Sturgis 2003


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Hail storm over the Black Hills

I'm late as usual, but painting bikes for 24 years has given me muchopractice at being late. In fact, Eddie Trotta musta gone on 20 minutesbitching about painters when I saw him at Mike Lichter's Show in RapidCity. In fact, he's even trying to do some of the actual artwork on hisThunder Cycles, himself. The guy can race boats and horses, play a meanpiano, so if he turned out to be a halfway good painter, I wouldn’t besurprised.

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I got to talk to many cool custom m/c industry people at Sturgis. Hell,everyone was there. You can just be crossing the street and see Billy Lanecoming from the opposite direction or be at Mt Rushmore and run into BigMike of BMC. Or riding along the interstate to find Kendall Johnson ridingalongside. What a rush that was. Maybe you could be gassing up your bikeand right across the pumps is Paul Sr of OCC.

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Sturgis was an overload of unreal scenery, everyday folks who become newfriends, famous people, and a kaleidoscope of bikes. People were eitherburning up the street or burning up the film. You couldn't look anywherewithout thinking, 'I need to take a picture of that.' The little miningtowns are full of beautifully restored buildings with bikes lining thestreets, vivid sunsets over the vast open prairie. I couldn’t stay in myhotel room, there was too much to see and do. Sturgis is the kind of eventthat is alive with energy. No matter where I looked or where I went, it wasawesome.

sunset 1

The nights got downright weird. First there was the night I lost a wholebox of Horse issues off my bike. It's 2am, pitch black, magazines scatteredover about 1/8th mile of canyon road, I was shitting bricks. Cops are gonnacome along any minute and bust me for Felony Littering. Sure thing, I'mrunning around picking them up and suddenly it's blue light city. But theywere cool, helped me pick them up and didn't even glance once at myOUT-OF-DATE bike tag. I was WIDE awake after that one. On a very windynight I rode into Sturgis with the Devil Dolls as wicked lighting stormscracked over the hills in the distance. Earlier in the evening I had foundmyself sitting at a fancy press dinner put on my Corbin and PerformanceMachine. I ended up with tablemates like Goth Girl and Sonny Barger. EddieTrotta was nodding off at the table next door and I was about to fling apat of butter at him but Tom Langdon of Rumble Customs looked at me like Iwas nuts. So I buttered my roll and behaved. Eddie looked like he had justfinished working on a bike that spat oil all over him. He said he wasstarting a new fashion trend. It was a crazy night. Flame and I ended up inthe supermarket buying fresh fruit (don't ask.)

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John and Bianca- the coolest couple atSturgis

Another night, I was hanging at the Discovery Build Off party at the FullThrottle Saloon watching as Billy and Larry blew a mile high column ofsmoke side by side in the burnout pit. People are going nuts over Billy; hecan't keep up with all the autographs. A few nights later, a bunch of usare at the Broken Spoke and hardly anyone comes up to him. Nice, quietevening in such contrast to the previous. But that’s the rhythm of Sturgis,insanity one moment, calm the next. One minute you're riding across the'endless' plain in blistering heat, a few exits down you're deep in thetall, cool canyons- a vivid rollercoaster ride from the seat of a scooter.Now Jose is used to all this stuff. He's so jaded. Just kidding, notreally, who can get tired of beautiful scenery all the time, especiallywhen it poses in Hustler?

party 1

Party at Caribbean Choppers WesternHeadquarters

Jose and his family opened their door to me and made me feel right at home.Many thanks to them, people like that are worth going thousands of miles tosee. I wasn’t the only one who felt that way. An endless line of friendswould stop by each night, making for interesting conversion. From Hawaii toNashville to Brazil, that place had a definite international atmosphere.And the food, Deacon from Hawaii's Pro-Street grilling up a storm of ribs.Another night it was mouth watering Caribbean burgers. Plus the food intown wasn't half bad either. I recommend Kevin Costner's Jake's CafÈ inDeadwood. But my favorite restaurant was in the Spearfish Holiday Inn ofall places. Who woulda known? And great prices too. Scoff if ya want, buttry it out next year and tell me I'm wrong. (If their chef quits I'mscrewed.)

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Shari, Bianca, and Amanda

Jose covered just about everything we did in his report. The one thing hedidn't do was ride at night. I shouldn't have either, but the cool nightcalled to me, so I took it slow and easy, carefully watching for glowingeyes of deer who plague many riders. A few did jump out and cross the roadin front of me, but I was doing about 45 and had no problem stopping. Manyothers didn't and sadly paid the price. But the night sky out here isintoxicating. The air is so clear, it seems as tho you can reach up andtouch the stars. The black sky is so full of them, there's not muchblackness. Deep in the canyons, the only source of light comes fromthousands of light years away. That kind of realization reaches right intoa person's soul. And there again lies the sharp contrasts of this place-awild, mad dash of daylight activities to soothing the psyche at night. It'seasy to see why the Native Americans regarded these hills as their holyland. It's a very healing place.

me 1

Crazy Horse on the latest Crazy HorseChopper

I met so many people. Folks just tend to reach out and leave attitudesbehind. On our ride with Mike Lichter, I met Jennifer, a cute littleredheaded friend of his who takes part in his photo shoot ride every year.She's even in his Sturgis book. I saw her and some friends on the streetsof Deadwood my last night there. Like we had been friends forever, sheinvited me to sit down and watch the world go by. She knew many people whopassed and some stayed a bit and joined us in our observations.

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Now I've heard stories for years about Sturgis. People going on and onabout what a wonderful experience it is. I should have listened to them.Now I'm the one, going about it like I was bewitched into a cult. Yes,That’s what it must be, the cult of Sturgis.Sturgis is an event people tend to ride to. Didn't see as many trailers onthe way home as I saw loaded bikes.The only thing missing was Angie. But she'll be there next year. I can'teven imagine. I'm glad it's a whole year away; I'll need that much time torest up.

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August 31, 2003

NEWS FROM SONS OF LIBERTY–JANKLOW INDICTED!

http://www.solrpa.com”>american rider

A More In-Your-Face take on this EPA shit

Sen. Campbell and others who think of the EPA legislation concerningmotorcycles as an issue of clean air, really need to wake up.

My name is Stan Alt and I went to Washington DC to talk with the EPA, someSenators, Congressmen and others. I did this at the request of the MRFbecause I am the founder of the ISA ( Independent Shop Association) whichconsists of 48 independent motorcycle shops in Wisconsin. Plus, I had ownedand operated an independent motorcycle shop myself for a number of years.

To keep it short and simple — I told them the same thing I’m tellingyou… If you change the emissions on cars and trucks by 1/100th of apercent, the reduction of fuel emissions generated would be greater thaneliminating all the motorcycles.

So what’s really up, and why does Harley-Davidson put out a reportencouraging this change in emission standards? Maybe it’s a lot simpler thanyou think. Money!

The results of this EPA move would:
1.) Make it, if not impossible then nearly impossible for the smallindependent builder to build motorcycles.
2.) It would severely limit engine modifications, there-by affectingaftermarket parts suppliers like CCI, Drag Specialties and so on.
3.) Restrict service on motorcycles to those few shops that can afford theequipment needed to maintain the emission standards, primarily franchisedealers.
4.) It would prevent personal modifications by the owner, even something assimple as changing cams and exhaust systems.

Now, why would H-D be all for this? My opinion is that it gets rid of theexpense that comes from competition. If you look back, there were only a fewmodels available to the motorcycle purchaser, then with the sixties came thechopper and the creative individualities of there owners. What resulted wasa boom in aftermarket parts suppliers and service which H-D was forced tocompete with. You remember the Eagle Iron parts that started showing up onthe franchisers shelves, don’t you?

If the law goes into effect there would be no need to provide modificationor upgrade kits that are now available from the franchise dealer. Why?Because the law would prohibit it. As the customized motorcycle disappearsso does the expense to produce a product year after year to compete with it.The manufacturer could also decrease the number of models knowing that thebuyer, if he/she desires to ride, will have to buy one of their models, asno one can affordably build something different for them.

Now back to Sen. Campbell and others who think they are doing a greatservice by proposing a delay as the answer. My hope is that they will fightto oppose the legislation. If cleaner air is what is needed why not go afterthe vehicles, cars and trucks, that create 99.99% of it. Fazing in an era ofpollution laws like the ones proposed will result only in the fazing out ofcreativity, individuality and a whole lifestyle and industry that I reallylike.

As a side note: I imagine it won’t take long for law enforcement to get theexhaust emissions machines for each squad car that would cause the removalfrom operation on streets and highways of any 2006 and newer motorcyclewho’s exhaust noise is louder then the clacking of the cams in it’s engine.

Thanks for the time you took to read this.
Stan Alt
ISA Founder and Coordinator
Stan@ISAinfo.com

This letter and some very comprehensive information on what the EPA is trying to do to us, along with some handouts is now on the site http://www.solrpa.com/issues.

beach ride flyer

Stop Victory Act ot Patriot Act II

No matter how you feel about Gov. Dean, Ashcroft must be stopped. Pleaseconsider passing this on after you sign the petition. Thank you. jeanijessen

This week, Attorney General Ashcroft is touring the country to build supportfor his Victory Act, which would expand the Patriot Act. Join me in taking astand against John Ashcroft s plans by clicking on the link below andsigning the petition to stop the passage of the Victory Act:http://www.deanforamerica.com/stopashcroft

After you ve signed the petition, forward this email on to everyone youknow. We all must stand together to demonstrate that the grassroots have thepower to take our country back.

Sincerely,
Governor Howard Dean, M.D.

century motorcycles

Sept. 5-7 Ride To Freedom, Harrisburg, PA

For those thinking about riding to Harrisburg, PA Friday, September5th to be with ABATE of PA on Saturday, September 6th at 1:00 to help and’be there’ for the historic ceremonial signing of their ‘adult choice’ billat PA’s State Capital, here’s some updates:

1.) The ride is GROWING. Lots of interest coming in. MMA’s website(www.mma-of-ma.com) is updated with our route (thanks Vince and Andy).Major staging location Charlton Rest area on Mass Pike (I-90), departingthere at 9:00 a.m. FRIDAY, September 5th. Several people are planning onworking the prior Monday, Labor Day weekend to take that Friday off to ridewith us. We’ll be coming from Massachusetts, through CT, NY into PA. Sincewe don’t have a ‘choice’ (yet) in NY, no ‘stops in NY’ – but we’ll stop atExit 1 on I-84 to put our helmets on for 72.5 miles until we stop at about12:30 at Exit 11 in PA. NY riders, feel free to join in anywhere along thisRoute or stops.

2.) Two camping cabins left at the Jonestown KOA. Some campsites left.Need to ‘advance reserve’ sites BY AUGUST 20th. Then we have to cancelunbaked reserved sites to get our $$ back. Contact me with your intentions.Don’t need check in hand, your commitment is good enough.

Again, four people can stay at each site two nights for less than $25 perperson. Bring your own tents, sleeping bags, shower shoes, etc. Localcounty ABATE of PA chapter plans to ‘welcome’ and meet with us Friday night,then lead us to Harrisburg Saturday, leaving at 11:00 for the ‘good seats’in Harrisburg. Maybe a Party at the Campgrounds Saturday night, in supportof BIKE PAC, . . . PA’s political action committee for rider’s issues.

3.) Bill L. from CMA advises me hotels in the area are filling up. Besidesour event, some football game going on. He’s booked a room at the EconoLodge a few miles from the campsite in Altoona, PA, but says only two roomsleft there. He searched Orbit.com for Altoona, PA, several hotels in thearea.

4.) We are going, rain or shine. A few riders who can’t ride will join usin their cars/trucks to be there. That is kool. Likewise, a few otherriding couples are sharing, bike and car/truck, to make the trip. May beextra storage room in their vehicles.

5.) This is a MAJOR event for riders in the Northeast. Through ABATE ofPA and BIKE PAC, they WON. Massachusetts, Vermont, NY, NJ, MD, VA and WVA,who’s gonna be next? Let’s learn from them and ABATE of FL, and get ‘itdone’ in our States too! But September 5-7 is the TIME to BE in PA.

6.) Again, check out www.mma-of-ma.com for more info.

7.) Or, More details about the Gettysburg Ridehttp://www.abatepa.org/abate/legislation/press/lobby-readshaw.htm

Paul W. Cote
Massachusetts

If you need more info on this or any other subject just go to the Sons ofLiberty Riders Info Zonehttp://solrpa.com/wwwboard/ or http://www.solriders.net/

RIDE FOREVER,
Hawk
ICQ 34668186
AOL SoLRHawk

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