In case you forgot. Many of the measures in South Dakota are misleading. You need to read them over and over to catch the real direction. If you’re not sure Vote No. Maybe they will straighten it out the next time.

Tuesday Is Election Day

Next Tuesday is Election Day. With the election on the horizon, legislators nationwide are in full last-minute campaign mode. Congress may have its eyes already turned toward election results, but we will follow up on our release from last Friday.

Last week, a dozen bipartisan members of the House of Representatives sent a letter to Sophie Shulman, the Acting Administrator of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) expressing concerns about Tesla’s Full Self-Driving and Autopilot software. The letter highlights concerns regarding “An alarming pattern of Teslas with Autopilot engaged causing fatal accidents with motorcyclists, bicyclists and stopped emergency vehicles.”

The lawmakers seek two remedies from NHTSA. First, improved crash reporting, including allowing other road users, such as motorcyclists, to report crashes to NHTSA. Second, enforcing restrictions on where and when autopilot systems can be activated.

The Motorcycle Riders Foundation (MRF) worked in conjunction with the Dawn Project on this letter from Congress. The Dawn Project’s mission is to make sure computers are safe for humanity, by making certain that safety-critical software systems never fail and are not hackable.

The MRF would like to thank our members who contacted their representatives about the letter. Additionally, we are grateful to Representative Anne McLane Kuster of New Hampshire who helped lead this effort as well as the additional 11 members of Congress whose signatures appear on the letter:

Rep. Julia Brownley (CA)

Rep. Salud Carbajal (CA)

Rep. Steve Cohen (TN)

Rep. Debbie Dingell (MI)

Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (PA)

Rep. Jesus “Chuy” Garcia (IL)

Rep. Jared Huffman (CA)

Rep. Hank Johnson (GA)

Rep. Seth Moulton (MA)

Rep. Grace Napolitano (CA)

Rep. Chris Pappas (NH)

–MRF

Join the MRF, Motorcycle Riders Foundation at www.mrf.org

CRAZY JOHN IS BACK–

I was planning on writing the story of how the riserless handlebars I made in 1964 for my minibike were a prophesy for the riserless handlebars I made for my ’68 XLCH you put on the August 1976 cover of Easyriders after I got back from SEMA. And then at 4AM this morning I couldn’t sleep, so I thought I’d write it, but then this came out. David Mann told me I could become a writer and you gave me the chance to become a writer – becoming a photographer was a side effect.

The luck of the draw

How a person’s life shapes up is the luck of the draw. It’s the people you meet good or bad that cast the die for how things turn out. This said it’s high time that I thank the people that helped me make it this far. I’ll start with Keith “Bandit” Ball he’s the person that has made the biggest difference in how well things have turned out for me.

I met Keith in 1972 at the El Monte courthouse after Dean Pettigrew and I had appeared for a modified front end ticket for the 18-inch over springer on Dean’s ’60 XLH Sportster. Our choppers were parked across the street from the courthouse. Keith was riding a rat Panhead with an open primary. Keith worked for Easyriders magazine and was there representing the MMA (Modified Motorcycle Association) to help us fight the frontend ticket.

The next time I had dealings with Keith I had called to tell him the feature he wrote in Easyriders on Dean’s chopped ’68 Shovelhead with a 28-inch over girder was pure bullshit. Keith wrote the reason the tank on Dean’s bike didn’t match the rest of the paint was because the “lacquer hype” custom painter had split to Canada with Dean’s gas tank. 

What Keith didn’t know is Dean hadn’t paid me in full for molding and painting his bike. Dean picked up his frame and rear fender but I still had his gas tank. I told Dean he needed to pay me off, or I was going to take the tank with me to Calgary to show people my work when I opened up Crazy John Custom Paint in Calgary — to be continued

–Crazy John Gilbert

WHILE ONE ELECTRIC VEHICLE SHUTS DOWN ANOTHER ONE KICKS OFF–Royal Enfield To Reveal First Electric Motorcycle At EICMA Today

At the 2024 EICMA event in Milan, Royal Enfield is all set to reveal its first ever electric motorcycle.

https://www.msn.com/en-in/entertainment/bollywood/royal-enfield-to-reveal-first-electric-motorcycle-at-eicma-today-cnbc-tv18/vi-AA1tsobK

–Wafarer

GET OUR AND VOTE, QUICK…

Jharkhand Girl Creates History as First Biker to Reach Lipulekh Pass

Kanchan Ugursandi from Jharkhand State, has set a record by becoming the first motorcyclist to ride to the Lipulekh Pass on the India-China border, at an elevation of 17,500 feet. This feat, part of her journey along the challenging Kailash Mansarovar road, stands as a testament to her unwavering determination and love for adventure.

Wayfarer suggests: From the photo it appears that she is riding a Royal Enfield Himalayan motorcycle….

Read the significance of this at:

https://www.msn.com/en-in/news/India/jharkhand-girl-creates-history-as-first-biker-to-reach-lipulekh-pass/ar-AA1tmQqs

–Wayfarer

International Correspondent

Bikernet.com

BREAKING NEWS

Before You Vote, Watch SEMA’s Voter Guide Videos

SEMA has launched Drive the Vote, a campaign to mobilize voters among its 7,000 member companies and the millions of American automotive enthusiasts, with resources to enable their participation in the 2024 general election. Know where the candidates stand and what’s at stake by watching SEMA’s series of election guide videos, in which the organization’s Washington, D.C.-based experts break down the race for president, U.S. Senate and House of Representatives.

Those unable to visit the polls on Election Day, Tuesday, November 5, are encouraged to vote early using the resources provided through Drive The Vote.

–SEMA

Keep in mind SEMA is an automotive organization. I would suggest checking with the MRF.org or your local motorcycle rights organization before voting. Just make sure you vote.

–Bandit

Something New, Something to Ponder and Maybe Something We Need to Assist

THERE SEEMS TO BE TROUBLE IS H-D PARADISE–The board and the President/CEO are struggling with their mission. We might be able to help. I know some dealers who would like to buy the company and make it run by the dealers. Sales are down, the motorcycle market is down and the current Woke business model doesn’t care about profits. Maybe we can step up and help. I’ll let you know.

Here’s the lasted from the PR department:

LET IT RIP – Unwrap the spirit of the ride with the Harley-Davidson® holiday gift guide

Gift ideas for all budgets and all ages

MILWAUKEE (November 1, 2024) – Rev up this holiday season with exciting gifts both big and small from Harley-Davidson®. This year’s curated selection of unique offerings and exclusive gear embody the spirit of freedom and adventure that can only be found at Harley-Davidson.

TOP GIFTS FOR HIM

Long-time riders and H-D fans will appreciate the timeless appeal of Harley-Davidson Genuine Motor Clothes. The Roaring Balaclava Hoodie features loud and proud H-D graphics and a stowaway balaclava for added warmth. Need something a bit more durable for the ride? The H-D Ovation 3-in-1 Textile Riding Jacket combines style, comfort, and protection in a clean aesthetic that will look right at home on any Harley-Davidson motorcycle. For those that are “bad to the bone”, check out the iconic Willie G. Skull Beanie and Glove Gift Set.

TOP GIFTS FOR HER

For women riders that like to look stylish on and off the bike, consider the H-D® Operative 2.0 Riding Shirt Jacket. Plaid meets practical riding protection in the operative riding shirt which is built from heavyweight cotton/poly twill with less lining to feel more like a shirt than a jacket. The Open Bar & Shield Beanie is a chic option for keeping heads warm in the winter months, and the 3-in-1 Leather Gloves are the perfect complimentary piece to keep the cold out.

TOP GIFTS UNDER $50

Trying to stay within budget with the gift-giving this year? The Snap-On 8-ln-1 Screwdriver is a practical present that any rider will truly appreciate. The Harley-Davidson® Ear Warmer Gift Set is a one-size-fits-all easy pick, as are the H-D® Script Beanie and H-D ® Striker Scarf. There are always some tees and shirts to choose from, like the Back Half Tee or the Harley-Davidson Authentic Long Sleeve Rib Top. Looking for something truly unique? Give the gift of Harley-Davidson® history with the Founding Father Collector Coin Set.

TOP GIFTS FOR KIDS

Have some newborns on the way this Holiday Season? Then check out the H-D® Infant Coverall PJs with footies for a warm and cozy gift. For the little rippers of the family, get them riding right away on the Fisher-Price® Harley-Davidson® Lights & Sounds Trike or the STACYC™ EBike  16E Low Rider Edition, a rechargeable electric balance bike that offers endless hours of fun.

TOP GIFTS FOR THE BIKE

Deck the halls and the bike with some genuine Harley-Davidson parts and accessories. The Indoor Motorcycle Cover is an easy choice for keeping the motorcycle sparkling clean sitting in the garage. Need to upgrade luggage carrying capacity? The Onyx™ Premium Luggage Touring Bag is specifically designed to pack away a whole weekend’s worth of luggage so it’s easy to saddle up and ride off without missing a thing. Give the gift of peace of mind to that one friend that always has a dead battery – the 1 Amp Dual-Mode Battery Charger. It will charge and maintain a Harley-Davidson motorcycle battery for optimum performance.

THE ULTIMATE GIFT

For the grandest gift of them all – a brand new 2024 Harley-Davidson motorcycle is within reach. For the wanderlust voyager, the 2024 Harley-Davidson® Road Glide is the benchmark for long-distance touring bikes featuring state-of-the-art Skyline™ OS infotainment, electronic rider safety enhancements, and the thunderous Milwaukee-Eight 117 made right here in the U.S.A. For something more classic, consider the 2024 Harley-Davidson® Street Glide known for being the original in cross-country touring. For a more cruiser-centric ride, the Harley-Davidson Low Rider® ST motorcycle is the perfect blend of performance, fashion, and comfort. Still on the fence? Visit one of many authorized dealers to find the ultimate dream bike this holiday season.

Of course the list goes on and on. Hang on for more news from the factory.

THE CLIMATE REALISM CLIMATE QUESTIONS–Ten Fundamental Climate Questions the Media and Climate Alarmists Can’t or Won’t Answer

WUWT Editor’s Note: These ten questions below were compiled by Chris Martz and posted on his Twitter (X) feed. As we’ve noted routinely at Climate Realism, the media is so incompetent at even basic science, they’d never be able to answer these fundamental climate questions. If they were able to, we’d see balanced and accurate articles about climate issues rather than the usual doom-laden scare stories about a nonexistent “climate crisis” that we see nearly every day.

Guest Twitter repost by Chris Martz

Here are 10 fundamental questions that climate alarmists never answer.

1.You claim that the Earth is overheating. That it’s “too hot.” So, what is the correct global mean surface temperature (GMST) for life on Earth and why?

Please provide a numerical answer. Use units and round it to the nearest tenth of a degree Celsius. Then, explain why that value is ideal and cite evidence to justify your answer.

2. What is the correct atmospheric CO₂ level for life on Earth?

What is best to optimize our agricultural productivity?

What CO₂ level will make da weatha less scary?

Give your answer as an exact value as a mole fraction or volume percentage, and then explain why that value is ideal.

3. What exactly makes CO₂ “pollution”?

The EPA considers CO₂ to be a pollutant, legally speaking, under the Clean Air Act, and their scientific justification is simply that, it “…contributes to greenhouse gas pollution that threatens public health and welfare.”

That’s pretty ambiguous.

Because by that measure, water vapor should also be classified as a “pollutant” because it’s also a “greenhouse gas” (GHG) — it’s also the most abundant and potent GHG; it absorbs a wider spectrum of IR wavelengths than CO₂.

So, what actually makes CO₂ pollution?

4. Why are temperature departures from 1850-1900 climate conditions deemed as the human welfare control knob given that the overall human condition has never been better than it is today? How was climate during the end of the Little Ice Age — the coldest period in the last 10,000-years — preferable to today’s? On what account was the weather more benign? By what measure? Be specific. Tell me how the climate was supposedly less dangerous in the 17-19th centuries.

5. The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) that President Biden signed into law in 2022 was popularized as the “biggest climate bill in history,” but ever since the bill was signed, climate alarmists insist climate change has only gotten worse.

Why are we not seeing the bill work its magic? 

6. If we spend $75 trillion to decarbonize the economy by 2050, by how much will it reduce the GMST by the end of the century? Please provide your answer to the nearest tenth of a degree Celsius and show your calculations.

What does the perfect climate look like? How will we know when we get there? By what measure?

7. The estimated cost of net zero by the year 2050 in the U.S. is $75 trillion ($3 trillion per year), according to Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen.

That’s a hefty price tag.

And with ~260 million adult taxpayers, it would cost each of us $288,461.54 to get to “net zero emissions” by the target date. That’s 3-6-years’ worth of peoples’ salaries.

Are you willing to shell out that money, or do you just expect that everyone else will foot the bill for you?

Secondly, if you don’t know the answer to question six, then are we supposed to just spend that $75 trillion and see what happens?

8. If “combating climate change” is a global concerted effort, why do China and India get a free pass to continue emitting carbon dioxide without bound?

9. Why are you so vehemently opposed to the deployment of nuclear power? It is the safest, most sustainable “carbon-free” energy technology and without the compliance regulations, isn’t expensive when compared to solar PV and wind, which are inefficient, intermittent, costly add-ons to existing electricity generation sources.

10. If humans are a parasite to the Earth since we are destroying it, why then are you worried that climate change could wipe us all out? Wouldn’t that be better for Earth? Why don’t you be the change you want to see and “net zero” yourself?

I guarantee not one person will give me a coherent point-by-point answer. From ClimateREALISM

Hey,

I listen to the political stuff constantly and hope to go vote today. Let’s say for a second I was sitting in front of Trump or Vance having a whiskey around happy hour in Deadwood today. Let’s say they asked me what I thought would make American smile again and dance in the streets.

This would be my answer: Dear Sirs, I would like all the anti-American, anti-freedom policies to go away. I would like Climate Truth to be rewarded and doomsday gone, I would like flying in an airplane to be fun again (we have the technology). I would like the TSA folks to get new jobs learning landscaping and making all our roads clean and beautiful. I would like Americans to be strong financially and capable of having one adult home with the kids always. I would like kids to know we live in the best of times, not the worst. I would like honesty and integrity to be at the forefront of everything our government does and finally, I would like the infrastructure bill to pay for improved infrastructure all over the country and not bullshit policies and program designed to destroy our country. Let’s rock!

–Bandit

At A2 Testing in Mooresville, North Carolina

In 2007 the motorcycle named ASSALT WEAPAN Owned and built by Keith “Bandit” Ball of 5-Ball racing went 161 miles per hour at the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah, with an Accurate Engineering 120-inch Panhead engine. We set a record and called it, “The World’s Fastest Panhead.” Not Bad for some grubby bikers.

On October 14, 2024, the builder of the engine in that motorcycle Berry Wardlaw of ACCURATE ENGINEERING in Dothan Alabama took the motorcycle to A2 WIND TUNNEL in Mooresville North Carolina -https://a2wt.com/

Berry and I met in Mooresville Sunday evening so we would be ready for testing early Monday morning.

When we got to the wind tunnel Michael Beland of A1 Racing and two of his people were there to meet us. Mike was going to be the rider for most of the testing

https://www.a1cycles.net/racing

The first thing that Geoffrey Eaker the Manager/ Operator told us was that what we were about to do that day was going to change our minds about what we thought we knew about air flow. Boy Was He Right.

The motorcycle was secured to the floor of the wind tunnel

Yellow Yarn Tattle-Tails were attached to the motorcycle, these were going to give us a visual of how the air was flowing.

Mike made this statement about being on the motorcycle in the wind tunnel (It’s Easy– Don’t Move A Muscle For Three Minutes, LOL. What A Core Workout)

While Mike was on the motorcycle multiple things were being recorded in the control room.

After each run some minor temporary changes were made to see what affect they had. The information gained by each change was all recorded and will be reviewed in the future to see what changes can be made to the motorcycle without changing the class it runs in.

I can tell you we did learn how to make the motorcycle faster, the rest is up to what Berry and Keith want to share prior to making changes and setting a new record.

The plan is to return to Bonneville and set a new record with Berry riding the motorcycle and the wind tunnel testing was going to help make it happen. Berry is going to rebuild the engine to be purpose-built for the Bonneville Motorcycle Speed Trials in 2025. He is going to add ceramic bearings in the wheels and other secret tricks. Bonneville is all about power, traction, aerodynamics and the balls to go very fast.

Berry did not have his racing leathers with him, but he did get an opportunity to do a wind tunnel test. He was Very Pleased.

There is still a lot to do, and it is going to be very interesting.

There will be a lot more to this and I am sure Keith and Berry will keep you updated, well on most of it anyway, still got to keep the racers edge, can’t give all the secrets away.

–Rogue

I thought I had narrowed down to Enfield Shotgun 650 as a nice next bike to have …from the dozens of bikes they have… and then these devils make another drool worthy ride… the all new Enfield Bear 650.

Mowing down roads, mud, forests and hills.

The model is named after AMA Hall of Famer Eddie Mulder for a bike similar to the one he used for the Big Bear Run.

Highlights of this beauty…

Bear 650 is lighter than Interceptor but based on same platform. It has the same dashboard as Himalyan 450. This one gets a 19 inch front tyre. It has no gas shock absorbers but dual shocks are of much better quality as per Enfield. Showa included. You can now disengage rear ABS option for off-road. The Bear 650 is lengthier due to long upside down forks. It gets an incredible Torque at 56.5. The BHP remains same as Interceptor 650. The Bear rolls on specially made MRF tyres. The first Royal Enfield model with the proven 650 cc twin cylinder engine to get a two-into-one exhaust. Range of accessories announced.

Check out the video at the end of the article for a five minute walkthrough.

I like everything I see on this bike. My view is the two into one exhaust is sort of a deal breaker for many folks in India because of the appeal of the classic design element of twin pipes.

Bajaj Dominar had no success as they tried to stand out with a two into one exhaust in comparision with Jawa and Enfield’s twin pipes.

Luggage solutions also will be expected.

So this Bear 650 is eye candy. It may go down the road of the Shotgun 650 which has poor sales since after launch hype.

Riders may choose the Guerrilla 450 as a lighter alternative to Himalayan 450 and more approachable motorcycle than Bear 650 in terms of pricing. All three have the same awesome 4 inch dashboard (display).

Below is best video walkthrough of the new Enfield Bear 650 cc

Hey,

This has been a very strange week and I know a lot of folks are very concerned about the election. I heard that Kamala promised to shut the border down if she’s elected. So, if she let in enough Illegals to get her elected she’ll shut it down. Isn’t that special.

Joe Rogan had a four-hour conversation with JD Vance. I’ve been after Vance to discuss the policies. I sure hope he covered them. I can’t imagine who has time to watch the entire interview, but I’ll give it a shot.

In this report we will have news from the Sturgis Museum, the city of Sturgis, the leaking 5-Ball Emporium and way more. Let’s hit it:

The Bikernet Weekly News is sponsored in part by companies who also dig Freedom including: Cycle Source Magazine, the MRF, Iron Trader News, ChopperTown, BorntoRide.com and the Sturgis Motorcycle Museum.

The News was provided by the Bikernet Team including: Wayfarer, the Redhead, Bob T. Sam Burns, Laura, Barry Green, El Waggs, J.J. Solari, Amy White, Jenn and the rest of the crew.

THE CITY OF STURGIS UNDER FIRE

A group of council folk took it upon themselves to attach as member of the council and the mayor.

I was curious for several reasons, so the Redhead and I attended the last meeting. During the meeting another, long-time, city council member resigned. That left five.

If these guys are right about everything, they are now in charge, but there’s more. The city manager was ousted which forced the Mayor to act as the city CEO. This group would not pay the mayor to do the job, so she was forced to be the Mayor and do the job as City Manager for free. She volunteered to take on the position until the general election in April. Evidently, that wasn’t good enough for this group. So, now the city faces a special election in January.

Another city council meeting is coming up this Monday and I have some question.

• Is there a strategic plan, a mission statement for the city, the staff, the council?
• How many staff members need to be replaced?
• How will the council hire a new city manager?
• Is there a hiring procedure?
• Will Kevin work full time for the city for no pay for the next two months?
• Is there an accounting firm analyzing the finances right now?

There also seems to be an issue with finances, but no one knows. The financial officer resigned and an accounting firm isn’t starting until Monday.

I’m hoping for some inspiring answers on Monday. I find myself is a strange situation recently with the Sturgis Museum and the City. I’m devoted to making this a better place for Bikers all over the world.

So, let’s see what happens next and what I can do to improve all the situations for the industry.

–Bandit

KEVIN “TEACH” BASS CLASS PROJECT

My group is building this S&S Cycle, Inc. Knucklehead for the 2025 Dennis Kirk give away bike. I love teaching these kids about the vintage style!
–Kevin Bass

“It’s Vintage Bike Addiction.”
–Rogue
Senior Editor
Bikernet.com™

NEWS FROM THE MOTORCYCLE RIDERS FOUNDATION

It’s Not Just Bikers…

Two recent news stories demonstrate that the issues motorcyclists care about also impact all Americans. Concerns about a pair of items, both parts of the Motorcycle Riders Foundation (MRF) legislative agenda, are making news… and not in a good way.

First, fears are increasing that guardrails and other safety features will not be able to withstand the increased weight of electric vehicles. Roadways have been designed to account for vehicles weighing 5,000 lbs. However, new electric vehicles can far exceed that weight.

Cody Stolle, a University of Nebraska associate professor studying guardrail performance, said, “Unfortunately, these guardrail systems, which have performed very well with gasoline vehicles historically, do not appear to be containing electric vehicles when impacting [in] similar types of conditions.”

Secondly, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) announced it would investigate Tesla’s Autopilot system. The research will examine whether the technology can detect and respond effectively to reduced visibility on roadways. NHTSA is concerned the technology is hampered by sun glare, fog and airborne dust. Four recent crashes have shined a light on this problem.

These topics are nothing new to bikers. For the better part of a decade the MRF, along with our partners and champions, have tried to sound the alarm on these issues to government officials. While the mainstream media and the average American might be just waking up to the downside of electric vehicles or self-driving cars, the MRF is not new to the game. We have been and will remain engaged. We are and continue to be the voice of the street rider in Washington, D.C.

Ride Safe and Ride Free!

–MRF
www.MRF.org

HOT DEALS FROM WINDVEST– SALE

Sport Glide Replacement Windshields
50% Off Regular Prices
Sale End Nov 30, 2024

Sport Glide Replacement Windshield
Sale Price
6″ Gun Smoke – $109.50 (reg $219)
8″ Gun Smoke – $114.50 (reg $229)
10″ Gun Smoke – $119.50 (reg $239)
10″ Gun Smoke – $119.50 (reg $239)

Shipping not included

Purchase now!! Visit website by clicking the banner below.

BRAND NEW FROM MORRIS MAGNETO

The MRA is a revolutionary device which aids starting by retarding the timing on fixed-position magnetos, helping to turn the infamous kick-backs and spit-backs into starts.

EZ Install.

When the cap-mounted lever is flipped, the points ‘shift’ 10 degrees, retarding your timing 20 degrees for starting. The lever is then locked in the advanced position by a rare-earth magnet. You’ll love it!

The MRA-G and MRA-R complete kit consists of a new cap and neoprene gasket, a set of points, condenser, and the actuating pieces themselves.

THE BIKERNET CANNIBIS CHRONICLES

Wisconsin pizzeria apologizes after customers get high from pizzas accidentally contaminated with THC.

Chronicles

–from Rogue
Senior Editor
Bikernet.com

TEXAS WEATHER REPORT

We don’t even have a track anymore, glad I got to cover the Division 4 and Spring Nationals for 4 years. And a random inspirational relationship sentiment

–RFR

A2 WIND TUNNEL– ASSAULT WEAPAN THE RETURN

In 2007 the motorcycle named ASSALT WEAPAN Owned by Keith Ball of 5 Ball racing went 161 miles per hour at the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah

Photo in Van

On October 14, 2024, the builder of the engine in that motorcycle Berry Wardlaw of ACCURATE ENGINEERING in Dothan Alabama took the motorcycle to A2 WIND TUNNEL in Mooresville North Carolina -https://a2wt.com/

Berry and I met in Mooresville Sunday evening so we would be ready for testing early Monday morning.

When we got to the wind tunnel Michael Beland of A1 Racing and two of his people were there to meet us. Mike was going to be the rider for most of the testing.

Visit https://www.a1cycles.net/racing

The first thing that Geoffrey Eaker the Manager/ Operator told us was that what we were about to do that day was going to change our minds about what we thought we knew about air flow Boy Was He Right.

Photo of wind tunnel

The motorcycle was secured to the floor of the wind tunnel.

Yellow Yarn Tattle-Tails were attached to the motorcycle, these were going to give us a visual of how the air was flowing.

Photo Yellow Yarn

Mike made this statement about being on the motorcycle in the wind tunnel (It’s Easy Don’t Move A Muscle For Three Minutes, LOL What A Core Workout)

While Mike was on the motorcycle multiple things were being recorded in the control room.

After each run some minor temporary changes were made to see what affect they had. The information gained by each change was all recorded and will be reviewed in the future to see what changes can be made to the motorcycle without changing the class it runs in.

I can tell you that we did learn how to make the motorcycle faster, the rest is up to what Berry and Keith want to share prior to making changes and setting a new record.

The plan is to return to Bonneville and set a new record with Berry riding the motorcycle and the wind tunnel testing was going to help that happen.

Berry did not have his racing leathers with him, but he did get a opportunity to do a wind tunnel test. He was Very Pleased.

After the salt flats the motorcycle will be put back to how it was prior to changes.

There is still a lot to do, and it is going to be very interesting.

There will be a lot more to this and I am sure Keith and Berry will keep you updated, well on most of it anyway, still got to keep the racers edge, can’t give all the secrets away.

Let me know what you think…

HOG’S AND HEIFERS SALOON SEMA ACTION

It’s the 16th year of Hogs & Heifers Saloon’s Annual SEMA Kick-Off Party with the Freaks of Nature Car Show, the Mini Truck Hall of Fame and Panel Jam. Monday, November 4th you are ALL INVITED to join us as we shut down 3rd street and party with gear heads from all over.

Walk the street to check out all the different vehicles that will be on display, join us as the next class is inducted into the Mini Truck Hall of Fame and check out some of the best Airbrush and Pinstriping Artists in the industry, paint right out in front of the bar.

We’ll also have lots of pieces created by the artists that will be up for auction, all to benefit the Nevada Childhood Cancer Foundation. This event is FREE to attend and you don’t want to miss it.

VETERANS DAY

The horses are coming back to Hogs. Join us on Veteran’s Day, Monday, November 11th when some of the horses that will be taking part of the Veteran’s Day Parade in Downtown Las Vegas will then make their way to Hogs & Heifers Saloon. Bring the kids by for photos and help feed the horses some yummy treats. Horses will arrive around 11am and stay outside for a few hours.

201 N. 3rd Street – Downtown Las Vegas

The STREET that HOGS BUILT

No Cover – 21+ w/ID

LIFESTYLE CYCLES DEAL OF THE WEEK

2024 Harley-Davidson FLI – Hydra-Glide Revival

Stock# 14369

2024 HARLEY DAVIDSON HYDRA GLIDE

This 2024 Harley Hydra Glide sells at the dealership MSRP 24,999.00, and we all know Harley is Infamous on dealer mark-up. Which should be all the reason to run into Lifestyle Cycle’s and ride this beauty home before it’s gone!

With wartime utilitarianism in the rearview mirror, Harley-Davidson entered the 1950s with the 74-cubic-inch Panhead powertrain, the Hydra-Glide telescopic front end, and refreshing color schemes that brought new energy to the only surviving American motorcycle manufacturer. One of the most beloved models was the 1956 FLH, which featured a red base color with a white stripe, known as the “slash? two-tone color scheme.

Now, 75 years after the 1949 introduction of the Hydra-Glide front end, Harley-Davidson is reviving this icon of the Panhead era in serialized limited production.

Only $21,995.00

Plus license, $85.00 documentation fee, and local sales tax. NO HIDDEN FEES like some dealers. And we have no reconditioning or prep fees.

This bike has passed Lifestyle Cycles rigorous 92-point safety/mechanical/structural inspection.

This motorcycle has not been refurbished and does not come with any warranty expressed or implied! EXTENDED WARRANTIES are available!

Fill out an online application today. We have EZ FINANCING

Lifestyle Cycles is located at 1510 State College Blvd,Anaheim,CA,92806. Open 7 days a week.

NOT LOCAL? WE HAVE SHIPPING AVAILABLE! Call today (714) 490-0155.

Please visit www.LifestyleCycles.com
or www.facebook.com/LifestyleCyclesUsedHarleys/

45 LAWMAKERS DEMAND ANSWERS

Forty-five GOP lawmakers are demanding answers from the Department of Energy (DOE) after a government watchdog group accused the agency of covering up a key study that would have interfered with one of the Biden-Harris administration’s most aggressive crackdowns on fossil fuels.

The lawmakers wrote to Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm on Thursday to address a watchdog’s allegations that her agency conducted or drafted — and then quietly buried — a study on the emissions impacts of liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports in 2023 before pausing approvals for certain LNG export terminals in January on the grounds that the agency needed to conduct such a review.

Government Accountability and Oversight (GAO), the watchdog making the allegations, is suing the agency under public records law to obtain the thousands of pages DOE concedes may fit GAO’s specific request searching for the 2023 study that the agency allegedly buried because it was producing politically inconvenient conclusions, as first reported by the Daily Caller News Foundation.

“The Biden-Harris Administration’s attempt to conceal its findings on liquefied natural gas impacts is troubling.

Despite evidence that U.S. LNG benefits both the economy and global energy security, the Department of Energy has imposed an indefinite ban on LNG exports to non-free trade agreement countries without legal justification,” Republican Texas Rep. August Pfluger, who led the letter, said in a statement shared with the DCNF. “The lack of transparency from DOE on existing studies, as well as the motivation behind the ongoing study, is unacceptable. The American people deserve accountability on the decision-making process surrounding our energy future.”

(RELATED: Qatar Expanding Natural Gas Export Capacity After Biden Admin Paused New Hub Approvals)

–Nick Pope
Contributor
WUWT

FLATHEAD HARLEYS OF THE WEEK

–RFR and Sam Burns

BANDIT’S 5-BALL EMPORIUM NEWS

It snowed for the first time this week and our old 1880s roof leaked. I need to crawl the monster ladder to the top and check it out.

Here’s something new I created out of parts and piece for the Emporium. It’s an old rusting cheapo iron bed frame and I score the legs from Mike the Picker in Whitewood. I made the bed frame and created the brass legs with solid brass tubes from an old door bell.

Nikki, the Sturgis wood cabinet restore and wood craftsman, made, stained and finished the wooden bench seat. I brazed the pieces then rubbed everything down with boiled linseed oil. It’s now available in the Emporium.

Inspiration hit the other day as we grappled to handle snow prep for the winter. I’ve moved fences, shut off outside water sources and exercised the ’58 Bel Air according to Chubb’s recommendations. “Gotta exercise old rollers.”

I finally got it running sweet and have made trips from Sturgis to Spearfish and into Deadwood several times. Then we faced storage. With the help of Panhead John in Deadwood we cleared a wall out of the small garage behind the Emporium. At first it was a hideaway from extreme weather, but then the thought sparkled. We could stash the Chevy for the winter. New measurement and the deed was accomplished with more reorganization. Done deal.

We have a couple of classic steel Harley tool boxes. Brown one has no hinge pin or lock price $195.

Metal one has the lock and key and u wired the hinge, $225.

These could ship in med. Priority mail according to the Redhead

–Bandit

NEW BIKERNET DEPARTMENT INITIATED IN THE CANTINA

Hang on for this. We were one of the only motorcycle websites to question Climate Doom. We still do until the truth is important again and we can ride free forever.

Bill May has been a longtime contributor to Bikernet and he made a confession the other day. For 30 years he’s followed reports and studies regarding UFOs. Just this last year the government admitted to real findings of life from other planets stepping on earth. With billions of galaxies and planet spinning around millions of suns, there’s bound to be another biker out there somewhere.

Bill is connected and informed about the subject and will reveal the latest news right here in Bandit’s Cantina, with teasers in the news.

Hang on!

–Bandit

FROM ENGINEERING NEWS

The energy transition in its current form, as a grid-scale build out of wind and solar with the goal to replace oil, coal and gas, is probably one of the greatest mistakes that humanity has ever made,” said German-listed commodity company HMS Bergbau Group shareholder Dr. Lars Schernikau, at nonprofit organization FFF Carbon’s 2024 Middelburg Coal Conference in Mpumalanga, on October 17.

“It’s a very uncomfortable and unpopular thing to say,” he admitted, highlighting numerous often ignored challenges posed by the ongoing energy transition.

ONE OF THE BIGGEST SUPREME COURT RULINGS OF THE YEAR

Chevron Deference

Earlier this year, the U.S. Supreme Court announced that by a 6-3 vote it had overturned a 40-year-old legal standard known as Chevron deference. The verdict involves a 1984 court case between the Chevron Corporation and the National Resources Defense Council which created this legal precedent.

Chevron deference compels federal courts to defer to a federal agency’s interpretation of an ambiguous or unclear statute that Congress delegated to the agency to administer. In other words, executive agencies like the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) or the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) are given wide latitude to shape policy on issues that Congress has not specifically mandated, and the court system is limited in stopping them.

The outcome this ruling is vast. However, three obvious results will likely happen:

• Changes to Lawmaking

• The court decision will also force lawmakers to be more detailed in the directives that they put into law. If Congress wants a specific outcome or policy, they will now need to put that in the language of bills, as opposed to deferring to agencies to “fill in the blanks.” We will likely see more detailed and nuanced language in legislation, so the intent of Congress withstands legals challenges.

• Greater Scrutiny of Agency Actions

• In the past the rulemaking and regulatory process, was at times, viewed as an afterthought. Congressional bills and presidential proclamations gained the headlines, while the nuts and bolts of policy were left to the workings of career government officials. These decisions often could not be challenged in the courts. Now that legal action is possible, the inner workings of government agencies will be under an intense microscope as they roll out new regulations.

• Increased Litigation

• With the ability to interpret ambiguous laws, courts are likely to accept challenges to agency regulations more often. Long standing policies that were decided years ago can now be reexamined through lawsuits that question the fundamental nature of how the policy was created.

Unsurprisingly, these results impact all three branches of the federal government. The legislative branch will now have to alter how it writes and constructs laws. The executive branch will need to rethink how it executes the laws given to it by Congress. And the judicial branch will be allowed to review the actions of Congress and agencies to ensure those actions are legal and in line with the powers each branch is assigned.

Why does this matter to bikers? In recent years we have observed officials at the EPA and NHTSA use the regulatory process to achieve policy goals that impact us. One obvious case is the use of rulemaking that would make the internal combustion engine extinct.

The EPA, through emission standards, and NHTSA, through fuel efficiency benchmarks, have tried to shape transportation policy that favors electric vehicles over those powered by fossil fuels. In this case, the House of Representatives has attempted to push back on this overreach by passing legislation specifically blocking the proposed rules. This is an example of Congress trying to recapture its lawmaking authority. With Chevron deference now in place we will likely see lawsuits that engage the judiciary and reexamine these EPA and NHTSA policies, something that was not possible before the Supreme Court ruling.

The system of checks and balances the Founding Fathers envisioned is foundational to how our government operates. Time will tell, but Chevron deference may be a step back towards strengthening that system and taking us back to a time with more defined roles for each branch of government.

STURGIS TT

Progressive AMA AFT Race group had an internal re-cap with Sturgis City officials yesterday. “A public forum is coming up,” said Cameron Gray from the AMA.

I will report on the dates and times for the forum. The team is excited about the future with Sturgis. We will keep you posted.

–Bandit

Autonomous Autonomy

The expansion of autonomous vehicles is a growing topic in the United States today. Whether you’re a biker out on a Sunday ride, a truck driver pulling a cross-country load, or just headed to pick up groceries at the store, this new technology will impact your life.

Any effective advocate for motorcyclists’ rights should have a basic understanding of this new technology and the capabilities involved. As such, below is a basic outline of the six levels of driving automation. All have key distinct features which also shape how they are governed by laws and regulations for their deployment.

Level 0: No Driving Automation
The vehicle possesses no automated driving features. However, it may have technologies that provide momentary assistance to the driver like:
• Antilock Braking
• Automated Emergency Braking
• Blind Spot Warning
• Cruise Control
• Lane Departure Warning

Despite these features, the driver must drive the vehicle and monitor any possible warnings or safety activities, and thus the driver is responsible for braking, steering, accelerating etc.

Level 1: Driver Assistance
Vehicles at this level are equipped with systems that supply constant assistance during acceleration and braking or during steering. Examples of this include:

• Adaptive cruise control
or
• Lane Centering

While this technology aids the driver, the driver must always play an active role in operating the vehicle.

Level 2: Partial Driving Automation

This level applies to a large share of vehicles with driving automation that are on the market today. Examples include Tesla Autopilot, Ford BlueCruise and General Motors Super Cruise.

This technology provides continual assistance both regarding acceleration/braking and in steering. Importantly the driver still must remain attentive and involved.

Level 3: Conditional Driving Automation

The jump to Level 3 is dramatic. At this level the automated system handles all aspects of driving under certain conditions while the driver remains available to take over the driving if the system can no longer operate and requests the driver take over.
Currently only Mercedes-Benz is certified to sell Level 3 vehicles in the U.S. The Mercedes-Benz DRIVE PILOT system is certified to perform on major freeways in California and parts of Nevada and drivers can only engage the Level 3 automation at slower speeds and only while following another vehicle.

Aurora Innovation is currently using level 3 autonomy on Semi Trucks in Texas with the intent to be level 4 in 2027.

Level 4: High Driving Automation

When engaged, the system is fully responsible for driving tasks and a human driver is not needed to operate the vehicle within specific areas/conditions. Waymo (Google) and Cruise (General Motors) currently operate this technology in limited jurisdictions. Robotaxis operating with no driver in cities like San Francisco are examples of Level 4 automation.

Most Level 4 systems are subject to geofencing, where the autonomy is restricted to a specific geographic area. This is due to level 4 driving automation not being capable of operating on all roads and conditions that human drivers can.

Communications with these vehicles are highly dependent on cell networks, radio frequency, and satellite to communicate with other Level 4 vehicles, and remote operators who intervene when these vehicles experience an error or experience a failure in their Level 4 system.

Level 5: Full Driving Automation

This final level requires no driver interaction whatsoever and the range and conditions of its use are unrestricted. At this level, steering wheels and pedals may be absent from the cabin of the vehicle. Currently there are no Level 5 vehicles available to the public.

What Does This All Mean?

While nearly every vehicle on the road today falls into one of the first three categories, the push to make the jump to automated systems where the driver is not fully in control is strong. For nearly a decade the U.S. Congress has tried and failed to provide a framework for how to regulate these differing levels of automation. This has left regulators at the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and state motor vehicle departments playing catch up.

Another concerning trend is the lack of knowledge from consumers about these levels of automation. Advertising campaigns and a casual approach leads drivers to assume their vehicles can do things they are not intended to do.

It is thus vital that we, as bikers and activists, understand the technology, educate others and be prepared to champion regulations that will protect us on the roadways. The future is here, let’s get smart so we can help shape that future.

Learn to Rock

The Strider 2-in-1 Rocking Bike introduces babies to their bike while developing core strength and stability. The main goal of practicing together is to associate their Strider Bike with fun!

STURGIS MOTORCYCLE MUSEUM ACTION–It’s non-stop.

If you’re a local AMCA member, Hamster or enthusiasts, you need to stop by for one or all of these events.

I will try to make them all. We can always walk across the street and I’ll sign a book and show you around the Emporium.

Don’t miss an opportunity to hang out and study Sturgis History.

–Bandit

MRF DEMANDS TRANSPARENCY

A resolution by the Motorcycle Riders Foundation (3 million strong), motorcycle and automotive groups to Congress to demand scientific transparency and truth for every motoring individual in the world.

Whereas Truth and Free Speech are the cornerstones of our society, motorcyclists all over the country want our rights and the truth to be respected

Whereas Critical Thinking is the backbone of science it needs to be held high for kids all over the world. America always endeavored to be the bastion of truth and free speech.

Whereas science is never settled and the public requires nothing but the truth as it affects their very existence.

Whereas children deserve to know the truth and scientific transparency. No matter who tries to hide the truth, it will surface and the real deniers will be exposed.

Whereas every law in this country that effects the lives, livelihoods, homes, businesses and transportation must be based on truth or they are meaningless.

Whereas criminal governments throughout history restricted free speech. We cannot allow any attack on free speech to infiltrate our government

–MRF

www.mrf.org

WAIT THERE’S MORE

Man, today was a test. I’m learning this new program and getting my ass kicked along the way. So, worked all day, but the program didn’t like what I posted and wouldn’t save. So, at the end of the day I lost most of it.

Mr. Wayfarer saved some of the text, while I hit the road down the canyon to Vinnie’s for a Halloween party. Vinnie owns the original Pappy Hoels pad on Junction in Sturgis. He’s done a tremendous rehab of the place, but his new wife, Lori has major plans. Hang on.

I should be depressed, but what the hell. I hung with good friends for a couple of hours, then returned to the battle lines for whiskey and rebuilding the news. We’re almost there.

I decided to give myself a treat in the form of a new knife. Brother Stoney suggest several manufacturers including Elishiwitz Knives. I need something tough and shapely. It needs to fit in my back pocket and not be a monster. These have titanium handles and brass fasteners. They run about $400.

Gearhead sent me this piece of history, a V-8 Curtis. It’s a reprint from a magazine story. I may share it with you, if I can sort out these program issues.

We might attend a fund raiser for Deadwood tomorrow night. This original David Mann will be auctioned off.

Bill May, our extra terrestrial editor is about to build a classic chopper for himself. He’s built bikes, cars and trucks for customers for 50 years.

It’s about time. He has most of the major pieces.

We may see it come together on Bikernet. Hang on.

In the meantime ride fast and free forever!

–Bandit

That Can Be Fixed

Sitting at the kitchen table with Rogue, enjoying reading Facebook posts I blurted out “It’s Hot Between my Legs”. Rogue was sipping on his coffee and almost chocked. He asked what are you talking about. 

The post that I was reading on Facebook was referring to the same problem that I had the day before. She was asking riders if they were experiencing the extreme heat that was radiating off the engine. Rogues responded by telling me it was one hundred degrees outside and you are sitting over an air-cooled motorcycle engine, what do I expect?

I reminded him of our ride the day before when I told him that “It is too hot in between my legs” the heat coming off the engine is too hot. Rogue said, “we live in Florida”. That was not the response I was looking for. But he did tell me there is a part to help that.

I decided to research to see if there was a part which deflected the heat off the engine away from in between my legs. I found a Mid-Frame Air Deflectors which could help solve my dilemma.

Mid-Frame Air Deflector 29200105 | Harley-Davidson USA

Description

Improve rider comfort during the summer riding season.

• Designed for severe duty and extreme temperature applications

• Inconspicuous black deflectors attach to the frame and surround the top of the rear cylinder head

• Scoop shape captures the moving air and uses the flow to direct the heat down and away from the rider to improve comfort

• Compatible with Original Equipment and Harley-Davidson accessory seats and rocker covers

• Includes all required mounting hardware

It just so happened my birthday was approaching, and Rogue said, “Happy Birthday” and ordered this part for my Softail FXST.

 The installation was very simple. First you need to remove the seat and install deflectors over mid-frame.

 Slide the right deflector into the left deflector engaging a snap. Install the screw from the right side and nut into indent on the left side.

The torque for this install is 10-15 Inch Pounds

 Replace the seat pulling on the front of the seat to verify its secure and in place.

 Later in the day I was able to test out the new install. Beautiful day in Florida. Rode for a period of time and when I stopped at a light and could notice that the heat off the motor wasn’t as hot as it had been on prior rides.

 So, I made a good decision and would recommend the deflectors to those that think.

“It’s Hot Between Their Legs”,

McClure Nitro Harley Nationals Ready to Rattle The Rock

PennGrade1 AMRA All-American motorcycle drag racing series pre-race advance

event: PennGrade1 AMRA Jim McClure All-Harley World Finals

when: October 25-27, 2024

where: Rockingham Dragway in Marston, North Carolina, USA

When Rockingham Dragway posted their recent Street Outlaws event as the biggest Rockingham crowd of the year, PennGrade1 American Motorcycle Racing Association (AMRA) series boss Greg Baugh said “Hold my beer!” Because those TV car boys ain’t got nothing on the show that the flame-throwing Nitro Harley-Davidson two wheelers and the rough folks that ride them put on.

The PennGrade1 AMRA Jim McClure All-Harley World Finals will shake even Rockingham’s concrete grandstands as the world’s largest all-American motorcycle drag racing series comes back for its annual celebration of nitro, V-Twin speed, and the late, great Jim McClure.

Headlining this hallowed Harley Drags competition are the most thundering motorcycles on the planet— Circle M Ranch/Dove Fuels Top Fuel.

Defending Rockingham winner Jordan Peterson is fresh off a win at Bowling Green. His Mike Henry-owned, Mike and Jack Romine-tuned mount is on point and looking to hunt in the Sand Hills.

But this is Jay “Bulldog” Turner country, and the North Carolina Drag Racing Hall of Famer doesn’t take kindly to out-of-towners poaching on his land. Along with his teammates—two time NHRA champ Tii Tharpe on his Pfafftown-based Spevco mount and AMRA’s own John “JT” Toth—Turner intends to stand his ground.

He’ll have to deal with invaders from as far away as Finland at this truly international event. Juha “Sushi”Hintukainen and his wild ProCharged bike and Samu Kemppainen intend to pillage in the name of the Vikings. Even Elmeri Salakari and his dad Jaska’s blown 4 valve, 5.8 second V-Twin will be making exhibition passes.

Bad Apple Racing’s Tracy Kile has sat out the season so far, but the allure of the McClure Nationals has him back in the seat for this great event. AMRA champ Ryan Peery, California’s Tim Kerrigan, Virginia’s Ziggy Stewart, and more are expected to throw down at The Rock.

Bad Apple’s Jimmy “Mac” McMillen is also coming back to competition for the first time since the season opener in Louisiana. He’ll be riding Armon Furr’s Nitro Funnybike at The Rock against his teammate Cameron Gunter, champion Jim Doyle, Michael Balch, Racin’ Ray Robinson, Jason Leeper, and more.

The carbureted Hawaya Racing Pro Fuel class is one of the fastest growing in the country, with every event bringing out new riders and the return of old ones. Champion Sam White will face Cecil County winner “Bad Apple Mary” Dangrow, Norwalk and Bowling Green winner Curt Sexton, Funnybike racer Leeper, Hot Rod Carlisle, Rocky Jackson, Jim “Bad Influence” Martin and more

Not every bike at AMRA races is a nitro noisemaker, the majority are gasoline hot rods.

Outlaw Street bikes take gas to its most mind-blowing limits, mixing it with nitrous or compressing it with massive turbos. Charley Douglass will have to sit this one out after flipping over backwards last time out, but Tim Grindle, Ken Miller, and more are expected to turn out and put out.

Put bags on your Outlaw and you’ve got Zipper’s Performance Pro Bagger—turbo and nitrous behemoths throwing everything available in the mechanical and technological world to make all-out quarter mile assaults. Michigan winner Chaz Kennedy, Jeremy Williamson, Bowling Green winner Rick Hunnicutt, Jeremy Justice, Bert Baker, Andy Simon Sr. and more will be unleashing their Bagger beasts.

Thundermax Street Baggers will see Bowling Green winner Jimmy Maikranz, Michigan winner Keith Evans, No Problem winner Dave “Paco” Cartwright, Jeff Boudreaux, Thomas Boone and more fighting to keep their front wheels down the whole quarter mile.

Axtell Cylinders Hot Street bike will see Martin and Bowling Green winner Clayton Danford, Joe Petersen, Jason Crisp and more working no-bar, streetbike magic

Pro Modified and Zippers Performance Modified are wheelie-barred, gas-powered, tube chassis pure breds. Legendary racers Gary Douglass, Billy Doherty, Dave Doremus, John Price, Jason Adams, Chris Hoppe and more battle it out on these bikes.

Index classes are Top Eliminator 9.30 index, Super Gas 9.90, Thundermax Street Eliminator 11.50, BK Electric Super Pro 10.30, and Pro Eliminator 10.90. Sportsman legends such as Donnie Huffman, Cody Hayworth, Matt Hawkins, Bryce Creek, Chris “Crank” Lanktree, Monty Garrelts, John Shotts, Josh Maikranz, Heather Jendruch, Terry Mason, Chris Phipps, Chad Traynor, Crosby Blair, Bob Willis, Sean Clarke, and more apply their finishline skills in these classes.

Many of these same riders will also enter Eliminator Dial-in bracket racing, and so can you. Want to try your own American-made V-Twin out on the quarter mile? Bring it along with your safety gear and send it!

PennGrade1 AMRA’s Greg and Julia Baugh, and John “JT” Toth and Marianne Miller look forward to welcoming the whole Harley-Davidson family to Rockingham Dragway for the most special race on the motorcycle drag racing calendar.

Sunday, Oct 27, gates open at 8 am. Opening ceremonies and round 1 of eliminations start at noon.

Online Admission prices are $20 per day, $35 for two days, and $45 for the weekend available at https://tickets.thefoat.com/Ro…

PRICES GO UP AT THE GATE.

You can tent for free. RV hookup is $300 for the weekend, $250 power only. Dry camping is $40 for weekend. Please reserve at THEROCKRV.COM or call Rockingham Dragway at 910-582-3400

The track website is https://www.rockinghamdragway….

The track Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/Rocki…

AMRA website

–Tim Hailey

EatMyInk.com

EXCLUSIVE: GOP Lawmakers Press Biden-Harris Admin Over Alleged Cover-Up Behind Major Fossil Fuel Crackdown

By Nick Pope

Contributor WUWT

Forty-five GOP lawmakers are demanding answers from the Department of Energy (DOE) after a government watchdog group accused the agency of covering up a key study that would have interfered with one of the Biden-Harris administration’s most aggressive crackdowns on fossil fuels.

The lawmakers wrote to Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm on Thursday to address a watchdog’s allegations that her agency conducted or drafted — and then quietly buried — a study on the emissions impacts of liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports in 2023 before pausing approvals for certain LNG export terminals in January on the grounds that the agency needed to conduct such a review. Government Accountability and Oversight (GAO), the watchdog making the allegations, is suing the agency under public records law to obtain the thousands of pages DOE concedes may fit GAO’s specific request searching for the 2023 study that the agency allegedly buried because it was producing politically inconvenient conclusions, as first reported by the Daily Caller News Foundation.

“The Biden-Harris Administration’s attempt to conceal its findings on liquefied natural gas impacts is troubling. Despite evidence that U.S. LNG benefits both the economy and global energy security, the Department of Energy has imposed an indefinite ban on LNG exports to non-free trade agreement countries without legal justification,” Republican Texas Rep. August Pfluger, who led the letter, said in a statement shared with the DCNF. “The lack of transparency from DOE on existing studies, as well as the motivation behind the ongoing study, is unacceptable. The American people deserve accountability on the decision-making process surrounding our energy future.” (RELATED: Qatar Expanding Natural Gas Export Capacity After Biden Admin Paused New Hub Approvals)

–from WUWT

We’re just Bikers for Truth, seeking government honest and integrity.

–Banidt

Biketoberfest 2024

Story and photos by Katmandu

This October, your motorcycle mecca, also known as Daytona Beach and her surrounding state counties were heavily impacted by a strong, often Cat 5, hurricane named Milton. Yet despite heavy flooding in many neighborhoods and hundred mile an hour wind gusts the week before, the 32nd annual Biketoberfest kicked off in full hard-core fashion with Tropical Tattoo’s Chopper Time. This six-hour motorcycle show continues to bring the southern tribes back together if only for a couple of hours on a Thursday afternoon.  As Floridians, we spend days in preparation for a stinkin’ storm and three days after with no power, or coffee.  We can get rather testy. We secured the garage and protected the motorcycles at all costs.

Then, without too much warning, we feel the outside temperatures drop a solid fifteen degrees and it becomes perfect riding weather. This year, all the surrounding streets are lined with the massive piles of storm debris on every curb, but the sunshine was spectacular. Skies were bright blue and crystal clear. The air was actually crispy most of the day when this tattoo shop transforms into a big kid’s playground for all things metal, rubber and color.

The man behind the magic is Willie Perry. After sixty-nine years of Florida, most of it in Volusia County, he knows what makes for a good show. This one he hailed as almost flawless. There is teamwork in all areas of putting on this event. Willie often cites his people as the reason for this, from security to judging to helping set the band up. Tropical Tattoo shows have always been retro, gleaning back to the days of old and how it should or could still be.

Biketoberfest, often referred to as Bike Week’s little brother, with warmer weather, and lesser crowds may be thirty something in years, but Willie was having family chopper time in the summer months before lining up his shop and this show with the October timiKng of what started as The Daytona Fall Tour. Leave it to us to change the name to Biketoberfest a year later. He says it was around 2001 that the chopper became cool once more and with came the magazines, both local and national, were in attendance for Choppertime. The word spread.

And whether its March or October, the sheer intensity of the show, its craftsmanship and camaraderie, and especially its itty bitty sparklers often shining off by our healthy young women friends who don’t give a damn about the drop in degrees.

Bike builders both home spun or money backed would vie for a ChopperTime trophy. This writer believes this is where the industry trophies turned from golden Olympia plated bases into metal artworks relative to the lifestyle chopper heads live in. This has now come full circle as the metal works of designer “Little Chopper” of Gorilla Fabrications smoothed the lines and grafted a more contemporary look and feel.

Bikes are judges by people for the people. Unlike its rowdy big brother Bike Week, (there were 194 motorcycles to judge in March) here there were only 32 bikes registered for the fall show.  Consider winning a trophy from these various classes:  the Shovelhead Coalition,  Willies pick, Best Rat, or Reverand Al’s pick. The pastor outdid it with the custom trophy. The ladies best build was the newest category. Alas, my shovel was sold 4 years ago. Of course there are the Antique, Panhead and best Knucklehead class too! Just too many to share at this time.

My report is a bit late. I had a hurricane to deal with. Watch for another outstanding and packed Bike Week show. I hope this finds you all dreaming of more customized motorcycles, those young healthy women in fishnet and rhinestones!

Love and respect always, Katmandu

Now living in Motorcycle Mecca, Daytona Beach

It was 1982. I had just gone through my second divorce. I landed a new job at United Home Foods. They were a company that delivered a month’s supply of food to people who lived in the country. They had a sales staff who phoned people all over the state and sold them these monthly packages. They offered terrific beef from Nebraska sealed in plastic.

They ran all over the country with a fleet of brand new box trucks. I remember five Mercedes and five Volvos. My job was to maintain them. Any serious work went to the dealer. They were all under warranty. I did oil changes and lights and kept the diesel and electric refrigeration units working. I was on call 24/7 and lived next to the shop in a travel trailer. They paid me $500 a week, and I had a van and a credit card for anything I needed. It was the best job ever.

My supervisor was Glen Jackson. Glen was a ladies man. He was very charming and all the girls loved him. He had a crew of several girls working in the warehouse putting together orders and loading the trucks. They covered the whole state of Oklahoma. These girls all fooled around with Glen. Most of them were married and so was Glen.

We became great friends. I got in on that fooling around stuff a little. There was a gorgeous blond named Kelly who worked in the office. She fell for me and would come visit me in my trailer often. She was 19 and had a little baby. These were the most unfaithful married people I had ever seen.

We had a Christmas dinner 1982. The whole company was there. I noticed a little short blond named Donna. She worked in the finance division of the company. Her job was to get people to pay their food bills. She had this cute manner and voice no one could say no to. I asked if she wanted to go for a motorcycle ride. She said she would love to. She was separated but still married. She had a six year old daughter but she was with her dad in California. After a couple of rides on my 76 FLH I was in love. She seemed to like me too. We fit like a glove. We took a long weekend and rode to Santa Fe.

It was a great trip, the summer of ‘82. We did many more short rides that year. She loved riding. She was always good to go and never bitched about anything.

This company was very liberal about taking off. As long as I kept those trucks running, I could do anything I wanted. I was constantly buying and selling bikes and cars. I sold the Electra-Glide to my friend Ross. He owned it previously and I owned it before that. We just passed the thing around. I scored a real complete ‘47 Indian Chief from a friend of one of Donna’s relatives.

I gave 800 dollars for a complete Chief and most of another one in pieces. I brought the thing home and got it running for the first time in 20 years or so. I sold the basket job for $400. The reason I sold the Electra-Glide was for running money. Donna wanted her kid back and I drove her all the way to San Jose, but when we got there the father wouldn’t let her go.

We had to get the law involved and the girl ended up with child services while we drove all the way back to Oklahoma to engage a lawyer. Fortunately she knew a good one. He got her divorce filed and  temporary custody. She traveled all the way back to California on a bus. I had a friend out there who gave her a place to stay and helped her get her daughter back. They showed up at the house where she was living just as her dad was loading up a U-haul to move to Ohio with the kid.

 Donna called the police. They arrived, she showed  them the custody papers and dad was forced to relinquish the kid. When they got back to Oklahoma, I got to know her daughter. Not a very nice child. The trauma of all the shit she’d been through messed her up. I had a daughter the same age. They got along good. I kept busy keeping the trucks running.

We rolled into 1983 and I tinkered with the Indian. I didn’t have a bike, but I did drive a ‘76 Eldorado. That’s what we drove to California. Gas was cheap back then. The national speed limit was 55.

Sometime around then I sold the ’76 Caddy and bought a ‘79 Eldorado. I was a Cadillac man in those days.

 Donna and I split up for a little while around Christmas of ‘83. I realized I really loved her and didn’t want to lose her. We rode the old Indian for a while. I rebuilt the engine and it ran great. I had about 1200 dollars in it and I wanted another Electra-Glide. I traded it for a ’79 Glide.

Donna on the Indian her daughter standing behind her.

Donna in 1986 on a Honda I cut down for her.

 The bike I traded the Indian for. The burgundy one is the orange ‘76 with a new paint job by me. I also painted the ‘79. It was originally gold.

The spring of ‘84 Donna and I took a week off and headed south on the ‘79 Electra-Glide. We planned to go all the way to Tucson. We took back roads to San Angelo. Roughly the route I had ridden a year before on my trip to the Big Bend. From San Angelo we rode to Van Horn and hit interstate 20 and 10. They run together there. The engine was making a whining noise and running rough. I had to keep adjusting the points. If I had electronic ignition it would have quit right there.

We made it to El Paso. I pulled it apart in a Kragen auto parts parking lot right across the street from Barnett’s Harley-Davidson. I strolled in and met Sherm Barnett. He was friendly but wouldn’t let me borrow a cam bearing puller.

I bought a Sifton 440 cam and a new inner bearing from him. I bought a puller in the local auto parts house that I was able to pull the bearing with. The  early 80-inch Shovelheads were loaded with a cheap version of inner cam bearings. The Torrington bearing they used before was quality.

After about 30k miles it came apart. I recently found the same type bearing in my ‘98 Evolution engine. I replaced that one too. Anyway I was able to clean most of the pieces of the roller out of the cases with a flexible magnet. Some of it slipped through the crankcase breather gear and chipped of a piece off the case, but it didn’t hurt anything.

I wrenched it back together with limited tools, but then we didn’t have enough money to go on to Tucson. We headed up to Las Cruces and through Alamogordo and cloud Croft and then cruised through Ruidoso. Winding roads slid along verdant rolling hills scattered with pine trees and vistas overlooking Ruidoso lakes.

All the way Donna hung on like a trooper and never bitched about anything. It was early spring, March I think. We rode through Lincoln and saw all the Billy the Kid stuff, then over to Roswell and up to Clovis, where we got a room. The next day we peeled across the Texas panhandle against a terrible crosswind. We made it home on the rumbling too- old Shovelhead still running great. Soon after that it started blowing oil out of the breather hose. I pulled the oil pump apart and found a piece of cam bearing in the return pump. I found more pieces in the breather gear screen. If you have a virgin Shovel from ‘78-‘84 replace the inner cam bearing quick. Also if you have a ‘90-‘99 replace it.

During the summer of ‘84 the food company slipped downhill fast. I turned my job over to my buddy Ross Collins and sold the ‘79. I borrowed my friend Don Ward’s ‘71 Electra-Glide, put a full coverage insurance policy on it and Donna and I hit the road again. This time we headed west with the idea in mind to leave a bunch of drama in Oklahoma behind and find a new place to live.

We rode out of OKC in early July 1984. We headed back to New Mexico. That old bike was loaded down. We rode to Santa Fe again and met another couple on the road. They were from the Santa Fe area and Rode with us up through Chama where they still have a running steam train.

We crossed into Colorado and rode over the Wolf Creek Pass to Creede, where Bat Masterson once ran a saloon. We stopped for a while and had beers and listened to a band then headed back down to Pagossa springs. We stopped at this beautiful waterfall called Bridal Veil falls. We said goodbye to our new friends and rolled west to Durango where we got a room. Durango is a great town. We considered moving there but we kept going to Cortez the next morning.

On the way we rode up to the top of Mesa Verde and saw the Clift dwellings. It is crazy the things primitive people were able to accomplish. We rode up 666 to Monticello, Utah. Now it’s on highway 491. The first motel we pulled into didn’t have any business but they saw a couple on Harley as someone they didn’t want, so they told me flat out “we don’t have a room for you!” We straddled our ride and rumbled down the main street and found a much friendlier motel.

Next day we headed west on scenic 95 through Natural Bridges park and onto Hanksville. From there we took Highway 24 to 89 then hit 50 at Salina. We took 50 to the Nevada line where we camped by to road. We had a sleeping bag and we used it there.

I wanted a fire but didn’t have any matches or a lighter, so I pulled up some sticks and unhooked my battery negative cable and turned on the lights, and then I dipped a stick in the gas tank and held it by the battery terminal and touched the cable to the terminal. When the sparks hit the stick, we had a fire. We also had a pint of whiskey. We had a few shots and crawled into that bag and had a real good time. We slept like tired babies that night. No cell phone and no gun.

The next day we headed west on the loneliest highway in the US. Just west of Austin the rear tire blew. There we sat until an old yellow Chevy pickup with 4 big Indians in it stopped. We loaded that old dresser in the back and sat there with it all the way to the Honda dealer in Fallon. It was right next to Crown auto body which had painted my ‘55 Chevy in 1968. The same guy now owned the Honda dealer. I bought a tire and tube from him and put it on in the parking lot. I was stationed at NAAS (navy auxiliary air station) Fallon from ‘66 to ‘69.

We rode onto Reno where I found a friend I knew from the Navy. We decided that was the place for us. But we kept riding into San Francisco and found my old buddy Roark in Foster City. He helped Donna the year before, when she fought to get her kid back. I love that guy. He is still around and I hope he is well.

We hung around a couple of days and headed back to Reno to check on some jobs. Everyone wanted a local address so we headed south on 395 all the way to Barstow where we hit I-40 and headed home. It rained cats and dogs around Williams, Arizona. We stopped at Walmart and bought some of those yellow rain suits. We kept riding east. I can’t remember for sure where we spent the nights. I think Needles and Gallup.

We tired by the time we reached OKC two weeks from the day we left. That was the best two weeks of my life. Donna was awesome. We traded a ‘69 Coupe Deville to my cousin Jimmy for his ‘81 C20 Chevrolet truck. I hooked it to my 24-foot park model Travel-ease trailer and headed back to Reno. Ross held my old job. I loaded all my tools and all our clothes and Donna’s and her daughter into the truck and trailer and rolled to Reno.

We made that trip with no trouble and moved into an RV park in Reno. I got a job wrenching at Halman Chevrolet and Donna got on at Miller’s Outpost. We were flat broke by then and my old mom sent us 500 dollars. We did well in Reno and got married in September ‘84. Donna had problems and birth defects from a drug her mom took to prevent miscarriage in older moms. Turned out there was a class action lawsuit that Donna never took advantage of. She didn’t think she could get pregnant again but after 2 years of sex with her every night, she got pregnant about 5 minutes after I married her, go figure.

I got a better job working at Sierra Sid’s truck stop as a mechanic. I got a license to do smog tests. I bought an ‘81 moto guzzi 850T that had been on fire for 300 bucks. A little rewiring and spray paint and a Yamaha seat and I had a cool bobber.

Here is a shot of my old pal Ross Collins and the evil Midget Mike Cook. He has been on monster garage and he was the paper boy in Killers of the Flower Moon.

Ross has been my best friend since 1969 I have mentioned him before and Little Mike has been my friend since I first met him in Ross’s shop in the late ‘90s. Mike’s dad owned Steve Cook Creations, the finest custom cars ever built, like Dave Kindig in Utah only no tv show.

I traded the Guzzi for a ‘51 Ford Pickup with a Buick motor. I got it running good and Donna and I stopped by the Harley shop just browsing. At that time it was a small friendly dealer. McDonald’s H-D. McDonald himself told me I could have this limited edition ‘85 FXR if I could come up with 1000 dollars. They were using Ford credit at that time. I sold the pickup for 1000 dollars and bought a new Harley. Donna was several months pregnant. It was around March of ’85 and still chilly in Reno, but I owned a brand new Harley. In early June we went for warm winding mountain ride down to Placerville and part of scenic highway 49 in the gold rush country. We never had a problem of any kind.

My Boy was born on July 11, 1985. Our 7/11 boy, we named him William Andrew after me and my father. We called him Andy. In 1988 we moved to Vegas. The rest of the story is 12 years of hard work and wheeling and dealing to survive. Our relationship suffered because of drama stuff not related to bikes. so I will end this tale here. More later.

–Bill May