Thunder Roads New York Magazine - March 2010
Thunder Roads New York Magazine - March 2010
Thunder Roads New York Magazine - March 2010
TO ALL OUR BRAVE, PROUD TROOPS... YOU’RE IN OUR THOUGHTS & PRAYERS DAILY. God Speed You Home.
As a “fair weather rider” getting out on a cold winter morning is tough enough, but to ride my bike in it is beyond the call. However, duty called. When I
cranked the Harley and headed to Cox Transportation in Ashland, it was 21 degrees. Now I know that some of you “hard cores” are going to laugh but it was
cold. However, I was somewhat prepared with a heated vest and gloves and they made the cold ride tolerable.
I headed up Rt. 95 to Cox Transportation in Ashland, VA.
John and Dottie Cox always have coffee and donuts to warm up
the riders before we head out. The wreaths have been loaded
onto the trailer and Cox driver/trainer, Tom Enroughty, is ready
to ride. Tom has the route mapped and police escorts set up.
The big tractor trailer starts out with 125 bikes escorting it. We
headed South on 95 into Richmond and laid a wreath at the
Virginia War Memorial. We then proceeded to Richmond City
Hall and laid a wreath there. Now we head for the Richmond
National Cemetery.
People have started gathering. There were Vets from all the
services, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, Junior ROTC units, Franklin Military Academy provided the Honor Guard and had their entire school unit there also. The
highlight of our program was guest speaker, Dr. E. Bruce Heilman, Chancellor of the University of Richmond. Dr. Heilman is 83 years old, a WWII Veteran
and is one of the most distinguished gentlemen I have ever met. Dr. Heilman just finished an 8000 mile trip across America and back on his Harley-Davidson
Ultra. He quoted Abraham Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address in a way I have never heard and was very well received by everyone there. We were truly honored
by this gentleman.
We were there to honor our Veterans. The Wreaths Across America motto is “Remember Honor and Teach”. Remember the fallen, honor those who
serve, and teach the children the value of freedom. In ceremonies all over the country, Wreaths Across America calls everyone to pause for just a few minutes
and think about the high price paid for the freedoms we enjoy in this country. Freedom has never, nor will it ever be free. The price of freedom can be seen on
white stone markers all over the world and in the eyes of those fought so gallantly. America owes it’s Veterans a debt of gratitude that is not always reflected
by the very ones they fought to protect. I saw a sign that said, “If you can read this, thank a teacher. If you can read it in English, thank a Vet”. Think about it.
Rev R.J.(Rocky)Angone,Jr
Jeff Merritt
Director, Eastern Shore Chapter
Harley Owners Group, Coordinator, Operation We Care
410-713-8940 (cell)
S.C. SUPREME COURT HEARS MYRTLE BEACH HELMET LAWSUITS The MIC reports monthly sales of most major motorcycle manufacturers,
South Carolina’s highest court heard oral arguments Wednesday, February including: BMW, Harley-Davidson, Buell, Honda, Kawasaki, KTM, Triumph,
3 over whether a city can require motorcycle riders to wear helmets, despite Yamaha, Suzuki, Victory, and the Piaggio Group. The MIC also creates
the lack of a state law requiring the practice. State law doesn’t require riders estimates on all non-reporting manufacturers.
21 and older to wear helmets, but in an effort to get rid of two bike rallies
held there each year, the Myrtle Beach city council voted unanimously in With non-reporting sales included, the total sales for 2008 was 1.1 million
2008 to pass 15 ordinances intended to dissuade bikers from coming to town, according to the MIC, and though last year’s total hasn’t been tabulated yet, it
including the controversial mandatory helmet law for motorcycle riders and is expected that 2009 will break a six-year streak of sales above the 1 million
passengers of all ages. mark.
Justices peppered an attorney for the city with questions over what they The biggest drop in sales occurred in the scooter category. Scooters boomed
seemed to view as the intent of the ordinance -- not to make Myrtle Beach’s in 2008 as gas prices reached record highs.
roads safer for bikers, as had been argued, but to drive the bike rallies away
from the Grand Strand. As the economy begins to stabilize again, the MIC predicts that motorcycle
sales will begin to increase.
Representing his brother Bart, who leads a pro-bike rally group of business-
owners and is challenging a ticket he received for not wearing a helmet, TENNESSEE “LEMON LAW” MAY SOON INCLUDE MOTORCYCLES
State Representative Thad Viers argued to the five justices that a state law Tennessee’s “Lemon Law” may soon be extended to include motorcycles, if
governing traffic ordinances spells out what local governments are allowed to the legislature takes action on a measure sponsored by Representative Vince
do regarding traffic laws. Viers filed more than 30 pages of briefs containing Dean, of East Ridge.
multiple sections supporting his various legal arguments against the city
helmet ordinance. Dean says motorcycle buyers should have the same rights as people buying
cars and trucks that don’t perform properly. He says any mechanical and
But Virginia-based A.I.M. Attorney (Aid to Injured Motorcyclists)Tom McGrath, structural problems can be more dangerous for motorcycle riders.
who argued before the court representing 49 helmet law protesters who were
ticketed, filed a much shorter brief, saying, among other things, that most of The measure moved forward in a House Committee in early February, and
the arguments don’t matter because the city’s ordinance is at odds with state a companion bill is awaiting consideration in the Senate Transportation
law, and for that reason alone it should be tossed out. Committee.
It’s illegal to profile minorities, it should be illegal to profile motorcycle riders, Use of motorcycle helmets has been on the rise nationally, according to the
the bikers said. The Washington State Patrol uses a training brochure called National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), which reported that
“Basic Biker 101” that starts with the statement “Bikers are dangerous” and 67% of motorcyclists wore a helmet in 2009, compared to just 48% in 2005.
gives instructions on how to gather information about them during traffic stops,
according to David Devereaux of the Outsiders Motorcycle Club. To further SAVE THE DATE - MAY 6-9, NCOM CONVENTION
substantiate their claims of harassment, Devereaux said that when bikers The 25th annual NCOM Convention will be held Mother’s Day weekend, May
showed up en masse last year their annual “Black Thursday” lobbying day to 6-9, 2010 at the Orlando Airport Marriott, 7499 Augusta National Dr., Orlando,
find sponsors for the anti-profiling bill, state troopers surreptitiously took down Florida. This annual gathering will draw bikers’ rights activists from across the
all their license plate numbers. country to discuss topics of concern to all motorcyclists, so reserve your room
now for the special NCOM rate of $89.00 by calling (800) 380-6751.
Next, the bill goes over to the Senate for consideration and will be assigned to
a hearing committee, most likely Judiciary. Meetings, seminars and group discussions will focus on safety issues, legal
rights, legislative efforts and litigation techniques to benefit our right to ride and
“This has been a very good year for ABATE of Washington and the US Freedom of the Road.
Defenders of Washington,” said Landsman. “We have worked together to
make this happen, and are truly on the same page.” Registration fees for the 25th Annual NCOM Convention are $75 including the
Silver Spoke Awards Banquet on Saturday night, or $40 for the Convention
OREGON RIDERS CONVERGE ON CAPITOL only. To pre-register, call the National Coalition of Motorcyclists at (800) 525-
Motorcycle club members, independent riders and even non-riders alike 5355 or visit www.ON-A-BIKE.com.
came together in solidarity in Portland to protect rights specific to bikers. The
first “call to action” by the US Defenders motorcycle group brought out over QUOTABLE QUOTE
70 bikes to the Oregon State Capitol recently, making a positive statement “For the saddest epitaph which can be carved in memory of a vanished
of unity between clubs and independent riders. Quiet Mike, the Information liberty is that it was lost because its possessors failed to stretch forth a
Officer for US Defenders said he was pleased with the show of bikes, “It was saving hand while yet there was time.”
an excellent turnout, the most motorcyclists we’ve had here for a long time.”
U.S. Supreme Court Justice George Sutherland (1862- 1942)
NCOM
individual states to implement and support motorcycle rights. The grass roots
organization is supported through the Confederations of Clubs across the
country, and is composed of state “citizen biker manpower” from Motorcycle
Clubs and Coalition of Independent Riders (C.O.I.R) representatives.
National Coalition of Motorcyclists
www.thunderroads-NY.com MARCH 2010 Thunder Roads NEW YORK 23
A trucker came into a truck stop cafe and placed his order. He The first surgeon, from New York, says,” I like to see
said, “I want three flat tires, a pair of headlights and pair of accountants on my operating table because when you open
running boards.” them up, everything inside is numbered.”
The brand new blonde waitress, not wanting to appear stupid, The second, from Chicago, responds, “Yeah, but you should try
went to the kitchen and said to the cook, “This guy out there electricians! Everything inside them is color coded.”
just ordered three flat tires, a pair of headlights and a pair of The third surgeon, from Dallas, says, “No, I really think librarians
running boards. What does he think this place is, an auto parts are the best, everything inside them is in alphabetical order.”
store?” The fourth surgeon, from Los Angeles chimes in: “You know,
“No,” the cook said. “Three flat tires mean three pancakes, I like construction workers. Those guys always understand
a pair of headlights is two eggs sunny side up and running when you have a few parts left over.”
boards are 2 slices of crisp bacon.” But the fifth surgeon, from Washington, DC, shut them all up
“Oh, OK!” said the blonde. She thought about it for a moment when he observed: “You’re all wrong. Politicians are the easiest
and then spooned up a bowl of beans and gave it to the to operate on. There’s no guts, no heart, no balls, no brains,
customer. and no spine. Plus, the head and the ass are interchangeable.”
The trucker asked, “What are the beans for, Blondie?”
She replied, “I thought while you were waiting for the flat tires, I finally got around to going fishing this mornin’ - but after a
headlights and running boards, you might as well gas up!” while, I ran out of worms.
Then I saw a cottonmouth with a frog in his mouth, and frogs
After being married for 44 years, I took a careful look at my are good bass bait.
wife one night and said, “Darling, 44 years ago we had a cheap Knowing the snake couldn’t bite me with the frog in his mouth,
apartment, a cheap car, slept on a sofa bed and watched a 10- I grabbed him right behind the head,
inch black and white t.v., but I got to sleep every night with a took the frog and put it in my bait bucket.
smokin’ hot 20-year-old girl. Now, I have a $500,000. home, a Now the dilemma was how to release the snake without getting
$45,000.00 car, a comfy King size Sleep Number bed and LED/ bitten -
high-def/60 inch Flat-screen., but I’m sleeping with a 65-year- I grabbed my bottle of Jack Daniels and poured a little whiskey
old woman. It seems to me that she was not holding up her in its mouth.
side of things.” His eyes rolled back & he went limp. I released him into the lake
My wife is a very reasonable woman. With no hesitation without incident, and carried on my fishing,
whatsoever, she gently encouraged me to go out and find the A little later, I felt a nudge on my foot. There was that same
hottest 20-year-old gal possible, and she would make damn damn snake with TWO frogs in his mouth.
sure that I would once again be living in a cheap apartment,
driving a cheap car, sleeping on a sofa bed and watching a 10- One morning, before he goes out to the fields, the farmer says
inch black and white t.v. to his sweet, albeit ditzy blonde young wife, “The Artificial
I truly believe the ability to compromise is the reason we’ve Insemination man is coming to impregnate one of our cows
lasted so long. (sigh) today. I drove a nail into the two-by-four above the cow’s stall
so you can show him where it is, okay?”
A couple had been married for 50 years. The Artificial Insemination man arrives. Suzy takes him down
They were sitting at the breakfast table one morning when the the long row of cows until she sees the nail, and tells him, “This
wife says, ‘Just think, fifty years ago we were sitting here at this is the one. This one right here!”
breakfast table together.’ “How did you know this is the cow to be bred?” the A.I. guys
‘I know,’ the old man said. ‘We were probably sitting here naked asks curiously to the ditzy cute blonde.
as a jaybird fifty years ago..’ “By the nail over her stall,” Suzy says proudly.
‘Well,’ Granny snickered. ‘Let’s relive some old times.’ Then the man asks, “What’s the nail for?”
Where upon, the two stripped to the buff and sat down at the Well, duh, I reckon’ it’s to hang your pants on.”
table.
‘You know, honey,’ the little old lady breathlessly replied, ‘My A man bumps into a woman in a hotel lobby and as he does, his
nipples are as hot for you today as they were fifty years ago.’ elbow goes into her breast.
‘I wouldn’t be surprised,’ replied Gramps. ‘One’s in your coffee They are both quite startled.
and the other is in your oatmeal. The man turns to her and says, ‘Ma’am, if your heart is as soft
as your breast, I know you’ll forgive me.’
Five surgeons from big cities are discussing who makes the She replies, ‘If your penis is as hard as your elbow, I’m in room
best patients to operate on. 227.
24 Thunder Roads NEW YORK MARCH 2010
BMW RECALLS 4500 MOTORCYCLES
BMW is recalling 4500 motorcycles due to a possible stalling
condition. Certain model years 2008 and 2010 F650 GS and
F800 GS motorcycles manufactured between January 2008
and December 2009.
According to the recall notice released by the National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration, during engine operation, a vacuum is created in order to draw
fresh air into a canister. This air then mixes with the fuel vapors captured by the
canister, and is subsequently combusted. Due to the routing of the ventilation
hose, water near the end of the hose could be drawn into the charcoal canister,
causing a stalling condition that increases the risk of a crash.
Dealers will inspect and add an additional hose, routing it so the present defect
is prevented. This will be performed by BMW technicians free of charge. Owners
may contact BMW at 1-201-307-4000.
Dom Mazza
Lighthouse Harley Owners Group
HOG Director
Bill Voltaggio
unloads boxes
of books
HOG member Dom Mazza helps Sagamore Staff Member Frank Craporatta
sort books
“We’ve passed a major milestone in getting commitments from such a large and Lichter will also take individual portraits of riders and motorcycles at the ride start
very high-quality field of vintage bikes along with many, many riders who are well- point. He has assignments with international publications, including Scandinavian
known in the vintage and French magazines, as well as domestic publications (go to www.lichterphoto.
com for more information).
motorcycle world,” Isam said. “And having Michael Lichter on board is a major
coup; we’re very excited. Michael is well known as the premiere motorcycle life- Isam reported that registration for the Motorcycle Cannonball is closed, with 70
style photographer of our era. His participation is an honor and guarantees that official paid
Motorcycle Cannonball will be well documented with the utmost professionalism.” entrants and a small waiting list of riders who may be added later. The 17-day
Motorcycle and commercial photography assignments have taken Lichter event starts in
across North America, Europe, and Asia. He has published over 1,000 articles Kitty Hawk, NC on Friday, September 10 and terminates 3,325 miles later on
on motorcycling and custom bikes. He has also photographed annual reports, Sunday, September 26 in Santa Monica, CA. The event has drawn entries from
product photography, advertising, brochures, posters, and has worked for around the world and all walks of life, including motorcycle museum owners,
commercial clients, including Indian Motorcycles, Wiley-X Sunglasses, Harley- authors, bike collectors and restorers. Complete information about the Motorcycle
Davidson, and Nikon Cameras. Lichter has recently exhibited photography in Cannonball, including route details and some rider profiles, is available at www.
public institutions, including solo shows at 15 galleries and museums. He has motorcyclecannonball.com.
been featured in photography, motorcycling and other magazines as well as