Thunder Roads Texas - November 2011 by Thunder Roads Texas

The MOST Comprehensive Event Listing Published in Texas!

Honoring Our Troops Monthly Ride Map: Texas Highway 36 Memorial to the 36th Division

November 2011 ThunderRoadsTexas.com

Also Inside:

ď &#x2DC;

Riding with the Brotherhood of Firefighters

Contents ď &#x2DC;

November 2011

On the Cover 28 Monthly Ride Map: Honoring Our Troops Texas Highway 36; 36th Division Memorial Highway This Month 27

Riding with the Brotherhood of Firefighters; 9/11 Tribute Ride

Regular Features 6

From the Editor

From the Road

PigTrails: The Group Ride

Two Wheel Thunder TV Review: How Pink do You Ride/

Pink Thunder: Motorcycles for the Soul

30 32

ThunderCam Jokerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Wild

NE W

Resources 19

Event Listing

CENTER - Pull-Out November 2011 Calendar 35

12 34

Biker Friendly Listing

On the cover: Chief Warrant Officer 4, Michael Williams, U. S. Army (Ret.), a member of the 4th Infantry Division and the 1st Cavalry Division at Ft. Hood, Texas, served several tours of duty overseas including Korea, Bosnia and Iraq. Chief Warrant Officer Williams earned numerous military awards and citations including the fourth-highest combat award of the U.S. Armed Forces, the Bronze Star Medal. Photo by Randy McCamey.

OWNERS Bob Cooney, CEO/Photography ThunderRoadsBob@yahoo.com Shelly “TX Dragonfly” Horan, Editor Shelly@ThunderRoadsTexas.com

ADVERTISING SALES

Thunder Roads Texas Main Office 281.866.8149 ThunderRoadsBob@yahoo.com

Bonnie Estes - Austin/Hill Country AngelWing1555@yahoo.com 512.673.6679

Reynolds Mansson - Statewide M2Motomedia@gmail.com 210.259.9916

Linda Morris - Houston tatewaci3322@msn.com 713.897.9109

Bill “Shovelhead” Barnes - Houston ThunderRoadsBill@yahoo.com 321.960.6161 Justin Turnage - DFW jtrockone8@gmail.com 254.205.1447

Thunder Roads Texas Bob Cooney & Shelly Horan State Edition Owners 4631 Cashel Glen Drive Houston, TX 77069 281.866.8149 ThunderRoadsTexas.com

Manuel A. Valladares - DFW MValladares@saferis.net 214.245.6217

Angela Epperson - Waco/DFW AJoyEpperson@aol.com 254.493.3830 James Williams - San Antonio/Hill Country James@TexasMotorcycleAdventures.com 830.708.6198

IN MEMORIAM

Mean Gene Kelton 1953-2010 Feature Writer - Black Leather Blues Thunder Roads Texas 2009-2010

Layout & Design Shelly Horan Top of Mind Marketing 832.585.4045 Top.of.Mind.Marketing@gmail.com Thunder Publishing, LLC Toni & Brian Shearon National Founders 1528 Matlock Drive Chapmansboro, TN 37035 615.792.0040 ThunderRoadsMagazine.com Thunder Roads Magazine® is Trade Marked and may not be used in any way without consent from Thunder Publishing. Thunder Roads Magazine of Texas is published by Thunder Roads Texas. 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®, Thunder Publishing, or Thunder Roads Texas. Publisher does not promote the abuse of alcohol or other drugs. Ride & live responsibly. Thank you. Thunder Roads Magazine®, Thunder Publishing, and Thunder Roads Texas. Thunder Roads Texas is a wholly separate entity from Thunder Publishing LLC and Thunder Roads Magazine editions in other states. As such, content that runs in other states’ editions has no relation to the content in Thunder Roads Texas. Unless specifically stated, Thunder Roads Texas does not endorse, and is not responsible for, any content in other Thunder Roads Magazine editions.

Laura Mae Benson - Houston/Galveston Laura.ThunderRoadsMagazine@gmail.com 979.481.9642

Amy Conklin - Houston TRM.Amy@gmail.com 832.498.6693 Bob Engler - Plano/DFW Trip@BlackBettysBlog.com 302.229.4156

FEATURE WRITERS

“Crazy Al” - PigTrails; Peggy Beck - Two Wheel Thunder TV Reviews; Joni “Even Meaner” Kelton, Brandy “Tex” Valdez, Terri Williams (TMRA2) Calendar Photos & Other Photography Work Lonn Hafferty Black Chair Photography

CORRESPONDENTS Kitti Kluna - Houston; Ron Blansett - Houston; Linda Morris - Houston; Mark Appenzeller - D/FW; Joyce Siegert - D/FW; Brian “Native NYer” - D/FW; Travis “Blydawg” Blythe - D/FW; Dean Downey - Amarillo; Meghan Heller - Austin; Linda Nilsson - East Texas; Chantelle Sandberg - East Texas; George Darcy - Midland/Odessa; Kim Ferris; Shelly “Cricket” Beatty - Spring Branch; Sir Richard Vance - Corpus Christi; Randy McCamey - West Texas; Don Brewer - Livingston; Pete Martinez - Houston; Jason English - Piney Woods; Sean Kester - D/ FW; Roger Bowles - Waco; Lonnie & Pam Fitch - Galveston; Donny Phillips - LaPorte

This Year

It’s officially November... heading toward the end of the 2011 riding season. We are at Lone Star Rally in Galveston, hanging out at the Devil’s Cut Saloon, presented by Thunder Roads Texas. Hanging with our ole buddy, Outlaw Dave as he broadcasts live after leading hundreds of bikers to the Island in his annual Ranch Ride. Last month, I had the privilege to ride with quite a range of folks... I rode in the benefit ride for Texas LIPS (Ladies Into Purchasing Stock). The ride’s first stop was in Pearland, then three more stops, landing at The Loading Dock just off The Strand in Galveston. Nice ride, great folks! This group spends all year raising money to purchase livestock at the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo. I volunteer on Gatekeepers for Rodeo (7 years, now).... so this benefit was near and dear to my heart. Thanks to the efforts of more than 25,000 volunteers, the Houston Rodeo is the most successful scholarship program in the nation. Then I went riding with a friend, Sam. Introduced him to the yummy oysters at Gilhooly’s, then back through Noah’s Ark, then The Palapa Bar in Kemah. The following weekend, I was honored to ride with the Texas Free Riders from Houston down to the Seawall in Galvestion. A Houston-area MeetUp.com group I’ve been a member of for three years and this was my first chance to get to ride. What a GREAT group. The highlight at the tail end, before I had to climb aboard and head back north was watching one of the group couple-members’ son, Michael (photo right), thoroughly enjoy the band... and dancing with all the Brick House Tavern waitresses! The next ride was a little shorter, staying closer to home... we visited Papa’s on the Lake (Conroe), The Beer Joint (Magnolia), and RPMs (Magnolia). Total between the two weekends... 500 miles. Yay me!

Presented by

We hope this nicer weather has seen you be able to get on your steel steed and ride to your hearts content. While the dry weather is killing the trees and landscaping, it sure is making for nice riding weather. Take it when it comes. Make lemonade out of lemons (or margaritas out of your limes)! Ride safe... and ride with THUNDER! Shelly “TX Dragonfly” Horan Editor / Owner Shelly@ThunderRoadsTexas.com Owner, Top of Mind Marketing Top.of.Mind.Marketing@gmail.com

Page 6

November 2011

ThunderRoadsTexas.com

Texas to Tennessee Reunion Ride I now know what it’s like to ride a Harley across the United States, ABSOLUTELY INCREDIBLE!!! I recently reunited on Facebook (FB) with an old friend from Klein Oak High School, in Spring, Texas that I had not seen since 1988, when he graduated.

Meet Wounded Warrior Brian Fields... ... a 15 year Army veteran who served in Afghanistan and Iraq as an elite Ranger. We met Brian at Brooke Army Medical Center after the 2007 Texas Honor Ride thundered in. He was recovering from a IDE explosion that took both his legs when he was on foot patrol in Iraq. “I had planned on getting a new Harley when I got back from Iraq”, Brian told us. Never one to give up on his dreams, he asked if we could give him a hand with his wheelchair to get over to check out the bikes. The road to recovery was a long and hard one for Brian over the next two years In November 2009 when the Texas Honor Ride rolled into BAMC, Brian was one of the 600 riders on his new Harley Davidson Fatboy. His bike is not specially equipped. He rides with his two prosthetics legs just like any rider. Since then Brian has ridden in our September Fundraiser with his daughter Jenna on the back of his bike. Our wounded warriors amaze us! Join us November 12th on the Texas Honor Ride as we ride to support our wounded troops. What is it? A police escorted ride from Houston to Brooke Army Medical Center (BAMC) in San Antonio. We normally take over 600 bikes on the Texas Honor Ride. There is one fuel stop at Buc-ees in Luling (120 miles) and one rest stop at the #619 Exit on I-10 just outside of Luling. You can also join the ride at the #619 rest area if you are not from the Houston area or prefer to. Once we get to BAMC we will go on base and have lunch (Rudy’s BBQ) with our wounded warriors. There will be a live band to entertain us. A check will be presented for all funds raised this year. We need your support to have our best year to date. Date: Saturday November 12, 2011 Cost — $25 per ride, $10 for a passenger. Iron Horses if you ride, cages (cars) are welcomed. Pre-register and more information at TexasHonorRide.org All proceeds go to The Warrior & Family Sup-port Center on base to support our wounded warriors and their families. The Texas Honor Ride is a 100% volunteer organi-zation with no payroll and has been recognized by the Texas State Senate for our efforts.

The Pope Comes to Livingston Levi Pope that is; resident of Polk County and a Marine Corporal. He is an American Legion rider along with his dad Byron Pope. This was Levi’s third tour in Afghanistan. Byron Pope got all the Legion riders from the Post 212 in Coldspring to escort him home on our bikes. Levi also rides and we were going to take his bike to him to ride back. But his bike had been sitting up while he was gone and we could not get it started. So we did the next best thing… we took his prize truck. He did get to ride a little, one of the riders let him take his bike part of the way home. Too many times we went to Houston to escort caskets back of dead soldiers. This was a lot happier ride. Levi knew his Dad was coming to pick him up but was surprised to see so many bikes there. Mr. Pope is out of the Marines now and I hope we can get the rest of our men out of there ASAP.

Like I said we started talking via FB and emails about seven months ago. We had not had the chance to hook up with each other yet because he has been in Afghanistan for the last eight years and only comes home twice a year for about 15 days at a time. He has told me repeatedly that when he comes home all he likes to do is ride his bike which by the way is an absolute beauty!!! Me being the totally inexperienced rider considering the most I had ever been on a motorcycle was probably around the block decided to participate in a week long bike trip when my friend, Footsie Ferguson, encouraged me to come along for some good laughs and to re-kindle some old flames!!! WOW, what a ride that was to go about 3000 miles from Spring, Texas to Gatlinburg, Tennessee and back in five days and even a few sore butts to boot! One of the coolest spots we rode was the Dragon’s Tail Ride through the Smoky Mountains which I have enclosed a few excellent pictures from there. I have to say that it was a great way to reunite with a good friend who will be so sadly missed when he leaves to return to Afghanistan on October the 17th but I hope that I don’t have to wait another siix months before I ride on the back of a bike again because I would do it all over again and again without any hesitations!!! Look out to all you Riders who are looking for a Good Passenger, Nicki

WCBC Check Presentation We did the check presentation to the Women’s Center of Brazoria County of the money made at our 9th annual fundraiser. The total check amount was $64,258.36 And then TinMan and my stepson Cody and everybody presented me with a WCBC ring just like his that my motherin-law made. They made me cry in front of everybody. I was shocked because there was only supposed to be one ring - TinMan’s. But now they said there will only be two of these rings, since he and I were the founders of the WCBC Fundraiser. Thank you to Moms, TinMan and all those who had anything to do with the fundraiser and my ring. I know that was a hard secret to keep; especially my wife Beth. Next year 2012 will be our 10th Annual Women’s Center of Brazoria County Fundraiser. It will be a decade of raising money to help battered women in our area. So everybody enjoy your holidays and early next year we will start gearing up for it. Thanks again to everybody. None of it would be possible without y’all! Digger

Find us, Befriend us, Follow us, Join us!

Ride Safe. Biker Don

Page 8

November 2011

ThunderRoadsTexas.com

Texas-based, Texas-focused, Texas PROUD!

November 2011

Page 9

The Group Ride love group rides. From the very start of the planning it’s like you’re the cruise director and the ship is about to be boarded with people that just want to have a blast! Even the invite has to be well planned out. It needs to be informative, descriptive, inviting, and most of all sound fun! You have to cover all the W’s… Where, When, What and, of course, the Wow factor! Don’t forget to tell them what time to meet and what time you plan on starting the ride. Make it clear that you state that if they are late the group will not be there! Kick stands up means we are on the road! I always make sure and start all my rides from the parking lot of a gas station. Then you can make sure the group is gassed up and ready to go. There is nothing worse than having to change your route in the middle to find a gas station when you’re out in the boon docks. You want to make sure and inform the group that you will be getting a bite to eat along the way. Be specific about the location of your food stop and how long into the ride that you will be arriving there. I say this because you don’t have to be around bikers for very long to find out the second most important thing other than the ride itself is food! Bikers are fanatical on everything café! If you name a state they can tell you where the best place is to pick you up some of mama’s homemade apple cobbler or that world famous chicken fried steak that is the size of a spare tire. Alright let’s check off the list to get a good group ride going. Where to meet. What time your leaving, where to eat, and let’s gas up and go! Next are the questions you’re going to get from the group pre-ride! Did I say stupid questions? Wait there are no stupid questions! Just stupid people asking questions! I’m just kidding! But I do have my pet peeves… The #1 no-no question of all time is “How long is the ride?” I always tell them it’s going to be 500 miles. There are 500 reactions to that answer. I just tell them that when the ride is over than we will then know how long the ride was! Does that make since? Does to me! No-no #2 and I love #2… “Who all is

Page 10

November 2011

going?” Are you kidding me? How the hell do I know? No offense to any biker out there but I have found that 90% of all bikers do nothing more than tell you why they can’t go on the ride. Everything from I have to walk the dogs or I have to repair the fence! Do you really want to do these things more than go on a ride? Me personally I would lie about it. Say you have to volunteer at the homeless shelter. That’s just wrong! Last time someone asked me this question I told them that nobody is going on the ride but if you show up than we have one! Again do you see where I’m going with this? Whoever actually shows up to ride are the people that are going on the ride! And you have to actually be there to see for yourself that those people are there to ride! Very confusing! No-no #3 is where I get a little mean. “How much farther?” Till what? If you ask me this, your ride is probably over! I will point to the closest freeway and hope you jump on it! In the invite I made it clear where we were going and usually lunch is in the middle. Do the math! Don’t get me wrong by the tone of my words I love bikers and every quirky little thing they do! Just for fun lets go over a few of the traits that make us special! We enjoy reading a good book of maps rather than a good novel! We will ride 250 miles just to see if that slice of pie is really that good! A decision we have rolling around in our heads is weather to wave at the boys on the crotch rocket bikes or not. I do! When we ride our bikes to work we check on it around five times an hour just to make sure it’s ok! I have even been known to ask my bike if everything is good. Yep! One thing is for sure we love our bikes and the people that ride them. Every group ride ends up with a great collection of personalities with a common goal. Relax and enjoy the ride!

There really is nothing better than getting home from a full day of riding and reflecting on all the things we enjoyed along our journey. Great roads, awesome landscapes, beautiful scenery, funny moments, good conversations, meeting new people and the love of the motorcycle lifestyle! I have so many fond memories of incredible group rides. And a few crazy stories I would rather not remember at all! It’s all part of the ride! I try to look at motorcycling like I look at life. Enjoy it while you can. Make the most of every moment. Do it right because doing it wrong may be the end of the road. Over the past year I have learned the hard way how precious life is. It’s not against the law to be happy all the time. If you find yourself bitching about your daily grind, just ask yourself if it’s really that bad. They say don’t sweat the little things. Most of it is little things. Always remember that someone is worse off than you are. Don’t take life for granted because you truly never know what tomorrow will bring! And as I always say the adventure of riding is to ride another day! I love my life! I love my wife!



ThunderRoadsTexas.com

Texas-based, Texas-focused, Texas PROUD!

November 2011

Page 11

How Pink do You Ride? owdy all my Thunder Roads Texas Readers. Let me start out by saying October, as I am sure you all know by now, was Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Each and every month breast cancer awareness products are being sold to raise money for research and awareness of this horrible disease. October is a very special month to me because as of June 2011 I am now a 6-year breast cancer survivor. Texas is the largest state where motorcycle riders bring awareness to the table. There is no cure for cancer; there are only treatments. Since 2005, there has been an increase in motorcycle events and product sales helping raise funds and awareness for this awful disease. You may see a pink Harley-Davidson, a pink Honda, or a pink helmet on your way to work. These riders do more than just wear pink; they raise awareness every day. There is a 90% chance that a person displaying pink has personally dealt with cancer in some form of fashion; a mother, a sister, a wife or themselves. Both males and females can get breast cancer. This article is for all of you Texas riders that take each day with the thought of helping and being there for someone that needs a reason to fight. It is because of you, my friends, that I have had the support from people whom I have never met in my life. For those that want to help, but don’t know where to start, I offer some product ideas that support the Susan G. Komen Foundation. It can be YOU, the person that gets on their motorcycle and spreads the great word “awareness” around. GearUpHelmets.com offers the XTS

Ride Pink half helmet from Vega. A portion of the proceeds from sales of these helmets go to the Susan G. Komen Foundation. Vega Helmets is great company with great customer service and committed to helping finding a cure for breast cancer. Their helmets meet DOT standards and this one is made of a fiberglass shell in an aggressive cutaway shape. The interior is made with WickDri super absorbent fabric, provides exceptional fit and comfort. Detachable ear pads are also available from your authorized Vega Dealer. A 3-snap shorty visor is included as well as a protective helmet bag. They carry generous sizing from 2XS to 2XL.

supports both the Susan G. Komen Foundation and the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. You can purchase “pink” items online or get kits to help you put on your own Ride Pink event. Motorcyclists often refer to great riding roads as a “ribbon of road” describing incredible hills and turns that lay ahead; that look like a ribbon. Missynjax, a women’s t-shirt and gifts company, is offering a shirt design with the breast cancer pink ribbon as the road with the saying, “I ride for a cure” and a yellow caution sign that reads “CURE AHEAD.”

Chrome Dome’s signature piece is a heart-shaped horn cover that fits 1992 and newer Harley-Davidson motorcycles. The cover will also fit earlier models with the purchase of a new, smaller horn from Harley. It comes in high grade 356 AA aluminum powder coated in a black and pink powder-coated style made to celebrate Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Pinstriping is done by Jim Hetz of Musatine, Iowa, so no two designs are alike. These are works of art. Chrome Dome even makes some designs out of copper. Visit ChromeDomeMotorcycleProducts. com. You will be happy with the one they send you. A portion of sales go to their local chapter for breast cancer research. Hot Leathers is featuring pink ribbon products in stylish designs that express support for breast cancer awareness. Go to Hotleathers.com and type Breast Cancer in the search box. You will find several unique options, such as boot chains, vest extenders, key chains, pant bungees, and bike bells.

Ten percent of the proceeds of each T-shirt sold goes to the Susan G. Komen Foundation. Visit MissyNJax.com to order yours today. Here it is a company promoting awareness of Breast Cancer in a whole new way. Chrome Dome Motorcycle Products are reaching out to women riders who say they’re tired of the same old skull and crossbones bolt-on motorcycle products.

We know that bikers always help when called upon. We encourage you to support the Susan G. Komen Foundation. Ride for the cause; show your support every day by buying at least one product that supports valuable research for the cure for breast cancer. For more information about the Foundation, visit Komen.org or call 877-GO-KOMEN (877465-6636).



Ride Pink™ (RidePink.org) is a non-profit organization that Page 12

November 2011

ThunderRoadsTexas.com

Motorcycles for the Soul By Brandy “Tex” Valdez, TRT Feature Writer

’m a 21-year-old motorcycle addict. As a female rider, I have tried out many different types of riding and took a professional liking to it. I have competed in a female class of the XDL Streetbike Stunt Riding Championship, got my NHRA drag racing license, have ridden cross country, and keep dirt bike and cruiser riding as frequent hobbies. My stunt riding ventures have taken me all over the U.S.A and overseas doing shows for bike rallies, night clubs, dealerships, car shows, military events, X Games, drag racing events, charity, female biker events, and motivational speeches for kids of all ages at schools and orphanages. At all of these places I have travelled to, I always have a person who picks my brain about motorcycles. With everything I’ve experienced and based on the people I’ve met along the way, I believe it’s possible for anybody to ride a bike regardless of size, gender, fear, or strength.

were inspired by age. Personally, I have to say that if I was able to learn, anybody can because I must have stalled the little 80cc two-stroke that I learned on for the better part of an afternoon before I learned how to drag a clutch out properly. I’ve noticed that a kind of code exists that can discourage, especially younger, ladies from riding in groups, which shuns upon other

hundreds or thousands of people but it didn’t stop me from continuing my hobby. Of course I give a lot of credit to the gear I wear when I ride because it has saved my hide plenty of times

When I first started out, only in my dreams would I be able to imagine accomplishing what I’ve done with my riding in the past 4 years. Of course it’s not all butterflies and daisies because I’ve put myself through rough times while on the road. I’ve spent countless nights sleeping at truck stops on the way to and from cross country events. It’s been more of a gypsy lifestyle because I even lived in California for a couple of months which was one of the more interesting experiences on the road since a good friend of mine illegitimately hid me in her dorm for a while. I even had a job working at a bike shop out there but was functioning from paycheck to paycheck between events and resorted to digging coins out of my ashtray in my truck to eat off of fast food dollar menus. Some people look down upon me for not pursuing a college degree right out of high school but I wouldn’t give up riding for the world. If I could go back in time, I would do it all over again but I’m not saying the path that I chose is for everybody. My goal is to display an all American, gear wearing, positive image to help keep the public reputation of motorcyclists in good standing. Hopefully one day, I will be able to make something serious out of my little hobby which will lead me to impact more people with the hope that they will look up to me, learn from my experiences, and appreciate what an important role women play in extreme sports. The motorcycle industry is male dominated and there aren’t very many female role models to look up to… especially back when I first became fond of riding. I’ve always been intrigued by motorcycles because I grew up around them and didn’t take the initiative to learn how to ride until I was in high school. One thing I quickly learned is the initial attempt to ride any kind of bike for the first time takes a lot of patience because riding is all about saddle time. It’s important to have the mindset that it’s a skill that you won’t learn overnight. On the road, I’ve had a few heartwarming stories about guys and girls that got into riding after watching some of my videos because they Page 14

November 2011

women becoming close friends to them and their guy rider buddies. We all have a jealous instinct to a degree but we must have an open mind when it comes to interacting with other women riders. It’s a positive aspect to see that more and more women are reaching out to each other through resources such as this fine magazine, “Helmet Hair Online Magazine,” and online discussion forums about motos such as ChicRiders.com, LadiesLetsRide.com, and Girlclutch.com. It shows that we are becoming a larger part of the motorcycle industry and eventually, if you look at the fashion side of it, we will have a larger selection of cute gear to choose from. For all of you girls/guys interested in learning to ride and feel that you don’t have the mental or physical capabilities for it… remember that we all start somewhere. It takes some longer than others to learn and you can’t be a quitter! The best place to start would be a local Motorcycle Safety Course or a friend with a small dirt bike. Sure I’ve had a few embarrassing wrecks in my time including some in front of

and prevented me from getting seriously hurt. My drive for bikes has kept me going even through all of the financial, mechanical, and motivational setbacks that cued me to take it easy. Everybody that rides knows what their drive is, be it for the appeal of the biker lifestyle, adrenaline rush, a way to save gas, an outlet for stress, a way to meet other people who share the same interests, and/or just like to be different. For me, I’m attracted to learning how to manipulate any kind of motorcycle and make them do things they weren’t supposed to. I know that motorcycles will always be a part of my life because of how much I enjoy it and the person it has shaped me into. I hope that this article reaches out to some of you and encourages those that haven’t shotgunned your dream to get on a bike to do so because I don’t know where I would be without my garage full of two wheeled toys. P.S If you liked this article, add my fan page on Facebook and feel free to post questions on my wall. I will be happy to answer them at my earliest convenience. Https://www. facebook.com/BrandyTexValdez



ThunderRoadsTexas.com

Texas-based, Texas-focused, Texas PROUD!

November 2011

Page 15

Page 16

November 2011

ThunderRoadsTexas.com

Texas-based, Texas-focused, Texas PROUD!

November 2011

Page 17

EVENT

Event Listing

The MOST comprehensive motorcycle event listing published in the State of Texas!

10-13

Hogs 4 Heros Hogs4Heros.com Galveston Region: Gulf Coast Metro: Houston

Museum Motorcycle Run 254.485.5886 Stephenville Region: Prairies & Lakes Metro: Dallas/Fort Worth

Wurst Rally on the River New Braunfels Region: Hill Country Metro: San Antonio

Texas Connection Custom Bike Show MassConnection.net Tyler Region: Piney Woods Metro: Tyler Texoma Veterans Card Run 903.816.0165 Bonham Region: Prairies & Lakes Metro: Sherman/Denison 19th Annual Teddy Bear Ride CACollinCounty.org Frisco Region: Prairies & Lakes Metro: Dallas/Fort Worth

Harley’s Angels Fun Run/Rockin Out Party RenegadeTheWoodlands.com Spring Region: Gulf Coast Metro: Houston

Angels on Wheels 903.455.1400 Greenville Region: Prairies & Lakes Metro: Dallas/Fort Worth

Hotrods and Hogs Custom Show TexasFirewalkers.org Del Valle Region: Hill Country Metro: Austin

3-6 4 4-5

Texas Honor Ride TexasHonorRide.org Houston Region: Gulf Coast Metro: Houston The entire year of fundraising activities culminates in a 200 mile, 4 hour, 600+ motorcycle ride from Houston to San Antonio. The ride is not only for the camaraderie of bikers, but for the organizers to formally hand over the year’s fundraising “check” to those at the Brooke Army Medical Center. For six years now, THR has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars to help our Wounded Heroes recuperating at the center. Sponsored by Thunder Roads Texas!

23rd Annual Run to the Texas Vietnam Wall TexasVNVMC.com Arlington Region: Prairies & Lakes Metro: Dallas/Fort Worth

Texas Salute To Military Service TSTMS.org Kemah Region: Gulf Coast Metro: Houston

Texas-based, Texas-focused, Texas PROUD!

Helping Hands Toy Run TMRA2.org Terrell Region: Prairies & Lakes Metro: Dallas/Fort Worth

18th Annual Big Country Toy Run 325.428.9698 Abilene Region: Panhandle Metro: Abilene

WLR Bikers & Bad Girls Party TheWLR.com La Pryor Region: South Texas Metro: San Antonio

Outlaw Dave Ranch Ride OutlawNation.us Houston Region: Gulf Coast Metro: Houston $20 donation. Donation includes an escorted “ride to the island”; commemorative T-shirt; blessing of the bikes, catered breakfast; biker babe auction (ride along pal) and more. Final destination is the Devil’s Cut Saloon, presented by Thunder Roads Texas in the middle of the Lone Star Rally. Every registered bike gets a gift bag from the rally that incldues parking pass to “Cruise The Stand”. All proceeds benefit the S&P Ranch.

Three Sisters Veterans Rally ThreeSistersRally.net Concan Region: Hill Country Metro: San Antonio

10th Annual Hollie Swatsell Memorial Fun Run 903.588.4084 Sulphur Springs Region: Prairies & Lakes Metro: Dallas/Fort Worth 3rd Annual Ables Springs VFD Poker Run ASVFD.org Terrell Region: Prairies & Lakes Metro: Dallas/Fort Worth 3rd Annual Reindeer Express 214.546.9358 Lake Dallas Region: Prairies & Lakes Metro: Dallas/Fort Worth Bikes Only Bayou Bash 832.489.3301 League City Region: Gulf Coast Metro: Houston Boogie On the Bayou BryantsIcehouse.com Katy Region: Gulf Coast Metro: Houston

Continued on Page 22... November 2011

Page 19

EVENTS

4-6

17th Annual Blanket Run 361.425.1801 Corpus Christi Region: Gulf Coast Metro: Corpus Christi

Breakfast Before Lone Star RedfishRoadhouse.com Hitchcock Region: Gulf Coast Metro: Houston Stop at the Redfish Roadhouse for breakfast Friday morning on your way to Lone Star! Opensat 9:00 a.m. Check out their new patio area. Great place… great times! Operation Military Salute SETexasPGR.org Houston Region: Gulf Coast Metro: Houston

13th Annual Cross Timbers Toy Run ArmadilloCycleClub.net Stephenville Region: Prairies & Lakes Metro: Dallas/Fort Worth

Lone Star Rally LoneStarRally.com Galveston Region: Gulf Coast Metro: Houston We are once again headig to Galveston for our second year of being a major sponsor. Join us at the Devil’s Cut Saloon, presented by Thunder Roads Texas for some fun times right in the middle of the action! Tons of vendors, cruising down the seawall, revving down The Strand ($10 parking pass required), great bars, various rides around town, inclduing the Outlaw Dave Ranch Ride, Rats Hole Bike Show, tatoo shops & contests, live music, bike giveaway, celebrity bike builders, and MORE!

NOVEMBER m

Monday

Tuesday 2

Wednesday 3

Thursday 4

5 Outlaw Dave Ranch Ride Houston to Galveston

Saturday

Lone Star Rally * November 3-6 * Galveston

Breakfast Before Lone Star Rally Hitchcock

Friday

Photo by Black Chair Photography * BlackChairPhoto.com

November 2011

6 DAYLIGHT SAVINGS ENDS “FALL BACK”

Sunday

28 30

12 19

11 18 25

10 17 24

1 8

Texas Honor Ride Houston to San Antonio

6 13 20 27

12 19 26

1 8

13 Swap Meet Houston Humble

Multiple-day events appear on the first day of event. For details on these and other events, see our Event Listing, Page 23.

Harley’s Angels Fun Run & Rockin’ Pary Spring

December 2011

VETERANS’ DAY

October 2011

THANKSGIVING DAY

THUNDER ROADS TEXAS BIKE NIGHT Houston Celebrating 3 Years!

Calendar Sponsored by Walker Texas Lawyer * 713.552.1117 * WalkerTexasLawyer.com

ELECTION DAY

Metro Blue Santa Charity Motorcycle Ride 281.468.6210 Friendswood Region: Gulf Coast Metro: Houston

Longhorn HD Bike Show LonghornHD.com Grand Prairie Region: Prairies & Lakes Metro: Dallas/Fort Worth

DFW Toys for Tots Motorcycle Run DFW-TFT-MR.org McKinney Region: Prairies & Lakes Metro: Dallas/Fort Worth

Poker Run & Party for the Paws AnimalAngelsTexas.org Denton Region: Prairies & Lakes Metro: Dallas/Fort Worth

6th Annual Buddy Oney Toy Run 512.540.2561; 512.446.2821 Rockdale Region: Prairies & Lakes Metro: Killeen/Temple

B.A.D. (Bikers Against Diabetes) Ride 210.693.0408 Boerne Region: Hill Country Metro: San Antonio

Memorial Toy Run & Food Drive TMRA2.org Denton Region: Prairies & Lakes Metro: Dallas/Fort Worth

Navarro County Toy Run 903.851.9002 Corsicana Region: Prairies & Lakes Metro: Dallas/Fort Worth

Swap Meet / Biker’s Christmas TexasScooter.com Fort Worth Region: Prairies & Lakes Metro: Dallas/Fort Worth Will Rogers Complex. Bargains on motorcycle parts; cold beer, door prizes; parts & party! $8 Adults; $5 Military/Kids 5-14; Under 5 FREE. Show hours: 11am-5:30pm. Vendor booth space only $40. Call 254.687.9066 or visit the website for more information.

17th Annual Max Tague Memorial Toys for Tots 817.703.8404 Fort Worth Region: Prairies & Lakes Metro: Dallas/Fort Worth

28th Annual Thanksgiving Bash & Bike Show GulfCoastMotorcycle.com South Houston Region: Gulf Coast Metro: Houston

32nd Annual Toy Run NWSJHR.com Houston Region: Gulf Coast Metro: Houston

DECEMBER

Progressive International Motorcycle Show MotorcycleShows.com Dallas Region: Prairies & Lakes Metro: Dallas/Fort Worth

6th Annual Adopt a Hero for Christmas AdoptaHeroForChristmas.org Monaville Region: Gulf Coast Metro: Houston

14th Annual Santa Cop Toy Parade CrossroadsRiders.com Mesquite Region: Prairies & Lakes Metro: Dallas/Fort Worth

A Twiztid Christmas Toy run 817.783.7677 Duncanville Region: Prairies & Lakes Metro: Dallas/Fort Worth

2nd Annual Toys for Tots East TX Toy Run ToysForTotsEastTexToyRun.com Point Blank Region: Piney Woods Metro: Houston

5th Annual Armadillo Toy Run 361.228.0626 Kingsville Region: Gulf Coast Metro: Corpus Christi

43rd Annual Turkey Run CycleClubOfFortWorth.org Hurst Region: Prairies & Lakes Metro: Dallas/Fort Worth

8th Annual Butch Adkison Toy Run 214.676.7282 Wills Point Region: Prairies & Lakes Metro: Dallas/Fort Worth Wreaths Across America WAAHouston.com Houston Region: Gulf Coast Metro: Houston Ellis County Toy Run 469.766.6093 Ennis Region: Prairies & Lakes Metro: Dallas/Fort Worth Big Texas Toy Run TheBigTexasToyRun.com Dallas/Fort Worth Region: Prairies & Lakes Metro: Dallas/Fort Worth

Dia de los Muertos Food & Fun Run HaysFoodBank.org Wimberley Region: Hill Country Metro: Austin

Veterans Day Run TexasVNVMC.com San Antonio Region: South Texas Metro: San Antonio

2-4

13th Annual Veteran’s Day Toy run 817.239.0664 Granbury Region: Prairies & Lakes Metro: Dallas/Fort Worth

19-20

Swap Meet Houston TexasScooter.com Humble Region: Gulf Coast Metro: Houston Humble Civic Center Expo Area. Bargains on motorcycle parts; cold beer, door prizes; parts & party! $8 Adults; $5 Military/Kids 5-14; Under 5 FREE. Show hours: 11am-5:30pm. Vendor booth space only $40. Call 254.687.9066 or visit the website for more information.

Texoma Toys for Tots Bike Run TexomaHD.com Sherman Region: Prairies & Lakes Metro: Sherman/Denison

Texas Vietnam Veterans Memorial Benefit BryantsIcehouse.com Katy Region: Gulf Coast Metro: Houston

Sputnik Memorial Run 936.662.6842 Coldspring Region: Piney Woods Metro: Houston

... continued

Bridge Rip Rap Rally TBOTW.org Pasadena Region: Gulf Coast Metro: Houston

3rd Annual Escort to Disney Charity Ride 903.275.4711 Carrollton Region: Prairies & Lakes Metro: Dallas/Fort Worth

EVENTS

EvenT Listing

Continued on Page 25... Page 22

November 2011

ThunderRoadsTexas.com

EVENTS

Texas-based, Texas-focused, Texas PROUD!

November 2011

Page 23

EVENTS Page 24

November 2011

ThunderRoadsTexas.com

EvenT Listing H

NEXT YEAR

March 9-18 Daytona Bike Week DaytonaBikeWeek.com Daytona, FL March 16-18 9th South Texas Motorcycle Show TXBikeShow.com San Antonio Region: Hill Country Metro: San Antonio First show of the 2012 Riding Season… kick it of right. Get your gear; enjoy stunt competitions and exhibitions; bike show; chrome the bike onsite, bike wash, swap meet and more. Very kid friendly. Free parking for motorcycles. Only $15 for the whole weekend… cheaper if you visit the website and download a coupon. Kids under 15 are FREE. Sponsored by Thunder Roads Texas!

March 28-April 1 Arizona Bike Week AZBikeWeek.com Scottsdale, AZ Region: Metro: April 12-15 3rd Annual Carts, Bikers & Babes Rally CartsBikersAndBabesRally.com Somerville Region: Prairies & Lakes Metro: Bryan/College Station “Let Out Your Bad!” at Big Creek Park & Marina. Last year was so successful Damon Dave is doing it again! A Cart & Bike Rally, plus some babes! Live music by TBA. Also: vendors, camping, cart & bike contests and parades, biker games, fun runs, and more – truly something for everyone! Sites & tickets on sale now. RV sites will go fast. Sponsored by Thunder Roads Texas! May 17-20 The Aspen Cash Rally MotorcycleRally.com Ruidoso, NM May 11-20 Myrtle Beach Bike Week MyrtleBeachBikeWeek.com Myrtle Beach, SC

Texas-based, Texas-focused, Texas PROUD!

Laconia Motorcycle Week LaconiaMCWeek.com Laconia, NH June 18 International Ride to Work Day RideToWork.org International June 30 Allied Memorial Remembrance Ride AlliedRide.org Fort Worth Region: Prairies & Lakes Metro: Dallas/Fort Worth August 6-12 70th Annual Sturgis Bike Week Sturgis.com Sturgis, SD About Our EventListing: Basic Event listings are FREE. Premium Event Listings (bold and up to 75 word description) are only $45/month. Send your event to: events@thunderroadstexas.com. To be included in the print version, information must be received by the 10th of the month prior to the month in which the event is scheduled or the month before you wish a Premium Event Listing to appear. Events must have some motorcycle element.

EVENTS

March 16-18 Blowout’s Biker Bash BlowoutsBikerBash.com Hitchcock Region: Gulf Coast Metro: Houston Registration is now open for Blowout’s first annual biker rally & party. Bike games; special contests, including best leprechaun nighty contest; best dressed leprechaun; best St Patty’s Day themed campsite. Live music all weekend, with headliners Dimitri’s Rail (Friday) and John Eipperson & Driving Bind (Saturday). Adult rally; 21 & up only. Held at the Galveston County Fairgrounds. $30 weekend pass includes FREE tent camping. $100 Self-contained RV sites include 2 FREE weekend passes. Sponsored by Thunder Roads Texas!

... continued

June 7-10 Republic of Texas (ROT) Biker Rally ROTRally.com Austin Region: Hill Country Metro: Austin

Subscribe to our FREE Web-zine for updates with events that don’t make print, two weeks’ worth of events are provided every week to your email inbox. You can always visit our website to download a list of the “next two weeks” events. Thunder Roads Texas does not guarantee the accuracy of the information provided and cannot be held liable. Things change, there may be typos, and weather happens. So before you climb on your steed and ride to one of these events, contact the organizers and verify the latest information.



Basic Listing is FREE. Upgrade to Premium for only $25/month! Email: Events@ThunderRoadsTexas.com for more information.

November 2011

Page 25

Riding with the Brotherhood of Firefighters A 9/11 Tribute Ride

By Butch Hayes, TRT Correspondent

en years ago, America was attacked and we lost over 3,000 Americans. Of those, 343 Firefighters were lost that day. For the tenth anniversary the IAFF (International Association of Fire Fighters) planned a ride across America. Firefighter’s across the United States and Canada rode to Newburgh, NY. This is a story of ten firefighters from Baytown Local 1173, Houston Local 341, and Conroe Local 2731. We left Baytown on September 4, 2011. On our first day of riding, we ran into tropical storm Lee. It was a wet and windy ride through Texas, Louisiana… all the way to our first stop in Meridian, Mississippi; a 510-mile ride in tropical storm rains. The next day wasn’t much better. We were trying to get to Bowling Greens, Kentucky, but had to stop in Decatur, Alabama. due to the storm. The rain was too much and not safe for us to travel. It was a good thing we stopped for the day. We met one of the friendliest people there, Pushpa Bhagat. She worked at the hotel and was very helpful. Topping of this stop, one of our riders got sick and had to have surgery. The third day we decided to take a rain day in our trip to let the storm get ahead of us. On the fourth day we were getting ready to leave and one of the bikes wouldn’t start. They decided to get the bike worked on and join us later. Now we are down to eight riders as we head to Salem, Virginia, for the night. The next day we head off to Newburgh, New York. The weather was cloudy with a little rain here and there. We got off the interstate and on a back road in Pennsylvania; around on a mountain side trying to get around flooded roads. Wasn’t sure if we would ever get off the mountain! We arrived in Newburgh around 9:00 p.m. that night. The next day some of us took the train into New York City while others rode around Newburgh. Then on Sunday September 11th we gathered at Orange County Choppers for the tribute ride into New York City, ending at the FDNY firefighter’s memorial. About 4,000 bikes had come from across the US and Canada. Some say it was about 15 miles of roaring thunder. After the memorial we headed to Allentown, Pennsylvania for the night. The next day, we visited the Flight 93 memorial in Shanksville, Pennsylvania. At the memorial, Channel 13 eye witness news from Houston saw us. We did an interview with them that some of our family back home got to see. After visiting the memorial of Flight 93 we left heading to our next stop for the night. Then off to see the Pentagon Memorial, and visit Arlington Cemetery to watch

FDNY Firefighters Memorial

The Gang 343 Firefighters Lost the changing of the guards at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. We left there being proud of America and our military and headed to Harrisonburg, Virginia. The next morning as we were getting ready to depart we found out the three of our members had been robbed. But as the brotherhood of Firefighters, we made sure that we help them get home safely. We had a few bike problems and had to stop at Harley shops to get repairs but nothing

Flight 93 Memorial

Texas-based, Texas-focused, Texas PROUD!

major. We made a stop in Johnson City, Tennessee; then onto Meridian, Mississippi, retracing our route back into Texas. This was a trip of a lifetime to see all three memorials on the tenth anniversary of 9-11. We will have stories to tell for a while until we plan our next trip. I can’t thank my brother firefighters enough that went on this trip. We belong to the Greatest Brotherhood in the World and I love you all. Thanks for a Great Time.

Pentagon Memorial



Tomb of the Unknown Soldier November 2011

Page 27

Honoring Our Troops Texas State Highway 36 The 36th Division Memorial Highway

By: Randy “Harley Doc” McCamey, TRT Correspondent In a longstanding tradition, Thunder Roads Texas continues to recognize, acknowledge and salute the brave military men and women who make the enduring and sometimes ultimate sacrifice so that we may live and ride in this great and peaceful state and nation. This month’s ride is in honor of our military and those of the 36th Division. The 36th was originally a combination of personnel from National Guard units in Texas and Oklahoma. The patch designed for the division is a combination of a blue arrowhead, representing the state of Oklahoma, and the large block T in the center of the arrowhead, representing the state of Texas. In part, due to this insignia, members of the 36th are often referred to as “T-Patchers”.

RIDE

MAP

Organized in 1917 at Camp Bowie, Texas [near Fort Worth], the 36th division spent twenty-three days during WWI in active sectors capturing 649 prisoners and suffering 2628 casualties. In WWII, the 36th Division spent 400 days in actual combat, fought five campaigns in four countries, captured 175,806 of the enemy and suffered 27,242 casualties, the third highest of all American divisions. ~Texas Historical Marker on Highway 36, west of Buckholts, TX

o commemorate the 36th Division and their sacrifice, this month’s ride is along Texas State Highway 36, a main state artery in Texas that cuts through the central part of the state. The south terminus of Texas 36 is at the intersection of Pine Street in Freeport. To the north, the highway terminates at Treadway Boulevard (Texas 83) in downtown Abilene. The highway runs through the great cities of Rosenberg, Brenham, Temple, Gatesville, and Cross Plains. Texas 36 is generally wellmaintained and smooth with ample shoulders. Making the ride in the spring of 2011, I found only a few miles of construction along the route. Clocking in at about 400 miles, Texas 36 is definitely a “touring highway”, so pack the bags, fill the tank, and set the cruise control for a nice long ride! Assuming you are headed to the Houston-Galveston area from west Texas or the Panhandle, you will start the ride in Abilene. Personally, I like Abilene about as much as any city in the state. It’s big enough to have everything you need and small enough to get around in easily. Or, as I’ve heard said before, it’s big enough to have a television station but small enough not to need a traffic reporter! Abilene also has a great military presence with Dyess Air Force Base on the west side of town. Just south and west of downtown, heading south on Treadway Boulevard, you will turn east on 11th Street, the starting point of Texas 36. As you pass under Loop 322 on the east side of Abilene, the highway veers to the southwest toward Cross Plains and Rising Star. The first hour of the trip is rural, remote, and reminiscent of what many imagine west Texas to be – a broad expanse of horizon with little to block the view of the vast fields and farms that you pass. Windmills, cactus, and cattle are constant along this stretch of highway. It is not unusual to pass remnants of things that “used to be” like the old Page 28

November 2011

Denton Valley Store at the intersection of Highway 36 and FM 604, about 16 miles south of your starting point. A great start to a nice little ride…but it was not such a nice little ride for Silverstre Herrera (El Paso, TX) of the 36th near Mertzwiller, France in 1945…

He advanced with a platoon along a wooded road until stopped by heavy enemy machinegun fire…beyond an extensive minefield, Pvt. Herrera moved forward, disregarding the danger of exploding mines, to attack the enemy position. He stepped on a mine and had both feet severed; but, despite intense pain and unchecked loss of blood, he pinned down the enemy with accurate rifle fire while a friendly squad captured the enemy gun…

marker describing Camp Gates, later named Fort Gates. Abandoned in 1852, nothing much remains of the old fort, which is located on about two miles further down the Old Fort Gates Road. In 1943, Private William Crawford (Pueblo, CO) of the 36th Infantry Division could have used an old fort, or anything else for that matter, to help fight the enemy…

~Congressional Medal of Honor Recipient

As you cross into Comanche County, the landscape breaks into more low rolling hills and oak and pecan trees can be spotted. Further south, in Hamilton and Bell counties, you will encounter greater swells in the landscape. Not to anyone’s surprise, much of what you will see on Texas 36 is agricultural in nature. Things change, however, when you get to Gatesville. Yes, still agricultural, but some high fences and heavy equipment are a sure sign that something else makes up this part of the state. Military presence becomes most obvious along this stretch of Texas 36 as you ride the highway in Coryell County. A significant portion of Coryell County is taken up by Fort Hood; a grand and imposing military installation by anyone’s definition. Fort Hood is one of, if not the, largest active military post in the U.S. Opened in 1942, the base is highly focused on armored weaponry and armored training for the troops. Large tanks and armored vehicles are easy to spot on the base nearby as you travel along the highway. An interesting bit of history sits about a mile south of Gatesville. Turn onto the Old Fort Gates Road and check out the historical

After reaching the crest of the hill, the platoon was pinned down by intense enemy machinegun and small-arms fire. Pvt. Crawford, without orders and on his own initiative, moved over the hill under enemy fire to a point within a few yards of the gun emplacement and single-handedly destroyed the machinegun and killed 3 of the crew with a handgrenade, thus enabling his platoon to continue its advance. When the platoon, after reaching the crest, was once more delayed by enemy fire, Pvt. Crawford again, in the face of intense fire, advanced directly to the front midway between 2 hostile machinegun nests located on a higher terrace and emplaced in a small ravine. Moving first to the left, with a handgrenade he destroyed I gun emplacement and killed the crew; he then worked his way, under continuous fire, to the other and with I grenade and the use of his rifle, killed 1 enemy and forced the remainder to flee. ~Congressional Medal of Honor Recipient

ThunderRoadsTexas.com

Passing Fort Hood, you cross beautiful Belton Lake. At the half-way point of the ride, Temple is the “big city” on Texas 36 that, with lots of shopping and food establishments, makes for a great rest stop. The ride south of Temple gets you into some of the beautiful hill country area as you travel through Burleson and Milam counties. Brenham, the jewel of Washington County, is located about 16 miles south of Lake Somerville. Most of you are aware that there are numerous side trips in this area. The rolling hills and swooping backroads make for many a pleasant mile in this part of the state. The ride around the town of Independence is incredible and a stop at Washington-onthe-Brazos is in order for anyone interested in the history of how Texas broke away from Mexican control and became an independent nation.

Independence Hall Washington-on-the-Brazos

Sgt. Logan landed with the first wave of the assault echelon on the beaches of the Gulf of Salerno. Voluntarily exposing himself to the fire of a machinegun located along the rock wall…, Sgt. Logan attacked the machinegun. As he dashed across the 200 yards of exposed terrain a withering stream of fire followed his advance. Reaching the wall, he crawled along the base, within easy reach of the enemy crouched along the opposite side, until he reached the gun. Jumping up, he shot the 2 gunners down, hurdled the wall, and seized the gun. ~Congressional Medal of Honor Recipient

Riding south, you cross I-10 at Sealy and fall off into the coastal plains. Texas 36 turns due south at Rosenberg, so be watching for the signs! Traveling south through West Columbia and Brazoria, the coastal landscape changes to more palm trees and hanging moss typically associated with the coast. You will also begin to see more industry and chemical plants on the horizon. The journey concludes at Freeport where my wife and I traveled east of town to find County Road 257 (also known as Gulf Drive or Blue Water Highway) which is the coast road to Galveston. Along the way, we stopped at a quite spot on the beach to reflect on our days’ journey. Decades earlier, on a beach in Italy, the scene was very different for Army Sergeant James M. Logan (McNeil, TX) of the 36th Division…

I hope you will have fun and enjoy your ride on State Highway 36. It is a great ride through the heart, and some of the history, of Texas. A great ride from the plains to the palm trees. I also ask that, during your journey, you remember the fallen. The highway is, after all, a memorial highway. In honor of our military, and in memory of our military hero’s, a big Thank You from Thunder Roads Texas to the 36th Division. Or perhaps I should say, a big TEXAS Thank You to the 36th Division. Unless otherwise noted, all quotes and citations are from information posted by various authors on the Texas Military Forces Museum website TexasMilitaryForcesMuseum.org between March 1, 2011 and July 20, 2011.



MAP

Along the Way As you journey along the 400 miles of Texas Highway 36, you will have need of a few places to stop, rest, and recharge. Here are just a few of my favorites. •

Kent’s Harley-Davison in Abilene – Enough said!

•

Joe Allen’s Bar-B-Que in Abilene – the best BBQ and steaks for miles in any direction.

•

Jean’s Feed Barn in Cross Plains – A good ol’ down-home, oldfashion café where you can get a great cup of coffee and have breakfast any time the doors are open.

•

Cooks Fish Barn, south of Rising Star – If you are passing through on a Friday or Saturday evening, stop in for a great catfish buffet with all the trimmings.

•

Storm’s Drive-In in Hamilton – One of the best hamburger joints in the state.

•

Horny Toad Harley-Davidson in Temple – All Harley, All the Time. Nuthin’ wrong with that!

•

West of the Brazos Bar and Grill in Damon – a real diamond in the rough! Our sympathy is with them after the tragic fire in May. But, they are rebuilding as we speak, so please stop by and have a beer under the tent.

Texas-based, Texas-focused, Texas PROUD!

RIDE

As the wife and I stop for a break at a certain well-know ice cream company in Brenham(!), we get into the everyday banter that most of us share – the weather, the beautiful scenery, and the great ride. But in France almost a century ago, there was a special kind of banter going on and it had nothing to do with the beautiful scenery, good weather, or well-maintained roads. The banter had everything to do with life and death…

On October 12-13, 1917, members of the 36th Division, 142nd U. S. Infantry Regiment attacked toward the line of the Aisne (Ay n) River on the right of a four regiment/two brigade attack that advanced the American Line and eliminated a German salient south of the Aisne. During this campaign the numerous American Indian members of the old Oklahoma National Guard were used as telephone talkers, becoming a legend as the “Choctaw Talkers”.

November 2011

Page 29

Want to see YOUR mug in our mag? Send pics to Shelly@ThunderRoadsTexas.com. Page 30

November 2011

ThunderRoadsTexas.com

Texas-based, Texas PROUD! Page 31 H Texas-focused, November 2011

ThunderRoadsTexas.com November 2011 H Page 31

. At the medical examination board at an Army reception center enlistees get an unsettling introduction to the military mentality. On the walls is this sign: “Please Disrobe To The Waist From Both Ends.”

HEALTH ALERT!

An apparently very drunken cowboy lay sprawled across three entire seats in a posh Amarillo Theater. When the usher came by and noticed him, he whispered to the cowboy, “Sorry, Sir, but you’re only allowed one seat.”

When you drink Gin over ice, it can give you brain problems.

The cowboy groaned, but didn’t even budge. The usher became more impatient and insistent: “Sir, if you don’t get up from there, I’m going to have to call the manager.” Once again, the cowboy just groaned. The Usher marched briskly back up the aisle, and in a moment he returned with the manager. Together the two of them tried repeatedly to move the cowboy, but without success. He just laid there in a dazed stupor. Finally, they had enough and summoned the police. A Texas Ranger arrived, surveyed the situation briefly then asked, “Alright buddy what’s your name?”

When you drink Vodka over ice, it can give you kidney failure. When you drink Rum over ice, it can give you liver failure. When you drink whiskey or Scotch over ice, it can give you heart problems.

ALERT!! Apparently, ice is really bad for you. Warn all your friends as soon as possible! Letter to a Men’s Helpline... Hi Bob: I really need your advice on a serious problem: I have suspected for some time now that my wife has been cheating on me. The usual signs: if the phone rings and I answer, the caller hangs up; she goes out with the girls a lot. I try to stay awake to look out for her when she comes home but I usually fall asleep.

“Where ya’ll from, Sam?” asked the Ranger.

Anyways, last night about midnight I hid in the shed next to my Harley. When she came home she got out of someone’s car buttoning her blouse, then she took her panties out of her purse and slipped them on.

With terrible pain in his voice, a grim expression, and without moving a muscle, Sam said, “The balcony.”

It was at that moment crouched behind the Harley that I noticed a hairline crack in the swing arm.

“Sam,” the Cowboy moaned.

First-year students at the Royal Veterinary College were attending their first anatomy class with a real dead cow. They all gathered around the surgery table with the body covered with a white sheet. The professor started the class by telling them, “In Veterinary medicine it is necessary to have two important qualities as a doctor. The first is that you not be disgusted by anything involving the animal’s body.” For an example, the professor pulled back the sheet, whipped on his white latex examination gloves, stuck his finger in the butt of the cow, withdrew it, and stuck his finger in his mouth. “Go ahead and do the same thing,” he told his students. The students freaked out, hesitated for several minutes, but eventually took turns sticking a gloved finger in the butt of the dead cow and sucking on it. When everyone finished, the Professor looked at them and said, “The second most important quality is observation. I stuck in my middle finger and sucked on my index finger. Now learn to pay attention. Life’s tough but it’s even tougher if you’re stupid.” At a parachute jumping school a trainee asked: “How much is a parachute jump?” “Ten bucks exactly.” “And what if the chute fails to open?” “No need to worry – money will be refunded all right.” Page 32

November 2011

Is that something I can weld or do I need to replace the whole swing arm? The sergeant was giving a batch of rookies an introduction to their hard life and service in the Army. “The soldier in the Army works 25 hours a day,” he declared severely.

The next day, to the total disbelief of the Air Force, the same Cessna showed up again. Once again, the MP’s surrounded the plane… only this time there were two people in the plane. The same pilot jumped out and said, “Do anything you want to me, but my wife is in the planeand you have to tell her where I was last night!” I will never hear church bells ringing again without smiling. Upon hearing that her elderly grandfather had just passed away, Katie went straight to her grandparent’s house to visit with her 95-year-old grandmother and comfort her. When she asked how her grandfather had passed away, her grandmother replied in her sweet, soft voice, “He had a heart attack while we were making love on Sunday morning, dear”. Horrified, Katie told her grandmother that 2 people nearly 100 years old having sex would surely be asking for trouble. “Oh, no, my dear”, replied granny. Many years ago, realizing our advanced age, we figured out the best time to make love was when the church bells would start to ring. It was the perfect rhythm. Nice and slow and even. Nothing too strenuous... simply in on the ding and out on the dong. She paused to wipe away a tear and looked up at Katie, “He’d still be alive if that f***ing ice cream truck hadn’t come along!” Todd, my son, joined the Marines. When he went to take the placement and physical exams, he was in a room full of candidates for all the military services. Todd overheard someone near him say, “Aren’t the Marines just a department of the Navy?” “Yes,” came the response. “They’re the men’s department.”

“But there’re only 24 hours to the day, sergeant,” a rookie groaned.

A man goes into his local book boutique and asks the young lady at the service counter, “Do you have the new book out for men with short penises? I can’t remember the title.”

“Then a soldier has to get up an hour earlier,” commented the sergeant adamantly.

She replies, “I’m not sure if it’s in yet.”

You’ve all heard of the Air Force’s ultra-high-security, supersecret base in Nevada, known simply as “Area 51?” Well, late one afternoon, the Air Force folks out at Area 51 were very surprised to see a Cessna landing at their “secret” base. They immediately impounded the aircraft and hauled the pilot into an interrogation room. The pilot’s story was that he took off from Vegas, got lost, and spotted the Base just as he was about to run out of fuel. The Air Force started a full FBI background check on the pilot and held him overnight during the investigation. By the next day, they were finally convinced that the pilot really was lost and wasn’t a spy. They gassed up his airplane, gave him a terrifying “you-did-not-see-a-base” briefing, complete with threats of spending the rest of his life in prison, told him Vegas was that-a-way on such and such a heading, and sent him on his way.

The man said, “That’s the one.....I’ll take a copy.” All Biker’s know where they are going they just have different ways to get there, I have learned. Different bikes have different answers when asked how to get there from here: Harley Rider… Go this way here til you see Joe’s Pub. Turn left a couple blocks past the junk yard and turn right. Stay on that road make the second left past the Army Surplus store until you come to Tina’s lounge. Turn right it’s about two miles. GoldWing Rider… Take this road to the Waffle House, left a couple blocks to McDonalds. Turn right, go to the Denny’s Restaurant. Go left until you see Dunkin Donuts, right about two miles. BMW Rider: Wait a second I’ll print you a map.



ThunderRoadsTexas.com

Texas-based, Texas-focused, Texas PROUD!

November 2011

Page 33

Page 34

November 2011

ThunderRoadsTexas.com

Biker Friendly

Listed here are businesses that are SERIOUS about serving the Texas Motorcycle Community. The list is set up in categories. Regional and Metro information is included. An “*” means the location is a Thunder Roads Texas distribution point. Visit ThunderRoadsTexas.com to find a full listing of distribution points. Tell them you saw them in Thunder Road Texas!

Accessories & Parts * Stitches 1308 Hwy 6 South Houston, TX 77077 281.558.8572 Region: Gulf Coast Closest Metro: Houston

Bars & Restaurants * Alamo Bar & Grill 7846 Fallbrook Dr Houston, TX 77086 281.537.7647 www.myspace.com/houstonsalamo Region: Gulf Coast Closest Metro: Houston * Barbed Rose & Burger Bar 113 Sealy St Alvin, TX 77511 281.585.2272 www.BarbedRose.com Region: Gulf Coast Closest Metro: Houston * Boll Weevils 16003 FM 1236 Needville, TX 77461 979.793.6163 www.Facebook.com/Boll.Weevils Region: Gulf Coast Closest Metro: Houston * Concert Pub North 2470 FM 1960 West Houston, TX 77068 281.583.8111 www.theconcertpub.com Region: Gulf Coast Closest Metro: Houston * Curtis Lowe’s Bar 11800 FM 1960 E Huffman, TX 77336 281.324.7400 Find us on Facebook! Region: Gulf Coast Closest Metro: Houston

* Frio Canyon Motorcycle Stop Bent Rim Grill 657 West Ranch Rd Leakey, TX 78873 830.232.6629 www.friocanyonmotorcycleshop.biz www.bentrimgrill.com Region: Hill Country Closest Metro: San Antonio Points Across Texas GOLD Destination * George’s Bar & Grill 2031 Plantation Dr Conroe, TX 77301 Region: Piney Woods Closest Metro: Houston Points Across Texas GOLD Destination * Loading Dock 504 25th St Galveston, TX 77550 409.765.5155 www.theloadingdockbikerbar.com Region: Gulf Coast Closest Metro: Houston

* Scooters & Shooters 525 E Hwy 29 Bertram, TX 78605 512.355.8070 Region: Hill Country Closest Metro: Austin * West of the Brazos 23220 Hwy 36 Damon, TX 77430 979.742.3100 www.WestoftheBrazos.com Region: Gulf Coast Closest Metro: Houston * Yankee’s Tavern 8703 Ada Oaks Ln Anderson, TX 77830 936.873.3314 www.yankeestavern.com Region: Prairies & Lakes Closest Metro: Bryan/College Station

Dealerships & Shops

* Noah’s Ark Bar & Grill 4438 Boulevard St Bacliff, TX 77518 281.339.2895 www.noahsarkbarandgrill.com Region: Gulf Coast Closest Metro: Houston

* Cowboy’s Alamo City H-D 11005 IH 35 North San Antonio, TX 78233 800.397.7875 www.cowboysalamocityharley.com Region: South Texas Closest Metro: San Antonio

* Rolling Thunder Bar & Grill 6441 County Rd 2173 Fluvanna, TX 79517 325.573.HAWG (4294) www.rollingthunderbarandgrill.com Region: Panhandle Closest Metro: Lubbock

* Cycle Heaven 3770 Hwy 69 N Lufkin, TX 75904 936.634.8404 www.cycleheaventx.com Region: Piney Woods Closest Metro: Tyler

* RPM’s Bar 26210 FM 2978 Magnolia, TX 77354 713.557.1103 Region: Piney Woods Closest Metro: Houston

* Harley-Davidson of Kingwood 111 Northpines Dr Kingwood, TX 77339 281.358.0457 www.kingwoodharley.com Region: Gulf Coast Closest Metro: Houston

* Harley-Davidson of Waco 4201 S Jack Kultgen Expy Waco, TX 76706 254-753-0393 www.hdwaco.com Region: Prairies & Lakes Closest Metro: Waco * Houston Motorsports North 9550 FM 1960 West Houston, TX 77070 281.890.2020 www.houstonyamaha.com Region: Gulf Coast Closest Metro: Houston * Javelina Harley-Davidson 29078 I-10 West Boerne, TX 78006 800-860-9696 www.javelinaharleydavidson.com Region: Hill Country Closest Metro: San Antonio * Legacy Harley-Davidson 12100 W Hwy 80 East Odessa, TX 79765 800.788.6921 www.legacyh-d.com Region: Big Bend Closest Metro: Midland/Odessa * Longhorn Harley-Davidson 2830 West I-20 Grand Parairie, TX 75052 972.988.1903 www.longhornhd.com Region: Prairies & Lakes Closest Metro: Dallas/Ft Worth * Mancuso Harley Davidson - Crossroads 12710 Crossroads Park Dr Houston, TX 77065 281.970.9700 www.mancusocrossroads.com Region: Gulf Coast Closest Metro: Houston

Continued on Page 36...

Continued on Next Page... Texas-based, Texas-focused, Texas PROUD!

November 2011

Page 35

Biker Friendly * Motorcycle Tire Shop 1917 S Hackberry San Antonio, TX 78210 210.533 BIKE (2453) www.motorcycle-superstore.com Region: South Texas Closest Metro: San Antonio * Phantom Rider Choppers 6535 West Hwy 46 New Braunfels, TX 78132 830.228.4606 www.phantomriderchoppers.com Region: Hill Country Closest Metro: San Antonio * Potterosa Cycles & ATVs 19447 FM 1485 New Caney, TX 77357 832.971.3728 Region: Gulf Coast Closest Metro: Houston * Southern Metal Choppers 11116 Middle Fiskville Rd, Ste E Austin, TX 78753 512.833.5044 www.southernmetalchoppers.com Region: Hill Country Closest Metro: Austin * Team Mancuso Powersports Southwest 7537 Southwest Fwy Houston, TX 77074 713.995.9944 www.tmpsw.com Region: Gulf Coast Closest Metro: Houston * Thunder Alley Cycles 416 NE Wilshire Blvd Burleson, TX 76028 817.295.0955 www.thunderalleycycles.com Region: Prairies & Lakes Closest Metro: Dallas/Ft Worth

Page 36

November 2011

* Yamaha of San Antonio 15664 I-35 Selma, TX 78154 210.655.2625 www.kentpowersports.com Region: South Texas Closest Metro: San Antonio

Entertainment/Bands * Mean Gene Kelton 901 N Gaillard Baytown, TX 77520 713-866-4872 www.meangenerocks.com Region: Gulf Coast Closest Metro: Houston

Insurance & Attorneys * Ball Insurance 416 S Main St Highlands, TX 77562 800.444.7014 www.ballins.com Region: Gulf Coast Closest Metro: Houston * Farrar & Ball Law Firm; Law Tigers 1010 Lamar, Ste 1600 Houston, TX 77002 713.221.8300 www.lawtigers.com Region: Gulf Coast Closest Metro: Houston * Insurance Lady Agency 642 W Rhapsody, Ste A San Antonio, TX 78216 210.403.2216 www.insuranceladyinc.com Region: South Texas Closest Metro: San Antonio Walker Texas Lawyer 1924 Portsmouth

Houston, TX 77098 713.552.1117 www.walkertexaslawyer.com Region: Gulf Coast Closest Metro: Houston

Lodging & Campgrounds * D’Rose Inn & Cabins Highway 83/Market St Leakey, TX 78873 830.232.5246 www.droseinn.com Region: Hill Country Closest Metro: San Antonio Points Across Texas GOLD Destination DUBL-C Guest House (Gastehaus Schmidt Properties) Kerrville area: Located on Hwy 39 between Ingram & Hunt Ingram, TX 866.427.8374 http://www.fbglodging.com/properties/129/ Region: Hill Country Closest Metro: San Antonio SPECIAL: Stay 2 nights, get 3rd FREE

Motorcycle Towing * Dragonstar Motorcycle Transportation PO Box 444 Bryan, TX 77806 281.935.8890 www.getaride.net Region: Prairies & Lakes Closest Metro: Bryan/College Station Mission Wrecker 4535 FM 1516 North Converse, TX 78109 210.341.0333 www.missionwrecker.com Region: South Texas Closest Metro: San Antonio

Continued... Riding Gear/Leather * Moto Liberty - Dallas 11441 N Stemmons Fwy, Ste 201 Dallas, TX 75229 972.243.5995 www.motoliberty.com Region: Prairies & Lakes Closest Metro: Dallas/Ft Worth * The Hog Pound 13710 RR 12, #4 Wimberley, TX 78676 512.847.3444 www.thehogpound.com Region: Hill Country Closest Metro: Austin

Miscellaneous * Barry Claffey - Mullis A/C Houston, TX 281.468.5819 Region: Gulf Coast Closest Metro: Houston Outlaw Dave Productions PO Box 25028 Houston, TX 77265 Region: Gulf Coast Closest Metro: Houston



ThunderRoadsTexas.com

EVENT

Texas-based, Texas-focused, Texas PROUD!

November 2011

Page 37

Texas-based, Texas-focused, Texas PROUD!

November 2011

Page 39