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The shots that dazzle the news were the creative products of Paul Davis while attending a CBA and ABATE annual swapmeet in North Carolina–enjoy.
From TheGUNNY’S SACK
I gotta tell ya folks, if ya didn’t get to the NCOM (National Coalition of Motorcyclists)Regional Meeting in Portland, OR on November 2nd, ya missed out on not only a great timebut a great experience with talking to and hearing some very knowledgeable freedomfighters from around the country.
The meeting was at the DoubleTree Inn at Jantzen Beach right on the Columbia river. First time in ten years in Oregon. Saturday morning the festivities took off like ashot.
The thing started with an NCOM Board of Directors meeting that all were invited to. Wereceived reports on the status of our fight for personal freedoms across the country. People like “Doc” Reichenbach the NCOM chairman of the board, Florida’s ABATE presidentand lobbyist for motorcyclists in that state. This man can walk into the governor’soffice in Florida (Jeb Bush, our President’s brother), without an appointment. BillCarlton from TMRA (Texas Motorcycle Riders Association) also let us know what ishappening there. Dennis “Big D” Watson from New Mexico gave us a report on his regionand also what is happening in the NCOM “Outreach” program, working with ALL segments ofour riding community, not just street riders.
Later on, Doc gave us some insight on what the proposed “EPA” regulations will do tosmall motorcycle business ventures around the country. So many people are adverselyaffected by some of these hair-brained schemes from bureaucrats. The monetary costsinvolved will have devastating effects on every state’s economies. We’re talkingHUNDREDS OF MILLIONS of dollars in lost revenues because of the closures of small bikeshops and lost jobs in EVERY state. And this country is in recession right now.
Butch Harbaugh, our own Oregon Freedom Fighter and chairman of the NCOM Legislative TaskForce and former Oregon motorcycle lobbyist gave us an overview of the fight for bikers’rights across the country. Things are looking positive overall, but we have so much moreto do. Jeff Rabe, lobbyist for the Modified Motorcycle Association of California andliaison for the Northern California Confederation of Clubs, and wearer of several otherhats, led us on a discussion of working with other lobbyists from other organizations toincrease our clout in the legislative halls in our own states. It works, and if you takea look around you will find many of the issues we have affect others as well. We canwork together in many ways.
Marty Fox, A.I.M. Attorney for Washington, gave a talk about 1st Amendment rights in thatcase you may have read about in Carson City, NV where bikers were ejected from acourthouse because of their patches. The 9th US Circuit Court of Appeals (that’s RIGHTunder the U.S. Supreme Court) gave a BIG VICTORY for bikers, thanks in part to thedonated work of Kevin Karp, our Northern Nevada A.I.M. (Aid to Injured Motorcyclists)lawyer. Marty also talked about problems riding between states. There are things we doin Oregon, for example, that are no-no’s in other states. Don’t try to ride inWashington State from Oregon wearing a “Beanie” helmet, for example. YOU WILL BETICKETED and the threat of having yur scoot confiscated is there. And don’t come toOregon from Washington without motorcycle insurance. It isn’t required in Washington,but is law in Oregon, and can get you in a lot of hot water.
Sam Hochberg (Oregon A.I.M. Attorney) brought Jim Rice, a criminal defense and civilrights lawyer here in Portland, to talk about the terrorist threat and how the newanti-terrorist laws, the “US PATRIOT Act” in particular, effect riders. So much of thisstuff takes place without citizen input. We don’t have a say in our own governmentanymore, and we need to put it to a stop. We’ve lost some more freedoms because ofknee-jerk reactions in our nation’s congressional halls. 9/11 DID SO MUCH MORE THANDESTROY THE TWIN TOWERS AND KILL THOUSANDS OF INNOCENT PEOPLE. Some really scary legalstuff came down too.
Ken Ray, chair of BikePAC of Oregon brought us up to snuff with what the biker plans arefor the upcoming legislative session.
Longview Tom, Gypsy Joker MC, and chair of the Oregon Confederation of Clubs, leddiscussions from Confederation reps from all over the west as to what is happeningjudicially in this region to enhance our freedom to ride and wear colors, if that is ourdesire.
Saturday night, after a very full day of workshops, there was entertainment provided bythe Oregon Confederation of Clubs and a bar for those that had the notion to dampen theirnose. ABATE of Oregon also provided a hospitality room for the duration of theconference. All in all, we (read “I”) had a great time and picked up a ton ofinformation. SPECIAL THANKS for making it all work out go to Wendy and Ed and Ted andJill from Washington County ABATE, Dixie, Jeanne, Sam, and Richard Lester.
These conferences always are full of information and new ideas that work if we put themto use. Most of all, we reaffirmed our commitment to be forever vigilant to what’shappening around us. Big brother really wants to take care of us. If we let thathappen, we don’t deserve to be free. I’m sorry some of you weren’t able to be there forthis very important and productive event in our continual fight for our right to ride andmake our own choices about safety issues. If you can make it, the BIG Annual NCOMconference will be next May in Milwaukee, to coincide with Harley’s 100th! I’ll bethere, you can bet on that.
NEWS BITS’N PIECES:
LOUISVILLE, KY: Shawna McCown lost her leg in a motorcycle accident and vowed to herfamily she would run again in competition as soon as she could walk. 18 months later shedid just that, even with her prosthetic leg! I’m proud of her.
ENGLAND: Harleys aren’t the only bikes to get ripped off. The irony here is a couple ona world bike tour for charity had their “Beemer” snatched just a few miles fromcompletion of their journey around the world. They stopped for a breather in Wales, justshort of London. They hadda finish the trip by train. I guess the thief or thievesneeded the scoot more than they did. It’s a bloody shame we have some kinds of peoplerunnin’ loose.
MARYSVILLE, OHIO: Just a thought, Honda Motor Co. started building cars here twenty yearsago and bikes shortly thereafter. Makes them the first offshore transportation buildersin this country. Look what’s happened since then. Most all foreign makers have plantsin this country and design products here giving our people jobs.
HANOI: A short while ago, I reported that Yamaha had closed several plants in Vietnambecause of a stiff government restriction on importing parts. I guess it got the resultsneeded and the plants have reopened. Funny what stopping income will do to get results!
PHILADELPHIA, PA.: This sort of stuff happens all the time and it brings again to mindthe juvenile thinking on the part of those in authority. The police here prevented theWarlocks Motorcycle Club from delivering toys as part of the annual Children’s HospitalToy run. The club had been riding in this run for 15 years. Suddenly they are labeled a”gang” and can’t participate. The city is gettin’ sued, as well they should.
PENN: Several terrible injury accidents to report to ya. Not makin’ fun of ’em at all –seems two Amish families had serious buggy accidents on the same day recently, back Eastwhere they hang out. In one case, both the horses slipped into a pond, and a youngsterdrowned. In the other, the buggy was hit by a car, and there were 6 very seriousinjuries, all to the same family in the buggy, as I heard it. My heart goes out to thefamilies, of course. Reason I mention it: Watch for some damned new “buggy safety laws”next. It wouldn’t surprise me. If so, well, politics makes strange bedfellows. Maybewe’ll see some Amish folks and buggy’s at some future NCOM Convention!
MILWAUKEE: Harley-Davidson Inc. says they are enjoying almost a 50% increase in salesthis quarter. Wonder if the100th anniversary has anything to do with it. Do ya THINK?
RANCHO SANTA FE, CA.: Ever hear of the famed Vincent Black Shadow? Well, it’s backfolks. Some of us “long in the tooth” folks got to ride them way back in the forties andearly fifties. Unfortunately, they went out of business in the mid-fifties. This bikeset land speed records in the late forties. Now, I’m told, they are back with FIVE,count’m, FIVE prototype models. More info for ya when I find out more.
GUNNY AGAIN: We’re runnin long this month folks, so I’ll stop the drivel for now. Remember the A.I.M. program and the people that are part of it are here for us all andlive in our world. If ya have a problem, accident or other legal matter, call yourA.I.M. Attorney in your state or call 1-800-ON-A-BIKE and they’ll hook you up, whetherit’s for wrecks or criminal problems. You can get Sam Hochberg here in Oregon at (503)224-1106 or Toll free at 1-(800) 347-1106. I want to wish everyone a HAPPY HOLIDAYSEASON and all the best for the coming new year. Let’s make 2003 a banner year for themotorcycle community.
Keep the round side on the bottom.
Gunny, Oregon A.I.M. Chief of Staff
