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GREETING FROM THE STURGIS MOTORCYCLE MUSEUM– One of the exhibits we’ve had on display for the last six to eight months is an exhibit about Motorcycle Clubs. As part of the exhibit, we had a number of vests with patches representing a variety of clubs. Unfortunately, the owner of those patches has reclaimed his collection. We’re in the process of trying to rebuild the display and are looking for clubs that might be interested.
The idea of this exhibit is to educate the public about the history of motorcycling and present a fair-minded representation of motorcycle clubs in their many forms. I’d like to rebuild the exhibit with themed sections to display, including women’s clubs, family oriented clubs, law enforcement clubs and veterans clubs.
Here’s what I’m looking for:
First choice would be a jacket or vest with the club colors on it that we could have on loan at the museum for a time period of one to two years. Second choice, just the patch itself (no vest or jacket). If we can’t get an actual vest or patch, I’d be interested in a 8.5 X 11 high resolution photo of same that we could display.
Along with the colors of the club, I’d also like to include a brief description of the club, including one paragraph describing the club – year founded, common bond, etc. All colors on display would be in locked cases and the Sturgis Motorcycle Museum & Hall of Fame has security cameras in operation 24 hours a day.
If your club is interested in being represented in this exhibit, please contact me by email at Thanks. BIKERNET FREE DOOR PRIZES GIVEN AWAY CONSTANTLY– Just wanted to drop you a line and say “Thanks” for the great stuff. Got home from work on Thursday, saw a box by the front door, found out I had “won”. Nice surprise on a cold and shitty day here in Oklahoma. Love your site, you tell it like it is, keep looking out for the average rider and provide great articles. Been a fan a long time. Again, thanks for the stuff and a great motorcycle website, –Danny Jones NEW NEW 360 Brake AT V-TWIN EXPO–Stop by our Booth #4225 on the 3rd floor at the V-Twin Expo to check out the NEW 360 Brake We’ll be ready to answer all of your questions! The objectives for redesigning the new 360 Brake were widening the safety margin, increased braking capacity, and simplifying installation process. With these objectives met, Dale Needleman and his team are anxious to release their new design to the industry. “We’ll have our 360 Brake mounted on some awesome bikes from Russell Marlowe’s Custom Cycles and Tom Kapp’s Purple Haze from Art In Motion as well as the individual brake and components for your evaluation,” states Needleman, “so put us on your list of Must See while you’re in Cincy!” –360 Brake EMT & MOTORCYCLE ACCIDENT CONCERNS–Vicki is concerned about the lack of training EMT’s get specific to motorcycle crashes. She is also concerned that the right’s community has been harping on crash avoidance instead of injury reduction that they are overlooking the many aspects of injury reduction. Certainly, we do not agree with NHTSA that wearing a helmet is primary to injury reduction. But there are many facets to this and why shouldn’t bikers demand both crash avoidance and injury reduction. Proper training of bystanders and EMT professionals could have a very beneficial impact on survival rates and outcomes. Vicki is doing great work in that area. Hey, have you been talking anymore with House of Harley about an appearance during the 105th Anniversary? There were interested in you, Valerie Thompson and the Assalt Weapan. I think Mike Hupy might contribute to some of the expenses to help sponsor you here. I’ll talk to him if you’re still interested. It’s going to be a good event, and the entertainment is 100% better than the 100th Anniversary. –Pan NEW HORRIFYING LAW DUE TO PASS IN AUSTRALIA–By 2009, your motorcycle is likely to have a front numberplate, even though most of the rest of the world manages without them. That’s the result of a draft regulatory impact statement authored by Vic Roads, the traffic authority for the Australian state of Victoria. The organization has been working on the issue at the behest of a national council of transport ministers. Testing of prototype plates has been completed and a final design for the laser-cut plastic identifiers, which are the same size as current rear plates, has been arrived at. Three main types of mounting have been identified: adhesive fixing to a fairing or windscreen, bracket mounting above or below the headlight, and unspecified custom mounts. Estimated respective costs are $25, $70 and up to $150. It is expected that state road registration authorities will bear the cost of the plates for the 540,000 registered bikes nationally which will need to be retro-fitted, but not for the mounting. New bikes will be charged for the cost. Vic Roads estimates the initial fit-out of the national fleet will cost $22.1 million in 2009, $13.5 million of which will be covered by road authorities and the remainder of which will be borne by owners. An additional $10 million is expected to be spent on a national propaganda campaign to support the move. The report claims there will be a 2-4 per cent reduction in motorcycle road trauma as a result of the change, mostly due to a reduction in speeding because of the increased chance of being nabbed by a speed camera. It also claims that approximately 49 per cent of motorcycles detected speeding are currently not identified because of the lack of front numberplate. Few countries in the world (India and Singapore are among them) currently use front plates. Web: –By Guy Allen HELMET HAIR MAGAZINE. COM DELIVERS THE NEWS ABOUT WOMEN RIDERS–TOP TEN: Female Celebrity Moto Riders Ever wonder which female celebrities share our love for two-wheels? HH reveals singers, movie and TV stars that aren’t afraid to get their motors running.Plus so much more including featured artist, http://www.helmethairmagazine.com/featuredArtist-January2008.htm Pamela Shanteau, and don’t miss our interview with Kimmy Cradler, a BMW bike mechanic with a big dream to make a big jump. FROM THE FATBOB FILES–This is now 2008. Me with the old girl, I always dug the 37 flathead that was in Early Riders, it was also in Bob Ts pics, must have been one of your bros. I always wanted an old original sled when I was young, but hell you know we were lucky to have one. I remember waiting for income tax to pick up my engine from Lake Shore H-D. Carl Allen is the wrench and if he goes to fucking Kmart Ill have them done there. He built the Warner Riley Sportster engine. He’s been at Lake Shore for about 33 years. He was around Leo Payne in Cal years ago. Bikernet was a brain storm, Dale Walksler told me websites are the future. I guess he was right. –FATBOB PERSIANS ATTEMPT TO ASSASSINATE BIKERNET CORRESPONDENT IN WEST HOLLYWOOD– You know what they say about little things making big differences. Like stopping to buy a bathroom rug. If I hadn’t and just kept on going to the gym I wouldn’t have ended kissing the pavement fairly hard when a brand new Lotus zoomed a left turn in the intersection in front of me. As I was doing my Evel Knievel act the Lotus kept on going, then stopped a block a way for a couple seconds then took off. My BMW went down on the left side, the big jugs acting as safety bars and I got my leg out and hit on my right side at my lower back and hip. Needless to say traffic on Wilshire just kept on going around me. Amazing. Fortunately a group of people in a SUV behind me saw the thing go down and came to the rescue. They called the cops after going after the Lotus that had circled around the block and parked, watching me in the road. The SUV people, a mom and four teen-agers went up to the car and id’ed them as two Persians in a car with no license plate but there was a dealers plate, Beverly Hills Sports Cars. The Lotus took off when they witnesses it. Hard to hide a brand new yellow Lotus. Being Persians they also hang out in the Westwood UCLA area and probably won’t be hard to fine. And I’ll be checking at the car dealership. The cops said they’d be looking as well and told me to contact them I find anything out. Of course I’m waiting for the pain to make itself known when I wake up. I did feel click clacking in my vertebrae and lost some skin on my forearm but limbs and head intact. The witnesses thought I had done myself in, apparently I make significant impact, but I did my relaxation thing and didn’t stiffen up so was able to limp away. My bike got plenty of scrapes and dents but I was able to ride it home. I have insurance although, Geico has to check since I didn’t impact the car so they call it a “Ghost Car” instead of technically a hit and run altho the cops call it a hit and run. They did a report, etc and the Paramedics gave me a choice of going to the hospital or not. I didn’t want to leave my bike so I rode it home and took some Alleve. It doesn’t hurt too much if I don’t move. Just now, and it’s past one, the woman from Russ Brown’s office called me as I had left a message earlier, in case I need an attorney. I can’t believe she called me. Incredible. She’s going to call back in the morning when Russ is in and I figure out about the doctor thing. If I go to my doctor he’ll just send me all over the place to get x-rays and stuff, so I might just go the UCLA emergency room and do the whole thing there. But in any case, I was way lucky, although dealing with this is nothing I need at the moment. Fortunately my fingers still work. Talk to you later. GPG V-TWIN EXPO NEWS–The V-Twin Expo will feature around 1,000 aftermarket vendor booths, motorcycle shops and dealers from all over the world, great industry seminars and a few surprises at the “Excellence In Motorcycle” Awards on Saturday night. –Dave Nichols NEW CHROME FLUSH-MOUNT FUEL CAP AND GAUGE KIT– Add Smooth, Custom Styling to Many Harley-Davidson Models. MILWAUKEE (Dec. 21, 2007) – The new Chrome Flush-Mount Fuel Cap and Gauge Kit ($198.95) from Harley-Davidson Genuine Motor Accessories combines a pop-up fuel filler that when installed and sealed looks identical to the flush fuel gauge. With a simple push the fuel filler cap pops up to be twisted off by the rider. The flush fuel gauge features individual LED lamps that shine through a mirror-coated glass that glows when the ignition is switched on. A photocell automatically adjusts LED brightness for improved visibility in direct sunlight, and dims at night to avoid distraction. Complete kit includes fuel cap, fuel gauge, trim ring, and plug-in wiring harness. Chrome Flush-Mount Fuel Cap and Gauge Kits are available for 2008 Road King, most 2008 Softail, and many 2004-later Dyna models. See dealer for fitment details. For additional information on Harley-Davidson Genuine Motor Accessories, see your local Harley-Davidson dealer or visit the Harley-Davidson Web site at www.harley-davidson.com. To find a dealer near you, call toll free 1-800-443-2153 in the U.S.A. or Canada. THE MASTER ARTIST/DESIGNER MOVES TO NEW LOCATION–The talented artist, designer and also a rider, Peter Oropeza prints many of the 5-Ball Racing and Bikernet banners and stickers. He recently moved his operation to a much more user friendly location.”I’m up and running with the phones & e-mails.” Said Peter Oropeza, the President of Di Oro Graphix and apparel. “My new address is 8152 Firestone Blvd.inside the second floor.” If you need stickers or banners printed quick, he has the capabilities. He is also a fine artist, illustrator and designers, for logo, T-shirt and apparel design needs. Good people. –Mr. Pete TEXAS-SIZE COLLECTION OF CLASSIC AUTOMOBILES AND MEMORABILIA TO MAKE AUCTION DEBUT–(CHATHAM, Ontario – January 29, 2008) – The focus of the collector car world will shift to Fort Worth, Texas in April as RM Auctions proudly presents the private collection of Mr. Wayne Davis. Tentatively scheduled for April 19, 2008, this exciting no-reserve sale will offer some 90 classic automobiles, as well as 50 lots of automotive-themed memorabilia, in Davis’ hometown of Fort Worth, Texas. A lifelong auto enthusiast, Davis first joined the car industry after high school. At the age of 23, he began his own restoration shop, “Thunderbirds Etc”, first concentrating on 1955-1957 Thunderbirds before turning his hand to also focus on prewar classics, popular American marques from the 1940s and 1950s, and custom and street rods. Armed with an unwavering passion for the industry, an intimate knowledge of mechanics and high attention to detail – as reflected in his the motto, “My cars run as good as they look”- Davis carved a reputation for setting world-record prices at national collector car auctions. Since 1995, he has balanced his restoration hobby with working as President of Regency Conversions in Fort Worth, Texas – the company he eventually bought in 2004 and recently sold. This April, as Davis prepares to embark on retirement, he is offering the collector world a rare opportunity to purchase the cars that have brought him so much joy over the years. Assembled over the past two decades, Davis’ impressive collection reflects his ardor for the great American cars of the ’30s, ’40s, ’50s and ’60s, as well as featuring various custom and street rods. The collection also includes a number of early Cadillacs from the ’40s and ’50s. “All have been carefully maintained, with many having undergone expensive restorations,” says Davis in describing their condition. Highlights of the auction line-up include a highly coveted “Triple Crown”, comprising of a low-production 1953 Cadillac Eldorado Convertible, often described as the most beautiful and special American car builtin the fifties; a rare 1953 Buick Skylark Convertible; and a 1953 Oldsmobile Fiesta Convertible, regarded as a “dream car” at the time of introduction. The collection also includes an extremely rare 1963 Ghia, one of only 26 examples produced; a handsome 1957 Dual Ghia, at it’s prime regarded as a “Hollywood icon” due to is popularity with celebrities (including the likes of Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin); and a custom one-off 1947 Cadillac Limousine “Woodie”. For those with a penchant for country music, the auction line-up also features a 1957 Chevrolet Convertible, formerly owned by American country star, Alan Jackson; he reportedly bought the car when he hit the “big time”. The memorabilia collection is just as diverse with many fascinating finds. Amongst a host of special automotive themed collectibles is an original 30 foot neon Cadillac script sign from the late 1940s. The Wayne Davis Collection event marks the first time that virtually all of Davis’ cars have been offered at public auction, presenting various unique ownership opportunities for discerning collectors and making this one sale you will not want to miss. For further information on the sale of this magnificent private collection, visit BRUCE ON CELL PHONE USE LAWS– …the Governors Highway Safety Association notes that despite the dozens of laws in place and hundreds of bills proposed, “No state completely bans all types of cell phone use (handheld and hands-free) while driving.” In other words, most cell bans apply only to hand-held devices, and contain loopholes that allow the conversations–and therefore the distraction–to continue using hands-free technology. As I have stated before, it is the conversation, and not the device, that creates the distraction. Here is what the Center for Auto Safety’s Executive Director Clarence Ditlow said in his January 2007 letter to NHTSA’s Nicole Nason: “Research has consistently shown that operating a motor vehicle while talking on a cell phone–whether hand-held or hands-free–increases the risk of an accident to three to four times the experience of attentive drivers. The general consensus of the scientific community is that there is little, if any, difference in crash rates involving hands-free versus hand-held cell phones. The two-way conversation on a cellular phone, not the task of holding the phone, causes a cognitive distraction. This distraction induces ‘inattention blindness,’ inhibiting drivers’ abilities to detect change in road conditions.” Despite the incontrovertible evidence that remote conversations on hands-free devices are just as distracting–and therefore just as dangerous–as those conveyed via hand-held units, legions of unenlightened legislators from coast to coast are seeking to garner media attention and public favor by proposing laws that restrict only the use of hand-held devices while driving. In the Florida statehouse, for example, we currently have no less than eight different bills proposed that would restrict the use of cell phones while driving (H0175/S0266, H0193/S0504, H0357/S1266, S0680 and S1314). Only two of them apply to hands-free as well as hand-held devices (S0680 and S1314), and they are the only two with no companion.And what will the likely consequence of all these “feel-good” measures be? To be sure, many lives that might have been saved by focusing on the distraction rather than the device will still be lost. And beyond that, well let’s see… After Chicago implemented a partial cell phone driving ban, the telecom industry reported that “Sales of hands-free headsets are being spurred by a new law [that] will result in $50 fines for driving with a cell phone pressed to your ear.” The same thing happened in California, where banning only hand-held cell phones while driving generated a “…boost in the sales of hands-free accessories, such as Blue Tooth ear pieces and speaker-phone car kits.” And in Pennsylvania recently, the mere rumor of an impending ban on hand-held devices “…caused some wireless sales to soar.” So regardless of legislative intent, about the only actual consequence we can count on from half-way measures and partial cell phone bans is a boom in the sale of mobile telecommunications products employing hands-free technology like BlueTooth. And where are those products made? Well according to this Global Sources Bluetooth Headset Manufacturers & Suppliers directory……of the 443 suppliers listed, 434 (98%) are based in China (Mainland, Hong Kong, Taiwan), 4 in Korea, 1 each in Singapore and the Philippines, and only 3 in the U.S. Bad news, but there is one potential upside here: If nothing else, all those partial cell phone bans are bound to funnel millions of dollars–and with them thousands of jobs–overseas. That will leave many Americans with less money to spend on cars and gas … which should reduce the number of vehicles on the road, the number of miles we travel, and thereby the number of traffic accidents. So, we just might end up saving a life or two after all! –Bruce Arnold It’s interesting, the laws about cell phone use. Jeremiah recently drove his new Toyota Tundra pickup over to the Bikernet Headquarters, to show it off. He was most excited about the lavish Kenwood GPS/entertainment system. On our way to scarf Burritos in San Pedro he toyed with the system incessantly, changing channels, watching DVDs, playing music, looking up restaurants and whore houses in the directory and following our GPS path. Good god. How would he have time to drive, if his cell phone rang? It rings all the time.–Bandit TYPO DISCOVERED IN EVENT POSTER– Here is the poster the typo is in the guest speakers name. It should be Jerry Hatfield, but it is Jerry Hatifield a collectors item if I do say so myself. –Shotgun BIKERNET GOES TO THE DOGS OF ZEN– I’ve been meaning to write and just say thanks for posting my dog story. I appreciate it. Your shift of the identity of the “Dog” in the teasers/titles was pretty cute, and I laughed about that. That “was” good… You’re alright. Most of the feedback I’ve gotten has been that I should have shot the dog, or that I’m getting soft in my old age. A few folks, who happen to know me well, smiled and said that they can’t “believe” the dog is alive. I actually did a good thing. I was also counseled on my excessive use of profanity, and informed that “I AM” officially, the Devil. Generally, it appears that folks like the story. It makes you think, and that’s good. Somewhere in this feedback I got told that I need to find some “peace.” That actually got me lost for a little while inside my head. It’s just something that I do from time to time, as I sort through the myriad piles of “stuff” I have stored up in there… Since I’m currently inside my head, I’ll share… Though we describe it as “finding” peace, it’s not quite like that. You can’t really “find” peace… It’s not a thing, or a place… Peace kind of “happens”. It’s a state of consciousness… In my experience you create it… It only comes from within…It’s everywhere and in everything… You bring it to places and give it to things… It only becomes tangible when “you” STOP trying to physically fight the world… or control the world… or, maybe force your “Will” upon something. It’s an inner calmness, an acceptance… I know well my weaknesses, but trust deeply in my own strengths and abilities… It’s an ability to focus and direct your thoughts in harmony with your surroundings. You still retain all the power to channel and direct yourself, but you do so in a way that uses your surroundings to enhance your own abilities. I’ve found peace in the middle of a creek in the wilderness.And when a butterfly chanced to light upon my extended fingertip…I’ve found it in the middle of a raging firefight…I’ve found it in a crib as little blankets rose and fell with tiny breathes at 3AM.I’ve found it in the middle of unspeakable carnage…And I find it daily as I ride my Harley. Challenges come in all shapes and sizes… and packages… For example: Our vision of a beautiful day is shattered as we see a spiked wrecking ball adorned with the rotting flesh of hapless former victims swinging viciously towards us, intent on our destruction!!! A simple sidestep avoids collision, and … It whizzes silently and harmlessly by me…Perhaps I smile as it creates a breeze to cool me in the summer’s heat…How did you react? Did you sidestep as well? Did you waste your time cringing and being horrified or outraged at the visual, emotional image I created– and DIE? I was once labeled a “survivor”. I guess I’ll buy into that, as I sure ain’t dead yet! As a survivor, I think that understanding and acceptance of the nature of physics, action/reaction, or the world around us allows us to expend relatively minimal effort and effectively stop influences attempting to force us one way or the other… Seemingly insignificant effort is rewarded greatly… If you look, see, absorb, and understand your surroundings… I most certainly can’t physically “stop” the motion of the wrecking ball, but I surely can use it to my advantage, if I just “think”… Thanks again for posting the story, and I wish you “peace” in your endeavors, Sir. –Kev
–Christine Paige Diers
Executive Director, Sturgis Motorcycle Museum & Hall of Fame
605.347.2001
999 Main Street, Sturgis, SD 57785
fax 605.720.0632
www.sturgismuseum.com
5365 W 86th Street
Indianapolis, IN 46268
317.875.0360
317.228.9849 fax
info@360Brake.com
Editor Easyriders & V-Twin Magazine
Paisano Publications, LLC
562-869-0303
Bruce@LdrLongDistanceRider.com
Author and Publisher, LdrLongDistanceRider.com
Co-Moderator, Bruce-n-Ray’s Biker Forum
Premier Member, Iron Butt Association
Sustaining Member, Motorcycle Riders Foundation
2007 Chairman’s Circle, American Motorcyclist Association
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