Free Take One
In This Issue:
-Nate Ullrich -WITCC Powersports
-M/C Mags for Military
Calendar Girl
Batt’s Cycle
-
* About Iowa * FOr Iowa * From Iowa *
THUNDER ROADS MAGAZINE OF IOWA www.thunderroadsiowa.com P.O. Box 29 Kimballton, Iowa 51543 (712) 249-5630 OWNER/EDITOR Tina (TT) Schwarte (712) 249-5582 tt@thunderroadsiowa.com EDITOR Vernon Schwarte (712) 249-5630 vernon@thunderroadsiowa.com SALES REPRESENTATIVES Josh (Stampede) and Pam Brown 563-571-1617 josh@thunderroadsiowa.com Susan Mast SC/SE Iowa 319-931-4546 susan@thunderroadsiowa.com Richard (Murph) and Annette Murphy Western Iowa vizslaboots@yahoo.com CONTRIBUTORS Kandi Schlensig kandi@thunderroadsiowa.com 712-249-0713
Letter from the Editor ............................4 Werner Cycle..........................................5 Who the Hell is Nate Ullrich ..................6 99 Counties ............................................8 Parts Review ..........................................9 Biker Friendly Listing ..........................10 Joker’s Wild .........................................12 Military Rider ........................................13 Girls of Thunder...................................14 Will Ride to Eat ....................................15 Scooter’s Trip List ...............................16 Thunder Cam .......................................18 Day Trips with Doc ..............................22 Newsbytes ............................................24 ABATE ..................................................26 CMA ......................................................26 From the Woman’s Seat ......................28 Batt’s Cycle ..........................................29
Thunder Illusions Rich thunderillusions@gmail.com
Skin Art .................................................30
Craig Little-Will Ride for Food Dude craig@thunderroadsiowa.com
Ink Slinger ............................................34
NATIONAL FOUNDERS Toni McCoy Shearon & Brian Shearon 1421 Chapmansboro Road Chapmansboro, TN 37035 Office: (615) 792-0040 Fax: (615) 792-7580 thunderroadscharter@charter.net
KISS ......................................................31 WITCC Powersports ............................38 Events/Bike Nights .............. Back Cover
On the cover
All rights reserved. All content is covered by copyright and ownership of said right is retained by Thunder Roads Magazine of Iowa. Photographs may be purchased on www.thunderroadsiowa.com Neither magazine or website materials may be reproduced, distributed, altered or posted to any other websites without the express written permission of Thunder Roads Magazine of Iowa LLC. 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 Iowa Thunder Roads Magazine of Iowa LLC, Thunder Publishing LLC. Publisher does not promote the abuse of alcohol or other drugs, advocate any unsafe practices, or encourage breaking of any laws.
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Alisha Gomez adorns this April issue with Mark Golden’s 1973 Ironhead Chopper. M/C Mags for Military is producing a calendar to raise funds to further their cause. Alisha was the crowd favorite and earned a spot in TRMI. For info on the calendar, email mcmagsformilitary@yahoo.com
More on the bike can be seen at
www.paintbygolden.com
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iding yet? I know it is early, but R April is upon us and we need to get out and going if we are going to enjoy spring. It has been much awaited, and we certainly use some two wheeled therapy on our end. What is better than the sun shining and the warm sun. very spring evE eryone gets the itch to ride, but just remember to check over the bikes really well. Things can go haywire over the winter so make sure everything is road worthy so that you don’t break down on a much needed day of riding and enjoying the weather. s usual the hazards this time of year is gunk on A the road, and the deer have been moving a bunch lately. Keep your eyes out for the road, the wildlife, and the cars that are not used to seeing us this time of year. Do everything you can to be seen, and watch out for the debris on the road from the winter. Gotta do what we can to come home safe. on’t forget to look at the back cover to see the bike D nights that will be firing up shortly, as well as the abbreviated events list. The full list from past issues can be found on the website as well. If you know of anything going on not listed, shoot us an email. We would love to hear from you. That also goes for any events that you have going on. Let us know about them and if possible, we will be there with camera in hand. You never know, you may just see your picture on our pages. ou certainly have to stop by the advertisers when Y you are out and about this spring. These folks keep this going so that we can bring the Iowa content you have all been asking for. Thunder Roads is your source for biker stuff About Iowa, From Iowa, and For Iowa. When you stop in one of the advertisers places of business, make sure and tell them that Thunder Roads Iowa sent you! Hope to see you on the road soon!
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Werner Cycle Works takes on Victory Motorcycles Recently we sat down to have a chat with Tom Sporven at Werner Cycle Works (WCW) in Omaha. Tom is the lead guy there, and to tell you the truth, he is an all around nice guy. We have dealt with Tom before, and we just had to get the skinny on the new Victory motorcycle sign hanging on the building. Werner opened in 2000 to help serve the needs of western Iowa and eastern Nebraska for the chopper marketplace. At the time there were not a lot of places around that you could get a good custom type of ride and WCW wanted to fill this niche. They are dealers for Big Dog choppers, and also for Hyosung motorcycles, so they were hitting the higher end and lower end of the market, but something was missing.
on the 18th at Werner, and then a huge group ride up to the Lake on the 19th. Check with Werner or go to victorymotorcycles.com for more details as the date gets closer. If you get near Werner Cycle Works, stop in to chat with Tom and the crew and check out the expanded line of equipment. You can also visit WCW online at wernercycleworks.com We think you will find that they are a great group of people, and will bend over backward to make the customer happy. Tell them Thunder Roads sent ya!
There was an opportunity for the owners of Werner Cycle Works to take on a line that could fill the gap between economical two wheel travel with the Hyosung line, and the Big Dog high end choppers. The perfect match in the area was taking on the Omaha/Council Bluffs metro area Victory dealership. This line of motorcycles now gives Werner something in the mid range for being affordable in a high quality machine. Victory motorcycles have been gaining in popularity. That is not a big surprise here in Iowa, with the plant located in Spirit Lake. At Werner you can not only get your bike, but service and parts come right along with the package. They have all sorts of parts and accessories for American V Twin bikes, as well as the ability to get most metric parts as well. On top of parts, they can also get you hooked up in the shop with a shop crew that has a vast knowledge and experience with repairing almost anything on two wheels. They have full machine shop capability in house, and can do about all, big or small. Then they can tune it up with the in house dyno. With taking on Victory, WCW is expanding the parts and services available, as well as expanding the riding accessories and gear sections. One of the cool things that Werner has going on this spring that you don’t want to miss is the Victory Demo Rides April 26th and 27th. During the summer another big event is August 19th and 20th, and this is the American Victory Rally in Spirit Lake. Plans are being made to host a gathering in the Omaha area
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Who the Hell is Nate Ullrich?
was borne by the students. Nate held off taking the photography classes until his senior year due to the high cost of equipment and money was tight. When he did pick up a camera, his talent started to shine through. Normally the classes were formatted with a teach then try method. Showing the students how to accomplish certain things then doling out assignments. His teachers stopped giving him assignments early on and would encourage him to just get out and take pictures. His level of work was above and beyond the assignments even at that young age. He heard comments about his natural ability and some even thought he would end up taking Playboy pictures. Although he admits that would be cool, he quickly stated that a naked chick on a bike would be his dream.
He begin sending prints into the national magazines in 1994. This was a little different than now because when Nate got started, digital photography did not exist. All of his work had to be done in a dark room and then mailed in, can you imagine all that effort for a single shot? He started to get some photos published and Nate Ullrich ll i h iis a ffreelance l photographer h h that h hhas bbeen iinvolved l d then he hit the first of many landmarks in his career. He received in the motorcycle industry for over fifteen years. You may not word that his first cover photo would be published in 2002 in the have realized it, but if you have perused through any bike or December issue of In The Wind magazine. car magazines, you may have seen some of his work. While you were enjoying pictures of “the bikes”, you probably did not Originally he was interested in only taking pictures with no realize you were admiring work from someone from right here interest in the writing aspect. In short time he realized there is a in Iowa. That is right, an Iowa boy that has been published in story to tell and started to weave words that would only enhance publications such as Biker, V-Twin, Easyriders, In The Wind, and the pictures he had taken. This opened up more opportunities even OzBike, which is an Australia magazine, just to name a and you will quickly be pulled in as you read them. The first few. Nate has also worked with many in the motorcycle industry published story and photograph was about one of his “kick for various commercial projects. Black Magic Customs, J&P ass birthdays” that sounded more like a mini rally with bikes, Cycles, Hollywood Customs, Fortune Cycle, Sleepy’s Cycle, babes, wet tee-shirt contests, and fireworks. Listening to the Pro-Formance V-Twin, and ABATE of Iowa, is the short list of story makes you not want to miss an invite from him for future some that he has been involved with. Thunder Roads of Iowa gatherings. This holds true with all the many times we have has also enjoyed working with him and you will continue to see been able to meet up with him for work or just to relax and enjoy. some of his work on our pages. On top of industry work, he Hanging out with Nate is usually a memorable experience, at also does private shoots for weddings, portraits, cars, farms, and least for some involved. miscellaneous equipment. Nate is the epitome of a hard working, life loving, long To tell you about the man behind the camera, the best place haired biker that tries to do the things g he enjoys j y the most. to start is from the beginning. Nate was born, raised, and still Family, motorcycles, and resides in Clinton, Iowa. Happily married to Theresa, he has two photography are a pretty step-daughters, and they enjoy three adorable granddaughters. good combination. Nate is easy going, down to earth, long haired biker type that Borrowed from a friend, loves to enjoy life and his friends. He joked around saying that Nate states “No direction, he was told once to skip the kid raising and go straight to the No destination, just point grandchildren part and he took this advice quite literally. Nate and go.”Excellent advice!!! currently owns eight bikes and when asked which one was tt his favorite he quickly stated his Heritage and to answer the “why” he adds “that is the bike Theresa and I rode away on at our wedding.” Nate is a very passionate person who loves his family, his bikes, and his way of life. Nate is like many of us that have to keep a full time job, and then do things on the side for extra money, extra fun, or because we just love it. He is employed by Vizient L.L.C. which is a robotics integrator for many agricultural and industrial equipment manufacturers. He’s an electrical engineer and programmer, along with heading up various installations of their robotic systems, which puts him on the road occasionally. At this point you may be asking yourself how he got involved with photography. That is an interesting story that starts with Nate in high school taking all the available art classes and showing real talent with his drawing. At his school they also had photography classes, but all of the cost of the equipment 6 - TRMI APRIL 2011
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99 Counties on the Wall
lanes to rejuvenate, truly something for everyone of every age. The city’s cultural scene includes an art gallery, local history museum, the historic Harker House, and the outdoor Living History Tree Museum, which is made up of trees grown from clippings and seeds from famous locations around the world. Santa’s Castle, originally a Carnegie library, features many elaborate antique animatronics Christmas displays.
99 Counties to tour on the bike, 99 counties to tour, take one down, drive on around, 88 counties to tour on the bike. A few years back, a summer riding goal was to ride through each and every one of the counties of Iowa, and what was found was a wealth of interest and beauty. Each month we will feature a different county, and new things to go see, and hopefully spark The city’s diversity has a strong influence on local cuisine: Storm a little touring curiosity for our own state. Lake has several ethnic grocery stores, five authentic Mexican restaurants, a Thai restaurant, and a Laotian buffet. Around Buena Vista County town are eating experiences from high-end dining to fast food chains, offering an assortment of classic American cuisine, Buena Vista, is Spanish for “Beautiful View” or “Good View”, and steaks, burgers, seafood, and even pizza with honey-infused was the name of a battle in the Mexican War in which General crust. One coffee house, Common Grounds, is on campus; Zachary Taylor defeated General Santa Ana. The county was another is not far away. established in 1851. Quickly after the county was organized in 1859, three commissioners selected 10 acres of land in Lee The city’s downtown, originally built in the late 1800s, has Township for the county seat. They named this site Prairieville many unique, locally-owned shops that sell items from art to , it was also referred to as Leesburg. This town was merely electronics. Other local shopping venues include grocery stores, a “paper town” and it soon faded out of existence. It was not chain retailers, hardware stores, and a bicycle shop until 10 years later that a courthouse was finally constructed at With the warm weather just around the corner, Buena Vista Sioux Rapids. In 1870 a simple, two-story frame courthouse County offers many scenic and winding roads to take a long ride was constructed at a cost of $4,945. On January 1, 1877 this on. Take advantage of the many parks and recreation areas to building was destroyed by a fire. take a day ride to, and enjoy the five miles of lake shore to soak your feet in. Stop and take a look at some of the many wind The citizens of Storm Lake wasted little time in taking turbines in the area, and just have fun seeing Iowa! Safe riding advantage of this fire. They formed the Storm Lake Building and many safe miles to you all.........Kandi Association and constructed a two-story city hall in 1878. They Sources given upon request offered this building to the county rent-free for ten years, if they used it as a courthouse. The supervisors accepted the offer. It then went to an election where it passed by a margin of 700 votes. The county seat was then ordered to move to Storm Lake on October 14, 1878. The City of Storm Lake continues to grow through the years, and becomes the heart of the county’s ten communities. Buena Vista University is located in Storm Lake. The university’s 60-acre campus is situated on the shores of Storm Lake, a 3,200-acre natural lake. BVU’s academic programs feature a balance between traditional liberal arts courses and hands-on learning opportunities, such as travel and internships. It serves about 1200 students per year, with 42 majors. It is highly ranked in the Midwest and nationally known. At its inception, the college was housed in the Storm Lake Opera House, where it remained for only a year. Old Main, the college’s first building, opened in 1892, and was occupied by faculty and students until it burned down in 1956. Major construction projects in the 1950s and 1960s extended the college, which soon included three dormitories, a library, and a number of classroom buildings. Buena Vista County is primarily an agricultural based community, with substantial business growth in past years. The county continues to maintain current, as well as develop new sources of income and entertainment for the residents and the many visitors. Perched on the banks of a 3200 acre lake, the City of Storm Lake has positioned itself as a premiere vacation spot in Iowa. The shores of Storm Lake are teeming with a wealth of activity, and King’s Pointe is at the heart of all the excitement. With both indoor and outdoor water parks, the adventures continue all year long, summer and winter. There are multiple water slides to thrill, water playgrounds and water channels to explore, and lap 8 - TRMI APRIL 2011
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Addingg a Personal Touch Can you believe it! Spring! It’s finally here! I will admit, we had a pretty mild winter compared to the last couple years. I looked at the calendar and see that the clocks spring forward; followed by the official first day of spring and then on to celebrating St. Patrick’s Day. All this means Spring is here right? So get out there and enjoy.
So as the snow melts for the final time and the rumble of your bike sounds sweeter than the singing birds, remember to make that ride of yours reflect something about you. If you have any questions you can stop in and ask about them here at Carroll Cycle Center. We are set up as a dealer or you can also check out the Motordog website at www. motordog69.com and see their full line of products along with all the coins they offer. Tony
This month I’m going to concentrate on a particular accessory that caught my attention. Have you ever wanted to add something a little more personal to your bike? Now I’m not talking your typical skull or flamed item. I’m talking a personal part of your life. Something that commemorates your service in the military, your beliefs in a higher power, or accomplishment(s) of some sort in life. John Mottola of Motordog69 has come up with a way you can accomplish that look. Motordog69 started with a custom timer cover that is machined out of billet aluminum; then show chromed to that beautiful luster. But here is the neat part. In the middle is a cut out area that you can place your “Challenge Coin”. They offer different sizes for different coins from NA and AA achievement coins and also coins that show about any part of your life such as the military or your love for Harley-Davidson. They also offer coins themselves that are not your typical coins that are unique to Motordog69. Motordog69 coins are made of nickel, bronze and silver with a starting price of $17. Custom coins can also be made for your clubs or groups. Prices vary with designs and metal. Most coins are double sided… so that if you get tired of having the one side out all you have to do is pop it out, put down some new silicone, and pop it back in. Other side facing out of course. Since coming up with the initial timing cover idea this father and son team, have since developed other items to display your coins on. They have covered fuel door coin mount for all you “Bagger” guys, horn cover mount which dresses up that stock cow bell cover, primary cover mount which houses 3 coins in it, and then finally a universal coin mount which you can place where you want. This is one of those great quality, made in America parts that everybody wants. Not to mention an excellent way to make your bike a lot more personal.
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Biker Friendly Directory 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 Iowa 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. The staff here at Thunder Roads greatly appreciates our 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 at 712-249-5630 or vernon@ thunderroadsiowa.com Shops and Fabricators Batt’s Cycle American V-Twin Service 1006 Linn Street Boone, Iowa 50036 515-298-0375 www.battscycle.com
Revolution Cycles 120 South Main Street Baxter, Iowa 50028 641-507-9250 www.rev-ia.com Throttle Shop LLC 1988 Arion Avenue Arion, Iowa 51520 712-674-3325 throttleshopllc@gmail.com Trustworthy Cycles 3781 Balk Road Fulton, Illinois 61252 563-249-1777 Specializing in Making the “Old Iron” Trustworthy
Photo and Video Thunder Illusions Photo and Video From Mild to Wild Des Moines, Iowa www.thunderillusions.com Ulrich Photography PO Box 1842 Clinton, Iowa 52733 563-243-8715 www.natanic.com Dealers
Twisted Grip Cycle 2444 L Avenue (I-29 & 25th St. Exit) Council Bluffs, Iowa 51501 712-256-7323 Aaron@twistedgripcycle.omhcoxmail.com XTreme Cycle & Off Road 206 E Main St Panora, Iowa 50216 641-755-4288 xtremecycle@netins.net Bail Bonds
Bike Pit Motorcycle Services 2694 5th Ave, Building B-Unit 2 Marion, IA 52303 319-651-8835 Jason.Bikepit@yahoo.com
Leather & Hawgs 316 Main, Hornick, Iowa 121 1st St, Soldier, Iowa Leather@netins.net www.leatherandhawgs.com
Doc’s Bail Bonds Your 24/7 Prescription to Freedom in Minutes Adel, Iowa 50003 515-993-4773
Baxter Cycle 311 4th Street Marne, Iowa 51552 712-781-2351 www.baxtercycle.com Big Barn Harley Davidson I-80 Exit 135 Des Moines, Iowa 515-265-4444 www.bigbarnhd.com Carroll Cycle Center 1327 Plaza Dr Carroll, Iowa (712) 792-1610 www.carrollcycle.com
F & J Racing Fred & Jackie Ingraham 701 N 3rd Ave Marshalltown, Iowa 50158 641-752-8651 www.fandjracing.com
Iowa Bail Bonds 200 4th Street Des Moines, IA 50309 (515) 243-4411 Services
Nishna Valley Cycle HONDA-YAMAHA-KTM Atlantic, Iowa, 50022 1-888-577-6406 www.nishnavalleycycle.com
Guthrie Auto Body John Beer owner 1804 State Street Guthrie Center, Iowa 50115 641-332-2484
BCS Computers 100 Industrial Road Guthrie Center, Iowa 50115 641-747-3344 www.brubakercomputer.com
Racing Unlimited 2606 200th Street Fort Dodge, Iowa 51501 515-955-6000 www.racingunlimited.com
J & S Custom Cycles Des Moines, Iowa 515-779-4632
RJM Trucking Cedar Rapids, Iowa 319-360-5433
M&M Garage 408 Market Street Audubon, Iowa 50025 712-563-2425 mmgarage@iowatelecom.net
Southwest Iowa Sandblasting Mike Magers 65162 Oxford Rd Atlantic, Iowa 50022 712-249-3995
Werner Cycle Works 14410 Frontier Road Exit 440 I-80 Omaha, NE 68138 (402) 894-3050 www.wernercycleworks.com
Metal Ink 911 7 Street Ste 102 Harlan, Iowa 51537 712-235-2453 www.metalink.org
Biker Accessories
th
Nelson Machine & Forge General Machining, Ornamental Iron, Weld/Fab 70 Washington Street Marne, Iowa 51552 712-781-2220
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Biker Diva 109 South John Wayne Drive Winterset, Iowa 50273 www.bikerdiva.net Crispy’s Biker Apparel Cedar Rapids, Iowa www.bncbikerwear.com 319-241-0916
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Food and Drink 14th Street Tavern 3418 East 14th Street Des Moines, Iowa (515) 266-3446 Open Weekdays 8am-2pm Sat 10am-2pm and Sun 11am-2pm Amigo’s 280 North 1st Street Fort Dodge, Iowa 50501 515-576-0142
Beer Barn and Grill 226 State Street Kirkman, Iowa 51447 712-766-3395 Open Mon 4, Tue-Sun at 11 BJ’s Bar & Billiards 110 Ida Waterloo Iowa Home of Full Throttle Thursdays 319-234-9810 Corner Tap 35 North Center Street Marshalltown, IA (641) 753-9925 Hours: Mon-Sat 10am-2am Sunday 12pm-2am DMAKU’s Tiki Bar & Grill 213 Antique City Drive Walnut, Iowa 712-784-2190 Sun-Sat Open at 9 AM Doc’s Roadhouse 309 East 7th Street Logan, Iowa 51543 712-644-3636 Open 365-8 am to Close Do Drop Inn 403 3rd Avenue Under the Water Tower Jamaica, Iowa 50128 515-314-0783 Escape Lounge 8843 Northpark Ct, Johnston, IA 50131 515-276-2209 Good Sons 2815 Beaver Ave Ste 102 Des Moines, IA (515) 681-5375 Haverhill Social Club 202 1st Street Haverhill, IA 50120 (641) 475-3321 Hours: Mon-Sat 10am-2am Sunday 12pm-12am Lampe’s Pub 608 Iowa Avenue Dunlap, Iowa 51529 712-643-5781 Open 7 days a week at 11 AM Midway Tavern 206 1st Street Soldier, Iowa 712-884-2230 www.midwaytavernsoldier.com Montgomery Street Pub 207 East Montgomery Street Creston Iowa 50801 641-782-2165 Nitro’s Bar & Grill 310 Main Street Gravity, Iowa 50848 641-418-0004 Home of Sunday-Funday
Biker Friendly Directory Off Sides Pizza 1119 Thomas Street Redfield, Iowa 50233 515-833-2900
Texas Roadhouse 8744 Northpark Drive (I-80 at 86th street exit) Johnston, Iowa 50131 515-251-4597
O’Kelly’s 106 North Main Street Baxter, IA 50028 (641) 227-3013
Thomas Street Tap 1109 Thomas Street Redfield, Iowa 50233 515-833-2379
Papa Joe’s 117 South 6th Street Missouri Valley, Iowa 51555 712-642-9015
ToJo’s Jamaica Bar & Grill 408 Main Jamaica, Iowa 50178 641-429-3007 sellinsuds@yahoo.com
Pearl Street Social Club 110 Pearl Street SW Shellsburg, Iowa 52332 319-436-7100 Phil’s 20oz Prime Rib Friday Nights 9956 Swanson Blvd Clive, Iowa 515-270-0959 Quick Rick’s Rib Joint 406 East Lincoln Highway (Highway 30) Missouri Valley, Iowa 51555 712-600-6161 Tue-Sun 11:00am-8:00pm Riverside Tavern 450 E Main St Lehigh IA, 50557 515-359-9998 Email: riversidetap@gmail.com RJ’s Lounge 109 North Main Street Conrad, IA (641) 366-2687 Hours: Mon-Sat 10am-2am Sunday 12pm-12am Rusty Duck Bar & Grill 723 Marshall Street Dexter, Iowa 50070 Tue-Sat 4-10pm 515-789-4142 Sambetti’s Bar and Grill 1430 2nd Avenue Des Moines, Iowa 50314 515-245-9780 Mon-Sat 11a-2a, Sun 11a-7p Screaming Eagle American Bar & Grill 228 East 4th Street Waterloo, Iowa 50703 319-235-8865 www.partyattheeagle.com Sidetracked 206 West Union Street Creston, Iowa 50801 641-782-8534 Sparetime Bar & Grill 136 West Main Street Ute, Iowa 61060 712-885-2226
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Wet Goods Food & Lounge 113 N. Chestnut Street Jefferson, Iowa 50129 515-386-2111 Tattoo Bad Girlz Ink 1217 Willis Perry, Iowa 50220 515-465-2205 Crave Tattoo 201 S 12th Street Fort Dodge, Iowa 51501 515-576-8289 FB Crave Tattoo, Inc. Medical Metro OB/GYN, LLC 201 Ridge Street, Suite 307 Council Bluffs, IA, 51503 (712) 256-8505 Attorneys Richard Lester www.on-a-bike.com 800-on-a-bike Events Across the Border Raid Bedford, Iowa August 4-6, 2011 Backwoods Bash Highway 6 Between Redfield and Dexter May 28-29, 2011 Circle of Pride Conesville, Iowa Hog Wild Rodeo May 26-28 Independence Bash July 1-2 T.I.T.S September 1-4 Mississippi River Motorcycle Rally Davenport, Iowa June 15-18 Nitro’s Bike Rally Gravity, Iowa July 7-9, 2011
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MILITARY RIDERS
This month we bring you Don Batt from Boone, Iowa. He served in the United States Army as an E-5 Sergeant from 1981 until 1987. His service included three years in Germany and then three years in Fort Carson in Colorado. His primary MOS was 82C, a field artillery surveyor, and also served as the battalion NBC NCO. He was preceded in Military Service by his older brother, who was a Marine in the Korean conflict. If you stop by Don’s Shop in Boone, check out the picture of his older brother and his bike. It is a nice bit of history that Don will share with you. Don loved his military service, and even stated that if he was younger, he would re-enlist.
for a couple of trips around Iowa, and may even return to Sturgis this year. If you see Don out and about, give him a nice Veteran’s wave, and if you get a chance, shake his hand and thank him for his service. Ride free thanks to our Military! If you are a military rider and would like to answer some questions and get us a pic, email vernon@thunderroadsiowa.com
Don has owned and ridden many bikes over the years. He started on a 1958 BSA, then onto a ’68 Triumph, and ’84 FXRS, ’89 FLHTC, ’98 Road King, ’00 and ’02 Fatboys, ’06 Streetglide, ’08 Ultra, and now an ’11 Triglide. His latest ride he bought at Big Barn, and when asked why, he added “We loved the baggers but my inseam is getting shorter, my belt is getting longer, and I am getting older. I needed better balance so we bought a Trike.” He spent only a couple of years without bikes since his first BSA years ago. At that time he was working on a Cobra kit car, and wife Judy would only let him have so many toys at once. I think we can all relate to that. Don also stays active in the community at large, as well as the biker community. They help sponsor a fund raiser ride for the Boone area Humane Society in May, as well as a Veterans ride later in the summer. He is a member of the American Legion, the Patriot Guard, ABATE, and the local HOG chapter. He has many friends that ride, but he says they get in a lot more miles than him, because his shop Batt’s Cycle keeps him pretty busy. Don and Judy do love to get out on the bike though, and may try
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Linda Miller 2000 Harley Heritage Softail Atlantic, Iowa
Karla Kramer Harlan, Iowa 2007 Honda Shadow
Tracy “Daisy” Payne Davenport, Iowa 1997 FXSTC 14 - TRMI APRIL 2011
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The T he Hi h High igh hL Lif Life iffe L Lou Lounge unge
will ride to eat
200 2 00 Southwest Soutthwest 2nd Stree Street et D Des es Moines, Moin nes, IA 5 50309-4706 0309-4 4706 P Phone: hone: (515)280-1965 ((5 515)280 ) 0-1965 f th ’ kitchen, kit h the th potatoes t t d finitely it l come from your mother’s are defi Lounge Hours: Everyday 11 AM to 2 AM Kitchen Hours: Monday – Saturday 11 AM thru 10 PM, real, the gravy was very tasty and the onion rings are the crispy, hand breaded variety. In addition to the meals we Sunday 11 AM thru 9 PM consumed we also ordered two take home meals consisting of the homemade macaroni and cheese entree and the Take A Trip Back In Time homemade chicken pot pie. I know what you’re thinking This month we’re going to take a trip back in time to a place “Geez, how much can you eat????” Relax, these weren’t where life was simpler, easier and less stressful. The location for me or even us, we had left two at home and didn’t want of this blessed time portal you ask? The High Life Lounge in them to miss out on this feast. I didn’t get to try either of these Des Moines! A friend of mine recommended this place saying but the macaroni and cheese looked very delicious and the “You have GOT to check this place out!” (Thanks Steve!) chicken pot pie was HUGE!!! The reviews were much similar Well, I have learned that my friends have a great working to ours... AMAZING! And as though the great food wasn’t knowledge of my eating habits and my preferences so when enough... all four meals, two appetizers and two drinks came a friend recommends some place I pay attention and they to less than $40!!!! haven’t let me down yet. This visit was no exception! If you’re looking for some awesome comfort food or a place As we drove past the establishment in search of a parking to relax with friends or just a place to unwind after catching spot the only thing that stood out and announced “You have an I-Cubs game at Principal Park, the High Life Lounge is found us!” was the lighted Miller High Life sign sticking out from the place to be. the corner of the building by the entrance door. It reminded me of the typical corner bar you see in the movies like Max’s If you want more information, prices, menu or history of The Bar in the movie Invincible. Once parked we walked in to find High Life Lounge visit their website at www.thehighlifelounge. that this is the bar that every small town had in the 70s and com. many continue to have today. We arrived during the evening rush and the place was pretty much packed. We ended up Stop for food, stop for a drink, whatever the reason, take a sitting at the bar and it felt like I was back in high school. I trip back in time. “You have GOT to check this place out!” had to resist the urge to turn and check the door every time someone came in thinking it was my dad going to catch me Until next month, ride safe and eat hearty! in here! The walls are covered with vintage beer signs and Craig Little craig@thunderroadsiowa.com memorabilia is found everywhere. We sat across from a real PS If you have someplace you think we should check out in old fashioned mirrored bar complete with bowling trophies your neck of the woods, shoot me an email. and a Hamms Bear calendar. As if the ambiance isn’t enough, this place is a Mecca for comfort food. The menu consists of such timeless classics as Pot Roast, Liver & Onions and Tuna Casserole. The appetizers are a mixture of classics and new ideas. For appetizers we had the Deviled Eggs and the Bacon Wrapped Little Smokies. When the Deviled Eggs arrived I thought I was back at one of our church picnics. The Bacon Wrapped Little Smokies were very delicious using a sweet hickory bacon with a dash of Tabasco sauce on each one, they arrived with a bowl of, what tasted like, homemade ranch dressing. Dipping them in the dressing just added yet another dimension of taste to the mix! I had The High Life Man sandwich which is built using a standard bun as a foundation, then pile on a quarter pound burger patty, an Italian sausage patty, three strips of bacon, Swiss and American cheese, grilled onions, jalapenos, mayonnaise and BBQ sauce with a slice of Texas Toast slipped in the middle. I’m still trying to find words to describe this sandwich, great, delicious, awesome, tasty... nothing seems to give an adequate description. Oh, I almost forgot the best part... it comes topped with a mini white powdered sugar doughnut! Now, how can you go wrong with a sandwich topped with a doughnut? Let’s just say I really enjoyed it! My wife had the meatloaf with mashed potatoes and brown gravy and onion rings. I was fortunate enough to have the opportunity to help finish this (let’s just say the portions are generous). This is all obviously homemade. The meatloaf may very well have www.thunderroadsiowa.com com
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Scooter’s Trip List
When getting ready to pack, consider the following
Flash lights Tent Batteries Bed roll Sleeping bag Pad and pencil Phone Change of clothes Warm cloths Shower kit Towel Extra socks Snack food Rain gear Gloves Water bottle Watch Clear glasses Sunglasses Ear plugs ride/sleep Were you asked to Maps Phone numbers grab?? Toilet paper Meds Cash Face cover Bandanas Wallet Gum Belt
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Join us for Bike Nights Soon!
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Thunder cam
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Model: Alisha Gomez
Thunder Roads Iowa
Bike: Mark Golden’s 1973 Ironhead
Photo: tt
April 2011
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day trips with Doc She has waited, for over three months as the cold winter winds blew, sitting patiently by the window, counting the days as they pass. Wrapped in a blanket for comfort and protection, silently, and without a sound she has watched as the days went from short, cold, and windy, to longer with more daylight, as it gets warmer! The excitement of knowing that the time is drawing nearer when they will again become as one, grows each day as the time draws closer! The day finally arrived to unwrap her from the blankets of protection, prodding from the lair where she has spent many cold and uneventful days, just waiting to draw the first breath, and to let the world know that she is still ALIVE!!
We all have our favorite ride that we like to take, I know I do, maybe a couple for that matter! If anybody is reading this and would like to suggest a route or trip, maybe let me ride it with you, see what you have in your neck of the woods. I will do my best to get with you and cut a curve! Back roads are my favorite with all the small town goodies, hidden secrets, and the best scenery is what I have in mind! So if you think you have the best route to ride, shoot me an e-mail, or leave me a message on my phone! I can be reached at poppa45doc@yahoo.com or call 515-975-3893 Until the tanks run out of gas...Doc
Bathed by the caressing hand of her master, who’s loving and gentle touch kept her clean, and tends to every need that she has! Her beauty sparkles in the light of the sun! Reminding them of the first time they were together, and of the last, and of the reason for this love affair! An affair of, and for, the love of an open road, an adventure waiting to be discovered, explored and experienced, wind, sun, and any other element that shows while they were together! It did not matter, as nothing could spoil the fact that when they came together in spirit, they were an unbeatable combination! Modern day pioneers, who have the spirit of their ancestors! I carefully encouraged her to awaken from her winter’s slumber, but she was slow to respond at first, then as if like a sleeping dragon, she roared to life. Loud and confident, letting all who were close know, that she is awake and ready to ride. Twisting the throttle back slowly, and adjusting her choke, I allowed her to warm up! I checked her life fluids, and as the familiar thump-a-thump sound came from her throat, it was time to advance things forward, and we took to the road! Only stopping long enough to fill the tanks, and check tire pressure, then roaring off in search of an open highway! Yes!!! Spring is here, and It is the beginning of another season to RIDE!! Teased by the hit and miss warmth of days of late winter, we are at last out bonding again, cutting curves, and blasting out of our cabin fever! Winter was long and lonely for both, but now we are together again and ready for the open road! Searching for the friends we met last year, and looking for ones we have not met yet. Ready to create more memories to tell to those who read the words as they happen! We look forward to meeting everyone, and sharing good times together once again! And until our paths cross, may you all ride safely, every day that you can. Blessings of safety and friendship to one and all, and lest we forget those who make our freedoms possible, I thank those who sacrifice all for us! At this time I would like to extend an invitation to ALL who ride: 22 - TRMI APRIL 2011
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NEWS BYTES
ENDORSED BY THE NATIONAL COALITION OF MOTORCYCLISTS
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NCOM BIKER NEWSBYTES Compiled & Edited by Bill Bish, National Coalition of Motorcyclists (NCOM) MOTORCYCLISTS AWAIT ROADBLOCK RULING Motorcycle riders across the country are anxiously awaiting a decision from the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of New York which they hope will declare New York’s “motorcycle only” roadblocks to be unconstitutional. The so-called “safety checkpoints”, which target well-known motorcycle events, force motorcyclists to leave the roadway, regardless of any wrongdoing, and have their persons and property inspected for equipment violations, proper paperwork, DUI and stolen VIN numbers. The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) is now providing Federal funding for law enforcement to conduct such motorcycle-only checkpoints nationwide despite objections raised by members of Congress and legal challenges from the biker community. The New York lawsuit is the first to challenge the constitutionality of motorcycle checkpoints. The plaintiffs are being represented by Proner & Proner, led by N.Y. Aid to Injured Motorcyclists (A.I.M.) Attorney Mitch Proner, a motorcycle-riding lawyer who has a long history of doing “pro bono” (free) legal work to protect the rights of motorcyclists. The Proner law firm commenced the lawsuit on behalf of four motorcyclists who were detained at two separate checkpoints, as well as representing the interests of ABATE of New York and the National Coalition of Motorcyclists (NCOM). The checkpoints in question are funded by a grant from the New York Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee and the troopers who work them are paid overtime. Although the stated purpose of the checkpoints is to promote safety, the majority of the more than a thousand tickets which were issued during the first year of the checkpoints had nothing to do with safety and instead focused on non-safety violations such as loud pipes. The written guidelines for the checkpoints specifically state that one of the purposes of the checkpoints is to look for stolen and forged VINs and the police readily admit that they often have undercover members of their gang and auto theft units working the checkpoints looking for signs of criminal activity. 24 - TRMI APRIL 2011
According to Proner, the Supreme Court of the United States has repeatedly made it clear that any roadway checkpoint whose primary purpose is general crime control constitutes an unreasonable search and seizure under the Fourth Amendment and is presumptively unconstitutional. Notwithstanding that fact, the progress reports which the police prepared on the checkpoints specifically state that the grant funds are used “for overtime for intelligence gathering and the subsequent criminal and traffic enforcement.” The police admit that the checkpoints, which focus only on equipment violations and forged and stolen VINs, do not address any of the major causes of motorcycle accidents such as reckless driving, driver inattentiveness and alcohol impairment. The case, Wagner et al. v. The County of Schenectady, et al. could wind up in the U.S. Supreme Court. The future of motorcyclists’ rights hangs in the balance. RIDING OUT THE RECESSION With gasoline prices approaching $4 a gallon, commuters are turning to more fuel efficient motorcycles to save money. Sales and interest are up across the country, and many motorcycle dealers anticipate the popularity of motorcycles to increase even more. Signs that the two-wheeled world is getting back on the road to recovery are coming from not only improving motorcycle sales, but also by the financial health of bikers themselves. Fewer bikers appear to be making late payments or defaulting on their motorcycle loans, according to a report issued by Fitch Ratings, a credit rating agency working with Harley-Davidson’s Financial Services (HDFS) division. In addition, the report also notes the improving market for previously owned motorcycles is again gaining strength, in part due to reduced inventory levels at dealers. This would allow for any repossessed motorcycles to be sold for a better price than they may have the year before. Motorcycle businesses in Indiana and Wisconsin have also been trying to overturn bans on Sunday bike sales. QUOTABLE QUOTE: “In matters of conscience the law of majority has no place.” ~ Mohandas “Mahatma” Gandhi (1869-1948) Hindu Spiritual and Political leader
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we can not change. But with us educating the driving public and us the motorcycle riders watching out for the ones that either don’t care or just don’t see us maybe we can make the roads a safe place to be this year. Just think if we could go a whole riding season with no motorcycle fatalities, is that a dream that we dare to dream? With all of us getting involved in the fight to educate all that travel our highways; maybe the day will come where it will no longer just be a dream. Anyone wanting to get involved please contact Abate of Iowa at www.abateiowa.org we are always looking for good people to join the cause. Have a safe ride and always remember, (SHARE THE ROAD).
Sharing the Road by: D.L. Peterson Abate of Iowa Share the Road Coordinator With spring just around the corner the riding season is just about here. It is time to start thinking about Sharing the Road. This is not just something we need to preach to those mean drivers out there that want to violate our right of way, but it is a state of mind that we as riders also must never forget. The responsibility falls on all that use the roads to make them safe for all that travel on them. Education I feel is the most important part of teaching our new drivers how to look out for us once we hit the open road. As an Abate of Iowa Share the Road presenter that is always foremost on my mind. It starts with the word S.H.A.R.E. (Safe Highways = Awareness Respect and Education) and goes on from there. Fifty percent of all multi-vehicle accidents are caused by the other vehicle violating the motorcycles right of way, (The Lethal Left Turn) Look, Look and Look again is something that can never be said enough. It does not all fall on the vehicle, it is also our responsibility to ride defensively. Riding is a love that we all share and it is easy to lose ourselves to our surroundings, all that is green, the birds over head, the sun shining it’s reflection off the lake as we ride around it. Yes all beautiful but all distractions from what we should be doing, riding defensively. There are always things we should be thinking about. Are we riding in the proper lane position so that we can better be seen by the oncoming traffic or the car sitting at the next intersection? Do we have our bright colors on so we can be seen easier? The things we can do to help ourselves are countless. In an accident between a car and a motorcycle the motorcycle usually always loses, that is a truth that
Flipping radio channels the other day, I hit on someone talking about our rights and privileges that we enjoy in the United States. Of all the countless billions of people who have lived on this planet and gone before us in history, how fortunate and blessed we are to be here at this place and in this time. As bikers, we put a premium on our freedom and are adamant about protecting our way of life. Most bikers I come into contact with are a very patriotic lot, a bit more independent and self-sufficient than many in our population. Those qualities have played a large part in making this country unique and are something to cherish and promote. Today we have a continual assault on the very things that have made this country great, but no matter how unstable the times are, we can’t forget where we came from and how we came about. There is a move to remove the truth that this country and its government have a foundation that came directly from God’s precepts. His word provided structure for our constitution, our set of laws, and the checks and balances originally intended. I came upon these quotes in the paper today. John Kennedy stated “The rights of man come not from the generosity of the state but from the hand of God”. Also, Thomas Jefferson’s quote, “God who gave us life gave us liberty. Can the liberties of a nation be secure when we have removed a conviction that these liberties are the gift of God?” I personally don’t give a rat’s derriere for a lot of the recent proposed solutions to our current problems. I see a bunch of over-the-top, politically-correct social programs that make big promises but to often do more to line pockets of corrupt bureaucrats and perpetuate debt while creating division rather than doing something that would fix the problems. The answer to all the above is found not in ourselves but in God and his mercy. In ourselves we are so deficient, we have a very limited understanding of things that happen
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and are unable to bring about real and meaningful change. Proverbs 3 tells us to “Trust in the Lord with all your heart: and lean not unto your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will direct your paths�. God sees the big picture, He is the author and finisher of our faith, he provides a way of life and sense of real purpose. Lives are changed, and so is history. While your on the road this season take time to thank that Vet you see. Blessings, Mark Blessings,
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From the Woman’s Seat
Twenty years ago, if you were to tell me that I would be riding my own Harley, I would’ve told you that you needed your head examined. You see, I once had a boyfriend that thought it would be fun to do a wheelie on his crotch-rocket at a high rate of speed. I don’t know how fast he was going, I wasn’t looking, I was praying. I got off that bike and told him to hit the road and I never wanted to ride on another bike…ever.
We were in the cage this past weekend, going down the highway and I realized that I feel sorry for those that have never experienced riding a motorcycle. They cannot appreciate the serenity of riding, the oneness you feel with your bike and this beautiful earth. As both a rider and passenger, your senses are multiplied and everything is so much more spectacular. The sky is bluer and the birds’ flight is even more graceful. The swirling of the gravel on the side of the road from the My husband, Jason had a bike as a teen and he’d wanted bike in front of you is mesmerizing and the scents of the another one for a long time and I reluctantly gave in. He outdoors are more intense. Riding has become a part bought a beautiful Yamaha V-Star and convinced me to of my life now and I wouldn’t trade it for anything. ride with him. So we rode, and I enjoyed it. We took a weekend trip and by the time we got home, I couldn’t If you’re a lady thinking you can’t ride your own, I’m sit down, my tailbone was not happy with that teeny here to tell you “Yes, You Can!” At 41, I am a lady rider passenger seat. I told him if we were going to continue and there isn’t a sissy bar in my future. to do this, we needed a bike that was passenger friendly. We went to the Harley Davidson dealership, Jennifer Scobee, Webster City, IA and before he had a chance to test ride, I test sat every passenger seat on every touring bike and we welcomed As a side note, I would love to get a group of lady riders an Electra-Glide into the family. from the Webster City area together. Drop me a line if you’re interested thescobees@yahoo.comww That summer we went to the HD 105th Celebration in Milwaukee. I saw women of every shape and size, Women riders, we would love to hear from you. Your riding all sizes of bikes. “I want to do that, I CAN do that” experiences, your fears, your accomplishments, I thought to myself. We came home and I told Jason and your stories. Feel free to email me at tt@ that I wanted to learn to ride and he encouraged me to thunderroadsiowa.com follow through. I studied, got my permit and borrowed a friend’s 550 Yamaha to practice. We purchased an ‘06 Sportster XL Custom as my first ride. The day we picked it up I wasn’t feeling the best, so Jason rode it home for me. I just couldn’t let it sit in the driveway; I was itching to ride, so we decided to take a few laps around town. I hopped on and out the driveway I went, riding right into the curb on the other side of the road. I heard Jason saying “Lean!, Lean!” but all I could do is look at that curb. When they say your bike goes where your eyes go, they are not kidding! Luckily the only thing hurt was my pride and a tweak in the clutch lever. I looked around thinking “Man, I hope none of the neighbors saw that!” I got back on the bike and never looked back. That curb though, is still my nemesis. It is a story that my family likes to relive, while I hide my face. I took the Motorcycle Rider Education course at the local community college and got my license. I traded my Sporty for an 2004 Fatboy, that I’ve nicknamed “Doc” because no matter how bad of a day I’m having, after a ride on Doc, I’m feeling better. Due to an incident at a HD dealer, Jason is now riding an ‘09 Road King and in 2009 he and I went to Sturgis, a week before the rally, and I had a ball! This year, our sons Tyler and Chase (ages 17 and 15) are riding their own Sportsters and we will be heading out to South Dakota again. It’s a family vacation that I am very excited for. It is a wonderful feeling, watching the three guys that I love the most in this world, riding together.
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1060 Linn St Boone, Iowa When Don Batt got out of the Military, he decided to follow his heart and head to Florida. This was not because of a strong desire to live on a peninsula, but to attend the Motorcycle Mechanics Institute in Orlando, Florida. His yearlong program there afforded him the opportunity for not just learning about fixing motorcycles, but to do what he loved, to ride! You see, Don lived about 100 miles from school, and would ride there every morning during the week, and then after school, ride to work which was close to home. Yep, 200 miles a day of riding, a full day of school, and then work at the Harley Dealership. After a year of school, he had racked up some incredible knowledge and quite a few miles. Hitting the 50,000 mark in one year is quite a feat!
American V Twin parts and service work as well as parts and accessories sales and installation. Don holds no grudge against any metric bikes, but this is out of his area of expertise, and will respectfully decline to work on them. With not much available for shops in the Boone area, Batt’s Cycle is filling a niche in the area. With his years of contacts in the industry, what Don does not have in his shop, he has readily available, so he truly is a one stop shop. If he does not have the tools or equipment, he can get it done locally to complete your project. He has a source right in Boone for tires and machine shop work, until Don can expand the equipment base. One of Don’s favorite projects to work on is Evolution engine performance. He said he still gets a kick out of working on these motors, and loves to get power from them. He also knows his way around the Twin Cams, with a Dyno Sheet from one of his past bikes will tell you, but he still has a soft spot for Evolution work. From talking with Don, one thing holds true, he got into the motorcycle industry due to a strong love of the life, and he loves what he is doing. He even states that with his full time job, running his own shop, and riding, he and wife Judy are “living the dream”.
After finishing school, Don moved back to Iowa and began work at the dealership in Waterloo as a tech. From there he moved on to Ames and worked as the service manager and then puttered with things on the side in his own garage. As time went on, realized that the life of motorcycles every waking hour was wearing on him. He decided to get out of the motorcycle industry as a career and took up shop with the City of Boone. He still continued to work on bikes in his off Don and Judy of Batt’s Cycle can time, and ride whenever he could. be reached at battman69@mchsi. com, www.battscycle.com, or In the late 2000s, Don had the 515-298-0375 you can find them opportunity to purchase the at 1006 Linn Street in Boone, neighboring property and thought it with an alley access to the shop. would be a great place to build a shop. He was really enjoying the work on the side he was doing, but wanted to take it to a new level. Batt’s Cycle was born in February 2009. With the assistance, love, and support of his wife Judy, they made the project come alive. Don works in his business after hours from his full time job for the City of Boone. In the shop they specialize in www.thunderroadsiowa.com
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Walk-ins welcome Custom work 1000’s of designs to choose from Professionally trained artists Private rooms
CALL US TODAY! HOURS:
Mon-Thurs. 2-8 Fri. 2-11 Sat. 11-11
Find us on facebook! www.facebook.com/crave.tattoo.inc
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When I was getting my last bit of ink done, I realized that I didn’t really know anything about how to become a tattoo artist. I know that pretty much any profession takes a certain level of training and experience to become good, and I certainly don’t think that learning to tattoo is any different. I knew that a tattoo artist had to be a part of the moniker somehow, and be a true artist, but I wanted to know more about what it took to make permanent marks on somebody.
While getting marked I had to chat with Jeremy about how he got so good at his chosen career. On a recommendation of a friend, we checked out Jeremy’s work, and were very impressed. He listened to what we wanted and made it flow out of a pencil on the stencil paper, and created a one of a kind piece that was exactly what I envisioned. I was floored by the amount of time he had to put in to get into the business, and that sure explained why he is as great as he is today as an artist.
I was sitting in the chair at Crave Tattoo in Fort Dodge with Jeremy in control of the guns. His tattoo area is pretty visually stimulating as he has quite the eclectic collection of artwork and memorabilia from his career and life. After hours of looking around and admiring, I realized that I only really saw part of what he has plastered on the walls and ceiling. The ink in his own skin tells a story, but so does his work area. Well worth a trip to take a look if you have a chance when you are in Fort Dodge.
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When he got started on the process quite a few years back, he had to throw a few thousand dollars to an established artist with years of experience. This amount was a fee to learn the craft, with no guarantee it would ever end up as a career for Jeremy. The next part after paying to become an apprentice is to start working in the shop, normal hours, like eight hours a day, for absolutely no money. Yep, work for free, and do whatever needs done in the shop while going through the process. He worked a full time
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8 hour a day job then off to the tat shop for another 8 hours of whatever needed done, then home for a little sleep. Jeremy said he did everything from cleaning, organizing, and all around shit work until the artist was convinced he was serious and really wanted to be there. It is almost like a rite of passage to get into the profession. Only after his mentor felt he acquired the needed understanding of the art, did Jeremy get to start watching and learning. All the while he was learning on the equipment, processes, tricks, and the proper way to tattoo safely. Other things that were tasked to the new apprentice was to draw, draw some more, and then when done with that, draw yet some more. He was tasked with reworking all of the book and wall drawings, making copies freehanded, and coming up with new and interesting designs. After a level of skill as an artist was met, and a comfort level with equipment on all sides was earned, Jeremy was finally able to put ink on his first subject; fruit. That’s right, no skin yet, but mastering the art, mastering the tools, and then mastering the process before ever touching skin. When the level of competence was reached, tattooing then began to happen on live people with a high level of oversight. Overall the process was just short of two years of toil, and Jeremy completed this in Sacramento, California. Due to family, some already here, a new family member on the way, he chose to relocate to Iowa to further his career. He notes that this was the process that he, as a professional and dedicated artist went through, but not everyone studies the same. At the shop that he works at, Crave Tattoo, Inc. in Fort Dodge, they recommend supporting your professional artists when getting your own ink. Safety and competence should go hand and hand, and this level separates the “good” from the “great”. Always check out the shop, the artist’s portfolio, and even check some references. The ink is forever, so make sure it is gonna be “great”. See you in the tattoo contests! V www.thunderroadsiowa.com
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2nd Avenue & I-80, Ext. 135 Des Moines, 50313 265-4444 D De es Mo M oin oi ines es, IA IA 5 03 0 31 13 3 · ((515) 515) 515) 51 5) 2 65 44 65 44 44
* Based on MSRP of $7,999 for a stock XL883L in black, excluding tax, title, licensing, registration fees, destination charges, accessories and dealer prep, if any.
Last fall, Western Iowa Tech Community College in Sioux City, Iowa began the first term on a new program in their curriculum. In response to industry needs, the Motorcycle and Powersports Associate Degree program was born. With the increase in sales and usage of powersports vehicles in the past few years, it became evident that more highly trained technicians would be needed now and in the future. Now as we sit with predictions of the highest prices for gasoline in history, two and three wheeled travel will become even more prevalent. The students of this program can fill the needed positions of technicians, service managers, and owners of their own powersports repair shops and dealerships. The program concept is not entirely new. Some other national schools you may have heard of have been doing things like this for years, but with a hefty price tag. One thing that is usually missing in a program such as this is a degree after completion. With the AAS degree at the end, it offers the students the option of transitioning to a four year degree easier at anytime in the future if they so choose. WIT wanted to make sure that their students came out of this program with the knowledge and skills to be able to walk into any motorcycle or powersports shop and get right to work. The program focuses on fixing and modifying anything within the powersports definition including motorcycles of all brands and riding types, ATVs, UTVs, snowmobiles, and even a brief bit of instruction on the small engine aspect. Their program can be completed in five semesters over a two year period at about a third of the price of some nationally known programs. The associates degree program also includes some real world educational offerings that will help build on workforce skills, not just corollary knowledge classes that are usually included. Students become technicians, but also learn on computers, shop management principles, and workplace communications to name a few. The program itself is impressive with the current facilities, and a plan for expansion is in the works. The shop is set up like a real shop would be with numerous examples of entire bikes and pieces that are there solely for the purposes of teaching. Students are also allowed to bring in their own vehicles to work on as well to further the learning process. Motorcycle lifts, tons of specialty www.thunderroadsiowa.com adsiowa com 38 - TRMI APRIL 2011
tools, welding and fabrication tools, and even a dyno are all part of the standard list of available resources for the students. In setting up for and equipping the program, WITCC spared no expense to ensure the students walk out of the program with the knowledge and skills needed to enter the workforce. At the reigns of the program is long time bike enthusiast/biker/racer/ all around cool cat Shane Conley. He has almost two decades of experience as a wrench, shop owner, educator, and various other aspects of the powersports world. He brings to the program a passion for fixing, building, racing, performance, and teaching that is unparalleled. Shane added that soon he will be an author as well. He has recently signed a book deal and is currently finishing the first ever dedicated technician training textbook for the exploding ATV and UTV markets. This text will be used by trade schools and colleges across the world. His sstudents have also found out that his passion for the industry is contagious. Many of them have gotten into the program even more with Shane’s guidance. The students have started their own club, and many of them are also starting project bikes and ATVs of their own since being in the program. For more information on the program, you can call Shane Conley at 800-352-4649 extension 1204, or email him at shane_ conley@witcc.edu. Online you can find information at Western Iowa Tech Community College’s website at www.witcc.edu w
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Iowa Bike Nights
Monday Fireside Grill Altoona Tuesday Legacy Sports Bar and Grill Waukee Gathering on the Grounds Iowa State Fairgrounds J&P Cycles Cruise Nights (Selected Tuesdays) Anamosa Wednesday Beer Barn and Grill Kirkman Amigos Fort Dodge Roar Into Harlan Downtown (3rd Wed) Harlan O’Kelly’s Pub Baxter Hooters West Des Moines Quaker Steak & Lube Council Bluffs Legacy Sports Bar & Grill Waukee Rusty Duck Dexter Thursday Trophy’s Bar & Grill Des Moines Daytona’s All Sports Bar Des Moines Screaming Eagle Bar & Grill Waterloo Beach House Humboldt DMAKU’s Tiki Bar and Grill Walnut Rides Bar and Grill Fort Dodge Full Thro le Thursdays BJ’s Waterloo Cedar River HD (1st and 3rd Thursdays) Friday Knoxville Bike Night (1st Friday) Knoxville Thro le Down to “O” Town Osceola Fatboyz Saloon (2nd & 4th Friday) Grimes Bike Down to I-Town (3rd Friday) Indianola Ferg’s Grand Junc on Hicklin Pwr-Sport Dinner Rides(4th Fridays)Grimes Sunday Haverhill Social Club (3rd Sunday) Haverhill Daytona’s All Sports Bar Des Moines This list is what we have found and what has been submi ed. Before heading to any event, please check weather and make sure the event is not cancelled for some reason. The most current list of events can be found at thunderroadsiowa.com Not responsible for misprints and typos. If you have any other events to list, please email them with as much informa on as you have to vernon@ thunderroadsiowa.com
Events Around Iowa 2011 Apr 2 ABATE D14 TGIS Party O umwa, Iowa Apr 2 ABATE D15 2 Wheel Trauma Class Davenport, Iowa Apr 2 Road MC Dance Uncle Jerry’s Exira, Iowa Apr 9-10 MA Arenacross Des Moines, Iowa Apr 9-10 ABATE D7 North Iowa Motorcycle Expo Mason City, Iowa Apr 16 Blessing of the Bikes Big Barn HD Des Moines, Iowa Apr 16 START 2nd Annual 100 Day Poker Run Soldier, Iowa Apr 16 Spring Run Off Ride Blue Port Junc on Davenport, Iowa Apr 16-17 Indian of Omaha Open House/Test Rides Omaha, NE Apr 22 3rd Annual Easter Egg Hunt Nitro’s Bar and Grill Gravity, Iowa Apr 26-27 Victory Demo Rides Werner Cycle Omaha, NE Apr 29 Iowa Motorcycle Safety Forum ISU Scheman Bldg Ames, IA Apr 29-30 Vintage Torque Fest Maquoketa, Iowa Apr 20 SGT Kearney Memorial Run Spanky’s Emerson, Iowa May 6 Werner Cycle Works Night at the Ball Park Omaha, NE May 7 7th Annual Bike Blessing and Ride Burlington, Iowa May 7 Bi-State Motorcycle Awareness Ride Quad Ci es May 7 Spring Open House Hawkeye HD Coralville, Iowa May 7 Cedar Rapids Chrome Divas Motorcycle Awareness Ride May 14 3rd Annual Women’s Fun Run Holstein’s HD Omaha, NE May 14 Woman’s Ride Hawkeye Harley Davidson Coralville, Iowa May 14 ABATE D16 Motorcycle Awareness Ride Waterloo, Iowa May 14 Revolu on Cycle Open House/Band/Hog Roast Baxter, Iowa May 14 Benefit Poker Run “Ride for Chris” Hornick, Iowa May 21 Cause for the Paws Humane Society Motorcycle Run Boone May 21 Blessing of the Bikes Cedar Memorial Church Davenport, IA May 21 2nd Armed Forces Freedom Ride Cedar River HD Charles City May 21 Cedar Rapids Chrome Divas Toys for Tots Run May 27-30 Iron Horse Bike & Music Fes val Sabula, Iowa May 26-28 Circle of Pride Hog Wild Rodeo Conesville, Iowa May 28-29 Midway Tavern 13th Ann Fun Run, BBQ, Street Dance Soldier May 28-29 2nd Anual Backwoods Bash Hwy 6 between Dexter & Redfield Jun 3-5 Iron Horse Rockin’ the Midwest by BON Members Sabula, IA Jun 4-5 Vintage Rally Na onal Motorcycle Museum Anamosa, Iowa Jun 4 Loud Pipes for the Silent Cancer Ride Metro HD Cedar Rapids Jun 4 2nd Annual Songs for Sara Benefit Run Redfield, Iowa Jun 5 Anamosa Hill Climb and Swap Meet Anamosa, Iowa Jun 11 The Freedom Run Sco y’s Saloon Grundy Center, Iowa Jun 10-11 Bikes at Blackhawk Lake Rally/Rodeo Lake View, Iowa Jun 12 Angels for Sam Benefit Ride Jun 15-18 17th Annual Mississippi River Motorcycle Rally Davenport, IA Jun 16-18 Awesome Biker Nights Sioux City, Iowa Jun 18 Spring Open House Big Barn HD Des Moines, Iowa Jun 18 Fathers Day BBQ Hawkeye HD Coralville, Iowa Jun 18 Central Iowa’s Biker Rally Harvey, Iowa Jun 25-26 J&P Cycles Open House Anamosa, Iowa Jun 26 Cruise with the Crew Holstein HD Omaha, NE Jun 27 Harley Owners Group Million Mile Monday Jun 30 Cedar Rapids Chrome Divas Backpacking to School Ride Jun 30-Jul 2 ABATE Freedom Rally Algona, Iowa Jul 1-2 Circle of Pride Independence Day Blowout Conesville, Iowa Jul 7-9 Nitro’s Bike Rally Gravity, Iowa Jul 9 Motorcycle Rodeo and Ride in Bike Show Missouri Valley, IA Jul 9 3rd Annual Moose Riders Benefit Poker Run Cedar Rapids, IA July 9 Nishna Valley Cycles Open House Atlan c, Iowa Jul 16 ABATE D15 Taco Run for Charity