The MOST Comprehensive Event Listing Published in Texas!
January 2010
ThunderRoadsTexas.com
Also Inside: 30 Years of Toys Johnny Lightning Special All Aboard the Snowball Express
Contents
January 2010
26
On the Cover 26
Introducing Points Across Texas A Reader Rides Program
This Month 14
14
30 Years of Toys - Amarillo
22
Johnny Lightning Special - Al Unser Sr Bike
30
All Aboard the Snowball Express - Dallas
Regular Features
22
8 9 10 16 24 28 32 34
From the Editor From the Road PigTrails: Holy Crap It’s Cold! Out-N-About: Ring the Bells, Start the Bikes Black Leather Blues: Just Plain Fun The Scout Report: More Bang for Your Buck ThunderCam Joker’s Wild
Resources
13 Mapsco Map: Day Ride from Fredericksburg 19 Event Listing CENTER - Pull-Out December 2009 Calendar 36 Biker Friendly Listing On the cover: INTRODUCING - Points Across Texas, a Reader Rides Program for 2010. Cover by Shelly Horan.
30 34
OWNERS Bob Cooney, CEO/Photography ThunderRoadsBob@yahoo.com Shelly “TX Dragonfly” Horan, Editor Shelly@ThunderRoadsTexas.com
Shelly
Bob
ADVERTISING SALES Thunder Roads Texas Main Office 281.866.8149 ThunderRoadsBob@yahoo.com M2 Motomedia - Statewide Reynolds Mansson M2Motomedia@gmail.com 210.259.9916
Reynolds
Greg Harris - D/FW thunderroads.greg@gmail.com 214.434.4545
Bill
Bill “Shovelhead” Barnes - Houston ThunderRoadsBill@yahoo.com MONTHLY CONTRIBUTORS Crazy Al Bill “Shovelhead” Barnes Mean Gene Kelton Elm “Scout” Valle CORRESPONDENTS Dean Downey - Panhandle Peggy Sue Skipper - Houston Kitti Kluna - Traveling Meghan Heller - Austin Mark Appenzeller - D/FW Joyce Siegert - D/FW Ron Blansett - Houston Linda Morris - Houston
Crazy Al
Dean
Meghan
Kitti
Mark
Ron Thunder Roads Texas Bob Cooney & Shelly Horan State Edition Owners 4631 Cashel Glen Drive Houston, TX 77069 281.866.8149 ThunderRoadsTexas.com
Gene
Elm
Peggy Sue
Joyce
Linda
Thunder Publishing, LLC Toni & Brian Shearon National Founders 1421 Chapmansboro Road 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.
2009 is Over... Happy New Whew! Year! It’s 2010 and talk of the New Year’s Resolution list abounds! Mine? Your standard: lose weight (and keep it off), eat better, exercise more, spend more time with family and friends, blah, blah, blah… Does anyone really stick to their resolutions? This month, Mean Gene talks about adding “just plain fun” to his list of resolutions; Crazy Al talks about keeping it simple… seems 2009 has us all rethinking our priorities and getting back to the basics. As we head into our third year as owners/publishers of Thunder Roads Texas, there is no keeping it simple. We have added a new reader rides program – Points Across Texas™, with D’Rose Inn & Cabins onboard as a sponsor and more in the works. In a couple months, we will add a Texas’ Best Bike Nights, a listing dedicated to the great bike nights across the state. We continue to add distribution points – this month with more than 200 – working hard to capture the entire motorcycle market, regardless of what someone rides. Our advertiser base is growing, showing some stability returning to the market – probably more of a settling into new budgets; realizing that Thunder Roads Texas is the best way to reach the Texas motorcyclist - really - the only way at this point. We’ve already signed on to sponsor the South Texas Motorcycle Show in San Antonio (March 19-21) again this year. We will expand our involvement with the Oldest Town in Texas Rally in Nacogdoches (September 17-19). And we’re identifying other sponsorship opportunities to span the state. AND our readers are more active than ever before – we get so many Thunder Cam photos from riders across the state, more event notifications for FREE inclusion in our Event Listing, and more content coming through a new set of Correspondents helping us out. We’re doing something right! As we go around, we hear more and more that people are picking up the magazine and reading it cover-to-cover! Loyal readers are sharing it with friends. And it’s evident that we’re reaching our target market. It’s been a great couple of years, though with some rough spots, as expected. We’ve met some of the greatest people on Earth – bikers! Allin-all, this community is the BEST; full of hard-working, big hearted, honest, and fun-loving people. We have been blessed in general, but in Texas – the hearts are bigger and the fun even more so! So, Happy New Year! May it be full of “just plain fun”, keeping it simple, and going back to the basics… most of all – may it be a safe one. Ride Safe & Ride with THUNDER! Shelly “TX Dragonfly” Horan Editor / Owner Shelly@ThunderRoadsTexas.com Examiner.com/x-16815-Houston-Motorcycle-Travel-Examiner - Not just for Houston! PS: I had the pleasure of meeting Kinky Friedman at a cigar bar in The Woodlands in December. After some friendly conversation, we sat down, had a cigar, a glass of wine and started reading his new book, Heroes of a Texas Childhood. Don’t be surprised if you see some quotes from this book soon! It’s GREAT! The cigars are good, too! In the picture with me and Kinky - my step-dad and mom, Jack and Lynn Rodriguez. They’re pretty wonderful too! My apologies for such an awful picture camera phones aren’t as good as our Cannon!
Page 8
H
January 2010
ThunderRoadsTexas.com
Thank you so much for listing our event in Thunder Roads Texas. It was a huge success. We had approximately 100 bikes, vehicles, firetruck, ambulance and antique cars. Over 2000 children gave their Christmas wishes to Santa Claus. They also each received a toy, a raffle ticket for 10 new bicycles and several “big ticket” item toys. If they did not win a bicycle, Fat Mac has spent the last year gathering over 300 donated used bicycles and they were able to go to Pelican Junction and pick one up. We had many volunteers, donors, and supporters this year and it was all due to the kind hearts of those who helped spread the news of the Crusin’ Texas Toy Drive! Thank you so much. Elizabeth Juarez Crusin’ Texas Toy Drive
This is the picture we put in the paper when we gave the check to the baby. We raised almost $4,000.00 that day. Thank you for your help. I know the people really do appreciate everything we and with your help did for them. Gayle Gearner Chicken Run Rally
Texas-based, Texas-focused, Texas PROUD!
January 2010
H
Page 9
Holy Crap It’s Cold! exans are funny people when it comes to winter. We think its winter when it goes below 50 degrees! I have known a couple of bikers that put their scooters in storage for the winter months. What is up with that? The reality of it is we are probably the luckiest people on the planet when it comes to being able to ride a motorcycle 365 days out of the year. I have been on toy runs in December when its 75 degrees outside. One year Santa was wearing a pair of shorts! I thought his elves were going to have heat stroke! Snow is not a factor. I think we get a total of one or two good days of snow per year.
Usually it’s not enough to even make a good snowman. But it sure does slow down the traffic! Texas cage drivers go into complete shock at the sheer sight of the white stuff! Riding in the winter in Texas is all about wearing the right gear. The right gear can turn chilly into toasty in no time at all. Be sure and get a good pair of gloves that are lined with Thinsolate. This stuff is awesome for keeping the chill off your fingers. Sometimes just plain leather gloves do nothing but hold the cold in. The cheapest way to get the most out of your 300 dollar ultra cool biker jacket is to go down to your local WalMart and you can buy one of those thick flannel jackets for around ten bucks. Put the flannel jacket on under your leather jacket and you will be snug as a bug in a rug. There is one thing I have yet to figure out. How the hell do you keep Page 10
H
January 2010
your toes warm? After about an hour of riding in 40 degree weather mine just disappear! I do want to put out a huge Texas thank you to all the bikers who put on and participate in toy runs around the country! I truly feel bikers are some of the most giving folks on the planet. Every year I and some good friends of mine attend the Big
Texas Toy Run that takes place in three cities. Dallas, Fort Worth, and Grapevine and ride to the final destination in Arlington, Texas. This thing is huge! It’s so big it’s hard to describe it to the average person. I think they had some 60,000 bikes last year alone. It’s like a sea of motorcycles. When you get to Arlington all the toys are piled against this one wall as you walk into the convention center. I just love seeing all the toys that are collected here! It is simply amazing! Last but not least it’s that dreaded time of year we all know and love! New Year’s resolutions! I want to wish everyone good luck in the year ahead. For most people, 2009 put a strain on the normal
way of life. Some struggled with money, some with jobs and a whole host of other problems this country is going through. My resolution for 2010 is to keep it simple. It’s amazing how many ways there are to save money and still have a great time. We have the best tool around for saving on gas! We own motorcycles. Get on that damn thing and ride to work! You can use them for more than just your days off! My wife Paula and I always make the most of our days off. Instead of dinner and a movie, go for a ride and a picnic! I hate to sound cheap but instead of going out on the weekend go out on Tuesday instead! So
many biker bars are struggling to make it out there that tons of them run great specials during the week with bargains on drinks and free pool! Plus we all need to do our part keeping these places running. They cater to us (Bikers) and we’ll lose them if we don’t. My New Year’s resolution is to not give anything up! But to get more out of life! More time with family and friends. More time on the motorcycle. Have more fun in whatever I choose to do! And get the most out of the sheer pleasure of being alive and well! Good luck to all in 2010!
ThunderRoadsTexas.com
Texas-based, Texas-focused, Texas PROUD!
January 2010
H
Page 11
Page 12
H
January 2010
ThunderRoadsTexas.com
Day Trip from Fredericksburg Featuring the Willow City Loop and Enchanted Rock
Total Miles: About 63 Time: About 2 hours w/o stops • Out of Fredericksburg, head East on Ranch Road 1631 • About 8 miles out, RR 1631 breaks off from RR 2721; stay on 1631 • Left on FM 1323 heading towards Willow City • In Willow City, take the Willow City Loop, heading North • Follow the loop until it connects with Highway 16, the go right/North • Left on FM 965, heading towards Enchanted Rock State Park • After visiting Enchanted Rock, continue South on FM 965 back to Fredericksburg
This is one of the most beautiful rides in Texas. Especially awesome in the Spring when the bluebonnets are blooming. Lots of twisties and turns and switch-backs - definitely not a boring ride. POINTS ACROSS TEXAS notification: Willow City Loop Sign and Enchanted Rock State Park are both accepted for the Points Across Texas program. Simply send a picture of you and/or your bike with these signs in the background and you’ll have two out of five destinations needed for your patch!
Some information above was provided by MotorcycleRoads.US. You can find a link on our website to this great mapping resource.
30 Years of Toys Eveline Rivers Annual Toy Run Amarillo * Region: Panhandle By Dean Downey
I
n spite of cold weather, over 200 bikers participated in the 30th annual Eveline Rivers Toy run held on December 6th in Amarillo, Texas. The event kicked off at Tripp’s Harley Davidson where bikers gathered; their bikes loaded with a variety of toys to bring joy to Christmas to children who might not have a Merry Christmas otherwise. Everyone who attended could bring a toy or a $10.00 donation. This year approximately $4,000 was raised
then are given a spot in the parade at the front until all 40 spaces are filled. All top 40 riders were entered into a drawing for two $500 gift certificates donated by Tripp’s Harley Davidson. After registration, everyone was then lined up for the parade by the Road Captains of the Amarillo HOG Chapter. The parade began at Tripp’s Harley Davidson and concluded at the Courts of Amarillo. The Amarillo Police Department and the Amarillo Emergency Services provided an escort for the parade. They did an
exceptional job in keeping everyone safe and blocking the intersections; a special thanks to all of them. Once everyone arrived at the Courts of Amarillo (a recreational facility) and took their toys from their bikes to the Christmas tree, they were treated to food donated by the Southwest Optimist Club of Amarillo, beer courtesy of Budweiser, and live entertainment from Candy Coburn, Nashville recording artist, and the Buster Bledsoe band. Candy Coburn was first to take the stage giving an
Continued next page...
and a tree full of toys according to Jason Tripp, the event coordinator. Every year there is a top 40, where participants pay $100 and Page 14
H
January 2010
ThunderRoadsTexas.com
energetic and outstanding performance for the crowd with her own style of music that bikers seemed to love and relate to by dancing and applauding her every song. The Buster Bledsoe band is no stranger to this area or music and always does an excellent job in pleasing the crowd. With this kind of entertainment, we can all be thankful there was plenty of beer and food. Of course no event can be successful without sponsors and the volunteers who help plan, organize, and WORK.
Texas-based, Texas-focused, Texas PROUD!
Everyone involved worked hard and deserves to be commended for their efforts. This year’s sponsors were Tripp’s Harley Davidson, who also provided the venue, Happy State Bank for the stage and sound, Budweiser of Amarillo, Southwest Optimist Club of Amarillo, Just Tees’n for the great looking t-shirts sold at the event, American Classifieds, Frost Air Conditioning and Heating, Alice Brooks Insurance, Bobby Duby Motors, Rabern Rental Center, Area Trailer Sales and Rentals, Studio 27 Designs, Moss Body Shop, and Totally Turquoise.
Thanks to all those who participated and helped to make a brighter Christmas to those in need this year, proving once again that underneath all that leather lies a sincere, caring, and giving heart. Until next year, RIDE FREE AND SAFE ALWAYS.
January 2010
H
Page 15
Ring the Bells, Start Those Bikes! Hockley * Region: Gulf Coast * Metro: Houston hy would over 250 bikers gather out in the rain on a cold, cold December day? Promise of free booze? No. Giant swap meet? No. Young gorgeous strippers? No. They did, however, gladly endure the elements to bring Christmas presents to 83 very happy children. The first weekend in December, I had the pleasure of attending the 30th Annual Northwest Chapter of the San Jacinto High Rollers (NWSJHR) Toy Run. Honda of Houston on West Road hosted the registration and kickstands up. We
arrived at the Boys and Girls Country facility with Santa riding up front and were greeted by all the kids. The kids wrote and performed a song for the bikers and welcomed us with banners they had made. Local radio personality and fellow rider, Outlaw Dave, Page 16
H
January 2010
took on the role of Santa for the seventh consecutive year. Every child was individually called to receive their presents from Santa and Mrs. Claus. There is no describing the feeling you get when you see the gigantic smiles on the faces of these kids. It was a great time for all, kids and bikers alike. After the toys were given out, the kids gave tours
of the facility and then it was off to the after party at the Cypress Saloon where there was icy cold beer, free barbeque for all the participants, great live music by Grady out of Austin, and a charity auction. The NWSJHRs have been supporting Boys and Girls Country in Hockley for 30 yrs now. In addition to bringing Christmas toys every year, they have raised and donated tens of thousands of dollars to support these kids and this great facility. They have been instrumental in building the brand new gymnasium where the event was held, a pool, tennis courts, a bunkhouse, and
more. They also were on hand after Hurricane Ike to help clean up and cook all the food before it spoiled. They support them any time they need a hand. The Boys and Girls Country facility was established in 1971 as a not-for-profit charitable home. It is home to nearly 100 kids from all walks of life, ranging in age from 5 to 18; serving more than 1,200 kids so far. They provide a warm, loving, family-like Christian atmosphere where children have the opportunity to grow up safe
and secure and develop to their full potential. Residents live on campus in cottages with trained houseparents and attend public school. They also participate in outside activities, such as church, band, sports, summer camps, etc. They do not rely on federal or state grants for their funding, they are supported by charitable individuals, businesses, churches and other generous sources to support these kids and maintain their facilities. They can always use volunteers, so come out and help when you have some time. ~ A word to the wise ain’t necessary - it’s the stupid ones that need the advice. ~
ThunderRoadsTexas.com
Texas-based, Texas-focused, Texas PROUD!
January 2010
H
Page 17
Page 18
H
January 2010
ThunderRoadsTexas.com
Event Listing The MOST comprehensive motorcycle event listing published in the State of Texas!
23-24 30 7
Big Mike’s Bike Show BigMike’sApparel.com Deer Park Region: Gulf Coast Metro: Houston/Sugar Land/Baytown
11
2010 Texas Motorcycle Safety Forum tti.tamu.edu/conferences/tmsf10 Austin Region: Hill Country St Valentine’s Day massacre MassacreRally.com Boerne Region: Hill Country Metro: San Antonio 1st Annual Mardi Gras Party & Crawfish Boil 512.965.4807 Austin Region: Hill Country
Benefit for Weatherford High School Student mamabluetx99@yahoo.com Weatherford Region: Prairies & Lakes Metro: D/FW
Rivercity Bike Fest RiverCityBikeFest.com San Antonio Region: South Texas
Thunder Roads Texas BIKE NIGHT ThunderRoadsTexas.com Houston Region: Gulf Coast Metro: Houston While it’s cold outside, we party warm inside! Join us at Texas Rock Tavern (2470 FM 1960 West, just west of Kuykendahl in NW Houston) for live music, cheap drinks, door prizes, vendors, and JUST PLAIN FUN! We party rain or shine (or snow). Reserved bike parking.
Daytona Bike Week OfficialBikeWeek.com Daytona, FL
Continued on Page 29... Texas-based, Texas-focused, Texas PROUD!
12
6
Accident Scene Management Course AccidentScene.org Odessa Region: Big Bend
12-14
FEBRUARY
13
14-17
36th Annual Lost Alaskan 210-421-2479 Kirby Region: South Texas Metro: San Antonio
17
8th Annual Star of Texas Tattoo Art Revival GoLiveFast.com Austin Region: Hill Country
21
4th Annual Patriot Pow-Wow Chili Cook Off 979.204.0838; 979.820.4215 Bryan Region: Prairies & Lakes
Chopper Show and Swap Meet TexasScooter.com Dallas Region: Prairies & Lakes
16
10
Benefit for Downed Brothers 409.223.9696 Orange Region: Gulf Coast Metro: Beaumont/Port Arthur
Accident Scene Management Course AccidentScene.org Bridgeport Region: Prairies & Lakes Metro: D/FW
19-21
6th Annual Motorcycle Swap Meet HarleySalvage.com Arlington Region: Prairies & Lakes
m
26-Mar 7
1
Biker Church Bike Night BikerChurch.webs.com Katy Region: Gulf Coast Metro: Houston
9
Fritz Hayden Memorial Run BikerLiving.com Spicewood Region: Hill Country Metro: Austin
2
JANUARY
3
m
Continued on Page 22... January 2010
H
Page 19
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Multiple-day events appear on the first day of event. For details on these and other events, see our Event Listing, Page 19.
Monday
1
New Year’s Day
Friday 2
Saturday 3
6th Motorcycle Swap Meet Arlington
Sunday
January 2010
19
18
25
26
12
11
Martin Luther King, jr Day Observed
5
4
27
20
13
6
28
Thunder Roads Texas BIKE NIGHT Houston
21
8th Annual Star of Texas Tattoo Art Revival Austin January 14-17
14
7
29
22
15
8
30
31
24
17
16
23
10
9 Chopper Show & Swap Meet Dallas
Johnny Lightning Special I
Al Unser, Sr. Commemorative Motorcycle Story By: “T” Photos By: “T” and Brandon “Maverick”
f this sweet ride doesn’t warm you up in the midst of this cold winter, I’m not sure what will! This motorcycle was built for Al Unser, Sr. to honor his first of four Indy 500 wins beginning in 1970 in the Johnny Lightning car. Al had “back to back” wins in 1970 and 1971, a feat that has not been repeated by any other driver since. I had the opportunity to interview Al Unser, Sr. in April of 2009. At that time, he was the special guest of the Thunder Run V in Oklahoma City. In visiting with him, he let me know that he and Sam Wills, builder and owner of Racing Innovations, had just begun discussing a build of this bike.
Sam Wills Racing Innovations
As I mentioned above, the bike is built commemorating the Johnny Lightning car in which Al won his first Indy 500. My favorite part of that story is that it was the first race the car was entered into! At first, Al was very skeptical about the sponsor, Johnny Lightning Toy Company, when he was first approached. His car owner assured him that although the car was being sponsored by a toy company, he would not become the laughing stock of the racing industry. After that win in Indy, the toy company and the Parnelli Jones Race team were laughing all the way to the bank. A matter of fact, Al was told by the owner of the toy company that, if Al won the Indy 500, he’d pay him a million dollars. Remember, this was also in 1970, so it was worth even more back then. However, once the race was won, Al found that he didn’t personally get the million dollars, but the money was given to the race team for use on the car. Once the bike build was agreed upon, Sam Wills made a trip to the Unser Racing Museum in Albuquerque, NM to photograph, study and review the Johnny Lightning car display. He also got an opportunity to dig around in a few of Al’s old parts and come up with a few things he could actually use on the bike. For instance, check out those accordion flanges on the exhaust and those big ol’ 1963 Halibrand Magnesium Wheels. The builders, Sam, Shawn and Delvin built this bike, working diligently to closely duplicate the details of the original race car. Look over the photos and specifications carefully. You will find many details that resemble an Indy Race Car. This was an amazing build. The Johnny Lightning bike was built to be sold at a Barrett-Jackson Auction with proceeds going to Al’s charity of choice, the Unser Children’s Discovery Center, of which he donates
Page 22
H
January 2010
ThunderRoadsTexas.com
Bike Owners: Al Unser, Sr and Susan Unser Racing Innovations Al Unser Special Pro Street Built By: Racing Innovations, OKC, OK - Sam Wills, Shawn Norris and Delvin Clark Paint By: Manny Powder Coat by: Performance Coatings Chrome By: Diversified Solo Seat By: David Lee Frame: Racing Innovations 38o Rake, 5” Forward, 0 up. Front End: Racing Innovations Special – 4130 Aircraft Streamlined with Spring Shocks Wheels: 1963 Halibrand – Magnesium Knockoff’s 18 X 8” Tires: Metzlers 240 X 18/ Hubs by: Racing Innovations Fender Fabrication/All Sheet Metal Work By: Shawn Norris Tank – 3.4 Gallon, Aircraft Filler 3” Hand Controls By: ISR Foot Controls By: Racing Innovations Ex Custom 2” Step Pipes with Ford Cosworth Parts Motor 113 Hot Rod By: Robbie McKay – 625 1.FT Cam, 11.1 Comp Ratio Includes Special Cut Cylinder and Heads, Diamond Cut Fins S&S G Carb with Thunder Jet Crane Hi4 Ignition Tranny 6 Speed Ultima Belt Drive 2” Ultima Starter By: GPE Starters of Edmond Sprotor By: DNA Special Thanks to Sam Wills, Racing Innovations; Al Unser, Sr. and Susan Unser for sharing this fine piece of machinery representing a rich history with us. $16,000 in scholarships per year. The Discovery Center is based in the Unser Racing Museum located in Albuquerque, NM and dedicated to providing a hands on experience for both adults and kids. At the time of going to print, the Unser family was awaiting confirmation of acceptance to the January 2010 Barrett-Jackson Auction. If all goes as planned with acceptance to the auction, you can see this bike displayed alongside the actual Johnny Lightning car at the Unser Racing Museum until it is sent to the Barrett-Jackson Auction. From there, one very fortunate bidder will take it home. Please see www.unserracingmuseum.com for a full museum schedule and for more information on the upcoming auction schedule. [EDITOR’S NOTE: Normally we keep our stories based in Texas or with a Texas connection. However, being part of a larger network across the US, we occasionally get a story that we believe is of interest to our readers - and can’t pass it up. This is one of those. It comes from our Oklahoma sister magazine. At print time, this is a “scoop” on other, even national, publications. We hope you enjoy.]
Texas-based, Texas-focused, Texas PROUD!
January 2010
H
Page 23
Just Plain Fun! appy New Year everyone and welcome to the January 2010 issue of Thunder Roads Texas. I am very excited about starting my second year as a monthly contributor. As I sit here in front of my computer with a cup of coffee and hand scribbled notes to prepare for this month’s article, I happened to gaze out the window and see our two grandchildren (both 6 years old) playing in the backyard. Of all the toys we keep for them here at Papa Gene and Granny J’s house, they choose to swordfight with broken sticks and throw rotten pecans to the little dogs on the other side of the cyclone fence that stands between our yard and the neighbor behind us. To the delight of the kids, each time they throw a pecan, the dogs pick them up and run wildly around the yard playing a fast and furious game of keep away. The kids shriek with laughter as the dogs dart around the yard rolling, tumbling and fighting over their coveted treasure. That’s when I suddenly realized that I was mesmerized by the innocent scene playing
savvy whiz-kid to a game where they have to depend on their own brain instead of the artificial intelligence built into their cell phone or laptop. I wonder how many kids today can spin a yo-yo, shoot a sling-shot, or decipher a Rubik’s Cube? I know there are kids out there on organized teams sponsored by local business... but what about letting kids use their own imagination to create their own fun, like jumping off the garage with an old shower curtain for a parachute? How many of you leather-clad, steel horse ridin’ road warriors reading this would ever allow yourself to be seen in your front yard playing Croquet with the kids? Try this: drag your tenyear-old and his little school pals away from the TV/computer, give them some wooden mallets, and watch the fun begin! Do kids ever play hide & seek anymore? Or play chase, swinging statue, or collect lightning bugs at dusk? Has your kid ever even seen (or even heard of) a lightning bug? Whatever happened to kids having just plain fun?
Wanna really get a laugh? How ‘bout taking time to listen to the wisdom in the humor that our wonderful Senior Citizens have to offer? Did you know that senior citizens have an outrageous sense of humor? They’ll say anything and keep you in stitches. Just stop in any donut shop early in the morning and sit in the back and listen. You’ll laugh your ass off! You should have heard my 90 year-old grandmother when I jokingly interrogated her about her teenaged sexual escapades back in the 1920’s. Her answers were frickin’ hilarious! She kept us all rolling off the porch at her last family reunion. Old people are FUN! Remember that Twilight Zone episode called “Kick the Can”? In it, an old man in a “home for the aged” insisted that the fountain of youth was to be found in the fun of innocent kid games. One of those games was called “Kick the Can”. He believed that if all the old folks in the home got off their butts, quit feeling sorry for themselves and went out and played it, they would become young again. I recommend that you see that episode and learn from it. I won’t tell the surprise ending but it teaches us that the secret of staying young is having fun! Rent it. Buy it. Download it!
“The human race has only one really effective weapon and that is laughter.” --Mark Twain out before me. It then occurred to me that there is absolutely nothing like the sheer joy of experiencing Just Plain Fun! A sudden longing began to stir inside me as I realized how much of my life has become preoccupied with my career; instead of allowing myself the luxury of giving in to the urge of playing hooky every now and then, spending quality time with my family and indulging in just plain fun. When was the last time you and yours experienced just plain fun? Unplanned, inexpensive, spontaneous... FUN? I’m not talking about taking the family on an expensive vacation or buying thousands of dollars worth of high-tech video/computer games that your kids get bored with in no time. At the risk of sounding old fashioned and corny, I’m talking about healthy, interactive, spur of the moment fun with your family. How about getting out the old Monopoly game, the Checker board or a set of dominoes and challenging your technoPage 24
H
January 2010
Do families go for walks together anymore, play ball, clean the house together or do yard work together? Remember when the whole family would wash the car or the dog together and before you knew it, you were all covered with soap and spraying each other with the water hose and laughing hysterically? Ever hold your kid down and tickle their feet or blow lip-farts on a baby’s belly and watch the child scream with laughter? Who was having the most fun, you are the kid? Now that’s just plain fun! And it’s FREE! Is “having more fun” on your list of New Year’s resolutions for 2010? Have you even thought about fun as a goal or a way of life, not just an accidental by-product of spending a lot of money for some material object or going to some place with a great light show? Here we all are making our New Year’s resolutions for 2010 and promising ourselves the same broken promises we made to ourselves in previous years. How ‘bout making plans to have more fun? To laugh more? And more freely.
Misery may love company, but laughter is contagious. It spreads like wildfire and creates friends for life! So tell a joke. Stand on your head. Be the class (or office) clown! Make a paper airplane and sail it across your office. Go to the joke shop and buy some fake vomit or plastic dog poop and let your imagination soar. You’ll have a blast! Xerox your butt and email it to a friend! Am I being immature? Big frickin’ deal! So what? You buncha stuffed shirts need to loosen up and be a kid again! You only live once! You may grow old, but never grow up! Laughter is healing. Laughter is sexy. Laughter is the best medicine for what ails you. Chicks dig guys who make them laugh. This old world is in a hell of a mess right now, so add fun and laughter to your New Year’s resolutions. Promise yourself that regardless of all the BS, stress, and strife in this world and in your life you and yours are going to have a lot more Just Plain Fun in 2010! Happy New Year!
ThunderRoadsTexas.com
Texas-based, Texas-focused, Texas PROUD!
January 2010
H
Page 25
A Reader Rides Program We wanted to do something different; something that you can participate in for FREE and get something for it. It’s our new reader rides program, Points Across Texas™, co-sponsored by D’Rose Inn & Cabins in Leakey. All you have to do is ride the roads of Texas, visiting places on our Destination List. As you do, send us pictures with you and/or your bike and an identifiable background to show you were there. Once you send in five pictures, we’ll send you a Thunder Roads Texas Points Across Texas™ patch! In this inaugural year, we offer the easiest list ever! It includes major Texas events (motorcycle and non-motorcycle), popular Texas destinations, and a couple categories to make it even easier, such as any county courthouse, any Ghost Town (as listed online, see details below). Here is a partial list. A full list is available online. Periodically, we’ll publish a special themed list – so keep picking up Thunder Roads Texas motorcycle magazine for these updates and check online. Starting in February, we’ll have a booklet available – FREE. Just call or email us (281.3866.8149; Shelly@ThunderRoadsTexas.com) and give us your mailing address. We’ll send you a Destination List in a handy, spiral bound, tear-proof, 4”x6” booklet to keep on your bike. Your address goes nowhere; we do not sell or share our readers’ personal information. The program is FREE! All you have to do is keep the list handy when you get on your bike and send us proof you’ve been there. Remember – just five locations and we’ll send you the patch. SPONSOR D’Rose Inn & Cabins POPULAR TEXAS TOURISM “Little Green Man” Burial Site; Aurora Alamo, San Antonio Allen Station Park; Allen Apache Trading Post; Alpine Aquarena Center; San Marcos Beer Can House; Houston Bird & Butterfly Farm; Brownsville Blarney Stone; Shamrock Texas Blue Bell Creamery; Brenham Buddy Holly Statue; Lubbock Cadillac Ranch; Amarillo Cascade Caverns; Boerne Cathedral of Junk; Austin Confederate War Memorial; Dallas Dan Block (“Hoss”) Memorial; O’Donnell Eiffel tower w/ Big Cowboy Hat; Paris Fire Station No 1; Fort Worth Forbidden Gardens; Katy Fred Hartman Bridge; Baytown Freedman’s Cemetery Memorial; Dallas Frontier Texas!; Abilene Bush Presidential Library, College Station Giant Sam Houston Statue; Huntsville Golf Ball Water Tower; Bridgeport Golf Ball Water Tower; Lakeway Grapevine Vintage Railroad, Grapevine Gruene Dance Hall, Gruene Historic Ice House; Glen Rose Inner Space Cavern; Georgetown Iwo Jim Memorial; Harlingen Little Chapel in the Woods; Denton Little Graceland; Los Fresnos Johnson Presidential Library, Austin Mary of Puddin Hill Bakery & Store; Greenville Monolithic Dome Caterpillar; Italy Moody Gardens, Galveston National Mule Memorial; Muleshoe Natural Bridge Caverns, San Antonio Old Red Courthouse; Dallas Oldest Dr Pepper Bottling Plant in the World; Dublin Palo Alto and Palmito Ranch Battlefield; Brownsville
Port Isabel Lighthouse; Port Isabel Reunion Tower, Dallas River Walk, San Antonio San Jacinto Monument; Deer Park Seawall, Galveston Sixth Street; Austin Snake Farm; New Braunfels Southfork Ranch; Plano Space Center Houston, Houston Stevie Ray Vaughn Memorial Stonehenge II; Hunt Strawberry Water Tower; Poteet Stuermer Store; Giddings Tee Pee Motel; Wharton Texas Korean War Veterans Memorial; Austin Texas State Aquarium; Corpus Christi Texas State Cemetery; Austin Texas State Railroad, Palestine or Rusk The Capitol Building, Austin The Cross; Ballinger The Stockyards, Fort Worth The Strand, Galveston Toilet Seat Museum; San Antonio Tower of the Americas; San Antonio Veteran’s War Memorial of Texas; McAllen Vietnam Veteran’s Memorial; Midland VW Slug Bug Ranch; Conway Washington on the Brazos, Washington Water Gardens; Fort Worth Watermelon Water Tower; Luling White Buffalo Statue; Snyder World’s Smallest Catholic Church; Warrenton “CAPITALS” OF TEXAS Alligator Capital of Texas; Anahuac Antique Capital of Texas; Baird Balloon Capital of Texas; Alpine Barbeque Capital of Texas; Lockhart Bass Capital of Texas; Mount Pleasant Bed & Breakfast Capital; Jefferson Big Bass Capital of Texas; Quitman Birding Capital of East Texas; Mineola Blackeyed Pea Capital; Athens Blueberry Capital of Texas; Nacogdoches Bluebird Capital; Wills Point Bluebonnet City; Ennis
Texas-based, Texas-focused, Texas PROUD!
Bluebonnet Co-Capital of Texas; Burnet Bluebonnet Co-Capital; Llano County Blues Capital; Navasota Boot Capital of America; Justin Cactus Capital; Sanderson Cement and Steel Capital; Midlothian Cheeseburger Capital; Friona Chess Capital; Brownsville Chili Capital of the World; Terlingua Christmas Capital of Texas; Grapevine Citrus Capital; Weslaco Colonial Capital of Texas; San Felipe Cowboy Capital of the World; Bandera Crape Myrtle Capital; Waxahachie Crape Myrtle City; Mauriceville Crape Myrtle Capital; Lamar County Crawfish Capital of Texas; Mauriceville Czech Heritage Capital; West Daffodil Capital; Round Rock Danis Capital; Danevang Deer Capital of Texas; Llano Dinosaur Capital; Glen Rose Dove Capital of Texas; Hamilton Eagle Capital; Rains County Fruit Cake Capital of the World; Corsicana Goose Hunting Capital; Eagle Lake Hippo Capital; Hutto Horned Lizard Capital; Kenedy Hot Air Balloon Capital; Plano Irish Capital; Dublin Jackrabbgit-Roping Capital; Odessa Leap Year Capital of the World; Anthony Mural Capital; Breckenridge Mushroom Capital; Madisonville Norwegian Capital; Clifton Ostrich Capital; Midland Outdoor Capital; Buda Pancake Capital; Hawkins Peach Capital; Parker County Polka Capital of Texas; Fredericksburg Pottery Capital of the World; Marshall Pump Jack Capital; Electra Pumpkin Capital; Floydada Purple Martin Capital; Longview Red Poppy Capital; Georgetown Red Tail Hawk Capital; Kaufman Redbud Capital; Denton Rice Capital of the World; Katy
Rodeo Capital; Mequite Rose Capital of the World; Tyler Sasauge Capital; Elgin Seedless Watermelon Capital; Knox City Spinach Capital of the World; Crystal City Sports Capital of Texas; Round Rock Spur Capital; Gatesville Square Dance Capital; McAllen Stagecoach Capital; Bridgeport Storyfest Capital; George West Storytelling Capital of Texas; George West Strawberry Capital of Texas; Poteet Sunflower Capital; Hearne The Birthplace of Texas; Deer Park Tomato Capital of the World; Jacksonville Turkey Capital of the World; Cuero Vaquero Capital of Texas; Jim Hogg County/Hebbronville Volunteer Capital; Comal County Watermelon Capital of Texas; Luling Western Swing Capital; Turkey Wild Boar Capital; Dickens Wildflower Capital of Texas; Temple Wind Energy Capital; McCamey Wine Root Stock Capital; Denison Wool and Mohair Capital; San Angelo NON-MOTORCYCLE EVENTS List here are only those through March. We’ll update these quarterly. Mardi Gras! Galveston February 5-16; Galveston Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo March 2-21; Houston Chocolate Festival March 12-13; Grapevine St. Patrick’s Day Celebration March 19-21; Shamrock St Patrick’s Festival March 20; Dublin Azelea Trail Festival March 20; Jasper Texas Onion Festival March 26-27; Weslaco
Continued on page 29... January 2010
H
Page 27
More BANG for Your Buck! robably the best aftermarket part you can install on your bike (if your bike is fuel injected) is an Electronic Fuel Injection Controller. Significant horsepower and torque can be gained on the bike; up to 10-20% increase have been reported and Dyno tested. About Techlusion Corporation Techlusion who? Dobeck what? Just about everyone knows the Power Commander and the Cobra FI brands, but very few know the Techlusion/Dobeck brand. The Techlusion Corporation and Dobeck is actually the same company. I recently had the pleasure to speak with the Techlusion/Dobeck CIO, Dallas Fischer, who shared with me a wealth of knowledge about their company and products. Mark Dobeck, founder of Dynojet, the same person who introduced the jet kit and the inertia dynamometer, formed a new company called Techlusion in 1997. The focus of the company was to develop a controller as a fuel solution for EFI vehicles which was believed to be the future of all powersport vehicles. The company started in Las Vegas, Nevada, but was moved to Bozeman, Montana in 2003. What is not commonly known is that the roots of their competitors, Power Commander and Cobra FI, can both be traced back to the Dobeck Company and technology. So in essence Techlusion/ Dobeck was the original motorcycle EFI unit producer. The original unit was branded as the Techlusion Fuel Injection (TFI) processor. These are sold directly though Techlusion, but the bulk of their sales are through third party distribution. Distributors such as Arlen Ness and Two Brothers Racing, rebrand them more commonly known as the Big Shot and the Juice Box. The TFI and GEN3 The need for more power is inevitable for a motorcycle and simply trading up bikes is both costly and impractical. I installed the Techlusion Fuel Injection (TFI) system on my bike, which is the older Gen2 type, and was pleasantly surprised how much additional power band my bike attained. But how does this all work? An electronic fuel injection system is a computer controlled fuel delivery system. This electronic control unit (ECU) reads various sensors located on the vehicle and makes the determination of how much fuel to allow the engine to have Page 28
H
January 2010
based on this information. The computer will open and close the injectors allowing gasoline into the engine based on the sensor inputs and the fuel map programmed into the computer. The Techlusion TFI GEN2 uses throttle position and RPM’s to determine the amount of fuel to be added. In contrast, their GEN3 units, senses engine load as well, resulting in a better calculation for the amount of fuel added, and ultimately better power band response. The TFI GEN2 is available directly from Techlusion and their GEN3s are sold through the re-branded units such as Big Shots and Juice Box. The amount of additional
M50 Boulevard within two weeks. Right after I installed the TFI unit, I immediately took my bike out for a test ride. The difference was noticeable and the power bands between the gears were much greater. This was probably the best aftermarket addition I had put to my bike to date. I really cannot say enough good things about Techlusion/Dobeck.EFI units and their customer service. Since third party distributors handle the bulk of their business, they can still operate on a small family business mentality, putting customer needs first. Though, the Power Commander and Cobra FI are widely marketed units, they really get their roots from Techlusion/Dobeck. And as of now, the GEN3 units are on the cutting edge and the only ones that use load bearing technology at this time. I firmly believe that regardless what brand you choose, that an EFI unit, should be your first aftermarket add-on to your bike. Conclusion In my opinion, the Techlusion Fuel Injection system by Dobeck and their GEN3 systems are essential aftermarket additions to any motorcycle. It adds noticeable power and throttle response. And the price is just right, being sold between $250 and 300 a unit.
horsepower (HP) gains will vary, depending on bike manufacturer, model, air intake and exhaust system. For maximum HP gains, an aftermarket air and exhaust system is recommended, but not necessary. It can be installed as a stand alone unit, as I did with my motorcycle. An EFI unit is necessary though if you decide to change out your air intake system with an aftermarket one since it will change the air to fuel ratio. Installing one may sound like a gruesome task, but overall it’s fairly easy, and takes about 30 minutes; 10 minutes for someone who knows their motorcycle. There are plug and play models where the unit just plugs in between the current ECU and injector connections. There are also step by step instructions with photos available on the web. Lastly, Techlusion has outstanding customer support and service. They actually built me the first 2009 TFI model for my Suzuki
For more information about the TFI and GEN3 go to www.techlusion.com or www.arlenness. com. So as always, ride safely and “See you on the high ground!”
Happy New Year!
ThunderRoadsTexas.com
future Events Points Across Texas April 7-11 Arizona Bike Week AZBikeWeek.com Scottsdale, AZ April 9-11 Carts, Bikers & Babes Rally CartsBikersAndBabesRally.com Somerville Region: Prairies & Lakes Metro: Bryan/College Station April 9-11 TMRA State Rally TMRA.org Snyder Region: Panhandle April 24-26 Texas COC State Rally COCTexas.org Manor Region: Hill Country Metro: Austin March 19-21 7th Annual South Texas Motorcycle Show TXBikeShow.com San Antonio Region: South Texas Kick off the riding season in San Antonio. Live music, sponsored by Thunder Roads Texas Motorcycle Magazine; Texas Scooter Times hosted Swap Meet; stunt show and competition; Tattoo Expo, featuring Johnny Jackson from Texas Body Art in Houston; and lots of vendors.
June 21 International Ride to Work Day RideToWork.org August 9-15 70th Annual Sturgis Bike Week Sturgis.com Sturgis, SD September 9-12 The Texas Rally TheTexasRally.com Somerville Region: Prairies & Lakes Metro: Bryan/College Station September 15-19 The Golden Aspen Rally MotorcycleRally.com Ruidoso, NM September 17-19 The Oldest Town in Texas (OTT) Rally OTTRally.com Nacogdoches Region: Piney Woods Thunder Roads Texas Motorcycle Magazine will, once again, be a sponsor. With the blow out turn out in 2009, we expect big things from this rally this year! Watch for upcoming news as the organizers get ready to make this a rally to remember! September 29-October 2 Bikes, Blues & BBQ BikesBluesandBBQ.org Fayetteville, AR
May 7-16 Myrtle Beach Bike Week MyrtleBeachBikeWeek.com Myrtle Beach, SC
September 29-October 3 Myrtle Beach Fall Rally MyrtleBeachBikeWeek.com Myrtle Beach, SC
May 19-30 Run for the Wall RFTW.org Washington, DC
October 14-17 Biketoberfest Biketoberfest.com Daytona, FL
May 20-23 Aspen Cash Rally MotorcycleRally.com Ruidoso, NM
October 23-25 California Bike Week CaliforniaBikeWeek.com Pamona, CA
May 22-23 2nd Annual Women Riders Conference Harley-Davidson.com/WomenRiders Milwaukee, WI
October 28-31 Lone Star Motorcycle Rally LoneStarRally.com Galveston Region: Gulf Coast Metro: Houston/Sugar Land/Baytown
June 10-13 Republic of Texas (ROT) Biker Rally ROTRally.com Austin Region: Hill Country June 12-20 Laconia Motorcycle Week LaconiaMCWeek.com Laconia, NH
Texas-based, Texas-focused, Texas PROUD!
Continued from page 27... GENERAL CATEGORIES • Any County Courthouse: There are 254 counties in Texas, this leaves quite a bit of room for an easy visit! • Ghost Towns: As listed in GhostTowns.com/states/tx/tx.html or TexasEscapes.com. Both of these sites offer a pretty large listing, but be sure that there’s something there to get a picture of before you set out on the trip! Some of these towns are simply memories. • Texas Motorcycle Events: Any event listed in our Event Listing qualifies. • Any brewery or winery in Texas. • Popular Motorcycle Roads: Any road provided at MotorcycleRoads.us/states/tx.html. Simply make sure a road sign is in the background. • Anything on Route 66: As listed in TexasEscapes.com GENERAL RULES • Pictures must include something that identifies the destination, such as street signs, city/town signs, event banners, location signs, and historical markers. • The pictures should include some form of date stamp or, better yet, a current Thunder Roads Texas issue in the picture! • Pictures must identify the name of the person for which the picture will count. If there’s a group shot, a single picture may be submitted with a list of names. • Don’t wait until you have five photos! Send them as you travel. We’ll publish along the way! And we’ll keep track for you! • If you find a location on our list that is not suitable (an event that will not be held in 2010, for example), please let us know! • We’ll provide updates to the list throughout the year, including themed lists based on the time of year, anything identifiable on our Monthly Ride Map, and sponsors as they come aboard. The best way to stay informed will be through our Web-zine emailing! • The bike booklet will be available in February. • MOST OF ALL - Be safe & enjoy!
Basic Listings are FREE! Send information to Events@ ThunderRoadsTexas.com. Upgrade listing for ONLY $45/Event. January 2010
H
Page 29
All Aboard the Snowball Express! Dallas * Region: Prairies & Lakes DallasBy: Travis “Blydawg” Blythe, DFW Correspondent
E
very December, there are numerous charity events, toy rides, and volunteer events which consume the entire month. It always makes me feel so good inside to be able to give toys to the various charitable agencies for the local children who are less fortunate than I was growing up. As a child I never heard of these types of things and I assumed that every young child had the same type of Christmas as I did. Santa would come on Christmas Eve, put presents around the tree, drink my milk, and eat my cookies. The next day I would get up to be in awe of “how good” I really was throughout the year. Now that I am older and wiser, I understand there are children in this country who were not as fortunate as I was growing up. It warms my heart to be able to be part of some of these massive toy runs in Dallas and to see how excited the children get from one single toy. This year has been no exception in the amount of toys, blankets, coats, or angels needed for our city. With this economic downturn, more than ever people are in need. This year, the Snowball Express came to Dallas and I was fortunate enough to be part of it. The Snowball Express is the charity for the children of our fallen military heroes. They started in 2006 with a simple idea: Provide hope and new memories to the children of our military heroes who died while on active duty since September 11, 2001. This is a totally volunteer effort to create the largest all-expense-paid gathering for the families of our fallen warriors since 9/11. Fallen heroes’ families from all over the US converge on a single location for a series of activities that take place over the course of a few days. So, you are probably asking yourself, “How exactly did you get involved with this and what does it have Page 30
H
January 2010
to do with motorcycles?” The answer is simple, I am an active participant in the Patriot Guard Riders (PGR) and this year we were fortunate enough to be asked to escort the families and children of the Snowball Express while they were in town. From Wednesday, December 9 from the time they landed at DFW airport (courtesy of American Airlines) until they were taken back on Sunday, December 13, the PGR lead them throughout Dallas and the Metroplex. You may be wondering who or what is the PGR. The PGR was formed in 2006. Initially it was formed to shelter and protect funerals of fallen soldiers from the Westboro Baptist Church protesters who claim that the deaths of American troops in Iraq and Afghanistan are divine retribution for American tolerance of homosexuality. The PGR positions itself to physically shield the mourners from the presence of the Westboro protesters by blocking the protesters from view with their motorcades and American flags. The group also drowns out the protesters’ chants by singing patriotic songs or by revving motorcycle engines. The families of the deceased typically contact the PRG organization to escort the funeral procession from the funeral service to the cemetery. I was able to sit down with Mike “Gunner” Lambert, Deputy State Captain of the North Texas Patriot Guard Riders. Mr. Lambert, a Veteran of the United States Navy, who served our country in the Vietnam conflict, has been involved with the PGR for two-and-a-half years. He has been overseeing the PGR’s involvement with the Snowball Express event in Dallas. This year’s event has been in the planning stages for well over a year. PGR chapters from Oklahoma and Wichita Falls also made their way down this year. “This event is all about the children, it is not about us, so no matter rain, shine or what the temperature is we will be out there. For some of these kids this is the only Christmas they will have this year,” said Mr. Lambert. The Snowball Express has held the event in California since their beginning in 2006, when more than 900 family members of fallen heroes attended. In 2008 they had served 1,472 children, parents, and loved ones. This year, 1,789 children and their families made their way to Dallas with the help of American Airlines, who provided air travel from all across the country on American Airlines’ own dime with the pilots and flight staff donating their time to spend the weekend with these families. This year’s event housed numerous activities including going to Southfork Ranch, the Mesquite Rodeo, Dallas City Hall, a Dallas Mavericks game and a Dallas Cowboys game. I was fortunate enough to participate in the activities on Saturday, December 12 which involved escorting the families from Downtown Dallas to the Dallas Cowboys Football Stadium in Arlington. The Children had a fun filled day with players from the Dallas Cowboys, the Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders, and enjoyed a performance by Gary Sinise and the Lt. Dan Band. This was not just an ordinary escort for the PGR. With the temperature in the low 40’s and a misting rain, close to 230 motorcycles arrived to escort the 43 buses the 20 miles to Arlington. The elements would not deny these riders on that day. When those families stepped off the bus in the morning, waving and thanking us for being there, it became much more than a bike ride. Our focus completely changed, and no amount of cold or rain could dampen our spirits,” said Darla Parsons, a PGR Rider. Of course, none of this would have even been possible if not for the help from the Dallas Police Department and their motorcycle division. There was a police escort the entire way and I-30 West was completely shut down for the three-mile convoy. Merely escorting the families to the stadium was not our only mission on that day. While the children and families were inside getting their faces painted, playing in the bouncing houses and mingling with the local celebrities, we waited outside for another surprise. When the families sat down for dinner on the stadium floor, the PRG once again brought smiles and laughter to the delighted faces of the Snowball Express families by roaring into the Cowboys Stadium and circling the field on our motorcycles. The PRG was the entrance for the Lt. Dan Band as they took the main stage and provided the grand finale. ThunderRoadsTexas.com
During the final two hours, I experienced an event of a lifetime. While I do not consider myself of much importance, I was asked to sign footballs and t-shirts for children as they wanted to remember this day for a long time. I met some very special children, like Nicole “Stormin’” Norman and Maddie Bancraft who became each others’ BFFs over the four days. They wanted all the PGR riders to sign their shirts, because they both recently crashed on their “mini-bikes” so they felt a special bond with the bikers in attendance. I also got a chance to meet Leanne Ray and she was collecting signatures on her football and thanking us for the escorts. I could not forget Miss Sydney Elizalde, who traveled all the way from Oregon and was just looking for a pink motorcycle to sit upon. Although we could not find one, she settled for a red one and even donned the Maltese cross cap to prove she was a “biker” too. This event put a lot of things in perspective for all of us in very different ways. While I never served in the Armed Forces, my father did. He was in the United States Army 11th Armored Cavalry and served our country in Vietnam. He is a dedicated PGR member and it always brings tears to my eyes when I see him get emotional at events like this. While many people thanked him for participating in the event, many more welcomed him home and thanked him for his service to our country. That means more to him than I will ever know, because for the last 30 plus years since he has been back, those “thank you’s” have been few and far between. Ken Parsons, a Major in the United States Air Force reserves, met a woman and her daughter and learned they were from a town in Massachusetts, near the base where Major Parsons has been stationed for the past 18 years. Both she and her daughter had flown on the C-5 Galaxy out of Wesotver Air Reserve Base, to and from Germany where her husband had been stationed. The woman teared up when she realized that Ken may have even flown her at some time or another, and both her and her daughter hugged him and thanked him. “That in itself made me forget about the cold and rain, and just how awesome this event is,” said Mr. Parsons. I have heard from a reliable source inside the Snowball Express organization that the event is planned to continue in Dallas for the next five years. I can only imagine how great this event will be next year and how much it will grow. Thank you, Jerry Jones, for opening your stadium to these children for the day and for allowing PGR onto your field. Thank you, American Airlines, for bringing these families to Dallas. Thank you to the Dallas Police Department, Southfork Ranch, Mesquite Rodeo, Dallas Mavericks and the various busing companies and the local Independent school districts for utilization of their buses. Last but not least, thank you, to the Patriot Guard Riders, who braved 16 degree wind chills on Wednesday, the day of the arrivals, and the rain on Saturday to escort these special visitors. If you have not hugged a Veteran, what are you waiting for? You cannot do it once they are gone. Welcome them home and thank them for what they do or have done for our country. Remember that freedom is NEVER free and the Patriot Guard Riders are standing for those who stood for us. For more information on the PGR or how to get involved please visit TXPGR.org. For more information and how you can help these special families, visit SnowballExpress.org.
Texas-based, Texas-focused, Texas PROUD!
January 2010
H
Page 31
Page 32
H
January 2010
ThunderRoadsTexas.com
Want to see YOUR mug in our mag? Email pictures to Shelly@ThunderRoadsTexas.com. Texas-based, Texas-focused, Texas PROUD!
January 2010
H
Page 33
Joker’s Wild I
t was down in southern Louisiana and an old man was sitting on his porch early one morning when he looks out and sees a young boy walking along the road carrying a roll of chicken wire.
The old man yells out at him, “Hey boy, whatcha got there.” The boy yells back at him, “Its chicken wire.” The man asks, “Whatcha goin’ to do with that.” The boy replies, “I’m going to catch me some chickens.”
A
biker is passing the zoo, when he sees a little girl leaning into the lion’s cage. Suddenly, the lion grabs her by the cuff of her jacket and tries to pull her inside to slaughter her, under the eyes of her screaming parents. The biker jumps off his bike, runs to the cage and hits the lion square on the nose with a powerful punch. Whimpering from the pain the lion jumps back letting go of the girl, and the biker brings her to her terrified parents, who thank him endlessly.
The old man just shakes his head and mutters, “Damn fool, you can’t catch chickens with chicken wire.”
A Times reporter has watched the whole event. The reporter says, “Sir, this was the most gallant and brave thing I saw a man do in my whole life.”
Late that evening about sunset the old man looks out and sees the boy walking back stringing the chicken wire behind him with about 10-12 chickens caught up in it. Early the next morning the old man is back on his porch again and he sees the same boy walking up the road with a roll of tape under his arm.
The biker replies, “Why, it was nothing, really, the lion was behind bars. I just saw this little kid in danger, and acted as I felt right.” The reporter says, “Well, I’m a journalist from the Times, and tomorrow’s paper will have this story on the front page... So, what do you do for a living and what political affiliation do you have?”
The old man yells out at him, “Hey boy, whatcha got there.”
The biker replies, “I’m a Retired U.S. Marine and a Proud Republican.”
The boy yells back at him, “Its duck tape.”
The following morning the biker buys the Times to see if it indeed brings news of his actions, and reads, on front page: U.S MARINE ASSAULTS AFRICAN IMMIGRANT AND STEALS HIS LUNCH
The man asks, “Whatcha goin’ to do with that.” The boy replies, “I’m going to catch me some ducks.” The old man shakes his head again and mutters, “Damn fool, you can’t catch ducks with duck tape.” Late that evening the old man looks out and sees the boy walking back up along the road with the duck tape strung out behind him dragging about a dozen ducks along with him. The next morning the old man is back on the porch and this time he sees the boy walking up the road carrying a long reed with a thistle on the end. The old man yells out at him, “Hey boy, whatcha got there.” The boy replies, “It’s a pussy willow.” The old man stands up, and says “Hold up there now, lemme’ get my hat.”
A
cop stops a motorcyclist for traveling faster than the posted speed limit. He asks the biker his name. “Fred,” the biker replies.
“Fred what?” the officer asks. “Just Fred,” the man responds. The officer is in a good mood and thinks he might just give the biker a break and write him out a warning instead of a ticket. The officer then presses him for the last name. The man tells him that he used to have a last name but lost it. The officer thinks that he has a nut case on his hands but plays along with it; “Tell me, Fred, how did you lose your last name?”
D
ear Abby, I’ve never written to you before, but I really need your advice on what could be a crucial decision.
I’ve suspected for some time now that my wife has been cheating on me. The usual signs...phone rings, but if I answer, the caller hangs up. My wife has been going out with the girls a lot recently, although when I ask their names she always says, “Just some friends from work, you don’t know them.” I sometimes stay awake to look out for her cab coming home, but she always comes walking up the drive as I hear the sound of a car leaving, around the corner, as if she has gotten out and walked the rest of the way. Why? Maybe she wasn’t in a taxi at all? I once picked up her cell phone, just to see what time it was. This caused her to go completely berserk. She quickly snatched the phone out of my hand and cursed me hysterically, screaming that I should never touch her personal property, then accused me of trying to spy on her. Anyway, I have never broached the subject with my wife. I think deep down I just didn’t want to know the truth, but last night she went out again and I decided to really check on her. I decided I was going to park my Harley Davidson Lowrider next to the garage and then hide behind it so I could get a good view of the street around the corner when she came home. It was at that moment, crouching behind my motorcycle that I noticed a small amount of motor oil leaking through the gasket between the rear head and rocker arm cover.
The biker replies, “It’s a long story, so stay with me. I was born Fred Dingaling. I know -- a funny last name. The kids used to tease me all the time, so I stayed to myself, studied hard and got good grades. I went through college, medical school, internship, residency, and finally got my degree, so I was Fred Dingaling, MD. After a while I got bored being a doctor, so I decided to go back to school for dentistry. So then I was Fred Dingaling, MD, DDS. Got bored doing dentistry, so I started fooling around with my assistant and she gave me VD, so now I was Fred Dingaling, MD, DDS, with VD. Well, the American Dental Association found out about the VD, so they took away my DDS. Then I was Fred Dingaling, MD, with VD. Then the American Medical Association found out about the ADA taking away my DDS because of the VD, so they took away my MD leaving me as Fred Dingaling with VD. Then the VD took away my Dingaling, so now I am Just Fred.”
So...is this something I can easily repair myself or do you think I should take it back to the dealer?
The officer walked away in tears, laughing.
The girl behind the counter, peering out into the night, added, “He doesn’t seem to be much of a truck driver, either. He just ran his truck right over three motorcycles.”
Page 34
H
January 2010
A
cheerful truck driver pulled up at a roadside cafe in the middle of the night for a dinner stop. Halfway through his meal, three wild- looking motorcyclists roared up--bearded, leather-jacketed, filthy. For no reason at all, the selected the truck driver as a target. One poured pepper over his head, another stole his apple pie, the third deliberately tipped his coffee over. The truck driver never said one word, just stood up, paid his check, and left. “That truck driver sure ain’t much of a fighter,” sneered one of the bikers.
ThunderRoadsTexas.com
Biker Friendly Listing
Listed here are businesses that are SERIOUS about serving the Texas Motorcycle Community. The list is sorted by Region, as provided by the Texas Travel Guide. An “*” means you can find Thunder Roads Texas at these locations. Additionally you can find us at ALL Harley-Davidson dealerships, and Cycle Gear and Renegade Classics locations in Texas. Visit ThunderRoadsTexas.com to find a full listing of distribution points. Tell them you saw them in Thunder Road Texas!
BIG BEND *Barnett Harley-Davidson 8272 Gateway East on I-10 El Paso, TX 79907 800.453.1513 BarnettHarley.com *Legacy Harley-Davidson 12100 W Hwy 80 East Odessa, TX 79765 800.788.6921 LegacyH-D.com
GULF COAST *Alamo Bar & Grill 7846 Fallbrook Dr Houston, TX 77086 281.537.7647 MySpace.com/HoustonsAlamo *Awesome Cycles 281.293.7663 AwesomeCycles.com *Ball Insurance 416 S Main St Highlands, TX 77563 800.444.7014 BallIns.com *Corpus Christi Harley-Davidson 502 Padre Island Dr Corpus Christi, TX 78408 361.854.3146 CorpusChristiHarley.com *Cowboy Harley-Davidson Beaumont 1150 IH-10 South Beaumont, TX 77707 88.839.4464 CowboyHarley.com *Eagle Cycles 11800 Jones Rd Houston, TX 77070 281.955.0064 EagleCyclesTX.com *Farrar & Ball LLP LAW TIGERS 1010 Lamar, Ste 1600 Houston, TX 77002 888.LAW-TIGERS (529.8443) LawTigers.com *Goe Harley-Davidson 1350 S 288B Angleton, TX 77515 281.383.1000 GoeHarley-Davidson.com Haley Insurance PO Box 8787 The Woodlands, TX 77387 888.4.BIKERS (424.5377) HaleyInsuranceOnline.com
*Mancuso Harley-Davidson Crossroads 12710 Crossroads Park Dr Houston, TX 77065 281.970.9700 MancusoCrossroads.com
*Phantom Rider Choppers 6535 West Hwy 46 New Braunfels, TX 78132 830.228.4606 PhantomRiderChoppers.com
Mullis Air & Heat Houston Area 281.468.5819
*Southern Metal Choppers 11116 Middle Fiskville Rd, Ste E Austin, TX 78753 512.833.5044 SouthernMetalChoppers.com
*Republic Harley-Davidson 12707 Southwest Fwy Stafford, TX 77477 866.843.6481 RepublicHD.com Ride Like a Pro - Houston 281.844.6818 RideLikeAProHouston.com *San Jacinto Harley-Davidson 3636 E Sam Houston Pkwy South Pasadena, TX 77505 281.991.4275 SanJacintoHD.com
*Stubbs Harley-Davidson 4400 Telephone Rd Houston, TX 77087 713.644.7535 StubbsHD.com
*Flying V Creations 1903 College Ave Snyder, TX 79549 325.436.0197 MySpace.com/FlyingVCreations
*Team Mancuso Powersports - Gulf Fwy 10222 Gulf Fwy Houston, TX 77034 281.486.4604 TMPGF.com
*Lubbock Custom Motorcycles 11804 South University #A Lubbock, TX 79423 806.745.7167 LubbockCustomMotorcycles.com
*Team Mancuso Powersports - SW 7537 SW Freeway Houston, TX 77074 713.955.9944 TMPSW.com
*Midessa Motorcycles 8100 West Highway 80 Midland, TX 79706 432.563.4109 MidessaMotorcycle.com
*Texas Rock Tavern 2470 FM 1960 Houston, TX 77068 281.583.8111
*Rolling Thunder Bar & Grll 6441 County Road 2173 Fluvanna, TX 79517 325.573.HAWG (4294) RollingThunderBarAndGrill.com
*West of the Brazos Bar & Grill 23220 Hwy 36 Damon, TX 77430 979.742.3100 MySpace.com/WestOfTheBrazos
HILL COUNTRY *D’Rose Inn & Cabins 527 Hwy 83 Leakey, TX 78873 830.232.5246 DRoseInn.com
*Houston Motorsports North 9550 FM 1960 West Houston, TX 77070 281.890.2020 HoustonYamaha.com
*Gruene Harley-Davidson 1288 Loop 337 New Braunfels, TX 78130 830.624.2473 GrueneHarley.com
*Jackel Motorsports West 3719 Hwy 90 Brookshire, TX 77423 281.934.4444 JackelWest.com
*Javelina Harley-Davidson 29078 I-10 West Boerne, TX 78006 800-860-9696 JavelinaHarleyDavidson.com
January 2010
*Big Apple Deli & Bar 1804 25th St Snyder, TX 79549 325.573.7788 *Bully’s Grill 8542 Seymour Hwy Wichita Falls, TX 76310 940.689.9195
*Harley-Davidson of Kingwood 111 Northpines Dr Kingwood, TX 77365 281.358.0457 KingwoodHarley.com
H
*Affordable Leather 3302 N Midkiff Rd Midland, TX 79705 432.699.0775 Affordable-Leather-WTX.com
*Stitches 1308 Hwy 6 South Houston, TX 77077 281.558.8572
*Frio Canyon Motorcycle Stop & Bent Rim Grill 657 West Ranch Rd Leakey, TX 78873 830.232.6629 FrioCanyonMotorcycleStop.biz BentRimGrill.com
Page 36
PANHANDLE
PINEY WOODS *Cycle Heaven 3770 Hwy 69N Lufkin, TX 75904 936.634.8404 CycleHeavenTX.com *Misfit Motorcycles 11210 FM 1488 Magnolia, TX 7354 877.MIS.FITZ (647.3489) MisfitMotorcycles.com
PRAIRIES & LAKES *Cuttin Loose 744 N Burleson Blvd Burleson, TX 76028 817.295.7421 Dragonstar Motorcycle Transport Bryan, TX 77806 281.935.8890 GetARide.net *Harley-Davidson of Waco 1524 I-35 South Waco, TX 76706 254.753.0393 HDWaco.com
*Horny Toad Bar & Grill Cranfills Gap, TX 76637 254.597.1100 HornyToadBar.com *Longhorn Harley-Davidson 2830 West I-20 Grand Prairie, TX 75052 972.988.1903 LonghornHD.com *Moto Liberty 11441 N Stemmons Fwy Dallas, TX 75229 972.243.5995 MotoLiberty.com *Snook Watering Hole FM 2155 Snook, TX 77879 979.272.3715 SnookWateringHole.com *Thunder Alley Cycles 416 NE Wilshire Blvd Burleson, TX 76028 817.295.0955 ThunderAlleyCycles.com *Yankee’s Tavern 10328 FM 244 Carlos, TX 77843 936.873.3314 YankeesTavern.com
SOUTH TEXAS *American Riders 10874 Leslie Rd, Ste 2 Helotes, TX 78023 210.695.6343 AmericanRiders.us *Caliente Harley-Davidson 7230 NW Loop 410 San Antonio, TX 78245 210.681.CALI (2254) CalienteHarley.com *Cowboy’s Alamo City Harley-Davidson 11005 IH 35 North San Antonio, TX 78233 800.397.7875 AlamoCityHarley.com *Insurance Lady Agency 642 W Rhapsody, Ste A San Antonio, TX 78216 214.403.2216 InsuranceLadyInc.com *Joe Harrison Motorsports 9710 I-35 North San Antonio, TX 78233 210.656.9400 JHMS.com *Kent Powersports 15664 I-35 Selma, TX 78154 210.656.9400 KentPowersports.com Mission Wrecker 4535 FM 1516 N Converse, TX 78109 MissionWrecker.com *Texas Pride Barbeque 2980 East Loop 1604 Adkins, TX 78101 210.649.3730 TexasPrideBBQ.net *Yamaha of San Antonio A Kent Powersports Company 15664 I-35 Selma, TX 78154 210.655.2625 KentPowersports.com
ThunderRoadsTexas.com
STATEWIDE MAPSCO 800.950.5308 Mapsco.com *Mean Gene Kelton 713.866.4872 MeanGeneRocks.com Thunderbolt Polish 830.796.7920 / 830.739.2996 WGarver99@yahoo.com Thunder Roads Magazine - National 615.792.0040 ThunderRoadsMagazine.com
Texas-based, Texas-focused, Texas PROUD!
January 2010
H
Page 37