Milledgeville Thunder Rally
Transcription
Milledgeville Thunder Rally
Feature Articles Meet the Staff ...................................................1 Straight Talk .. by Bobby H. ........................ 26 The Shadow Knows ........................................ 2 Straight Talk ..(cont).................................... 27 Mail Call ......................................................... 3 Cover Story .................................................. 28 Shop Talk ....................................................... 5 Product Review ........................................... 29 Shop Talk ....................................................... 6 Event Coverage ........................................... 30 Shop Talk ....................................................... 7 Events and More ......................................... 31 Event Coverage .............................................. 8 Event Coverage ........................................... 32 Event Coverage .............................................. 9 Event Coverage ........................................... 33 Roadside Recipes ... by Lady B .................... 10 Horoscopes by Carrie M............................. 34 Roadside Recipes ........ (cont)....................... 11 Horoscopes by Carrie M ..(cont)................ 35 Ironhorse Writer .......................................... 13 Event Coverage .......................................... 36 Babe of the Month ....................................... 14 Event Coverage .......................................... 37 Babe of the Month Calendar ....................... 15 About the Magazine.................................... 38 Road Tales .................................................... 16 White Line Remembers the Fallen ........... 39 Road Tales .................(cont)......................... 17 Our Favorite Links .................................... 40 Road Tales ...............(cont)........................... 18 Contact Us .................................................. 41 Road Tales ..................(cont)........................ 19 Miles of Smiles by William K. ..................... 20 Index of Advertisers Fun and Games ............................................ 21 Chilin' With Ice .....by Bobby S. .................. 22 White Line Road Store ................................ 23 'Toons for the Road by Jerry King ............. 24 Where's Willie Contest ................................ 25 Open Road Motorcycles, Inc. You Tape, I Type Bikerworlds Letterfly Murals In the Beginning In the beginning it beckoned; calling from the darker side. To gather chosen spirits, with a wolf as their guide. They started on a journey; hope and dreams intertwined. Reality and fantasy, twisted warped and defined. A true labor of love is born from the kindred; To share the spirit of freedom is what is intended. With the blessings of many whitelinemagazine.com is here; Sharing wisdom and laughter, kinship and good cheer. Lyd 12-18-03 Buz Music Entertainment Hip's House of Horsepower Qwi Gloves B&D Biker Wear 1 It's quickly heading into the summer months here in SW Florida. We have been experiencing severe drought conditions and fire warnings for the last couple months, but now hurricane season is fast upon us. The weather is warming across the country and more and more of our brother and sister riders are out hitting the roads. This is the time of year we all live for! one of our readers names to the memorial, because that means I have lost another brother or sister! Ok, enough "preaching". Let's turn to something more "fun". I am very proud of the issue that you are reading online or holding in your hand. In 3 short years, our readers have taken us to heart, and have joined in our growth. This month we have articles or event coverage from Georgia, North Carolina, Florida, Pennsylvania, Mississippi, Louisiana, and even Morocco! But it's not a time to relax your vigilance when riding. If anything, it's now a time to be even MORE aware of your bike. Most of us will be planning many rides over the warmer months, many of us making long trips by bike. There are rallies and rides and poker runs and vacations. Now is the time to give your bike a serious check over. This is what we created this magazine for. To celebrate and bring together the world-wide brotherhood of motorcyclists. We wanted something that had that local print magazine "feel", but offered you news and events from the world over. We feel that bikers have the same interests, whether they live in Alabama or Australia! We all know we share stories of rides and destinations when we get together on rides or at events. It's not uncommon to find "new friends" someplace who share their riding experiences with you over a cup of coffee or a bottle of beer. Make sure your battery is in good shape. If it's low on a charge, then charge it up. Nothing sucks more than being stranded in the middle of the night with a dead battery! Now is also a good time to change the oil in the bike and check all your grease fittings and bearings. Especially make sure your wheel bearings are well greased and in good working order before a long trip. I have seen the results of a wheel lockup at 60 mph, it's not pretty. And you don't want to have to leave it to one of your bros to call your ol' lady with the news you are splattered over a 1/2 a mile of pavement either! So why should the magazine we read be any different? Why should we be limited to the news and stories of the rides that are in out locale instead of those all over the world? Obviously, our answer is that we shouldn't! Join us. Send in your stories, pictures and events listings. Share your riding experience with people you might never meet, but who have the same love of riding you do. Show off your bike building skills to more than the local bar. Share with us, and watch us grow. And while you are there at the wheels, are the tires in good shape? Enough tread to be able to handle a sudden rainstorm? Make sure you check for proper air pressure too. The wrong air pressure won't just affect your gas mileage, it'll also affect your stability and hydroplaning in rain! Ride Safe and Free While all of this seems to be very basic stuff, and most of you long term riders keep up on these things all the time, the simple truth is people get rushed or forget. We love the joy of riding so much, sometimes the responsibilities that go with it are put to the side, and they shouldn't be! Every month, every year we add names to our memorial page. Many, many times it's not the rider that is at fault, but when they are, it's often due to mechanical failures that could have been prevented. The last thing I want to have to do is add 2 Hey White Line staffers! Thanks to all of you who have written in to our magazine. We are still in the process of getting our email re-organized and hope you bear with us as mail catches up. We welcome your feedback both good and bad and are happy to answer your questions and concerns. I have been checking your magazine out for a while now and had to tell ya that every month I see you guys growing better and better. You keep adding new features, articles and reviews and the content keeps getting better and better. I like the new cooking recipes, the poems and the whole magazine in general. Good job! enjoyed the magazine this month......see ya on the road..... Sandy E. North Port, FL coffee house Denny / GUTTER....ALTERNATIVE M/C President, Charlotte Co. What can we say? Read the previous reply and thank you! Short and to the point, we love these kind of emails! We will do everything in our power to make sure you have a quality magazine to read each month, and we appreciate getting mail letting us know we succeeded! That's it for this month folks. If you have questions or comments for us, or if you want to submit anything for publication, send them to [email protected]. Please send event listings to [email protected] 3 4 Transworld Motorsports Maroc Announces the Grand Opening of Casablanca Harley-Davidson. Casablanca, Morocco, 4-24-07 Transworld Motorsports, Maroc is proud to announce the Grand Opening celebrations for Casablanca HarleyDavidson, Keeway and Maxxstar motorcycles. This will be the first Authorized Harley-Davidson dealerships in Morocco, and will be the introduction for Keeway and Maxxstar motorcycles, choppers, scooters, and quads. Casablanca Harley-Davidson will proudly offer a complete experience for the Harley rider; with authentic H-D Motorcycles, a large service center, complete parts warehouse, accessories and motorclothes. The 6,000 sq. ft. showroom and 4,000 sq. ft. full service facility will also feature Harley-Davidson trained PHD mechanics. The opening of Casablanca H-D, planned for May 26th, will also include the launching of the first Hog chapter in Morocco. TMM will also be the first official distributor of the Keeway brand of motorcycles and will also introduce the Maxxstar brand into the Moroccan market. Keeway and Maxxstar are high quality motorcycles with a stylishly European look and modern design. Both brands will be distributed through an extensive network of wholesalers throughout Morocco with reliable, high quality service and parts. Mr. Bill Conner of San Diego, California, USA, is the Dealer Principal, Mr. Chad Conner, Vice President and Ms. Sekkat-Tadili, General Manager of Casablanca, Morocco. 5 Announcing the First “Cool” Backrest Plates for Harleys from Ironspirit Ironspirit owner, Jim Van Landingham, enjoys riding his 2005 Harley Road King around Ventura, Santa Barbara and Los Angeles counties enjoying the sweeping back roads and generous compliments from other Harley riders. What are the other riders complimenting Jim on? The cool Skull, Spade and Iron Cross backrest plates his company manufactures. “I’ve owned a number of bikes”, states Van Landingham, “and after purchasing my Road King, I spent the next couple of months searching the web, scouring the parts catalogs and making a ton of phone calls looking for a suitable replacement for the ugly factory triangle backrest mounting plate. I thought that if I have to put the backrest on when my girlfriend rides with me, I didn’t want it to take away from the looks of the bike. There is nothing attractive about the factory plate. And as with most business ventures, the need, or in this case my desire for something that didn’t exist created the birth of Ironspirit.” According to Van Landingham, “Ironspirit products are designed to customize your stock Harley Davidson touring motorcycle or “Bagger” as most riders refer to them that will set you apart from the crowd. These custom polished & chrome plated mounting plates, seen at the 2007 V-Twin Expo, are an easy direct bolt-on replacement for the stock triangle plate the factory provides with their pads for the detachable sissy bar upright. And they are totally made in the United States. Ironspirit currently manufactures three designs, Skull, Spade and Iron Cross with more designs on the table, including several targeted toward woman. “We ride and are constantly asking for input from other riders. A few of our upcoming designs are those that have been requested over and over. More women are riding “Baggers” and we have several designs we will be releasing for that portion of the market”, stated Van Landingham. Ironspirit produces backrest mounting plates for Harley-Davidson touring motorcycle backrests, saddlebag latches as well as apparel and may be contacted at 805.433.5033 or info@ironspirit www.ironspirit.com. 6 2007 Bike Expo Tour Winners Awarded Back Country Motorcycle Tours (BCMT) awarded the winners of their tour give away drawing, the award ceremony was held Wednesday May 16th at Heritage Harley-Davidson in Pittsburgh, PA. Congratulations go out to Roberta Heyl who rides a HarleyDavidson 1200 Sportster and Bob Harper who rides a Kawasaki ZX-10 Ninja – enjoy your tour. At BCMT – Your Ride Is Our Passion. PHOTO from left to right: Sean Thomas Pres. BCMT, Roberta Heyl, Bob Harper, Rocky Marks Sales Manager Heritage Harley-Davidson BCMT is a About Back Country Motorcycle Tours, LLC – Pittsburgh based company providing guided motorcycle tours in the tri-state area and beyond. Among the featured tours are: "Adrenaline," "Discovery," "Golf," "Romance," "Ride to Eat," and "Instructional." BCMT will customize tours for any group of five or more. For more information on BCMT or tours, go to our website at - http://www.backcountrymctours.com/ About Heritage Harley-Davidson - Established in 1986, Heritage Harley-Davidson is an EXCLUSIVE Harley-Davidson Dealer specializing ONLY in Harley-Davidson products. You can get more info on this great dealership at http://www.heritageharley.com HAIL TO THE CHIEF! UNVEILING of FIRST 2008 INDIAN CHIEF at LEGEND OF THE MOTORCYCLE. New York City, 30 April 2007 – Moët & Chandon is proud to announce the unveiling of the one-of-a-kind Moët & Chandon Indian Chief Motorcycle. Complete with insulated storage space for a bottle of Moët & Chandon Champagne, the Chief is customized for celebrating the fabulous life*. After a three-year hiatus, collectors such as George Clooney and Laurence Fishburne are anxiously awaiting the arrival of the 2008 Chief series and will have the opportunity to see the first-ever revealed image of the highly anticipated bike at this weekend's Legend of the Motorcycle Concours d’Elegance. Just like fine champagne, Indian Motorcycles are a timeless classic; both embody the fun and sophistication that come with a cavalier attitude. Known for their legendary pedigree and pioneering vision, these two icons were made for each other. The Moët & Chandon Indian Chief Motorcycle balances the valor and adventure of Indian Motorcycles with the luxury and allure of Moët & Chandon to create the ultimate symbol of pleasure and one sleek new ride. The Moët & Chandon Indian Chief exudes the grace, tradition and excellence recognized in both the Indian Motorcycle Company and Moët & Chandon. The Unveiling: On Saturday, May 5th dedicated fans could look but they couldn’t touch when the exclusive image was revealed to the press and public alike for the first time at the Men’s Vogue Movie Night presented by Moët & Chandon at the Legend of the Motorcycle Concours. The bike will be up for auction in the autumn, so consider this your preview, boys! Nobody likes a tease, but at least now you know what to put at the top of your holiday list. Legend of the Motorcycle is a unique celebration of the art of motorcycling. This second annual international luxury event takes place at the ocean-side Ritz-Carlton in Half Moon Bay, California, just south of San Francisco. Tickets can be purchased and more information found on the official website, http://www.LegendoftheMotorcycle.com. 7 Dixie Bike Fest Elko, Ga. - May 11-13 The Dixie Bike Fest got off to a slow start Friday afternoon. Most everyone was waiting for Saturday or just to get off work. This event is held in middle Georgia just about fifteen miles from Hawkinsville on Hwy. 26. I think this rally is mostly for the everyday biker that loves to ride. I came riding in Friday around noon to find out what the schedule was going to be for the Saturday events. I was planning on making a couple of rides through the country side Saturday. I have been making it a point to ride the areas near the rallies that I attend. I like finding interesting roads to travel. Sometimes I do find some great roads and awesome places to stop. After checking in at the gate I found out that Sugar Creek was going to play in a couple of hours. This was the first time that I had heard Sugar Creek play. I found out the power to the stage had not been hooked up yet. The gang at the Dixie Bike Fest made a make shift stage up near the gate for the band in front of an R.V. While waiting for the band to play I fixed me something to eat. I had one of those good old fashioned fast food meals right out of a can. This time I remembered to bring a can opener. When night came it was time for the Sugar Creek, a local band from Unadilla, Ga., to start playing. To me this band sounded like they could play just about any song you wanted to hear. This was one of the best bands that I have heard in a long time. The band is made up of Ronald Johnson and Tony Elmore on the guitar. Steve Crawford on the keyboard. Also, Jerry Hayes on the drums with Eric Winn on bass. I don’t think that there was anyone in this band that couldn’t sing. When Saturday morning came I was up at six am and ready for breakfast. After finding something to eat I headed out on my bike toward Hawkinsville, Ga. I rode for fifteen or twenty miles before I started seeing any houses that were close together. Hawkinsville is little larger than I expected. I found three or four good motels but the Best Western look the best. I also found some burger joints and a few local restaurants. I have found out that the nearest place to buy beer or liquor is just about fifteen miles east of the rally and beer only at the interstate. So to be on the safe side you should bring anything that you are going to drink with you. At this time the law is not a problem due to the rally being new to the area. I did find one interesting place that I would like to go back to sometime and go through. It is an old Opera House that was build back in 1907. I did notice an old fire station right behind the old Opera House building. I could almost see the old fire wagon being pulled by horses coming out of the door. This is another town that was built on the Ocmulgee River which runs southeast across the state. It was getting close to the time for the bike show to begin so I headed back to the Dixie Bike Fest for the bike games and to find something to eat. When I arrived back at the rally about two in the afternoon the bike show was well underway. The bike that I liked the best was a Trike that is owned by Alan Wilkinson. Alan also won first place in the Trike Class. The winner of the Harley Class was Mike Carr and the second place winner was Joe Dollar. The first winner of the American Class was Redneck Rooster. This is the first year that they had a Golf Cart Class which Scotty Bass of Milledgeville, Ga. took second place. (cont.) 8 Well, they were going to have an old fashioned mud wrestling contest. The contest was suppose to take place at three pm in the mud bogging track. It was canceled because Steve Wiley, the owner and the promoter of the Dixie Bike Fest, got this tractor stuck in the mud. He had to bring in a bulldozer to pull this big TW-25 Ford tractor out of the three foot deep mud. He had a hard time trying to attach the chains to the tractor to pull it out. It looked as if Steve was going to sink down up to his hips. Between the cable and the chains breaking the tractor was finally pulled out. I would just like to know who came up with the idea of putting mustard and sugar on a weenie. This concoction give the weenie a strange look--- if you know what I mean. In the weenie - bite contest Sissy Nolan took the biggest piece of weenie home. I don’t understand why this is the most photographic event at every rally that I attend. Let me tell you about the Thong Pull Contest. Milledgeville Thunder Rally has got the Puddin’ Rasslin’. Dixie Bike Fest has got the Thong Pull. I can’t tell you which contest the bikers like the best. I think both are running neck and neck with each other. When the thongs start a stretching, the eyes start a popping. You can hear all the bikers cheering for the thong to break. And when it does break they get even louder. When the first few girls tried a quick start it just snatched those thongs right off. Soon the girls learned that a slow and steady pull down the track was the best. When the thongs do break the ladies are standing there with nothing on from the waist down. The following ladies were in the contest--- Ann Williams, Dori Mounsey Cheryl Kersey and Gwen Stanley. Well I must have came across the number one fan of The Simpson’s TV Show. Bryan Davee had the entire cast of the Simpson’s tattooed on his back. He had Homer tattooed on his chest and stomach. It looked as if he and Homer had the same belly button. This was the first TV show tattoo that I have ever seen. During the afternoon I took a break and rode west toward Montezuma, Ga. I found more farm land and long stretches of open road to ride. I came back on 26 east and turned right on Hwy. 41 and headed to Unadilla where I found a small farming town. I headed back out of town on forty-one and turned onto Elko road and headed back to the rally. This is the kind of riding that I like to do when I am on my bike. I enjoy seeing new places and not having to fight the traffic. To tell the truth I never did get back to the rally. I missed another chance to see Sugar Creek perform that Saturday night. I heard that the girls put on a great show Saturday night, at least that is what I was told by other bikers that were there. The part of the weekend that I am beginning to look forward to is the Sunday morning worship service. The C.M.A. was taking care of the gate and checking ID’s to make sure that everyone was over eighteen years of age. They also take care of the soul on Sunday morning. Jerry does not like some of the things that takes place at the rallies. During the sermons Jerry says that he is not here to condemn but here if needed by his fellow bikers. One of the things I like to do every year is to have my bike bless by the C.M.A. This year I had my bike Blessed by Jerry Nelson of the Son Riders of the Macon, Ga. Chapter. Steve and his crew built campsites in the woods and now there is more than enough shade trees to go around. This will make this summer’s rally a whole lot cooler. I think this will make the rally a whole lot better for all the bikers. It will also give you the chance to get away from the noise of the vendor area. Last year I said this rally had room to grow and I was right. At this new location there is still plenty of room to grow. When Saturday came, the rally was bigger than last years. This rally turned out to be made up of what I call a bunch of good old boys. The great things I liked about the rally is that everyone was friendly and I didn’t see any kind of trouble. I would like to thank Howard Brown of Milledgeville, Ga. for doing a great job of running the Dixie Bike Fest event. If Houston County had a sheriff’s Department(?)I didn’t see them. The Sheriff’s Dept. didn’t venture this far out to find out what was going on. I discovered that once you get away from I-75 life kind of slows down and you can enjoy riding your bike. You can also find some great people and small towns with histories that go way back. Tommy P. 9 The kids and grandkids are out of school, and the weather and the political speeches are both heating up. Gasoline isn’t a bit more expensive than air conditioning at home, so it’s a good time to take to the road, at least for the weekend. And if you’re willin’, it’s a good time for grillin’. Grilling is usually cooler and takes less time than campfire Dutch oven cooking, and can very likely be shoved off onto the men. Even slightly charred results are passable if we call them “blackened” and hit them with hot sauce, and everything tastes better seasoned with sunshine and a nice breeze. So whether you put your grill over an oldfashioned bed of wood coals, charcoal, or a little portable propane, it’s a good time to cook out. And don’t let yourself be limited to meat-and-potatoes. Grilling does wonderful things to vegetables! Potatoes, carrots, mushrooms, onions, asparagus, summer squash, pepper pieces, eggplant—wrap them in foil, or put them on a vegetable tray for a grill and they are terrific. Try marinating them in Italian dressing. Or use your favorite herbs, like basil and oregano with some olive oil and garlic. Sweet sour with balsamic vinegar and honey is great. Keep the pieces about the same size, so they’re done about the same time, or start carrots and whole onions a little ahead of the others. Hamburgers, hot dogs, chicken, and ribs are always winners, but everyone has favorite recipes for them, so here are some with a little different twist. How about some Thai-Style Grilled Peanut Chicken? This one can be started at home, and popped on the grill without much work at the campsite. Thai-Style Grilled Peanut Chicken ½ cup peanut butter, creamy or crunchy 1/3-cup honey ¼ cup soy sauce 2 tablespoons curry powder 2 cloves garlic, minced 1 tsp fresh ginger 1 tsp sesame oil 2 to 21/2 lbs. cut-up chicken Blend peanut butter, honey, soy sauce, sesame oil, and ginger until smooth. Stir in curry powder and garlic; mix well. Place chicken in a large plastic bag or bowl. Pour peanut butter mixture over chicken and mix well. Close and chill 2 to 12 hours. Remove chicken and grill over medium heat, 4-6 inches from heat. Turn chicken and brush with marinade occasionally while cooking, stopping the marinade at least 10 minutes before cooking is done. Cook until chicken is no longer pink, 15 to 30 minutes. Cut to test. 10 How about Pork Tenderloin with Apricot Ginger Sauce? Again, mix your ‘rub’ and your sauce at home, for easy cooking on the grill. ½ tsp oregano ½ tsp salt ½ tsp thyme ¼ tsp pepper ¼ tsp red pepper (optional) 2 well-trimmed pork tenderloins, ¾-l lb. Each Sauce: ½ cup apricot preserved 1 tbsp finely chopped crystallized ginger 1 tbsp sherry vinegar 1 tsp thyme Rub dry ingredients into tenderloins, pressing into the meat. Grill 25-30 minutes over medium heat, turning to brown evenly. Meat can be just slightly pink—it will finish cooking while standing. Make the sauce in a small pan, cooking 2-3 minutes until the jelly melts and sauce is blended. Keep warm. Remove tenderloin, slice, and serve with sauce. Stuffed Walleye Fillets combine foil and grill for very tasty eating! You get your veggies, and all the flavor you wanted when you went fishing (or shopping!) 1 medium onion, chopped ¼ green pepper, chopped ¼ cup celery, chopped ¼ cup mushrooms, chopped (optional) ¼ cup shredded carrots (optional) 2 ¾ cup croutons or dry breadcrumbs 1 egg, beaten ¼ tsp pepper lemon juice (to taste) Sauté vegetables in butter or olive oil until golden and somewhat softened. Mix with crumbs, egg, pepper, and lemon juice to make dressing. Place walleye fillet on well-buttered foil. Pat dressing onto fillet, cover with remaining fillet, wrap securely with buttered foil and cook on grill until walleye is browned and flaky. Other mild-flavored, meaty fish can be substituted for walleye. Whatever you’re cooking, it’s bound to taste better under the open sky. Save a seat for a traveler—never know when we may come droppin’in! Lady B. 11 12 Biker pulled out a well-worn flask Cowboy and Biker Ironhorse Writer©..... 1/13/2005 Two swigs were left, at most Cowboy and Biker Told the Cowboy, “One’s for you A long, dusty road I propose we drink a toast” Dismounted respective saddles In an effort to unload “Here’s to the ladies, pure as day Who tried to steer us right “Where ya headin’?” says Cowboy Here’s to those who made it hard Biker gave a stare The ladies of the night” “Wherever my kickstand sets to rest That’s when I know I’m there” “Here’s to bein’ right with God Both men spoke of rides long past Learnin’ from mistakes Of those yet still beyond To fixin’ all the wrong ya can Of horse, horse power, helmet and hat Doin’ what it takes” A handshake being their bond A deep voiced drawl bellowed, “Amen” How lives resigned to freedom’s fight A leather vested, “Righteous” replied Accept all consequences As a long, dusty trail beckoned once more How those forsaking freedom’s blood For a Cowboy and Biker to ride Accept a life of fences ©Copyright 2000/2007 LaurenceP.Scerri (IronhorseWriter) AllRightsReserved http://www.ironhorsewriter.com www.myspace.com/ironhorsewriter 13 Our feature Babe of the Month for June is the lovely Kristen K. While Kristen is new to the motorcycle modeling world, she has been involved in modeling and pageants for several years. We have to say that this brown haired and brown eyed beauty looked natural posing with a bike and we think she gave us one of the sexiest shoots we have had in a while. " I really don't know a lot about bikes," she tells us at one point. "But I love watching them being built! I watch the TV shows all the time. They are so creative, starting out with like... nothing, and making those beautiful bikes!" Seeing the look in her eyes as she thinks about the customs on TV, it's easy to see that she's a true blue biker at heart. And as you can see here, this 5' 5", 110 lb. beauty looked so good, she made the bike shine more! She shines with the same smile as she talks about her other interests. " I love modeling and pageants. It's exciting and a lot of fun." She also enjoys photography, dancing, singing, "with the radio REAL loud", and of course motorcycles. She also loves the old rock and roll. She even gets a big smile talking about her favorite band! "Oh! Pink Floyd!" is blurted out with a big grin! We are sure with these gorgeous looks and her enthusiasm for modeling, you will be seeing a lot more of this sexy 19 year old in the future. You just wish it was on your bike! 14 15 It all started rather innocently. A word of advice from Mary -- unless you want to be involved in something you may not want to be involved in, don't make a pact when you're hanging out with friends drinking. You know it's a rough night, and going to be an even rougher morning, when one of your guests suggests you go get some pantyhose, (Jeannie), and you're willing to comply. The next thing I know, we're sitting around my bar with stockings on our heads making plans to ride 1,000 miles in 24 hours (the Saddle Sore), and considering 1,500 miles in 36 hours (the Bun Burner). The only thing missing was the shotgun. Let me explain. My brother and I, along with his friends have been known to enjoy some libations and hold each other up at the bar in my home for pure entertainment. We unload the gun so there won’t be any accidents, and we take turns being the robber. There are even pictures to prove it. No kidding, that's how it all got started. At least the pantyhose were brand new and not previously worn; although some of my sicko friends may have preferred them used. Maybe I shouldn’t leave the laptop sitting on top of the bar. Conversations start, challenges are thrown about, high fives are given, and before you know it we’re surfing the web looking at ironbutt.com and making decisions that we have to live with later when we’re sober. In our drunken mode, we contacted absent friends via e-mail and late night phone calls, suckering them into our plans. That night in March, 2007, we made pact. We would complete the Iron Butt Challenge! After making the pact, we talked to fellow H.O.G. members who have completed the ride; especially James and Martha, true long distance riders, who offered us advice based on their experiences. The Iron Butt Association (IBA) is an international organization dedicated to safe long-distance motorcycle riding (endurance riding, yeah, I can relate to that). Until last weekend, there were approximately 15,000 members worldwide; now there are approximately 15,009. More than half of those in attendance that first planning night actually followed through and completed the ride. Likewise, some who weren't at that initial planning event joined forces with us. And some who were there, dropped out before the start of the ride for various reasons. The numbers were dwindling, and we made an announcement on the Saturday prior to our ride, at the monthly Shreveport H.O.G. general membership meeting that anyone interested should meet with Jack and me after the meeting. A few members talked to us, and we set up a meeting at Jack’s house the next day, to talk about the ride. Jack and Jeannie were great hosts, and, I must say, it was a nice ride to their house in the country. Jack, Jeannie, Tom, John, Roger, Woody and I, were all there to discuss the details of our ride. We would meet Ric in Jackson about 2 ½ hours from here and almost as far from Columbus, MS where he was working. The planned route then would end up back at the starting point giving us an opportunity to opt for completing the 1,500 mile ride in 36 hours by getting a few winks, waking up and riding on Sunday. Jack graciously cooked bratwurst and cheeseburgers for an afternoon feast, and he had our route all lined out. He provided us with maps, and gas stops and we agreed that he would print out the packages for us to complete our required documentation. All his work contributed greatly to the success of our ride. We had a good time making plans, socializing and having a few drinks. Woody was imbibing something red out of a 20 oz soda bottle, and when I asked him, he said it was wine, and that he carried a couple of bottles with him whenever he rides in case he gets stuck on the side of the road. (cont) 16 After all was said and done, on Saturday, May 12, 2007, nine riders, (Jay – oops, I mean Jack, Jeannie, Ric, Mary, Woody, Roger, Justin, John, and Tom), met at the Truck Stop near Haughton, LA with their sites set on the 1,000 mile goal. Woody, (somewhat of a celebrity, who lent his name to John Travolta’s character Woody Stevens, in the movie "Wild Hogs"), made sure everyone knew that he was the first to arrive. Sue was the official start witness. While bikers gassed up, she read odometers, signed paperwork, and snapped a few photographs. At 5am, Jay led the group out of the parking lot and on to Interstate 20 for the first leg of what would become a very long, but memorable ride. At the beginning, everyone was psyched up and in a good mood. That would change at about the 700 mile mark, where there was a sharp decline in attitude, attentiveness, and tolerance. As the day wore on, I found it even difficult to lift my arm the required distance to point out an object in the road to my fellow riders, and later in the evening I would complain that it just isn’t right to paint little white airplanes on the Interstate. They’re distracting and look like objects in the road to be pointed out and avoided, and I can say, I dodged more than one of them. That morning, the temperatures were in the mid to upper 60's and everyone was dressed appropriately. Long sleeves, a light jacket and gloves were the order of the day. The first 91 miles to Monroe was rather easy and uneventful, except that Justin got splattered in the face with a huge bug. Next time maybe he'll borrow a bike with a windshield. We clicked off the exits of the familiar towns of Dixie Inn, Minden, Simsboro, Arcadia and Gibson. We rolled through the city of Rustin, the Peach Capitol of Louisiana, and home to Louisiana Technical College. Our senses were tantalized with the sounds of the world waking up around us. I could almost taste the morning on my lips as I drank in the warmth of the sun rising in the sky, a big red ball of fire that caused me to audibly gasp and appreciate the beauty of the dawning day. This, I thought, is what riding is all about. In Monroe, we stopped for our first of 11 gas ups. Priority was gas for the bike and bathroom break for me, after which I downed ½ a cup of coffee and made a quick phone call to check in with Sue. I noticed that Woody had a "Daniel Boone" canteen and asked him what was in it. He said it was water, and I immediately thought of the wine he said he usually carries on a ride.Fifteen minutes later, we were back on our bikes and headed for Jackson, MS. Tom kept me awake and alert by periodically weaving in and out of formation and making us re-stagger. To my surprise, once he even took the shoulder of the highway for a couple of miles. It was going to be a long day. I must admit that the bridge in Vicksburg is truly my favorite, and I simply don’t know why. Maybe it’s the site of Old Glory grandly waving in the breeze atop the railroad trusses; maybe it’s a repressed memory of a crossing from earlier years, or more eerily, a crossing from a previous life. I have crossed many more impressive bridges such as the 7 mile bridge in Marathon Key, Florida and the span bridge in Charleston, South Carolina, but each time I cross the mighty Mississippi in Vicksburg, I become excited and exhilarated with the experience, and this time was no different – except for the fact that there were 8 other motorcyclists crossing with me. And this time, my thoughts turned to how I might feel several hours from now, when we’re making the return trip across the bridge with our 1,000 mile completion nearing instead of spanning out before us. We crossed into the State of Mississippi and arrived in Jackson. Breakfast was on my mind, and after taking care of priorities, (remember, gas for the bike and bathroom break for me), I purchased a light breakfast of pork skins, beef jerky and cheese. Sounds disgusting now, but it was delicious then, and just the fuel my body needed for the next leg of the trip. From the Sprint Mart in Jackson, I took the lead, and we hit Interstate 55 North, heading for the General Deli in Winona, Mississippi, Montgomery County, just 88 miles away. Now the stops were getting repetitive, and according to my odometer, we had only completed 302 miles. Now, 302 miles on a motorcycle is not a small amount, it just seems so small in comparison to the 1,000 miles that was our target. Winona is where Woody claimed that he "needed a drink", and Justin informed us that he "needed a windshield". Tom and Justin both thought we were going a little fast. Tom said he normally only goes 65-70 on the Interstate, and Justin said he didn’t think he could make the finish at this pace because not having a windshield was taking its toll on him. There was not much to see in Winona, and no reason to dally, so after a first of the many grumblings to come; we saddled up for our next jaunt along I-55 South, back to Jackson. By the time this day was over, I would not even want to think about Jackson, Mississippi. (cont) 17 I knew exactly where we were, and knew our route would take us past the Harley Davidson of Jackson. I had been there several times and in fact, it is one of my favorite shops. As we drew near to it, I thought for a brief, hopeful moment that Jack might actually stop, but my hopes were dashed just as quickly; there would be no stopping here. Some of us had a complete new experience passing by the shop as Jack stretched his pointy finger in its direction, seemingly mocking us. The mid day sun was beginning to beat down on us and the temperatures were soaring into the upper 80’s – I could feel the heat from my exhaust burning through my jeans, and I took off my last piece of clothing that I could remove without being embarrassed. Jeannie and I joked that one more stop and we would be down to our bra and panties. Woody suggested we get going and hurry to the next stop. We continued on Interstate 55 South through Florence, Macomb, and Tickfaw to Hammond, Louisiana. By the time we pulled into the Express Pay at 2:15 pm, I had 523 miles on my bike. I remember hitting the 500 mile mark and smiled that we were halfway there. That was a milestone and a motivator. However, the next leg of the journey would prove to be challenging. Our plan was to stop in Tickfaw and eat at John’s family restaurant, however, an exit missed and an opportunity lost, amid apologies; we landed in Hammond, where we spent longer than usual at this rest stop, grabbing a sit down lunch at Subway. We were tired and weary travelers, but the thought of food in our bellies and a sit down meal lifted our spirits. I think though, the food had the opposite effect and caused the usual tiredness (must be the triptifan in the turkey). After lunch, we spent a few moments to lather on the sunscreen before continuing our quest. As we pointed south, only miles from New Orleans, the sky turned dark and the afternoon temperatures caused threatening thunder clouds to form while a few raindrops began to fall. I pulled up beside John and yelled "I brought my raingear". The barometer dropped and I was sure Jack would stop to put on the suits. We passed several overpasses and didn’t stop. It brought back memories of a trip to Myrtle Beach where Sue and Dwayne got stuck on the side of the road in a hail storm putting on rain gear, while Ric and I tried desperately to don ours from under the overpass that they had just missed, all the while laughing so hard we could barely dress ourselves. Jack pulled off the interstate, not to put on rain gear, but to ask if we needed to put our long sleeves back on since it was getting cool. I think Jack set this one up, since him and Jeannie already had their lightweight jackets on. I turned to Ric and mumbled "maybe we have to actually get wet before we suit up" as we pulled away from the stop. Unfortunately we were in heavy afternoon traffic beside a shopping mall, and lost several minutes getting back to the highway. Fortunately, it was not necessary to don the gear as we turned East on Interstate 12 toward Slidell, then North on I-59 toward Hattiesburg. It appeared we would outrun the storm, and we did. We were faster and stronger than Mother Nature! On this leg of the trip, we were forced to view the thousands of FEMA trailers stored just off the highway, bringing back memories of a torrential storm not very long ago, and the rapid decline of the value of the trailers now sitting in storage. So we’ve had the triptafan in our turkey that made us sleepy and afternoon thunderstorms that threatened to wipe us out, but alas, more than half the trip was behind us. Ric would take the lead after getting instructions from Jack. "Take I-49 North to Hattiesburg," I heard him say. Long story short, Jack meant I-59 North to Hattiesburg, but there also happened to be a sign for Hwy 49, which Ric took and Jack didn’t. So with Jack and John following I-59 North, Ric and the rest of the group turned around to find the MoFos who ran off and left us. We pulled into a gas station and I pulled out the map to verify that we were supposed to go I-59. We turned around and took I-59 for about 10 miles when Jeannie and her trike passed us, one by one, waving frantically, and motioning for us to stop. Ric pulled over into the gravel at the next exit, and Jeannie worriedly informed us that Jack wouldn’t keep going and she had expected to pass him before now. So I dug out my cell phone for her, and she called him leaving a message to meet us at a specified place in Meridian. Meanwhile, I grabbed my camera and shot a few photos of the boys, Justin and Roger, pissin’ in the wind. Back on the road, and only minutes later, we saw Jack and John on the side of the road, and waved as we passed them. Ric just kept going, and I noticed they didn’t even have their helmets on. It would take them a few minutes to catch up to us. When we reached I-20 in Meridian, we turned west toward Jackson, AGAIN! As was the norm, Jack hurriedly passed us as because his trusty GPS told him where to stop and only he could lead us there. (cont) 18 I can honestly say when I arrived in Newton with 751 miles on my odometer, and it was already 7:30 pm, 14 ½ hours into the trip, I was just a little tired and testy. My legs were aching from hanging on to the forward controls by the very tip of my toes and I was beginning to need toothpicks to wedge between my eyelids, holding them open so I would stay awake. I didn’t want to go to Jackson, AGAIN, but that is where we were heading. As I sit at my bar writing this, I think out loud "Now, where was I?" In answer, Sue begins singing "Back to Jackson, I’m going to Jackson…" Ha, Ha. Back on the road, every mile was becoming a challenge as the sun went down in the west and we were, of course, heading west. By the time we reached Jackson, however, darkness had already consumed the day, and thankfully, I didn’t have to see much of the scenery as we blew threw this town for the last time today. We would skip our planned GPS gas stop and to Tom and Justin’s loathing, we increased our speed to a steady 80mph blowing through Vicksburg, as well. The magic of the bridge did its work, but only briefly took my mind from the pain and the darkness and the insufferable number of miles left. 139 later, and every bit of Jeannie’s and John’s gas supplies down to fumes, we landed in Delhi, thanks only to John who flagged down Jack, our fearless leader, and motioned him to stop for fuel. In Delhi at the Waverly Truck Stop, the bugs weren’t just attracted to the lights – they were attracted to me, and they were everywhere – I was meat – they especially loved the smooshy, gooey stuff inside of my eyes. I had to gas up with bugs flying around my hair, ears, eyes, and other unmentionable body parts, and then borrowed some saline from Justin to flush the buggers out my eyes. After gassing up, I moved my bike three times before I found a place dark enough to ward off the pesky little creatures. It was only 71 miles to Rustin, our final stop before home. It was getting cold, I was tired, and sore, and I would feel every one of those final miles. I like to say now, "I’m among the toughest rider’s in the world – a member of the IronButt Association," (beat chest like Tarzan). But then, during the ride, and now with it all over, I know I am such a whiner. We pulled into Rustin AGAIN, got gas, didn’t talk to each other. In fact, by now, we didn’t even like each other. We quickly got on our bikes and headed for the home stretch through all the towns we had visited early in the a.m. arriving at the I-220 Truck Stop near Haughton at 12:04 a.m., the next day. My ass got there about ½ hour later. Nobody rode the additional 500 miles the next day. Note: One name has been changed to protect the guilty. 19 A man is in bed with his wife when there is a rat-a-tat-tat on the door.He rolls over and looks at his clock, and it's half past three in the morning. "I'm not getting out of bed at this time," he thinks, and rolls over. Then, a louder knock follows. "Aren't you going to answer that?" says his wife. So he drags himself out of bed and goes downstairs. He opens the door and there is man standing at the door. It didn't take the homeowner long to realize the man was drunk. "Hi there," slurs the stranger. "Can you give me a push??" "No, get lost. It's half past three. I was in bed," says the man and slams the door. He goes back up to bed and tells his wife what happened and she says, "Dave, that wasn't very nice of you. Remember that night we broke down in the pouring rain on the way to pick the kids up from the baby sitter and you had to knock on that man's house to get us started again? What would have happened if he'd told us to get lost??" "But the guy was drunk," says the husband. "It doesn't matter," says the wife. "He needs our help and it would be the right thing to help him." So the husband gets out of bed again, gets dressed and goes downstairs. He opens the door, and not being able to see the stranger anywhere he shouts, "Hey, do you still want a push??" And he hears a voice cry out, "Yeah, please." So, still being unable to see the stranger he shouts, "Where are you?" And the stranger replies, "I'm over here, on your swing." --- Lizzy, Atlanta, GA Summer has arrived (finally) for those of you up north...the humidity, daily thunderstorms and hurricane season have arrived in my neck of the woods. In either case, its time to get out and enjoy life and the pursuit of open roads and new adventures. Be safe and enjoy! And...to put you in a good mood... Mad Dog and his ole' lady are in bed together. She feels his hand rubbing her shoulder and whispers, "oh, that feels so good." His hand moves down across her chest and she gasps, "gee, honey, that feels wonderful." His hand moves to her leg and she breathlessly squeals, "oh, honey, don't stop." But he stops. She glares at him and asks, "why did you stop?" Mad Dog calmly replies, "I found the remote." --- Mad Dog's Ole' Lady, Ottawa, Canada An elderly couple, Ray and Bessie, are "snowbirds" in Texas. Ray always wanted a pair of authentic cowboy boots. Seeing some on sale one day, he buys them and wears them home, walking proudly. He walks into the house and says to his wife, "Notice anything different about me?" Bessie looks him over, "Nope." Frustrated, Ray storms off into the bathroom, undresses, and walks back into the room completely naked except for the boots. Again, he asks, a little louder this time, "Notice anything different now??" Bessie looks up and says, "Ray, what's different? It's hanging down today, it was hanging down yesterday, it'll be hanging down again tomorrow." Furious, Ray yells, "AND DO YOU KNOW WHY IT IS HANGING DOWN, BESSIE? IT'S HANGING DOWN BECAUSE IT'S LOOKING AT MY NEW BOOTS!!!!!!" To which Bessie replies, "Shoulda bought a hat, Ray. Shoulda bought a hat." --- Bette, Florida George Bush has started an ill-timed and disastrous war under false pretenses by lying to the American people and to the Congress; he has run a budget surplus into a severe deficit; he has consistently and unconscionably favored the wealthy and corporations over the rights and needs of the population; he has destroyed trust and confidence in, and good will toward, the United States around the globe; he has ignored global warming, to the world's detriment; he has wantonly broken our treaty obligations; he has condoned torture of prisoners; he has attempted to create a theocracy in the United States; he has appointed incompetent cronies to positions of vital national importance. Now, would someone please give him a BJ so we can impeach him? --- Monika, Ft. Wayne, IN A man was walking down the street when he came across a body lying on the sidewalk. He ran to a phone and called 911. The operator asked him where he was and the man replied, “I’m on Sycamore Drive.” “How do you spell that?” the operator asked. “S-i-c-k…” the man began. “No, s-i-c-a…..” no, s-i-ka…. oh heck, let me drag him over to Lake street and I’ll call you back.” --- Z, Detroit, MI Keep 'em coming! [email protected] 20 June Crossword ACROSS 1. This historic trail is named for these 2 famous explorers and runs through 11 states from the plains of the Midwest to the Pacific Ocean. 3. Located in NW Montana, this park was carved out millions of years ago by its namesakes. 5. America's first National Park covering territory in Idaho, Montana and Wyoming. Akin to Yogi's place. 6. A HUGE hole in the ground in Arizona. 7. These islands off Key West are home to pirate tails, abundant sea life and coral reefs, and even Ft. Jefferson. 8. This battle in Pennsylvania was the turning point in the Civil War and also home to a famous speech by Abe Lincoln. 9. 113 caves and caverns in New Mexico. 10. The hottest, driest, lowest place in North America, located in Nevada and California. Watch for the vultures! 12. North Carolina's National Seashore, Cape _____ . 13. The Cherokee were forcibly removed to Oklahoma and traveled along this trail stretching across 9 states. 17. Presidents, founding fathers, memorials and national treasures are located in this national district. 18. This famous 444-mile parkway through Alabaman, Mississippi and Tennessee celebrates an ancient trail. 19. One of the 1st wildlife parks in the US, located in California. Namesake of Sam. 20. A parkway and a great ride through the mountains of Virginia to North Carolina. 21. Home to Lady Liberty in New York State. 22. With elevations to almost 15,000 feet and lush valleys this mountain range park is a must when visiting Colorado. 23. Famous faces in South Dakota . DOWN 2. The Great _________ National Park stretches across Tennessee and N. Carolina. After it rains you can see how they got the name. 4. The river border between Texas and Mexico. 9. The ______River rises high in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Georgia and flows southwesterly towards Alabama. 11. Swamp buggies, airboats and alligators in Florida. 14. Step back in time at this first great gateway to the west in Kentucky, Tennessee and Virginia. 15. Alaska's Gold Rush Country (and a great ice-cream bar!) 16. Washington State's active volcano. Created by Lyd just for fun with Crossword Forge 21 Together, JJ Jenkins, George Peterson, Walter Bush, Christian La Rocca and Kristian Habenicht are ARIEL. Ariel is an Alameda, California based rock band. They have just released their third CD “Sure Thing, You Bet!” And we here at White Line Magazine were lucky enough to get a copy to review. I was really impressed with the wide range of songs “Sure Thing, You Bet!” contains. When listening for the first time I didn’t know what to expect next, it was an awesome musical adventure. While the overall feel of the music is the old ‘70s style hard driving rock, there is a pleasant mix. Through it all the driving guitars and soaring leads stick with you just as much as the memorable lyrics. You get so much variety from the sixteen tracks it’s just great! Whether you’re craving music to bob your head to or looking for something to sway with while holding someone close in your arms, you should find whatever you’re looking for on this disc. I would definitely recommend getting this CD and giving it a listen. It’s managed to stay in my CD player through more than one play through. Once the songs get to you, you’ll be singing along with the band, and that’s the best compliment I can give! Is it a “Sure Thing”? You Bet! Until next time, Ride safe and free! 22 23 24 Here's the game. We hide Willie's face somewhere in the magazine. ONLY THIS FACE is used for contest purposes, not pictures that have Willie's face and body ( like the monthly cartoon or our business card image, or headline banner). We may enlarge, reduce, fade, or even re-color the image, but it will be this exact image seen here. When you find Willie in the magazine, send page# and approx. location on page to [email protected] for your entry. Mark your email subject line with "Where's Willie Contest". All entries must be received by White Line Magazine by the 20th of each month to be counted, and the winner will be randomly drawn from all correct entries on the 22nd of the month. Winner receives a White Line Magazine T-Shirt as well as occasional extras donated by our advertisers. Winners will be announced in the following issue. Good Luck and Have Fun! May Winner Congratulations goes out to Paula R. in Akron, Ohio. Paula found Willie hiding out on page 13 in the Babe of the Month calendar. Good eyes Paula! Your T-shirt is on the way. We've hidden Willie somewhere in the magazine again, and made it a little tougher for you. We never said it would be easy, just fun! Good Luck! Answers to Fun and Games Page What is Willie Thinking? 1. Backyard BBQ 2. 7th inning stretch 3. Hot dogs and hamburgers 4. Bring our troops home! U.S. National Parks Crossword ACROSS 1. Lewis and Clark 3. Glacier 5. Yellowstone 6. Grand Canyon 7. Dry Tortugas 8. Gettysburg 9. Carlsbad Caverns 10. Death Valley 12. Hatteras 13. Trail of Tears 17. Washington DC 25 18. Natchez Trace 19. Yosemite 20. Blue Ridge 21. Ellis Island 22. Rocky Mountain 23. Mount Rushmore DOWN 2. Smoky Mountains 4. Rio Grande 9. Chattahoochee 11. Everglades 14. Cumberland Gap 15. Klondike 16. Mount Rainier This month's Straight Talk column is a little different. Bobby has been staying busy and has recruited his wife to help out with his column. Here is her perspective on a long trip to a bike event they went on recently. We welcome Cyncat and hope you enjoy her writing as much as we do! Hi and Happy Memorial Day to one and all... I'd like to start out saying men shouldn't complain about women being slow at getting ready!!! After waiting on Bat to get home from work, then baby his bike, then get his shower, then then then... and here I was ready all day long waiting!!!!!! ~chuckles~ So we finally get on the road, late as usual, all because of him...~always waiting on him~. This is the first trip since last year that we have taken on the bike as far as we were going. From Vicksburg Ms, to Kiln, Long Beach, Gulfport, and Ocean Springs and I can safely say I am very saddle sore today! We took our time of course, and made it to his sister's, spent the night. We finally got on the road once more in the morning and headed towards Gulfport. We became very proud grandparents recently, and of course the first stop was to see the baby...Mathias Lee. He came into the world screaming and unhappy at 5lbs 14oz. But he is home and doing very well. We left there visited a few more people then headed to the 25th Annual BlowOut. The BlowOut was conceived in 1983 by the ASGARD motorcycle club. Their Mission: To bring together people with a common cause, that have common ideals and, perhaps, even learn from one another. A deeper and richer meaning of the phenomenon of the biker brotherhood. The Harley Motorcycle Club is simply an extension and amplification of what all bikers feel. Originally the first one was the Independence Day Blowout (4th of July, 1983) at a motorcycle shop within the area of approximately 4 acres. (Harley-Davidson, Ocean Springs, MS. The shop is no longer there). We found that July is too hot and wet for outdoor events such as ours and we needed more room and control. An ideal friendship was formed between the ASGARD MC and Charles D. Reese (owner of Gulfport Dragway), Oluf Zierl (former editor of the local biker bulletin (SSB), Gene Stewart of Rex Distributors (Budweiser Brewing Co.) and Vincent Creel (editor of the Marquee of the Sun Herald). The details worked out and by the third Blowout we switched to the Gulfport Dragway and the date was changed to the end of May (Memorial Day), which also symbolized the beginning of summer activities. The charities that have benefited from these Blowouts have been The Sheriff's Boys & Girls Ranches, Multiple Sclerosis, Muscular Dystrophy, Gulf Coast Rescue Mission and the Boys & Girls Club. (cont.) 26 For years people have had misconstrued ideas of what bikers are all about. And since the birth of the blowout bikers have gone out of their ways to prove those stereotypes to be false. Past feelings of businesses towards bikers have given way to signs saying "welcome bikers", "dinner and lunch specials for bikers" and so forth. This is all the result of the Asgard MC working with other motorcycle clubs, governmental agencies and the new image of organizations like "HOG", which is sponsored by the Harley Davidson Motor Company. I myself have had the pleasure of being at 3 different Blowouts, and Bat has been to two. We noticed that there has been a decline in the amount of bikes, but that is due to the "Storm From Hell"...Katrina. But the MS. Gulf Coast is building fast and furious. And hopefully by next year, there will be the thousands and thousands that have attended in the past. Reportedly there have been at least a million or better bikes come through the Dragway gates in times past. We both look forward to being able to spend the entire Biker Blowout next memorial... We then left there and went to The Biloxi National Cemetery to Honour Our Fallen Men and Women. Out of respect for those who served, some 1,100 active duty and retired military, their families and civilians placed about 16,500 American flags on Saturday in less than 30 minutes at Biloxi National Cemetery. Organizers said the crowd was bigger this year than last as soldiers, sailors, Marines, retirees, families and hundreds of children stooped to place flags about one foot from the gravestones as is protocol. Many marveled at the headstones and read the names of those they didn't know and those they did. Bat and I sat and talked about those he knew were there, and read the headstones ourselves. We honour and pray for our Men and Women who gave their all, and pray for the families they leave behind. I bring this to a close tonight being extremely exhausted. I think the trip home was faster but man are my legs KILLING me....~and so is my bum!!!!~ As always...Ride Safe Your Sweet Southern Redneck Cyncat (Tammie H.) Pictures by Batmixer (Bobby H.) 27 28 We have two products to review this month and both of them come from the same great company! Panoptx was formed in 1997 and has made a reputation for themselves with their great line of high performance eyewear. All of Panoptx's glasses provide more protection than normal sunglasses, but they are moving full steam ahead with their new Speed Series of eyewear. They come with an air damn that deflects 75% of the wind, glare and other air-born irritants. We were privileged to get a pair of the Taku glasses to try out. Now two things I have to admit right off the bat. First, I don't usually buy "good" glasses. I either end up losing them or they aren't dark enough for my tastes or they don't fit right. I end up with the cheap sunglasses that ZZ Top talks about, about 10 bucks at the flea market. In fact when I first opened the package from Panoptx, I thought "uh oh, not dark enough for me". Now for the second admission. I was IMPRESSED. First off, Panoptx thinks of everything. You get the glasses, a hard shell carry case, glasses keepers and even a polish cloth to use on the specially coated lenses! Next I tried them on. I was again pleasantly surprised. They wrapped around my face and sat perfectly without bending or adjusting. A quick trip out on the bike and I was impressed a third time. The glasses sat firmly in place and didn't move from wind pressure. The air dams worked perfectly to keep any excess wind or dust from my eyes. I even got used to a lighter lens because they did so well at reducing the glare! (I previously preferred the real dark lens for it's glare reducing ability) All told, if you want to protect your eyes and wear comfortable, well made eyewear, then you owe it to yourself to check out Panoptx and the new Taku glasses. Excellent eyewear! To go along with the high quality eyewear that Panoptx makes and sells, they have brought out another new high performance product for riders. Starting this spring, Panoptx launches their first ever glove line. They are offering these gloves in 3 styles to meet all the various riding needs and like their eyewear, are made of the highest quality materials. Their gloves are made from a split deerskin leather and are exceptionally soft and form fitting. This deerskin is more durable than most other glove leathers and is made to handle constant use. Panoptx boxsews the fingers of the gloves, a little bit longer process but makes them fit like the best dress gloves. They are also drum dyed so that they won't bleed and run the way that cheaper gloves do. Another feature that I loved that wasn't in any of the press releases, is the small trianglular "rings" on each glove wrist, and the clip to join them. This simple device shows an incredible amount of forethought. It allows the gloves to be linked to each other and even to a key ring or other attachment point on the rider to make the gloves much easier to carry if not wearing them! I could wear the gloves to ride someplace and protect my hands, and then clip them together and to my key ring and have my hands and pockets free! Thanks Panoptx! 29 ROLLING THUNDER The concept is simple. Three hundred thousand motorcycles motor in several convoys from various outskirts of Washington DC rendezvous to become one and tour the Wall, the Mall and every other aspect of our capital and meet as a giant group in the parking lot of the Pentagon. There is no equal to being part of this large organized group that gets exclusive use of the expressways and major roads for this annual event but perhaps the biggest portion of the day is spent waiting. In the morning waiting for thousands of colleagues from dozens of states to line up and join the ready. During these periods of waiting there are plenty of Color Guards, Ceremonies, Speeches and good natured camaraderie that takes place in the miles of four abreast bikes that stand poised and ready for the moment of departure to arrive. The moment finally comes. The signal is given and the engines start. The sound of all those v-twin motors blends into a roar that has no equal. The roar that begins on the outskirts as a tributary threads its way toward, and merges to become more concentrated as the groups become one and progress to possess the core of this country, all for the sake of remembrance. Remember the sacrifice of our ancestors, neighbors and brothers who had guts enough to lay everything on the line for our freedom. A very real and personal freedom. It is because of this freedom and their sacrifice that I am allowed the privilege of my career. As Letterfly the painter, mural artist and motorcycle pinstriper, now included at such prestigious events as Rolling Thunder. As I stand with my pinstriping brush in hand, moved by the loud procession that has begun to roll; a sensation sweeps through my entire soul. There is certainly wonder and awe at the sheer magnitude of this massive collection of machines but the feeling is much more than that. In addition to a contemplative sentiment, there is a very real sense of connection, like electricity, in the air, with these participants and their common purpose. Above all is the awareness of overwhelming gratitude that brings tears to my eyes. I salute my friends roaring off four abreast and give thanks for everything that has preceded in my lifetime that has brought me to this place. Thank you veterans. I salute you. Have a safe and happy “Rolling Thunder” Memorial Day. 30 Going on vacation? Planning a ride? Or just plain want to know what's going on in the world? THE place to check is right here on White Line's Events & More ! Click on any state name and it will bring up another page with events lists for that state for the month, as well as any bike shops, biker friendly bars and restaurants and print publications. This is THE place for biker information! We still have lots of room to add places, so send in the name of your favorite shop or biker friendly establishment and we'll make sure everyone knows about them! Florida Events Jun 01 - 02 2007 Summer Bash Poker Run &Bike Show Lecanto, FL Info: 352-746-7655 Jun 02 - 20 2007 10,000 Mile Ride For the Wounded Jacksonville Info, FL Info: 336-329-9221 Jun 02 2007 Chrome Divas Leather & Lace Ball Tallahassee, FL Info: 850-591-8420 Jun 03 2007 SheriffChrisDaniels Mem Ride Leesburg, FL Info: 352-267-9730 Jun 08 - 09 2007 Kreeperz 5th Pensacola, FL Info: 850-554-6813/850-554-0023 Jun 10 2007 Bikers4Boobs Clearwater, FL Info: 727-698-0078 Jun 16 - 17 2007 Miami Motorcycle Show/Salon 6th Coconut Grove, Fl Info: 305.529.2842 Jul 01 2007 Webster MC Show and Swap Meet Webster, FL Info: 352-793-9877 Shops Rossiters Harley Davidson 330 Cattleman Rd Sarasota, FL. 34232-6300 941-951-6106 Manatee River Harley Davidson. 624 67th St. Cir. E. Bradenton, FL. 34208 941-745-2429 Harley Davidson of Ft. Myers 2160 Colonial Blvd. Ft. Myers, FL 941-275-4647 Daytona Harley Davidson 290 N. Beach St. Daytona, FL 386-253-2453 31 Open Road Motorcycle Hwy 17 Punta Gorda, FL 941-575-4474 Thunder Action Cycle 18290 Paulson Dr. Port Charlotte, FL 941-766-0663 Biker Friendly Victory Lane 4150 Hancock Bridge Pkwy. N. Ft. Myers, FL 239-995-0340 Boot Hill Saloon 310 Main St. Daytona, FL 386-386-9506 Print Publications Full Throttle Magazine 850 Dunbar Ave. Oldsmar, FL 34677 800-889-8180 Born to Ride P.O. Box 3021 Brandon, FL 33509 813-661-9402 Florida Motor Sports Magazine #178 2430 Vanderbilt Bch Rd. Naples, FL 34109 239-597-9588 Milledgeville Thunder Rally Milledgeville, Ga. - April 13, the Milledgeville Thunder Rally started six miles south of Milledgeville off Hwy 441. In my opinion it is the largest bike rally on this side of the state of Georgia. The rally began for me on Friday morning and to my surprise the rally for others started a few days earlier. This is the first time that I have seen this many bikers come this early in the last few years. The bikers had been coming in all week long to get a good campsite so they could be on the main parade route. One of the things that I like to do when I go to a rally is to arrive early Friday morning and check all the vendors and the rally grounds and then take a ride around the Milledgeville countryside. I know that when the rally gets started I will be penned down taking photos of other bikers riding and having fun. I climbed on my bike and made the six miles ride up hwy. 441 to downtown Milledgeville to the historic district. I found out a few years ago that Milledgeville was at one time the capital of the state of Georgia. It served as the seat of government for the state of Georgia from 1807 to 1868. The Secession Convention was held in its legislative chambers in 1861. Next I rode my bike over to South Clare Street to the Governor's Mansion. The Governor's Mansion was last used in 1838. The Governor's Mansion was occupied by General Sherman during his March to the Sea. It now serves as an historic house museum. Most of the early history of Georgia had taken place around the Milledgeville and Sparta vicinity. When I returned to the rally Friday afternoon I started giving sample copies of the Thunder Press magazine out and talking to different bikers. I like walking around meeting bikers like Greg Wardell from St. Augustine and other bikers from North Carolina, Florida and Alabama. I finished the day out by taking photos of bikers but mostly of the ladies. Well, it dawned on me that I missed my noon feeding, so I rode my bike back to Milledgeville to find something to eat. At least that gave me a chance to ride my bike again. After returning back to the rally I headed to the stage area hoping to find me a place near the stage to take a few photos. Just as I was arriving the emcee was introducing The Southern Soul Band from Madison county Georgia. The name kind of threw me off but after I heard them playing, I realized the music was more southern rock than anything else. I always like to watch the ladies dancing around out in front of the band. Sometimes you wonder who is the feature attractions, the ladies or the band. As far as I am concerned, it is the ladies. Well, the party went on Saturday night in spite of the rain. I talked with the lead guitar player and singer Mike Estes of Shinny Molly back at the motel on Sunday morning. Mike told me that they went on stage and played five songs before the rain began to come down but they still got wet from head to toe. I stayed in the same motel as the Shinny Molly and they sounded like a wild bunch. I wish that I had the chance to hear this band play. I bet this bunch was even wilder on stage. Mike helped to write such songs as "Hotter Than Asphalt " with Johnny VanZant and Gary Rossington for the CD Called "White Knuckle Ride" I also got to meet Keith Whalen, guitarist and backup vocal for the band. I guess by now you know where I was at when the rain started coming down. (cont.) 32 Like any other Milledgeville Thunder Rally the C.M.A. held a Sunday morning prayer service up on the hill amongst all the vendors that remained. This April 15, 2007 the spring rally church service was held by Bob and Jo Jo Graham of Eastman, Ga. I had the chance of talking to Bob and Jo Jo Graham for the first time this year in Centerville, Ga. at the 15th Annual Motorcycle Bike Show that is held at the Galleria Mall every February. The Grahams were a couple of the judges of the bike show. Like always, Jo Jo had a beautiful voice and sang several songs. As Bob started his sermon a light mist of rain began to come down but no one seemed to notice. The Grace Riders of Conyers, Ga. Chapter 771 had setup a booth during the Thunder Rally. Steve Hodges of the Grace Riders was in charge of the booth over the weekend. You could count on finding coffee, water, and other essential items for both the body and soul. What I like about seeing the C.M.A. at Thunder Rally or any other rallies is that I get to meet different Chapter members. C.M.A. members travel from different parts of the state to help out at the gates and booths. This time I had the opportunity to meet Chuck Burnette, the President of the Kingdom Warriors Motorcycle Ministry of the Toccoa, Ga. Chapter. Some members are on hand for counseling if needed by other bikers. I would like to thank the Quality Inn and Chetna Patel owner for a great nights stay. If you are ever in Milledgeville, Ga. you should check this motel out. The first year I came to this rally I would not believe that this many bikers would ever show up for this event. When I arrived Friday morning, Thunder Rally was full and it look like that everyone that was coming was already here. I am beginning to think that if it didn't rain at least one day at Milledgeville it would not be a Milledgeville Rally. The bikers, like always, got in one awesome party Friday night and all day Saturday until it rained Saturday night. Still the biggest hit of the rally was the Hooter Hop and the Puddin' Rasslin'. The bike games is an old favorite of the bikers at any rally. I have not missed one of David Settles rally so far and I am not going to miss one if I can help it. I hope to see you at the next wet and wild rally. Photos and text by Tommy P. Did you know? The motorcycle riding character of "Fonzie" was so popular with the viewing audience, that there is a statue of him with his motorcycle in the Hollywood Wax Museum and his leather jacket is on display at the Smithsonian Museum of American History in Washington, D.C.! At the height of the show, he received as many as 55,000 fan letters a week! 33 Gemini – the Twins– Virgo – the Virgin– May 21 – June 20 August 23 – September 22 You deserve a break so on the 1st, 2nd or 3rd make plans to do that something you've been yearning to do. On the 6th or 7th an issue related to work will plague most of your day. The 9th 10th or 11th would be ideal for a family gathering. On the 14th a friend tries to help you out but may end up messing a few things up instead. The decisions you make on the 17th will play part in the activities you can attend on the 20th. By the 25th the road is calling to you yet again. Where will it take you this time? On the 28th or 29th you're feeling frisky, wonder f you can find someone else in the same mood. On the 1st and 2nd thoughts of a career change are circulating through your mind more than usual. On the 5th or 6th you find yourself caught in an unusual predicament. By the 13th your ready for a night on the town, you certainly deserve it, enjoy! Your loved ones call on you the 17th and 18th but it's really up to you whether or not to answer. On the 23rd you're ready and willing but not 100% sure that you're able, think things over before committing to anything. On the 28th or 29th you have a little run in with the law but as long as you keep your cool everything should blow on by. Cancer – the Crab– Libra – the Scales– June 21 – July 22 September 23 - October 22 Try to make all your important calls on the 1st and 2nd when everything is running nice and smooth. Don't hesitate when trying to get your ideas across on the 7th and 8th, be direct and to the point and things will improve. On the 15th or 16th take some time for yourself and enjoy your surroundings. Remember that project you've been putting off? Well on the 20th you should finally find the time to finish it up. On the 22nd a good friend may surprise you in a way totally unexpected. On the 25th and 26th issues with family complicate a project at work. On the 29th or 30th invite your crew over, kick back and have a good ol' time. The 1st, 2nd and 3rd are good days to get organized for the hectic month you have in front of you. By the 6th you're ready to take anything on. On the 11th or 12th someone who ahs a romantic interest in you makes it known to everyone. Get some extra rest on the 14th so you can keep up with everything happening on the 15th. On the 19th or 20th an old friend may pop in, turn your world upside down and take off again. At least they add a little adventure to your life though. Find some time to ride on the 25th, 26th and 27th and watch how much your outlook at life will change. End your month off on the 30th by getting down and gettin'r-done. Leo – the Lion– Scorpio – the Scorpion– July 23 – August 22 October 23 – November 21 Being noticed has held you back in the past but on the 2nd or 3rd you take a chance and leap at what you want, and believe it or not you will get what's yours. Creative energies are pulsing through you on the 8th, 9th and 10th. It's up to you what you do with them though. You get the chance to save the day on the 15th or 16th, but will you? On the 21st or 22nd things are going better than you expected, enjoy it while you can. Your partner is looking for a little of your attention, if given things could get quite steamy on the 26th or 27th. End your month off on the 29th and 30th by taking it easy and getting ready for next month. As long as you listen to yourself instead of outside influences on the 2nd and 3rd things should go smooth. Although it's not always the easiest to suck it up and say your wrong sometimes it is just necessary, like on the 6th, 7th and 8th. On the 12th you get to show off some of your newly discovered talent. By the 17th or 18th things start to slow down, rest while you have the opportunity. Your Romanic life could use a little kick start on the 22nd. By the 26th you're ready to kick some serious butt at the office, but like everything else this urge will fade with time. Call up everyone you know and invite them over on the 29th to wrap this month up with a bang. 34 Pisces – the Fish– Sagittarius – the Centaur– November 22 – December 21 February 19 – March 20 The beginning of June is marvelous for you and every aspect of your life. On the 3rd or 4th the answers you've been looking for, to that big decision you've been losing sleep over, comes to you. By the 6th you've already started to implement plans to set your project in motion. On the 8th and 9th you might feel a little distant, take a break and try to regroup. On the 12th, 13th and 14th an old friend helps you out much more than you had expected them to. On the 21st or 22nd an old flame tries to reignite the fire, but it may take some time to get things back to the way they used to be. On the 28th and 29th you find yourself feeling good and loving life. Things don't always work out for the best, this becomes extremely evident on the 2nd. But by the 6th things seem to be improving greatly. On the 8th a strange question will be asked of you. On the 11th you try and end up taking up a new hobby & can't wait to find someone else to talk to about it. The 15th is a great day to spend with the ones you hold nearest and dearest to your heart. On the 19th and 20th a few issues at work have you more than frustrated. On the 26th, 27th or 28th you should be able to recoup from the harsh times that have just sailed on by. Aries – the Ram– Capricorn – the Goat– March 21 – April 19 Things seem to find a way of working out, so don't stress yourself out too bad on the 2nd and 3rd. On the 6th or 7th an old friend will deliver some rather disturbing news. On the 11th someone from work will really push your buttons. By the 14th you're feeling energized and ready to take on the world. On the 18th or 19th your ride is calling to you, squeeze some time in with it and rejuvenate your soul. On the 23rd or 24th your not sure about a few things so run them by a few good friends and see what you come up with. On the 29th and 30th romance is in the air so grab up your honey and melt together. December 22 – January 19 On the 1st and 2nd you have trouble distinguishing reality but by the 3rd you're back to your level headed self. On the 8th, 9th or 10th a stranger will leave you with words that will bounce around in your head for days. By the 12th your ready for some action, so buckle up it's going to be a bumpy ride. Your family may need a little of your assistance on the 14th or 15th. Not too many people can go to sleep totally worry free but on the 18th and 19th that's exactly what you do, enjoy it while it lasts. The 23rd and 24th are days filled with great adventure. On the 27th you find yourself in a bit of a jam but luckily a close friend will be able to help you out, yet again. Taurus – the Bull – Aquarius – the Water Bearer– April 20 – May 20 Life is overwhelming at times, don't let it get the best of you. You now just what you need to keep yourself going. By the 4th you're as good as new and ready to take on anything. On the 6th, 7th and 8th you can't seem to get anything accomplished. Sometimes you just have to be rude and let people know you don't always have time to be sociable. Your love life or lack there of is in need of some serious attention on the 12th and 13th. By the 17th things are starting to look better. On the 21st or 22nd you'll have an opportunity to take your bike out and ride her like there ain't no tomorrow. Don't get yourself in over your head on the 26th, it's ok to say no from time to time. End your month off by enjoying good times and good friends on the 29th and 30th. January 20 –February 18 Take things easy on the 2nd and 3rd or you might end up overwhelming yourself. On the 5th or 6th a new friend will show you they are behind you 100%. The 10th and 11th a few bumps in the road may throw you off course a little but your back on track by the 12th. It may not be your way of getting things done but if you try it, it might actually save you some time on the 16th and 17th. By the 23rd you've realized that you need to be more aggressive when it comes to getting what you want. On the 26th and 27th your stock in the love department shoots up! By the 30th you're ready and raring to sink your teeth into anything next month can throw at you. 35 Spring Cherokee Rally Cherokee, N.C. - April 27-29, was another cool time in the mountain more ways than you can imagine. I found great roads to ride on and awesome looking bands at the ceremonial grounds. When I headed for Cherokee for the spring Cherokee Survivor Motorcycle Swap Meet & Concert in Cherokee, N.C. I could not believe how many motorcyclists that was headed to the mountains. This must be the weekend that everyone who had a bike decided to come to the mountain to ride. When I travel up to Cherokee I ride up Hwy. 17 to Hwy. 441 by the way of Toccoa, and Clayton, Ga. To me this is the fastest way to start catching those mountain curves. I don't ride the curves like some of the younger bikers anymore. I still enjoy leaning into curve at a slower speed and enjoying the mountain. This year, since I knew I was going to Cherokee, I decided to make a reservation on Wednesday. This should have been the first hint to me that something big was going to happen in Cherokee. I soon found out that every motel that I called was full. I had planed on heading to Cherokee Friday and staying in Franking N.C. that night. I was going take the chance of finding a room Saturday near the rally ground. I was going get up early and ride into Cherokee the next morning to find a motel room. This rally caught me off guard and I almost couldn't find a place to stay that night. I found a place to stay for around sixty dollars at the last fall rally. This time for a one night stay it cost me over $125. The price of the concert wasn't bad, it just cost a fortune to get to the concert. Some of these big rallies can make it up in just pure number of attendance. This weekend the bikers got it from all sides. First the motel, second by the gasoline company and finally the food vendors, who were charging three dollars for a bottle of water. I made my way to the main street of Cherokee and found myself sitting on a bench and watching the motorcyclists riding by. I had the opportunity to take a few photos of the area. I found out that the souvenir shops prices are still down from the winter and was trying to sell things they had left over from last year. While sitting on the bench I got a chance to talk to John and Tina from Maryville, Tennessee. John told me that they rode over for the day to attend the concert and to see what the vendors had to offer. I noticed that not very many bikers were hanging out along the main drag of Cherokee. I guess one of the reasons that there were not to many bikers on the main street is that there is no bars or liquor stores. I guess that if you were going to drink at this event you had to bring it with you or ride to the next county. Like always, I had to stop by the casino to see if I could win some extra money. In thirty minutes I had loss twenty-four dollars and was wishing that I did not come. I did get some free soft drinks while I was in the casino. The two soft drinks only cost me twelve dollars a piece. I hear of people winning money but not me. I guess I have had my fill of gambling until I return in the fall. One of the things that I hate about riding my bike is I just can't remember to take photos when I out. I just get lost in riding and forget everything else. Sometimes I even forget to stop to take a break or get something to eat. I have found out that the gas hand will always remind you that it is time to stop. I made time for riding on Saturday and I tried to make it over to Gatlinburg, Tennessee without any success. Something is always stopping me from riding over to Gatlinburg. One thing that you can always count on is the scenic roads with the rivers running along the side. You can always count on the great view of the mountain. The only accident that I saw during the weekend was my own. The only way that you will hear about my wreck is to ask me when you see me. I think you will get a laugh out of it. One of the bad things about this time of year in Cherokee is that it is still the off season and most of the good attractions have not opened yet. An outdoor play that I got to see for the first time last year will open on June 8 called "Unto these Hills". The play conveys a more culturally authentic, and historically accurate view of the Cherokee life. I am planning on riding back in June to see it again. I was amazed at what an awesome show it turned out to be. This is one play that I would like to see again. 36 Over the weekend four great bands played --- Toyz, Saliva, Big Head Todd & the Monsters and Jackyl. Friday night the first band to perform at 8 p.m. was Toyz from Gastonia, N.C. The band had its beginning in Burlington N.C. back in 1988. This local band's music was influenced by the heavy rock sounds of the 80's. The band is made up of Jim Frissell Guitar /Vocals, Christian Cates Drums/Vocals, Ken Lassiter Guitar/Vocals and Mike Kiley Bass/Vocal's. The Toyz performed throughout the US in 2006 with the Easyriders Bike Show Tour. The second band came on stage Friday around 10 p.m. called the Saliva. The Saliva music and the way they looked just wasn't to my liking but all the bikers seemed to love their songs. The Saliva had a lead singer named Josey Scott who had a strange look but a great voice. The Saliva had a different sound with their music. This is a band that would take me some time to get use to. The bike game started at 11 am on Saturday in the center of the fairground. Most of the bikes did alright in the gravel during the slow race. The big event of the day was the Weenie-bite contest. Randy and Moe from Dallas, Ga. won. Nearly all the bikers had their eyes on this contest. Toyz came on stage Saturday for a repeat performance for the bikers. Toyz warmed up the lady bikers in the audience for the next band. Big Head Todd & the Monsters played some great music after Toyz. I think the type of music they played was jazz. Jazz is not exactly what I like to hear. This group just might win me over with their music. It's been nearly 15 years since Jackyl shot out Georgia with its wild, untamed and uncouth approach to rock' n ' roll. The band plays equal parts of hard rock, heavy metal, and Southern rock. Jackyl was formed in 1991 and brought back rock' n' roll -- back to its down -to-earth, wild, fun- loving origins. The Jackyl band is made of Jesse James Dupree -- Vocals, Jeff Worley - Guitar, Roman Glick - Bass and Chris Worley - Drums. I hate to see Cherokee rally become like the other rallies. Some have grows to the point that only the ones with a few bucks in their pocket can afford to go through the gate. This is one of the biggest parties that will take place in western North Carolina twice a year. What I can see is that if you stay out of your car and off of your bike while drinking and behave yourself, you will pretty much be safe from getting into trouble. Also if you are in the right place during the night you can just about see anything you like. I like the setup of the fairground at Cherokee rally. They have a great stage for the bands. One of the things that I don't like about it is the gravel that cover grounds on the inside. It might have done away with the mud when it rains but you have a bigger chance of dropping your bike. I have found out that the gravel makes it harder for the bikers to get in and out. I just pay the five dollars for parking so I won't have to deal with the gravel. I found out that the women was out in full force during the weekend. I can tell you there are some nice looking women that come to Cherokee. Most of the women I bumped into was there to have a good time and party. I heard a weather report of how it was in the 80 degree range back in the flatlands of South Carolina and Georgia. The cool weather might be the reason for ladies bikers wearing their heavy coats all weekend. When you started riding the temperature start dropping so you needed a coat. The only big problem I found with these women is that they came with someone or there were more biker chicks than men. Either way it didn't do me any good because I was working. Like any other rally I go to I still have a good time and would not miss the next event. It seemed like there were more bikers here on Friday than Saturday. I talked with some of the vendors and found out that they were happy about the weekend and was glad that the bikers were coming to spend money. It would be nice some of the local attractions were open to enjoy during your stay in Cherokee at this time of the year. The last few big rallies that I have attended, I just didn't feel like that I got my money worth. Most of the time I can have this much fun just riding my bike. One good thing is that the mountains never close. I guess the rally is here to fill in during the slow time of the year. I am already planning to be here for the fall rally or at least for the leaves turning. Text and Photos by Tommy P. 37 The information age is upon us. People now plan their vacations, their free time, their hotel reservations and their airline flights all in the privacy of their home, on a computer. friendly bars and restaurants and what print publications are available. We also make it possible for you to nominate a business to be included in these lists! Fuel costs are skyrocketing, making distribution an ever rising expense. Between the Ecology and manufacturing costs, paper and printing are rising costs. We offer businesses many ways to let you the consumer know they exist and are here to help you. We help drive business to their websites. We reach a target audience WORLD-wide. And we do all of that at a cost lower than most print magazines can afford to. The business world is now dealing in a global economy, with customers seeing their products, comparing, and purchasing them, in the comfort of their home. We aren't just another web site. We are an ongoing magazine, with the look and "feel" of a magazine, not a links site. We don't charge you for an online version of our magazine, or a print version. There is no membership. We find honest to goodness interesting content for the ads to compliment, not the other way around. We don't have nudity or foul language, so that hopefully, even school age kids with a passion for riding will read us. We go after the international market, not just local, but we give every bit of it a local print feel. For all these reasons, White Line Magazine exists. We feel that now is the time for an online magazine that gives all the same benefits and feel of a print magazine, but has a global reach and direction. Check us out. Come back month after month as we feature new articles and stories and event coverage. see how easy it is to use the "Events and More" pages. Maybe even send in a riding experience to share with others, or pictures of your "fine" ride. We work at making this "your" magazine. We give you large and small advertisers. We strive to have the best in event coverage, stories and reading material. For businesses, we give you coverage, we feature businesses who are owned by motorcyclists on the cover of the magazine and we give you world-wide exposure. Enjoy! Now, no matter where you are, you can plan motorcycle events into the trip using our interactive "Events and More" page. Click on the state you will be visiting, and you'll get events for that month in that state, repair shops, biker Please send all comments and requests for more information to: [email protected] 38 39 The internet is a great tool and that's why we are an internet based magazine. To reach more people! We want to keep the look and "feel" of a paper magazine, but we also want to give you useful information. In that light, we give you some of our favorite website links. Canadian Biker Online Motorcycle City On Line Magazine Run Central Classified Ads Motorcycle Manufacturers Ironworks Motorcycle Guilty Customs Kendall Johnson Customs Thunder Action Designs J H Choppers Bourget's Bike Works Harley Davidson Exile Cycles Kawasaki Home Page Triumph Motorcycles - Official Website Suzuki - American Suzuki Motor Corporation Motorcycle & ATV Division Motorcycle Parts American Cycle Accessories Spokes and Power Fog Hollow JC Whitney Cycle-Parts.com Diamond D Parts Locators Custom Chrome Drag Specialties ECKCRAFT Bux Tools Exotic Sportbike Quill Exhausts Places of Interest www.RPMMagazineny.com Ironhorse Writer Buffalo Biker Online GR8Bike Management Splittin' the Breeze Cardio Wireless Biker - Jon Bikerkiss.com Easy Biker EZ Loading Trailers Larry T Beach 98.9 Motorcycle Jewelry Milledgeville Thunder Rally Best Harley Links Info EZ Rise Trailers PODTracker Link & Search Sites Dirpedia.com Florida Bike Nights.com Slick's Scooter Schedule Gum's Favorite Links Bike Links YoYsearch Biketrade Zepti.com Motorcycle Publications Full Throttle Magazine Born To Ride Magazine US Rider News (formerly Dixie Rider) Thunder Press Wind Talk Magazine Motorcycle Online Motorcycle Education ABATE of Florida American Motorcyclist Association motoschool.com Wheels in Motion - Motorcycle Safety Training 40 White Line Magazine seeks potential “Miss White Line”! White Line Magazine is looking for women to be a "Babe of the Month". Guys, send us in photo's of your lady (with her permission of course!) or gals... you think you got what it takes to show off as a biker babe? Must be at least 18 and will have to sign release. Entrants will be voted on by general public and a tally of votes will determine winner in January of 2006. Winner will be crowned Miss White Line Magazine. Below are email addy’s you can use to submit to different sections of White Line Magazine. Events? Parties? Rides? [email protected] ……......…Owner In future issues we will be expanding our events listings and calendar of events so that you have the widest possible range of things to do in the biking community. If you know of any ride, event or party that you think would be made better ( mo betta) by having a few hundred of White Line readers at… then send listings to us at [email protected] [email protected]..................... Owner / Managing Editor [email protected] .................... Submit pix, enter contests, or just to send us praise or complaints. [email protected] ............ for more info about advertising in our magazine. Sales Positions Available. [email protected]..... Send in the name and dates of someone for the Memorial Page. White Line Magazine is growing quickly! Because our magazine is so greatly accepted, we have positions for advertising sales staff. The amount of money you can make, is only limited by your enthusiasm and drive. A generous commission, a fun atmosphere, some leads provided, and the chance to get in on the ground floor of the best biker magazine bar none make this an ideal full or part time job. Contact Shadow at: [email protected] or send a resume to [email protected] [email protected] ........................ Got an event to have listed in the magazine? [email protected] ............... Suggest a place for Ice to chill at, or a band to be reviewed. [email protected] ................ Pix, stories and anything to do with the sport bike world. 41