Thunder Roads Magazine of Iowa January 2015 by Thunder Roads Magazine of Iowa

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This month our cover is once again filled with beauty. The gorgeous Brittany Lee, a Quad City native, has found herself surrounded by some stunning American metal. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Black Beautyâ&#x20AC;? is a 1972 Olds Cutlass Coupe owned by Shaun Beauchamp of Muscatine and the Black 2014 Street Glide Special is owned by Tony DeReu of Geneseo, IL. Mark your calendars for the 32nd Annual Rod and Custom Car and Motorcycle Show January 23-25 at the QCCA Expo Center, 2621 4th St, Rock Island, IL presented by WXLP, The Quad Cities Classic Rock Station 97X. This show has proven to draw in the some of the coolest rides from the Quad Cities and beyond in the past; under new ownership we are excited to see what will be sitting on the showroom floor this year! A huge thank you goes out to Michael Lynn Photography of Des Moines for allowing us to use his image!

We would like to wish all of you a Happy New Year from all of us at TRMI. We hope that your holiday season was grand and that you are as ready as we are to start off this New Year with a bang! January brings some new beginnings, a fresh start, some resolutions to keep, some to be broken, and the timelines for the next riding season become shorter. As far as riding, there will not be much of that for most of us except for those few die hard riders that make winter riding their bitch. We do have opportunities to hang out with other like-minded souls though, as January starts the bike show and swap meet season here in blustery Iowa. It is not ideal to only be able to meet at indoor venues, but we have to deal with the weather that is part of our great state. Simply, this is what we do to be able to live in this state and deal with our cold and white winters.

It seems that there is a lull in the biker activity in groups after about Labor Day weekend, so getting to the biker parties, shows and swap meets is like coming home. Whether it be the Winter Sucks Party at Metro HD in Cedar Rapids on January 17th, the Rod and Custom Show in Rock Island on January 23-25th, the January 24th Swap Meet in Ottumwa, February 1st Parts Girl Promotions Swap Meet in Rock Island, or the Capital City Show and Swap on February 14-15th (REVISED DATE), there is plenty going on just after the first of the year. We will be set up at or make an appearance at most of these events, so look us up, shake our hands, and grab the latest issue. See you at the show!

This thing could not happen every month if it were not for our wonderful sponsors. Businesses that sponsor the cover spot, the ad space sponsors, and the Biker Friendly Directory sponsors are the ones that make sure this comes to you each and every month. For one we would like to thank them for being on board with us to bring you Iowa’s biker magazine. Stop at their businesses often and thank them for supporting the magazine, and tell them we sent you! We would also like to let you know that those are the primary locations that the magazine is distributed. The sponsors get the goods when the new magazines come out, with other distribution sites getting the left overs if there are any. Magazines have been shifting around to sponsors Don’t forget to let us know when you sites in the past year or two, so to set dates for your upcoming events if ensure you get your magazine, let you have not done so already. Email your favorite shop or hang out know them to Vernon@thunderroadsiowa. that they should be a sponsor of the com. We try to keep the most magazine. They can call or email any comprehensive list of Iowa biker events around, but we need one of the TRMI crew to get things going and get them your help. Drop me an email so that we can add it to the listed, as well as a package of magazines dropped off each TRMI upcoming events listing. This list is in the magazine month. every month toward the back, as well as on the website thunderroadsiowa.com, and we also post upcoming events Ride it when you can! on the Thunder Roads Magazine of Iowa Facebook page. If bikers don’t know what is going on, when it is happening, or Vernon and Melanie Schwarte where the party is going down, people cannot make it there. If you want more than the simple FREE listing of date/name Quote of the Month: Don’t make a reputation you’ll have to of event/starting town, holler at one of the crew on the staff live down or run away from later. Author Unknown page and we can help you purchase some more space if you are interested.

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My work with Thunder Roads Magazine of Iowa started fairly recently. What started out as a couple of meetings to learn about ad sales for a part time gig turned into a marriage and a family that I wouldn’t trade for the world. Connecting with Vernon provided a gateway for the reawakening of my passion for the open road that had long lay dormant. I was only three months old when my mom and dad put me between them on Dad’s ‘48 Panhead and took me for my first ride. I am told that while they tried to protect me from the wind, I constantly poked my head up and around my dad’s shoulder to feel the wind on my face. Later on, while tucked safely away in the dining room of my childhood home, my parents found me hunkered down inside the frame of that same Panhead doing some “winter maintenance” while Dad had the engine pulled. Over the years I had opportunities to ride here and there, but found no one whom I really wanted to let tote me very far. As my dad started his business and a local bike night in Harlan, I began to once again encounter members of the biker community and have more chances to get out and ride. My first major ride came in April of 2014. That ride would take me from Kimballton, Iowa to Ocean City, Maryland and back in five days. That’s 2,800 miles in case you were curious. Not too shabby for my first long distance ride, if I do say so myself. With that trip my love for riding was completely restored. I find myself looking for reasons to go somewhere when the sun is shining, just to get a little time in on two wheels.

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I have often been asked if I ride my own. The answer to that is no….a very firm no. For someone who has difficulty standing on her own two feet, I feel it is best that I keep myself tucked in behind my husband. Maybe once I master the art of walking without being subjected to random gravity checks I will consider it, but for the time being I am happy to relax on the back and occasionally poke my head around Vernon’s shoulder to feel the wind on my face. My dad taught me many things over the years about bikes and the people who ride them, so when Vernon dropped me headfirst into the biker lifestyle, I felt right at home. Where Dad left off, Vernon picked up…he frequently quizzes me on various aspects of bikes and their engines. I am doing pretty well, but definitely appreciate him not busting my balls too much when it becomes painfully obvious that his motorcycle knowledge far exceeds mine. I have started learning some photography and design aspects for the magazine, as well as doing some writing and editing when given the opportunity. My favorite part of working for the magazine is helping with event correspondence. Nothing beats traveling for work and getting to hang out at some of Iowa’s best biker events with the great people who attend them. I love to meet new people and hear their stories, so the next time you see me (or any member of the Thunder Roads of Iowa staff) out and about make sure you stop and share your story, or just say hello. We’d love to hear what you’ve been up to here in Iowa. Melanie Schwarte

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CMA Notes

Well, I don’t know if I should feel relieved or sad, but the holiday season is almost over. The rush of shopping, wrapping, attending grandkids’ Christmas concerts, baking, decorating, butchering deer (hey, this is Iowa – deer hunting IS part of the Christmas season!) and multiple family get-togethers has finally wound down. We just have a couple of stray “Christmas” parties left over for January that couldn’t be squeezed into December and we’re officially done. And that’s when it happens.

You know: the dark days of winter. For the last six weeks we’ve been lulled into thinking that cold and snow meant Christmas and now we realize that cold and snow mean . . . cold and snow. Endless shoveling. Locks on car doors freezing. Having to wear coats, gloves and ear muffs just to take the trash out. Kitchen pipes to defrost. Dark by the time I get home from work. Whopping big heating bills. No motorcycle riding and not much point in even thinking about it. In fact, might as well give the riding gear to a good charity organization and list the bike on e-Bay to see what it’ll bring, right? Hopefully, by now you’re thinking I’ve lost my marbles because that’s NOT how bikers respond to winter in Iowa. Sure, we have to do all the usual winter work so our cars run and the kitchen pipes don’t freeze and so we have hot meals to warm up with. But that doesn’t stop us from thumbing through the latest bike magazine or from getting together with friends and remembering our rides or from doing maintenance work on the bike or even hitting the gym to keep our muscles worked out so we don’t seize up before our time. Why? Because we know that winter is only temporary. Eventually, winter will give way to spring and if we’ve spent at least some of the winter planning ahead, our bikes will be running and we’ll have enough money saved up for some rides. Knowing that something good lies ahead not only helps us survive the misery of winter, but it motivates us to prepare our bikes now so we’re ready for good things in the spring. To be honest, though, a lot of us DO deal with the winter seasons in our lives in a negative way. In the Bible, Jesus reminds us in the first part of John 16:33 “Here on earth you will many trials and sorrows”, but when those things come our way – sickness, death, divorce, financial problems, family issues – we’re still caught by surprise and struggle with discouragement. We just want the misery to end and can’t see any reason for hope so we start jettisoning everything that seems to make a mockery of our past joys. Family problems: Who needs that when you can just check out? Financial problems: Why try to pay off the bills when you’re in so deep? Serious illness: Why not just self-medicate? But Jesus didn’t stop with the bad news. The rest of John 16:33 says this: “But take heart, because I have overcome the world.” Jesus says nothing about making all the problems go away, but He does tell us that He persevered and made it through. For those who put their trust in Christ, knowing that life on earth is only the beginning gives us the motivation to keep plugging away. We even survive the “winters” of life in similar ways that bikers survive the Iowa winter: We purposely get together with friends to talk about how we can get to know God better, and how to live our lives more productively for Him and for others. We read our Bibles and watch DVD’s that explain Christian living to us. We work our attitude “muscles” by practicing thankfulness in times of trouble, kindness in the face of harsh treatment and trust in the face of disappointment. Through Christ, we have the ability (even if we don’t always use it) to stay functional during life’s dark seasons here on earth, all the while understanding that those times are also preparation for our future in eternity. From Revelation 21: 1 & 4: “Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth . . . God himself will . . . wipe every tear from their eyes and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.” What an awesome “springtime” that will be! Blessings to you - Karla Mark and Karla Cornick are Area Reps with the Christian Motorcyclists Association. Find out more about CMA and God’s plan for you at www.cmausa.org 8 - TRMI JANUARY 2015

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Biker Friendly Directory Dubuque Harley-Davidson 145 N Crescent Rdg Dubuque, IA 52003 563-557-3735 www.dubuqueharley-davidson.com

R/J Performance HWY 63 North Ottumwa, Iowa 52501 641.684.8400 www.rjperformance.com

Ernie’s Harley-Davidson 2613 Hwy 18 East Algona, IA 50511 515-295-7951 www.erniesharley.com

Uptown Motors Sales, Inc 310 Cleveland St Muscatine, IA 52761 563-263-2944 www.uptownmotorsales.com

Fenders Cycle and Motorsport 1109 E Army Post Road Des Moines, Iowa 50315 515-256-9062 www.fenderscycle.com

Werner Cycle Works 14410 Frontier Road Exit 440 I-80 Omaha, NE 68138 402-894-3050 www.wernercycleworks.com

CoolBikerStuff.com 1606 P Avenue Milford, Iowa 51351 877-816-2200 Follow us on Facebook!!

Fenders Honda 100 South 16th Street Ames, Iowa 50010 info@fendershonda.com 515-233-4727

Whipp Sales and Service, Inc 701 S 8th Street Clarinda, Iowa 51632 1.800.477.0195 www.whippsalesandserv.com

Crispy’s Biker Apparel Cedar Rapids, Iowa Find Us On Facebook 319-241-0916

Leer’s Cycle Center 101 Fletcher Avenue Waterloo, Iowa 50701 1-800-870-6058 www.leerscyclecenter.com

Wiebler’s Harley-Davidson 5320 Corporate Park Drive Davenport, IA 52807 563-355-6437 www.wieblers.com

Dealers

Metro Harley-Davidson 2415 Westdale Drive SW Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52404 319-362-9496 www.metro-motorsports.com

Zylstra Harley-Davidson 1930 E 13th Street Ames, Iowa 50010 515-232-6223 zylstrahd.com

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. Let them know that you saw them here in Thunder Roads. If you know a business that would like to advertise in Thunder Roads Iowa Biker Friendly Places, please email vernon@thunderroadsiowa.com

Biker Accessories

Baxter Cycle 311 4th Street Marne, Iowa 51552 712-781-2351 www.baxtercycle.com Brenny’s Motorcycle Clinic 4426 State Street Bettendorf, IA 52722 (563)359-7222 www.BRENNYS.com Carroll Cycle Center 1327 Plaza Dr Carroll, Iowa 712-792-1610 www.carrollcycle.com

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Nishna Valley Cycle HONDA – YAMAHA – KTM Atlantic, Iowa 50022 1-888-577-6406 www.nishnavalleycycle.com Okoboji Harley-Davidson 1005 Eastview Avenue Okoboji IA, 51355 712-332-7700 www.erniesharley.com

National Motorcycle Museum 102 Chamber Drive Anamosa, Iowa 52205 319-462-3925 Nationalmcmuseum.org National Sprint Car Hall of Fame/ Museum One Sprint Capital Place Knoxville, Iowa 50138-0542 www.sprintcarhof.com 641-842-6176 Okoboji Classic Cars Museum and Restoration Shop 810 Jeppeson Road West Okoboji, Iowa 51351 712-332-8029 Vintage Sound 93.1 FM Muscatine’s Premier “B Side” Station Request Line (563)263-9393 www.Vintage931.com Listen ANYWHERE with free mobile app

Food and Drink 4 Way Good Eats Where Friends Meet Wed - Sun 7 a.m. to close Luxemburg, IA. 563-853-3451 Full menu of All Homemade Goodness! 411 Main/Rocket Joe’s 411 Main Street Griswold, Iowa 51535 712-778-4111

Entertainment

FB 411 Main Street Bar & Rocket Joes

Book Em Dano’s 33 S Main Street Denison, Iowa 51442 712-263-9818Mon-Sat 4-2 Dancers Nightly 5-1:30

Barney’s 203 S Mill Street Wadena, Iowa 52169 563-774-2525 Barney’s Wadena on Facebook

Celebrations DJ & Karaoke Services Newton, IA 641-521-8036 Any Occasion or Event Celebrationsdjiowa.com Facebook/Ray Johansen

Baxa’s Sutliff Store & Tavern 5546 130th Street NE Lisbon 319-624-2204 Cold Beer, Delicious Food, Good Music & Great Times!

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Bikerz 313 Main Ave. ClearLake, IA 50428 641-440-4255 Noon-2am 7 days a week

Cede’s Bark Bistro 519 W. Main St. Sac City, IA 50583 712-662-8072 2 Wheel Thursday $2 Beers

Breezy Hills Winery 31735 Tamarack Rd. Minden, IA 51553 712-485-2083 www.breezyhills.com

Chopper’s 601 Rhomberg Avenue Dubuque, Iowa 52001 563-556-9666 Open Noon-Close 365/Year

Ferg’s Bar & Grill 806 Hwy 30 Grand Junction, Iowa 50107 515-738-5416 Where Good Friends Meet

Broken Throttle Saloon 621 Highway K45 Whiting, Iowa 712-455-1096 We are on Facebook

Coon’s Corner 302 Front Street Neola, Iowa 51559 712-485-2068 Coon’s Corner on Facebook

Fro’s Pub ‘N Grub 309 Cedar St, Wilton 563-732-3977 Fro’s Pub n Grub on Facebook A Surprise Around Every Corner

Buck Snort 113 4th Street Neola, Iowa 51559 712-485-9090 The Buck Snort on Facebook

Dam Riverview Sports Bar The Rivers Closest Watering Hole Guttenburg, IA 563-252-4400 Unbeatable Views, Drinks, & Food!! Enjoy our Deck over The River!!

George And Dales Bar & Grill Downtown East Dubuque,IL Open 11 am 7 days a week Wed Bike Night 815-747-8810

Cadillac Jack’s 106 Main Street Baxter, Iowa 50028 641-227-3611 Cadillac Jack’s on Facebook

Desperados 105 E 5th Street Atlantic 712-243-7087 Home of Cold Beer, Good Times, Pizza & Wings

C&L Sandbar 103 North Noyes Street Mondamin, IA 51557 712-646-2300 or 712-216-0975 Hours Daily 11-close

Doc’s Roadhouse 309 East 7th Street Logan, Iowa 51543 712-644-3636 Open 365-8 am to Close

Captains Quarters 807 Main Adel, Iowa 50003 M-F 2-12, Sat 10-2, Sun 12-12 515-993-4417

Dolly’s Bar & Grill 109 N. Pine Street Auburn, Iowa 51433 712-688-2220

Catfish Charlie’s On the Mississippi River 1630 E. 16th Street Dubuque, IA 52001 (563)582-8600 www.CatfishCharliesDubuque.com

Come for the Food, Stay for the Scenery

Do Drop Inn 403 3rd Avenue Under the Water Tower Jamaica, Iowa 50128 515-314-0783

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Durango Depot 736 Burtons Furnace Road Open 3 to close Best Scenic Road With the Best Food!

563-552-2291

Good Sons 2815 Beaver Ave Ste 102 Des Moines, Iowa 515-681-5375

Iron Saddle Saloon 39 S Main Street Dayton, Iowa 50530 515-547-3311 J.R. Willie’s Gateway to the Beautiful Hill Country

Colesburg, IA 563-856-5095 OPEN M-F 10AM S-S 7 AM Home of the Willie Whopper Keasey’s Hideaway Lounge 911 Court Street Adel, Iowa 50003 515-993-3001 Kelly’s Irish Pub & Eatery 563-344-0000 2222 E 53rd Street #10 Davenport, Iowa 52807 Great Food, Great Service, Great Atmosphere

Knickers Saloon 2186 Central Avenue Dubuque, Iowa 52001 563-557-0887 365 Days a Year Knickers Saloon on Facebook Knuckleheads Anamosa, IA 319-462-2724

Goozman’s Westside Bar & Grill Harlan, Iowa 712-755-2259 Goozman’s Westside on Facebook

Open M-F 11-2, S-S 10-2 The Knucklehead Burger “Git IT IN YA”

Haverhill Social Club 202 1st Street Haverhill, Iowa 50120 641-475-3321 Mon-Sat 10-2, Sun 12-12

Lampe’s Pub 608 Iowa Avenue Dunlap, Iowa 51529 712-643-5781 Open 7 days a week at 11 AM

Hawkeye Bar & Grill 110 North 4th Street Mapleton, IA 51034 712-882-1226

Los Altos Greenfield, Iowa 641-221-9081 Stuart, Iowa 515-523-8000 Story City, Iowa 515-733-1518

Mon-Sat 10:30 a.m. ~ Sun 12:00 p.m.

Huffy’s Mule Barn 802 Main Street Anita, Iowa 50020 712-762-9995 www.huffysmulebarn.com

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Lugger’s 201 N Main Street Kimballton, Iowa 51543 712.773.8620

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Midway Tavern 206 1st Street Soldier, Iowa 712-884-2230 www.midwaytavernsoldier.com Minden Bowl Café & Lounge 209 Broadway Street Minden, Iowa 51553 712-483-2937 Minden Bowl on Facebook Montgomery Street Pub 207 East Montgomery Street Creston, Iowa 50801 641-782-2165 Papa Joe’s 117 South 6th Street Missouri Valley, Iowa 51555 712-642-9015 Pearl Street Social Club 110 Pearl Street SW Shellsburg, Iowa 52332 319-436-7100 Find Us On Facebook! Pines Steakhouse Oinkers Lounge & Grill 1500 E 7th Street Atlantic, Iowa 50022 712-243-3606 M-F 11AM-, S-S 4PMPizza Ranch DENISON 510 HWY 39 North Denison, Iowa 712-393-3333 Check Us Out on Facebook Open 7 Days a Week Pizza Ranch HARLAN 613 Court Street Harlan, Iowa 51537 712-755-2262 Check Us Out on Facebook Open 7 Days a Week 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

Sidetracked 206 West Union Street Creston, Iowa 50801 641-782-8534

The Roadhouse 105 Washington Marne, Iowa 51552 712-781-2272 Home of the Marne Burger

Sportsman Bar & Grill 103 1st Street Pisgah, Iowa 51564 712-456-2222 FOOD, FUEL, FUN Stumpy’s Bar & Grill 423 Main Street Duncombe, Iowa 50532 515-543-4222 Stumpy’s Bar & Grill on Facebook The Detour Bar & Grill Good Food, Cold Beer, Hot Staff M-F 3:30 - 2:00, Wknds 12:00 - 2:00 Petersburg, IA (563) 875-7632 “By God, Lets Have One!!” The Edge 3157 Joliet Avenue Missouri Valley, Iowa 51555 712-642-2229 The Edge on Facebook

The Sawmill Bar & Grill Now with a Full Menu 401 Main St New Market, IA 51646-3079 712-585-3601 The Wagon Wheel 521 E 7th Washington, Iowa 52353 319-653-3637 Wagon Wheel Tap on Facebook

2A Firearms Training Training to Protect Your 2nd Ammendment Rights 641-439-6660 Craig.2aft@gmail.com Dales’ Guns Buy-Sell-Trade-Gunsmithing 109 Main Street Ute, Iowa 712-885-2671 rustyshot2000@yahoo.com Locked and Loaded Outfitters 612 Market Street Harlan, Iowa 51537 712-235-4867

T.J.’s Pourhouse 100 E. Washington Street Exira, Iowa 50076 712-268-2353 Open M-SAT.@11, SUN.@ NOON

www.LockedandLoadedOutfitters.com

Tobey Jacks Mineola Steak House Mineola, Iowa 712-526-2078 Open 7 Days a Week Check Us Out on Facebook

Tues,Wed,Fri 9-5, Thurs 9-7, Sat 8-12

The Getaway Uncle Harley’s Bar & Grill 202 W Mayne, Blue Grass (563)381-1717 Great Pizza & Food Bikers ALWAYS Welcome

Where to Go When You Need a Break!

221 Main Street Vail, Iowa 51465 712-677-2200 The Home Plate Diner 304 E. 30th Street Des Moines, Iowa 50317 515-262-7000

Vic’s Main Tap 304 Broadway Audubon, Iowa 50025 712-563-2122 Opens M-F 3, Sat 10, Sun 3

The Lewis Place 506 W Main Street Lewis, Iowa 51544 712-769-2290 Come Relax in the Beer Garden

Wilson’s Tap and Recreation 1008 Story Street Boone, Iowa 50036/ 515-433-1395

The Lounge 1005 Chatburn Ave Harlan, Iowa 51537 712-755-5050

Woobies 134 W. Main St. New London, IA 52645 319-367-2211

The Lounge Harlan Iowa on Facebook

The Onion Grove Bar & Grill 502 Lombard St, Clarence (563)452-3030 Check out our fun on Facebook!!

Guns and Ammo

Shooter’s Outlet 114 Main Street Arcadia, Iowa 51430 712-689-2772 www.shootersoutlet.net SR Gunsmithing AGI Certified Gunsmith Scott Rule Council Bluffs, IA 402-850-5787 scottrule@q.com

Insurance Freedom Insurance Services LLC Motorcycle.Home.Business.Life.Health

Shane Baker 712-310-7475 sbaker@fisomaha.com Matt McCall Insurance Agency State Farm Insurance 102 East South St, Tipton 563-886-6120 www.mattmccall.net

Woody’s Roadside Tavern 100 West Jefferson Albion, Iowa 50005 (641) 488-2220 Woody’s Roadside Tavern on Facebook

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 Shenanigans Pub-Dubuque 3203 Jackson Street Dubuque, Iowa 563-513-4001 Open 364 - 3 pm - 2 am

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Legal Hupy and Abraham sc, pc Lawyers for Bikers 800.800.5678 Hupy.com IowaBikerLawyer.com Pete Leehey Law Firm, P.C. Riding and Defending Your Rights for Over 30 Years 977-209-9452

Photo and Art Ullrich Photography PO Box 1842 Clinton, Iowa 52733 563-243-8715 www.natanic.com

Services BCS Computers 100 Industrial Road Guthrie Center, Iowa 50115 641-747-3344 www.brubakercomputer.com Ben Franklin/Radio Shack 106 N Wilson Jefferson, Iowa 50129 515-386-4122 Hometownvarietyinc.com Hoker Trucking NOW HIRING Dixon, Iowa Hokertucking.com 563-843-2763 Peebles Plumbing & Heating Luxaire & Mitsu 613 Main Street Griswold, Iowa 51535 712-778-2417

River Street Auto - 118 River St. Iowa Falls - 641.648.5004 Motorcycle Tires & Auto Repairs We Fix Everything Except a Broken Heart

Butterfield’s M.C. Parts 8025 Blondo Street Omaha, NE 68134 402-391-3768

Scary Jerry’s Wedding Service 641-860-0575

Chuck’s Cycle Service and Repair 714 East 7th Street Washington, Iowa52353 319-461-5278

Sound and Service Bike/Car/Home Audio and TV 712 Quint Avenue Carroll, Iowa 51401 712-792-5403

Creative Concepts Collision 422 Market Street Harlan, Iowa 51537 712.755.2231

Southwest Iowa Sandblasting Mike Magers 65162 Oxford Rd Atlantic, Iowa 50022 712-249-3995

Custom Paint Specialists 2905 Delaware Avenue Des Moines, Iowa 50317 515-971-4579 Facebook.com/CPSpaint

Tame Your Mane at MY BARBER 7th & Fillmore, Davenport 563-322-8762 Biker Owned & Operated

Dead Heads Eng, Fab, Repairs & Sales 426 Railway Street Gillett Grove, Iowa 51341 deadheadsmceng@gmail.com 712-835-3353

United Stop & Shop 810 Hwy 175 Stratford, Iowa 50249 515-838-2833 91% Premium Nolead 6:00am - 10:00pm

Shops and Fabricators Bent Wrench Cycles 911 7th Street Harlan, Iowa 51537 712-235-2453 Bent Wrench Cycles on Facebook Bob’s Atomic Garage 2850 16th Ave SW Cedar Rapids 319-200-4257 60+ Years of Experience In HD & American V-Twin Motors

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Elite Auto Upholstery & Embroidery

Specializing in Motorcycle Seats 1313 Walnut Street Des Moines, Iowa 50309 515-276-4392 F & J Racing 701 N 3rd Ave Marshalltown, Iowa 50158 641-752-8651 www.fandjracing.com

Nelson Machine & Forge General Machining, Ornamental Iron, Weld/Fab

70 Washington Street Marne, Iowa 51552 712-781-2220 Pike Run Services 320 Main Nichols, Iowa 52766 Shop 319-723-4244 Cell 319-330-4541 Revolution Cycles 120 South Main Street Baxter, Iowa 50028 641-507-9250 www.rev-ia.com Steffens Cycle Shop LLC 1311 E 7th Street Atlantic, Iowa 50022 712-243-3076 M-F 9-5 Most Sat 9-12 Or Call Waderich’s Towing 420 S Main Street Denison, Iowa 51442 Phone 712-263-3687 Cell 712-263-9685

To buy ad space in our directory, call 712-249-5630 or email vernon@thunderroadsiowa.com

HetzStudio.com (563)263-2803 Muscatine, IA Full Custom Paint, Pinstriping & Airbrush Main Street Bikes and Trikes 522 Main Street Granville, Iowa 51022 712.727.3515 www.shopmsbt.com

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Rolling into January there is generally not a lot of riding, but there can be some biker fun to be had. The swap meet and bike show season starts in Iowa and the surrounding areas and that, at least, gives us a good chance to get out and about with other bikers that are sick of this cold and snow. January 23-25th starts the season off with a big show in Rock Island. This Quad Cities favorite for 32 years is always a blast. With the show under new ownership, it will be one of the best yet!

river with the Midwest Motorcycle Show held in conjunction with the World of Wheels on February 27th to March 1st. Tom at Werner Cycle Works is an incredible host with plenty of bikes and biker vendors in the NW corner of the Century Link Center on this weekend. Also that same weekend is the AMCA National Meet in Fremont on February 27th and 28th.

The month of March kick off with Joe’s other show for the winter in Cedar Rapids on March 8th with the Parts Girl Promotions Swap meet. Another Sunday only show packs in the vendors and spectators with plenty to see and do in a single day. March 13-15th brings the World of Wheels show in Chicago. Join Nate Ullrich and clan at this awesome event and check out some of Nate’s nationally known work at one The same weekend, but only a one day event is the 24th in of the busiest WOW shows in the nation. March 28-29 could Ottumwa. The Southern Iowa Motorcycle Swap meet may just have what you need to finish your projects. The next day be a nice weekend getaway to St Paul to the Donnie Smith Bike Show and Swap meet. on Sunday January 25th is Wild Wade’s Swap Meet at the fairgrounds in Des Moines. This is predominantly a car type The North Iowa Motorcycle Expo in Mason City rounds of thing, but bikers dig cars too right? out the shows and swap meets for the year with ABATE D7 hosting a great weekend late enough in the year, you may just Starting in February on the 1st is the Parts Girl Promotions get to ride to. One of the last but not least of the year for this Swap meet in Rock Island. Joe puts on one hell of a show in a one day, Sunday event. His are always the biggest parts type of events is the F&J Racing 20th Annual Blessing of the Bikes in Marshalltown. Jackie has been the driving force only types of shows that draw in bikers from all over. In behind this event, and this will be her last one. She is going Cedar Rapids on February 7th is the Big Boys Toy Show. to hand over the reins after this spring, so don’t miss her last February 14-15th is the ever popular Capital City Show one. It should be a great day for the crowd and the vendors and Swap meet at the Fairgrounds in Des Moines. Tator’s shows always have a great mix of bikes, parts, entertainment, by getting blessed, having some fun, and partaking in some of the cool entertainment. and tons of fun. This is an Iowa must see in mid-February. Across the river on February 20-22 is the Lincoln Bike Show, as well as the 21st and 22nd Rod and Custom Bike/Car show See you out at the show! Vernon in Monticello. The month closes up back across the little

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99 Counties to tour on the bike, 99 counties to tour, take one down, drive on around, 44 counties to tour on the bike. A few years back, a summer riding goal was to ride through each one of the counties of Iowa, and what was found was a wealth of interest and beauty. Each month I will revisit each county as a featured article. I will tell you about new things to see, places to ride, and give you a little spark of touring curiosity for our state of Iowa. Lee L County Iowa I Becoming B a part of the t riding community c has h been rewarding. r I have met so s many funny and f interesting i people. I p have been h to t so many cool places tucked away all over our great state of Iowa and I have been to eye opening and fascinating events! My journey through Lee County, Iowa was facilitated by a gentleman that I met at the Freedom Rally last summer, Captain Ron. You may not know him personally but if you every rode your bike through the “back 40” camping area you undoubtedly heard him calling out “hit it hit it”. Well Ron and I definitely ”hit it” off when he showed me some really great places in Lee County! Lee County is old, established in 1836 but holds the distinction of being the only county in the state to have two county seats. A large contingency of followers of the

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cool building architecturally speaking, but I digress. I hooked up with Captain Ron by way of Hwy 16 to County Road J40 on into his place in West Point and I must say the drive was beautiful. The hills and curves are top notch! We took off on J40 east out of town to go to his favorite motorcycle shop, Backroad Cycle Service, on 330th just north of Fort Madison. Charlie and his wife Joan are longtime ABATE members, Harley fanatics and the kind of people you want to do business with. When you come in they treat you like family. Captain and I spent a short bit visiting with them and then hopped on the bike to leave. Well let’s just say somebody left tthe key turned on and we o all know how a tthat turns out. We then had W tthe pleasure of rolling o Captain’s C Victory into the V Harley shop… H ssomething you DO NOT y ssee everyday. After trying A tto charge the battery to no avail, we put in a new battery and were on our way. o We traveled down 330th St. to Hwy 61 W tthat took us here and there; past the old prison in Fort Madison, which is o monstrous. What really fascinated me m was downtown and this little place w called Faeth’¬¬s Cigar Store. This place c h has almost everything a man and some w women could want! Guns, ammo, fishing ttackle, cigars and it is a bar, gotta love the A ATF baby! The third generation owner o of this fine establishment doesn’t mince w words and has a knowledge base as d deep as they come. Some of his kids and ttheir spouses help him run things these days. They host a bike night in the summers, usually on the 3rd Thursdays of the month during June, July and August but make sure you double check before you head over, they might be changing it to the 2nd Thursday.

C Community of C Christ- Latter Day S Saints settled in the a area and across the M Mississippi into the n neighboring Illinois C County of Hancock; Captain and I jumped a after being run out of back on the bike and M Missouri. John Smith headed down Hwy h had stakes in both 61 to the little burg of c counties. If you look Montrose. He wanted iin the pictures you me to put something c can see the white tasty in my mouth and d domed worship did he ever choose a c center, a very good place, Kinnick Thunder Roads Magazine of Iowa on Facebook www.thunderroadsiowa.com w ww w

on the River! The o view of one of the v wider parts of the w rriver is phenomenal. We were fortunate W enough to be there e during an Iowa d game and the g excitement was e palpable. Great p ffood, great people, great view! g Once we took off on O X28 from Kinnick X ttowards Keokuk, Captain Ron pointed out the fore mentioned temple, off across the river to the east. Keokuk has a picturesque downtown and a really neat swivel train bridge that you can watch do its thing as the barges come through the area. It came to the point in the day where we were getting thirsty, so Captain Ron took me north on 218, west on J28 and back north on 243rd Ave. to Papa’s, formerly known as the Mule Barn. It’s a big open place with a friendly bartender and plenty of parking, but the parking lot is partially gravel just so you are aware before you pull in. We went back south on Hwy W 61 to W62 west for a really 6 great ride, we continued g north on Hwy 27 to J57 on into n Christian Herschler Winery in C Franklin, Iowa. The history of F tthis place is kind of incredible dating back to before the d Civil War. The current owners C have restored the 1800’s h house to its former glory. You h can drink some incredible c wine, stay the night in the w guesthouse, wonder around g tthe large gardens or just do a ttasting and be charmed by the owner’s funny, knowledgeable o daughter! d As it happens when you are having a good time the day began to run short. A long day of visiting and touring was coming to an end. We swung in for one last beverage at one of our fine distribution points, Phil’s Pub in West Point and I had to bid Captain Ron adieu. The history, the river, the people, and the places all make Lee County, Iowa well worth the trip down to the southeast corner of our fine state! Next month takes us into the belly of the metropolitan beast, Linn County. Stay warm, and just think in just eight short weeks you will be getting that bike back out, you y won’t be able to help yourself, you yo u will “hit it” just like Captain Ron always says! a al w Sources Available Upon Request DRing dring@thunderroadsiowa.com d dr Thunder Roads Magazine of Iowa on Facebook

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Si Since 2008 the th Taylor T l County C t Fairgrounds in Bedford has been host to the h llargest non-profit/charitable fi / h i bl rally in Iowa. With the motto “We Rally to Give”, it is an event that is definitely worth attending. The Seventh Annual Across the Border Raid continued the tradition of donating all proceeds to those in need. Some of the causes this rally helps to support include children in need medically, food pantries, and college scholarships to name a few. Upon pulling through the main gate this year, we were greeted by a friend of the TRMI family, Marcus. Thanks to Marcus commandeering the camera, we were able to relax a bit and take in all that Bedford has to offer…a rare treat when covering an event for the magazine. Thank you for the help… and a bigger thank you for getting such great photos. Oh yeah…and returning the camera unharmed! The weather was great all weekend, and the events did not disappoint. There was a hypnotist, as well as live music to provide entertainment near the beer garden. The girls running the bike wash were also a good source of entertainment for many. Who doesn’t love a good bike wash, right? The Homemade Bikini Contest was a lot of fun, and the wet t-shirt contest was eventful as well. A word of advice if I may…Ladies, please consider checking the audience prior to signing up…you never know who 20 - TRMI JANUARY 2015

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might i ht be b waiting iti for f the th show. h LOL. LOL The Th rodeo games were attended by many, and were good d the h participants i i d sports. In addition to provided entertainment, there were also several fun runs, as well as a poker run. Merchandise and food vendors were abundant as well. A big thank you to those who opened early…I would have been lost without my morning coffee. In addition to the entertainment and food available on site, the people in attendance were top notch as well. We had the opportunity to visit with many old friends, as well as meet a lot of new ones. The entire atmosphere of the rally makes it one of our favorite to attend. It is such a laid back, fun party that if you haven’t been yet, I highly encourage you to do so. You won’t be disappointed. The hospitality provided both at the fairgrounds, and throughout the town of Bedford is worth the trip. A good time combined with the opportunity to give back is what you will find at the rally each year. Make sure you check it out at acrosstheborderraid.com, where you can check out past events as well as order advance tickets for the Eighth Annual ABR, scheduled for July 30-August 1 2015. We’ll see you there! Melanie Schwarte

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With this edition of Thunder Roads Magazine of Iowa great things are happening. First and foremost, the front cover says Volume 6 Issue 1 that means TRMI is officially entering its sixth year of

to believe it was female because it wasn’t stopping to ask for directions either. I remember the 2014 riding season offering a lot of great

production. Time changes many things but as the magazine enters another year some things remain the same. This publication couldn’t happen without the sponsors, the readers and the TRMI family. Additionally, it remains “About Iowa, For Iowa, From Iowa” and to top it all off, its still FREE! This month also officially kicks off the 2015 Riding Season. It might still be a little cold for some riders but we are another month closer to warmer days. It is also the one year anniversary of my warped brain having an epiphany. That means I had a great idea last year at this time. Of course like many great ideas just because I can dream it up doesn’t mean that I will successfully follow through. One year ago, I decided that I would keep a diary of the 2014 riding season. Then I would fondle the pages, review all the good times and write the “The Riding Year in Review” for this edition. So this is how I remember the 2014 Riding Season. During January and February it was pretty cold, there wasn’t much riding going on and it was almost too cold to do any wrenching. By the end of March, I had managed to get a couple of quickies under my belt. There is a price for riding too early in the season, you may have heard of it, its called brain freeze. It hurts like hell for a while, can dull the senses and impair the reflexes but it’s not contagious. By the time April rolled into Iowa the riding season was in full swing. It was time to get serious about getting the knees in the breeze. I now realize that the brain freeze caused a horrible case of CRS, that’s can’t remember shit. Needless to say I completely forgot about the diary, which is all right because diaries are for sissies not the leather and grease lifestyle.

opportunities to ride in the rain. I don’t mind riding in the rain, in fact I remember a few days that I was hoping for a light rain just too cool things off. What really pisses me off is trying to figure out how to roll the rain gear back up. I have asked several riders education course instructors to include folding the rain gear in the curriculum. They just look at me like I’m strange. I don’t think they know how to fold it properly either. I remember accidently hitting an “oh shit” pot hole, you know the ones. They appear at the exact same moment that you realize it’s too late to miss them. I hit that damn pot hole so hard, I nearly bit my tongue in half. My tongue swelled up so bad, a week later I was still talking like my IQ had dropped 40 points. I made it to a number of events outlined in the TRMI event list and patronized a variety of sponsors. The sponsors get real excited when you mention that you saw their ad in the magazine. I used that line on one sponsor and was immediately offered free food and drinks. I was feeling pretty good about that until I realized it was customer appreciation day and the food and drinks were free for everyone. Still pretty cool in my book. Get out and celebrate the New Year, be sure to save some enthusiasm for the 2015 riding season and another great year of Thunder Roads Magazine of Iowa. Shifty LaRue

I remember several near misses last year. The first one was a cage driver, driving under the influence of cell phone stupidity. I firmly believe this crime should include the removal of thumbs. The second one occurred when I rolled up on a deer, it wasn’t sure if it was coming, going, stopping, U turning or swerving. It was having a hard time making up its mind, which leads me 22 - TRMI JANUARY 2015

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Wednesday

New Year’s Day

Thursday

Friday

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Martin Luther King Jr.’s Birthday

Tuesday

JANUARY 2015

Doors Open: 1pm to 10pm on Friday 10am - 10pm Saturday 10am - 3pm Sunday Friday- Military Appreciation Day, Free Entry with Military ID Sat Saturday- Dwyer & Michaels 2015 Classic Car Unveiling 11am-1pm Models, Cars, and Car Owners on hand to Sign Autographs

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Wild Wade’s 35th Annual High Performance Swap Meet & Trade Show Des Moines 8am-3pm Iowa State Fairgrounds

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Solidarity: Union or fellowship arising from common responsibilities and interests.

Notice I said delay! Nothing is going to stop a dedicated group, but when the ride is to show support for each other, no amount of rain will stop that!

So what’s the big deal, right? If you wanted the definition you would have looked it up yourself, I know… The big deal is, not only knowing what it means, but to show what it means. We all do this in our lives in different ways. We show it when we ride with our biker wave. We feel it within our HD, or Honda, or BMW groups. And we feel it in our unions

Our local dealership made a special effort to support this group. They usually close at 3pm, but on this day, Metro Harley Davidson stayed open until 8pm so these folks could have a great place to hang out afterwards. The band – 8 Seconds – played from 5 until 8. We had food, drink and friends, what more could a gal ask for?!

then show it by supporting their ride. August 23rd was the 4th annual Solidarity Ride. Obviously, as the name kinda gives away, this was a ride to show the fellowship, the solidarity, within our local unions. Ironworkers, Pipefitters, Teamsters, Laborers and Painters were there, to name a few. As we know, weather always plays a role when we ride. Sometimes we call it our biker shower. Sometimes we call it a pain, and when we have a benefit ride, it definitely becomes a pain. This year was the first time they had to delay because of the rain. 26 - TRMI JANUARY 2015

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Oh, and just to show what kind of stand-up men and women the organizers of this ride are, they donated all proceeds to another awesome group so they could continue their work for women and children. The other group you ask? Oh, you know, just the Chrome Divas of Cedar Rapids! Those ladies rock out with their bikes out! But don’t take my word for it, find a local chapter and see for yourself! The new gal - Rina

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have never met, and one going out of his way to make sure he got a fair deal. Try that with two Porsche owners. Ya right.

“Resources”

-Everybody needs a go-to resource in a pinch, what are you using? In the off season, it’s common for us to do modifications, tune ups and tear downs on our bikes, and also to make real progress on that bike you might be building on your bench. But what do you do when you have that nagging question? What are your resources? Where do you go when it’s two a.m. and you need some guidance? I’ve got some resources I’m happy to share, and this is by no means an all- inclusive listFor on the spot advice for your V-twin- www.vtwinforum. com For laying out that bench build try the chopper builder’s handbook -www.chopperhandbook.com An absolutely golden resource for all things related to building bikes- (I highly recommend this Facebook page)“For People Who Actually Build & Ride Motorcycles” However, you first have to be accepted by the mod, it’s not an open page . And stretching your credentials isn’t wise here- these are real bike builders and they will hurt your pride if you ask a stupid question. Michael “Wink” Winkelspecht is the moderator, and he does grudgingly tolerate “Stupid Question Saturday”, when we all vent a little and have some fun talking about sissy bar bearings and rotating the air in our tires. But if you’re looking for an obscure torque value for the head bolts on an old BSA, or you aren’t sure how to get a pilot bushing out of a case without potentially destroying a vintage primary made out of pure unobtanium, this is the group you want to ask. They really know their stuff, and answers are prompt and peer reviewed by the group. There was actually an instance where a member had ordered some twisted-metal bike parts from a California company that had advertised in a cycle publication. The parts never came, and the company stopped answering the phone. One of the members, Ed Stone, who looks like a Coke machine with a head on it, volunteered to go visit said company since he lived in the same town in Cali. Turned out the address was just a house, and Ed beat on the door until somebody answered. He got the guy to agree to send the member’s money back. As I recall he may have watched the guy drop it in the mail. I laugh when I think of the conversation that must have been going on when Big Ed showed up at the door- “there’s some enormous guy out here beating on the door” “tell him I’m gone” “screw you, you tell him” To me, that’s the essence of the brotherhood we all share as motorcyclists. Two guys that 28 - TRMI JANUARY 2015

Another page that’s a lot of fun, since we’re mostly all Iowans reading this- “North Iowa Man Stuff For Sale”. It too is a Facebook page that requires you to ask for membership. And although the content is not strictly related to motorcycles (in fact I’ve seen about everything you can imagine out there) it’s a really entertaining place to post and find cool stuff for sale and that includes a lot of bikes and parts. And although this might sound like a campfire legend, I actually saw a pretty decent 1967 Camaro project car posted for $1800 ask. It sold on the spot of course. I’ve had decent luck buying parts off of eBay, been a member since the mid 90’s, bought and sold 100’s of items and had only a few kinks in that entire time. If you want to find a bargain, look for parts that are listed in the wrong category, misspelled, or are open/returns. J&P Cycles has a “scratch and dent” section on their web page, you have to hunt for it a little, but it’s truly worth looking at from time to time. I bought the billet forward controls for my chop build on there. They were described as having “significant cosmetic damage” and I bought them for a song- like $90 for a set that sold for like $275. I opened the box fully expecting to have to wet sand and polish them for days, only to find out they were practically pristine. I eventually found a nick on the bottom which I didn’t even bother to fix because only ants see it. (weak joke, sorry). And most of all, don’t forget your local independent motorcycle shop. Those guys have wrenched on about everything, and chances are good they can save you a lot of heartache and busted knuckles. They probably own that special tool from Jim’s, and will happily help you along your way. And a few bucks to get going when you’re stuck is well worth it, we need to keep those small shops in business. Mark Mullins President MAG

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After graduating high school, Andy Miller of Marshalltown wasn’t happy with the path of self destruction he was on and decided to make a change. Enlisting in the Army brought that change that he was so desperately seeking; bringing focus and direction to his life over the 8 years that he served. Stationed at Ft. Hood in Texas, Andy was trained in mortars and infantry. He was deployed to Iraq and spent a year securing the northern borders of Iraq as a 50 cal. gunner. Unfortunately, after driving past a road side explosion while deployed, Andy lost all of the hearing in his right ear but is thankful that’s all that was damaged. Andy doesn’t come from a family with much military background, however, both of his brothers served. His older brother joined the service because he didn’t have a clue what he was going to do after high school and his younger brother enlisted because both his older brothers had and he wanted to follow in their footsteps. To this day, all three boys are thankful for the lessons learned and discipline instilled in the through their time in the service.

haven’t touched is the wheels, yeah, the wheels are original” and that statement says it all. Andy doesn’t come from a motorcycle family, but that doesn’t mean that he doesn’t want to begin the family tradition. The father of 4 and 5 year old boys, he has every desire to get his kids on 2 wheels as soon as he can. They both love motorcycles and every chance they get, will crawl up on Dad’s and pretend like they are the next generation of Easyriders. Andy is a HOG member; however, with those 2 young boys at home, he currently doesn’t have much time to devote to any other riding group. He does have a few friends that he rides with regularly (insert shout out to Jeremy, Jamie & Dustin here!) but prefers the solitude of tearing up a road by himself.

Blazing the trail for generations to come, Andy is instilling the desire to serve his country and the passion for all things 2-wheeled into his children. Hoping that one day they will look upon their father’s life and choose to serve their country with pride, Andy living his life to the fullest and creating new family traditions along the way. Thunder Roads Magazine Prior to serving, Andy was fascinated with motorcycles, but of Iowa thanks you for your service and sacrifice and so do had never obtained a license or bike. Upon returning home I! from service, Andy had lost interest in most of the hobbies he once enjoyed. Looking for a new hobby and recalling ~Pinky that inner desire to ride like the wind, Andy decided to purchase a Street Glide. That bike was the first bike he was hit by a car on; completely damaged, he traded that Street Glide off for another Street Glide…. and was once again hit by a car only 2 weeks after being hit the first time. (It was at this point in the interview that I suggested he may want to invest in some blaze orange riding gear.) His friends had always told him “you may love your Street Glide, but once you ride a Road Glide you’ll never look back”. Needing to replace the second bike that was hit, he threw his leg over a 2012 Road Glide and like his friends had told him, he never looked back. He loves the feel of the bike underneath him and the smooth ride can’t compare to his previous motorcycles. Andy has done pretty much everything to this new bike that he can, lowered it, installed Screaming Eagle modification parts, and not being a big fan of chrome, he had the chrome accents powder coated… going on with the list, he paused and said “basically the only thing that I Thunder Roads Magazine of Iowa on Facebook www.thunderroadsiowa.com 32 - TRMI JANUARY 2015

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Tappa’s Steakhouse 1620 Rockingham Road Davenport, IA 52802

will ride to eat

They say the path to “down under” (and I don’t mean Australia mate) is paved with good intentions. Those are exactly what Lynnette and I had when we started writing for Thunder Roads Magazine of Iowa. Our intentions were to cover the state and write food reviews from all over. Well, as you’ve probably noticed the eastern half of the state has been sorely lacking (um, we live in the western half... who knew!) Those of us associated with the magazine consider ourselves family and like any good family we have each other’s backs! Our family is stepping up and going to do reviews from other areas of Iowa to give more balance to our coverage. We will still be writing so keep those suggestions coming!!!! (You can’t get rid of me that easy!!!!) G’Day Mate Lynnette & Craig

look delicious; it was melt in your mouth fantastic. His hash browns were crispy, browned to perfection and smothered with melted cheddar cheese. This is the point in our dinner that Dan usually grabs for the salt & pepper, but the seasoning on the hash browns confirmed that those extra spices and condiments on the table were nothing more than useless decoration. The Garlic Shrimp came served in a bowl, swimming in divine garlic butter and like the steak, melted in your mouth.

My halibut was also cooked ideally, flaky but not dry, flavorful but not overwhelming and did I mention the clarified lemon butter?? A huge smile grew upon my face as I realized my entire plate was surrounded by clarified butter….. one butter warmer for my halibut, one ramekin for my sweet potato & I snagged the dish that held Dan’s garlic shrimp once he had finished the goodies out of it (all dinners are served with 2 slices of Texas I have driven past this place a million times while delivering magazines in the west end and never stopped in. However we toast, the waitress suggested dipping the toast in the garlic butter quickly discovered that quaint looking, small building is home and at that moment I realized she was indeed a genius!) The to one of the best places to grab a steak dinner in the area. The baked sweet potato was served with not only the ramekin of family owned business has been a staple in Davenport for years melted butter on the side, but also came along with a ramekin of brown sugar & cinnamon. Loving the natural sweetness of and we instantly realized why. Walking in the door, we were the sweet potato, I didn’t cover my potato with it, but did try a greeted by the entire staff (including the cook who was filling bite with it… and I think for a moment, I actually realized what a pitcher of water at the bar). The friendly staff made every heaven was like. customer feel like they were family, not only with the warm welcome, but joking and laughing with every patron in the place like they were old friends from middle school throughout their After we were through devouring the food on our plates, the waitress approached us and asked if we had saved room for any dinner (but not in an overwhelming, annoying way). dessert. Dan isn’t a big sweets guy, so I took it upon myself to order for the both of us. Before we could take a breath, the The menu proved to be full of great options for dinner. Aside from a great selection of char-grilled steaks, there were delicious waitress had returned with a Piled High Apple Pie a la Mode. salads, burgers, soups and fried chicken flying out of the kitchen The term “piled high” was a bit scary, considering the amount of food we had just ingested, but I just couldn’t pass it up. at record speed. Staying away from an agonizing ride home, When the plate arrived at Dan overlooked the 18 oz Porterhouse and ordered the 5 oz filet the table, I swear it was & garlic shrimp. I decided to go with something from the other a quarter of a whole pie side of the menu, so I ordered fish… just for the halibut! Noticwith 2 heaping spoonfuls ing the dessert menu and wanting to save room for a sweet treat of vanilla ice cream. The after our meal, we skipped ordering an appetizer, even though apples were still slightly the options all looked delicious. crispy and the cinnamon and spices in the filling Within 10 minutes, our meal made the pie rival some was served. Dan’s steak that have come out of my cooked medium rare, was not grandma’s oven. The only perfectly seared on the crust was flaky and just as delicious as the filling & outside, once cut into showed soon that plate held nothing more than crumbs. the ideal deep red in the center. The steakhouse ofBetween the great service, homey feeling atmofered a variety of steak sauces sphere and delicious food, it’s no wonder that Tappa’s has made a name for itself in Davenport. Along with the full dinner menu & full bar, Tappa’s boasts about their daily lunch specials, guaranteed to be one of the fastest sit down restaurants for the upon each table, but noon meal. As we unbuttoned the top button on our pants so we could comfortably ride home, we decided- WE HAVE TO GO not a single bottle was out of its table BACK SOON!~Pinky & Big D holder….. And there were a lot of steaks Until next month, ride safe and eat hearty! Craig Little craig@thunderroadsiowa.com being served! The first bite proved not PS If you have someplace you think we should check out in your neck of the woods, shoot me an email. only did the steak 34 - TRMI JANUARY 2015

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Riding ffor a S Ridi Smile il As the sun rose Saturday Sept 6th, 2014, I could tell it was going to be a great day for a fun ride. The bikers began to congregate in the parking lot of Roadrunners Roadhouse around 11 am and with 30 minutes left to register for the poker run, the Broken Spokes MC had surpassed last year’s registration numbers, almost doubling the number of bikes from 2013. Eighty-four bikes were registered on the run, we had all gathered together to enjoy a beautiful day upon 2 wheels and raise money for the University of Iowa Children’s Hospital, Cleft Palate Department. This is the only poker run in the state that benefits the University of Iowa Children’s Hospital and when Roadkill

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and his crew iinitially d hi iti ll approached the powers that be at the hospital, they were met with hesitance. However, after a successful inaugural ride last year the hospital was eager to assist the Broken Spokes with their planning in 2014 any way they could; even donating a few Hawkeye football and Olympic Trial Wrestling banners to the silent auction. After the check presentation on Oct 3, the Broken Spokes signed a promise to donate contract with the U of Iowa, pledging to donate $15,000 over the next 5 years. That goal will be easily reached through the hard work of this group and the generosity of Eastern Iowa bikers. Each attendee had the option of riding their choice of two

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routes, a short route that traveled 50 miles around the Davenport metro area and the longer route that took participants from Davenport to Buffalo, Muscatine, Blue Grass, Walcott, Donahue, Eldridge, Bettendorf and back to Davenport. As the bikes began to roll in after a wonderful day of riding, we were greeted with the rock and roll sounds of 3 local bands. A special thank you goes out to Hong Kong Sleepover, Battle Red and Shadowstone for not only donating their amazing performances in 2014, but promising to do the same for next year’s ride. With over 40 raffle baskets, 16 silent auction items, a bikini bike wash (to clean away the bugs and road grime that had accumulated along the way), a dunk tank, and a home-made wheel of fortune game, the Broken Spokes raised over $5,200 for the cleft palate ddepartment this year th ((again ddoubling the 2013 th nnumbers!). The Broken T Spokes would S like to send li oout a special thank you th to all who came out and generously donated to the cause as well as a HUGE thank you to all the Ladies of the Broken Spokes for all your hard work, organizing & setting up raffle items and putting up with their fellas while this dream went from concept to reality- they couldn’t have reached their goals without your support! Plan now to join us for the 3rd annual “Ride for a Smile” on September 12, 2015, and rack up some more miles for a great cause!! -Pinky

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Cindy Will 2008 VTS Honda Grand Mound

Felicity Pedersen 2006 HD 1200 Custom Sioux City

Cassie “Razzmatazz” Jones 2002 750 Shadow Keokuk 38 - TRMI JANUARY 2015

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A Harley Sales Rep returns home a day A large, large powerfully-built guy named Raymond early from a business trip. It’s after m meets a woman named Polly at a bar. After midnight. While en route home he asks a number of drinks, they agree to go back the cabby if he would be a witness. The to his place. As they are making out in bro suspects his wife is having an affair the bedroom, Raymond stands up and and he wants to catch her in the act. starts to undress. After he takes his shirt For $100, the cabby agrees. Quietly off, Raymond flexes his muscular arms arriving home, the husband and cabby and says, “See that, baby? That’s 1000 tip-toe into the bedroom. The husband pounds of dynamite!” Polly begins to switches on the lights, yanks the blanket drool. Raymond then drops his pants, back, and there is his wife in bed with strikes a bodybuilder’s pose, and says, another man! The husband puts a gun to referring to his bulging thighs, “See those, the naked man’s head. The wife shouts, “Don’t Don’t baby? That’s 1000 pounds of dynamite!” do it! I lied when I told you I inherited money. ney. P Polly is just aching for action at this point. HE paid for the ‘59 PanHead I gave you. HE Finally, Raymond drops his underpants, and paid for our new cabin cruiser. HE paid for after a quick glance, Polly grabs her purse your season Chicago Bears tickets. HE paid for and runs screaming to the front door. Raymond our house at the lake. HE paid for all this plastic surgery catches her before she is able to leave and asks, you love!” Shaking his head from side-to-side, “Why are you in such a hurry to go?” Polly then replies, the husband lowers the gun. He looks over at the cabby and “With 2000 pounds of dynamite and such a short fuse, I was says, “What would you do?” The cabby replies, “I’d cover afraid you were about to blow!” his ass with that blanket before he catches cold.” Q: What do you call a ninety year old man who can still masturbate? A while back, a group of Pekin, Illinois bikers were riding A: Miracle Whip. west on I-74 when they saw a girl about to jump off the MurrayBaker Bridge so they stopped. Richard, their leader, A young woman was having a physical examination and a big burly man of 43, gets off his Harley, walks through a was embarrassed because of a weight problem. As she group of gawkers, past the State Trooper who was trying removed her last bit of clothing, she blushed. “I’m so to talk her down off the railing, and says, “Hey Baby..... ashamed, Doctor,” she said, “I guess I let myself go.” The whatcha doin’ up there on that railin’?” She says tearfully, physician was checking hers eyes and ears. “Don’t feel “I’m going to commit suicide!!” While he didn’t want to ashamed, Miss. You don’t look that bad.” “Do you really appear “sensitive,” Richard also didn’t want to miss this think so, Doctor?” she asked. The doctor held a tongue “be-a-legend” opportunity either so he asked .......”Well, depressor in front of her face and said, “Of course. Now just before you jump, Honey-Babe...why don’t you give ole open your mouth and say moo.” Richard here your best last kiss?” So, with no hesitation at all, she leaned back over the railing and did just that ....... Flashlight and it was a long, deep, lingering kiss followed immediately A man and a woman started to have sex in the middle of by another even better one . After they breathlessly a dark forest. After about 15 minutes of it, the man finally finished, Richard gets a big thumbs-up approval from his gets up and says, “Damn, I wish I had a flashlight!”. The biker-buddies, the onlookers, and even the State Trooper, woman says, “Me too, you’ve been eating grass for the past and then says, Wow! That was the best kiss I have ever ten minutes!” had, Honey! That’s a real talent you’re wasting, Sugar Shorts. You could be famous if you rode with me. Why the Two brothers have a lifelong dream to immigrate to hell are you committing suicide?” “My parents don’t like America. They work hard and save their money. After me dressing up like a girl.” It’s still unclear whether she many years, they have saved enough money and finally jumped or was pushed. emigrate into New York. Before they begin building their new lives in America, they decide to see some of the Q: What is the difference between snowmen and famous places they dreamed of for so long; the Statue of snowwomen? Liberty, the Empire State Building, the Rockettes, and A: Snowballs. others. Eventually, they make their way to Coney Island. As they stroll down the beach, taking in all the newness of Two women walked into a department store, stopped at America, they see a very large billboard that reads: “HOT the perfume counter and picked up a sample bottle. One DOGS,” with a big arrow pointing down to a little hot dog sprayed the perfume on her wrist and smelled it. “That’s stand. Being hungry and seeing that having an American nice, isn’t it?” Sharon said waving her arm under her hot dog would be something new, they decide to try one. So friend’s nose. “Yeah. What’s it called?” “Viens a moi.” they order two hot dogs and sit on a nearby bench to enjoy “Viens a moi? What’s that mean?” A clerk offered some another piece of Americana. The first brother sets his hot help. “Viens a moi, ladies, is French for ‘come to me.’” dog in his lap, unfolds the paper wrapper, looks at his hot Sharon took another sniff. “That doesn’t smell like come to dog for a moment, and suddenly wraps it back up. He then me,” she said, offering her arm to her friend again. “Does turns to his brother and says, “What part of the dog did you that smell like come to you?” get?” Q: What do the Mafia and a pussy have in common? A: One slip of the tongue, and you’re in deep shit. 40 - TRMI JANUARY 2015

Q: Why did the Mafia cross the road? A: Forget about it.

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(undocumented people) a permit to stay only because they’ve gotten away with breaking existing law for at least five years.

What the Hell is Going On? Back in 1776 our founding fathers got together in Philadelphia and drafted the Declaration of Independence. A new free and independent country was born. Eleven years later in 1787, after the conclusion of the Revolutionary war many of the same men, along with others gathered in Philadelphia again to draft our Constitution. Two years later the Constitution was ratified and the new government was established.

In the end, no constitution can be self-enforcing. Government officials must respect their oaths to uphold the Constitution. It is our job as “we the people” to make sure that they do. It is up to us, to every generation, to preserve and protect it for future generations. The Constitution, and with it, the United States of America will live on only if it is alive in the hearts and minds of the people. A reminder, with the passing of another year comes the beginning of a new legislative session. Once again, people who have never met you or even know you exist, have the opportunity to legislatively change your life. Once again we will undoubtedly be facing several issues surely to impact the riding community. Some of what I’ve seen: 1. Raise the gas tax – almost guaranteed to happen unless enough of us show up to stop it. 2. Under 21 or under 18 helmet laws. Seems like every year someone who has never ridden a motorcycle wants to tell me how to dress. 3. Texting, emailing, distracted driving – like I’ve said before, if you really want to enforce it let motorcycle riders write the tickets. Seems like I see violations everywhere I go.

The Constitution, along with the Amendments is the supreme law of the land, the fundamental law. It begins with the words “We the people do ordain and establish this Constitution”. In other words ALL of the power comes from the people. The power the people give to government, to exercise on their behalf, is strictly limited. Within the bounds of the enumerated powers the Congress may enact legislation, but the President has a power to veto it, which ABATE of Iowa Lobby Day is Wednesday February 26th, Congress can then override only with a supermajority vote. at the State Capital on E 12th and Walnut in Des Moines. Arrive as close to 7:00am as possible. Take the day Nowhere in the constitution do the people give the power off, do it right now. Questions or comments – peter@ riderpromotions.com to do whatever he wants to the President. He or she can sign or not sign legislation, not just write it because they have a pen. By unilaterally just granting illegal aliens

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Jan 17 Metro HD “Winter SUCKS” party Cedar Rapids Jan 23-25 Rod and Custom Motorcycle and Car Show Rock Island, IL Jan 24 30th Southern Iowa Motorcycle Swap Meet Ottumwa Jan 25 35th Annual WIld Wades Swap Meet Des Moines Jan 31-Feb 1 Colorado Motorcycle Expo Denver, CO Feb 1 Parts Girl Promotions Swap Meet Rock Island IL Feb 6-8 J&P Int’l Motorcycle Show Minneapolis, MN Feb 7 24th Annual Metro HD Chili Cook-Off Cedar Rapids Feb 7 Big Boys Toy Show Cedar Rapids Feb 13-15 J&P Int’l Motorcycle Show Chicago, IL Feb 13-15 World of Wheels Kansas City Feb 14-15 Capital City Show and Swap Des Moines Feb 20-22 29th Annual Lincoln Bike Show Lincoln, NE Feb 21-22 46th O’Reilly Rod & Custom Bike/Car Show Monticello Feb 25 ABATE of Iowa Lobby Day Des Moines Feb 27-Mar 1 World of Wheels Omaha, NE Feb 27-28 Omaha Chapter AMCA National Swap Meet Fremont NE Mar 8 Parts Girl Promotions Swap Meet Cedar Rapids Mar 6-15 Daytona Bike Week Daytona Beach Florida Mar 13-15 World of Wheels Chicago, IL Mar 14 Metro HD Garage Sale Cedar Rapids Mar 28-29 28th Annual Donnie Smith Bike Show St Paul, MN Apr 11-12 North Iowa Motorcycle Expo Mason City Apr 18-19 Outlaw Street Drags Race Series Conesville Apr 24 Motorcycle Safety Forum IA Events Center, Des Moines Apr 25 Sleeping Angels Fun Run Boone May 2 International Female Ride Day Worldwide May 2 ABATE D14 Charity Ride/30th TGIS Party Washington May 9 F&J Racing 20th Annual Blessing of the Bikes Marshalltown May 16 Rosslyn’s Ride Anamosa May 22-24 Redneck Revival Conesville May 23-24 Midway Tavern Annual Fun Run, BBQ, Street Dance Soldier

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Jun 6 Carroll Cycle Center Rock N Ride Carroll Jun 13 7th Annual Bell Tower Festival Poker Run & Show Jefferson Jun 15 National Ride your Motorcycle to Work Day Jun 17-20 21st Annual Rally on the River QC Davenport Jun 20 Ernie’s Harley-Davidson 40th Anniversary Party Algona Jun 20 Vintage Rally and Bike Show Anamosa Jun 20 ABATE D14 31st Baldy Memorial Ride Fremont/What Cheer Jun 20 ABATE D14 30th District 14 Anniversary Party What Cheer Jun 20-21 Outlaw Street Drags Race Series Conesville Jun 27 28th Iowa Iron Butt Ride Ottumwa Jun 27-28 J&P Open House Anamosa Jul 2-4 31st Annual Freedom Rally Algona Jul 10-12 Combat Veterans Motorcycle Assoc. 39-3 Annual Benefit Garber Jul 11 Goozman’s Westside Poker Run Harlan Jul 30-Aug 1 8th Annual Across the Border Raid Bedford Aug 3-9 South Dakota Party Aug 8 AtlanticFest Ride In Bike Show Atlantic Aug 22 ABATE of Iowa M.A.R.S. Eldora Aug 29 Mighty Mississippi HOG MDA Hope Ride Dubuque HD Sep 4-6 Redneck Revival Conesville Sep 5-6 Midway Tavern Soldier Valley Run BBQ, Street Dance Soldier Sep 12 No Nipple Dipple Ride Buffalo Sep 12 Broken Spokes Ride For U of IA Children’s Hospital Davenport Sep 19-20 Outlaw Street Drags Race Series Conesville Sep 23-26 Bikes Blues & BBQ Fayetteville, AR Oct 17-18 Outlaw Street Drags Race Series Conesville

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 Date/Name of Event/Location to vernon@thunderroadsiowa.com

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