VOLUME 1 ISSUE 9 SEPTEMBER 2010
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September Events Labor Day West Party: Soldier Valley Run, Soldier, Iowa Labor Day East Party: Thunder In The Sand, Conesville, Iowa Season’s Bike Nights Wrapping Up
AMERICA’S FASTEST GROWING BIKER PUBLICATION
September 2010 is our fourth issue that we have printed and just would like to pass on a great thanks to the people of Iowa for sharing your stories, thoughts, ideas, support, and your time. It is because of you that makes this state so great. We received an email a short time back telling us about an 80ish year old man having a birthday run, we felt privileged to have been invited to cover the story and pass this on to you, story is included in this issue. Let us know what is going on in your neck of the woods, and if we or our crew can get there, we would be honored. We have had some great events and rides throughout the state this summer. Just pulling over for fuel and talking with others about things to see or do is great. I have learned about many things with this open exchange of ideas. We have also had multiple tragedies that have hit hard in this state. The flood has arrived again this time in Central Iowa. We still have multiple businesses and families trying to recover from 2008 flooding in Eastern Iowa. Keep them in their thoughts and prayers. My heart breaks to hear about all the senseless deaths of motorcyclists this year due to people not paying attention by either texting, too intoxicated, and crossing over the yellow line. This list of excuses can go on and on of why someone was killed. The bottom line is someone died. I have cared for motorcyclist on the side of the road, at rallies and in my nursing job. It is never easy and I offer my sincere condolences, prayers and thoughts to all the families left behind. I wear a patch on the upper part of my vest that says simply “remember”. We have all been touched by death and one thing we can walk away with is to remember the person for who they were and what they stood for and to not let the death destroy more lives but instead to live today like it was our best day ever. Tomorrow if it comes is another best day. It is ok to shed tears, to be sad but don’t let it destroy you too. The ones we have lost would not have wanted this either. When you see a motorcyclist point their hand down at the ground at another person on a motorcycle it not only means hello, but also keep the sunny side up and the rubber side down. Learning to ride a motorcycle does not only entail learning the operation of the machine and how
to maneuver it. You also are forced to watch all the other drivers on the road. This teaches you to become a more defensive driver. One of the worst things to happen for someone riding is when another vehicle turns left in front of a motorcycle. This leaves nowhere to go. Everyone make sure you check your bike before you ride. I did not have a working horn and planned to replace it next summer to save some money. My wonderful hubby surprised me and replaced it with an air horn that I have been asking for. One day recently I was traveling down a gravel road and a city or county truck started to make a left hand turn in front of me. I blared my air horn, hit the brakes, and maneuvered and that horn woke up the driver and saved me for a ride another day. I know this magazine is read by motorcyclist and non-motorcyclist alike, and all I ask is for everyone to look out for each other. When I first moved to this state a bunch of years ago, everyone would wave as we traveled the road past each other. Let us not get to busy in our own lives to pass on a wave or a smile. At the very least you’ll make others wonder what you are up too. You never know that may have been just what someone else needed. tt
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CONTENTS
Thunder Roads Magazine of Iowa www.thunderroadsiowa.com P.O. Box 29 Kimballton, Iowa 51543 (712) 249-5630 tt@thunderroadsiowa.com Owner/Editor Tina (TT) Schwarte (712) 249-5582 tt@thunderroadsiowa.com
On the Cover
Editor Vernon Schwarte (712) 249-5630 vernon@thunderroadsiowa.com Mindi Schooley Regional Sales Representative (NE Iowa) (319) 290-4706 mindi@thunderroadsiowa.com Josh and Pam Brown Regional Sales Representatives (SE Iowa Area) 563-571-1617 stampede196@yahoo.com Brenda Carney Regional Sales Representative (Boone and Surrounding Area) (515) 298-2346 Brenda@thunderroadsiowa.com Tim Gessert Regional Sale Representative (West Central Iowa Area) 712-249-0130 tim@thunderroadsiowa.com Randy Nelson Regional Sales Representative (Western Iowa) 402-290-1376 randy@thunderroadsiowa.com Event Coverage/Magazine Distribution Richard (Murph) and Annette Murphy Annette@menlo.lib.is.us Contributing Photographer Kandi Schlensig kandi@thunderroadsiowa.com 712-249-0713
Shana is the winner of the Thunder Roads July Biker Babe contest at Porky’s in Des Moines. She is a mother, wife, and home maker, and graces the cover and calendar this month. She loves to ride on the back of her hubby’s chopper anytime she gets a chance. The money she raised at the contest was donated to Military Veterans. Style, class, generous, and sexy, what a combination!
From The Woman’s Seat..............................................3 99 Counties On The Wall..............................................4 Across The Border Raid...............................................6 Joker.............................................................................8 Military Riders...............................................................9 Biker Friendly .............................................................10 Girls Of Thunder.........................................................12 Will Ride To Eat.........................................................13 Events........................................................................14 CMA...........................................................................15 100 Day Fun Run........................................................16 Thundercam........................................................20 NCOM News Bytes.....................................................22 HOG Rally...................................................................24 Geneva’s Puzzle Page...............................................26 Almont Run.................................................................27 Biker Babe Contest.....................................................28 Cops Ride Too.............................................................30 Harley Dealer Show....................................................32 A Ride On One Tank Of Gas.........................................33 J&B Cycles Open House............................................34 Ride Iowa....................................................................36 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. NO PART OF ITS CONTENT MAY BE REPRODUCED WITHOUT WRITTEN PERMISSION. PUBLISHER ASSUMES NO RESPONSIBILITY AND IS NOT TO BE HELD LIABLE FOR ERRORS BEYOND THE COST OF THE SPACE OCCUPIED BY THE ERROR, SLANDER OF ANY GROUP OR INDIVIDUAL, FAILURE TO PRODUCE ANY ISSUE AS SCHEDULED DUE TO REASONS BEYOND OUR CONTROL, ANY AND ALL SUITS FOR LIABLE, PLAGIARISM, COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT AND UNAUTHORIZED USE OF A PERSON’S NAME OR PHOTOGRAPH. OPINIONS AND CLAIMS MADE BY ADVERTISERS AND AUTHORS ARE THEIR OWN, AND DO NOT NECESSARILY REPRESENT THE POLICY OF THUNDER ROADS MAGAZINE OR THUNDER PUBLISHING. PUBLISHER DOES NOT PROMOTE THE ABUSE OF ALCOHOL OR OTHER DRUGS.
Craig Little-Will Ride for Food Dude craig@thunderroadsiowa.com Layout and Design Warren Ells, Art Director Thunder Publishing Warrenlayout@yahoo.com National Founders Toni McCoy Shearon & Brian Shearon 1528 Matlock Drive Chapmansboro, TN 37035 Office: (615) 792-0040 Fax: (615) 792-7580 thunderroadscharter@charter.net
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99 Counties on the Wall 99 Counties to tour on the bike, 99 counties to tour, take one down, drive on around, 98 counties to tour on the bike. A few years back, a summer riding goal was to ride through each of Iowa’s counties, and what was found was a wealth of interest and beauty. Each month we will feature a different county, with new things to go see, and hopefully spark a little touring curiosity for our own State. Appanoose Appanoose County was established in 1843, and is located in southeastern Iowa. It is intersected by highway 2 running east and west, and highway 5 running north and south. The county moniker comes from the chief of the Sac and the Fox Indian tribes who headed the peace party during the Black Hawk War. Appanoose means “A Chief When a Child.” Appanoose County was home to one of the main coal mining areas in Iowa during the first third of the 20th Century. There are quite a few things to see in do in this wonderful green land. Lake Rathbun is one of the many undiscovered treasures in Iowa, and is the second largest lake in the state. Camping, fishing, hiking trails, the Honey Creek Resort, bars, restaurants, and countless other outdoor activities await. You can go for a weekend or a month and enjoy the comforts of home at the resort, RV or camper facilities, or throw out a tent and enjoy. The lake is about an hour and a half out of the Des Moines area, and can make for a nice day trip to go out and around the lake, take in the sights, and find somewhere to grab a bite or take in a cool one. If you venture into the County seat of Centerville, you have to check out the square and the courthouse. It is a very scenic small town Iowa vista, with the third courthouse that the county has used. The first courthouse was erected in 1848 and used until 1857. A larger building was needed, and the second building was put into service in 1864. This second courthouse was ruined in a fire caused by fireworks in the cupola, and the third and final was built in 1903 and stands to this day. The courthouse sits in the center of the town square, and with its picturesque stature, instills great pride with residents of both Centerville and Appanoose County. If you are venturing around the area, you cannot miss a stop at PB choppers just west of Moravia on county road J18. Jim Wubben has been building and modifying bikes
for over 30 years. If you keep up on the NASCAR racing scene, or are into custom bikes at all, you have probably seen some of Jim’s work. Now he has teamed up with his son Shaun, and exhibits some of the finest fabrication of motorcycles found anywhere, but located right here in small town Iowa. Check ‘em out if you ever have the chance. Take a trip and go see Appanoose. You will find much more than can be typed here. Ride safe, and check out Audubon county next month. Sources: http://www.appanoosecounty.net/, http://www.honeycreekresort.com/, www.pbchoppers.com
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From the Woman’s Seat (or at least responsible for) my own destiny. A third reason I love to ride my own bike is the feeling of freedom that riding brings. Few things clear your head, and Besides riding my Harley, one of the bike-related activitherefore make you forget your daily worries, like focusing ties I enjoy most is writing about our road trips. I’ve been all your efforts and attention on the task of staying alive on maintaining my “biker chick blog” on the Internet for about a motorcycle. six years now, and one of my blogging friends is a great Riding my own also feeds my sense of rebellion. This is gal named Stephanie - a long-time pillion rider who had her similar to freedom, but takes into account that lingering bit rider’s license for three full years, and endured a serious of bad-ass the general public attaches to riding a motorillness, before finally getting her own bike. Stephanie once asked me, in an interview on her blog, if I cycle. I might know that deep down I’m just a short, nerdy felt that men took me seriously when it came to my love and middle-aged mom who thinks it‘s cool to ride, but if somepassion for the motorcycle lifestyle. The question surprised body else wants to think I’m a no-B.S. biker chick, who am I to argue? me, and it has become something I continue to ponder as Finally, riding my own offers a sense of community with I can’t help but ask myself: is it possible that some people other women who do likewise, and we all benefit from each don’t take me seriously? others’ support and encouragement. Women seek that supTo answer her, I had to first think about the phrase, “the port and encouragement, and a strong sense of community, motorcycle lifestyle.” The motorcycle lifestyle that I live is not the hardcore “one-percenter” lifestyle that some people throughout all of life’s challenges. Riding is no different, and the communities that exist around riding are as strong as – still think of when they think about bikers. For me it’s all or stronger than – any you’ll find anywhere. about travel and fellowship. I generally just live my lifestyle Of course, even though today she rides her own bike, my - I am who I have always been, and bikes and riding have fit friend Stephanie (and many other women, I’m sure), would naturally into that. be quick to point out that there are advantages to riding Having said that, I’m also highly conscious of the fact pillion - in fact, she wrote about them in a guest-post on my that I am a woman participating in what’s traditionally been blog last year. a man’s pursuit. And, I’m well aware that the women who At the top of the list was the fact that pillion riders have came before me in this activity were the true trail-blazers - I the opportunity to fully enjoy (and even photograph) the am merely benefiting from their collective pioneering spirit scenery and the ride as well as the stops along the way. and independent attitude. (Ever notice that all my “ride” pictures are taken in parking Precisely because there were already other women who had come before me, it had never really occurred to me that lots or on the roadside? That’s because I haven’t found a men would not take me seriously. I’ve certainly met several safe way to balance the camera - or stare blissfully out into a landscape - while operating the bike!) men over the years who expressed surprise upon learning They can also help spot road hazards, and certainly comthat I ride my own bike. A few have told me I “don’t look like a biker,“ but I always viewed that as education for them (as munication is a lot easier between two people on the same bike. Furthermore, riding pillion doesn’t lessen the sense of to what bikers “look like”) rather than disrespect for me. freedom, of spirituality, that comes with riding. And, I assume that the men in the group of friends that I With all of this in my mind, whenever I have an opportuniride with have no issues because they are surrounded by ty to encourage another woman to ride her own motorcycle women who ride their own! Fortunately, I don’t think I’ve I try not to gush uncontrollably and to remember that it isn‘t ever been in a group of riders where I felt that the women in general were not respected as much as, or taken as seri- every woman‘s dream. But, I also try to let her know that there is a lot of joy in doing so. ously as, the men in the group. Considering all of this, I simply can’t imagine someone I guess that’s because I always assumed (because, remember, I’m not the trail-blazer here) that I ride for many of not taking me seriously - I mean, I have a bike, I ride it, I love it, I’m a good and caring person. If I have to do more the same reasons men ride. than that to earn their respect, then I guess we’re talking For one thing, learning this challenging new skill creates about a person who’s not even on my radar. a huge sense of accomplishment. I’ve been riding for eight years as of this writing, and still today every single time I’m Janet Green lives in Des Moines with her husband and on the bike I feel great about myself for having persevered daughter. She rides a 2010 Harley Davidson Super Glide despite a few obstacles. Secondly, there’s a keen sense of independence and be- Custom named Kitten, and blogs about her riding adventures at www.bikerchicknews.com. Her friend Stephanie’s ing in control. I’m very lucky: my husband Steve is a safe, blog can be found at http://iowaharleygirl.blogspot.com. smart rider with good habits. Still, I like being in charge of Thunder Roads Magazine 5 Riding and Respect By Janet Green
Across the Border Raid Bedford, Iowa August 12th-14th was the 3rd annually Rally in Bedford, Iowa. The event is held at the Taylor County fairgrounds. The rally has continued to grow a little each year, and has lots of space and potential for even more to come enjoy the party. Events of the rally included a poker run, rodeo games, bands, vendors, covered camping, bikini bull riding, and a wet tee shirt contest. On Saturday night, quite a few of the town folk even came out to enjoy a party with the bikers that traveled in. Next year the event will be the first weekend in August on the 4th-6th.
COCONUT FRIED SHRIMP w/ ORANGE 4 Heaping Tbls. of Parmessan Grated Cheese; MARMELADE & RED PEPPER-FLAKE DIPPING divided up SAUCE (inspired by: Paula & Bobby Deen segment w/ a Touch of Thunder added in for 1 Tbl. Whole Milk or Heavy Cream good measure)
1 Bottle Peanut Oil for frying (Peanut Oil has a verg high tolerance to burning) 1/2 Cup of All-Purpose Flour Salt & Cracked Pepper to Taste 1/2 tsp. Baking Powder 2/3 Cup of Coconut Milk 2 Cups Shredded Sweetened Coconut 1/2 Cup of Panko (Japaneese Bread Crumbs; in the same aisle as flour and regular bread crumbs) 1 Pound Large Shrimp; peeled & deveined or you can use frozen shrimp with tails left on. Just thaw first and remove shells. In a large, heavy pot, heat apprx. 2 inches of peanut oil until the end of a wooden spoon inserted in middle of oil makes little tiny bubbles all around the wood. In a medium bowl whisk together the flour, salt & pepper and baking powder. Add the coconut milk and whisk until smooth. Let batter stand for apprx. 15 minutes. Now, in a wide shallow bowl, toss the shredded coconut and the Panko together. Put your shrimp; several at time, into the batter. Remove one at a time and dredge it into the coconut & Panko mixture, pressing down to help the mixture adhere to the shrimp. Fry the shrimp in batches in hot peanut oil for 1 to 2 minutes or until golden brown on both sides. Use a slotted spoon and transfer shrimp to a baking sheet lined with paper towels. Serve shrimp w/ below dipping sauce. DIPPING SAUCE 1/2 Cup of Orange Marmalade 4 tsps. of Rice Wine Vinegar 1/2 tsp. Crushed Red Pepper Flakes Add all Dipping Sauce ingredients to a small pot on low temp. Heat thru for apprx. 10 minutes. Stir every now and then to combine flavors. Absolutely phenomenal flavor! FRESH LEMON & LEMON ZEST LINGUINE 1 Pkg. Linguine 1/4 Cup of Minced Onion or Shallot 3 Cloves of Garlic; Crushed 3 Tbls. Butter; Melted 1 8-oz. Carton of Sour Cream
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2 Tbls. of Lemon-Pepper Seasoning Salt & Cracked Pepper to Taste 1 Whole Lemon; Zested - (medium size lemon) 1 Tbl. of Real Lemon Juice - (use same one zested) *be sure and slice lemon in half and squeeze with top part up, that way you don’t get any of the seeds. And remember when zesting to just barely hit the lemon on your rasper cause’ if you go down to the skin then it will be very bitter. 2 Tbls. of Freshly Chopped Parsley Leaves 2 Tbls. of Fresh Chopped Chives *If you use bottled it’s o.k. as long as new bottle and not old spices) Cook linguine according to package. Remember to salt your water generously that pasta cooks in. In a large skillet cook onion or shallots & garlic in butter, stirring continually until tender and translucent but not browned. Stir in sour cream, 2 Tbls. of the Parmesan, milk, lemon-pepper, salt & pepper, lemon juice & lemon zest. Cook for apprx. 2-3 minutes. Drain your pasta well and then add directly to skillet. Turn off heat and take tongs and toss your pasta gently but thuroughly, adding parsley and chives and remaining other 2 Tbls. of Parmesan. Serve warm with hot, crusty Italian bread and garlic butter. Yum! RED VELVET CAKE SANDWICHES w/ CREAM CHEESE OR BUTTER CREAM FROSTING 1 Box of Red Velvet Cake Mix; Prepare in bowl to package directions. *You can actually use any flavor of cake mix you prefer. Preheat oven. Take an X-Large cookie sheet and spray w/ coating. Next, take an ice-cream scoop and and scoop out same size dips of cake batter and gently drop onto cookie sheet. Make sure you space far emough apart so that when they cook & spread out they’re giant size, soft & puffy cookie sandwiches. Remove from oven & cool thuroughly. Gently take a spatula and life from sheet. Frost each inside w/ your favorite frosting and smoosh together to form a cake sandwich. The Red Velvet w/ Cream Cheese truly is spectacular just because of the bright red color!
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Military Riders
A redneck was stopped by a game warden in middle Tennessee recently with two ice chests full of fish. He was leaving a secluded lake well known for its fishing. The Game Warden asked the man, ‘Do you have a license to catch those fish?’ ‘Naw, sir’, replied the redneck. ‘I ain’t got none of them there licenses. You gotta’ understand, these here are my pet fish.’ ‘Pet fish?’ ‘Yeah. Every night, I take these here fish down to the lake and let ‘em swim ‘round for a while. Then, when I whistle, they jump right back into these here ice chests and I take ‘em on home.’ ‘That’s a bunch of b.s.! Fish can’t do that.’ The redneck looked at the warden for a moment and then said, ‘It’s the truth Mr. Government Man. I’ll show ya, it truly works.’ ‘O.K.’, said the warden. This I’ve got to see!’ The redneck poured the fish into the lake and stood and waited. After several minutes, the warden says, ‘Well?’ ‘Well, what?,’ says the redneck. The warden says, ‘When are you going to whistle them back?’ ‘Whistle who back?’ ‘The FISH,’! yelled the warden! ‘What fish?,’ replied the redneck, “I thought we were just beholdin’ the beauty of the lake.” A Georgia preacher said to his congregation, “Someone in this congregation has spread a rumor that I belong to the Ku Klux Klan. It is a horrible lie and one which a Christian community cannot tolerate. I am embarassed and do not intend to accept this. Now, I want the party who did this to stand and ask forgiveness from God and this Christian Family.” No one moved. The preacher continued, “Do you not have the nerve to face me and admit this is a falsehood? Remember, you will be forgiven, and in your heart you will feel glory. Now stand and confess your transgression.” Again all was quiet. Then slowly, a drop-dead gorgeous redhead with a body that would stop traffic rose from the third pew. Her head was bowed and her voice quivered as she spoke. “Reverend, there has been a terrible misunderstanding. I never said you were a member of the Ku Klux Klan. I simply told a couple of my friends that you were an absolute wizard under the sheets.” This one is for everyone who... a) has kids b) had kids c) was a kid d) knows a kid e) is going to have kids. I guess that means all of us!!
(cont’d. nxt. column)
I was packing for my business trip and my three year old daughter was having a wonderful time playing on the bed. At one point she said, ‘Daddy, look at this’ , and stuck out two of her fingers. Trying to keep her entertained, I reached out and stuck her tiny fingers in my mouth and said, “yum, yummy” ‘Daddy’s gonna eat your fingers,’ pretending to eat her pudgy littlle fingers. She squealed with delight, yelling, “no, Daddy, no, don’t eat my fingers”. I went back to packing, looked up again and my daughter was standing on the bed staring at her fingers with a devastated look on her face. I said, ‘What’s wrong, honey, you still have all your fingers, don’t you?’ She looked at me and simply asked...... ‘Yeah, but what happened to my booger?’ An elderly priest invited a young priest over for dinner. During the meal, the young priest couldn’t help noticing how attractive and shapely the housekeeper was. Over the course of the evening he started to wonder if there was more between the elderly priest and the housekeeper than met the eye. Reading the young priest’s thoughts, the elderly priest volunteered, “I know what you must be thinking, but I assure you, my relationship with my housekeeper is purely professional.” About a week later the housekeeper came to the elderly priest and said, “Father, ever since the young father came to dinner, I’ve been unable to find the beautiful silver gravy ladle. You don’t suppose he took it, do you?” The priest said, “Well, I doubt it, but I’ll write him a letter just to be sure.” So he sat down and wrote: “Dear Father, I’m not saying that you ‘did’ take a gravy ladle from my house, and I’m not saying you ‘did not’ take a gravy ladle. But the fact remains that one has been missing ever since you were here for dinner.” Several days later the elderly priest received a letter from the young priest which read: “Dear Father, I’m not saying that you ‘do’ sleep with your housekeeper, and I’m not saying that you ‘do not’ sleep with your housekeeper. But the fact remains that if you were sleeping in your own bed, you would have found the gravy ladle by now.”
I went fishing this morning but after a short time I ran out of worms. Then I saw a Cottonmouth with a frog in his mouth. 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 bit. So, 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 fishing using the frog. A little later, I felt a nudge on my foot. There was that same damn snake with two frogs in his mouth!
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Donnie Brauninger, aka Grandpa Donnie, aka Wildcat is an 81 years young gentleman from Correctionville, Iowa. He is a former Air Force man, who served as an Airman 2nd Class from 1950-1953. He was stationed at Bangor, Maine and was charged with keeping master files for airplane parts. After the service he farmed outside of Correctionville until he retired. During his extended stay on this planet, he seemed to pick up a nickname that he proudly displays on his latest ride. They call him “Wildcat” and when talking to friends and families, they reported that he earned this moniker by being “an ornery cuss”. Not doing anything bad, but just the type of guy to keep the crowds laughing and busy. One such story was of “Wildcat” sneaking up on bulls in a pen, and slapping them just to make them chase him, and then hurdling the fence to get away scot-free. This name has also proudly been displayed on antique tractor pulling machines that he has owned in the past. Another version of the story was that his grandfather called him that while out working on the farm. Donnie had to jump clear to avoid injury, and did so like a “wildcat”, and the name stuck. Not wanting to get bored with retirement, he has always kept busy. He handcrafts toys of all sorts from wood. Some of these on display at Club Casmos in Correctionville are simply stunning. Countless hours have gone into making each and every one of these pieces, and that has come with some kudos. Donnie has been invited to Dyersville, Iowa for the World’s Toy Trade Show. No small feat! When Donnie was asked what type of bikes he has ridden, he simply stated “about all of them”. In his years he has ridden countless brands, types, and sizes. His latest is a Honda Helix that he picked up in Sheldon, Iowa. He picked this bike for ease of handling, comfort, and size. He even had to get some flames put on it to make it look even cooler, or hotter, however you want to look at it. He rides almost daily, and goes on many group rides with his many riding friends. Donnie was asked what was cool about his bike, and he replied, As far as the bike is concerned, there’s nothing out there as cool as this one, for me anyway, it’s almost as cool as I am!!” One of the group rides is a birthday ride which he has done for the last few years. Leading the pack is “Grandpa Donnie”. He is not scared to be in front, and gets right on it and rides with pride. They covered a route that Donnie himself selected and included the towns of Anthon, Climbing Hill, Bronson, Smithland, Mapleton, Danbury, and Oto before returning to Correctionville for a belated birthday party. No small route, especially considering some riders half his age don’t like to go that far on a hotter than Hades Iowa day! Showing his colorful personality, when asked what the route was for the day, he stated that with the high water as of late, one of the bridges has had problems, but he took care of it and put down a board. He went on to explain that if the group stayed close, and followed in his path, that everyone could make it. He even said he put down a couple extra boards for the trikes in the group. Many scratched their heads with this thought, but come to find out, not a bridge had been harmed in the planning of this route, and it was simply “Wildcat” being ornery. If you see him out on his “Wildcat”, 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!
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Biker Friendly Directory Thunder Illusions Photo and Video From Mild to Wild Des Moines, Iowa thunderillusions@gmail.com www.thunderillusions.com
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 month- they 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 tt at 712-249-5582 or email tt at tt@thunderroadsiowa.com or Vernon at vernon@thunderroadsiowa.com
Dealers and Shops Moto Cycles 609 Guthrie Street De Soto, Iowa 50069 motocyclepartsinc.com motocyclepartsinc@mchsi.com Shop Cell 515-250-4800 Shop 515-834-2786 XTreme Cycle & Off Road 206 E Main St Panora, Iowa 50216 641-755-4288 xtremecycle@netins.net
Services Leather & Hawgs 316 Main, Hornick, Iowa 121 1st St, Soldier, Iowa Leather@netins.net www.leatherandhawgs.com
Baxter Cycle 311 4th Street Marne, Iowa 51552 712-781-2351 www.baxtercycles.com
Doc’s Bail Bonds Your 24/7 Prescription to Freedom in Minutes Adel, Iowa 50003 515-993-4773
J & S Custom Cycles Des Moines, Iowa 515-779-4632
Ulrich Photography PO Box 1842 Clinton, Iowa 52733 563-243-8715 www.natanic.com
M&M Garage 408 Market Street Audubon, Iowa 50025 712-563-2425 mmgarage@iowatelecom.net
Beer Barn and Grill 226 State Street Kirkman, Iowa 51447 712-766-3395 Open Mon 4, Tue-Sun at 11
Good Sons 2815 Beaver Ave Ste 102 Des Moines, IA (515) 681-5375 Tequila Bar Hwy 70 North Columbus Junction, Iowa 319-728-0948 Papa Joe’s 117 South 6th Street Missouri Valley, Iowa 51555 712-642-9015
RJ’s Lounge 109 North Main Street Conrad, IA (641) 366-2687 Hours: Mon-Sat 10am-2am Sunday 12pm-12am
O’Kelly’s 106 North Main Street Baxter, IA 50028 (641) 227-3013
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Porky’s Pub and Garage 5125 NE 14th St Des Moines, IA 50313
Escape Lounge 8843 Northpark Ct, Johnston, IA 50131 515-276-2209
VIP CUSTOM CYCLES 1870 McCloud Place N.E., Ste A Cedar Rapids, IA 52402 319-265-8477
Rusty Duck Bar & Grill 723 Marshall Street Dexter, Iowa 50070 Tue-Sat 4-10pm 515-789-4142
Riverside Tavern 450 E Main St Lehigh IA, 50557 515-359-9998 Email: riversidetap@gmail.com
Texas Roadhouse 8744 Northpark Drive (I-80 at 86th street exit) Johnston, Iowa 50131 515-251-4597
Goat Ranch Saloon 105 South Main Street Baxter, IA (641) 227-3502
Crispy’s Biker Apparel Cedar Rapids, Iowa www.bikerwear.com 319-241-0946
The Haverhill Social Club 202 1st Street Haverhill, IA 50120 (641) 475-3321 Hours: Mon-Sat 10am-2am Sunday 12pm-12am
Sambetti’s Bar and Grill 1430 2nd Avenue Des Moines, Iowa 50314 515-245-9780 Mon-Sat 11a-2a, Sun 11a-7p
Carroll Cycle Center 1327 Plaza Dr Carroll, Iowa (712) 792-1610
Bars, Restaurants, Lounges & Clubs
14th Street Tavern 3418 East 14th Street Des Moines, IA (515) 266-3446 Open Weekdays 8am-2pm Sat 10am-2pm and Sun 11am-2pm
Phil’s 20oz Prime Rib Friday Nights 9956 Swanson Blvd Clive, Iowa 515-270-0959
Struthers Brothers 5191 NW 2nd Ave Des Moines, IA
RJM Trucking Cedar Rapids, Iowa 319-360-5433
BCS Computers 100 Industrial Road Guthrie Center, Iowa 50115 641-747-3344 www.brubakercomputer.com
Quick Rick’s Rib Joint 406 East Lincoln Highway (Highway 30) Missouri Valley, Iowa 51555 712-600-6161 Tue-Sun 11:00am-8:00pm
Corner Tap 35 North Center Street Marshalltown, IA (641) 753-9925 Hours: Mon-Sat 10am-2am Sunday 12pm-2am
Iowa Bail Bonds 200 4th Street Des Moines, IA 50309 (515) 243-4411
TeeGee Studios Omaha, Nebraska 402-680-8944 glen@teegeestudios.com www.teegeestudios.com
Biker Friendly Directory
Roadhog’s Bar 104 East Main Street State Center, IA (641) 483-2126 Tracey and John Abate- Owners Rumours Sports Bar & Grill 309 South 12th Ave. Place Marshalltown, IA (641) 752-5477 Steve Priske-Owner
Midway Tavern 206 1st Street Soldier, Iowa 712-884-2230 www.midwaytavernsoldier.com Tattoo Bad Girlz Ink 1217 Willis Perry, Iowa 50220 515-313-6357
EVENTS Hawgstock Motorcycle Rally Winterset, Iowa www.hawgstock.com August 18-21st 2011 Circle of Pride MC Conesville, Iowa Hog Wild Rodeo May Independence Day Blow Out July Thunder in the Sand September www.circleofpridemc.com To buy ad space and list your business or service in our directory, give us call at 712-249-5582
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r e d n u h T f O Girls
Sherrill Ress Dallas Center, Iowa 1997 800 Suzuki Intruder Julie Conant Missouri Valley, Iowa 2002 883 Harley Sportster
Are you from Iowa? Are you a Girl of Thunder? Email us your pictures
Vesuvius 1620 S Kellogg Ames, IA Monday – Thursday: 11:00AM – 9:00PM Friday – Saturday: 11:00AM – 10:00PM
you are looking for a change of pace, a departure from the chain pizza place, then Vesuvius will fit the bill. The pizzas come only in 10 inch size and only one style of crust. All the pizzas start out with the home-made, hand-worked and most times hand-tossed dough, crushed Italian plum tomatoes and fresh mozzarella cheese. From here there Wood Fired Pizza – YUM are ten different preselected topping combinations or you can choose your own topping combinations. Prices for the On the northwest corner of the intersection of Hwy 30 and pies vary between $7 and $10. Duff Avenue in Ames you will find Vesuvius Wood Fired My wife and I each had a pie and a beverage and ended Pizza. Finding it is the easy part, getting to it… not so much. up spending less than $25. After we ordered, got our drinks From that intersection it’s so close you could almost touch it from the fountain, which as a side note had Coke Zero, and but in order to actually locate a space in the parking lot you found a place to sit we settled in to wait for our pizzas to will have to go north on Duff Ave. to the first stop light (if you be delivered. At an ordinary pizza establishment this would are coming down Duff from the north it will be the last stop be a 10 to 20 minute wait. We had just begun to talk when light before Hwy 30) which is S 16th Street and turn west. our pies showed up; it had been no more than 7 minutes Down the street a short distance you will find S Kellogg on since we had walked in the door! I had not considered how the south side of the street, turn on to it and take the last fast 800+ degrees could cook a 10 inch thin crust pizza. left before the curve (trust me on this one… the other drives The pizza I had ordered was a pepperoni, Italian sausage, won’t get you there… don’t ask me how I know). crushed red pepper and rosemary pie. My first impression Now that you have finally made it to the door it’s time to go with my first bite was how well the crust complimented the in and let the magic begin! You’ll notice that the people who toppings. The crust was firm without being brittle and had work here are very friendly, they greet you when you walk just the right amount of charring from the oven. The topin the door and thank you as you are leaving; its customer pings were very flavorful and fresh. I’m the type of pizza service with a friendly touch. eater that makes the outer edge of the crust a meal of its The next thing you’ll notice is the huge oven in the corner own and this one was definitely worth waiting for! The outer of the food preparation area. This oven has been imported edge of the crust is rolled and then salted with sea salt, very and is handcrafted specifically for burning the seasoned delicious! hardwood used in cooking the pizzas at over 800 degrees. My only complaint would be the size of the pizza, anyone These pizzas combine traditional Neapolitan pizza (which who knows me knows that a 10 inch pizza will never fill me is NOT named after Napoleon of France but it IS named up (and it didn’t but luckily my wife couldn’t finish hers so after Naples, Italy) cooking techniques with the use of fresh, I had some backup). Never fear, if one won’t do it you can locally grown ingredients. The name of the business further have a second one in about 5 minutes! reinforces the type of pizza made here; the business is Until next month, ride safe and eat hearty! named after the live volcano, Mt. Vesuvius, which towers Craig Little above Naples. craig@thunderroadsiowa.com If you are looking for variety in type of crust and size of PS If you have someplace you think we should check out in pizza then this may not be the place for you. However if your neck of the woods, shoot me an email.
(highest resolution possible) to vernon@thunderroadsiowa.com
Be
sure to include the year, make, and Left: Lisa Fitzpatrick 2003 Suzuki Intruder 800 Des Moines, Iowa Right: Michelle Boyum 2004 Harley Davidson Sportster Des Moines, Iowa
model of your ride and what town you are from!!! Look for more Girls of Thunder next month.
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Rallies & Events around Iowa Iowa Bike Nights Monday Fireside Grill Altoona 523 8th st Tuesday Porky’s Pub Des Moines NE 14th st Victory Lane Des Moines 3801 Easton blvd Wednesday Roar Into Harlan Downtown Harlan 7-21, 8-18 O’Kelly’s Pub Baxter Latitude 41 Bar & Grill Saylorville Lake Marina Johnston Hooters West Des Moines Quaker Steak & Lube Council Bluffs Smoke in Your Eye BBQ Des Moines Legacy Sports Bar & Grill Waukee Rusty Duck Dexter Thursday Trophy’s Bar & Grill Des Moines Porky’s Pub & Garage Des Moines NE 14th st Daytona’s All Sports Bar Des Moines 4875 Merle Hay rd Screaming Eagle Bar & Grill Waterloo Friday Rides Bar and Grill Fort Dodge Knoxville Bike Night (1st Friday) Knoxville Throttle Down to “O” Town Osceola Fatboyz Saloon (2nd & 4th Friday) Grimes Bike Down to I-Town (3rd Friday) Indianola Ferg’s Grand Junction Saturday Winterset Bike Night @ Breadeaux Pizza (2nd Saturday) Winterset Water Street Bar Cambridge East Village Bike night 7-31 Sunday Haverhill Social Club Haverhill 7-18, 8-22, 9-19 Hicklin Powersports Dinner Rides Grimes 7-25, 8-8, 8-22, 9-12, 9-26
Aug 24 Aug 28 Aug 28 Aug 28 Aug 28 Aug 28 Aug 28 Aug 29 Aug 29 Aug 29 Sept 4 Sept 2-5 Sept 4-5 Sept 3-6 Sept 11 Sept 11 Sept 11 Sept 10-12 Sept 10-12 Sept 18 Sept 18 Sept 18 Sept 17-19 Sept 24 Sept 25 Sept 25 Sept 26 Oct 1-3 Oct 2 Oct 9 Feb
American Legion Riders 663 at Porky’s Bike Night-Bike Wash Girl Auction Silver Eagle - Harleys-n-Hotrods Cruise for Kids - Day at the Drags Waterloo Tour De Dubuque Shake, Rattle, and Roll to Fight Parkinson’s Colo Big Barn Wild West Show Des Moines, Iowa All Day Event Photos with your Bike $10 Kyle Lloyd Benefit Run Dingers Bar LeMars Sign up 11am Helping Injured Soldiers Struthers Brothers Summer Ride to Dexter. Leave parking lot at 4:30 PM and dinner ride Adams Cycle Fun Run Nevada Fun Run Proceeds go to Children Miracle Network Ida Grove 1100 Register M/C Mags Christmas in August Party Welcome Inn Tavern 2332 S. 24th St. Omaha, Ne M&M Garage Open House 11 am-? Audubon Thunder in the Sand Conesville 12th Annual Soldier Valley Rally Iron Horse Bike and Music Festival Sabula American Legion Riders 663 at Hugh’s Jungle Room-Bike Wash 4th Annual Poker Run Proceeds to American Cancer Society at Beer Barn in Kirkman, IA. Bob’s Watering Hole 15th Annual Poker Run & Auction 722 W. 7th Street Sioux City 9am Davis Motorcycle Rally New Hampton Loess Hills Motorcycle Rally Pacific Junction Carroll Cycle Center Open House Carroll, Iowa American Legion Riders Military Families Toy Run at OKO BOJI GRILLS Johnston Knoxville Classic & Flat Track Motorcycle Race www.knoxvilleraceway.com State Line Rally Keosauqua, Iowa Silver Eagle H-D Waterloo Fall Fest Leather & Hawgs End of Summer Customer Appreciation at Hornick Winterset Bike Night on the Square Walnecks Swap Meet Martinsville Fall Colors Ride-Ride the Iowa Border 1135 miles Tim @ 402-290-8347 Rips BAD Ride Iowa III Des Moines www.ripsbabride.com Pick your start site M/C Mags Drop off Party Papa Joe’s Missouri Valley Iowa Rips BAD Ride Chili Cook Off (Date to be announced) at Porky’s Des Moines, Iowa
Bikers (Bicycles) In A Biker Bar? The RAGBRAI© /Roadhouse Story In 2001, RAGBRAI© was to have an overnight stay in Atlantic, with the previous pass through town of Marne. For some reason, the Register changed the route just prior to the event, and the route was to bypass Marne. The townsfolk in Marne were not necessarily happy about this, as we all know; the last pass through town is generally a very active party location. Not having the privilege of getting a ton of bicycles through town was a shot to the heart of the town. The town had spent a considerable amount of time and money on supplies, permits, and preparation for the event, and decided to have a party anyway, who ever wanted to come have a good time. They wanted to raise some funds for some needed things at the local volunteer fire department, and this was their way to try to make some income, and have a fun time doing it. The day of the ride through, State Troopers were standing by and directing riders onto the new route, and over half of them chose the old route and came on into Marne. Along with a bunch of riders, support vehicles, and followers, many of the locals decided to make a night of it and join them. It was one heck of a party that night, from what I can remember! Each year since then, there are some large groups of riders that flock to Marne to the Roadhouse to party on the Saturday before the ride starts. Some years have had upwards of 60 buses full of riders and support people that have stopped by and had a great time. This year with the route clear north starting in Sioux City, there were just over 20 buses in town, but that was just enough to keep the Roadhouse busy. It is the one day a year where you see other “bikers” in a biker bar in Marne.
This list is what we have found and what has been submitted. Before heading to any event, please check weather and make sure the event is not cancelled for some reason. Not responsible for misprints and typos. If you have any other events to list, please email them with as much information as you have to tt@thunderroadsiowa.com
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100 Day Fun Run 2010 The Midway Tavern in Soldier, Iowa hosted a 100 day fun run this spring and summer. The gist of it was to have a book that you could purchase for $10.00, and get stamps in one of the 175 businesses listed when you stopped by their establishments. The run started April 15th, and ran through July 24th culminating with a big party on Main Street in Soldier with bands, food, and a great party. Proceeds from the run went to the Moorhead, Soldier, and Ute Volunteer Fire and Rescue Departments. It went over so well this year on their first annual run, look for the books next spring at your favorite biker hangouts. Check out www.midwaytavernsoldier.com for more information on this and their many other events.
Have you ever been riding along, just enjoying the day, when you realize there’s something up ahead in the road? It’s not very big, and you wonder what it is - a tiny bit of road kill? A piece of paper that blew onto the roadway? Or is it something that will do damage to you and your bike if you hit it, like a chunk of metal or a broken piece of plywood with nails in it? You mutter to yourself “Don’t want to hit that! Don’t want to hit that!” You keep straining your eyes, trying to ID the object and finally, you’re right up on it and you realize that as much as you don’t want to hit the crazy thing, you’re headed straight for it! Why is that? The men and women who present the Motorcycle Safety Course are very familiar with this phenomenon. The instructors tell the riders: If there’s something in the road that you want to avoid, quit looking at it. Instead, focus on the line of travel you WANT the bike to follow. Basically, wherever your eyes look, the head will follow. Whatever your head turns toward, your body will follow. Whatever your body turns toward, your bike will follow. This same principle works whether you’re going straight ahead or trying to turn. An instructor will demonstrate this while performing a slow, tight U-turn, turning his body part way around on the seat so he can look back over his shoulder, towards the opposite direction the bike was headed originally. And guess what - it works! That big old beast of a bike ends up going where those two tiny eyes look. Talk about power! This same principle is at work in our lives. A young lady sat by me one day, relating how she had just bailed out on another relationship with another good guy. From what she said, she felt constantly driven to move on to new man after a few months, leaving her toddler son crying for the daddy he had lost. Her own mom had abandoned their family when she was tiny, she told me, and she had always sworn to herself that she would never be like that. She began to sob. “And look at me; I’m just like my mom.” The problem was that she focused on the wrong thing. She kept looking at what she DIDN’T want to be instead of focusing on what she DID want to be. And sure enough, she hit what she was looking at. We’ve all seen this principle at work in our own lives. Maybe we are harsh to our children - like our parents were to us, in spite of swearing that we’d never do that. Or maybe we have problems saying “No” to the bottle, even though we hate the person we become when we drink. Remember what ultimately had control over the bike? It was the eyes of the rider. It’s no different with our lives in that whatever our eyes focus on, that’s the direction our lives will go. The Bible says in the book of Hebrews, chapter 12, verse 2, that we are to “look to Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith”. A relationship with Jesus is the beginning of a new point of focus for our lives. Jesus faced the same challenges we face, yet He made His way through life with perfection and says He will help us finish well, also. He is the point of focus that will get us through all the twists and turns on this ride of life. It’s up to us to make the choice to direct our eyes the right way. Blessings, Karla Cornick We Do Custom: Hats, Can Cozies, T/shirts, Patches etc.. We also Offer Leather Repair & Sewing..
Mark and Karla Cornick are Area Reps with the Christian Motorcyclists Association. Find our more about CMA and God’s plan for you at www.cmausa.org.
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(319) 241-0916
IOWA
Model: Shana, Thunder Roads Biker Babe Photo by: tt
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News Bytes LOUD BIKES LOSE RIGHTS Municipalities from coast to coast are giving motorcycles the silent treatment, and riders rights groups and industry analysts fear that a wave of ordinances aimed at muffling noisy bikes will create a confusing patchwork of laws nationwide and could turn frustrated riders away from the $12 billion motorcycle marketplace. Laws restricting motorcycle noise have been around for years and come in many forms; some are against certain types of products such as a New York City ordinance that subjects riders to a minimum $400 ticket for having an exhaust system that can be heard within 200 feet, while others are aimed more at the intent of the operator such as a Lancaster, Penn., ordinance that makes it illegal for riders to over-rev their engines. In Denver, which passed a unique muffler law three years ago that requires EPA labeling to be displayed on pipes to prevent bikers from installing louder after-market exhausts, Aid to Injured Motorcyclists (A.I.M.) attorney Wade Eldridge was recently quoted in a local CBS-4 story investigating the controversial attempt to reduce noise emissions. Eldridge, who specializes in representing motorcycle riders in accident and insurance law cases and who is a rider himself, was quoted in the July 23rd interview as saying: “I think it (the Denver loud noise law) was something the city council passed that they knew was unenforceable,” and suggested that to fight back “those who receive tickets should demand trials.” Though rarely enforced since Eldridge won a key case against the Denver noise ordinance, with only 46 tickets handed out to date, police in Golden citing state law have issued 81 noise violations in the last 6 months. The city is using a Colorado state statute, C.R.S. 42-4-225 that requires that vehicles be equipped with an “adequate” muffler, and outlaws any “excessive or unusual” noise. According to Eldridge, “the law lends itself to arbitrary and discriminatory enforcement -the police can stop you for whatever reason.” “The powers that be in the City of Golden have apparently made a political decision that they don’t want us in their city,” observed Eldridge, adding that; “The police department will continue stopping us, and writing these tickets, until enough people PLEAD NOT GUILTY AND INSIST ON A TRIAL… when the court is backlogged with these cases, we will see some official pressure to stop them.” In the meantime, further information on fighting such tickets can be found on the website of the Colorado Confederation of Clubs (www.colorado-coc. com), of which Eldridge serves as legal counsel.
law through and after the 2008 session vertical plates were illegal,” said Todd Riba, ABATE of MN Legislative Director, “but not for long.” ABATE of Minnesota’s lobbying team and State Coordinator started to work on the problem, and State Senators Amy Koch and Ray Vandeveer stepped forward to carry their bill. The state patrol didn’t want to give up its ability to read motorcycle plates, but ABATE didn’t want the custom bike folks to lose the right to trick out their rides. It took a lot of creative thinking to come up with a solution, but in the end that’s what happened. The bill passed and the Governor signed it into law, becoming effective August 1st. Here is how it works: the DVS will offer vertical reading license plates. You will be able to mount these plates in vertical license plate brackets and law enforcement’s scanners will still be able to read them. The plates can be ordered just like vanity plates and riders will have to pay an extra fee, but these new vertical reading plates should keep you out of trouble and if you sell the bike you can keep the plate for your next custom ride. HABITUAL OFFENDER HELD WITHOUT BAIL IN CYCLIST’S DEATH A Westerly, Rhode Island woman has been ordered held without bail on charges that she struck and killed a motorcyclist with her car. Laura Reale, 27, did not enter a plea at a July 22nd arraignment in Washington County Superior Court on an indictment of driving to endanger, death resulting. According to an NBC 10 news report, a judge ordered her held without bail after a prosecutor said Reale had been hiding marijuana use by submitting another person’s urine samples. She will be held until her lawyer can find her a drug treatment program. Reale is accused of running a red light in Westerly on May 16 and crashing into a motorcycle driven by 27-year-old Colin B. Foote. Reale has a history of violations, with 27 moving-vehicle violations on record. Foote’s death led to a new state law aimed at preventing habitual traffic offenders from driving.
KEYSTONE MOTORCYCLE SAFETY CAMPAIGN The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation has announced a free online program celebrating the freedom of motorcycling called the “Live Free Ride Alive” program. “The campaign reminds riders to take it easy out there and accept personal responsibility for their actions,” said a PennDOT spokesperson. “It addresses issues of drinking and riding, speeding, and being properly trained and licensed to operate a motorcycle.” Pennsylvania riders can MINNESOTA CLAIMS VICTORY FOR CUSTOM MOTORenhance their operating skills and safety awareness by takCYCLE BUILDERS The state patrol in Minnesota, like ing free training offered through Pennsylvania’s Motorcycle many other police agencies, use license plate scanners in Safety Program. The live courses are free to Pennsylvania their patrol cars that can read up to 1,000 plates per minute, residents and are held from March through October at apbut they are unable to read the vertical plates on some cus- proximately 70 sites across the state. Motorcycle permit tom motorcycles. “It didn’t take too much to sneak a new holders who successfully complete the course will be issued a motorcycle license. Thunder Roads Magazine 22
News Bytes NEW JERSEY LAWMAKERS INTRODUCE FEDERAL GANG LEGISLATION According to information recently circulated by ABATE of the Garden State, New Jersey congressional representatives are pushing new federal legislation to deter gang activity. In early August, U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez (D-N.J.) introduced one bill in the U.S. Senate while Rep. Frank Pallone (D-6th Dist.) introduced a version in the House of Representatives. The legislation claims to address “criminal street gang problems” from several angles. It would fund billions of dollars in programs for at-risk youth, including $5.5 billion in grants for state and federal programs. Menendez and Pallone also want $3.5 billion in grants over five years for police departments to fight gangs. The legislation would also create or increase federal penalties for gang activities. For example, engaging in a “pattern of criminal gang activity” - meaning committing two or more crimes related to gang membership - could send someone to prison for up to 30 years.
harnessed by Indian police to reduce road accidents. After meeting with an expert in Vastu, an ancient Hindu system of construction similar to Chinese Feng Shui, traffic officers in Nagpur are strategically installing small pyramids at accident-prone sites in the city in hopes their claimed positive energy can stop deadly crashes. Vastu expert Sushil Fatehpuria, who offered his services free of charge, said that each 30 centimetre tall pyramid will have a copper bottom and five smaller pyramids inside. “I think the accidents are caused by negative energies. So we need to minimize or convert the negative energy into positive ones,” he said. “I will energize the pyramids. I will transfer my positive thoughts into the pyramids.” A combination of an increase in drivers, many of them untrained, poor road planning and lax law enforcement have made India’s roads the most dangerous in the world, with more than 114,000 fatalities each year. Good Luck!
EDUCATION CYCLES The United States has donated 115 motorcycles worth AGING ROAD WARRIORS AT HIGHER RISK $524,398 to an African educational center that coordinates Continuing to ride a motorcycle may keep some senior tutors in the Uganda cities of Lango, Acholi and Teso. The citizens young at heart, but as the riding population grows motorcycles were handed over by the U.S. Agency for Interolder they are more likely to be injured or die as a result of national Development to Uganda team leader, Elise Ayers, a mishap when compared to their younger counterparts due at Asuret Core Primary Teachers College in Soroti in May. to factors associated with aging. Researchers at Rochester Ayers said the motorcycles would enable the tutors make a University Medical Centre in New York released findings minimum of three visits to each school in a term to mentor earlier this spring indicating that half of all motorcyclists and provide professional support to teachers. needing emergency treatment in 2005 were over 40, double the number in 1993, and accidents involving riders in that INDONESIAN CAPITAL LIMITS MOTORCYCLE TRAFFIC age group were twice as likely to be fatal as those involving City officials in Jakarta are mulling over schemes to limit younger bikers. Of all injured riders included in the study, the number of motorcycles allowed in certain areas during those aged 50 to 59 were the fastest-growing group, while peak hours to help unsnarl the city’s acute traffic jams. The those between 20 and 29 were the most rapidly declining Indonesian Motorcycle Industry Association estimates there group. Age-related changes, such as decreases in bone are about 35 million motorcycles in usable condition in the strength and brain size, may make older riders more suscep- country, and in the capital city of 8.5 million people there tible to injury. Other factors associated with aging, such as are nearly one motorcycle for every person and growing impaired vision, delayed reaction time, and altered balance by nearly a thousand new bikes every day. This extraorcontribute to motorcycle crashes in this population. In the dinarily high number of motorcycles has exacerbated the study, which was published in the March issue of the Americity’s already awful traffic, especially during rush hour, and can Surgeon, researchers using the National Trauma Dataplans are in place to begin banning bikes from a number of bank reviewed the records of 61,689 motorcyclists aged 17 main thoroughfares in this mostly Muslim nation after the to 89 years involved in a motorcycle crash between 1996 and holy holiday of Ramadan, requiring riders to continue their 2005. The average age of motorcyclists involved in crashes journeys by public transportation. Motorcycle numbers have steadily increased over the study period, which is consistent been increasing for six years throughout the country, driven with published statistics from the Motorcycle Industry Council by affluence and affordable credit schemes. Today, a new which report that the average age of motorcycle ownership motorcycle can be purchased with an initial down payment rose from 33 years in 1998 to 40 years in 2003. of Rp 500,000 (US$50). WEIRD NEWS: PYRAMID POWER USED TO STOP TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS Since the days of ancient Egypt, pyramids have been credited with supernatural or paranormal properties, and now their putative powers are being
QUOTABLE QUOTE: “Necessity is the plea for every abridgment of human freedom. It is the argument of tyrants, the creed of slaves.” William Pitt (1759-1806), Prime Minister of England
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Iowa State HOG Rally 2010 Waterloo, IA Story and photos by Murph and Annette We pulled into Waterloo on Thursday night and were greeted by a huge welcome sign on the Five Sullivan Brothers Convention Center. Welcome Iowa HOG Rally Riders!! For those who are not familiar with the story of the five Sullivan brothers, here’s a little background. These five brothers, who ranged in age 27 to 20, were all killed in action within a few days of each other in World War II. I wouldn’t be surprised if that might have had something to do with the choice of venue?! We riders have long been strong supporters of our Service Personnel. We found ourselves in the midst of so many bikes; we just didn’t know which way to look first. I grabbed my camera and immediately started shooting pictures. It was great! Bikes were cruising all around the downtown district and more were pulling into the hotel by the minute. We cruised the downtown area a little bit ourselves to get a little familiar with the territory. The next morning we had some early assemblers for the John Deere tour. We couldn’t take any pictures inside, but we sure learned a lot about tractors! Some of the riders went on a guided scenic tour. In the meantime, in the convention center, they had a massage station set up with tables in the HOG Haven hospitality area. Lots of goodies and a cash bar available for those who wanted to get in out of the heat and socialize, or perhaps, read a magazine! The convention center also housed, of course, the registration volunteers. There were a lot of them and they gave up a lot of fun time to help make this rally happen, if you happen to know anyone who volunteered, make sure you thank them. Watching these guys work, I saw how much time they put in and know that there was a lot of work involved in getting this rally up and running. Can’t wait to see what they come up with for next year. There was some information in the registration packets about the many local and semi local business that had shindigs going on because of the rally, or just because. Check out the HOG website with information on any one of the places listed. We heard great things about all of them. Friday evening there was a great shindig at the Silver Eagle Harley Davidson/Buell dealership. They were a major contributor and supporters of the HOG rally. They pulled out all the stops for this party providing lots of food and beverages and bringing in the band Checker and the Blue Tones and I could have sworn I was listening to Janis Joplin! Add that to all the great company and good atmosphere made for an awesome time. Thanks Silver Eagle, you folks certainly proved you know how to treat both your customers and visitors to your shop! The next day found us on an early morning coffee ride. The temperature was perfect and the ride took us on the outskirts of Waterloo into Cedar Falls to the Steamboat Café. Thanks to everyone there who took such good care Thunder Roads Magazine 24
of us. The Field Events took up most of the day on Saturday. Boy it was hot, but the players and volunteers persevered! There was so many different events going on you couldn’t do them all, but some of the members sure had fun trying. There was a couple from Georgia, who placed in a lot of field events, won in the bike show and took the prize for traveling the farthest! You could always spot them; they were in the bright yellow shirts that were their Chapter shirts. Fun was had by all and my favorite was the blind back seat driver event. I don’t know if all these people who don’t know their right from their left should be out there on the road, how about you? After a bit of a break, we were on to the Closing Ceremonies. Lots of wonderful prizes and the Harley Davidson representative Paul Raap even introduced 3 new jacket designs that will be coming out. These went as door prizes, cool, huh? My favorite part was the presenting of arms and displaying of the flags. Man, could that Sergeant at Arms call ’em out! We even said the “whole” Pledge of Allegiance and heard a beautiful rendition of National Anthem. The night finished up with the band Milk and Honey playing at the River Loop Expo Area and the beer flowing, and the conversation and good times were flowing even more. See y’all next year.
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Almont Run '10
Many folks across Iowa are unaware of the scenic beauty that the eastern side of the state offers. The Mighty Mississippi River has trenched out some spectacular views for millions of years, and left us biker folks some of the best rides in the Midwest. Within view of the river sits a little watering hole about 6 miles north of Clinton, just off Highway 67. The place is called the Almont Tap, and this time of year when the corn is tall, about the only thing you can see from the highway is the sign sitting atop the roof peak. Many years ago, Almont was actually a small town where local farmers stopped for groceries, supplies, a cold drink, and to exchange stories. More recently though, Almont has been downsized to nothing but the bar, which no longer sells groceries and supplies, but still offers plenty of cold drinks and a ¾ pound burger that’s to die for! Five years ago, local residents Jim and Sue Arey bought the Almont Tap, and fixed her up a bit before reopening the establishment. The Almont has always been a regular stop for bikers taking in the scenery along the river, and with a couple Harleys in the garage, Jim and Sue were sure to keep faithful to fellow bikes. The Areys started an annual poker run each year for the anniversary of the bar, and with Jim being an avid ABATE member, all proceeds were donated to ABATE’s local district # 21. Unfortunately though, in March of 2007 Jim lost his life when he hit a deer on his bike, while riding to work one morning. Jim’s loss was a tough blow for family and friends, so it was decided to make the annual run in memory of Jim each year, and continue to donate the proceeds to district # 21. Thunder Roads Magazine 26
This year’s ride took place on Saturday, July 24th, and once again Mother Nature played some games with morning showers, but by late morning, things were clearing up. Sign-up was at Bonnie’s Tap in Clinton, with the first stop being held at Jammerz Roadhouse across the river near Joslin, Illinois. To accommodate riders from the Quad Cities area, folks could also sign-up at Jammerz and still make enough stops for a full poker hand at the end of the run. Next stop was at Choppers in East Moline, then back across the river again to the Main Event in Bettendorf, Iowa. From there, the ride took some back roads to the Lucky Frog Bar in McCausland, with one more stop at Timeout Again in Clinton, before cards were drawn back at the Almont. Once the run was over, there was still plenty going on at the Almont, with a hog roast, door prizes, 50/50 raffle, and silent auctions featuring some unique motorcycle collectibles and artwork. On top of all that, the Almont offered $2 cans of beer, and a little cutie named Brooke was bouncing around the place offering up Jell-O shots for a buck. Entertainment held strong into the night, with live music by the ever-so-talented Dani Lynn Howe Band, and a few gear heads put on a spur of the moment smoke show in the sunset. In all, over $1200 was raised from the event, which surely puts a big smile on Jim’s face up above. Next year’s run will again happen in late July, and you can call the bar at 563-682-7381, or just stop by any time (except Mondays, since they’re closed) for a great burger and friendly service! Nate Ullrich (www.natanic.com)
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Porky’s Pub and Thunder Roads Magazine Biker Babe Contest On July 13th at Porky’s Tuesday night bike night, they held a Thunder Roads Biker Babe contest. On top of the normal festivities, there was a band, some contests, and a group of hotties running around getting votes to be a Thunder Roads Biker Babe. The crowd sure showed up to put their votes in the Crown Royal bags the gals carried around the crowd. Clutch from KGGO came out to Emcee the event and make sure the girls got off to a good start. Good food, good beer, nice scenery, and hanging with friends can never be a bad thing. At the end of the night, the votes were counted, the ladies all ended up with a little green, and Thunder Roads Magazine of Iowa gets another hot model for a calendar shot. The Winner that night graces the cover and calendar of this September issue. Her name is Shana, and she is a wife, mother, homemaker, and all around sweetheart. She enjoys riding on the back of her hubby’s chopper whenever she can. She donated her proceeds from the contest the Military Veterans. Caring, classy, and sexy, what a great combination!
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66 COPS RIDE TOO! 66
A while back while sitting outside a restaurant talking on my phone, I was approached by a couple of our uniformed State boys. Knowing that I always follow the law to the letter, I was not nervous a bit. I then find out that the reason for Trooper Jim coming over to take a look at my Limited is that he has the same model in another color scheme. We got to chatting a bit about Law Enforcement folks that ride, and he said there are a few. I offered to snap a picture of them sometime if they are ever out in a group, and gave him my card. A few months later, Jim calls on the phone and says he has gotten a hold of a few other officers that ride, and requests a date for a photo shoot at the Freedom Rock north of Greenfield. It was not a court date, but something I sure did not want to miss. When we arrived at the Rock, we were amazed by the number of Law Enforcement riders that traveled great distances to go out for a supper ride and get their picture taken. At the gathering was a smattering of Iowa State Patrolman, State Patrol Pilots, DCI Agents, County Deputies, City Police, and a couple of retired officers as well. The group had countless years of public service with many of them on the job for upwards of20 years, or even more. Quite a few of the group are also Military Veterans, so serving the public and the country has been a lifelong commitment. The Military Training and discipline is akin to the type of training and discipline needed to work in a law enforcement career. To these guys, double kudos! Chatting with some of the guys after the shoot, it became apparent that they ride for a lot of the same reasons we do. They have job stress just like the rest of us, and taking off on two wheels is relaxing and a way to de-stress after long work hours. Put down the pastry and grab the scooter keys. That is a real cop now I tell ya. One thing that was kind of strange, a lot of these guys looked familiar. I am still trying to decide if it was from seeing them on accident scenes when I worked at a Paramedic, out and about at biker functions, or‌
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Harley Davidson Dealer Show Tony Darveau, the parts manager from Carroll Cycle Center in Carroll, Iowa was in attendance at the Harley Davidson dealer show. The event was held in Las Vegas at the Venetian Hotel from July 27-29th. Many noteworthy persons were in attendance such as the Victoria’s Secret supermodel and Sports Illustrated swim suit model Marissa Miller. She has graced many pages, and also is the official spokeswoman for Harley Davidson. Another person with an interesting story was Chris Carr. He rode a Harley Davidson XR 1200X 8,300 miles in 9 days, covering 2 countries. Quite a feat for anyone’s mind and rear end! There were some very interesting sights and certainly some new products to make your riding experience your own. For the baggers they have come up with a new hammock seat that integrates the hammock comfort into the passenger seat. On top of better support comes the option of heat, which will keep your buns nice and toasty on those chilly mornings. Dunlop tires are checking out market interest in pink wall tires. Check out the picture, and if you think they would go over well, or if you hate them, send your opinion to Dunlop. They are not in production, but they did have surveys out there on what people thought of them so if any of the readers wish to have them they should send a request into Dunlop to put them into production. Harley also officially launched the new Pink Label line of clothing to support Breast Cancer Awareness. A portion of the proceeds will go towards the Breast Cancer Network of Strength. Many new and redesigned items are included in this line to help support the cause. Check out the items at a HD dealership near you! Pictures and Information submitted by Tony Darveau
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A Trip on One Tank of Gas Submitted by Mike and Julia Freel, Des Moines, Iowa My wife Julia and I had been listening to several of our riding friends talking about their week long trips and upcoming trips to Sturgis and we were feeling that we were missing out. Sure, we ride several times each week but we needed a TRIP. But with a daughter having just gotten married, there simply had not been time this summer. Then after reading a story on day trips we decided it was time to hit the road. Time to find out exactly what kind of fun we could have on one tank of gas. Saturday morning August 7th we got moving early and completed all of our necessary tasks by mid morning. This would give us the rest of the day to ride. A quick flip through the pages of Thunder Roads for ideas on establishments to visit and we were off. We left Des Moines and headed east to Bondurant, and it was there we turned and headed north. This took us past some nice, quiet scenery and gave us time to enjoy the peace of the open road. Eventually we came to county road S27, which lead to Maxwell. As we drove through the town we noticed that they were having a rodeo. It would have been fun to stop but we wanted to put in some more seat time before making our first stop, so we continued north on county road S27. It was one of those strange surfaces that was blacktop but felt soft. Strange but not bad, at least we were not fighting four lanes of traffic. Next we crossed highway 30 and went another mile north to pick up old 30, also known as the Lincoln Highway. Those of you that are familiar with the area know that there are two sets of mainline rail tracks there. We could see up ahead that the northern set was blocked with a train and just as we crossed the first, or southern, set of tracks the crossing lights began to flash and the guard arm came down behind us. For a moment the feeling of being caught between two trains crossed our minds but the reality was that there is at least a quarter mile between the sets of tracks and included in that distance was old highway 30. We turned east and headed on our adventure. The first stop on our outing was in State Center. This small town is the home of a beautiful rose garden. Also situated in State Center is Road Hogs Bar, a supporter of Thunder Roads. Although it was quiet at the time, you could tell that this is the place of many of a fun time. Plus the Bud on tap was COLD. After some hot miles on my bike nothing is better than a Cold Bud. Here we were tipped off to the fact that the grocery store a few doors to the east had their grill going. We picked up a couple of good brats for $1.50 each. In my book it don’t get much better than cold Bud and grilled brats, especially at that price. Before leaving State Center we sung by the south edge of town and stopped in at Wolf Country Customs, another name we had seen in Thunder Roads. We met the owner, Larry. He gave us a nice tour of his shop. This is definitely an interesting shop ran by a great guy with a “sure I can do that” attitude.
Next we headed on east for a few miles then we turned south on S62. A few quick miles later we cruised past the edge of Melbourne and turned east on E63. We took this typical Iowa blacktop till we saw the sign point to Haverhill. This is the home of a unique bar that we had found on a previous trip. The Haverhill Social Club is beyond describing. The building once housed a combination general store and bar. Now it is all bar. Speaking of bar, the wood bar itself has to be seen and leaned on to be believed. Again we found the beer cold and the staff friendly and fun. By this time we had remembered that Miller Brewing is donating ten cents to support our troops for every bottle or can of Miller High Life. So we switched from our usual Bud and had a cold one in support of our country’s fighting forces. Before leaving I took a side trip to the facilities. Those of you that have been to the Social Club know what I experienced. The rest of you will just have to guess what I mean by the view I saw while melting the ice. Definitely something you have to experience yourself. The nice countryside was our reward and reminded us of how Iowa back roads are anything but flat and dull. When we came to F17 we turned west and cruised into Baxter, the home of O’Kellys Steak and Pub and the Goat Ranch. Both are well known names from Thunder Roads Magazine of Iowa. A quick stop to cool down, and rehydrate, and then on our way out of town we rolled past another Thunder Roads , Revolution Cycle, unfortunately by this time they were closed. We continued on west a couple of miles to S52 where we enjoyed rolling hills as we rode south. Eventually we turned west on Highway 6 and crossed I-80. From there we continued through Colfax and Mitchellville, on our way to the Fireside Bar in Altoona. Although this bar is only a few miles from our house we always love to stop in. This time we enjoyed their bacon-cheddar fries and again did our part to support our troops by raising a cold High Life. By the time we got home we had traveled about 150 miles. Not a long trip but it definitely showed that one tank of gas can expose you to a lot of fun right here in central Iowa while visiting the supporters of Thunder Roads.
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J&P Cycles Open House ‘10 It’s hard to imagine that 31 years ago, a small bike shop in downtown Anamosa, Iowa would become the largest retail supplier of aftermarket motorcycle parts in the world. Yes, we’re talking about J&P Cycles, and the fact that owners John and Jill Parham have built the true “American Dream.” We all dream of being successful and strive to do the very best at what we do, and through a lot of hard work and dedication, the Parhams have shown the world how to get it done! John and Jill know that they never could have accomplished this with out their faithful customers, which is why every June they give a little something back to them. J&P’s Open House has been an annual tradition for many years now, and along with their business, this event has grown in leaps and bounds. It all started as a one day event to offer some good deals to loyal customers who wanted to stop by for the day, but it’s now turned into a 2-day event, with celebrity appearances, and well over 20,000 people making the trek to Anamosa for the weekend. Things kicked off the morning of Saturday, June 26th, with vendors opening up shop and the J&P retail store offering up cheap deals on parts from their catalog, and clearance items in their warehouse. Many parts suppliers were on hand showing off their goodies, including S&S Cycle, Drag Specialties, Vance and Hines, and Mustang Seats, while smaller organizations like the Marines M/C were selling kettle cooked popcorn, and Scott Takes and the Underground Art Studio were showing off their airbrush work. Well-known bike builders were also on hand to meet with fans, including Brain Klock from Klockwerks, and Arlen and Corey Ness. Other celebrity sightings included Michael Lichter and Christine Sommer Simmons, who were both signing their books through out the weekend. Events were going on all weekend, including Teresi Dyno Drags, Il Conduct Stunt Shows, and Circus Una a high-wire motorcycle show. Rodeo events were held for spectators to get involved with, and 2 different bike shows were held to please all taste. Saturday was host to the custom bike show, which was open to all makes and models of motorcycles from any year. Trophies were handed out in over 50 places, with 5 lucky bike owners taking honors by having their bikes photographed for features in AMERICAN IRON and ROAD BIKE magazines. And to top it all off, lucky winners had the chance to step in for photos with the lovely ladies from the University of Iowa Dance Team, who by the way, were also on hand doing face painting for the kids. Sunday’s bike show featured antiques only, and one lucky winner had their bike pulled aside for a feature in IRON WORKS magazine. And of course, winners were treated to the smiling faces of the U of I Dance Team once again. Along with J&P’s 31st birthday, they were also honoring 3 major companies in the motorcycle business, which are celebrating their 40th anniversaries this year. Ness, Performance Machine, and Custom Chrome have all hit the 40 year mark, and a small ceremony was held, including cake, for their achievements. Thunder Roads Magazine 34
Many raffles and drawings were held, including numerous door prizes, big-ticket items for J&P Gold Club members who were present and silent auctions to benefit the National Motorcycle Museum, which is also located in Anamosa. The museum recently moved from downtown, to a larger location at the intersection of highways 64 and 151, just south of J&P’s headquarters. The museum also offered a special showing of Arlen Ness’ creations over the years. In all, the Parhams, which now also includes their son Zack actively involved with the business, have come a long way, and every year shows their appreciation more and more to their customers. Their Open House will again be held next year over the weekend of June 25th – 26th. You can keep up on the planned details for the event, or any other happenings at J&P on their web site at www.jpcycles.com Nate Ullrich (www.natanic.com)
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GET YOUR THUNDER ROADS MAGAZINE OF IOWA, STILL FREE, BUT THE SHIPPING WE HAVE TO CHARGE YOU FOR. Send Check or Money Order for 1 Year of 12 Issues for $30. Mail to: Thunder Roads Magazine of Iowa P.O. Box 29 Kimballton, Iowa 51543 NAME______________________________________________________________________ STREET OR P.O. BOX______________________________________________________ CITY________________________________________ST___________ZIP______________ PHONE_________________________________ Thunder Roads Magazine 35
Photo Coverage of the 2010 Ride Iowa July 31st in Boone
Sept 19th
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