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Read More April 6, 2006 Part 4
By Bandit |
Continued From Page 3
CHROME COWGIRL GOES TO MYRTLE BEACH–Well here’s the chrome cowgirl having fun bartendingat the Broken Spoke! See ya in Myrtle Beach!
BIKERNET FAMILY COUNSELING MOMENT–A man was sitting on the edge of the bed, observing his wife turning back and forth, looking at herself in the mirror. Since her birthday was not far off he asked what she’d like to have for her Birthday.
“I’d like to be six again,” she replied, still looking in the mirror.
So, on the morning of her Birthday, he arose early, made her a nice big bowl of Lucky Charms, and then took her to Six Flags theme park.
What a day! He put her on every ride in the park; the Death Slide, the Wall of Fear, the Screaming Monster Roller Coaster, everything there was.
Five hours later they staggered out of the theme park. Her head was reeling and her stomach felt upside down.
He then took her to a McDonald’s where he ordered her a Happy Meal with SuperSize fries and a chocolate shake.
Then it was off to a movie, popcorn, a soda pop, and her favorite candy, Jujubes.
What a fabulous adventure! Finally she wobbled home with her husband and collapsed into bed, exhausted.
He leaned over his wife with a big smile and lovingly asked, ‘Well Dear, what was it like being six again?’
Her eyes slowly opened and her expression suddenly changed.
“I meant my dress size, you dumb ass!”
The moral of the story: Even when a man is listening, he is gonna get it wrong.
–from Art Friedman
WOMEN RIDER NOW TEAMS WITH S&S FOR JACKET GIVEAWAY– Winners determined by submitting an outstanding motorcycling storyWomen Riders Now, a marketing and consulting company, announces S&S Cycle, Inc., a leader in performance products for American V-twins, is sponsoring a jacket giveaway contest on Beginning April 1, 2006, visitors to WomenRidersNow.com will have the chance to win one of six women?s shop style jackets being given away from April until September 2006. The contest, called “Everybody Has a Story,” is centered on the “Readers Stories” section of WomenRidersNow.com. To be eligible to win a jacket, visitors must submit a story according to guidelines set forth on the “Readers Stories” link. One winner will be picked each month, the winning story being judged by the editor of WomenRidersNow.com and the communications staff of S&S Cycle. The winning story will be posted on WomenRidersNow.com each month. S&S Cycle’s sponsorship involvement with WomenRidersNow.com is being celebrated with a fascinating story on S&S Cycle cofounder, Marjorie Smith, posted on the “Pioneer Profiles” link on WomenRidersNow.com. “Marjorie was one of the first women in history to be involved with a company manufacturing motorcycle engines. We think she definitely qualifies as a pioneering woman in motorcycling,” said Schmitt. Visit WomenRidersNow.com for more information on the S&S Cycle jacket giveaway. Click on “Readers Stories” for details. CENTRAL COAST BUILD OFF BIKE RELEASED–Just got the ok from Hugh to release some pics of our Discovery bike. Got more coming. Let me know what you think. It looks insane in the proper light. –Skip Howland and Scott Long HOT MATCH SLANTS ON SALE–“Hot Match” SLANTS on sale. Custom designed SLANTS exhaust pipes by Matt Hotch by Hard Krome are on sale now for a limited time only You SAVE $120 off of Manufacturers Suggested Retail Price. Sale ends April 21st or while supply last! SLANTS feature a 2.5″ outer pipe with a 1.75″ inner pipe. These pipes neverdiscolor because of the True Doublewall Technology that prevents bluing on theouter pipe. Each Matt Hotch pipe is sold with a 1-year warranty to back it up. Bafflesare included to deliver a satisfying Harley rumble. The front of these custom SLANTS wraps under the cam cover with an extralarge radius bend. Next it angles back to the oil bag and matches up to therear cylinder pipe. Then both pipes ‘slant’ back and down to follow thenatural lines of your swingarm. Save $120 on SLANTS and another $50 on a Dynojet Power Commander to manage the fuel delivery. INDIANA BIKE SHOW GANG FIGHT–The show that was supposed to go from 10:00 this morning to early evening was brutally interrupted.It was suppose to be a time for family fun, instead, the Motorcycle Parts Expo and Bike Show set off what police are calling one the biggest biker brawls.”It was horrible, they were using bats, forks, hammers on each other and no regard to anyone around them including children,” said Dan Hardman who witnessed the brawl. “You never have two groups together that don’t get along,” said Deb Frens, vendor. “We received numerous calls, 9-1-1 calls that there was a fight taking place inside the exhibit hall between rival motorcycle gangs,” explained Sgt. Matt Blank, St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department. “Most of the vendors were just waiting,” said Frens who continued to say that a fight was expected “with angels and outlaws there.” “It was a blessing that South Bend Police and local sheriff came, but unbelievable,” added Hardman.It was an all hands on deck kind of situation for law enforcement. The biker gang brawl brought out police from St. Joseph County, Mishawaka, South Bend, the Rail Road Authority and Roseland. “It’s about as big as it’s gonna get, you had just about every officer in the area responding to it and I think that says it all,” said Blank. South Bend Police took several people into custody.As for security at Saturday’s show, there were no uniformed officers on patrol, only event staff looking over things. Police told NewsCenter 16 that there’s no law saying security has to be present at any event. Also, police say a fight broke out at another bike show in the Midwest in the last week and the same gang involved in that fight came here looking to start something. –from Rogue HEALTH REPORT ON INDUSTRY ICON–Several years ago, Les Fitch was diagnosed with an infection in his throat. This infection is commonly known as warts. However, when they form inside the body they become dangerous. Their name is the Human Papilloma Virus or HPV. Millions of Americans are born with this condition. It is not contagious and there is no cure to date. Three years later (2004) he felt as if they were growing back only now not just in his throat but in his sinus cavity. A misdiagnosis from his primary doctor put him way behind the curve in terms of removal. By the time Les was able to see his specialist at Loma Linda Hospital, they had wrapped themselves around a main artery near his brain as well as deep into his sinus cavity on the right side of his face. After seeing not only his specialist but also a Neurosurgeon, the date was set for his operation. We had been told it would be dangerous and long at least 6-8 hours. The possibility of permanent damage was almost certain. Well, in true Les Fitch form, he survived the grueling 12-hour brain, right & left facial sinus cavity, and extensive mouth surgery. He was in ICU for 7 days. We had been told he most likely would not be able to speak well, swallow normally and might not be able to work for a very long time. He would be in intense pain as well, possible for many years. Les proved the doctors wrong. Five months after the operation he was not only driving but also getting his business back on track.We all believed the worst was well behind us. December of 2005, Les caught the flu and was rushed to the hospital in his hometown of Fallbrook, CA. He was severely dehydrated from the complications of this simple little flu. He spent over 3 weeks in the hospital being transferred back to ICU at Loma Linda Hospital. January 4th he was finally ready to come home and we believed he was going to recover. Five days later on his follow up visit with his specialist, we discovered the mass had begun to grow again this time more fiercely than before. It had now attached itself around his brain stem and was impairing his vision on the right side of his face. He was admitted back into the hospital and placed on a feeding tube to strengthen him for surgery. This was the beginning of the end. He had complications from the minor surgery to place the feeding tube and was given large doses of pain medication which plummeted him further down the road to nowhere. He has been in 3 (three) different hospital Emergency rooms & ICUs in the past 2 months and 3 (three) Rehabilitation Care facilities. He finally did undergo another extensive 7-hour brain surgery to remove the mass on his brain stem. This time he was not so lucky. He had to have a tracheotomy put in so he could breath. After 2 weeks, he was released to Reche Canyon Rehabilitation & Health Care facility 2 miles from Loma Linda. During the next 4 days, he was rushed back to the ER twice for complications. Finally, it was discovered that he had Septic shock, pneumonia, and then, as if things could not get any worse, he contracted an antibiotic resistant bacteria. We were told to prepare for the worse as most people in Les’ condition never recover from this kind of infection. Les was given large doses of a very strong antibiotic, Vancomycin which as they told us was the only medicine that could work. Well, work it did. Les survived and was sent back to Reche Canyon Rehabilitation &Care Center facility where he is today. We do not know how or if he will recover at all. He still cannot breath on his own, cannot talk or swallow at this time because of the trach. Les is a very strong-minded man who has never let anything beat him. If there is the smallest chance that anyone can fully recover from this, he is the one. His medical expenses are pilling up and at this time, he has had to abandon any hope of working again. Reche Canyon Rehabilitation & Health Care Facility is located at 1350 Reche Canyon Road, Colton, California. Due to the severity of his condition, only immediate family members are allowed visitation. No flowers, balloons or any outside articles are allowed due possible contamination. In lieu of flowers the family is requesting donations be sent to: Bank: WASHINGTON MUTUAL This will help with the astronomical medical bills Les is continuously incurring while he is hospitalized. –DENISE FITCH NEW DIGITAL DIPSTICK FROM HARLEY-DAVIDSON–Displays Oil Level and Oil Temperature on LCD Display.The new Oil Level and Temperature Dipstick with Lighted LCD Readout (P/N 62946-05, $134.95) from Harley-Davidson Genuine Motor Accessories makes it possible to check oil level and oil temperature with the push of a button. No more grabbing a rag to pull a hot dipstick. No more oil drips on pipes or the garage floor. Simply push the button and this chrome dipstick lights up with brilliant blue backlight. Oil level is indicated with a four-segment readout, and the temperature display can be toggled between Fahrenheit and Celsius. The waterproof LCD display operates on a long-lasting, replaceable Lithium coin-type battery, and features a low-battery indicator. Fits all 1999-2006 Harley-Davidson Touring models except those equipped with a sidecar. For additional information on Harley-Davidson Genuine Motor Accessories, see your local Harley-Davidson dealer or visit the Harley-Davidson Web site at www.harley-davidson.com. To find a dealer near you, call toll free 1-800-443-2153 in the U.S.A. or Canada. CHOP N GRIND BONNEVILLE EFFORT REPORT– Chop N Grind is so poor we are sleeping on the side of the road. Watch for the new Bikernet Bonneville 2006 Effort page on Bikernet in the next week. You’ll see it all come together or fall on its face. –Bob T STOP GODDAMNIT!–That’s enough news for one week. A Japanese gentleman, the distributor of a new English Bike Mag, DICE stopped by while I was thrashing through the news and eating a bowl of cereal at almost noon. It’s a cool mag, the size of TVGuide and the old Roth mag from the ’60s. I was just trying to think of a term to adequately describe it, like old school, bobber, whatever. It’s got a definite style in their choice of bikes, almost Frisco style. All the bikes are small, tight, rough, short front ends, old Peanut tanks, etc. The poor bastard graciously asked me to finish by breakfast, but he had no notion of how glued to the computer I am on Thursdays. We hit the monitors as soon as coffee is brewed, often working through breakfast, while we sip our cold second cup and don’t stop for lunch until late afternoon. We’re like test rats in Hamster wheels, spinning our news as fast as our little rattling claws will take us. He patiently watched me take a bite of breakfast, chew and type. I shouldn’t give you this sordid glimpse of behind the scenes at Bikernet. It may burst our ivory tower bubble of lavish offices, limos and slinky broads bringing me shots of whiskey and naked smooches every hour. It’s actually, not exactly that way. I’ve worked all winter in the Bikernet shop on an open platform with a small electric heater blowing warm air under my ass, while I pound away at the keys. That’s enough Bikernet blues for one day. Here’s Gene’s 11.50 bracket Sportster he built for Oliver at Glendale Harley-Davidson. We shot a feature on Tuesday at the H-D fleet center while it poured outside. We were scheduled to road test a Softail Standard in the afternoon, but the weather got the better of us and we ditched the project. Maybe next week. There’s more, but what the hell, it’s almost happy hour. I’m waiting on a Le Pera seat to move on with the 120-inch Panhead Sport bike. It’s going to be a lightening fast trip. The 45 is hanging fire for a couple of parts and half of the building is torn up while we work on Layla’s kitchen. Have a helluva weekend. Ride Forever, –Bandit
Central Coast Cycles
Address: 1091 S. MISSION ROAD
FALLBROOK, CA 9202
ACCOUNT #: 3063356387
NAME ON ACCOUNT: JOHN LESLIE FITCH
BANK PH#: 800.788.7000 
April 6, 2006 Part 3
By Bandit |
Continued From Page 2
HARDBIKES LOOKING FOR RIDERS–$2,500 A WEEK–Hardbikes Pays You $2,000 a Week to Ride a Custom Hardbikes Motorcycle.Bob Kay, Hardbikes’ VP Sales and Marketing,is looking for a good man or woman to ride a custom Hardbikes motorcycle up anddown the East Coast during the summer of 2006 for $2,000 a week. The winningrider will meet with Hardbikes dealers, customers, local press, local ridinggroups and attend several local events.
Applications are being taken at http://www.hardbikes.net/wanted.html.
“We’re looking for a Harbikes Ambassador who likes to keep the wind intheir hair and can articulate the Hardbikes’ experience to dealers and eventattendees,” said Kay. “Our ideal candidate loves riding, has a bigpersonality and can’t wait to meet a few thousand experienced bikers. It’sa temporary gig that lasts about a month and will be filled with a lifetime ofmemories.”
The selected individual will be custom fit to a Hardbikes motorcycle using theHardbikes Hardrider system. Using the system, the team at Hardbikes will pullthree measurements that include seat position, forward controls setting andhandle bar position. This ensures that the relationship of the leg extension,arm reach and posterior position fall within a comfortable riding position inthe comfort triangle. The new Hardbikes employee will ride a perfectly fittedbike that avoids back strain and increases safety and performance.
The itinerary under consideration includes the following rallies and events:
Thunder in the Valley – Johnstown, PA, June 22 – June 25, 2006;
EasyridersRodeo Tour – Wilson, NC, July 7 – July 9, 2006;
Vintage Rides – Woodstock, NewYork, July 8 – 9, 2006;
Rolling Thunder- Ride For Freedom – Scranton,Pennsylvania, July 16, 2006;
ABATE of GA Swap Meet & Bike Show – Atlanta,Georgia, July 30, 2006
The Sturgis Rally, August 7 – 13, 2006, Sturgis,South Dakota
Okay, so it’s a lot of fun and you get to ride a gorgeous bike all day. Butit’s a job, and someone’s got to do it. Hardbikes is an equal opportunityfun-loving employer.
PURRFECT ANGELZ ON COUNTRY MUSIC TELEVISION AWARDS SHOW, APRIL 10TH– The Purrfect Angelz have been asked to perform LIVE at the CMT Awards this coming Monday, April 10th, at 7pm central time so 5pm if you live in LA. Be sure to watch it from the beginning because we are the opening of the whole show with Trace Adkins himself. We will be performing “Honky Tonk Ba Donka Donk” which we are in the video and is up for “Video of the year” and Hottest Video”. You can check it out on CMT. com and even vote for it if you really want to help. Thanks for all your support and I hope you enjoy the performance.
XOXO
— Lisa Ligon
Purfect Angelz producer
EXILES PARTY ALERT– Saturday April 22rd 2006 – Exile Cycles10th Anniversary Open House.It’s their birthday, famed Iron & Lace Calendar builder and TV star Russell Mitchell is holding a party and we are all invited! Russell is holding an Open House at Exile Cycles on April 22nd 2006. Come and join us for some sex and drugs and rock and roll. O.K. so we lied about one, but there will be bands playing, beer flowing, and the lovely Purrfect Angelz dancing up a storm.
The event takes place noon to 6pm at their new shop in North Hollywood.
Exile Cycles,
13209 Saticoy St.,
North Hollywood, CA 91605 .
Phone: 818 255 3330 .
exilecycles.com
Weapons of Mass Seduction!Purrfect Angelz attack the 2006 LA Calendar Motorcycle Show July 15-16thwith 7 weekend performances, including 3 major 1-hour shows
Los Angeles, March 15th, 2006 – So why does Russell Mitchell, star of Speed TV’s Build or Bust and featured custom bike builder in the world famous Iron & Lace Custom Motorcycle Pinup Calendar, have such a big smile on his face? It’s because we just told him all those beautiful girls he’s posing with of the famed Purrfect Angelz show group will be performing all weekend long in expanded performances guaranteed to decimate attendees at this year’s big Los Angeles Calendar Motorcycles Show on July 15-16th, 2006, America’s premier custom and performance streetbike event!
PURRFECT ANGELZ PERFORM AT LA CALENDAR SHOW–The Purrfect Angelz have performed the last 3 years at the Calendar Show as their original 5-girl group, performing two 20 minute sets on stage each day to the screaming admiration of jammed pack crowds. But we can never have too much of a good thing, particularly where there’s beautiful singing, lap dancing, fire twirling, burlesque shaking, cart wheeling, lingerie and bikini clad girls involved.
The fame and the size of the group has been grown these few years, and this year Purrfect Angelz show director Lisa Ligon asked if she could bring the newer, bigger, better, tighter, bouncier, curves, more perfectly endowed 9-girl Purrfect Angelz Show to blitzkrieg the Calendar Show from this year on.
Who were we to tell her “No”? But only if Lisa agreed to help serve as on-stage cohost and MC throughout the weekend, which she did. Have we got clout or what?
BOOK YOUR DAY OFF NOW FOR THE MOST IMPORTANT DAY FOR MOTORCYCLING IN B.C.–The 17th Annual MLA Ride is on Thursday, May 4, 2006. The MLA Ride is amotorcycle ride to the Legislature Buildings in Victoria where riders arriveat noon to take the MLA’s and their staff for a ride on their lunch hour, sothat they can experience the thrill of motorcycling firsthand. This rideenables our members to discuss issues concerning motorcycling in B.C. withtheir MLA and is also the big kick off to help promote May as MotorcycleAwareness Month.
17th Annual MLA Ride
Date: Thursday, May 4, 2006
Assembly Points
Vancouver: Riders meet at Tsawwassen Ferry terminal to take 9am sailing
Victoria: Riders meet at Mayfair Mall, Blanshard St,
Victoria, 11am
For info please call (604) 580-0111 or check out http://www.bccom-bc.com
RIDE WITH DAN ACKROYD TO A SPECIAL OPENING OF THE TREV DEELEY MOTORCYCLECOLLECTION– All bikes and riders welcome! Donations gratefully accepted for Canuck PlaceChildren’s Hospice
DATE: April 9th
TIME: Ride leaves at 1pm
LOCATION: Trev Deeley Motorcycles (2375 Boundary Rd, Vancouver)
For info please call (604) 291-2453 or go to http://www.trevdeeley.com
Whitehorse Summer Motorcycle Rally Schedule:Visit our Booths at Americade, Laconia’s Ride to the Sky, BMW MOA, and BMW Finger Lakes
We’re looking forward to seeing many of you in person this summer at New England’s most popular rallies where we’ll be exhibiting and selling all of our popular motorcycle products.
First on our schedule is Americade at Lake George, New York, from June 6–11. Check out our large walk-through booth in the first aisle lakeside at Tour Expo (across from the lemonade stand and the fried dough!).
Then, we head right home to the Mount Washington Valley for Laconia Bike Week from June 11–18 where you can visit us all week long at our warehouse and offices on 107 East Conway Road in Center Conway, New Hampshire, about one hour north of Laconia, and also under the tent at the base of Mount Washington’s Auto Road on Thursday, June 15th for Bike Week’s popular Ride to the Sky.
Next up is the BMW MOA International Rally held this year just outside of Burlington, Vermont, on gorgeous Lake Champlain from July 20, 23. Look for our booth in the air conditioned (yes!) vendor hall at the Champlain Valley Exposition Center in Essex Junction, which will be “rally central” for events, camping, vendors, etc.
And finally, we plan to make another trip to Watkins Glen, New York, for the BMW Finger Lakes Rally over Labor Day Weekend (August 31, September 4) which always draws a great group of nearly 2000 happy riders and campers wanting to test the track and the wineries while making the rounds of Lake Seneca and the gorgeous back roads of this most scenic spot. You can spot us at our pointed circus tent filled with apparel, gear, books, gadgets, and lots of other things you?ve dreamed of having.
Whitehorse Gear
107 East Conway Road
Center Conway, NH 03813-4012
phone 603.356.6556
Phone: 800.531.1133
G2 MOTORSPORTS ENCOURAGE BY GOOD SHOWING IN HOUSTON–Ellis goes to Semi-finals, Smith exits early.With one bike in the semi-finals and the other out early the G2 Motorsports team was encouraged with the weekends results. “We had a pretty good weekend,” said George Bryce, co-team owner. “We have some gremlins that we are chasing but I am very happy with our riders and the team in general. We are just one round worth of points out of third place and there are a lot of races left. We are definitely looking forward to our next race in Atlanta.”
Qualifying
After the four qualifying attempts the G2 Motorsports bikes were qualified in the number three position (Chip Ellis aboard the DRAG Specialties/G2 Motorsports/S&S Cycle Buell – 7.063) and the number ten spot (Matt Smith aboard the Torco/Skull Gear/Red Line Oil/G2 Motorsports Buell – 7.110).
Eliminations – Round One
Matt Smith
Matt Smith was paired off with the Screamin’ Eagle V-rod of Andrew Hines in round one and knew he would have to try a little harder to win the race. “I ran against Andrew in the fourth qualifying round and he pulled me hard. I told my crew that we were in for a tough round,” said Matt Smith. “I knew when I pulled into the lights that I would have to push the tree to make up for the performance advantage we were giving away. The problem was that I pushed a little too hard and lit the red light.”
Smith ran a 7.154 at 186.56 MPH to Hines’ winning 7.107 at 190.35 MPH.”We will go back and make a few changes so that I don’t have to push the tree as hard in Atlanta. I just need to go a few rounds to make us all feel better,” said a determined Matt Smith. “I want to thank Evan Knoll and all of my sponsors for giving us this opportunity. We know that once we get turned around they will all be very happy.”
Chip Ellis
Chip Ellis’ first round opponent was the defending race champion, Karen Stoffer on her Geico Suzuki. Stoffer took a slight lead right off the line but Ellis steamed by her to take the win. Chip ran a 7.118 at 187.03 MPH to Stoffer’s losing 7.239 at 185.05 MPH.
“That was a good way to start the race,” said Ellis. “I have been working hard on my riding and I think it’s really starting to pay off.”
Eliminations – Round Two
Chip Ellis
Round two saw Chip paired up with his former Kawasaki teammate from their Prostar days together, Ryan Schnitz on his newly sponsored Buell. Schnitz took a lead off the line but encountered mechanical problems and Ellis went on to take the win. Chip ran a 7.205 at 186.38 MPH to advance to the next round.
“We made some tuning changes after the first round that didn’t work real well in the high heat and humidity but we won the round,” added Ellis. “We knew we needed to change back to our earlier tune-up before the semi-finals, so that’s what we did.”
Eliminations – Semi-finals
Chip Ellis
The semi-finals would see the DRAG Specialties/S&S Cycle powered Buell taking on the Screamin’ Eagle/Vance and Hines V-rod of two-time champion, Andrew Hines. Chip cut an excellent .003 second light and seemed like he was on the way to another round win.
“The bike just didn’t have any real power,” lamented Ellis. “It wasn’t pulling in 3rd and 4th gear. I peeked over at Andrew and I was still out in front of him. When I plugged it into 5th it picked the power back up but it was a little too late as Andrew got around me for the win. I think we just missed the tune-up which is something that we can correct.”
Post Race Comments
George Bryce, Director of Racing for G2 said, “We really only had one or two good runs with the two bikes. We have some electrical issues with the tuning that we need to work out. Once we do it will be better for everyone.”
“We made some tuning changes from round one to round two on Chip’s bike and they didn’t work, luckily we won the round. We then decided to go back to the tune-up we used in the opening round of eliminations. When we went to the lanes for the semi-finals we were confident that we had a good enough bike to advance to the finals. Unfortunately the electric gremlins didn’t concur.”
George Smith, President of G2 added, “Our team struggled with consistency this weekend. We are working very hard to get the systems in place so that we can perform the way we are capable of on each and every run.”
“We have a very good motorcycle and Chip Ellis is riding the best he ever has. We couldn’t have asked for anything more from him at this race. I know that at times we looked like we were going backwards but I can assure that isn’t the case. All I can say is that once the system is ready everyone else had better watch out.”
ESPN2 Telecast Schedule Eliminations Re-Broadcast – Wednesday – April 5 – 2:30 a.m. – 4:30 a.m. (eastern)
HINES MAKES FIRST FINAL ROUND APPEARANCE OF THE SEASON–Tonglet Advances to Semi-Finals. When the two-bike Harley-Davidson Screamin’ Eagle/Vance & Hines V-Rod team walked away from the first round of qualifying Friday at the O’Reilly NHRA Spring Nationals, predicting a final round appearance seemed nearly impossible.
After that first qualifying pass at Houston Raceway Park, two-time defending NHRA POWERade Pro Stock Motorcycle champion Andrew Hines was in ninth place. Teammate GT Tonglet wasn’t even qualified.
The weekend, however, came around. The team rallied in qualifying and made the most out of the day that really counts – Sunday.
Hines earned his first final round appearance of the season and 11th of his career, falling short in the final to Suzuki rider Angelle Sampey. Tonglet moved past the first round since the Reading, Pa., event in September last season, where he also earned a semifinal appearance.
“Considering where we started out on Friday and where we ended up on Sunday, we did better than anyone expected,” team owner Byron Hines said. “We were so far off after the first round of qualifying and Matt (Hines, crew chief) decided that we needed to take the bikes in two completely opposite directions. When one bike outperformed the other, we changed the setup for the slower bike. It worked great and we were the last V-Twin standing. I was very happy to see how Matt and the entire crew focused this weekend.”
Hines qualified in the No. 7 position after posting a 7.096-second pass at 190.92 mph, while Tonglet started eliminations in the No. 13 position with a 7.134 at 190.70.
In Round One, Hines beat Buell rider Matt Smith (7.107 at 190.38 to starting line foul) while Tonglet beat Buell rider Tom Bradford (7.168 at 187.65 to foul). In Round Two, Hines beat Suzuki rider Antron Brown (7.176 at 189.47 to foul) and Tonglet beat Suzuki rider Shawn Gann (7.217 at 185.95 to foul).
“The first couple of rounds weren’t exactly pretty, but both bikes saw the win-light and that’s all that matters,” Tonglet said. “We moved up in points and that was our main goal and to do that, we needed to go rounds. It was especially nice to win first round because it’s been a long time since I’ve been past that first round and that was a big relief.”
Tonglet lost to Sampey in the semifinal matchup, turning in a 7.225 at 186.20 to her 7.163 pass at 189.50. Hines beat Buell rider Chip Ellis in his semifinal race, going 7.177 at 189.23 to Ellis’ 7.271 at 185.46.
Hines lost in the final round, but made up points in the standings and is now in second place after two races in the 15-event series. He rode his V-Rod to a 7.200 run at 188.04 to Sampey’s winning pass of 7.144 at 190.11. Sampey leads the category, holding a 63-point lead over Hines. Tonglet is in eighth place, 129 points behind Sampey.
“We struggled this weekend but in the end, the team made some good adjustments and put the riders in a position to win rounds,” said Harley-Davidson Racing Manager Anne Paluso. “Andrew going to the final round and GT making his first semifinal appearance since last season is exactly what the team needed going into a month-long break. Now we have some good data to work from and get ready for the next race in Atlanta.”
Andrew Hines said Sunday made up for the struggles throughout qualifying.
“We can’t complain too much with two semifinal appearances and my first final of the year,” Hines said. “We are starting to figure out the right tuneup, and GT and I are doing everything we can to ride our best. We have a few weeks to get back to the shop and get our V-Rods tuned up. It was a good Sunday, but we still have a lot of work to do.”
The next NHRA POWERade Drag Racing event that features the Pro Stock Motorcycle category is the May 4-7 Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Southern Nationals at Atlanta Dragway.
Continued On Page 4
April 6, 2006 Part 1
By Bandit |
Hey,
We’re about to launch a new free department on Bikernet, called the Bikernet 2006 Bonneville Effort. We’ll post all our tech features, updates, info about the Bubs event in September and our ride out to the flats. Everybody is welcome. I can feel a strong surge of interest. I believe there will be more activity at the salt flats than ever before.
Did you know that the movie, “The World’s Fastest Indian, starring Anthony Hopkins didn’t make general release. We hope to sell the DVD in our Black Market when it comes available. Watch for it on cable.
Here’s the squirrelly side of the business. A handicapped bike went up for auction yesterday. It was an original 1916 Harley twin electric, with a side car. The controls ran to the car for handicapped rideability. It was discovered in a barn with the original tires in place. The estate sale was listed on Yahoo and in a couple of obscure web sites. Don Whalen sent a guy with a briefcase full of cashier’s checks to grab the find.
As it turned out every major hitter in the antique world got the word and blasted to the site. The bid went to $87,000. Incredible.
BIKERNET RADIO BOOMING WITH NEW INTERVIEWS–Dennis Gage of My Classic Car:My Classic Car appears on Speed TV and Branscombe caught up with the star of the show, Dennis Gage. You know Dennis, the mustache and his interviews with Jay Leno. A real good guy.Listen to Mr. Mustache right here.
Russia on the March with Bike Freak Magazine:Bike Freak Magazine started reporting on our lifestyle in 2002. Dmitry Khitrov stopped in to talk with Bandit and Branscombe grabbed him for an interview.Listen to Dmitry of Bike Freak Magazine.
BLACK EXHAUST WRAP AVAILABLE FROM LONE STAR CHOPPERS– Check it out, black exhaust wrap is now in stock at http://www.lonestarchoppers.com/store , best price on the internet!
Check the tech tip in the Bikernet Garage.
–Larry
AMERICAN MOTORCYCLE 1902 IS SELECTED TO BUILD THEHOOTERS CASINO HOTEL “OL SCHOOL BOBBER”- – – – -GRAND PRIZE FOR THIS YEARS LAS VEGAS BIKEFEST–American Motorcycle Co. 1902 is excited to announce that it has been selected by the new Hooters Casino Hotel in Las Vegas, NV to create a custom “Ol School Bobber” to be used in the promotion of this years 2006 Las Vegas BikeFest. Registration to win this exciting motorcycle will take place at the Casino during the month prior to the event.
The custom Hooters “Ol School Bobber” will be on tour leading up to Las Vegas BikeFest with the American Motorcycle Co. 1902 exhibit at events and rally’s around the country. “It was a real honor for us when we were selected by Hooters Casino Hotel to build a custom Bobber for them to give away at Las Vegas BikeFest, stated Robert Page and Branscombe Richmond, partners of American Motorcycle Co. 1902. Page continued, “We are dedicated to build a bike that Hooters Casino Hotel can be proud of, and that the lucky winner will be proud to own. Of course we hope they will enjoy showing it off on their frequent stops at all the local Hooters locations they frequent”.
The Las Vegas BikeFest Partnership announced that the new Hooters Casino Hotel will sponsor a Grand Prize Giveaway at Las Vegas BikeFest scheduled for September 14-17, 2006. Hooters Casino Hotel has contracted with American Motorcycle Co. 1902 to build a custom “Hooters Ol School Bobber” for this Grand Prize Giveaway. The motorcycle will be called “The Original” featuring a custom paint job honoring the very first Hooters girl “Lynn Austin”.
All Las Vegas BikeFest registrants will have the opportunity to win the Grand Prize Giveaway by dropping off their entry forms at the Hooters Casino Hotel.
Hooters Casino Hotel information is available at www.hooterscasinohotel.com or call866-584-6687.
HARLEY-ORIENTED MAGAZINES:THE LATEST & MOST CURRENT SALES– Curious how the actual sales compare for the leading Harley-oriented magazines? Here is the most complete and up to date sales averages available.
PLEASE NOTE: We have identified the magazines with ABC audited sales claims, but cannot vouch for the accuracy of the non-audited magazines’ circulation claims.
TOTAL AVERAGE PAID CIRCULATION
1 American Iron Magazine 154,954 (ABC)
2 Easyriders (excluding V-Twin) 141,596 (ABC)
3 Hot Bike 132,920 (ABC)
4 The Horse 88,596 (NOT AUDITED)
5 V-Twin 85,046 (ABC)
6 BikeWorks 78,280 (NOT AUDITED)
7 American Rider 59,692 (NOT AUDITED)
8 IronWorks 59,272 (NOT AUDITED)
9 Street Chopper 59,023 (NOT AUDITED)
Assuming all circulation claims are accurate (which might not be a smart assumption for the non-audited magazines) the 3 best selling magazines, American Iron Magazine, Easyriders and Hot Bike combined represent 33% of the total magazines AND 50% of the total paid circulation of the category.
Another point to keep in mind when comparing the relative value of each magazine’s claimed circulation, is the mix of single copy vs subscription circulation.
Some magazines sell subscriptions through deep discounting, others through aggressive techniques (such as on eBay) or a combination of the two.
If you are considering working with or advertising in any of these magazines, it is recommended that you ask your contact at the magazine for an analysis of circulation. This should include the mix of single copy vs subscription, and what is the cheapest subscription rate available.
This information is brought to you by HarleySmart and the staff of American Iron Magazine.
–from Geno at the HORSE
P.S. Check Bikernet numbers list below.
BIKERNET NUMBERS (monitored by Web Trends): Last month 270,000 readers came to Bikernet.com for 540,000 visits, with 913,000 impressions and 8.7 million hits. The average stay on Bikernet is over 8 minutes. Not bad.
THE VIPER CHALLENGE– On May 27th, in New Mexico, we will compete head-to-head in a quarter mile drag race with the Air Force F-16 Viper Fighter aircraft and the Dodge Viper automobile in what the Air Force is calling a contest to determine the fastest Viper on the planet.
We are very grateful to the U.S. Air Force for inviting us to be a part of this fun and competitive event.
I’m sure everyone is familiar with the Dodge Viper; 550 hp and 200 mph. The F-16 Viper is a multi-mission fighter capable of speeds in excess of 1500 mph and 350 mph in a half mile. It produces 27,000 pounds of thrust and can fly at an altitude of more than 50,000 ft. It carries a 20 mm multibarrel cannon with 500 rounds and 6air-to-air missiles and 6 air-to-surface missiles. Each craft cost over 19 million dollars. It is currently deployed in the Persian Gulf and flies more sorties than any other aircraft.
I am attaching photos of the F-16 Viper and will take a camera crew to film the event live.
–Terry Nesbitt
President
Viper Motorcycle Company
TEXAS NATIONAL BIKE SHOW POSTER CONTEST VOTING– O.K. here is the skinny on voting for the Texas National Bike Show poster bike. Thanks to Bikernet for all of their highly skilled technical support, we now have about 13 or 14 very choice custom bikes posted for all of your viewing and voting pleasure.Here’s the lowdown
We will start the voting today, Thursday April 6th and give everyone a 2 week period to vote in. So all you have to do is take a long hard look at all of the bikes and decide which one you would like to see grace our bike show poster, along with the lovely Miss Texas National Bike Show.
Once you have made your incredibly hard decision please send your vote to my personal e-mail Hollyand we will make sure it gets to the right place. Voting will end on Thursday April 20th and hopefully all of you will have sent me a flood of e-mails,and it will take me a week to sort through all of them! Since Bikernet has been so helpful to us we will ask them to do us one more favor and that is to post the winner of the contest on Thursday April 27th in the Thursday news.
Now if we are really good and say all of our prayers perhaps we can persuade the Golden God of Motorcycles (Bandit) to do some follow ups on the news from the photo shoot so you can all see your voting in action!! Don’t forget VOTE! VOTE! VOTE! Holly.
Thanks,
Mrs.L Devil
Flyrite Choppers Introduces the NeveRust Transmission Mounting Plate–Flyrite Choppers has developed the finest transmission mounting plate available for adapting a Softail? style transmission case to a rigid frame. Designed specifically to mount later style transmissions to Flyrite Choppers frames, but should work on any zero offset rigid frame. If additional drilling or cutting is required, not to worry the NeveRust transmission mounting plate is made of polished 420 stainless steel. No more flaking chrome.
All NeveRust parts are made of polished stainless with the home builder in mind. Cut, drill, tig and repolish, paint, or powdercoat and never fear rust popping back through again. Look for more new products coming soon from Flyrite Choppers at www.flyritechoppers.com.
FLASHBACK TO THE ’70s–My levis are so greasy they look like chaps,
–Bob T.
BIKERNET DRINKIN STUDY–An Italian is drinking in a New York bar when he gets a call on hiscell phone. He hangs up, grinning from ear to ear, and orders a round ofdrinks for everybody in the bar announcing his wife had produced atypical Italian baby boy weighing 25 pounds.
Nobody can believe that any new baby can weigh in at 25 pounds, but theItalian guy just shrugs, “That’s about average back home,folks……like I said, my boy’s a typical Italian bambino”
Congratulations showered him from all around, and many exclamations of”WOW”….one woman actually fainted due to sympathy pains.
Two weeks later he returns to the bar. The bartender says, “Say you’rethe father of that typical Italian baby that weighed 25 pounds atbirth. Everybody’s been making bets about how big he’d be in two weeks. Sohow much does he weigh now?
The proud father answers, “Seventeen pounds.”
The bartender is puzzled, concerned, and a little suspicious.”What happened? He already weighed 25 pounds the day he was born!”
The Italian father takes a long swig of Sambuca, wipes his lips on hisshirt sleeve, leans into the bartender and proudly says…..
“We had him circumcised”………
–from Geno
BIG BONED SPRINGERS RELEASED–Parks Custom Springers is eager tointroduce the Big Boned Springer, the newest addition to our increasinglypopular springer line. The Big Boned front and rear legs are constructed of1.5-INCH tubing to achieve a stout look that compliments Bobbers as well as wide-tire bikes. This model will be debut on bike builds by Cole Foster of SalinasBoys Custom and Johnny Goodson (formally of Exile Cycles) later this year.
The entire Parks Custom Springer line includes standard, narrow, wishbonenarrow, big boned and all-tubing models.
Contact Information:
Brian Parks
Parks Custom Springers
brian@parkscustomspringers.com
520-568-5224
www.parkscustomspringers.com
KIDS AND CHROME FANTASTIC UPDATE–1- Billy Lane is going to do a fund raiser for Kids and Chrome during Sturgis week.
2- Scott Jacobs renowned artist has been commissioned by Harley Davidson Motor Company to paint a picture of one of the greatest racers of all time, Jay Springsteen. Scott will unveil this picture at the Kids & Chrome banquet at which time Jay will sign the original and the first and only (same size) print which will also be signed on stage and given to Kids & Chrome for the auction.
3- Redneck Engineering signed on this week with one of their fantastic rolling chassis, value $10,000. Custom Chrome (Europe) signed on with a 110″ Revtec Motor, matching Transmission and Starter value $10,000. Fred Kodlin (Germany) signed on with one of his to die for Front End Assemblies, Exhaust Systems and a host of other Billet parts, value $10,000, Tim Remus is in with 80 of his fantastic hardcover books featuring the most comprehensive pictorial of the beloved Triumph Motorcycle Marque ever, value $2500, Jeff Nicklus of Desperado Motorcycles stepped up with one of his “Good Time Bobbers” which will be signed by the best in the world Custom Bike Builders. value $20,000, And S&S Cycle rolled in with one of their newest motors, a 93-inch shovelhead, value $10,000
Needless to say…WOW, I’ll keep you informed.
–Bob
Continued On Page 2
I’LL JUST CALL IT MY STORY
By Bandit |
I ride my bike to work every chance I get, it’s the only time I actually look forward to my hour long commute. Yeah, I could live closer to my job, but that would require moving from the sticks of Havana, Illinois. This is something I wouldn’t even consider. My wife and I have moved six times on our nineteen year marriage, none of which even involved changing our phone number, so I guess you could call me deep rooted.
I was going in to start my first of two 12 hour night shifts. It was July 10th, ’99, a perfect day for a ride. There was poker run going on in a little town I pass through on my way to work. It made it very hard to keep riding to the ‘ol salt mine. A few miles down the road, I spotted a rider stalled on the shoulder. I stopped to see if I could help. I had emptied my saddle bags and tour pack of everything, including tools. I was picking up food on the way to work for everyone in the building, it’s one of the few simple pleasures you enjoy when you work nights and weekends for a public utility. The only thing I could do at this point was offer the brother a ride. He decided to take his chances on the next rider coming along to have some wrenches, so I wished him luck and split. I didn’t realize at this point I would be the one needing the luck.
I got everyone’s order after a longer than usual wait and rode on in to work in downtown Peoria, IL. My building sits on Water Street, right on the Illinois River. This is more salt-in-the-wound of working. I’m also a boater, and here’s all these people having fun zipping up and down the river in their boats, and here’s me wishing that I was one of them…..shit. Everyone inside was happy to see their food. I handed out the orders, and I realized that I’ve been shorted one…..mine. My co-worker that I was relieving told me she’d wait, if I wanted go back and get it. Hell yes, I wanted go get it. I paid for it, I was hungry, plus I got to ride my bike once again, even if it wa just a few blocks.
“Ray’s Pumkin”
The Bub exhaust I put on Pumkin sure rattled nice between the downtown buildings. I waited about two years for this bike. I almost had her set up the way I wanted. With the exception of some different bars, and lowering just a tad, I was pleased. Pumkin was a 1999 Aztec orange Road King Classic. I had bolted on everything I bought for her before our first ride. At this point, I had no idea I’d only ride her about two more blocks before her demise.
I almost turned right about three different times to get to the street that I needed, but I kept telling myself when I caught a red light, I’d turn then. I noticed the car in the center turn lane, but for all practical purposes, it appeared to have stopped, waiting for me to pass by before making a left turn. I couldn’t have been any more wrong. When I realized the car was still coming, there was no time to react or escape the path. I was in the right of two lanes, and I had a building on my right side, and no place to go. My only hope now was the driver would see me, hopefully right now, and hit the brakes just in time. This didn’t happen. I remember being hit and flying through the air, but I don’t remember landing. I give my years of water-skiing credit for helping save my hide and noggin a bit. While air born I remember curling up in a fetal position and holding my head in my hands, just like I had done so many times when my slalom ski had vanished right out from under me on a tight turn. Any skier can tell you the water’s not very soft when you lose it in this manner. Looking back, I’m lucky I did this.
When I sat up, I was in the street. For some reason I had rolled down the street, while Pumkin went to the right and stopped after taking out a stop sign and hitting a wall. She was lying uphill from me. The starter was cranking because the controls were smashed. I remember a deafening silence as I sat in the street, everything was in slow motion. I remember thinking, “Wonderful, I’ve survived the crash, and now there’s probably gas running down the street towards me, and it’s going to ignite from the starter, and I’m gonna burn if I don’t kill the power.”
Then the blood starting flooding down into my eyes about the same time I realized my head was really stinging. I found out later that the burning was because the scalp was torn lose between the two cuts, one on the top, and one on the right side above my temple. I think it took 14 staples to fix this at the hospital later that night. I tried to stand up and walk towards my bike. It was then I knew something was wrong with my feet. I quickly sat back down, and began crawling towards the sidewalk where the bike had come to rest. The curb of the sidewalk was a major obstacle for me. That’s when I became more concerned about the injuries to my feet. Pumkin was laying uphill and away from me. I had to crawl up over the left side to reach the key switch. My leather coat was sticking out of the left saddlebag that was torn open from the impact. I pulled it out and used it as a pillow.
When I opened my eyes, there was a woman telling me she was calling 911 on her cell phone. I asked her to call work and tell them I wouldn’t make it back. Don’t ask me why I did this. I guess I just wanted someone to know where I was, and get word to my wife. I was pretty sure I was going to live, but all sorts of weird shit went through my mind, so I was covering all the bases. The second thing I remember was a guy telling me “He just kept going, man.” This was my first clue that neither one of these people were the drivers of the green Pontiac, and he had left without so much as a “sorry” or a “kiss my ass”. The man spoke again, “I hear the sirens, hopefully they’ll get here before he gets too far.” Then he said something like “Hey! You got his license!” He started pulling on something out from under my bike. It was a piece of the plastic bumper cover, and the car’s front tag was still attached to it. The impact stripped this from the car. I never did get names of the man and woman, and neither did the cops, because they didn’t see enough of anything to be witnesses. I later put a “thank you” in the paper, hoping they both saw it.
The ambulance crew was all over me, I told them what I remembered. The feedback they were giving to the trauma center over the radio sounded good to me. I was pretty sure I wasn’t about to bite it, but it was kinda nice to hear someone agree with that thought. The only bad part of the ambulance ride, was that damned back board they cinched me to. I found out later my left leg was broke just above the ankle, with five broken bones in my foot as well. I think I did this when I cleaned the shifter off as I left the bike in a hurry. I give my engine guards credit for still having a left leg. It came to rest firmly against the primary and the engine. The horn cover looked like it was molded around the guard. The left footboard was gone, as well as the the foot controls.
The real pain came when they tightened the straps, and all of the weight was resting on my bootheels. (I’m a firm believer in steel toe boots too, I’m still wearing the same pair). Most of the pain didn’t come from the left leg though. It came from my right heel, which I later find out was shattered. The medical term that they used to describe the fracture compared it to dropping a china cup on the floor. Basically, there were no pieces left that were big enough to put back together as far as surgery was concerned. The only thing holding it all together was the skin. I kept beggin’ them in the ambulance to loosen the straps on my legs…..no go. Again, I’m lucky, the accident was only blocks from St. Francis Hospital, which is the largest trauma center in downstate Illinois. At least I could get these straps off as soon as the docs confirmed no spinal injuries. And what a relief it was. Then, after about forty minutes of me beggin’ to “take my boots off….please!”, one dude has this brainstorm that he might wanna take my boots off, on account of the swelling. (Regular Dick-fuckin’ Tracy, wasn’t he?)
I can’t tell you how many times I got asked if I was wearing a helmet, or if I was gonna ride a bike again after that night. It angered me,…. alot. I realize that they see this all too often, and most of the staff are dead set against bikes. But this is like telling the driver of a car that they deserve this for driving a smaller vehicle when a semi plows into him. It doesn’t make it right, and it sure as hell didn’t change anything at that point in time. Besides, helmets don’t fit feet, and my feet were severely damaged.
I was glad to see my wife, Kathy and my son, Casey. I was about to start getting pissy with the people who were eventually going to help me, and my family’s presence calmed me a little. My good friends and neighbors as well as riding partners, Bob and Lisa came too. I remember someone again asking me if would ride again, and I told them “yes”. I then remember Bob responding with “good for you”. I think that it was the last time I heard that question for a while that night. My daughter, Kelsey, stayed home. I later learned of her fears to see me. It seemed she thought I’d be a mangled mess. She came the next morning though with the rest of the family. This was another break . I have a barely noticeable scar on my right shoulder and the rest is hidden under thick, brown hair. Not bad for someone who went down in the street in jeans and a Harley t-shirt. I still have the shirt, not a mark on it.
I got lucky again. Doc Brown came in the room. This Doc Brown is from my home town. I flet better already. It seems he heard from the staff that they had one from “your neck of the woods”, so he stopped by to see. I don’t think he had to do it, but he became my liaison for the rest of his shift. He gave me some damned good advice from that point on. Like, when the hospital found out they weren’t going to do surgery that night, they were ready to release me. Yeah, that’s right….they wanted to send me home. I couldn’t believe it. So Doc told me I should stay, and I agreed. In fact, I told the Doc to tell them to find me a room, “I ain’t goin’ nowhere.”
Before the night was over, I was screamin’ out loud, “The morphine ain’t doin’ jack shit.” I was grabbing nurses, or anyone else who got close, telling them, begging them, to knock me out, and they wanted to send me home. They ended up keeping me for a week, by the way. It was that night that the man who did this to me would have paid dearly, if I could have reached him.
It was late in the night when I got the official word of my injuries. Doc Brown told me it was time to call on an orthopedic surgeon for a consultation. Doc told me the name, and after a few questions on my part, I decide to ask Doc for some other names. I choose the first one he threw at me. I figure if Doc Maxey’s name is the first that comes to Doc Brown’s mind, then he’s the one I want. Doc Maxey was a great choice. By the way, both Doc’s were the only two people who saw me that night that didn’t pass judgment on me for ridin’ a bike. I learned later that evening that Doc decided to wait on surgery until the swelling went down. They would decide on the coming Tuesday for the steel in my left leg. I think it was about the same time I learned there was no surgery scheduled for my right heel. There’s nothing they can do for it except hang it over a pillow and hope for the best.
I don’t remember the name of the guy in the room with me that first night, he was down to one day left from a car accident, then he would go home. I’m pretty sure he didn’t sleep much Saturday night from me yelling. I’d scream out, then apologize to him through the curtain. I’ve never felt pain like that before. I didn’t realize how many nerves were in my feet. It was actually kind of a relief when they died from the swelling pinching them off. I don’t remember what the Doc called it, but it’s the nerve that gives us the feeling in the bottom of our feet and toes. I lost feeling from the front of my right heel to my toes for a few months until it grew back. I didn’t know they grew back either, I just thought they were lost forever. I also didn’t know I’d be screaming out loud when they started growing back. I’ll get into that later. Several times that night and for weeks to follow, I wanted to take a ball bat to the asshole who hit me. I can’t say it was the accident that angered me, but him just leaving me on the street changed all that somehow.
They gave me a shot of something in my IV every two hours. I don’t know what this stuff was, but it gave me about twenty minutes of relief from the pain. The bad news was they could only give it to me every two hours. There was a button on my morphine drip I could hit every ten minutes or so which gave me a little extra dose. I’d get just enough to drift off to sleep, then it would wear off and the pain would wake me up. Then I’d punch this button like it was a video game for a while, drift off for a bit, and the cycle would continue. It was about this time during my first twenty four hours that I told myself out loud, “Fuck it, it isn’t worth this”. I was referring to riding a bike. It’s the only time the thought ever occurred to me, but it did creep into my brain that night. Kathy stayed at my side the entire next day squeezing that damn button every ten minutes, so I could get some sleep.
The pain eventually became tolerable after a few days. The five broken bones in my left foot and ankle were nothing. Those were a cake walk. But I don’t wish a crushed heel on anyone. Doc fixed my ankle fractures up on Tuesday like he had planned. I still have the plate and screws in it today. He said they could be removed after a year if it bothered me, but it hasn’t so far. There was a therapist who wanted me to start sitting up on the edge of the bed soon after, hanging my feet over the side. I did it for about ten minutes. The pain in my heel came back just like the very first night and lasted all night again. She came back the next day with the same request. I think I scared the hell outa her. I not only said no, but hell no, and verbally attacked her for what she’d put me through all over again. We had better days after that, and I’m grateful for all she did for me. Again, I was lucky. I had great nurses my entire stay. All of these people were a credit to their profession.
Friday came, and they’re turned me loose to go home. But first, they had to show me how to give myself shots in the sides twice a day for blood clot prevention. There’s a real confusing signal to the brain. We’re taught not to stick sharp objects into our bodies all through our childhood years. I’d sit there and pinch the fat on my side, and kinda wind up with the syringe in the other hand, like I was getting ready to throw a dart. It quickly became routine for the next two weeks. I arrived home to a hospital bed set up in our downstairs family room. We have a bi-level home, so this became my bedroom for several weeks until I could ditch the wheelchair. Doc told me no pressure on my left leg for six weeks, and none on the right foot for three months.
It got really hot and humid for the next two weeks to follow. This was probably a blessing for me. It was two weeks of those dog days in Illinois where you go outside and immediately begin to soak your t-shirt. At least I didn’t want to be out in it, so being cooped up in the basement didn’t seem so bad. Neighbor Bob had made me a ramp to get in and out of the patio door. I could go out and set on the 10 by 20 slab of concrete once in a while. Bob and my son Casey also assumed the care of my five acres of mowing as well as Bob’s own five. Kathy and the kids waited on me hand and foot, bringing all my meals down, bringing me clean clothes, getting my water ready for my next month’s worth of sponge baths. I still remember the joy of my first actual bath after that, what a treat.
I mentioned the nerves growing back slowly. It seems when they do, they’re hyper active. The signal that they send to the brain gets confusing. This is why I felt everything you can imagin in my foot for two straight weeks. One minute it would feel like there was a cutting torch two inches from my skin. The next minute it would feel like someone sticking a long needle between my toes. There were times I’d actually raise up and look at my toes, I would’ve swore that there really was someone yanking my toenails with pliers. This consumed me for about two weeks. It was at it’s worst when I was trying to sit still to eat, or sleep. Doc gave me some pills to dull the nerve sensation along with therapy, which consisted of rubbing my foot with a silk scarf and then working my way up to one of those kitchen scratch pads to re-educate the nerves. The pills kicked in after about two weeks. It takes this long for the stuff to build up in the body and to actually start to work. I remember the first night I slept for six hours, what a great feeling. At this point and for the first time, I felt like I was rebounding.
The first time I actually felt like getting out I took a short trip into town. The weather had broken, it was mid 80’s and less humid. Kathy took me to the park in Havana along the Illinois river. There’s plenty of sidewalks for walking and rolling. I can’t tell you how many people were there who I knew, all wishing me well. It’s been said that during times like this, you find out who your friends are. I thought I knew who they were all along. I had no idea how many friends I really had until then. As far as friends and family are concerned, I’m truly blessed, from my wife and kids caring for me all summer, to Bob and Lisa….the perfect neighbors, to my mom and dad for coming in and cutting and cleaning up my tree tops after a July storm, my sister for hauling me to the doc’s when Kathy had to work, and the get well cards came for weeks.
Bob hauled my butt to Halls Harley-Davidson in Springfield, to see my bike for the first time. I had been having thoughts of changing and customizing Pumkin. I knew at first glance I didn’t want it back again. There was nothing on her that wasn’t dented, scratched, gouged, or broken. The handlebars were bent around to the front and pointing down to the forks. I didn’t realize I had that much grip. The longer we looked, the more broken shit I saw. I was relieved to find out later that she was totaled. Stan Hall and Steve, the sales manager asked me if I was going to ride again. I told them yes. I asked Steve what my chances were of getting me a Fat Boy. This was the first time that I admitted to myself that I missed my first Softail. He thought he could have me one by spring of the coming year. This didn’t surprise me, I was hoping for the upcoming fall, but I knew that answer was coming. What I didn’t know, was that they would make some calls, and do some trading. I’m not really sure what they did. The only thing for sure was that I went to see them on my crutches months later, and Steve handed me a paper with a serial number. The bike would arrive in December. I had a pretty big lump in my throat at that moment.
I spent the next several months going to the Doc’s office. The first phase was getting a cast for the left foot. I could use it for a pivot foot to get in and out of the wheelchair. My basement was actually cool to move around in. I had my pool table re-clothed while I was laid up. I spent a coupla months bugging my family to play me whenever they got the chance. My next phase was an air cast for each foot and crutches. This came in September. At this office visit, I was informed that the next plan would be to let me walk on my left foot in October. That was three months exactly from the day of the accident. When I went back for my next office visit, Doc asked me if I was ready to try walking on my left foot. I said I was ready. He then asked me if I was ready to try walking on the right foot. I was speechless. He told me it had healed very well, and he didn’t see any reason why I shouldn’t walk on it. I left the office on crutches, but without the moonboots on my feet. This rivaled the same feeling that I’d had when I got to stand up and piss for the first time in months…….damn, the little things we take for granted. I was surprised at how little I could get my feet to do for a few days. At first, it was like walking on two stumps, then things came back fairly quickly.
I still spent the fall and winter going to the Doc’s for therapy though, because the next hurdle was the heel spurs I developed when I started walking again. I still have scar tissue built up from this. It feels like my sock has slipped down below my heel and I’m just leaving it there. This feeling increased by the fact that my heel had “popcanned” when it was shattered. When it was compressed on impact, it spread out to the sides and stayed that way. Instead of me having that concave or that dimple that goes in under my ankle socket, mine goes out. My heel is flatter and wider too. I buy shoe insoles, and whittle some of the arch support out of them to compensate for this. I also had to buy all new shoes for the most part, because I had new feet. It was like wearing someone else’s shoes. I took my steel toe Carolina’s to a shop and had new soles and heels put on them, and started breaking them in all over again.
I never did get all the feeling back completely as far as the nerves are concerned. My toes feel like my foot fell asleep, and it’s just waking up. I get that tingly feeling almost all of the time. But it’s just the tips. Everything else came back. I have some major arthritis, and the time I spend on my feet is very limited. It gets frustrating when you’re used to doing what you want. Running is out of the question. I use the wall to get me started walking every morning. Walking barefooted is out of the question most of the time. I can also tell you when the weather’s changing well in advance too. Don’t get me wrong, there isn’t a day that goes by that I’m not thankful for still being around. I’m not bitching, it’s just my story.
I got my new Fat Boy in December, hauled it home, and put on all the heavy duds I could layer on to ride it. I went about 2 miles before I turned around to come home. I was doing okay until the asshole in the Grand Cherokee came up behind me and parked his bumper on my rear fender. I was hoping he’d pass before I had to turn left in a mile. No such luck. When I got to my turn, there was a car getting ready to turn left at the same intersection. You can imagine the flashbacks I was having at that second. The fear I was having ruined what should have been a day I normally would have celebrated. I told Kathy later that night that I wasn’t sure about this anymore. The next day it got up to 42 degrees. I told myself it was time to decide to keep riding or sell the bike. I rode to town. Havana is small enough to have lots of 4-way stop signs. I figured I’d go in and expose myself to some cars turning left. It was about ten minutes before I was heading out on some highways. In about 45 minutes, I was wishing I had some break-in miles on the motor to stretch it out a bit. The second ride was the day of celebration for me. I was gonna be okay riding again. I still seize up a bit when I’m in traffic. I’m now more of a defensive rider, and that ain’t all bad.
The only way the courts could link this clown to hitting me was by his own admission. Nobody saw anything clear enough to tie him to the accident, including myself. It’s good that he didn’t know this. Had he claimed that the car had been stolen while he was sitting in a bar all day, that he’d found the wrecked car sitting on the street sometime later while walking to the police station to report it. Then he’d would have been home free. He never did tell the police he was driving, but he admitted it to his girlfriend’s insurance company and the agent told the police. He then got himself a lawyer who threw him in a de-tox program in a local hospital.
The cops had one witness who said she thought that there were two people in the car at the time of the accident, she just wasn’t sure enough and she wasn’t willing to go to court as a witness. The cops had this theory that because of the street they were turning on, this loser was buying some drugs as he and his dealer were circling the block. Looking back, the theory held water. The parking lot where he ditched the car one block up is a known dealer hangout. I guess I’ll never know for sure.
I’ve learned a lot about dealing with the insurance companies, and all of the crap that goes with it too. So here’s some advice. If you’re gonna get hit by a cage on your bike, you’d better hope it’s some blue haired ol’ lady that has a bushel of CD deposit papers layin’ around. If he’s a piece-of-shit junkie/thief who doesn’t have a pot to piss in, or a window to throw it out of, you’re subject to the limits of their insurance policy if you seek any pain and suffering. And the insurance company knows, if you’re hit by a piece-of-shit who doesn’t have any money, that there are absolutely no assets there for them to protect. When they know this, they sit back and take a “fuck you” attitude, ’cause they know their money is the only thing you’re gonna get. They also know that if they keep the “fuck you” attitude up long enough, and drag it out for two years maybe, that their money has made them more money. So with this in mind, coupled with the fact that they’ve already got lawyers on retainer to keep the “fuck you” game going in the courts for two years or so, they know that they’re gonna keep at least another 20% of their money either way. This is where my liability limits would have came into play. I learned that if I had higher liability limits on my own coverage, I might have been able to ask my coverage to kick in and help. I’m not sure if I would’ve done this, somehow it just doesn’t seem right to me, but at least I would’ve had this option. If there’s any advice I’d give, it would be to tell anyone to raise their liability and underinsured limits on their policy.
On January 31, 2001, I called the Peoria County States Attorney’s office. The dickhead was scheduled for a court appearance. He plead guilty to the injury hit and run, in exchange for the other charges being dropped. He was sentenced to 60 days of jail time on a work release. He got out every day to go to work, and went back in at night. How brutal. I asked the assistant States Attorney why she would plea something down when he admitted his actions to the insurance people. She told me this was “standard procedure”, and that even with me as a witness, no judge would have given this guy jail time. One thing’s for sure, we’ll never know now. He also got some sorta conditional release. If he screws up in a year, he goes back to jail. That’s what I’m gambling for. I hope he remains a moron for another year. I’m thinking he will.
I decided to not let it go so easy. A friend gave me a website address for the Illinois Dept. of Corrections. Anyone can search a name from this site and see if that person has a history in the states correctional system. It seems my dirtbag has a history of three counts of burglary. Here’s the good part, he was on parole when he hit me. His parole wasn’t up until Oct. of 2000, over a year after he hit me. I called the states attorney’s office back, and asked if they had checked this clowns history before the plea bargain was given. She matter of factly told me “no, it’s not like he killed somebody.” It’s good we weren’t face to face when she told me this, because I lost it. This clowns first encounter with the law started back in 1988. I’m sure he established a pattern of not giving a shit, and I’m starting to see how he can get away with it. I called the Dept. of Corrections and spoke to a victims advocate, telling her my entire story. She said she’d check into it and get back to me. She called two days later and told me that the dickhead was in fact on parole at the time and, had they known about this, they would have most definitely revoked his parole. Because it expired, I got an apology instead. When I finished the conversation I wrote another one to the half-ass assistant DA telling her the 60-day jail time, (where he gets out every fuckin’ day like some school kid to go play could have been hard time). I was sure it won’t faze her, but I was thinking that she’ll get sick to her stomach when she learns he could have went to jail, and it wouldn’t have cost her office more than a simple phone call to the DOC. I think the real reason she pled it down was to save money and clear her desk.
The past few weeks have been almost as bad as the summer for me. I’ve learned a lot about our system of justice. I’ve learned how the father of a raped child could walk into a courthouse, lay a gun to the head of the cocksucker that violated his daughter and waste him. Several times I’ve wished that the matter could have been handed over to me, let me seek my own justice. I’ve spent my time thinking of revenge, finding out where this asshole lived. I’ve driven past his house. I’ve thought of waiting for him to leave his house, to change his life instantly one day, as he did mine. I’ve thought of leaving him lay bleeding on a street, so he’d know what it felts like. I’ve thought it through to the point of thinking that a crossbow would be a great weapon of revenge. No sounds, just a silent arrow burning into his leg. I had brief thoughts of hiring some pain for this dumbfuck, but it wouldn’t be the same. I still wouldn’t be satisified. If I were to do this, he’d have to know it came from me in some subtle way. He’d know in his heart that the blow from the man in the mask was mine, but he wouldn’t have enough evidence to put me there. These thoughts nearly consumed me before I finally chased them from my head. I decided that too much of my life had been used up by this loser, that it was time to let go and move on. Stooping to his level, as good as it would have felt for a short time, would change nothing that had happened. I had to let go of it.
It’s now March 15th, 2000 and the weatherman is calling for 3 to 6 inches of snow for St. Patties Day. It’s been a long winter this year in Illinois, and I just want it to be over. My story is done, and I just want to ride.
Ray McCausland riverbrats@casscomm.com
March 30, 2006 Part 3
By Bandit |
Continued From Page 2
BIKERNET SALT FLAT RACER AND DRAG RACING CHAMPION VALERIE THOMPSON POSTER–This new poster of our Bikernet Bonneville Race girl is available on her site http://www.vtracegirl.com/…track…Firebird April 7-9th (AHDRA race). ?Hacienda Harley-Davidson, in Phoenix, has been keeping me busy,? Valerie said, ?One woman band over here. Those posters on my site under VT Store.?
BIKERNET WEEKLY ART EXHIBIT–Ground level shot of rider heading in the Ironhorse at Bikeweek ’06. Enjoy it. I’m still dusting the asphalt off my vest.
–Whiplash Biker Photog
mailto:soffordphotos@comcast.net
G2 MOTORSPORTS LOOKING TO BUILD SOLID SEASON STARTING AT O’REILLY SPRINGS NATIONALS– The G2 Motorsports team is looking to take the momentum from the recently completed Gatornationals and turn it into a winning effort at the O’Reilly Spring Nationals in Houston this weekend. “I’m looking forward to the race,” said Chip Ellis, rider of the DRAG Specialties machine. “I have run in the 6.50’s here on a Funny Bike in the past so I know the track can handle everything we plan on giving it. I’m concentrating on being as consistent as possible on the starting line and having fun.” “I feel we did a pretty good job in Gainesville,” said Torco/Skull Gear racer, Matt Smith. “We had a couple of mechanical glitches but the team has taken care of them. Our goal for Houston is to qualify well and go a few rounds. We have put engine #16 back in the bike, the one I used to qualify #1 at Pomona last year, and with our new chassis this bike should fly.”
“We put in some extra testing and time at the shop and we have found the handle on the bikes that we lost on Sunday at the Gatornationals,” said an amused George Bryce, Director of Racing for G2. “We immediately duct taped the handle to the 18-wheeler so that it would arrive in Houston when we do. Seriously though, we will build on what we learned in Gainesville. Both Chip and Matt are doing an excellent job riding and we are looking forward to a solid race in Houston.”
G2 Motorsports Sponsors
G2 enjoys the backing of the following sponsors: DRAG Specialties, Torco Racing Fuels, S&S Cycle, Skull Gear, MAC Tools, RK Racing Chain, Red Line Oil, and VTwinPlus.com.
For further information on G2 Motorsports Racing contact:Greg Guarinello
mailto:flyingeyefoto@aol.com
201-384-2172
STEALTH MOURNS JOHNNY CHOP–We just heard the news here that Johhny Chop passed away. That is a real shock to us all. We did not know him but I really liked his bikes. Our prayers and thoughts go out to his family from all of us at Stealth Bike Works. It never seems fair when something like this happens but as we all know life is not fair. We should all try to live each day as if it were our last.
Here at SBW we are working on some sissy bars and have finished one. I think it is pretty cool! We did pretty well at the swap meet last weekend and we have been busy so far this week. Speaking of the swap meet, it is changing. It seems people are more interested in jewelry and clothes rather than bikes and parts. That is what I saw as I watched people at the swap meet. Like the helmet sticker says “it used to be about riding, now it is a f——g fashion show.” Another thing I noticed is all those neon looking lights on bikes, under the tanks and anywhere else they can stick them. To me they are gawdy looking and kind of comical.
SBW is starting to get some name recognition around the area. We are fast approaching our one-year anniversary in May. It has been a year that has flown by. SBW is starting to develop our own style and our own customer base. We try to carry different inventory. Different from the other local shops. We lean toward the old school look and our inventory reflects that.
Oh one other thing we got a T.V. this week with VCR and DVD player. Now we can have Biker-Build Off videos going during the day if we want. Man, does this mean we are big time or what? Ha! Ha!
Until next week, RIDE!
–STEALTHMAN
DEPARTURE BIKE WORKS DEAL OF THE WEEK– Here it is, without any further adieu, the DBW DEAL OF THE WEEK ! ! ! ! It’s a 2001 FXDL, complete with a new 2005 gas tank & dash, and a new scalloped paint job by none other than Chad McCreary of Copperhead Graphics. This sweet ride can be your sweet ride for only $11,500. Give a shout to (804)231-0244, or shoot the old man an email at lee@departure.com if yer interested!
Greg @ DBW
SPIKE TV’S “BLADE: THE SERIES” BASED ON MARVEL’S RENOWNED SUPER HERO TO FEATURE HARLEY-DAVIDSON VRSCD NIGHT ROD MOTORCYCLE–In the upcoming Spike TV original production “Blade: The Series,” inspired by Marvel’s popular Super Hero, the immortal lead character will ride a motorcycle from Harley-Davidson, one of the world’s most enduring legends. “Blade: The Series” premieres on Spike TV Wednesday, June 28 (10:00 PM – Midnight, ET/PT).
“Blade: The Series” stars Kirk “Sticky” Jones (“Over There,” “The Shield”) as the title character who is half-man, half-vampire and employs his extraordinary powers in a crusade to save mankind from the demonic creatures who walk the night. Episodes will feature Jones, as Blade, in action riding the Harley-Davidson VRSCD Night Rod motorcycle.
“Blade: The Series is a thrilling action-adventure, filled with heart-pounding tension and suspense,” says Dario Spina, Senior Vice President of Marketing and Promotions, Spike TV. “As a character-driven series, Harley Davidson’s Night Rod motorcycle has a powerful attitude of its own, adding dimension to both the series and our lead character.”
Spike TV and Harley-Davidson worked closely on the logistics of integrating the Night Rod into “Blade: The Series” and are considering several joint promotions for the project. The series is produced by New Line Television and is currently in production in Vancouver, Canada.
“The Night Rod is a raw, hot rod-inspired motorcycle with the latest in styling and performance,” said Paul James, Harley-Davidson Product Communication Manager. “It has a menacing look and feel, which makes it a great motorcycle for the “Blade” character. We hope Spike TV viewers enjoy the motorcycle and how it fits into the show.”
“Blade: The Series” is Spike TV’s first original scripted series. In addition to the two hour premiere episode on June 28, 11 one-hour episodes will premiere weekly starting Wednesday, July 5 (10:00-11:00 PM, ET/PT). In Spike TV’s adaptation, Blade (Jones) sets up shop in Detroit and investigates the vampire house of Chthon. Along the way he forms an uneasy alliance with Krista Starr (Jill Wagner), a military veteran who becomes entrenched into the world of vampires while investigating the murder of her twin brother. In addition to Jones and Wagner, series cast members include Neil Jackson (“Stargate SG-1”), Nelson Lee (“Traffic,” the TV mini-series) and Jessica Gower (“Blurred”).
NORTH DAKOTA TROOPERS ASSOCIATION GETS OLD HARLEY–FARGO, N.D. – The North Dakota Troopers Association has purchased an old Harley Davidson to use a new public relations tool.
The 1936 motorcycle is outfitted with original lights, and a siren activated by the rotation of the rear wheel. It’s similar to the models the Highway Patrol once used.Trooper Mitch Rumple said the motorcycle was located in Montana by John Lindeman of Golden Valley, who restores and owns dozens of Harleys.
Rumple said the old Harley will be used to stress motorcycle safety.”We want to encourage people to wear helmets and drive safely when they’re on a motorcycle,” he said.The bike, with a flathead engine, is all original, from the wiring to the foot clutch.
It has been in the showroom of Fargo Harley-Davidson owner Del Hofer’s store. It will be on display at the Grand Forks Harley shop before its public unveiling during the Fargo marathon in May.
“This is a piece of art,” Hofer said. “Units like this were used by the law enforcement officers all over the United States.”
–Associated Press
–from Rogue
BIKERNET SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH DEPARTMENT QUESTIONS–We are trying desperately to determine what dire scientific questions to spend our vast 2006 research budget on. Here’s some earth-shattering questions un consideration.
Can you cry underwater?
How important does a person have to be before they are considered assassinated instead of just murdered?
If money doesn’t grow in trees then why do banks have branches?
Since bread is square, then why is sandwich meat round?
Why do you have to “put your two cents in”…but it’s only a “penny for your thoughts?” Where’s that extra penny going to?
Once you’re in heaven, do you get stuck wearing the clothes you were buried in for eternity?
Why does a round pizza come in a square box?
What disease did cured ham actually have?
How is it that we put man on the moon before we figured out it would be a good idea to put wheels on luggage?
Why is it that people say they “slept like a baby” when babies wake up like every two hours?
If a deaf person has to go to court, is it still called a hearing?
–from CarlR
THE WIRELESS REVOLUTION– A World First in Motorcycle Intercoms.The world’s first fully-featured wire-free intercom is about to be launched by IntaRide, the bike communications specialist. No wires between bike and rider, no plugs, no fuss. The IntaRide Liberty is a dramatic breakthrough in intercom technology.
Liberty uses a self-contained headset Pod, just a couple of inches long, which attaches to the side of the helmet, connected to ear and microphones. It contains a mini-transmitter/receiver which uses radio waves to connect with the underseat Hub. No wires or connectors between the two. That saves around 4 meters of cable compared to the average rider/pillion intercom system.
Key Features:
*Compact, lightweight Pod sticks to helmet for wire-free communication
*No wires – just get on and go
*Ultra-long battery life
*Multi-function Hub can work with:
Rider-pillion talk, Bike-to-bike talk, Stereo Music – MP3, CD, Radio, GPS/Sat Nav, Radar detection, Plus most Mobile phone and Bluetooth devices.
Liberty will be competitively priced too; the system is going on sale at ?349 with no hidden extras.
Contact: Intaride 01527 524 555
http://www.intaride.com
MRF LEADERS’ REPORT–The Motorcycle Riders Foundation (MRF) is serving notice one of the two Supporting State Motorcyclist’s Rights Organization (SMRO) Representative positions is scheduled for election in September 2006. The position is currently held by Dave Dwyer from Wisconsin.
Supporting SMRO Representatives are responsible for communicating with state organizations and advocating SMRO issues. They also work on special projects not specifically assigned to other members of the MRF Board of Directors.
Candidates must be MRF members in good standing and submit an article of intent including their qualifications to Fred Rau, the Editor of MRF Reports, at editor@mrf.org for publication in the next issue on or before the next MRF Reports deadline on April 3rd. In addition, a letter of intent to run from the candidate and a letter of support for the candidate’s generated by their SMRO should be sent to the MRF Washington, D.C. office.
If there is more than one candidate for this office ballots will be mailed to all MRF Supporting State Motorcyclist’s Rights Organizations in July 2006. The MRF Bylaw provision defining voting eligibility reads:
Supporting State Motorcyclists’ Rights Organizations Board Members:
There shall be two (2) at large board members elected by the state motorcyclists’ organizations which have requested recognition and fulfilled the requirements of a supporting state motorcyclists’ organization as specified herein. Each supporting state motorcyclists’ rights organization shall have one vote for each position which shall be cast by its highest elected officer. Any organization open to membership on a statewide basis may choose to participate in the election of Supporting State Motorcyclists’ Rights Organizations Board Members. State Organizations wishing to do so must meet the following qualifications: (A) Having previously been recognized by the MRF as a supporting SMRO, or (B) Having existed as a viable functioning entity for at least two years prior to the time of voting; be in support of the MRF’s purposes and be a sustaining member of the MRF for the year in which they choose to vote.
Any questions regarding this position or the MRF election procedure should be directed to Miles France, Chair MRF Elections Committee.
CYRIL HUZE MOTORMOUNT/COIL BRACKET COMBO– As seen on the custom bikes built by Cyril Huze, a combo motor mount/coil bracketlooking extremely good on the left side of both choppers & bobbers.
The motor mount works on Evo engine up to 131″ and the coil bracket is offered with or without ignition key.
Cyril Huze
Tel: 561-392-5557
SUCKER PUNCH DEAL OF THE WEEK–So anyone who has been on the Sucker Punch Web siteknows that bikes that are posted rarely last 24 hours.We are giving you at bikernet the first shot onDonny’s latest ride. It’s a long and low one butdefinitely built for speed and will be featured in afuture issue of Hotbike.
If you ask me it looks likeits going 100 mph standing still. It has a 96″,6-speed tranny, PM narrow open belt drive, PM wheelsand a heavily modified Cole Foster tank. $32K takes ithome. Call SPS at 513-353-2803 and ask for Jason ifyou are interested. Oh yeah and look for a ground upSPS build exclusively on bikernet in the near future.
–J. Ken Conte
Rise Above Consulting LLC
(970)227-3588
RICEBURNER PILOT ATTACKS HARLEY-DAVIDSON– Harley-Davidson: The most efficient way to convert gasoline into noise without the adverse side effect of horsepower.
Did you know 95% of all Harleys are still on the road?The other 5% actually made it home.
Is it true that Harleys are chick magnets?Yes, but only if the chick has a steel plate in her head.
What’s the cheapest way to get another 50hp from your Harley?Trade it in on a Kawasaki.
Why don’t Harley riders sit on their bikes when the sidestands are down? They’re afraid to lean over that far.
What’s the difference between a Harley and a Harley owner’s home?The Harley costs more and has fewer wheels.
How do you now you’re riding a Harley?While coming off an exit-ramp you get passed by a Vespa.
Why don’t Harley riders wave at sportbike riders?Because they don’t want to drop their tools.
How do you know all the aftermarket parts you bought for your Harley are worth the money?You finally break into the 15’s in the quarter mile.
Where can you find the world’s largest collection of Harley jokes?At Sturgis.
How do Harley engineers tell if a bike is worthy of the Harley name?They check to make sure the exhaust noise in decibels is more than double the horsepower rating.
–Breaker
ONE OTHER THING REGARDING DEATH– We need to treat each other with respect and kindness now. Once a pal is gone, so are your chances to be cool to them.
That’s why Bikernet staff often say to brothers and sisters in the industry, “If there’s anything we can do, let us know.” We mean that from a reader request to an event promoter, to a national company with a marketing challenge. As long as I can breathe I’ll help my brothers and sisters wherever and whenever possible.
One more thought. I mentioned working ourselves to death in the intro. Don’t get me wrong. There’s nothing negative about working hard, but there’s also that wonderful balance of playing hard, the touch of a woman, grease stains in the shop and discovering wild adventures. Remember, you only go around once.
Check back to the Bikernet Headquarters often. I’ve got all the images to post another report on the Bonne Belle. It’s coming together. We have a couple more Daytona reports, some serious info on noise research and all the contestants for the D&D Exhaust contests. You need to make the final selection. Hang On.
Ride Forever,
–Bandit
March 30, 2006 Part 2
By Bandit |
Continued From Page 1
REMEMBER THIS?–I WAS DIGGING THROUGH SOME OLD BOXES AND FOUND FOUND THIS CARB. I RAN IT ON A 55 PAN. IT STILL WORKS. WOW.ANY BODY REMEMBER THIS. IM THE ONE THAT GAVE BANDIT THE PICKS OF EASYRIDER-SLUGS-ROTH MAGS.
RIDE SAFE DEANO
Those Lake Injector carbs were cool. I rode to Lake Elisnore and the inventor (can’t remember his name this second), installed one. He invented the Quick Silver carb currently sold by Eldebrock. Let me know, if you want to sell it.–Bandit
GOODSON AIR CLEANERS IN CYRIL HUZE STOCK–They’re designed to fit CV, S&S and Mikuni carbs.
More At: Hi there !
ANIMALS’ POKER RUN–Our animal rescue group, North East Rottweiler Rescue & Referral, is hosting a Poker Run, called the Rockin’ Rottie Poker Run, on 5/13/06 at Tramontin HD, in Hope NJ. We are hoping you could list our event?
For more info, people can go to www.rottrescue.org
–Nicole V
BIKERNET STUDENT TERM PAPER NEEDS HELP–Hello I am a student at ridgewater college and I am researching for the topic of the futures in the industry of motorcycle and was wondering if you guys have any concepts for any type of two wheel fantasies that you would be wiling to share with me. Anything would be great.
–Derek HoekstraHoekstraDer@ridgewater.edu
HANNUM’S HARLEY-DAVIDSONTO SPONSOR AMDRAGS EVENT– AMDRAGS, the exciting new motorcycle drag racing series, recently announced the signing of Hannum’s Harley-Davidson as the title-rights sponsor of the Maple Grove event scheduled for July 8-9, 2006.
The event will be known as the Hannum’s Harley-Davidson AMDRAGS Summer Nationals and will run at Maple Grove Raceway near Reading, Pennsylvania. Hannum’s owner Tommy Hannum is a veteran drag racer who has promoted drag racing events at Maple Grove for the past ten years.
“Everyone connected with AMDRAGS is pleased to partner with the Hannum’s people for this event,” said Matt Polito, Race Director of AMDRAGS. “This is going to be an amazing event. The Hannums crew is experienced and well respected. Plus they have a tremendous following with race fans and the racers alike. They were the obvious choice for a marketing partner for this event.”
Hannum’s Harley-Davidson (www.hannumshd.com) is one of the largest Harley-Davidson dealers in the U.S. with locations in Media and Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania.
“Our racing events have been a passion of the Hannum’s staff,” stated Anthony Pierantozzi of Hannum’s Harley-Davidson. “We feel this partnership with AMDRAGS racing and American Iron Magazine’s show bike series will bring our events to the next level while adding national exposure for everyone’s benefit.”
The Hannum’s Harley-Davidson AMDRAGS Summer Nationals will be the second stop on AMDRAGS inaugural 3-race 2006 schedule.
Admission includes access to the pro and sportsman drag racing on both days, plus a Top Fuel exhibition. Saturday morning is reserved for the all brands Thunder Alley Race School. American Iron Magazine is sponsoring the new AIMSA custom and classic bike show series, midway vendors and a swap meet on Saturday and Sunday.
For more information on AMDRAGS racing, or to sign up for the Thunder Alley Race School visit http://www.amdrags.com/. For more information on the AIMSA showbike series, vendor opportunities, swap meet spaces or American Iron Magazine visit http://www.AIMag.com
S&S CYCLE NOW SHIPPING SPECIAL EDITION S&S/MAC TOOLS KIT–
S&S Cycle and Mac Tools, the official tool of the S&S Training & Certification Facility, have teamed up to create a limited edition toolbox complete with 187 tools.
This limited edition toolbox and toolset is available only through authorized S&S Dealers and Mac Tools distributors. Click on this link and type in your zip code to locate the S&S dealer closest to you, Locate a dealer
The toolbox features S&S engines displayed prominently on its top lid and four drawers with both S&S and Mac Tools logos. Additionally, the box features gas-shocks on the lid, roller bearings in the drawer slides and heavy-duty side lift handles.
The 187-piece toolset is packaged in four separate foam inserts that fit in the drawers perfectly. The tools are finished in Black Nickel Chrome and laser-etched with their size and the S&S logo. An array of sockets, ratchets, extensions, swivels combined with a large selection of open and box-end wrenches, Allen-wrenches, screwdrivers and pliers comprise the kit.
“Mac Tools officials have been excellent to work with on this co-branded project; it has been very successful for both companies,” said Brian Conyers, communications and marketing manager for S&S. “As our business continues to grow, we look forward to offering more specialty products, like this tool kit, through our authorized dealer network.”
HEADWINDS PRESENTS BOBBER HEADLIGHTS–Headwinds?, the leader in custom headlights, introduces their latest headlight for your bobber, chopper or custom. The 4-1/2? Phoenix is a smooth front, round back headlight with old school style featuring the latest in manufacturing technology. Made in the USA by Headwinds?, They are now available in chrome, polished aluminum or as machined (ready to paint). Contact Headwinds? at 626-359-8044 or online at headwinds@headwinds.com. See their website at www.headwinds.com .
THE TEACH GETS A CHECK–We had a great response on our new build and BillyLane annonced that he will take one of my kids for hisnext build off filming this June as well as DavePerewitz one and Brian Klock one. How cool is thatfor the kids!
Thanks for all the support through theyears as I never could have gotten the program whereit is with out all your support! We are alreadyorganizing sponsors for next years build as thepublicity will be even greater as we expect at least 5schools to be the the build off challenge.
–Kevin Baas
BAAS METAL CRAFT
Custom made steel signs, art, furniture and fabricated parts.
www.baasmetalcraft.com
952-215-1252
http://www.kennedychopperclass.com
EUROPEAN UNION ATTACKS FREEDOMS–Watch for attempts to Eventually try this in the United States.
British motorcycle riders face new curbs under plans to harmonise driving licences across the European Union.The new rules, which will come into force in 2012, are intended to counter the rising number of motorcycle accidents.
Under the arrangements teenagers will still be able to ride a 50cc moped from the age of 16 but will have to wait until they are 19 if they wish to use a machine of more than 125cc. Currently 17- and 18-year-olds may do so provided they have passed a motorcycle test and the machine has a maximum engine performance of no more than 33bhp.
At the other end of the scale, the system allowing 21-year-olds to ride any motor-cycle provided that they have passed their test will be scrapped. The minimum age will rise to 24, unless they have gained at least two years’ experience on larger machines of up to 47 bhp.
–Rogue
Motorcycle Hall Of Fame Member 2005
NEVADA COURT THROWS OUT LAUGHLIN FIGHT INDICTMENT–The Nevada Supreme Court on a 7-0 vote threw out a murder indictment Monday brought against 14 members of the Hells Angels and Mongols motorcycle gangs involved in the 2002 Laughlin riot in which three gang members died.Justices ruled that some lesser indictments such as assault and aiding and abetting filed against the motorcyclists can stand. But in many cases, the Clark County district attorney’s office must go back to District Court and rewrite the indictments to state standards.Both sides were unclear what the effect of the ruling would be.
District Attorney David Roger said two other murder indictments and several other counts still stand.”Many charges still stand,” he said. “I haven’t had a chance to review the decision yet, but we will go back and redraft portions of the indictments as ordered by the court. They are the final word.”
Las Vegas lawyer Tom Pitaro, who represents several Hells Angels, said the court threw out most of the conspiracy charges filed against the motorcyclists.Because the charges were thrown out, Pitaro said, the district attorney’s office cannot try any Hells Angels on charges they conspired to kill other Hells Angels. He said only Mongol Alexander Alcantar can be charged with two Hells Angels deaths.
Prosecutors have alleged in previous court hearings that Alcantar bears the most culpability because he was the triggerman in two of the deaths.
“I am not clear yet on a lot of what the court did,” Pitaro said. “But from the Hells Angels perspective, I am very, very happy.”
In tossing the murder charge brought against all 14 defendants, the court said the indictment does not make clear who committed the killing of Mongol Salvador Barrera.
“The count is unique among the three murder counts because it does not identify any specific defendant as having committed the offense,” the justices said.
Barrera, 43, was stabbed to death in a riot on April 27, 2002, inside Harrah’s during Laughlin’s annual River Run. Shot to death in the riot were Hells Angels members Jeramie Bell, 27, and Robert Tumelty, 50.”The count (concerning Barrera’s slaying) lumps all of the defendants together and does not allege any facts differentiating the conduct of any of the defendants who were members of the respective groups,” the court said in its opinion.
— Las Vegas Review-Journal, NV
–from Rogue
CRAZYHORSE TRIBUTE TO JOHNNY CHOP–Yeah, our buddy Johnny Vasko aka Johnny Chop passed away yesterday. He had heart problems. That is all we know. But it doesn’t matter how he died, it’s how he lived. He was a genuinely sincere and sweet person, as well as being a hell of a bike builder.
My first experience with Johnny was at a party in Sturgis 2004. I was standing around bored, ready to leave and I saw Johnny. I recognized him from Chica’s Biker Builder Off TV show. He walked right up to me and asked me if I was Crazy Horse, then went on to tell me how much he loved my work. I took him over to see my chopper, which was new at the time. We talked for a while before I left. I was really surprised to find out what a truly nice person he was. He went on to fame and his own shop. But he never got an attitude and or forgot how to treat people.
Sara just got back from the west coast where she was taking pictures for her Builder and Machine series of photos. She was pretty broke up about Johnny. He had that way of affecting people.
The past few years have been pretty tough in our industry. We lost Larry in ’04, then we lost a man not many of you know about, but who serious chopper builders depended upon. He was Bradley the Polisher and he was also a real good guy. After that it was Gary from Milwaukee Iron that left us. And now we say goodbye to Johnny.
I was thinking today as I buzzed around the shop trying to work on the Petty bike, trying to get it done with the deadline pressing down on me. It seems we are always trying to meet some fricking deadline. I don’t care who it is. No matter who I talk to, the pressure to get the job for a specific date is always there. NO matter who it is, even Hank Young was telling me about some deadline wearing him down, putting in the late hours at his shop. We push, push, push. Then we party hard. It makes for a bad combination.
Our bodies and therefore our health, and also at times- our attention to the road while riding, get shortchanged. We pay a hard price, then whammo, it’s over. We put our work ahead of ourselves. We don’t truly get to enjoy the incredible gift of life. I have an incredible chopper that sits in my shop. I have a beautiful home, awesome friends. And I don’t get to slow down enough to really enjoy them.
I made the decision earlier this year, that after I finish book 4, that’s it. I’m slowing the pace. Spend more time living the motorcycle life as well as working it.
So all ya out there, this weekend, take some time for Johnny, and for Bradley, and Gary and our Larry. Get on that bike and ride. Go to bed early once in a while. Stop stressing over stuff so much. Take better care of yourself. Spend some time just goofing off with your family and buds. Live your life and remember how very precious it is; even though sometimes it feels like hell. And never forget our buds that are gone. Don’t just look at those old Dave Mann posters, get out there and live it.
And if ya see some little old chick on a flamed sportster or chopper on South or North Carolina, you’ll know the Crazy Horse Paint Shop is closed for the day.
———Crazy Horse (who is going to bed early for once.)
Continued On Page 3
March 30, 2006 Part 1
By Bandit |
Hey,
I’m not going to talk about Johnny. I’ll leave that to John Gilbert who wrote a tribute (it will be posted on Bikernet in the next couple of days), Jose, Sara Liberte (her photo ran as news lead), Crazy Horse and a number of other folks who were moved by his passing. Johnny had a heart problem and when he was 19 and received a heart transplant. He probably blessed every day he stayed alive.
A brother, Kent, said to me recently, “I haven’t had a vacation in 10 years.” I said the same thing a couple of times while working with ER. That’s a bullshit macho thing that we need to ditch.
I told Kent, “Fuck that, asshole. You’re riding to Sturgis with me, then Bonneville.”
Of course he said, “Yes sir.” The point is that any of us can be toast tomorrow. You need to have adventures in life, ’cause it might be gone tomorrow. If you’ve never been to Sturgis or Bonneville, plan for it. It’s you’re fuckin’ mission for the year. Save the coin, get an ol’ lady who can dig it, build a bike, whatever. Let’s ride.
Okay, let’s hit the news:
SARA’S TRIBUTE TO JOHNNY– I’m sure you heard the sad, sad news. We have lost yet another incredible craftsmen, visionary and friend. I just completed Johnny’s portrait for my Builder and Machine Series and thankfully Johnny was able to see it and he loved it.
Ride in Peace Johnny, all my thoughts are with your family, You left us too soon.
Sara Liberte
www.saraliberte.com
www.northhillscycle.com
OKLAHOMA MC VET TAGS REQUESTS NEEDED–I see where we need 100 vets to request motorcycle tags for their bike, but no one knows anything at the tag offices. They need 100 requests or they won’t make them. Any info on who to call please let me know.
–Dennis Carriger
denniscarriger@sbcglobal.net
BIKERNET HISTORIC INVESTIGATION–A Jewish businessman in Chicago sent his son to Israel for a year toabsorb the culture. When the son returned, he said, “Papa, I had a greattime in Israel. By the way, I converted to Christianity.”
“Oy vey,” said the father. “What have I done?”
He took his problem to his best friend. “Ike,” he said, “I sent my sonto Israel, and he came home a Christian. What can I do?”
“Funny you should ask,” said Ike. “I too, sent my son to Israel, and healso came home a Christian..” Perhaps we should go see the rabbi. Sothey did, and they explained their problem to the rabbi.
“Funny you should ask,” said the rabbi.. “I, too, sent my son toIsrael, and he also came home a Christian. What is happening to ouryoung people?”
And so they all prayed, telling the Lord about their sons. As theyfinished their prayer, a voice came from the heavens:
“Funny you should ask,” said the voice. “I, too, sent my son toIsrael….”
–from Joe Lankau
JOHNNY GIL’S HITS DALLAS ER SHOW–Went to the Easy Riders show here in Dallas this weekend and met one ofJohnny Gil’s crew that works for him in his McAllen, TX shop. The name ofthe place is Johnny’s Custom Shop and this cat makes some sweet ass rides.His stuff was better looking, than the big boys that were there.
His bikesare works of art. The kind you stare at for an hour and keep seeingsomething new and unique about it. Anyway, don’t know if you know these guysbut they build some wicked shit.
I’m sending you a pic of a bike that was atthe show. (It came off their web site as I didn’t have the trusty Nikon withme). Anyway, the guy’s web site is www.johnnyscustomshop.com. They mightmake a good story for you to do unless you’ve already been there, done that.
By the way, Dewey is selling his own line of Sewer Pickles in case you’reinterested.
–Robert Brock
VOODOO CHOPPERS OFFERS METAL WORKSHOP–Discovery Channel’s Biker Build-Off star Eric Gorges of Voodoo Choppers is offering a metal fabrication workshop at his shop in Rochester, Michigan.
With the class size limited to 4 people, students will get exclusive hands on instruction using the tools necessary for them to gain the skills to start fabricating their very own one off parts.
In addition to the skills students will acquire, each student will come away a hand crafted part that they will make themselves in class with Eric’s help.. The student can choose between making a fender, an oil tank or a one off fuel tank shell.
Don’t miss this chance to learn to become a cut above the rest. Put VooDoo’s Mojo to work for you and never have to rely on someone else to help make your dream chopper a reality.
Classes will undoubtedly fill up fast so contact VooDoo Choppers to insure your spot.
Voodoo Choppers
248-601-3000
http://www.voodoochoppers.com
Email: info@voodoochoppers.com
TEXAS NATIONAL BIKE SHOW POSTER CONTEST–We need a bitchin bike for the Texas National Bike Show Poster.
Well this is it, the last few days to get your bikes in for the Texas National Bike Show poster bike contest, we have oiled up the model and are anxiously awaiting the for the voting to begin the first of April, so get you last entries in and we will get started!
Here’s the rules:
1. All photos must be submitted to us by March 31st
2. 30 days to vote, voting will begin on April 1st and will end on April 30th, all submissions must be in by April fools day!
3. Bike must be available to participate in the Texas National Bike Show (all show guidelines)
4. Bike must be available for photo shoot no later than the end of May.
5. Texas National will comp a display space for the winner at the show.
6. Bike can participate in the judged class at the show, with a complimentary entry
And yes it might be shot with a hot babe for the poster. Be a star and send us a photo of your bike. The Show fires up the same time as the Lone Star Rally, November 3rd, I think. Send entries to Holly@Texasnationalbikeshow.com
Thanks, Holly
“Mr.Devil”
DEPARTURE BIKE WORKS PROJECT BIKE UPDATE–Thought I’d send you a coupla pics of the latest to come out of DBW’s secret laboratory. The bike we started with was an American Ironhorse …Now, it’s got 50 deg rake in the neck & 7 deg. trees, with a radiused single downtube. The customer has since decided he wants a drop seat frame, so it’ll go back on the frame fixture for some more of that voodoo that Andrew do so well…..
Also, We’ve added a few events to our event calendar, so go check ’em out…..NOW!!!!http://www.departure.com/events.asp
–Greg “Z” Hall
Service Manager/Public Relations
Departure Bike Works
BIKERNET CHROME SHOP SURVEY–We’re searching for biker friendly chrome shops. Here’s one to check out.
Dirty Joe’s Chrome Shop LLC
11702 Plano Road
Dallas Texas 75243
(214)343-8871 Shop
(214)343-8872 Fax
ARIZONA BIKE WEEK CUSTOM BUILDER TRIBUTE– – April 7, 2006Arizona Bike Week is proud to recognize Roger http://www.bourgets.comBourget, Paul Yaffe http://www.paulyaffeoriginals.com/ , and Jimhttp://www.jimnasicustoms.com/ Nasi for their accomplishments.
The threebuilders will gather at the World Famous Billet Bar at 4pm for a meet andgreet until 6pm, then lead the ride through Scottsdale to Cyclefest atWestWorld on their latest customs.
Planned festivities include an awardsceremony honoring the three builders for their contributions over the yearsto the Arizona motorcycle tradition. Then you’ll be treated to a liveconcert by The Guess Who.
All proceeds from this event will go directly tothe Children’s Hospital of Seattle. A minimum $5.00 per rider donation isrequested for early registration. The donation will get riders a wrist bandgranting them free access Cyclefest and the concert. Early registrationforms will be available at the Billet Bar or at Paul Yaffe Originals fromMarch 25th thru April 6th.
EXILE CYCLES NEW SHOP OPENING-BE THERE–Exile 10th Anniversary Open House It’s our birthday, we’re ten years old! We are going to celebrate by holding an Open House on April 22nd 2006. Come and join us for some sex and drugs and rock and roll. O.K. so we lied about the first two, but there will be bands playing, beer flowing, and the lovely Purrfect Angelz dancing up a storm. The event will take place from noon to 6pm at our new shop in North Hollywood.http://www.exilecycles.com
INJURED 19-YEAR-OLD BIKE GET DINGED– A 19-year-old Winter Springs woman remains in critical condition after crashing her new motorcycle into a ditch near Colonial Drive in east Orange County.Investigators with the Florida Highway Patrol said Shyanne Cummings made too many bad choices just moments before crashing her brand new motorcycle on Vincent Road in east Orange County. Troopers said Cummings wasn’t wearing a helmet, didn’t have a motorcycle endorsement and think she was going about 100 miles an hour in a 25.
“Actually had her license suspended for too many tickets within a year,” said Trooper Kim Miller, Florida Highway Patrol.
From unlawful speed to careless driving, troopers said Cummings had a long list of moving violations. In fact, they said, they found a handful of tickets in one of her pockets.
–from WTF TV
–from Rogue
BIKERNET WEEKLY TECH–The most important part of tank coating is getting all the dirt and rust out before you coat it. I use muriatic acid and water to etch the metal. Then use soda ash to neutralize the acid, rinse well with clean water, drain all the water you can. Next use MEK to dry any remaining water left in the tank, then blow dry with air or a hair drier. Make sure the tank is good and dry before you coat it.
I use an aircraft tank coating, it has a catalyst. I do not know if this coating is sold in small amounts, I have gallon kits.
Most coatings do not have catalyst.You can get muriatic acid and soda ash at a swimming pool supply storeIf you need more info email me or call me.
–Jim
http://www.jimscyclepainting.com
NEW TAILFIN CUSTOM MIRRORS FROM HARLEY-DAVIDSON–New billet-style Tailfin Custom Mirrors (P/N 91696-05, $99.95) from Harley-Davidson Genuine Motor Accessories feature a finned mirror back and the custom raised-rib stem that combine to bring the Art Deco “streamliner” look into the 21st century. The die-cast mirror body and forged stem are polished and chrome plated for a brilliant finish. From the workshop of Wyatt Fuller.Fits all 1982-later Harley-Davidson models. Sold as a pair. _
For additional information on Harley-Davidson Genuine Motor Accessories, see your local Harley-Davidson dealer or visit the Harley-Davidson Web site at http://www.harley-davidson.com.
To find a dealer near you, call toll free 1-800-443-2153 in the U.S.A. or Canada.
BIKERNET WEEKLY DOOR PRIZE WINNERS–
Mike Kelly
Deltona, Florida
32738 – USA
Wanted: Need new clothes how about one of them cool new bikernet shirts
size large!!!!!!! Thank you very much!!!!!!!!!
How can we say no to that?
BILLY AZLIN
ATOKA, TN 38004 –
USA
Suggestion: SEND IN YOUR LETTERS TO YOUR BIKER RIGHTS GROUP AND FIGHT THE EPA
Wanted: BEDROLL, DAYROLL, SHIRTS, HATS, PORN, GAS, OIL, YOU KNOW….
Well, we are fresh out of porn. Gas and oil, ha! That?s worth more then gold anymore. But I do believe we can part with a DayRoll.
Continued On Page 2
Bikernet Interviews – Hells Angel Rusty Coones
By Bandit |
First of all, I am a little nervous in taking on this task. I do not wantto ruffle any feathers. On the other hand, I’m honored to interview thepresident of the Orange County Chapter of the Hells Angels. I, myself, have been suspicious and skeptical of the government and itsrole in our lives since the early ’60s, when I got involved in news worthyevents. Since then I have repeatedly seen confirmations of what I hadpreviously suspected. Now I try not to be so judgmental and allow some timeto pass to get a better view before taking a stand. Bikernet: Being a member of the Hells Angels and president of oneof its chapters, what is life like where you are? Are you treated any differently than other inmates? How do inmates and employees of the systemtreat you? RC: I was arrested on June 6, 1999, in Orange County, Calif. I was taken toSanta Ana city jail, a new facility that contracts with the feds to house prisoners who have cases in Orange County. I was segregated to what is referred to as the hole while in Orange County. Basically you are locked down in aSingle-man cell 23 hours a day, with one hour out to shower and make a phonecall. About a week later, I was transferred to Metropolitan Detention Centerin L.A. At the time of this writing, November 22, I have been in LosAngeles almost 18 months. Metropolitan Detention Center is a 10-story building that houses about 1,000 federal inmates at a time. It’s owned and run by thefederal Department of Corrections. Here I’m on a floor with 100 to 140 people,with access to a small recreation deck that has a universal weight machineon it. Most of the time, our cells are unlocked from 6:30 a.m. to 9:45 p.m.Considering the fact that all of our food is microwaved, it’s not that bad,sometimes even good. The biggest thing for me is getting used to theslowness of life here. Outside I was always busy doing things I liked to do withpeople around me that I wanted to be with. As far as how I’m treatedcompared to other inmates, in most respects the same. Except when I am transported to court, I get a marshal’s SWAT team escort. At least I don’t have to worry about getting stuck in traffic; they hit the lights and sirens and everybody moves out of the way. I get along pretty good with most of the people here. My philosophy is to treat people the way I would like to be treated, until they give me reason not to. I am not suffering from any ego problems, where you have to prove how tough you are all the time, anyway. BN: Do you have access to computers and the Internet? If so, do you doany surfin’ on the World Wide Web? If so, how does the Internet help with what you want to accomplish? What do you want to accomplish with your time in the upcoming months?  No, we do not have access to computers or the Internet here. Wish we did. Athome I was on the computer and net every day. I do have a Web site,www.freerusty.com, which is run by volunteers. I can be e-mailed atfreerusty@yahoo.com . My e-mail is printed out and snail-mailed to me. TheInternet has been a great way to get my message out to people in ourculture. I have a lot of information regarding politics, discrimination, bikers’rights and the drug war on my Web site. If it is not on my site, we are linked to it on somebody else’s. The site has also generated a lot of support and donations that have helped defray some of the cost of defending myself in this case. BN: Do they have a library for your use, research and reading? RC: Yes, they have a law library here. There are also a lot of booksfloating around in the unit I’m in. I have studied and read a lot of books since I’ve been here, and will continue to learn as much as I can absorb while incarcerated. One thing that I have noticed is that our culture is far too apathetic when it comes tovoting, etc. We are the first ones to bitch about unfair laws, but if wedon’t vote or do anything to effect change, then we’ve got no right to bitch. Right now, maybe one out of three eligible voters actually votes. Our country isbasically sitting by while 25 to 30 percent of the population decides who’sdoing what. We have almost no representation. You think your vote doesn’tcount? Look at this presidential election. Only a few votes made thedifference. Any way I’m hoping I can influence some of us to get involved inpolitics and effect change before it’s too late. If you want change, voteindependent or third party. Most Americans aren’t left wing or right wing, butin the middle, that’s why we need to support third party candidates that wantto safeguard our civil rights and feel as we do on the issues. BN: How about a weight room to keep yourself in shape? RC: As I said earlier, there is a universal machine on the recreation deck here and while it is not my optimum choice for a workout, it’s better than noweights at all. I always liked free weights when given the choice. I usuallywork out about an hour a day. So far I’ve maintained my normal 280-285 pound body weight. BN: Reading the newspaper account of your guilty plea proceedings onSept. 19, it was revealed that you had a history of counseling drug and alcoholabusers. Could you elaborate on this? RC: In the ’80s, I lost a younger brother to heroin addiction, and helpedto get a few friends into programs for the treatment of cocaine and alcohol abuse. I got interested in opening a treatment center around 1987. In 1991, I opened First Step Treatment Centers Inc., with a facility in Laguna Beach, Calif., and one in Fontana, Calif. I was not a counselor; I ran the business end dealing with the paperwork, etc. I had to close the business in 1995. Insurance companies cut back on benefits for patients after Hillary Clinton’s national health care scare. It’s too bad; it was a good business to be in and helped a lot of people. We put some people through the program for free, when we had theopenings, but it was expensive to operate and we had to depend on contractswith the insurance companies to survive at that time. BN: What can be done to change public opinion concerning thegovernment’s “Waron Drugs”? It’s easy to sling bricks at the status quo, but a plan to changepublic opinion is really needed. RC: If people were told the truth about drug use and the drug war, theiropinions might change. There are mountains of information on my Web siteabout this, but I’ll try to explain a little about it here. First of all, the myth that drugs are the single most dangerous threat toour children and society in general is government propaganda. Fact: Over 400,000people a year die from tobacco use. Fact: Over 100,000 people a year die ofalcohol use. If you put all illegal drug deaths together, per year, in theU.S., you have 6,000 total. Of those 6,000 drug deaths per year, most are from heroin overdoses, because illegal heroin varies in quality, resulting inaccidental overdoses. As far as crime associated with drugs, of coursethere is crime. Any time you prohibit alcohol or drugs, you create a black market. The fact that drugs are illegal makes them expensive to obtain. Addicts have to steal to support their habits. Prohibition, also, breeds corruption. If drugs were to be somehow controlled but made available to users (legally), the violence, corruption, death, and the value of drugs would drop through the floor. With no money in it any more, the foreign cartels would collapse, the dealers would be out of business, and the robbers that prey on them would also be out of business. We learned the lesson with prohibition of alcohol already, but there are powerful lobbyists working everyday to expand the drug war in the name of big corporations. The truth is that the drug war is big business for the many government agencies and private corporations benefit by this war. If you count all the local, state and federal money spent on the drug war every year, including prison beds, it totals around $73 billion a year. The prison industrial complex is huge; the only employer in the U.S. that is larger than the Bureau of Prisons is General Motors. We have over 2 million people in prisons in the U.S. Crime has been declining for over 20 years, but we are giving non-violent drug offenders more time than people convicted of much more serious crimes. BN: What can be done to illustrate the fact that drug use is notnecessarily drug abuse? RC: Drug use and drug abuse are two different things, just like alcoholuse and alcohol abuse. Drug and alcohol abuse are social problems and should betreated that way. It has been proven that education and treatment are muchmore effective than jail, and a lot cheaper. I think that attacking thedemand side of the problem through education and treatment is far moreeffective than going after the supply side. Kids from the age of 12 to 18should be required to attend drug, alcohol and sex education classes everyyear until they graduate high school. Show them AIDS patients at hospitals.Tour hospital emergency wards with them to see the damage done by drunkdrivers. Tour prisons and jails with them to show them the end result. Todrink a beer socially is alcohol use. To drink till you puke is alcoholabuse. Anytime a person drinks or uses drugs so often to affect their health, orothers, they are abusing. Some people are more susceptible to addiction thanothers, but jail is not the answer. To get to the point, anytime drug use oralcohol use affects your social life, family, health or job in a negativeway, it has become abuse. An occasional beer or occasional joint isn’t abuse,it’s use. BN: What is there about you, Rusty Coones, that you want people to know,that possibly they do not already know? RC: It’s true that I am in jail on a drug charge, but the myth that theclub is in the drug business is just as I said, a myth. Whenever a member has been arrested on drug charges, it is always his personal business, not theclub’s. Our club is a motorcycle club, period. When a cop gets arrested for drugs, we don’t assume that the whole department is involved. BN: How are your kids taking all this, the charges, pleading andyour incarceration? What have they shared with you concerning the wholething? RC: It’s been hard on my kids. That has really bothered me, for them tosuffer because of my problems. We are lucky to have friends who have come forward to help with them. My son just graduated from high school and my daughter is still in school and living with a great family. We miss each other and I don’t ever want them to have to go through anything like this in their lives. They’re both good kids and I know they will do well in life. |
March 23, 2006 Part 4
By Bandit |
Continued From Page 3
SASHA SLITHERS TO BIKE WEEK–Check out the fun hoochie coo bartending photos frombike week…working at my beloved Broken SpokeSaloon…Gosh it was an awesome time with the greatestbosses, B-spoke owner, Jay Allen; and B-spoke manager,Peter Cimasi. The good patrons, good motorin weather,oh it was good times, indeed all around.
See ya soon. love,
–Sash
BIKERNET’S MOST KNOCK-OUT DYNA–PICK A WINNER–WILL RECEIVE A SET OF D&D PIPES–That’s right, you get to pick the best looking DYNA from the Bikernet Community. Just vote for the one that you like the best. The motorcycle that gets the most votes receives a new set of Fat Cat pipes from D&D Performance Exhaust.
The 2 into 1 Fat Cat Pipes makes the best horsepower and torque. The stylish upswept design provides the performance rider with extra ground clearance. Each pipe is hand fitted and installed with heat shields. Experience up to 12 additional ponys.
We couldn’t run all the bikes here so watch for the articles containing all the Bikernet contestants. It will pop onto the home page this week.
Our first entry into our Harley-Davidson DYNA Pipe Promotion by D&D Performance Exhaust is Bill V. He sent us this picture of his sano sled and wrote:
?This is my new 2006 DYNA and myself. After 32 years on HDs this is my first factory fresh bike ever. I’m looking for an exhaust that’ll help with the HP, and give a mellow sound. Life is good, live it right.?- Bill V
BIKERNET READER NEEDS LEGAL ADVICE–The background to this is that I received a speeding ticket on a back road in Vermont. I was picked up by a “LOCAL” constable who said I was doing 60 in a 35.
The long term costs of paying terribly high insurance costs for the next three years has convinced me to fight this since I was not speeding (I know better, I drive this road daily) and he refused to show me verification, even though he said he had me on radar. The state laws allows for this! Go figure.
He really pissed me of when he said, “YOU bikers ought to know your speed by the wind in your face.” And then he started laughing.
I tried several times after he stopped me to get to 60 on that same road and have not been able to do it with the style at which I drive my bike. I have been waiting my entire life to get a new Harley and this bike has 2,000 miles on it so I do not drive like a maniac.
My old bike is a 1973 Electra Glide, all stock in the engine, so speed is not my thing!
I am going to court on April 6 and need something to hand to the judge showing the performance specs on my harley. Any other ideas?
IF I live in Clarendon which is right outside of Rutland.
–Richard Ley
cycle73@hotmail.com
EPA FIGHT CONTINUES TO HEAT UP– The time is now to make a major stand with the EPA and Iwant to be as involved as possible. It is critical we show force to makesure the agency knows the strength we can muster and that we will not simplyaccept whatever regulatory whim the come up with. The fact that the econanalysis hasn’t been done is still a major chink in their logical armor forcreating these rules. The more concessions we gain the better and 2006 isour only remaining opportunity.
The state to state approach is a slow play that I want to get started nowwhile the attention of our industry is focused on regulation and is a longterm solution for a host of motorcycle industry issues including emissions.
I’m glad to be part of the effort and proud of the folks who are taking astand. It’s going to be a good year.
Thanks again
–Senator John Brueggeman
senatorjohn@bresnan.net
Senator Bruegggeman builds chopper frames in Montana and is actively involved with SEMA to keep the Hot Rod industry alive through a state-to-state campaign. He’s working with us on EPA issue and is developing state legislation that would allow builders to register bikes based on the original year of the driveline. The EPA criteria would be based on that year, Evo-1984, Shovelhead-1966, Panhead-1948, etc.–Bandit
BIKE WEEK ENDS WITH 20 BIKE DEATHS– The record-high death toll from this year’s Bike Weekfestival climbed to 20 after another hospitalized motorcyclist involved in acrash died, officials said Friday.The reported total of 18 deaths also did not include RichardGermain, 21, of New Hampshire, who was run over by another motorcyclistafter crossing a double line to pass a truck. Authorities didn’t verifyGermain was a Bike Week participant until this week.
Sunny weather and scattered biker venues put more riders on faster highwaysand in more dangerous spots, Florida Highway Patrol trooper Kim Miller said.
“That’s what they get on a Harley for — to ride in nice weather,” shesaid.
The 20 fatalities may rank as one of the highest ever nationwide for acity’s bike week. In Sturgis, S.D., the worst year was 2004, when 13 ridersdied. In Myrtle Beach, S.C., a back-to-back Harley rally and Black Bike Weeksaw its highest total in 2003, when 13 people died.
–from Rogue
By Associated Press
THE NORTH CAROLINA STEALTH REPORT–This weekend the Concerned Bikers Association presents their 31st Annual Spring Swap meet and Bike Show. STEALTH BIKE WORKS will have a booth set up. I really get into the swap meet. You never know what you will find there. I really get into most of the people there too. It always proves to be a good time.
Here in Charlotte we have had some cold weather hit us but we can’t complain because we really did not have much winter. Here at SBW we have been steady. We are waiting for the weather to warm up and hopefully the pace at SBW will heat up with it.
Not a lot to report on this week. A few things come to mind concerning exhaust systems. I have customers come in everyday telling us that they have been told that if they put any other exhaust system besides what H-D sells that their bike will not run right? Right, wonder where they got that info from? Yeah I know you already know without me telling you! Here at SBW we do exhaust systems everyday and the bikes run great. You know what we install Vance+Hines, Bassani, Samson etc. with no problems. Do you think just maybe it has something to do with these guys kicking ass when it comes to exhaust systems? It is your bike run what you want to!
We have some events planned at SBW coming up. Starting in April SBW present “BIKER NIGHT.” Biker Night we be held the 3rd Friday of every month. We will have some food, Biker-Build Off Videos, door prizes and just a good time to hang out in general. June 23rd and 24th SBW will be at the The Horse Smoke-Out. WE will have our booth set up. July 23rd SBW presents our 1st Annual “No Class Bike Show,” that is right no classes. The top 3 bikes win! There is no charge to enter your bike. It is going to be a great time. We have a lot to look forward to!
Until next week, RIDE!
–STEALTHMAN
Click Post For More Info
PHOTO ENFORCEMENT NOW TARGETING NOISE VIOLATORS– Pop quiz – when someone says the term “exhaust system”, what are the first words that pop into your head? If they happen to be anything like “Flowmaster 40 Series” or “Dynomax Bullet” (the straight-through muffler that makes Cherry Bombs sound civilized in comparison), you may not like the new ticketing system developed by Acoustic Research Laboratories. Using an onboard sound meter, the device detects noise events that exceed a predetermined sound pressure level. A 10-second audio/video recording is made of the incident, and an onboard hard drive stores the data for future retrieval and prosecution.
As the system records other noise events as well, don’t go boomin’ your twin fifteens past one of their systems and expect to get away with it.Since certain individuals here at Autoblog have received several “amplified sound” tickets in their younger days and have occasionally taken to the street with open pipes (hey, no one really knows how easy it is to remove the baffles from a Yoshi system until they try), we’ll defer commentary on this device to those who can be a bit more objective. With the number of import cars, diesel pickups, and motorcycles on the road sporting sewer-sized exhausts seemingly increasing every day, it would come as no surprise to find a lot of support for such a system — at least outside of enthusiasts’ circles.
by Eric Bryant
–from Rogue
INSIDE THE BANDIDOS MOTORCYCLE CLUB, THE LARGEST BIKER GANG IN THE WORLD–Rapidly rising through the ranks of the Bandidos Motorcycle Club in the late 90’s, Edward “Connecticut Ed” Winterhalder was one of the most powerful Bandidos in the world at the end of the twentieth century.
Since founding the Oklahoma chapter of the Bandidos in early 1997, “Connecticut Ed” had been regularly assigned important projects by the worldwide leader of the Bandidos, George Wegers. It was not unusual for Winterhalder to organize and establish new Bandido chapters, as well as Bandidos support club chapters, all over the world.
But when assigned the unwanted responsibility of overseeing the Bandidos’ assimilation of a Canadian motorcycle gang known as the Rock Machine in early 2001, “Connecticut Ed” found himself caught between a rock and a hard place.
Teaching ex-Rock Machine members how to be Bandidos was one thing, but doing so while dodging bullets and bombs was another. The new Canadian Bandidos, as members of the Rock Machine, had been embroiled in a deadly war with the Hells Angels Motorcycle Club in which 168 people had died since 1994.
Commonly known as hard core biker gangs, the inner workings of motorcycle clubs such as the Bandidos, the Hells Angels, the Outlaws, the Pagans, the Sons of Silence, and the Mongols have until now been a closely guarded secret.
Determined to set the record straight after leaving the club in late 2003 and as a form of therapy, Winterhalder spent almost two years transcribing the memories of his life. Ultimately, his memoirs evolved into a dynamic book called “OUT IN BAD STANDINGS: Inside The Bandidos Motorcycle Club – The Making Of A Worldwide Dynasty”.
Detailing the establishment and growth of the Bandidos organization in Canada, Europe and Oklahoma, this historical expose of the Bandidos Motorcycle Club gives the reader a rare look into the world of today’s 1%er motorcycle gangs, allowing the reader a unique opportunity to ride along as the Bandidos become the dominant international force they are today.
Published by Blockhead City Press ($29.95 – ISBN 0977174700), this 448 page hardcover book contains more than 150 color photographs and sports a dynamic dust cover jacket. “Out In Bad Standings” is available through Barnes & Noble bookstores in the United States, Amazon.com worldwide, Ebay.com worldwide and Chapters bookstores in Canada, and is a must read for every Harley rider on the planet.
For more information:
http://www.blockheadcity.com/outinbadstandings.htm
–from Rogue
WEST COAST CHOPPERS ALIVE AND WELL–Still plugging away at things here. Getting closer to filling “sale” orders and hope to finish out by early summer. Not going to any shows this year to help finish our back log and re group a bit.
Jesse has finished his run on monster garage and is on to doing our own shows produced by our “in house” production company “Pay up sucker”. You might have seen the “history of the chopper”. That is one of the first efforts and we are very happy with the way it turned out. More to come on that arena.
We do have some new products on the cusp of being ready for production. We are promoting our new improved website and will have new parts added as we get time.
We are also will be promoting our ten-day turn around, show-polished motor pricing on line soon as well. I must say things are looking better .
We still have a long way to go to finish all the orders we took during the anniversary sale. We sure do have a lot of loyal customers. The majority say they are willing to wait for the parts. I don’t think anyone on the outside really knows how much work goes into this stuff and what a tremendous value they are getting.. some do …
–SIMO
West Coast Choppers
Long Beach
HOLD ON THERE’S MORE–As you may know I’m working on a noise reg strategy to save lives. To an extent the adage, “Loud Pipes Saves Lives,” is true. We’re performing some initial tests in our Bikernet home town of Wilmington, California. Our building is poised on the edge of an 18-wheeler thoroughfare. We’re going to grab a decibel meter and capture some basic noise readings. We’ll bring you reports as the study continues.
In addition, highly educated Bikernet readers send in their advice and comments. Watch for some of these detailed reports in Special reports in the next couple of days. Thought-provoking material.
On the upbeat side, we’re looking forward to an upcoming meeting with the MRF and Tony Sanfelipo from Michael Hupy’s office in Wisconsin. Hupy has been a Bikernet sponsor for years. He’s an attorney who has defended motorcyclists, the lifestyle, and our right to ride for over 20 years. He’s based in Wisconsin, if you need a good man.
Here’s what’s boiling to the top of the Bikernet Whiskey distillery -kicking out Bikernet Content: Several techs are headed onto the pages, a feature from Von Dutch, the story of Revolution Carbon Fiber Chassis, the secrets behind Dr. Neon, Fiction from UD in India, and half dressed Daytona features. We will also display all the D&D Dyna Exhaust System contestants and take your votes for the bike that deserves that shiny new pipe system.
I know I’m forgetting something, probably a whole list of projects, but I’m fried. It’s whiskey time. Can’t wait to show you the next Bonne Belle tech. It’s coming along. I’m rolling out to Performance Machine next week for brake calipers, rotors and controls. She’s almost a roller. We will also bring you a report on the engine rebuild.
Speaking of She?s, it’s time for some new talent around here, another Girl of Bikernet Feature. Hang on.
Ride Forever,
–Bandit
March 23, 2006 Part 3
By Bandit |
Continued From Page 2
VON DUTCH BRINGS ON THE CLASS–Carmella DeCesare, PlayBoy playmate of the year 2004, is the new face for Von Dutch Kustom Cycles! Watch for a feature of here with a Von Dutch Classic on Bikernet in the near future.
–Ron Starrantino
Vice President of Worldwide Sales and Development
Von Dutch Kustom Cycles
Office (909)481-0600
http://www.vondutch.com
GREAT TRUTHS THAT ADULTS HAVE LEARNED:
1) Raising teenagers is like nailing Jell-O to a tree.
2) Wrinkles don’t hurt.
3) Families are like fudge…mostly sweet, with a few nuts.
4) Today’s mighty oak is just yesterday’s nut that held its ground.
5) Laughing is good exercise. It’s like jogging on the inside.
6) Middle age is when you choose your cereal for the fiber, not the toy.
–from Chris T.
MARCH 25-26th – WESTCOAST CUSTOM MOTORCYCLE SHOW UPDATE–Mechanical Works of Art on Display at the Westcoast Custom Motorcycle ShowMarch 25-26th at Tradex
On March 25-26th the Tradex Centre in Abbotsford will host hundreds of thehottest custom motorcycles in North America with most of them producedlocally. British Columbia is the undisputed home to some of the world’s topcustom builders including professional bike builder Roger Goldammer ofKelowna, who will have several bikes on display. Goldammer’s amazing workwon him 1st Place at the AMD/Custom Chrome World Championship in 2004 and2005.
This show will feature hundreds of custom bikes in more than 30 classesincluding Foreign, Street, British, Vintage, Radical, “Specialty” and a new”Pro Builders” class, with a $1000.00 prize for Best Bike. Spectators willget a chance to vote for who they think deserves the awards for “Best Bike”and “Pro Builder”.
There will be something for everyone at this show, from mild to wild! We’vegot everything from a fully customized Kawasaki ZX 7 to a restored 1948Indian Chief, Top Fuel Harley’s capable of speeds over 200 mph and, ofcourse, choppers galore.
Proceeds of this event will go to support the B.C. Coalition ofMotorcyclists (BCCOM). BCCOM is a professional lobbying organization thatworks on behalf of all motorcyclists rights in the province of B.C. andpromotes motorcycle safety and awareness.
For more information, visit http://www.westcoastcustom.ca.
WESTCOAST CUSTOM MOTORCYCLE SHOW
DATE: MARCH 25-26, 2006
LOCATION: Tradex Centre at Abbotsford Airport
SHOW HOURS:
Saturday, March 25th from 10am-10pm
Sunday, March 26th from 10am-6pm
CONTACT INFORMATION:
Westcoast Custom Motorcycle Show Inc.
Phone: (604) 580-0111 or 1-877-580-0111
Fax: (604) 580-0114
Website: http://www.westcoastcustom.ca
Email: office@westcoastcustom.ca
FLORIDA CRASH COUNSEL–Need to stop calling these things Accidents. They are collisions or crashes.The term Accident was coined by defense attorneys to trying and get lenient sentences for those that kill and injured others.
Group criticizes fines for vehicle drivers
Motorcyclists are looking at these issues to improve biker safety:
Lobby for stiffer fines and mandatory minimum penalties for people who cause motorcycle accidents.
Break out statistics of motorcycle accidents so they are not grouped with pedestrians, bicyclists and other recreational vehicles.
Limit the height of landscaping in medians and along roadways.
Toughen educational programs and testing requirements for getting a license to drive a motorcycle.
Toughen qualification standards for someone buying a motorcycle.
Enforce restrictions on the difference between lane-surface heights in construction zones.
Motorcyclists met in Fort Myers on Saturday to launch an education campaign and a protest against vehicle drivers who get what they say are insignificant fines for causing accidents that kill motorcycle riders.
“We’re concerned with why a motorcyclist is allowed to be killed by a driver who made a mistake and only get a ticket,” said David “Surfer” Bowlby of Cape Coral.
“There should be more than a $52 ticket for failure to yield the right of way,” he said. “Is that what a life is worth?”About 40 people attended the regular meeting of local chapters of ABATE of Florida and other motorcycling groups at the American Legion Hall in downtown Fort Myers.
Much of the meeting dealt with the growing danger for motorcyclists on Southwest Florida’s roads.Six motorcyclists have been killed in Lee County this year, and 18 were killed in 2005.
A record 20 motorcyclists associated with Bike Week in Daytona Beach were killed this month.
Some of those deaths were caused by cyclist error, said Susan Huttman, a member of the Southwest Chapter of ABATE, but too many are caused by inattentive vehicle drivers.She said motorcycle groups should push for stiffer punishment for vehicle drivers who cause motorcycle accidents while also working to keep reckless cyclists off the roads.
The problem will continue to grow along with Florida’s population and traffic congestion, Huttman said.According to Florida ABATE, she said, the number of registered motorcyclists in Florida more than doubled from 195,000 in 2000 to 473,000 in 2005.
“That is a lot of political power, friends,” she told the gathering.
–from Rogue
STEEL DREAMS EPISODE 10-THIS WEEKEND–In episode ten, famed stunt rider, Monte Perlin, “The Wheelie King” tells how he turned his love for riding into today’s amazing “Globe-O-Cross” show that tours the world. Scenes from Pre-Love Ride in Santa Clarita, CA shows Perlin (who was the motorcycle riding stunt-double for Arnold Schwarzenegger in the Terminator) and his son thrilling crowds with high-speed gravity-defying spins inside the amazing one-of-a-kind 16-foot globe sphere.Then the Victor McLaglen World Champion Motorcycle Stunt & Drill Team performs many of the incredible multi-bike precision maneuvers and jaw-dropping formations that have thrilled audiences worldwide and won numerous competition awards.
Steel Dreams then shows viewers how Freestyle MX evolved from humble beginnings in backyards, parking lots and places like a Skateboard shop in Norway, Maine into today’s big-time thrill-packed arena shows and spectacular high-flying outdoor events. Riders of the Giant Bicycle Stunt Show tour are featured along with superstar rider Jim Mcneil on Boost Mobile Freestyle MX tour at Long Beach, CA and DUB Car Show, Los Angeles, CA.
It’s not motor sports on TV it’s “Steel Dreams” TV.
STURGIS LODGING CONNECTION–Anyone looking for some cool places to rent for the Sturgis rally, check out Black Hills Real Estate, http://www.blackhillsre.com . We have 3 house’s in Deadwood, all beautifully restored to their 1890’s condition, and a 3 bdr. modular on 1 acre 2 miles out of Sturgis with a great view of the valley. See you there!
For more info call Mike Stevenson at 818 8919055
REDHILL BIKE DEAL OF THE WEEK–All Aluminum Redhill BIthccraft for sale. Softtail aluminum chassis, TP 107-inch motor, TP Tranny, Ness Primary cover, Ness Foot controls and hand controls and a bitchin brushed aluminum paint job that isn’t just for bitches…$25K.
call 303-823-6363
–J. Ken Conte
Rise Above Consulting LLC
(970)227-3588
BUBS INTERNATIONAL SPEED TRIALS IN BONNEVILLE SEPTEMBER 3-7 NEEDS SPONSORS QUICK–Chance of a lifetime to be involved in the most historic motorcycle event ever. Just once a year the tried and true test their machines in the blistering sun on 65 square miles of dead flat salt in Wendover, Utah. This is a chance to become a sponsor of this event. Click on the above banner or call the lovely Delvene for information:
SEMINOLE HARD ROCK ROADHOUSE KICKS OFF 2006AT DAYTONA BIKE WEEK– Ft. Lauderdale, FL — The Seminole Hard Rock Roadhouse kicked off the 2006 Tour at Bruce Rossmeyer’s Destination Daytona during a weather-perfect Daytona Bike Week.
On Friday, March 3rd, the Hard Rock Bikes were unveiled to an awestruck audience. The four bikes, through metal, paint, and attitude, truly represented and displayed the unparalleled level of artistry and engineering of each uniquely talented bike builder. Anyone can enter to win one of these Hard Rock bikes for FREE along with 5 Trips to the Hard Rock at www.HRroadhouse.com!
You’ll see all the bikes and action in the next couple of days on Bikernet in our extended Daytona Coverage. Hell, the Bikernet team even had the pleasure of working on one of the bikes before it left the West Coast.
HARLEY DAVIDSON RIGID CHOPPER MOTORCYCLE FRAMECLOSE-OUT!–http://www.DEMONSCYCLE.COM
DEMONS CYCLE SOUTH
378 SW 14 TH AVE
POMPANO BEACH
3 3 0 6 9 FLORIDA
BIKERNET SALT SHAKER REPORT–There’s some good news. Or is it any news is better than no news?
Engine DID NOT SHIP! They forgot to spot face all of my cylinders so that is what we are doing today and tomorrow and it should ship Friday. Engine building is so romantic. I mean frantic.
–Berry Wardlaw
I’ve been slacking on you’re tranny order; I apologize. I can machine the pivot shaft to _-inch, no problem. Do you have an exact-year case that you want to use? From previous e-mails, I assume you need an Evo FLT case Raw finish.
–Adam “Stretch” Sanderlin
Sales Manager
BAKER Drivetrain
877-640-2004
Actually, waiting on Salt Shaker parts gives me some time to work on the Bonne Belle and try to read the FIM Salt Flats regs. They put me to sleep every time. Watch for a report on the 45 coming soon.–Bandit
NEW ARTIST ON BIKERNET–This guy is a guy that I hooked up with through the radio show. His work is unbelievable his name is ad cook. Here is the website http://www.adcookfineart.com/ Maybe you might be interested in doing a write-up through Bikernet. -Charlie Brechtel
I was born in 1961 in Phoenix, Arizona, and realized my passion for art very early on. As a kid I would draw everything I could on anything I could find. I knew that I wanted to be an artist as far back as I can remember. The creation of art has always been my ambition, and as far as I can remember, there never really was a choice about it. And that’s just fine by me.-AD Cook
$5,000 CASH PRIZE ANNOUNCED FOR CUSTOM BIKE SHOW RADICAL CLASS–The Las Vegas BikeFest Partnership announced today that a $5,000 prize will be awarded to the winner of the Radical Class in the Las Vegas BikeFestCustom Bike Show, sponsored by Tribal Motorworks and supported by Meguiar’s.
“To go along with the glitz and glamour of Sin City, we want a collection of the most radical rides in the country entered in our Custom Bike Show”, stated Harry Schwartz, president of Full Throttle Events, one of Las Vegas BikeFest’s partners. Schwartz continued, “We give away the most radical trophies in the world, custom built by Tribal Motorworks, and now we are going to give away a radical prize of $5,000 cash. The prize was increased from $400 and now we offer one of the largest prizes for a single entry class of any bike show. That’s Las Vegas style!”
Custom Bike Show entry forms are available on-line at www.LasVegasBikeFest.com.
Tribal Motorworks is one of the industries premiere aftermarket accessory manufacturer’s; specializing in CNC machined billet aluminum accessories for V-twin bikes. Since establishing a solid relationship with Tribal Motorworks in 2003, Las Vegas BikeFest was one of the first events to have the opportunity to give out custom, one-of-a-kind billet trophies.
Participants of the Custom Bike Show will also be entitled to a detailing kit offered by the Custom Bike Show’s supporting sponsor, Meguiar’s. Meguiar’s, Inc. is one of the world’s leading surface care products companies, providing highly specialized products for almost every conceivable type of surface.
The 6th annual Las Vegas BikeFest will be held September 14-17 in the most famous 24-hour city, Las Vegas, Nevada. The event will consist of the Vendor Village at Cashman Center with over 275 manufacturers and vendors, and activities such as Poker Runs and competitions, and non-stop entertainment including concerts with well-known celebrity bands. Artistry in Iron, Master Builders’ Championship will also take place at Cashman Center. 40,000 bikers and enthusiasts are expected to be in attendance.
Las Vegas BikeFest is produced by the Las Vegas BikeFest Partnership made up of ConvExx and Full Throttle Events. Las Vegas BikeFest information is available www.LasVegasBikeFest.com, or call toll-free 866-BIKEFEST (866-245-3337) or e-mail info@lasvegasbikefest.com.
RICHARD CAPKA NOMINATED AS ADMINISTRATOR OF FHWA–The Motorcycle Riders Foundation (MRF) reports President George W. Bush has announced his nomination of Richard Capka as Administrator of the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). Mr. Capka was appointed Deputy Administrator of the FHWA in August 2002. He helped prepare the Bush administration’s transportation reauthorization proposal, shape the management of highway mega-projects across the country, and develop other programs and initiatives for the FHWA. Capka must be confirmed by the US Senate before officially taking the top spot at FHWA.
Mr. Capka retired after a 29-year military career as a US Army Brigadier General who was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal, the Defense Superior Service Medal and the Legion of Merit. Following retirement and prior to this nomination he had served as Chief Executive Officer/Executive Director of the Massachusetts Turnpike Authority (MTA) overseeing the completion of the infamous Boston tunneling project known as the “Big Dig”.
In 1997, he led the federal flood system recovery response to the unprecedented California floods which had severely damaged the Sacramento and San Joaquin flood control systems. The effort earned specific praise from both the President of the United States and Governor of California.
A West Point graduate he also holds a Master’s Degree in engineering from the University of California at Berkeley and a Master’s Degree in business administration from Chaminade University of Honolulu. He is a professional engineer, registered in the Commonwealth of Virginia.
Since former Administrator Mary Peters left her position at the end of July 2005 Mr. Capka has been serving as acting Administrator for the FHWA. “Of course we will miss Administrator Peters but look forward to a productive working relationship with Mr. Capka” said Jeff Hennie Vice President of Government Relations for the MRF.
The Federal Advisory Council created by the MRF and the US Congress in the most recent Highway Bill (PL 109-59) will advise Mr. Capka and the FHWA on road, bridge and barrier design and how the motorcycles must be considered when engineering our nations highway system.
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