer satisfaction with low prices and quality products and service. Just take one step into Freebyrd Custom Motorcycles, and you’ll soon realize the friendly nature that the owners and employees possess. You’ll truly see that “A Simple Man’s” Dream really can come true.
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WHERE IS THIS?
Somewhere in Pa Can you guess where T Burk is this time? Be the first three to guess and win a Thunder Roads Pa T shirt and koozie Email your guesses to: thunderrdspa@yahoo.com Good Luck!
AUGUST WINNERS: Todd Campbell of Chambersburg Greg Palmer of Lancaster Fred Jones of Mechanicsburg It was Mountain House in McConnellsburg, Pa
Noodle’s Tips For The Road TURN SIGNALS….USE THEM! Don’t wait to turn them on until the last minute or not at all. They are there for a reason. Hence the word SIGNAL!! It Is To signal other people that you are turning, so someone doesn’t end up in your back end!!!!!
Thunder Roads Magazine 11
Local Boys Do Good. By Rebel Ron of Columbia, TN
Larger Pictures At www.thunderroadstn.com/greggallman This month’s Flashback is rather unique as it not only tells of two young Nashville born musicians but their connection with the two wheelers we so cherish. Most people have been led to believe that these two Southern music icons are from Macon, Georgia but they were both born in Music City. Howard Duane Allman was born here November 20, 1946 and his little brother Gregory Lenoir Allman came into this world in Nashville on December 8, 1947. (Most of these photos have never been published so lets see the young Allman’s with their Easter bunny chocolates.) November 11 is the day we honor veterans of all wars so lets honor the Allman’s dad, Sgt. Willis Allman, with his photo in this publication. Little is known of the career Army man because he was robbed & murdered in 1949 near his base in Virginia. Their mother, Geraldine Allman, moved back to Music City with the future music stars. The Allman brothers apparently were being groomed to adopt the military life like their dad. Both were enrolled at Castle Heights Military School and can be seen in uniform with their “Granny Daniels” just before Geraldine moved them to Daytona Beach at the end of 1957.
Even though the boys had lived much of their lives in Music Sgt. Willis Allman City they did not take a liking to music until they were in Daytona. However, while visiting relatives in Nashville in 1959 they scored tickets to a B.. B. King show and were amazed with his music. Some say this was when the elder brother told the younger that they needed to get into this business. Back in the Sunshine state in 1960 Greg kept hearing one of his neighbors playing country music on a guitar and decided to get one. After playing around with his new guitar his brother was soon drawn to it and surpassed Greg’s playing efforts very quickly. (The photo of them on the beach is with their Grandmother, Myrtle Allman, apparently when she visited them from Nashville. You can also see a cool photo of Duane by the road sign his family lived on in Nashville. Check out them shoes! ) In 1961 the teenage Allmans were playing local gigs as “The Escorts.” In 1963 Duane dropped out of high school to focus on his guitar work and Greg stuck high school out graduating in 1965 from Seabreeze High. Soon after the brothers hit the road as the “Allman Joys” and toured the southeast. In 1967 the brothers were beginning their climb to fame when they signed a contract in LA and changed their name to “The Hourglass.” They recorded two LPs but the record label was not letting them be themselves and were trying to mold them into another nice, shiny, harmless pop band. The brothers were not proud of this period of their budding music career. Disillusioned with the record label’s attempt to push them into a pop music style they soon broke up. Before we go too far lets take a look at why neither of the boys had been drafted since we were knee deep in Vietnam in 1965. Apparently the recruiters passed on Duane earlier when he went in for his examination while wearing ladies underwear. ( I guess that was before the “Don’t ask. Don’t tell” rule.) Gregg got out with an injury to his foot. Since they boys had a tour coming up they needed to get Gregg off the draft list. So they thought it would be a good idea to have some friends over for a foot shooting party and Gregg was to be the star! Duane, being the concerned bro that he was, even painted a bulls eye on Gregg’s foot before he shot himself. I was told that Gregg attempted to get out of this potentially painful task until his big brother scolded him about embarrassing him in front of all their friends. After all they had come there to see Gregg shoot his foot. After a few more gulps of courage he did it! The foot injury got him removed from the draft list and the tour proceeded along. Gregg again played a big role in his big brother’s musical direction in 1968 while Duane was sick in bed. Gregg stopped by his brother’s place with a bottle of cold pills for his fever and he also brought the debut album by guitarist “Taj Mahal” as a get well gift. Several hours later Gregg received a call from his talented brother urging him to come back over. When he arrived Thunder Roads Magazine 12
Kim ?, while clowning around on their bikes on a curvy street. Berry was going too fast and high sided in a curve and slammed into the middle of a bus going the opposite direction. Berry was thrown from the bike and slid across the road. His crumpled Triumph spun in the same direction and came to rest on top of him. Oakley got up Duane returned to Daytona and soon formed another band when and walked away from the crash but he refused to go to the emerhe called his little brother to come out and join him in 1969. The gency room and died later that day from a skull fracture. new band was called “The Allman Brothers band” and it consisted of men who would make musical history. This band released its After these tragic events the “Eat A Peach” record was a huge sucfirst self titled album with Duane on slide guitar, Gregg on vocals cess but the deaths and pressure from the music scene at that time and organ, Dickey Betts would join the band on guitar and Berry took a toll on the band. Greg would have his ups and downs from Oakley played bass. They also did something different by having drug woes to women, Cher, just to name one, all during the 70s. not one but two drummers, Jai Johanny “Jaimoe” Johanson and The band still toured to huge audiences and they still sold a lot of records. I shall not touch on the rest of their career because most Butch Trucks. everyone is familiar with other great songs the band put out includTheir next album released in 1970 was “Idlewind South” which ing one of my favs from a Greg solo LP, “I’m No Angel”, which contained a couple songs that will be played on classic rock radio was the name of the LP too. forever. “Revival” and the biker classic “Midnight Rider” had this album climbing the charts. The band was very good at this point but Gregg has survived all of the sorrows of life along with the dark they were at their best in a live setting and soon released the classic excesses brought on by stardom. Gregg has been clean and sober live LP “At Filmore East.” This vinyl record had one of my all time for over 10 years now but was diagnosed with hepatitis earlier this favorite songs on it called “Whipping Post.” (Rolling Stone mag year. I am told that he has the illness under control and will be seen on a stage near you to celebrate the ABB 40 year anniversary this calls this is one of the 500 best LPs ever!) year. I consider Gregg one of the best artists in my life and can reThe two brothers were rising to the top of the music charts and late many bike riding memories to his songs. If you really want to living large in Macon, Georgia. Sadly, the bands future was to take check out Gregg at his best get the “Living For Simplicity” CD that a tragic turn for the worse on October 29, 1971. Duane was killed came out in 1997. He told me back then that it was the first recordriding his Sportster on the way home from the studio with his girl- ing he ever made sober and it really shows in his voice and music. friend, Dixie, and Berry Oakley and his sister, Candace, following The CD has many of the ABB standards but they are not overprohim in a car. Duane was exceeding the speed limit on his chopper duced and Gregg’s unique bluesy voice is perfect.. ( I’ve included when he came up behind a slower car. He shot around it and soon a photo of Gregg on a 1961 Harley Hummer that is also the cover met a large flatbed truck with a crane on the bed making a left turn art for this recording. ) across both lanes of traffic. It was reported from his friends following in the car that the truck driver paused for some reason block- They band received 11 Gold and 5 Platinum albums as well as wining both lanes and Duane tried to go around the rear of the truck. ning a Grammy Award for Best Rock Instrumental Performance in Unfortunately, a cable hanging from the crane jerked both bike and 1996. Duane Allman would still get recognition as well after being rider up into the air and both soon crashed to the ground with the #2 one of Rolling Stone magazine’s 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Custom XL on top and then both skidded to the curb. The bike’s Time. motor was still roaring away until the truck driver came over and shut the motor off. Duane was alive and had few visible injuries but Not only is the colorful band still touring but Gregg still rides his he soon began to have pains and was taken to the emergency room. Harley as well. Good luck man and I hope the stage light shines on He suffered several internal injuries and was sent to the operating you for many more years. Just be careful riding your bike dude! table where he would die three hours after the afternoon crash. Not only was Duane getting name recognition with the popular ABB but he was a sought after studio musician as well. He played guitar and slide on such artist’s records as Wilson Pickett, Aretha Franklin, Boz Skaggs, and Eric Clapton, just to name a few. Duane had removed the label from the bottle and dumped the pills out while playing up a storm with his new slide! This album had an old blues song Taj had covered called “Statesboro Blues” that would soon be one of the ABB’s biggest hits.
(Let’s take a moment to set an “urban myth” straight concerning Duane’s untimely death. The album they were about to release was called “Eat A Peach” long before Duane crashed and it had nothing to do with Allman crashing into a peach truck. The title of the LP came from a comment Duane had made to a reporter about what he was doing concerning the Vietnam war. Duane simply said, “I’m gonna eat a peach for peace!” Another myth from this fateful LP is connected with the tragic bike death of ABB bassist, Berry Oakley. This rumor claims that he had crashed his bike into a watermelon truck which you can see on the back of the LP’s cover that does indeed, have a watermelon truck on it. Oakley’s death on his 1969 Triumph came months after the LP was released and he wrecked just three blocks from where SEE LARGER PICS AT Duane had crashed just over a year earlier. On November 11, 1972 www.thunderroadstn.com Oakley was speeding through Macon with one of Gregg’s pals, Thunder Roads Magazine 13
Cory TexTer Another month has come and gone and here I am writing once more. I was never the best writer in school, or so the teachers have told me. However, since I graduated I think I have written columns in 3-4 magazines, so here is to all of the teachers who kicked me out of english class and told me I would never get anywhere racing motorcycles in life. I can’t relate to most of you road riders out there. Although my father owns Lancaster HD, which has been around for a very long time and is one of the most respected dealerships in the country. I actually don’t ride on the road too much myself. I can never find time away from my busy schedule to do so. I actually just got back from my 4th straight year at the Sturgis bike rally. Although, I am there for racing, it is still crazy to see all the bikers out there. Harley-Davidson riders are a huge group and it is an awesome thing to see. Over the past month, I have been very busy racing. I achieved my first ever professional podium a few weeks ago at the hot shoe national in Elkins, WV, and I finished the year as the 4th ranked rider in the AMA national hot shoe series in the 750 class. I am also currently in 4th place in the 450 class. I also missed one round of this series to take care of my dad when he had his heart problems. He is still recovering from all of that and has a lot more tests and procedures to go, but we are certain he will make a full recovery soon. Back to racing….. I have also raced my hometown national in Hagerstown, MD and the Rapid City, SD GNC national as well. I am happy to say I made both of these main events, which is twice as many as I made last year running a limited first year schedule. However, Rapid City main event rained out and I am not too pleased with my finish at Hagerstown. I know I can do better and our whole team is going to continue to work harder to do so. I have a few sponsors who help us out who I want to thank, but I could not have gotten this far in only a few short years racing without my dad. He is the only reason I have gone from a local amateur rider in 2004 to a professional GNC rider in 2009. He has set us up with the best equipment, and put good people behind me from the start. He has put a solid tuner behind us in Rich Hanson as well as of late. I can already see a difference in my results and I am excited for the rest of the season. Thanks Dad for everything. If anyone wants to stay up to date with what’s going on in my racing, check out my website for weekly updates at CoryTexter.com or daily updates on my twitter at Twitter.com/ CoryTexter. I am also looking for sponsors for 2010. These people will get logo placements on our equipment, national exsposure and more. Please email me on my website for a resume. Thanks to everyone for reading and stay tuned for more good news. -Cory Texter #65 Thunder Roads Magazine 14
SHAYNA TexTer .Shayna Texter #25A. www.ShaynaTexter.net Hey Everyone,
The last two weeks have been crazy for me. I have done two Hotshoe Nationals, two Grand Nationals, and one Outlaw race since I have last checked in. I’ve also done an interview in RoadRacerX and did a column in Thunder Roads, so if you can get your hands on a copy check it out. My first race was in Elkins, West Virginia then we headed that night to Hagerstown, Maryland. After spending a whole weekend at those two tracks we headed home and loaded right back up to head to the famous Sturgis Rally. I’ve only been out west to Sturgis once and that was in 07, so I was excited to head back out there. Upon arriving we checked out Mount Rushmore, Wall Drug, Bear USA, and Black Hills Harley-Davidson where Terry the GM allowed us to park the race truck at for two days while we were traveling around checking out the sites. Finally after two days of being a true tourist it was time to go racing. Our first day was actually in Sturgis at the short track, then the next night was at Rapid City half mile, and then we ended the racing trip by heading back to Sturgis for an outlaw race at the half mile. So let’s20talk racing! Elkins, WV Half Mile Hotshoe National Elkins, West Virginia had a great turnout of riders as it was the night before the Hagerstown National. There was 37 pro singles and 6 pro twins in my class only taking 12 for each. In the scratch heat on the 450 I got an ok start and chased the leader from start to finish. I just didn’t have the motor to get off of the turns to make a pass, but would gain everything I loss on him going into the turns, so it was really frustrating. I came off the track and we had fastest scratch heat, so I was feeling ok going into the heat. My team and I decided to make a gearing change to try and make the bike rev more off the turn to try and make the pass. Well when the heat came I had a miserable start and was getting held up by the riders in front of me. The track was the smallest half mile I’ve seen and it was sure hard to pass. We were all riding the same line the whole way around and right up against the edge of the track, which made making passes difficult. So with only a whole 6 laps is was not enough for me to make the appropriate passes to transfer to main. It was really a bad=2 0deal for me because I really took a hit in the championship standings as my main competitors in the series went on to get 3rd and 4th. As a team we decided that adding a tooth to the bike was not the right call as I was spinning more than catching someone coming off the turn. We also found out the kid I was gearing to catch who had fastest time and won the main event was actually illegal by using a softer tire then what we were allowed, so this made it even more difficult for me to swallow. In the scratch heat on the Harley I had a descent start and came off the line in 5th. I made the pass for 4th quickly as we only had 4 laps to make a pass and come across the finish line. Before the heat we added more teeth to the twin because with the restrictors in the bike it was dead off of the turns. When the heat came up I got one my better starts on the twin and worked my way up to 3rd by the end of the 6 lap heat. I was getting more excited as the twins Hotshoe championship was getting closer to the end for me. In the main I got a miserable start I was last coming into turn one. I put my head down and picked off one and closed a straightaway gap that 2nd and 3rd had on me. By the end of the main I was dead even going across the line with 2nd and 3rd. After post race inspection the same winner that won on the 450 that was illegal was also DQ from the twin’s race as he had the wrong restrictors in and a softer tire again. After a long day at the track with a lot of pros and cons I wrapped up
the twins championship and fell back to 3rd in the singles championship. Hagerstown, Maryland Half Mile Grand National Almost every year right before practice, Hagerstown Speedway has rain in the forecast to deal with and yes this year was no difference. We ended up not getting on the track until almost 9 o’clock for timed practice. I was up and down in the charts as the track was super tacky and hard to even put your foot down led alone slide into the turn. I ended up 11th overall, which gave me a front row to start. In the heat I got off dead last and picked my way up 6th out of 18 by the time the checkered fell. I was happy I was going to be starting 11th in the main, but upset because my starts were killing me. Off the main event start I got pinched into turn one and was almost dead last again. I picked my way up to 11th again and was right on 9th and 10th as the laps=2 0ran down. I was getting frustrated because every time I would get a run on the outside of the 10th place rider he would run me in the front stretch wall. So, instead of getting hurt and smacking the wall with my hand guard I left off and went across the line in 11th. It was a solid finish for me since I was getting killed off the starts, but I was upset because my lap times were faster than some of the riders who still finished in front of me. At the Grand Nationals we only get 12 laps, which I feel is not enough because everyone just starts to calm down and run in some good clean laps, but it’s going to be the same for the rest of the year until they can make the change for ’10. (continued next month)
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September 3 Wyoming Valley Wheels-Larksville
September 17 Wyoming Valley Wheels-Larksville
September 5 AMA Toyota Motocross Championship-Delmont, Two Wheel Promotions Short Track-Spring Run, Miles Mountain MX Motocross-Elkland, Bellco Inc Motocross-Delmont, Evansville Motocross Park LLC Hare Scrambles-Berwick, Raceway Park Motocross D SP/Y, Two Wheel Promotions Short Track N SP/Y/4W, Evansville MX ATV Hare Scramble D SP/Y/4W, Evansville MX ATV Hare Scramble D SP/Y/4W ATV Quad National Hare Scramble, Miles MTN MX Supercross N SP/Y/4W, Pigs in the Park Pig Roast Poker RunBethlehem
September 18 Roar in the Mountains-Hollidaysburg
September 6 Hurricane Hills Motorsports LLC Motocross, Clifford, Shippensburg MC Short Track-Shippensburg, Bellco Inc Motocross-Delmont, Miles MTN MX Motocross D SP/Y, Raceway Park Motocross D SP/Y, Hurricane Hills Quad Only MX D SP/Y/4W Ultimate Quad Race, Evansville MX Hare Scramble D SP/Y/4W, Sleepy Hollow MX MX Practice D SP/Y. Spanky Run, Wyalusig, Pa September 7 Sleepy Hollow Moto Cross-Fredericksburg, Schuylkill County MC Benefit Rund D 9-2 September 10 Wyoming Valley Wheels-Larksville
September 19 Trail Way Speedway Short Track-Hanover, Racer Productions Inc Motocross-Mt Morris, Rocket Raceway Motocross-Three Springs, District 6 Mtg Lebanon Valley MC 8:00 pm, Garden Spot MC Charity Run D 8-12, Zinc City MC Motorcycle & Car Show, Dick Heckendorn Memorial Ride-Newville September 20 Biker Sunday-Line Lexington, Philadelphia Ride for Kids-Philadelphia, Happy Ramblers Motocross-Birdsboro, Twin Creeks Vintage Riders Motocross-Lawton, Valley Forge Trail Riders Enduro-Brandonville, Racer Productions Motocross-Mt Morris, Rausch Creek Powersports Hare Scrambles-Good Spring, Evansville MX Quad Only MX D SP/Y/4W, Gilda’s Motorcycle RunFairless Hills, Biker Sunday-Line Lexington September 21 Fun Drags & Poker Run-Kresgeville September 24 Wyoming Valley Wheels-Larksville, (24-26) York Bike Week and Open House-York September 25 (25-27) Great American Nationals-Pocono
September 11 Winber Rumbles, Windber, Pa September 12 Windber Rumbles-Windber, Blue Comet MC Charity Ride September 13 Hare Scramble-Plymouth, South Penn Enduro Riders Enduro-Shippensburg, E PA Piston Poppers MC IN Scrambles-Parkesburg, Back Mountain Enduro Riders Hare Scrambles-Plymouth, Hurricane Hills Motorsports LLC Motocross-Clifford, Pleasure Valley Raceway Motocross-Johnstown, Blue Comet MC-Raindate, Evansville MX Motocross D SP/Y, Xtreme Trials Observed Trials D SP, Springfield Indian Poker Run D 10-2, Pagoda MC Surprise PR D 10-2
September 26 Victory Tour-E Stroudsburg, Shippensburg MC ½ Mile Dirt Track-York September 27 Haycock Bikefest 2009-Coopersburg, Sleepy Hollow Moto Cross-Fredericksburg, Miles Mountain MX Motocross-Elkland, Doublin Gap MX Park Inc Motocross-Shippensburg, Brandywine Enduro Riders Hare Scrambles-Cross Fork, Old School Vintage Motorcycle Club Observed Trials-Cogan Station, DBL Sports Promotions Grand Prix-Markleysburg, Red Knights PA 6 Poker Run-Bristol, Kruise 4 Kids-Coopersburg, Justin Lefever Ride at Conestoga Valley High School. Registration is at 1PM
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Build/Bobber
Freebyrd
BROGUE, PA
FREEBYRD CUSTOM
Pennsylvania
Riding Tips Riding-In-Traffic Tips Basics? Sure. But keeping them fresh in your cranial RAM could be the difference between riding tomorrow and The Long Nap. Close your eyes and recall your last ride in heavy traffic. Imagine the vehicles surrounding you, crowding you, cutting you off. Imagine yourself monitoring closing speeds, reading street signs, noticing and anticipating traffic lights. Then imagine guessing what pedestrians will do, or how slippery that painted line might be. And those drivers with cell phones, newspapers or screaming kids to deal with...imagine trying to guess what they’re going to do. Riding in traffic can be a nightmare, especially for street-riding newcomers. Is it any wonder so many motorcyclists crash and burn while riding on congested streets? It’s amazing how many different tasks motorcyclists deal with on a normal traffic-choked commute. Doing it successfully means processing a multitude of items at once and reacting correctly to each. Doing it wrong can mean road kill--the human kind. Here are 15 smart strategies for dealing with traffic-choked streets. Watch drivers’ heads and mirrors Watching the head movements of drivers through their windows and mirrors is an excellent way to anticipate sudden moves. Most drivers won’t lunge left or right without first moving their heads one way or another (even if they don’t check their mirrors). Trust your mirrors, but not totally Your bike’s mirrors can be lifesavers, but they don’t always tell the entire story even if they’re adjusted properly. In traffic, always buttress your mirror-generated rear view with a glance over the appropriate shoulder. Do it quickly and you’ll add an extra measure of rear-view and blind-spot knowledge to your info-gathering tasks. Never get between a vehicle and an off ramp This sounds almost too simple, but drivers who decide to exit at the last minute kill plenty of riders each year. The simple rule, then, is to never position yourself between a vehicle and an off ramp. Passing on the right is generally a no-no, but in this day and age it’s sometimes necessary. So if you do it, do so between exits or cross-streets. Cover your brakes In traffic you must often react extra quickly, which means not fumbling for the brake lever or pedal. To minimize reach time, always keep a finger or two on the brake lever and your right toe close to the rear brake pedal. When that cell phone-yakking dork cuts across your path trying to get to the Kangaroo for a burrito supreme, you’ll be ready. Be noticed Make sure drivers and pedestrians can see you, even from a distance. Ride with your high beam on during the day (as a courtesy, turn it off when sitting behind someone at a light), and wear brightly colored gear, especially your helmet and jacket. Aerostich’s Hi Vis yellow suits and jackets aren’t just hugely conspicuous, they’ve also become fashionable, so now you don’t have an excuse. Be ready with the power In traffic, ride in a gear lower than you normally would so your bike is ready to jump forward instantly if asked. (Not everyone rides open-class twins, after all.) Doing so gives you the option of leaping ahead instead of being limited to just using the brakes when that pickup suddenly moves over. The higher revs might also alert more cagers to your presence. Traffic slowing? Stay left (or right) When traffic slows suddenly, stay to the left or right of the car in front of you. This will give you an escape route if needed. It will also help keep you from becoming a hood ornament if the
car behind you fails to stop in time. Once you’ve stopped, be ready--clutch in, your bike in gear and your eyes on the mirrors. You never know. Practice the scan Constantly scanning your entire environment while riding-from instruments to mirrors to the road ahead to blind spots to your left and right rear--keeps you aware and in touch with your situation, and therefore better able to react. Dwelling on one area too long--watching only behind or in front of you, for instance--is just begging for trouble. Left-turn treachery When approaching an oncoming car that’s stopped and about to turn left, be ready. Your brights should be on so the driver can see you (during the day), but don’t rely on this to save you. Watch the car’s wheels or the driver’s hands on the steering wheel; if you see movement, be ready to brake, swerve or accelerate, whichever seems best for the situation. Study the surface Add asphalt conditions to your scan. Be on the lookout for spilled oil, antifreeze or fuel; it’ll usually show up as shiny pavement. Also keep an eye out for gravel and/or sand, which is usually more difficult to see. Use your sense of smell, too; often you can smell spilled diesel fuel before your tires discover how slippery the stuff is. Ride in open zones Use your bike’s power and maneuverability to ride in open zones in traffic. In any grouping of vehicles there are always some gaps; find these and ride in them. Doing so will separate you from four-wheelers, give you additional room to maneuver and allow you to keep away from dangerous blind spots. And vary your speed. Riding along with the flow can make you invisible to other drivers, especially in heavy traffic. Use that thumb Get into the habit of canceling your turn signals often regardless of the traffic situation. A blinking signal might tell drivers waiting to pull into the road or turning left in front of you that you’re about to turn when you aren’t. So push that switch a few times each minute. Better to wear out the switch than eat a Hummer’s hood, eh? It’s good to be thin A huge advantage single-track vehicles have over four-wheelers is their ability to move left and right within a lane to enable the rider to see what’s ahead. Whether you’re looking to the side of the cars ahead or through their windshields, seeing what’s coming can give you lots of extra time to react. More than one way out Yeah, motorcycles fall down. But they’re also light, narrow and hugely maneuverable, so you might as well learn to exploit their strengths when things get ugly, right? So don’t just brake hard in a hairball situation. There’s almost always an escape route. Swerving into Mrs. Smith’s front yard could be a lot better than center punching the Buick that turned left in front of you. Always have an escape route planned, and update it minute by minute. Running interference This one’s easy, and we’ll bet most of you already do it: Let larger vehicles run interference for you when negotiating intersections. If the bonehead coming toward you from the left or right is going to blow the light, better they hit the box van next to you, right? For the same reasons, don’t lunge through an intersection as soon as the light turns green. Be patient, and use the vehicles next to you as cover.
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Fun At The Rod And Gun Club On A Sunday Afternoon!
GINA
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Childhood Brain Tumor Research Gets $44,000 Boost At Pittsburgh Ride For Kids Generous motorcyclists brought $44,070 in donations to the ninth annual Pittsburgh Ride for Kids on Aug. 9. The funds benefit the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation’s medical research and family support programs. It was warm and overcast as the ride left the Home Depot in Cranberry Township. On their way to the end point at Slippery Rock University, the riders and their police escort traveled on winding hillside roads with great views of Lake Arthur and Moraine State Park. Jon Burnett, meteorologist at KDKA Channel 2 CBS, spoke for many when he said, “We all could be doing other things, but none are better than this.” Seven local brain tumor survivors were on stage during the Celebration of Life program, cheered on by over 260 fundraisers and supporters. The “stars” included Blaze, a 3-year-old who sang his ABCs, and Eliot, who turned 9 that day. Alyssa, 18, expressed gratitude for the college scholarship she received this year. “I would not be able to go to school without it, so thank all of you for your donations.” The first-place fundraisers were: * Individuals: Larry Coffield and Kay Mooney, $6,650 * Club/Chapter: GWRRA PA-D, $11,479 * Motorcycle Business: N&R Trike Shop, $8,561 Laura Ebbert of Allison Park, Penn., won the grand prize, a Honda motorcycle. Local task force leaders Gordon Snyder, Linda Eaves, Laura Ebbert and Steve Kovac were thanked for organizing a terrific day for the kids. ABOUT THE PBTF RIDE FOR KIDS The national Ride for Kids program and the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation (PBTF) promote childhood brain tumor research and provide family support through free literature about brain tumors, educational newsletters, online conferences and college scholarships. The next Ride for Kids event is Aug. 16 in North Oxford, Mass. For more information, go to http://pbtf.convio.net/site/ R?i=Gm4IOXySS73EbPHQZou3og.. or call 800-253-6530.
Some Of My Favorite Quotes You May Feel Like You Live Your Life In Chains, But Only You Have The Key! ~Eagles You Can’t Please Everyone, So you Got To Please Yourself ~Ricky Nelson “The secret point of money and power in America is neither the things that money can buy nor power for power’s sake… but absolute PERSONAL freedom, mobility, privacy. It is the instinct which drove America to the Pacific, all through the nineteenth century, the desire to be able to find a restaurant open in case you want a sandwich, to be a free agent, live by one’s own rules” Joan Didion, Slouching Towards Bethlehem “Happiness is the consequence of personal effort” ~Elizabeth Gilbert HAPPINESS IS A CHOICE!
The Value Of Time To realize the value of a sister/brother Ask someone who doesnt have one. To realize the value of ten years: Ask a newly Divorced couple. To realize the value of four years: Ask a graduate. To realize The value of one year: Ask a student who Has failed a final exam. To realize The value of nine months: Ask a mother who gave birth to a stillborn. To realize The value of one month: Ask a mother who has given birth to a premature baby. To realize The value of one week: Ask an editor of a weekly newspaper. To realize the value of one minute: Ask a person who has missed the train, bus or plane. To realize the value of one second: Ask a person who has survived an accident. Time waits for no one. Treasure every moment you have. You will treasure it even more when you can share it with someone special. To realize the value of a friend or family member: LOSE ONE.
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MUST SHARE WITH YOU KNOWLEDGE LEARNED AFER ALL THESE YEARS OF COOKING........DO NOT EVER FRY YOUR BACON AGAIN! SPREAD IT OUT ON YOUR BROILER PAN FLAT, PLACE IN 350 DEGREE OVEN, BAKE FOR APPRX. 10-12 MINS., COMES OUT PERFECTLY GOLEN BROWN EVERY SINGLE TIME! FLAT, NO ROLLED EDGES, NO FATTY ENDS..... PERFECT! FOR CRISPIER, LEAVE IN FOR 15 MINS. STILL DRAIN ON PAPER TOWELS. THUNDER COMFORT GRILLED CHEESE W/ EXTRAS (4) SLICES OF THICK, FRESH BAKERY BREAD 1 STICK OF REAL BUTTER, TOTALLY SOFTENED 4 THICK SLICES OF RIPE, BRADLEY TOMATOES 4 SLICES OF HAVARTI CHEESE 8 SLICES OF CRISP BACON (DO OVEN METHOD) 1 HONEY BEAR OF HONEY 1 SMALL BUNCH OF FRESH BASIL; CHOPPED Place (2) unbuttered sides of breads down on counter and begin layering your sandwiches. First lay down the bacon, then cheese, then tomatoes, next drizzle honey over tomatoes and sprinkle fresh basil on top of tomatoes. Cover with other slice of bread and butter it generously. Melt enough butter in medium hot skillet to cover bottom completely and place unbuttered side of sandwiches down into butter. Let get golden brown and flip and buttered side will brown up golden brown also. Serve with small side of honey mixed into mayo for dipping. REALLY QUICK & CREAMY FROZEN LIME PIE 12 OZ. TUB COOL WHIP 1 CAN CONDENSED MILK 1/2 CAN FROZEN LIME JUICE ZEST OF (1) LIME 1 PRE-MADE GRAHAM CRACKER CRUST Pour all into large glass mixing bowl, or ceramic. Zest your lime in last, but save some back for the top of pie. Mix all together thoroughly and pour mixture into graham crust. Freeze solid for one hour take out and add more lime zest to top and a few thinly slices of lime twisted up for garnish and dot all around the outer edge with canned whip cream dollops for decoration. So smoooooooth & creamy!
SUPER SIMPLE ORANGE SHRIMP SALAD Sauce: Zest (2) whole oranges; use all juice from one of them. chop coarse handful of fresh dill Combine all w/ 1-1/2cups of real mayo Shrimp: (1) bag of pre-veined, frozen x-large shrimp Run under cold water until totally thawed.....use entire bag. pull off tails. Pat dry w/ clean paper towels. Spread shrimp out on baking sheet; sprinkle w/ cracked black pepper & salt & a touch of garlic powder Roast in 350 oven for 5 mins. Remove from oven & while still warm, mix up in your sauce from above. Simple & Delicious! SUPER EASY RASBERRY BROWNIES WITH WHITE CHOCOLATE ICING (1) package of your favorite brownie mix. Do not overblend. Pour brownie mix into pre-sprayed pan that has been lightly dusted w/ flour. swirl in one bottle of heated (top off; in microwave, moistened paper towel over top) Rasberry Jam. Swirl it with a butter knife or wooden spoon all thru-out the brownie mix. Bake as per box directions. Remove when done and immediately drizzle melted white chocolate chips all over the entire top. decadent! FRIED TOMATOES & CREAM CHEESE (4) Large Bradley or Beef Steak Tomatoes 1 Pkg. Softened Philly Cream Cheese; Mix with Minced Fresh Basil, 1 Garlic Clove Minced, Minced Fresh Parsley or Dried. S&P to taste. Cut each tomato into 4 thick slices each. Place on paper towels to drain. Make up an egg wash in one small bowl, have another w/ flour & another w/ Italian bread crumbs. Take one slice of tomato & spread cream cheese mixture generously and thickly. Top w/ another tomato like a sandwich. Dip into flour first, then egg wash, then into bread crumbs. Fry in 3 Tbls. of Olive Oil & 3 Tbls. real butter till golden brown. Drain on paper towels. Serve hot. Phenom!
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Marriage Humour Wife: ‘What are you doing?’ Husband: Nothing. Wife: ‘Nothing...? You’ve been reading our marriage certificate for an hour.’ Husband: ‘I was looking for the expiration date.’ ------------------------------Wife : ‘Do you want dinner?’ Husband: ‘Sure! What are my choices?’ Wife: ‘Yes or no.’ Wife: ‘You always carry my photo in your wallet.. Why?’ Hubby: ‘When there is a problem, no matter how great, I look at your picture and the problem disappears.’ Wife: ‘You see how miraculous and powerful I am for you?’ Hubby: ‘Yes! I see your picture and ask myself what other problem can there be greater than this one?’ -------------------------------------------------------Stress Reliever Girl: ‘When we get married, I want to share all your worries, troubles and lighten your burden.’ Boy: ‘It’s very kind of you, darling, but I don’t have any worries or troubles.’ Girl: ‘Well that’s because we aren’t married yet.’ -----------------------------Son: ‘Mum, when I was on the bus with Dad this morning, he told me to give up my seat to a lady.’ Mom: ‘Well, you have done the right thing..’ Son: ‘But mum, I was sitting on daddy’s lap.’ ________________________________ A newly married man asked his wife, ‘Would you have married me if my father hadn’t left me a fortune?’ ‘Honey,’ the woman replied sweetly, ‘I’d have married you, NO MATTER WHO LEFT YOU A FORTUNE!’ ------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------A wife asked her husband: ‘What do you like most in me, my pretty face or my sexy body?’ He looked at her from head to toe and replied: ‘I like your sense of humor!’ Husbands are husbands A man was sitting reading his papers when his wife hit him on the head with a frying pan. ‘What was that for?’ the man asked. The wife replied ‘That was for the piece of paper with the name Jenny on it that I found in your pants pocket’. The man then said ‘When I was at the races last week Jenny was the name of the horse I bet on’ The wife apologized and went on with the housework. Three days later the man is watching TV when his wife bashes him on the head with an even bigger frying pan, knocking him unconscious. Upon re-gaining consciousness the man asked why she had hit again. Wife replied. ‘Your horse phoned’ Let us pray.................... Give me a sense of humour, Lord, Give me the grace to see a joke, To get some humour out of life, And pass it on to other folk DONALD AND DAISY Donald Duck and Daisy Duck were spending the night together in a hotel room and Donald wanted to make love with Daisy. The first thing Daisy asked was, ‘Do you have a condom?’ Donald frowned and said, ‘No.’ Daisy told Donald that if he didn’t get a condom, they could not have sex. ‘Maybe they sell them at the front desk,’ she suggested. So Donald went down to the lobby and asked the hotel clerk if they had condoms. ‘Yes, we do,’ the clerk said and pulled a box out from under the counter and gave it to Donald. The clerk asked, ‘Would you like me to put them on your bill?” ‘No!’ Donald quacked, ‘I’ll thuffocate’
Girl to her boyfriend: One kiss and I’ll be yours forever. The guy replies: ‘Thanks for the early warning.’ Thunder Roads Magazine 26
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Why so formal? Part II Motorcyclists at the beginning of the 20th century certainly reflected the status quo of fashion in American society. But the clothing worn by motorcyclists was not all “conventional.” There were items designed or adapted to meet the particular needs of the motorcycle rider. For instance, the unprecedented speeds achieved by the motorcycle resulted in harsher wind effects than those experienced on more common and slower means of transportation. As a result, long-wristed, sturdy gauntlets were created to provide extra protection for the wrists and lower arms and especially to prevent wind from blowing up the coat sleeveÑa curse for the early rider and one that could not be prevented by traditional short-wristed gloves. Because motorcycle riding shared traits with horseback riding, the high boots and wide pants (or jodhpurs) of equestrians were adapted for motorcycle use. Jodhpurs allowed freedom of movement for the knees and hips. And the high boots provided the necessary protection from the heat of the engine and the constant barrage of debris thrown up from the dirt roads that were an inescapable part of travel in the first decades of the 20th century. Long-distance riders and racers took the protection provided by high boots one step further by creating the “puttee,” an ultra-heavy, strap-on lower leg shield that offered the necessary armor against the relentless punishment
dished out by dirt tracks traversed at high speeds and dirt roads on long runs. Harley-Davidson and its dealers also promoted the purchase of specially designed riding suits, as described in a 1916 ad: “...[here] is a natty suit, obtainable either in government khaki or mole-skin cloth, that is exactly what most riders want. It incorporates several ideas that were suggested by men at the factory who have had much experience in road riding under varying weather conditions.” Khaki was an extremely durable material and moleskin cloth was known for its warmth and, as advertisements said, “while not classed as waterproof, moleskin will stand a pretty fair shower.” This made these suits extremely practical riding gear. But these suits and other HarleyDavidson clothing, while designed with rider comfort and safety in mind, were not meant to make the rider stand out from the rest of society. Instead, Harley-Davidson knew the business necessity of appealing to the general populace, which put great value on neatness and propriety of dress. As the company wrote to the dealers: “The advantages to the dealer of having his riders neatly dressed have been described so often that upon this subject every-one undoubtedly agrees. In line with our policy of practicing what we preach we are seeking to co-operate with dealers in improving the style of riding suits.” In spite of the emphasis on neatness, practicality and conventionality, it is a mistake to assume that early Harley-Davidson motorcycle riders did not value individuality and adventure. Early riders were, after all, taking a risk with a new and relatively untested form of travel. And they certainly showed their spirit of adventure in trying a new sport and a new way of getting away from the weekly routine. Even if their clothing was conservative, their spirits were not. Change happens gradually, and as the motorcycle became more accepted, riders found new ways to stand apart from the crowd. And their clothing, as can be seen from the riding gear of today, has changed, too.
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The Little People THE LITTLE PEOPLE You often hear the expression, “Protect The Children”. This is a very powerful statement that covers many aspects of life. When it comes to motorcycling, the seriousness of that statement should not be held lightly in any tone, when it comes to children’s safety. When having the little people as our passengers, head to toe protection is a must, along with brightly colored clothing as well. What if the unthinkable happens, do we treat the injuries of a child any differently than an adult? For the most part, you treat injuries the same as you would an adult. However, there are a few important points that should be brought forward. First, children are extremely resilient, in other words, they bounce pretty good. A child’s bones are soft and can withstand a significant blunt force, however, do not use this as a gauge. A child’s bones can fracture too, and they can suffer a significant amount of blood loss from a fracture, not to mention pain as well. Second, a child’s blood volume is less than adults for obvious reasons. Third, as an adult, we have defense mechanisms built in to our bodies, which allow our bodies to compensate prior to going into shock. There are several different types of shock that the human body can enter into, if interested, Google the different types of shocks of the human body, and I am sure you will find it quite fascinating. For example, if we loose a significant amount of blood, (know as hypovolemic shock), our bodies compensate by increasing our pulse and respirations. However, this will only last for so long, until the body will not compensate any longer. There are usually signs and symptoms that medical professionals can detect before this happens. In a child, they may seem fine all the way up to the very end of their compensation, then they decompensate rapidly. Finally, of course depending on the situation, a child can become much more fearful and emotional in a traumatic situation; it is up to your calmness and composure to keep the panic monster away from the scene. The bottom line is, if a child is injured in an accident, and no matter how severe or not severe you may think it is, immediately stop all bleeding, cover and keep them warm, maintain an open airway, remain calm, and seek professional medical help most promptly. Contact your local Red Cross, Ambulance Service, or Fire Department for First Aid and/or CPR Courses. God Bless, ride free, and please protect The Little People.
weather. The times that parts of my body, (arms, back of neck, etc.) were exposed to the sun, I did make sure I was protected. Well, for the most part anyway. I forgot to protect my lips, and ouch, they got burned. I will not preach to you about the harmful rays of the sun and the nasty things it can do to our skin, however, let’s talk about the differences in Sun Blocks, Sun Screens, and Sun Protection Factor (SPF). Ultraviolet Light is absorbed by Sunscreens before it reaches your skin; Sun Blocks actually block the harmful Ultraviolet Rays. Both screens and blocks work well, however, scientists say that blocks do a better job. However, scientists also say that neither one does a perfect job. That is why it is important to follow the product application and reapplication directions thoroughly that you choose. Many products today have a mixture of blocks and screens in them which are very good. Oh, but what SPF should I use? Good question. SPF is a measure of the effectiveness of a block or screen. The SPF indicates the time a person with the sunscreen or sun block applied can be exposed to sunlight before getting sunburned relative to the time a person without sunscreen/sun block can be exposed. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sunscreen) Example, someone who would burn from constant exposure to the sun in 10 minutes, it would take 100 minutes with SPF 10. The higher the SPF, the more and longer protection you have, I use no less than 45 SPF and it is recommended no less than 15 SPF. If you do get a sun burn, which is considered a First Degree Burn, keep the area cool and dry, and avoid using ointments. Ointments contain oils and lubricants which can intensify the pain and cause further burn. If the burn is severe in nature, seek medical attention immediately. Here are some helpful tips for additional protection. Use a water resistant screen or block, wear clothing that covers exposed areas, wear hats, sun glasses and such. Use extra caution around water, snow and sand, seek as much shade as possible, and please, please protect the children. Ride safe, ride free, and have fun in the sun this season.
SUNSHINE I recently took a wonderful road trip through the states of Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Virginia, North Carolina, and Tennessee. I was able to view some beautiful National Forests and Mountain Regions. Of course, I took all the essentials for such a trip, clothing for all weather, cell phone and charger, medication, toiletries, etc. One of the most important items that I took was sun block, however, the majority of time; I was covered for the cool mountain Thunder Roads Magazine 29
News Bytes NY STATE POLICE SUED OVER MOTORCYCLE-ONLY ROADBLOCKS Upstate New York has earned a reputation as the speeding ticket capital of the country, but even with overeager state troopers patrolling the highways, motorcyclists feel singled out by law enforcement. That’s why one rider/attorney is taking the state police, along with county and state officials to court. According to legal documents filed by Mitch Proner, Aid to Injured Motorcyclists (AIM) Attorney for New York, the state’s institution of roadblocks exclusively for motorcyclists is unconstitutional: the motorcyclist and personal injury lawyer claims that without justifiable cause, the checkpoints infringe on riders’ First Amendment rights to freedom of assembly and association and their Fourth Amendment right to freedom from unreasonable search and seizure. For nearly two years now, the New York State Police (NYSP) have been conducting highway roadblocks diverting only motorcyclists from the state’s roadways to perform “safety checks”. According to ABATE of New York, “Since motorcycles operated in New York are already required to pass annual safety inspections, the current NYSP initiative continues to serve only to harass, intimidate and inconvenience motorcyclists traveling upon the state’s roadways. Further, motorcycle-only roadblocks of this nature are a discriminatory and unconstitutional infringement upon an individual’s right to travel without interference, and an abuse of discretionary power as acknowledged by the New York State Court of Appeals.” Proner told Autoblog.com that he is filing the federal class action suit at the Federal Court for the Northern District of New York on behalf of his fellow riders. ABATE of New York has pledged support of the class-action initiative brought on behalf of the National Coalition of Motorcyclists (NCOM). MULTI-FACETED MOTORCYCLE BILL ENACTED IN TEXAS Senate Bill 1967, authored by Texas State Senator John Carona (R-Dallas) and sponsored by Representative Norma ”Da’Lady” Chavez (D-El Paso), introduces many motorcycle-related changes in the Lone Star State. Included in the bill are 1) funding by Texas Department of Transportation for a public awareness campaign to promote motorcyclist safety and the concept of sharing the road with motorcyclists; 2) changes to the definition of a motorcycle to include certain enclosed three-wheeled passenger vehicles; 3) changes to the licensing requirements for enclosed three-wheeled passenger vehicles; 4) a requirement for all applicants for a motorcycle license or endorsement on a regular or commercial driver’s license to provide proof of successful completion of a basic motorcycle operator training course; 5) penalties for failure to yield the right-ofway violations resulting in bodily injury range from $500 to $2,000 while those resulting in serious bodily injury range from $1,000 to $4,000; 6) a prohibition against stopping or detaining a motorcycle operator or passenger solely to determine whether the person has successfully completed a motorcycle operator training and safety course or is covered by a health insurance plan; 7) a requirement for the
Department of Transportation to develop a standard of proof of health insurance coverage for adult motorcycle operators and passengers; and 8) a requirement that all driver education courses or driving safety courses include information on motorcycle awareness, dangers of failure to yield the rightof-way to motorcyclists, and the need to share the road with motorcyclists. Governor Rick Perry signed the bill into law on June 19; it becomes effective September 1, 2009. “We made history, Warriors,” exclaimed Sputnik, State Chairman of the Texas Motorcycle Rights Association (TMRA-II) and Chairman of the National Coalition of Motorcyclists Legislative Task Force (NCOM-LTF). “We owe Da’Lady and her entire staff a huge debt of gratitude for all the work they did for riders this session.” MISSOURI RIDERS SEEING RED For most drivers, red means stop. But if you’re riding a motorcycle or a bicycle in Missouri , it will soon mean stop, but only sort of. A new Missouri law that takes effect Aug. 28 allows motorcycle and bike riders to run red lights, but only if they stop first and the signal remains red for an “unreasonable time.” Missouri will join a growing number of states that have enacted similar laws, which are intended to address occasions when motorcycles or bikes aren’t detected by traffic signal sensors in the road. Many traffic signals are triggered by a magnetic reaction coupled with wires embedded in the pavement. The wires are sized in such a way that they are more likely to be tripped by a car or truck, but some motorcycles and bikes tend not to trip the signal because they have less mass and are made with parts that aren’t attracted to a magnet. In cities with intersections patrolled by red-light cameras, when a picture is taken of a red-light runner, police should be able to apply the law by looking at video of the possible violation, and if a rider does get a ticket the new law will provide a defense. Missouri is the eighth state to pass this kind of law since 2002, and three other states considered similar legislation this year. CITIES MUFFLE MOTORCYCLE NOISE Many state legislatures and city councils are making lots of noise about motorcycles, with new ordinances popping up across the country to silence loud exhausts. “Loud Pipes Save Lives” has been a biker mantra for years, but politicians spurred by citizen complaints have discovered new ways to muffle unwanted exhaust tones. The Albuquerque City Council voted 6-3 earlier this month to approve an ordinance making revving of motorcycle engines downtown a vehicle nuisance. Amending Section 7-10-3 ROA 1994, The Vehicle Nuisance Ordinance now reads: “It shall be unlawful for any person to engage in exhibition driving in the Downtown Quiet Zone by operating a vehicle in a manner that willfully creates excessive engine noise because of revving the engine to magnify the engine noise.” Bikers blasting through East Greenwich , Rhode Island may want to steer clear of town if their exhaust systems aren’t the proper match for their bikes. The Town Council unanimously
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News Bytes passed an emergency ordinance in late July allowing the police to pull over and levy fines on bikers if the noise-rating data stamped into the chrome of their exhaust doesn’t match the label on the bike frame. Modified exhaust systems are outlawed. The ordinance, now in effect, provides for fines $500 for the first offense, and jumps to $700 the second time and $1,000 for the third and each subsequent violation. Buddy Cardoso, president of the Rhode Island Motorcycle Association, who said his group supports courteous riding, inquired that if the labels have to match, “What do you do, throw away the motorcycle if the exhaust wears out?” Owners of other vehicles are allowed to use aftermarket exhaust systems, and it is unfair to single out bikers, he said. In West Virginia , the Charleston City Council let it be known loud and clear that nuisance noise will not be tolerated, and unanimously passed an ordinance on August 17 to crack down on loud music, barking dogs and revving of car and motorcycle engines in residential areas, with fines up to $250. In an attempt to silence community concerns regarding excessive motorcycle exhaust sound, the Boston City Council fast-tracked enactment of Docket 0658 on June 3, 2009. The new ordinance mandates that all on-highway motorcycles built after December 31, 1982 must have either OEM (original equipment manufacturer) or aftermarket exhaust systems that comply with the US EPA labeling provision in the Code of Federal Regulations. Violations will result in a $300 fine. In California earlier this year a bill was held over that would have required periodic emissions testing for 2000-and-newer on-road motorcycles in an effort to make aftermarket exhaust systems illegal if they do not comply with EPA labeling. Meanwhile, the Motorcycle Industry Council has been working with the Society of Automotive Engineers International (SAE) to produce a stationary roadside sound test standard that can be used to determine whether a streetbike exhaust system emits excessive sound. “The new SAE standard provides a much-needed alternative to outright bans, restrictions and sound test standards that vary state to state and city to city, frustrating riders, exhaust system manufacturers, and municipal governments alike,” said MIC President Tim Buche.
as if that wasn’t a defiant enough show of unity, a group of motorcycling enthusiasts, including members of opposing clubs, are only a few application process steps away from forming a legitimate political party. The unlikely alliance, known as the FREE Australia Party, hopes to hit South Australia’s premier where it hurts - in parliament. The party’s leader, Paul Kuhn - a committee member of the Motorcycle Riders Association of SA and a Justice of the Peace - said the group was formed because of deep concern anyone associated with a member of a club would be found guilty under the law. “The Government is now controlling and dictating relationships,” he said. Kuhn is not the only member of the public questioning the civil liberties said to be lost under the Act. The SA Law Society, the SA Council of Social Services, various Aboriginal groups, the Greens and the Australian Democrats have all voiced concern about the legislation. A member of the Gypsy Jokers MC told the press services that the event proves that bikie clubs could get along, despite what the Government was trying to show. “These laws have brought the clubs together,” he said.
WEIRD NEWS: TURKEY GOES WILD OVER BIKERS Freddy the turkey, the famous and notorious foul who trotted around town much to the delight of Easton, Massachusetts residents, met his demise this month after becoming a menace to motorcyclists. The wild turkey wandered out of the woods and became a common sight and mascot in the Five Corners area, where he ruled the roost and was often seen gobbling up bargains at the local stores and strutting across busy streets like he was on parade. But the gadabout gobbler went from docile dollar-store shopper to motorcycle menace over the past few months, prompting police to put him down. “Things had really gotten nasty,” said Police Chief Allen R. Krajcik. “We were thankful there had been no accidents yet. It was only a matter of time before something happened.” Police began received calls and e-mails from motorcyclists asking whether police were waiting for an accident before taking action. “One motorcyclist told police that the bird flew at his face with his feet forward to attack him,” the chief told the local newspaper. To escape, the driver drove through a red light, narrowly avoiding an accident. Similar attacks had been reported in increasing ANTI-BIKER LAWS UNITING CLUBS numbers, and like other repeat offenders Freddy was rackDesigned to dismantle “Bikie Gangs”, South Australia’s recently adopted anti-biker legislation appears to be having ing up a long record of dangerous activity, victimizing mostly motorcyclists. Meanwhile, police stood by their actions, saythe reverse effect - serving to unite rival clubs. Gypsy Jokers, Hells Angels, Rebels, Finks and Descendents motorcy- ing they initially intended to capture the turkey and relocate cle club members are coming together in protest against the it to a less populated environment. But the state Division of Serious and Organised Crime Control Act, which came into Fisheries and Wildlife advised against it, saying the turkey effect in June last year. The Act is described by the Govern- could introduce diseases to its new habitat, and advised ment as being the toughest law of its kind in the world, and euthanizing, according to Chief Krajcik. is designed to dismantle biker “gangs” by declaring memQUOTABLE QUOTE: “History does not entrust the care of bership or association with outlawed clubs illegal. The Act freedom to the weak or timid.” also includes new charges, which carry up to 10 years jail, for bikie club members and their associates who engage in Dwight D. Eisenhower group violence. Hundreds of members of rival clubs participated in a Freedom of Association Protest Poker Run, and Thunder Roads Magazine 31
Brandon Lee Robinson Hello Everyone, The name is Brandon Lee Robinson and I’m a 19 year old professional flat track motorcycle racer from Oxford, PA. Like every professional motorcycle racer I have a storied background. Most riders have some sort of family history that is linked to the sport or the motorcycle industry. For me there was really no family background. Both my mom and dad came from a farming background, but my dad was always interested in racing. He finally began his career when he moved out from his parents, was married, and could afford to do it on his own. Not too long after he started racing full time for fun that I became of age to race. When I was four years old my parents got me my first motorcycle, a Yamaha PW 50. I started racing soon afterwards, once my parents felt I understood the basics of riding. My first couple of races I ran dead last, but by my seventh race I finally was able to hold, what I thought was the biggest trophy in the world, a first place award. Ever since the day I won my first race I knew exactly what I wanted to do with my life. I wanted to be a professional flat track motorcycle racer. It has taking me fourteen years, but I can finally say I’m a pretty successful professional flat track motorcycle racer competing on the toughest tour in the world. Before I skip my whole career let me rewind and give you a brief overview of my youth and amateur career. During my youth career I won multiple District championships and my parents finally took me to my first Amateur Grand Nationals in 2001, which then were held in Indianapolis, IN. In my first year attending the Amateur Nationals I went home ranked 7th place in the nation in the 80cc class. After that I was able to wrap up close to two dozen Regional National Championships, two Winter National Championships, and one Grand National Championship. During my final season as an amateur in 2006, I was awarded the Rodney Farris Rider of the Year Award, which is given to the next up and coming flat track racer in the PA, MD, & DE area that has the best chance of a prosperous professional career. In 2007 I turned pro, racing in the Pro-sport class, which is the beginning pro class. During my first year as a professional I was able to grab one race win and took 2nd Overall
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in the AMA Hot Shoe Pro Sport National Championship. In 2008 I moved up to the Grand National tour with my basic expert license. This allowed me to compete in the GNC Singles Championship and GNC Basic Twins. The basic twin’s class is a pretty new class that was created to allow younger pro’s an opportunity to get seat time and experience riding the twins and be able to chase a championship. At my first and second ever grand nationals at Daytona Beach, FL, I not only qualified for the main event both nights, but was able to cross the checkers with a 9th and 14th place finish. The rest of 2008 I focused on the GNC Basic Twins championship. I took a 2nd place at the first round and then notched a string of five wins in a row that ultimately propelled me to the 2008 AMA GNC Basic Twins National Championship. For 2009 I have moved up to the top tier in professional flat track racing by competing in the AMA GNC Flat Track Championship. My goal for this season is to win the Ricky Graham Rookie of the Year Award. Thus far this season has been going very well as I’ve qualified for six of seven Grand National main events I have attended. The next stop in the Grand National tour is Grove City, OH on August 16, 2009. Hope to see you at the track and I also want to thank all my sponsors, family, and friends for all of their support that have made my dreams come true. If you would like to know more about me or get in contact with me please visit my website at www.BRobinson44.com. On a side note I have recently opened my own business called Ruckus 44, which is an action sports casual clothing store. I am a dealer for brands such as Alpinestars, Hurley, Fox, One Industries, and Spy Optic. If you have some free time come check it out. Sponsors: Action Motorsports, Lancaster H-D, Arai, Moose Racing, Power Bar, Motion Pro, Tepic Leathers, Seal Savers, Tipton Trucking, Maxima Oils, CP Pistons, Hotcams, PMP Sprockets, Supertrapp, Fusion Graphix, Scott USA, Engine Ice, Penske Shocks, PR2 Racing Technology, Chicken Hawk, Shayna, Joe & Rich Reynalds, Jim Ch``apman, Grand Parents, & Parents
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The Justin LeFevre Foundation What is the Justin LeFevre Foundation?
The Foundation was organized in 2002 in memory of Justin, to join the Battle Against Cancer in Kids, and Support Local Youth. The foundation is a non-profit, tax-exempt, charitable organization under 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue code. Justin was a typical high school sophomore until his world was rocked in September of 2000 with the news that he had a cancerous tumor from the Ewings Sarcoma family of tumors growing in his pelvis. A football player at Conestoga Valley High School, Justin remained active in sports and social activities. Justin lost his battle with the disease two months after his seventeenth birthday, but not before he earned the respect and admiration from many for the courage and determination he displayed in fighting his illness. Cancer kills more children in the United States than any other disease. The Foundation seeks to promote awareness of the need for funding, and to raise funds in Justin’s memory to provide resources for pediatric cancer research and offer support to local youth organizations. How much money we raised and where the Foundation donates? To date the Foundation has donated $155,000 to the Four Diamonds Cancer Research Institute at the Penn State Hershey Medical Center in Hershey, PA. In addition the Foundation has supported graduating high school football players at the Conestoga Valley High School with $10,000 in scholarships, and offered support to other local youth organizations, Hospice of Lancaster County and families in need, having donated just under $200,000 in total.
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How the motorcycle ride got started? Shortly after Justin’s passing, his parents Jeanie LeFevre-Glick and Dean Glick founded the Justin LeFevre Foundation, a nonprofit organization that raises funds in Justin’s memory to fight children’s cancer. Jeanie LeFevre-Glick serves as president. Don Weidman, Justin’s uncle, came up with the idea for the motorcycle ride. Don said that the idea seemed natural to him, because he rides motorcycles and he remembers how much Justin enjoyed riding with him. It was one of Justin’s passions and he loved to ride. Don would take Justin on motorcycle rides to the Ephrata Cloister and loved spending the day with his uncle.
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Facts about the motorcycle ride: -held six motorcycle ride events -motorcycle ride raised $31,000 to date -total drivers and passengers over the past six years 1,070 -the annual ride is always held the last Sunday in September rain or shine -approximately 60 miles through the country side of Lancaster County This year’s motorcycle ride: The seventh annual motorcycle cycle ride will be held Sunday, September 27, 2009, rain or shine. The ride starts at the Conestoga Valley Middle School, 500 Mount Sidney Road, Lancaster, PA 17602. We will stop along the way for a drink and a stretch and then finish our ride with refreshments and door prizes. Registration is at 1:00PM with the ride starting at 1:30PM. All drivers receive a foundation t-shirt (Don’s wife Jill Weidman designs the t-shirts) and drivers and passengers are eligible for door prizes. Cost is $25 per driver and a $10 per passenger. Visit our website www.justinlefevrefoundation. org for more information about the foundation and motorcycle ride.
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