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2 Thunder Roads NEW YORK MARCH 2010
Thunder Roads NEW YORK
367 Windsor Hwy. #148 New Windsor, NY 12553 Office: 646-929-4744 / Mobile: 757-416-2410 Bill@ThunderRoads-NY.com www.ThunderRoads-NY.com Hours: Mon - Fri: 10:00am - 7:00pm Sat: 12:00 noon - 4:00pm
Owner / Editor
William C. Frohmiller
Bill@thunderroads-NY.com 757-416-2410 Layout & Design Barbara Laszewski Garner Thunder Publishing Advertising Sales / CORRESPONDENTS Washington County James Ringer 518-396-7148 / JamesR@thunderroads-NY.com Orange County Richard Frohmiller 201-306-2910 / RichF@thunderroads-NY.com Sullivan County Donna Bracci 718-614-0011 / DonnaB@thunderroads-NY.com WESCHESTER COUNTY Krystianne Lee Mobile: 914-439-0723 / Krys@thunderroads-NY.com ULSTER COUNTY Gina Marafioti 845-728-4190 / GinaM@thunderroads-ny.com Help Wanted - See pAGE 13 for details National Founders Toni McCoy Shearon & Brian Shearon PO Box 174 / Chapmansboro, TN 37035 Office 615-792-0040 / Fax: 615-792-7580 email: thunderroads@charter.net Copyright 2010. Published by Thunder Roads New York, LLC under license from Thunder Publishing. All rights reserved. No part of this magazines content may be reproduced without the written permission of the Publisher. The 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 libel, 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 New York, Thunder Roads Magazine, or Thunder Publishing. The Publisher does not promote the abuse of alcohol or other drugs.
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Letter From The Editor…...................……..4 TRM-NY Readers.........................................5 Stack of Skulls............................................6 Riding With a Passenger............................8 Tech Tips....................................................12 Original Biker Art......................................13 NYC Cycle World Show............................14 K.I.S.S................................................15 Proud To Be An American.......................16 Hot Shots...................................................20 News Bytes................................................22 Jokers Wild................................................24 Lighthouse H.O.G Book Drive................26 TNT.............................................................29 Seats & Saddles.........................................30 Accidents & Insurance..............................31 Safety Tips.................................................32 Skin Art......................................................32 Upcoming Events.................……………..34 Clubs......................................…………….36 MARCH 2010 Thunder Roads NEW YORK 3
March
is upon us and the rainy days of April will be here soon along with the warmer days. Again, I’ve managed to get a bunch of cold weather riding in between the snow fall. For those that store their bike’s for the winter, don’t forget to give your bike a good inspection before getting back on the road. Fluid levels, tire air pressure, lighting, brakes, and all the other things that keep you riding safely need to be looked over. Maintenance is often overlooked , but is as important as your boots and jacket, and is just as necessary as keeping the tank filled with gas. A bike sitting in the shop, your garage, or on the side of the road does little good to those of us who want to be out riding instead.
required and I will correct it on our website: www.thunderroads-ny.com ASAP. Don’t forget to get your events in next issue by entering them into our website. Also, if you know of anywhere you’d like to see our magazine, let me know. Send an email to: Bill@thunderroads-ny.com. Keep the pictures, jokes, and funny stories coming. I intend on keeping this magazine real, and including rider submissions and pictures of the great bikers of New York State. And please visit our advertisers, as they are the ones who make this magazine possible. Tell them you saw their ad in Thunder Roads New York, and ask your local biker friendly business for a copy of the magazine.
February was a very busy month for me here. From meeting biker friendly businesses, people who ride, getting pictures and laying out March’s issue to rescuing a friend who rolled her car in Maryland and riding my bike in Virginia (who got hit with more snow ever in 20 years) & riding in New York. It has been brought to my attention that there was an error in last months events listing. The Harley Rendezvous was incorrectly listed as May 24th-26th. The correct dates are: June 25th-27. I hope this did not cause any confusion. While I do my best to make sure all information provided is accurate, I am only human and prone to the occasional mistake. Please notify me of any incorrect information as may be
We’re still looking for sales reps, writers, photographers, distributors, and correspondents to join our team. If you’re a biker (of any make) or motorcycle enthusiast, fill out our online application and start having fun. www.ThunderRoads-NY.com
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~PEACE~ William C. Frohmiller (owner/editor)
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On this Harley Lowrider the owner had two requests; he wanted the bike to be blue and he wanted skulls everywhere and as you can see we gave him exactly what he wanted and more. To start the headlight is a solid piece of billet aluminum in the shape of a skull with the headlights being the eyes of the skull and the lower jaw housing the highbeam. We covered the tanks with skulls as far as the eye can see with a background of a barren wasteland and a storm of lightning on the other tank. The rear fender continues the same theme with the never ending skulls and the lightning storm over the barren wasteland. The air dam now thats a funny one, it’s a portrait of the owner a 100 years from now, just one of the little extras we added. The color we used was colbalt blue candy over an array of silvers pearls, metallics, black, white brown, grey and blues all tastefully layered to give you that highly polished three “D” look.
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Guidelines for Riding with a Passenger on your Motorcycle Motorcycle Safety Foundation Legal Considerations 1. 2. 3.
All state laws and requirements for carrying a passenger must be followed. Some states have specific equipment requirements. Examples: the motorcycle must have passenger footrests, passengers must be able to reach the footrests, and a motorcycle must have a separate seating area for a passenger. The decision to carry a child, assuming all safety and legal factors have been considered, is left to the parent or guardian. Ensure that the child is mature enough to handle the responsibilities, tall enough to reach the footrests, wears a properly fitted helmet and other protective gear, and holds onto you or the passenger handholds. Check your state’s laws; a few states have set minimum ages for motorcycle passengers.
Operator Preparation 1.
Passengers should be considered as a second “active” rider so they can help ensure that safety and procedural operations are correctly followed. 2. A passenger will affect the handling characteristics of a motorcycle due to the extra weight and independent motion. 3. A passenger tends to move forward in quick stops and may “bump” your helmet with their helmet. 4. Starting from a stop may require more throttle and clutch finesse. 5. Braking procedures may be affected. Braking sooner and/or with greater pressure may be required. 6. More weight over the rear tire may increase the usefulness and stopping power of the rear brake, especially in quick stop situations. 7. Riding on a downgrade will cause braking distance to increase. 8. Extra caution is called for in a corner because of the extra weight. 9. Cornering clearances may be affected. 10. More time and space will be needed for passing. 11. The effects of wind, especially side wind, may be more pronounced. Motorcycle Preparation 1. 2. 3. 4.
The motorcycle must be designed to accommodate a passenger. The motorcycle owner’s manual should be reviewed for manufacturer’s tips about motorcycle setup as well as any related operational recommendations. The motorcycle’s suspension and tire pressure may need adjustment. Care should be taken to not exceed the weight limitations specified in the owner’s manual.
Passenger Preparation 1. 2. 3. 4.
Passengers should be tall enough to reach the footrests and mature enough to handle the responsibilities. Passengers should wear proper protective gear. Passengers should receive a safety briefing (see #7 below). Passengers should consider themselves a second operator and share responsibility for safety.
General Safety Considerations 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7.
g. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15.
You need to be experienced in the motorcycle’s operation and have a safety-oriented attitude before taking on the added responsibility of carrying a passenger. Practice low-speed clutch/throttle control as well as normal and emergency braking in a low-risk area like an open parking lot, with a passenger. Use caution in cornering and develop cornering skills over time to ensure passenger comfort and safety. Use caution in corners as clearance may be affected. Use MSF’s Search, Evaluate, Execute strategy (SEE) to increase time and space safety margins. Allow time for a passenger to adjust to the sense of speed and the sensation of leaning; speeds should be conservatively safe and reasonable until a passenger acclimates to the proper riding techniques. Ensure passengers follow safety procedures: a. Complete personal protective gear is properly in use. b. Hold operator’s waist or hips, or motorcycle’s passenger handholds provided. c. Keep feet on footrests at all times, including while stopped. d. Keep hands and feet away from hot or moving parts. e. When in a corner, look over the operator’s shoulder in the direction of the corner. f. Avoid turning around or making sudden moves that might affect operation. If crossing an obstacle, stand on the pegs with the knees slightly bent and allow the legs to absorb the shock upon impact. Allow more time for passing. Be ready to counter the effects of wind. Avoid extreme speeds and dramatic lean angles. Be ready for a passenger “bump” with their helmet when stopping quickly. Start the motorcycle before the passenger mounts. Have the passenger mount after the motorcycle’s stand is raised and the motorcycle is securely braced. Annually complete an ERC Skills Plus RiderCourse with a passenger. Have frequent passengers complete a Basic RiderCourse so they can better understand the operator’s task.
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RIDE FOR KIDS: $4.4 MILLION RAISED IN 2009 Talk about motorcyclist making a difference! In 2009, the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation’s Ride for Kids program raised $4.4 million, the funds arriving from nationwide rides, corporate and local sponsorship, and donated goods and services.
“Motorcyclists are known for digging deep when it comes to helping kids, and they worked harder than ever to raise funds last year,” Kyle Clack, national director of the Ride for Kids program, said in a press release. “We’re confident that their dedication and hard work will pay off for the kids again in 2010.” Motorcyclists fuel research, family support Ride for Kids proceeds benefit the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation. The PBTF has funded more than 50 research institutions around the world, including our PBTF Institutes at Duke University, the University of California San Francisco, and the Hospital for Sick Children in Canada. Motorcyclists also help the PBTF provide emotional, educational and financial support to families affected by brain tumors. We have given 633 college scholarships since 2002, and our literature is available at no charge to families and medical professionals worldwide. About the PBTF Ride for Kids The national Ride for Kids program and the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation (PBTF) promote childhood brain tumor research and provide family support through free literature about brain tumors, educational newsletters, online conferences and college scholarships. Motorcyclists have helped the PBTF become the world’s largest non-governmental source of funding for childhood brain tumor research. All makes and brands of motorcycles are welcome at the Ride for Kids®. Events will take place in 40 cities in 2010. More information is available at www.rideforkids.org. Courtesy of a Ride for Kids Press Release
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Pirate Upholstery: Your local motorcycle upholstery shop Jay Teske started doing custom motorcycle seats on the side while tattooing full-time in Staten Island back in 2004. In 2006, Jay and his wife quit their jobs and travelled to South East Asia for six months, riding around on an early 70’s Russian Minsk they bought for $400 in Vietnam. They ran the bike into the ground by riding on “highways” consisting of mud, rocks and sand. Upon their return, Jay opened up Pirate Upholstery in New Paltz, NY and it’s since been his full-time gig. In 2008, he moved the shop to a storefront in Kingston in order to connect with the local biker community. Pirate Upholstery specializes in seat reshaping, gel & memory foam inlays, hand tooling, appliqué and more. There’s a wide range of materials to choose from including leather, vinyl, and exotic hides. All the work is done to stock seats and the turn around time in generally three weeks. To see more pictures of his work or to order a custom motorcycle seat, check out the website at www.PirateUpholstery.com.
Lehman Trikes Receives Motorcycle Design of the Year at V-Twin Expo Lehman Trikes Press Release - Feb 18, 2010 Lehman Trikes was honored to receive the 2010 Motorcycle Design of the Year award for the “PitBoss” at the V-Twin Expo held in Cincinnati, Ohio on February 6th. The PitBoss, powered by the Victory Kingpin motorcycle, is part of a line-up of trikes that are designed and manufactured by Lehman Trikes USA, Inc. in Spearfish, South Dakota. The PitBoss won the award for innovation and creative design. “We are thrilled to receive such a distinguished award,” said Ken Hines, President and CEO of Lehman Trikes, “the PitBoss is a departure from your ‘everyday’ trike and we would like to thank our superb team of engineers for creating such a unique design, as well as the folks at Victory for inspiring us with a first-rate motorcycle.” www.thunderroads-NY.com
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Tech Tip: Greasing Your Motorcycle Grease Job
I like greasy motorcycles. Not dirty motorcycles, but greasy ones. Motorcycles where all the sliding, pivoting and rotating points are protected from harm by a nice film of waterproof high-pressure grease. In blunt language, few motorcycles are greased on a regular basis. Sure, some guys will pick up a grease gun from time to time and pump up whatever Zerk fittings are reachable, but how many of us take the time to grease all the points that need it as often as we should? Here’s the deal, motorcycles have lots of places that need grease; as I said, anything that slides, pivots or rotates is a candidate but most of us either ignore them altogether or at best pay only cursory attention. Now by no means am I saying you should rush out to the garage and start pulling things apart, although that’s not a bad way to spend a long winter afternoon, but what I do recommend is that you take a few moments to look your bike over, and make at least a mental note of spots that could use a little grease so you can attend to them the next time you service the bike or that particular component. Here’s a short list to get you started. Swing arm and suspension pivot points: Many bikes have Zerk fittings, and yes, Zerk is a real word, so you can attach a grease gun and lube the bushings and bearings therein with high pressure grease-what we use to call chassis lube. If you don’t find any there don’t panic, it just means they’re sealed units and require no regular service.
aren’t too particular-almost any stiff grease will do, but use something lighter on the throttle, as heavy grease will make it sticky in cold weather. I like to use white lithium or even a little Vaseline between the drum and the handlebar; it’s light, waterproof and easy to find. The brake pivot and foot peg/floorboard pivots should also get a little dab from time to time; it’ll prevent them from sticking. And don’t forget the rear brake clevis on a cable-operated brake.
Most other points won’t have Zerk fittings so you’ll have to take them apart to apply the grease. To prevent them from seizing in their bearings apply a thin film of grease to both axles. I like to use a high pressure waterproof grease or hightemp wheel bearing grease here; at the very least do it the next time you install new tires.
I’m also a big believer in lubricating any and all fasteners with a little bit of grease or light oil to prevent rust and galling, but use a light hand here. You’ll only need a smear; anymore might act as a dirt magnet, and be sure to consult the manual if the fastener is crucial. In some cases, the manufacturer would prefer that you use a locking compound, which won’t work in the presence of oil, and there are even some circumstances when the instructions call for a specific bolt to be installed dry.
The lever pivot pins and the cable ends, where they pivot in the lever, like a dab of grease from time to time, as does the throttle drum. The lever pivots and cable
Lastly, things like the steering head and wheel bearings as well as the swing arm bushings, should be cleaned and repacked on a regular basis.
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New York Cycle World International Motorcycle Show 29th annual
Jan 22nd-25th Jacob K Javis Convention Center New York, NY
The Next show is Mar. 3rd-6th in Daytona, FL
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EVERY LEPRECHAUN’S FAVE ... SLOW COOKER MAC n’ CHEESE 2 Full Cups of Elbow Macaroni 1/2 Stick of Real Butter; Cut Into 4 Pieces 2-1/2 Cups of Grated Extra Sharp Cheddar Cheese 3 Eggs; Beaten 1/2 Cup Sour Cream 1 Can Condensed Cheddar Cheese Soup Salt & Cracked Pepper to Taste 1 Cup of Whole Milk 1/2 tsp. Dry Mustard Boil the macaroni until tender. Drain thoroughly. In medium saucepan, mix butter & cheese. Stir until the cheese totally melts. In a slow cooker, combine cheese/butter mixture and add the eggs, sour cream, cheese soup, salt/pepper, milk, and mustard and stir up well. Then add drained macaroni and stir once again to incorporate. Set slow cooker on low. Allow to cook for apprx. 3 hours, stirring occasionally. This is like the richest, creamiest mac n’ cheese you’ve ever tasted! * If you want, sprinkle bread crumbs all on top and spray with butter spray and just stick your crock-pot under broiler till crumb topping is golden brown. Serve up with some good, crusty hot bread. Now....that’s a meal in itself! SPICY PIZZA FRITTATA 1 Pkg. Cream Cheese; Softened 6 Extra Large Eggs Salt & Cracked Pepper to Taste 1/2 tsp. Dried Basil 1/2 tsp. Dried Oregano 3 Tbls. Real Butter 1 Package of Fresh, Sliced Mushrooms 1 Can of Green Chilies 1 Package of Round Pepperoni discs, Coarsely Chopped (in any grocer’s deli section) Beat cream cheese, eggs, salt & pepper & seasonings until well blended. Melt butter in a 10-inch ovenproof skillet on medium heat. Add shrooms’ and chilies; cook and stir until crisp-tender. Stir in chopped pepperoni discs and cream cheese mixture. Cover, cook 5 minutes or until center
is almost set. Heat broiler. Uncover Frittata. Place skillet under broiler for apprx. 2-3 minutes, depending on how crisp you want it. Remove and let cool slightly to set-up. Serve up slices with individual little bowls of pizza sauce for dipping. The chilies give this pizza style frittata a total zing! SUPER SIMPLE GRILLED SHRIMP SALAD 1 Bag of Gorton’s Frozen Pre-Grilled & Spiced Shrimp (in any grocer’s freezer) Thawed & Warmed In A Small Skillet 1/2 Cup of Finely Chopped Celery 2 Tbls. of Minced Green Onion (shallots) 1-1/2 Tbls. Fresh Lemon Juice 1 Cup Real Mayonnaise Salt & Cracked Pepper to Taste Just combine all ingredients above and Voila! Shrimp salad is so refreshing and great to eat any time of year and with this recipe it literally takes you 10 mins. to whip up a batch. So get whipping! :) A CREME-Y, DREAMY, CLASSIC TREAT 2 Cups Orange Sherbet; Softened 1 Pkg. Philly Cream Cheese; Softened 1 Can Sweetened Condensed Milk 1/2 Cup Orange Juice 1 Tub (8 oz. ) Cool Whip; Thawed Line a 9x5 inch loaf pan with foil. Spread sherbet onto botom of prepared pan to form even layer. Freeze for 10 minutes. Meanwhile, beat cream cheese in large bowl with mixer until totally creamy. Gradually add condensed milk and orange juice, beating until blended. Gently stir in Cool Whip. Pour over sherbet in foil covered pan. Freeze for no less than 3 hours. To un-mold, invert pan onto plate. Remove foil slowly and make sure no pieces remained on sherbet topping. This is so delicious and refreshing! and only 30 calories and 3 grams of fat per serving. You could even lighten that up w/ no-fat cream cheese & Lite Cool Whip. Serve with a twisted slice of orange on top. Pretty as a picture!
Happy St. Patty’s Day!
TO ALL OUR BRAVE, PROUD TROOPS... YOU’RE IN OUR THOUGHTS & PRAYERS DAILY. God Speed You Home.
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Proud To Be An American Wreaths Across America Richmond National Cemetery Richmond, Va, December 12, 2009
As a “fair weather rider” getting out on a cold winter morning is tough enough, but to ride my bike in it is beyond the call. However, duty called. When I cranked the Harley and headed to Cox Transportation in Ashland, it was 21 degrees. Now I know that some of you “hard cores” are going to laugh but it was cold. However, I was somewhat prepared with a heated vest and gloves and they made the cold ride tolerable. I headed up Rt. 95 to Cox Transportation in Ashland, VA. John and Dottie Cox always have coffee and donuts to warm up the riders before we head out. The wreaths have been loaded onto the trailer and Cox driver/trainer, Tom Enroughty, is ready to ride. Tom has the route mapped and police escorts set up. The big tractor trailer starts out with 125 bikes escorting it. We headed South on 95 into Richmond and laid a wreath at the Virginia War Memorial. We then proceeded to Richmond City Hall and laid a wreath there. Now we head for the Richmond National Cemetery. People have started gathering. There were Vets from all the services, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, Junior ROTC units, Franklin Military Academy provided the Honor Guard and had their entire school unit there also. The highlight of our program was guest speaker, Dr. E. Bruce Heilman, Chancellor of the University of Richmond. Dr. Heilman is 83 years old, a WWII Veteran and is one of the most distinguished gentlemen I have ever met. Dr. Heilman just finished an 8000 mile trip across America and back on his Harley-Davidson Ultra. He quoted Abraham Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address in a way I have never heard and was very well received by everyone there. We were truly honored by this gentleman. We were there to honor our Veterans. The Wreaths Across America motto is “Remember Honor and Teach”. Remember the fallen, honor those who serve, and teach the children the value of freedom. In ceremonies all over the country, Wreaths Across America calls everyone to pause for just a few minutes and think about the high price paid for the freedoms we enjoy in this country. Freedom has never, nor will it ever be free. The price of freedom can be seen on white stone markers all over the world and in the eyes of those fought so gallantly. America owes it’s Veterans a debt of gratitude that is not always reflected by the very ones they fought to protect. I saw a sign that said, “If you can read this, thank a teacher. If you can read it in English, thank a Vet”. Think about it. Rev R.J.(Rocky)Angone,Jr
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Proud To Be An American
Operation We Care
On Sunday November 8, 2009 the Eastern Shore Chapter Harley Owners Group, staff members from Harley-Davidson of Ocean City and members of the Delmarva community gathered at the Powellville Fire Hall to pack care packages for the troops in Iraq and Afghanistan for Christmas. This is part of their ongoing Chapter project Operation We Care. The HOG Chapter started the care package project in the fall of 2007 and has shipped over 750 care packages. The interior of each care package was decorated and filled with supportive messages and well wishes. Items packed are donated by the entire Delmarva community and include snacks and toiletries and a few reminders of home. Also for this packing event, each care package contained a box of Girl Scout Cookies, Christmas cards from local school children and the October issue of Thunder Roads Magazine. Operation We Care is our way of showing support of the brave men and women fighting for our freedom. This project not only supports the troops but also their families here at home and we are proud to be involved in this effort. We would like to thank everyone involved for their support of the troops and we are looking forward to our next packing event in May of 2010. Jeff Merritt Director, Eastern Shore Chapter Harley Owners Group, Coordinator, Operation We Care 410-713-8940 (cell)
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Advertising Deadline
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NEWS BYTES
THE AIM/NCOM MOTORCYCLE E-NEWS SERVICE is brought to you by Aid to Injured Motorcyclists (A.I.M.) and the National Coalition of Motorcyclists (NCOM), and is sponsored by the Law Offices of Richard M. Lester. For more information, call us at 1-(800) ON-A-BIKE or visit us on our website at http://www.ON-A-BIKE.com
NCOM NEWS BYTES 10-06 Compiled & Edited by Bill Bish, National Coalition of Motorcyclists BIKERS SUPPORT BROWN IN HISTORIC SENATE VICTORY Scott Brown captured the national spotlight in his bid to replace the late Senator Ted Kennedy of Massachusetts, and he is a modern American success story, rising from relative obscurity to be the first Republican in decades elected to the U.S. Senate in the most liberal Democratic state in the country. Paul Cote of the Massachusetts Motorcycle Association joined newly-elected Senator Scott Brown at his victory celebration at the Park Plaza Hotel in Boston following his shocking election upset. The MMA worked with Sen. Brown’s campaign in gratitude for his support of motorcyclists’ legislation over the many years he has served in the state legislature. “Since last September, when the Massachusetts Motorcycle Political Action Committee (MMPAC) supporters started gathering signatures to get Scott Brown on the ticket for the US Senate Special Election, we have knocked on doors, stood outside grocery stores and even ‘hung out at the landfills’ to get Scott elected,” said Rick Gleason of MMPAC. Not only is Brown a biker-friendly politician, but he rides a Victory motorcycle!
“The gist of the city’s arguments is that it has the right to do whatever it wants to do as long as it declares something to be a public nuisance and decides to abate it,” McGrath’s brief begins. “...If the ordinances conflict with state law, the ordinances are void. If the ordinances are void, their underlying merits are irrelevant.” Now it remains up to the State Supreme Court to decide the issues, and it may take months to render a ruling. McGrath has his hopes up; “Based on the questions the Justices asked the attorney for the City it seems the Court likely will render a favorable opinion for freedom. Hopefully, we won’t be disappointed.” MOTORCYCLE CLUB WILL SEND PATCH INTO SPACE The South Houston chapter of the Los Carnales / La Familia law enforcement motorcycle organization has been given the opportunity to send items into space on the Space Shuttle Mission STS-134 on July 29th this year. It will be the first motorcycle club represented in space. The club has developed a special patch for the occasion. It has Los Carnales / La Familia Nation with both the state of Texas and California on it. INDUSTRY REPORTS BAD YEAR FOR CYCLE SALES 2009 was a bad year for bikes, with the Motorcycle Industry Council reporting the lowest sales in a decade. The MIC noted a 40.8% drop in sales from the 2008 season, with roughly 520,502 bikes sold in 2009 compared to 880,000 that were sold in 2008.
S.C. SUPREME COURT HEARS MYRTLE BEACH HELMET LAWSUITS South Carolina’s highest court heard oral arguments Wednesday, February 3 over whether a city can require motorcycle riders to wear helmets, despite the lack of a state law requiring the practice. State law doesn’t require riders 21 and older to wear helmets, but in an effort to get rid of two bike rallies held there each year, the Myrtle Beach city council voted unanimously in 2008 to pass 15 ordinances intended to dissuade bikers from coming to town, including the controversial mandatory helmet law for motorcycle riders and passengers of all ages.
The MIC reports monthly sales of most major motorcycle manufacturers, including: BMW, Harley-Davidson, Buell, Honda, Kawasaki, KTM, Triumph, Yamaha, Suzuki, Victory, and the Piaggio Group. The MIC also creates estimates on all non-reporting manufacturers.
Justices peppered an attorney for the city with questions over what they seemed to view as the intent of the ordinance -- not to make Myrtle Beach’s roads safer for bikers, as had been argued, but to drive the bike rallies away from the Grand Strand.
The biggest drop in sales occurred in the scooter category. Scooters boomed in 2008 as gas prices reached record highs.
Representing his brother Bart, who leads a pro-bike rally group of businessowners and is challenging a ticket he received for not wearing a helmet, State Representative Thad Viers argued to the five justices that a state law governing traffic ordinances spells out what local governments are allowed to do regarding traffic laws. Viers filed more than 30 pages of briefs containing multiple sections supporting his various legal arguments against the city helmet ordinance. But Virginia-based A.I.M. Attorney (Aid to Injured Motorcyclists)Tom McGrath, who argued before the court representing 49 helmet law protesters who were ticketed, filed a much shorter brief, saying, among other things, that most of the arguments don’t matter because the city’s ordinance is at odds with state law, and for that reason alone it should be tossed out. 22 Thunder Roads NEW YORK MARCH 2010
With non-reporting sales included, the total sales for 2008 was 1.1 million according to the MIC, and though last year’s total hasn’t been tabulated yet, it is expected that 2009 will break a six-year streak of sales above the 1 million mark.
As the economy begins to stabilize again, the MIC predicts that motorcycle sales will begin to increase. TENNESSEE “LEMON LAW” MAY SOON INCLUDE MOTORCYCLES Tennessee’s “Lemon Law” may soon be extended to include motorcycles, if the legislature takes action on a measure sponsored by Representative Vince Dean, of East Ridge. Dean says motorcycle buyers should have the same rights as people buying cars and trucks that don’t perform properly. He says any mechanical and structural problems can be more dangerous for motorcycle riders. The measure moved forward in a House Committee in early February, and a companion bill is awaiting consideration in the Senate Transportation Committee.
NEWS BYTES
WASHINGTON BILL ADDRESSES BIKER PROFILING In a monumental and historical vote, the Washington State House of Representatives passed HB2511 - a bill addressing “Motorcycle Profiling” - by a margin of 96 to 2. This landslide vote provides an indication that legislators are actually getting the idea that profiling is real and needs legislative relief, while the lack of opposition was seen as a silent show of support from Law Enforcement. During the legislative process, “It was remarkable to hear the legislators mention the organized and well presented information from the motorcycle community,” reports Donnie “Mr. Breeze” Landsman, Legislative Affairs Officer for ABATE of Washington. “Motorcyclists aren’t looking for special rights,” Landsman said. “We want the same rights that are afforded to every other section of the population as American citizens and as citizens of Washington State. We aren’t being given that.” The group found a champion in Rep. Steve Kirby (D-Tacoma) who introduced a bill that would force local law enforcement agencies to adopt a written policy designed to condemn and prevent the profiling of motorcyclists and to institute training to address the issue. It’s illegal to profile minorities, it should be illegal to profile motorcycle riders, the bikers said. The Washington State Patrol uses a training brochure called “Basic Biker 101” that starts with the statement “Bikers are dangerous” and gives instructions on how to gather information about them during traffic stops, according to David Devereaux of the Outsiders Motorcycle Club. To further substantiate their claims of harassment, Devereaux said that when bikers showed up en masse last year their annual “Black Thursday” lobbying day to find sponsors for the anti-profiling bill, state troopers surreptitiously took down all their license plate numbers. Next, the bill goes over to the Senate for consideration and will be assigned to a hearing committee, most likely Judiciary. “This has been a very good year for ABATE of Washington and the US Defenders of Washington,” said Landsman. “We have worked together to make this happen, and are truly on the same page.” OREGON RIDERS CONVERGE ON CAPITOL Motorcycle club members, independent riders and even non-riders alike came together in solidarity in Portland to protect rights specific to bikers. The first “call to action” by the US Defenders motorcycle group brought out over 70 bikes to the Oregon State Capitol recently, making a positive statement of unity between clubs and independent riders. Quiet Mike, the Information Officer for US Defenders said he was pleased with the show of bikes, “It was an excellent turnout, the most motorcyclists we’ve had here for a long time.” US Defenders is a movement formed from within motorcycle clubs from individual states to implement and support motorcycle rights. The grass roots organization is supported through the Confederations of Clubs across the country, and is composed of state “citizen biker manpower” from Motorcycle Clubs and Coalition of Independent Riders (C.O.I.R) representatives.
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Quiet Mike, who also serves as Vice-Chairman for the Oregon Confederation of Clubs said this was a well-planned event. “We set up in the capitol so people could come and meet with their state representative or state senator. Several people set up appointments in advance, and they were able to express their concerns about how bikers’ rights are being affected.” Many people were there to discuss helmet laws, others for civil rights where profiling motorcycle club members is concerned, and some brought up that motorcyclist fatalities caused by car drivers should carry more serious charges than just a traffic fine. ADULTS IN KANSAS COULD BE FINED FOR KIDS RIDING WITHOUT HELMETS Adults could soon be fined in Kansas for allowing minors to go without wearing helmets while driving or riding a motorcycle. It is already illegal in Kansas for anyone under 18 to operate a motorcycle without wearing a helmet, but currently it is the youngster who gets a ticket. Under provisions of the new Senate bill, it would become illegal for owners of a motorcycle or motorized bicycle to permit a person under 18 to drive or ride on their vehicle without wearing a helmet, so the adult would receive a citation too. Use of motorcycle helmets has been on the rise nationally, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), which reported that 67% of motorcyclists wore a helmet in 2009, compared to just 48% in 2005. SAVE THE DATE - MAY 6-9, NCOM CONVENTION The 25th annual NCOM Convention will be held Mother’s Day weekend, May 6-9, 2010 at the Orlando Airport Marriott, 7499 Augusta National Dr., Orlando, Florida. This annual gathering will draw bikers’ rights activists from across the country to discuss topics of concern to all motorcyclists, so reserve your room now for the special NCOM rate of $89.00 by calling (800) 380-6751. Meetings, seminars and group discussions will focus on safety issues, legal rights, legislative efforts and litigation techniques to benefit our right to ride and Freedom of the Road. Registration fees for the 25th Annual NCOM Convention are $75 including the Silver Spoke Awards Banquet on Saturday night, or $40 for the Convention only. To pre-register, call the National Coalition of Motorcyclists at (800) 5255355 or visit www.ON-A-BIKE.com. QUOTABLE QUOTE
“For the saddest epitaph which can be carved in memory of a vanished liberty is that it was lost because its possessors failed to stretch forth a saving hand while yet there was time.” U.S. Supreme Court Justice George Sutherland (1862- 1942)
NCOM
National Coalition of Motorcyclists MARCH 2010 Thunder Roads NEW YORK 23
A trucker came into a truck stop cafe and placed his order. He said, “I want three flat tires, a pair of headlights and pair of running boards.” The brand new blonde waitress, not wanting to appear stupid, went to the kitchen and said to the cook, “This guy out there just ordered three flat tires, a pair of headlights and a pair of running boards. What does he think this place is, an auto parts store?” “No,” the cook said. “Three flat tires mean three pancakes, a pair of headlights is two eggs sunny side up and running boards are 2 slices of crisp bacon.” “Oh, OK!” said the blonde. She thought about it for a moment and then spooned up a bowl of beans and gave it to the customer. The trucker asked, “What are the beans for, Blondie?” She replied, “I thought while you were waiting for the flat tires, headlights and running boards, you might as well gas up!” After being married for 44 years, I took a careful look at my wife one night and said, “Darling, 44 years ago we had a cheap apartment, a cheap car, slept on a sofa bed and watched a 10inch black and white t.v., but I got to sleep every night with a smokin’ hot 20-year-old girl. Now, I have a $500,000. home, a $45,000.00 car, a comfy King size Sleep Number bed and LED/ high-def/60 inch Flat-screen., but I’m sleeping with a 65-yearold woman. It seems to me that she was not holding up her side of things.” My wife is a very reasonable woman. With no hesitation whatsoever, she gently encouraged me to go out and find the hottest 20-year-old gal possible, and she would make damn sure that I would once again be living in a cheap apartment, driving a cheap car, sleeping on a sofa bed and watching a 10inch black and white t.v. I truly believe the ability to compromise is the reason we’ve lasted so long. (sigh) A couple had been married for 50 years. They were sitting at the breakfast table one morning when the wife says, ‘Just think, fifty years ago we were sitting here at this breakfast table together.’ ‘I know,’ the old man said. ‘We were probably sitting here naked as a jaybird fifty years ago..’ ‘Well,’ Granny snickered. ‘Let’s relive some old times.’ Where upon, the two stripped to the buff and sat down at the table. ‘You know, honey,’ the little old lady breathlessly replied, ‘My nipples are as hot for you today as they were fifty years ago.’ ‘I wouldn’t be surprised,’ replied Gramps. ‘One’s in your coffee and the other is in your oatmeal. Five surgeons from big cities are discussing who makes the best patients to operate on. 24 Thunder Roads NEW YORK MARCH 2010
The first surgeon, from New York, says,” I like to see accountants on my operating table because when you open them up, everything inside is numbered.” The second, from Chicago, responds, “Yeah, but you should try electricians! Everything inside them is color coded.” The third surgeon, from Dallas, says, “No, I really think librarians are the best, everything inside them is in alphabetical order.” The fourth surgeon, from Los Angeles chimes in: “You know, I like construction workers. Those guys always understand when you have a few parts left over.” But the fifth surgeon, from Washington, DC, shut them all up when he observed: “You’re all wrong. Politicians are the easiest to operate on. There’s no guts, no heart, no balls, no brains, and no spine. Plus, the head and the ass are interchangeable.” I finally got around to going fishing this mornin’ - but after a while, I ran out of worms. Then I saw a cottonmouth with a frog in his mouth, and frogs are good bass bait. Knowing the snake couldn’t bite me with the frog in his mouth, I grabbed him right behind the head, took the frog and put it in my bait bucket. Now the dilemma was how to release the snake without getting bitten I grabbed my bottle of Jack Daniels and poured a little whiskey in its mouth. His eyes rolled back & he went limp. I released him into the lake without incident, and carried on my fishing, A little later, I felt a nudge on my foot. There was that same damn snake with TWO frogs in his mouth. One morning, before he goes out to the fields, the farmer says to his sweet, albeit ditzy blonde young wife, “The Artificial Insemination man is coming to impregnate one of our cows today. I drove a nail into the two-by-four above the cow’s stall so you can show him where it is, okay?” The Artificial Insemination man arrives. Suzy takes him down the long row of cows until she sees the nail, and tells him, “This is the one. This one right here!” “How did you know this is the cow to be bred?” the A.I. guys asks curiously to the ditzy cute blonde. “By the nail over her stall,” Suzy says proudly. Then the man asks, “What’s the nail for?” Well, duh, I reckon’ it’s to hang your pants on.” A man bumps into a woman in a hotel lobby and as he does, his elbow goes into her breast. They are both quite startled. The man turns to her and says, ‘Ma’am, if your heart is as soft as your breast, I know you’ll forgive me.’ She replies, ‘If your penis is as hard as your elbow, I’m in room 227.
BMW RECALLS 4500 MOTORCYCLES BMW is recalling 4500 motorcycles due to a possible stalling condition. Certain model years 2008 and 2010 F650 GS and F800 GS motorcycles manufactured between January 2008 and December 2009. According to the recall notice released by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, during engine operation, a vacuum is created in order to draw fresh air into a canister. This air then mixes with the fuel vapors captured by the canister, and is subsequently combusted. Due to the routing of the ventilation hose, water near the end of the hose could be drawn into the charcoal canister, causing a stalling condition that increases the risk of a crash. Dealers will inspect and add an additional hose, routing it so the present defect is prevented. This will be performed by BMW technicians free of charge. Owners may contact BMW at 1-201-307-4000.
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The Lighthouse Harley Owners Group The Lighthouse Chapter of the Harley Owners Group based out of Huntington Station, Long Island, NY held their first book drive to benefit the children at the Sagamore Childrens Pyschiatric Center in Dix Hills, New York from the end of November 2009 to the end of January 2010.
On Thursday, February 4, 2010, three members of the Lighthouse Harley Owners Group, Director Bill Vultaggio, Treasurer George Foundotos and Dom Mazza delivered about 700 books, magazines and puzzle books to the staff at the center. They were recieved by Executive Director Dr. Dennis Dubey and his staff. The books, magazines and puzzle books were donated by members of the chapter, who collected them from home, friends, local libraries and in some cases purchased them. The children at the center will benefit from these items, as some of the children stay at the center for short periods of time and the material will help them pass the time and enjoy some good reading. Our chapter has been assisting the children at the center for the past 8 years by bringing toys and clothing during the Christmas holiday season. They look forward to continuing this tradition for many years to come.
The Lighthouse Harley Owners Group Children’s Center Entrance
Dom Mazza Lighthouse Harley Owners Group
L-R George Foundotos, Pamela Singer, Frank Craporatta, Chrissy Zambriski, Dom Mazza, Dr. Dennis Dubey, Bill Vultaggi
Dom Mazza, Dr Dubey, Bill Vultaggio & GeorgeFoundoto HOG Director Bill Voltaggio unloads boxes of books
HOG member Dom Mazza helps Sagamore Staff Member Frank Craporatta sort books 26 Thunder Roads NEW YORK MARCH 2010
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BIKER FRIENDLY DIRECTORY Get Listed as a Biker Friendly Business Here It’s important for you to know who your friends are out there when you hit the road! Welcome to our Biker Friendly Directory. The following is a list of our establishments throughout New York that want you to know that they’re here for YOU. Whether it’s a bike dealer, service shop, restaurant, bar or any other type of business that welcomes our biking community through their doors, you can count on our family of friends to always welcome you in. ALL of our regular advertisers can be found, in bold, throughout this listing. All of our friends listed are “Biker Friendly” & most of them ride too, so they know exactly what you want and need. The staff here at Thunder Roads greatly appreciates all of our entire advertiser’s support each monththey are the sole financial supporters of this magazine.WE WOULD NOT EXIST WITHOUT THEM! So please give them the support that they truly deserve for being with us & drop by to see them for a visit. Let them know that you saw them here in Thunder Roads. If you know a business that would like to join our Thunder Roads family of Biker Friendly Places, please give us a call (646) 929-4744 or email advertise@ThunderRoads-NY.com.
“Where there’s Bikes...There’s Going To Be Thunder- Thunder Roads” *Pick up your FREE copy of Thunder Roads at any of these locations
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TNT
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Seats & SADDLES
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What Happens With Insurance After a Motorcycle Accident Immediately After the Accident Hopefully, any accidents you’ll be involved in will be minor ones where no one gets carted off in an ambulance. In a single vehicle accident (i.e. the bike is crashed and no other vehicles are involved), you won’t need to do this step, obviously. But in a multiple vehicle accident, you’ll need to gather some critical information from each of the parties involved. This is not easy after a crash, believe me. Adrenaline isn’t intended to promote analytical thinking. If you need to, stop and take a short breather to gather your wits. Your first urge will be to get everything done as quickly as possible. Resist the urge. Take the time to get things right. Find a piece of paper and a pen and ask each driver for their driver’s license and insurance card. Then write down the following info for each driver: • full name • driver’s license number and state issued • phone number • insurance company name • insurance policy number If there were passengers in any vehicle, it’s a good idea to get their names and contact phone numbers also. Next, go to each vehicle and write down the license plate number. This would also be a good time to pull out your camera phone and take pictures of the vehicles and any damaged areas, just to keep everyone honest. If the police arrive on scene, ask for the police officer’s business card. At the very least, get the police officer’s name and phone number. You may not need this info, but it’s good to have.
Rule #1: Avoid Filing a Claim At All Costs The first rule of insurance is not filing a claim if you can avoid it. Of course, there’s a big exception to this rule: if you aren’t the one at fault, you’re probably going to file a claim against the other party’s insurance. If that’s the case, you can skip to the next section. But what if you’re at fault, or if this is a single vehicle accident? Then you need to decide if you’re going to file a claim, or fix the bike on your own. If you can get an estimate before contacting your insurance company, you’ll have a leg up in deciding whether to file a claim or not. The key thing to remember is if you’re still paying off the loan on your motorcycle, you have very little leverage with your insurance company if you file a claim. Why? Because you don’t own the bike. The bank does, and they will want their property restored to 100% pre-loss condition. Even if you’re at fault and the other vehicle’s driver files a claim against your insurance, you’re not obligated to file a claim. Imagine that conversation going something like this: • Your Insurance: “We’ve received a claim from someone’s insurance regarding an accident on such-and-such date, yadda-yadda-yadda. It appears your motorcycle was involved. Was there any damage to the bike?” • You: “Yes, but I’m going to fix it myself.” Don’t worry, what are they going to say? No? It’s in their best interest for you to pay for things yourself so they don’t have to! This could be the difference between keeping your bike and watching it go away on the back of a salvage truck. Choosing to fix the bike yourself doesn’t mean you have to do it all at once. Fixing the bike yourself gives you freedom: freedom to choose who does the work, freedom to shop around for parts, and freedom to have things done your way.
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Coast-to-Coast Motorcycle Cannonball Fills All Rider Slots; Photographer Michael Lichter to Document Event Sturgis, South Dakota, February 2, 2010 – Some 70 official entrants are set to ride pre-1916 classic motorcycles coast-to-coast in the Motorcycle Cannonball set for 17 days this September. Also, according to Lonnie Isam, Jr., the event’s promoter and owner of Jurassic Racing in Sturgis, South Dakota, internationally renowned motorcycle life-style photographer Michael Lichter will accompany the Motorcycle Cannonball in order to document the entire transcontinental trip.
television shows.
“We’ve passed a major milestone in getting commitments from such a large and very high-quality field of vintage bikes along with many, many riders who are wellknown in the vintage
Lichter will also take individual portraits of riders and motorcycles at the ride start point. He has assignments with international publications, including Scandinavian and French magazines, as well as domestic publications (go to www.lichterphoto. com for more information).
motorcycle world,” Isam said. “And having Michael Lichter on board is a major coup; we’re very excited. Michael is well known as the premiere motorcycle lifestyle photographer of our era. His participation is an honor and guarantees that Motorcycle Cannonball will be well documented with the utmost professionalism.” Motorcycle and commercial photography assignments have taken Lichter across North America, Europe, and Asia. He has published over 1,000 articles on motorcycling and custom bikes. He has also photographed annual reports, product photography, advertising, brochures, posters, and has worked for commercial clients, including Indian Motorcycles, Wiley-X Sunglasses, HarleyDavidson, and Nikon Cameras. Lichter has recently exhibited photography in public institutions, including solo shows at 15 galleries and museums. He has been featured in photography, motorcycling and other magazines as well as
Isam reported that Lichter will photograph the Motorcycle Cannonball riders in period dress along with their classic motorcycles, reminiscent of the beachfront launches of past historic rides.
Isam reported that registration for the Motorcycle Cannonball is closed, with 70 official paid entrants and a small waiting list of riders who may be added later. The 17-day event starts in Kitty Hawk, NC on Friday, September 10 and terminates 3,325 miles later on Sunday, September 26 in Santa Monica, CA. The event has drawn entries from around the world and all walks of life, including motorcycle museum owners, authors, bike collectors and restorers. Complete information about the Motorcycle Cannonball, including route details and some rider profiles, is available at www. motorcyclecannonball.com.
Top ten most overlooked safety tips for new riders The following tips, when applied, may help to increase rider safety: 1. MOTORCYCLE SAFETY FOUNDATION COURSE – If you are a new rider, it is important for you to gain a solid motorcycling foundation. This course can help provide the skills necessary to safely operate a motorcycle. Another added benefit to the courses that MSF offers is a likely discount on motorcycle insurance rates. 2. EVALUATE THE ROAD TRAFFIC – If you are an inexperienced rider, and live in a highly populated area, ask a more experienced rider to escort you to a less populated area to practice your motorcycling skills with little or no distraction that comes from riding in a busy traffic area. The physics involved in operating a motorcycle are much different than a car. Example: Many riders don’t know that you need to push, not pull, on the right handgrip to turn right and the left handgrip to turn left. 3. DON’T BE AFRAID OF YOUR FRONT BRAKE – Front Brakes provide most of the stopping power on motorcycles and should be used in conjunction with the rear brakes in any stopping situation. Be sure to become familiar with the stopping power of the front brake in a controlled setting before using it on the open road. 4. BE SEEN – Although you may look cool in black, at night you become invisible. When wearing a helmet, a piece of reflective tape on the back of your helmet can increase you visibility to others with whom you share the road. Also, reflective vests are readily available enhancing your visibility. 32 Thunder Roads NEW YORK MARCH 2010
5. KEEP YOUR COOL – Never let road rage affect you. A car or truck will win every time. If someone is tailgating you, pull over and let them pass. 6. CHOOSE YOUR TRAFFIC TIMING WISELY – New riders should pick a time of day when traffic is at a minimum. Heading out for your first time on a bike into rush hour traffic can easily lead to an accident. Also avoid freeways until you gain quite a bit of motorcycling experience. 7. DON’T ASSUME – Just because that car in front of you doesn’t have its turn signal on doesn’t mean it won’t get over in front of you. Additionally, even though the cars around you don’t use their turn signals, always use yours, and when riding with a passenger, have them use hand signals as an added safety measure. 8. DON’T TRY TO PREDICT – No matter how loud your exhaust may be, don’t assume that the car next to you hears you, or even looks to see if you’re there! Most motorcycles are small enough to be completely hidden in a vehicle’s blind spot. Stay out of it, at all costs. 9. “IF YOU CAN’T SEE MY MIRRORS, I CAN’T SEE YOU” – Use the same common sense when operating a motorcycle. If you can’t see the driver’s face in the rearview mirror in the car in front of you, chances are they can’t see you either. 10. “SPACE CUSHION” – As you become more experienced and spend more time in traffic, always allow room for other people’s errors. By keeping a “space cushion” around you at all times, you allow yourself the room to take emergency evasive actions with reduced risk of increased injury or damage.
S K I N A R T
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UpComing Events March 2010 Feb 26th-March 7th Daytona Bike Week Motorcycle Rally Daytona, FL The Daytona Bike Week Motorcycle Rally is one of the biggest motorcycle events in the country. HTTP://www.daytonachamber.com/bikeweek/ce/ Feb 26th-March 7th - Deland, FL Volusia County Campgrounds Info: 386-943-9610, stateoffice@abateflorida.com, or http://www.ABATEFlorida.com March 2 Spring Bash ( Attiqua MC.) - Wappingers N.Y TJs Bar 2363 Rt. 9d Wappingers N.Y. 12590 Websites: http://www.Attiquamc.com http://www.myspace.com/attiquamc Party starts at 2pm till 6 pm Live music,Food,Draft beer,50/50 raffle $20/person or $30/couple March 7th The Ride for Hayden - A Fight Against Leukemia - Deer Park, NY Sponsored by Levittown V.F.D., Miller’s Ale House The ride will begin at Miller’s Ale House, 1800 The Arches Circle in Deer Park. Registration starts at 10:00 am. The ride starts at 12:00 pm. The fee is $20.00 for the rider and $10.00 for a passenger. The ride ends in Levittown with a Free appetizer Buffet. For more information call (516 ) 351-6644 March 11th-14th Bama Bike Fest Spring Motorcycle Rally - Forkland, Alabama HTTP://www.bamabikefest.com/ March 13th-14th The 10th Annual Northeast Motorcycle Expo - Wilmington, MA Shriner’s Auditorium, 99 Fordham Road, Wilmington, MA., Saturday 10AM to 5PM and Sunday 10AM to 5PM., http://www.kevmarv.com March 15th Advertising -DEADLINEGet your ads in for next months issue by today. Advertise@thunderroads-NY.com 646-929-4744 March 21st The Chilly Chili Run & Party - Jamesport, NY Abate of New York, Long Island Chapter presents: the chilly chili run & party, At Finnegan’s Wake, 3rd street. 34 Thunder Roads NEW YORK MARCH 2010
Party start at 12 pm, $ 10 for members $15 for nonmembers plenty of chili to eat . Bring your best chili for a cook-off prizes for the best chili. cash bar. music & more. for more information call: 1-888-LIABATE htpp://WWW.longislandabate.org March 28th Ontario County ABATE Annual Swap Meet - Cananadaigua, NY Sponsored by Ontario County ABATE The swap meet will be held at the Inn On The Lake on Main Street in Cananadaigua. Doors open at $12:00 pm. General admission is $5.00. Vendor information was not given. For more information go to http://www.abatenyontario.20m.com/
April 2010 April 11 Bronco’s 1st Annual N/Shore Harbors Ride - Suffolk NY Bronco’s 1st An’l N/Shore Harbors Ride - Suffolk County, NY In planning Stage. April 13th-17th Arizona Bike Week Motorcycle Rally Scottsdale, AZ Arizona Bike Week is a rider’s dream. HTTP://www.azbikeweek.com April 15th Advertising -DEADLINEGet your ads in for next months issue by today. Advertise@thunderroads-NY.com 646-929-4744 April 21st-25th Laughlin River Run - Laughlin , NV The Laughlin River Run Motorcycle Rally is a 5-Day Motorcycle Event with concerts, lots of vendors and of course gambling (it’s Nevada). HTTP://www.laughlinriverrun.com April 21st-25th Hawgs of Texas Rally - Somerville, TX A true biker rally you don’t want to miss! Bands, games, shows, just a lot of great entertainment and a whole lot of fun... HTTP://WWW.hawgsoftexas.com April 24 3rd Annual Rollin’ for Rottie Rescue Poker Run - New Windsor, NY Sign up is from 10:00- 11:30 am at Jim Moroney’s Harley Davidson, 833 Union Ave(RT 300),New
Windsor, NY. Party to follow at The Perfecta Bar “Home Of The Traveling Motorcycle” Forestburg Rd (RT 42),Monticello, NY 12701 12PM, Live Music by Side F/X, Wet T-Shirt Contest!!!!!! Food!!! Prizes for Best poker Hand, 5050 Raffle, Door Prizes. Rain Date May 1st, http://www.mrr.petfinder.com April 24 Choppers for Charity & Hogs Against Hunger - Irving, NY “10-Year Anniversary Celebration” (CFC-HAH) is the Food Bank of WNY’s 10th Annual Motorcycle Run, Car/Bike Show & Benefit Party! Check-in at 11am at Native Pride Travel Plaza, bike run & car caravan leaves at 1:00 SHARP! 11359 Southwestern Blvd (Rt. 20) (at Milestrip) Irving, NY 14081. After-run party 2pm-7pm at a location to be announced. For more info go to http://www.Cyberspokes.com or contact Bev Lanza at 716-445-4108 or MaryLou Borowiak or Mike Billoni at 716-852-1305. April 24 HAMC NEW ROC CITY FIRST ANNUAL NORTHERN POKER RUN - Wappingers Falls,NY Sign Up: 9am Till 11am, Sign Up & Start Location: Ranting and Raving Leathers, RT 376 Business Park (across from McDonalds), 4Nancy Ct- suite2 , Wappingers Falls,NY,12590 845-592-2000, www. rantingNraving.com End Location: TJ’s Bar, 2363 rt. 9d, Wapppingers Falls, NY 12590. Telephone: 845-475-2091 Sponsor: NEW ROC CITY HELLS ANGELS April 24-25th Motorcycle Mania Show - White Plains, NY Motorcycle Mania Show at the Westchester County Center April 24th-25th, 2010. Motorcycle lovers and their families from around the country will be hopping onto their bikes and reving their engines to attend what will be the Woodstock of Motorcycle shows in White Plains, NY. http://www.motorcyclemaniashow. com/ April 25th Skin & Steel – Motorcycle and Tattoo Show - Henrietta, NY The Biggest & Best Show in the Rochester Area, Sunday, April 25, 2010, 12pm - 6pm at the DOME CENTER, 2695 E. Henrietta Rd. Henrietta, NY, Motorcycle Show * Swap Meet * Tattoo Contest * Best of Bike Show $500.00! * $300.00 Tattoo Contest! *, Vendors & Show Bikes - Book Your Space Early!!!, Over 200 Vendor Spaces! Food, Beer, Music, Admission: $12 (12 & under FREE!), Music by DJ DENNI. Website: http://www.skinandsteel.com
April 25th V.F.W. Post 2064 3rd Annual Poker Run Maybrook, NY The ride begins at V.F.W. Post 2064, 209 Main Street in Maybrook. Registration will be from 9:00 am to 11:00 am. The ride is 100 miles through the Hudson Valley Region of New York. The ride fee is $20.00 per person and includes food, cash prizes, and a commemorative pin. All proceeds from the run go Paralyzed Veterans of America, Wounded Warrior Project, Fisher House, and other veterans charities. For more information call (914) 213-1573 April 25th Hogs For Hope Ride For Hope Benefit - New Rochelle, NY Sponsored by New Roc Harley Davidson, Shield and Cross MC, and Ronald McDonald House The ride will start at New Roc Harley Davidson, 8 Industrial Lane in New Rochelle. Registration will be held from 9:00 am to 11:30 am. The ride will start at 11:30 am. The event is a Police escorted motorcycle ride ending with barbeque, live music, raffles, prizes and more. The ride will benefit the Ronald McDonald House of New York. For more information call (212) 639-0130
May 2010 May 1st Second Anual Catskill Reservoir Run Kingston, NY Woodstock Harley Davidson, It’s gonna be a little longer this year, I’m adding another reservoir, and more country roads! It will be an entire day event! I’m working on the details, will have more info soon! Actually, gonna try and do all 4 reservoirs, and it’ll be about a 250 mile ride! May 1st Purple Pig Poker Run - New Hartford, NY The ride starts at Piggy Pats BBQ in New Hartford. Registration will be held from 9:00 am to 11:00 am. The fee is $25.00 for each person and extra hands are $10.00. The 100 mile ride ends with live music, 50/50 raffle and more. Poker run fundraiser to support the American Lung Association. For more information call (315) 736-3271 May 4th-9th Bike Week New Orleans - New Orleans, LA The 2nd Annual Bike Week New Orleans will be held on May 4-9, 2009 in New Orleans, Louisiana. HTTP://www.bikeweekneworleans.com/ May 15th Advertising -DEADLINEGet your ads in for next months issue by today. Advertise@thunderroads-NY.com 646-929-4744 May 15th MRR and Rescue Ink / 3rd Annual Rollin’ for Rottie - New Windsor, NY Sign up is from 10:00- 11:30 am, Jim Moroney’s Harley Davidson, 833 Union Ave(RT 300),New Windsor, NY, Party to follow at location TBA, 12PM, Live Music by Side F/X, Wet T-Shirt Contest!!!!!!, Food!!!, Prizes for Best poker Hand, 50-50 Raffle, Door Prizes, Our email is rollin_for_rotti_rescue@yahoo.com, or visit us at http://www.mrr.petfinder.com May 15th Freedom ride proceeds to benefit wounded soldiers - Norwich, NY 42 North Brard St., Norwich, NY 13815, This is a nation wide ride and goes to helping vets..... www.thunderroads-NY.com
May 15th 2nd Annual Hero Army Pfc Joseph Dwyer Rally Bald Hill, Farmingville, NY 11763 , Sponsor: 9-1-1-Veteran.com , Patriot Guard Riders Region 9 NY - Ride Captain FRANKEBNYC@AOL.COM 631.294.5248 . 9-1-1 veterans is a small non-profit organization dedicated to assisting Long Island’s veterans. We provide financial assistance to those who have served in - or are still serving in - the finest military in the world. Our current emphasis has been on those service men and women who participated in the global war on terrorism. May 17th ABATE of New York – 14th Annual Freedom Rally - Albany, NY Ride to the Capital. All Motorcyclists Welcome. Come fight for your rights! Details will be posted when available. May 22nd Benefit Ride for Mary Jo - Hillcrest , NY 363 West Service Road , Hillcrest , NY 13745, A local girl suffered a tramatic brain injury last September. We (the Legion Riders of Post #1194)are looking to raise funds to get this loving single mother back on her feet. This ride is in the planning stages and I will post more information in the next month. Any one looking to make donations please feel free to contact me. A trust fund has been set in Mary Jo’s name. Gob Bless. For more info you can contact Condor1584@msn.com or call 607-760-1695 May 23rd Lt. Chuck Margiotta, FDNY, Brains Brawn & Bravery Biker Run - Staten Island, NY 7:00 AM to 12:00 PM, Host Mike Margiotta & Farrell HS Join us for our 2nd Annual run to raise money for scholarships to be awarded in Chuck’s name. Chuck attended Farrell HS, earned his degree at Brown University and was a 20 year veteran of the FDNY. He was killed on 9-11. After a Police escorted local run, starting at Farrell HS, we will be passing significant locations in Chuck’s honor and will return to Farrell HS. You are invited to enjoy Classic & Southern Rock music played by our DJ, while food and refreshments are supplied. For more information on the event, vending or sponsorships, Contact Mike at: mix28@aol.com or visit: http://www. ChuckMargiottaScholarshipFund.com Entry Fee $20, Event T-shirts and patches will be available for purchase. Location Monsignor Farrell High School. 2900 Amboy Road, 718-698-9494 May 26th Dice Run for Charity - Rockland County, NY Dice run 100 mile ride that benefits the United Hospice of Rockland County. More details will be posted on http://secondgenerationma.org as the date for the Charity Dice Run gets closer. Phone: 845222-8798 Email: Loubabcock2001@aol.com
June 2010 June 4th-13th Pennsylvania Rally On The River Northumberland, PA The bars will be serving beer & soft drinks and there will be plenty of excellent food. Test your riding skills in one of our insane and wacky biker contest, or, if you dare, enter one of our erotic adult contests. Each evening there will be live music from local and headline bands and there will be plenty of vendors for all sorts of biker clothing and accessories. Also planned are tours to some very interesting places throughout the Susquehanna Valley. For more information go to http://www.parallyontheriver.com/.
June 7th-12th Americade - Lake George , NY Sponsored by AMA Registration is at the Holiday Inn in Lake George but activities will take place at various locations around the Lake George Area. Registration begins at 11:00 am on June 1st. Events include guided and unguided rides, poker runs, scavenger hunt, tradeshow, bike shows, vendors, entertainment, and more. For more information call (518) 798-7888, or go to http://www. tourexpo.com June10th-13th HOGROCK River Rally - Cave In Rock, IL Three days and nights of non-stop FUN! Three Stages with bands, WILD contests, and various other entertainment. Located in southern Illinois on the Ohio River, next to the Shawnee National Forest. Camping, showers, vendors, helicopter rides, field events, poker run and more! Don’t Miss the HOTTEST Little party in the Midwest!, HTTP://www. hogrock.com June 11th-13th Redwood Run - Piercy, CA One of the only true old school biker rallies left on the West Coast, the Redwood Run Motorcycle Rally is a 2-day party with lots of great music, biker games and a wet t-shirt contest. On-site camping, vendors, food & beer make it so you never have to leave the Redwood Run Rally site until its time to go home., HTTP://www.redwoodrun.com June 15th Advertising -DEADLINEGet your ads in for next months issue by today. Advertise@thunderroads-NY.com 646-929-4744 June 25th-27th Harley Rendezvous Classic Motorcycle Rally - Pattersonville, NY Indian Lookout Country Club 1142 Batter Street Pattersonville, NY 12137 http://www.harleyrendezvous.com Phone: 518-864-5659 Email: office@harleyrendezvous.com June 25th-26th Fallen Patriot and 1st Responder Charity Ride - Niagara Falls, NY 2nd annual Ride - Kick stands up 11am June 26. Party June 25 place to be announced check website for details TBA Carmen Toromino 716-444-2810 June 25th-26th Thousand Islands River Run Bike Rally Alexandria Bay, NY Bike Builders TBA, Motorcycle Stunt Group-”The Vertical Outlaws” Live Music Fest, Rob’s Dyno Service from Mass., Ma and Pa Custom Bike Show, Tattoo Contests, Burn Out Contest, VENDORS!!! And Much More!!! Check out our website! http://www. tiriverrun.vpweb.com, Mary Compeau, 315-482-4105
Get YOUR event listed here... enter your events online: www.thunderroads-NY.com ... It’s FREE !!! MARCH 2010 Thunder Roads NEW YORK 35
CLUBS & ORGANIZATIONS ABATE of New York, Inc. Chapters Metro NY/LI Region ABATE of Brooklyn P.O. Box 245064, Brooklyn, NY 11224 President: Bill Ferraro Phone: 917-215-0315 ABATE of Long Island P.O. Box 22, Riverhead, NY 11980 President: Jim Barr Chapter Phone: 888-LIABATE (888-542-2283) Email: LongIslandABATE@aol.com Website: http://www.longislandabate.org Hudson / Mohawk Valleys Region ABATE of Columbia P.O. Box 227, Hudson, NY 12534-0227 President: Karen Blake-Kittle Phone: 518-392-7354 Email: kbk84@msn.com Website: http://www.geocities.com/columbiaabate ABATE of Delaware P.O. Box 19, Hobart, NY 13788 President: Rob Dewey Phone 607-865-4144 dccustom06@yahoo.com ABATE of Greene County P.O. Box 92, Leeds, NY 12451 President: Matt Grossman Phone: 518-263-5943 Email: matthew138@earthlink.net Website: http://abateofgreenecounty.org ABATE of North Ulster P.O. Box 13, West Hurley, NY 12491 President: Paul Pritchard Phone: 845-687-9077 Infoline: 845-207-3005 Email: paulp@bigfoot.com Western Region ABATE of Buffalo-Erie P.O. Box 286, West Seneca, NY 14224 President: Damian Ruzbacki Phone: 716-825-2627 Email: ruzmc@peoplepc.com Website: www.cyberspokes.com/abatebuffalo.htm ABATE of Chautauqua P.O. Box 572, Dunkirk, NY, 14048 President: Andrew Barr Phone: 716-257-5207 Email: a.l.barr@hotmail.com Website: http://chautabate.org ABATE of Finger Lakes P.O. Box 353, Hornell, NY 14843 President: Mike Grasby Sr. Phone: 585-728-5426 Email: michaelg9898@yahoo.com ABATE of Monroe P.O. Box 13277, Rochester, NY 14613-3277 President: Mike “Professor” Parthum Phone: 585-406-1625 Chapter Phone: 585-234-0895 Email: RedFXRT@rochester.rr.com Website: http://www.ABATEnyMonroe.org 36 Thunder Roads NEW YORK MARCH 2010
ABATE of Niagara P.O. Box 25, Lockport, NY 14094 President: Richard “Dick” Davis Phone: 716-946-2867 Website: http://www.abate-niagara.org
ABATE of Oswego P.O. Box 133, Central Square, NY 13036 President: Jim Waterman Phone: 315-427-4765 Email: jwaterm2@twcny.rr.com Website: http://www.oswegoabate.org
ABATE of Ontario P.O. Box 546, Canadaigua, NY 14424-0546 President: Shawn Fenner Phone: 585-370-4515 Email: Elmo4fun@yahoo.com Website: http://abatenyontario.20m.com/
ABATE of Southern Tier P.O. Box 2441, Binghamton, NY 13902-2241 President: Mick Brown Phone: 607-217-5669 Email: dadspan@yahoo.com
ABATE of Orleans P.O. Box 43, Medina, NY 14103-0043 President: Chuck Persons Phone: 585-798-6662 Email: Blpersons723@yahoo.com Website: http://www.orleanscountyabate.com/abate%20page.htm ABATE of Wayne P.O. Box 332, Ontario, NY 14519 President: Pam Wright Phone: 315-923-3422 Email: waynenews@verizon.net Website: http://www.wayneabate.org
ABATE of Syracuse P.O. Box 83, East Syracuse, NY 13057 ABATE of Tompkins P.O. Box 6743, Ithaca, NY 14851-6743 President: Yonah Lempert Phone: 607-533-9141 Email: yonahcsea561@aol.com Website: http://www.tompkinsabate.org
Scenic Region ABATE of Cayuga P.O. Box 74, Auburn NY 13021 Vice President: Carl J. Harvey Phone: 315-730-2458 Email: abateofcayugacounty@clearwire.net ABATE of Cortland-Chenango P.O. Box 3, Cincinnatus, NY 13040 President: “Harley” Dave Simmons Phone: 607-423-6780 Email: dave@cortland-chenangoabate.com Website: http://www.cortland-chenangoabate.com ABATE of Jefferson P.O. Box 21, Clayton, NY 13624 President: Thomas Grant Phone: 315-686-2288 Email: trgrant@hughes.net Website: http://ABATEnyJefferson.org ABATE of Lewis P.O. Box 245, Port Leyden, NY 13433 President: Kristen Peebles Phone: 315-348-5132 Email: rushlee1@citlink.net ABATE of Oneida P.O. Box 545, Holland Patent, NY 13354 President: Kristen Hric Phone: (Kris) 315-723-6431 or (Gary) 315-533-6093 Email: khric@specialmetals.com Website: http://ABATEnyOneida.org ABATE of Onondaga P.O. Box 11575, Syracuse, New York, 13218 President: Wild Bill Sperry Phone: 315-849-5410 Email terry12256@yahoo.com Website : http://www.cnyabate.org
Club Listing $5 Text only / $10 Logo only / $15 text & Logo Call: 646-929-4744 or advertise@ThunderRoads-NY.com