Thunder Roads Magazine of Iowa October 2022

Recently we had the opportunity to travel all the way across Iowa on a weekend, as in, we hit both rivers within a couple of days. We saw crops in a variety of stages of maturity and the natural progression of the growing season. We know it will be ending here soon, so for the next couple of months, watch out for the slow moving and oversized traffic on the back roads and two-lane highways.

It also reminded me of our place in the country and the world, and continued to show that we are the providers for the world here in Iowa and the Midwest.

th t e op oppo p rtunnitty y to trave v l s Iowowa a on a weeeekend, h rivverers w withhin in a We saw aw croops ps in n es s of mat a urrit i y rogogreresssio i n ea easosonn. . We ndiinng g thhe e on h th t s, s sllow w me e f couounntrry y d nd w that de ders r

In general, we have people with an amazing work ethic, and a pride for what we do here in Iowa that cannot be beat. The scenery here is awesome and varied, as anyone who has traveled across Iowa knows. The people are also as varied as the views of the countryside, and for the most part, some of the friendliest in the nation.

Another awesome vision of pride was noticing the number of American flags that are on display across this great state. Iowans love our country, are proud of that flag, and want the best for themselves and for those around them. There were flags just about everywhere we looked. Without ever having counted them while traveling, it is hard to gauge how many flags we saw on display and how it relates to what we have seen in the past, but the number of flags we saw on that weekend was in the thousands, and way more than we have seen for a long time.

That to me is a great sign. A sign that we do have people that do actually want this great nation to survive and thrive again. A sign that not everyone just simply wants to take up arms to defend their own little corner of the world. A

O n t h e C o v e rOn the Cover

This month’s cover features a smiling beauty named Sara on Nate Ullrich’s 2005 Road King that he bought new in June of ‘05. Nate recently turned 200,000 miles on this bike, which is seen here in a photo from its show bike days, but our calendar page this month points out some of the “war wounds” from which that kind of mileage can leave on a bike!

sign that people want America to be the land of opportunity. A sign that there may be hope for our future. I sure as hell hope that all of those flags that we saw signify a state of citizens that want to be truly represented in Washington, and will vote accordingly. It has been said by many that the fate of the nation could be decided on the midterm election in November. I don’t know that it is all of that, but I do see it as a grossly important election. With that, make sure that you are ready to do your civic duty in November and make your voices heard.

As we are now rolling into October, the number of events is dwindling, and the bike nights are all but done. Of course, there are always a few straggling events trying to hang on to the season, but they are fewer and farther between. We are starting now on populating the list for next year’s events, so we are asking for your help. If you are part of an event, or know of confirmed events for 2023, please email us the date of the event, the name of the event, and the starting location town to vernon@ thunderroadsiowa.com and we will get them added to the list. Those events then will be published in the magazine every month, and we also post them at the beginning of every week on our Thunder Roads Magazine of Iowa Facebook page. Thanks in advance for your help with this.

We would also like to send out a heartfelt message of appreciation for all of you that read Thunder Roads Magazine of Iowa, those that share our posts and such on Facebook, the people that come up to meet us and become new friends, and those old friends that make sure to look us up at events. Without all of you we could not keep this going every month. Above and beyond that, we would also like to thank our advertisers that keep the lights on every month. All of the ads in this publication keep this magazine printed and posted every month and we are eternally grateful for the support! Thanks to all of you for reading and supporting. We truly appreciate all of you! Thank you!

Vernon Schwarte, Editor/Owner Thunder Roads Magazine of Iowa

Quote of the Month: “The ballot is stronger than the bullet.” Abraham Lincoln

It was one of those slow, beautiful evenings back in late July when Mark when I pulled our bikes into a local gas station parking lot. We were meeting up with some friends to take a short ride and have supper together while the long daylight hours were still in our favor. While we were waiting on the last couple of bikes, he mentioned to one of the guys that the new tire that our mechanic had had put on was really messing with the front end. One of them speculated that it had been slightly overinflated to get it to seal right, and everyone shrugged. We all hopped on our bikes and wound our way lazily along the back roads to the restaurant. After arriving, everyone shut their bikes off and headed for the restaurant, but Mark stayed on his bike, rolling it back and forth a little, listening and frowning. “What is it?” I asked. He hesitated. “It just feels funny. Kind of grindy. I hope there’s not a caliper dragging.”

After the meal, we saddled up again and hopped on the freeway for the quick route home. I noticed that on the straightaways he kept leaning down toward the front of the bike, then sitting back up again. When we got close to town, he got off the freeway several exits before we normally would. At the first stop sign he shouted “It’s really vibrating now! I didn’t want to keep riding at highway speeds and damage something worse! I’ll call the mechanic in the morning.”

The next day, he got our guy on the phone and started explaining the situation – that he was worried that something was wrong with the front brakes.

O.G. stopped him. “It’s the tire.”

“But . . . it seems like it’s grinding,” Mark said.

“No. It’s definitely the tire, O.G. said.

I’m pausing the story right here, because if this was a conversation involving me and God, this is where I would have probably tuned out. And ‘fess up – you probably would do the same thing! God may come off as the expert, but we have our own opinions. We’re the ones in the middle of the situation. We heard that grindy sound! We felt the shudder like when a brake is dragging. Why is he telling us it’s something completely unrelated?

It sure seems like that’s what the Lord usually does. For instance, I go to him with complaints about a family member (who shall remain anonymous) who is being (in my opinion) inconsiderate and the Lord tells me that I’m the one who should be repenting for my angry attitude and praying for Mar that anonymous family member to become more Christ-like. Or maybe the guy camped next to us at the rally was being a loud jerk at 2:30a.m. and at 5:30 a.m. I’m digging around in my bag for the can of air horn that I know is in there somewhere and the Lord gives me a nudge and tells me to offer the guy coffee when he wakes up and in the meantime – you guessed it – be praying for him. Those things are just annoyances, though. What about the biggies? Maybe your spouse cheated on you. Or maybe the guy at work who was supposed to be helping with your project set you up to fail because he wanted your position. Or you agreed to co-sign on a car loan for your adult daughter and then she skated off without paying a penny on it. Surely those problems call for some revenge. Some

payback. Because you can feel the grinding now. Your life is doing more than a little shuddering after betrayals like those. However, here’s what the Lord God said to do when we are wronged: “But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you , and pray for those who spitefully use you

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And that’s where we hit pause in this part of the story. What kind of expert would give advice like that? Didn’t the Lord listen at all when we were telling him how we were wronged? We have diagnosed the problem and it’s in the other person! Why is God basically telling me to offer kindness, which will make my pride suffer again? Because he is God, and he knows what is best for us, that’s why. James 4:10 says “Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.” We want to find an answer that feels “right” to us, so we tend to go looking anywhere else for a different answer other than the uncomfortable answer the Lord provides. But whether we like his answer or not, it is right, because he is God. Now back to our guy and Mark .

O.G. sighed. “I should have told you about the possibility when I put that tire on. Turns out that this new tire, only in this size, has been documented in a few instances to have heavy vibration issues and is being replaced by the manufacturer. They do exactly what you’ve been describing. Bring your bike back and I’ll take care of it.”

Mark could have argued. He could have taken the bike to different mechanics until he found one that would work on the brakes. Instead, he took the advice of the expert . . . Whose advice will you take?

Blessings – Karla

Mark and Karla Cornick are with the Christian Motorcyclists Association. Find out more about CMA and God’s plan for you at www.cmausa.org

“ (Matthew 5:44)

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

Edwards Motorsports and RV’s 1010 34th Avenue Council Bluffs, Iowa 51501 712-366-8400 fullthrottleia.com or edwardsrvs.com

Heartland Harley-Davidson 117 S Roosevelt Ave Burlington, IA 52601 319-754-1100 www.heartlandhd.com

Indian Motorcycle of Mason City Mason City Powersports 12499 265th Street Mason City 641-423-3181

Crispy’s Biker Apparel

Cedar Rapids, Iowa Find Us On Facebook

Dirty Biker Design 122 S. John Wayne Drive Winterset, Iowa 50273 www.DirtyBikerDesign.com 515-444-9050

Leather & Hawgs 121 1st Street Soldier, Iowa leather@wiatel.net (712) 884-2701 www.leatherandhawgs.com

Dealers

Baxter Cycle 311 4th Street Marne, Iowa 51552 712-781-2351 www.baxtercycle.com

Big Barn Harley-Davidson 81 NW 49th Place Des Moines, Iowa 50313 515-265-4444 www.bigbarnhd.net

Carroll Cycle Center 1327 Plaza Dr Carroll, Iowa 712-792-1610 www.carrollcycle.com

Masoncitypowersportsinc.com

Loess Hills Harley-Davidson 57408 190th Street Pacific Junction IA 51561 712-800-3500 loesshillshd.com

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

Route 65 Harley-Davidson 1300 S Jefferson Way Indianola, Iowa 50125 515.962.2160 www.route65hd.net

Storm Lake Honda 3040 Expansion Blvd Storm Lake, Iowa 50588 StormLakeHonda.com 712-732-2460

Entertainment

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

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

Food and Drink (Popular Poker & Fun Run Locations)

American Legion Post 111 1101 W 4th Street S Newton 641-792-3353

Open to the Public 7 Days a Week Newtonamericanlegion111.org

Bea’s Place 108 N Main St Baxter 641-227-2080

Check Us Out on Facebook Food, Live Music, Bike Nights

Bloodline Irish Pub 214 Public Square Greenfield, Iowa 50849 Bloodline Irish Pub on Facebook

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

Chili Dawg’s Foods of Fire

1940 Blair Ridge Road Blair, NE 68008

www.chilidawgs.com

Retail/Online Spice and Seasoning Store

Desperados

105 E 5th Street Atlantic 712-243-7087

Home of Cold Beer, Good Times, Pizza & Wings

Firehouse Bar 1211 5th Street Downtown Sioux City, IA 712-224-1020

Open Daily at 12:00

Flaming Office 201 W High Street Toledo 641-484-2255

Outdoor Patio, Happy Hour 5-7 Flaming Office on Facebook & Google

Goozman’s Westside Bar & Grill 1019 7th St Harlan, Iowa 712-755-2259

Goozman’s Westside on Facebook

Haverhill Social Club 202 1st Street  Haverhill, Iowa 50120 641-475-3321

Tues-Sat 10-2, Sun 12-12

Iowa Legendary Rye 707 N Main Street Carroll, Iowa 51401

Iowalegendaryrye.com

Jake’s Station 107 West HWY 59 Hancock, Iowa 51536 712-741-BEER

Like Our Page Jakes Station on Facebook

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

www.thunderroadsiowa.com

Just 1 More 515-570-4206 641-757-0159 309 Railway Jamaica, Iowa 50128

Mi Casa Family Restaurant 512 Market Street Harlan, Iowa 51537 712-755-2258

Enjoy Drinks at the Full Bar!

Midway Tavern 206 1st Street Soldier, Iowa 712-884-2230 www.midwaytavernsoldier.com

Montgomery Street Pub 207 East Montgomery Street Creston, Iowa 50801 641-782-2165

Papa Joe’s 117 South 6th Street Missouri Valley, Iowa 51555 712-642-9015

Pearl Street Social Club 110 Pearl Street SW Shellsburg, Iowa 52332 319-436-7100

Find Us On Facebook!

Pines Steakhouse Oinkers Lounge & Grill 1500 E 7th Street Atlantic, Iowa 50022 712-243-3606

M-F 11AM-, S-S 4PMRiverside Tavern 450 E Main St Lehigh, Iowa 50557 515-359-9998

Email:riversidetap@gmail.com

Sandbar 103 North Noyes Street Mondamin, Iowa 51557 712-646-2300

Facebook Sandbar Mondamin

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

Stumpy’s Bar & Grill 423 Main Street Duncombe, Iowa 50532 515-543-4222

Stumpy’s Bar & Grill on Facebook

Sugar’s Diner & Lounge 2725 E Kanesville Blvd Council Bluffs, Iowa 712-322-3600

Check us out on Facebook

The Exchange 171 S Elm Street Avoca, Iowa 51521 712-343-2609

Lang’s Pizza, Cold Beer, Sports

The Full Nelson 205 West 2nd Street Halbur, Iowa 51444 712-658-2425

The Full Nelson on Facebook

The Yankee Clipper 312 SW Maple St Ankeny, Ia 50023 515-964-9484 yankeeclipperbar.com

VFW Post 9662 Bar and Grill 1309 NE 66th Ave Des Moines 515 - 289 - 9914 and Facebook

Vic’s Main Tap 304 Broadway Audubon, Iowa 50025 712-563-2122

Opens M-F 2-Close, Sat 9-Close, Sun 12-Close

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

Guns and Ammo

JLM Shooters Supply 6931 Douglas Avenue Urbandale, Iowa 50322 jlmshooterssupply@gmail.com 515-331-1577

Hobbies & Collectibles

Treasure Island Diecast/Facebook Hot Wheels, M2, Matchbox, Jada Ertl, Lightning, Harley, Maisto Buy-Sell-Trade 641-521-8036 rayaustinhd@gmail.com www.treasureislanddiecast.com

Insurance & Financial

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

Legal

Hupy and Abraham sc, pc Lawyers for Bikers 800.800.5678 Hupy.com

Inserra | Kelley | Sewell Injury Attorneys 6790 Grover St, Ste 200 Omaha, NE 68106 www.inserra.com (402) 391-4000

TheBikerLawyers.com The Biker Lawyers, P.C. Riding & Defending Your Rights for Over 30 Years 877-209-9452

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

Shops & Fabricators

BS & Bikes 300 E 17th St S Suite 700 Newton, IA 50208 641-521-8448

Find us on Facebook

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

Chuck’s Cycle Service and Repair S&S and Drag Specialties Dealer 307 E 5th StreetWashington, Iowa52353 319-461-5278

Cycle Clinic 2209 ML King Pkwy Des Moines, Iowa 50314 cycleclinicdm.com 515-288-6954

F & J Racing 701 N 3rd Ave Marshalltown, Iowa 50158 641-752-8651 www.fandjracing.com

Mean Machine Cycle Parts Elkhart, Iowa 50073 Stereos, Bars, LED Lights, Air Ride Mon-Fri 9-6, Sat 9-12 515-367-7336

Motorcycle Medic 3176 Highway 30 Woodbine, Iowa 51579 712-647-2818

Open Tues-Sat Noon-6PM

Nelson Machine & Forge General Machining, Ornamental Iron, Weld/Fab 70 Washington Street Marne, Iowa 51552 712-781-2220

Road Rage BikeWorks 401 High Street Avoca, Iowa 51521 712-307-6111

Road Rage BikeWorks on Facebook

Steffens Cycle and Detailing

1311 E 7th Street Atlantic, Iowa 50022 712-250-8493 steffenscycle@gmail.com

Thunder Road Cycles 4106 Rockingham Rd Davenport, Iowa 52802 563-323-3172

Thunder Road Cycles on Facebook

Tires

Sandbothe Firestone 1106 Main Street Griswold, Iowa 51535 712-778-2223

Sandbothe Firestone on Facebook

Trailers

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

Thunder Roads Magazine of Iowa on Facebook

Two hundred miles from home, the van and trailer ease into the small, town-country neighborhood of Algona, Iowa. I tried hard (really hard) not to look at the old motorcycle in the corner. Even harder yet, to avoid eyeballing the massive pile of parts presented on the floor, carefully arranged into a rectangle of post-war relics. Photographs and license plates hung suspended from the walls of the garage, devoid of anything related to automobilia, with strictly two-wheeled themes. A man and wife watched my approach.

I had been here before. Many times, in fact. Not to this particular house, no, but rather the situation and the vibe. The gentleman appeared to be my age, or close enough for spitting distance. His wife wore an expression of forced politeness and gave little indication at first of what she was to reveal about herself, husband, and family.

The call had come in the night before. My friend Cactus in Des Moines had received a phone call from a man who had decided it was time to sell Uncle Wayne’s motorsickle that had been purchased new in the Spring of 1948. Uncle Wayne had passed years before, and his prized Harley was now in the hands of his favorite nephew.

I reached out to shake the owner’s hand and introduced myself.

smile and a good handshake, so I was in solid company and confident that we could make a connection.

I called Denny that evening before after receiving his nine photographs of the 1948 EL Harley Panhead, the 1946 sidecar, ownership papers, records, registrations, clothing, accessories, and other miscellaneous items, and told him that I would be at his door by 10 AM, as it was only a couple of hundred miles down the road. I never asked about a price, but rather suggested that I would like to talk about the historical

I asked if I might refer to his uncle as “Wayne”, that we might personalize our discussion about the history and provenance of the machine.

We had spoken by telephone the previous evening, and nephew Denny had sent pictures, via text, late into last night. I had seen everything I needed to see when a set of original keys next to a pile of old paperwork popped into the IN box.

Denny introduced his wife and she began a natural and not unpleasant chatter that seemed to hover over our conversation, as we began to speak of Uncle Wayne. I realized her intensity was a natural “protectiveness” for her husband, as he was quite shy and reserved. Denny had a quick

significance of the bike and owner, which to me is as every bit as important as a selling price, perhaps more.

Soon, wife Darlene disappears into the house and pans begin to rattle. Denny and I retreat to the man cave, where he shows me his Uncle Wayne’s photo albums, gypsy pins, and personal belongings.

Uncle Wayne Rasmus left for Korea after purchasing the bike, and I can only imagine the thought of that machine kept him very much alive, during that little “police conflict” on the Chinese peninsula!

Next, Darlene has us both up to lunch, where she has prepared “Maid-Rites” and cold salads. She is gracious and kind, and I am quite fond of her in only a short period of time. I feel that

she has bonded with me as well, as some of the things we discuss about life seem to resonate with her.

Soon enough it is business at hand. I looked these two wonderful people in the eye and let out a long breath. “There may be a hundred people that walk through your door, the weekend you list this bike for sale. Ninety-nine of those 100 will see a pile of money sitting here, their minds will be little calculators, figuring out dollar values and not so much as a hint of Uncle Wayne or his mark. What I see spread out all over the garage floor, parked in the corner and on the pages of the photo albums is a remarkable story of a family who took the time to care for their loved one, and the things that he loved. I see 75 long years preserved and protected. I see in your eyes

what is in your hearts, and for that I am terribly sad that this day is here, for you. “But this I promise. If you accept my offer, I will display this motorsickle and introduce your uncle to the world next year, by building a display at the Rocky Mountain Motorcycle Museum in Colorado Springs that you and your family can proudly come visit. The display will feature his love of bikes, community, racing, and culture. His bike will be there, and the memories will be there for you all.”

You could have cut the air with a knife; the emotions were running so high. I heard a small sob from Denny, and he left the room for a minute. I couldn’t take it anymore and began to tear up. Darlene brought me some Kleenex, and then she started crying, too. We were all blubbering like the softies we are, and neither one of them was in the slightest bit aware of the peeled onion I was holding under the table below my nostrils. Just kidding. Soon enough, a deal was struck, and I cannot describe the broad range of emotions on their faces, but it seemed that relief and happiness were by far the overwhelming sentiment.

Sometimes buying a motorcycle can be as difficult as selling one, when the sellers are emotionally tied to the machine, either through family or circumstance. It as an almost uniquely American quality, to care for a vehicle as if it were a person, but it is still as real as the day is long. I empathize with this situation and I understand.

I hugged both these fine people before I left and am confident that we all made a personal connection that will continue us all on down the road of friendship, for many years to come.

Chasing old bikes never gets old, although I sure do! One feels so alive when driving towards the unknown find, the bike in the barn, the storied machine in the garage, or Uncle Wayne’s Panhead. And it all happened in 48 hours.

Keep your head up, the bikes are out there, go save them! And if YOU happen to be headed out to Colorado Springs in 2023, check and see if Uncle Wayne’s 1948 Panhead is on display yet.

Greg Lew Classic Panheads Facebook Page Admin

The Price of Going Green...Part 4The Price of Green...Part

I was entirely going to dig more into the batteries that power these electric and hybrid vehicles this month, and then the headlines started to explode about the time I was going to start typing. It came out that California has upped the ante on the federal clean air act and decided to make things even quicker for making electric vehicles a reality. That is right, the state of confusion known as California has decided that they will not allow any new gas vehicle sales after 2035.

The clean air act is Federal level legislation that has been in effect for decades. The purpose of the act is to lessen the amount of emissions that cause air pollution. California decided to speed up the process and is banking on the fact that by banning the sales of new internal combustion engines, that this will solve any air pollution issues that they and the rest of the country may have. This effort spearheaded by the California governor, and the rule, issued by the California Air Resources Board, will require that all new cars sold in the state by 2035 be free of greenhouse gas emissions like carbon dioxide. The rule also sets interim targets, requiring that 35 percent of new passenger vehicles sold by 2026 produce zero emissions. That requirement climbs to 68 percent by 2030.

In the past years, California has also been giving financial incentives to buyers of electric vehicles. The average amount is over $2,000 per vehicle, so with the current amount of registered vehicles for consumer usage, it will cost that state $28 Billion to incentivize buyers to swap out for new electric vehicles IF people are given the same incentives from the state alone. How is that even going

to be possible from a state that always has it’s hand out asking for money from the federal government because of over spending and failed policies on multiple fronts. People have been fleeing that state due to failed policies for decades now, and I imagine it will only keep getting worse. The crazy part about the adoption of their new rules, is that upwards of 17 states are either considering or have already adopted the same level of regulation. That means that we may have 18 out of our 50 states that will potentially ban consumer sales of internal combustion engines for consumer use. All of this for the sake of the environment, for following California’s lead, who has been the largest contributor to smog for many years.

ney e of es on een n s that t are o even hese pages, everyone

There are many other questions that pop up with this discussion that are too broad of depth and stroke to even think about covering here on these pages, but are noteworthy and worth everyone digging

into on their own. One such item is the fact that China dominates the market for the resources for building batteries that power electric and hybrid vehicles.

“Something in the order of about 90% of the lithium that’s used in batteries is processed in China right now, which is not a desirable situation,” says Sam Abuelsamid, an analyst with Guidehouse Insights. It is almost like spiking gas prices, while simultaneously pushing and incentivizing electric vehicles is not a coincidence?

Follow the money and see why this may be happening, and why we would be getting further into dependence with China.

Another item that is noteworthy is the status and condition of the power grid. Overlapping headlines in California on NPR show the announcement of the new electric vehicle initiative, while the next story is about limiting electrical usage to prevent an overload of the power grid. On top of the lack of grid to sustain millions more plug in devices in our modern world, the infrastructure to charge these vehicles is lackluster at best. Billions of dollars will need to be spent to just make it available for the electric vehicles to be able to plug in and charge. With their limited capacity and ability to travel any distance, this will be a limiting factor and the thought of being able to hop in the car and take the family on vacation to see cool stuff in our great nation may be a thing of the past. To me it seems like counting chickens before they hatch. Pushing the cars down everyone’s throat without the needed systems in place to keep them going does not seem to make sound logic, or any type of good business planning.

My faith in mankind to get things done in a short amount of time is varied at best, but to accomplish that goal in a baker’s dozen worth of years would be monumental. I mean really, how can they make that happen in just over a decade? I started doing some digging into the statistics from California and then right in the heartland of Iowa. In California the population is over 39 million souls. Iowa on the other hand is about 3.2 million. So, the population of the “Golden” state is around 11 times that of Iowa. The total number of registered vehicles in California is over 30

million; Iowa has a paltry 3.8 million registered vehicles, or 9 time less than the western counterpart. Of those 30 million in Cali, about 14,000,000 of those are passenger type vehicles, which are in the direct path of this new rule and 1.1 million in Iowa. The average ownership time for a new vehicle is just short of six years. So if everyone started now on updating vehicles in those two states alone, the previously mentioned $7,500 tax credit would cost our nation over 113 billion dollars. Just in those two states alone, that amount of tax subsidy is earth shattering. The financial implications for consumers and tax payers are astronomical.

This article and this series has been the topper on the cake. I have not had the time available nor the space to print everything that needs to be said on this topic of going green. The more I am reading and learning, the more I stand with the thought of “don’t you dare Californicate my state”. I don’t give a shit how they do it in California. I recommend that each one of you look further down the rabbit hole, as I have, and make your own choices about what will work for you. Next month is an important midterm election, so research, learn, and vote accordingly.

Vernon Schwarte vernon@thunderroadsiowa.com

Editor/Owner Thunder Roads Magazine of Iowa Owner Thunder Guns and Thunder Guns West Iowa Motorcycle Dealers Association (IMDA) Board Member

Motorcycle Riders Foundation (MRF) Assistant State Rep in the orde pro now, w desirabl Sa an ana Guid Ins al s p t ha wh gett depe Chin Anothe notewo status of the p Overlapp inCaliforniaonNPRsho righ a

Shown in its prime on the main photo here, Nate Ullrich’s 2005 Road King has acquired its share of fl aws with the current odometer reading somewhere around 206,000 miles! Here’s some details on the wha t 200,000 miles can do to a bike: Motor swapped at 187,000 mile s, headlight bezel spire broke and front fender dent from a fence falling on it in Sturgis, handlebars welded in the middle after cracking, a lot of powder coat chipped on the front-end, tweaked fender and bent handlebars from being laid-down, rubber worn off right fl oor-board, saddlebag brackets broke and welded numerous times, exhaust pipe mount broke and welded, many broke n exhaust bolts replaced, fi shtail tips cracked and replaced, rear shocks replaced

3 times, front fork springs in dire need of replacement, speedo backing plate is faded by the sun but shows a shadow of the ne edle at zero, stock rear wheel and pulley temporarily used due to rear pulley mounting b olts stripped-out on the red wheel. You can follow Nate’s soci al media to keep up on his traveling tales, and check out his website to order some of his garage art to help fund his travels at www.Natanic.com

not so USELESS RAMBLINGSnot so USELESS RAMBLINGS

Is it Tea Time Again?

December 16, 1773. Griffin’s Wharf in Boston, Massachusetts. American colonists, disguised as Native Americans, frustrated and angry at Britain for imposing “taxation without representation,” dumped 90,000 pounds of tea, imported by the British East India Company, into the harbor.

Great Britain had been imposing taxes on the American colonies. The Stamp Act of 1765 which taxed every piece of printed paper. The Townshend Act of 1767 which taxed items such as paint, paper, lead, glass and tea. The British government felt the taxes were fair since much of its debt was earned fighting wars on the colonists’ behalf. The colonists, however, disagreed and 342 cases of tea were dumped overboard in dispute.

Our forefathers revolted against a tyrannical and oppressive government over a few taxes. Today we are taxed on just about every move we make and every cent that changes hands. You’re taxed when you earn it, you’re taxed when you spend it. You’re taxed annually on the items you were already taxed on when you purchased them. Some of these taxes are disguised as a “permit” or “license” for things like building a new deck or garage or when you want to go hunting or fishing.

Taxation is theft. Plain and simple. Outside of funding our military and the constitutional functions of our government, it’s all just theft.

President Biden’s ridiculously titled “Inflation Reduction Act” (IRA) should have been titled the Inflation PROduction Act, as it increases government spending, of money that doesn’t exist, on a massive scale. One part of the bill allocates over $80 billion for the funding of the Internal Revenue Service. While the IRS and the fact checkers are going insane trying to gloss over this train wreck, a person only needs to do some simple research to find out the truth. The IRS would have you believe that they are making service enhancements, but all the evidence, including the legislation’s text, paints a very different picture.

If you actually read the legislation, you’ll find that enforcement receives the lion’s share at $46 billion. More than half will go to monitoring and compliance. This includes tens of thousands of new agents, which will increase the number of audits. Only $3.2 billion is slated for the service enhancements, spread out over the next 10 years.

Jared Bernstein, of President Biden’s Council of Economic Advisers, would like you to believe that the IRS will not be targeting anyone making under $400K with increased audits, but the truth comes out when Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen wrote, “I direct that any additional resources” the IRS receives from the act “shall not be used to increase the share of small business or households below the $400,000 threshold that are audited relative to historic levels.” Notice the specific use of the word “share” in her statement? It’s very important to understand why it was worded this way.

You have to ask yourself what “share” of audits people making under $400K typically have been subjected to. Well, the vast majority of them. According to the last complete data released by the IRS in 2018, there were 367,369 audits of individual returns. Of these, 3.8% of the total were of returns reporting no positive income. Households reporting between $1 and $25,000 in income received 52.9%, and those earning up to $50,000 an additional 19.9%. Those above $50,000 and under $75,000 received 7.3% and

households making $75,000 to $100,000 were hit by 4.2%. Households with $100,000 to $200,000 in income were subject to 7.3% of audits. That’s 95.4% of all audits on households making less than $200K a year.

Also embedded in the IRA is $100 billion in existing loan programs and up to $250 billion in new loan guarantees for green energy companies. Do you remember the Solyndra scandal? The Obama administration’s green energy baby received a $535 million federal loan in 2009. Just two short years later, Solyndra went belly up leaving 1,100 people unemployed and the American taxpayer obligated for $535 million in federal loans. It turns out that the Obama administration bypassed key taxpayer protections, knowing full well that Solyndra was financially unstable. Is this the caliber of green energy company we can expect when the Biden administration starts handing out more of our tax dollars?

And how about this Student Loan Forgiveness shit show? I went to college, I have student loans and I’m paying them back. That’s how it works, right? Get a loan, pay it back. Simple. But now every American taxpayer will be paying for an estimated $329 billion in student loans. Many of those taxpayers never went to college, but they’ll be paying for student loans by way of increased taxes.

I seem to remember a presidential candidate running on a platform of “No one making under $400k a year will pay more in taxes.” You’ve heard that somewhere before, right? Joe plans to make the super-rich and the big corporations “pay their fair share.” The problem with that is that the

super-rich pay high dollar accountants and lawyers to protect their money and will gladly go to court to fight it out using the very same laws that our government is responsible for creating. The big corporations don’t actually pay taxes, as I’ve said before. They pass those costs onto you, the consumer, through increased prices for their goods and services, the very same way that your favorite diner passes on their increased overhead to the customer in higher menu prices.

When you consider the current 8.7% (and higher) inflation rate making your dollar worth less (worthless?), the Student Loan Forgiveness, the likelihood of being audited by one of the new IRS agents, the green energy company loans, and the other trillions of dollars in new spending over the last 18 months, it’s impossible to believe that you are not going to be taxed more. So, I ask you… when is it enough? When do We The People have a Tea Party?

By the way, it is worth noting that no one was hurt, and aside from the destruction of the tea and a padlock, no property was damaged or looted during the Boston Tea Party. The participants reportedly swept the ships’ decks clean before they left.

This administration should be so lucky.

David McCoy

- david@thunderroadsiowa.com - Facebook.com/TRMIDave @TRMIDave

Jassie’s Bar & Grill

1905 Commercial Street Waterloo, Iowa 50702

(319) 883-3900

Hours: Mon – Sat 5AM–3PM

On a weekend trip with the kids we decided to head out for a big breakfast at a small mom and pop type diner that had numerous favorable reviews. When we pulled up outside, we knew the reviews we had read must be right, because the place was busy. We headed inside and were greeted by the delicious smells of bacon and pancakes, and of course a friendly waitress who quickly showed us to a table.

We ordered coffee and juice while we checked out the menus. We also watched as the waitresses carried by plates piled high with breakfast classics, hoping that something would catch our eyes and make the final decisions easier. Unfortunately, every plate that passed our table looked more delicious than the last. Our waitress returned to top off our coffee and take our orders; and in short order our plates began to arrive.

Violet ordered the pancake with a side of bacon. Her breakfast arrived and she was impressed. The HUGE fluffy pancake was perfectly cooked and bigger than her head. She topped it with butter that quickly melted into the delicious cake, and a little maple syrup. Her side of bacon was three thick cut and crispy fried pieces of salty goodness that really hit the spot.

Soren chose the biscuits and gravy plate with a side of bacon. Two thick, fluffy biscuits were cut in half and topped with sausage gravy. The gravy was thick and peppery, and perfectly soaked into the tender biscuits. Soren’s bacon was also cooked to crispy perfection and he said the meal was so filling he could barely eat it all.

Vernon ordered the Philly cheesesteak omelet with wheat toast and hash browns.

The fluffy omelet was generously filled with tender steak, sautéed

onions and peppers, and melted cheese. The toast was just the way Vernon likes it, and the hash browns on the side were tender and well-seasoned on the inside and crispy, golden brown on the outside.

My choice for breakfast was the chicken fried steak and eggs. This meal came with a perfectly seasoned and fried steak portion topped with pepper gravy. For my eggs I opted for the scrambled version, which arrived light, fluffy, and delicious next to my steak. Instead of hash browns I chose the home fries, which were thin sliced potatoes, seasoned and fried (a generous enough portion that I could share with everyone). Sourdough toast rounded out the large breakfast platter, which was definitely big enough for sharing.

Jassie’s was a hopping place for breakfast, and our visit proved that they had definitely earned those good reviews we saw online. Friendly staff and amazing food will not disappoint, and we will surely make a repeat visit the next time we are in town. When YOU swing by, make sure to tell them that Thunder Roads Magazine of Iowa sent you!

Until next time!

Melanie J Schwarte

If you have a WRTE location for us to visit, please let me know at Melanie@ thunderroadsiowa.com

What’s the difference between a Greyhound terminal and a lobster with boobs? One is a crusty bus station, and the other is a busty crustacean.

A man is visiting his elderly father in a care home for the first time. The man asks how his father is settling in. “Oh, it’s wonderful son, I’ve made some great friends, I’m well rested and at night the nurses give us a hot chocolate and a Viagra before bed every night”. When, leaving, curious to know about the Viagra, he asks a nurse. “Excuse me, my dad told me that you serve him hot chocolate and a Viagra before bed every night, why?” The nurse replies, “Oh, the hot chocolate is to help them fall asleep.” “And the Viagra is to stop them rolling out of bed”.

What did the hurricane say to the coconut tree? Hold on to your nuts, this ain’t no ordinary blowjob.

Having been playing outside with his friends, a small boy came into the house and asked: “Grandma, what is it called when two people sleep in the same room and one is on top of the other?” His grandma was surprised to hear such a forthright question from a six-year-old but decided to answer as honestly as she could. “Well,” she said hesitantly, “it’s called sexual intercourse.” “Oh, okay,” said the boy and he ran outside to carry on playing with his friends. A few minutes later, he came back in and said angrily: “Grandma, it isn’t called sexual intercourse. It’s called bunk beds. And Jimmy’s mom would like a word with you!”

Why does a woman prefer an old gynecologist over a new one? Because the old one has shaky hands.

A rooster wakes up early Easter Sunday morning. He sticks his head out of the chicken coop, and sees all these multicolored eggs all over the barnyard. He takes a look at the eggs, takes a look at the hens, takes another look at the eggs, takes one more look at the hens, he thinks about it for a minute, then he walks across the barnyard and kicks the shit out of the peacock.

So Dopey and the other seven dwarves go to visit the pope. Doc goes up to the pope and asks, “Pope can you tell me, are there any dwarf nuns in the Vatican?” He thinks for a moment. “No”, he says, “There are no dwarf nuns in the Vatican.” The other dwarves chuckle. “Well can you tell me, are there any dwarf nuns in all of Europe?” The pope thinks for a second, “No, I don’t believe there are any dwarf nuns in Europe.” And the other dwarves start to laugh even harder. Dopey looks upset. “Well can you tell me, are there any dwarf nuns in all the world?” He asks. The pope takes a minute to think. He shakes his head, “No, I don’t believe there are any dwarf nuns in the world.” All of the dwarves burst out laughing and start chanting, “Dopey screwed a penguin! Dopey screwed a penguin!”

What’s the difference between a woman and the refrigerator? The refrigerator doesn’t moan when I put my meat in it. An Italian workman wants a job, but the foreman won’t hire him until he passes a little math test. Here’s your first question,’ the foreman said. ‘Without using numbers, represent the number 9.’ ‘Withouta numbers?’ the Italian says, ‘Datsa easy.’ and he proceeds to draw three trees.

‘What’s this?’ the boss asks. ‘Ave you gotta no brain? Tree and tree and tree makes a nine,’ says the Italian. ‘Fair

enough,’ says the boss. ‘Here’s your second question. Use the same rules, but this time the number is 99.’ The Italian stares into space for a while, then picks up the picture that he has just drawn and makes a smudge on each tree . ‘Ere you go.’ The boss scratches his head and says, ‘How on earth do you get that to represent 99?’ ‘Eacha of da trees is a dirty now. So, it’s dirty tree, and dirty tree, and dirty tree. Datsa a 99.’ The boss is getting worried that he’s going to actually have to hire this Italian, so he says, ‘All right, last question. Same rules again, but represent the number 100.’ The Italian stares into space some more, then he picks up the picture again and makes a little mark at the base of each tree and says, ‘Ere you go. One hundred.’ The boss looks at the attempt. ‘You must be nuts if you think that represents a hundred!’ The Italian leans forward and points to the marks at the base of each tree and says, ‘A little doga come along and shita by eacha tree. So now you gota dirty tree and a turd, dirty tree and a turd, and dirty tree and a turd, data makea one hundred. So, whenna I start?

Here’’s s your .’ ’ d o ?’ ? now. y tree, e The e going to o talian a , cks up p a little ee d ed ’ The

What gets longer if pulled, fits snugly between breasts, slides neatly into a hole, chokes people when used incorrectly, and works well when jerked? A Seatbelt.

The wine taster at an old vineyard died. A homeless guy, looking ragged and dirty, came to apply. He persuaded the manager to give him a try. The guy was given a glass of wine. He swirled, smelled, sipped and spit. “It’s a red wine, Merlot, three years old, grown on the South Slope and matured in oak barrels.” He said. “Impressive,” said the manager. The man is given another. “Still a red wine, Cabernet, eight years old, from the Northeast slope, stored in a steel vat.” The manager was amazed. He winked at his secretary. The secretary understood and brought out a glass of urine. The drunkard tasted it and said. “It’s a blonde, 27 years old, three months pregnant, and if I don’t get this job, I’ll tell who the father is!”

I was walking down the street when I was accosted by a particularly dirty and shabby-looking homeless man who asked me for a couple of dollars for dinner. I took out my wallet, extracted twenty dollars and asked, “If I give you this money, will you buy some beer with it instead of dinner?” “No, I had to stop drinking years ago,” the homeless man replied. “Will you use it to go fishing instead of buying food?” I asked. “No, I don’t waste time fishing,” the homeless man said need to spend all my time trying to stay alive.” “Will you spend this on hunting equipment?” I asked. “Are you Nuts!” replied the homeless man. “I haven’t gone hunting in 20 years!” “Well,” I said, “I’m not going to give you money. Instead, I’m going to take you home for a shower and a terrific dinner cooked by my

wife.” The homeless man was astounded. “Won’t your wife be furious with you for doing that? I replied, “Don’t worry about that. It’s important for her to see what a man looks like after he has given up drinking, fishing and hunting.”

A man was getting a haircut prior to a trip to Rome. He mentioned the trip to the barber, who responded, “Why would anyone want to go there? It’s crowded and dirty and full of Italians. You’re crazy to go to Rome. So, how are you getting there?” “We’re taking United,” was the reply. “We got a great rate!” “United!” exclaimed the barber. “That’s a terrible airline. Their planes are old, their flight attendants are ugly and they’re always late. So, where are you staying in Rome?” “We’ll be at the downtown International Marriott.” “That dump! That’s the worst hotel in Rome. The rooms are small, the service is surly and they’re overpriced. So, whatcha doing when you get there?” “We’re going to go to see the Vatican and we hope to see the Pope.” “That’s rich,” laughed the barber. “You and a million other people trying to see him. He’ll look the size of an ant. Boy, good luck on this lousy trip of yours. You’re going to need it!” A month later, the man again came in for his regular haircut. The barber asked him about his trip to Rome. “It was wonderful,” explained the man. “Not only were we on time in one of United’s brandnew planes, but it was overbooked and they bumped us up to first class. The food and wine were wonderful, and I had a beautiful young stewardess who waited on me hand and foot. And the hotel! Well, it was great! They’d just finished a $25 million remodeling job and now it’s the finest hotel in the city. They were overbooked too, so they apologized and gave us the presidential suite at no extra charge!” “Well,” muttered the barber. “I know you didn’t get to see the Pope.” “Actually, we were quite lucky, for as we toured the Vatican, a Swiss Guard tapped me on the shoulder and explained that the Pope likes to meet some of the visitors, and if I’d be so kind as to step into his private room and wait, the Pope would personally greet me. Sure enough, five minutes later, the Pope walked in. As I knelt down, he spoke to me.” “What did he say?” “He said, ‘Where’d you get this shitty haircut?”

One day a blind man goes to restaurant and the server asked him if he’d like to see the menu. The blind man says: “no, I am blind, just bring me a dirty fork and I will smell it and order”. The server, confused, goes to the kitchen, and brings back a dirty fork. The blind man smells it and says: “I’ll have the beef steak with mash potatoes and gravy and some chocolate brownies for dessert”. The server brings him his food and the blind man enjoys his meal, pays the bill and leaves. Next week, the blind man goes back to the same restaurant. The server recognizes him and wanting to see how good the blind man’s sense of smell is, he goes to the kitchen and asks his wife, Brenda, for a spoon. He instructs his wife, Brenda, to rub the spoon all over her private parts and so she does. The server hands the dirty spoon to the blind man. The blind man takes a whiff and says: “I didn’t know Brenda worked here”.

An elderly couple, who were both widowed, had been going

out with each other for a long time. Urged on by their friends, they decided it was finally time to get married. Before the wedding, they went out to dinner and had a long conversation regarding how their marriage might work. They discussed finances, living arrangements, and so on. Finally, the old gentleman decided it was time to broach the subject of their physical relationship. ‘How do you feel about sex?’ he asked, rather tentatively. ‘I would like it infrequently’ she replied. The old fellow sat quietly for a moment, leaned over towards her and whispered - ‘Is that one word, or two?’

What word is innocent and dirty at the same time? Showerhead.

A kid goes shopping with his mom. He has always wondered about the female anatomy, so he peers under the skirt of a mannequin. But unfortunately, his mom sees him doing it. Whack! She smacks him over the head. “What are you doing, you dirty little boy? There’s nothing in there for you! Women have teeth up there, so if you ever get anywhere near that area, you’ll get bitten!” So, from then on, he believes that women have teeth between their legs. 15 years later and he has his first girlfriend. He has taken her out for dinner and they end up back at her place, kissing and cuddling on the couch. She grabs his hand and starts to rub it between her legs. “Aarrgghhh!! Nooo!!” He leaps off the couch in a panic. “What’s the matter darling?” she asks him. “I don’t want to get bitten! My mother told me about how you women have teeth up there.” No matter how she tries to convince him, he just won’t believe her when she says that she doesn’t have teeth there. “Ok”, she says, “I’ll show you.” So, she strips down and spreads her legs. “There. Now, can you see any teeth?” “No”, he replies, “And I’m not surprised. Look at the condition of your gums!”

Approximately 70 percent of the earth is covered by water. Only 1 percent of this water is drinkable. Therefore 69 is dirty.

A woman has twins and gives them up for adoption. One of them goes to a family in Egypt and is named Amal. The other goes to a family in Spain. They name him Juan. Years later, Juan sends a picture of himself to his birth mother. Upon receiving the picture, she tells her husband that she wishes she also had a picture of Amal. He responds, “They’re twins! If you’ve seen Juan, you’ve seen Amal.”

Little Johnny is returning home from the store swinging a loaf of bread in one hand. His other hand in his pants pocket. Off in the distance, Father Joseph sees little Johnny and considers, “This is a good opportunity to say something from the bible to little Johnny.” Father Joseph approaches little Johnny and says, “I see that you have the Staff of Life in one hand.” “Yep,” replies little Johnny. “And I have a loaf of bread in the other!”

A couple met at Hilton Head and fell in love. They were discussing how they would continue the relationship after their vacations were over. “It’s only fair to warn you, Jody, I’m a golf nut. I live, eat, sleep and breathe golf.” “Well, since you’re being honest, so will I,” she said. “I’m a hooker.” “I see,” said Bill as he thought for a moment. “Well, it’s probably because you’re not keeping your wrists straight when you hit the ball.”

THE NEIGHBOR KID’S TH GRADE GRADUATION

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Since we can’t stop the journey, make the best of it.

Fall is here, Autumn, the changing of the season, the inevitable journey of our mud ball called earth traveling through space at about a thousand miles per hour, tilting back and forth like it does to bring us life and seasons as we know it. While autumn does bring me a bit of melancholy, lamenting the end of the summer season, until I get a few triggers that tell me, “Hey dumbass, summer is over, it’s time for the season of the harvest” but until then, I dream of summer dresses, skimpy halter tops that reveal too much, lazy sunshine filled days where the smell of coconut oil and exhaust treat the senses. I mean, it gets me out of the bed and I hit the ground running.

Summer dresses > Hoodies.

Once I start to see birds gathering to migrate, a whiff of campfire, the combines moving and the harvest getting underway I change gears and while I was holding on for all hope, I embrace the change and love it all. Truth be told, I love firewood, I love cutting and splitting it, stacking it burning it, having a drink around burning wood, a cigar, my brothers all gathered around the flicking of the flames. You know what is great about sitting around with your brothers and a fire? Everything and then some, but also, there can be a long period of time when guys just stare at the fire and don’t say a thing. Not a peep to each other, just losing themselves in the passage of time, the flickers dancing a mesmerizing dance of seduction when we become centered, and in that silence a bond can be formed even tighter. Does it make sense to the ladies? Usually know for we are all fully aware, when men

are silent, our ladies wonder what is wrong. Sure, when the firewater kicks in men may revert to our inner Iron John and dance nekkid around that awesome glow, but until then, when dudes are silent around a fire, souls are healing.

Riding to me is healing. It is for many of us, yes, it’s a great form of transportation, an efficient way to get from point A to point B, and the great thing about riding is leaving from Point A then arriving at Point K or L or X because the direct way isn’t always the best way or the more enjoyable way. But no matter the path, riding can be very healing and some of my favorite riding happens this time of the year (as I have talked about several times over the years on these very same pages). A fall leaf run can cleanse the soul. Pretty simple, find cool roads, find cool towns to hit, clutches out, and ride.

Want a couple of pro tips? Not that I am a professional trip planner, but I have figured out a thing or three over my more than five decades of riding. Wait, what? Shit! Five decades? It might be five decades of riding legally, but have technically riding for over SIX decades which doesn’t sound plausible since I am still pretty damn young and not yet 60. But I got my first two wheeled ride, a Red Fox Mini Bike in the spring of 1974. Holy shit, is that right? 19 freaking 74? It was Easter, I was 6 1/2 and it’s weird I can still remember that very first ride with clarity that is mind-blowing since I normally can’t recall where I was last Tuesday let alone where I left my bike keys. (Dammit they are on the key hook, right?

They are supposed to be, that is why I have the damn place to keep my keys, the hooks by the door but they aren’t there AGAIN, why have that damn key hook unless you are going to put them back there! Oh, wait…they were just in my other pocket, all good).

Pro tips. That is where I was headed, but don’t ever forget, I have endured a great deal of head trauma over the years, shit come and goes once in a while.

Pro Tip 1) Always bring warmer clothes than the forecast calls for when autumn riding is blessed upon you. Sure, it might be sunny and 76 degrees and a t-shirt or light articles might be all you need to you depart for the day but when the sun sets, it will cool down and cool down quickly. Riding when shivering is never a pro move and can led to making dumb choices, find a way to have warm gear ready and DO NOT overlook making sure you have gloves and a hat, sure you could sport a helmet, you do you homie, but just know it’s going to get colder than when you started the day.

Pro Tip 2) Those amazing country roads, high ways and byways that offer us great riding, majestic views, connections to our incredible small town American bars, taverns, dives, restaurants, Stop N Robs and more were NOT made for us riders, they were contrasted to move goods, services and products from the farm to the market. You WILL run into a tractor, a grain wagon, a slow-moving truck, a combine and it may tie you up, Calm Your Tits, they are way more important than you right now, they are feeding the world and have a small window to get shit done, your burger will be there when you arrive. Respect the road, respect our farmers, and be safe. They are doing what they need to do, proceed with caution and wave, they are friendly, they will wave back.

Pro Tip 3) You will see deer. See above, combines and harvest get deer moving at all times of the day, plus, depending on the time of the year come fall, deer gotta do what deer gotta due, just like you and me, they are getting horny and when they do, they don’t make the best decisions. None of us do, so anticipate them, they are moving.

Pro Tip 4) When it’s mid-week, you’re on the couch, in the man cave, bored at work and want to start planning a quick weekend ride, use the ride planner, there are several, Harley’s is great. See where other people have been in your area, learn back roads, great views, and more, they are pretty slick! I have learned about roads in my area I used to overlook or didn’t know what bitchin options were around me.

The Final Pro Tip) and I am only saying the fancy because I know what kind of space I have to work with but I am going to merge a couple of quick points. Find out what small towns in your area have fall harvest events going on. Whatever it may be, there is usually one not far from wherever you live! They are a blast, the food will be good and while you’re planning your ride, stop into your local dealers on a Saturday, Big Barn in Des Moines, Heartland in Burlington, HD of Carroll or Loess Hills HD south of Council Bluffs. It’s a bit slower most days now, the new models are rolling in, you can check shit out, grab a shirt, sometimes a refreshment or whatever. The very last thing, take pictures, post pictures, life is too short not to capture pictures and share them, show the world what a kick ass lifestyle motorbikes are and what kick ass people we are, more people need to see that for sure, plus, bikers are pretty.

Get out and ride, you will make more memories on a Saturday in the fall on the bike than just about anything else you will do.

Todd “Crash” Davis

Letter TO the Editor: How to Save the

“Biker” Way of Life

Biker traditions are dying.

Over the past few years, biker events in the Midwest (with few exceptions) have dwindled.

Biker organizations, such as A.B.A.T.E. have watched numbers trending downwards as an aging membership looks to the next generation.

“It just doesn’t seem like anyone is interested in this life anymore,” is a comment I’ve heard repeatedly.

So how do we interest the younger generations in the biker world?

First, let’s look at a few reasons why young adults aren’t in the biker life.

1. The departure of the middle class.

Owning property and gaining wealth through equity used to be the path to the middle class in this country. It isn’t attainable for many people these days, though.

Millennials and zoomers are struggling to pull together finances to buy their first home while banks push towards rental companies instead of single-buyer homes, seeking the unending profits of renting your home to you.

What does this have to do with bikes?

Simply put; a motorcycle is a middle-class boat.

It isn’t a necessity, but it is a prominent symbol of a chosen lifestyle.

With the divide growing between poor and wealthy, the end of luxury expenses (such as purchasing a motorcycle) continues to grow as well.

2. Prohibitive pricing.

When was the last time you saw new Harley-Davidson Motorcycles going for under $15,000?

If you want to attract new bikers, you can’t price them out. We already know people will shell out over $1,000 for the latest piece of tech (such as new iPhones), the question is whether you can put a motorcycle on equal footing financially. Harley-Davidson needs to build a $5,000 motorcycle, not another $30,000 cruiser. Until they’re willing to do that, many brands have priced themselves out of younger generations entirely. We’re seeing a rising trend of sport bikes (cheaper to pick up) instead.

3. Technology.

Why do you need tech when you’re on a bike?

Community.

There have been few technological advances in the biker world, but a majority carry a smart phone now. It’s time to take advantage of social media and use it to connect us across the world.

Right now, it’s not easy to find biker organizations online, and most of what you can find is badly outdated. It makes recruitment that much more difficult.

Now that we’ve laid out a few of the problems, let’s explore some solutions:

1. End Brand Discrimination

I don’t care if you ride a Harley or a Yamaha, the days of brand loyalty to billion-dollar companies are fading. It’s time to accept that some people prefer foreign bikes to cruisers. Openly ridiculing the younger generations for their preference for sport bikes pushes them away. If nothing

else, the pricing of sport bikes and their resultant popularity with the younger generations should be a lesson for our established American icon motorcycle companies. It’s time to welcome all riders with open arms.

2. Scholarships for Young Bikers

A pilot program for this is currently forming in ABATE of Minnesota, pending approval. The idea is simple; use profits from the gambling division of ABATE to fund a set number of scholarships each year that are given out to youngsters (16-21 years of age) looking to become licensed bikers. Then get contact information from them and invite them to events.

This helps welcome young bikers into our community from the start, letting them know that we’re here to support them from their first through their final ride.

3. New Music

Listen, I love Led Zeppelin covers as much as the next guy, but they don’t draw a crowd anymore. Nostalgia only works if everyone was there for the original event, and the younger generations have no clue who most of these bands are covering.

It’s time to grab fresh music and diversify out of classic rock (Country, Rap, Metal, Alternative, and EDM are all genres largely left alone at these events).

4. Youth Leadership Positions in Biker Organizations

Kids in high school are looking for extra curriculars to fill out their college resumes. Kids in college, for something unique to make their work resume stand out. These kids –leaders - are who we need in our community. Giving them a prominent role in our organizations is an important part of that. The fresh ideas of youth to supplement those of our long-time leaders will reinvigorate our biker organizations and way of life.

5. Modernize Online Presence

It’s time to embrace an omni-channel approach. That means we establish and stay active across all prominent social media platforms, and our websites get a facelift. If you want to recruit the youth, you have to meet them where they’re at (which is overwhelmingly online).

6. End Partisan Politics at Biker Events

Everybody has the right to support their causes, but we need to focus on what matters to young bikers at these events: Community and tolerance. We aren’t here to argue about what the president did, we’re here to celebrate the biker life and find camaraderie.

Why does this matter?

Losing organizations such as ABATE will eventually end with motorcycles going extinct. If you think you don’t need ABATE, go check out legislation regarding your fuel pumps. Now imagine what happens if we lose the single most prominent entity fighting to retain our ability to fill our tanks.

If we do not band together as a community once more and move into a modern age of new traditions in the biker world, we will surely fall separately.

Freedom comes at a price. The price is effort, tolerance and community. It’s understanding that we need each other to survive.

Speak truth to power, Ginger Jonathan@TheBikerLawyers.com

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