Hey,
I’ll try this again. Don’t forget Daylight Savings Time and roll back your clocks.
I rode my new/old Panhead again yesterday. Dr. Hamster picked up his rebuilt Pan engine from Bennett’s Performance yesterday and brought it to the shop. We’re getting close to starting to assemble this classic.
I moved Frankie’s Dyna from the back lift to the lift I use for my bike builds. It’s wider and has better lighting. On Monday we will mount the new, beautiful Saddlemen seat, run new front, dual disc brake lines, and install the new Brass Balls Air Cleaner.
NEWS FROM THE HILL – ‘Well-Intentioned but Deeply Flawed’ – The House Hits Back on Ethanol.
You’ve Got Mail! Or so said EPA
Administrator Scott’s Pruitt’s assistant this week. Sixty-four House lawmakers, led by Republican Bob Goodlatte of Virginia and Democrat Peter Welch of Vermont, slammed the Renewable Fuel Standard (aka ethanol) in a letter to Pruitt as “a well-intentioned but deeply flawed policy that has negatively impacted families and businesses” around the country.
They urged EPA to factor in its “significant pitfalls and costs” in future regulatory actions. This letter stems from all the activity last week where Pruitt folded after ethanol-state Senators hinted in a very obvious way that they would obstruct votes to confirm some top EPA officials. Ultimately, Pruitt directed EPA staff to “actively explore” whether the agency has legal authority to grant a waiver allowing year-round sale of gasoline with 15 percent ethanol. No word on that outcome just yet…
To read the letter in its entirety:
https://goodlatte.house.gov/uploadedfiles/110117_rfs_letter_to_epa.pdf
INEOS SNAPS UP LUXURY FASHION BRAND Belstaff– Hannah Boland
Chemicals giant Ineos has bought Belstaff, the British heritage fashion brand, in the latest off-centre move by its founder and chairman, billionaire Jim Ratcliffe, a month after he unveiled plans to start making cars.
On announcing its purchase of Belstaff, Ineos cited its “links to automotive”. The label, which was established in 1924, is best known for its waxed motorcycle jackets, as worn by Steve McQueen in The Great Escape, but also made aviator jackets, famously for Amelia Earhart and Amy Johnson.
The purchase of a fashion brand is not the first unconventional decision taken by the chemicals giant. Last month it revealed plans to set up an independent car company to make a successor to the Land Rover Defender, in a move which critics called a “vanity project”. The Defender went out of production in 2016.
The acquisition of Belstaff, which is expected to complete in the fourth quarter of this year, comes just months after the fashion label’s owner, JAB Holdings, sold its majority stake in luxury shoe brand Jimmy Choo.
JAB, the investment vehicle of the German Reimann family, is currently moving its focus towards food and beverage and beauty assets, and away from luxury goods.
JAB is understood to be looking for buyers for the one luxury business left in its portfolio, Swiss shoe manufacturer Bally.
Over the summer, reports emerged that the Italian owner of Diesel, OTB Group, had made a play for Belstaff, with analysts speculating the loss-making business, which was bought for £100m in 2011, could go for as little as £3m.
JAB declined to comment on the terms of the deal with Ineos.
Ineos said the purchase would see Belstaff “returned back into British ownership”, and that it would give details on its plans for the retailer in due course.
–the Telegraph
HEAR WE GO, OPEN THE BIKERNET BAD JOKE LIBRARY– An exit strategy for all my married buddies or those thinking of it.
At breakfast, the man asked his wife, “What would you do if I won the lottery?”
She replied, “I’d take half and leave you.”
“Great,” he said. “Here’s $6. I won $12 yesterday. Stay in touch.”
–Steve Bauman
You know, in my humble opinion…the Shovel on your cover shot is really clean…but, that pipe wrap rats it out. However, the young lady is very well equipped. Opinions and assholes I guess….but the girl…no argument.
— Sam
Somewhere in Texas
INTERNATIONAL EDITOR TRIPS THROUGH SAIGON ON SATURDAY–
I saw this little signboard and thought what down this skinny alley but why not give it a try. A rare find of family run restaurant with home cooked Vietnam traditional meals.
Great and very nice proprietors.
The reunification palace is where the fall of Saigon actually took place. It was the presidential seat of S. VN
The functioning post office is a must see on the city tour.
The Christian church is a major attraction and popular wedding destination. An anomaly for a communist country. It may be Catholic.
The grande interior of H&R post office.
So far all is going well. The weather has been a welcome cloudy for my stay keeping it more comfortable. A little rain this evening cooled it even more. On to Bkk Monday. Return LA Nov 23
–Art Hall
Supreme International Bikernet Emperor Editor
JUST ONE MORE THING ….. Just one more thing on ObamaCare Repeal … Since only 8 million people have ObamaCare, how will 24 million people die if it is repealed? … Will 16 million people be randomly shot?
Just one more thing on Donald Trump … If Donald Trump deleted all of his emails, wiped his server with Bleach and destroyed all of his phones with a hammer, would the Mainstream Media suddenly lose all interest in the story and declare him innocent?
Just one more thing on Equal Pay … If women do the same job for less money, why do companies hire men to do the same job for more money?
Just one more thing on Sanctuary Cities … If you rob a bank in a Sanctuary City, is it illegal or is it just an Undocumented Withdrawal?
Just one more thing on ISIS … Each ISIS attack now is a reaction to Trump policies, but all ISIS attacks during Obama’s term were due to Climate Change and a plea for jobs.
Just one more thing on the London ‘Lone Wolf’ Terror Attack … After the London ‘Lone Wolf’ terrorist attack government officials have arrested at least eight other ‘Lone Wolves’ who had conspired with the original ‘Lone Wolf’ in planning the ‘Lone Wolf’ attack. Even though all involved are Muslims, you can be assured, the ‘Lone Wolf’ attack has nothing at all to do with Islam, just like the other 1000 plus ‘Lone Wolf’ attacks by Muslims are completely unassociated with Islam.
Just one more thing on Entitlements … We should stop calling them all ‘Entitlements’. Welfare, Food Stamps, WIC, ad nauseum are not entitlements. They are taxpayer-funded handouts and shouldn’t be called entitlements at all. Social Security and Veterans Benefits are Entitlements, because the people receiving them are entitled to them. They were earned and paid for by the recipients.
Just one more thing on the Muslim Refugees … If Muslims want to run away from a Muslim country, does that mean they’re Islamophobic?
Just one more thing on The Women’s March … If Liberals don’t believe in biological gender, then why did they march for women’s rights?
Just one more thing on the Russians hacking the election … How did the Russians get Debbie Wasserman Schultz and the DNC to steal the Primary from Bernie Sanders? How did Russia get Donna Brazile to leak debate questions to Hillary Clinton in advance of the debates?
Just one more thing on Democrats and the Electoral College … Why is it that Democrats think Super delegates are fine, but they have a problem with the Electoral College?
Just one more thing on Russia Manipulating Our Elections … The DNC is mad at Russia because they ‘think’ they are trying to manipulate our election by exposing that the DNC is manipulating our election?
Just one more thing on Trump’s ‘Locker Room Banter’ … Why is it that Liberals and the Media are upset about the words Trump used 11 years ago, but they are all right with adult men using the Ladies Room with your Wives and Daughters?
–Sam Burns
The NMA Foundation’s fall fundraising campaign is off to a rousing start– The goal is to help fund development of an NMA system that will streamline communications between the public and elected officials on key issues affecting motorists.
If you haven’t donated yet, please consider doing so before the end of the year by visiting our online donation page, calling us toll-free at 800-882-2785, or look for a Foundation letter about the campaign in your mailbox in early December. Remember: Because the NMA Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, donations are tax deductible.
In the coming weeks, look for additional information via the weekly e-newsletter on our efforts in Washington. If you do not receive our weekly e-newsletter click HERE to go to the NMA E-Newsletter Page where you can locate the “Subscribe” block in the right sidebar and sign up for both our weekly email newsletter and an RSS feed for the NMA Blog.
Annual Membership Drive Update
November 15th is the deadline for the NMA Annual Membership Drive Sweepstakes. Consider giving the gift of membership to family and friends this holiday season so they can also benefit as a supporting member of the National Motorists Association. An NMA supporting membership is truly a gift that keeps on giving year round. It provides access to all the valuable resources in the Members Only section of the Motorists.org website and to the exclusive, home-delivered content of the Driving Freedoms magazine.
Click Here for more details on the NMA Annual Member Sweepstakes.
The New NMA Advocacy Guidebook
For the past year, the NMA National Office has been developing the Advocacy Guidebook for supporting members. The Guidebook plus three different tool kits will be available for your use.
The Guidebook and Tool Kits can be found in the supporting Members Only section of the website. Preview links for the Guidebook and the Citizen Lobbying Tool Kit are provided below.
The Advocacy Guidebook has been written for every supporting member who wants to gain more knowledge on how to advocate for motorists’ rights. It provides advice, resources, and examples on how to advocate on a local, state and national level. Find great tips on how to contact and communicate with elected officials either by writing or calling. Get pointers on writing online comments, letters-to-the-editor and opinion pieces. Learn how to prepare and speak up at community meetings.
The three tool kits are for members who have the desire to take their advocacy efforts to the next level.
The Citizen Lobbying Tool Kit gives basics on how to approach elected officials to lobby directly for or against a bill or ordinance and also how to gain credibility with policymakers.
The Local Organizing Tool Kit (online by the end of November) gives pointers on how to organize a local protest group and perhaps even develop a local chapter of the National Motorists Association.
The Media Tool Kit (online by the end of November) gives details on how to formulate plans for local event publicity and how to approach the media for localized issues (such as shortened yellow lights).
Everyone on the national staff participated in the making of these guides and we
want to especially thank Member Josh McKay for assisting us with proofreading.
Make 2018 the year you commit to advocating on behalf of motorists in your area. Read the Advocacy Guidebook and find ways how you can best serve the cause. Keep up to date with Driving News, read your State-specific News and learn about the issues in your area. Get involved with your state’s Discussion Forum and help the NMA expand the dialog about motorists’ issues to a broader community.
The latter part of the year is also a great time to begin advocating state lawmakers. Put together some materials on NMA Issues and ask for a meet and greet with your representatives especially if they happen to sit on the transportation or finance committees.
State Activists
Even though we know most of you are working hard to advocate for motorists’ rights whenever you can, the NMA needs help on a more sustained basis. The NMA needs advocates who have the time, energy and interest to assist the NMA as a state activist. Within five years, we hope to have at least one named activist per state to help with monitoring legislation as well as other more advanced advocacy actions. If you have interest and time in becoming a state activist, please contact the National Office at nma@motorists.org for more details.
LATEST BIKERNET BOOK REVIEW– The Last Chicago Boss:
ISBN: 97812500172242
As a rider I have been introduced to the world of 1% clubs. My brother in-law was a 1% member of one of the major MCs. I went with him on club runs and did a little bit of hanging around. I’ve been in that pack of hundreds of motorcycles taking control of the road as a single entity.
Peter “Big Pete” James tells his story progressing up the ranks of the MCs in Chicago. He brings to life many of the situations I have encountered with the MCs and goes so much further.
Reading his stories brought back to life my time attending a MC funeral and the immensity of it, the understanding of respect and the mentality of the MC 1%ers. I don’t think there is much exaggeration in his recountings.
From his childhood, through college, and into his last days he tells it like it was. He explains the thoughts behind his actions and let’s you know what was driving him. A successful man with a calculating mind he took himself from the ground up to a highly influential member of the Chicago MCs.
From building relationship with the local police, to fighting with the Angels the stories run the gamut of life as an MC Boss. His stories kept me turning pages and at times I couldn’t put the book down.
Review by David Campbell
Official Certified Bikernet Book Review Writer
David “Dangerous Dave” Campbell
Earl’s Garage – Motorcycle, Hotrod, and Event Photography
www.earlsgarage.co www.facebook.com/garage_photos
Read the entire review on Bikernet next week.–Bandit
WORLD WIDE BIKERNET WEEKLY NEWS for November 2, 2017
Well the Honda six chopper proves that too much often is just not enough.
–Sam
Lost in Texas
BIKERNET UNIVERSITY WEEKEND UPLIFTING VOCABULARY LESSON–
adjective
2. bubbling up like a boiling liquid.
QUOTES
Howie is ebullient. He bounds up to Alberta to hug her awkwardly…. “You were great!”
ORIGIN
The English adjective ebullient comes from the Latin present participle stem ebullient-, from the verb ebullire “to bubble, boil, boil over.” The Latin verb derives from the noun bulla “bubble, knob, stud,” i.e., something that swells up and becomes round. From the Latin noun bulla, English has bull (as in a “papal bull”), bowl (as in the sport), and bulla (a medical term meaning “large vesicle”). The verb ebullire has the prefix e-, from ex- “going out or forth, changing condition” (as when water boils) and derives from the simple verb bullire “to bubble, boil.”
Bullire regularly becomes boillir in Old French (bouillir in modern French), the source of the English verb boil. Ebullient entered English in the late 16th century.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED FOREIGN FILM–
Do you know your quote, “if it’s not alright it is not the end?”
I highly recommend watching this movie about a dozen retired British people taking up retirement in an India resort which is under construction.
True life, true comedy.
–Wayfarer
Most Magnificent Bikernet Trikes Editor
LOWBROW WEEKEND DEAL– We just revamped our homepage, making it easier to use and better for mobile use. We also redid our Blog, which is chock-full of the best free motorcycle tech how-to articles and videos, event coverage, and historical motorcycle articles.
Now, when you are in your garage you can easily follow along with our articles on your phone or ipad while wrenching on your moto, and look up any parts you might need.
Also, now all US orders over $39.95 ship free! Excludes frames and hardtails. Thanks!
The Funniest Guy in Biker Media, J.J.
I remember J.J. Solari’s stories in the first 3 volumes of Easyriders Best Biker Fiction paperbacks back in the ’70s.
I bought them all at Woolworth’s!
I lost those books over the years and that is a shame because they are rare and really expensive now.
Still remember Solari’s stories of Reno and the Booze Fighters and Wally Pierson.
I remember the No Class Chick story about the guy in the race who had a girl rider with him but she OD’d and died and the race rules said he had to ride with her. Hilarious!
Those are some gut-bustin’ funny tales.
Does that When Bikers Meet Humans have those stories?
Could you at least share the table of contents?
— Tyler Raleigh
Garden Grove, CA
We will fix that and if you send me your address, we send you a copy. It does contain all his classics.–Bandit
HELP TO A READER–
My Electraglide Standard did not come with a radio. I installed a fairing compartment in place of the radio p/n 58313-96. Made of something like Cordura it has a heavy zipper with a Velcro secured outer flap. It has served me well for many years. I don’t know if it is still available.
I can’t remember which company but one of the bagger accessory aftermarket groups had a similar version in a hard case with a locking hinged door.
–SAM
INSPIRING WORDS FROM THE OPTIMIST’ MOUNTAIN— Promise yourself to be so strong nothing can disturb your peace of mind.
–Ming Ball
MOTORCYCLE INDUSTRY ICON TOM WHITE PASSES AWAY AT 68– Tom White, famed motorcycle racer, business owner, philanthropist, and historian, has passed away after a courageous battle against cancer. He was 68.
Tom was raised near the ocean in Huntington Beach, California, where he grew up surfing before discovering his life-long passion: motorcycles. He soon found his niche in flat track racing, eventually earning national number 80 as a professional.
In 1976, White founded Tom White’s Cycle Specialties, which would later become White Brothers Cycle Specialties when White partnered with his twin brother, Dan. Over the next 25 years, White Brothers would grow into a nearly $40 million-a-year company that employed nearly 200 employees at its peak. White sold White Brothers in 2000, and turned his attention towards restoring and collecting vintage motocross bikes.
Over the next decade, White’s collection grew to over 170 motorcycles, including a variety of unique models from brands such as Husqvarna, CZ, Maico, Bultaco, BSA, and others. White believed his efforts were but one piece of a greater industry initiative to ensure the history and legacy of motorcycle racing in the United States remained intact and relevant for future generations of racers and fans.
White’s Early Years of Motocross Museum, located on his family’s private property in Orange County, California, is not open to the public, but it has played host to motorcycle industry events including product launches, professional racing media gatherings, as well as numerous charity fundraising efforts.
In addition to his role as a motorcycle historian, White discovered another passion over the past few decades: announcing motorcycle races. White became the announcer of the weekly REM motocross series at Glen Helen Raceway in San Bernardino, California, one of his greatest joys. In 2017, White was honored with a monument along Glen Helen’s Walk of Fame. White also served as the announcer for many professional races throughout the United States, reveling in the thrill of all disciplines of motorcycle racing.
In 2014, White was inducted into the AMA Hall of Fame. And in 2018, White is due to receive the prestigious Dick Hammer lifetime achievement award from the Southern California Trailblazers Motorcycle Club.
“While we mourn the loss of an incredible human being, we also celebrate his life, his achievements, his passion for motorcycles, and his love of friends and family,” says the White family. “We hope that Tom’s life story serves as inspiration to everyone that fierce determination and good will can yield a life extraordinarily well lived.”
Tom White passed away peacefully in his home, surrounded by his family, along several of his favorite motorcycles. He is survived by his wife, children, grandchildren, dear friends, and motorcycle enthusiasts around the world.
White will be honored in a memorial service to be announced at a future date.
–from Sam Burns
AFTER THE YES /NO VOTE LEGISLATION GOES THROUGH CONGRESS–
There are important questions to be answered about expected new LGBT bathroom legislation and whether transgender people will be permitted to use a restroom of the gender that they “identify” with or be required to use the restroom of their Biological gender.
If the latter, will public restrooms be required to have a Genital Inspection Station posted at the entrance to all public restrooms?
Who will have to pay these Pecker Checkers, the people using the restroom, or the entity that owns the restroom?
And how much money will a Pecker Checker be paid to check peckers? Or, do we pay a Pecker Checker by the number of peckers checked? If so, the following question arises:
How many peckers can a Pecker Checker check, if a Pecker Checker could check peckers?
The Government will now have to create a new job description of “Politically Correct” Restroom Service Inspectors?
Want to guess their motto ………..???
If You gotta pee – We gotta see!”
–Anonymous contributor
GOTCHA SPEED ENFORCEMEN– Feds Are Complicit
With great thanks to advocate Joe Bahen, the NMA played an active role in the development of the 2012-2016 Virginia Strategic Highway Safety Plan (SHSP). With the SHSP for the next five years now moving into the implementation phase, Joe continues to work with state officials to craft a safety roadmap that is effective and fair to motorists. That is easier said than done, particularly with both state and federal authorities resisting those efforts.
Joe’s particular focus has been on curbing the use of National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) funding for Virginia speed enforcement actions on roadways where the speed limits are demonstrably underposted. It is in these areas, where the natural flow of traffic moves several miles per hour over the posted limit, that ticketing operations are akin to shooting fish in a barrel. Virginia is not alone among states in playing the ticket quota game to secure federal funding.
Bahen’s efforts are consistent with the “Eliminate federally funded ticket blitzes” plank in the NMA’s 2017–2018 National Legislative Agenda. After attending the December 2016 kickoff meeting for the Virginia 2017-2021 SHSP, Joe expressed his concerns to a leading state highway safety official:
“Operating speed is a function of roadway geometry and roadside friction. It cannot be changed by enforcement. Excessive enforcement of an underposted limit causes a larger percentage of motorists to drive too slowly, making the highway even more dangerous. Enforcement also infuriates motorists who believe they are the victim of a speed trap, something police do not need considering the current problems with police-community relations.
“Therefore, we (the NMA) recommend that the new SHSP state in clear, definite and certain language that properly engineered speed limits must precede enforcement, and that the use of federal grant monies for speed enforcement must be limited to roadways posted at their statutory maximum or reduced based on federal guidelines, i.e., within 5 mph of the 85th-percentile speed of free-flowing traffic.”
Joe supported the recommendation by presenting several speed studies conducted at popular enforcement areas where 85th percentile speeds (and therefore common vehicle speeds) were 12 to 16 mph over the posted limit. Fish meet barrel.
As the SHSP Steering Committee meetings continued into 2017, Joe was granted the opportunity to address the SHSP Speed Team in person and to present the NMA’s recommendation that the use of federal grant money to enforce speed limits that fail to meet federal guidelines be discontinued.
After the presentation, a Virginia Highway Safety Office (VAHSO) executive in attendance said she would discuss the NMA recommendation with NHTSA where the state ticket blitz grant monies originate. While we wish we could say we were surprised by the response, that would be disingenuous: “I (VAHSO executive) mentioned that general description and she (NHTSA official) indicated generally that enacting your recommendation was not something they would require.” In other words, the federal agency that distributes funding to the states to conduct high visibility enforcement actions has no compunction to protect the public from speed traps. Rather, it overtly supports such activities.
As promised during our legislative campaign this past spring, the NMA has launched a concerted lobbying effort in Washington. We have initiated that effort by focusing on two key areas: 1) strengthening civilian protections against government seizure of property, and 2) combating the overreach of enforcement efforts as signified by the National Transportation Safety Board’s call in July to blanket U.S. roads with speed cameras and to ramp up funding for the type of enforcement activities that Joe Bahen and the NMA are fighting to regulate in Virginia.
We will publish our position papers for both of those initiatives within the next few issues of this e-newsletter.
Clearly we have our work cut out for us to break the institutionalized “ticketing for money” mindset on both the national and state levels.
Use this link to share this NMA E-Newsletter with others:
https://www.motorists.org/alerts/gotcha-speed-enforcement-feds-complicit-nma-e-newsletter-460/
INTERIOR DESIGNS TO ROCK YOUR WORLD— El Waggs
WORLD WIDE BIKERNET WEEKLY NEWS for November 2, 2017
I really like that spare parts pan. My type of ride. A little sweaty but gets you there. Nice work.
–Rhys
Daytona Beach, FL
THE BEGINNING— This still is a wild year. Think about all that has happened this year in and outside the motorcycle world. There are more events than ever before. There are more motorcycles, more brands and more models.
I believe 2018 will be a banner year for Trikes and we will do our best to cover the market. Paul Garson is currently working with Paughco since they build all the components to turn almost any motorcycle into a trike. You should see that shortly.
The year is winding down fast, and I’m not sure what to do right now. I’ve still got the bronze sculpture on the welding table. And there’s one more writing project I set aside for a couple of years. It’s never dull around here, that’s for sure.
Ride Free Forever,
–Bandit
