2 - TRMI MAY 2016
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May is a busy month for sure! Tons of things going on and the riding season is just starting to get really fired up. April had some wet, some cold, some wind, some more wind, and got the 2016 riding season going, but May is the month it usually explodes. Above and beyond riding, May is important for a few other reasons. First of all, May is the home of Memorial Day. This year it is on the 30th, and it gives us some time and reason to remember those that have given the ultimate sacrifice for us and d oour ur ur great Country! Remember the Soldiers that a w at wee have lost protecting the way of life that wee aass bikers hold so near and dear. Thanks to the he he Soldiers and their families that have paid the ultimate price of freedom. Without them doing what they did, we could not do what we do. There are quite a few Memorial Day events out there, so while you are enjoying the freedom to attend, to ride, to enjoy those around us, take pause and remember those that have gone before us for our freedom. May is also the month of Mother’s Day. If you are reading this, I am sure you have had a mother at some point. Thanks to the moms out there for giving us life and all that other stuff. We hope that you have an enjoyable day on May 8th and can do whatever it is that moms like to do. Go for a ride, go shopping, cook something, whatever floatss your boat, and just enjoy your day! May 21st is Armed Forces Day. Presidentt Harry S. Truman led the effort to establish ha single holiday for citizens to come togetherr aand nd nd thank our Military members for their patriotic service in support of our country. To celebrate locally here in Iowa, you can check out the Military Rider Page and read
On the Cover Jessica graces the cover of our May issue being all kinds of sexy with Travis Mericle’s Ironhead chopper. We hooked up with these two at Mason City at the Expo and just had to get some shots to share with you. Jessica was helping out with tattoo contest trophy girl duties, and looked too cute to let her get away without some photos. She is one of Scaryjerry’s Jems...Hottness for Hire. We wholeheartedly agree! More shots of Jessica can be seen in the work of Nate Ullrich at Lyfebehindbars.com 4 - TRMI MAY 2016
about the Armed Forces Freedom Ride out of Loess Hills HD in Pacific Junction. Another event across the state is also the same weekend; the Freedom Fest Bike Rally will be held in Epworth. This is the weekend to give thanks and to honor those serving right now. Other than those three big days, it is business as usual for a May in Iowa. The event listing is exploding like normal so check that out at the back of the magazine. Also on those same pages is tth the hee cu ccurr current rrren ent TRMI Bike Night Listing. If bike nnights ni ghttss ddid gh i not get rolling in April, they kick off May iinn M aayy and get people out and about. Check these pages, look for updates on the ooutt tth ou Thunder Roads Magazine of Iowa Facebook T Th huunn Page P Pa ag and Website, and let us know if there th he is an event or bike night that needs added. Email information to Vernon@ aad d thunderroadsiowa.com tth h The Tall Corn Run is up and running and people are still getting cards and checking in whenever they get the chance. There are a total of 44 spots on tthe map and information pages in the magazine, so check them out and get m yyour card and start to Check-In at spots aacross the state. You will get chances to win prizes and see some neat places and w I guarantee you will meet some cool folks in your travels. The more you Check-In, in the th he more chances you will have to win. You Yo Y ou can Check-In up to once per week aatt eeach a location, so get out there and have so some ome me fun! I wo would oulld like to send out a heartfelt thank you to alll of tthe al he rreaders and sponsors of the magazine. he Y Yo You u ma m may y no noti notice tii a little extra weight to the magazine this month, and that is due to sponsors wanting to get their places of business and events out to the public via Iowa’s premier biker magazine. We sure as hell try to stick to the About Iowa, For Iowa, From Iowa tagline on every cover, and the popularity of Iowa’s Biker Magazine shines through. This is the largest May issue ever! Thanks again to the sponsors of Thunder Roads Magazine of Iowa. If you darken their doors, tell them that you saw their ad in TRMI. Ride safe, be careful, have fun, and enjoy what the great state of Iowa has to offer! Vernon and Melanie Quote of the Month: “Politics is supposed to be the second-oldest profession. I have come to realize that it bears a very close resemblance to the first.” Ronald Reagan
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CMA Notes
Well, its full-on spring and you know what that means. OK, for some of you spring means allergies, but that’s not what I’m referring to. I’m talking about how you’ve had the bike out enough times to blow the winter stink off and now you’re riding with friends and you start noticing some changes have taken place since last fall. Maybe one friend has a new paint job on his bike, another friend added some chrome, and a third replaced the spoke wheels with mag wheels. Everyone is in the mood to freshen up their ride one way or another. (Believe what you want gentlemen, but this is a LOT like when your ladies want to freshen up their wardrobe with a few purchases!) I’ve observed over the years that it’s rare for anyone to leave their bike completely stock. While it’s true that many changes are made for comfort (cushier seat) or for practicality (bags that don’t leak) there are probably more changes made just because the rider wants an individual look to his bike, even if it’s nothing more than a cool set of iron cross mirrors to set it apart. That drive in us to be one-of-a-kind is pretty strong and is directly linked to our concept of having value. The more rare something is, the more value it seems to have. But most of us don’t have our own shops where we can machine any rare, cool stuff, so we’re stuck buying our individuality from our local bike dealer or from a catalog. Which I guess makes it not so individual after all. The interesting thing is that in our pursuit of uniqueness, we’re chasing after something we already have. Each one of us has unique DNA, unique fingerprints, and unique retina patterns. Even the microbes in our guts are unique! And yet with all that one-of-a-kind-ness, we’re told in Matthew 10:30 that God has the hairs on each of our heads numbered. Psalms 139:13, 16 & 17 states: “You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother’s womb. . . . You saw me before I was born. . . How precious are your thoughts about me, oh God. They cannot be numbered.” In spite of the fact that each of us is completely individual, God has taken the care to oversee our conception, no matter what the circumstances, and continues to be actively thinking about each of us day in and day out, even when we aren’t thinking about Him.
with the only God and His only Son, Jesus Christ. Think of the value of an only child, and consider what it must have cost God the Father to send Jesus to die as payment for our sins. The human quest for individuality has led us to dark places, but God’s plan is not to leave us there. He has bought us back through Jesus’ death and wants us to give our lives to Him. Don’t worry that giving yourself to the Lord means that you will have to become a “stock” Christian. Just as you enjoy using your oneof-a-kind finds on your bike, the Lord enjoys using the individuality of His children in the furthering of His good work. He created your uniqueness and His plan will not disappoint you. Blessings to you – Karla PS: Hope to see you at the bike blessing at the Community Fellowship Church in Blue Grass on Sunday, May 1, at 10am. The guest speaker is Billy Rivers. And speaking of uniqueness, the Harley-Davidson Heritage Softail being given away that morning will have a new, custom, one-of-a-kind paint job! 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 .
The concept of individuality began 6 - TRMI MAY 2016
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The Biker Friendly Business Directory is a list of establishments throughout Iowa that sponsor the magazine. You can pick up your copy here every month. Let them know that you saw them in TRMI. If your business would like to advertise in Thunder Roads Iowa Biker Friendly Business Listing and become a part of the network, please email vernon@thunderroadsiowa.com REGISTRATION/CHECK-IN SITE FOR THE TALL CORN RUN S CHECK-IN SITE FOR THE TALL CORN RUN
Biker Accessories CoolBikerStuff.com 1606 P Avenue Milford, Iowa 51351 877-816-2200 Follow us on Facebook!! Crispy’s Biker Apparel Cedar Rapids, Iowa Find Us On Facebook 319-241-0916 Leather & Hawgs 316 Main, Hornick, Iowa 121 1st St, Soldier, Iowa leather@wiatel.net www.leatherandhawgs.com
Dealers Baxter Cycle 311 4th Street Marne, Iowa 51552 712-781-2351 www.baxtercycle.com Big Barn Harley-Davidson 81 NW 49th Place Des Moines, Iowa 50313 515-265-4444 www.bigbarnhd.net Brenny’s Motorcycle Clinic 4426 State Street Bettendorf, IA 52722 (563)359-7222 www.BRENNYS.com
Route 65 Harley-Davidson 1300 S Jefferson Way Indianola, Iowa 50125 515.962.2160 www.route65hd.net
McGrath Dubuque Harley-Davidson 145 N Crescent Rdg Dubuque, IA 52003 563-557-3735 www.dubuqueharley-davidson.com
Uptown Motors Sales, Inc 310 Cleveland St Muscatine, IA 52761 563-263-2944 www.uptownmotorsales.com
McGrath Hawkeye Harley-Davidson 120 Westcor Drive Coralville, IA 52241 319- 545.7495 www.hawkeyehd.com
Whipp Sales and Service, Inc 701 S 8th Street Clarinda, Iowa 51632 1.800.477.0195 www.whippsalesandserv.com
Metro Harley-Davidson 2415 Westdale Drive SW Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52404 319-362-9496 www.metro-motorsports.com
Wiebler’s Harley-Davidson 5320 Corporate Park Drive 5 Davenport, IA 52807 563-355-6437 www.wieblers.com
Nishna Valley Cycle HONDA – YAMAHA – KTM Atlantic, Iowa 50022 1-888-577-6406 www.nishnavalleycycle.com
Zylstra Harley-Davidson 1930 E 13th Street Ames, Iowa 50010 515-232-6223 zylstrahd.com
Okoboji Harley-Davidson 1005 Eastview Avenue Okoboji IA, 51355 712-332-7700 www.erniesharley.com
Entertainment
Carroll Cycle Center 1327 Plaza Dr Carroll, Iowa 712-792-1610 www.carrollcycle.com Ernie’s Harley-Davidson 2613 Hwy 18 East Algona, IA 50511 515-295-7951 www.erniesharley.com Fenders Cycle and Motorsport 1500 E Army Post Road Des Moines, Iowa 50315 515-256-9062 www.fenderscycle.com
Churches
Fenders Honda 100 South 16th Street Ames, Iowa 50010 info@fendershonda.com 515-233-4727
Rebels In His Hands 600 16th Avenue Council Bluffs, Iowa Mark and Lora Schiller Pastors 712-329-9901
Heartland Harley-Davidson 117 S. Roosevelt Ave Burlington, Iowa 52601 www.heartlandhd.com 319-754-1100
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Loess Hills Harley-Davidson L 57408 190th Street Pacific Junction IA 51561 712-622-4000 loesshillshd.com
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Olsen’s Outdoor Power 2800 E 7th Street Atlantic Iowa 50022 712-243-4867 www.olsensoutdoorpower.com R/J Performance HWY 63 North Ottumwa, Iowa 52501 641.684.8400 www.rjperformance.com
Book Em Dano’s 33 S Main Street Denison, Iowa 51442 712-263-9818Mon-Sat 4-2 Dancers Nightly 5-1:30 Celebrations DJ & Karaoke Services Newton, IA 641-521-8036 Any Occasion /Rally or Event EmCee Facebook/Ray Johansen(Celebrations) Specializing in Weddings & Receptions National Motorcycle Museum 102 Chamber Drive Anamosa, Iowa 52205 319-462-3925 Nationalmcmuseum.org
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Okoboji Classic Cars Museum and Restoration Shop 810 Jeppeson Road West Okoboji, Iowa 51351 712-332-802
Cindi Mae’s 101 Main Street Earling, Iowa 51530 712-747-6262 Cindi Mae’s on Facebook
Knickers Saloon 2186 Central Avenue Dubuque, Iowa 52001 563-557-0887 365 Days a Year Knickers Saloon on Facebook
Sambetti’s Bar and Grill 1430 2nd Avenue Des Moines, Iowa 50314 515-245-9780 Mon-Sat 11a-2a, Sun 11a-7p
Food and Drink
Desperados 105 E 5th Street Atlantic 712-243-7087 Home of Cold Beer, Good Times, Pizza & Wings
Knuckleheads Anamosa, IA 319-462-2724 Like on FB Knuckleheads Pub & Grub Open M-F 11-2, S-S 10-2 The Knucklehead Burger “Git IT IN YA”
Scooters on Broadway 475 NE Broadway Des Moines, Iowa 515-288-1053 scootersonbroadway@hotmail.com
Dirty Ernies 201 1st Street NE Farley, Iowa 563-744-4653 Ride your Harley to Farley!
Lampe’s Pub 608 Iowa Avenue Dunlap, Iowa 51529 712-643-5781 Open 7 days a week at 11 AM
Screaming Eagle American Bar & Grill 228 East 4th Street Waterloo, Iowa 50703 319-235-8865 www.partyattheeagle.com
Durango Depot 736 Burtons Furnace Road Open 3 to close Best Scenic Road With the Best Food! 563-552-2291
Midway Tavern 206 1st Street Soldier, Iowa 712-884-2230 www.midwaytavernsoldier.com
Shenanigans Pub-Dubuque 3203 Jackson Street Dubuque, Iowa 563-513-4001 Open 364 - 3 pm - 2 am
Ferg’s Bar & Grill 806 Hwy 30 Grand Junction, Iowa 50107 515-738-5416 Where Good Friends Meet
Minden Bowl Café & Lounge 209 Broadway Street Minden, Iowa 51553 712-483-2937 Minden Bowl on Facebook
Shooters Bar 661 Main Anita, Iowa 712-249-7370 Mon-Fri 3:00-Close Sat-Sun 10:00-Close
Fro’s Pub ‘N Grub 309 Cedar St, Wilton 563-732-3977 Fro’s Pub n Grub on Facebook A Surprise Around Every Corner
Montgomery Street Pub 207 East Montgomery Street Creston, Iowa 50801 641-782-2165
Sidetracked 206 West Union Street Creston, Iowa 50801 641-782-8534
Papa Joe’s 117 South 6th Street Missouri Valley, Iowa 51555 712-642-9015
Slaby’s Bar & Grill Plainview, Iowa 563-843-3443 Home of the Famous Jumbo Grilled Pork Tenderloin
Pearl Street Social Club 110 Pearl Street SW Shellsburg, Iowa 52332 319-436-7100 Find Us On Facebook!
Sparetime Bar & Grill 136 West Main Street Ute, Iowa 61060 712-885-2226
Amigo’s 280 North 1st Street Fort Dodge, Iowa 50501 515-576-0142 Amigosfortdodge.com Barney’s 203 S Mill Street Wadena, Iowa 52169 563-774-2525 Barney’s Wadena on Facebook Baxa’s Sutliff Store & Tavern 5546 130th Street NE Lisbon 319-624-2204 Cold Beer, Delicious Food, Good Music & Great Times! Beach Pub Along Highway 22, Buffalo,IA Open Daily 10am-2am Join Us Weekly For HomeCooked Sunday Breakfast Bikerz 313 Main Ave. ClearLake, IA 50428 641-440-4255 Noon-2am 7 days a week Bill’s Boat Landing Clayton, Iowa 563-964-2112 Check Us Out on Facebook Where the River is Calling & You Must Go! Bootleggers of Millville Awesome Stop, Great Staff, Fantastic Food Tops in Scenic River Rides Check us on Facebook 563-252-7775 Buck Snort 113 4th Street Neola, Iowa 51559 712-485-9090 The Buck Snort on Facebook Buck Snort 310 Dr Van Zee Road Oakland, Iowa 51560 712-355-5315 C&L Sandbar 103 North Noyes Street Mondamin, IA 51557 712-646-2300 or 712-216-0975 Hours Daily 11-close Catfish Charlie’s On the Mississippi River 1630 E. 16th Street Dubuque, IA 52001 (563)582-8600 www.CatfishCharliesDubuque.com
Goozman’s Westside Bar & Grill 1019 7th St Harlan, Iowa 712-755-2259 Goozman’s Westside on Facebook Haverhill Social Club 202 1st Street Haverhill, Iowa 50120 641-475-3321 Mon-Sat 10-2, Sun 12-12 Hawkeye Bar & Grill 110 North 4th Street Mapleton, IA 51034 712-882-1226 Mon-Sat 10:30 a.m. ~ Sun 12:00 p.m.
Pizza Ranch DENISON 510 HWY 39 North Denison, Iowa 712-393-3333 Check Us Out on Facebook Open 7 Days a Week
Hog Stop BBQ 2327 S. 24th Street Council Bluffs, Iowa 51501 712-EAT-BBQS Hog Stop BBQ on Facebook 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 Daily Mon-Sun 11AM Home of the Willie Whopper Just 1 More 515-570-4206 403 3rd Ave Under the Water Tower Jamaica, Iowa
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Pines Steakhouse Oinkers Lounge & Grill 1500 E 7th Street Atlantic, Iowa 50022 712-243-3606 M-F 11AM-, S-S 4PM-
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
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Sportsters Bar & Grill 109 S Madison Newell, Iowa 50568 712-272-4034 11 AM – 2 AM Tues-Sat 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 Suds –N- Jugs Bar & Grill 807 Iowa Avenue Onawa, Iowa 51040 712-433-4880 Nightly Food Specials The Back Forty 317 Main St. Macedonia, Iowa 51549 712-486-2687 facebook.com/thebackforty
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The Home Plate Diner 304 E. 30th Street Des Moines, Iowa 50317 515-262-7000 The Lounge 1005 Chatburn Ave Harlan, Iowa 51537 712-755-5050 The Lounge Harlan Iowa on Facebook The Roadhouse 105 Washington Marne, Iowa 51552 712-781-2272 Home of the Marne Burger The Sawmill Bar & Grill Now with a Full Menu 401 Main St New Market, IA 51646-3079 712-585-3601 Thirsty’s on 3rd 2202 W 3rd, Davenport 563-424-1143 Follow Us on Facebook Daily Thirst Quenching Deals T.J.’s Pourhouse 100 E. Washington Street Exira, Iowa 50076 712-268-2353 Open M-SAT.@11, SUN.@ NOON Tobey Jacks Mineola Steak House Mineola, Iowa 712-526-2078 Open 7 Days a Week Check Us Out on Facebook Uncle Harley’s Bar & Grill 202 W Mayne, Blue Grass (563)381-1717 Great Pizza & Food Bikers ALWAYS Welcome Vic’s Main Tap 304 Broadway Audubon, Iowa 50025 712-563-2122 Opens M-F 3, Sat 10, Sun 3 Vista Pub 7205 Vista Drive West Des Moines, Iowa 515-528-2186 Vista Pub on Facebook Whitetails Bar & Grill 101 N. Main St. Marble Rock IA,50653 641-397-9900 Mon.- Sat. 7am breakfast -2am Close www.whitetailsbarandgrill.com Wilson’s Tap and Recreation 1008 Story Street Boone, Iowa 50036/ 515-433-1395
Guns and Ammo
Services
2A Firearms Training Training to Protect Your 2nd Ammendment Rights 641-439-6660 Craig.2aft@gmail.com
A+ Affordable Heat, Air, Refrigeration & Geo Thermal 22274 Old Lincoln Hwy Crescent, Iowa 51526 712-329-9901
Locked and Loaded Outfitters 612 Market Street Harlan, Iowa 51537 712-235-4867 www.LockedandLoadedOutfitters.com
BCS Computers 100 Industrial Road Guthrie Center, Iowa 50115 641-747-3344 www.brubakercomputer.com
McCunn Specialty Firearms 74980 Richland Road Massena, Iowa 50853 www.mccunnsguns.com 712-779-GUNS
CJ Now Plumbing Sewer & Water Specialists 309-786-2002 Serving the Quad Cities Area On Call 24-7
Pistol Pete’s Guns and Ammo Eldora, Iowa 641-858-6878 pistolpetesgunsandammo@gmail.com DISCOUNTS for ABATE Members Eric Ross & Steve Eggleston
Hoker Trucking NOW HIRING Dixon, Iowa Hokertucking.com 563-843-2763
I ns ura n ce
Irwin Locker & Catering 502 Ann Street Irwin, Iowa 51446 712-782-3215 irwinlocker@gmail.com
Matt McCall Insurance Agency State Farm Insurance 102 East South St, Tipton 563-886-6120 www.mattmccall.net
Sandbothe Firestone 1106 Main Street Griswold, Iowa 51535 712-778-2223 Sandbothe Firestone on Facebook
Oakland Insurance Agency Motorcycle, Home, AUTO, Commercial, Life, Health Specializing in Teen Drivers Shane Baker 712-310-7475 shane@oaklandins.com
Southwest Iowa Sandblasting Mike Magers 65162 Oxford Rd Atlantic, Iowa 50022 712-249-3995
Legal
Shops & Fabricators
Hupy and Abraham sc, pc Lawyers for Bikers 800.800.5678 Hupy.com
Bent Wrench Cycles 911 7th Street Harlan, Iowa 51537 712-235-2453 Bent Wrench Cycles on Facebook
IowaBikerLawyers.com Leehey Olson Law, PC Riding & Defending Your Rights for Over 30 Years 877-209-9452
Photo and Art Ullrich Photography PO Box 1842 Clinton, Iowa 52733 563-243-8715 www.natanic.com
Butterfield’s M.C. Parts 8025 Blondo Street Omaha, NE 68134 402-391-3768 Chuck’s Cycle Service and Repair S&S and Drag Specialties Dealer 714 East 7th Street Washington, Iowa52353 319-461-5278
Woody’s Roadside Tavern 100 West Jefferson Albion, Iowa 50005 (641) 488-2220 Woody’s Roadside Tavern on Facebook
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Creative Concepts Collision 422 Market Street Harlan, Iowa 51537 712.755.2231
F & J Racing 701 N 3rd Ave Marshalltown, M Iowa 50158 641-752-8651 www.fandjracing.com Hyperformance 5152 E University Ave Pleasant Hill, Iowa 50327 515-266-6381 kingofcubes.com Motorcycle Medic 3176 Highway 30 Woodbine, Iowa 51579 712-647-2818 Open Tues-Sat Noon-6PM 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 SS Collision, CycleWorks & Graphics 2902 11th Ave SW Spencer, Iowa 51301 712-262-3959 www.sscollision.com Steffens Cycle Shop LLC 1311 E 7th Street Atlantic, Iowa 50022 712-243-3076M-F 9-5 Most Sat 9-12 Or Call
TATTOO Skin Mechanix INKorpar8ted 117 No. 16th Street Council Bluffs, Iowa 51501 712 256-2847 Check Us Out on Facebook To buy ad space for your business or service in our directory, give us call at 712-249-5630 or email vernon@ thunderroadsiowa.com
REGISTRATION/CHECK-IN SITE FOR THE TALL CORN RUN CHECK-IN SITE FOR THE TALL CORN RUN
Cycle Clinic 2209 ML King Pkwy Des Moines, Iowa 50314 cycleclinicdm.com 515-288-6954
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When I was a kid growing up in rural Iowa, longer ago than I like to think about, we had three television stations (four if you counted the public broadcast station, which no one cared much about) and your viewing time was pretty much limited to perhaps a couple hours a day. Some folks think this was the result of good parenting but actually it was more because there just wasn’t that much to watch. Television was viewed as a form of entertainment, and for adults perhaps, a source of information. Roundabout midnight or so, the national anthem played and then… nothing but static. There were other sources of entertainment and information as well but back then, it was mostly confined to printed material like newspapers, magazines and perhaps comic books if you were spoiled and your parents bought them for you. There was no internet (at least not available to the general public), no social media and no video game consoles – I don’t count Pong as a video game console. If you wanted to play games, (other than things you actually, physically did) you had to find an arcade someplace and buy tokens or have a pocket full of quarters. For me, it was limited to the pinball machine at the local bar maybe once a week when my parents took me to town to “eat out” and only then if I could beg a quarter from them.
See, there’s that word again, “real” buried inside another word. Hell, the television producers don’t even try to hide their ploy anymore and come right out and call their programs “reality” shows. It seems our world has gone haywire and what is real is getting confused with what isn’t and it seems people have lost the ability to tell the difference. Let’s examine what this new “reality” has done for the motorcycling public. The media in general has always distorted the truth to some degree. Everyone has seen the pictures from Life Magazine from the Hollister rally in 1947, which in truth were mostly staged and pposed but boy did it really start something. Then there are the news accounts from the 1960s of Hells Angels raping and pillaging communities, which caused a lot of problems for the club (some might argue that smart guys in that club have turned this lemon into some pretty sweet lemonade, bbut I digress) even though the accounts were ultimately debunked in stricter tribunals. Even still, oh how things have progressed with the advent of more media and “reality” TV.
Since people no longer seem to recognize the difference between “real” and the made up reality that they see on TV or on their computer screens, we have all kind of dazed and Looking back on those times, the “real” in reality was confused folks. With today’s altered sense of reality some what you could see, hear, feel, smell and taste or in various folks actually believe the motorcycling world is just like combinations. Television and media in general didn’t they see on TV or in the movies including some folks who do much more than provide a source of information and consider themselves bikers. I think some folks (I shudder entertainment and everyone who had their feet firmly on to think) may have even bought a motorcycle just because planet earth accepted that with the exception of a few Moms they wanted to look cool like their made up heroes on the I knew who got a little too much into their soap operas screens. Say it ain’t so. during the day. Reality was life and life wasn’t what we saw on the screen even though we would have liked it to be – Next time you shun a certain place or event because it think about the Mary Ann v. Ginger debate. involves bikers or Motorcycle Clubs based upon your perception of reality from TV or other media just think Flash forward 30 years (it’s actually more for me but I’m about it: If you think what goes on in the biker world is not going to acknowledge it) and I have to wonder what what you see on TV or your computer screen, then you the hell happened. Now we have 24/7 television with more probably believe you can make love like you see in porn channels than you could ever need, social media, YouTube, movies (sadly, I believe there are more of you out there video games that play out like movies…the list goes on and than care to admit). Just remember, there is no cutting and on. Television manufacturers keep striving to “enhance” editing in the “real” world. Well that’s not entirely true, the reality of viewing by making sharper and more vivid there is, but they call it dying and repairing instead. pictures; game designers work overtime to pack more details into their games. And what is the goal? To make Keep it real. what we’re watching and playing seem more “realistic.” The Unknown Biker 14 - TRMI MAY 2016
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The Greene County Motorcycle Charity (GCMC) is looking everything having to do with “The Good Stuff.” After the forward to the 8th Annual Bell Tower Festival Motorcycle Templeton facility tour, the group will visit Schoeppner Event on Saturday, June 11th as it continues to Designs, crafters of barrel furniture grow in popularity, drawing participants icipants pants mad made dde out of used Templeton Rye from all corners of Iowa and near-by r-bby Wh Whiskey hhi barrels. Participants states. In addition to the traditional nal wil will ll get a special edition t-shirt, a Poker Run and Cycle Show in Tem Templeton m Rye shot glass, limited Jefferson, IA the committee is edition coin and lunch at “The excited to announce a second Still” Restaurant & Bar in guided tour ride to Dexter, IA. downtown Templeton. After departing from Templeton, The inaugural event entitled riders will stop at Carroll the “Bonnie & Clyde Tour C Cycle Center for a scavenger Ride” will depart Jefferson hhunt including Templeton Rye at 9:00 am. Join this unique pproduct and merchandise that guided motorcycle tour w will be placed throughout the ride to Dexter, IA to hear sstore. the real story about the biggest shootout in Dallas Th T The final County history from one of sto stop o on the finest local orators, Rod bot both th h tour Stanley. A short walking tour ridess w will of the downtown area where be at D Do Doc’s Bonnie & Clyde bought food, Stadium B Bar & clothes and medicine will be Grill in Jef Jefferson. fff available. Opportunities will be Partic Participant Participants pantss will available to visit the museum and d the hee hi hhistoric historical istoric iccal al then return to the event nt marker north of Dexter where the shootout took place. location to draw a poker hand Participants will get a special edition t-shirt, limited edition and get their special limited edition coins coin and lunch at the Dexter sponsored by “This event was the best ever! Roundhouse. Trophies Plus of Every aspect of the tour ride Templeton, IA. The was well planned and executed. We cost per person for each The very successful “Bootlegger ach Tour Rye’d” to Templeton, IA will enjoyed participating in something guided tour ride is $40.00. return for a second year. The tour other than a regular poker/bar run includes a guided walk-through Proceeds from all GCMC and meeting a lot of new friends! of their production area, barrel events benefit the Raccoon We are looking forward to this year’s Valley Kiwanis Aktion Club, a warehouse, bottling line and event.” tasting room led by Templeton community service group of local Rye Co-Founder and Master adults living with disabilities. Cindy Heuton Carroll, Iowa Distiller Keith Kerkhoff and is Please consider joining us in limited to 60 participants. Jefferson for this one-of-kind Tour participants will also and extremely fun cycling have the opportunity to event! More information sign up for the Templeton about the Greene County Rye Bootleggers Society, a Motorcycle Charity and community of Templeton the Bell Tower Festival Rye enthusiasts that motorcycle events can be allows you to stay in-thefound at www.btfcycle.info know about anything and along with event registration.
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The annual Bell Tower Festival Poker Run will travel to the northwest in 2016, taking riders on a 119 mile journey with stops in Carroll, Auburn, Rockwell City, Lohrville, and Paton before returning to Jefferson. Registration can be done in advance online at www.btfcycle.info, as well as on site Saturday, June 11th from 8 am to 12 pm. The entry fee will be $20 per participant, and will include a Poker Run T-shirt (while supplies last), raffle ticket and a poker hand. Additional T-shirts and Challenge Coins will be available for purchase as well. Riders may leave anytime after 8 am, with last bike out by noon. All riders must be back by 5 pm. Poker Run prizes of $250 (1st place), $125 (2nd place) and $75 (3rd place) will be awarded to the best hands drawn. After returning, riders can take a break at the Bell Tower Festival Beer Garden for a cold beverage and draw their poker hand. Hy Hy-Vee will be hosting a Beer & Wine Tasting eevent in the afternoon, along with a Templeton Rye Bottle signing with co-founder Keith Kerkhoff. Beginning at 2 pm, participants can enjoy live music, as Salty View Acoustic Review from Fort Dodge will be pe performing until 6 pm. As always, a free motorcycle show will be included with the activities. Registration will be from 9 am to 1 pm, with the show starting at noon and ending aatt 4:00. Show classes will include Metric, Vintage (pre-1990’s), Peoples’ Choice, Trike, Custom, Bagger, and Late Model. Plaques are to be awarded to winners of each class when the judging concludes at 4 pm. Additionally, plans are to have
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a Dyno onsite provided by VanWall Powersports at a reduced rate of $30. The popular motorcycle table lift raffle tickets are available for a cost of $20 each or 3 for $50, while 150 tickets last. Additional raffle items this year include tailgate benches and Adirondack biker chairs. An auction is planned in the beer garden at 6:00pm featuring some Templeton Rye items. Doc’s Stadium of Jefferson is the 2016 Challenge Coin sponsor and will provide special promotions for coin holders. Other valued sponsors this year include: T-shirt sponsor - Scranton Manufacturing (New Way Trucks/ McLaughlin International /New Way Ford), Gold sponsors - Carroll Cycle Center, Van Wall Powersports, 209 Main/Tool Bar, Dan’s Spicy Barbecue Sauce, Neese Inc., Hamilton RediMix, Jefferson A&W, Pemble Digging & Drainage Service, Templeton Rye, Fenders Cycle, and Trophies Plus, Silver sponsors - Oly’s Corner, Hog House/ Lucas Oil and Wild Rose Casino/Jefferson. Sponsors and vendors will also have the opportunity to display and sell their products onsite. As always, proceeds for this year’s event will go to the Raccoon Valley Kiwanis Aktion Club of Jefferson. Last year the Aktion Club was the recipient of $2,000 and with your help, even more will be available in 2016. More information about the Bell Tower Festival Motorcycle events can be found at www.btfcycle. info along with registration for the Guided Tour Rides and Poker Run. We hope to see you there!
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Sisters’ Centennial Motorcycle Ride In 1916 the world was at war. The United States had yet to enter the battle, and many Americans were a part of the Preparedness Movement, seeking to strengthen the US military. Adeline and Augusta Van Buren were two of the Preparedness advocates; wanting to help in the defense of their country should America enter the war. The two intrepid sisters decided to ride their motorcycles crosscountry to prove to the government that women had what it took to be dispatch riders in the U.S. Army. The sisters set off on their transcontinental journey on a pair of Indian motorcycles and made history with their successful coast-tocoast ride, becoming the first two women to cross the continental U.S., each on her own motorcycle. En route the sisters also became the first women to ride to the summit of Pikes Peak on motorcycles. In honor of their achievements, the Van Buren sisters were inducted into both the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame (2002) and into the Sturgis Motorcycle Museum & Hall of Fame (2003). Recognizing the Van Buren sisters’ accomplishment, one hundred years later the Sisters’ Centennial Motorcycle Ride will follow in their footsteps July 3-23, 2016. The sisters’ 1916 ride was a grand accomplishment, the two diminutive women crossing the United States on 1000 cc motorcycles in a time when few roads were paved, Victorian attitudes were still common and women did not yet have the right to vote. Along the way they were even arrested for wearing pants! While the world has changed dramatically in the last 100 years, and women now are able to vote and serve in the US Military (and wear pants!), it is still a great achievement to ride a motorcycle across the United States in our times. The route will follow the Van Burens’ 1916 route as closely as possible, often along the Lincoln Highway. Combining scenic routes, community events, and important stops along the Van Burens’ own journey, the route will also include some of the best roads the United States offers. Several Van Buren family members are taking part in the event, including Adeline’s great-granddaughter, Sofié Ruderman, and Sarah Van Buren, great-great-niece of Adeline and Augusta.
way through Iowa, and the Sisters’ Ride course will do the same, following Route 30 across the Hawkeye State. After the detour to Anamosa to visit the National Motorcycle Museum, the group will re-join the Van Buren sister’s original route, navigating through Springville and Marion, staying in Cedar Rapids for the night. Only the one night will be spent in Iowa; July 12th the group will continue on Route 30, dropping down and ultimately crossing the Missouri River to arrive in Omaha, Nebraska, where the Van Buren sisters also visited 100 years ago. Two charities will benefit from the Sisters’ Centennial Motorcycle Ride: Women’s Coalition of Motorcyclists (http://www.wcm2020. org/), providing funding for motorcycle train-the-trainer scholarships to help enlarge the number of female instructors and coaches for road, dirt and track, and Final Salute (http:// www.finalsaluteinc. org/), a national women’s veterans’ organization which provides housing for the over 500,000 homeless female veterans in the U.S. Community events scheduled at this time include the following: July 3, 2016 - Brooklyn, New York Ride Launch Party July 4-5, 2016 - Springfield, Massachusetts Launch Party July 7, 2016 - Latrobe, Pennsylvania - Lincoln Highway Experience event July 8-9, 2016 - Pickerington, Ohio - AMA Hall of Fame and AMA Vintage Days July 11, 2016 - Anamosa, Iowa - National Motorcycle Museum July 13, 2016 - McCook, Nebraska - Community Event July 15, 2016 - Colorado Springs, Colorado - Rocky Mountain Motorcycle Museum July 15, 2016 - Pikes Peak, Colorado - Pikes Peak Event July 23, 2016 - San Francisco, California – Grand Finale Party with emcee Erin Hunter Sills
Riders have several options for participation, including a fully supported tour and self-guided tours of the entire route or individual segments. Day riders are also encouraged to attend (pre-registration is required if riding with the group), and all riders are welcome at the community events. www.SistersMotorcycleRide.com The ride will focus on the ‘then and now’ aspects of Facebook.com/SistersMotorcycleRide American two-wheeled travel. Museum visits are planned Instagram.com/sistersmotorcycleride/ throughout the ride event, and in Iowa the ride will stop at Twitter.com/sistersmotoride the National Motorcycle Museum the afternoon of Mon#SistersMotorcycleRide day, July 11, 2016. Local riders are encouraged to come #VanBurenSisters out for a Meet & Greet and a special tour of the museum with the Sisters’ Ride participants. Alisa Clickenger “Woman Can if She Will.” -- Augusta Van Buren The Van Buren sisters mostly followed the Lincoln High-
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99 Counties to tour on the bike, 99 counties to tour, take one down, drive on around, 28 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 we will revisit each county as a featured article. We 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. Osceola County Located on the western side of the state is one of the northern most counties in our great state of Iowa. Osceola County was formed in 1871. It was named after the chief of the Seminole Indian tribe. It is the smallest and most recent county in Iowa’s rich history. The first courthouse was constructed of wood, and simultaneously served as the conference chamber, school, and the church for the newly formed settlement. It wasn’t until September 1903 that the second courthouse was completed and wired for electricity in October of 1915. Osceola County has a total area of 399 square miles of which 399 square miles is land and a mere 0.7 square miles is water. It is the third-smallest county in Iowa by land area and smallest by total area. The highest natural point in Iowa, Hawkeye Point at 1,670 feet, is located in Osceola County. Osceola County is intersected by Highways US 59, US 9, and US 60.
was refreshing to see some hometown goodness still alive and well these days. Melvin is also home to Moose Days, as well as the most beautiful rock painted in honor of our Veterans that I have seen to date. Its right in front of their Legion hall, so if you’re passing by make sure to take a look. Next on our list was Harris. Now Harris is perhaps even smaller than Melvin, but it is home to the Mini Grotto. If you have ever taken the time to see the wonder that is the original Grotto of the Redemption, you will surely enjoy this miniature version located right on Harris’s main street. It’s worth checking out, if I do say so myself.
After leaving Harris, we found ourselves headed to Ashton. When we approached Ashton, the first thing that caught our eyes was a little dam on the outskirts of town. The dam was beautiful, for sure, but we were left wondering what the hell they had constructed a dam next to the railroad tracks for. We continued on into town, where we spotted an OPEN sign on a little corner building. It proudly displayed the name “Pete’s Bar”. Our first stop in Osceola County took us to the tiny Now it may not look like much on the berg of Melvin. At first glance, we thought we would outside, but once inside we found a be hard pressed to find a whole lot going on so early veritable treasure trove of small town in the morning on a Saturday. But much to our surprise, goodness. Ruby is the owner of this we spotted a little place called JR’s across from the fine establishment, and one hell of a Post Office. The door was open, so we ventured woman I might add. She was serving inside. After receiving up breakfast some confused looks from and a hot the group at the table, they coffee, c but got to chatting with us and had h plenty of threw back and forth some time ti to chat hometown hospitality. Turns with w a couple out the group was just in the of o bikers local tavern to have some wandering w coffee and shoot the shit until through. th the owner showed up about Ruby R gave an hour later. Never did find us u lots of out exactly how they got in ideas iid d on there before opening, some cool c places of them said they had their to t check out own keys, and others said in i Osceola someone opens the door County, C and even introduced for them so they can get the us u to Jim, who filled us in on coffee made…either way, the th reason behind the dam Thun Th under un u n der de r R Ro Roads oad a ad s Magazine Maga Ma ga a of Iowa on Facebook www.thunderroadsiowa.com www ww w th hun unde d rr de rroa oads oa d io ds i wa com 26 - TRMI MAY 2016
outside of town. Turns out ou th they created the dam in order to fill the steam engines passing through on the railroad…pretty slick idea, and first one I had ever seen. Now w we were having a hell off a time with Ruby and Jim, discovered there are no stoplights in all of Osceola County, even learned about a long standing feud over the highest point in Iowa and some sort of man-made manure pile, but we promised that our lips were sealed on that matter. Ruby graciously filled our coffee cups, and we were on our way to see what else Osceola County had to offer. We left Pete’s Bar and headed for the booming metropolis of Sibley. Sibley is the county seat of Osceola County and home to the courthouse, Albert W McCallum Museum, 1015 Steakhouse, and Motorvation Side Cars. If you have any interest in motorcycles, you probably have an interest in side cars on some level, so get yourself to Motorvation if you’re in the area. These guys manufacture some pretty amazing sidecars, and it is really cool that they are an Iowa business. While in Sibley, I spotted a bakery on 9th Street that was doing a great job of filling the e entire town with the sscent of fresh baked g goods. We went in to S Shaughnessy’s Bakery a and I was sure I had died a and gone to heaven. F Fresh baked breads, c cakes, and my personal n nemesis….raised d doughnuts. We spoke to D Dan Shaughnessy, who h has been serving Sibley h his fresh baked treats ffor many years. Great fo g guy, friendly service, a and some damn good d doughnuts. Yes, I got one….maybe two…and some rye bread…and some potato bread. Don’t judge me…it was all worth it! Leaving Shaughnessy’s we spotted a coffee shop on the opposite corner and had to check it out. The Lantern Coffee House and Roastery was fantastic. Owners Adam and Beth Grimm were serving up hot cups of deliciousness with smiles on their faces. Another overload of fabulous smells, between the espresso brewing and the roasting of fresh beans…Sibley may just have to become my new home! Just 4.5 miles north of Sibley lies Hawkeye Point on the eastern side of SR60. There are some cool photo ops at Hawkeye Point, so take a peek if you have the chance.
We had a lot of fun touring Osceola County, and met some new friends along the way. Next month we will be travelling south and delving into Page County, so make sure to tune in and see what we dig up! Melanie J Schwarte Melanie@thunderroadsiowa.com Sources available upon request
Leaving Sibley we stopped in the last town on our list, Ocheyedan. Now Ocheyedan is a small town, but there is a cool eclectic shop on Main Street, so if you’re into searching out treasures, be sure to stop. The biggest draw to Ocheyedan is the Ocheyedan Mound, at 1,655 feet in elevation; it is a close second to the highest point in Iowa. Even on a chilly spring morning, people were visiting the mound and increasing their selfie files. Thunder Roads Magazine of Iowa on Facebook
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Spring is here according to the calendar. At the time of writing this though, and looking outside, depending where you are, you may have serious doubts that the calendar is right. Don’t sweat it; spring will be here before you know it. As the old man of winter reluctantly loosens its grip, you may have noticed something on the roads that hat hasn hasn’tt been seen since mid-November. ember. Motorcycles. While some hearty individuals make it a point nt to ride all year round, generally speaking, the motorcycle has been hibernating since winter hit. Back in February, our Governor signed the proclamation making May y Motorcycle Awareness month. onth. This is a tremendous show w of support from the Governor, but the meaning of motorcycle awareness needs to go farther than a proclamation and a feel good moment in Des Moines. While we appreciate the support from our Governor, it needs to spread now to the general public.
the front. There are enough lights on this thing; you’d think there’d be no problem seeing me. Not the case. If you see a motorcycle approaching, and you’re unsure the distance, when in doubt, stay put. Look for that single headlight. And
there is the case of the most common accident involving cars and motorcycles. It’s the one where the car makes a left As this awaken beast called the motorcycle begins making turn directly in front of an oncoming motorcycle. We call this the “lethal left turn”. It’s so common that sadly enough, appearances on our roadways after a long nap, riders are we have a name for it. The most common answer given by a knocking the rust off their riding skills. While the rider is cage driver when any accident happens with a motorcycle? doing this, drivers of cars, trucks, and anything with more I didn’t see him/her. We need to train ourselves to see than 3 wheels need to be knocking the rust of a skill they motorcycles. A good method stems from a game we all may may not even know they possess. The ability to see the motorcycles that have returned to their daily lives. Drivers have played riding in the car with mom and dad as kids. Remember looking for letters on road signs, trying to be the must develop the habit of looking for that single headlight first to do the entire alphabet? Or the slug bug game played amongst the chaos of what traffic has become. where you looked for a Volkswagen Beetle so you could legitimately punch your sibling and get away with it? Why Drivers of cars must realize the actions of motorcyclists not play a game where you look for motorcycles mixed in are performed for specific reasons. Example, following a motorcycle, a driver of a 4 wheeled + vehicle, affectionately with traffic? Guess what, adults can play as well. known as cages by bikers, they may notice the motorcycle When passing or being passed by a motorcycle, what should staying close to the center line. This is so that oncoming traffic can spot them better and by doing so they remain in I do? If passing one, do everything exactly like you’d do the line of sight of any cage following them. Sometimes the when passing a car. And please do not cut back into the lane early. Street bikes do not have the option of going on to the rider might move over to the right side of the lane. This is shoulder to escape. Street tires, highway speeds, and grass to take a look at that upcoming intersection, to see if there shoulders end in disaster when mixed. If a bike passes you, might be a cage sitting at the stop sign waiting to join the just drive as you normally would. If the motorcycle flies flow of traffic. Do you suppose that car might try to jump around you, don’t take it personally. The rider is trying to into the flow if there’s a gap? The biker can take a look, execute the pass quickly and get some space between you and by sticking that motorcycle out there for that cage to and him/her. Don’t tailgate a motorcycle. For one it makes see, reduces the chances of being hit if the car decides to jump in. One huge issue that happens with motorcycles and us nervous. Also, a bike can stop much quicker than a cage. If he/she brakes suddenly, you will not be able to stop a their size is cars moving up beside them in the lane. That quick. Give the motorcycle room. You’re not in that big of a motorcycle is entitled to 100% of the lane. We need this hurry to make it worth putting someone’s life in jeopardy. space to maneuver around obstacles in the road, potholes, loose gravel, or debris. Do not under any circumstances; Distracted driving. We all do it. The radio station needs pull alongside a motorcycle in their lane. changed. Reading a map. Looking at the GPS. Yelling at kids. And the most popular cause of distracted driving, the Motorcycles are physically smaller than cars. It makes it cell phone. It’s unbelievable the number of people I see on hard to judge their location when coming toward you. I’m a daily basis, who are looking at their phone while driving. 200 lbs. on a 900 lb. motorcycle, with 3 headlights across I’m guilty of it, and if you say you’re not, you better think Thunder Roads Magazine of Iowa on Facebook www.thunderroadsiowa.com 32 - TRMI MAY 2016
again. That one small distraction is rapidly becoming a major factor in accidents with motorcycles. Is your text or Facebook message so important that killing a person is a risk you’re willing to take? Believe it or not, when an
accident between a cage and a motorcycle occurs, a huge percentage ends in a fatality. The largest bike out there is no match for the smallest car. Something as small as a bent fender usually, at best, ends up a trip to the ER for the rider of a motorcycle. More often than not it means death. Someone’s father, mother, sister, brother, son or daughter, gone. Not to mention the driver at fault who now gets to live with the fact that they killed someone due to that text message. Pull over. You’re not in that big a hurry.
program, as all their programs are, called Share the Road, which is geared toward teaching cage drivers how to be more aware of motorcycles on the road. A presentation can be arranged by contacting ABATE of Iowa and scheduling a presentation. Driver’s Education classes in the state of Iowa are required by law to have eith either a dad presentation, or a presentat presentation done by a live presenter. They aalso do presentations for any and aall adult groups. I highly rec recommend the live presentation. T They have volunteer presenters all over the state, and there is no cost involved with getting a live presentation done for your group. If you’d like to schedule a pr presentation, you may contact our sstate office in Eldora, the local Distric District Coordinator in your area, or yo you could contact me through the info in the front of the magazine and I will point you in the right direction. We have catch phrases we like to use. The one that comes to mind for motorcycle awareness is: LOOK TWICE!!!!! SAVE A LIFE!!!!!!! Gary “Wildman” Emery Thunder Roads of Iowa Magazine
Loud pipes save lives. This is a statement that has a lot of truth behind it. There are those who will say bikers get annoying racking the pipes in traffic all the time. There is a fine line between doing it to let people know they are there, and being a complete moron. We won’t argue that line right now. But, if you heard that bike in traffic, now you know he/she is there. It sometimes works better than a horn. In consideration of all those who ride, think about all these tips. These are not all the pointers I can think of, but it’s a good start. Please remember also, these are my opinions based on my personal observations. I did not compile any data from extensive research. ABATE of Iowa is an excellent resource to consult for extensive data and statistics if you want to know more. ABATE of Iowa takes motorcycle safety, awareness, and rider education seriously. Anyone can become a member of ABATE of Iowa, and you don’t even need to be a rider to join. If you’d like to learn to ride, they can take care of that too. They have an excellent Thunder Roads Magazine of Iowa on Facebook
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Barbie Noonan 2006 Heritage Softail Deluxe Lake Cornelia, Clarion Sue Griffith 2003 Road King w/Trike Conversion Cedar Rapids
We want you on our pages! If you are an Iowa Girl of Thunder, send us a quality image, your name, year and model of bike, and where you are from to: vernon@thunderroadsiowa.com
Nancy Henderson 1972 Honda Cl175 custom Cafe Racer West Des Moines 34 - TRMI MAY 2016
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This year World of Wheels in Omaha NE celebrated its 61st year. Thunder Road Magazine was a proud sponsor of the motorcycle division. We had a large variety of entries this year, ranging from an early 1900’s Harley barn find to the latest in big wheel baggers. I have been attending this event since the mid-seventies. It was something I looked forward to all year long. In the early years my dad would drop me at the door of the old civic auditorium. I would stay until close. Lots of great times checking out all the cars and bikes. In later years I enjoyed displaying my bikes and being a part of the show. World of Wheels has become a family event for many folks here in the heartland. When my boys were young they even had entries of their own, including a custombuilt mini bike and a go cart that we still have today. The community plays a big role in the success of this event. Friday before the show opens to the general public WOW hosts Student Day. Automotive school groups including both high school and college level students. This year included automotive design, engineering, marine, motorcycle, small engine, and welding as well. This learning experience allows students to participate in first hand educational experience, as well as being fun for those attending. This year I met Steven, Jared, and their teacher Richard Bacus of Bryan High School in Omaha, they brought along 93 students for the event. I had a chance to talk with Steven (one of the students). An interesting kid, he was drawn to the bikes and seemed to be very in-tune with the latest trends. He told me that his dad has a Softail H-D that he rides to Sturgis every year. Involving the younger generations will ensure that the show tradition continues and we look forward to many more years of the WOW! Thunder Roads is sponsoring the bike show again next year, and it promises to be bigger and even better! Mark your calendar now for March 17th-19th 2017. See ya there! Mark Fountain
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Happy Mother’s Day, Memorial Day, and Armed Foreces Day for this fine month of May. Jessica adorns Val Lillibridge’s Softail Deluxe for this May. Val was gracious enough to let us take some shots with her sweet ride at the North Iowa Motorcycle Expo. We won’t even say a word about someone making a flying trip home to get one last piece of chrome, or what it may or may not have cost to do that. TRMI would like to thank Jessica for making the calendar page a bit spicier, to Val for letting us shoot the bike, and especially to whomever got stuck with the ticket. Thanks tons!
Motorcycle Expo
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For the TRMI readers who don’t all ready know this, the first Friday in May is a special occasion. Like all biker events, the calendar makers refuse to recognize it but May 6th is officially known as International Female Ride Day or IFRD. Through the years, my sick mind has noticed that I am sharing the road with more and more female riders. But I have to admit, this is the first year that I have stumbled onto the fact that the Female Riders have their very own day and it is an international event. It started out as a day dedicated to Female Riders around the world and it has now grown into the entire weekend. Now I want to make it very clear that I have nothing against Female Riders. Let me say that again for you slow readers, I support Female Riders! I do not discriminate, front seat, back seat, two on one seat it makes no difference to me. Any bike, any style, any model any woman willing to experience the freedom that being in the open wind brings to the mind, body and soul by straddling an iron horse is a Female Rider in my book. On May 6th, my doo rag goes off to the Female Riders around the world. Female Riders have made an ever changing impact on the riding community throughout the years. Let’s face it the saddlebags and tour packs can only hold so much so woman who ride usually don’t come with much baggage. If you are leaving home for a two wheeled weekend pulling a trailer there could be baggage issues. But overall most biker chic’s have a learned to make do with far less than a normal woman carries everyday in that suitcase she calls a purse which also doubles as a deadly weapon when it is swung at your head. Female Riders have also brought fashion to the riding community. Not only do they have their very own teeshirt for this International Female Ride Day, I like to give the Female Riders credit for leather being available in more colors than just black. And while on the topic of leather, I’d like to thank the Female Rider who patented the g-string and ass less chaps look. Without the Female Riders, my sick mind would be giving some big bulging dude with hairy legs credit for that.
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Female Riders also make great dating material. They will cuddle up behind the biggest, ugliest, hairiest, tattooed freaks to stay warm but yet they are still very independent and don’t’ demand much coddling. If they are riding their own bike most of them prefer to pump their own fuel and with some creative parking, you can usually trick them into paying for it also. Female Riders are easy to impress with a good meal stop and ordering drinks for them is easy. You only need to remember the name of there beer choice and add the word light to the end of it. Dating a Female Rider also brings a sense of security to life. No more worries about ex girlfriends stirring up shit when you’re dating a biker chic. Even a psycho knows better than to mess with a Female Rider. Now the crazy x old lady, that is a different story, she is not afraid to take on another Female Rider. When that shit hits the fan it’s going to make mud wrestling look clean. There is something rather stimulating about watching two Female Riders fight it out. And it doesn’t matter how that bitch brawl goes down, you know all your riding buddies are going to be jealous when you point out that they are fighting over you. Lastly the Female Riders have brought tons of new bikes to the riding community. I like to believe that even the motorcycle manufactures are becoming increasingly more accommodating to the Female Riders. I believe more and more new bikes are being made that are lighter and lower to the ground for shorter legs and better control just to satisfy the Female Riders. As more women hit the road that means more new bikes for the men too. So the next time you need to buy a bike don’t ask permission from a woman that doesn’t ride when there are plenty of Female Riders out there willing to support you. A big thumbs up to the Female Riders of Iowa and around the World. Shifty LaRue
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Building a Transmission I have been working on gathering some pieces and parts for a build for quite some time. What started off as buying a 1958 Duo Glide frame from Mike, my father in law, has turned into quite the project with a huge learning curve. Not complaining at all, but just stating it has been a tremendous learning experience while trying to put together a nifty little bobber. Some of you may remember a previous article about bringing a frame back to stock. This is the one in question and the frame was just one aspect of doing a build like this. Even though I have found a frame, springer front end, swing arm, gas tanks, fenders, shocks, and a transmission, I am still in need of the heart of the project. I am looking for a 1958 engine. I would be interested in anything from a left case with good HD numbers all the way up to a complete motor. So if you know of any sitting around in need of a good home, give me a holler. Anyway, what I wanted to share with you was the experience of finding some parts and building a transmission for this critter. It has been a way cool deal and I could not have done it without the help of a great friend, Ron Ronfeldt. He is one of those old motorcycle gurus that have a tremendous wealth of knowledge between his ears, and I wanted to learn from him. I asked him if he would help me and teach me how to build a transmission. I have worked on about all other aspects of a scooter, but never dug into a transmission. I thought no better time to learn, and no better person than an old timer to teach me. When I was asking about what stuff would be needed for a 1958 transmission, he simply stated that he had no good cases, and that if I could find a case, he may have most of the other stuff on hand to get a transmission put together. I thought this was awesome, and thought no big deal finding a Panhead vintage transmission case, right? Wrong! It seems that the vintage market has gone all high end, high priced, and crazy. For something that not that many years ago could be bought for $50, now seems to be bringing up to ten times that amount. Add on top of that the over 50 year old parts that are available used have generally had some repair, modifications, or who knows what done to them. After watching and bidding on some online auctions and losing out by quite a few dollars, after reaching out to friends and cohorts, after looking in to some aftermarket reproduction cases, I finally found a suitable transmission case. After about six months of looking, bidding, watching, and searching, I found what I needed. Ron was ecstatic to get rolling on the transmission build! (Sarcasm font) 46 - TRMI MAY 2016
Next on the list was trying to find a small list of things that Ron did not have on hand for the build. I needed to find a kicker gear, some of the top cover screws, some roller bearings, and a few other miscellaneous items. I actually did some searching at some dealerships in Iowa and actually found some new old stock stuff. Carroll Cycle had the bearings, Big Barn had the kicker gear, and I found about 7 of the 12 needed top cover screws. These are an odd duck type of part as they are a Philips head, countersunk, ¼ inch, 24 TPI screws. Not the normal 20 or 28 pitch threads, but an odd size. Quite a few of the used cases I had found had the wrong screws put in which screwed up the threads and various means of fixing that issue. I wanted to make sure and find the right ones. I did a quick trip to Florida with ScaryJerry, Travis, and Alissa in January to attend a Scootin’ America event, and the dealer in Sarasota had one, so I had to grab it. Despite riding in the rain for a couple of hours, getting lost due to someone’s GPS ability, and having a few riders puss out and go back to their motels, we made it to the dealership and got our one Florida screw! After getting back home, I called around some more and talked to Jack at C&C in Chariton. He asked how many I needed because they had like 20 on hand. I just laughed because at this point I had seven and needed five more, and ran all over the state and even to Florida trying to find them, and one dealership had all that I needed. Part of the adventure though right?
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With all the parts gathered, it was time to organize. We laid out all the parts on the bench and started to work. By the way, if anyone is curious, there are over 200 part numbers, and about over 500 individual parts in a Panhead transmission, top cover, and kicker cover. It was quite mind boggling with the amount of parts all spread out on the bench, but with Ron’s knowledge, experience, reference manuals, and quite a bit of patience, we got the critter put together and ready to roll. Main Shaft, counter shaft, needle bearing, seals, spacers, oh my! Everything has to be put together in a specific order, and in a specific way, but it was a very rewarding experience. I have a transmission for the bobber ready to roll, I got to hang out and learn from a motorcycle guru, and I will always know that one of the top cover screws came from Florida. Vernon
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Spring is here….fresh air, hillsides turning green, and the low grumble of motorcycles awakening from their long winter slumber. All across the country and of course across the great state of Iowa the promise of spring brings with it the start of many annual bike blessings. But why do so many people in so many places know of and participate in bike blessings each year? Some people refer to bike blessings as a superstition. Like ride bells, green motorcycles, or riding a dead man’s bike… but who am I to judge? I figure whatever makes you feel happy and safe can’t be all that bad.
portray bikers as followers of the big guy upstairs. News flash…bikers come from all walks of life. In fact, if you’ve done much reading in the “Good Book”, you are already aware that there are bikers mentioned in the Bible. “And they answered him, He was a hairy man, and girt with a girdle of leather about his loins. And he said, it is Elijah the Tishbite.” (2 Kings1:8)….sounds like a biker to me!
History of a Blessing
So you’ve never been to a bike blessing? Curious about what actually goes on? Each blessing of the bikes is different, but here’s the jist of what’s behind a blessing. It’s a pretty simple method. The blessing that God wants to bestow is upon the Biker, not the bike. Therefore the blessings are focused on the riders and passengers in a generalized format. Many blessings have CMA members present as well to individually pray with the attendants after the large group service has taken place. In these individual sessions some riders request prayer for safe riding, others want favorable weather or good roads, and some have additional personal requests. Whatever your prayer needs, they are all welcomed at a bike blessing.
I did some digging around and it seems that the first documented Blessing of the Bikes occurred in 1972 and consisted of only four bikes and had eight riders in attendance. This small group gathered at the Saint Ann Catholic Church in Baldwin, Michigan for the ceremony. The Baldwin blessing still occurs each spring in Michigan, and has done so faithfully for over forty years. It has grown immensely since its first year, from a mere eight people to over forty thousand attending annually today.
After the inaugural ceremony in Baldwin, most blessings continued to be officiated by The tradition of the bike blessing that Catholic priests, but as time passed people started so simply and small over forty of all denominations, faiths, and even years ago has grown tremendously, and has “non-believers” began to participate in bike become a part of getting your motorcycle blessings around the country. Riders from road ready for many each spring. Check all walks of life come to the events to get around locally or on our TRMI events list if their riding season off to a “blessed” start. you are interested in attending a Blessing of And who can blame anyone for attending? the Bikes, you will find them in almost all Anyone who rides knows that a little extra communities. insurance when you’re out on two wheels can’t possibly hurt with all of the dangers one faces during any given ride. Photos by Natanic and Susan Mast Some people look at these events as odd or curious… the biker image personified by Hollywood doesn’t really 48 - TRMI MAY 2016
Melanie J Schwarte Melanie@thunderroadsiowa.com
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My passion for riding started close to twenty years ago. You see my dad, uncles, and cousins were big into trail riding, so I naturally wanted to be involved in it too. I searched and searched for the perfect machine. I’d been around everyone else’s machines so I knew I needed something quick. Low and behold I found the EBay bargain of the century, or so I thought.
After diagnosing it, I tore it down and rebuilt the carbs, which was easy enough. The hard part came when it still wouldn’t run right. Problem B was synching the carbs to work together as one again. What a pain that was. After tooling around for about six months making it a café style bike I knew it was time for something a little bit bigger and faster. That brings us to my most current bike/build.
Lette From thhe Crrew....Jakee
After I talked my dad and I now currently own and ride a leery mother into making the 2011 Harley Davidson Sportster purchase, our family packed up 48. It is my first Harley and I in the family truck and headed wouldn’t trade it for anything. out to Sioux Falls, SD. It was I’ve done a lot of modifications a fun four-hour road trip to our with bolt-ons and custom one destination. As soon as we pulled offs, and in house designed into the seller’s driveway, my parts that have made it my own. eyes lit up like the 4th of July! I feel with a few more changes There she was, an early 90’s it will be a great representation kx85. Many readers just started of who I am and of my style. chuckling. Yes I said kx85. I was in heaven; it was everything the Being a motorcycle owner I seller had mentioned online. But can just get on and go for a you see, here I am, a bright eyed ride on a moments notice. Out 7 year old, and next to me is my and about on the sporty I really leery, overprotective mother who enjoy stopping for food. I’ve was not in heaven to see this enjoyed countless Riverside “death machine”. My dad took it Tavern Pizza burgers, Twin out for a spin; we paid the seller, Peaks Hangover Burgers, and loaded it up, and headed back most locations on the best to our small hometown in Iowa. Tenderloin of Iowa line-up. Upon our arrival my mother told my dad to put it in the shed. I may have failed to mention to Another reason I like being a biker is that you can’t beat the my mother that this was a dirt bike and that it had every race views you get to see while you’re in the saddle. Whether part available at the time. She was not impressed. it’s driving through the big cities, or the rolling hills of NW Iowa. Since I’ve become a biker, I’ve noticed things The next day my dad was letting me try it out, when we that I had never seen from the driver’s seat or even on the realized it was way too tall for me. So we lowered it. I still roads back home that I’ve traveled thousands of times. couldn’t reach the ground. So I made the executive decision I’ve noticed so much. And nothing beats riding into a to sell it. We hadn’t even owned it for 24 hours and I wanted picturesque sunset. to sell it. My dad tried talking me out of it, but we put it on the market, and sold it. And since then I have owned I’m also a big supporter of the local poker/fun runs. Nothing many machines. I’ve had several Honda and Yamaha three is better in my opinion than getting together with people wheelers and four wheelers. But it had seemed I had out that have similar views to raise money for a good cause. grown the dirt and I was far too busy with school and sports There is one in particular I hold near and dear to my heart. to keep the weekend hobby alive. But the story doesn’t end I’ve been a part of the Sleeping Angels Fun Run for four here. years now. We’re a group of riders that want to help those affected by the loss of an infant. Over the years we’ve been I was reintroduced to the motorcycle scene shortly after able to help out Iowa Hospitals, as well as families that have high school. This time though it was on the streets. A few endured the pain associated with losing a child. When I’m of my buddies had picked up sport bikes and although I’ve not busy planning our run or events, I also like to support never owned one, I have personally borrowed hundreds of the Dan Sesker Memorial run out of Ogden (Memorial bikes from friends, friends of friends, and even a friend’s Day Weekend), the MD Ride out of Madrid (Labor Day girlfriend’s bike. It didn’t matter to me as long as I had the weekend), and any other ride I can fit into my crazy work wind in my face. So I set out and made it my goal to own a schedule. street legal bike. Becoming a biker has been a great chapter in my life. The It didn’t take long to get back on a bike. I was talking to friends I’ve made and the comradery of fellow bikers has my now late uncle about bikes and he wanted to part with been a true blessing to receive. Becoming a biker has made the one he’d been tinkering with for a year, a 1971 Honda me see a different lifestyle that some have never had the cb750c. He couldn’t get it to run properly and was tired opportunity to experience. And I’m glad this chapter is only of messing with it. He came up with some figures and we beginning. Keep em’ Shiny Side UP! made a deal. – Jake 54 - TRMI MAY 2016
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an option.
“This one feature can change so much in our favor for motorcycle safety- why aren’t you using it?”
So speaking of my daughter, that’s where the topic for this month’s column came about. We all spend a lot of time on our She sent me a message the other phones these days. I’d hate to day that I needed to answer. But think of the hours of my life I’ll I was driving. There are still a never get back that were spent number of things that are legal for business, pleasure or just to to do in Iowa with a phone while waste time on that damn thing. you are driving, and dialing I’ve got a personal Android and and calling somebody is one of now a company iPhone, so I can them. Except she’s a teenager, take that number of hours from and they don’t talk on the phone. my past and effectively double Ever. But I looked down at the it going forward. And who ever field where I could reply to her thought that a cell phone would message, and saw a microphone take the place of a GPS, a laptop icon. All I had to do was push it. I computer, a day planner, a recorded a voice message for her. camera, and a whole catalog of One button is all it took. Then I music CD’s? I personally have got to looking thru the various a love-hate relationship with features on my phone, and that my phones, and I’m sure many microphone icon was everywhere. I never used to use it, for of you do also. On the one hand, I hate the thing and the intrusion it brings into my life. But on the other hand, I really two reasons. For one, you get to be the guy in his truck that looks like he’s talking to himself. And because I didn’t would find it difficult to make a living without it at this want my phone list listening to me. We guess what, smart point. If my competitors can answerr an email from phones listen to eeverything you do now anyhow, their car, I guess I’d better be able to do so too, or so you’d just as well get over the privacy issue I’ll lose business. now and use it iin a manner that saves lives. And everybody talks to themselves anyhow. You want Right now on various TV, internet and directions somewhere? The GPS has a microphone print media sources there is a strong g public some button. Tell awareness campaign underway to get people Te it where you want to go, it will take you there. Want to call somebody? Tell to stop texting and driving. I think that’s it who to call, it will do that for you, and a wonderful thing. But I’m also afraid aid it’s with a lot less key strokes than dialing a an uphill battle that might never be truly number. N Need to Google something? Yep, won. Unless some technology emerges rges you guessed it. Another microphone icon. In that makes your horn honk when the he driver gues fact, about is sending a text or when they start to make abou anything you’d need to use your phone for while in a moving vehicle can be phones that won’t text within a few w feet activated bby voice command. And almost of a steering wheel, we’re all on thee honor nobody I know uses it. But after I saw how system. It’s nearly impossible to enforce, force, k easy, and m more importantly, how safe it was, unless the person straight up admitss they were I’m going to use it every chance I can now, even texting when they get pulled over. We’ve all if I’m not dr driving, even if I’m not in a car at all. seen and heard of the horrible accidents dents that Because I w want to get into the habit of doing happen when somebody drives into o the it, and bec because I want to be an example for back of a stopped vehicle while texting. ting. others. When I’m speaking into it, I can hold In many cases, the driver never looked ked up up, others W it flat and completely out of my line of sight. never braked, and ran at full speed into the In my humble opinion, it’s probably the safest back of another vehicle. Some kid did that way to use a phone while underway in a car or truck, other up here, he ran full on into the back of a school bus. Never than to be totally hands-free (which is the law in California once looked up. There’s an internet story accompanied by by the way). So give your fellow motorists and riders a break, a picture going around showing a fancy red Corvette that and start pushing that little microphone button once, instead is almost completely under a semi-trailer. Allegedly the of all those other buttons many times. It’s easy and safe, and guy was texting, and his phone was found, still in his hand. the way this season is starting out for motorcyclists, I say we Unfortunately, his head was found in the back of the Vette. And even after these graphic images and stories circulate, the need every break we can get out there. Even if it is just a little icon on a smart phone. If it prevents a single wreck and the texting and driving continues. At an alarming rate no less. I was absolutely astonished to read in fellow TRMI column in loss of one rider, it’s a habit worth learning. So I’ll see you all recent months to see that this person had several friends that on the roads this spring, hopefully talking to your phone. quit riding entirely because of how bad the texting problem had become. I was astonished not because they had made that Mark Mullins, President, MAG decision, but I was astonished because I’ve actually thought about it too. And I love to ride. I learned to ride a motorcycle **TRMI Addition: Not all smart phones operate the same, well before I ever drove a car. But if a texting driver takes me some operate more easily in a “hands free” mode than others. out, I’m not going to be there for my daughter, and that is not Test your phone and learn to use it safely and efficiently. 56 - TRMI MAY 2016
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For the month of May, our Military Rider page is about the Armed Forces Freedom Ride. This event takes place on Armed Forces Day and only seemed fitting to fill this space this month. Ryan Field is the Iowa Coordinator and he can be contacted at: rdfield40r@yahoo.com. Ryan retired from the US Army after 23 years, 17 of those being an Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Soldier (the nuts who actually defuse roadside bombs among other cool stuff. Their event starts out at Loess Hills Harley Davidson in Pacific Junction on May 21st. Here is some information about the event nationally, followed up with some additional information about the local Iowa event.
of gratitude in an act of unity, and in observance of this National day of remembrance.
NATIONAL
The purpose is to Honor Armed Forces Day, and to salute all those in military, of the past, present, and those that still stand severing today, that have put their lives in danger for our Country, and is what they do every day to protect the United States. Founder & National Coordinator, Gypsy hgypsyways@aol.com
Thousands will stand again during the 7th National Armed Forces Freedom Ride May 21 2016 to observe Armed Forces Day, along with reminding Americans of the importance of remembering those who sacrificed their Freedom for us as Americans. Armed Forces Day is a day to honor every segment of the United States Military. Armed Forces Day is a day to fly a flag and to share as family fond feelings for the powerful force that seeks to preserve peace in the world.
This National Armed Forces Freedom Ride team is very excited to help Host this “National” Event that takes place on Armed Forces Day every year. This event began with one woman’s vision that lead the Mission of Uniting State by State Showing of Support for our Armed Forces and to bring back awareness of this holiday that has been slowly losing its recognition. The process began with the recruiting of willing volunteers known as the “Armed Forces Freedom Ride Team” The Iowa ride is to begin at Loess Hills Harley-Davidson in Pacific Junction. CMA will be having a bike blessing These Rides/Events are held yearly on “Armed Forces and a pancake breakfast, with free will donations accepted. Day” that began in 2010. Armed Forces Day is a day to Kickstands up at 10:00 and the route will go from LHHD honor every segment of the United States Military. With a along the Loess Hills and then east onto Highway 92. The personal vision and Mission to help raise awareness back first stop will be at The Buck Snort in Oakland. From to “Armed Forces Day”, Recognize ,Honor, Remember, there the ride will leave for the Square in Downtown and Salute with a showing of Support and to pay our Harlan, home of Roar Into Harlan Bike Night. The ride respects for their bravery, unselfish courage & commitment. will be in Harlan for a couple of hours while drawing for The beginning process involved recruiting Volunteers as the raffle prize of an installed light kit, donated by Above State Ride Coordinators, that now stands at a distance but and Beyond. There will be time for some food, drink, and United as a Team throughout 21 States ~ Each Individual shopping on the square in Harlan. Then the ride will go to Ride/Event Coordinator dedicates their time and loyalty Neola via the Railroad Highway and stop at the Neola Buck to form and plan these Events & Rides. This visual of Snort location and also stop at the Bronze Eagle monument. Support now spans from Washington to New York and is From Neola the ride will get back on the Railroad Highway seen and heard yearly through these Rides/Events, Parades, to IA-6, then to I-80, I-29, and back to LHHD. The Dedications, Ceremonials, visitations to Local Veterans proceeds from the ride were and will be donated to local Centers & Hospitals, Veterans Memorials, Cemeteries. We Veterans organizations to help Armed Forces personnel, past have also given supplies and donations to Local Homeless and present, and their families. Hope to see you there! Shelters, Food Pantries and more. Thanks to Ryan and Gypsy for their commitment to Armed Forces Freedom Ride is not an organization, honoring our Military. My hat goes off to these two non-profit, foundation or company; simply one Proud dedicated and patriotic individuals. TRMI will be on the American that is living proof that one individual can run, and as LHHD and Roar Into Harlan Bike Night are make a difference. The event has blossomed due to the Registration/Check-In Sites, and the Oakland Buck Snort commitment of different State Coordinators. Thanks to the is a Check-In Site, riders will get a chance to get a card and dedication of the Team of States Coordinators, the many some Check-Ins for the Tall Corn Run. See you on the 21st Various Veterans Groups, Organizations, MC’s, RC’s, and at Loess Hills Harley-Davidson! Supporters, of The 1st Freedom Ride of 2010, the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, and 6th help provide Riders & Supporters Vernon Schwarte throughout the Nation an opportunity to join this expression
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joint! He took our orders and brought them back in a short amount of time, considering how busy it was for a rainy Saturday. There is a notice right on the menu stating that good food takes time, so the short wait was a nice surprise. Now, the menu offers a wide range of options from salads to burgers, and an impressive list of sides and appetizers, but we both decided that the amazing smells coming from the kitchen had to be burgers….so burgers we got!
The Ritz
394 Highway 71 S Arnolds Park, Iowa (712) 332-2777 Mon-Tue: 3:00 pm - 2:00 am Wed-Sat: 11:00 am - 2:00 am Sun: 8:30 am - 2:00 am When roaming around Okoboji we frequently pass a bar/restaurant that sits just off the main drag and has a spacious outside seating area overlooking the water. Now most times we pass by, there seems to be quite a crowd, as well as music spilling from the interior. This time, however was different…passing by during the off season we noticed there might just be some space for the two of us. Having heard rumors of fabulous burgers and some top notch bloody mary’s…we figured that this was our opportunity to get in on what locals know to be some damn good grub. When we ventured inside it was raining, so we opted for a table overlooking the lake, but decided to stay inside as not to melt our sweet selves. As soon as we sat down, the waitress was by to see how she could help. We opted for bloody mary’s while we perused the menu. When she returned with our drinks, we realized that there was no reason to order an appetizer, as the bloody mary had that covered all on its own. The drink was delicious on its own, but included a montage of snack items including beef sticks, pickles, and cheese curds just to name a few.
I opted for a cheese burger and onion rings. Sounds pretty basic, I know, but basic it was not…my burger was thick and juicy, and the toppings were unbelievably fresh. The bun was perfectly toasted and cheese oozed for miles. The onion rings were hot and crisp, and came with the most delicious side of homemade ranch I’ve ever tasted. Vernon went with the bacon cheeseburger and battered cheese curds. His burger was also cooked to perfection and came with plenty of melted cheese. The cheese curds were accompanied by chipotle ranch that was a perfect complement to those gooey little nuggets. The burgers come with a fancy toothpick to hold their massiveness together, and after trying to finish one myself I can see why! After cleaning our plates we saw numerous pizzas pass us on their way to eager diners, and damn did they look good! I think next time we may have to walk on the Italian side of things that The Ritz has to offer. The Ritz was a place that was definitely worth stopping at, and will be a destination for many visits to come. Tons of room whether you’re a party of two, or two hundred. Fun atmosphere, friendly locals and staff, and some damn good vittles to boot! So whether you are in the Okoboji area, or you make a special trip just for some good food, make sure you stop by The Ritz and tell ‘em TRMI sent you! They will love to see ya…just make sure you can loosen your belt afterwards, because there are no small portions here! Sitting in for Big Little this month. Vernon and Melanie
We took so long admiring our drinks that it was time for our waitress to head Until next month, home, so we were given a new waiter, who just hapride safe and eat hearty! pened to be right up our alley. He was gracious about Craig Little craig@thunderroadsiowa.com accepting our razzing, and soon became comfortable PS If you have someplace you think we should check enough to dish it right back. This just happens to be out in your neck of the woods, shoot me an email. our favorite kind of wait staff…no stuffed shirts in this Thunder Roads Magazine of Iowa on Facebook www.thunderroadsiowa.com 62 - TRMI MAY 2016
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A young couple took their six-year-old son to the doctor. With some hesitations, they explained that although their little angel appeared to be in good health, they were concerned about his rather small pen*s. After examining the child, the doctor confidently declared, “Just feed him pancakes. That should solve the problem.” The next morning when the boy arrived at breakfast, there was a large stack of warm pancakes in the middle of the table. “Gee, Mom,” he exclaimed. “For me?” “Just take two,” the mother replied. “The rest are for your father.” ################################################ ################################################ There was a boy called Dick. He asked his mom one day: Dick: “Mom, why is my friend’s name Diamond?” Mom: “Because her mom likes diamonds and most moms name their children by what they like.” Dick: “Then what’s my name supposed to mean?” ################################################ ################################################ Q: What is the difference between Socialist Bernie Sanders and a prostitute? A: The prostitute provides value for the money she takes. ################################################ ################################################ “I recall my first time with a condom, I was 16 or so. I went in to buy a packet of condoms at the pharmacy. There was this beautiful woman assistant behind the counter, and she could see that I was new at it. She handed me the package and asked if I knew how to wear one. I honestly answered, ‘No, this is my first time.’ So she unwrapped the package, took one out and slipped it over her thumb. She cautioned me to make sure it was on tight and secure. I apparently still looked confused. So, she looked all around the store to see if it was empty. It was empty. ‘Just a minute,’ she said, and walked to the door, and locked it. Taking my hand, she led me into the back room, unbuttoned her blouse and removed it. She unhooked her bra and laid it aside. ‘Do these excite you?’ She asked. Well, I was so dumb-struck that all I could do was nod my head. She then said it was time to slip the condom on. As I was slipping it on, she dropped her skirt, removed her panties and lay down on a desk. ‘Well, come on’, she said, ‘We don’t have much time.’ So I climbed on her. It was so wonderful, that unfortunately, I could no longer hold back and KAPOWWWWWWWW, I was done within a few moments. She looked at me with a bit of a frown. ‘Did you put that condom on?’ she asked. I said, ‘I sure did,’ and held up my thumb to show her. She fainted.” ################################################ ################################################ As you lie back your muscles tighten. You put him off for a while searching for an excuse, but he refuses to be swayed 66 - TRMI MAY 2016
as hhee aap as approaches p you. Hee asks a if you’re afraid and you shake your head h bravely. He has had more experience, but it’s the first time his finger has found the right place. He probes deeply and you shiver; your body tenses; but he’s gentle like he promised he’d be. He looks deeply within your eyes and tells you to trust him-he’s done this many times before. H His cool smile relaxes you and you open w wider to give him more room for an easy een entrance. You begin to plead and beg him to hhurry, but he slowly takes his time, wanting to cause you as little pain as possible. As he presses closer, going deeper, you feel the tissue give way; pain surges throughout your body and you feel the slight trickle of blood as he continues. He looks at you concerned and asks you if it’s too painful. Your eyes are filled with tears but you shake your head and nod for him to go on. He begins going in and out with skill but you are now too numb to feel him within you. After a few moments, you feel something bursting within you and he pulls it out of you, you lay panting, glad to have it over. He looks at you and smiling warmly, tells you, with a chuckle; that you have been his most stubborn yet most rewarding experience. You smile and thank your dentist. After all, it was your first time to have a tooth pulled. ################################################ ################################################ What was Hilary Clinton’s last gift to Monica? Spot remover. ################################################ ################################################ An American businessman is entertaining some overseas business guests on the golf course. The first guest, who is from Italy, tees off and hits a good shot 200 yards down the fairway, As the American businessman knows a small amount of Italian he says: “Buon tiro”, which means “Good shot”. The Italian businessman replies: “Grazie”. The second guest, who is from France, tees off and hits a fantastic shot that lands on the green thirty feet from the hole. As the American businessman knows a small amount of French he says: “Tir fantastique”, which means “Fantastic shot”. The French businessman replies: “Merci”. The third guest, who is from Japan, tees off and amazingly the ball goes straight in the hole, a hole in one! The American businessman doesn’t know many Japanese words or phrases but when he dated a Japanese girl during his overseas business trips she used to moan when he made love to her and she would shout out “Ura-ana, ura-ana”, and which he repeats to his Japanese guest. The Japanese businessman replies: “What do you mean wrong hole?” ################################################ ################################################ What is Donald Trump telling Barack Obama supporters? Orange Is The New Black. ################################################ ################################################ The year is 2222 and Mike and Maureen land on Mars after accumulating enough frequent flier miles. They meet a Martian couple and are talking about all sorts of things.
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Mike asks if Mars has a stock-market, if they have laptop computers, how they make money, etc. Finally, Maureen brings up the subject of sex. “Just how do you guys do it?” asks Maureen. “Pretty much the way you do,” responds the Martian. Discussion ensues and finally the couples decide to swap partners for the night and experience one another. Maureen and the male Martian go off to a bedroom where the Martian strips. He’s got only a teeny, weeny member about half an inch long and just a quarter inch thick. I don’t think this is going to work,” says Maureen. “Why?” he asks, “What’s the matter?” “Well,” she replies, “It’s just not long enough to reach me!” “No problem,” he says, and proceeds to slap his forehead with his palm. With each slap of his forehead, his member grows until it’s quite impressively long. “Well,” she says, “That’s quite impressive, but it’s still pretty narrow…” “No problem,” he says, and starts pulling his ears. With each pull, his member grows wider and wider until the entire measurement is extremely exciting to the woman. “Wow!” she exclaims, as they fell into bed and made mad, passionate love. The next day the couples rejoin their normal partners and go their separate ways. As they walk along, Mike asks “Well, was it any good?” “I hate to say it,” says Maureen, “but it was pretty wonderful. How about you?” “It was horrible,” he replies. “All I got was a headache. All she kept doing the whole time was slapping my forehead and pulling my ears.” ################################################ ################################################ A man is out shopping and discovers a new brand of Olympic condoms. Clearly impressed, he buys a pack. Upon getting home he announces to his wife the purchase he just made. “Olympic condoms?”, she blurts, “What makes them so special?” “There are three colors”, he replies, “Gold, Silver and Thunder Roads Magazine of Iowa on Facebook
Bronze.” “What color are you going to wear tonight?”, she asks cheekily. “Gold of course”, says the man proudly. The wife responds wryly, “Why don’t you wear Silver? It would be nice if you came second for a change.” ################################################ ################################################
A blonde was really tired of being made fun of, so she decided to have her hair changed so she would look like a brunette. When she had brown hair, she decided to take a drive in the country. After she had been driving for a while, she saw a farmer and a flock of sheep and thought, “Oh! Those sheep are so adorable!” She got out and walked over to the farmer and said, “If I can guess how many sheep you have, can I take one home?” The farmer, being a bit of a gambler himself, said she could have a try. The blonde looked at the flock and guessed, “157.” The farmer was amazed – she was right! So the blonde, (who looked like a brunette), picked one out and got back into her car. Before she left, farmer walked up to her and said. “If I can guess the real color of your hair, can I have my dog back?”
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Motorcycle Rider Education (MRE) Program? From http://www.iowadot.gov/mre/#myAnchor4 What is the Motorcycle Rider Education (MRE) Program? Iowa has a quality Motorcycle Rider Education (MRE) Program administered by the Iowa DOT’s Office of Driver Services. Iowa’s MRE Program teaches Basic Rider Course (BRC) and the Basic Rider Course II (BRC II) of the Motorcycle Safety Foundation (MSF). The BRC has a minimum of 15 hours of core instruction — five hours spent in the classroom in preparation for 10 hours of range activities. The BRC II has a minimum of five hours — most of which are spent on the range. You must successfully pass a knowledge test, as well as a skill test to receive a certificate of completion.. Basic skills taught include: Riding in a straight line. Turning. Shifting. Stopping. The next level of instruction is the application of these basic skills to on-street riding conditions.
Who teaches it?
Only Iowa-licensed, MSF-certified rider coaches teach the BRC and BRC II programs.
Who can or must take it? Any person 14 years of age or older, whether licensed or not licensed for motorcycle, may take the course to learn, refresh or improve safe riding skills. The licensing skills test may be waived upon successful completion of the course. Iowa Code section 321.180B requires any person under the age of 18 who wants a motorcycle license — valid for the operation of a motorcycle — to successfully complete the motorcycle rider education course before the motorcycle license will be issued.
What does it cost? Motorcycle rider education in Iowa is supported in part by an additional fee of $2 per year for a motorcycle validations, a portion from the sale of MRE license plates and the balance comes from the student tuition. Your out-of-pocket cost, which varies by sponsor, ranges from about $115 to $245.
Where can I take it? The training season, somewhat weather dependent, varies throughout the state. However, the course is generally available from early April through mid-October. Sponsors of the BRC or BRC II include 13 of Iowa’s 15 community colleges, ABATE of Iowa Inc. and Bandy Motorcycle Training. Iowa also has the Harley Davidson Rider’s Edge Program, currently with four sponsors — Big Barn Harley Davidson of Des Moines, Clinton Harley Davidson of Clinton, Hawkeye Harley Davidson of Coralville, and Silver Eagle Harley Davidson/Yamaha Cycle Center of Waterloo. The course is taught at all 15 community colleges, either by the college or the mobile programs of ABATE. Sponsors, sites and course registration telephone numbers are listed on the next page.
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The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery stands atop a hill overlooking Washington, D.C. On March 4, 1921, Congress approved the burial of an unidentified American soldier from World War I in the plaza of the new Memorial Amphitheater. The white marble sarcophagus has a flat-faced form and is relieved at the corners and along the sides by neo-classic pilasters, or columns, set into the surface. Sculpted into the east panel which faces Washington, D.C., are three Greek figures representing Peace, Victory, and Valor. The six wreaths, three sculpted on each side, represent the six major campaigns of World War I. Inscribed on the back of the Tomb are the words: Here rests in honored glory an American soldier known but to God The Tomb sarcophagus was placed above the grave of the Unknown Soldier of World War I. West of the World War I Unknown are the crypts of unknowns from World War II, Korea and Vietnam. Those three graves are marked with white marble slabs flush with the plaza.
identical caskets and taken aboard the USS Canberra, a guided-missile cruiser resting off the Virginia capes. Navy Hospitalman 1st Class William R. Charette, then the Navy’s only active-duty Medal of Honor recipient, selected the Unknown Soldier of World War II. The remaining casket received a solemn burial at sea. Four unknown Americans who died in the Korean War were disinterred from the National Cemetery of the Pacific in Hawaii. Army Master Sgt. Ned Lyle made the final selection. Both caskets arrived in Washington May 28, 1958, where they lay in the Capitol Rotunda until May 30. That morning, they were carried on caissons to Arlington National Cemetery. President Eisenhower awarded each the Medal of Honor, and the Unknowns were interred in the plaza beside their World War I comrade.
The Unknown of Vietnam
The Unknown service member from the Vietnam War was designated by Medal of Honor recipient U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Maj. Allan Jay Kellogg Jr. during a ceremony at Pearl Harbor, The Unknown of World Hawaii, May 17, 1984. The Vietnam War I Unknown was transported aboard the USS Brewton to Alameda Naval Base, Calif. The remains were sent to Travis On Memorial Day, 1921, four unknowns were exhumed Air Force Base, Calif., May 24. The Vietnam Unknown from four World War I American cemeteries in France. U.S. arrived at Andrews Air Force Base, Md., the next day. Many Army Sgt. Edward F. Younger, who was wounded in combat, Vietnam veterans and President and Mrs. Ronald Reagan highly decorated for valor and received the Distinguished visited the Vietnam Unknown in the U.S. Capitol. An Army Service Medal in “The Great War, the war to end all wars,” caisson carried the Vietnam Unknown from the Capitol to selected the Unknown Soldier of World War I from four the Memorial Amphitheater at Arlington National Cemetery identical caskets at the city hall in Chalons-sur-Marne, on Memorial Day, May 28, 1984. President Reagan presided France, Oct. 24, 1921. Sgt. Younger selected the unknown over the funeral, and presented the Medal of Honor to the by placing a spray of white roses on one of the caskets. He Vietnam Unknown. chose the third casket from the left. The chosen unknown soldier was transported to the United States aboard the The president also acted as next of kin by accepting the USS Olympia. Those remaining were interred in the Meuse interment flag at the end of the ceremony. The interment Argonne Cemetery, France. flags of all Unknowns at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier are on view in the Memorial Display Room. The Memorial The Unknown Soldier lay in state in the Capitol Rotunda Bridge leading from Washington, D.C., to Virginia is lined from his arrival in the United States until Armistice Day, with a joint-service cordon as the remains of the Vietnam 1921. On Nov. 11, 1921, President Warren G. Harding War Unknown are taken by motor escort to Arlington officiated at the interment ceremonies at the Memorial National Cemetery for interment in the Tomb of the Amphitheater at Arlington National Cemetery. Unknown Soldier.
The Unknown of World War II and Korea On Aug. 3, 1956, President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed a bill to select and pay tribute to the unknowns of World War II and Korea. The selection ceremonies and the interment of these unknowns took place in 1958. The World War II Unknown was selected from remains exhumed from cemeteries in Europe, Africa, Hawaii and the Philippines.
The remains of the Vietnam Unknown were exhumed May 14, 1998. Based on mitochondrial DNA testing, DoD scientists identified the remains as those of Air Force 1st Lt. Michael Joseph Blassie, who was shot down near An Loc, Vietnam, in 1972. It has been decided that the crypt that contained the remains of the Vietnam Unknown will remain vacant. The crypt cover has been replaced with one that has the inscription “Honoring and Keeping Faith with America’s Missing Servicemen, 1958-1975.”
Two unknowns from World War II, one from the European From: http://www.arlingtoncemetery.mil/Explore/Tomb-ofTheater and one from the Pacific Theater, were placed in the-Unknown-Soldier Thunder Roads Magazine of Iowa on Facebook www.thunderroadsiowa.com 72 - TRMI MAY 2016
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such data only in the seconds before, during and after a crash. As technology increases chances are that they’ll be recording everything. State by state each legislature needs to define who owns the information.
In the News: The Protection of Motorsports Act of 2016, HR4715 (RMP Act) if passed, will prevent the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency from regulating the conversion of street bikes and other motor vehicles into competition-only machines. The AMA has been working together with the folks at SEMA and other sanctioning bodies to block the EPA’s proposed regulation of competition-only vehicles.
Once again on the local front, ABATE of Nebraska is working to modify the state’s helmet law. A bill to repeal the state’s mandatory helmet law passed the state legislative Transportation committee by a 5-1 vote. Unfortunately, two senators immediately promised to filibuster any effort to get the bill through. The bill would allow riders 21 years old or older the right to choose whether or not to wear a helmet. Keep in mind, a motorcycle has only two enemies: Rust and Politicians! Stay vigilant! Questions or Comments? peter@riderpromotions.com
The Obama Administration is pushing the move toward driverless cars. The President’s fiscal year budget proposed spending $4 billion over the next 10 years to help accelerate the integration of driverless cars on the roadways. Did you know that most cars, trucks and even motorcycles on the road have a ‘black box’ event data recorder on board? The issue is who owns the rights to the data. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration or NHTSA argue that in the interest of safety that they and law enforcement have a right to access the information. Most people I know believe that if they own the vehicle they own the black box and therefore the information. Currently, the boxes record
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Adios, Ciao, Au Revoir…Pinky Says Farewell They say all good things must come to an end, the party can’t go on forever, yadda yadda yadda; I guess they’re right. It is with much excitement and a twinge of sadness that I write this note to you all. As of this month, I will be limiting the work that I do for the magazine in anticipation of a big move west. Yep, it’s time for this lil scooter jockey to keep moving on! My husband and I have decided that there’s no time better than the present to head out to Colorado and tear up some Rocky Mountain blacktop. Working here with the TRMI family over the past few years has been a dream come true. I first took this job because too often, we riders are instantly judged inaccurately by Joe Q Public and to me that’s just not right. Over the course of being with the mag, I feel that we have overcome the “big bad biker” stigma and thanks to the great bikers of this state, will continue to prove to Mr. Public that we can pull together faster than any group to show support, raise money or make a little girls dreams come true. The biker nation of Iowa is comprised of the most kind, caring and fun folks in the world (just MY opinion) and it gives me ultimate pleasure to know that I had a hand in showcasing some of the state’s coolest cats, beautiful scenery and rocking rallies. Every memory created here will be cherished forever. Every friend I’ve made will always hold a spot within my cold heart. And most of all, I will always treasure my Thunder Roads Family!! Speaking of the TRMI family…. Anyone else notice all the new faces on the Table of Contents Page?? Thanks to your support and the support of our sponsors our lil family continues to grow. I’ve been working hard to get my replacement whipped into shape and I think it’s time for me to cut the cord & let my baby bird fly. Ryan Delf will be your new correspondent for the Quad Cities Metro area. Just like you all did to me, please text him at all hours of the night with awesome story ideas or info from the poker run flyer you read right before the bar closed. Don’t be afraid of the guy, it’s not like he’s a bodybuilder or anything (ok, actually, that’s a lie- he TOTALLY is a body builder, as is his smoking hot wife!). Ok, we’ll try this again… don’t be scared of the bald dude, it’s not like he carries a sidearm at all times (Crap! Another lie… Ryan is a huge supporter of our 2nd amendment rights). Last chance, take three… Don’t be frightened by the bald, muscley guy with a sidearm, he’s a really great dude and despite the fact that he’s NOT me, he does have a nice set of pecs and his wife is currently sporting purple hair…. So together they may be able to fill my shoes. Ryan has been working hard getting out in the area and meeting all of you guys. He looks forward to riding along with your poker run and writing about your amazing fundraiser. I know that I am leaving my ‘territory’ in very capable hands and ask that you all show him the same love you did to me when I was just getting started. Until we meet again, keep the shiny side up!! ~Pinky
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Apr 29-30 Vintage Torque Fest Dubuque Apr 29-May 1Shalya Bee Southpark Mall Motorcycle Show Spencer Apr 30 Sleeping Angels Fun Run Boone Apr 30 Carroll Cycle Center Spring Open House Carroll Apr 30 1st Cruise Night Heartland H-D Burlington Apr 30 Accident Scene Management Class Des Moines Apr 30 Poker Run/Fundraiser for Robert & Renee Slocum Baxter Apr 30 Open House McGrath Dubuque HD Dubuque Apr 30 Spring Open House McGrath Hawkeye HD Coralville May 1 10th Annual Blessing of the Bikes Blue Grass May 7 Goozman’s Westside 40th Anniversary Party Harlan May 7 Pancake Breakfast Metro Cedar Rapids May 7 22nd Annual Spring Hog Roast Zylstra HD Ames May 7 Heels on Wheels Ride Carroll Cycle Center Carroll May 7 Rev It Up for Awareness Davenport May 7 1st Annual QC Ladies International Ride Day Quad Cities May 7 Chrome Divas of Cedar Rapids Motorcycle Awareness Ride May 7 International Female Ride Day Everywhere May 7 Run For The Son Bike Blessing and Ride Burlington May 7 HERO Spring Poker Run Washington May 7 Becky’s Legacy Memorial Ride Des Moines May 7 AMVETS Riders Motorcycle Awareness Ride Cedar Rapids May 14 F&J Racing 21st Annual Blessing of the Bikes Marshalltown May 14 Ride for Peanut Anamosa May 14 Spring Open House IAAM Bike Raffle and Poker Run Heartland H-D Burlington May 14 Baxter Cycle Spring Open House Marne May 14 4th Annual Marty Davidson Bike Show Oskaloosa May 14 Motorcycle Awareness Ride Fun Run Council Bluffs May 14 Benefit Ride for JR & Evelyn Rogers Waterloo May 14 BATE D5 Accident Scene Management w/Slider Cedar Rapids May 14 Special Olympics Riley Rides Milford May 15 American Legion Riders-Veterans Assistance Fun Run Ames May 15 Bike Blessing Northwest Christian Church Council Bluffs May 15 Bears for Buddies Ride Rock Island, IL May 20 ABATE/IDOT Motorcycle Safety Forum Ames May 21 7th Annual Poker Run for Pink Ponca, NE May 21 ABATE D15 Ride for Awareness Bettendorf May 21 Chrome for Kids Raffle & Ride Cedar Rapids May 21 B.A.C.A. 7th Annual 100 Mile Ride Pleasant Hill May 21 Armed Forces FREEDOMRIDE LHHD Pacific Junction May 21 Crayon Cruise Benefit Ride for Schools/Supplies Heartland HD Burlington May 21 Freedom Fest Bike Rally Epworth May 21 Route 65 Harley-Davidson BBQ & Open House Indianola May 22 Spring Ride to Balltown Wieblers HD Davenport May 22 Iowa Thunder Ride 2016 Des Moines May 26-29 Redneck Revival Conesville May 27-30 Rolling Thunder Nationwide May 28 Bike Blues & BBQ Wieblers HD Davenport May 28 Dirty Ernies Fun Run Farley May 28 Sgt JJ Bonnell Memorial Ride Fort Dodge May 29 Midway Tavern’s Annual Neal Denny Memorial Poker Run Solder May 29 Dan Sesker Memorial Poker Run Ogden May 29 Freedom Rock Ride Manilla May 29 Memorial Motorcycle Ride Lake Park Jun 4 Kimballton Bike and Car Show & Shine Kimballton Jun 4 Vintage Rally and Bike Show Anamosa Jun 4 2nd Suicide Awareness Benefit/Ride&Drive Waterloo Jun 4 Shooting for HEROES Riverside Jun 4 Juices Ride #7 Benefiting Tom Pitz’s F/U to Cancer! Dubuque Jun 4 Chapter #166 ALR Veterans Benefit Ride Shellsburg Jun 4 Shaylla Culp Fun Run & BBQ Bedford Jun 4 Riding for Memory Tama Jun 5 Hill Climb and Swap Meet Anamosa Jun 5 Matt Brooks Benefit Ride Des Moines Jun 10-11 Open House Big Barn Des Moines Jun 11 8th Annual Bell Tower Festival Poker Run & Cycle Show
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Jefferson Carroll Cycle Center Rock –N- Ride Carroll Rigid River Run Dubuque Montgomery Street Pub Bike Night Creston Pets & Vets Blackjack Run Council Bluffs Journey for Hope-Patt Giese Memorial Poker Run Omaha Pit Row Car and Bike Show Mount Pleasant 10th Annual Angels for Sam Benefit Motorcycle Ride Carlisle Rumble In The Sand Outlaw Drags Conesville ALR Post 731 Ride Into the 90s to Barnstormers Des Moines Hometown Heroes Run Rockwell City Roar Into Harlan Poker Run Harlan Party in the Park Creston Freedom Day Celebration & Ride Wieblers HD Davenport Route 65 Harley-Davidson BBQ & Open House Indianola 2nd Annual Keep it Movin’ Multiple Sclerosis Fun Run Iowa Falls Jun 24 Relay for Life Windbags Ride Atlantic Jun 24-25 Conesville Two Rivers Music Festival Conesville Jun 25 Ride It Out For Amber Sarcoma Ride & Drive Jun 25-26 J&P Cycles Open House Rally Jones County Fairgrounds Monticello Jun 30-Jul 2 ABATE of Iowa Freedom Rally Algona Jul 1 Buffalo Days Ride In Bike Show Buffalo Jul 8-9 CVMA Chapter 39-3 Annual Patriot Ride Elkport Jul 8-9 8th Annual Eagle Riders Rally Shenandoah Jul 9 Water City Concert Series by Okoboji HD Jul 9 ABATE D15 Taco Run for Children’s Therapy Center Wiebler’s HD Davenport Jul 9 9th Annual Freeman Ride Avoca Jul 9 10th Annual Angel Ride to Save the TaTas Fort Dodge Jul 9 3rd annual Ride For Lupus Kelley Jul 11 Sisters’ Centennial Motorcycle Ride NMM Anamosa Jul 16 Montgomery Street Pub 11th Annual Poker Run/Pig Fry Creston Jul 16 NW Iowa ALR George O Spain Jr Memorial Healing Run LeMars Jul 16 Ride for Time Friends of Mine Baxter Jul 16 Route 65 Harley-Davidson BBQ & Open House Indianola Jul 16 Big Barn HD Thank the Seals Motorcycle Ride Des Moines Jul 16 Thank the Seals Motorcycle Ride Bettendorf to Des Moines Jul 19-20 R/J Performance Indian Demo Days Ottumwa Jul 23 Water City Concert Series by Okoboji HD Jul 23 American Legion Riders Post 111 Ride to Honor Newton Jul 23-24 Riverside Raceway Flat Track Races& Motorcross Winterset Jul 24 American Legion Riders-Nation of Patriots Run Post 37 Ames Jul 29-31 Central Iowa Hawg Rally Norwalk Jul 29-31 CMA State Rally Ft. Dodge Jul 30 Solidarity Ride (8 Seconds That Night) Metro Cedar Rapids Jul 30 CVMA Chapter 39-1 Annual Patriot Ride Des Moines Jul 31 3rd Annual Low Key Bikini Bike Wash Des Moines Aug 4-6 9th Annual Across the Border Raid Bedford Aug 5-6 Mikey Jones Memorial Dragfest Cordova, IL Aug 6 CVMA 39-3 Memorial Run/Fundraiser Davenport Aug 8-14 South Dakota Party Aug 13 AtlanticFest Ride In Bike Show Atlantic Aug 13 ABATE D15 Too Broke to Go to Sturgis Rodeo Donahue Aug 13 CVMA Chapter 39-2 Annual Patiort Ride Cedar Rapids Aug 13 2nd Annual Old Glory Ride Oxford Aug 14 ABATE D15 Too Broke to Go to Sturgis Mex Memorial Fun Run Donahue Aug 19 Water City Concert Series by Okoboji HD Aug 19-20 Boji Bike Rally Okoboji Aug 19-21 35th Annual Baxter Cycle Motorcycle Rally Marne Aug 19-21 12th Annual BTW Trike In Kellogg Aug 20 Tour de Shelby County Harlan Aug 20 Baylee’s Bike Run for Lupus Davenport Aug 20 Operation Comfort Warrior Ride Cresco Aug 20 Route 65 Harley-Davidson BBQ & Open House Indianola Jun 11 Jun 11 Jun 11 Jun 11 Jun 11 Jun 11 Jun 12 Jun 17-18 Jun 18 Jun 18 Jun 18 Jun 18 Jun 18 Jun 18 Jun 18
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Aug 27 Aug 27 Aug 27 Aug 31 Sep 1-3 Sep 1-4 Sep 2-4 Sep 2-5 Sep 3 Sep 3 Sep 4 Sep 9-10 Sep 9-11 Sep 10 Sep 10 Sep 11 Sep 11 Sep 16-17 Sep 17 Sep 17 Sep 17 Sep 18 Sep 23-25 Sep 21-24 Sep 24 Sep 24 Sep 24 Sep 24-25
Jami Jam V: Ride For Mental Health Action & Awareness Terrill AHeinz 57 8th Annual Ruff Ride Adel Kyle’s Mile Suicide Prevention/Awareness Ride #3 Metro HD Cedar Rapids New 2017 Model Party Metro Cedar Rapids 45th Davenport Fall International Meet Redneck Revival Conesville Midway Tavern Soldier Valley Run BBQ, Street Dance Soldier B.A.C.A. Legacy Run Adel Shooting for HEROES Anita Madrid Labor Day Fun Run to Benefit Muscular Dystrophy Biker Bash Lake Park Davis Motorcycle Rally New Hampton Rustemberfest Pacific Junction 4th Annual Ride for U of IA Children’s Hospital Davenport CVMA Chapter 39-1 Freedom Rock Ride Des Moines Hill Climb and Swap Meet Anamosa Hogs for Dogs Ride Ottumwa Rumble In The Sand Outlaw Drags Conesville The Hunt of a Lifetime Buffalo ABATE D15 Leaf Run Davenport Route 65 Harley-Davidson BBQ & Open House Indianola Concourse de Cornfield Antique Motorcycle Show Earlham 4th Annual Dubuque Ink & Art Expo Bikes Blues & BBQ Fayetteville, AR 10th Annual Cedar County Heroes Memorial Ride and Poker Run Tipton Carroll Cycle Center New Model Open House Carroll 2nd Cruise Night Heartland H-D Burlington Riverside Raceway Flat Track Races & Motorcross Winterset
Sep 25 Oct 2 Oct 2 Oct 8 Oct 8 Oct 9 Oct 15 Oct 15 Oct 15 Oct 15-16 Oct 22 Nov 11-12 Nov 18 Nov 25 Nov 25 Dec 10 Dec 17
R/J Performance Fun Days in Eddyville ABATE D15 32nd Annual Toy Run w/USMC Reserves Davenport Carroll Cycle Center Toy Run Carroll Fall Open House Heartland H-D Burlington 3rd Waypoint Gentleman Ride Cedar Rapids Carroll Cycle Center Fall Harvest Ride Carroll Tall Corn Run End of Year Prize Drawing Okoboji HD Rumble In The Sand Outlaw Drags Conesville ABATE D15 Harvest Run Davenport Riverside Raceway Flat Track & Motorcross Races Winterset Hog Roast Metro Cedar Rapids ABATE of Iowa STEAM Marshalltown Carroll Cycle Center Ladies Night Out Carroll Carroll Cycle Center Mens Night Out Carroll Black Friday Metro Cedar Rapids Santa Visits Metro Cedar Rapids Holiday Open House Big Barn Des Moines
Tuesday Fenders Honda Ames (1st & 3rd May-Sept) Fenders Cycle Des Moines (2nd and 4th May-Sept) Whistling Donkey Woodward (2nd & 4th Apr-Aug) Johnny’s Pub Lake Park
Wednesday
Friday
The Buck Snort Neola Cadillac Jack’s Baxter Slaby’s Plainview Amigos Fort Dodge 2nd Ave Des Moines (2nd Wed May-September) OP Clear Lake Ride’s Bar & Grill Ft Dodge Greencastle Tavern Mingo The Pour House, Davenport Harley Corin’s Bettendorf Gravy’s Bar and Grill Davenport
Fro’s Wilton (Starting in May) Knoxville Bike Night Knoxville (1st Friday) Bike Down to I-Town Indianola (3rd Friday) Woody’s Roadside Tavern Albion (Last Friday) TJ’s Pour House Exira (2nd Friday of the Month) Centerville Bike Nights (4th Friday of the Month) MX Revival Mitchellville (1st Fri June-September) Monroe Bike Night (4th Friday May-Aug) Thunder Nites Newton-2nd Friday May – September Ames Main Street (4th Friday May-September)
Thursday Roar Into Harlan (3rd Thursdays) Mainstreet Bar , Terrill Stumpy’s Bar & Grill Duncombe Metro HD Cedar Rapids (2nd Thursday May-August) Screaming Eagle Bar & Grill Waterloo Baxa’s Sutliff Store & Tavern (1st Thurs Start April) The Back 40 Macedonia (May-August) Barney’s Wadena (May-Labor Day) Des Moines Vintage Bike Night (1st Thurs May-Sep) Mcgrath Hawkeye HD (1st Thursday May-August) McGrath Dubuque H-D (2nd Thursday May-August) McGrath Powersports (Last Thursday May-August) Crossroads Kelley (Every Other Thursday) Spartans Pub Davenport Ottumwa Main Street Bike Night(3rd Thurs Jun-Sep) Thunder Roads Magazine of Iowa on Facebook
Saturday Avenue of the Saints St. Charles (3rd Saturday)
Sunday Just 1 More Jamaica (Starting in May) Haverhill Social Club Haverhill (3rd Sunday)
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. Not responsible for misprints and typos. If you have any other events to list, please email vernon@thunderroadsiowa.com www.thunderroadsiowa.com
TRMI MAY 2016 - 79
80 - T RMI MAY 2016 TRMI
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