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TRM TR MII M AY 2019 AY 200119 - 3 TRMI MAY
Although it seems like it took forever orev or eveer er to to warm warm wa r rm ree ggood ood oo up this spring, it appears that wee aare to go for riding season 2019 now! w! It’s It’ ts about time, so take advantage off it! it! t! Now we still have the early season on n leftover road debris, agricultural all equipment on the rural roads yet et et for a while, and of course the spring showers, storms, and rapid temperature changes, but it is time to get out and about. Good thing we can finally ride though, because the events listing starts to really explode for May. Bike blessings, runs, and benefits abound all over the state. We have always tried to maintain the most comprehensive biker event and bike night listings, but now more than ever we need your help with this. If you know of any biker events or bike nights happening, email the information to Vernon@thunderroadsiowa.com. It is ever so important now this spring as there have been some cancellations and postponements of events due to flooding that has widely impacted parts of our great state. If you see or hear of events being pushed back or cancelled, let us know at the same email address so that we can keep the list updated and as accurate as possible. Also, due to the unforeseen flooding and its devastating after effects, make sure that you check to confirm that events are still happening, and happening in the same location as originally slated if they are in areas that have been affected with flooding. Another big thing with May is that it is Motorcycle Awareness Month. I was able to be at the Capital to witness the Governor signing the proclamation, that Duff talks about in his ABATE article this month. In other areas it is aptly named Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month, which is also fitting. No matter what it is called in your little corner of the world, a big part of the campaign that runs the month of May is for motorists to look twice to save a life. Those are very valid and worthwhile messages to send to drivers of all other vehicles, but motorcyclists also need to be aware of motorcycle safety as well. We need to take control of our
own ow n sa ssafety. fety. fe tyy. We W need to watch out for our own. own ow n.. We We n need to try to reduce crashes and aan nd nd fa ffatalities taal on two and three wheels. Wee n W need eeee to take rider education cl classes. las asse ass se We need to make sure ourselves ou o urs rs and our riding groups aare properly licensed and ar capable riders. We need to ride straight and ensure those around us do not over imbibe when hopping on tthe on he bike. We need to make he sure our motorcycles are safe and sur su ure re o properly p pr rop ope maintained and in decent ope enough shape to be out on the public roadways. We need to properly dress for the conditions and types of riding that we do. We need to be proponents in our own motorcycle world to try to make sure that as many of us as possible live to ride another day and return home safe to our friends and families after a ride. We need to do better about being safe, or people in suits will attempt to legislate our safety, and we all know that simply does not work. Become or stay members of organizations that help promote and protect our riding passion such as ABATE of Iowa, the Motorcycle Riders Foundation, and the American Motorcycle Association. Help out with their events, share their posts, and make your voices heard within those organizations for the betterment of the riding community. Help to spread the word about motorcycle safety, not just in the month of May, but the entire year. Just because May is the designated month for Motorcycle Awareness and Motorcycle Safety Awareness, we also all need to make this a yearlong endeavor into saving lives of our fellow riders. Ride safe everyone! Vernon Schwarte Editor Thunder Roads Magazine of Iowa Vernon@thunderroadsiowa.com Quote of the Month: “On a motorcycle, you can’t really think about more than where you are. There’s a freedom that comes with that - from stress, worry, sweating the small stuff.” Laurence Fishburne
On the Cover The Greene County Motorcycle Charity (GCMC) board members and volunteers thought that taking some photos at the tour site of the 2019 run would be fitting. Templeton Iowa is the backdrop for this fun loving dedicated group of folks that were able to make the trek on a breezy spring day for some photos at TR. The group is looking forward to the 11th Annual Bell Tower Festival motorcycle events on Saturday, June 8th. Come join the group in Jefferson that day for a great time including a Poker Run, Guided tour of TR, and cycle show. More information can be found at btfcycle.info 4 - TRMI MAY 2019
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As the days finally warm up and the roads dry up we take to our bikes a bit rusty but anxious to ride. It’s great to get back in the wind and the bugs but also important we get back into the habit of having a heightened awareness of our surroundings. I think back a couple of years, where we lost a friend to the early season sand in the road. He was too young to be gone so soon. It was a beautiful day but conditions were still unsafe in many places and it got him. Unfortunately, riding - like shooting - isn’t as forgiving as bowling or our pursuits won’t allow for do-overs.
and Eve in the garden. As one of America’s modern prophets, Phil “Duck Commander” Robertson, recently In this day and age the all-encompassing Situational stated,” The enemy Awareness is not only for when we are on the bikes but of America’s soul has should be active in all aspects of life. Slider’s riding and come to steal, kill and Golden Hour safety classes, concealed carry training, and destroy. He’s slicked us, self-defense seminars all help, but we have to remember that convinced us generation complacency destroys vigilance. Being too comfortable is by generation to take not always a good thing. another step away from the absolute truth of While it is always important for personal safety, we also God.” need this awareness to be able to work and interact in a positive way in each other’s lives. We as a society have 1st Peter 5:8 tells us to “be alert and of sober mind. Your distanced ourselves from reality and from each other enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking with ear buds, phones, TV and social media, kids’ and for someone to devour.” Sadly, America has been being adults’ programs, sports, and on and on. We have made chomped on for quite a while now. We have an enemy ourselves dull and inattentive as we look inward to our own that wants to take us out or at least cripple us to the point of thoughts and desires instead of outward towards God and making us ineffective, joyless and isolated. The good news is others. Not paying attention allows bad things to happen. that the Son of God came to destroy the works of the devil. Not that we have to be afraid to go and do or be anxious about everything but as scripture says, we are to be wise as It’s time to take out the physical and spiritual earbuds, to serpents and innocent as doves. pay attention to what’s going on around us and to look to Jesus, the one who triumphed over sin and death for our Little by little, America has slipped; we got comfortable sakes. Lord help us to be vigilant in all situations and look to and lost our vigilance. Daniel Webster wrote in 1834 that you for protection and guidance in all we do. “God grants liberty to only those who love it and are always ready to guard and defend it.” We haven’t done a very good Blessings, Mark job of defending liberty. We’ve believed the lies that we are in charge of our destiny, making idols and worshipping all Mark and Karla Cornick are Area Reps with the Christian the –isms: environmentalism, socialism, sexual identityism Motorcyclists Association. Find out more about CMA and and all the other crazyisms. Animals now have more rights God’s plan for you at www.cmausa.org than babies. Kill a cat and you go to jail; you kill a baby you are heralded as a champion of women’s rights. America has been worshipping man-made deities when we should have been worshipping at the foot of the cross. Inclusion of every nut-job idea to the exclusion of the things that made us solid has allowed the justification for the removal of God from our lives. The devil isn’t content with just the removal of God from schools and government but wants every godly foundation destroyed and erased. The enemy lies and lulls us into complacency and has infiltrated every aspect of life, sowing destruction and ruin, just like he did to Adam 6 - TRMI MAY 2019
of mistakes checkers. Many of
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TRMI TR MI M AY 2019 201 0199 - 9 TRMI MAY
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
Biker Accessories Coolbikerstuff @ The Old Bait Shop 2103 Okoboji Ave MILFORD, Iowa 51351 712.338.888 & 214.914.4555 Crispy’s Biker Apparel Cedar Rapids, Iowa Find Us On Facebook J&P Cycles 13225 Circle Drive Anamosa, Iowa 52205 www.jpcycles.com 319-462-4817
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 Carroll Cycle Center 1327 Plaza Dr Carroll, Iowa 712-792-1610 www.carrollcycle.com Edwards Motorsports and RV’s 1010 34th Avenue Council Bluffs, Iowa 51501 712-366-8400 fullthrottleia.com or edwardsrvs.com
Ernie’s Harley-Davidson 2701 Hwy 18 East Algona, IA 50511 515-295-7951 www.erniesharley.com Indian Motorcycle of Des Moines 1500 E Army Post Road Des Moines, Iowa 50315 515-256-9062 Indianmotorcycleofdesmoines.com
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Indian Motorcycle of Mason City Mason City Powersports 12499 265th Street Mason City 641-423-3181 Masoncitypowersportsinc.com
Food and Drink (Popular Poker & Fun Run Locations)
Firehouse Bar 1211 5th Street Downtown Sioux City, IA 712-224-1020 Open Daily at 12:00
Loess Hills Harley-Davidson 57408 190th Street Pacific Junction IA 51561 712-800-3500 loesshillshd.com
American Legion Post 46 1301 S 6th Street Marshalltown, Iowa50158 641-752-3612 Open to the Public 7 Days a Week
Flat Tire Lounge 304 S Madison Madrid 515-795-4174 Outdoor Patios – Happy Hour 3-9 Flat Tire Lounge on Facebook
Metro Harley-Davidson 2415 Westdale Drive SW Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52404 319-362-9496 www.metro-motorsports.com
American Legion Post 111 1101 W 4th Street S Newton 641-792-3353 Open to the Public 7 Days a Week Newtonamericanlegion111.org
Grinnell Pub 909 State Street Grinnell, Iowa 50112 641-260-8003 Grinpub@aol.com
Nishna Valley Cycle HONDA – YAMAHA – KTM Atlantic, Iowa 50022 1-888-577-6406 www.nishnavalleycycle.com
Amigo’s 280 North 1st Street Fort Dodge, Iowa 50501 515-576-0142 Amigosfortdodge.com
Goozman’s Westside Bar & Grill 1019 7th St Harlan, Iowa 712-755-2259 Goozman’s Westside on Facebook
Okoboji Harley-Davidson 1005 Eastview Avenue Okoboji IA, 51355 712-332-7700 www.erniesharley.com
Barney’s 203 S Mill Street Wadena, Iowa 52169 563-774-2525 Barney’s Wadena on Facebook
Haverhill Social Club 202 1st Street Haverhill, Iowa 50120 641-475-3321 Tues-Sat 10-2, Sun 12-12
Route 65 Harley-Davidson 1300 S Jefferson Way Indianola, Iowa 50125 515.962.2160 www.route65hd.net
Baxa’s Sutliff Store & Tavern 5546 130th Street NE Lisbon 319-624-2204 Cold Beer, Delicious Food, Good Music & Great Times!
Iowa Legendary Rye 707 N Main Street Carroll, Iowa 51401 Iowalegendaryrye.com
Storm Lake Honda 3040 Expansion Blvd Storm Lake, Iowa 50588 StormLakeHonda.com 712-732-2460
Bea’s Place 108 Main Street Baxter, Iowa 50028 515-500-1990 www.thebeasplace.com
Entertainment
Brickyard Burgers & Brew 1802 Greene Street Adel, Iowa 50003 515-993-4200 Beer, Burgers, Fun
Ambro’s Roadhouse 917 Guthrie St De Soto, Iowa 50069 515-468-2236 Great Food! Ambro’s Roadhouse on Facebook 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 Okoboji Classic Cars Museum and Restoration Shop 810 Jeppeson Road West Okoboji, Iowa 51351 712-332-8029
Bullys’ Angle Inn 505 US 151 Walford, Iowa 52351 10am-12am Check Us Out on FB Calvin Rockett Bar & Grill 2013 South Center Street Marshalltown, Iowa 50158 641-328-1033 Open 7 Days a Week 11 – Close Castaways 411 Main Griswold, IA 712-778-5200 Bike Night 1st Friday Free Bloody Mary 3:00 Every Day Catfish Charlie’s On the Mississippi River 1630 E. 16th Street Dubuque, IA 52001 (563)582-8600 www.CatfishCharliesDubuque.com
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Desperados 105 E 5th Street Atlantic 712-243-7087 Home of Cold Beer, Good Times, Pizza & Wings
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 641-757-0159 309 Railway Jamaica, Iowa 50128 KC’s Tavern 120 N Main Street Bridgewater, Iowa 50837 Mon-Fri 4:30-Close, Sat-Sun 1-Close Find Us on FB 641-369-2017 Kippy’s Place 364 NW Main Street Elkhart, Iowa 50073 515-367-3104 Open at 11 Daily..find us on FB Knickers Saloon 2186 Central Avenue Dubuque, Iowa 52001 563-557-0887 365 Days a Year Knickers Saloon on Facebook Lynn’s On Merle Hay 6014 NW 59th Ct Johnston, Iowa 50131 515-270-9806 Find us on Facebook! McCanns Tap NE 14th & 54th Des Moines, Iowa 50313 Bike Parking M-F 2:00 Sat & Sun 11:00
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Mi Casa Family Restaurant 512 Market Street Harlan, Iowa 51537 712-755-2258 Enjoy Drinks at the Full Bar!
Roadhouse 105 Washington Marne, Iowa 51552 712-781-2272 Home of the Marne Burger
The Buck Snort Restaurant & Sports Bar 25 Scott Street Council Bluffs, Iowa 51503 712-328-2825 TheBuckSnortrestaurantandsportsbaronFB
Tobey Jacks Mineola Steak House Mineola, Iowa 712-526-2078 Open 7 Days a Week Check Us Out on Facebook
Midway Tavern 206 1st Street Soldier, Iowa 712-884-2230 www.midwaytavernsoldier.com
Ruby’s Pub and Grill 114 NE 2nd Street Stuart NEWLY REMODELED Full Kitchen & Bar Check us out on Facebook
The Buck Snort Glenwood 419 Sharp Street Glenwood, Iowa 51534 712-520-6454 Buck Snort Glenwood on Facebook
Twisted Corn Tavern 1405 Walnut Street Dallas Center, Iowa 50063 515-992-3868 Twisted Corn Tavern on Facebook
Montgomery Street Pub 207 East Montgomery Street Creston, Iowa 50801 641-782-2165
Rumors Bar & Grill 400 F Ave Cedar Rapids, IA Live Music & Food 319-286-0806
The Buck Snort 113 4th Street Neola, Iowa 51559 712-485-9090 The Buck Snort on Facebook
Vic’s Main Tap 304 Broadway Audubon, Iowa 50025 712-563-2122 Opens Sun-Fri 2:30, Sat 9:30
Sambetti’s Bar and Grill 1430 2nd Avenue Des Moines, Iowa 50314 515-245-9780 Mon-Sat 11a-2a, Sun 11a-7p
The Buck Snort Harlan 3002 23rd Street Harlan, Iowa 51537 712-235-2825 The Buck Snort Harlan on Facebook
Whatcha Smokin? BBQ+Brew 403 Iowa Avenue Luther, Iowa 50152 515-257-7490 Tuesday-Sunday
Sandbar 103 North Noyes Street Mondamin, Iowa 51557 712-646-2300 Facebook Sandbar Mondamin
The Buck Snort Neb City 715 1st Corso Nebraska City, NE 68410 402-713-5169 Buck Snort Neb City on Facebook
Whistlin’ Donkey Sports Bar & Grill 111 N. Main, Woodward 515-438-2669 Open 7 days/week @ 10am, Kitchen 11am Outdoor Patio, Find us on Facebook
Scooters on Broadway 475 NE Broadway Des Moines, Iowa 515-288-1053 scootersonbroadway@hotmail.com
The Buck Snort Oakland 310 Dr Van Zee Road Oakland, Iowa 51560 712-355-5315 The Buck Snort Oakland on FB
Wild Hogs Saloon & Eatery 350 Commercial Drive Walford, Iowa 52351 Open 11:00 Every Day Check Us Out on Facebook
North 40 Bar Magnolia, Iowa 402-301-8234 Look Us Up on Facebook Come Have Fun at the GYM!
Sidetracked 206 West Union Street Creston, Iowa 50801 641-782-8534
The Buck Snort Red Oak 322 E Coolbaugh Street Red Oak, Iowa 51566 712-357-1701 The Buck Snort Red Oak on Facebook
Wilson’s Tap and Recreation 1008 Story Street Boone, Iowa 50036/ 515-433-1395
Old Timer Tavern 401 S Center Street Marshalltown Mon-Sat 6am-2am, Sun 12pm-2am Outdoor Patio-Live Entertainment 641-753-9854 and Facebook
Sportsman Bar & Grill 103 1st Street Pisgah, Iowa 51564 712-456-2222 FOOD, FUEL, FUN
The Exchange 171 S Elm Street Avoca, Iowa 51521 712-343-2609 Lang’s Pizza, Cold Beer, Sports
Guns and Ammo
Papa Joe’s 117 South 6th Street Missouri Valley, Iowa 51555 712-642-9015
Stumpy’s Bar & Grill 423 Main Street Duncombe, Iowa 50532 515-543-4222 Stumpy’s Bar & Grill on Facebook
Mucky Duck Pub 3100 S Duff Avenue Ames, Iowa 50010 515-232-8888 The Best Fish & Chips
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Mudders in Minburn Coldest Beer in Dallas County Bar Food-Wings-Pizza-ETC 515-897-9223 Open M-Sun 11AM Facebook Mudders Newt’s Place 403 East St Shelby, Iowa 51570 712-207-2150 Newt’s Place on Facebook
Pearl Street Social Club 110 Pearl Street SW Shellsburg, Iowa 52332 319-436-7100 Find Us On Facebook!
Suds –N- Jugs Bar & Grill 807 Iowa Avenue Onawa, Iowa 51040 712-433-4880 Nightly Food Specials
Pines Steakhouse Oinkers Lounge & Grill
1500 E 7th Street Atlantic, Iowa 50022 712-243-3606 M-F 11AM-, S-S 4PMPolk City Pub 217 W Broadway Polk City, Iowa 50226 515-984-9388 Open @ 11:00AM / Closed Mon. 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
Sugar’s Diner & Lounge 2725 E Kanesville Blvd Council Bluffs, Iowa 712-322-3600 Check us out on Facebook T.J.’s Pourhouse 100 E. Washington Street Exira, Iowa 50076 712-268-2353 Open M-SAT.@11, SUN.@ NOON The Back Forty 317 Main Street Macedonia, Iowa 712-486-2687 11:00 Every Day BF
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The Garage in Indianola 114 E Ashland Indianola 515-961-9026 M-F 3:00, S-S 12:00 Check Us on Facebook The Lounge 1005 Chatburn Ave Harlan, Iowa 51537 712-755-5050 The Lounge Harlan Iowa on Facebook The Place2B! 116 N. Federal Ave Mason City, IA 50401 M-F 3p-2a S-S 2p-2a Find Us On Facebook The Yankee Clipper 312 SW Maple St Ankeny, Ia 50023 515-964-9484 yankeeclipperbar.com The Station Grub & Suds 205 W Kimball Street Hancock, Iowa 51536 712-741-2337 Come Party on the Patio!
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2A Firearms Training Training to Protect Your 2nd Amendment Rights 641-439-6660 Craig.2aft@gmail.com JLM Shooters Supply 6931 Douglas Avenue Urbandale, Iowa 50322 jlmgunshop@gmail.com 515-331-1577
Insurance & Financial Farm Bureau Financial Services 208 Faith Ave Underwood, IA 51576 Shane.baker@fbfs.com 712-310-7475 or 402-379-3237 O’Malley Wealth Mgmt. 5623 NW 86th Street Suite 400 Johnston, Iowa 50131 515-490-0930 State Farm Clark Ahrenholtz, Agent NMLS# 1679997 2114 12th Street Harlan, Iowa 712-755-5724 Clark.ahrenholtz.jb69@statefarm.com
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Jewelry
Services
Bill’s Jewelry Shop 903 Main Street Grinnell, Iowa 50112 641-236-1008 Rings Checked FREE!
Jason Roberts, LLC Haul It, Dig It, Doze It Code931993@yahoo.com 641-740-1411
Legal
Southwest Iowa Sandblasting Mike Magers 65162 Oxford Rd Atlantic, Iowa 50022 712-249-3995
Indian Phil’s 2135 S. Ankeny Blvd Ankeny, Iowa 50023 indianphill@yahoo.com 515-795-6158
The Vic Shop DeSoto, Iowa 515-339-4313 Facebook.com/TheVicShop VICTORY & INDIAN ONLY
Mean Machine Cycle Parts Elkhart, Iowa 50073 Stereos, Bars, LED Lights, Air Ride Mon-Fri 9-6, Sat 9-12 515-367-7336
Thunder Road Cycles 4106 Rockingham Rd Davenport, Iowa 52802 563-323-3172 Thunder Road Cycles on Facebook
Tires
Hupy and Abraham sc, pc Lawyers for Bikers 800.800.5678 Hupy.com
Shops & Fabricators
Motorcycle Medic 3176 Highway 30 Woodbine, Iowa 51579 712-647-2818 Open Tues-Sat Noon-6PM
Law Tigers Lowe Law Group 699 Walnut Street 4th Floor Des Moines, Iowa 50309 800-Law-Tigers
Bent Wrench Cycles 911 7th Street Harlan, Iowa 51537 712-235-2453 Bent Wrench Cycles on Facebook
Nelson Machine & Forge General Machining, Ornamental Iron, Weld/Fab 70 Washington Street Marne, Iowa 51552 712-781-2220
TheBikerLawyers.com The Biker Lawyers, P.C. Riding & Defending Your Rights for Over 30 Years 877-209-9452
Bigfuuts Paint & Repair Baxter, IA 515-577-6730 Custom Paint & Fabrication After Hours Service & Parts Stereos-Electrical-Repairs
Pike Run Services 320 Main Nichols, Iowa 52766 Shop 319-723-4244 Cell 319-330-4541
Walker, Billingsley & Bair 208 N. 2nd Ave. West Newton, Iowa 50208 Corey@WalkLaw.com 641-792-3595
Butterfield’s M.C. Parts 8025 Blondo Street Omaha, NE 68134 402-391-3768
Photo and Art
Chuck’s Cycle Service and Repair S&S and Drag Specialties Dealer 714 East 7th Street Washington, Iowa52353 319-461-5278
Road Rage BikeWorks 401 High Street Avoca, Iowa 51521 712-307-6111 Road Rage BikeWorks on Facebook
Ullrich Photography PO Box 1842 Clinton, Iowa 52733 563-243-8715 www.natanic.com
Cycle Clinic 2209 ML King Pkwy Des Moines, Iowa 50314 cycleclinicdm.com 515-288-6954
SS Collision, Cycle Works & Graphics 2902 11th Ave SW Spencer, Iowa 51301 712-262-3959 www.sscollision.com
F & J Racing 701 N 3rd Ave Marshalltown, Iowa 50158 641-752-8651 www.fandjracing.com
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Steffens Cycle Shop LLC 1311 E 7th Street Atlantic, Iowa 50022 712-243-3076 Mon-Fri 9-5, Sat 9-12 or Call
Sandbothe Firestone 1106 Main Street Griswold, Iowa 51535 712-778-2223 Sandbothe Firestone on Facebook
Trailers 4 Seasons Trailer & Equipment 187 Highway 6 Grinnell, Iowa 50112 641-990-8732 www.4seasonsgrinnell.com Lacaeyse Trailer Sales 4192 HWY 146 Grinnell Trailers & Truck Accessories 641-990-2674 www.lacaeysetrailers.com
To buy ad space for your business or service in our directory, give us call at 712-249-5630 or email vernon@ thunderroadsiowa.com
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We all ll kknow that h the h llocall government has numerous ways to separate you from your hard-earned dollars, but for some reason nothing seems as underhanded as becoming the unwanted recipient of a dreaded traffic ticket. It is like the long arm of the law reached right out, sucker punched you in the chops, then swiped your wallet just to rub it in a little more. But as obscure as some traffic laws can be, we found a few that seem to have no logical explanation, other than to raise funds for the local municipality from which they originated. These doozies were dug up from traffic codes and the inter-web just to help out fellow riders should you choose to venture into any of these localities during your summer travels. With these heads up, hopefully you won’t be unpleasantly surprised by any of these obscure traffic laws. First, in Oregon you can now legally salvage your own roadkill. Oregon has made it perfectly fine to salvage deer and elk accidentally struck by a vehicle…as long as you have a permit, you move the entire carcass off the road, and you are salvaging it for human consumption only. Sounds like dinner is served!
a helmet or other riding gear which obscures your face. Hope you don’t plan on doing any cool weather riding in Richmond any time soon. Number four takes us up the east coast to Maine. If you’re N prone to zipping around on only one wheel, in Maine you can plan on Johnny Law having a chat with you. While laws against wheelies are pretty common, Maine’s regulation specifically states that a person “may not intentionally or knowingly raise the front wheel of a motorcycle off the surface.” Sorry Evel, but Maine just isn’t your state. Following up Maine is Illinois, where motorcyclists can legally run red lights in a city with a population of less than two million. In these qualifying municipalities motorcyclists can treat the stoplight like a stop sign as long as they yield to other traffic before proceeding. This “dead red” rule as it is called, also applies in Arkansas, Idaho, Minnesota, Missouri, Nevada, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, and Wisconsin…in case you were wondering. In Alabama it is illegal for you to ride while wearing a blindfold… umm, well DUH! Finally, this may be the strangest example of WTF in traffic laws. In the land locked state of Tennessee, it is currently legal to hunt whales from a moving car and/or a motorcycle. Stay away from any other type of wild game however, because those are off limits.
Next, Hawaii recently signed a new shoulder lane law, but it is a bit on the confusing side. Motorcycles are allowed to use shoulder lanes for regular travel…but only when the Department of Transportation says so. It is entirely unclear Thanks for muddying the proverbial traffic waters various how the DOT will be notifying motorists of when this travel local legislative branches, and thanks for the laughs. I am happy to know that will never go hungry when vacationing is allowed. in Oregon, and that I most certainly SHOULD pack my Thirdly, according to Virginia statute 18.2-422, you cannot harpoon on my next visit to the Smoky Mountains in the hopes of bagging myself my own Moby Dick! conceal your identity while in certain places, including on a motorcycle. So, it seems that if you are doing any twowheeled travel in the state of Virginia, you may NOT wear Melanie J Schwarte 18 - TRMI MAY 2019
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For many years the Governors of Iowa have traditionally proclaimed May as “Motorcycle Awareness Month”. A.B.A.T.E’s goal is to raise awareness levels in all motorists that motorcyclists are returning to the highways and bi-ways during warm weather months. As happens every year, during the cold weather months of winter most motorists become accustomed to seeing cars and trucks on the roadways, but they no longer expect to see many (if any at all) motorcycles out and about. In fact, drivers may not even immediately recognize a motorcycle as weather starts to get warmer. A.B.A.T.E. wishes to promote a positive environment for all road users, and to help prevent crashes and fatalities. We encourage all drivers to slow down, “look twice save a life”, and be aware of your surroundings. It is important that we all never drive distracted and encourage motorists to share the road safely. Put down your phone and drive is a good start to this. As riders we need to do our part to ride without distractions as well, because if we don’t look out for ourselves, who will? A.B.A.T.E encourages all motorcyclists to ride responsibly. On March 13 Governor Reynolds, at the request of A Brotherhood Aimed Toward Education (A.B.A.T.E.) of Iowa, signed the annual “May is Motorcycle Awareness Month Proclamation”. This year I along with Mark Maxwell, Jodi Right, and Scott Sengbush were lucky enough stand with Governor Reynolds for the signing. The Proclamation reads as follows:
Whereas, during this month, and all months, all highway users should unite in safe sharing of roadways throughout the state of Iowa; and Whereas, Motorcycle Awareness Month provides citizens of Iowa an opportunity to commit themselves to being more alert and aware of other motor vehicle drivers and especially those operating motorcycles: Now, therefore, I, Kim Reynolds, Governor of the State of Iowa, do hereby proclaim the month of May 2019 as MOTORCYCLE AWARENESS MONTH in Iowa and urge all motor vehicle operators to join in this effort to keep our highways safe and start seeing motorcycles. Now while this Proclamation is an important part of keeping bikers safe on our roadways, it isn’t all inclusive. We have a lot of work to do to ensure rider safety for years to come. You may be asking yourself what you can do to help keep motorcyclists safe and make sure riders are seen. Well, there are many things you can do to help…Be aware when you are in your cage or on two wheels. Teach others to SEE bikes. Leave your cell phone alone while driving. Join A.B.A.T.E of Iowa and make a difference here at home! To join, visit abateiowa.org/membership today! David Duffy “Duff” State Coordinator ABATE of Iowa
Whereas, the people of Iowa have an enduring regard for the preservation of life on our highways; and Whereas, Motorcycle Awareness Month is being observed throughout the nation; and Whereas, all motorcycle organizations, clubs, dealerships, groups, and highway officials in our state should join with the Iowa Governor’s Traffic Safety Bureau and A.B.A.T.E. of Iowa, in actively promoting safe operation, increased rider training, improved licensing efforts and motorist awareness; and 20 - TRMI MAY 2019
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Bikes on the 100 Block, Downtown CB Year 3 (ALREADY?)
how well behaved the crowd was. I know right, thousands of bikers and families all hanging out, walking about with alcohol and nary an is issue?
A couple of winters back, on a cold ass winter day, I popped into a friends office and he said,, “I have this idea I want to do, a big party, like a street dance for or bikers. What do you think?” I said “Hell yes, how can I help? What at do you need from me?”
Oh sure, at one of the events I heard two “ladies” got into it about something or other. It wasn’t really someth any big ddeal, but some people like to up the ante and ev even called it a fight. Everyone loves a good fight ri right? Well, maybe except the losers of said fight, fight, bu but other than that not so much. Side note, no, I don’t kknow the reasons behind it, but it seemed like it was over before it started and it could have been about a dude, or make up, or whatever causes chicks to fight!
Now, I would like to say I have provided lots of help, lots of insight, lots of ideas as and directions, but nope I really didn’t. Maybe a contact ontact here and there, an opinion or two, but for the most part, my duty was to help talk about it on the radio, show up, shake some babies and kiss some hands and introduce sponsors and bands from the stage. Other than that, I am lucky enough to have set back and watch something many said would never get off the ground to something that people count down the days to.
HA! Yes, a sexist comment in a biker magazine. Send your complaints to the fairer sex of the owners’ duo, she handles the complaints. Go ahead and email melanie@ thunderroadsiowa.com, BUT fair warning, I am the former employee of the month here, so I am kind of a big deal! Sure, I am way down on the power chart at the Thunder Empire, but a man can dream. Either way, email her, she might not beat me too bad, but at least she has a sense of humor, we all USED to, keep that in mind.
Bikes on the 100 Block. Where the original idea came from, I legit don’t know. I know that Bobby Edwards, of Edward’s Full Throttle Motorsports was the first one that approached me, he, along with is cousin Brooke worked the right way; procuring all the support with Police, Fire and the City to make it an event that would treat people like a damn adult. A novel concept! Many of the bar owners helped formulate the vision, getting an event where vendors could be, people could walk around and visit wherever they wanted with a beverage, not worrying about a crowded beer garden but to actually walk around LIKE A DAMN ADULT. Other cities do it, well, not local ones so why couldn’t they pull it off on the 100 Block? More and more bars, night clubs, restaurants and city movers and shakers started seeing the benefit. A safe, family friendly, biker friendly event that would cover a few blocks and highlight the great stuff the rejuvenated area has to offer. Soon, rules were fixed, bands were booked, and a plan was coming together. A couple of years ago, the first Bikes on the 100 Block kicked off in May with the amazing AC/DC tribute band Shoot to Thrill kicking off the party at the end of the block on a huge portable stage. Beer was iced down, the weather decided to play nice and the people came.
Bikes on the 100 block, took over more than a few blocks. Five blocks were jammed with bikes and people and this was just the start. A few more Thursday nights were planned and with each one the crowds kept getting bigger and bigger. Four great Bikes on the 100 block and the season was over with dreams of making year two even better. And they did. Bikes on the 100 block became even bigger and more attended each and every night it has been held, in fact, they cannot simply count all the bikes and at one event and an educated guess said they had over 3,000 bikes and 6,000 people all gathering and having a great time and just enjoying a kick ass, new tradition, that all started with a vision and an idea. Third Thursday, May, June, July and August, maybe even September this year, as this is being crafted, the official final dates haven’t been decided, but check it out, it’s a great time, lots of great food, laughs, friends, vendors and music. Proof that you can treat a bunch of bikers like adults and everything will be just fine.
Thousands of people came. Thousands of bikes came, the band Unless another lady is trying to steal your man, or makeup or killed it, the people partied, the bars and restaurants were jammed, whatever. food was consumed, beer was served, memories were made and a massive hit was under way. Oh, and the law laughed about Crash Davis
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Dana Gallagher Cedar Rapids 2009 Big Dog Wolf
Teri Hollingsworth Davenport 2009 Harley Streetglide 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
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GCMCat the Bell Tower Festival T A T he Greene County Motorcycle Charity (GCMC) is looking forward to the 11th Annual Bell Tower Festival motorcycle events on Saturday, June 8th as it continues to grow in popularity, drawing participants from all corners of Iowa and near-by states. In addition to the traditional Poker Run and Cycle Show in Jefferson, Iowa the committee is excited to announce the return of the very popular Templeton Rye Bootlegger Guided Tour Rye’d. empleton Rye’s new $35 million distillery signals a homecoming for the company, which traces its roots to Carroll County’s bootlegging otlegging era. The expanded facility includes a museum um dedicated to the company and its Iowa roots, a visitor center, and a tasting room. There’s also a 34,000-square-foot ot production facility and a 51,000-squareefoot rack house where barrels of aging rye whiskey sit on pallets waiting for the perfect moment to be bottled.
place), $125 (2nd place) place), and Poker Run prizes of $250 (1st place) $75 (3rd place) will be awarded to the best hands drawn. A benefit silent auction is planned throughout the day. 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 at 4 pm. 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. Special GCMC charity fundraising raffle tickets are available for a fundraisi cost of $10 each or 3 for $25, while 200 tickets last. Items on the raffle include ticke awesome Henry 22 Golden Boy rifle, an aw pair of VIP concert tickets to a concert a pai of your choice at Jefferson’s Wild Rose Casino & Events Center, and a $100 gift card at Hy-Vee.
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ust One More of Jamaica is again the 2019 Challenge Coin sponsor and will provide special promotions for Poker Run s coin holders. Other valued sponsors this year include: T-shirt sponsor – Greene County Agronomy Services, Gold sponsors - Harley-Davidson of o Carroll, 209 Main/Tool Bar, Dan’s Spicy Sp Barbecue Sauce, Neese Inc., Hamilton Redi-Mix, Jefferson A&W, Spare Hami Time Lanes, Midland Power Cooperative, aand Trophies Plus. Silver sponsors - Oly’s Corner, Hog House/Lucas he 11th annual Bell Tower Oil, Pemble Digging & Drainage Festival Poker Run will travel Service, Rueter’s Co, Jefferson Hyto the southeast in 2019, Vee, Wild Rose Casino, Higgins Jamaica (Just One More), Slater (Nite Auto Service, and Shadran Industrial. As always, proceeds Hawk Bar & Grill), Kelley (R Place Pub & Pizza), Luther for this year’s event will go to the Raccoon Valley Kiwanis (Whatcha Smokin’), and Ogden (The Lucky Pig) before returning to Jefferson’s Spare Time Lanes. Registration can Aktion Club of Jefferson. Last year the Aktion Club was the recipient of $1,500 and with your help, even more will be be done in advance online at www.btfcycle.info, as well as available in 2019. More information about the Bell Tower on site Saturday, June 8th from 8 am to 12 pm. The entry fee will be $25 per participant, and will include a Poker Run Festival Motorcycle events can be found at www.btfcycle. T-shirt (while supplies last), raffle ticket, and a poker hand. info along with registration for the Guided Tour Rides and Poker Run. We hope to see you in Jefferson! 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.
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our participants will get a special edition Templeton Rye t-shirt, limited edition coin, and lunch at The Still Bar & Grill in downtown Templeton. Participants will then return to the registration area to draw a poker hand and get their special limited edition on coins sponsored by Trophies Plus of Breda, reda, Iowa. The cost per person for the tour ride is $45.00.
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this bad ass laminated Iowa road map that is super detailed I picked up at a stop and rob store in some small town a decade ago, yea, I still like sitting down, with a beverage, reading a map. I am old. But then, I also have a riding partner, she’s pretty hot and she is great about looking shit up on her phone while on the back of our bike, telling me directions on The weather is always perfect, let’s just ride! the fly. Either way, on our way to find wings/steaks/burgers/ pizza/waffles/craft beer/hot chicks/cheese balls/midget stripOne thing that is great about the passion of life, that is ridpers, we all know it usually never works out as planned. ing, is we know we can count on a few things; the bike is always running perfectly, the curvy roads never have slow And that is okay, hell that is part of the adventure, hell I am moving vehicles on them, the cops are never around when here to say, when things DON’T go right, they make for you have to “blow the dust” out of your machine, you never more memorable adventures! As long as everyone is safe, worry about deer, raccoons, wild dogs, or any other vermin shit happens and we can make jokes about it. appearing out of the ditch at the wrong moment, small town bars are never out of wings or your favorite beer, potholes Bikes break down, they are mechanical beasts, yes we love are only an issue in those “other states” and the weather is them, but sometimes they fail us, I don’t care who you are, always perfect for riding. You know, sunny, about 80, only at one point, your bike broke down, or your buddies bike, it breeze is over your bars, and the sun is always in the ideal happens and it changes the course of the day; but you adapt, spot, to never cause any glare. you overcome you get it fixed and move on, you remember those rides. The weather looks to be decent, but x amount of Yes, that is exactly how riding is right? All that and so much miles later, shit blows up out of the skies and you are digging more. HA, we all know that is pure horse apples! Just about for your rain gear, or swinging into a small town farm store every rider with more than a few miles under the seat knows to buy some, you could quit, bitch, whine and complain, but that MIGHT be the case on about 3 times in their entire mostly, you laugh, somebody makes a joke like “I wonder riding past. Even if the weather looks good the next day what the poor people are doing today” or my favorite, “at it MIGHT sometimes change. MIGHT. CHANGE. Okay, least I aint’ watching soccer”. You move on, that is what ridWILL change. ers do. It might be a small sample, but have you ever hopped on a bike, maybe it’s a group of trusted friends, or a gaggle of folks you fell into that made a plan, or you and that special riding partner have decided, “let’s ride to cool town anywhere” and hit that bar that has legendary wings/steaks/ burgers/pizza/waffles/craft beer/hot chicks/cheese balls/ midget strippers.” Wait, is there a bar that has all of that? I need to find this bar, sounds epic! As I was saying, we have all made that plan; kickstands up, clutches out and the adventure is under way! The best laid plans might not follow the- well- best laid plans. The road we “heard so much about” is suddenly a minefield of potholes, surrounded by loose gravel, the forecast called for sunny 78 with a slight breeze, which means slight is now 35 out of the northwest. No matter what, you have a goal in mind; after all, it is about the adventure right? Saddle time, creating memories that will last a lifetime or at least a few months.
One of my favorite adventures ever on a bike involved a great May weekend that started with sunshine and promise and ended up in freezing damn drizzle and walking into a strip bar that I am pretty sure has never seen a health inspector in its history of operation that lead us back to a buddies hotel room with shitty microwave burritos, a lot of beer and whiskey and laughs for hours, knowing that the forecast in the morning for the ride home shown it was going to be sunny and low 70’s. Hell yes, perfect.
On your ride to find that place that has wings/steaks/burgers/pizza/waffles/craft beer/hot chicks/cheese balls/midget strippers you get there and find that this place is out of whatever it was you were seeking. Except, they can’t be “out” of the strippers, unless she ran away and fell in love with a guy on, well, a minibike of course, but either way, the expectations are lowered because you dreamed it was going to be one way, and now you have to adapt and overcome. Bikers generally let this roll off their vest, shrug their shoulders and say, shit happens, let’s see what is next. But it was so planned out right?!
It was, without question, one of my top adventures ever riding and so many things did not go as planned, yet, almost a decade later, my buddies and I can still make a joke about that trip and we all still smile.
Of course that morning it was raining like a large ass cow, relieving itself upon an even larger flat rock. Smell like that in the hotel room as well. IT WAS POURING ASS RAIN. So, we chilled for a while in the hotel lounge, watched the radar slowly develop a window of dry headed where we were headed and a few hours later than we wanted, we are heading home on puddle packed highways. Shit happens.
Ride safe, that is the key, always, but make those memories, because Mother Nature is a bitch, she will mess up your plans and before you know it she will be back with that winter stuff that causes us all to dream about the saddle time we all want. That time is now, get out and embrace it.
Oh, and back to that one thing, if you hear about a joint with Side bar; you spent time looking up your trip on your trip wings/steaks/burgers/pizza/waffles/craft beer/hot chicks/ planner app, if you don’t have one, they are killer. Harley has cheese balls/midget strippers, make sure to let me know, I a great one, Honda as well, plus so many other brands out have a map. there. Seriously, you can get lost looking at cool roads, adventures, options that are listed, other riders post their trips, Todd “Crash” Davis you can compare, get inspired. Pretty neat, but if you are like me, you already have a map on your phone, or really like me, Thunder Roads Magazine of Iowa on Facebook www.thunderroadsiowa.com 28 - TRMI MAY 2019
Hey y’all, my name is Cameron Leehey, and I’m writing the crash who stuck around? Ask your friends to get this piece to help you avoid getting screwed by a contact information from these witnesses. Tell the motorcycle crash. I’m one of The Biker Lawyers, so it’s police about these witnesses. a lawyer’s perspective you’ll be getting here. Let’s assume the crash just happened. You were riding down a stretch of country road, going the 55 mph speed limit on a clear day. As you approached an intersection, someone driving a pickup truck turned left in front of you. You don’t know why. Despite your best efforts, your bike and body smashed into the truck. You’re alive. You’re in pain. You were lucky to be riding with some friends. You were able to stand and walk. One of your friends helped you off the roadway. Another friend called for police and an ambulance. That pickup truck driver pulled over. The driver is still sitting in his vehicle. What now? You’ve heard it on T.V. a thousand times: anything you say can be used against you. Now, you haven’t committed any crimes, and when the police show up they won’t be there to arrest you. Everything you say is still evidence. You want to walk up to the idiot who pulled out in front of you, give him a piece of your mind? Everything you say with that hot temper could later be repeated to a jury. Best move is to keep your thoughts to yourself. When the cops arrive, tell them the facts about what happened. Keep your cool when they interrupt your answers with more questions. Just tell them what they want to know, nothing else. When the ambulance shows up, tell the medical professionals what hurts and where. Give the basic info needed by first responders to handle the situation. Otherwise stay as polite and quiet as possible. The police who arrive are going to conclude what happened and who is at fault for the crash. This conclusion might be right, it might be wrong. Once a cop makes up his mind about what went down, that’s the story he’ll tell at trial. This is just the nature of police work. Cops make up their minds quickly, jot down impressions into a report, then forget all about it and trust their notes when asked later. As a general rule then, when it comes to police, the first impression will be the only impression. If the cops show up while you’re venting rage at the moron who pulled out in front of you, before the cops really get started with an investigation, you are an aggressor in their eyes. You will be an aggressor in their story.
Even though you’ve done nothing wrong, the cops might write you a ticket. Don’t pay it. If you pay the ticket, you are legally admitting guilt for whatever the ticket is for. At trial, an insurance lawyer will present your admission of guilt as evidence of you being at fault. Don’t pay the ticket! Don’t try to represent yourself in traffic court either. Everything you say in traffic court could come back to haunt you in your case against the pickup driver. You’ve been injured in a crash. You are going to miss work. You are going to have medical bills. Who knows what else? If you represent yourself in traffic court, you might accidentally mess up your lawsuit against the pickup driver. You need to talk to a lawyer. How do you know you need to talk to a lawyer? The crash wasn’t your fault and you received medical treatment for crash injuries, that’s how you know. Don’t post about your crash on social media. Don’t tell people at the hospital that you’re going to sue the hell out of the idiot who caused the crash. Your statements might get put into your medical records and become evidence. The simple truth is that there are many ways to accidentally damage your lawsuit’s chances of success. Most of them involve you saying something that an insurance defense lawyer will later use against you in ways you never imagined. That pickup driver’s insurance company will call you and want to take a statement from you. Don’t talk to them, their job is to screw you over. Talk to a lawyer. The pickup driver’s insurance company might reach out to you with a settlement offer. Don’t sign anything or agree to anything, their job is to screw you over. Take that settlement offer to a lawyer, or risk getting swindled by career swindlers. The pickup driver’s insurance company might try to argue that you don’t have a good lawsuit. Insurance adjustors rarely know what the hell they’re talking about, and even if they do, their sole purpose is to pay you as little money as possible. Don’t talk to these insurance people, talk to a lawyer. Most lawyer consultations are free. Mine are.
Alright, we’ve covered the basics about what to do from the point of view of a crash that just happened. But now imagine that you aren’t injured on the side of So stay as calm as you can. There are other things you the highway, you’re reading Thunder Roads Magazine need to worry about, anyway. For one, don’t count on of Iowa. What can you do right now to avoid getting police to take photos of the crash scene. Even if you do screwed? see cops taking photos, don’t assume that the important evidence will be photographed. Those friends you were riding with, ask one of them to take pictures. Buy more insurance. A lot more. Make sure you have Of everything. Twice. Are there other witnesses to Underinsured (UIM) and Uninsured (UM) policies Thunder Roads Magazine of Iowa on Facebook www.thunderroadsiowa.com 32 - TRMI MAY 2019
for at least $250,000. Why? Well, if someone injures you without a policy of his own, or a policy for the state minimum of $20,000, then you’ve got nowhere to recover from. Except for your own insurance policy. It doesn’t matter that you can get a million dollar verdict if the defendant doesn’t have two dimes to rub together. Unless you take steps to protect yourself. One in ten drivers have no insurance at all. With alarming regularity, drivers with inadequate insurance inflict life-altering injury upon bikers. You need to be heavily insured. Look, money won’t make pain go away, but there isn’t a problem in this world that gets easier when you go broke. Money won’t make a permanent disability vanish, but money does make up for unearned wages in the past and the loss of an ability to earn wages going forward. Money won’t buy back the months that fall off the calendar while healing, but money will pay for the physical therapy, surgery, and other ongoing care an injured biker might need.
policy that will leave you high and dry in a time of need. A “full coverage” policy might be nothing more than the $20,000 state minimum of liability insurance. Call your insurance provider. Make sure you’ve got UM and UIM policies for at least $250,000. Get quotes for umbrella coverage, including UM and UIM, up to two million dollars. You’ll probably be surprised to discover the difference in cost isn’t much. Ultimately, all the other advice I’ve written here means little if there’s no way for you to recover money in the event of a bad crash. Year after year, we tell bikers to make sure they’ve got large UM and UIM policies. Please don’t make the mistake of believing that the drivers who don’t even pay attention are paying for insurance. You’re reading this magazine, so you’ve got the time to get on your phone or online and get a quote.
Adequate UM/UIM policies are the difference between financial stability and bankruptcy. You might think you’re covered, because you’ve got a “full coverage” policy, but usually “full coverage” is just the product name of an insurance Thunder Roads Magazine of Iowa on Facebook
I think we’ve all heard advice telling us, to reduce the change of getting in a wreck, ride as though no one is looking out for you. Want to avoid getting screwed over in the aftermath of a crash? Assume that the only person on the road looking out for you is you, both literally and financially. Cameron Leehey TheBikerLawyers.com 877-209-9452
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TRMI MAY 2019 - 33
Death h on two or three h wheels h l iis something hi not many lik like to discuss. This is one topic that always seems to elude much mention or attention in the biker world. It has to do with the fact that we all choose to ride free in the wind, but that freedom comes with a severe price tag when bad things happen. Riding motorcycles can be a very dangerous pass time, hobby, or way of life; but knowing and mitigating the risks can help to save lives. These damn machines that so many of us love can and have certainly put far too many good people down for good well before their times should have been up. With the month of May and Motorcycle Safety Month, it seemed like the proper time to delve into some statistics that many riders may never see or be made aware of. This article is in no way disrespecting anyone that has paid the ultimate price for enjoying our beloved mode of transportation, but instead a memorial to those that have passed when riding. Honoring their memory by riding more safely and ensuring we can rack up more two and three wheeled miles seems fitting. Learning and living should be a way of life, and we can make that happen with a deeper understanding of our sport.
h to hhave more than h one registered i d iin am fortunate enough my name, and I am sure I am not alone in that respect. There are also motorcycles that don’t happen to have any registration currently for a variety of reasons. Those are not included in those counts, so that leaves an amount of error that is inherent with any statistics. Another area of statistics that can be viewed differently is that there were 272,857 people in Iowa with a valid motorcycle endorsement. That is a significant number at 8.8% of the general Iowa population having a motorcycle license. That is not to say that there are people that possess a license and don’t own or never ride a motorcycle, as well as those that ride but don’t have a valid DL for doing so. We can never have all of the information all of the time, so we have to run off of what we have at any given time. I don’t want to get stuck in the numbers, but just thought it noteworthy on the limitations of statistics.
Since as far as the Iowa DOT records for this topic go back, which is 1960, in Iowa there have been 2,655 riders laid to rest as a result of motorcycle crashes. Out of a 59 year span that averages out to 45 persons killed per year Motorcycles are firmly while riding during that entrenched in our culture here time frame. Obviously in Iowa. Although we are not as the latter years in the data populated as many other states, include the most registered with our 3.1 million residents, we motorcycles for the period rank 30th nationally by population as well as presumably size in the United States. One of more miles ridden the things that floored me when by those extra motorcycles I first saw the figure is that Iowa on the list. The seventies though had even higher is 3rd in the nation for motorcycle registrations than there are now, but then again, that was the ownership per capita. Iowa sports about 192,000 registered deadliest years for Iowa riders. The highest fatality count motorcycles, so that equates to one motorcycle owned for has been 1978-1981. During that four year stretch, we every 16 people in the state. Iowa trails South Dakota at put to rest 74, 83, 76, and 74 riders per year respectively. number 2 with 8.9 people per motorcycle, and Montana at Overall, the seventies tallied 644 total motorcycle fatalities, numero Uno with 5.4 persons per registered motorcycle. with the eighties being a close second with 576 persons That would mean if all things stayed equal, Iowa would killed. The nineties were the lowest of modern times with need to more than triple the number of registered 356, but that also coincides with the lowest of modern times motorcycles to attain the top spot. I am game, and would of motorcycle registrations. Then in the current century, love to win this title for Iowa, who wants to help out and get as motorcycle registrations and motorcycle license holders more people riding? Could you imagine the political clout have increased, so have total fatalities. that we could have as riders with three times the current number of motorcycles roaming the streets and highways? Although we can learn a bit from the past and that data, it is best I feel, to focus on more of a modern study of the last 10 Now all figures can be skewed and are not entirely valid. years’ worth of data to try to ascertain any correlations that In this instance, the 192,365 registered motorcycles in we can learn from. From 2009 until now, there have been Iowa are not owned by the same number of people. I (continued on page 36) 34 - TRMI MAY 2019
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481 deaths from riding. That average is then obviously 48.1 deaths per year, which is just slightly higher than the 59 year average. In the last few years from 2013-2018, one year stands out as a particularly bad year, and that was 2016. Many of you may remember the public service campaign a couple years ago from Thunder Roads Magazine of Iowa, Iowa Motorcycle Dealers Association, and ABATE of Iowa entitled “Save 60”. This was in reference to the year 2016 and the higher number of fatalities on motorcycles that occurred during that year. That year and in 2010 both tied for the highest number of motorcycle deaths at 60 persons. Our goal with those messages was to be responsible, right straight, make sure you are licensed, and take care of our own. Whether that helped or it was just circumstances beyond anyone’s control, in 2017 and 2018, the state’s fatality rate has dropped to 48 in 2017 and 42 for last year.
distracted and simply “didn’t see you” and make for a bad day. Maybe there are other considerations into this as well such as Iowa ranks number 5 nationally in education. Are we maybe a little sharper riders and drivers and that helps keep the fatality numbers way lower in percentage and totals wise? We rank number 3 nationally in healthcare. Does crashing here end up with a higher survival rate due to getting better or faster healthcare than other areas of the country? I certainly know some people that were told they would not live, would not walk, would not work, would not ride again that are considered medical miracles as they are doing all the above.
There are so many factors that go into the realm of Motorcycle Safety, that we simply cannot take one set of data and make an informed decision about what will make things better and reduce death and disability from 2016 was not just overly dangerous for motorcyclists, but motorcycle crashes. Do I have all of the answers? HELL in the four and more wheeled world, it held the same level NO! But I do have a desire to ride my motorcycles and of death. In the same period of 2013 through 2018, around return at the end of the trip in one piece. I have a desire to 320 persons were killed in traffic related crashes. The quit burying brothers and sisters who are taken from us too year of 2016 overall was significantly higher as well with soon. I have a desire to not have to go visit brothers and 402 deaths on the roadways total that year. I don’t recall sisters in hospitals after horrific crashes and hope they make anything in particular that was worse that year or better in it. I have a desire to keep as many motorcycles on the roads other years? Without being able to ascertain a cause for the as possible. I also have a desire to always keep an open number of increased traffic deaths, that becomes statistically mind, keep learning and growing and researching ideas random, and the high as well as the low are generally that may just make it a little safer for all of us on two and factored out for averages due to this fact. That is unless we three wheels. I implore you to keep the same in the back of can figure out what caused the increase that year and learn your head and do your part as a member of the motorcycle from that and control the risk factors logically in the future. community to always strive to be safer when out on your rides. Other considerations when looking at data from other states, is that Iowa is not anywhere near the most dangerous place to ride motorcycles due to the total number of fatalities, or the number of fatalities per registered riders. That is good news for us. There are many factors that play into this and our lower population, I am convinced, has a great deal to do with that. We have the ability to get out on rural roads with very little traffic in a short amount of time, even if one lives in the heart of any of our biggest cities. Usually anywhere in Iowa, a rider can be out of a metro area within 20-30 minutes and enjoying the rural sights and smells of an Iowa ride in the country. More population and more densely populated areas have more hazards in general. Many more cages to run you off the road, many more drivers to turn left in front of you, and many more people that are driving
The Iowa DOT has done a tremendous job of collecting and now disseminating data. I am a firm believer in using science and information to be able to make informed decisions in life. Not that I always choose the wisest “road” to travel, but at least if I know the possible negative implications of my own choices, I can blame no one if something bad happens to me when doing something that I love. The following pages are where much of the data from this article was pulled from. I recommend perusing these and any other sites that you see fit to help you be more informed, be a safer rider, and return home to your loved ones at the end of a great ride. https://iowadot.gov/mvd/ factsandstats, https://iowadot.gov/mvd/stats/mcmonthly. pdf, https://iowadot.gov/mvd/stats/regis2018.pdf, https:// iowadot.gov/mvd/stats/previous_daily.pdf, https://iowadot. gov/mvd/stats/motorcycle.pdf It appears as if in general we are doing something right by the way of motorcycle awareness, riding more safely, watching out for each other better, and being better stewards of our motorcycle community. With a high number of registered motorcycles and a high number of licensed riders, there are potentially many more miles that can be ridden collectively. I certainly hope that we can keep the numbers as low as possible, knowing that although the feds have a goal of zero highway fatalities, most of us know that simply is not an achievable goal. Ride safe, ride smart, ride safe, and live to ride another day. Vernon@thunderroadsiowa.com
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This month the Thunder Roads oads Magazine of Iowa family would like to o extend our thanks to Kevin Nelson n from Glidden, Iowa for his service ce to the good ‘ol U S of A. Kevin is currently serving his second stint in the armed forces, the first having been from 2002 to 2010, and this one beginning in 2015. He has served in the Army Reserves / National Guard and is presently ranked Sargent gent with a primary MOS of 88N N / 88 M. On duty, Kevin has been close to home in Nebraska and Iowa, as well as deployed in Iraq. A cool aspect of Kevin’s military career is that he is currently a paratrooper… now that’s something we don’t often get on a military rider page here at TRMI! Kevin isn’t the first in his family to serve our country, however; in fact, his father, brother, and his sister in law are all either active members or veterans of the United States Armed Forces, and we thank them for that as well.
of fell into his lap. Well, we say good for you, Kevin. Any opportunity to acquire acq a new two wheeled cohort is a occasion in our book. Kevin plans to work on celebratory occasi upgrading his bike bik in the future. Kevin has both bo some former co-workers and friends on the regular, but what really prompted that ride o him to get g back out on a bike was to spend more time with w his brother and father who are both riders as well. Speaking of brotherhood, ride Kevin has also been looking into the Legion K Riders as another way to branch out in his riding community. Until then, he likes to ride all over the great state of IIowa, but especially enjoys rides through the Loess Hills. There is nothing quite like a fall ride rid through the Loess Hills to help you take beauty of this place we are all lucky enough to in the bea call home. Well, Kevin…we Kevin…w hope that you enjoy the ride as often as and if you happen to be in the Loess you can this season, sea Hills area, give us u a holler, because we would love to ride along! From allll of us at TRMI, thank you for your service, l and continue to be “Always Ready, Always There!” Melanie J Schwarte If you or someone you know would like to be a featured Military Rider, please send your request to vernon@ thunderroadsiowa.com
Just like the military lifestyle, Kevin is no stranger to the biker lifestyle either. While Kevin fell victim to the all too common “responsibility” conundrum and had to leave the two wheeled life behind for a while to provide for his young family, it was only a brief time period from about 2010 to 2012. Kevin has ridden the likes of a 2004 Suzuki Boulevard and a 2007 Soft Tail Standard. When asked why he chose his current ride, he said he bought it privately in Carroll when one of those “right place, right time” things just kind 42 - TRMI MAY 2019
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Finally, I decided to just pull the trigger and grab myself the Kikker’s Goody Burger with a side of fries. Now, let me start off by saying that ALL Kikker’s burgers are a 1/3-pound patty of juicy beef served on a toasted bun and adorned with various condiments, but here is where my pick differs…it is topped with cheddar cheese, crispy bacon, and crunchy delicious onion straws. I asked for my barbeque sauce on the side, but you can sure get it piled on top as well. This combination of crispy, salty goodness was AMAZING! Next to those golden French fries, I found myself wondering how I managed to set aside all of Karl’s raving for so long!
Kikker’s
1503 Avenue C Council Bluffs, Iowa 51501 712-256-5388 Breakfast served 7-11 a.m. Lunch and Dinner served 11a.m.-1:30 a.m. For quite some time I have been watching various social media posts from our friend Karl about this joint that serves up some drool inducing vittles along with ice cold brews and some great times. Now we tend to get quite busy once Spring has sprung in our world, and the Saturday that we rolled up Avenue C was no different. We had a lot on our plates that day already, but we sure didn’t want to pass by Kikker’s when we had a few minutes to spare. We approached the white brick building and immediately noticed the “frog on a hog” logo, and figured this place would surely welcome a couple of biker types for a little grub. I immediately noticed that each table came equipped with comfy office chairs, and we chose a small table towards the back. Once we reached our seats, we were promptly greeted by Shonna, who took our drink order and brought us menus to peruse. Now, in addition to the vast options lining the menu, Kikker’s offers daily specials that all sound amazing. Shonna and crew are even open for breakfast, so don’t miss out on the biscuits and gravy! We commenced to looking…and looking…and looking at the menu. I admit, I am normally a bit on the indecisive side, but I literally had no idea where to start. The appetizer section alone had numerous fried delicacies and I was having difficulty getting past the idea of onion straws to get to the main course options! 44 - TRMI MAY 2019
Vernon fancies himself a bit of a Philly connoisseur, so he opted for the Kikker’s version, which consists of juicy chopped prime rib on a hoagie roll topped with sweet grilled onions and green peppers and then covered in a layer of gooey swiss cheese. He also chose to have his sandwich arrive with a French fry pairing. The sandwich was delicious, and of momentous proportion as well. And considering the low prices…I was impressed that the servings were so generous! Thank goodness we decided to forgo the appetizers on this visit! While enjoying our dinner, both Shonna and the gentleman who prepared our meals both came to check on us periodically and gave us top notch customer service. Whether you like a sit-down meal of pork chops and potatoes, or you lean towards the quesadilla side of life, Kikker’s has what your taste buds are looking for! This place is sure to make both your belly…and your wallet happy! I know we will be back in the near future…there are a lot of things that we need to try on that treasure map of a menu, and I intend on getting my fill! Melanie J Schwarte Until next time, Ride Safe and Eat Hearty! As always if you have some place in your neck of the woods you think we would enjoy shoot me an email at melanie@ thunderroadsiowa.com
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Three women were sitting in a bar, (brunette, redhead, and a blonde) they were all pregnant. The brunette says, “I know what I’m going to have.” The other to asked how. She replied, “Well I was on top when I conceived so I will have a baby boy”. The red head said, “If your logic is correct then I will have a baby girl because I was on the bottom ottto tom m when I conceived. The blonde starts tart ta rtss rt crying and orders a shot and starts ts screaming, “PUPPIES, PUPPIES!”. !”.. !”
aalcohol on his breath and lipstick on his collar. “I assume,” she snarled, “that there is a very good reason for you to come waltzing in here at six o’clock in the morning?” “There is,” he replied. “Breakfast.” A young boy walks up to his mom grabbing b ng his bi h nuts. The boy stares at them puzzled for for quite quit qu itte some s time. Finally his mom asks him, “What’s “W Wha wrong honey?” The boy replies by saying, sayi sa y yi “Mom....are these my brains?” And his his mom says, “Not yet dear.”
After a long night buying a foxy woman drinks, Joe took advantage g ge by giving her a ride home. After tthe he walk to the door, the woman asked ed Joe in for a nightcap... One thing led to another and before you know it, Joe was naked. After making great love Joe rolled over, pulled out a cigarette from his jeans and searched for his lighter. Unable to find it, Joe asked the girl if she had one at hand. “There might be some matches in the top drawer.”, she said. He opened the drawer of the bedside table and found a box of matches sitting neatly on top of a framed picture of another man. Naturally, Joe began to worry. “Is this your husband?” he inquired nervously. “No, silly,” she replied, snuggling up to him. “Your boyfriend then?” he asked. “No, not at all,” she said, nibbling away at his ear. “Well, who is he then?” demanded Joe bewildered. Calmly, the girl replied, “That’s me before the operation.” A guy goes into a bank. The clerk says, “Can I help you, sir?” He goes, “Yea you fucking bitch. I wanna open a fucking account.” The clerk responds, “Please, there’s no need for cussin.” “Listen here motherfucker, I just wanna open a fuckin account.” Annoyed, the clerk says, “Sir I’ll help you, but watch your language.” Finally the manager comes over and asks if there is a problem. The customer says, “Yea mothafucker, I’m trying to fuckin open a motherfuckin account an’ this motherfuckin’ bitch won’t let me.” The manager says, “Please sir don’t curse and how much are you opening the account with?” He tells the manager, “$7 million”. Manager, “And this motherfuckin bitch ain’t helpin’ you?” One day grandpa says to grandma “Why don’t we go to the motel like we used to do when we were young and get kinky?” So they get to the motel and go into the room. Grandpa takes off his glasses and says he going to get into the shower to freshen up. Meanwhile grandma takes off her clothes and gets into bed. She decides to do some leg stretches to limber up (it’s been a while). Well, she throws her legs over her head and they get caught in the headboard. Right then grandpa walks out of the bathroom and sees her that way. “My God woman” he says “you need to put your teeth in and comb your hair, you look like an asshole!”
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A good g Samaritan is cleaning a church, the arch arch bishop runs in and asks desperately to speak spea sp eaa to the priest there. The Samaritan runs over over to t find the priest who is in the confessional booths. The priest tells him, “listen don’t tell anybody I let you do this, but just sit in the booth there is a list of all the sins and their penance on the side of the wall” the priest leaves the man to sit in the booth. Eventually a young woman comes in. She says “Forgive me father for I have sinned it has been 5 months since my last confession.” The man says “Go on my child.” “Well, my first sin is impure thoughts about another man.” The man looks at the paper and says “Say 5 Our Fathers.” “My second sin is intercourse with a man not my husband.” “Say 6 Hail Mary’s.” “My third sin is anal sex.” The man looks at the sheet but can’t find the penance for anal sex. In a panic he runs out of the booth to find the priest but bumps in to an altar boy first and stricken he asks, “QUICK, TELL ME WHAT THE PRIEST GIVES YOU FOR ANAL SEX!?” The altar boy responds, “Milk and cookies.” A rich condescending lawyer is driving down the road when he spots a man eating grass. Curious, he rolled his window down and asked what he was doing. “I’m homeless and so poor I have to eat grass”, said the Hobo. “Well, jump in and I’ll take you home and feed you” said the Lawyer. Half way down the road the hobo says, “I have a wife and two kids as well”. “Well...” says the lawyer “Bring them too.” “Really...?” asks the hobo. “Yes” said the lawyer................”My grass hasn’t been cut for months.” A man dies and goes to Hell. The devil greets him, “You may choose which room you wish to enter. Whichever you choose, the person in that room will switch with you. They’ll go to heaven and you’ll take over until somebody switches with you. So, go on, pick a room.” The devil leads him to the first room where someone is tied to a wall and is being whipped. The second room has someone being burned by a torch. The third has a man getting blown by a naked woman. “I choose this room!” the man says. “Very well,” the devil says. He walks up to the woman and taps her on the shoulder. “You can go now. I’ve found your replacement.”
Two car salesmen were sitting at the bar. One complained to the other, “Boy, this economy sucks. It’s already Hump Day.
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If I don’t sell more cars this week, I’m going to lose my fucking ass!” Too late, he noticed a beautiful blonde sitting two stools away. Immediately, he offered apologies for his use of bad language. “That’s okay,” the blonde replied, “I have a very similar problem. If I don’t sell more ass this week, I’m going to lose my fucking car!”
the ring vanishes, only to reappear the next morning. This goes on for a few days before the man finally asks, “Doctor, the cream you’re giving me takes care of the ring around my penis, but then it comes back in the morning. Just what exactly are you giving me?” The doctor hands him another tube of it before replying, “Lipstick remover.”
A man goes to a pub. He goes to the dance floor with three ladies. He says to them, “If I can guess the color of your knickers then you have to dance with me.” His shoe is shiny so he stuck his foot under 2 of the 3 girls and guessed the color of underwear correctly. When he stuck his foot under the third girl he asked her if she was wearing any knickers. She replied “No.” He said “Oh, good. Because I thought I had a crack in my shoe.”
This old man and woman were sitting on the front porch in their rocking chairs. The old man reaches over and grabs the woman’s breast and says, “you know, if these gave milk then we could get rid of the cows.” The old woman doesn’t say anything so he moves his hand. A few minutes later he reaches over again and grabs her pussy. The old man says, “you know, if that could lay eggs then we could get rid of the chickens.” The woman doesn’t say anything so he moves his hand. A few minutes later, the old woman reaches over and grabs his dick and says, “you know, if that would work then we could get rid of your brother.”
A guy with a black eye walks into a bar and orders a triple bourbon. The bartender says “Having a tough day, huh?” The guy says “Yeah. My wife and I were doing the dishes and she turned to me and said ‘Why don’t we ever make love like in the movies?’ So, I bent her over the kitchen table, yanked her pants down and rammed it in. I jackhammered her and slapped her on the ass as I pummeled her. Then I pulled it out, turned her around and blew my load all over her face.” The bartender said “Wow! But what’s up with the black eye?” He replied, “Turns out we watch different movies.”
Sean Connery was interviewed by Donahue, and bragged that despite his 72 years of age, he could still have sex three times a night. Kylie Minogue, who was also a guest, looked intrigued. After the show, Kylie said, “Sean, if I am not being too forward, I’d love to have sex with an older man. Let’s go back to my place.” So, they go back to her place and have great sex. Afterwards, Sean says, “If you think that was good, let me sleep for half an hour, and we can have even better sex. But while I’m sleeping, hold my balls in your left hand One day little Johnny was sitting in the park with a bag of and my dick in your right hand.” Kylie looks a bit perplexed, McDonald’s. He had finished everything but his McDonald’s but says, “Okay”. He sleeps for half an hour, awakens, and apple pie when the park ranger walks up to little Johnny and they have even better sex. Then Sean says, “Kylie, that was says, “I’ll give you 25 cents for that there apple pie.” Little wonderful. But if you let me sleep for an hour, we can have Johnny replies, “No way, you’re crazy!!!!!” So, the Park the best sex yet. But again, hold my balls in your left hand, Ranger bids higher and higher until, “$2 and that’s my final and my dick in your right hand.” Kylie is now used to the offer.” Little Johnny replies, “No way!” Puzzled, the Ranger routine and complies. The results are mind blowing. Once asked Little Johnny why he wouldn’t sell the apple pie. Little it’s all over, and the cigarettes are lit, Kylie asks “Sean, tell me, Johnny paused for a second and then replied, “My sister got does my holding your balls in my left hand and your dick in a CADDY for her cherry pie, so I plan on getting a Dodge my right stimulate you while you’re sleeping?” Sean replies, Viper for this here apple pie!” “No, but the last time I slept with a slut from Melbourne, she stole my wallet.” There was a 27 year old woman lying naked on the beach. She had no arms and no legs. A man wandering down the beach stops and she says, “I’m 27 and have never been hugged, will you hug me? “ Felling sorry for her, he gives her a hug and walks on. Later, another man wandering down the beach stops and she says, “I’m 27 and have never been kissed. Will you kiss me?” Feeling sorry for her he gives her a kiss and walks on. A couple of minutes later another man wandering down the beach stops and she says, “I’m 27 and have never been fucked. Will you fuck me?” He says sure. Picks her up, throws her in the ocean, and yells “Now you’re fucked!” One day, a man wakes up with a red ring around his penis. He can’t figure out what it is, so he goes to the doctor. The doctor hands him a tube of cream. “Here. Put this on and the ring will be gone within the hour,” the doctor said. The man drove home, put it on, and sure enough, the ring was gone within the hour. But then the next day, he woke up and the ring was there again. He goes to the doctor, and the doctor hands him the same cream, which he puts on. Again, Thunder Roads Magazine of Iowa on Facebook
Bill worked in a pickle factory. He had been employed there for a number of years when he came home one day to confess to his wife that he had a terrible compulsion. He had an urge to stick his penis into the pickle slicer. His wife suggested that he should see a sex therapist to talk about it, but Bill indicated that he’d be too embarrassed. He vowed to overcome the compulsion on his own. One day a few weeks later, Bill came home absolutely ashen. His wife could see at once that something was seriously wrong. “What’s wrong, Bill?” she asked. “Do you remember that I told you how I had this tremendous urge to put my penis into the pickle slicer?” he asked. “Oh, Bill, you didn’t,” she said. “Yes, I did,” he told her. “My God, Bill, what happened?” “I got fired.” “No, Bill. I mean, what happened with the pickle slicer?” she asked. “Oh... sshe h ggot he ot fi firred red ttoo. oo..” oo
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Heading di iinto this hi riding idi season, this hi article i l submission b i i should be an unencumbered reminder to each and every one of us that each time we get out on two wheels could completely change our lives. We see “Watch for Motorcycles” signs at every turn, in every yard during riding season, but how many people are really watching? We are also all guilty of partaking in libations when it has been made clear to us all that booze and bikes just don’t mix. We have all seen too many brothers and sisters lose their lives to the biker lifestyle. Matt, from all of us at TRMI…we are glad you are here to ride another day. The Meaning of Brotherhood Fun. Outgoing. Crazy. Charismatic. Bullheaded. These are the adjectives used to describe Matt Brooks. A proud father of three children, Matt worked hard to provide for his family. When the weekends came around, he relaxed by riding his Harley and having a few beers with friends. All of that came to a crashing change on the evening of March 17, 2016. While most of us were wrapping up our St. Patrick’s Day celebrations, Matt was headed to tell his fiancé good night around 9:00 pm. He was then going home to bed, as he had to work at 4:00 am the next day.
Initially, i i ll Matt thought h h hi his llegs were jjust tangled l d and d attempted to stand. Unfortunately, his right leg laid 100 yards away, his shoe still attached to his foot. His left leg suffered multiple broken bones to the tibia, fibula and femur. The first responder, Officer Mike DeMoss of the Des Moines Police Department, immediately placed a tourniquet on Matt’s right leg. When Matt woke up 3 hours later at Mercy Medical Center, he looked around his room, saw his mother and asked, “When did they take my leg?” His mother replied, “Son, you didn’t come with it.” Matt spent the next 40 days in the hospital. He watched the toes of his left leg turn black, die off and be amputated. He underwent many surgeries on his left leg. Two weeks after his discharge, his surgeon informed him the left leg never healed. His options were more surgeries or to have that leg amputated. Facing the hardest decision of his life, Matt chose to amputate. For the next two years, Matt suffered some depression. Confined to a wheelchair, his primary focus was just getting by, being a dad, keeping food on the table. Finally, he got tired of being tired. Rehabilitation allowed him to move from a wheelchair to crutches. He took a new job. He lost weight, found a more comfortable fit for his
Speeding down 30th St. in East Des Moines, Matt encountered a female drunk driver being tailgated by a van. The van crossed into Matt’s lane, Matt moved to the inside to avoid him and the young lady in her Toyota Camry slammed on her brakes. Matt clipped the corner of her car and was slammed into the guard rail, immediately amputating his right leg just above the knee. The young lady tested more than three times the legal limit, continuing more than ½ mile down the road before her broken rear axle finally wouldn’t allow her to drive any longer.
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prosthetics and began walking around with confidence. Today, you’ll see a lot of the old Matt back. He’s funny. Outgoing. Positive. Inspiring. Throughout this entire process, Matt has had a goal, “To get back in the wind.” What so many of us take for granted, Matt has dreamt of for the past three years. To grab those bars, kick her down into first, and give it some gas. There are still some tough days out there, but there are tough days for everyone. Matt has a physical disability, but he doesn’t allow it to become an emotional barrier. We often wonder what the true meaning of brotherhood is. During Matt’s hospitalization, he found out. Many true friends came together and created the Matt Brooks Benefit Ride, raising $10,000 to help with hospital bills, cost of living and other areas. Many of these same friends have come together three years later to create the Matt Brooks Dream Ride. Occurring on June 8th, the goal of these riders is “To Get Matt Back in the Wind”. They will start out at Misfits Pub n Grub where registration and blessings will occur. From there, they travel to Elkhart, Polk City, Ankeny and finish at McCuen’s Pub on Des Moines’ East side. There will be food, silent auction items, bands at most stops, safe rides home, guarded bike lock-in, and even discounted motel rates. Riders are welcome to purchase items individually or there is a reduced cost “VIP” offer to include the entire day. For more information, please call Shane O’Malley (Thunder Roads Sponsor) at 515-490-0930. “The thing with Matt, here he’s had this terrible accident. Yet, when you see him, he asks about YOU! He cares about people. He loves his kids. And he treats every day like it’s a true blessing. Because for him, it truly is. He’s never denied his own culpability in this accident. He never blamed it on the other drivers or anyone else. He goes to work, he cooks his kids dinner, he goes to their events. He doesn’t ask anyone for anything. I’m not sure I’d have the same positive outlook on life had I been in the same situation. And that’s what makes me want to give Matt the one thing he wants the most. I hope others find their passion in giving and join us at this event.” Shane O’Malley, event coordinator. For more information, visit: (https://www.facebook.com/mattbrooksdreambenefitride) Submitted by Shane O’Malley
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Tuesday Marshalltown Legion Car & Bike Cruise (Last Tuesday Apr-Sep) Whatcha Smokin? BBQ+Brew Luther (May 7th and May 21st)
Wednesday The Buck Snort Neola 2nd Ave Bike Night Des Moines (2nd Wednesday MaySeptember) OP Clear Lake The Pour House Davenport Amigos Fort Dodge American Dream/Hangout Omaha Bea’s Place Baxter Twisted Corn Tavern Dallas Center Doc’s Lounge Johnston (1st Wed May, Jun, Aug, Sep) Supper Rides Harley-Davidson of Carroll (5-15, 6-12, 7-17, 8-21, 9-11) Dinner Rides Zylstra Harley-Davidson Ames
Thursday Roar Into Harlan (3rd Thursdays) Stumpy’s Bar & Grill Duncombe Wild Hogs Saloon & Eatery Walford (3rd Thursday) Firehouse Bar Sioux City Metro HD Cedar Rapids (2nd Thursday May-Oct) Des Moines Vintage Bike Night (1st Thursday May-Sep) Edwards Bikes on the Hundred Block Council Bluffs (3rd Thursday) McCann’s Tap Des Moines (Every Other Thursday) Eddies Tavern Sergeant Bluff (April-November) Solid Rock Riders CMA Chapter Monthly Ride Sioux City (3rd Thurs Apr-Oct) Big Al’s BBQ & Catering Des Moines (5-16-19 then every other Thurs) Dinner Rides Okoboji Harley-Davidson (Every other May 2nd-Aug 22nd)
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Friday Bike Down to I-Town Indianola (3rd Friday) Centerville Bike Nights (4th Friday May-Aug) Thunder Nights Newton (2nd Friday) R Place Pub & Pizza Kelley (2nd Friday May-Sep) Castaways Griswold (1st Friday)
Saturday Route 65 BBQ & Open House (3rd Sat after Bike Down to I Town) Road Rage Dog Daze Open House (2nd Sat May-Sep) Happenings Bar Steamboat Rock (3rd Sat May-Sep) Ambro’s Roadhouse DeSoto (First Sat Jun-Nov) Monroe Bike Night (2nd Sat May-Sep) Mean Machine Bike Night at the HenHouse Elkhart (3rd Sat Jun, Jul, Aug)
Sunday Just 1 More Jamaica (Starting in May) Road Rage Fun Run at The Exchange Avoca (4th Sunday May-Sep) 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
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Apr 26 Apr 27 Apr 27 Apr 27 May 3-4 May 4 May 4 May 4 May 4 May 4 May 4 May 4 May 5 May 5 May 9-11 May 11 May 11 May 11 May 11 May 11 May 11 May 18 May 18 May 18 May 18 May 18 May 18 May 19 May 19 May 23-27 May 24-26 May 25 May 26 May 26 Jun 1 Jun 1 Jun 1 Jun 1 Jun 1 Jun 1 Jun 2 Jun 2 Jun 7-8 Jun 7-8 Jun 8 Jun 8 Jun 8 Jun 8 Jun 8 Jun 8 Jun 8 Jun 9 Jun 14 Jun 14-16 Jun 14-16 Jun 15 Jun 15 Jun 15 Jun 15 Jun 15 Jun 15 Jun 15 Jun 15
The Battle of the Kings Breakout Reveal Party HD of Carroll Spring Hog Roast Zylstra HD Ames Blessing of the Bikes Big Barn HD Des Moines Surviving Sons MC Bike Blessing/Anniversary Party Keokuk Vintage Torque Fest Dubuque 8th Annual Sleeping Angels Fun Run Boone Sleeping Angels Foundation Bike Drawing Boone Pancake Breakfast Metro HD Cedar Rapids Cedar Rapids Chrome Divas Awareness Ride Metro HD Cedar Rapids ABATE 4 Two Wheel Trauma Training Des Moines Blessing of The Riders Legion Riders Post 111 Newton 2nd Annual Ride for Aiden Waterloo Bike Blessing Northwest Christian Church Council Bluffs 14th Annual Hill Blazers Hill Climb Logan Tent Event Big Barn HD Des Moines Mean Machine Cycle Parts “Spring Smokeout” Elkhart F&J Racing 24th Annual Blessing of the Bikes Marshalltown PGI Riders “Blessing of the Bikes” Metro HD Cedar Rapids Ride for Jax Polk City 2nd Annual Lindsay Stupp Memorial Ride Steamboat Rock Poker Run to benefit The Foundation for Ichthyosis & Related Skin Types LHHD Pacific Junction Armed Forces Day Poker Run and Bike Night ALR Post 232 Polk City Annual Children’s Hospital & Medical Center Motorcycle Awareness Fun Run Council Bluffs B.A.C.A. (all chapters) Annual 100 Mile Ride Everywhere Chrome For Kids Event for the Boys and Girls Club of Cedar Rapids ABATE D4 Bike Show/Smoke Off/Ride Big Barn HD Des Moines Don McCarthy Benefit Poker Run Monticello Alisha’s Memorial Ride for Iowa Donor Network Cedar Rapids Iowa Thunder Ride Des Moines Redneck Revival Conesville CVMA 39-5 APR Keosauqua Shelby 150th Celebration Benefit Run Newt’s Place Shelby Midway Tavern’s Neal Denny Memorial Poker Run Soldier Rolling Thunder XXXII “Ride for Freedom” Across the US to Washington DC Harley-Davidson of Carroll Rock –N- Ride Carroll Ride for Darcy Metro HD Cedar Rapids 10th Annual Ride With Levi Poker Run Keokuk 4th Annual Suicide Awareness ride & Drive Waterloo Garwin Legion Riders 6th Annual Ride Garwin Back the Badge Ride & Party McCann’s Des Moines Motorcycle Hill Climb Anamosa Riders 4 Thrivers 2019 Poker Run Ralston, NE Midwest Victory Rally The Vic Shop De Soto Spring Open House Big Barn HD Des Moines 11th Annual Bell Tower Festival Poker Run, Tour Rides, & Bike Show Jefferson Ride for a Cure Metro HD Cedar Rapids Baxter Cycle Spring Open House Marne Seu-Mos Annual Ride Grinnell 4th Annual Ride for the Kids Sioux City Dream Team-Matt Brooks Benefit Ride & Rally Des Moines ABATE D4 Charity Ride Des Moines Wolf Den Bike & Car Show Reasoner Flag Day Bike Night ALR Post 232 Polk City Rumble In The Sand Outlaw Street Drags Conesville NW Lakes Tripod Trikers 8th Annual Trike-In Spencer Roar Into Harlan Fun Run Harlan Windbags Relay for Life Ride Atlantic TJ Evans Memorial Ride Metro HD Cedar Rapids Joni’s Roast and Ride Big Barn HD Des Moines Swap Meet Big Barn HD Des Moines CVMA 39-4 Annual Patriots Ride (APR) Davenport 6th Annual Hometown Heroes Memorial Ride Rockwell City 3rd Annual Suicide Prevention Poker Run Mason City
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Jun 15 Jun 21-22 Jun 21-22 Jun 22 Jun 22 Jun 22 Jun 22 Jun 22
7th Annual Chasin’ Tails Fun Run Roland Across Iowa on Motorcycles Larchwood ABATE D14 34th Annual Anniversary Party What Cheer ABATE D14 35th Annual Baldy Memorial Fremont Audubon Fire & Rescue Association Poker Run Audubon Ride to Fight Suicide Colona, IL 5th Annual Paul “SIX” Ladd Memorial Ride & Party Colo Heroes Poker Run Ride & Drive Legion Riders Post 46 Marshalltown Jun 22 1st Annual First Responders Tribute Ride Clinton Jun 22 Sugar Run Metro HD Cedar Rapids Jun 22 Annual Running Over Lupus Ride Stanhope Jun 23 3rd Annual 620 Golf Outing Metro HD Cedar Rapids Jun 29 Paws and Effect Ride & Drive ALR Post 46 Marshalltown Jun 29 9th An Vintage Rally National Motorcycle Museum Anamosa Jun 29 Chains Interrupted Ride Metro HD Cedar Rapids Jun 29 Gabby’s 3rd Annual Motorcycle Ride Fairfield Jun 29-30 J&P Cycles Customer Appreciation Weekend Anamosa Jun 30 Scavenger Hunt for English River Outfitters American Legion Polk City Jul 4-6 ABATE of Iowa Freedom Rally Algona Jul 5 Cruise In at the Park Coal Valley, IL Jul 6 Road Not Taken Ride Metro HD Cedar Rapids Jul 6 12th Annual Freeman Ride Avoca Jul 6 4th Annual Coal Valley Days Motorcycle & Car Show Coal Valley, IL Jul 6 Motorcycle Drag Races Humboldt Jul 12-13 Combat Veterans Chapter 39-3 Benefit Ride Elkport Jul 13 13th Annual Angel Ride to Save the TaTas Fort Dodge Jul 13 3rd Annual PGI Riders Poker Run Metro HD Cedar Rapids Jul 19 4 Season’s Festival with Bike Show ALR Post 232 Polk City Jul 19-21 Rally in the Hills LHHD Pacific Junction Jul 20 St Judes Children’s Research Ride Metro HD Cedar Rapids Jul 20 Ride For Time w/Friends of Mine Baxter Jul 20 Thank the Seals Ride(s) Burlington AND Big Barn HD Des Moines Jul 25-27 Angels’ Straw Bale Bikefest 2019 Spencer, NE Jul 26-28 CVMA Chapter 39-1 APR Rally and Ride St Charles Jul 27 Volga City River Run Volga Jul 27 FUEL Cleveland OH Jul 27 Christmas in July Scavenger Hunt J&P Cycles Anamosa Jul 27 Union Solidarity Ride Metro HD Cedar Rapids Jul 27 Teufelhund Christmas in July for Toys 4 Tots Anamosa Aug 2-11 79th Annual Black Hills Party South Dakota Aug 3 CVMA Chapter 39-2 APR Metro HD Cedar Rapids Aug 10 LT Ride for Babies Metro HD Cedar Rapids Aug 10 AtlanticFest Ride In Bike Show Atlantic Aug 10 Cody Wills 3rd Annual Benefit Ride Magnolia Aug 11 2nd Annual Rumble to Recovery Metro HD Cedar Rapids Aug 17 IAFF Local 4906-MDA 3rd Annual Poker Run Loess Hills HD Pacific Junction Aug 17 3rd Annual Joyces Joyride Metro HD Cedar Rapids Aug 17 Ida Grove Sons Of The American Legion Poker Run Ida Grove Aug 17-18 Baxter Cycle Open House and Motorcycle Auction Marne Aug 18 Cruisin’ For a Cure Systic Fibrosis Benefit Ride Metro HD Cedar Rapids Aug 23-25 15th Annual BTW Trike In Kellogg Aug 23-25 ABATE D17 End of Summer Bash Charles City Aug 24 10th Annual ALR Post 737 Toy Run Waukee Aug 24 Summer Celebration Big Barn HD Des Moines Aug 24 Kyle’s Mile 6 Suicide/ Bullying Prevention Ride Metro HD Cedar Rapids Aug 24 A&W American Legion Car & Motorcycle Show Lester Aug 24 Hell On Wheels Chopper Show Franklin Aug 24 Wiota Fire Department Poker Run Wiota Aug 29-Sep 2 Redneck Revival Conesville Aug 29-31 Motorcycle Swap Meet Davenport Aug 31-Sep 2 Midway Tavern Soldier Valley Run, BBQ, Street Dance Soldier Aug 31 22 Kill Ride Metro HD Cedar Rapids Sep 6-7 Demo Days Big Barn HD Des Moines Sep 6-8 VROOM Vintage Riders of Old Motorcycles Mississippi to Missouri Rivers
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Sep 7 Sep 7 Sep 7 Sep 7 Sep 7 Sep 8 Sep 12 Sep 13 Sep 13-15 Sep 14 Sep 14 Sep 19 Sep 20-22 Sep 21 Sep 21 Sep 21 Sep 25-28 Oct 10 Oct 12 Oct 13 Oct 18-19 Oct 20 Oct 26 Nov 8-9 Nov 8-10 Nov 23 Nov 29 Nov 29 Nov 29 Dec 14 Dec 14 Dec 15
Teufelhund Veterans Group Support Ride Anamosa/Cedar Rapids 2nd Annual HeidRide - Riding Out Multiple Sclerosis (EAST) Metro HD Cedar Rapids 2nd Annual HeidRide - Riding Out Multiple Sclerosis (WEST) Big Barn HD Des Moines ABATE D4 Die Hard Run Des Moines Miles for Smiles Camp High Hopes 2019 Poker Run Sioux City Motorcycle Hill Climb Anamosa Metro Motor Madness 620 Foundation Motorcycle Drawing Metro HD Cedar Rapids Friday the 13th Event Big Barn HD Des Moines SLR Association State Line Rally Keosauqua WTF Fun Run Harlan The Chosen Few 50th Anniversary/End of Summer Party Cedar Rapids Coal Valley Days Fall Fest Cruise In Coal Valley, IL Rumble In The Sand Outlaw Street Drags Conesville Annual Benefit Ride AmVet Riders Post 2 Des Moines Endless Brotherhood Support Ride Metro HD Cedar Rapids Coal Valley Days Fall Fest Motorcycle & Car Show Coal Valley, IL Bikes, Blues, BBQ Fayetteville, AR 620 Foundation Check Presentation Walford via Metro HD Cedar Rapids Gentleman’s Ride for Waypoint’s Gentleman Campaign Cedar Rapids ABATE D4 Toy Run Des Moines Rumble In The Sand Outlaw Street Drags Conesville ABATE D3 Toy Run Atlantic Halloween Spooktacular Big Barn HD Des Moines Veteran’s Day Event Big Barn HD Des Moines ABATE of Iowa Steam Marshalltown Fashion Show Rt 65 HD Indianola Black Friday at Metro HD Cedar Rapids Black Friday Big Barn HD Des Moines Black Friday at Rt 65 HD Indianola Holiday Open House Big Barn HD Des Moines Holiday Open House Rt 65 HD Indianola ABATE D3 Christmas Party Atlantic
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