SNEAKY BIKERNET SUNDAY POST FOR AUGUST 7, 2016

 

 

BIKERNET IN STURGIS, TRAFFIC REPORT — Sturgis traffic already twisted and tied, even if 2016 rally is smaller than last year

The Hot Springs American Legion Riders Post 71 presented the flag that was raised at the opening ceremonies for the 76th Sturgis motorcycle rally Friday. The group rode down Main Street to the Harley-Davidson Rally Point where the ceremony was held.

All the prognosticators said the 2016 Sturgis motorcycle rally would be smaller than the monster, record-setting 75th rally held last year.

And yet, by Friday afternoon of this non-milestone year, downtown Sturgis was already a traffic quagmire for some.

All means of bikes, trikes, RVs and cars could be seen heading east of downtown Friday afternoon, most heading to the many rally campgrounds.

“This is looking like a very strong rally,” Sturgis City Manager Daniel Ainslie said. “Most of the numbers we are seeing are close to what they were for the 70th in 2010. We will see if we can keep that pace.”

Based on information from the daily municipal press conference, and from staff reports from the scene, here is a look at some news from Sturgis on Friday.

Early arrivals

Ainslie said many rally visitors came to the Black Hills last week, well ahead of the official start on Monday. He suggested that the extensive media coverage of the 75th Sturgis rally last year highlighted the large crowds and traffic, and that some rallygoers came early this year to avoid that.

“I think a lot of people purposely came early so they could still enjoy riding in the Hills, visiting Sturgis, but not have to deal with the crowds,” he said.

Registration at the rally headquarters in the Sturgis Armory showed that visitors from all 50 states are represented, as well as numerous individuals from foreign countries.

City vendor statistics show that as of 8 a.m. Friday, the city had issued 588 temporary vending permits, a mid-range number historically. That number compares to 773 in 2015 and 510 in 2014.

Sturgis Police Chief Geody VanDewater said the major calls for service so far at the rally are parking violations.

“Parking is our number one issue every year. Everybody is vying for a place to park, whether they are a vendor or an attendee,” he said.

Although the ticket for parking illegally is $10, the tow bill can range from $100 to $150, Vandewater estimated.

Grass fire

As if first-responders didn’t have enough to do, crews responded to a grass fire near the Lamphere Ranch Campground about 2:30 p.m. Friday. Sturgis Volunteer Fire Department Chief Tom Trigg said the fire burned about 1.5 acres, but was quickly extinguished.

Welcome to Sturgis

Also on Friday, Sturgis Mayor Mark Carstensen along with city councilman Ron Waterland welcomed the crowds to the 76th Sturgis motorcycle rally at the official kick-off at Harley Davidson Rally Point.

A brick was presented to Ben Bostrom who will serve as the 2016 Grand Marshall for the annual mayor’s ride Monday.

Bostrom said racing on the dirt track in Sturgis launched his motorcycle racing career.

“I want to thank the Sturgis community and everyone who comes to the event. This is the best motorcycle destination in the world,” he said.

 

When I was born, I was given a choice – a big pecker or a good memory…. I don’t remember what I chose.

I’m always slightly terrified when I exit out of Word and it asks me if I want to save any changes to my ten-page technical report that I swear I did not make any changes to.

 

Fort Collins, CO – (August 6, 2016) 4ever2wheels, the motorcycle enthusiast’s Podcast, is hosting an art show at the Community Creative Center in Fort Collins, Colorado, on August 17-20, 2016. Admission is free. A reception will be held Saturday, August 20, from 6 to 9 p.m., featuring a silent art auction, all proceeds of which will go to the Aidan Jack Seeger Foundation.

“We wanted to bring some of the finer aspects of motorcycle art to the Front Range,” says Ken Conte, host of the 4ever2wheels podcast. “And it’s for a great cause.”

The Aidan Jack Seeger Foundation was established for the purpose of heightening awareness about Adrenoleukodystrophy (ALD), helping families with children diagnosed with ALD, and pushing for legislation in all 50 of the United States that mandates screening of newborns for the disease. It was established in honor of Aidan Seeger, a bright and kind boy who succumbed to ALD in April 2012 at 7 years old. Had he been diagnosed, he could have been treated and enjoyed a full, healthy life.

The 4Ever2Wheels art show will include artwork from some of the most renowned motorcycle artists working today, including David Uhl, Mike Lichter, Jeff Cochran, Darren McKeag, Chris Callen and others.

A little bit about the artists:

Chris Callen is a lifelong motorcycle enthusiast, artist and advocate of grassroots motorcycle culture. He started Cycle Source magazine out of Pittsburgh, PA, in 1995 and still serves as Editor-In-Chief along with being an artist and musician.

Darren McKeag is a renowned tattooist, journalist, photographer and fine artist. He writes and takes pictures for Cycle Source magazine and does tattooing; custom motorcycle paint jobs; pinstriping; and T-shirt, event poster and logo design, among other artistic endeavors related to motorcycles.

David Uhl is the in-house fine artist for Harley-Davidson–he’s done many designs for H-D apparel and is renowned for his oil-on-canvas renderings of H-D culture and history. He owns and operates his own award-winning illustration company, Uhl Studios, out of Golden, Colorado.

Jeff Cochran since founding the clothing company Sinwear in 1998 and co-founding Sucker Punch Sally’s in 2000 he has built bikes and shot pictures of the motorcycle culture. His images have been on the covers of several magazines and been featured in numerous gallery shows. Currently he build select custom motorcycles a year for a few fortunate customers and shoots images constantly for his company Speedking.

Michael Lichter is a world-famous motorcycle and commercial photographer whose work has appeared in countless magazines and photography shows. His photography has garnered widespread acclaim, and he’s been featured in many magazines and several television shows. He will have a silent auction for a personal photo shoot of your bike.

— Ken Conte

 

BIKERNET’S “LAST CALL” TIPS FOR THE SUMMER– Summer’s Almost Over—More Reasons Why You “Need” to Take to the Road

With summer coming to a close, our fellow bikers continue to hit the road and try not to admit that they are dreading the coming cold weather. After all, we all know that fall and winter weather expose the truth that we never want admit: we really are a bunch of arthritic old farts. Despite the aching joints, wrinkles, and assortment of other aging by-products, we all still share a passion for riding that we’ll never outgrow. So, while we still have a few more weeks of easy-going sunshine and perfect biker weather left, let’s make the most of it.

You know that Sons of Arthritis provides the best biker gifts and biker accessories, and we’ll use any excuse to fire up our motorcycles and ride. As we inch toward the end of summer, here are some ideas to help you squeeze in as much time on the road as possible (or at lease convince your spouse why you need to go):

• Do you need to pick up one of your many prescriptions? Who could blame you if that twenty-minute trip into a two-hour detour? If you have to wait in line at the pharmacy, you at least deserve a little fun along the way.

• We bet that if you looked really carefully, you could find a rally that is calling your name. Think of it as community-building, and maybe even networking…yeah, networking sounds reasonable.

• Summer is the time of small-town festivals and county fairs. Surly you can convince your spouse that you just have to see the world’s largest watermelon or eat a deep-fried Twinkie before you die.

• Gas prices are still low, which is always a handy excuse for a good ride. After all, for all we know, the zombie apocalypse could be just around the corner, making gas too scarce for bikers like us.

 

noun

Citations for spindrift

— Edith Wharton, The House of Mirth, 1905

Scots — 1590-1600
Spindrift is a variant of the Scots spoondrift, with the nautical verb spoon or spoom meaning “to run or scud before the wind.” It entered English around 1600.

 

BIKERNET’S DETENTION HALL LOOKOUT — What Sturgis Police Will Be Watching For During This Year’s Motorcycle Rally

Nothing puts a damper on fun quite like a run in with Johnny Law, and with the increased police presence in and around the city of Sturgis during the annual motorcycle rally, knowing the state and local laws is a must. To make sure you have the 411 on what law enforcement officers will be looking for, Sturgis Rider® News sat down with Chief of Police Geody VanDewater of the Sturgis Police Department. Make sure you and other riders on the road can have a safe and fun time during this year’s Sturgis motorcycle rally by checking out his list of dos and don’ts.

Drinking and Driving

Illegal Drug Use

Failure to Stop at Red Lights and Stop Signs
Traffic congestion is to be expected when you come into the city of Sturgis, but it’s important to remember to obey all traffic laws. When stopping at red lights and stop signs, you must come to a complete stop.

– Sturgis Chief of Police Geody VanDewater

Passing on the Sidewalk or Shoulder

Recent law changes allow you to have handlebars on your bike at the height of your choosing, but there are other modifications that are still illegal. For example, there are rules about how loud your exhaust system can be. All modifications must be factory altered. Removing the baffles in your exhaust is still against the law.

Indecent Exposure

Helmets and Eye Protection

Helmets are required for any passengers under 18 and protective eyewear is a must. Beyond that, there are no restrictions on what you can wear on your bike, but Chief VanDewater recommends you play it safe and wear the right gear when riding. Full leathers and closed-toe footwear are encouraged.

The most common complaint the Sturgis Police Department receives during the rally involves parking violations. Parking downtown can be a real pain in the you-know-what, but that doesn’t mean you can park just anywhere.

You are allowed to park anywhere on downtown streets within the barricades, except for intersections. If you are parked in handicap spots or in zones outside of the barricades that are painted yellow or red, your vehicle will be ticketed and towed. Avoid parking in alleyways or private parking lots. Public Works cleans the streets nightly to keep Sturgis looking beautiful, so if you leave your bike parked downtown after 2 a.m., it will be towed. Chief VanDewater suggests taking advantage of public transportation to keep you and your bike safe.

 

Celebrated painter, Harley lover, opens gallery in Deadwood

DEADWOOD | Following a major renovation project that took more than a year, celebrated painter Scott Jacobs has opened a spacious and striking new art gallery on Deadwood’s Main Street that replaced a boarded up, drab façade with colorful works of art featuring motorcycles, wine and vintage vehicles.

“The place had been closed up for six years,” said Jacobs, whose artistic roots stretch back 40 years. “This building was just a big empty eyesore, so it was time somebody did something with it.”

Jacobs and his construction crew transformed the 11,000-square-foot former soda fountain into an exceptional space now home to hundreds of his paintings, apparel, merchandise and six of the 14 exquisite vintage Harleys he and Sharon, his wife of 31 years, have amassed over the years.

“We love the Black Hills, and we’ve loved them for a long time,” Jacobs said last week. “Some people don’t get it. But we get it. We really love it here.

“We’re so honored to own this building and be a part of Deadwood’s history,” the artist added. “With all we’ve done to it, I feel like this building will be around for another hundred years now. It’s been our field of dreams. We’ve re-built it, and now we just hope people will come.”

After spending 38 years and operating galleries in New Jersey, the mild climate of Southern California attracted Jacobs in 1996. But over the past few years, Jacobs said he and his wife had thought about relocating to a place, “where we could enjoy life and our free time.”

The successful artist said he had developed an affinity for the Black Hills since attending his first Sturgis rally in 1994, where he sold his wares from a small tent on Main Street. This summer, his wife and two daughters, Alexa, 24, and Olivia, 26, have assumed larger roles in the business and can often be found manning the counter or assisting customers in the new gallery.

“It’s awesome,” Jacobs said of involving his family in the business. “I know I can trust them, and it’s pretty amazing having them here. Even a nephew, Todd, a full-time assistant painter, will soon be moving here to work right alongside me.”

Working with acrylic on canvas, Jacobs’ paintings have revolved around five primary categories: motorcycles, cars, wine, women in masks, and floral presentations.

“If I just did motorcycles, it would limit my market and my followers,” said Jacobs, who has established his special place for painting right upstairs from the gallery. “When I added wine, it really blew it open.”

Jacobs’ smaller limited-edition prints start at $525. His originals, some as large as six feet across, have sold for $12,000 to $190,000. In 1993, he was the first artist ever licensed by Harley-Davidson to produce fine art, which was then applied to prints as well as posters, pocket watches, collector coins, puzzles, beer steins, coffee mugs, tiles for bars and bathrooms, playing cards and collector plates.

One of his recent paintings will soon appear on the face of a $2,500 Swiss-made watch, 30 of which have already been sold, Jacobs said.

“I learned so much from other artists who were successful,” he said. “Just like the music industry, you have to have talent, and you have to stay relevant. And, in my case, you have to produce things that people want to hang on their wall.”

Jacobs said that knack for success wasn’t always in evidence.

When he first met his future wife 33 years ago, Jacobs said he told Sharon that he loved painting and he showed her a work he had just produced of a waterfall. At its top was a large rock and the water was rushing around it before falling off a cliff, he explained.

“She thought the painting was of a sheepdog and the rock was the dog’s nose,” he said, with a short laugh. “I should have given up at that point. I still wish I had that painting.”

Even today, after worldwide tours and commercial success, Jacobs said his wife was still his harshest critic.

“I’ll have put the final varnish on a painting, signed it, and am getting it ready to ship and she’ll come in and say, ‘The mouth is wrong or the eye needs something,’ and I’ll say, ‘It’s done,’” Jacobs said. “But when she leaves the room, I’ll look at it again and, inevitably, I’ll make the change she suggested.”

 

Gardena, CA. HEARTLAND USA is known for their elegance, form and function of V-Twin motorcycle accessories. They have taken that vision and developed a new rear axle mounted plate holder that definitely has all those attributes built in. This axle mount plate holder comes in three versions. The Standard version is a horizontal plate holder. The Vertical Standard means the plate is vertical and the Horizon version is mounted horizontally and comes with a Red, Cat-Eye Run brake light. All axle plate holders are designed with a built in plate light that illuminates the license plate.

The axle area of the mount is machined from high grade steel and then powdercoated black. The plate holder is machined from billet, aircraft grade aluminum. It is available in various finished combinations of Chrome and Black.

They are available through your local dealer or you can contact Heartland USA for more details. Check out their website at www.heartlandbiker.com; e-mail them at info@heartlandbiker.com; or call Heartland USA at 310-822-2697.

 

NMA E-Newsletter #395 – School—Now in Session

If you grew up in rural America, you probably rode a school bus to school every day. If a child lives in the country or farther away from the school, the only reasonable way to get there is to ride a yellow school bus. Someone has to pay for that though and school districts, especially in rural America, are struggling to keep up the costs of bussing students. Buying, updating, maintaining, gassing a fleet plus providing funds for drivers and their training strains rural school districts all over the U.S.

According to the National Center for Education Statistics, in the school year 2010-11 (last time assessed) 57% of all operating regular school districts were located in rural areas, 20% in suburbia, 18 percent in towns and only 5 percent in cities. One-quarter of all public school students were enrolled in rural schools. Transporting students is big business but for small rural districts, the dance to transport students, maintain efficiency and obtain much needed state funding can be problematic.

In Wisconsin for example, the Department of Public Instruction created a program in the 2013-15 budget cycle called the High Cost Transportation Aid program which distributes funds to rural districts to offset their transportation costs. The 2015-17 state budget increased the allocation from $5 to $7.5 million to help out districts.

This school year, 128 districts will share in the $7.5 million dollars of the High Cost Transportation Aid program. That’s great news for the districts that received the money but there are nearly 200 districts who did not receive any additional aid.

Statewide average for transportation costs per student is Wisconsin is nearly $419.00 per year. For school districts eligible for transportation aid, they must have 50 students or fewer per square mile and their transportation costs must by 150% or more of the statewide average ($628.50).

Rhinelander, WI did not receive any funding this time around even though they have only 6 students per square mile but do not spend enough money per child to make the cut. Rhinelander School District Superintendent Kelli Jacobi thinks the formula should also take into account the district’s poverty rate. Rhinelander’s median income is $30,000 but the district has high property rates due to the numerous vacation homes and resorts. This means, Rhinelander generally gets less in state aid for schools and must balance the rest from taxpayers.

An even smaller school district in the Spring Green area (River Valley School District) did not receive the grant either. Business Manager for the district, Jon Novak thinks the state should adjust the formula to remove the amount of money a district spends. River Valley has fewer than five students per square mile but according to Novak, River Valley School District was able to hold down its transportation costs by being more efficient. River Valley transports 87% of the student body covering a geographical location of 296 square miles.

Why does this matter to the everyday motorist? As transportation funds grow scarce, school districts will look for more creative ways to find funds to help leverage their transportation costs. School bus cameras for one, as well as extending school zone areas and making school zone speed limits 24/7/365. This brings in more revenue to help offset these costs.

The National Motorists Association applauds those rural districts who work each year to improve the efficiency of their transportation fleet, but also don’t feel that a school district should be penalized for doing so.

 

 

 

 

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