Digital Magazine

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09 - Legends of the West
10 - Victory hi-ball
13 - go az women’s event
14 - laughlin 2013
19 - weekly events
28 - ride & event calendar
33 - women who ride
35 - riders4rescue
37 - illusion cycles open house
39 - ride bike, save butt
41 - never ending belt sander
43 - california to wisconsin
49 - angels stunt show
53 - new model: exodus
55 - top ten list
COVER PHOTO:
Another happy Biker at the 2013 Laughlin River Run.
George Childress, www.maineventimaging.com
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The Carson City Downtown Business Association welcomes you to The Third
Annual Legends of the West Bike & Car Fest Friday & Saturday, June 21st &
22nd! It has grown bigger with new events, activities and participants. With help
from the Freaks of Nature Car Club, DBA volunteers and the Blue Knights
this event promises to be a good one. First up, starting on Friday afternoon,
Carson Street will
be closed off for the
Tenth Annual Motor
Officer
Challenge
competition.
This
two day competition
brings Officers from
several
western
states. Competition
starts on Friday
and continues on
Saturday.
Friday evening offers early registration and a new “Cruise Night”. Cars and
bikes can participate in the “Downtown Loop” and show off their beautiful
babies. The public is encouraged to bring their chairs and watch the show. But
wait-- there is more! A new twist on cruising with your bike, ok, BICYCLE,
is called “Blinky Man”. With some inspiration from Burning Man, bicycle
enthusiasts are using their imaginations to decorate and illuminate their rides
to do a Friday night ...well, an adult pub crawl, kinda thing all around Carson
City.
Kyle Horvath of Panacea Planning Group and Greg Pisarski of Carson Now,
co-creators of Blinky Man, said “We hope everyone will enjoy this fun and
unique event and look
to do it again next year.”
Ok, this sounds fun, I
got a new Beach Cruzer
for Mothers Day and
I can use zip ties, duct
tape, Christmas lights
and batteries like a pro.
I’m in!
Also downtown on
Friday in the Nugget
parking lot, is a T-bucket
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car show. Not
a part of the
Legends event
but, it makes
for a fun-filled
weekend for
all. The Award
Ceremony this
year will be
on
Saturday
and is hosted
by Jimmy G’s
Cigar Bar out
on the back
Patio. Susan
Kerkla-Melvin Owner of Jimmy G’s, said “We are so happy to be hosting this
year, this is such a fun event and we love how it brings people to our beautiful
Downtown Carson City!”
Friday and Saturday night will have many downtown music offerings, fantastic
restaurants, shops
and
Casinos
to enjoy. This
weekend
will
be yet another
reason to come
enjoy
historic
and
beautiful
Carson
City.
Warning! Carson
City is known for
showing people
a good time. So
get ready! See
you there! Slain
te! – Irish for,
“Cheers!”
By Irish Flame (Dana Lee Fruend) -- travel author & free-lance writer
www.anamcaraspecialtytours.com
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Editor’s Note: According to my Madmen 60‘s cocktail app,
a High Ball is an old school drink combining an alcohol
and a mixer, and includes classics like the Greyhound,
Seven and Seven, and the Moscow Mule. This Editor and
his magazine do not endorse mixing alcohol and riding.
We just wanted an excuse to talk about Madmen...
CD
By Gary Mraz
This matte-black bobber sporting apehangers
wreaks attitude and offers two-positions (straight
up or slightly laid back). It’s a really cool feature
that allows you to adjust your attitude to any
situation. In the upright and “in the wind
position”, the reach is comfortable from the 25inch high saddle (second lowest in Victory’s lineup) putting the average rider bolt upright and with
a slight forward lean. The alternate bar position
is more relaxed and closer to the rider like found
on other Victory cruiser models. Setting to the
factory suggested markers, grip positions drop
from full up by a whopping 8.9-inches and come
back 5.4-inches. A comfortable riding position can
be found for even the vertically challenged riders.
The handlebar and triple tree clamps are solid,
reducing the flex to nothing more than a standard
handlebar.
But how does it ride? At first glance, it appears
that fashion has won over function in the styling
department, but the arms-up riding position was
more comfortable than expected. For boulevard
cruising and local hops, the fuel-injected SOHC
106 packs enough punch in the saddle to rocket
from traffic signs with a smile on your face, while
the high bars bring back your street cred by adding
a bad-boy look.
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Functionally, the High-Ball is defined by those
high bars and its pair of matched 16 x 3.5-inch
wire-spoke wheels. The front tire is a fat 130 while
the rear is a fatter 150. This combination makes it
one of the better handling bikes in the company’s
pure-cruiser stable. It turns with neutral ease.
Also, despite its “low” ride, its suspension does a
good job eating bumps, from potholes to railroad
tracks.
The High Ball, chrome-less except for the
60-spoke lace wheels, is known through its unique
styling cues, including its short front fender, and
the bodywork that has a raised spine running atop
the fenders and fuel tank for the length of the
bike. Rolling on a pair of 16-inch laced wheels
wrapped with Dunlop Cruisemax tires (120/90
up front and 150/80 out back), handling is
light and fun. The bike itself is relatively light,
too – lightweight enough to pick up off the side
stand with only your legs; it weighs in at about
700 pounds (659 claimed dry weight). It’s more
flickable than other big-inch cruisers I’ve ridden
thanks to the unique leverage on the bars as well
as the tweaked geometry.
High-Ball is a single-seat Bobber with no
passenger provisions. The front fender is bobbed,
and nearly every item is in black or matte black,
save for the gauge body and highlights on the
engine’s cooling fins. Its couple of shiny parts are
only there to remind you that the rest of the bike
isn’t shiny. Even the bars are black. The blackedout engine is Victory’s 1731cc , 106-cubic incher.
The single analogue gauge includes a digital
window that can be scrolled to show the tach and
gear-position indicator, odometer, tripmeter, or
clock.
Clamping down on the pair of 300mm floating
rotors with a 4-piston caliper in front and
a 2-piston rear brings the Hi-Ball to a halt.
Victory offers various options for the High-Ball,
including custom aluminum grips, pegs and a
few other do-dads, and an opened up airbox and
exhaust system. For those two later parts, digital
information is included for reprogramming the
ECU. In roll-on comparisons during our ride,
between one with the breathed-on mods and a
stock High-Ball, the modified version walked the
other bike in the top three gears, multiplying its
advantage once it reached higher rpm. Both bikes
exhibited excellent EFI response throughout the
rev range.
With Victory’s DNA seeping into every aspect,
from the ridged spine on the tank and fender,
to the slash-cut dual exhaust, to the two-tone
headlight nacelle, the high-bar addition to this
modified Vegas 8-Ball is a perfect fit.
The bottom line for feel of performance is that
the $14,499 High-Ball is without glitches and,
as mentioned, it handles damn well and with
ease. As with all Victory’s, it’s got a beauty of a
powerplant with barely a vibration reaching the
rider.
As stated you’ll find very little chrome on the
High-Ball, and it’s available in only one color
(black) that’s balanced with strong white accents
on the badge-less tank and Dunlop rubber.
While similar in appearance, the High-Ball is
more compact than the Vegas’ line-up, making
for a more nimble ride by way of a tighter rake
(by 1.2-inches), longer trail, and yet a shorter
wheelbase (64.8-inches) as well as overall length
(92.5-inches).
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As April showers bring May flowers…
Oh wait!! This is Arizona, and there are no such
things as April showers!! But as the beautiful riding
weather of April turns into May, along comes the
thunder and rumble of the engines of all the ladies
making it known that we, TOO, love to ride!! The
month of May is Women Riders Month, and many
different dealerships, venues, and organizations
throughout the country recognized this one Friday
in early May with International Female Ride Day.
Go Az Motorcyles of Scottsdale jumped
on board with this and put together a great ride for
the ladies of the Phoenix valley. Three prominent
lady riders got together on the day before IFRD
and rode the route that was laid out for us. Gina
Marra, the general manager of Go Az Motorcycles,
joined Valerie Thompson and Genevieve Schmitt
Thursday afternoon, taking the scenic route of
the Sonoran desert through North Scottsdale out
to Bartlett Lake. Valerie is a local celebrity in
her own right, holding 5 land speed records in
racing, with a top speed of 212 mph on her racing
motorcycle. Genevieve Schmidt is the founder of
WomenRidersNow.com and is one of the leading
spokespersons on women and motorcycling today.
These ladies were followed in close pursuit by
Bruce Haffner, a helicopter pilot and reporter
for one of the local news stations. The footage
gathered by Bruce that afternoon gives an idea of
all the beauty we get to experience on a daily basis
here in Arizona.
On Friday, these ladies (and Bruce) met
up with 50 to 75 other ladies at Go Az Motorcycles
to lead the ride for all of us. One of the newest
riders out there was Karyn Patton. She obtained her
motorcycle endorsement just this past February.
When she showed up with her group of friends,
I went up to give her a hug and saw that she was
just shaking. I asked her what was wrong and she
said she was so nervous and excited all at the same
time. She had experienced a couple of firsts in
riding even on that day. One of which was riding
on the 101 towards the east. Never had she ridden
that far before on the freeways. (Another one to
check off the list of “to-do’s”) . Karyn had really
been looking forward to doing this ride, partly to
prove to herself that she actually could do it!! That
she COULD ride in a larger group. That she didn’t
need to have her husband right by her side!! Karyn
learned that day that there was no intimidation by
anyone, no discrimination. We were all out there
for the same reason, to be recognized as lady riders
and to have a fantastic afternoon ride with a bunch
of other like minded people.
As we got ready to leave Go Az
Motorcycles on our journey, we were joined by a
few local sheriffs while they provided us with head
and tail escort, and with 3 leap frog units, ensuring
a nice safe ride for us while we rode through the
streets of Scottsdale and headed out into the lush
beauty of the desert.
We got to the turnoff towards Bartlett
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Lake, and were given a wave by the sheriffs, a send
off to ride free, and enjoy the road ahead! What
a free feeling! What a rush! It was pretty cool
to look up and see Bruce and his helicopter flying
towards us and around us, knowing he’s getting
outstanding footage of all us ladies out there
enjoying the ride!
Once we got to the lake, we all visited
for a bit. We took an opportunity to get some
pictures, catch up with friends, introduce ourselves
to someone we hadn’t met yet, and just relax for
a few minutes in the peaceful place we were at.
Then it was time to saddle up again and ride to the
top of the hill, where our escort was waiting for
us. We were then escorted into Cave Creek where
the fine folks at Harold’s Corral were waiting for
us. It was pretty cool for all of us to come rolling
in, having all the other patrons there watch us
parking and getting off our bikes, only to realize
that what we were was a large group of ladies.
Several of us were approached by people, asking
us what the occasion was, and basically asking us
other general questions about what it’s like to be a
lady who loves the passion of the motorcycle. It
made me smile.
There were ladies of all backgrounds
and levels of experience who gathered to ride in
recognition of women riders everywhere. There
were racers, business owners, factory workers,
food servers, caretakers, and more amongst us.
We had ladies who have ridden for 20 plus years,
to ladies who have only ridden for a couple short
months. One thing we all have in common is
our sisterhood and our love for riding. We are all
someone’s mother, daughter, grandmother, sister,
wife, or significant other. But we were all one that
day.
Anyone can ride if they want to. Go
Az Motorcycles has a motorcycle training course
right on site for all those who even think they may
want to check it out and see if learning to ride is
for them. There’s nothing quite like getting on
the bike and taking off for a ride. Check it out!!
And then join us next year for the next annual
International Female Ride Day! I, for one, can’t
wait to do it again!!
~~Smiles, Just Because
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Through the eyes of a Patch-holder… We still had a blast !
We had a complete blast at the “Laughlin River Run 2013”. My wife,
Esther and I celebrated our 11th Anniversary in Laughlin (with thousands
of our closest friends)… – as we’ve done since getting married there in
2002. And yes, we got married during the rally that prompted the no
colors policy, in force ever since. We actually got to minister to many
there that weekend. I’ll explain how that all took place.
When I tried to pay the pastor Gene Lee for doing our wedding, he said
“You can bless me and my congregation, by preaching at my church.”
Since 2002 as a Biker Pastor, I’ve done that. Esther and I fell in love with
the congregation at Laughlin Community Church. They are very sweet
people, and Pastor Gene is now a very close friend and mentor to me (as
he’s been a pastor over 50 years).
As a “patch-holder”, and the Chaplain of the San Diego Confederation
of Clubs - I was irritated at first about the “No Colors” policy, and we
thought about boycotting the event. But because I love being with our
BFC family, being at the church, and enjoying the event too - we decided
to continue attending the rally.
To do a “creative protest,” I always ask our group of 20-30 Bikers for
Christ members who hang out with us, to “turn their colors inside out”
when we go in the casinos. It actually flips the law enforcement and
security out “just a bit”…as many of our guys can look pretty hard-core.
When I ask the Supervisors if they really like knowing that we’re in some
type of group or club – but not knowing which one that we’re in - they all
respond with a resounding “NO”! They all tell me – they’d “really rather
know who they are dealing with”… It’s actually been kind of fun for us –
and I’m sure that it gets the officers to talk with their superiors and starts a
dialogue about perhaps lifting the policy someday…yeah I’m still a rebel,
who is really creative in showing others how ridiculous some laws are and
can be… Things have actually eased up a bit over the years. And while the
Casino’s do not allow patches in their buildings - this year they allowed
“everyone to wear their colors” in the vendor areas, and on the streets
(just not in the casinos). There were scores of great vendors this year too.
We spent the first day getting settled in to our hotels, and getting our
members connected with some of the host families from the church - that
take some of our group in. The next day we headed for Oatman, a really
cool old western town on the Arizona side of the Colorado River. We
were greeted by the dozens of wild burros, that roam the streets of the
town – and yeah we fed them all. Oatman is really a fun part of the old,
wild west that still exists.
The next morning I went to cover the drag races at the Avi for Quick
Throttle. I got a few cool shots of some of the brave racing souls. I also
talked some of our BFC crew into racing (all of whom had never raced
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before – but really enjoyed themselves). Then to my surprise, my QT
associate George Childress showed up and asked me to take a stab at drag
racing too. I love to ride fast and I accepted the challenge. I jumped on a
girl’s HD Fatboy (thanks Gretchen)… and raced my BFC brother Gypsy.
He beat me the first time (as I jumped the gun)… Then once I learned
how to play the game – I got pretty aggressive and did really well. The
only problem was that the “Fast HD Fatboy” had pink streamers hanging
from the handlebars, and “Go-Go” in pink on the back fender. It was
really a lot of fun that morning. Thanks for the cool coverage, George.
Later that evening we attended the “Creedence Clearwater Revisited”
concert. The band sounded great, and they played all the CC Revival hits
we’ve all grown to love over the years. Thanks to a very cool high-roller
at the Casino - I was able to meet the guys in the band, and we ended up
in the front two rows… It was an awesome anniversary gift to my wife
and I – to be able to get up close and personal with Creedence. It was also
a BFC lady’s birthday – that helped get us connected with the friendly
high-roller...
The next morning we rolled into Laughlin Community Church with a
dozen bikes… I was the guest speaker, and many said that they were
blessed by my message “Coming Soon to a Theater Near Us” (which was
about the unfolding fulfillment of Bible Prophecies). We of course took
a bunch of pics with the bikes, BFC members, and Pastor Gene and his
LCC church folks. Special thanks to the saints at LCC for believing in the
ministry of BFC. We hope to return for the fellowship and the rally every
year that we’re able to… it has been a blessing !
Your QT Roving Reporter and Sharp-shooter, Pastor Z.
Five Days in Laughlin - 2013
“No Colors, No Soft Colors”
Story by Ray Seidel
Wednesday
This was the first year in memory that the trip did NOT begin with drizzle
and a cold snap riding up Cajon Pass on Interstate 15. And after 13 years,
I finally mounted some bags onto my Indian for the trip (a windshield
added last year), so I was packed and ready for a 5-day trip.
As I said in my story about riding TO Laughlin (April Quick Throttle),
first stop is brunch at SUMMIT INN at the top of Cajon Pass. (Still a bit
cool this year, but no snow on the mountains.) Menu is 1950’s style, and a
big enough plate to keep me fueled up for most of the day.
Bikes require more fuel, more often, so a pit stop in Ludlow is standard
for most bikers. I’ve made it all the way from Barstow to Needles on one
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tank of gas on my Sporty, but running out of fuel in the hot Mojave desert
would just kinda spoil the day, so why chance it? Besides, I was in the mood
for a chocolate covered cone from the Dairy Queen at the 76 station. But
more on the Ludlow stop at the end of this story.
Having gotten an early start, I make it into Laughlin before nightfall.
Lodging this year is courtesy of the Pioneer, my first time there. You’ll
be right in the middle of all the action. In the evening, you may as well
just settle in; eat and maybe play some slots or Blackjack; the Block Party
doesn’t begin just yet.
Thursday
Pioneer had free shows/concerts etc- Evil Waze (Santana tribute band),
Crossfire, Freak Show, Austin Law, burnout contests, mechanical bull
riding, bikini mud wrestling. All free shows just a few steps from your room!
A couple of favorite foods here also: hand dipped corn dogs (NOT those
Foster Farm things!) and “home made” ice cream. If your family had one
of those hand crank ice cream makers, you know what I mean. The only
difference is this is belt-driven, so there’s plenty to go around. Try the peach
next year. For the kids, a four foot swimming pool was set up, with a large
clear ball a kid could get into, inflated with air and sealed, and then the
child could walk (or crawl) on water. A giant hamster ball for kids. If I were
6 years old I’d jump at that; they were loving it.
Walking the vendor area, another indulgence – back massage, $20 for 10
minutes. Hey, I’m here to have a good time.
Friday
Friday I decided to head out to Oatman, AZ, the old mining town. I’m a
sucker for the burros that roam the town, wild descendants from the miners’
burrows from the mining days of the 1930’s. Stores sell carrots or burrow
biscuits by the bag so you can feed them. And once you start, the others
zero in on the free grub. (Note: if there’s a sticker on the forehead of the
little ones, they’re too young to feed.) These critters know how to game the
system – for when I didn’t dig the carrots out fast enough, one gal bit the
bottom out of my bag, and all of them fell to ground. Carrots aplenty!
Myself, I like to just take my time in Oatman and make a day of it; sit a
spell on the porch of one of the stores, kick back with a cigar and strike up
a conversation with a stranger and talk politics or religion – all those things
you’re not supposed to talk about. Then find a cool T-shirt to take back
home. And there’s plenty to eat and drink here besides the shopping and
looking at a LOT of bikes.
TROPICANA 8 pm, I’m off to the RAD CO concert (BAD CO cover
band). Before long the dance floor was filling up (mostly young ladies)
with everyone having a great time. As a bonus the group finished up with
Beatles tunes. A stop for some Italian downstairs (I had great service), and
then some people watching on the street. Even as the evening gets late, it’s
warm out and the bikes cruise up and down, as entertaining as the people
walking the night.
Saturday
You never want to miss the custom bike show at the Colorado Belle on the
Observation Deck. I got there early, a perfect setting with the river right next
to you. I’ve never had a problem getting some good pictures of the bikes;
there’s enough open space to get some good shots. Check out the pictures.
Then off to Bullhead City Community Park for the noon show of the Victor
McLaglen Motor Corp Drill Team. Some good stunts by these guys that
scare the willies out of me. Harley has the demo rides going on also in the
same parking lot Friday and Saturday. Next to it was Speed’s Performance
Plus trailer, and these guys would dyno tune or do most anything else to
your bike. Several vendors are set up and there’s live music. I tried a booth
selling pulled pork sandwiches, and it was the second best I’ve had in my
life. (#1 being a booth at “Rods and Rails” in Perris). This year the mayor
of Bullhead City announced that henceforth, this will be known as Harley
Davidson Park!
Back at the Riverside Casino the Victory booth had a rep who knew his
product forward and backward, and I was almost ready to buy one on the
spot after seeing all its features I hadn’t known! The big Victory Vision
cruiser simply has everything, even a smart phone charger in the trunk
so you can use your phone at the end of your ride. They also had a cut-
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JUNE 2013
away engine so you can see the inner workings. Twin cam, four valves
per cylinder, double cam belt tensioners. Moreover, the engine is simply
designed in a common sense way for ease of service.
Over at the Indian booth, getting information is not so easy EXCEPT for
the engine. The 2014 Indian will be out later this year, date TBD. I’m
expecting a new Chief, starting price of $18,999., lighter in weight, with
more accurate historic graphics. I spoke to one of the engineers, who
actually came to the company from the former Indian at Kings Mountain.
He knows what the new bikes look like because he’s been testing them (one
black, one white, and admitted Indian red will be included in colors). I
mentioned the turquoise over cream 2004 Indian Chief that was the poster
bike for Gilroy before they closed their doors, but he said that though they
offered that color, they just did not sell – it was the Anderson Pea Soup
green that was popular. 111 cubic inches, 115 ft-lbs torque, 3 camshafts,
hydraulic lifters, and a WORKING model was on display intended to be
fired up every half hour for about 45 seconds. To the great surprise of the
engineer I’m talking to, some guy walks up to the motor, hit the START
button and starts running the motor! This made the Indian rep somewhat
cranky. Getting back to my interview with the engineer, he said this engine
was given the retro look to please all the Indian fans out there, BUT there
are other engines in the queue for future models. And what about the
Spirit of Munro racer they have, when will they try that out? “Sometime
later this year.” Do they have an expectation of how fast it will go? “No,
we’ll find out when we take it out.”
Also on display was a late 1930’s Indian – a barn find by Mike Wolfe on
American Pickers TV show. Restored in beautiful black with gold accents,
and now owned by Polaris/Indian. On the truck itself is a display of
Indian memorabilia from the collection of Bob Stark of Starklite Cycle,
whose family has been selling & servicing Indians since 1918.
Next door at the Riverside Casino is their world class collection of cars,
and a few motorcycles to boot. It’s free, so no excuse to miss it next year.
It includes some of my personal favorites: 1954 Corvette (2), 1963 Avanti,
1963 Buick Riviera, a Cord convertible, and some other gems. A really rare
item is a 1952 Muntz convertible. Madman Muntz was famous for his TV’s
and stereos, sold them for $5,550, and they were a big hit. The problem
was they cost $6,500 to make, and no one wanted to pay that much. Muntz
made only 374 cars, and lost $400,000, which would certainly drive ME
mad. And, I took a liking to the 1949 Harley Davidson 125 two stroke.
Averaged 90 miles per gallon, 1-3/4 gallon tank. Way cool!
Sunday
Sunday I tried to get out of “Dodge” earlier than usual after a made to
order omelet at the Pioneer. BE AWARE Casino Drive is 35 MPH. It’s a
long, nice little drive in and out of Laughlin, and makes NO SENSE to be
35 mph – as 45 is the least it ought to be. And every year I see the cops have
someone pulled over who didn’t take it seriously.
Again, you want to fill up before hitting I-40 westbound, with Ludlow the
logical stop if going to Barstow. (Consider Amboy if going south). As I
pulled off at Ludlow to the 76 gas station / Diary Queen, there were 50
bikers in line at the pumps! Scooting across the Interstate to the Chevron
on the other side, another 25 bikes (and cars, and trucks) in line. Gang!
You don’t need to spend all day here in line; there are two more filling
stations up the road at Newberry Springs. I zipped into the Mobil station
there, right up to the pump, then on my way.
“On my way” in this case happens to be my other must-stop when in the
area, the Bagdad Café. Has never failed to entertain. I usually order the
Jack Palance burger (bacon burger), the names coming from the actors
who appeared in the movie of the same name. This time just a grilled
cheese and Coke with fries, wanting to be on my way sooner than later.
To my right is a table full of French people. I ask how long they’ll be here,
and although they claim they don’t speak English (they really do, that just
means not “perfectly”), they say for three weeks. I point out my Indian out
front, and the husband in the family pulls out his smart phone and shows
me a picture of his orange Harley Sportster he keeps in Switzerland. How
cool is that!
Thus ends another trip to Laughlin. Sidebar: Barstow’s “Bob’s Big Boy” is
now closed after many, many years. Besides IN ‘N”OUT, this has been a
favorite, and getting harder to find. Still, try to stick with the Mom & Pop
greasy spoons on the great back roads we have like Rt. 66; you’ll probably
have something you can share around the water cooler when you get back
to work. See you in Laughlin next year.
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EVERY NIGHT - FREE DRUNK RIDER PICKWhen you feel unable to Ride, Decide to call 1-800649-4749 and we will pick you up, You and your
Motorcycle, Sidecar, or Trike and take you both
SAFLEY home FREE OF CHARGE!!! This service
is offered to ALL riders in the North San Diego
County area. Call Rix Eden at 1-800-646-4749.
MONDAYS
PAID IN FULL M/M FAMILY BIKE NITE
At Nick’s Super Burgers. Runs thru 1st Monday in
November. 6-9 PM. Bike show, trophies, 50/50, DJ,
freeze dance for children. 1712 W. Orangethorpe
Avenue, Fullerton, CA 92833. Contact Pastor Jose
at 714.231.0070
TUESDAYS
TORO BAR & GRILL
Bike Nights 2nd and 4th Tuesdays of the
month. All-you-can-eat BBQ or Taco
Bar, $5. Margaritas, $2.50 tap. 1465 Rio
Rancho Blvd. SE, Rio Rancho, NM
87124 www.riorancho-inn.com
FATBURGER
In Carson, CA. great people, great food, drawing
prizes, trophy for best bike and 50/50. Pass the word,
everyone is welcome.
501 E. Albertoni St. #C, Carson, 90746. 310-2255535.
WEDNESDAYS
MR. D’S BAR & GRILL, LAS VEGAS
Free burgers and dogs, great drink
specials, and our famous Wet T-Shirt
contest. Wednesday is also ladies night
- they get $2 well drinks and domestic
beers, $3 call drinks & imports. 1810 S Rainbow Blvd
Las Vegas, NV 89146
BIKE NIGHT AT THE STARTING GATE!
Every Wednesday, 6-9 PM, rain or
shine, sponsored by Quick Throttle
Magazine. Offering $4 spaghetti
dinners and drink specials, best bike trophy, raffles
and prizes. 5052 Katella Los Alamitos 562-598-8957
contact Jim for special events 714 -350-0772
BIG DADDY’S SPORTS LOUNGE
Happy Hour Prices on Well, Wine and Draft. $1.00
Jello Shots - 1/2 price Burgers. Free
Raffles - Off track betting! 10618 N. Cave
Creek Rd. Phoenix (Cave Creek and
Peoria) 602-861-1034 www.bigdaddysaz.com
ERIN’S SHEPPARDS
$3.00 Jack Daniels - $3.00 Sailor Jerry Rum - $2.50
Domestic Bottles. 3114 E. Cactus Rd., Phoenix, AZ
85032. 602-404-2300
LUCKY’S LOUNGE
Bike Night every 2nd & 4th Wed. Bike Parking
Provided, Food Specials. $3 Draft Beer All Night, $1
7 oz. Beer w/Shot purchase. 9800 Montgomery NE
Ste. 8 & 9. Albuquerque, NM 87111, 505-323-4490
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JUNE 2013
JUNE 2013
CRUISE NIGHT IN EL CAJON
El Cajon Blvd., Downtown
Eastland, 2620 E. Workman Ave. W. Covina, 91791
www.bikersforchris.org
THURSDAYS
SATURDAYS
Hotrods Bike Nights every 1st
Thursday of the month. 6pm Close. Featuring: Dual Dyno
Drags, Burnout Pit, Bike Show with prizes, Beer
Garden, BBQ Pit, Drink Specials and Live Music!
10500 E Old Vail Rd. Tucson, AZ 85747 520-2020987 www.hotrodsoldvail.com
SILVER DOLLAR SATURDAYS
Jump start your ride with San Diego Harley-Davidson
& our Motofuco Cafe in Little Italy! Every Saturday
morning we’ll have a complimentary Flapjack
Breakfast! A perfect way to start you ride and weekend!
San Diego Harley in Little Italy: 2400 Kettner Blvd.
SD CA 92101
215 SALOON
Bike Night 4 PM-Midnight. Enjoy $10
domestic buckets, $5. Jagerbombs, Ladies 2-for-1
drinks 8-Midnight, Lg. 1-topping pizza $8.99. Join us
for our 2-year Anniversary in June - huge party, cash
giveaways, drawings and more! 4145 S Grand Canyon
Ave, Ste 109-111 (West off I-215 & Flamingo). See us
on Facebook at 215 Saloon
ROADHOUSE BIKER CHURCH
Meets every Saturday Night at 7pm. Join us on the
first Saturday of every month for Spoke N Word with
awesome guest musicians, guest speakers and food.
Check out our website for rides, runs and more info.
www.roadhousebikerchurch.org 255 W. Benedict, San
Bernardino, CA. 92408. 909-889-7136
NICANTONI’S
Stop by the NE corner of Warner and McQueen.
Every Thursday at 6:30 to enjoy Free Wings, $2 bottles
and drafts, $2 off pitchers and $1 off wine and mixed
drinks. 1430 W. Warner Rd. #136, Gilbert, AZ 85233
480-892-2234, www.nicantonis.com Check us out on
Facebook!
BLACK
SHEEP
SO.
CAL
REGIONAL
BREAKFAST
First Saturday of every month (rain or shine), 9am at
Rosa Café & Tortilla Factory, 28134 Jefferson Ave.
in Temecula, $7 includes breakfast, beverage, tax/tip
and door prizes. 909-600-2694
JIMMY D’s BAR & GRILL
$2.00 Breakfast Special 7 Days a Week. Daily Lunch
Specials. SPECIALS on Food and Drink Every
Thursday Night for Bike Night
2017 E. Cactus Road, Phoenix, AZ 602-867-0255
DIRTY DOGG SALOON
Come see the Famous Dirty Dogg Girls
do their thang!
Enjoy LIVE MUSIC Weekly! $3- 16oz
Bud Light - Designated Bike Parking - Free raffles
10409 N. Scottsdale Rd. Scottsdale, AZ 85253 - - 480368-8095
CRUISE NIGHT IN LA MESA Downtown La Mesa
FRIDAYS
CHESTER’S HD
The 1st Friday of every month is
Motorcycles on Main Bike Night in
Downtown Mesa from 6pm – 10pm.
Free and open to all bikers. Sturgis Style parking right
on Main Street. 2 blocks of Main Street shut down
just for bikers! Call 480-894-0404 or
www.chestershd.com
VINTAGE BIKE NIGHT
The 3rd Friday of every month is
Vintage Bike Night in downtown Las
Vegas. Come check out cool classic
bikes - Cafe Racers, Custom Bikes, Classic Harleys,
Retro Sport Bikes & Scooters. Jammin’ line-up of live
music, live body painting, artists and vendors, food
and drink specials. Starts at 7pm. Located at The Arts
Factory 107 E. Charleston Blvd. Presented by Las
Vegas Dyno Tech 702.644.9412. Check out photos on
facebook - facebook.com/LVDynoTech
FRIDAY BIKER FELLOWSHIP
Hosted by Bikers for Christ SVG 7 PM, Starbucks-
THE LIVE RIDE CELEBRATION SERVICE
Every Saturday night @5:00pm, 6245 Sylvan Drive,
Simi Valley, CA 93063, 805-306-0042.
www.liveride.org.
SUNDAYS
The GASLAMP in LONG BEACH
Join us every Sunday for live rock
and blues bands! Best Bike Trophy,
Killer BBQ, and Great Food and
Drink specials, along with our gorgeous beer hostess
on the patio. Raffles, 50/50, biker girl fashion shows,
bike wash and chili cook offs and vendors will take the
last Sunday of every month. Big outdoor patio and
ample parking.
THE BIKER CHURCH
Rushing Wind Ministries meets every Sunday at 10
a.m. at our new location: 4168 Avenida De La Plata
suite 101, Oceanside, CA. 92054. Join
us for rockin’ worship music, street-level
teaching by Pastor Z., and a lunch ride
following every service. Call 760-9400257 for more info.
BIBLE STUDY AT KENNEDY’S
Warriors of the Cross MC hosts a weekly Bible Study
every Sunday 10:30 am at Kennedy’s Custom Cycles
3028 San Luis Rey Rd. Oceanside CA 92058. Call
Coolhand 619 370 9924 for additional information.
THE GARDEN, a church at 86th St. and McDonald
in Scottsdale, AZ loves its bikers! Senior Pastor Gene
James and Motorcycle Minister Rick Black conduct a
“Bike Blessing” after service every second Sunday of
every month. You will receive a decal, a patch, then
ride off in our gorgeous weather on a random ride,
then a bite to eat and fellowship at a restaurant chosen
by the group. Service starts at 10AM, Bike Blessing
follows. For more info, hit [email protected].
21
By Randy Twells
“Sometime later, after the roar dies down…”
Whenever I go to an event, people say “Wow! I wish I had YOUR job!”
Yes we get to do all the glam awesome stuff - we get to go right up front,
sometimes even onstage, with bands to shoot their shows, we get to stand
in the middle of a double column of bikes shooting photos as they part
the waters towards and around us, we get to climb to the roof of a sky
high hotel and shoot photos of the scene below. We get to be the exclusive
photographer at a big name concert, and have the band personally approve
our photos for publication. We get to throw T-shirts out to the crowd at
the Custom Bike Show, meet legendary music stars and interview them
in person talking bikes and music, we get to shoot a girl band posed
around a giveaway bike at their show venue for a movie poster, stand on
the sidelines right down at the action at motorcycle drag races, yes it’s
AWESOME. Split second timing between four of us Quick Throttle
reps/photographers all week long, and many thousands of photos later,
we all have stories to tell about incredible adventures and happenings.
Our real riders—Fred Z, George Childress, Ray Seidel and myself Randy
Twells bringing you our stories and tales from the road…and Laughlin
River Run…..
Wednesday evening I rolled in to Laughlin just after dark, with a brilliant
moon lighting the way. In Laughlin, it’s nice and quiet and few bikes out
and about-- The calm before the storm!! We put some mags out in the
Pioneer lobby. Immediately getting snapped up. The center Laughlin
Event Guide section is a popular feature. I see the Laughlin Entertainer
next to Quick Throttle—our George Childress shot the cover! Way to go
George!
I stayed at the Pioneer, and get to park right outside my room, 10 feet
away. Can’t beat it! Grab dinner from the Fast Draw Snack Bar, open all
night, saved me all week with good healthy food when I needed it! like
Chef Salads to go, wraps & subs & fresh fruit, all healthy! And goodies
too if you crave something sinful. (I caved once…)
The Riverside Starview Room, Colorado Belle, Edgewater, Tropicana
Express, Bullhead City Bikefest, Arizona Performance Cycle, UniqCycle
Sounds vendor booth, Harrah’s, as well as Performance Specialists &
Mother Road HD in Kingman plus many other locations, all had Quick
Throttle put out for visitors to pick up!!
Thursday morning I’m out front of Pioneer, walking past an amazing
green Big Dog chopper and tiny little green dirt bike under forks,
positioned like Daddy bike with Baby bike protectively under forks. Wow!! I had to shoot it---what a shot! Part of being Quick Throttle is
to run around putting out magazines—so I stopped at the Mother Road
HD T-shirt trailer at the Golden Nugget vendor area and met Frank and
Susie working there, dropped off some Quick Throttle for their walk up
customers. Nice people! More photos!
My next stop was to put magazines out at River Palms/Tattoo
Convention; met up with Larry Topping the promoter, shot a few photos
of the ink artwork in progress. While there I stopped at the Haunted
Memories booth selling real archival photos that morph into zombie
lookin’ characters. Cool!!
My rounds took me next across the mighty Colorado, over the “Laughlin
Bridge” at the north end of town. When you stop on this bridge in
traffic waiting for the light, it bounces up and down pretty good when
the oncoming traffic rolls by. On a bike, it’s very exciting! At Arizona
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JUNE 2013
Performance Cycle, met up with Suzi & Tim our old buddies who helped
us with the bike battery disconnect and gas draining of celeb & other
display bikes in the Ladies at Laughlin event 2001-2005. We snap some
photos out front of them, crew & friends holding up Quick Throttle
mags! Suzi gives me one of their annual APC Laughlin special T-shirts.
I pick cool white since it’s getting pretty hot now in Laughlin.
Now heading back across the bridge again to Laughlin and visit the Star
& Victory trailers in the Riverside lot, bringing each some magazines
with their stories in them! Star had a Bolt review, and A-Team running
the Victory display, had a special build story-- all were stoked, and put
them out for pickup by visitors to their displays. Our Ray Seidel has
already been there to visit these guys and check out the bikes and test
rides!
Soon it’s time for Harrah’s H-D dealer reception- I arrive early and put
magazines out and shoot photos. Like old times seeing Rich Quaid,
John Paliwoda the Dealer Assn. Chair, Law Tigers & Disco Loveland
on the mic as MC! And right in the space we used to have that Ladies at
Laughlin charity event that the Dealers Assn. so generously sponsored!
I headed over to Mickey Gilley’s show at the Riverside, where Mickey
kindly does a voice recorder interview beforehand, & gave me 2 of
his CD’s and autographed his Riverside show ad on back of Laughlin
Entertainer for me (the same issue has our George Childress’ cover shot
on it!)! Mickey is such an icon. He founded Gilley’s, the country bar
in Pasadena, Texas and the setting for John Travolta’s breakout movie
“Urban Cowboy”—where the mechanical bull became the coolest thing
on the planet. Mickey had posed on a Harley recently for a photo, used
to promote this concert. An accomplishment considering 4 years ago
he slipped and fell helping a friend move a big heavy piece of furniture,
fractured 4 vertebrae, and the doctors said he would never walk again.
His determination won out- he still sits or scoots in a power chair a lot,
but he also walks a half a mile a day now. (Hell I can’t even walk a half
mile a day, I’m so busted up myself…) So we high-fived and Mickey
went out front to sing many of his hit songs, like “True Love Ways” and
others, and tell so many great stories to the crowd from his personal life
and years in show biz. George and I got to shoot from out front of stage
as well as onstage/backstage, back & forth in all the props & drapes! No
tripping!
Late night, I was still looking to meet up with Kevin the T-shirt guy with
the box of 40 shirts we ordered for throwing out to the crowd on Saturday
at the Belle/Custom Bike Show and at Center Circle—my phone ranguh-oh; his buddy went down on gravel on their ride out to Laughlin, got
broken ribs, punctured lung; they were in Bullhead ER a long time-- then
shipped the off to Vegas’ trauma care facility. After seeing the injured
rider off in the ambulance for transfer to Vegas, Kevin meets me in the
Pioneer parking lot and hands off the T-shirt box all taped up like kilos
of uh… T-shirts! - I’m sure it looked dubious to anyone watching....
Friday morning up bright and early for the Star Touring & Riding
Breakfast at Aquarius. I shoot some pics, hand out ½ a box of mags
with the Bolt review to all the STAR members’ tables & Star reps, &
boogie out. The American Heroes Poker Run started at Tropicana Express soon, so
across the strip and shoot photos of the American Legion Honor Guard,
“Good Lookin” John Trujillo, John Reith, and Commander Richard
Roel of American Legion Post 87 in Bullhead City. And a photo
presenting their Appreciation Plaque to Tropicana’s Assistant Director
of Marketing Gwen Corson. While there I set up a bike shoot with the
JUNE 2013
23
Iron Maidens for Saturday before their show. Back to the Riverside; my
prayer for a photo opp of Mickey and his band members Jay and Ron by
their motorcycles, was answered! My flash quit, but we got a photo anyway
as best we could!
Back on track to the American Heroes Poker Run party—hit the highway
out to Mother Road HD in Kingman and shoot pics there. My buddies,
the guys in the band King vs. Cash played before I got there- grrrr!!!!! so
decided to do a ‘lineup’ shot anyway, looking for a background then I spied
the porta potty and it was all downhill from there! Out here, they have
the Kingman Elks Lodge #468 every year, doing a Harley Heritage Softail
raffle, so we shot that too! 468 tickets, $66 each (get it? Route 66?)
Back on the highway to Laughlin. Uphill, downhill, big rocks, big sweeping
giant curves, incredible scenery. You have to ride this highway! Back
in Laughlin, after moving some boxes of magazines to be ready for the
Custom Bike Show the next day, I headed back to Riverside lot to meet up
with Danielle who works for Roadshows, the Street Vibrations promotion
co.; I see some tall good looking firefighters nearby and they let us rope
them into doing a photo with a Quick Throttle Magazine!
Next on my photo schedule was the River Palms/Tattoo Convention for
more photos of the ink action—I shot this one guy who had got a very
graphic tattoo on his stomach finished and saran wrapped; got shots of the
cleanup and it’s quite a process. He was a hardy soul too. I was passing out
just watching. And many lovely ladies and hunky guys right there getting
inked, a huge tattoo gathering and fest with the best artwork garnering
awards & prizes. Artists creating real works of art on living breathing
canvas!
Then it was time to head over to Bullhead City to Harley-Davidson Park
for the awesome H-D Dealer Association VIP Party, where we meet up
again with Chris Barton of the Bullhead Chamber, Bullhead Mayor Jack
Hakim, City Manager Toby Cotter, H-D Dealer Association Pres. Mark
Ruffalo and the group lined up under the inflatable HD logo entrance arch
for a photo. Mark introduced me to Arizona State Senator Kelli Ward
who posed graciously for a photo too! Now this party was under way,
Victor McLaglen Motor Corps were here letting off steam (especially the
incorrigible Mark Frymoyer ;), the band The Grind (Santana tribute) let
me get some shots on stage, and Disco Loveland got line-dancing started.
Great food, awesome music, what a party!
Back over the bridge a-gain! --to Laughlin to shoot some of the free
concerts & entertainment at the Pioneer- A guest band- a surprise not on
the schedule- “Elvis Monroe” with lead singer Bryan Hopkins, did some
songs and then the full-lineup Austin Law, a country pop group that plays
everything and has an awesome gal playing fiddle. Nearby was mechanical
bull riding with lots of willing participants and very entertaining-- it’s not
a matter of If, but When….! Then also at the Pioneer, you could Ride
the Orb—the big clear plastic spheres, with kids and adults alike getting in
them for a roll around the pool. Our Ray Seidel compared them to giant
hamster balls- hmm I guess you could take that a couple of ways-- With one
too many under your belt this could be very confusing…!! Or hilarious!!
Saturday my early gig is at Colorado Belle where we sponsor the Custom
Bike Show with our banner and plenty of Quick Throttle Magazines &
T-shirts on the Observation Deck! Our photographers are all out here
getting shots of the bikes, and the crowd. There are some real works of
art out here.
While the Custom Bike Show simmers, I head back out ‘on the highway’
to Kingman again, this time by the airport, for Performance Specialists
Bodacious Biker Palooza Extravaganza- they had bands, midget wrestlers,
a bike smash, bike games, burnouts, you name it. Kelly (the Kelly in…
Kelly’s Performance…) is constantly in motion in the shop, I think every
shot of him is a blur, he never stops, he is a repair guru in perpetual motion. And his right arm Debbie Frain well, she makes it aaaaall happen.
So once again I head back to Laughlin—up, down, desert highway,
spectacular scenery- and shoot more photos at the Custom Bike Showeverything from a tiny vintage 1973 Honda Z50 mini bike and a late 60’s
Chinese-motorized Huffy bicycle, to full-on blinged-out bagger/dressers
and stretch choppers and everything in between.
As the judging wraps up and the bikes are moved into place for the
awards, we throw out 15 Quick Throttle Sons of Anarchy T-shirts to the
crowd- VERY excited crowd. Sam Baldi’s Lost Angel WINS 1st Place!
Awesome. (see the back-story on how this bike came about, in Oct. 2012
Sturgis coverage.) 2nd place, a batwing Street glide; matte gray paint with
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JUNE 2013
menacing skull images peering out from unobtrusive places, and a crazy
big scythe-spoked front wheel. 3rd place winner, a chiseled marvel - oh
and the bike wasn’t bad either- a custom Buell. This show draws the
very coolest bikes. Out at Center Circle, Joe O’Day pitched out 16 more
Quick Throttle Sons of Anarchy T-shirts to a crowd gone wild! Next I wanted to go visit our friend Kris / UniqCycle Sounds at
Edgewater lot. There he is right around the corner inside the entrance
where I am introduced to some guy named Charlie… Charlie who??
Charlie Brzejche whaat?? Oh CHARLIE BRECHTEL… OMG. whatta
guy. So I fall over on his leg completely off balance. He catches me with
a big hug! Personable, fun, a real character. He gets out his iPhone and
does a live feed to his BiC web radio site, puts me on air. I ad lib-- “This
is Randy with Quick Throttle, hey we’re here at UniqCycle in Laughlin
with Charlie, awesome, these guys are the real deal, hell we’re the real
deal too, hey hope you all like our stuff, check us out online too!” We
shoot a group shot with the UniqCycle crew and Charlie, holding up
Quick Throttles! Charlie makes sure I have his CD and an autographed
pic! I have been officially Brechtelized!
So after I grab a Subway and munch in the wonderful, awesome air
conditioning, I roll into the Tropicana for the Iron Maidens bike shoot-soon they arrive, I pose them around the bike. Linda the Drummer I’m
trying to think of what job to give her. Suddenly it hits me. “I want
you to lo-o-ove the tank—but leave the HD badge visible!” She does
her assignment and loooves that tank! Click click click about 10 shots
and The Maidens have to get back to their dressing room to ready for
the show starting barely 45 mins later--- I go to the Pavilion and see wow,
it’s different this year, the stage is higher so fans can be right up close and
personal with the band! Next thing I know, the lights go down, show
starts, audience rushes the stage! While I had planned to shoot from
in front of stage, the band manager motions me around the side. Helps
me up into the side access areas and, even the drum platform! Wowawesome shots!! Then I get more shots from the back looking out at the
awesome audience reaching up to the gals, and it’s GUYS reaching up
and GIRLS playing the guitars and leaning over to acknowledge their
admirers!! Ha! Quite a reversal from the usual rock concert scene!! After the show, I stop in the Under the Stairs Café, and have a shrimp
cocktail and fruit cup, totally filling protein filled healthy meal, for $6. Can’t beat it with a drumstick!! As I sit there and chill while munching, I’m looking back at some of the
1500 photos in my camera, mentally tagging ones to use for this story. I
get back to the Pioneer and crash in my ground floor room where the
parking is right there two steps away. A nice flat screen TV, Fast Draw
snack bar chef salad, propped up with pillows enjoying dinner in bed in
a wonderful cool room, a brownie, iced tea, Thank you God..er… Mr.
Pioneer.
Of course it’s never over til you actually arrive in your own driveway, so
heading back west on Route 66 from Goffs to the 40, I see the “Route 66”
painted onto the roadway and get an idea. I spot a couple guys stopped
for reconnaissance on the side of the road and ask if I can shoot them
rolling over the Route 66 emblem. They go SURE!! The Dirty Saints,
they are a club that rides for Charity, and glad to give them props here.
I stop at the Hi Desert Oasis as usual too just before the 40, Naja has put
up a new Route 66 sign to promote the historic location here, and I shoot
a pic of her on one of the hundreds of bikes that stop here for a BBQ
chicken meal and a little shade under the misters on the patio in “Naja’s
Food & Drink Garden”. Aquariums inside, nice clean facilities, plenty
of chill space, awesome!! This makes her whole year folks, so stop by
whenever you are out that way! At another usual stop in Barstow at the Chevron, there is Dave with the
Law Tigers semi and sign trailer, stopped for a break after stopping to
help a biker broken down at roadside, and getting him fixed up with help. And the biker was very grateful! Way to go Dave! As another Laughlin
River Run heads into the sunset, I’m tired but at the same time, reenergized. After 1000+ miles on the road, 5 days later I’m thinking, ‘It’s
over already?” Well we can relive it through photos and telling the great
stories.. and we hope you enjoy re-living it through our eyes and words.
Check out the Quick Throttle Gallery for many more great photoshttp://quickthrottle.com/media-archive/2013-photo-gallery/
JUNE 2013
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What started out as a somewhat dreaded trip to
Laughlin River Run ended up being an amazing first hand look
into a wild west town that is still alive and kicking.
We headed out of Las Vegas en route to the
Laughlin River Run on Thursday, April 25th,
2013 on our Harley-Davidson motorcycles.
Having been to the event once before, I was
not very eager to go back. However, my friend
Ryan had never been, and he will soon be
moving out of state, so it was kind of like our
last hoorah. Being unable to find reasonable
accommodations closer to Laughlin, we ended
up staying in Oatman, Az at a small bed and
breakfast type place called “Quinntopia”.
Owner Jim Quinn is the self proclaimed “#1
host in Oatman”, and after our stay, I couldn’t
agree more.
Pulling into town, we were greeted by two of
the local burros who had apparently become
quite fond of one another, and had no problems
with public displays of affection. The town of
Oatman itself is a small, former gold mining
town about 15 miles east of Bullhead City. A
lot of people have never even heard of it. Even
those who have heard of Oatman, have almost
certainly never heard of Jim Quinn’s place.
Having been to Oatman several times myself, I
can tell you that Jim’s “Quinntopia” is one of
Oatman’s best kept secrets. And one of its best
features is Jim’s colorful personality. Those who
have met him will understand.
Oatman consists of 30 or so small, old west
style shops, and the Oatman hotel which was
built in 1902. There are only around 135 full
time residents, and the town makes its living
mostly from the European tourists that come
through traveling Route 66. There is a bus that
comes to town 3 times a week bringing curious
travelers to the town and filling the shops and
restaurant. The wild burros come down from
the mountains everyday around 10:00 am, and
wander the streets until around 6 pm. For one
dollar, you can buy a bag of their feed, and
hand feed them. Everything in town closes
around 5 pm.
The locals are some of the nicest people you
will ever meet. Like John, the town guitar player
28
and actor in the town gunfights, and Ray the
Vietnam vet, and Damien, the neighbor who we
helped put in his A/C unit after he cut the hole
out of the side of his house. And there was also
Jimmy Hornfeather, a local artisan, who makes
some awesome jewelry out of animal horns. He
says he has sold over 65,000 pieces, and teaches
others the art as well. This town is about people
who do what they have to in order to survive..
The old fashioned way. The Route 66 way. This,
to me, is the true spirit of “The Mother Road”
and that spirit has not been lost to the residents
of Oatman.
During the day, some work in town at any of
the local shops or perhaps in nearby Bullhead
City. At night, at least during the bike event,
they congregate at one another’s home and have
a real down home party. You have to be careful
walking the dirt roads, as Jim Quinn points out.
He blew out his good pair of flip flops one night
that way and it took him an hour to walk back
home in the dark on his tender bare feet.
Here in Oatman, unlike Vegas, there are no
multi-million dollar homes. Damien paid $300
for his house. Nor are there Lamborghini’s at
every corner. However, Jimmy Hornfeather
does have an old Dodge caravan that needs a
fuel pump. He will get around to it, someday...
It is a simple way of life, and they wouldn’t
want it any other way. From my understanding,
the town has its share of drama, but they make
it work. Everyone has a different story as to
how they ended up here, but they all have one
common thread. They love it in Oatman. And I
must say, I do too.
couple from Elko, Nevada. We all had a great time in Oatman. There were
vendors, bands, burros and bikes. Lots of bikes. They completely lined both
sides of the streets from end to end, and then some.
Here at Quinntopia, Jim has an eclectic collection of nic nacs, and odds and
ends that at first seems quite random. However, once you have submersed
yourself in the Oatman experience, it all makes sense. You see, where many
people will just see a pair of Ryan’s old underwear hanging from the tree
out back, to us, it’s about the memories we left behind. And as I sit on
the back porch here at Quinntopia and look around and all the rest of the
mismatched “clutter”, it becomes obvious that it isn’t clutter at all. They are
the memories left behind from those who came before us.
Sunday morning, around 6 a.m, as the sun was peaking over the mountains,
Scott and Shannon, were driving down the hill on their way
back to their world. Hopefully our paths will cross again someday. I began
to pack my stuff too, though Ryan was still passed out from the party the
night before. And what a party it was... John playing guitar and singing by
the light of the campfire, Jim Quinn making jokes in his raccoon hat, Coral
trying to steal Jim’s raccoon hat, the coyotes howling, the full moon rising
over the “elephant’s tooth”. Those are memories I will never forget.
As I walked to the bathroom for what would be one of the last times, I
looked down the hall at Jim’s room, and I realized that this was it... Once
we leave, Quinntopia will be empty and Jim will be here all alone until the
next guests arrive. It could be months.... I wondered, will Jim be lonely or
does he prefer it that way?
In the end, I never really even made it to the Laughlin River Run. However,
Oatman turned out to be just what I needed. An escape from my real world.
The glitz and glamour of Las Vegas. The hustle and bustle of my stressful
daily routine. Laughlin would have been crowded, noisy, hot, etc... Not
only did I get to SEE Oatman, I got to LIVE Oatman thanks to Jim Quinn.
As they say, it was “priceless”.
Small town America is still out there, and Oatman is a perfect example
of it. Whether you take a week, or just a weekend, get out there and find
it. I guarantee there are little towns like Oatman within a few hours of
where you live. Leave the laptop at home, turn off the cell phone and go get
reacquainted with this great country.
Rob Borden - Biker Atlas
The stretch of Route 66 heading east from
Oatman to Cool Springs is reportedly the
curviest section of the entire route boasting over
200 curves in just over 9 miles. A motorcyclist’s
delight. Scott and Shannon, fellow guests
occupying the presidential suite at Quinntopia,
rode with us and showed us to nearby Hualapai
Mountain which was unbelievable. Very nice
JUNE 2013
JUNE 2013
29
JUNE
JUNE 1-2
OAKHURST, CA* Annual Bike Blessing & Run,
proceeds Helping Hands Pregnancy & Parenting
Center, free breakfast at 9 am, Bike blessing
10:30,run registration 9-10:30 am, kickstands up at
11 am. Starts at 40266 Hwy 49, Oakhurst,Ca ends at
Bass Lake, Ca. Cost for run $20. Food, raffle, 50/50,
music, etc. Sponsored by Bikers for Christ MM
Contact Mark Email [email protected]
JUNE 1
SAN MARCOS, CA* 1st SATURDAY SWAP
MEET –at Biggs Harley-Davidson 10am-3pm
FREE to buyers and sellers, vendors, FREE BBQ &
Live Band! 1040 Los Vallecitos Blvd. #113 760481-7300 More info: [email protected] or
visit www.biggshd.com SEE AD
MADERA, CA.* 9th annual Ride For The Cure
benefitting Children’s Hospital Central
California.7:30-9:30 am Breakfast, free raffle, silent
auction.9:45 Ride through the hills of Central Calif.
Around Bass Lake and to the hospital for check
presentation at 1:00. $15.00 registered by May 25
$25.00 2 up. $20 & $30 day of event. 711 Nebraska
Ave Madera,Calif
Sponsored by One Nation Under God motorcycle
ministry Contact Ray W. Wright Email
[email protected]
TUCSON AZ* Missing In America Project Annual
Poker Run Presented by Sho Ryders. The Missing In
America Project is a 501 (c) 3 Non-Profit organization
that Locates, identifies, and lays to rest with Military
Honors Our Military Veterans that have passed with
no family. The Poker run is to raise money to pay for
the Urns and funeral related expenses. Please come
out and join us. $10.00. Registration begins at 10am.
Anarchy Motorsports 3544 E Romero Rd. Tucson,
AZ 520-940-1260 FACEBOOK Blaze.AZ@comcast.
net
TEMECULA, CA* Warrior Heart Run, presented
by the American Legion Riders of Temecula. The
Event will help benefit the All From The Heart
Organization, a 100% not-for-profit organization
supporting disabledVeterans and their family. Event Quaid Harley-Davidson, Temecula, Ca. Registration
starts at 8:00, last hand in 2:00pm. $20.00 pre rider
and $10.00 for an extra poker hand. *Prizes for high
and low hand *BBQ provided by Temecula Valley
HOG *Raffle prizes *Vendors Contact Nick Email
[email protected]
Kingman, AZ Swap Meet, Kingman Veterans
Memorial Trust KVMT, 9am-2pm, Performance
Specialists in Kingman Airport, Kingman, AZ,
Vendors setup $20, Spectators FREE, Great bike
parts, accessories, and other treasures. Contact
Thomas Kelly Email [email protected]
JUNE 2
Fullerton, CA - Los Angeles Harley-Davidson Of
Anaheim – HOG PANCAKE BREAKFAST– 2635
30
W. Orangethorpe Ave Fullertion, CA 714-8716563 www.LAHD.com SEE AD INSIDE FRONT
COVER SAN DIEGO, CA* Spring Into Summer Poker
Run at San Diego Harley. 8th Annual Poker Run
welcomes all riders! Come out and enjoy the
festivities with live music, good food and the
best set of bike games around, including Slow Crawl,
Road Kill Clean up and more.
Registration 8am-9am. Ride will start and end at San
Diego Harley-Davidson: 5600 Kearny Mesa Rd. San
Diego Ca 92111 More details at www.sandiegohog.
com Contact Trisha M. Marshall Email trisha@
sandiegoharley.com SEE AD INSIDE BACK
COVER
Marina Del Rey, CA* Second Annual Ride to the
Dunes benefiting Child Abuse Awareness,
starts at 10 AM Bartels Harley Davidson, Marina
Del Rey on PCH to Sycamore Cove State Beach.
Food, prizes, vendor’s booths and ocean play.
Contact Putnam-Smith Email
[email protected]
JUNE 6
Hotrods Old Vail Bike Night Presented by Hotrods
Old Vail. We will have vendors, beer gardens,
burgers, a burnout pit and dual drag racing dyno.
We are also having a bike show and prizes will be
awarded! 6pm.Hotrods Old Vail 10500 E Old Vail
Rd.Tucson, AZ 520-202-0987 www.hotrodsoldvail.
com [email protected]
JUNE 7-9
SPARKS, NV* STREET VIBRATIONS SPRING
RALLY- At John Ascuaga’s Nugget West Special
Events Plaza- Live Bands All Weekend on the
Outdoor Main Stage. Bike Games, Competition
Ride-in Shows, Poker Runs & Walks, 80+ Vendors,
VIP Parties for Participants. Free to the public. Event
Registration $40 includes 3-day VIP parking pass,
T-Shirt, Ride Pin, Entries for Bike Games, Poker
Run, 2 Poker Walks, Ride-In Bike Competition
& 2 VIP Parties. Virginia City will host Live
Entertainment, a Poker Walk, VIP Bike Parking.
Chester’s Reno Harley-Davidson will host Open
House & special promo’s. Feature concert Alan
Parsons in JA Nugget Celebrity Showroom June 8,
9 PM, $39. More info & special room offers: http://
www.road-shows.com/street_vibrations_spring.php
, email or call 775-329-7469. SEE AD
JUNE 7
Fullerton, CA - Los Angeles Harley-Davidson Of
Anaheim – LADIES NIGHT GARAGE PARTY –
2635 W. Orangethorpe Ave Fullerton, CA 714-8716563 www.LAHD.com SEE AD INSIDE FRONT
COVER
JUNE 8
SAN MARCOS, CA* BROTHERHOOD RIDE
–at Biggs Harley-Davidson 9am-3pm Registration
9:00 Leave at 10:00. FREE BBQ –Raffle-50/50 –
Live Band @ Biggs 1040 Los Vallecitos Blvd. #113
760-481-7300 More info: [email protected]
or visit www.biggshd.com SEE AD
Contact Corrin Email [email protected]
SAN DIEGO, CA* 4th ANNUAL BANDIT’s
BLOOD DRIVE AT SAN DIEGO HARLEY. Join
all of our Military, Firefighters and San Diego Local
Heroes to give blood back to those in need! We will
have lunch, drinks, live music from The Ideas, kids
activities and more from 9am-3pm! All donators
will receive free lunch, drinks and more! Visit www.
sandiegoharley.com
Contact Trisha M. Marshall Email trisha@
sandiegoharley.com Website
www.sandiegoharley.com SEE AD!
TUCSON AZ* Heatstroke Drags will be held at
Southwest International Dragway - 12000 South
Houghton Road, Tucson, Arizona 85747. Annual
run what ya brung to benefit American Diabeties
Association. Come enjoy and help find a cure for
Diabeties. Hours Gates open at 4:00 P.M. for races
/ Gates open at 5:00 P.M. for spectators / Racing
Starts at 6:00 P.M. For more information email
[email protected] or visit www.thehunsmc.
com HOLLYWOOD, CA. 15th Anniversary Fallen
Heroes Memorial Run to benefit LAFD Widows,
Orphans & Disabled Fireman’s Fund. LAFD
Fire Museum (Old 27’s) 1355 N. Cahuenga Blvd
Hollywood. $45 donation ($30 passenger) includes
Luncheon, Live Entertainment, Raffle Ticket and
Ride Shirt! Ride open to ALL RIDERS! Registration
8:00am, Event Starts 9:00am. If you can’t make the
Scenic Ride, join us 1:00pm at the SAGEBRUSH
CANTINA 23527 Calabasas Rd. Calabasas $20
includes Luncheon & Entertainment! Contact
Taylor Gaskins
Email [email protected]
JUNE 8-9
LANCASTER, CA* THUNDER ON THE LOTAt Antelope Valley Fairgrounds- Benefits Antelope
Valley Kids Charities—Sat. 2-11 PM, Sun. 10AM6PM. 2 Stages with Live Bands all day/night Sat &
Sun, Saturday Night Headliner- GREAT WHITE,
Judge Jackson opener. Bike Show, Classic & Custom
+ Low Rider Car Shows, Food, Vendors, Green
Energy Expo, Kids Carnival Ride Area, Drifting
Exhibition, Motocross Races, Kids Charities
Exhibits and Much More! Sat. Admission $10, Kids
12 & Under Free; Sunday AM Poker Run Reg. starts
7:30 AM at Antelope Valley HD, $25/Departs 10
AM ending at Fairgrounds. Sunday General Adm.
to Thunder is FREE all day. Parking $5. No Colors.
More info or to enter shows-- www.thunderonthelot.
com , [email protected] , 661-722-6112 or
661-948-5959 ask for Yvette or Ron. SEE AD
JUNE 9
Santa Ana, CA* 2nd Annual Bikes and Bombers.
10am to 2pm. Complimentary donuts and
coffee sponsored by Triumph of Newport Beach.
People’s Choice Bike show sponsored by Danny
Gray Custom Seats, live music by Mark Wood Band,
free motorcycle only parking, admission $8 for
bikers. Meet and greet WWII pilots who flew P-51s,
P-38s and B-24s.
JUNE 2013
JUNE 14-16
Elko, NV - Elko Motorcycle Jamboree – 3 Days of
MUSIC, SHOPPING AND FUN – FREE Live
Concert, Poker Run, Bike Raffle, Biker Pavilion,
POW/MIA Parade, Rides & Rods Car/Bike Show,
Custom Bike Show www.Elkomotorcyclejamboree.
com SEE AD
Seligman, AZ. “20th Annual Great Escape Rally”
Stagecoach 66 Motel, Seligman
Arizona. Hosted by the Desert Roadriders MC.
Poker walk, bike games, raffle, 50/50, live music,
dinner, and more. Contact Jimbo 928-530-8058
Website www.desertroadridersmc.com
JUNE 15
VENTURA, CA* 5TH ANNUAL ROADSHOW
REVIVAL, A tribute to the music of Johnny
Cash. Presented by Cindy Cash and Ross Emery
Entertainment. Live music festival, vendors, pinup girls, hot rods, and motorcycles. Many great
bands including Junior Brown, The Blasters, The
Foo Fighters’ Chris Shiflett, Robert Gordon, Dave
Gleason and many more! Ventura Fairgrounds 11
AM - 7 PM. Go to www.roadshowrevival.com for
pre-sale tickets. SEE AD!
BALDWIN PARK, CA* Laidlaw’s H-D Factory
Demo Days! Come for the opportunity to test ride
a Bike from Harley’s Demo fleet! Contact Matt
Laidlaw, Email [email protected] or
Phone 626-851-0412
SAN MARCOS, CA* BIG PAWS CANINE
FDN & BIGGS H-D POKER RUN & HARLEYDAVIDSON MOTORCYCLE GIVE-AWAY! –at
Biggs Harley-Davidson. Big Paws and Biggs will
be raffling off a 2013 Harley-Davidson motorcycle
– Wow!!! Registration 8:30am Leave at 9:30. FREE
BBQ –Live Band@Biggs! 1040 Los Vallecitos
Blvd. #113 760-481-7300 More info: http://
bigpawscanine.com/Biggs_HD_Raffle.html or visit
www.biggshd.com SEE AD
Kingman, AZ* Kingman FireFighters Association
Charity Poker Run Sign-in: 08:00am Kickstands
up by 10:00am Buy-in: $20.00 per hand High
Hand: Grand Canyon Railway Tickets Low Hand:
Diamondback Tickets T-shirt-Raffle Prizes-50/50
Start: Firfighters Park 1000 Detriot Ave Kingman
Finish: Porky’s Pit Barbeque 2215 Butler Ave
Kingman Poker hands turned in by 01:30pm
Winners announced @ 02:00pm All funds Support
K.F.F.A Charities. Contact Kelly Johnson or Keith
Eaton Phone (928)753-2891
IRVINE, CA* 1st Annual Police & Fire Benefit
Ride, benefiting the Special Olympics, starts at 8:00
AM on June 15, 2013 at Orange County HarleyDavidson, 8677 Research Drive, Irvine. Ride cost is
$45 for a solo rider + $15 for passenger, we also have
a VIP Package for $155
solo or $170 with a passenger which will INCLUDE
an overnight stay at our destination in San Diego.
JUNE 2013
Entire ride will be escorted! Come join us for a
great cause. Contact Retired LAPD Officer Lyle
Michelson Email [email protected]
JUNE 21
OVERGAARD AZ* Biker Bash and Wounded
Warrior Fundraiser. Our Rally this year is the Biker
Bash and Wounded Warrior Fundraiser! Bike
Games, Poker Run, Vendors, Live Music Friday &
Saturday nights, DJ in the afternoon. Free Camping
on site! 50/50, raffles and auctions to benefit The
Wounded Warrior Project! Join us in the tall cool
pines of Arizona. (Always 20 degrees cooler than
the Phoenix area)
JUNE 22
CARSON CITY, NV* 3rd ANNUAL LEGENDS
OF THE WEST BIKE AND CAR FEST—Classic
Car and Bike Festival Featuring CCSO 10th Annual
Extreme Motor Officer Training Challenge, Free &
Family Friendly, Open to the Public, on the Streets
of Historic Downtown Carson City, NV. Activities
include: Live Entertainment, Show & Shine, Raffles,
Expanded Cruise Parade, Breakfast, Awards, and
more! Additional info at www.EventsNevada.com/
legends.html Sponsored by Carson City Downtown
Business Assn. SEE AD
SAN MARCOS, CA* BIGGS BREAKFAST,
LUNCH & MORE CREW RIDE – at Biggs HarleyDavidson
Registration
9am Leave at 10am.
The first 10 who sign up
get 100 Rider Reward
points!!! FREE breakfast,
FREE BBQ & Live Band!
1040
Los
Vallecitos
Blvd. #113 760-4817300
More
info:
[email protected]
or visit www.biggshd.com SEE AD
JUNE 23
Canoga Park, CA* Ladies Day Out-Co-Sponsored
by Bella Gypsies WMC, Barger Harley Davidson,
Westside HOG Chapter, Law Tigers and Heroes
Airshow-All Bikes are welcome, guys bring your
gals, gals bring your guys! Join us for day of FunRaffles, Vendors, Food, Drinks & Non-Stop Music.
There is a $5.00 donation for food & drinks. Proceeds
go to The Heart Foundation. Contact Minnie Email
[email protected]
JUNE 27
CORONA, CA* Scenic run from Rack’s Billiard and
Bourbon to Cook’s Corner via Lake
Elsinore and Ortega Hwy. Raffle along with great
food and music at Cook’s Corner. Registration is
from 9-11am and the raffle will be at 3pm. The cost is
$25 per rider and $15 per passenger. Pre Register and
receive 3 free raffle tickets. Contact Doug Marian
Email
[email protected]
JUNE 28 & 29
PINETOP AZ* 4th Annual White Mountain Bike
Rally Presented by Hon-Dah Casino. Benefits
Local Charities. $3,000.00 in prize money for the
SHOW LOW, AZ. The
Sons Of Odin M/C
present Hi-Low in Show
at
Rumors
Cocktail
Lounge
and the Downtown 9
Motel, 1457 E. Deuce Of
Clubs, Show Low, AZ.
4:00 pm. til ??? Cost is $10
per person. Hotel rooms
are $36 per night Friday,
Saturday, and Sunday.
For reservations call (928)
537-4334. Live music by
Hard Ride. Procceds to
benefit Show Low Special
Olympics.There will be
50/50 drawings, door
prizes, and vendors. Food
is available. Fundraising
breakfast for Special
Olympics on Sunday am.
Email zoomersomc@cox.
net
31
Poker Run Beer Garden, half price concert tickets
for participants to see KANSAS. Dinner provided
on Friday and Saturday nights Come ride in the
beautiful White Mountains of Northern Arizona.
Admission: $20.00 for rider. 4pm. Hon-Dah Casino
777 Hwy 260 Pinetop, AZ 928-369-7576 kjordan@
hon-dah.com
Flying Grizzly in Strawberry Az. Live music by
SouLever Bike Show, 50/50, Raffles. Raffle tickets
to win a room at the Windmill corner Inn for the
night of the 29th are on sell now.
$5.00 a piece or 5 for $20.00. Contact Vine Email
[email protected]
JULY
JUNE 29
SAN MARCOS, CA* WINGS, WHEELS &
WARRIORS POKER RIDE-at Biggs HarleyDavidson 8:30am-3pm. PRIZES, FREE BBQ &
LIVE BAND! 1040 Los Vallecitos Blvd. #113 760481-7300 More info: [email protected] or
visit www.biggshd.com SEE AD
Lake DeSabla,CA* Bishops MC present the 4th
Annual Frankie J Luna Memorial Run at Lake
DeSabla Recreation Area. Take Skyway Exit off
Hwy 99 about 21.5 miles to the Lake DeSabla
Recreation Area. Live Music, Bike Games, 50/50
& Merchandise Raffle, Refreshments & Food. $15/
person, $25/couple. Come have fun in the cool
pines! Contact Jeckyl Email
[email protected]
Strawberry, AZ. Bikini Bike Wash Rim Country
MMA is have a Bikini Bike Wash June 29th at the
JULY 4
TUCSON AZ* Bikini Bike Wash & Barbecue
Presented by American Legion Riders. Benefits
Veterans & Troops in Need. 11:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.
American Legion Post 68 4742 S. 12th Avenue
Tucson, AZ 520-882-4901 [email protected].
JULY 6
SAN MARCOS, CA* 1st SATURDAY SWAP
MEET –at Biggs Harley-Davidson 10 am-3pm
FREE to buyers and sellers, vendors, FREE BBQ
& Live Band! 1040 Los Vallecitos Blvd. #113 760481-7300 More info: [email protected] or
visit www.biggshd.com
JULY 13
SAN DIEGO, CA* SAN DIEGO HARLEY’S Ride
to the Padres Tailgate Party & Firefighter
Chili Cook Off! Meet at San Diego Harley for a bbq
lunch & music at 1pm!
Kick Stands
up at 2pm to ride to
the 33rd Annual MDA
Padres Tailgate Party
& Firefighter Chili
Cook Off!(Ends at
Embarcadero Marina
Park South) $35 reg.
includes VIP parking,
T-Shirts, All you can
eat burgers, hot dogs
and more, Firefighter
Chili Cook Off, Micro
Brew
Tasting
and
tickets
the
PADRES
VS
Giants
Game
this
night. Contact Trisha
Email
trisha@sandiegoharley.
com Phone (858)6166999 SEE AD!
SAN MARCOS, CA* DOWNED
BIKER
BLACK
SHEEP
FUNDRAISER
at
Biggs
HarleyDavidson 10 AM – 3
PM Fundraiser for
our own Biggs HOG
members as benefactors
in the case of a
motorcycle
accident
requiring medical or
hospitalization. At
32
the end of the Get Acquainted Ride, HOG will
return to Bigg’s for Lunch and we will serve our
Famous Gourmet Grilled Cheese Sandwiches
and drinks, Live Band 1040 Los Vallecitos Blvd.
#113 760-481-7300 More info: marketing@
biggshd.com or visit www.biggshd.com TUCSON AZ* Christmas In July Presented by
La Familia. Benefits Families at Christmas. Come
hang out at ALJ’S relax and support families for
Christmas. Live Music - Fenced in area - 50/50 Auction - Raffles. Entry fee $10 per person. Check
our website for updates. 12pm. ALJ’S 4980 E. 22nd
Tucson, AZ 520-971-1589 www.lafamiliatucsonaz.
com [email protected]
CRESTON, CA 2nd Annual FOR THE HELL OF
IT RUN Presented by the Gold Coast Wheelers
MC. BBQ and Brew Fest, Saturday July 13, 2013 @
Longbranch Saloon 6258
Webster Road in Creston Ca. 11am to 4pm, $15 per
person, great food, DJ, 50/50, raffle, vendors. For
the Poker Run arrive @ Bernards Specialty Cycle
9-10am, 1506 Railroad Ave. Oceano Ca. Poker
hands $5, free coffee & donuts. Kickstands up @ 10.
Portion of proceeds benefit the Boys&Girls Club.
Info: Bernard 805-489-7001 Contact Scott Wetmore
Email
[email protected]
JULY 14
LONG BEACH, CA* 2013 LA Calendar
Motorcycle Show & Music Festival Top Custom
Bikes in the Calendar Bike Building Championship,
Manufacturers, Vendors, and Calendar Girl Music
Concert. Premier of FastDates.com Motorcycle
PinUp Calendars with the world’s top roadrace and
custom motorcycles with beautiful Calendar Kittens.
$20 General Adm. $40 VIP Adm w/BBQ Lunch and
Queen Mary entry. $5 Bike Parking. Tickets, Vendor
info online. Location: The Queen Mary Seawalk
Village, 1126 Queens Highway, Long Beach, CA
90802
Website http://www.FastDates.com/BIKESHOW.
HTM Phone 1-877-342-0742 Queen Mary
TUCSON AZ* 20th Annual Cycle Splash Presented
by Stoned Sober MC. Part of proceeds to to Lisa
Otero’s cancer treatment. Live Music, dancing, bike
contest with trophies, tattoo contest, AZ’s best wet
t-shirt contest, cheap food, door prizes, giveaways,
and $.25 draft beer. Admission: $10.00. Vendor’s
welcome for a $25.00 vendor fee. Contact Dago by
June 30th if interested. 12pm. River’s Edge Lounge
4635 N. Flowing Wells Road. Tucson, AZ Dago:
520-576-7589 [email protected]
Camarillo, CA 8th Annual Heels & Wheels Ventura
Harley-Davidson 1326 Del Norte Camarillo CA
93010. Heels & Wheels is a unique event designed to
attract and encourage
lady motorcyclists to ride together. A minimum
of $10 from each registration goes to The Breast
Center, Community Memorial Hospital of San
Buenaventura. Registration includes shirt, lunch,
ride, and an unbelievably great time. Fee: $30 pp
JUNE 2013
thru July 6th. $40 July 7th and after. Time: 8:00 –
9:00 AM Kickstands up: 9:30 AM Contact Terry
Crawford Email [email protected]
JULY 20
SAN MARCOS, CA* BIGGS BREAKFAST,
LUNCH & MORE CREW RIDE – at Biggs HarleyDavidson Registration 9:30 Leave at 10:00. First 10
who sign up get 300 Rider Reward points!!! FREE
breakfast, FREE BBQ and Live Band! 1040 Los
Vallecitos Blvd. #113 760-481-7300 More info:
[email protected] or visit www.biggshd.com Beaumont, CA. Top-Line Industrial Supply Open
House Car and Bike Show. 101 S. California Ave
Beaumont Ca. 92223 All Vehicles Welcome. We
Want to see lots of bikes. Trophies, Food, Music
and Raffles. Family and charity event that benefits
the Walk of Life Foundation. Come see America’s
Most Beautiful Motorcycle for 2011,2012 and 2013
as crowned by the Grand National Roadster Show.
Please check out our facebook page for more info.
Contact Sam Baldi Email sbaldi@top-lineindustrial.
com
“P” 8th annual Monsoon Madness
Noon-4PM $5 (donation & 1 raffle ticket) Music,
raffles, 50/50, vendors etc. Smokin Harley’s
11255 Hwy 69 Mayer, Az. Next to Mayer Harley
Davidson. Nothing but fun to be had by one & all.
Proceeds to benefit Veterans and there families in
need. Contact PJ Email [email protected]
TUCSON AZ* Sun Riders M/C 35 Anniversary
Party Presented by Sun Riders M/C. Benefits Local
children’s charities. Please come out and party with
the Sun Riders M/C and help us calibrate our 35 year
Anniversary .Admission includes a plate of food.
There will be music, 50/50, vendors, games and
much more! $15.00. 6pm. Territorial Bar 3727 S Palo
Verde Rd. Tucson, AZ 520-312-8120 sunridersmc@
hotmail.com tucsonsunridersmc.com
DORRIS, CA 3rd Annual Charlie Smith Memorial
Dorris Fire Poker Run. Lunch inc, 50/50, live
music, auction, water games and more. Preregister @ [email protected] $15.00.
Day of event $20.00 Contact Shelly Ferr Email
[email protected]
JULY 25
Mormon Lake Lodge, AZ. ABATE of Arizona’s
22nd Annual Too Broke for Sturgis 25th-28th July
at Mormon Lake Lodge. Phat Bastard band $35
weekend($5 off for ABATE members)…Saturday
$25! Run pins to 2000, camping, bike show, poker run
& walk, bike & people games. Ms. Too Broke, tattoo
& wet t-shirt contests! 50/50 raffle tickets and wide
variety of vendors. General store & gas on premises.
Resturant, RV hook-ups, log cabins, coin operated
showers and horseback riding also available! Contact
Darin Email [email protected]
AUGUST 10
Prunedale, CA* Patriots MC 18th Annual Summer
Run.Benefits 25th Annual Palo Alto Veterans
Hospital event.$15 donation includes 5 stop hand/
high & low hand,4th stop
Rider Reward ticket,BBQ
meal,&live
band.Door
prizes & 50/50.Vendors
welcome,no fee, contact
Frank. Contact Frank
Email fmasoni@yahoo.
com
JULY 27
AUGUST 16
PALA, CA* 23rd Annual
Pala Run Music Festival
and Bike Show August
16-18, 2013, Hwy 76, next
to Pala Casino Double
Overnighter, All bikes
and Riders Welcome.
Gates open Friday at
noon. Free Pala T-shirt
to the first 50 active duty
military. Gates open
Friday at noon. $40
couple, $30 single, $20
Sat Day Pass Contact
Homeboy-619-818-3351
TOMBSTONE AZ*3rd Annual Bikers For Boots.
Poker Run, Pub Crawl, Silent and Live Auctions.
All profits go to Boots For Our Troops (bfotaz.
org), who provide funds for Arizona veterans and
active military during times of financial hardship.
Daylong event includes vendors, door prizes and
music by Rowdy Johnson Band (8:00 P.M. - 12:00
P.M.) If you can’t make Sturgis this year, come to
Tombstone and contribute to this worthy cause. We
accept donations of auction/door prize items and
of course any monetary donations. Public welcome!
For more information http://sites.google.com/site/
bikers4boots
JULY 27
SAN MARCOS, CA* DEMO DAY & JUMPSTART
HARLEY-DAVIDSON RIDER At Biggs H-D, 12
Noon- 3 PM. Free to Enter, FREE BBQ, FREE Live
Band! Ride a Harley-Davidson! Signup in person or
email to [email protected] Time Slots are
very limited! 1040 Los Vallecitos Blvd. #113 760481-7300 More info: [email protected] or
visit www.biggshd.com AUGUST
AUGUST 3
Mayer, Arizona Vietnam Vets/Legacy Vets MC Ch.
JUNE 2013
com Tri-Tip and Chicken 50/50, prizes and awards.
Run pins to the first 200 Contact
Michelle Bodily Email thunder@montereybayhog.
com
AUGUST 25
San Juan Capistrano, CA* Register online Black
Sheep Downed Biker Run & Rally. Sarts at multiple
SoCal H-D Dealerships at 9 am and ends at Historic
Town Center Park in San Juan Capistrano at 4 pm.
Great music, Vendors, best raffle prizes. Net proceeds
go to our established fund to assist HOG members
who become hospitalized as a result of a motorcycle
crash. Register Online Rider $25.00 Passenger $10.00
See your local Black Sheep Chapter or call for more
details. Contact Skippy Email info@blacksheephdfc.
org
AUGUST 30-SEPT. 1
Tonto Village, AZ. RCD-MMA Camp N Jam Come
join us Labor Day weekend Aug. 30th-Sept. 1st. in
Tonto Village 20 miles east of Payson at Double D’s
Bar & Restaurant in our beautiful Tonto National
forest. $10.00 per person. Live music Friday night
by The Mods, Saturday by SouLever. 50/50,
Raffles, Bike games, People games. For more Info,
contact Vine @ 928-978-2850 Contact Vine Email
[email protected]
AUGUST 24
SALINAS, CA. 15th
Annual Thunder By The
Bay poker Run, presented
by Monterey Bay
H.O.G. $20.00 pre-reg
and $25.00 at event.
Sign up 8:00-10:00am
at Monterey H-D 333
N. Main St. Salinas Ca
93901. Download forms
at www.montereybayhog.
33
Photos by Blacklight Imaging/Damon Leyden
My name is Crystal Eden, I live in Las Vegas and I just started riding. I
just bought a Harley Sportster 1200 Custom in January of this year, but
I’ve ridden on the back of my bf ’s motorcycles since I was 18. I have a
big love for the ride.
Time on the back: probably about 200,000 miles over all these years.
But I’ve always wanted my own since I was very young. My uncle
worked for Harley in Wisconsin, so I had seen many of my family
members on
Harley’s.
WOMEN
WHO
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and I always
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Photos
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Leyden
that actually rode. When I first got with my boyfriend Damon Leyden
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So ride.
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and I just did a big ride in April to Prescott, AZ from Las Vegas and it
was beautiful.
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I do this at
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Thanks Nightclub
for havinginme
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mag
newbies
and
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schoolers
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for
me to entertain,
and I make good money to do the things I really like
to do, like riding and traveling. Damon and I love goth music, so we attend
goth nightclubs in Vegas, like our favorite club called Scarlet at the Artifice
downtown, and we even drive to LA for a particular club called Club Sinister.
We also have a Mexico trip planned in the summer since we both like to
travel, and many bike rides are planned to go to Cali, Oregon, Utah and
Arizona.
Thanks for having me in QT. It’s a great mag for newbies and old schoolers
alike!
34
JUNE 2013
JUNE 2013
35
As most of you know by now
Arizona seems to be the Capital of
benefit runs. Every weekend there can
be 4-8 separate runs to pick and choose
from. Obviously everybody can’t make
every run but we sure try! Sometimes
the runs intersect and we find ourselves
with raffle tickets for TWO runs, it’s a no
brainer for me, which ever run I’m NOT
at the end stop for the raffle will be the
one where my ticket gets drawn.
This run was for a cause that
not many benefits focus on….furkids,
a.k.a critters. I don’t know too many
riders that don’t have a furkid or 5,
some have even trained their buddies
to ride with them as a passenger, now
that’s always cool to see! And what
is cool also is that the establishments
designated as stops will allow dogs on
the property (not inside of course, well
maybe. shssssh) during the event, thanks,
because even other breeds of dogs came
out to support the dogs!
Dave Trieckel and Deb Harlow
decided it was time to try to help some
Akita’s that needed to find a forever
home and also to provide some doc visits
for those in need. Deb is the founder and
director of AARTA, Akita Advocates
Relocation Team Arizona (http://
akitaadvocates.com). It’s not easy
putting together ANY run, it takes a lot
of time and effort mapping out the route,
finding establishments that will host it,
digging up raffle donations, food and on
and on. Try organizing a benefit that is
about furkids!! Dave and Deb along with
their faithful volunteers managed to pull
it off, it was a fun run!
Baseline Sports Bar was the
starting point and provided breakfast for
the riders on a fine Arizona morning.
Then we headed out to Flicka’s Cantina
in Scottsdale to mingle with the riders
and some furkids that seemed to be
having a great time as well! Off to the
infamous Dirty Dogg in Scottsdale
where lunch was provided by “Chop
and Wok”, that was different, Chinese
food on a run…YUM! On to Harley
Davidson of Scottsdale where we were
talked into buying even more raffle
tickets, and then finally to the Hideaway
up in Cave Creek where the raffles and
auctions took place. Once again, I left
empty handed, well sort of, someone
felt sorry for me I guess and gave me a
T-shirt…YAY!!
These runs of course are about
who/what they are benefitting, but it’s
also about the ride and the brotherhood
of riders, seeing friends, hanging out
with the furkids, munching out, having a
cold beverage and of course the “What’s
going on next weekend?” My standard
response is…”I’m not sure, let’s figure
that out Friday night”. Regardless, we’re
going to ride!
Ride Safe~~Ride Free
36
JUNE 2013
JUNE 2013
37
Written by: Rhinesmith
Photos: Pete Alva & Ray “VillaP”
Illusion Cycles glistened with polished chrome, vivid
black paint, and a fresh makeover from the latest
renovation that reflects true passion for a constantly
evolving shop. Stepping inside is a mixed feeling of
awe, respect and… a little fear. The grill was quietly
smoking with BBQ brisket, and the aroma of fresh
roasted coffee was in the air. A giant birthday cake of
luscious lips with the words “Kiss my Butt! I’m 50!”
sat glossy & frosted for K.O.’s 50th birthday. The stage
was set for an intimate gathering of bikers, elite rock
n’ roll underworld, film and TV friends, stunt riders,
kids, biker babes, and other guests looking to raise
some hell at Rusty’s 5th Annual Open House. At Illusion Cycles, K.O. (polished and chromed as
well…) scuttled around the shop in her sparkling
stiletto boots adding the finishing touches. Just as
the final Illusion Custom Cycle was rolled into place
a faint rumble began... The coffee transformed from
steaming to shaking... Showtime! the song “Bad
Company” came on just as excited bikers rolled in,
hugging and digging on the energy. All walks of life
slowly erupted into a mix of conversations. The latest
HELLRAZOR Custom bikes and parts caught the
attention from the flow of visitors similar to an art
gallery. The HELLRAZOR FXR/Dyna combo bike owned
by Kurt Sutter, creator and director of “Sons of
Anarchy”, was shown for the first time alongside
the SOA Charity Chopper: a HELLRAZOR Bobber
brainstormed by Kurt Sutter & Rusty Coones to benefit
the Wounded Warriors Project. Kurt originally asked
Rusty to build the SOA Charity Chopper and fell in
love with it. Thus was born the FXR/Dyna that Kurt
wanted for his own. (see Illusion Cycles JUNE QT ad
for these two rides together)
Alongside the SOA lineup was the newest
HELLRAZOR Bagger; slamming a 26” front
HELLRAZOR Wheel with a matching front rotor.
People slowed down and eyes popped open at the
artful execution of a rarely sleek looking bagger, a very
difficult creation within bagger designs. Quite a few a
new parts including Gatlin Gun Pipe Tips, custom
Illusion Mack-10 Exhaust and other motorcycles on
display lined the entire open house along with new
HELLRAZOR Clothing.
Also on display was the newest Trike and
Carriage Combo named “Tattoo” which was painted
from head to toe in authentic Japanese Tattoo art. K.O. described the painting as an exhaustive process
of “combing the land for tattoo artists that specialized
in Japanese tattoos”. The Illusion Cycles dedication
to elite craftsmanship resulted in breathtaking paint,
and the same in cosmetic upgrades. Plus custom
HELLRAZOR high profile matching wheels! Each
Trike/Carriage combo is more impressive as they roll
off the line.
At lunch, the medley of visitors including K.O.’s
Mom and Dad all the way from Tucson Arizona,
enjoyed the BBQ brisket provided by local caterer
Rancho-a-Go-Go. As folks indulged in the pleasure
38
JUNE 2013
of a good meal, some friendly stunt riders threw
on their latest film for viewing on the shop TV flat
screens. Once the film ended and energy began to
settle a loud screeching startled everyone. Smoke
filled the entire shop… it was burnt rubber. The
crowd mobbed over with the energy of a riot as a
stunt rider began a surprise live performance in the
back parking lot. What began as casual burn-outs
graduated into eye-lid peeling wheelies. By the end
of the show, the rider had just enough rubber to
make it back to L.A. It couldn’t have happened at
a more perfect time, because the crowd was ready
for CAKE!! Although it was a shame to cut K.O.’s
sexy lips birthday cake, it was worth the mouthful
of chocolate, and impressively large enough to feed
an army. With 300+ guests it had to be! Rusty said,
“Now I am married to a cougar!” talking about his
wife K.O. after 26 years of marriage.
The party reached its peak like a good acid trip
with tons of press, media, gods from the rock n’ roll
underworld, film & TV execs, as well as bandmates
of Attika7: Rusty Coones’ heavy metal band. Sons
of Anarchy actor Andy McPhee who played SOA
Belfast President in Season 4 made a special guest
appearance. Rusty’s growing presence in upcoming
Season 6 of Sons of Anarchy as Nomad President
“Rane Quinn” adds credibility to the realist cinematic
approach that the show is known for.
K.O. and Rusty have many projects upcoming,
there is always something new on the horizon for
them and Illusion Cycles. Attika7 now has tours on
schedule for Summer and Fall of 2013 throughout
California and the U.S. Check the Attika7 website
for tour dates/locations and watch Illusion
Cycles website too. www.illusionmotorcycles.
com and www.attika7.com
Very soon, Illusion Cycles is announcing the
HELLRAZOR product line mostly consisting of
HELLRAZOR Motorcycle parts, HELLRAZOR
Rings/ Belt Buckles for men. And for the Ladies:
a new HEARTBREAKER Cosmetic and Skincare
line that K.O. has been working on. Motorcyclefriendly make-up and skin care to keep the ladies
happy & clean after they ride. Launch party is set for
midsummer at their shop for both lines. Till then,
ride easy.
Everybody needs a benefit run that is
near and dear to their butt…umm heart, ok both!
This is a popular annual run in the Phoenix area;
the donations raised stay in Arizona to help out
locally. The timing was excellent, being the first
official run of the Pre-Az Bike Week festivities this
year was a plus! Sheila Conway has organized this
run for a few years, it seems on this 4th Annual run
she recruited most of her family to help out!! Sheila
and her daughter Ranea, both being colon cancer
survivors, Sheila’s husband along with her brother
spearheaded the organizing part along with 2Gals
Events and who knows how many volunteers,
they were everywhere! Sheila has been part of the
Colon Cancer Alliance Central Arizona Chapter
for many years and gives her heart and soul into
helping raise funds so others can get some relief
from the overwhelming costs, both physically and
mentally, that are associated with Cancer.
Heading out of the start point, Connellys
Sports Bar, where they supplied a killer breakfast
for all the riders, we took a nice leisurely ride out
thru the back roads in the desert to Fountain Hills
and ALR Post 58, it was a nice place to hang
out, hydrate and cool off, it was starting to get
hot. We chilled for so long we all had to make a
mad dash to the Renegade Tap and Kitchen to
make the “last bike in” thing, more food and the
raffle! There was some good stuff being raffled
off, all inclusive weekend trip to Vegas, lots of
“staycation” packages, other good stuff that in
no way could be hauled on a bike (anyone have
a truck handy?). Once again it turned into a mad
dash to the end stop and event sponsor, Chesters
Harley Davidson in Mesa for a concert by Night
Ranger!!
A mellow day it was, the route was
fantastic, not hurried or clogged with traffic,
weather was perfect and the hosts at every
location were exceptional!! Thanks again to
Connellys Sports Bar, ALR Post 58, Renegade
Tap and Kitchen, and Chesters Harley Davidson
for providing fantastic venues! Thanks also to my
buddy Chuck at Chuck Franklin Law for being a
major contributor as well!!
There will be a 5th Annual “Ride a Bike
Save a Butt” run and I’m positive it will be another
kick@$$ ride!! For more info on how you can help
even when you’re NOT on a run, check them out
on the national website http://www.ccalliance.org
Ride Safe~~Ride Free
Photos~~Smiles & Digger Dave
40
JUNE 2013
JUNE 2013
41
By Jake “Edge” Walker
It was a beautiful, hot desert day in Tucson.
The temp was 112* and the pavement was
the consistency of rhino snot. Hot, sticky &
dangerous to touch. My day had consisted of
chores and I was feeling like the pavement was
looked. One of my riding buddies had stopped by
earlier and he was giving me a hard time about
not going riding with him.
“Aw come on bro” he whined to me while I was
moving some rocks. “Let’s run up to the Bandit
and down a coupla brews. It’s too hot to be doing
all this hard work.”
I looked at him with a disgusted expression and I
told him “Rick, you know I gotta do this. Maybe
I’ll catch up with you later.”
We shook hands and he left. As I worked in my
yard, I thought about him in a cool bar, cold brew
in hand and laughing at me. So, I went to the
fridge and capped a cold one before returning to
the sweltering heat of my self-imposed captivity.
Four hours and six beers later I had accomplished
the basics and felt that I had earned a break from
the heat. I went in the house, stepped into a
cool shower and when I emerged from the rainlocker, I felt much better. I went to the fridge to
get another brew and remembered I only had one
left.
Crap! Oh well, looks like a beer-run is in order.
Probably should pickup a pint too, while I’m
there.
I went into the bedroom to get dressed for the ride
to the store. It was only 8 or 10 blocks down the
street and shouldn’t take but a couple of minutes.
As I stood there looking at a pair of jeans, boots
and my denim riding jacket, I made a fateful
decision.
“Aw screw it. Tenny’s and cutoffs will do just fine
for a short ride. It’s too damn hot for all that gear.
I’ll be fine.” I had drank seven beers in four hours,
no water and had worked hard in 100*+ temps.
Yeah, I was fine alright!
I grabbed a handful of bungees, slammed my
tennys on and went out to fire up the bike. My
gal friend had the car and all I had to drive was
my ‘67 rigid Triumph chop with the 12” over
narrow glide front end. Sweet bike, fast and light
and a blast to ride! Remember, I’m wearing tennis
shoes, cutoff shorts, sunglasses and nothing else.
I also have a beer buzz, so my judgment is not
100% clear. Couple that with the fact I’m 25 and
the picture becomes clearer. I am headed straight
for a “Lesson Learned the Hard Way.”
I pulled into the parking lot of the strip mall just
down the street and popped into the liquor store
first for a pint of Beam and then to the Circle K
for a twelve pack of Bud. All RIGHT! Case-oBud is on sale for a good price.... Can I get a case
on the chop? Is a frog’s butt water tight? ‘Course
I can!
I was running a 14” sissy bar on the back with
one of those ugly-ass king/queen seats that were
all the rage at the time. I stood the two twelvebangers on their butts and bungeed those suckers
down tight. Pint was peeking out of my back
pocket. OK, got the picture? Oh man, all I can do
when I think of it now is just shake my head and
think “Dumb-ass”.
I kicked her over and climbed on. Kicked it into
42
JUNE 2013
JUNE 2013
first and headed for the house. As I pulled up to
the exit from the parking lot, I looked left and saw
a pickup coming. Traffic was heavy and I didn’t
want to wait so I grabbed a handful of throttle
and leaned hard right. That’s when everything
went into slow motion. The rear tire had (maybe)
25% tread and when it hit the rhino-snot blacktop,
it started to spin.... fast!
Guess what? YEP, down I went! I was probably
doing 25-30 mph and the rear tire was doing
60! I slid out into traffic, spewing Bud cans
everywhere. There were cages EVERYWHERE!
Coming up from behind, coming at me, trying to
turn into the parking lot, tires squealing, brakes
grinding, horns honking, complete pandemonium
happening all in the space of a few seconds.... and
I’m still sliding through traffic. On my right side.
Nothing between me and the rhino-snot... and it
was HOT! I slid all the way across both lanes and
slammed into the curb on the other side of the
road. Then a really odd thing happened.
When I hit the curb, it stood me and the bike up!
Momentum had carried me through the danger
zone and then stood me up! The Trumpet was still
running, so I dropped back into the saddle and
eased the clutch out and wove my way through
the cagers that were staring at me in shock.
I made it back to the house in one piece and it
was there that I realized several things. The pint
of Beam was still in my back pocket, one of the
twelve packs had made it home intact and the
ENTIRE right side of my body was a bloody
mess. The mighty Trumpet had a few spots of
rash but nothing I couldn’t buff/paint away. For
the second time that day, I took a shower. Only
this time it was seriously painful. I dug chunks
of blacktop outta my hide for a month. It took
my body at least four months to be done with the
road rash but I have never forgotten these few
lessons:
1. We call pavement “The Never Ending Belt
Sander” for a reason.
2. 2. Stupidity can be painful and is sometimes
fatal.
3. 3. When riding an inherently unstable
vehicle, body protection is advised.
4. 4. Try to keep good tread on your tires. It
might save your life.
5. 5. Alcohol impairs your riding abilities and
your judgment.
6. 6. At all times, Keep the Shiny Side UP!
Read this, learn from it, ride safe and have fun!
That’s what it’s supposed to be all about!
Editor’s Note: I’m gonna add one more to the list
- “It’s better to be lucky than good.” Though I do
have to give “Edge” some credit for his riding (or
sliding) ability....as for judging him on the many
dumb decisions he made that day, I think he’s
beat himself up enough, and his decisions serve
as a big sign post to the rest of us...most of all,
with all the brothers and sisters going down and
not getting back up, I’m just really glad to still
have one with us.
CD
43
“You’re gonna do what?!” That was the first thing
out of my wife`s mouth on Friday afternoon April 26; followed by: “if you buy that bike; or
even think about going up there; the locks will
be changed and I`ll sell all stuff. I will find an
apartment and move out!”
Let me back track a little It started with a normal Thursday walking into
the shop. My partner in crime Lawrence Browne
mentioned that there were a few nice full dressers
on E-Bay that I should have a look at. He figured
since I was getting a bunch of parts together for
a bike build (from the frame up), I should look
at these for a possible salvage opportunity. The
two that looked good were both ‘97 Electra Glide
Classics; one in Fallbrook, California; and one
in Delavan, Wisconsin. Let`s see; which one
should I check out?? Delavan is 1,982 miles away
- Fallbrook, California, 52 miles.
Hmm............tough one.
As it would turn out the Fallbrook bike sold a day
earlier. I had no choice but to put a bid on the
Delavan, Wisconsin bike. Having never purchased
on E-Bay before, I was a little taken back when
my $7,000 bid (over a $6,800 current high)
automatically ran up to $7,500 before it took hold.
I thought that there was no way in the world this
was going to happen; especially after that $500.00
run up. For kicks I set a maximum of $8,200 never
expecting to win the bid.
Fist thing Friday after the 8:00 am auction
close I get the wife asking if I bought “another
motorcycle”. I played dumb. My reply was; “no; I
did put a bid on one just for kicks on E-Bay (trying
to learn the ropes); but; no - I didn’t buy another
motorcycle!”
That went over like the titanic and the next thing
was; “oh, how do you think you’re going to get it
home; RIDE IT?”
Naturally I said in a most politically correct and
non-excited way; “that’s one option.”
Well; that`s when the fireworks started. The opener
at the start of this article was the nice stuff...
Needless to say; and for the sake of space; I will
tell you I checked the weather reports in the states
44
I would be traveling through and
rolled the dice on 20 - 40 percent
thunder storm prediction in Iowa,
Nebraska, and Colorado.
I flew into Wisconsin on
Tuesday night and went straight
from the airport to the object of
my affection; the beautiful 1997
Electra Glide Classic!
There she was; smiling at me
just like in the pictures! She was
even better then the pictures;
clean, shiny, posing just like a
centerfold. I straddled her and
fired her up. She responded like a
true soul mate. It was love at first
sight (and feel)! This bike ran just
as good as it looked.
Wisconsin weather was beautiful;
(T-shirt weather) as I headed for
HWY 80 into Illinois. The feeling
of being on the road ahead of a
1,900 mile solo road trip is one
you have to experience firsthand.
The feeling of freedom and
adventure, as well as uncertainty; all mesh to keep
your senses alive and sharp. It was these sharp
senses that started picking up on a pretty heavy
chill and crosswind as I headed into Iowa. No big;
I’ve ridden in windy conditions before. Besides;
the Electra Glide Classic was cutting through it
like a hot knife through butter. No worries.
My break destination was Des Moines, Iowa. I can
tell you after 45 minutes to an hour inside Iowa
it was evident the 20 - 40 percent thunderstorm
prediction was now 100 percent.
IT WAS FREEZING balls and it sure felt like
more than a thunderstorm. Thirty-mile an hour
crosswinds in thirty-two degree weather was not
the ideal riding conditions I was hoping for. I
cursed the freeway signs along the way that let me
know how far I still had to go before I got to Des
Moines, Iowa. Miles equated to bone chilling cold
before I would take shelter at Des Moines’ finest
flea bag hotel. I talked the clerk into allowing me
to park my ride right in front of my room door under the protection of the second level walkway.
Who cares if it was blocking the only walkway for
the lower level rooms; it was out of the elements.
Four days of weather was what the news channel
was calling for.
It was the most peculiar thing. Iowa has not seen
weather like this in early May since 1967; and
only 4 other times before that. They called the
snow storm “Achilles” and if you looked at the
weather shot on TV, it seemed to be hovering over
my location and the location of my future route. (a
pain in the Achilles Tendon). Someone must have
had the voodoo doll in the freezer for sure on this
one.
What to do...........call a freight forwarder and ship
from here?
Hell no! I can`t be holed up here in this flea bag
room any longer than I have to. The walls were
already closing in on me. As I contemplated my
options over some cold suds, a vision overcame
me and I saw the bike gods saying “go west young
man, U-Haul will help you”. Holy crap; what a
great idea. I`ll have a few more brewski’s and this
vision will become even clearer. I would load the
bike into the 14` Uhaul truck and drive my ride
through the storm, drop the truck when I was clear
of the weather, then resume my cross country trek.
GENIUS!
Anyone who has ever loaded furniture into the
back of the U-Haul truck knows how cool the
ramp is and how it just pulls out and hooks on;
very user friendly.
On the other hand; anyone who has tried to
load or ride a bike up this same “cool” ramp
knows that when you roll the front tire onto it; a
metamorphosis occurs and the ramp turns into a
frickin’ sewing needle. I found this out firsthand
as soon as my tire touched the tip of the ramp.
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It didn’t look smooth, cool, or easy.
Visions of America’s funniest home
videos came to mind when I thought
of having to put my foot down half
way up and going for a dive. Also
too; when gaining the momentum
you need to get up the ramp with “no
feet”. When your rear tire hits the
flat of the truck bed; you’re already
going too fast. You need to brake
immediately due to your stopping
distance. The floor is wet and smooth.
I teetered on the way up and got in a
little sideways; but I was in; whew.....
Once inside the box I hit the brakes!
The next instant me and my bike are
sliding into home plate; literally. The
elderly retired U-Haul folks there
watching me had the most deadpan
expressions on their faces but their
eyes were as big as light bulbs. When
I climbed out from under the bike
in the back of that truck, I threw
both arms straight up over my head
and yelled; “FIELD GOAL, ITS
GOOD”.
They just walked off
shaking and scratching their head.
They were Fred and Ethel Mertz of I
love Lucy fame for sure.
After up-righting the bike and
strapping it down I had only two
thoughts; One was for the cool ride
ahead once I cleared the storm; the
other was; “how in the hell am I
getting this out of the bed of this box
truck.”
Nebraska and Colorado were
somewhat windy and snowy. There
were still many cars and trucks
dropping road bombs (ice chunks
that fall from moving vehicles).
Gretna, Nebraska was now my drop
off destination. Each time I looked
for a place to drop the truck some
condition or situation would make
me have to drive further. It was at this
point I began to hate this U-haul; Just
the day before I loved it! Now I felt
like an animal in a glass cage and I
was being forced to drive. I`ll just
pull over right here, roll out the bike,
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and leave this truck on the side of the
road; screw it! (just a fleeting thought
that occurred often during the last 50
or so miles of my inclement weather
contingency plan )
Once I dropped the truck and
corralled in enough help to get
the bike out of the truck without
incident, it was off to Colorado and
Utah, on two wheels again. Nice
scenery for sure. It was some of the
most beautiful landscapes I have had
the opportunity of seeing in a long
time. Weather was still a little on
the chilly side until the back side of
the mountains going down and into
Utah.
Smooth sailing from this point to
Barstow, California. It was at this
point I learned what reserve looks
like on the ‘97 FLHTC (a little orange
dot in the speedo accompanied by
a bouncing gas gauge needle). A
strong headwind and steady uphill
grade from Barstow to Victorville
ate up a half a tank and gave me the
opportunity to learn the difference
between the 1997 FLHTC (fuel
injected) and 1994 FLXST (carb
- petcock). After a very slow and
controlled twenty three miles at 50
MPH I got to a filling station, covered
my tanks and hit Corona, California
around 9:45 PM on Saturday 5-52013.
It was a very rewarding and enjoyable
experience. When I was a day and
a half out; all I could think of was
getting home with my new purchase.
Once I got home; all I could think
about was going on the road again.
Not to worry; the next run is not
far away. I guess I could wait a few
weeks before hitting the road again,
like a good husband should - what a
giver, right?
I better start damage control early on
this one....
Stay Safe See you out on the road!!!!!!!
Mike
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Story & Photos by Randy Twells
For many years, brothers Bill & Mike Kennedy
have kindly provided the setting for many
charitable events at their shop, with plenty of
room to spread out in this industrial complex in
the wide open area of Oceanside off Hwy 76.
This year Bill and Mike, being of Irish blood,
wanted to do something fun and Irish that would
support veterans. Thus was born their 1st Annual
St. Patrick’s Day Party & Benefit, March 17.
With Mike’s wife Carey Kennedy coordinating
the action, bands “Forgiven” (Christian/Latin
Funk with an awesome horn section!) and
Irish band “The Bostonians” filled the air with
music all day, vendors, awesome food, green
decorations everywhere, raffle prizes, and visitors
chiming in with elaborate and inspired Irishthemed costumes, this was a winner!
The cause was, Warrior Foundation’s Freedom
Station in San Diego, whose website www.
freedomstation.org describes their mission:
“Freedom Station will be the leader in
providing temporary lodging facilities, as well as
educational and career guidance to our Nation’s
injured and disabled military heroes who are
medically retired or discharged. We will aid them
as they begin the transition from defenders of
freedom to productive members of America’s
civilian work force. Freedom Station will also
enable personal interaction between our military
Warriors and uniquely qualified volunteers and
professionals who can assist them with many of
the challenges they will face during the transition
to civilian life. We vow to be the hand up and
not a hand out.”
Freedom Station President Sandy Lehmkuhler
addressed the crowd and introduced Marine
Corporal Toran Gall, a wheelchair amputee
who is making good use of Freedom Station’s
programs, as well as the ranking Marine who
spearheaded another program aspect: the Warrior
Foundation Freedom Station Chopper Build.
This awesome chopper was on display in all its
glory here, the vets who built it hoping eventually
it will be on display permanently at the Marine
Museum in Quantico, VA. Bill Kennedy also
spoke, thanking everyone for coming out to this
1st Annual event and urging visitors to support
our vets, both men and women.
I got a chance to ask Sandy for a few more details
about the Freedom Station program. There
are 4 program stages that vets work through in
progression:
1)- Seriously Injured. The government pays for
2-3 tickets/Warrior Fdn. helps too, so family
members can be there at bedside when vet arrives
in hospital stateside.
2)- PTSD/TBI patients. Laptops, noise canceling
devices, alarm clocks & service dogs and more,
along with counseling & vocational projects
(such as the Chopper Build!) are provided to
impacted vets to help them function & progress.
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3)- Vets able to stay in barracks. Many are getting
new arms/legs prosthetics & undergo many
surgeries over 2-4 years to recover.
4)- Freedom Station- Single housing units where
vet can ‘live on their own’ but with on-site help
nearby, and support to launch themselves as
independent civilians; not in a “dorm” setting,
rather learning to live autonomously and
well. The vets are taken out to special events
and helped to socialize and integrate back into
civilian life. Freedom Station also has a special
zipper boot for their prosthetic limbs that lets
them wear boots vs. athletic shoes, and retain the
whole look head to toe, military hat and fatigues
right down to & including their boots.
Tim Chambers the well-known Saluting Marine
at Rolling Thunder, also put in an appearance to
support his fellow vets.
This was a Kennedy family occasion too with Bill
(a Vietnam vet) & Mike w/Mom Phyllis, their
wives Cathie & Carey, and Mike’s son Kyle who
is now shop manager all here. Mike’s other son
Will is in the US Navy stationed in Bahrain, far
from home but in their hearts.
This St. Patrick’s Day event $7 admission,
outright donations, raffle ticket sales and other
proceeds allowed this event to turn over nearly
a $3,000 donation to the Warrior Foundation
Freedom Station. The Warrior Foundation also
offered T-shirts & hats for donation, a great
way to show your colors! The $7 got you a
great BBQ lunch by 5 Loaves & 2 Fishes and/
or the Corned beef & cabbage lunch too. Cathie
Kennedy’s bake sale cupcakes & rice krispies bars
were so good, proceeds going to the Diabetes
Foundation. You could also buy raffle tickets
and win some really nice prizes donated by many
local businesses. Plus just enough vendors with
some unique items. Like a helmet with fur and
horns- a fashion must for the well-dressed biker!
One more thing. I really commend Kennedy’s for
always putting out a ton of chairs at their events.
My bad back and knees appreciate it and I’m sure
I’m not alone! And, just the chance to sit and
really chat with people is not to be missed. Can’t
wait for next year, but meantime check www.
quickthrottle.com’s Gallery for more photos, and
be sure to look up www.freedomstation.org and
learn more about this great organization.
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The Hells Angels Riverside chapter once
again opened its hearts to the community
that they live in, by hosting a benefit
rally that had “some incredible biker
entertainment.” The event was well
attended - by many of the So. Cal. bike clubs and their friends. More will
be shared on the amazing entertainment – a little later.
The website that explains who and what H.O.P.E is about, can be found
at: http://www.helpingourpeopleinelsinore.com In a nutshell - H.O.P.E.
has been helping seniors, the disabled, and families with lower incomes
for the last 18 years. H.O.P.E. currently assists 1,200 families (4,000
individuals) throughout the Lake Elsinore area; not just those who
are in long term need, but also those individuals and families that are
experiencing a temporary challenge in obtaining the basics of life.
Because the event was a charity, the R’side “81 crew” had a lot of help to
amaze the attendees.
The “Dirt Bike Kidz”( http://dirtbikekidz.com/) from Temecula, CA.
put on an absolutely amazing freestyle show that had the rally audience
totally blown away. These young guys literally fly through the air (even
upside down) and they do live stunts that you’d normally see on shows
like the “X-Games”. Some of the antics are unbelievable. “Don’t try this
at home !”
They were also joined by the Wheelie/Burnout Champs from “Unknown
Industries” (a group of insane stunt riders that hail from San Diego) –
who were doing “massive burnouts”, and
“completely vertical” wheelies.
These
guys have it down to a fine art – as the grab
handfuls of throttle and actually run their
“heavily modified FXR’s and Dyna’s through
the gears while standing them almost straight
up! And they can “walk the dog” while the
back tires are burning.
The “Mob MMA” from Temecula had the
“throw down” going on – to the mats, as they
did their version of extreme wrestling antics.
The entertainment at this particular event
was off the charts, and the Angels and
friends all worked together to raise much
needed donations for H.O.P.E. – once
again… showing a “more positive side of
the Motorcycle Club community,” to the
neighborhoods that they live in…
Until next time, Your Roving Reporter and Sharp
Shooter – Pastor Z.
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SUPRINE MACHINERY, INC.
ANNOUNCES THE EXODUS
THE ULTRA-PERFORMANCE RECUMBENT MOTORCYCLE
Suprine Machinery, Inc., announces the arrival of the
EXODUS, the breakthrough recumbent motorcycle that offers
extraordinary levels of performance in all dimensions.
The EXODUS leads the way on several fronts:
Engineered Design - The rider is seated in a bucket seat 7” above the
ground, strapped in by a 5-point harness, within a mid-engine chassis.
Hybrid Exoskeleton - The rider and engine are surrounded by a hybrid
space frame/roll cage that provides unparalleled rigidity, comfort, and
safety.
Low and Streamlined – The overall height of the Exodus is less than 43”,
the center of gravity is more than a foot lower than other motorcycles,
and the frontal area is nearly 50% less than other motorcycles, all
contributing to less wind resistance and better handling.
Metal Amalgam Construction - The Exodus is constructed primarily
of metal, including aluminum, magnesium, titanium, stainless steel, and
specialty high-strength steel tubing.
BMW Power and Parts - The Exodus is powered by a BMW
126hp DOHC 1200cc flat four with a single driveshaft/swingarm
and monoshock; wear items are stock BMW components for easy
maintenance.
Dramatic Performance - The Exodus accelerates from 0-60 in 4.1
seconds, with a top speed of 155+mph, over 80mpg at 55mph, and over
600 miles on a single tank of gasoline.
Orders Will Be Taken Starting in June - Two models will be available:
the Exodus 2014, and the Exodus 2014 G with a powerful turbo engine,
carbon ceramic brakes, and additional performance enhancements.
Deliveries will begin in early 2014.
Upcoming Advances - Enclosed bodies will be introduced in late 2013.
An off-road variant will be introduced in late 2014.
Please visit http://www.suprine.com. For further information on the
Exodus design, Suprine Machinery, or future plans, please contact info@
suprine.com.
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By Chris Bowman
10. Get on, hold on tight and be still. If you wiggle around, start acting
like an orangutan climbing a tree, or come off because you’re not holding
on or paying attention your ride will be short. I have no problem with
your ability to walk; it’s your riding that’s questionable.
9. Don’t help. I have been doing this a long time.
8. Stay close. If you don’t want to get close, take a car. Otherwise, put
your butt in the seat and keep it there – no squirming. Lean onto my
back and stay stuck to me like glue. We will both enjoy the ride better.
You have me, your own seat and the foot-pegs. Stay in contact with them
at all times. Loss of contact during the ride may shorten your trip.
7. Pee before we leave. 6. Your toes. We love looking at your pedicure as much as you like
showing off your pretty little toes. A bike however is just no place for
sandals. Put them in your pocket and wear shoes or boots. You can
change when we get there, or leave them home. If you insist we won’t
argue but don’t complain about the rocks, bees, brush with the exhaust
pipe, water, sewage, and anything else that pummels your little piggies
along the way.
5. Luggage. Don’t bring a purse unless it doubles as a backpack. If you
can’t put it in your pocket, or on your back, leave it home (exception Baggers. If I bought one, I kinda knew you’d need the space).
4. Looking Back - If you want to know what’s behind you get your own
bike. The only time you should be turned around looking backward is
just before you jump off the back to spot your landing.
3. Don’t adjust in the wind. Get yourself together before we ride. The
back of my bike is not a dressing room, a hair salon, a phone booth, or
a place for aerobic flopping around. Be still, or your ride may be shorter
than intended – refer to walking ability (rule 10).
2. We prefer you wear as little as possible to and from the bike. Any
biker will tell you less is more. On the bike however wear appropriate
riding gear. No scarves, no wild dangling accessories, or anything that’s
going to fly around in the wind. If it starts to fly’s around, lose it.
Don’t adjust it or try and save it. Flapping objects may lead to one of us
leavening the bike “prematurely.”
1. Hair & Makeup - my bikes not a salon. Hair should be up, back, or
up into the helmet. I don’t want it in my face anymore than you do. If
it’s a problems screw with it when we get off the bike. Not at lights, or in
the wind. My mirrors are adjusted for me, not your vanity. Leave them
where they are. Adjustments to hair and makeup in route or at stop
lights may lead to an early and unexpected departure from the bike – see
spotting your landing (See rule 4).
We liked you enough to put you back there before we jumped into the wind. It
would be nice if you were still there when we get where we are going....and if this
list seems “mean” in any way, remember, it’s tough love. We’re cruel to be kind.
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Quick Throttle Southwest
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