Hey,
We are fighting the EPA over performance products for motorcycles and cars. Drag Specialties was forced to remove 280 part numbers from their catalogs due to fines from the Air Resources Board in California. Folks have told me there’s nothing we can do. We will be regulated, so just deal with it.
That’s funny in not a humorous way. Why don’t we learn from our history? Even recent history, like the war on drugs. Government isn’t always right and very often extremely wrong, like the McCarthy era when folks were jailed and careers destroyed because they had coffee with a suspected communist. Hell, the whole Vietnam war was a lie and if it wasn’t for the hippy movement we would still be carpet bombing little helpless folks in rice patties. We lost 60,000. They lost 5 million.
That’s why this government has been successful from time to time, because we understood freedom and had rights. So, what’s the problem? Why can’t we stand up to CARB and the EPA and explain that Freedom and balance matters.
Let’s hit the news. Exciting stuff ahead.
The Bikernet Weekly News is sponsored in part by Cycle Source Magazine, Iron Trader, and ChopperTown.
THE LAW TIGERS BRING YOU San Diego Harley-Davidson – Kearny Mesa GRAND OPENING PARTY— Tomorrow, Friday, March 18, 2016, 5555 Kearny Villa Rd, San Diego, California 92123
Raffle, door prizes, food trucks and onsite vendors will include Death Squad, Law Tigers, Loser Machine, Rusty Butcher, San Diego Customs & Speed Merchant.
Tickets on sale Friday Feb at 10am at http://bit.ly/1QUKL5f
For more info head to www.SanDiegoHarleyDavidson.com
Autism Tree Project Foundation: Founded in 2003 Autism Tree Project Foundation is an organization dedicated to improving communities in San Diego County and The Bay Area by assisting with Education, Advocacy, Early Intervention Preschool Screening, Research and Mentoring for families impacted by autism.
–Audrey Nesbitt
Law Tigers
www.lawtigers.com
QUICK, OPEN THE BIKERNET BAD JOKE LIBRARY– Ever since I was a child, I’ve always had a fear of someone under my bed at night. So I went to a shrink and told him: “I’ve got problems. Every time I go to bed I think there’s somebody under it. I’m scared. I think I’m going crazy.”
“Just put yourself in my hands for one year, said the shrink. Come talk to me three times a week and we should be able to get rid of those fears.”
“How much do you charge?”
“Eighty dollars per visit,” replied the doctor.
“I’ll sleep on it,” I said.
Six months later the doctor met me on the street. “Why didn’t you come to see me about those fears you were having?” he asked.
“Well, Eighty bucks a visit, three times a week for a year, is $12,480.00. A bartender cured me for $10.00. I was so happy to have saved all that money that I went and bought me a new pickup truck.”
“Is that so?” With a bit of an attitude he said, “And how, may I ask, did a bartender cure you?”
“He told me to cut the legs off the bed. Nobody is under there now!”
–from Rogue and Jerry
NEW 2016 DUCATI SCRAMBLER SIXTY2–Starting from $7,995
Sixty2 – New Pop Icon
Sixty2 is a Ducati Scrambler inspired by the youth culture of skateboarding, surfing and pop music.
That’s why Sixty2, the most “popular” Ducati Scrambler of all time, is the new “pop icon“. The design, a highly expressive version of the Ducati Scrambler, finds a new form in its steel tank with integrated fuel tank cover.
The graphics and the dedicated logo make it immediately recognizable, as well the three exclusive colors: Atomic Tangerine, Ocean Grey and Shining Black.
–Ducati Seattle
KURYAKYN EXTENDED BRAKE PEDALS– Kuryakyn Extended Brake Pedals for Harley-Davidson Touring and Trikes free up floorboard space and relocate the pad location to a more natural position for improved operation.
Extended Brake Pedals for models without fairing lowers are noticeably longer than stock and place the pad area lower and at a flatter angle. Extended Brake Pedals for models with fairing lowers are essentially the same length as stock to avoid interference, but the pad location has been lowered and the angle flattened for more natural positioning. The pad area’s new position keeps the rider’s foot out from under the pedal, improving comfort and pivoting for easy engagement that maintains clearance with the floorboards.
Made from quality steel available in Chrome or Gloss Black finishes, construction includes bronze pivot bushings with grease fitting to ensure smooth operation and long life. Accepts the stock brake pedal pad, as well as any aftermarket pad designed for the factory pedal on ’14-’16 Electra Glides, Road Glides, Road Kings, Street Glides and Trikes.
Extended Brake Pedals for ’14-’16 Touring & Trike w/ Lowers
•P/N 9672 – Chrome, P/N 9673 – Gloss Black, MSRP: $99.99
Extended Brake Pedals for ’14-’16 Touring & Trike w/out Lowers
•P/N 9670 – Chrome, P/N 9671 – Gloss Black, MSRP: $99.99
http://www.kuryakyn.com/products/5120/extended-brake-pedals
–John Galvin
5-BALL LEATHERS AND BIKERNET Congratulates King of the Builders: Jeremy Cupp–
Whenever Jeremy Cupp from LC Fabrications rolls a bike into a competition, you know he will be standing someplace on the podium. The Grottoes, Virginia native won the Ultimate Builder US Championship in Chicago and was crowned King of the Builders.
For his effort he received a check for $10,000, a 5-Ball Leathers’ IKE Jacket, Bare Bones Leathers’ Champion Belt, Dunlop Tires, Chop Docs Gift Certificate, Condor Bike Stand and a Carbon Bullitt Helmet from Bell.
THE 2015 DARWIN AWARDS WINNER SPONSORED BY TATTOO MAGAZINE– Now, the winner of this year’s Darwin Award (awarded, as always, posthumously) ?
The Arizona Highway Patrol came upon a pile of smoldering metal embedded in the side of a cliff rising above the road at the apex of a curve. The wreckage resembled the site of an airplane crash, but it was a car. The type of car was unidentifiable at the scene.
Police investigators finally pieced together the mystery. An amateur rocket scientist had somehow gotten hold of a J A T O unit (Jet Assisted Take Off, actually a solid fuel rocket) that is used to give heavy military transport planes an extra “push” for taking off from short airfields.
He had driven his Chevy Impala out into the desert and found a long, straight stretch of road. He attached the J A T O unit to the car, jumped in, got up some speed and fired off the J A T O!
The facts as best as could be determined are that the operator of the 1967 Impala hit the J A T O ignition at a distance of approximately 3.0 miles from the crash site. This was established by the scorched and melted asphalt at that location.
The J A T O, if operating properly, would have reached maximum thrust within 5 seconds, causing the Chevy to reach speeds well in excess of 350 mph and continuing at full power for an additional 20–25 seconds.
However, the automobile remained on the straight highway for about 2.5 miles (15–20 seconds) before the driver applied and completely melted the brakes, blowing the tires and leaving thick rubber marks on the road surface, then becoming airborne for an additional 1.4 miles and impacting the cliff face at a height of 125 feet leaving a blackened crater 3 feet deep in the rock.
Most of the driver’s remains were not recoverable. However, small fragments of bone, teeth and hair were extracted from the crater, and fingernail and bone shards were removed from a piece of debris believed to be a portion of the steering wheel.
Epilogue: It has been calculated that this moron attained a ground speed of approximately 420-mph, though much of his voyage was not actually on the ground.
You couldn’t make this stuff up, could you?
Remember, people just like this are all around us, breeding and voting, creating another generation of Darwin Award recipients.
–from Billy Tinney
TATTOO MAGAZINE Most Knowledgeable
And foreboding Editor
BIKE WEEK COMING– Check Out the Three Coolest Locations in Daytona Beach…Love Jugs!
Love Jugs Cool Master System
Going to Daytona Beach? Get ready for the time of your life during Bike Week 2016 in Daytona Beach. The weather conditions will vary from hot to cold, windy to rainy and back to hot as hell. Two or more hours in start and stop traffic will catch your attention…if not 2nd degree burns to your thighs.
Check out what Jimmy Kay said from Two Wheel Thunder TV about the extreme weather conditions he encountered while traveling cross country.
“My Love Jugs fans withstood the harshest conditions I endured. Love Jugs are 100% waterproof outdoor rated fan motors, and my trip confirmed that! If it was not raining, it was as hot as Hades. They will actually run while submerged underwater as can be seen on their website: http://love-jugs.com/videos/ Believe it or not, some competing systems use indoor rated fans, which will short out when exposed to water – even during a washing.”
Jimmy and Pat Kay
Producers of Two Wheel Thunder TV – Contributing Editors for National Magazines
Perfect for Daytona Beach Traffic
The Cool-Master comes with a 100% Money Back Guarantee, a full One-Year Warranty and is available in luxurious show polished stainless steel, gloss black powder coated and flat black finishes. Its unique patented design looks as great as it works. Get ready to really enjoy your ride- Use Love Jugs Cool-Master to make your Harley Super COOL!
Check Out the Following Installation Locations in Daytona Beach During Bike Week
Please call Adam at (828)-342-5637 to Schedule an Appointment
INTERNATIONAL SPEEDWAY (2 LOCATIONS-Vender Midway)
March 4th-12th; Hours are 9:00am-6:00pm Everyday
J&P CYCLES (Destination Daytona)
Right Outside Front Door
March 1st-13th; Hours are 9:00am – 8:00pm Everyday
All Original Love Jugs and Cool-Master products are made of the finest materials, come with a 100% money back Guarantee, are backed by warranty and are protected by US Design Patent. All products are available at Love Jugs Authorized Dealers and on the company website.
For more information, please contact: Hammerhead Engineering CEO Steve West at info@love-jugs.com or visit the web site: www.love-jugs.com.
2016 ULTIMATE AWARDS– ULTIMATE BUILDER Chicago Winners SPONSORED BY J&P Cycles—Some 56 custom bike builders wheeled into Chicago to compete for the combined Chicago / US Championship J&P Cycles Ultimate Builder Custom Bike Show rounds.
Builders from New York, Miami and NorCal all made their way to the bone chilling cold to showcase the best their creativity had to offer.
Some of the greatest up-and-comers and established artists of the 2 wheel persuasion where in attendance including Evan Favaro, George Stinsman, Steve Iacona, Cory Ness, Dave Dupor, Jon Shipley, Will Ramsey, Kyle Shorey and Art Steele to name a few.
FREE STYLE
J&P Cycles Ultimate Builder Custom Bike Show FreeStyle Class – The winner of the Chicago round in FreeStyle was Jon Shipley. He advanced to the US Championship to compete for the King of the Builders on the following day. His bike wore an old-school green and yellow flaked paint that complemented the copper accents throughout the build. The engine featured a Panhead and a split rocker shovelhead atop a 93”sportster bottom end. In addition, Jon made the oil tank, grips, foot controls and handlebars. He accepted the $2,000 check for the win. Jon also received a custom anvil “Made In USA” ring from Speakeasy Original.
1st – 775 – John Shipley, Hoosier Daddy Choppers – 2016 Custom named Green Bling
2nd – 600 – Gary Capone, Le Mani Moto – 2015 Le Mani Moto named Series One Racer
3rd – 1375 – Mike McFadden Moonshine Sidecar
4th – 475 – Kevin Persons, Hot Rods And Handle Bars – 2012 Harley FLHTP named Black Betty
THE SHOW DOG AWARD
The SHO DOG award was won by Mark Gates for his work engaging the crowd and showcasing his 2008 Softail Deluxe. He’ll receive The Leatherworks Solo Bag for his effort.
Jeff Holt handed out the Street Chopper award to Jeremy Cupp and the HOT BIKE award to Gary Capone of Le Mani Moto. Bell Helmet supplied a Custom 500 helmet to the People’s Choice winner, Ilya Levkov and his 206 Road Glide.
MOD HARLEY
J&P Cycles Ultimate Builder MOD Harley-Davidson Class – Baggers ruled the Chicago builders with over 20 custom touring models on display. And the bagger that ruled them all was the custom from builder Dave Dupor of DD Custom Cycle and his 2011 Road King. And what blew your skull back were the bags that open up like car doors. They swung out and around the exhaust tips that enter and exit the bags on the sides.
Dave Dupor rolled out the bike he competed in the HOT BIKE tour and took home a check for $1,000. On Saturday night he rolled his bike into the Championship corral to compete in the US Championship on Sunday.
1st – 1325 – Dave Dupor, DD Custom Cycle – 2011 Road King
2nd – 700 – Joe Chval – DA Performance – 2009 FLHX named Monsterglide
3rd – 275 – Antonio Palermo, F Bomb Baggers – 2009 Bagger named Scooter Shooters
4th – 875 – Kieran Thompson – FKKMOtoUSA – 2003 H-D Sportster 1200C named XL1250
MOD CUSTOM
J&P Cycles Ultimate Builder MOD Custom Class – The thing about this fat tire, stretched swing arm Hayabusa is it’s 12 years old and it’s Juan Rodriguez’s daily rider that still looks brand spanking new. The paint is deep and pops even in the dull convention lights. Paint was supplied by JP Custom. It has a super clean look that you expect from a fire breathing Suzuki. Juan took home a check for $750 and entered the US Championship.
1st – 800 – Juan Rodriguez – 2004 Suzuki Haybusa named Menace
2nd – 175 – Fonarelli Motorsports – 2013 Cleveland Heist – Paint Midwest Customs
3rd – 1150 – Tony Odom – Fancy Cycle, 07 ZX14 named Spiderman Bike
4th – 1125 – Tony Odom, Fancy Cycle – 09 ZX14 named Skull Bike
MOD RETRO
J&P Cycles Ultimate Builder MOD Retro Class – Steve Iacona of Iacona Customs rolled in Crusader into the Chicago edition of the J&P Cycles Ultimate Builder. The 1972 Triumph Bonneville, named Crusader, was positioned as the first bike you see as you enter into the Progressive International Motorcycle Show and that turned out to be a mistake because it created a traffic jam during the entire show.
Iacona created a Café Racer with a hand hammered fairing and tail section. The engine was scotch brite to make the cases gleam. Iacona took home a check for $750 and entered the US Championship.
1st – 1425 – Steve Iacona, Iacona Customs – 1972 Bonneville named Crusader
2nd – 1400 – Bill Shalk, Tried and True Garage, 1967 Custom Bobber named Making Chips
3rd – 1050 – Paul Anderson, 1946 WLA 45 named Once in Awhile
4th – 1075 – Paul Anderson, 1940 WLA 45 named Evil Twin
Don’t miss the next show.
EMD AMERICA— Classic covers.
Check out this cool Softail with our EMD shit on it.
EL WAGGS TECH COMING TO BIKERNET– I don’t remember which pictures I sent—snorting fiberglass chemicals. Can you send me a couple of them.
I’m going to start with new ones. Especially the ‘tools & materials’ shots because they changed. Here are a couple of shots of the new ‘laminating resin’ materials.
–El Waggs
VETERANS EFFORT–
Feel free to write a congratulatory letter to Jeff (their father Mike) Benrud, the Jerry Irwin (their brother Tom) family and the Wisconsin Veterans Tribute. Please consider sending prominent mementos and souvenirs.
Should you be in the area, we would gladly give you or your affiliates a guided tour. There is so much to be proud of.
There very well should be memoirs written, books published and movies made about these heroes. Consider these amazing facts and feats:
Jeff Benrud: 700 Combat missions and a Biker!
Wheels of Liberty: Helping Veterans acquire freedom on a motorcycle
Address Phone E-Mail
Mike Benrud 3311 Golf Rd, Eau Claire, WI 54701 [(715)-834-2292] info@benrudrentals.com
Tom Irwin 1321 Boulder Point, Hudson, WI 54016 [(715)-220-9822] irwin.tom@sbcglobal.net
Dave Zien 1716 63rd Street, Eau Claire, WI 54703 [(715)-829-9436] davezien@gmail.com
Feel free to contact me for information.
God Bless You!
–Dave Zien
former State Senator
BIKERNET EXPOSE OF THE WEEK– Ford spent $40 million to reshape asbestos science.
Stung by lawsuits, the automaker hired consultants to change the narrative on the risks of asbestos brakes.
In 2001, toxicologist Dennis Paustenbach got a phone call from a lawyer for Ford Motor Company.
The lawyer, Darrell Grams, explained that Ford had been losing lawsuits filed by former auto mechanics alleging asbestos in brakes had given them mesothelioma, an aggressive cancer virtually always tied to asbestos exposure. Grams asked Paustenbach, then a vice president with the consulting firm Exponent, if he had any interest in studying the disease’s possible association with brake work. A meeting cemented the deal.
Paustenbach, a prolific author of scientific papers who’d worked with Grams on Dow Corning’s defense against silicone breast-implant illness claims, had barely looked at asbestos to that point. “I really started to get serious about studying asbestos after I met Mr. Grams, that’s for sure,” Paustenbach testified in a sworn deposition in June 2015. Before that, he said, the topic “wasn’t that interesting to me.”
Thus began a relationship that, according to recent depositions, has enriched Exponent by $18.2 million and brought another $21 million to Cardno ChemRisk, a similar firm Paustenbach founded in 1985, left and restarted in 2003. All told, testimony shows, Ford has spent nearly $40 million funding journal articles and expert testimony concluding there is no evidence brake mechanics are at increased risk of developing mesothelioma. This finding, repeated countless times in courtrooms and law offices over the past 15 years, is an attempt at scientific misdirection aimed at extricating Ford from lawsuits, critics say.
“They’ve published a lot, but they’ve really produced no new science,” said John Dement, a professor in Duke University’s Division of Occupational and Environmental Medicine and an asbestos researcher for more than four decades. “Fifteen years ago, I thought the issue of asbestos risk assessment was pretty much defined. All they’ve accomplished is to try to generate doubt where, really, little doubt existed.”
The glut of corporate-financed science has yielded mixed results. Exponent had a role in jury trials won by Ford in St. Louis and Pittsburgh last year, for example, and in a trial Ford lost in Tennessee. Judges have noted the infusion of controversy into a subject that for many years was not controversial in the least. A veteran asbestos judge in Wayne County, Michigan, wrote in an opinion that he’d never encountered the argument that “the science was not there” on mesothelioma and brakes until he heard a case involving an Exponent witness.
The discord over brakes bankrolled by Ford “has, in certain cases, tipped the scales for the defendants with juries,” said plaintiffs’ lawyer Jon Ruckdeschel. “More frequently, it has been used by industry lawyers to increase the costs and burdens on the courts and sick mechanics by creating a tidal wave of pre-trial litigation regarding the ‘science.’ ”
–By Jim Morris
Center for Public Integrity
If you were fighting for your business and thousands of jobs, you would reach out to any source for help. I’ve lived in and around asbestos all my life. Should I call some Lawyer ad on TV and sue the Navy, Harley-Davidson and the folks who built the old building I live in?
–Bandit
[page break]
NEWS FROM THE INDIAN HIDE-OUT– Riding season is just around the corner, and it’s time to update your wardrobe. On Saturday, February 20th, stop in and give us your old Harley-Davidson or other motorcycle t-shirt, and we’ll give you a new Indian Motorycle t-shirt.
All donated apparel will go to The Salvation Army.
–Robert Pandya
KILLER DYNA SWINGARM FROM C&S CUSTOM– As I was talking with the builders at the J&P Cycles Ultimate Builder US Championship show in Chicago last weekend, I ran into Tice, a MOD Harley competitor that was excited about a new lite weight aluminum swing arm from C&S Custom. He was excited because he built a stunt DYNA that needs all the weight loss possible to deliver an angle stunt bike.
C&S Custom is new to the Harley scene but is known in the sportbike world. So they put their years of experience together and delivered a unit that reduces 20 pounds of unsprung weight and will provide greater performance off idle and in maneuvering.
C&S Custom also provides swingarms in thousands of powder coat colors, in chrome, or in contrast cut with grooved louvers to match popular aftermarket rims, pulleys, and rotors. Look them up at http://www.candscustom.com/.
UNCLE MONKEY ON SPINNING WRENCHES– When you are the type of person who spins wrenches whether for fun or a paycheck, you slowly pick up other skills and traits to compliment what you are doing.
Building bikes or building hot rods always involves more than just the mechanical rebuilding of the motor or transmission. Eventually you run into having to fix a seat, fix the wiring or create one from scratch.
Maybe you are making some trick liners for the saddlebags, maybe even making the saddlebags themselves. For some it is making a fiberglass seat pan or forming one out of metal. You see, for us our machines are rebuilt, recycled, reused. Something has to be extremely bad for us to toss it away and even then we are using a bad cylinder to make an urn, a block to make a coffee table, or maybe even an old twisted frame to build a desk to rule the world from.
Suddenly, instead of figuring out the exact clearance of valves to figuring out how to build furniture. From a desk comes an office chair from an old motorcycle seat. You find yourself sewing a new dog collar from an old leather jacket, making a leather belt for a restored bike. Building and working always spills over to other disciplines.
Each time you do something you get a little better, learning from your mistakes. You learn you can’t ride a bike with a frame stretched for a five foot long gas tank. You learn if you are making a minimalist chopper you have to leave room under the fiberglass seat pan for a relay or two. Each step takes you closer to being a master of something.
Sure we farm a lot of work out – usually to close friends, but eventually they get busy, they move away and you are building a wooden frame to make a paint booth. Rattle cans become proper spray guns. The wife’s Singer is replaced with a heavy-duty machine that can punch through four layers of folded leather. More tools for the tool box, and ultimately another corner of the basement houses another machine for you to complete your work. It never ends…
-bad Uncle Monkey
AUTO CROSS FOR KIDS AND GOODGUYS ROD AND CUSTOM ASSOCIATION JOIN WITH AUSTIN HATCHER FOUNDATION– to impact the lives of children with cancer.
Goodguys Rod and Custom Association and The Austin Hatcher Foundation for Pediatric Cancer have partnered again in 2016 to raise funds and awareness for the Foundations mission to erase the effects of pediatric cancer for patients, survivors and their families. The partnership will provide the Foundation with opportunities to educate both children and adults about healthy lifestyles that prevent cancer, as well as provide much-needed therapies, in a variety of cities throughout the United States.
Goodguys Rod and Custom Association, the Pleasanton, Calif.-based producer of some of world’s most dynamic automotive events for more than three decades, will work in conjunction with the Foundation at several Goodguys shows during 2016. Association members and show attendees will have opportunities to contribute to the effort through donations, the purchase of limited edition merchandise, and participation in the ?AutoCross for Kids, as well as through volunteering for some of the program?s initiatives.
The AutoCross for Kids will offer Goodguys car show attendees opportunities at selected shows a chance to ride with Pro AutoCross competitors on a specially-prepared closed performance AutoCross course in exchange for a specified donation to the Austin Hatcher Foundation. The AutoCross for Kids promotion will be held on Fridays and Sundays at select events.
The partnership will kick off at the Goodguys 7th Spring Nationals, March 4-6 at WestWorld of Scottsdale in Scottsdale, AZ and be held at several events throughout the Goodguys 2016 event schedule.
More information can be found at www.good-guys.com and on the AutoCross for Kids landing page at www.hatcherfoundation.org/autocross
–Betsy Bennett
BRAND NEW IN THE CANTINA–
HOT OFF THE PRESS: The Full Throttle bike build-off from sunny Florida has come and gone for yet another year. But brilliant images by Bikernet’s Chopper Dave captured the glistening bikes, the colorful award, the rockin’ band, and of course, the Girls.
All for your viewing pleasure in Bandit’s Cantina right now.
–JACK MCINTYRE
PHOTOGRAPHER
Co-Editor of Bandit’s Cantina
BIKERNET.COM
THE BIKERNET BAD JOKE LIBRARY IS STILL OPEN– A guy is walking along a Florida beach when he comes across a lamp partially buried in the sand. He picks up the lamp and gives it a rub.
A genie appears and tells him he has been granted one wish. The guy thinks for a moment and says, “I want to live forever.”
“Sorry,” said the genie, “I’m not allowed to grant eternal life.”
“OK, then, I want to die after the Democrats balance the budget and eliminate the debt.”
“You crafty bastard,” said the genie
–from Rogue and Jerry
CUPID IN DAYTONA– Here’s your editor caught roaming the streets of Daytona!!
–Dmac
SCANDANAVIAN CHOPPER DEAL OF THE WEEK– MCM is selling some of their bikes
To get money for survival!
Several mags closing right now
–Sheriff
ALL MOTO GADGET PRICES REDUCED–
Motogadget decided to lower their prices a bit and we’re passing the savings on to you, our loyal builder brethren. Take advantage of the drop to get that rat nest of wiring cleaned up.
Get those clunky indicators swapped out for something slim. Heck, while you’re at it, go ahead and make your key(and losing it) a thing of the past.
Now that all domestic orders over $100 get free shipping you have no reason not to get your hands on the same products we use on our customs!
Check out our Tech Talk series of videos at Revivalcycles.com, YouTube and Vimeo
Our mailing address is:
Revival Cycles
5305 Bolm Road, Austin, TX, United States
Suite #1
Austin, TX 78721
WAIT, KEEP THE BIKERNET BAD JOKE LIBRARY WIDE OPEN– Siamese twins walk into a bar in Canada and park themselves on a barstool. One of them says to the bartender, “Don’t mind us; we’re joined at the hip. I’m John, he’s Jim. Two Molson beers, draft please.”
The bartender, feeling slightly awkward, tries to make polite conversation while pouring the beers. “Been on holiday yet, lads?”
“Off to England next month,” says John. “We go to England every year, rent a car and drive for miles. Don’t we, Jim?”
Jim agrees.
“Ah, England!” says the bartender. “Wonderful country… The history, the beer, the culture…”
“Nah, we don’t like that British crap,” says John. “Hamburgers and Molson’s beer, that’s us, eh Jim? And we can’t stand the English – they’re so arrogant and rude.”
“So why keep going to England?” asks the bartender. “It’s the only chance Jim gets to drive.”
–from Jerry and Rogue
AUSTRALIAN CLUB REPORT–
Seventeen arrests in raids targeting Rebels MC on NSW Central Coast
Police in the Australian state of NSW have arrested 17 people and seized guns, drugs and cash during raids said to be targeting the Rebels motorcycle club on the NSW Central Coast.
Detectives from Strike Force Gateley coordinated 13 raids on homes and properties including a tattoo parlor across Tuggerah Lakes and Brisbane Water over Tuesday and Wednesday.
The raids involved more than 200 officers including the dog squad, bomb squad and police airwing, and resulted in the arrests of fourteen men and three women.
Of the 17 arrested, police said 10 were either members or associates of the Rebels motorcycle club.
Police said they seized drugs, pill presses, a handgun, ammunition and cash during the raids.
Rebels club paraphernalia and reptiles were also seized, while 40 taxation notices were also served.
Police said they expected more searches and arrests as the investigation continues.
PROJECT SPORTSTER COMING TO BIKERNET— Larry called: Here are a couple of photos of the Sportster we talked about, taken the night I picked it up. The car is a Jaguar xk120 replica. It will be finished out as a modern version of a ‘60s racecar.
The last pic is a Sporty built by Bull Studios. It’s similar to the style I’m after.
–Larry
JIMS TOOL OF THE WEEK– No. 2312 Primary Locking Bar
Did you know you should not use impact tools when loosening or tightening the compensator bolt or clutch hub nut on Harley-Davidson primary drives? The preferred method is to lock the drive with either a Delrin wedge, such as JIMS No. 2234, or use a Primary Locking Bar that fits between the compensator and clutch sprockets and then use a breaker bar/torque wrench.
On 2006-present Dyna and 2007-present Softail and FLH models you cannot use a locking wedge, so that leaves JIMS Primary Locking Bars as the only way to safely lock the primary drive.
JIMS manufactures a whole line of primary locking tools all made with pride in the USA that feature JIMS lifetime tool warranty. JIMS Primary Locking Bar No. 2312 is designed for use on 2007-present FLH models and retails for $56.25.
Check out all of JIMS primary locking tools at www.jimsusa.com.
WE LOST A MASTER MOTORCYCLE RESTORATION EXPERT LAST WEEK— Mike Parti past of COPD and Pneumonia at the Holy Cross Hospital, in Porter Ranch. We will bring you reports about his funeral arrangements if we have access.
–Don Whalen
TRAILBLAZERS BANQUET ONLY 68 DAYS AWAY– The Board is at full throttle to have a great banquet on April 23rd. We look forward to seeing old and new faces. We are looking into options to add more seating so “stay tuned”.
Those of you on the waiting list, don’t give up. Of course, if you aren’t on the waiting list, we don’t know that you would like to attend. SO GET ON THE LIST!!
Contact Mr. Bill : mrbill@vleinc.com or (818) 896 2200.
TOM CATES MEMORIAL BIKE SHOW
The Hagerty sponsored Bike Show gets better every year. There will be trophies for the Best in Show, People’s Choice and Best Race Bike. Each entrant will receive a Trailblazer mug and pin. You do not have to make advance arrangements, just show up. Bike set up is between 2pm and 3pm. No bikes in the door before 2PM or after 3PM. No one gets in without a banquet ticket.
Tom White and his crew will sign you in and tell you where to park. There will be security, but bring a chain and lock, drip pan if necessary and information about your treasure. No bikes pushed in after 3:00 p.m.
THE PARTY STARTS AT 3:00 p.m.
Come early to meet and greet. The reception is your chance to visit. Once the banquet doors open, the only talking you will do is in the buffet line and while eating dinner. We do hope that once the program begins everyone will be quiet and courteous. It is a very special day for the inductees and their families and we are sure they would appreciate your full attention.
PREPRINTED TICKETS
We plan to have names pre-printed on the tickets if possible. If you have a nick name you would prefer to use on your ticket and roster contact Judy at mctrailblazers01@gmail.com or (909) 226 6038.
EVERETT BRASHEAR INTO MOTORSPORTS HALL OF FAME OF AMERICA
Everett is among seven racing legends to be honored at the 28th Annual Induction Ceremony at the Daytona International Speedway on June 29th. Only one motorcyclist is inducted each year. He is already in the AMA and Trailblazers Hall of Fame. Everett won 15 AMA Nationals between 1952 and 1960 and then worked in the motorcycle industry. Congratulations!!!
MIKE TAYLOR INDUSTRY LEADER OF THE YEAR
Congratulations to Mike Taylor, Chief Executive Officer at Barnett Clutches and Cables. He was awarded Industry Leader of the Year at the 2016 V-Twin Expo. Mike is the husband of Colleen (Barnett) Taylor, the daughter of Trailblazers Hall of Famer Charlie Barnett.
MEMORIAL SERVICE FOR HOMER KNAPP
Our dear friend and Trailblazer, Homer Knapp, passed away on December 15, 2015. The service will take place at 2:00 PM on Saturday, February 20th. Angeleno Valley Mortuary, 5423 Tujunga Avenue, North Hollywood, north of Chandler Blvd.
Homer’s brother, Gregory Knapp, said the hall will be available from 2pm until 4pm. He would welcome photos of Homer that could be shared by those attending. If you have questions, please call Homer’s longtime friend and partner, Mary Jo Darling at (310) 645 6940
MIKE MUMFORD R.I.P.
Mike was part of the motorcycle industry for many years. He was a service tech for Kawasaki Motors Corp USA in the early 1970s. Later he was a sales rep for Owatonna Tool Company which supplied service tools for the major motorcycle managers. He was a regional sales rep for Malcolm Smith Products in Washington and Oregon. He worked with Gene Hartline as a stunt man in the movie industry. Mike and his wife Cindy had several Bassett Hounds. Their “kids”. Happy Trails Mike and our condolences to Cindy.
MIKE PARTI R.I.P.
Sent by Howie Zechner
Photo attached
Trailblazers and AMA Hall of Famer, Mike Parti has passed away. The 80-year-old was hospitalized for pneumonia and didn’t recover. From the old school of motorcycling, the former Sidecar Racer and Bonneville Speed Trials competitor will be missed.
PROFESSIONAL DIRT TRACK MEMORIAL ONLINE
Skip forwarded this link to an online memorial. On some of them they jumped the gun, but it was nice to remember of old friends who departed. http://www.dairylandclassic.com/memorial.html#1960
Thanks to whoever put this together.
VALERIE THOMPSON “THE QUEEN OF SPEED”
Joe Michaud wrote this for Motorcycle Consumer News. They gave permission to send you a link:
http://www.motorcycleconsumernews-digitalmagazine.com/mcnews/february_2016/?pg=20&pm=2&u1=friend
STAY CHARGED, BATTERY MAINTENANCE– Getting the Most from Your Vehicle’s Battery
Leader in Automotive Maintenance and Repair Powers Drivers with Education and Advice Just in Time for National Battery Day, February 18
CHARLOTTE, NC (February 16, 2016) – Every year, dead vehicle batteries leave millions of Americans stranded on the roadside, stuck in their driveways or looking for help from passing motorists. In honor of National Battery Day, the total car care experts at Meineke – who change more than 40,000 batteries annually – share tips and advice on identifying issues and extending the life of your vehicle’s battery.
1. Diagnose the Issue
Telltale signs of a dead battery are an engine that is slow to turnover and dimming lights on the dashboard. Vehicles today provide indicators that the battery might be failing with a check engine or battery warning light on the dashboard. If a problem is suspected with the battery, a visual inspection under the hood can help confirm whether the battery is the issue. Look for signs like a swollen battery case or corrosion on the terminals. Both could be a sign that it is time for a battery replacement.
2. Determine the Cause of the Failure Before Replacing or Recharging The Battery
Common causes of battery failure include leaving headlights, interior lights, flashers, electronic chargers and the radio on while the vehicle isn’t running. Not starting a car for a long period of time, particularly in cold weather, is another common issue. Experts say vehicle batteries lose 33 percent of their charge when the temperature dips below freezing and more than 50 percent of the charge when the temperature falls below zero. Poor battery maintenance and the battery age can also reduce battery charging ability.
3. Charge Vehicle Batteries Correctly
Recharging vehicle batteries is commonly referred to as “jump starting.” First, you’ll need another vehicle with a functioning battery.
Start the engine of the functioning vehicle
After a few minutes, start the vehicle with the dead battery.
Let both vehicles run for a 3 – 5 minutes to ensure the dead battery is properly charged
Once charged, remove the cables in the reverse order of how you attached them.
4. Routinely Maintenance Your Battery
Regular maintenance helps extend battery life. Ask a trusted car care partner to conduct a safety check with every oil change. Battery safety inspections include checking terminals for corrosion and cleaning them if needed.
If your vehicle will not be used for an extended period of time, it’s wise to invest in a battery charger so you’re prepared if and when you need a charge.
5. Find a Trusted Total Car Care Partner
The best way to avoid overall vehicle failure is to have a professional car care partner you trust maintain your vehicle. A trusted partner will diagnose and treat a variety of vehicle problems ranging from battery failure to more complex issues. The certified technicians at Meineke’s more than 900 total car care centers are always ready to help. Visit www.meineke.com to schedule your appointment today.
About Meineke
Meineke Car Care Centers, LLC., is a division of Driven Brands, Inc., the leading automotive aftermarket franchisor in the world. Founded in 1972, Meineke has more than 900 centers that service approximately 3 million cars a year. For more information, please visit meineke.com.
WORD FROM THE MOUNTAIN— Being deserted is the unexpected rod that routs out the mentality of dependence.
Being praised is the breeding ground that nurtures and strengthens a helpless spirit.
–Venerable Master Hsing Yun
[page break]
For 5 Days (Feb 18th to 21st) download the Kindle Book for FREE!
It’s 3:30 in the morning as I thunder out of the Port of Long Beach. It’s completely drained. Boats are ripping apart the slips and the sound of sirens and warning horns fill the air.
Explosions from transformers light up the night sky like fireworks as whole sections of the harbor go dark. It’s a war zone. As I connect to the 710 Freeway north, I see the Queen Mary; she’s on her side and burning.
The entire ocean has receded for as far as the eye can see. Only one event can cause this and its inevitable aftermath. Twisting the throttle I head north. I’ve got an army brat and a tabby cat on the back seat of my Harley and our destination is Angeles Crest Highway.
The blood moon’s eerie glow provides a tangerine blanket of light and at 100 mph, we’re making good time. Suddenly, I get lit up by a California Highway Patrol car.
Yeah right, I open her up now and clock 115 miles per hour. After a few minutes he backs off and disappears into the darkness. He knows; which means all the emergency services have been alerted that the largest wall of water in recorded history may be about to hit 5 million people in Los Angeles.
BIO- Kozmo Mraz was raised by a Wiccan Priestess, his mother published a magazine called “Occult Americana” and his father owned a nightclub called “The Zombie Club.” Surrounded by Beatniks and Hippy chicks, Koz had an unusual childhood. Psychedelics at 13, handguns and motorcycles at 15, travel and adventure became his mantra.
As a Moto/Photo journalist Koz has travelled almost every continent on two wheels and writes for many prominent U.S. motorcycle magazines. Koz currently has five motorcycle adventure books available on Amazon including, The popular “Midnight Rider on a Graveyard Run”, THUNDERTAKER, Unity his newest release “Piers of the West Coast.”
AMA Pro Flat Track set to return to Phoenix area with the Arizona Mile at Turf Paradise on May 14– Bubba Shobert completed the AMA Pro Flat Track “Grand Slam” when the series last visited the area in 1986
AMA Pro Flat Track will be making a return to the Phoenix area for the first time in 30 years with the Law Tigers Arizona Mile, scheduled as round four of the 2016 AMA Pro Flat Track season on Saturday, May 14 at Turf Paradise in Scottsdale, Ariz.
“Arizona is a spectacular motorcycle market and a great place to put on events,” said race promoter Chris Morgan. “We recognize the value of Arizona, the enthusiasm of the motorcycle market and how much of a perfect market it is for an AMA Pro Flat Track event.”
The Arizona Mile will be the first race in the area since 1986, when motorcycle racing legend Bubba Shobert won a half-mile event in Phoenix aboard the Honda RS750. With that victory, Shobert completed the “Grand Slam” of winning a Mile, Half-Mile, Short Track, Tourist Trophy and Road Racing main event.
Looking to add to the sport’s history in the state, the stars of AMA Pro Flat Track will be geared up for Turf Paradise as the first mile event of the season.
“Arizona is a great part of the country to have a race,” said Factory Harley-Davidson rider Brad Baker. “The weather will be nice and there is just a neat vibe overall. Since it will be the first mile race of the season, it will show who really did their homework over the offseason to prepare. You can always count on Bryan Smith, Jared Mees and Kenny Coolbeth, Jr. to perform well, and I know that I’m prepared to be up there with all of them.”
The race, being presented locally by Buddy-Stubbs Harley-Davidson, will be an “afternoon twilight event,” meaning that the gates will open at noon and the race will start at 3:00 p.m. In addition to the AMA Pro Flat Track action on the race track, there will be a variety of family-friendly entertainment including stunt performances and a vendor area.
“For years, the Law Tigers have proudly sponsored the AMA Pro Flat Track finals in Pomona,” said Ari Levenbaum, the Vice President of Marketing for the Law Tigers Motorcycle Lawyers. “With the loss of the Pomona venue last year, the promoters and I were eager to continue our partnership and tradition of putting on Flat Track races.
As riders and racing enthusiasts ourselves, we felt that it was important to find another venue that both the Flat Track racers and fans would enjoy. Bringing a race to Arizona, home to Turf Paradise and the Arizona Law Tigers, just made sense. We love supporting the racing element of motorcycling and are committed to seeing the sport grow and flourish.”
For more information and to purchase tickets for the Law Tiger’s Arizona Mile, please visit http://www.ArizonaMile.com. Tickets will be available for purchase starting Friday, Feb. 19, 2016.
Next Up:
The 2016 AMA Pro Flat Track season will once again kick off with a doubleheader at the DAYTONA Flat Track during Daytona’s Bike Week festivities. The twin short track races will take place at the “World Center of Racing” on Thursday and Friday, March 10 & 11. For additional information and to purchase tickets, please visit http://www.daytonainternationalspeedway.com/Events/2016/DAYTONA-Flat-Track/DAYTONA-Flat-Track.aspx.
How to Watch:
FansChoice.tv is the official home for live streaming coverage of AMA Pro Flat Track events. The site also provides coverage of IMSA’s development and single-make series, and NASCAR’s touring and weekly series. Catch all the action at http://www.FansChoice.tv.
NEWS FROM CHOPPERTOWN– Here’s our weekly roundup of the best bikes sent in from the Choppertown Nation – click here and be prepared to not get any work done for the next hour or two.
We know you guys are Jonesin’ for spring to come so you can get back on the road so this week we got the Road Trip Bundle as the mid-week download special – featuring El Diablo Run, Free to Wander, and Live to Ride all for just $5 each!
Stay independent
–Zack and Scott
DUCATI SCRAMBLER Sixty2 Comes Equipped With Pirelli MT 60 RS Wide Range Tires– After Becoming Tire of Choice For All Versions of the Ducati Scrambler 800, Pirelli Confirms the Enduro Street Tire For the Small Displacement Model (110/80 R 18 M/C 58H TL Front and the New 160/60 R 17 M/C 69H TL Rear)
Due to its excellent performance and attractive tread pattern, the MT 60™ RS tire continues to be successful and very popular with motorcyclists in Pirelli’s Enduro street line. It was chosen for the Ducati Scrambler in 2014, but has expanded its range by equipping the Ducati Scrambler Sixty2, the newest member to the Scrambler family. International press has conducted extensive testing through the streets of Barcelona, Spain.
The new Ducati Scrambler Sixty2 features Pirelli MT 60 RS tires as the manufacturers origin of choice in 110/80 R 18 M/C 58H TL front (the same supplied for the Ducati Scrambler 800) and the new 160/60 R 17 M/C 69H TL rear. It is a perfect match for the new 399cc model, rather than the 180/55 R 17 M/C 73H TL that can be found on the Ducati Scrambler 800 versions, including the new Pro Flat Track.
From this point forward the MT 60™ RS can be purchased in a 120/70 front and 180/55 rear tire sizes, both, with a (W) speed index rating. The 160/60 rear of the rear of the Ducati Scrambler Sixty2 will join other sizes that were already available in the lineup.
The Ducati Scrambler Sixty2 opens the way for a new two-wheel audience that are seeking an accessible bike, easy to handle and has low running costs without missing out on the unique spirit of the Scrambler. Ducati was first launched in 1962, later creating the Sixty2, which is inspired by youth culture, skateboards, street food, pop music, and above all pop art. The Sixty2 is already a “pop icon” and the most popular Scrambler ever.
In Pirelli’s Enduro street range of motorcycle tires, the MT 60 RS has become increasingly popular due to its ability to combine road sport performance with excellent grip, even on unpaved roads. Pirelli used the new Ducati Scrambler family as an opportunity to develop new tire sizes and redesign the product in terms of performance and specifications.
The tread pattern of the new sizes (including those for the Scrambler family) presents larger and more variable sized knobs along the edge, thus giving rise to a design of multi-pitch compared to the single-pitch that characterized the original tire.
The new tread geometry is crucial in road use where the usually knobby aggressive tires are less efficient than those designed specifically for road use. In this particular case, new tread pattern gives a substantial improvement in terms of grip while braking and also reduction in noise.
Improvements are made with a considerable decrease of the land/sea ratio and increase in the contact surface area that features a stiffer side tread. These changes provide a reduction in braking distance (front tire) and greater stability whether it is riding in a straight line or cornering
A key component in the redesigned tire is the compounds, which is a direct result of the experience gained by Pirelli in recent years. The front tire consists of a compound that is derived directly from the DIABLO ROSSO II, using a balanced content of silica and carbon black. These compounds provide increased grip on dry and wet surfaces. On the rear, a sport touring compound with high silica content helps cover long distances and excellent grip in the wet.
Structure of the front tire was completely redesigned, but with respect to the original version of the product. Significant benefits in terms of stability and steering precision have been created with radial that underwent changes from cross-ply belts to radial with a 0° steel belt.
Listed below are all sizes in which the MT 60 RS is available
Front:
120/70 R 17 58V TL
120/70 ZR 17 (58W) M/C TL
110/80 R 18 M/C 58H TL * **
Rear:
160/60 R 17 69V TL
160/60 R 17 M/C 69H TL**
180/55 R 17 M/C 73H TL *
180/55 ZR 17 M/C (73W) TL
* OE Ducati Scrambler Classic, Icon, Urban Enduro, Full Throttle e Flat Track Pro
** OE Ducati Scrambler Sixty2
ROBOT CARS COMING?
The Tesla S is the closest thing to a totally driverless car available now. I had to leave my state to test-drive it. New York’s archaic laws forbid taking both hands off the wheel.
Once outside New York, the Tesla representative in the passenger seat had me turn on the autopilot.
Suddenly, I was doing nothing. The car drove itself.
Actually, I didn’t do nothing . I hyperventilated. It’s not natural to sit passively while “driving” at 65 mph.
Then came my accident! In a narrow tunnel, the car drifted left, and a tire banged against the side of the tunnel. If I hadn’t quickly grabbed the steering wheel, we would have crashed.
Was the computer-guided car unable to handle a narrow tunnel? No, it turned out the mistake, as usual, was human error — my error. I had nervously touched the steering wheel when we entered the tunnel, and that disengaged the autopilot. The Tesla guy didn’t warn me. Or maybe he did, but I forgot.
Once I learned how the car works, I found the driverless car sorta wonderful, although weird. It’s counterintuitive to trust a computer to handle a car’s sharp turns or stop-and-go traffic.
But it does work. That’s the big point — driverless cars are safer than we drivers are. Ninety-four percent of people killed in car crashes are killed because of human error.
The car’s sensors see when I’m approaching another car. They see better than we do. They are our future, says economist James Miller.
I asked him why drivers should trust the computer. After all, computers crash!
“People know that machines are better than people at a lot of tasks,” was his smart answer. “Our brains are basically machines — but not machines optimized for going 65 miles an hour.” As for “crashing,” he points out that computer buyers aren’t willing to spend extra money for a backup system, but drivers definitely will.
Robot cars may soon save 30,000 lives a year, if bureaucrats let them.
It will be a battle. The technology is way ahead of our laws.
Soon after my car was driving itself, I got bored. So I picked up a newspaper.
“Not a good idea, John!” scolded my Tesla copilot. He reminded me that state laws say a human driver must always be “in control.”
It would also be against the law if I had gone to sleep. But someday, that will be an option. Commuting will be much less stressful.
Because robot cars are safer, insurance rates will drop. Some people will still want to drive themselves, and those people will pay a little more. That’s fine, but then our authoritarian government will probably switch gears and ban “dangerous human driving.”
Maybe that will be the libertarian controversy in 2021.
Freedom doesn’t mean doing anything you want. It means, in part, deciding when to give up control and when to retain it. It also means doing nothing that directly harms others. Giving up some control to machines has been a benefit for centuries.
Robot cars will take away jobs from some taxi drivers, truck drivers, delivery men, etc. Unions, The New York Times and maybe Donald Trump will demand laws to “protect” those jobs. But that’s a mistake.
“Experts” always say automation will create unemployment. In 1930, a New York Times headline said: “Economists predict number of men employed will decline.” But the opposite has happened. Forty-six million Americans had jobs when that headline ran; now 150 million do.
Technology did destroy some jobs. Ninety percent of Americans once worked on farms. Now just 2 percent do. Somehow, today those 2 percent grow more food for less money. A hundred million Americans found other jobs.
This is a great thing.
Farm work was grueling, dangerous and time-consuming. Better agricultural technology frees people up to do safer, more interesting jobs. It also allows people more leisure. Think how many things we’re free to do now that we grow food with the help of tractors.
Maybe someday we will look at driving cars the way we now look at farming with a mule.
John Stossel is host of “Stossel” on Fox News and author of “No, They Can’t! Why Government Fails — But Individuals Succeed.” For other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit www.creators.com.
COPYRIGHT 2016 BY JFS PRODUCTIONS INC.
–from Rogue
This is bullshit. I don’t want to sit in a car and twiddle my thumbs. Motorists everywhere will fall asleep or become even more distracted. I want to drive. And what about motorcycles?
All these life saving efforts miss the point of life itself. We want to do things, that’s what life is all about.
–Bandit
THE WILDEST FORWARD CONTROLS ON THE PLANET— Jerry Ramirez called yesterday about a feature article on Bikernet, about an Eye Candy Custom.
http://www.bikernet.com/pages/EyeCandy_Customs__CCI_Hard_Core_I_Kit.aspx
Check it out. He wanted to reach Eye Candy about these forward controls. Their site is down but I gave him the following info. Let me know if you have contact with Vincent.
Vincent Fries
EyeCandy Custom Cycles, LLC
Republic, OH
(513)312-1137
vince@eyecandycustomcycles.com
Check out their website for complete build photos!
http://www.EyeCandyCustomCycles.com
–Bandit
BRAND NEW BIKERNET READER COMMENT–
Kendon Single Ride-Up SRL Trailer Retrofit Kit
Thanks for the details of the retrofit. I just bought a 2011 Kendon Single Ride Up (Never used, sat in a garage in Amarillo) and looking to do the retrofit, so that I can load and unload my bike by myself. The kit is now $599 and almost 200 for shipping.
Was the retrofit worth it?
Do you think a local metal fabricator could make it cheaper?
Thanks in advance.
— Chris
oibctl@gmail.com
Albquerque , NM
Hey Chris,
I have had some experience with Kendon products. They are amazing and well thought out. You would be hard-pressed to make a system work locally just to save on the shipping.
–Bandit
BIKERNET SPECIAL REPORT– Methane Leaks: A Visible ‘Environmental Disaster’ and Hidden Threat
By Rebecca Bowe, KQED Science
Today, UC Davis released the first estimates of methane emissions from an underground gas storage field north of Los Angeles. Owned by Southern California Gas Company, the gas has been leaking since October.
UC Davis pilot and scientist Stephen Conley measured the plume and estimates nearly 80,000 tons of methane have been released, or about 1,000 tons per day.
“To put this into perspective, the leak effectively doubles the emission rate for the entire Los Angeles Basin,” says Conley.
The methane has traveled and affected nearby Los Angeles suburb Porter Ranch, displacing thousands of residents.
Yesterday, California Governor Jerry Brown declared a state of emergency over the leak and its impact on the Porter Ranch community.
This leak was the equivalent of burning 900,000,000 gallons of gasoline. Incredible, and the EPA wants to wipe out the performance industry to save a tiny fraction of this level of abuse. Read the whole story on Bikernet coming right up in Special Reports.
–Bandit
WE CAN’T EVER GIVE UP— It just dawned on me. I need to wrap up the Carducci dual sport bike feature. My building effort has distracted me. I’m fighting for my home against the Los Angeles City Department of Building and Safety.
If they kick me out, the Redhead and I will live in an old worn out motorhome out front like so many other folks do in LA. That’s okay, but living in my building isn’t.
We are also working with America Pickers. I don’t know what they’re up to, but they’ve been sniffing around the headquarters.
This weekend I will start a tech on my 5-Ball Racing Indian. We will install a Motherwell travel luggage rack and a little performance upgrade from Night Rider.
Let’s get the hell out of here, find some whiskey and music.
Ride Free Forever,
–Bandit
