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THUNDER ROADS MAGAZINE OF IOWA
Letter from/to the Editor .................................. 4
A US VETERAN OWNED COMPANY
small TOWN IOWA ............................................ 5
www.thunderroadsiowa.com P.O. Box 29 Kimballton, Iowa 51543 (712) 249-5630
99 County Tour ................................................. 6
Owner/Editor Tina (tt) Schwarte (712) 249-5582 tt@thunderroadsiowa.com EDITOR
Military Rider ..................................................... 8 CMA ................................................................... 9 Biker Friendly Listing ..................................... 10 Spin Your Wheels ........................................... 12 Turkey Run 2011 ............................................ 13 Girls of Thunder.............................................. 14
Vernon Schwarte (712) 249-5630 vernon@thunderroadsiowa.com EVENT CORRESPONDENCE/SALES Susan Mast SC/SE Iowa 319-931-4546 susan@thunderroadsiowa.com Richard (Murph) and Annette Murphy West Central Iowa 641-524-4808 vizslaboots@yahoo.com Harv and Sue Hunter Central Iowa 515-205-7410 harv@thunderroadsiowa.com
Will Ride to Eat ............................................... 15 Thunder Cam .................................................. 18 KISS ................................................................. 21 Day Trips with Doc ......................................... 22 Joker ................................................................ 25 COIR................................................................. 26 ABATE D25 Special Guest ............................. 26 Blast From The Past ....................................... 27 From the Woman’s Seat ................................. 30
ON THE COVER
Mark Swearingen Council Bluffs/Omaha Metro 402-651-2471 mark@thunderroadsiowa.com
This month’s biker babe is Megan Huster from Rockwell City. She is sporting her New Year’s Eve attire for this chilly JJanuary cover shot. Don’t be afraid if she breaks your hearts though boys, as she works as a nurse in Cardiac Rehab. She also rides r her own scoot, an ‘06 FLHX. The bike on the cover is owned by Kurt Warnke of Carroll. He has added a bit to his ‘02 Softail including custom paint as well as tons of chrome. HNY!!
CONTRIBUTORS Netty Kawecki Copy Editor Nate Ullrich natanic@hotmail.com Craig & Lynnette Little-Will Ride to Eat craig@thunderroadsiowa.com Day Trips with Doc 515-975-3893 Poppa45doc@yahoo.com NATIONAL FOUNDERS Toni McCoy Shearon & Brian Shearon 1421 Chapmansboro Road Chapmansboro, TN 37035 Office: (615) 792-0040 Fax: (615) 792-7580 thunderroadscharter@charter.net
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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2012 is upon us, but it is so hard to believe; it seems like it was just yesterday that we started 2011. I don’t know if the disbelief is simply because of getting older, but the years seem to pass by quickly. Twenty-twelve seems like it was something as a kid that would never happen, it seemed so futuristic. Despite lacking the ability to fully come to grips with the new year as of yet, we are still excited about starting out 2012 rolling full speed! We have been talking with a lot of people about some interesting and exciting things that will be coming up and we are looking to grow and become even more a part of the biker culture in Iowa. We will be starting to get out and about to the swap meets and bike shows this winter. We are also going to try to get to a couple of major level trade shows to see what’s new in the world of motorcycles, parts, and accessories. We will share with you our finds, and probably even snap a photo or two along the way. The painters have all the pieces of the two bikes and progress is being made for the paint contest right now. We are really excited to see the final results of these two talented artists work on our rides! February 1st is the deadline to have the paint completed, and then get them assembled and get them out and about for the readers to see. The unveiling and official vote will be concluded at the Capital City Bike Show where readers can vote on their favorite; the best of Iowa Custom Painter will then be named. The buzz about the recent completion of a biker build off on television is interesting to say the least. I wonder how Iowan’s did or would have voted on the three bikes that were up for scrutiny. I would guess that we in Iowa are a little bit more biker, less artsy. It is my opinion that to be called a “bike” build off, no matter where it is at, the
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bike should be able to be ridden. There should be another separate class for the theme bikes. These creations, as works of art, are amazing but to me they are no more of a motorcycle than a Schwinn. If you cannot even hop on with a full tank of gas and go 80-100 miles, what good is it? Now whether or not you actually ride it is your deal, but in my opinion, a motorcycle is meant to be ridden, and anything else should not even be judged in the same class. If it is not able to be ridden, it is no better than the “Edward Scissorhands” sculpture on I-80 in Council Bluffs. A lot of metal with no purpose! Let us know your thoughts on the matter. Post your opinion of custom bike building/choppers/bobbers/rat bikes on our Facebook page. Look for Thunder Roads Magazine of Iowa; we hope to hear from you soon! The events calendar is already starting to get chock full of fun and exciting events going on in 2012. Email us the information for your events so we can add it to the listing. If people don’t know what’s going on, they won’t be able to get out about and attend your events. Send us the date, name of event, and the town that it starts in. Email information to vernon@thunderroadsiowa.com As a parting note, please patronize the businesses you see on our pages. They are supporting the magazine and help keep it coming to you every month. Without them, “For Iowa, From Iowa, About Iowa” would not exist. Be safe, stay warm, and may God bless you in 2012! tt and Vernon
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small TOWN IOWA
It’s often times joked upon, or looked at as some sort of social status, but to hear the phrase “small town Iowa,” is in all honesty, something to take great pride in. Even myself, I’ve jokingly used the term while rambling on in my published work over the years, but in the same breath, I can’t help but take notice of the good will and generosity of the folks from the many small town Iowa communities around this state.
far away as Davenport and Dubuque showing their respects, while Clinton and Maquoketa ladder trucks raised the red, white, and blue over the roadway as the procession passed below. Local riders braved the snowy December morning in the saddle, while the Patriot Guard stood ground protecting the privacy of grieving family and friends.
More often than not, the “togetherness” of small town Iowa is seen at social gatherings for a fellow Iowan, or their family, who might have come across some hard times, or more importantly, lost a loved one. I’ve lived my entire life near the eastern Iowa town of Clinton, which boast its share of that small town feeling. But over the years, I’ve noticed how folks just to the north in Jackson County have always been there for each other… When a fellow biker goes down hard and is laid-up for months on end, the surrounding communities come together for the individual’s needs… Or when a family looses their home to a tragic fire, these small town folks
There’s no doubt that folks from the small communities take great pride in knowing that they call Iowa home, and to witness the heartfelt warmth that makes small town Iowa glow, can not be measured by any gauge… It just has to be felt! From Jackson County to Pottawattamie County, and Hanlontown to Centerville, small town Iowa knows how to tend to their own! And I for one, am damn glad to be a part of it. Nate Ullrich
pull together to make sure the little ones of the household have warm clothes and presents for Christmas morning. More recently though, the small Eastern Iowa town of Preston came together to pay respects for one of their own who lost his life in Afghanistan. Zach Reiff was laid to rest on December 2nd, and this small town Iowa community pulled together once again, with signs strewn about peoples’ front yards and thousands of flags lined up around town. Police and Firefighters led the funeral procession from communities as www.thunderroadsiowa.com
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Indianola, and then it starts to get a little more on the scenic side. The road is mixed with a few hills and curves, but 99 Counties to tour on the bike, 99 counties to tour, take one basically rolls along a ridge, offering nice views of the Iowa farmland. You will see row crop as well as pastureland here down, drive on around, 79 counties to tour on the bike. A that is nice and off the beaten path. There are also a few few years back, a summer riding goal was to ride through county roads that are of the same nature, and kind of cool to each and every one of the counties of Iowa, and what was found was a wealth of interest and beauty. Each month we twist through. It is a smaller county, so not a lot of roads or will feature a different county, and new things to go see, and flashy sites, but somewhere to check out if you want a view of Iowa away from the hustle and bustle of city life. hopefully spark a little touring curiosity for our own state.
99 Counties on the Wall
Clarke County Iowa This month’s featured county lies in the second from the south tier of counties in Iowa directly south of the Des Moines metro area. It is intersected by Highways 34 running east/west, and Interstate 35 and highway 69 running north/south. The center of the county is about Osceola and this is the county seat. The Mormon trail runs through Clarke County, and gets its name from James Clarke. He was named the third Governor of the Iowa Territory in 1845. Clarke was one of the men responsible for the development of the state boundaries for our beloved state. Shortly after Clarke’s reign as territorial governor, Iowa became the 29th state of the United States. Most of his ties to the county are in name only, as he never officially resided in Clarke County. There are just over 9,000 people that live in this southern Iowa County; with about half of them living in the county seat of Osceola. Other towns include Murray, Woodburn, and part of Weldon. The final town on the list is shared with Decatur County. This is one of those areas that you can run around on the bike to enjoy Iowa at its best. Not as many people, and the rolling hills that make Iowa a grand place to live. Rolling south out of Des Moines on 69 is a cool path, which runs through
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Some of the stopping points in Clark County while you are there is Foxy’s in Osceola for a good biker hangout. There is also Terrible’s Casino north of Osceola if you dig the tables and one-armed bandits. The Masonic Building on the square in Osceola is also something to see, and is just getting finished up with some much-needed repairs. The building was formerly on the Preservation Iowa most endangered list due to lack of repair and lack of plan, but now has rebirth as the second and third stories have been converted to apartments. It is nice to see a community come together to help save and make functional a piece of history that was built in 1872. Another spot to check out is Chipp’s Harley Davidson on the west side of Osceola. Have a chat with the tattooed parts guy; he always has some interesting stories and words of wisdom.
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Clarke County is small in size and population, but the people here are some of the friendliest you will find. They don’t seem to mind the biker types visiting, and are sure to offer you some more suggestions when you roll through. Check out Clarke County next time you are in that area of our great state. With this, I will close and see you next month for Clay County. References are available upon request. Vernon
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MILITARY RIDERS
This month our featured Military Rider is right across the river in the Omaha area. We bring you Brigadier General Donald Bacon, aka “Bits”. We met this guy at the Yellow Ribbon Run at Werner Cycle this past July. He was one of the leaders of the 800 bike parade that day. He is the Commander, 55th Wing, Offutt Air Force Base. He is responsible for organizing, training, and equipping six groups and 31 squadrons executing worldwide intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, electronic attack, command and control, presidential support, and treaty verification missions. He is also responsible for base support to 50 associate units, including U.S. Strategic ic
Command, Air Force Weather Agency, and more than 57,000 active-duty members, civilians, family members and retirees. This is the guy that is in charge of a bunch of the aircraft that fly over parts of our Iowa land. The General grew up on a farm in Momence, Illinois, and as a part of that, riding motorcycles was a part of work and play life. Dirt bikes were the chosen mode of transportation when he was a kid, and rode it every day for about 7 years. Riding got into his blood then, but after leaving the farm, education, family, and the Military took priority. Years and over 14 different assignments for the Air Force all over the globe had one recurring theme; the General would stop to check out motorcycles whenever he had a chance. He was keeping the dream alive that someday he would be able to ride again. His wife of 28 years, Angie, was with him on most of these dealer visits, and short of two years ago, while in
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Germany, she picked out and bought him his current ride in Ramstein, Germany. He is now the proud owner of a 2011 black Harley Davidson Fat Boy. Seems rather odd that a wife would pick out and purchase a bike for her husband, but Angie was obviously paying attention all those years. When he came home one day she couldn’t take it anymore, and told him she bought him a bike. They went to the dealer’s showroom that had over 40 bikes sitting there, and he picked out the one that he liked, and strangely enough it was the one she paid for. Heck of a present for any husband. (Hint, hint, hint to all the wives out there.) He states that he simply loves the bike, and wishes he had more time for riding. His favorite things about the bike is that it is a bigger bike, but without a lot of extra stuff to get in the way. He goes whenever he has the chance, and has been fortunate enough to be able to enjoy riding in Germany and France overseas and quite a bit in both Iowa and Nebraska here. Some of his favorite roads here are highway 75 south of Omaha, and going north from Council Bluffs to run the Loess Hills. He rides a lot with some of his fellow Military riders, as well as other friends in the metro area. He states that when the Air Force is done with him, he will be able to enjoy riding a lot more. If you see him out and about on his bike, give him a military support wave, and if you get the chance, shake his hand and thank him for his service.
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CMA Notes
It’s January 2012 and we can mark another year off the calendar. 2011 is gone, for better or for worse, and now it’s time to make use of the knowledge that we gained through the past year’s experiences. One thing I’ve learned is that it’s not a good idea to rely totally on my memory to help me plan ahead. For instance, every fall we head south to CMA’s national Changing of the Colors rally, and every fall, we follow the same route. The route is supposed to take us down through rural Missouri straight into Arkansas and yet as we were rolling along, I was laughing and talking to Mark when, out of the corner of my eye, I caught a sign that said “Oklahoma” on it. Uh Oh. Mark had rashly decided that I needed the experience of being the navigator and had put me in charge of the map and I was pretty sure that a side trip into Oklahoma had not been mentioned. Of course, he spotted the same sign, and after giving me the old squint eye, pulled off the road to look at the map. Then we realized that since I had no idea when or where I had steered us out of Arkansas and into Oklahoma, we didn’t even know what road we were on. Our only option was to keep driving until we got to a sign identified the Oklahoma highway we were following so we could find out where were actually were compared to where we needed to be. We did eventually make it back into Arkansas, but the detour added about an hour to our trip.
puts it this way: “For God did not send his son (Jesus) into the world to condemn the people in the world, but that through Jesus the people in the world would have the opportunity to be saved.” So while you didn’t have a choice about being born lost, you do have a choice about STAYING lost. Begin the journey back to God with a prayer.
Second, begin to act on the new set of directions God gives you through the Bible. If you aren’t sure where to begin, the CMA web site listed below offers a number of short Bible studies to get you started. Psalm 119:105 describes God’s Word as “a lamp for my feet and a light for my path.” The only person who doesn’t need a light for his path is the person who isn’t going any place. God intends for us to keep moving forward, but he has a good path in mind for us. If you have a life habit that keeps sidetracking you - whether it’s anger, lying, cheating on your spouse, bitter thoughts about the past - find someone who can help you identify the “landmarks” that will warn you that you’re The next year, we were headed to Arkansas for the rally getting into the danger zone. Many churches host recovery and Mark reminded me to keep my eye on the road signs so groups which are led by people who have been down the we didn’t end up in Oklahoma again. Ha. Like I would let same path and have come out the other side. Their hope is THAT happen! But as I was laughing and talking to Mark that they can help others avoid “going to Oklahoma” for the . . . you guessed it, suddenly there appeared a road sign that third or fourth time! May God bless us all as we start the said “Oklahoma”. Mark just started laughing, patted me on new year. the leg, and got us turned back around. I suppose I should have been thankful that we knew how to get un-lost more Karla quickly the second time. After talking to friends who had gone on the same accidental road trip, we discovered what Mark and Karla Cornick are Area Reps with the Christian the problem was: the road was not given the same name Motorcyclists Association. Find out more about CMA and on the highway sign as it was given on the map. Without God’s plan for you at www.cmausa.org. even doing anything actually wrong, we ended up on the wrong road . I made a note of that and also noted certain landmarks to look for ahead of time BEFORE we got to the point of no return. I am pleased to announce that this fall we did not go to Oklahoma! When you look back over the past year, if you see that you keep ending up in the same wrong place in your life, then you need to apply the same principles to getting back on track as we did. First, you must acknowledge that you’re lost, because only then will you begin to look for the right path. The kicker is that you don’t even have to be doing anything wrong to qualify as “lost”. The Bible tells us that we’re all BORN lost because of the choice Adam made in the Garden of Eden on behalf of all his descendants. That’s the bad news. The good news is that the Bible also gives the account of God’s plan to bring each of us back into the right place with him. John 3:17 www.thunderroadsiowa.com
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Biker Friendly Directory It’s important for you to know who your friends are out on the road! The Biker Friendly Directory is a list of 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, 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. 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 email vernon@ thunderroadsiowa.com
Bail Bonds Doc’s Bail Bonds Your 24/7 Prescription to Freedom in Minutes Adel, Iowa 50003 515-993-4773 Iowa Bail Bonds 200 4th Street Des Moines, Iowa 50309 515-243-4411
Biker Accessories
Crispy’s Biker Apparel Cedar Rapids, Iowa www.bncbikerwear.com 319-241-0916
Nishna Valley Cycle HONDA – YAMAHA – KTM Atlantic, Iowa 50022 1-888-577-6406 www.nishnavalleycycle.com
Jose’s Custom Leather 2715 Kanesville Blvd Council Bluffs, Iowa 712-256-5579 joses_leather@yahoo.com
Do Drop Inn 403 3rd Avenue Under the Water Tower Jamaica, Iowa 50128 515-314-0783
Food and Drink
Lazy Mule 2715 Kanesville Blvd Council Bluffs, Iowa 712-256-6939
14th Street Tavern 3418 East 14th Street Des Moines, Iowa 515-266-3446 M-F 8am-2pm Sat 10-2 and Sun 11-2
Good Sons 2815 Beaver Ave Ste 102 Des Moines, Iowa 515-681-5375
Leather & Hawgs 316 Main, Hornick, Iowa 121 1st St, Soldier, Iowa leather@wiatel.net www.leatherandhawgs.com Lightbrow.com Answer for Bad Wind on Batwing Fairings Made in USA by a VN Vet! Phone:319-389-4355 Fax:319-393-3021
Dealers
B&M Bar and Grill 110 @ Main Street Panora, Iowa 50216 641-755-2455 Beer Barn and Grill 226 State Street Kirkman, Iowa 51447 712-766-3395 Open Mon 4, Tue-Sun at 11
Baxter Cycle 311 4th Street Marne, Iowa 51552 712-781-2351 www.baxtercycle.com
BJ’s Bar & Billiards 110 Ida Waterloo Iowa Home of Full Throttle Thursdays 319-234-9810
Brown Motorcars 330 NW 49th Place Des Moines, IA 50313 www.brownmotorcars.com 515-282-0123
Boxer Barbeque 722 Creek Top Council Bluffs, Iowa 51503 712-325-4227 Tuesday - Saturday 11 - 8 pm www.boxerbbq.com
Carroll Cycle Center 1327 Plaza Dr Carroll, Iowa 712-792-1610 www.carrollcycle.com
Cheers II 100 North Franklin Dow City, Iowa 51528 712-674-3746 Coldest Beer Around!
Dillon Brothers Harley-Davidson & Motorsports 174th and Maple Omaha, NE 68116 402-289-5556 www.dillon-brothers.com
Corner Tap 921 Main Street Adel, Iowa 50003 515-993-993-2240
Hawkeye Harley-Davidson Coralville, Iowa I-80 Exit 240 319-545-7495 www.hawkeyehd.com Open 7 days per week
Crazy Lady’s Café Mt. Vernon, Iowa 52414 Crazyladyscafe.com 319-389-5427 Fully Mobile Unit for Catering and Events
Backroads Biker Leather Shoppe 305 N Main Street Werner Cycle Works Everly, Iowa 51338 14410 Frontier Road Exit 440 I-80 712-834-2999 Omaha, NE 68138 www.backroadsbikerleather402-894-3050 shoppe.com www.wernercycleworks.com
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Amigos 280 North 1st Street Fort Dodge, Iowa 50501 515-576-0142
Doc’s Roadhouse 309 East 7th Street Logan, Iowa 51543 712-644-3636 Open 365-8 am to Close
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Haverhill Social Club 202 1st Street Haverhill, Iowa 50120 641-475-3321 Mon-Sat 10-2, Sun 12-12 Huffy’s Mule Barn 802 Main Street Anita, Iowa 50020 712-762-9995 www.huffysmulebarn.com Keasey’s Hideaway Lounge 911 Court Street Adel, Iowa 50003 515-993-3001 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 Off Sides Pizza 1119 Thomas Street Redfield, Iowa 50233 515-833-2900 Papa Joe’s 117 South 6th Street Missouri Valley, Iowa 51555 712-642-9015 Phil’s 20oz Prime Rib Friday Nights 9956 Swanson Blvd Clive, Iowa 515-270-0959
Pines Steakhouse Oinkers Lounge & Grill 1500 E 7th Street Atlantic, Iowa 50022 712-243-3606 M-F 11AM-, S-S 4PMQuick Rick’s Rib Joint 406 East Lincoln Highway (Highway 30) Missouri Valley, Iowa 51555 712-600-6161 Tue-Sun 11:00am-8:00pm Red Oak Tap 419 E. Reed Red Oak, Iowa 51566 712-623-4788 Riverside Tavern 450 E Main St Lehigh, Iowa 50557 515-359-9998 Email:riversidetap@gmail.com 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 Shorty’s Playhouse 210 Mulberry Street Little Sioux, Iowa 51545 712-649-2138 Open Noon-2:00 AM 7 Days/Week Sidetracked 206 West Union Street Creston, Iowa 50801 641-782-8534 Sparetime Bar & Grill 136 West Main Street Ute, Iowa 61060 712-885-2226 The Lounge 1005 Chatburn Ave Harlan, Iowa 51537 712-755-5050 The Sandbar 103 N. Noyes Mondamin, Iowa 51557 712-646-2300 Open 7 days a week at 10 a.m. Tobey Jacks Mineola Steak House Mineola, Iowa 712-526-2078 Open 7 Days a Week Check Us Out on Facebook
Where You Can Grab a Rack, And Not Get Slapped! Venture Inn Blencoe, Iowa 712-452-2205
Guthrie Auto Body John Beer owner 1804 State Street Guthrie Center, Iowa 50115 641-332-2484
Southwest Iowa Sandblasting Mike Magers 65162 Oxford Rd Atlantic, Iowa 50022 712-249-3995
Wet Goods Food & Lounge 113 N. Chestnut Street Jefferson, Iowa 50129 515-386-2111
Joe’s Custom Signs 104 South Main Lenox, Iowa 50851 641-333-2675 Award Winning Custom Airbrushing
Ransom Graphics By Willie Ransom Irwin, Iowa 712-579-5075
Wilson’s Tap and Recreation 1008 Story Street Boone, Iowa 50036 515-433-1395
Guns and Ammo Shooter’s Outlet 114 Main Street Arcadia, Iowa 51430 712-689-2772 Tues-Fri 2-7, Sat 8-3 www.shootersoutlet.net Dales’ Guns Buy-Sell-Trade-Gunsmithing 109 @ Main Street Ute, Iowa 712-885-2671 rustyshot2000@yahoo.com
Photo and Video Ullrich Photography PO Box 1842 Clinton, Iowa 52733 563-243-8715 www.natanic.com
J & S Custom Cycles 3630 Merle Hay Road Des Moines, Iowa 515-779-4632 M&M Garage 408 Market Street Audubon, Iowa 50025 712-563-2425 mmgarage@iowatelecom.net Metal Ink 911 7th Street Ste 102 Harlan, Iowa 51537 712-235-2453 www.metalink.org
Tattoo Crave Tattoo 201 S 12th Street Fort Dodge, Iowa 51501 515-576-8289 FB Crave Tattoo, Inc. EVENTS Parts Girl Promotions Motorcycle Swap Meets for the Harley Enthusiast Rock Island, IL Feb, 5th, 2012 Cedar Rapids March 4th, 2012
Nelson Machine & Forge General Machining, Ornamental To buy ad space for your busiIron, Weld/Fab ness or service in our directory, 70 Washington Street give us call at 712-249-5630 Marne, Iowa 51552 or email vernon@thunderroad712-781-2220 siowa.com Throttle Shop LLC 1988 Arion Avenue Arion, Iowa 51520 712-674-3325 throttleshopllc@gmail.com
Shops and Fabricators Bike Pit Motorcycle Services 2694 5th Ave, Building B-Unit 2 Marion, Iowa 52303 319-651-8835 Jason.Bikepit@yahoo.com Butterfield’s M.C. Parts 8025 Blondo Street Omaha, NE 68134 402-391-3768 Doubletake Cycles L.L.C. 2632 9th Ave Council Bluffs, Iowa 51501 712-355-1961 www.doubletakecycles.com F & J Racing 701 N 3rd Ave Marshalltown, Iowa 50158 641-752-8651 www.fandjracing.com
XTreme Cycle & Off Road 206 E Main St Panora, Iowa 50216 641-755-4288 xtremecycle@netins.net
Services BCS Computers 100 Industrial Road Guthrie Center, Iowa 50115 641-747-3344 www.brubakercomputer.com Hippie Boy Designs Graphic Design/Website Design 712-898-5220 hippieboydesign.com Joe Karsten-Authorized Dealer Cornwell Tools 329 West Street Manning, Iowa 51455 712-310-0765 mobile
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The White stuff has landed landed. As pretty as it is to look at; I can’t help but sneer at the thought of having to drive in this winter wonderland. I guess I shouldn’t be surprised or complain about it because I have the choice to move but it’s just too damn hard to leave this great state we live in. As we all kick back and relax enjoying the holiday food and spending time with our loved ones for the holidays. You can’t help but wish you were with one “Loved One” in particular. As you sit there dreaming of what to do to your ride this winter… so next year, when you reveal your vision, people p their neck doing g a double take at your new will snap accessories. One of the biggest eye-catchers of today are wheels. I’m not saying you have to go ridiculously huge to a 26” wheel on the front but a good looking 18” or 21”
would look real nice on the front depending on what model you have. While out in California this past summer I had the opportunity to attend a party held at the Renegade Wheels. I tell you what, these guys put out some sick wheels and this is where d numerous that 26” front comes into play. Th They h had baggers equipped with it sitting on the floor. These guys have an excellent product and every opportunity I have to work with them they have been great. With all their designs they make just about every finish they offer available on the wheels. Be it the ever popular
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Chrome, Black Powder coated, the mix of black and chrome on their Elite line, the deep dark luster of their ebony chrome, or the hand polished Phantom Cut. Whatever you want they can pretty much do it for you with matching rotors and pulleys to give your ride that full effect. Another great company that has an awesome selection of wheels is Performance Machine who also produces Roland Sands Design’s (RSD) wheels. These are my personal favorite and I even run one on my bike. Performance Machine first had their all chrome wheels available in many different styles. Then RSD came to the platform and hit the “Contrast Cut” wheels. Offering that blacked out look with a bit of machined bare aluminum to just stand out a bit more. RSD has rece re cent ntly lyy iintroduced ntro nt rodu duce ced d th thei eirr “Black Ops” line which is a recently their fully blacked out version of many popular styles. Another great benefit from buying one of these brands of wheels is they also offer air cleaners that match a majority of the wheels they produce so you can carry that theme throughout your bike. There isn’t much I can write
b t wheels h l about wheels. The pictures and products really sell themselves. Check out their websites or stop in today to check out what is available for your bike. Hope att H Holiday’s lid ’ and d can’t’t waitit tto see everyone has a great what next year brings us. (Hopefully not much snow and an early spring HAHA.) Til next month, drive safe and keep the rubber side down. Tony Darveau
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It’s funny how some folks take to the idea of the Turkey Run, and their response to the idea… You see, a group of folks in eastern Iowa decided that, regardless of the weather, the Friday after Thanksgiving was the perfect time to squeeze in one final ride for the year. Now when unsuspecting folks comment on how cold it is and how they refer to these die-hards as “crazy” for braving the elements, you have to look at who’s the one using the term crazy? For some reason, the term “the pot calling the kettle black” comes to mind, because these same people are the ones “crazy” enough to go shopping on black Friday! Since 1998, the Turkey Run has always met at Lyon’s Tap in Clinton, Iowa at 10AM sharp, for a ride up the Iowa side of the Mighty Mississippi, over into southwestern Wisconsin, and back down the Illinois side. This year’s high temp for the day hovered around 60 degrees, which was actually quite comfortable for the roughly 120 bikes that took part. The usual stops were made at Lucky 7 in Sabula, the Frontier in Bellevue, Kalmes’ in Dubuque, and New Diggins in Wisconsin. For a change in pace, Sharks in Elizabeth, Illinois was an impromptu stop, while back on course it was Bootlegger in Hanover, Hog Dogs in Savanna, and a final stop at Large 1’s in Fulton, Illinois, before things wrapped up back at Lyon’s Tap in Clinton. In all, it was another great ride by all, with no set schedules or poker hands to care about… Just a true Fun Run! Next year’s run will again take place at the same Battime and the same Bat-channel. And if you need more info, give drunken Melvis a call at 563-212-3347, and make sure you ask him how late he plans on sleeping in next year! Nate Ullrich (www.natanic.com) www.thunderroadsiowa.com
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of Iowa Deb Carlson 2000 Harley Fatboy Adel, Iowa
Tina Arnold Avoca, Iowa ‘97 Suzuki Marauder
Lindsay Zogleman College Springs, Iowa 1999 Sportster We want you on our pages! If you are an Iowa Girl of Thunder, send us your name, year and model of bike, and where you are form to Vernon@thunderroadsiowa.com 14 - TRMI JANUARY 2012
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Darrell’s Place 4010 1st Street Hamlin, IA 712-563-3922
will ride to eat
Monday – Thursday 7AM-9PM Friday – Saturday 7AM-10PM Closed Sunday
Darrell’s Place... the sign on the wall says EST 1980... as long as they keep doing things they way they have been they stand to be there for a long, long time! I would like to ask my loyal readership to help me out if yyou are able. What I am looking for are retro theme cafes, rrestaurants, diners, or drive ins to review (something sstraight out of Happy Days would be awesome!). If they hhave a 50’s night or something like that, all the better. If yyou know of one send me an email with details. I would
Darrell’s Place in Hamlin, the unassuming tan building across the tracks (well, there used to be tracks but now it’s a bike trail) from the intersection of highways 44 and 71. You may be thinking “Where have I heard that name before?” If you are a tenderloin fan then you’ve heard that name from the Iowa Pork Producers Association best tenderloin contest. In 2003 Darrell’s had the honor of serving the Best Tenderloin In Iowa bestowed upon them! Now I likes me a good tenderloin from time to time and having the opportunity to sample a bona fide “best” was too good to pass up. You can order the tenderloin sandwich by itself for $4.25 or in a basket which adds fries and cole slaw for an additional $2.25. I opted for the basket (big surprise!). The basket arrived and my first impressions were 1) it’s bigger than the bun (well duh!!! they’re always bigger than the bun, in fact I’ve had some that were so big I cut them in half and stacked the halves to make a double decker!) but only by about an inch on each side 2) it’s very thick, I wonder how thick the breading is... and 3) speaking of the breading, it’s the most beautiful golden brown. My first bite told the tale, the breading not only looked wonderful but it was deliciously crisp and crunchy and extremely tasty. The loin was roughly a half an inch thick, juicy and true to its name... tender, truly done to perfection! The honor that was bestowed upon them was definitely not misplaced!
love to put on a plain white t-shirt, roll up the sleeves and do my best imitation of The Fonz (well, ok, The Fonz plus 150 pounds... and a beard)... EYYYYYYYYYY! Can you slick back buzz/bald hair? Oh well... Until next month, ride safe and eat hearty! Craig Little craig@thunderroadsiowa.com PS If you have someplace you think we should check out in your neck of the woods, shoot me an email.
If you’re in the neighborhood make it a point to stop by and try one of these wonderful tenderloins, you won’t be disappointed! I know I wasn’t!!!!! Let me clarify one thing, the tenderloin is not the only thing on the menu, it’s just what they are most famous for. The menu at Darrell’s Place contains appetizers, entrees, sandwiches, side orders, soups and salads, and desserts (I had the pumpkin pie and it was awesome!!!). They also serve breakfast from 7AM to 10:30AM. I have had breakfast there in the past and can tell you from experience, if they gave out an award for hash browns Darrell’s Place would win that one too!!! www.thunderroadsiowa.com adsiowa com
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K.I.S.S. page composed & edited by: Toni McCoy Shearon of Tennessee
BUFFALO CHICKEN DIP 1 Pkg. Cream Cheese, Softened 1 Can Premium Chunk White Chicken, Drained 1/2 Cup Buffalo Sauce; Mild or Hot, your call 1/2 Cup Ranch Salad Dressing 2 Cups Shredded Colby-Monterey Jack Cheese 1 Bag of Tortilla Chips
Spread cream cheese into an ungreased shallow 1-qt. baking dish. Layer with chicken, buffalo wing sauce and ranch dressing. Sprinkle with cheese. Bake, uncovered at 350 degrees for 20 minutes or until cheese is melted and bubbly. Serve hot with tortilla chips. Double recipe to make extra. Yield: apprx. 2 cups This dip is totally delish!! Try it for your New Year’s buffet table.
GINGERED ORANGE BEETS 1-1/2 Pounds Whole Fresh Beets (about 4 med.) trimmed and cleaned 6 Tbls. Olive Oil; divided 1/4 tsp. Salt 1/4 tsp. White Pepper 1 Tbl. Orange Juice Concentrate 1-1/2 tsp. Grated Orange Peel, divided 1/2 tsp. Minced Fresh Gingerroot 1 Med. Navel Orange, peeled, sectioned & chopped 1/3 Cup Pecan Halves; toasted
Brush beets with 4 Tbls. olive oil; sprinkle with salt and pepper. Wrap loosely in foil; place on a baking sheet. Bake at 425 degrees for 75 min. or until forktender. Cool slightly. In a small bowl, whisk vinegar, orange juice concentrate, 1 tsp. orange peel, ginger and remaining oil; set aside. Peel beets and cut into wedges; place in a serving bowl. Add orange sections and pecans. Drizzle with orange sauce and toss to coat evenly. Sprinkle with remaining orange peel. Yummy! And such a fresh, new taste to bring to the table. (Slice beets round if that’s how you prefer them).
NEW YEAR’S BUFFET SEASONED PORK LOIN ROAST 2 tsps. Garlic Salt 2 tsps. Garlic-Pepper Blend 2 tsps. Lemon-Pepper Seasoning 1 Boneless Rolled Pork Loin Roast (apprx. 5 lbs. ) BASTING SAUCE: 3 Cups Water 2 Tbls. Lemon Juice 1-1/2 tsps. Dried Minced Onion 1/2 tsp. Garlic Salt 1/2 tsp. Garlic-Pepper Blend 1/2 tsp. Lemon-Pepper Seasoning 1/2 tsp. Crushed Red Pepper Flakes 1/2 tsp. Grated Lemon Peel
Combine the garlic salt, garlic-pepper and lemonpepper; rub all over roast. Place on a rack in a shallow roasting pan. Bake, uncovered, at 325 degrees for 1-1/2 to 2 hours or until meat thermometer reads 160. Meanwhile, in a large saucepan, combine the basting sauce ingredients. Bring to a boil; reduce heat. Simmer, uncovered, for 10 minutes. Brush over roast occasionally while baking. Let the roast stand for 10 minutes before slicing. Sliced yields apprx. 15-18 servings. Slice and fan out on a holiday tray. Pour some hot basting sauce over the slices, yet keep a gravy boat w/ spoon near the serving tray for those who like extra sauce. Currants sprinkled on top of the roast are a nice touch of added flavor.
START THE NEW YEAR RIGHT WITH SOFT & CHEWY CHOCOLATE BITES 4 Squares BAKER’S Unsweetened Baking Chocolate 3/4 Cup (1-1/2 sticks) real butter 2 Cups Sugar 3 Eggs 1 tsp. Real Vanilla 2 Cups Flour
THIS IS GOING TO BE A GREAT YEAR WITH ALL NEW POSSIBILITIES! HAPPY 2012.
Preheat oven to 350 F. Nuke chocolate and butter in large micro bowl on HIGH for 2 min. or until butter is melted totally. Stir until chocolate is completely melted. Stir in sugar. Blend in eggs and vanilla. Add flour; mix well. Refrigerate 1 hour, or until dough is easy to handle. Shape dough into 1-inch balls; place, 2 inches apart, on greased baking sheets. Bake 8 minutes or just until set. (Do Not Overbake!). Use a timer. Let stand on baking sheet 1 min; transfer to wire racks. Cool completely. Use your imagination and top with great stuff!!
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day trips with Doc Greetings Brothers and Sisters, winter is closing in on us with its grip of cold and snow, but I on the other hand still have thoughts of sunny days, with warm winds and hot black top ribbons beneath my boots and wheels! So sit back and tune in to what I hope will carry us through a month of ugly weather, and thoughts of next summer’s adventures!! I left you in the last issue leaving Broken Throttle Saloon, being disappointed that it was not open, I have not had a chance to get back to see what that building is hiding inside, but I do plan on it…and soon! Anyway onward we go… We left the land of the Gi-hugic motorcycle sculpture and headed for Leather and Hawgs, again I am in awe at the scenic layout of Western Iowa, and as we rode, I thought to myself, what was going through the minds of the pioneers as they rumbled along in their Conestoga wagons? That’s just a covered wagon like you may have seen in the old John Wayne movies, or maybe Audi Murphy was more to your likings but none -the –less, they were the same mode of travel for most of those who pressed west in the early years. We arrived in Hornick, a small spot in the road, which offered a shop of goods that met the needs of any good “enthusiast” should they find themselves without. Not only leathers, but patches, and do-rags, and head gear, gloves and…well you name it and you’re likely to find it within their walls; a museum of funny things written and embroidered, with goods made from some folks who are trapped within the walls of confinement, some I say, fine works of art! We rested, looked, some made purchases while others looked on and stretched, basking in the sun that the day offered! This day was turning out to be a good day, but beware when all is going good, ‘cause the gremlins are hiding out there, and they just love to spoil a good time. You will see here soon
with me, he hit the horn and his jake break which startled a rider and panic pushed us onto a side road of gravel, she went down in the loose gravel, it seemed we had lost a rider or two and a couple of the group went back to see what had happened to them, I got my shovel parked when I realized that one was down, and rushed to help, along with a couple of others, to get her out from under her bike and stood back up. After a head count there was only one missing and we found out he had turned off a ways back, thanks for keeping us informed!! As we were gathered on the corner of a hi-way and some lonely gravel road, I began the process of elimination in search of the problem, tools out, and many jokes later, I discovered a boiled dry battery, which needed water, thank you for bottled waters, but that only meant deeper troubles, and they were there, I just needed to get home to the mechanics first! Now you tell me, when I looked up from repacking tools and putting the bike back together, there were two trucks there with good people who saw fit to stop and offer assistance, in whatever it was we may need, is this IOWA, where the people are of good character? Who offer of themselves at no expense to those in need? I love this State, and the good folks who live here!!! Somebody broke out jumper cables, and put a charge into my battery, good enough to get the old shovel started again, and we said thanks to those who stopped and helped, offered anything they could, as we set off on our way again, I wish to thank those two gentlemen for their help, although I never got a name! You make this country what it is, I cannot thank you enough!
We made our way to Denison, stopped for a rest, but as time was marching on and it was getting dark I had no lights, and yet a long way to get to home, we parted, the birthday While we were enjoying the day, my old shovelhead began party went on, and I went back east towards home, I had an to act funny, a popping noise caught my attention, like a escort, good friend Craig and his wife who led the way in wire had come off, or the ignition had a malfunction, some the dark until we got to Carroll, Iowa. I put in a new battery, of the old schoolers will identify with this. I had to pull over but the problem went deeper, as I had expected, and for to check a few things, but did not find anything immediate, the first time the old girl had to have a ride home herself! so we started up and returned to the road, I learned a long I made a call to a buddy who lives in Carroll and he came time ago to pay attention to those gauges they put on the with a rescue squad and trailer, and gave us a ride the rest bike, they will notify you of something going wrong should you keep an eye on them, and sure enough my tach had dropped from 6500 rpm’s to around 1000. Headlights and taillights were as dim as they could get and I was too far west to get by without, and when she started to pop again I had to pull over. Things got a little gnarly here, as there was a trucker following close, a little too close and when the rest of the party went to pull off the road www.thunderroadsiowa.com 22 - TRMI JANUARY 2012
of the way home! Armondo to the rescue and this is just another testimony to why this IS a great state to live in! I am Iowa born, Iowa bred, and when I die I will be Iowa dead!!! Till the tanks run out of gas And so it goes another adventure in the book of adventures!!! Even though it is cold and blustery, I’m looking for new trips for this upcoming year, shoot me an E-mail or call Poppa45doc@yahoo.com 515-975-3893. By the way, HAPPY BIRTHDAY VERNON, there is a proper time to leave work and play, listen to your boss before you are fired brother. Doc
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My wife and I were sitting at a table at her high school reunion, and she kept staring at a drunken man swigging his An old guy goes to his doctor for his physical and drink as he sat alone at a nearby table. I asked her, “Do you gets sent to the Urologist as a precaution. When he know him?” “Yes”, she sighed, “He’s my old boyfriend. I gets there, he discovers the Urologist is a beautiunderstand he took to drinking right after we split up those ful and voluptuous woman, doctor. The beautiful many years ago, and I hear he hasn’t been sober since.” doctor says, “I’m going to check your prostate “My God!” I said, “Who would think a person could go on today, but this new procedure is a little different celebrating that long?” And then the fight started... from what you are probably used to. I want you to lie on your right side, bend your knees, then while ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ I check your prostate, take a deep breath and say, ‘99’. The old guy obeys and says,”99”. The doc- A married couple was in a terrible accident where the tor says, “Great”. Now turn over on your left side husband’s face was terribly burned. The Doctor informed and again, while I repeat the check, take a deep the couple that they couldn’t graft any skin from his body breath and say, ‘99”. Again, the old guy sighs bor- Because he was already so thin and there was just nothingly and says, ‘99’.” The doctor said, Very good. ing to graft. So the wife offered to donate some of her own Now then, I want you to lie on your back with skin. However, the only skin on her body that the Doctor your knees raised slightly. I’m going to check your felt was suitable would have to come from her buttocks. prostate with this hand, and with the other hand The husband and wife agreed that they would tell no one I’m going to hold on to your penis to keep it out of about where the skin came from, and they requested that the way. Now take a deep breath and say, ‘99’. The the Doctor also honor their secret. After All, this was a very old guy begins, “One .... Two ... Three” ... delicate matter. After the surgery was completed, everyone was astounded at the man’s new face. He looked more hand^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ some than he ever had before! All his friends and relatives just went on and on about his youthful beauty! One day, he A biker goes to a doctor to have glass slivers removed from was alone with his wife, and he was overcome with emotion at her sacrifice. He said, ‘Dear, I just want to thank you for his ass. everything you did for me. How can I possibly repay you?’ ‘My darling,’ she replied, ‘I get all the thanks I’ll ever need Doc - “Were you in a motorcycle accident”? Biker – “No, I was on the bear skin rug doing the horizontal every time I see your mother kiss you on the cheek.’ bop with my old lady and a chandelier fell on my ass”. ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Doc – “Damn son you were lucky”! Biker – “You’re telling me Doc, a few minutes earlier and it Two young businessmen in New York were sitting down would have got me in the head”! for a break in their soon-to-be new store in the new shop^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ ping mall. As yet, the store wasn’t ready, with only a few shelves and display racks set up. A truck driver had to deliver 100 penguins to the state zoo. One said to the other, “I’ll bet that any minute now some lame-as senior is going to walk by, put his face to the As he was driving his truck through the desert, the truck broke down. After waiting by the side of the road for about window, and ask what we’re selling.” Sure enough, just a moment later, a curious senior gentleman walked up to the three hours, he waved another truck down and offered a window, looked around intensely and rapped on the glass, good ole’ boy named Bubba $500 to take the penguins to then in a loud voice asked, “What are you sellin’ here?” the State Zoo for him. The next day, the first truck driver One of the guys replied sarcastically, “We’re selling assarrived in town and saw Bubba crossing the road with the 100 penguins walking in pairs of two, directly behind him. holes.” Without skipping a beat, the old timer said, “You’re doing well. Only two left. Carry on.” The first truck driver jumped out of his truck and said, “What’s going on? I gave you $500 to take these penguins ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ to the damn Zoo!” Bubba boastfully replied, “I did take them to the Zoo. And I had quite a bit of money left over, so A married couple were asleep when the phone rang at 2 in now we’re going to see a Disney movie.” the morning. The very blonde wife picked up the phone, lis^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ tened a moment and said ‘How should I know, that’s oodles of miles from here!’ and hung up. The husband said, ‘Who was that?’ The wife answered, ‘I don’t know, some woman Bubba: Give me 3 packets of condoms please. wanting to know if the coast is clear.’ . Cashier: Do you need a paper bag with that, sir? Bubba: Nah, she’s not that ugly. www.thunderroadsiowa.com
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C.O.I.R. Report Coalition of Independent Riders Peter A. Sieben Lt Commander C.O.I.R. of Iowa The United States of America was founded as being a representative democratic republic, In other words - of the people and by the people. The problem is that many of our elected officials and seemingly all of the bureaucrats lose touch with the thoughts of the people back home. Reminding them of who you are and what you think is your best way to assure that your opinion is being represented. Keep in mind that elected officials constantly hear from paid special interest lobbyists. HOW TO WRITE – put simply 1) Address it properly 2) Identify yourself 3) Be specific and timely 4) Explain your position – respectfully 5) Ask for a response. Don’t worry about not being perfect. The idea is that you are sincere. HELP IS AVAILABLE - many websites offer short-cut links to email your legislators. Keep in mind that you may or may not get an immediate response, but many will send an email or snail-mail. My suggestions include: www.ama.org (American Motorcycle Association) www. nwyc.com (National Write Your Congressman) and www. mrf.org (Motorcycle Riders Foundation) Being politically aware is what we’re about. We keep an eye on how your liberties are being attacked and then let you know what you can do about it. Want to know more? Email peter@riderpromotions.com
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ABATE D25 Special Gues Guest On November 19th, Thunder Roads Magazine of Iowa was invited to attend the ABATE of Iowa District 25 meeting. The reason for Don Batt’s special invitation to this particular meeting was due to another special guest , Governor Branstad. District 25 extended an invitation to Governor Branstad to give a few words, and to present him with a token of appreciation for his support of motorcycling and ABATE over his years of service to Iowa. The governor spoke of his support of motorcycles, and that he has a motorcycle license and has ridden, but currently does not own or ride due to job constraints. He joked about the State Patrol and how they would not deal well with the Governor riding around on two wheels. That made the room all chuckle at once! He said that he likes to be out and about and meet with groups such as this. He then opened up for comments and questions from the District 25 meeting attendees. A variety of questions were asked about the future of motorcycling, E15 fuel, and the current state of the Iowa economy. After the questions, Don Batt presented the Governor with an award of appreciation for his support of motorcycling and of ABATE. The Governor was invited by ABATE State Coordinator Phil McCormick to the Safety Forum to offer opening remarks in Ames. The 2012 Safety forum will once again be held in Ames on Friday April 27th.
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From Mechanix Illustrated The Motorcycle Book, Book 123, circa 1951. Read the rest at; www.facebook.com/ThunderRoadsIowa
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From the Woman’s Seat
What is a woman to do? My bike is meticulously shined, the paint has a fresh coat of wax, the chrome is rubbed until it sparkles like diamonds, fresh oil in the tank, the fuel is topped off and additives added, the tires inflated and the battery tender electrified. My favorite past time, my way of life, a part of who I am has been loving covered up and put into hibernation until the long desired spring thaw arrives. As I sit to ponder, I wonder what I miss the most; the rumble, the sights, the smells, the wind, the vibration or the heartfelt waves from the children I pass along the way? That unexplainable feeling of freedom that encompasses me while riding or do I simply miss that special bond that only I can feel with my bike as we hug the curves and become one. As I contemplate this and count the sunrises until spring comes again I realize I miss all of that, but there is so much more. I miss the relationships, the people I have met along the way, the laughter we have shared, the stories we have told, and the bonds that I have developed because I chose to ride.
opportunity to buy Scentsy Candles. There were a lot of terrific deals on HD clothing, apparel, accessories and my personal favorite the parts department. A woman’s best friend is not necessarily diamonds when chrome and leather are on sale. There was no oath of silence regarding what happened when we got off the bus. However, all I will say is that we experienced a brief moment of AHH as all eyes became fixated on the Tequila Sunrise Fat Boy on the show room floor as the cameras flashed.
After a couple of hours of a woman’s dream shopping, at discounted prices, at our favorite Harley store, the bus board call was bellowed and all ladies were expected to return to the bus. We then made our way to the Piranha Club for supper, dancing and socializing. At this point, all I can say is it became very difficult to keep track of that many women destined to have a good time in a crowded night club. The food was awesome, the drinks kept flowing, the music was pounding and a few more friends were made along the way. All too soon, it was time to board the bus again and head There is no reason the friends and the relationships need back toward our normal lives, longing for spring and an to hibernate along with the scooter. So, the planning and opportunity to make more riding friends again next year. preparation began for a very special event. One night only, As I exited the bus that night, I found a ladies shirt laying all women, a party bus, a very hospitable Harley dealership, in the parking lot at the designated bus stop. There had a great place to dine, drink, dance and socialize. What been rumors about one of our ladies greeting her designated do you have? “Ladies Night Out” biker style! So that’s driver wearing nothing but her hat. So it must be true tequila exactly what we did. The bus “Northern Lights” was found really does make your clothes fall off. in the big town of Bridgewater, Iowa; owned and operated by our new friend “Murph”. We booked it for the 18th of Special thanks go out to the entire crew at Carroll Cycle November which coincidentally coincided with Carroll Center for graciously hosting the event that motivated Cycle Center’s “Ladies Night” open house. Our goal was to our evening. A big thank you to Terry and “the crew” for find 30 friends, fellow female riders, owners, operators, tee- tolerating a few of us, and to Shonna and “the HD girls” for shirt wearers or just ladies who needed a break from life; a personally arranging our after shopping accommodations. night to let their hair down and truly discover if the rumors The Tequila Sunrise Fat Boy on the show room floor about tequila making your clothes fall off are true. We were will never again look as good as it did that night! As for on a mission to do nothing more than just have a good time. “Murph” if you need an awesome driver for your next The word got out and the bus seats began to sell. It didn’t special occasion, someone that will politely put up with take long and our goal of 30 was fulfilled. In true female just about anything, look him up, he’s “good people”. And biker fashion we didn’t want to leave anyone behind, so we we can’t forget our buddy Bo and his people at the Piranha agreed to fill up a few more seats. Club for hosting our after shopping accommodations. A job well done! Will we do it again next year? Maybe, I all Prior to putting that many women together on a bus there ready have 1 request for a seat next year. It wasn’t until the were some pre-trip concerns about everyone getting following day when my cheeks and stomach muscles ached to know each other and feeling comfortable amongst from laughter that I realized, I could enjoy a bus ride with ourselves. So each lady randomly drew a card with a “get friends to the same satisfaction that I enjoy a great day of to know you question” as they boarded the bus. When the riding. wheels of the bus started turning, the introductions began and the questions began to fly. The bus seats were filled Paula Jens with the understanding of “What happens on the bus, stays on the bus!” I plan to up hold that! But the question came up “If you could have one magic power what power would you want?” One of our ladies politely explained her magic power would be “to make things bigger or smaller.” Think about that for awhile, what other power could a woman possibly want? When the bus pulled into Carroll Cycle Center the fun had just begun. I’m not exactly sure what all happened at Carroll Cycle Center that night. I know there were plenty of appetizers, beverages for everyone’s taste buds, a special display of jewelry for our shopping experience and an www.thunderroadsiowa.com 30 - TRMI JANUARY 2012
Jan 1 Happy New Year from , Vernon & Thunder Roads Jan 6-7 Thunder on the Syrup Races Mason City Jan 8 Road MC Breakfast Brayton Jan 14-15 Ice Racing Series Cedar Rapids Ice Arena Jan 14 ABATE D14 Swap Meet O umwa Jan 21-22 Midwest Motorcycle Show/Swap Meet Sioux City Jan 20-22 Rod & Custom Motorcycle/Car Show Rock Island, IL Feb 2 Groundhog Day – will he see his shadow???? Feb 3-4 Thunder on the Syrup Races Mason City Feb 5 Parts Girl PromoƟons Swap Meet Rock Island, IL Feb 11-12 Capital City Show and Swap Des Moines Feb 12 Road MC Breakfast Brayton Feb 14 Valen ne’s Day Feb 25-26 O’Reilly Rod & Custom Bike/Car Show Mon cello Mar 2-4 World of Wheels Chicago Mar 4 Parts Girl PromoƟons Swap Meet Cedar Rapids Mar 11 Daylight Saving Time Begins Mar 11 Road MC Breakfast Brayton Mar 17 St. Patrick’s Day Mar 23-24 Donnie Smith Bike Show/Parts Extravaganza St.Paul Mar 23-25 World of Wheels Omaha, NE Mar 23-25 Heartland STEAM Omaha, NE Mar 24 Road MC Dance Rec Center Exira Mar 31 ABATE D14 27th TGIS Spring Party O umwa Mar 31-Apr 1 North Iowa Motorcycle Expo Mason City Apr 8 Easter Apr 14 ABATE D25 Blessing of the Bikes Ames Apr 21 Make-A-Wish Leather & Lace Gala Council Bluffs Apr 21 ABATE D25 New Moon Run Boone Apr 27 Iowa Motorcycle Safety Forum ISU Ames May 4-5 TorqueFest Maquoketa May 5 ABATE D25 Awareness Ride Boone May 5 CMA Run for the Son OƩumwa May 13 Mother’s Day May 19 Miracle Rally for Children’s Miracle Network Farley May 24-27 Hog Wild Rodeo Conesville May 25-28 Iron Horse Bike & Music Fes val Sabula May 26-27 Midway Tavern Fun Run, BBQ, Street Dance Soldier Jun 1-2 MAG Motofest III Clear Lake Jun 1-3 ABATE D25 Rodeo Nevada June 2 Carroll Cycle Center Rock-N-Ride Carroll Jun 3 Hill Climb and Swap Meet Anamosa
Jun 8-10 Jun 9 Jun 9 Jun 14-16 Jun 14-16 Jun 14-17 Jun 17 Jun 18 Jun 23-24 Jun 23 Jun 29-30 July 4 Jul 5-7 Jul 8 Jul 12-14 Jul 14 Jul 21 Aug 2-4 Aug 6-12 Aug 17-18 Aug 25 Aug 24-26 Aug30-Sep1 Aug 31 Aug 30-Sep 2 Aug 31-Sep 3 Sep 1-2 Sep 7-8 Sep 7-9 Sep 7-9 Sep 8 Sep 14-16 Oct 6 Oct 14 Nov 9-11 Nov 23
Thrills in the Hills at Wes air in Council Bluffs The Freedom Run Sco y’s Saloon Grundy Center ABATE D25 Bike Show Boone Awesome Biker Nights Sioux City Iowa State HOG Rally Des Moines Mississippi River Motorcycle Rally Davenport Father’s Day Ride Your Motorcycle To Work Day J&P Cycles Open House Anamosa ABATE D14 28th Baldy Memorial Ride What Cheer Corn Stalk Music FesƟval, Circle Of Pride Conesville Independence Day ABATE Freedom Rally Algona Yellow Ribbon Run Werner Cycle Omaha, NE Nitro’s Rally Gravity 3rd Annual Co’s Memorial Fairfield 4th Annual Woman’s Fun Run Atlan c Across the Border Raid Motorcycle Rally Bedford “Event” in South Dakota American Victory Rally Spirit Lake Warriors Across Iowa to Benefit WWP Des Moines 8th Annual BTW Trike In Kellogg Davenport An que Motorcycle Rally Vintage Flat Track Motorcycle Races Davenport Circle of Pride Thunder In the Sand Conesville Iron Horse Bike & Music Fes val Sabula Midway’s Soldier Valley Run BBQ, Dance Soldier AMA Pro Flat Track Grand Na onals Knoxville ABATE D25 Pufferbilly Days Bike Show Boone Hogs 4 Dogs Benefit Weekend & Ride O umwa Ride 4 TaTas Benefit Run w/Cheshire Grin Kirkman State Line End of Summer Rally Keosauqua ABATE D25 Biken For Tikes Run Boone ABATE D4 29th Toy Run Des Moines STEAM Marshalltown Turkey Run Clinton
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. Not responsible for misprints and typos. If you have any other events to list, please email them with Date/Name of Event/Loca on to vernon@thunderroadsiowa.com
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