Hey,
I don’t know how to say this. It’s early and I’m stumbling. Change is also a challenge. As of today or 2019 I’m cutting my workload by one news column. I’m going to produce one Bikernet Weekly news, mostly on Thursday.
If I’m out of town on Thursday or can’t do it. I’ll kick in a Sunday Post as the alternate, but generally I’m taking my Sundays back. A brother just stopped by and we discussed riding to breakfast on Sundays in the future.
Of course that might mean the Thursday news will be more massive. Keep in mind, the Thursday News will now be exclusively in the Cantina. And finally, I will work harder on the Blog to bring you more news and stories 24/7.
It’s going to be interesting, that’s for sure. But I want to slow down some and this is my effort. Let’s see if it doesn’t speed me up. Who the fuck knows? Let’s hit the news:
FLORIDA STATE BRIEF–Florida toddler injured after crashing motorcycle into fence
MIAMI – Authorities say a Florida toddler was seriously injured after crashing her father’s three-wheel motorcycle into a fence. The Miami Herald reported that the crash occurred Wednesday evening in a Miami-area neighborhood.
Miami-Dade police say the father had just used the vehicle to get groceries. Minutes after going inside, the father heard the vehicle and rushed back outside to see it driving away with his 3-year-old daughter at the controls. Police say the father ran after the motorcycle and ended up being dragged.
–from Rogue
BRAND New Bikernet Reader Comment!–
Black Rose by Carlos Orta
https://www.bikernet.com/pages/Black_Rose_by_Carlos_Orta.aspx
I knew him on a personal basis, when he would come and get his haircut at my barber shop. I would always encourage him to build his own bike during the Biker Build-Off days.
He came with an idea called Deb the Black Rose and began to work on it. What you see throughout the net is his creation. It was an incredible, credible piece of work. We unveiled it at the time the Boot Hill Saloon During bike week about 2003.
His ideas were endless, plus his talents as a tool die maker did the trick. World beyond belief the finished bike was unveiled at the Boot Hill Saloon during Bike Week. This bike was compared in my opinion to Indian Larry and Billy Lane builds.
He was a good friend. I truly enjoyed promoting the Black Rose. A lot of Photography picture throughout the web was taken by photographer Greg Johnston
— Artie Ayala
artieayala@gmail.com
Miami, FL
NEW VINTAGE RACING HISTORY IN THE DIGITAL DISCOVERY AREA OF THE CANTINA–Eugene Walker, loving known as Gene is one of the South’s most beloved motorcycle racing pioneers. Born in the small town of Plevna, AL, just south of the Tennessee line, Gene grew up in Birmingham after his mother moved the family following the tragic murder of his father just months before his birth.
Like many of America’s earliest racing stars, Gene took to motorcycling early in life, climbing on board his first machine around 1910. The story goes that he honed his riding skills as one of Birmingham’s first motorcycle postman, whirling around the city delivering mail in record time no doubt. Despite his later success as a professional racer, Walker also maintained a position on the Birmingham Police Department’s motorcycle squadron throughout his life, a fact that surely inspired hesitance in any would be wrongdoer in the city.
Read the whole story right here in the Digital Discovery area.–Bandit
–from Rogue
QUICK, OPEN THE REFURBISHED BANDIT’S CANTINA BAD JOKE LIBRARY–
“In the morning Tom calls to his boss:
– Good morning, boss, unfortunately, I’m not coming to work today. I’m really sick. I got a headache, stomach ache, and my both hands and legs hurt, so I’m not coming into work.”
The boss replies:
– You know Tom; I really need you today. When I feel like this I go to my wife and tell her to give me sex. That makes me feel better, and I can go to work. You should try that.
2 hours later Bob calls:
– Boss, I followed your advice, and I feel great! I’ll be at work soon. By the way, you got a nice house.
R.I.P.–Jerry Branch has died. Jerry created the flow bench and Branch Flowmetrics, which is still in business today on Signal Hill. He sold the company to longtime worker, John O’Keefe who kept the action growing in his facility next to Bennett’s Performance.
Jerry worked for Harley-Davidson solving tuning issues for years and developed some of the best breathing heads on the planet. He was in his ‘80s and going strong until the end.
www.motorcyclemuseum.org/halloffame/detail.aspx?RacerID=378
–Bandit
IMMIGRATION NEWS–This California Sheriff’s rage against the globalist immigration laws that made the murder of his deputy possible is getting precious little airtime.
Share this, if you think known and previously-deported illegal alien criminals, repeat offenders no less, who are known gangsters from Mexico and who murder American law enforcement should be stopped, and our laws should be changed.
Jump to 14:36 to hear the Sheriff describe how laws worked against them in California. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dhfEExVlPXY
LATEST FRANK BALL ART–This art piece was for the Good Time Charlie’s Tattoolands Christmas art exchange. I painted a skull with roses and a banner representing the hardcore atmosphere of the black n Grey scene.
GTC is in Anaheim and operated and owned by Jack Rudy, one of the pioneers of fineline black N Grey tattooing. Jack is also a member of the Beatnick’s car club.
GTC is located on Lincoln Ave. in Anaheim. Founded in 1975 in East Los Angeles on Whittier Blvd. My grandmother owned a restaurant across the street at Ela location. Cool to do a piece of art for a shop with so much rich history.
–Frank Ball Jr.
QUICK, New Bikernet Reader Comment!–
5-Ball Racing Salt Torpedo Chapter 12–the Frame
https://www.bikernet.com/pages/5Ball_Racing_Salt_Torpedo_chapter_12the_Frame.aspx
I worked with Kevin Kahl. He’s one of the best!
–Steve Gagliardo
sgagliardo@cox.net
Wichita, KS
20% Off Your BAKER DRIVETRAIN Order Until Wednesday!–We’re going to be off-duty starting Saturday, Dec. 29 all the way through Wednesday, Jan. 2nd for some R&R (total party Raging & Recovery!).
We’ll see you Thursday the 3rd!
When we’re gone we want to leave you a little something to make up for our absence:
Yes, you can take advantage of this while we’re out. To redeem the deal, during checkout process just paste your copied discount code below where it asks for it (if it’s not pre-populated in there already for you):
2018LASTBLAST20
Use this discount code.
Have an exciting and safe New Year celebration and we thank you for this year. We’ll see you next year!
Have A Blast!
THE WITCH HUNT BEGAN WITH —Al Gore’s predictions from about a dozen years ago. At that time Gore said we had ten years before the planet would be beyond repair from global warming. Well… the jury is now in and if there is any “settled science” it is that he had no clue.
1. Rising Sea Levels – inaccurate and misleading. Al was even discovered
purchasing a beachfront mansion!
2. Increased Tornadoes – declining for decades.
3. New Ice Age in Europe – they’ve been spared; it never happened.
4. South Sahara Drying Up – completely untrue.
5. Massive Flooding in China and India – again didn’t happen.
6. Melting Arctic – false – 2015 represents the largest refreezing in years.
7. Polar Bear Extinction – actually they are increasing!
8. Temperature Increases Due to CO2 – no significant rising for over 18 years.
9. Katrina a Foreshadow of the Future – false – past 10 years, no F3 hurricanes; “longest drought ever!”
10. The Earth Would be in a “True Planetary Emergency” Within a Decade Unless Drastic Action Taken to Reduce Greenhouse Gasses – never happened.
We’ve put together a complete report, which we will publish Monday. It will blow your mind.–Bandit
The NEXT TEN YEARS: NMA Weekly E-Newsletter #520
We wanted to do something special for Issue #520 because it marks ten years of uninterrupted weekly NMA e-newsletters that, we hope, have provided entertaining (if not thought-provoking) perspectives. To carry on that tradition, NMA and NMA Foundation directors were asked to provide mini essays for the occasion. No one likes homework but they tackled this assignment with vigor because of the question posed: What significant challenges do the NMA and the driving public face over the next ten years?
The directors’ predictions were held to about 250 words, a difficult task unto itself. Such an economy of words forces clarity of thought that benefits the reader (and keeps the newsletter to a reasonable length).
We would love to know what you think will be the biggest challenge facing motorists over the next decade. The most interesting entries of 350 words or less-we’re giving members a bit more leeway-for publication in subsequent newsletters. Your name can be published with your piece, or withheld upon request.
We’ll start with observations by James C. Walker, NMA Foundation Executive Director and longtime motorists’ rights advocate. Jim addresses an age-old issue for the NMA, one that is currently threatened by those who want to limit vehicle use in cities:
Using 85th percentile posted limits for safety and travel efficiency in urban areas is NOT obsolete, and we must defend this safest of methodologies.
The NMA has made significant progress in achieving more realistic speed limits on rural freeways and reasonable limits on some of our urban freeways and rural two-lane highways. Our most serious challenge is to get and keep realistic limits on urban collector and arterial streets, the ones that should efficiently carry commuting, shopping, tourist, visitor, and commercial traffic in our cities.
Many cities want unrealistic speed limits that render many safe drivers into speed violators, and in some cases, criminals. They know most people are unaware that posted limits have little effect on actual travel speeds. They know without expensive engineering changes, actual travel speeds will remain at levels most find to be safe, prudent, and comfortable. Artificially low limits often encourage for-profit ticketing rackets using both police and electronic devices such as cameras.
Over the next ten years, we need to oppose the forces of the insurance industry, for-profit camera companies, cyclist and pedestrian lobbies, ITE, NHTSA, FHWA, NSC, NTSB, and others with the basic truth that posted limits have become disrespected and little more than warnings of potential ticketing risk. Without success in this area, enforcement for profit and encroached freedoms will be commonplace.
Gary Biller, NMA President, points to the advancement of technology and why motorists must become more involved in shaping policies and protections:
The major challenge facing motorists today is the growing push toward universally lower speed limits-speed kills, you know-and increased automated enforcement. Punishing citizens into submission sounds more like an authoritarian society than a free one.
While protecting free-flowing, efficient speed limits is, and always will be, a primary mission of the NMA, the assignment here is to predict major challenges that will be facing drivers and the NMA over the next ten years. Technology marches forward, aided in the case of self-driving cars by billions of research dollars. Still, I find it highly doubtful that within a decade individual car ownership, and indeed the human driver, will become obsolete.
More autonomous vehicles will be on the road. Shuttle buses, delivery vehicles and ride-hailing services like Uber and Lyft will operate somewhere between conditional automation (with a person poised to intervene) and full system automation. But with self-driving and connected-car technologies advancing, we mustn’t lose sight of the need for strict privacy, security and liability protections.
Self-driving vehicles must communicate with each other and the infrastructure to perform effectively. The “system” will know a great deal about the occupants, from identity to travel patterns and even personal habits/preferences. How this information is guarded will be of utmost concern.
Human driver–robocar interactions on the road will become more frequent. No matter how complex the self-driving car algorithms, accidents and, yes, fatalities will occur. We’ve already seen where the reaction from deep-pocket carmakers like Tesla is to automatically blame the other party in such incidents.
Consumer protections notoriously fall far behind technological advances. The only way we will stop that trend is with strong NMA advocacy and more substantial involvement by the driving public.
Chair of the NMA Foundation Board Steve Carrellas adds his take on cutting through the hype regarding the future of human driving:
Are ACES good to have when gambling? Automakers GM and Ford think so as they are betting their futures on this acronym for Autonomous, Connected, Electric and Shared vehicles.
Ten years ago Google began development of its autonomous vehicle (AV) technology and now its subsidiary Waymo started the first commercial service of driverless ride-share vehicles in select Arizona locations. Testing by automakers and tech companies has been happening for years and it has become clear that promises for significant availability of true AVs were hype. And that’s just from the technology perspective.
The legislative and regulatory aspects have been a slow go. Several states have created rules for AV testing while Congress has been unable to pass legislation to enable standards for this technology. Then there are the urban stakeholders who want to ensure AVs don’t intrude on their vision for a livable city that frowns upon vehicle travel.
What does the future hold for motorists whose mobility choice is driving their own vehicles (even with autonomous capability)? The short answer comes from the perspective from John Krafcik, CEO of Waymo, a car guy himself with impressive car-industry experience.
Krafcik says Waymo doesn’t want to do away with driving altogether, just the driving that’s unpleasant and boring. “It’s going to be a long, long time before someone takes my hands off the steering wheel of a car,” he said. He actually doesn’t even think it’s possible for Waymo or any company to entirely replace human drivers in all conceivable scenarios-at least not in the foreseeable future.
The challenges facing motorists in coming years are many and varied. Policing for profit, automated enforcement, road user fees including renewed interest in congestion pricing, sharing the roads with algorithm-driven vehicles . . . the list goes on. Tell us what you think will have the greatest impact on motorists over the next decade, and tell us why.
Note: To view any or all of the past NMA e-newsletters, go to https://www.motorists.org/alert-tag/emailnewsletter/.
Unfortunately, I feel they are missing the boat above. I believe infrastructure is the key in the future. We need more roads and twin tiered roads for a growing population. I made a suggestion to the DOT. Build smart streets for lighter traffic. –Bandit
THE BIKERNET UNIVERSITY ENGLISH DEPARTMENT HOLIDAY WORD OF THE DAY–champers
[sham-perz]
noun
1.
British Slang. champagne.
QUOTES
— Olivia Manning, The Great Fortune, 1960
ORIGIN
Champers is a British slang term for champagne, as the suffix -ers suggests. The suffix originated in the Rugby School (in east Warwickshire) and spread to Oxford University towards the end of the 19th century; champers, therefore, is not old at all, dating from the mid-20th century.
KEEP THE BANDIT’S CANTINA BAD JOKE LIBRARY OPEN FOR 2019– Girl: Knock-Knock!
Boy Who’s there?
Girl: Pussy!
Boy: I don’t get it..
Girl: Yeah and you never will.
–from Rogue
SUPPORT THE RED CROSS–
There are less than 48 hours remaining to make a tax-deductible gift for 2018!
When you make a gift and renew your support for the American Red Cross, your support will help families struggling to find safe shelter, service members reconnect with loved ones and so much more.
The new year begins tomorrow, and from home fires, to devastating storms, to blood shortages, there is no predicting what 2019 will bring. That’s why your support is so crucial now, helping us prepare before the disasters strike. Make your year-end donation now, before it’s too late.
MAKE A GIFT
This year, the Red Cross responded to more than 7 major disasters and countless smaller disasters, including 73,000 house fires, helping in communities like yours across the country. None of that lifesaving work would have been possible without supporters like you—and there will be more families that need your help in 2019.
Make your tax-deductible donation now, and you can help neighbors in need with supplies and gifts like these:
$75 delivers cozy blankets to 15 disaster survivors with no other comfort.
$100 can provide an infant with a crib after their parents have lost everything.
$314 helps supply eight service members and veterans with hospital kits and mental-health support.
$500 can vaccinate children in an entire overseas village against deadly diseases.
GIVE NOW
Every day, we meet another family staring down the loss of their home, a child bravely waiting for a lifesaving blood donation, or a service member who needs to be there for their loved ones. No matter what the need—your renewed support means the Red Cross will be there.
Please rush your tax-deductible donation now!
Your past support was so important—thanks for helping your neighbors around the country who are counting on us now.
–Lauri Rhinehart
VP, Humanitarian Services
American Red Cross
QUICK, New Bikernet Reader Comment!
HANG ON 2019 IS COMING BIKERNET WEEKLY NEWS
https://www.bikernet.com/pages/HANG_ON_2019_IS_COMING_BIKERNET_WEEKLY_NEWS.aspx
This is great, I’m looking forward to seeing your Internet Rag next year.
— Billy Brown
Redondo Beach, Californiathis
RODDER’S JOURNAL NEWS–Tom McMullen’s Iconic Deuce Hits the Auction Block
It’s not every day that one of the most significant Deuce roadsters in history becomes available. But that’s exactly what’s happening on January 12th when Tom McMullen’s famous, flamed ’32 Ford highboy crosses the block at Mecum’s Kissimmee Auction.
Tom’s highboy checked all the boxes, from daily transportation to competition machine. This shot from El Mirage shows the car in its lakes guise which, other than the roll bar and lack of windshield, is identical to its street trim. It eventually hit 167mph with Tom behind the wheel.
When McMullen bought the roadster in 1958, it was already an old hot rod. Over the next decade it became both daily driver and formidable opponent on the strip, at El Mirage and Bonneville, and on the streets of Southern California. With its American mags, “Big Daddy” Roth flames and polished Moon tank, McMullen’s roadster became arguably the most recognizable hot rod ever.
Of all the McMullen roadster’s magazine appearances, the April 1963 cover of Hot Rod was perhaps the most memorable. That’s Tom eyeing the 4-71-blown smallblock as Carole Puhlman looks on.
We featured the highboy in TRJ #32 after its meticulous restoration for then owner Jorge Zaragoza. It was auctioned a few years later in 2012, and now it’s available again during Mecum’s Kissimmee Auction, which runs January 3rd through 13th.
Back in 2007, the McMullen roadster was named one of the 75 Most Significant 1932 Ford Hot Rods of all time and included in the Deuce’s 75th anniversary display at the Grand National Roadster Show. Roy Brizio Street Rods handled the restoration.
Many other hot rods and customs will be among the 3,500 cars offered, including Richard Graves’ recreation of Sam Hollingsworth’s Nomad, the “FoMoCo Freighter” ’37 Ford pickup, and a pair of custom Corvettes that came straight from the GM Design Studio for Harley Earl and Bill Mitchell.
You can visit mecum.com for more information, to learn how to bid or check the live television broadcast schedule, or to page through the eye-popping array of rods, customs, muscle cars and exotics slated for auction.
Cheers!
Your Friends at The Rodder’s Journal
NEWS FROM THE ACE CAFÉ–Your Ace Cafe Orlando family wants to sincerely thank you for your support and patronage in 2018.
We look forward to 2019 where we will continue to keep the car meets rollin’, bike night growin’, the food fresh and your drinks full!
Cheers!
NEWS FROM QUICK THROTTLE–Making Lasting Memories at Las Vegas BikeFest
It is Saturday evening at Las Vegas BikeFest! I head over to the the Miss Las Vegas BikeFest contest and the Foghat concert at the Rally Central stage.
As I enter the BikeFest arena the security staff are checking people for drugs and weapons. They are nothing but quick, friendly and professional; I for one appreciate the care taken to do this.
As I was heading to the stage, my eyes were drawn to an award winning bike owned by Nadia and Hector Reyes of Phoenix, AZ. The Bike is “Rosie’s Tatted,” a 2015 SG Special sponsored by Factory 47 Cycles. The bike won First Place Audio in the Heavyweight Class and First Place Baddest Bagger. She is black with stunning silver and gold engraving all over her, a real beauty!
quickthrottle.com/making-lasting-memories-at-las-vegas-bikefest/
EXPO NEWS–Colorado Motorcycle Expo Feb 2-3, 2019, National Western Complex, Denver, CO.
The Colorado Motorcycle Expo is one of the largest motorcycle events in the country. It’s also one of the few great authentic shows left for real bikers!
It features:
(i) The country’s largest indoor Motorcycle Swap Meet with over 800 booths.
(ii) A Custom & Antique Motorcycle Show with over 100 Bikes.
(iii) Live Music & entertainment like the Jet Powered Smart Car and the Thunder and Lightning Jet Quads.
(iv) Used Bike Corral, and more.
The CME occupies over 300,000 sq. ft. of indoor space. It’s THE motorcycle event of the winter, so don’t miss it!
Sat 9-7; Sun 9-4. One Day Pass $15; Weekend Pass $20.
Attendance of 20,000-25,000 each show.
More info for Attendees and Vendors at: www.coloradomotorcycleexpo.com
KEEPING THE BANDIT’S CANTINA BAD JOKE LIBRARY OPEN AROUND THE CLOCK–Dirty Pick Up Lines
Can I put my Charlie in your Chocolate Factory?
Roses are red, grass is green, you should come to the crib and fuck the team!
Which sex position produces the ugliest kids? (Idk, which?) Ask your parents!
Are you a thief? Cause I want you to steal my virginity tonight!
Are you a poster? Because I want to pin you on a wall
Let’s play Titanic. I’ll be the Iceberg you’ll go down on.
That dress looks really good on you, but, it would look better on my bedroom floor.
I can’t do magic but I can do you!
How about you let me clap them cheeks tonight?
They say a kiss is the language of love. Wanna have a conversation?
Touch your toes and I will show u where the rocket goes!
–from Rogue
Motorcyclepedia Volunteer Luncheon 2018– This is a special time of year when we get to say thank you to all of our amazing volunteers for all of their hard work and generosity for the time spent here making Motorcyclepedia an incredible place to visit.
The luncheon was held on December 8th with a delicious buffet that was enjoyed by all. We look forward to next year with these wonderful people.
To learn about upcoming volunteer opportunities please visit us at
http://www.motorcyclepediamuseum.org/volunteer/
Motorcyclepedia
250 Lake St.
Newburgh, NY 12550
Hours: Friday, Saturday &Sunday 10am-5pm
NEW YEARS RESOLUTIONS—We have one gripe. We’ve worked hard for companies for years, some of which never advertised with us. We are going to shift that issue in the near future and stop working for companies that don’t respect Bikernet and our staff.
I don’t want to push that issue much or bitch about it. A lot of companies help in other ways with parts for projects and other benefits. Some are longtime friends and we want to help, so we do. Some are struggling and need help. In some cases we will continue to help, but we have now made it super easy for any company to give us a hand and allow us to work for them weekly.
What are our resolutions for the New Year? I must finish my screenplay effort, so I can move onto another book project or two. The biggie this year is the Salt Torpedo, which may also turn into a book effort and I’m already working with Tim Remus on how to make it happen.
I’m sketching up some plans for the next Chance Hogan book and working with a production company on making one of my books into a movie.
Finally, I have my bronze sculpture project for another charity effort. Tony is helping with that, but he split with his lovely girlfriend and his life is somewhat scattered right now. We will bring it back into focus shortly and get back to work.
There you have it. Stick with us. It’s going to be a fantastic year, which will fly.
Ride Free Forever, and remember, we have the Will to go to Bonneville.
–Bandit
