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DECEMBER 2010
06 - Ride & Event Calendar
39 - The Sema Show
12 - H-D & Voodoo Economics
41 - American Heat
15 - Harley Har Har
44 - Bikers for Boobies
16 - High Seas Rally 2010
47 - Rip's AZ BAD Ride
20 - The Cannonball Run
49 - Blinded by the Light
23 - Doing the Grand Tour
51 - Santa Won't Need Rudolph
30 - Reader Feedback
54 - Weekly Events
32 - Thunder Mountain Ride
55 - The Making of a Cover
35 - Rocky Point Rally 2010
CONTRIBUTORS:
YOU, the Motorcycling Community
CHRIS DALGAARD
LISA DALGAARD
NATIONAL PUBLISHER & CA EDITOR
ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER
Mike Sayer
Gary Mraz
STEVEN ADAMO
ART DIRECTOR
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
Randy Twells
MICHELE
Larry Serna
NORTHERN CALIFORNIA
Art Hall
Babydoll
Mel Jacobson
Digger Dave
George Childress
Arizona Lynn
NEVADA
Robert Sweeney
Bob Dawg
ARIZONA
Linda Dahl
Famous Jake
“Wild Bill” Saxton
DJ Bean
TigerLily
SOUTHWEST EDITOR
STAFF WRITERS:
PHOTOGRAPHERS:
CD, Randy Twells, Lisa Dalgaard, Mike Dalgaard,
Famous Jake, Linda Dahl, Tom "PIR8" Tinney,
Mike Sayer, Robert Sweeney, Art Hall, TigerLily
Art Hall, Ray Ambler, Ron Sinoy, CD, George Childress,
WEBMASTER
Kirk Johnson - phoenixbikers.com
QUICK THROTTLE® 2010 is published monthly and NO reproduction of content is permitted without Publisher or Editor’s prior written approval. Publisher and Editor assume no financial responsibility for errors in ads beyond
the cost of space occupied by error; a correction will be printed. Publisher is not liable for: any slandering of an individual, or group as we mean no malice or individual criticism at any time; nor are we responsible for the
opinions or comments of our columnists; and promises, coupons, or lack of fulfillment from advertisers who are solely responsible for the content of their ads. Publisher and Editor are also to be held harmless from: failure to
produce any issue as scheduled due to reasons beyond our control; all suits. claims or loss of expenses; this includes but is not limited to, suits for libel, plagarism, copyright infringement and unauthorized use of a persons
name or photograph. Publisher and Editor do not promote excessive consumption of alcoholic beverages. The Quick Throttle name and logo is owned nationally by Chris and Lisa Dalgaard of Bonnie & Clyde Enterprises, LLC.
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DECEMBER 2010
THE ISSUE:
Pechanga Casino, Temecula CA, denying Veterans motorcycle club members, specifically Vietnam Vets MC,
the participation in the Vets Eat Free promotion on
Veterans Day 2010, unless they removed their
patched vests.
THE COMPLAINT:
Robert Ingersoll sent around to various motorcyclist
interest groups his account of the incident, which we
quote here in part:
On Thursday, November 11, Veterans Day, eight Veterans, seven Vietnam Vets and one active duty Marine, as well as two of their wives, were threatened
with arrest and told to leave the [Pechanga] Casino.
After leaving the Menifee Veterans Memorial Dedication ceremony in Menifee we headed to Pechanga for
the complementary buffet offered to honor Veterans.
While in line for about 20 minutes we were approached by Pechanga Security and told we would
have to leave because we were wearing our vests
with a mc on the back. MC stands for Motorcycle
Club. Also on the back of the vest was a patch that
said VIETNAM VET, and USA …. Lt Jim, of their Security, said he would have us arrested for trespassing if
we did not leave. As Vietnam Vets, this was the same
treatment we received in 60’s and 70’s.…
ers, an Indian Motorcycle Club, have sponsored Toy
runs for Years at other Casinos.
There are many Veteran Motorcycle Clubs in the area,
Vietnam Vets, Legacy Vets, Veterans of Foreign Wars
(VFW), American Legion Riders, Brotherhood of Marine Corps Riders, Leathernecks, Rough Riders, and
many more.
There have been court cases that state: Discrimination against bikers on the basis of clothing or motorcycle club membership is illegal in California. Unruh
Civil Rights, Act CC 51et seq and Cohen V California, a
Supreme Court ruling, that stated that individuals
have the right under the First Amendment to wear
clothing which displays writing or designs….
After leaving Pechanga we headed to Applebee’s on
Highway 79 in Temecula. There we ate, were treated
with respect and dignity, and the manager ask[ed] to
take a picture of us for their wall. …
Robert Ingersoll, Murrieta, California
Pechanga’s Wall Post on Facebook (echoed in similar
email response to me from their Public Affairs
Dept.):
Pechanga is proud to have served over 1,500 free
meals to Vets and Military personnel yesterday.
I, Robert Ingersoll, a former Marine and retired school
teacher of 35 years, had called the Casino a week earlier to make sure that wearing our vests would not be
a problem. I was assured that it would not be a problem by Sgt. Moreno …. He said he would tell everyone
in
the
days
briefing
that
Veteran
Motorcycle Clubs may be attending. We have been in
many other Casinos in the area, without a problem. In
fact the Vietnam/Legacy Vets, along with the Rez Rid-
We have a strict policy prohibiting any type of gang
attire from being worn in our facility, which includes
vests with the “colors” of motorcycle clubs. Those
wearing such “colors” are asked to take them off
while in our facility. Two different veteran groups
came in wearing such “colors”. One group took them
off and enjoyed their free meal and the other refused
and were asked to leave. Please understand we have
these guidelines for the safety of our guests.”
OPEN LETTER FROM QUICK THROTTLE TO
PECHANGA CASINO:
they did not leave or remove their vests? And, what
is it about the vest worn by any veterans’ motorcyclist
group member that constitutes a safety or comfort
hazard to other guests?
This is Quick Throttle Magazine. I’ve contacted your
Public Affairs office and given your organization more
than a week of opportunity to specifically address the
concerns raised in Mr. Ingersoll’s letter. A repetition
of the same ‘gang attire’ and ‘comfort and safety of
all our guests’ policy, such as I finally received in email
from your office, does not answer these issues.
While we want to report this without bias, we want to
examine the positions of both parties, and the arguments for both, see what results and give our opinion
as well. We are leaning toward the position that
Pechanga was morally wrong in their refusal of service
to Veteran motorcyclists unless they removed their
vests.
I am wondering how this Sgt. Moreno could state that
the group was OK to wear their vests in Pechanga
Casino, and that he would inform all the security personnel, and yet have this turn into a threat of arrest if
Can you really expect Veterans who are attending a
Veterans Day event specifically in honor of Veterans,
to hide as if shameful the very emblem that identifies
them as such, in return for a free meal? The concern
is, what is right, not what is the easy blanket application of a policy that is stuck in the mud of 2002’s
Laughlin incident which generated hysteria among
the uninformed, and in their minds painted anyone
on a motorcycle who wears a patched vest, with the
same broad brush.
Why would you hold an event in the first place, that
would ATTRACT the many Veterans motorcycle
groups in the region who are a very visible part of the
festivities at any patriotic celebration, that is therefore also a setup for a publicly embarrassing incident
both for Pechanga and the Veterans involved, that requires denial of their affiliation in order to benefit?
It must be acknowledged that Indian casinos are on
sovereign Indian land, and as such have their own set
of laws and rules, yet they are also bound by certain
laws of the United States and the State of California,
especially when it comes to the gaming part of the
business. Where the line is drawn or what rights a
casino has to discriminate against certain groups may
be unclear at the moment to us, but Ingersoll did reference a California court case that seems to support
his position.
Does Pechanga apply its policy consistently and also
refuse casino entry and presence to members of
every veterans group such as retired golden-agers
Veterans in their VFW logo windbreakers and tennies?
To be consistent, you would really have to prohibit
those jackets as well, since your post says this “includes vests with the ‘colors’ of motorcycle clubs”
(italics ours) but does not LIMIT the distinction to motorcycle clubs. Is this profiling?
How little do you think they value their patriotic identity as an American Military Veteran and member of
ANY Veteran association? That it has the value of one
free meal? I do not think so.
Pechanga points to a conveniently unidentifiable
group who supposedly complied with this policy; if
so, I wonder why—was it some ill-thought spur-ofthe-moment cave-in, not realizing in their haste to
just get a free meal how their compromising behavior
would reinforce Pechanga’s treatment of other veterans’ motorcycle groups, once Pechanga achieved
their compliance and compromise? What does it say
about their core values? “We are die-hard Americans,
but only if we don’t get denied our free meal”—?
Boy, I hope I have THOSE GUYS in my trench when
push comes to shove…! Sure enough, this unnamed
group is held up (made up?) as proof that the policy
is reasonable.
Legal or not, do you really want to antagonize Veterans and all patriotic Americans this way? Do you see
how all this looks to the clubs named by Ingersoll and
all motorcyclists? They all support one another.
I’m sure that Pechanga wants to keep the thousands
of motorcyclists in the region coming in and spending
their money. They won’t be doing that based on the
chatter we are hearing, which increasingly includes
the word “BOYCOTT”. Reaching out to the Veterans
motorcycle clubs for a do-over, would be a good way
to start redeeming Pechanga’s image with all motorcyclists.
Robert Ingersoll’s appeal has reached the desk of California State Senate District Representative Louis
Reyes, and has been forwarded to the California Bureau of Gambling Control for further investigation.
We welcome readers’ letters on the above, including
anyone who actually removed their vest to have their
apparently extremely valuable free meal, at Pechanga
on Veterans Day, and also from Pechanga Casino officials.
Let’s fix this and honor those most honorable heroes
among us, our military veterans who put their life on
the line without hesitation, and only ask for acknowledgement of the same freedoms they fought for on
behalf of every American, to identify themselves as
who they truly are, AMERICAN MILITARY VETERANS.
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DECEMBER 2010
DECEMBER 2010
DECEMBER 2
SIERRA VISTA, AZ* BIG BAD BIKE NIGHT AT RENDEZVOUS - Presented by Harley
Davidson of Sierra Vista. All riders and colors are welcome to Rendezvous’ Big Bad
Bike Night on the 1st Thursday of every month! We block off the parking lot for you
to show off your bike and we have 2 for 1 drink specials and giveaways all night
long. The best bike night in Southern Arizona only at Rendezvous! 6:00 pm at Rendezvous Nightclub (520-458-2902) [email protected].
TUCSON, AZ* HARLEY-DAVIDSON OF TUCSON BIKE NIGHT - At Native New Yorker
from 6:00 to 10:00 pm with 39 cent wings and drink specials. Harley Girls with
great giveaways.
DECEMBER 4
PACOIMA, CA* THE 43RD ANNUAL PACOIMA CHRISTMAS PARADE - Join us as we
celebrate the 43rd Annual Christmas Parade & Charity Toy Run! Presented by Pacoima Chamber of Commerce in association w/Bosco’s Charity Foundation. Join
Grand Marshal Danny Trejo from “MACHETE” along w/Honorary Grand Marshals,
Emilio Rivera from FX hit show “Sons Of Anarchy” and Luis ‘Lou’ Pizarro of “Operation Repo”.
After the parade there will be live entertainment, food, vendors, and more. $10 unwrapped gift. Bike line up at 8:00 am at 13720 Van Nuys Blvd. For more info: Bosco
Nava at 818-470-2136 or [email protected].
BAKERSFIELD, CA* OILDALE TOY RUN – Presented by Ethel’s Old Corral and benefits the children of Oildale, 50/50 drawing, live music, drink specials and raffle
prizes. For more info: 661.873.9223.
YUMA, AZ* TUCSON RED & WHITE TUCSON CHARITY RUN AND SUPPORT PARTY
– “Let’s Ride Charity Run & Support Party” - Sonny Barger Book signing at Bobby’s
Territorial Harley Davidson, 2550 E. Gila Ridge Rd Yuma, AZ $20 Donation includes:
Run shirt for first 200 participants, Door Prize Ticket and Mine Shaft Catered Lunch.
Partial proceeds to benefit Families in need Yuma County. $500 Bobby’s HD Gift
Card for High Hand $100 Prize for mileage guess. All Motorcycles and vehicles welcome. Sign in from 9:00 am to 11:00 am. For more info: Maxx at 520-820-6966 or
www.hamc2son.com.
MESA, AZ* AMERICAN LEGION POST 35 TOYS FOR TOTS RIDE - Sponsored by
American Legion Riders Post 35. The ride starts at from Skunk Motorsports, 202 W.
Main Street in Mesa. Registration is from 8:00 am to 10:00 am. Riders: $20 without
a toy, $15 with a toy. Passengers: $15 without toy, $10 with a toy. Ride pins for
the first 100 participants; paid ride includes: ride, lunch, door prizes and live music.
All proceeds go to the Marine Corps Toys for Tots program and other American Legion Riders programs. For more information call Jesse “Smog” Hendrix at (602)
717-7545, or go to http://alr35.org/ToysForTots2010.htm.
PHOENIX, AZ* ARIZONA BIKER LEATHER’S 8TH ANNUAL ANNIVERSARY PARTY Thank you for 8 years from George, Ann and Staff! In store specials all day; starts
at Noon till 4:00 pm, free food and drinks. Music, raffles and vendors, free vendor
set-up. Call to reserve your spot now: 602-843-5847. (NE corner of 19th Ave and
Thunderbird) 13833 N. 19th Ave Phoenix.
TUCSON, AZ* ANGEL TREE TOY RUN - Presented by Steve Young, and benefits
Children of Tucson AZ Inmates. Do you want a different kind of Toy Run? This toy
run actually delivers the toys to the children of Tucson; the run will start at 8:00 am
going directly to the homes and delivering the toys to the children, not a pile. Admission: $10.00 Single/$15.00 Couple. 8:00 am AZ Victory Motorcycle
1102 N. Anita Ave. in Tucson. For more info: 520-405-1217
DECEMBER 5
NATIONAL CITY, CA* - THE ANNUAL LIGHTING OF THE CHRISTMAS TREES - SUNDAY THE 5th at 4 PM at Sweetwater Harley-Davidson— Refreshments, Christmas
Music and Christmas Cheer! Come celebrate with us and bring the whole family!
3201 Hoover Ave. More info: 619-477-4477 or www.sweetwaterharley.com. SEE AD
AVILA BEACH, CA* 30th ANNUAL SLO COUNTY TOY RUN - Ride from Avila Beach
to the Loading Chute in Creston. Admission is $5.00 and a new unwrapped toy or
$ 15 w/out toy. Admission includes a 30th commemorative run pin for the first
1000 riders. BBQ, live music, raffle and 50/50 drawings. For more info: Bernard
Duque at 805-489-7001.
DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES & MISSION HILLS, CA* 7TH ANNUAL MOTORCYCLE
CHRISTMAS TOY RUN – All riders & drivers welcome! Raffle prizes and 50/50 drawing. Trophies for “Kids Choice Best Bike” & “Santa’s Favorite Car”! Riding Pin for
the first 250 bikes. With a special invitation to all Classic Cars which benefits The
Children of Los Angeles Harbor UCLA Medical Center. Bring a new unwrapped toy
(for babies to teenagers 1 second to 18 years old) to the starting location of your
choice: Location #1: Downtown Los Angeles, Catch 21 Restaurant parking lot at
441 S. Central Avenue. Arrive at 8:30 am; leaving at 10:30 am for LA Harbor UCLA
Medical Center in Torrance. For more info call Ray Reynoso at 562.857.9888 or
LACEA Roberto Larios at 800.464.0452. Location #2: Mission Hills, Millie’s Restaurant parking lot at 10318 Sepulveda Blvd. Arrive at 8:00 am; leaving 8:30 am and
going to the starting Location #1, to meet group. For more info call Ralph Sanchez
at 818.400.0652 or Dave Mills at 661.993.9631. After the ride, join us at San Pedro
Ports O’Call at 6th and Pacific. Rain or Shine. For more information and donations:
www.Christmastoyrun.com.
ONTARIO, CA* 22ND ANNUAL POMONA HOG TOY RUN - Pomona Valley HOG’s
22nd annual Toy run to benefit Santa Claus Inc. Raffles, games, food, drink, entertainment. Admission $7 plus one new unopened toy. This is the one you don’t
want to miss. Starts at 10:00 am; and for more info: www.pomonahog.com.
PHOENIX, AZ* 38TH ANNUAL KICKS 4 KIDS TOY RUN & LAW TIGERS TRIVIA RIDE Phoenix’s longest running Toy Run this year will add the Law Tigers Trivia Ride,
traveling from the F.O.P. Lodge #2 (19th Av & Cactus 8am sign in/last bike out
10am) down I-17 to the I-10 and ending at Wild Horse Pass Hotel and Casino (last
bike in 12pm). Your map will guide you to 5 stops along the way; each stop will
have a question. Look around because the answer to the question will be right in
front of you at each stop. Law Tigers has sponsored cash prizes of 1st $300, 2nd
$100, 3rd Motorcycle Gift Package. They’ll be Vendors, Refreshments, Entertainment, 50/50, Best Xmas Decorated Bike Show and a $5 Lunch Poolside at Wild
Horse Pass. All for the donation of one Toy valued at $5 or more. We are looking
for vendors if you would like to join us please email me at [email protected]. SEE
LAW TIGERS AD
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SCOTTSDALE, AZ* SEE WHAT BIKERS CAN DO! - Well now, its time to say THANK
YOU to all of the bikers ,volunteers, sponsors, and non-riders who attended and
helped this event raise over $6000 + in one day **See What Bikers Can Do**. On
hand will be a rep from each charity, and they will be presented with a check for
their cause. There will be live music by Big Nick and the Gila Monsters and door
prizes. 6:30 pm at the Dirty Dogg Saloon - 10409 N. Scottsdale Road. For more
info: Juli Salvante at 480.368.8095, [email protected] or their website at
http://www.dirtydoggsaloon.com.
at 8:00 am at the Post, 922 N. Alma School Road with kickstands up at 9:30 am.
Cost: $20/single, $25/double. Grand Prize - HD Fat Bob, 2nd and 3rd Prizes $1,000 each. Drawing for the Fat Bob will be at 4:00 pm at Chandler Harley Davidson at 6895 W. Chandler Blvd in Chandler. Then continue onto Post 91 for the 2nd
and 3rd place ($1000 each) winners. Also lots of other smaller raffle drawings.
Call Post 91 at 480-855-3268 to purchase your tickets! Cash and credit cards accepted! Hurry and get your 1 in 300 chance to win this bike.
BISBEE, AZ* 2ND ANNUAL COCHISE COUNTY CHOPPERS TOY RUN - Presented by
Cochise County Choppers & Marine Corps. League Toys for Tots. Benefits Boys &
Girls Club of Bisbee. This year, we are PROUD to announce that we have partnered
with the Marine Corps League, for this toy run; so this will be an official Toys for
Tots Run! Registration (& breakfast) is at Cochise County Choppers from 10:00am12:00pm. after party La Ramada Bar & Grill 1948 S. Naco Hwy. Bisbee Az. It is free
to attend! DJ Mata, live band, a jump house for the kids, food drinks, etc. This is a
family event. Vendors call us for more info. Vendor space will be $20.00 per 10x10.
10am. Cochise County Choppers, 402 Bisbee Rd. For more info:520-234-6402
www.cochisecountychoppers.com or [email protected].
CHANDLER, AZ* CHANDLER HARLEY-DAVIDSON HOLIDAY OPEN HOUSE - Free Gift
Wrap with any purchase: FREE photos with Santa from 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm. 6895
W. Chandler Blvd. For more info call 480-496-6800, or check the website
www.chandlerharley.com.
SIERRA VISTA, AZ* SIERRA VISTA HARLEY-DAVIDSON’S HOLIDAY OPEN HOUSE 9am to 5pm. 176 West Fry Boulevard. For more info: (520) 458-9500 Fax: (520)
458-9515.
DECEMBER 7
ORO VALLEY, AZ* BIKE NIGHT AT THE LOOP - Starts at Dusk. 10180 N. Oracle Rd.
in Oro Valley, AZ. (520-878-0222) Presented by The LOOP, Taste of Chicago. Come
and enjoy the only Bike Night in Oro Valley. The Loop, Taste of Chicago is where you
want to be on the first and third Tuesday of each month! Enjoy sports on one of
our many HD TVs around the bar, or chill on the patio (smoker friendly) with an icecold beverage. Win The LOOP Gift Certificates. “Best V-Twin” in Show Certificate
awarded at every event! Don’t miss the fun, food and friendships only at The LOOP.
Bike Nite starts at Dusk. The LOOP is located at 10180 N. Oracle Rd. in Oro Valley,
AZ. (520-878-0222). For more information please visit their website
www.theLoopTasteofChicago.com.
DECEMBER 9
TUCSON, AZ* HARLEY –DAVIDSON of TUCSON and THE HOG PIT SMOKEHOUSE
BAR & GRILL Presents BIKE NIGHT - Starts at 6pm at The Hog Pit Smokehouse Bar
& Grill– 6910 E. Tanque Verde Road, Tucson, AZ. There will be special bike parking
(east parking lot), various vendors and plenty of giveaways. Try their Slow and
Low smoked BBQ, original BBQ sauces and ribs; all made in-house by Chef John
Mertes, Food and bar specials. The Hog Pit/Harley-Davidson Bike Night is the third
Thursday of each month. Come early to avoid traffic problems. Free admission.
For more info: 520.722.4302 or [email protected]. SEE THE HOG PIT ADD
DECEMBER 11-12
TUCSON, AZ* 29TH ANNUAL SUN RIDERS MOTORCYCLE TOY PARADE -Presented
by Tucson Sun Riders MC. Benefits Aviva Children’s Services. Live music, food,
drinks, bike games and bike show. Parade registration $15 in advance, $20 day of,
plus a toy. 520.312.8120, www.tucsonsunridersmc.com. Come out and join the
Sun Riders for the 29th Annual Toy Parade on Sunday, December 12, 2010. We will
be having a pre-party on Saturday, December 11th from 2pm- 7pm. This years
event will be held at Holiday Inn, 4550 South Palo Verde Rd. Cost for the parade:
pre-registration is $15.00 plus a toy or day of event is $20.00 plus a toy.
SAN MARCOS, CA* BIGGS HARLEY-DAVIDSON’S GRAND OPENING PARTY - The
King is Back! Grand Opening Party for Biggs at their new location -1040 Los Vallecitos. Join us for a fun-packed day of live music, great food, door prizes, specials
throughout the dealership, and surprises, even a live Elvis show on the 11th! Start
the day off early (riders meet at 6:30 am and the party goes all day till 6:00pm) with
the North San Diego County Biggs Hog Chapter in the annual Toy Store Invasion
benefiting Rady’s Children’s Hospital. The party is now both Saturday and Sunday.
Sunday’s activities include the band Rolling The Stones. Don’t miss out! It’s the
party of the year! For more info: Melissa at 760-481-7300 or www.biggsh-d.com.
SAN DIEGO, CA* USO & HARLEY-DAVIDSON’S 2ND ANNUAL CHRISTMAS FESTIVAL
– More details to follow.
DECEMBER 11
CHANDLER, AZ* LEGION #91 CHANDLER AZ FAT BOB BIKE RAFFLE AND RIDE -300
tickets sold at $100.00 each! Tickets are on sale now; accepting credit cards. Sponsored by the American Legion Riders of Post 91 in Chandler, AZ. Registration starts
GOLDEN SHORES, AZ* DESERT ROAD RIDERS’ MC 2OTH ANNUAL TOY RUN –
Leaves at 12 noon sharp from Hooches Bar & Grill. Please bring 1 unwrapped toy
and 1 box/can food to benefit the local children and shelters. Run ends at AVI
Casino beside the Pavilion. John Earl & the Bogie Man Blues Band, 50/50 raffle, bar,
normal biker stuff. Santa will be there for the kids! For more info call “Later” at
928.279.8896 or www.desertroadridersmc.com.
TUCSON, AZ* HIGH BARS N LOW CARS SHOW N SHINE - Red & White 81 and Yaqui
Warriors present Toy Drive & Charity Event. Bike N Car Show. To benefit Pascua
Yaqui Youth all vehicles welcome. Located at Casino Del Sol, AVA Amphitheater
East Lawn 5655 W. Valencia Rd, Tucson AZ. 11:00 am – 3:00 pm. Price: Free with
New unwrapped Toy. $20 without TOY, Don’t be a Grinch. Cars: Lowriders, Hot
Rods, Rat Rods, Pickups, Vintage. Bikes: Choppers, Bobbers, Touring, Sport Bikes,
Vintage. “Awards and Prizes” Food, Beverage, and 81 support merchandise available. FMI: [email protected].
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DECEMBER 2010
TUCSON, AZ* HARLEY-DAVIDSON OF TUCSON HOLIDAY OPEN HOUSE - Free Gift
Wrap with any purchase: FREE photos with Santa from 1 to 3. 7355 N. 1-10 Eb,
Frontage Rd. For more info call 520-751-3380, or check the website
www.tucsonharley.com.
PEORIA, AZ* ARROWHEAD HARLEY-DAVIDSON HOLIDAY OPEN HOUSE - Free Gift
Wrap with any purchase: FREE photos with Santa from 12:20 to 2:30. 16130 N. Ftn.
Dr. Peoria. For more info call 623-247-5542, or check the website
www.arrowheadharley.com.
TH
PHOENIX, AZ* 16 ANNUAL TOY AND POKER RUN – Registration is at 10:00 am
with kickstands up at 11:00 am (1818 W. Bell Road). 1st stop: The Steel Horse Saloon; 2nd stop: Chopper King (701 W. Deer Valley Road), 3rd stop: Connolly’s (2605
W. Carefree Hwy.), 4th stop: Track Side (19194 W. Gordon Way/203rd Ave & Grand
Ave). The final stop: back to The Steel Horse Saloon. Cost of registration is $20
with a new unwrapped toy. Cars are welcome, and the 1st 100 ride participants
will receive a ride pin. Come out and join us for a good time and poker ride. For
more info: 602.942.8778 or check the website: www.steelhorsesaloon.com.
DECEMBER 12
BAKERSFIELD, CA* 27TH ANNUAL BAKERSFIELD TOY RUN – The 27th Annual Bakersfield Toy Run for The Salvation Army Sunday December 12th 2010. Line up at
7:00 am at Beach Park 24th & Oak St. Parade at 10:00 a.m. Free coffee & donuts
at the park. Entrance fee is an unwrapped toy & non-perishable food items $20.00
value or $20.00 per person. There will be event pins, shirts, vendors, door prizes,
food, beverages and live music. Best “Christmas” decorated vehicle, trophies Info:
John Mullin (661) 747-9309 [email protected].
GLENDALE, CA* 23RD ANNUAL SKID ROW L.A. TOY RIDE – Sponsored by Glendale
Harley-Davidson and ABATE Local #1. Please bring a toy for a child which will be
handed out at the Fred Jordan Mission. 9:00 am at Glendale HD, 3717 San Fernando Road. For more info: [email protected] or 818.484.5389.
SAN DIEGO/OCEANSIDE, CA* BIG COVER UP - 15th Annual Ride with the Pioneers
MC and the Messengers MC from San Diego Harley to Kennedy’s Custom Cycles!
Bring $10.00 + blankets & socks for the homeless. All proceeds are split between
St Vincent DePaul and Brother Bennos Homeless Shelters. Food, Music, Bike Contest... run Pins for the first 200. Registration @ 0900, kickstands up at 11:30 am!
This is a Clean and Sober Event; no booze, no drugs, no attitudes, have fun. 9 am
Downtown. For more info: http://pioneersmc.homestead.com.
VENTURA, CA* 7TH ANNUAL DAVID MANN CHOPPER FEST – 8:00 am to 3:00 pm
at Seaside Park; on the grass, under the palms, by the ocean. A Tribute to David
Mann – hosted by Jennifer Scott; featuring some of David Mann’s greatest original
paintings that will be displayed by Ron Segal: new & old skool motorcycle show, live
blues & rock bands, custom bike builder displays, vendors, new & used parts swap
meet, beer and food. General admission $12, with military I.D $7, children 12 &
under free. Show entry $40, show entry includes 2 passes and event t-shirt. For
more detailed info: www.chopperfestival.com or call Tory @ 805.217.2113 or
Harry @ 805.650.6777.
DECEMBER 16
TUCSON, AZ* HARLEY–DAVIDSON of TUCSON and THE HOG PIT SMOKEHOUSE
BAR & GRILL Present BIKE NIGHT. Starts at 6:00 pm The Hog Pit Smokehouse Bar
Mertes. Food and bar specials. The Hog Pit/Harley-Davidson Bike Night is the
third Thursday of each month. Come early to avoid traffic problems. Free admission. For more info: 520.722.4302 or [email protected]. SEE AD
DECEMBER 18
FULLERTON, CA* HOLY MISTLETOE CELEBRATION & TOY DRIVE - Join HarleyDavidson of Anaheim-Fullerton for a full day of Holiday Fun. Santa will be here at
10:00am with all his helpers collecting toys for the Spark Of Love Charity. So come
down and celebrate your holidays with HDAF. For more info:
[email protected] or 714-871-6563.
FOLSOM/SACRAMENTO,CA* 3RD ANNUAL CLEAN AND SOBER TOY RUN - Presented by Nor Cal Clean and Sober Living,benefiting Sayonara Community Center,
W.E.A.V.E., and under privileged children. Registration is $20 and a new toy. First
100 riders receive t-shirt, dog tag, meal, beverage, and 5 raffle tickets to win guitar
signed by Tesla. Raffle, music, food, beverages, vendors, prizes and so much more.
Event starts at 10:00 am and the starting point is Folsom Harley Davidson -115
Woodmere Rd. in Folsom. For more info: Daniel Patterson at (916) 459-0942 or
www.norcalcleansober.com.
PHOENIX/ANTHEM, AZ* BUDDY STUBBS H-D APPRECIATION DAY - 11am-3pm at
both dealerships! Great time to pick up those last-minute gifts for friends and family. Pictures with Santa and Mrs. Claus at Anthem H-D from 11:00 am -12:00 pm
and from 1:00 pm -3:00 pm, at AZ H-D; free food, drink and live music, plus, museum tours and a pool tournament at AZ H-D. Enjoy free gift wrapping donated by
Ladies of Harley! Call 602-971-3400 or 623-465-1122 for more info.
DECEMBER 19
LOMA LINDA, CA* LOMA LINDA UNIVERSITY CHILDREN’S TOY RUN - Rain or Shine
$10 + new unwrapped toy per rider. Sign-in from 10:30 am to 12:30 pm at Quaid’s
HD at 25160 Redlands Blvd. in Loma Linda. Awards for largest club, best decorated
bike & bike w/trailer, judging at 12:30 Escorted ride to LL Univ Hospital at 1:30 for
award presentation and interaction with the kids. Year bars to 1st 350 riders. AMA
sanctioned 50/25/25. For more info: Chester Phillips at
562.927-5965 or www.myspace.com/mrabikenight.
DECEMBER 22
TUCSON, AZ* TUCSON VINTAGE MOTORCYCLE RIDERS BIKE NIGHT - Every other
Wednesday night starting at 6:00 pm (12/8, 12/22, 1/5, 1/19 etc.) Event Location:
Barrio Brewing Company, 800 East 16th St. in Tucson, AZ. Presented by Tucson Vintage Motorcycle Riders. Gathering of folks with an interest in vintage/classic motorcycles of all years, makes and models (yes- even scooters) Enjoy great bikes,
great food and great beers in the company of kindred spirits. We have no rules, no
dues, and no leaders, just a common interest (and a T-shirt) that binds us. Barrio
Brewing Company, 800 E 16th St. in Tucson, AZ. For more information please email
[email protected] or autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/tucsonvintagemc.
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DECEMBER 2010
JANUARY 2011
JANUARY 13-15
LAS VEGAS, NV* 20TH ANNUAL LAS VEGAS MOTORCYCLE AUCTION - World’s
Largest -500 Motorcycles! $15 admission; watch our website for updates,
www.midamericaauctions.com.
for at the end of the ride. Pre-registration is $25.00 for rider and $30.00 for rider
and passenger. If you are interested in riding, being a vendor or just want more information, please call Sandy at 623-587-0139, email Sharon at [email protected] or visit the website at
www.azwildlifecenter.net or Facebook at www.facebook.com/azwildlifecenter.
MARCH 2011
JANUARY 15
MESA, AZ* STAND UP AND STAND PROUD PRESENTS...SALUTE TO AMERI
CAN VETERANS AND MOTORCYCLE RIDE FOR HOMELESS VETERANS - The
event begins at 8:00 a.m. Saturday morning, January 15, 2011 and should end approximately 2:00 P.M. January 15, 2011. Registration $10.00. Go to the website
for more information on program, bands, music and more... Location: Mesa Market Place, Signal Butte and US 60, Mesa Arizona. Guest speakers and other activities and events in preparation for a Valley wide motorcycle ride on February 4th,
2011 to the Veterans Memorial Coliseum as the community gives back to homeless
veterans through Stand Down Arizona, the annual event that provides outreach
and support for homeless United States Veterans in the Valley of the Sun. During
our event we focus on saluting those who are true American Hero’s and reminding
the community to never forget. For more info call Tom Steinhagen at 480.832.2466
or check the web at www.standupandstandproud.org.
JANUARY 20
TUCSON, AZ* HARLEY –DAVIDSON of TUCSON and THE HOG PIT SMOKEHOUSE
BAR & GRILL Present BIKE NIGHT - Starts at 6:00 pm The Hog Pit Smokehouse Bar
Mertes. Food and bar specials. The Hog Pit/Harley-Davidson Bike Night is the
third Thursday of each month. Come early to avoid traffic problems. Free admission. For more info: 520.722.4302 or [email protected]. SEE AD
FEBRUARY 2011
FEBRUARY 5
IRVINE / SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO, CA* 3RD ANNUAL DR. JOE CORTESE MEMORIAL
MOTORCYCLE POKER RUN - Hosted by The Rotary Club of San Juan Capistrano
and CARE, this fun ride begins at the event sponsor location - Orange County
Harley-Davidson 8677 Research Dr. in Irvine and ends at the Car Show in San Juan
Capistrano. Proceeds fund medications, spay/neuter, emergency surgeries, adopting homeless and abandoned dogs and cats and Rotary charities.
8:00 a.m. to 2:00 pm. For more info call 949-240-1735; e-mail
[email protected] or visit www.capoanimalrescue.com or twitter.com/8thCAReShow.
TONOPAH, AZ* TMF’S CHILI LOVERS CHILI RUN - NEW LOCATION! TMF’s 10th Annual Chili Run to be held at the Tin Top Bar & Grill, 37900 W. Salome HWY in
Tonopah. The run benefits Michaels Garden (children with special needs). 11:30
am – 4:00 pm. Chili entries $5 per category for more info call Terrye at 623-8265293 by 01/31/2011 Vendor info call Judge at 623—266-7657 by 01/8/2011. Event
entry $10 per Adult Children 17 & under free. live music by 9-2-1 Band out of Buckeye AZ. Cash prizes, vendors and more. Portion of Proceeds from the event goes
to Michael’s Garden. Hamburgers, hot dogs and cold drinks are available also. For
more info call Terrye/Judge at 623.266.7657 or email [email protected]. Come
out and have a great time.
FEBRUARY 13
FLORENCE, AZ* 28TH ANNUAL FLORENCE PRISON RUN - Ride a Harley, go to Prison.
Live Rock N’ Roll, Large Booths, 21 & older (NO MINORS). Run pins to first 1,500
riders. Come on out and show your Red & White Support. Hot, Fun Times and Cool
Bikes Charles Withrow Rodeo Grounds 11608 Hwy 79, four miles south of Florence,
AZ. Starts at 11:00 am, admission is $20.00. For more info: www.hamc2son.com
or Maxx at 520-820-6966.
FEBRUARY 20
PHOENIX, AZ* BIKERS SOAR FOR WILDLIFE - The “Biker’s Soar for Wildlife” ride is
to benefit the animals at the Adobe Mountain Wildlife Center in Phoenix. Registration is 8:00 to 9:30 at Arrowhead Harley-Davidson, Peoria. Come hungry and enjoy
a great breakfast from Mi Familia. The ride will end at Pioneer Living History Village
where you will enjoy a great lunch, music by Faded Jeans, raffle prizes and special
auction gifts. And of course you will get to see some of the animals you are riding
MARCH 19
TUCSON, AZ* TUCSON RED & WHITE SPRING OPENER – Save the date, more info
to follow.
MARCH 20
CAMARILLO, CA* 8TH ANNUAL ST. PATRICK’S POKER RUN - Event to benefit Ventura Sheriff’s K9 Foundation and Food Share. Terrific prizes, including a new genuine motor scooter donated by Ventura Harley-Davidson. Plus...poker run,
entertainment, 50/50 raffle, catered lunch, event pins to first 300, vendors and
more! Pre-reg $20 per person, after March 13, $25 per person. Registration form
at www.venturahog.com. Event starts at 8:30 am, rain or shine. For more info:
Terry Crawford at 805 485-1717.
MARCH 25-APRIL 3
SCOTTSDALE, AZ* ARIZONA BIKE WEEK - Pre-rally days run March 25 – 29 Check
out all the rides and parties. March 30 – April 3; it’s the biggest party of them all
- Cyclefest at WestWorld!! This year we’re celebrating our 15th anniversary. Cyclefest features hundreds of vendors, builders and manufacturers. After the sun
sets we really rev it up with nightly, top name concerts in the HandleBar Saloon.
Check our website for this year’s line-up at www.azbikeweek.com. Just $40 gets
you into all five days of concerts and festivities. For more info: Suzy at
480.644.8191.
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DECEMBER 2010
Nov. 13, 2010 • Just east of Ocotillo, CA. — A 10th Anniversary club ride for the Saddletramps MC of Lakeside, CA, eastbound on Highway 98 in Imperial County
in clear fall weather was routed to let the 21 people
on 12 motorcycles stay off the main highways and on
a lesser traveled, more enjoyable route. Sadly it
turned out to be the last ride for four of their group,
as a still-at-large driver in a Honda Civic tried to pass
the staggered formation of bikes without enough distance to safely get by on the two-laner before an oncoming Dodge Avenger would close the gap.
Although the Avenger driver swerved onto the shoulder to avoid the passing car coming straight at him,
he lost control, went into a 360 and careened back
across the road, T-boning the bikes in the middle of
the long formation.
Lost in the unimaginably violent explosion of bikes,
people and a car, were Lance & Amy Heath, Tonya
Trayer, and George “Bill” Miller. Five others in the club
group were injured—John Lombardo incurred a leg
injury; the seriously injured— three still in the hospital—include William & Melanie Barnes and Wilson
Trayer. Kelly Halley was hospitalized and has been discharged but faces a long daunting recovery process.
The female passenger in the Dodge Avenger died in
the collision.
Law enforcement is actively seeking the Honda Civic
driver who slowed briefly but then sped away towards Calexico as the carnage unleashed behind him.
With heavy hearts, surviving families are leaning on
each other and their Saddletramps affiliation, with
memorials, blood-drives and fund-raisers bringing an
outpouring of support from the community in general
and the motorcycle world in particular. And in the
middle of their own grief, Saddletramps members visited the unfortunate driver of the Dodge Avenger,
who was still in the hospital, and offered their condolences and assurances that they do not hold him responsible.
Carl Smith, President of the Lakeside Chapter of the
Saddletramps MC, was in the lead the day of the
tragedy, and starting with CPR on the road right there,
has shouldered the aftermath, dealing with media
and other concerns for the victims’ families and the
Saddletramps MC, looking after their own.
***
I had come to know the Saddletramps as a group and
some individually, by covering several years of their
club events, at their annual camp-outs. A familial
group, personable, welcoming and easygoing, yet
watchful over one another. As a fellow rider, they
welcomed me as one of them. The love of the ride
binds them, it’s in their blood.
Over 500 attended the Heaths’ memorial, mostly bik-
ers. At the Celebration of Life & fundraiser at Renegade Country bar for all those lost, over 1,500. At the
Blood Drive and Family Fund Raiser at San Diego
Harley, over 1,500 showed as the event had to extend
to a second day to accommodate all the donors. San
Diego’s KGB radio filled the airwaves with a live broadcast from the dealership. Plans are already underway
- It will become an annual event to commemorate the
lives of these lost riders, provide ongoing support for
the families, and give life to others. There were tears,
yes. But there were also hugs, and remembering, and
looking ahead to the future, to let these four ride on
in peace, forever on that desert highway.
To learn more visit Facebook/type in “Saddletramps”.
You can send donations directly to:
The Saddletramps MC • c/o Carl Smith, President
16204 Alpine Blvd. • Alpine, CA 91901
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DECEMBER 2010
BY GARY MRAZ
Few probably remember the description of President Ronald Reagan’s economic strategy as
“Voodoo Economics” but it may
have saved Harley-Davidson from
extinction. In 1972, Harley owned
100 percent of the market for motorcycles of 1000cc or higher, a
decade later it had less than 15
percent and falling. In 1983 Ronald
Reagan levied a stiff 5-year tariff on
Japanese motorcycle imports
above 750 cc giving the American
motorcycle company a temporary
reprieve. Fortunately Harley survived and the rest is history. The
Ronald Reagan Presidential Library
in Simi Valley, CA hosted a “Born to
be Wild” motorcycle exhibit and
the fitting ride is on a 2011 Harley
Davidson Road Glide Ultra.
Navigating the dreaded city freeways is somehow
far more tolerable cradled within the Road Glides
cockpit. A plush seat and new more aerodynamic
windscreen coupled with an 80-watt Harmon Kardon 4-speaker stereo blasting Steppenwolf make
the world’s busiest section of tarmac almost enjoyable. The Road Glide Ultra comes fully functional. The lowers offer protection and additional
storage and the large tour pack easily two full-face
helmets. This motorcycle is truly a touring machine. But, the biggest improvement in the 2011
Road Glide is its power plant. The TC 103 is without a doubt the favorite of Harley aficionados
everywhere. The big pushrod-operated V-Twin is
the star of the changes differentiating the 2011
Road Glide Ultra and the 2010 Road Glide Custom.
The new mill pushes out a claimed 9.6% more
torque than the TC 96, achieved in part by upping
the bore from 3.75 to 3.875 inches to push max
output numbers to a reported 102 lb-ft of torque
at 3500 rpm but there’s plenty of pull as low as
2200 rpm. It adds the right amount of gusto
needed to spice up Harley’s touring line. The extra
power also adds a richness to the exhaust note
coming out of the dual exhausts as H-D switched
the Road Glides and the Street Glide back to a 2-12 arrangement for 2011.
Connecting to the 101 then to highway 23 the terrain opens up just enough to tease the spirit. The
Ronald Reagan Presidential Library is perched high
on a hill overlooking Simi Valley. An expansive facility, it houses the Boeing 707 that served as Air
Force One for 7 presidents. This place was privately
funded, with no drain on the taxpayers. They host
a variety of permanent and rotating displays. The
‘Born to be Wild’ exhibit is an assemblage of motorcycles displayed in three areas. Celebrity
/Movie motorcycles, Vintage Harley Davidson’s
and Vintage motorcycles. The Terminator’s original Harley Davidson Fat Boy from T2 is on display
and of course the Governator couldn’t resist a
photo op on his beloved motorcycle. The Library is
also home to a complete replica of the Oval Office
(why do I have the feeling “The Gipper” would sit
in the big chair while visiting).
I rode to the library with two special ladies; El-
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DECEMBER 2010
donna is a retired Air Force Master Sergeant with
23 years of honorable military service. She deployed after 911 to the Middle East and retired
from Active Duty in 2003. Christina is a United
States Marine Corps veteran and career motorcyclist. This was the first visit for both former service
personnel and they were very excited to see the
history and spectacle of this amazing place.
Our favorite permanent installation is the Ronald
Reagan Pub. Originally located in Ballyporees Ireland, Ron and Nancy had visited his namesake and
when they closed business in 2004 the entire interior wood and bar were donated to The Ronald
Reagan Presidential Library. They not only set the
Pub up below the wing of the 707, the library actually obtained an alcohol license and now serves
wine and beer from its original taps. Have one for
the Ole Gipper!
The vintage bikes were a pleasure to view but
probably a pain to ride. The 2011Road Glide Ultra
on the other hand spares no option; this is definitely a long distance cruiser, ready for the long
haul. A quick squeeze on the front brake lever and
the four-piston fixed Brembo calipers put the bite
on dual rotors and the feel of Harley’s brakes continues to improve yearly. Combined with the ABS
that comes as part of the PowerPak, the braking
system is much more confidence-inspiring than
years past. Harley’s done a solid job of keeping its
ABS unobtrusive by hiding the components in the
wheel hub in an independently controlled set-up.
A good stab at the brakes is all it takes to get the
ABS to engage and the corresponding foot or hand
will experience a pulse letting riders know the system is pumping the brakes faster than humanly
possible.
In my opinion this is the best Road Glide yet, the
lowers are easily removable as is the tour pack and
yes there is still a cigarette lighter, Thank you Mr.
Davidson.
Highway 118, The Ronald Reagan Highway skirts
the mountains and is only 30 miles from beautiful
downtown Burbank. This short 275 mile loop is a
teaser and picking a compass point and just riding
till dawn is very, very tempting. Without a doubt
the Road Glide Ultra bequeaths all that is wished
and desired for long distance touring. Good job
Harley-Davidson. And what about Voodoo Economics? China, Taiwan and Japan to name a few
charge high tariffs on the import foreign vehicles,
including motorcycles. With stiff international tariffs currently being imposed on American exports
by countless countries it seems like a little Voodoo
Reaganomics may be just what the witch-doctor
ordered right now.
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DECEMBER 2010
COME BACK SANTA!
Twas the night before Christmas and one thing was clear…
That old Yuletide spirit was no longer here.
Inflation was rising; the crime rate was tripling;
The fuel bills were up, and our mortgage was crippling.
I stood there in silence; I could not believe it!
My childhood hero was ready to leave it.
The sleigh, the red suit, the presents and all,
It seemed sure the hopes of all children would fall.
I opened a beer as I watched the TV,
Where Donny sang “Jingle Bells” with Marie.
The kids were passed out and slumped over their beds,
While visions of bitchin’ dirt bikes danced in their heads.
But then, in my chest, I felt a swelling, a heaving,
Didn’t know what to call it, except for, “believing”
When out in the yard came a deafening blare.
Twas our burgler alarm, and I hollered, “Who’s there?”
I turned on the searchlight, which lit up the night,
And armed with my handgun, beheld a strange sight.
Some red suited clown with a white beard immense,
Was caught in our 8 foot electrified fence.
He called out, “I’m Santa! I bring you no malice!”
Said I, “If you’re Santa, I’m freakin’ Elvis!”
But then, as his presence grew clear to me,
I saw in the glare that it might just be he!
I called off our Doberman chewing his sleigh,
And frisking him twice said, “I think he’s ok.”
I led him inside where he slumped in a chair
And poured out the following tale of despair;
“On Christmas eves past I was jolly and chuckling,
But now ‘neath the pressures, I fear I am buckling.
“You’ll note that I’ve arrived with no reindeer this year,
And without them my sleigh is much harder to steer.
Although I would like to continue to use them,
The wildlife officials believe I abuse them.
To add to my problems, the Mayor dropped by
and told me my sleigh was unsafe in the sky.
I must now wear a helmet, despite my objections,
And bring in the sleigh twice a year for inspections.
After that came an I.R.S. audit;
The government claimed I was out to defraud it.
They finally nailed me for 65 grand
Which I paid through the sale of my house and my land.
And yet I persist, though it gives me a scare,
Flying blind through the blanket of smog in the air.
Not to mention the hunters who fill me with dread,
Taking shots at my sleigh as I pass overhead.
He rose from his chair and he heaved a great sigh,
And I couldn’t help notice a tear in his eye.
“I’ve tried,” he declared, “To reverse each defeat,
But I fear that today I’ve become obsolete.”
He slumped out the door and returned to his sleigh,
And these last words he spoke as he went on his way:
“No longer can I do the job that’s required,
If anyone asks, just say, ‘Santa’s retired!’”
I knew that Santa was real, but he needed believing,
the way a Holly bush just sometimes needs a weeding
OK I’m no darn poet, but of this I can say,
I believe my cold heart grew three sizes that day!
And I exclaimed with a roar, with a blare, without pause,
“Don't worry, Santa, I'll take up your cause! I won’t be the
man who let down Santa Claus!I I can help pull your sleigh!"
And I threw on my leathers and sprinted away, to the garage
where my Ultra Glide Harley did lay,
And I threw off the canvas and polished the chrome,
Fired up that big engine and said goodbye to my home,
And as St. Nick stood there, drinking my beer,
I believe I saw a glimmer of that old St. Nick cheer,
I shouted, “Hang out Santa, I’ve got cable and pizza, I’ll be
back once I’ve rumbled through Nome and Geneva!”
And as I rode through the air, that torque pulling with might,
I yelled,
Harley Christmas to all, and to all, a good night!”
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DECEMBER 2010
One Week on the high seas with a bunch of
bikers and I have a whole new appreciation for that
word “Biker”. Like many of you, I had heard of the High Seas
Rally. It was a biker cruise without bikes right? You just wear
leather and talk about your bike like it was the lover you left at
home to endure a mandatory week’s vacation with your spouse.
Boy was I wrong…..
After a week with Dean and Debbie Anderson, founders
of the High Seas Rally and 1,700 bikers, I now remember what a rally is supposed to be like.
When HSR began in 2002, it was in response to the overpriced, undervalued, police filled, commercialize rallies
that sprang up during the peak years of the motorcycle craze.
After working 70 hours a week for 11 years in their own tool franchise,
Dean and Debbie Anderson retired and took on this uncharted adventure.
They knew it would be difficult at first to get the world’s largest ships like Royal
Caribbean’s Freedom of the Seas to accept a bunch of bikers with the stereotyping and profiling that we experience but they worked hard and made it happen. It also helped to have high ranking ship staff members be motorcycle riders.
I heard the captain a few years back even participated in the belly smacker contest!
Dean is definitely a gear head who owns 11 vehicles from motorcycles to muscle
cars to a motor home. He rebuilt his first motorcycle, a 1962 Sears Allstate 250
and has acquired many bikes and cars that he still has including his beloved 2000
Confederate. Debbie was hesitant to ride again after a motor bike accident when
she was 9 but overcame her fear and now rides circles around most men on her
1994 Heritage Nostalgia. They are truly riders who put on a kick ass rally not
just promoters who ride.
The Incredible prizes given away on this cruise might be a big reason why riders
keep coming back and they also get to donate to a great cause that allows people with Kidney failure to go on vacation - The Kidney Dialysis Fund. HSR closed
the week this year raising an incredible $182,969.00!!!
Day 1 – Boarding the Ship -HSR guest were personally greeted by Dean or Debbie with gifts to start their experience off right. An HSR backpack bag for day
trips, a leather portfolio, a cool pin and patch. Each guest also gets a personalized name plate for their cabin door and just like the class act that they are,
Dean and Debbie welcomed every guest with a bottle of champagne in their
cabin.
The greeting time is the beginning of an annual reunion for the veterans of this
event. Some have made it a tradition and come from all over the world. We
saw familiar faces and some unrecognizable that were already in their Halloween costumes. That night there was a costume party that had me wondering how people fit these elaborate costumes in their luggage. Some were over
the top like Shower lady with Norman Bates stabbing her, a Three headed monster, 7 girls KISS Band and so many more.
Day 2 – Coco Cay, Bahamas.
Since Labadee, Haiti was threatened by Hurricane Tomas, the captain consulted with Dean and Debbie on the course of action. They decided to forego Labadee, for the gorgeous white sand island of
Cocoa Cay, Bahamas. The clear blue lagoon had a depth of 5-6 feet and was sur-
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rounded by rocks which made for incredible snorkeling. There were plenty of
opportunities to buy 50/50 and cabin raffle tickets and there was a t-shirt swap.
Back on the ship was the Treasured Chest Contest. Lovely wenches dressed up
to raise money for The Kidney Dialysis Foundation. Over $2,000 was raised in
about 20 minutes
This was the first general reception for the High Seas Rally Crew and the nightly
theme was filled with a sea of Peace signs, tie dye and bell bottoms for 60’s, 70’s
and 80’s night. The nightly giveaway event followed with Roy Riley, Master of
Ceremonies and a hysterical comedian introducing the special guests on board
A NASCAR Driver, a WWF Woman Champion, World Record holding Motocross
Kids and our hosts Debbie and Dean. We watched a presentation of how this
rally started and their unbelievable support for the Kidney Dialysis Fund. The
“Virgins” wearing the orange bracelets like us made up about 60% of the audience. The rest were on their 2nd-8th voyage and several hundred had not missed
one yet. They recognized the 16 Kidney Dialysis recipients who brought the
room to tears with their gratitude. HSR brings 16 bikers onboard every year
that are on Kidney dialysis machines. Since they are unable to travel, they
bring the dialysis machines and medical staff onboard for their treatments,
give each of them a Balcony Suite, pay for their airfare and give them $400 to
spend during the week for FREE. They spent $100,000 getting the equipment,
nurses and the patients on board this year.
HSR raffled off several of the 33 cabins they were to give away that week and
Largest Riding group prizes. Three Riding Groups who brought the most members split $6,000 with the #1 riding club, S.Nevada HOG, that won $3,000 donating it back to the Kidney Dialysis Fund.
Many Vendor Prizes were also given out that night. A large part of this trip is the
Vendor Village. 18-20 Vendors are handpicked, given a balcony suite with food
and Vendor area in exchange for $5,000 - $15,000 in prizes each to give away.
This year’s vendors included Kuryakyn, Lehman Trikes, Scott Jacobs, Motor Marc,
Performance Machine, Ultimate Seats, Condor Trailers, Medallion Gages,
SteveSoffa.com (Hardcore Watches) Skull Jewels, Nolan Helmets, Rivco Products,
The Leather Lady and more gave away almost $150,000 in prizes. Attendees have
the opportunity to see the latest in new products from these manufacturers and
go to tech seminars.
DAY 3 – AT SEA - Belly Smacker Contest and Biker Leather Formal Night
The Belly Smacker Contest is so popular that it’s watched by the entire ship!
These people are diehards and get all black and blue for a $500 prize and a
medal. One guy was 67 years old and plans to do it until he’s in his 70’s. If
you’ve been on a cruise before, you know that Formal Night means Tux or Suit
and Formal Dresses. In perfect Biker style, all Dressed in Leather.
Day 4- Ocho Rios, Jamaica
Party, Party Mon – Jamaica and Cozumel are the party ports and a picture
speaks a thousand words! Some people went to Dunns River Falls and other
hot spots as well but everyone stopped at Jimmy Buffets to get their poker walk
card.
The Tattoo Contest was held that night which was very competitive and difficult
to judge because they were all so impressive. HSR also awards $50 for each HSR
tattoo that people have with a maximum of 10. A limit they had to set a few
years back because of one man, Dave Henry who covered his body in HSR tattoos. Not just a tat lover, he wanted to show support for the dialysis program.
This year, Steve Soffa.com- Hardcore Watches donated a custom handcrafted
timepiece to the overall winner Craig, of his very own tattoo. What a priceless
memoir from an incredible trip! Steve also just designed the winning watch for
this year’s World Series of Poker Tournament.
Day 5- Grand Cayman –
What a great day! This is the best place to Snorkel and Scuba Dive! Some of us
tried SeaTrek, a modern dive helmet developed for novices to enjoy the undersea
beauty.
On board the ship, the Vendor Village was open again. Great products from these
folks like Condor with their new “Tramp” A trailer and a ramp. Medallion with
their new custom gauges and Kuryakyn with their Perfect Storm. The incredible
art of MotorMarc and Scott Jacobs who’s works you will often find adorning the
covers of Quick Throttle Magazine. This was followed by a moving Veterans Tribute. Very few dry eyes in the theater on this night.
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DAY 6- Cozumel, Mexico –
Si Senor Frogs. Carlos and Charlie’s and Jimmy Buffets were both Poker Walk
stops. HSR arranges for a all you can drink specials at these places which can be
dangerous. The rumor was that our ship left some of our people behind but in
fact, it was other cruise attendees that couldn’t hold their alcohol.
“Cause there’s a little Pirate in every Bikerrr” ARRGH This is the HSR moto and
that slogan is even on their event shirts. So, a Pirate themed Mutiny night was
in order and people went all out again. A few of the last events were the Topless
Man Contest and Biker Bingo
Day 7 – Day at Sea
Their final Auction was a huge money maker for the Kidney Dialysis Fund. All
the events HSR banners were auctioned off for between $2,00-$4,000 each.
The banner that made the most was autographed by 8 NASCAR drivers and
donated by Geoff Bodine who was a guest of the HSR event. Jeff also personally
donated 4 pit passes to any race next year which raised another $3,000 for the
fund.
Some other items for auction were handmade jewelry, a huge crocheted flag
and a few quilts. One was special enough that it raised $4,000. Ken and Judy
Inhoff from Sussex, WI were one of 16 recipients of the HSR trip from the
Kidney Dialysis fund. They saw this as opportunity to give back to the foundation that allowed them to come on this incredible adventure. So, they
bought the commemorative HSR quilt for $4,000. Over $40,000 was raised in
under an hour with just that auction making the total donation to Kidney Dialysis $182,969.00. That puts HSR over the $1 Million mark in just 12 cruises.
Big contributors to that are Paul & Audrey Ribarich from the Desert Pirates out
of Phoenix, AZ who donate $10,000 each year. In 7 years they have donated
$70K from Paul’s mothers Trust. His Dad died of Kidney Failure and they knew
The Kidney Dialysis Foundation, where they could see the immediate results of
their donation, was the perfect recipient. Their friends Kevin & Debbie Nicholas
along with 20 other members joined them this year.
There are very few events where the promoters can raise so much money yet
give out event more in cash and prizes. All in all, there were over $344,000 in
prizes given away.
50/50 cash giveaway -6 people split $35,665
Poker Walk cash winners -6 people split $9,670
Pirate Biker Bingo -5 cash winners split $15,070
Largest groups- 3 groups split $6,000 cash
Tattoo Contest payout - $2,375 cash
Early Bird pay off cabin giveaway $2,500 cabin credit
Vendor prize giveaways (391) value $122,412
Cabin raffle winners - $2,500 to each (33) winners $82,500
Lehman Trike raffle winner $30,000 Lehmans’ beautiful yellow and red trike
was won by Tony & Annette Campbell from SneadsFerry, NC.
2010 Grand Prize Giveaway
2009 HD Road Glide $38,000 with a Razor Paint Job and Kuryakyn Chrome Accessories went to Lady Luck - Wendy Ellis from Lincolnton, NC
The level of commitment by Dean and Debbie Anderson is one without limits.
A few years back when Dean fell on stage and broke both his legs on a High
Seas Rally trip, some might have called that their maiden voyage but Dean and
Debbie were even more dedicated to the goal of chartering an entire ship to
raise more money for the Kidney Dialysis Fund. In their 8th year, Debbie and
Dean have this down to a science. You can tell just how much they are beloved
by looking at the hour long receiving line they had on the last night. Just like
at a wedding where everyone wants to thank the bride and groom, their
farewell was filled with hugs and good wishes until next year in Alaska.
See more on the HSR and over 1,100 photos on www.quickthrottle.com –
“R” Rated in our Gallery. Hope to see you in Alaska.
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Story by Ray Seidel • Photos by Scott Jacobs & Ray Seidel
In September a pack of antique motorcycles made a
journey of 3,294 miles over a 2-week period, from
Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, to the Santa Monica pier
in California.
I hooked up with them during the final stops along
historic Route 66, as they rolled into Victorville
Harley-Davidson.
The first rider I meet is Joe Gardella on a 1914 twin,
single speed Harley “Silent Grey Fellow”
I ask if the bike met his expectations.
“Absolutely, exceeded them. Magneto failed about a
week and a half ago, but other than the magneto it’s
been working like a charm.”
I chat with Monty Montoya from Albuquerque New
Mexico who has been helping with this ride.
“Awesome ride over the mountain. Joe has that twin
cylinder one-speed – he doesn’t shift, it’s either this
or that.
They can get 60 on the flat or downhill. Going uphill
they have a little bit of a hard time. There are times
we’re down to 30 – it’s pretty tough. It’s all about momentum. Every time you go down you’ve got to get
momentum to go back up the next hill. I’ve been
shadowing one of the teams – sort of a buffer for
these guys because every gas station that we come
into people want to ask questions. So I answer the
questions and talk for them while they’re doing maintenance – because every gas stop, and about every
DECEMBER 2010
30 – 40 miles we have to stop, dump old oil out, put
new oil in, play with the spark plugs, the magneto,
whatever is needed to be done. They can require a
LOT of maintenance.”
That night they head for the Victorville Quality Inn.
“They’ll be changing tires, doing all kinds of maintenance, maybe even a couple of engine rebuilds –
there were two of them being rebuilt last night.
Every night they’re working till 11, 12, 1:00 o’clock in
the morning, or later to get the bike ready for the next
morning. #22 – a 1915 Harley Davidson, rebuilt the
engine about three times on the ride. You have to
keep the same engine or you get docked points.”
“If you’re not losing oil, you don’t have any oil”
I recall bikes of this period were total-loss oil systems.
One bike sitting on its stand is spewing oil below it.
“There’s probably at least a thousand gallons of oil
across the country.” Monty continues his recap.
“This situation will probably never happen again, riding these old bikes across country.
One of the curators for the Harley-Davidson museum
is riding a board racer, and he didn’t think he’d get
this far on that bike. There are two ladies on the ride
– one of them is riding a ’14 Harley, she is the wife of
Pat Simmons of the Dooby Brothers, probably in 14th
or 15th place at the moment. The other lady is a German – there’s a German couple involved, and they’re
on a one cylinder bike.
A one cylinder, one speed bike. She broke down a few
days ago – they got it running. She’ll be coming in late
– she’s done over 12 hours every day. She’s riding a
JAP bike, some kind of a British bike. It’s a pretty impressive situation, her riding that motorcycle.”
I catch up to Doug Rykel – riding a 1914 POPE single
cylinder, single speed.
How’s it holding up?
It’s holding up pretty well. As you can see there’s a lot
of little repairs here and there – a couple of pieced of
bailing wire and some clamps, some beer cans, and
whatever else needs to keep her going – but it’s
going, it’s a good running old bike. It’s a 1914 – this is
what they call the big belt single overhead – it’s a
125cc – it really rolls along with the big twins. It’s a
fantastic old bike.
What kind of mileage does it get?
It seems to me we’re getting 35-40-45 miles per gallon. Depending on how hard we run it. This bike will
actually run all day long at 50 mph, whereas most of
the singles are doing 35.
Is this total loss oil?
This is total loss oil. We use 50 weight. We didn’t
change to 60 weight in the desert. We could have but
we didn’t. It’s been running good on 50. We had a
problem – we burned a hole through the oil tank.
Anybody use synthetic?
I don’t know if anybody is using synthetic. We’re using
50 Valvoline or Harley oil.
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DECEMBER 2010
How are you stocked up on parts?
We actually broke some component in the rear
wheel- we robbed a hub off a ’14 YALE and we
adapted it over 3 hours on the Navajo reservation.
Next I go talk to Jim Petty riding a 1915 Indian V-twin,
3-speed. Sponsored by the Charlotte Indian dealer.
“It’s been plenty of fun, beautiful scenery. Maintenance of the bike is probably the killer. Riding is the
easy part really. It hasn’t bothered me one bit, riding
8 hours a day.”
What kind of average speed?
I’ve been running 46-48. Just a comfortable speed,
and I think it conserves the bike – it’s a good cruising
speed. I can push more than that, but for me it’s good
to run it between 46 – 48. It could get close to 60 if I
had to open it up. [He has a couple of bicycle
speedometers that work pretty well and are accurate.]
Using regular?
Actually, yeah, that’s what I normally use, but I
switched over to high test here recently, and the
bike’s been running good, so I don’t know if it makes
any difference or not – it holds 2 gallons – it’s probably the cheapest thing to cross the country on. I get
between 40 to 45 mpg.
What has been repaired so far?
We broke a valve – then broke a valve guide. Those
were a couple of things that were hard to come by.
It’s been one of the more reliable Indians in the
group, really.
Did you do a practice run first?
Yeah, I took it down to Daytona Beach first part of
the year and that was fun – riding down by the beach.
The owner of the dealership had a new bike, so he
and I would cruise down the boulevard on my bike
and his bike – that was pretty fun.
At the Sunday finish in Santa Monica, I talk to Laura
Klock, helper for rider Cristine Sommers-Simmons’
TEAM EFFIE, riding a 1915 Harley, 3-speed twin.
“We just made sure the bike was running every night
– we do maintenance, tighten all the chains, change
the oil, check tire pressure, all that. We got involved
with the other riders too, which was awesome. We
really learned a lot. There are a lot of great people,
and we had a blast. We were in 40th place yesterday,
so hopefully we’re still in the top 40 today.
[They were #20].
How’d they find out about the event? “We’re all Motormaids – it’s a woman’s motorcycle group, the oldest actually, started in 1941, with 1200 of them across
the US and Canada. When the idea came up to do it,
it was decided on an all-woman crew since she’s the
only American woman in the cannonball.
The team is named Team Effie after Effie
Hotchkiss who 95 years ago this year was
the first woman, or man, to ride a 1915
Harley Davidson coast to coast. She got some water
from the Atlantic Ocean and dumped it in the Pacific,
and we’re doing the same thing.”
The other woman rider was Katrin Boehner, coming
in #17 overall, on her 1907 JAP. (Wearing black).
“It was easier than I expected. I didn’t expect the bike
could go so far. I didn’t have any serious breakdowns.
One day we could not get it going in the morning and
we didn’t know why. Nothing was wrong. Later we
found out it was probably a combination of poor quality gas and high altitude. It was about 1:00 o’clock at
night, and we were sitting in front of the bike, and
thinking ”What’s wrong? Why? WHY?” She came in
first in class.
WINNERS WERE:
Class 1: Single Cylinder, Single Speed - Katrin Boehner,
1907 JAP
Class 2: Twin Cylinder, Single Speed – Bradford
Wilmath, 1913 Excelsior
Class 3: Multi-Cylinder, Multi- Speed – Rick McMaken,
1915 Harley Davidson.
The race will eventually be seen on The Discovery
Channel.
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BY RANDY TWELLS • PHOTOS BY RT & CONTRIBUTORS SEE END OF ARTICLE
Touring the Great West—a dream of a road trip— Ride a Harley through God’s country for four days, and tell the world about it. Diane Norton of the Idaho Division of
Tourism being a rider herself, decided to bring ten international women moto-journalists to ride the Yellowstone-Grand Teton Loop. A ride here can be a girlfriend getaway, or a mixed group, or your own solo adventure, even the trip of a lifetime.
The Grand Teton-Yellowstone Loop goes through three states: Idaho, Wyoming and
a small section of Montana. You can plan your trip as this one was, using the Top Ten
Scenic Drives in the Northern Rockies Adventure Map, Teton Valley Idaho Guide,
Idaho Official State Travel Guide, Taking the Scenic Route (Idaho’s Scenic Byways), National Park Service guidebooks (“Yellowstone” and “Grand Teton” for instance). Special “Top Ten” & “Scenic Byway” signposts along the way at roadside match up with
your maps to point the way.
We rode brand new 2011 Harley-Davidsons brought here by the Motor Company just
for us—but you can rent up to 12 Harleys at a time for a group, at Chester’s Grand
Teton Harley-Davidson.
Starting at Hilton Garden Inn, Idaho Falls, ID—checked in for our first night, went to
Museum and Chester’s H-D. From here we rode about 400 miles over four days—through Teton Pass, Jackson Hole, WY, up through Grand Teton National Park and into
Yellowstone National Park overnighting at Grant Village. Then through Targhee Pass,
to Island Park, ID, through Mesa Falls and our final night at Teton Valley/Victor, ID , and
back to Idaho Falls to catch our flights home.
But on our first night, we saw the sights in Idaho Falls—Reception at Museum of Idaho, Idaho Falls, ID—Our hosts provided hors d’oeuvres
and a guided tour— The exhibit we saw, “Wolf to Woof: the Story of Dogs” showed
the development of (wo)man’s best friend. The Museum which has local area historical artifacts is also on the cusp of receiving on loan the fantastic exhibit, “Bodies… the
Exhibit”, a big score to be sure. Meantime visitors can check out the “Decoding
DaVinci” exhibit. In a community of 53,000 people the Museum racks up over
140,000 visitors a year! Pretty impressive for a town that is not a major metropolitan
center. As David Pennock the Museum Director pointed out however, along with
long-distance travelers who visit on their way to other areas such as Yellowstone, the
people from the region itself are grateful for this wonderful resource; 15,000 school
children visit yearly from 19 surrounding counties.
That evening was a party at Chester’s Grand Teton Harley-Davidson. Wood plank
floors taken from a 100-year-old building are the backdrop to the here-and-now
chrome horses that wait here for new owners. Freshly grilled sliders and fixin’s and
a live band topped off the fun. Then just two blocks away back at the Hilton in the
guest lounge we talked over our route over refreshments and made more plans for
the days to come.
Getting on the Road!—In the morning we got on our Harleys—with me on a flameenhanced bumble-bee yellow Wide Glide—and headed out with Amanda Lee from
the Motor Company, and Diane Norton leading the way. Our New Best Friend Alan
Barsi, H-D Fleet Mgr., followed in his dually for bike support, and Diane’s assistant
Nancy Richardson took our luggage in her van so we could focus on the ride and bring
you the story and pictures.
Teton Pass—Riding east from the Idaho Falls area on Route 20, shortcutting up Hwy.
31 and turning southeast on Hwy. 22 at Victor, we then rode the curving forest highway up through Teton Pass, stopping at the 8,431-foot summit to check out the view
of Wyoming and take a few photos. Snow covered the mountainsides in places at this
elevation; yet the roads were snow-free and dry all the way for our whole trip.
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Lunch in Jackson Hole, WY—Down the other side of the Tetons, we stopped in Jackson Hole, Wyoming for lunch hosted by the Jackson Hole Chamber, at Billy Burgers and
the Million Dollar Cowboy Bar. Across the street was the city park with arches made
of elk antlers (stacked and entwined with nothing else holding them together) to welcome visitors. Jackson Hole bills itself as the “Last of the Old West” and has an Old
West Days event during May each year.
Entering Grand Teton National Park—Continuing north on US Hwy. 89, we stopped
at a photo opp viewpoint; in the distance to our left looking west stood the jagged
Grand Tetons, majestic in snow-capped splendor.
On to Yellowstone National Park/Grant Village Hotel—After stopping for a photo
opp at the Yellowstone National Park sign we rode along the River through the park
to Grant Village Hotel, our stay here hosted by Xanterra Parks & Resorts. We left our
ponies in the parking lot and located our rooms in these quiet natural surroundings.
Shuttle bus park tour—with our guide John Akers; in this one afternoon he took us
from turnout views to see bison and a bear right there in the field, to mudpot formations, Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone and the famed 308-foot-drop of Yellowstone
Falls made famous over a century ago by renowned artist Thomas Moran. As we rode
along John explained how geysers and mudpots form and the history of these places.
John explained that the road is built on the most stable ground possible through the
park, steam coming from unseen crevices all over; but also the one new geothermal
formation a few feet wide that actually came up under the road over a year ago, forcing crews to fence it off and divert traffic around it.
Wolves live here too although unseen by most visitors. These indigenous creatures
had been hunted out of the park, were reintroduced in 1994 and their descendents
now number about 300.
Dinner at historic Lake Yellowstone Hotel—John joined us for our Xanterra/Wyoming
Tourism-hosted gourmet dinner. As we arrived, a small herd of bison was crossing
the grounds; with no fences, range animals can wander everywhere, as they did here.
Inside, the casually elegant Victorian-influenced 100-year-old lodge has beautiful pale
plaster walls, huge picture windows at every turn that look out on the lake, and ornate
architectural treatments, a historical treasure to behold. The beautiful plank floors in
the grand hall where stagecoach travelers once dined, now echoed motorcycle boots,
the notes of the grand piano and tinkling glassware as the conversation flew over dinner.
Old Faithful Geyser Basin—In the morning after a nice breakfast in the sunlit Café
just down the path among the pines from our rooms, we pack up and get on the road
again, on Hwy 89 over the Continental Divide, Craig Pass and to Old Faithful Geyser
Basin, to see Old Faithful erupt on its 90-minute schedule, and enjoy lunch at one of
five deli/grille/dining spots right there.
I walked over to the beautiful Visitors Center to see the displays/dioramas that show
the geothermal and natural history of this area, and how geysers form. It also has a
store, a theater showing educational presentations, a ranger desk and plenty of info
brochures and maps. Explorers with the Washburn-Langford-Doane Expedition in
1870 entered the Basin and named Old Faithful, after they stayed long enough in the
area to note its regular eruption schedule.
There is also a one mile square hiking trail in the Basin, where you can see Morning
Glory Pool so named for its appearance like the flower, only bigger. Most of the park’s
geysers are located in Geyser Basin, and Yellowstone has nearly 60% of all the geysers
on planet earth.
The Old Faithful Inn has been putting up overnight guests right there within sight of
Old Faithful the geyser, for over 100 years. As I looked up from the lower lobby area
into the atrium style structure overhead, I thought, “Lord of the Rings”. The dark rustic natural knob log beams, supports and multitudinous structural intricacies, became
the standard for what is called “parkitecture” building style.
Wildlife Viewing – Once again on the road, we pointed our Harleys up US Hwy 89
again past more huge formation fields venting water and blowing steam. The landscape is wild, ungroomed, in its natural state. Sun shining down on vivid green meadows, opening to one valley after another following the river. Far off in the valley we
see elk and bison so we stop at a roadside turnout to get a better look, and the bison
actually came up onto the road and walked past us, then up into the forest across the
road. We carefully took pictures, keeping in mind these are very large wild animals,
with unpredictable behavior.
Back To Idaho—Island Park—Heading west again on US Hwy. 20 through the town of
West Yellowstone, MT, Targhee Pass and another Continental Divide crossing, we finally re-enter Idaho, rolling south into Island Park, that sits in the world’s largest
caldera, 23 miles in diameter, created from a volcano that collapsed in prehistoric
times, now overgrown with pine forest.
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Overnight at The Pines Resort Cabins in Island Park— a cluster of about a dozen two-story
natural log homes, each is secluded in its own little piece of Targhee National Forest. With
rustic luxury and all modern amenities plus hot tubs on the decks to boot, we were happy to
unwind with some relaxing ‘beverages’, and let the rest of the afternoon slip away til dinner.
Up front was the Lodgepole Grill where we enjoyed dinner with Island Park’s Mayor, Tom
Jewell who filled us in on the area. Besides being a fishing and hunting paradise, Island Park
has the ‘Longest Main Street in America” at 33 miles. Our hosts at The Pines cooked a wonderful homestyle meal for us of beef pot roast and of course, Idaho potatoes and vegetables.
After good food and conversation, the night was restful and quiet as we slumbered later in
big plush rustic beds, here in the middle of Targhee National Forest. In the morning, a gourmet waffle breakfast courtesy of our Pines hosts got us back on the road.
Mesa Falls Scenic Byway— along the Henry’s Fork of the Snake River. The road in is curvy and
fun, and parking is in a big nicely paved lot. We took the walkway past the visitor center
there, a restored two-story log structure with a covered veranda built around 1910, that has
been used as a company office, a hotel/inn and dance hall, and is now a visitors center with
a photo display of the building’s history and artifacts and specimens from the area.
There are two falls, Upper and Lower, we went to Upper Mesa Falls, which drops 114 feet and
is 200 feet wide. Not widely known outside Idaho, it’s a beautiful natural spot undeveloped
and unspoiled. A rainbow hovers over the mist, and the sun glances off the water like it’s
hammered metal. The only manmade intrusion is a walkway with railings and a vantage
point right at the edge of the cliff, where you can get great photos in all directions up and
down the river and of the falls.
Overnight at Teton Springs Lodge & Spa, Victor, ID—Riding through rolling farmland and
under huge skies back around the Idaho side of the Grand Tetons again, and almost in their
shadow, we arrived at this posh oasis that blows you away with sheer luxury, yet you are out
in the middle of God’s country. With a salt water pool, relaxation rooms, a salon, hot tubs
and massage therapy to die for, and full gourmet kitchens in every sumptuous suite, I felt
like the Queen here. The bed was like being carried in a cloud. The hotel is in a private community with luxury homes on large properties, Headwaters Golf Club and natural open surroundings.
Dinner at Linn Canyon Ranch— A vintage ranch house with huge trees, a sheltering covered
veranda and a big ranch kitchen where our feast was prepared. Teton Springs GM Jeff Naylor
and Teton Valley Chamber President Reid Rogers hosted us. We learned that National Geographic is sponsoring Teton Valley Chamber as the first Geotourism Center, recognizing their
work in making this area a Sustainable Destination, preserving the area’s resources for future
generations. A simple crackling bonfire in the yard later put the final touch on our evening.
Back at Teton Springs Lodge our driver for dinner, Tyler Barham, gave us a special song session
singing his “Tennessee Girl” YouTube hit; look for it on the country charts. If this Florence,
MT native is still working at Teton Springs when you stay there, look him up —You never
know who you will meet on a road trip!
Back to Idaho Falls— We rode back along US Hwy 26 and the Snake River again to the Hilton
where we had started out, to say ‘goodbye til next time’ to our friends both old and new,
and catch our planes back to our hometowns. I put up my borrowed yellowjacket Wide Glide,
and we all took more pictures. Of each other, the namesake Falls right behind the hotel, and
our clutch of Harleys that carried us hundreds of miles for four wonderful days.
Along the way I made new friends, and met many people who either have lived in or visited
the same places as I have. Yes, it’s a big world and yet a small world, even on the Yellowstone- Grand Teton Loop.
Look for ride video at www.quickthrottle.com ; For tour info go to www.visitidaho.org
*Additional photos by: Diane Norton, Nancy Richardson, Alan Barsi, Michelle Baird, Xanterra
Parks & Resorts.
Memories of a Honeymoon Road Trip,
the Great West, June 1949.
“Sometimes following a new road, takes you down… an old one too.”
As I rode through Yellowstone and stood watching Old Faithful blowing boiling water skyhigh, I recalled black & white pictures my Dad would show me, from the honeymoon road
trip he took with my Mom in his prized 1947 Buick, in June 1949. In Yellowstone, pictures
of a bear in the field, a bird on the car fender as he drove, and my Mom sitting on a log
watching Old Faithful erupting. When I returned home, I dug out the box searching for
them….And there she was, her face turned to Old Faithful, as Dad’s camera recorded the
event. Now I understood why he treasured these pictures, especially once they were some
of the few things he had left to remember her by. The memories. Now for me to treasure,
as I stood where they stood, and took that old road back in time. —RT
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DECEMBER 2010
The Price of a Patch –
In North Las Vegas
By TigerLily
In our May 2010 magazine, Robert Sweeney captured bullish behavior of law enforcers towards motorcyclists. His article titled, “A Sinister Easter,”
covered the 10th anniversary celebration of one of
our long-time, North Las Vegas partners, Sinister Cycles. On the heels of that report, QuickThrottle Magazine learned about a motorcycle club named
Downaz Ridaz, that was raided in North Las Vegas.
Downaz Ridaz is a sport bike club that originated in
Los Angeles with chapters in San Diego and Las
Vegas. Coincidentally, members of this club had
supported Sinister Cycle’s event. Club member, Paul
Lemoine, contacted us in late April to report an incident that outraged local motorcycle activist groups
such as ABATE, BOLT, COC, and U.S. Defenders.
QuickThrottle was cautious to report the allegations
of abuse of law enforcers until we investigated. The
story is legit.
On April 29, 2010, QuickThrottle Magazine received
the first of a series of emails with the subject “A Very
Concerning Situation,” by Paul Lemoine. (Edited for
brevity and clarity.)
“This weekend should have been a time for celebration
for Downaz Ridaz, M.C., as we had planned to commemorate our first year anniversary of our Las Vegas
Chapter. Instead, it was filled with chaos and confusion
for members and guests.
Prior to the party, our club leaders took extra steps to
ensure compliance of all the City’s rules and ordinances. We were assured by a North Las Vegas City official that alcohol was allowed for consumption at the
party as long as it was not being sold. We used flyers to
promote our free “casino-theme” anniversary celebration to the motorcycling community. We offered complimentary drinks and homemade food to our guests.
At 9:30 that kick-off Friday night, some 25 uniformed
and undercover officers swarmed the gathering, ordered our guests to leave, and announced, “The party
is over!” These officers were from the North Las Vegas
Police Department’s gang unit, S.W.A.T., the Business License Division, and the Nevada Gaming Control Board.
At the time of the raid, another club member and I were
directing traffic for the arriving guests. The two of us
were handcuffed and much later charged with “working without a valid work card.” Several other members
were also placed into custody while officers confiscated
and disposed of all the food and drinks. Club members
were cuffed and detained inside for three hours while
officers issued citations. A few doors down, a man who
stepped out of his business to see what was going on,
was also placed into custody for having an “open container.” He was drinking a Coca-Cola with ice in a plastic cup. Gaming Control found no evidence of
gambling.
After hours of questioning, those of us that were handcuffed were loaded into the back seats of patrol cars.
No Miranda rights were given and none of us were told
why we were being arrested.
As officers were beginning to leave the property, a motorcyclist entered the parking lot. As he approached, a
hooded undercover officer – who did not identify himself to the rider – stepped into the rider’s path and ordered him to stop. The rider swerved to avoid hitting
the hooded man, and as the rider passed, the officer
withdrew his handgun. With the rider still in motion,
the officer reached out and grabbed him by the shirt,
jerking him off his bike and onto the ground. Several
other officers rushed to assist the hooded officer subdue the stunned and potentially injured rider while repeating the order to, “Stop resisting!” I witnessed the
entire scene from about a 20-foot distance and could
not believe what I was seeing. I heard the undercover
cop joke afterward when he said he was glad he didn’t
shoot him, or they [the cops] would have been stuck
there doing paperwork all night.
Seven of us were placed into custody and by 1:00 a.m.
we were transported to the North Las Vegas Detention
Center. A bondsman was contacted and by 7:00 a.m.
Saturday morning, bail was arranged for most of us.
However, bond could not be posted because our files
kept being shuffled to the bottom of the stack each
time a jail administrator got to them. Our friends and
family called throughout the night, only to be given
conflicting information. No one would tell us why we
were arrested and how long we would be detained. By
4:30 p.m. Saturday, we were finally officially booked,
and bond was posted. Most of us were released at approximately 6:30 a.m., Sunday morning. That’s when
we discovered that we were being charged with violations ranging from “working without valid work permits,” to “operating a business without a license.” Fines
total into the tens of thousands. To add insult to injury,
policies at the North Las Vegas Detention Center require that confiscated monies be returned in the form
of pre-paid credit cards which carry extremely high fees
and make recovery of cash difficult.
The effects of these detainments have caused many
hardships and jeopardized peoples’ jobs. The club is
currently being advised by legal counsel. North Las
Vegas has made it clear to the motorcycling community that bikers are not welcome. They may be harassed, followed, put under surveillance, jailed without
reasonable cause, and held for the maximum amount
of time before being charged. If you wear a patch,
you’re a target!
What happened to my club – a family club – was a violation of our civil rights. Please consider publishing
our story in your magazine, as I believe these events
represent a potential nightmare for any organized motorcycle group.”
Paul’s report to us is well corroborated by in-depth
interviews with witnesses, contact with one of the
defense attorneys, online North Las Vegas Municipal
Court records, and journalist observations of court
proceedings.
The rider that was jerked off his motorcycle by a
hooded cop was the only person charged with a
felony – attempted murder of a police officer by
using a deadly weapon. He ultimately pled down to
a DUI and served 30 days in jail. An interview with
this person was not obtained, but there was no indication in any of the online documentation or witness
accounts that his alcohol level was tested.
Paul’s original charge, “working without a valid work
card” was reduced to “impeding traffic.” His case
went through four court proceedings from May 17
to September 29th. Total fees and fines were $562,
and he paid his attorney $500 to represent him.
The club secretary was charged with six misdemeanors: failure to obtain (1) special event permit;
(2) liquor permit; (3) food permit; (4) health permit;
(5) advertising within city limits without a city business license; and (6) employing person without a
valid work card. Total fines: $6,322. The club president had virtually similar charges so the two teamed
up to retain the services of defense attorney, Patrick
McDonald. McDonald defended the president, the
secretary, and a third club-member. About that third
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member, McDonald explained that “the charge
against him was dismissed because his conduct had
clearly not violated any of the provisions of the
North Las Vegas Municipal Code.” As to the club
president and secretary, McDonald stated “Some of
the alleged conduct did not violate the North Las
Vegas Municipal Code. Other alleged conduct may
have violated the Municipal Code. Consequently a
plea bargain was entered into – between the clients
and the City of North Las Vegas – that benefited
both the clients and the City of North Las Vegas.”
The secretary took a plea bargain to lower the first
four charges to “jaywalking,” and the fifth and sixth
charges were dismissed. Each jaywalking fine was
$200 and the court added fees totaling $448. The
club president had the exact same outcome. The
cost to put these two cases to rest was $4,796 - including the $1,500 attorney fees. It took seven
months to resolve, six court appearances, time lost
from work, and lives put on hold. Any violation of
the rules of court would have resulted in an arrest
warrant. According to McDonald, these defendants
had no right to a court-appointed attorney because
“the North Las Vegas City Attorney’s Office was not
seeking jail sentences as part of any sentence on a
conviction.” So by lawyering-up, the club president
and secretary saved over $10,000, combined.
But more digging revealed more details. The cases
involving the club president, secretary, and Paul,
were all heard by Judge Warren VanLandschoot,
elected by the people of North Las Vegas. This judge
is not an attorney. Rather, according to his official
online bio, VanLandschoot “served 28 years with the
North Las Vegas Police Department.”
Does VanLandschoot express any anti-motorcyclist
or pro-North Las Vegas PD bias in his courtroom?
Consider this: No recordings of any kind are allowed
in this courthouse. The public is not allowed to bring
any electronic devices - no cell phones, no audio or
video recorders. According to a court clerk, the
North Las Vegas Municipal Court “is not a court of
record.” That means that the court does not have any
sort of transcript, audio, or video recordings of any
proceedings. Therefore, how could anyone prove if
judge bias or misconduct existed? To whom would
a citizen appeal for justice?
Facts: You have ten calendar days to make notification to appeal your case to the district court level;
you must pay any fine before or during your appeal
process – not after; and, you start over with a brand
new arraignment, judge, pretrial, and trial.
Is the power of the North Las Vegas judicial system
balanced in favor of justice or corruption? QuickThrottle Magazine is investigating yet another motorcycle-related case in Judge VanLandschoot’s
court.
Did the justice system fail these motorcycle enthusiasts? Who will be targeted next? Although Paul remains good friends with members of the club, he
recently made a decision to no longer wear his
patch. He said, “I am looking forward to leaving this
city for good one day. There are still areas of this
country where I can ride a motorcycle and wear a
leather vest without the threat of being labeled a
criminal.” Paul is expressing frustration and exhaustion. Despite the difficulty of his personal predicament, he cared enough to warn fellow motorcyclists
by exposing North Las Vegas. Paul Lemoine is an
American patriot and hero and he deserves our gratitude for shedding light on “A Very Concerning Situation.”
Special thanks to Taz, Dave, Renegade, and Bones –
local community motorcycle activism leaders. Each
played key roles in this investigation.
Hey QT,
Is it just me or has Sons of Anarchy lost
what made it so good during Seasons 1
and 2? I will admit, I only watch it on Hulu,
so I have only seen episodes 1, 2 and 3 (of
season 3) maybe 4, 5 and 6 have been better. But so far I have seen too much about
baby kidnappings, senile fathers and not
enough action.
Please tell me it
gets better after
the 3rd
episode...
Jeff
Santa Barbara
Response from Ray Seidel,
our official SOA Correspondent
In Season 3 the world of the Sons of Anarchy is an
eye opener for the Club in general and Jax in particular, as well as the viewer, in revealing what goes on
in the Club outside the formerly tranquil town of
Charming.
With the abduction of Abel storyline, has this third
season taken the series down a dead-end road, or a
broader detour that expands on the mythology of
the series? The jury seems split on the direction Kurt
Sutter has steered this time out, but from his perspective this was the time to get out more of the
back-story of who John Teller was, how Gemma
joined a motorcycle club, and the broader strokes of
Jax’s changing World View. Kurt is well aware of this
split in viewer reaction, but insists this all will come
together and lay the foundation for the following
seasons, and is preferable than simply reheating the
same old dishes that have already been served. So,
has this paid off?
Remember, what is 13 weeks for the viewer is less
than a week for the characters. Indeed, only 3 or 4
weeks have passed for them since season 2. But for
the many viewers (myself included) the hunt for Abel
seems to have just DRAGGED on, with little payoff in
uncovering the John Teller back-story.
“We’ll show you Californians what we have to go
through to put bread on your table.”
This is not to say the Belfast story is boring…the
twists and turns make for a fun ride, and seeing the
mother chapter out of their element makes for fresh
scenes, literally and figuratively. Meanwhile the story
back in Charming continues to grow intense.
The town of Charming has been going to Hell in a
hand-basket. Formerly, the club was tolerated for
keeping the small town free of crime, drugs, and Big
Business that kills the mom & pop stores of the little
man. Now that has all changed, and the club is
looked upon as the source of killings in the street
and other troubles. The backdoor dealings (Stahl –
Jax, Jimmy O’ - Father Ashby, Jacob Hale Jr. – Salazar)
keeps the action and suspense at the level that
keeps ME at least coming back for my next SOA fix.
Bring on Act IV next year, I’m ready.
PS: Keep you eyes and ears on The Homeless Woman
throughout the series.
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32
Photos by: Linda Dahl, Lisa D, Digger Dave, Stacie Edwards
After two days of intense storms here in the desert
southwest which dropped (hurled) hail the size of
baseballs in areas, spawned 4 tornadoes and
caused unheard of destruction, the weather
cleared up just as fast as it had started and everybody was more than ready for a ride up into the
mountains. People hauling their bikes in hail-damaged trailers and tow vehicles (some were still a little leery about the weather) and riders with
hail-damaged bikes started rolling in on Friday
more than ready for a relaxing weekend. The normally sleepy town of Payson, Arizona which is better known for their Pro Rodeo events, beautiful
scenery and laid back atmosphere was transformed into a sea of black leather and steel horses
rumbling in from all directions to enjoy the 1st Annual Thunder Mountain Ride.
The event which was hosted by the town of
Payson, Mogollon Health Alliance (pronounced
“mug-e-own”), Judy Baker CEO of Thunder Mountain Ride along with John Coppock and numerous
local volunteers drew an estimated crowd of 8000+
in paid attendance wandering in and out during
the three day event which benefitted the Mogollon
Health Alliance, the American Legion Family and
the Grace Lee Haught Childrens Memorial Fund.
So what was the big attraction that would draw
that many people for a FIRST annual event? The 11
new Harley-Davidson’s (from 883’s to 2011 Road
Glides), 2 Yamaha’s, a couple of nice ATV’s which
were being raffled off had something to do with it,
oh and don’t forget the $5000 in cash, ride in bike
show (two categories), 3 big poker runs, fireworks
show, vendors, kids village and top name music
contributed to the entire sha-bang! Kickoff parties
with bike giveaways hosted by dealerships had
started the previous weekend also helped get
everybody in the mood. Every motel in town was
booked solid, campgrounds were filling and local
businesses helped with coupon books offering discounts on food and beverages.
The music kicked off starting on Friday with local
favorites the John Scott Band and the 74th Street
Band followed closely by Mogollon who capped
the first nights entertainment. Music started Saturday morning at 11am with the John Scott Band,
Rondavous, Echoes the Fall, and culminated Saturday night with a performance by Amanda
Overmyer of American Idol fame. The local bars
and taverns kept everyone dancing at the days end
until closing time.
All of the poker runs departed Payson on Saturday
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around 10am in the morning heading to the North, East & West, with an average ride of around 130 miles each. There were raffles and giveaways on
each of the routes for the registered riders, and the weather was absolutely
perfect with temps in the low 80’s. Many riders were happy just hanging out
at the event visiting with old friends, meeting new friends, listening to the
non-stop live music and kicking back on a huge field of green grass sipping
on a cold one or even drowning a worm in the adjacent lake with hopes of
having a fresh fish dinner.
People-watching was a favorite along with checking out the wide assortment of outrageous custom one-off bikes which weren’t constructed by big
name builders, but mainly by riders tinkering around their garage. It
seemed like the variety went from one extreme to the other, from an old
iron head Sportster which was constructed out of vintage mechanic hand
tools and an octagon barrel flintlock rifle, along with all sorts of other
strange gizmos welded on here and there, to a custom “Dragon” bike complete with chrome fangs incorporated into the fuel tank and huge claws
where the normal air dam would be. Vendors offered everything from
leathers, to some bling for the ladies to onsite custom freehand pinstriping,
there was more than enough space so people weren’t elbow to elbow,
plenty of room to kick your heels up to the wide variety of music, and of
course the food and beverages.
Overall for a “First Annual” event it was well planned, had the full cooperation of the local community, and for a change it was family oriented.
Plans are already underway for the 2nd Annual Thunder Mountain Ride and
it’s going to take even more work to top this year’s event. Keep your end of
summer plans open, you won’t want to miss the next one, I know the Quick
Throttle staff will be there and we hope to see YOU there also!
Ride Safe~~Ride Free
33
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eople are crying “The event’s down, way down I
tell ya’”. Seems that’s all you hear after any
events these days. When it comes to the Rocky
Point Rally, this shouldn’t matter, it’s still fun as hell
and shouldn’t factor into decisions to attend. It
wouldn’t matter if it was attended by one thousand
or ten thousand, the Rocky Point Rally is about as
much fun as you can have with your clothes on (and
for some who took their clothes off). But before I tell
about all the fun we had, I want to talk a little about
the attendance and all the buzz you hear about attendance after events like this.
P
Ten years ago a guy from Phoenix named Lyman
thought it would be a blast to invite a bunch of his riding buddies down to Rocky Point for a party. About
300 bikers took over the Malecon in Old Port (AKA
The Fish Market). The next year a bunch of people
heard about the fun and about a thousand bikers decided to check it out this quiet little fishing town.
Over the next few years the exponential growth of the
rally was mind boggling. By 2007 over 10,000 bikers
were crowding into this sleepy little fishing town. You
couldn’t get a room if you waited til a month before
the rally, you couldn’t get a beer or a street taco in
under 20 minutes either.
During these same years people were buying houses
and motorcycles and just about everything else at an
increasing rate. Year after year Harley announced
record sales with a 7.8 percent increase in 2004 and
a 10.1 percent in 2005 and 8.3 percent in 2006. You
get the idea. We all know what happened to the
housing market. In 2006 I could have sold my house
for about four times what I can sell it for today. I
sometimes think about why I didn’t sell and buy a
cozy place in a sleepy little fishing town south of the
border. Oh well, at least I didn’t get caught in the refinance whirlwind and take all my equity out. Like so
many home owners, Harley dealers and rally organizers, everyone thought the increasing numbers didn’t
have a ceiling. That there was no top and no other
way except up. But the real estate market explained
it in terms even the most innocent ‘B’ credit blue collar worker could understand. Some say the bottom
fell out of the real estate market. The truth is it corrected itself.
So why am I rambling on about the real estate market
and the rise and fall of motorcycle dealerships? Because, the Rocky Point Rally (along with most rallies)
is experiencing attendance numbers that are following the same energy and time line of the housing market and the motorcycle sales market. Most would
agree the housing market experienced a natural correction and motorcycle manufacturers experience a
natural sales cycle. Event coordinators, promoters and
rally goers should see current attendance numbers a
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I pulled in a couple days early so I could make sure
there were magazines and maps around town for
everyone. Well, that’s the excuse I used to justify a
couple extra days of beaches, beer and breezy days.
After a few errands, it was time to cool off at Playa
Bonita where I ran into one of my favorite locals Jose’,
owner of the BooBar on the Malecon. Jose’ is a character and while hanging at the BooBar he keeps his
guest entertained and drinking. (Jose’ added tequila
to make it the four “t’s”.) We shared a cold one and
caught up on the last few months then he graciously
invited me to a BBQ at friends place. Since I went
down alone and my only plans were to sit on the 12th
floor balcony and listen to the waves, I accepted his
invitation. I met some great people that night. Our
hosts Ernie and Sue made me feel like an old friend,
Stacy is a riot! Oh, and if you ever need a steak grilled
so it melts in your mouth, call Ernie.
Bikes start rolling in along Benito Juarez Boulevard
early Thursday. From there the choice destination is
plentiful. There’s Calle 13, Old Port, Freemont St or
the MIrador. Each area offers a variety of food, drink
and entertainment. Many bars and restaurants
brought in bands from north of the border that we’re
all familiar with. Trying to check out everything in one
day just can’t be done. I settled for a stroll down Calle
13. Camel Toe, Sunset Cantina, Max’s and El Sombrero are just a few of the places I stopped for a beverage or taco.
Thursday night the welcome party was hosted by Penasco del Sol at the very end of Calle 13. It was a first
time for this rally and worked out well. A thousand or
so rolled through during the evening. For anyone who
hasn’t been to Rocky Point in a while, Penasco del Sol
used to be the infamous Plaza Las Glorias. Remodeled and renamed, this place is a must stay hotel with
ocean views from every room. I often make this my
camp while in town.
natural part of the economic cycle.
My question is WHY have all the bikers gone? I can
understand some rallies seeing lower attendance, but
Rocky Point? Rocky Point is different from any other
rally. I can’t imagine anyone leaving the Rocky Point
Rally and not saying “Now that was fun!”
Every rally has its specialty. Laughlin has the casinos,
Arizona Bike Week has rides and concerts, Love Ride
has celebrities, Daytona has beaches and Sturgis has,
well… Sturgis. Rocky Point has the four ‘T’s”: Tecate,
Titties, Tacos and Tequila. Put those all together and
you turn this sleepy little fishing town into the party
rally. Rocky Point is where you go when you want to
leave the rules behind, because there are no rules.
Some say it’s like Mardi Gras without laws prohibiting
indecent exposure or public drinking.
The rally starts on the first Thursday of November. In
Rocky Point this time of year you will have to deal
with temps around the mid 80’s, a slight cooling
ocean breeze, fresh shrimp brought in daily by dozens
of shrimp boats, $2.00 beers and very friendly locals
in a sleepy little fishing town. Rocky Point locals include a very large population of American. Americans
who decided that life in a sleepy little fishing town
south of the border was better than the daily corporate grind.
Friday the excitement really begins as bikes start
rolling in dozens at a time. Friday, deciding where to
start is easy. The Malecon is a given as the place to
begin. It’s the place you tell others to meet you, it’s
the stop for your first cold beer if you travelled most
of the morning, it symbolizes the start of the rally. We
set up post in the corner booth at the BooBar with a
few hundred Mardi Gras beads. That should get us
plenty of the second “T”. This corner is perfect for
checking out the people, watching the burn outs,
photo ops and taking it all in.
My crew showed up in the afternoon and we got the
party rolling. Shortly after, the rest of the night became an obscure blur and I wonder which parts I
imagined and which parts really happened. I’m
mostly curious about what I don’t remember. I have
no idea what we had for dinner or which order we
went to all the destinations on our agenda. I do know
we found the swim up bar at our condo, went to the
wet t-shirt contest at Camel Toe, saw the Cell Phone
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Cowboy’s at Sunset Grill, Bobbi and Tom were having
a blast and I know I didn’t get to bed til 4 am. I also
know Saturday morning came way too soon.
The good news, ‘hair of the dog’ was only a stumble
away. Don’t judge me for cracking a Tecate at 10 in
the morning, it was medicinal! I swear!
Once again, the Malecon is the place to be. We take
our post back in our corner booth at the BooBar. Saturday always promises more excitement with more
burnouts, more bikes and of course the four “T’s”.
And they were in abundance. Getting our tequila delivered by the shot proved to be way too slow, so Jose’
hooked us up with tequila by the bottle. Now we’re
talking. We’re not talking hair of the dog, we’re talking the whole damn dog!
Saturday night is an exciting night of bands, dancing
and drinking but the realization that the fun is just
about to end looms overhead. Playa Bonita hosts the
end party including announcements for the winners
of the poker hands. This place is perfect to host a big
party, with a large outdoor patio, easy access to the
beach and locals selling their trinkets “almost free
today”. And of course more of the four “T’s”. As the
evening winds down we find our way back to our
condo early. That would be early by Rocky Point standards.
As you can see, the Rocky Point Rally is the party rally.
This is not a rally for the weak or the faint of heart.
This is for those that love all of the four “T’s” and
know that eventually they will participate in each one
of the four “T’s”. This rally should not have anything
to do with the economic cycle because we all need to
break loose and enjoy just hanging out with our biker
buddies where borders simply don’t matter.
On a side note:
There were a lot of questions before the rally about
border violence and passports and personal safety. I’d
like to let you know my opinion on all of these. First
I think it’s important to mention I travel to Rocky Point
several times a year and I often travel alone. Addressing each of these issues separately:
Border Violence - No denying there is crap going on
in some border towns. Lukeville/Sonoyta are not
among them. Sonoyta is the town south of the AZ
border that greets you when you travel to Rocky
Point. They have not experienced the violence known
to other border towns for a couple reasons, mostly
because it’s out of the way of larger cities in Mexico.
From Sonoyta you go to Rocky Point. Not much more.
Plus there aren’t many Rocky Point citizens that want
to leave this quaint, sleepy little fishing village with
great beaches and jobs to create issues of human
smuggling at this border. Also, this town is too small
to hide in if you are engaging in serious illegal activities. So Rocky Point, Lukeville and Sonoyta escape the
issues El Paso, Nogales and Tijuana haven’t.
Passports - First, if you don’t have one, why? Seriously it’s like not having a drivers license. The passport card is only $40 - it just doesn’t make sense not
to have it. Either way, YOU DON’T NEED IT TO TRAVEL
TO ROCKY POINT. Let me say that again. NO PASSPORT REQUIRED. I’m serious. I have witnessed it
firsthand, I have watched more than one person show
a drivers license and a birth certificate return to the
US without hassle. I asked a border guard to clarify
this for me. Rocky Point is in the “free zone”, 60 miles
you can travel in a POV without a passport. Returning
to the US, just prove your citizenship. If you are an
American citizen you cannot be denied entry to your
homeland. Guaranteed in your constitution.
Personal Safety - I love this one. I said before, I travel
to Rocky Point many times a year, often alone. I follow the same rules I would follow if I were in Phoenix,
San Diego or Mt. Home Idaho. I don’t go wandering
around alone in places I don’t know, I don’t go to unlit
areas after dark, I lock my car doors, I make sure if I
stop someplace there are others around. Any of this
sound like what you do where you live? Truth is Rocky
Point has a lower crime rate than San Diego or Tucson.
Now that you know, how about marking your calendar for the Rocky Point Rally 2011.
This Rocky Point Rally was dedicated to Jen - The ultimate Rocky Point party girl. We miss you bad girlfriend.
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A love for cars, trucks and SUVs is the motivating force
behind the Specialty Equipment Market Association
(SEMA). This trade association consists of a diverse
group of manufacturers, distributors, retailers, publishing companies, auto restorers, street rod builders,
restylers, car clubs, race teams and more. SEMA.
Every year in Las Vegas over 2000 vendors gather at the LV Convenon Center
and show their wares. It is primarily for aermarket manufacturers of tools,
accessories, parts, paint, & new products for automiblies and in a small way
motorcycles. Even though it is auto-centric there are many overlapping areas
that make this a show of interest for motorcycle enthusiasts, service techs,
and builders. In suupport of this one larege bike industry leader Arlen Ness
was on hand to sign autographs and his booth was busy. Also seen in the
crowd was Ma Hotch, Dave Perowitz, Jessie Rooke and other motorcycle related people. As well, ne of the major pares of the event was the Kicker party
featuring motorcycle stunt jumpers. While there are thousands of vendors
and tens of thousands of parts from around the world, whole cars also are
on display mostly specialty type producon cars, hot rods and customs. A
dizzying array of eye candy - of all sorts! It runs for four days and I dare say you
will likely have trouble seeing it all. I hope to see more motorcycle involvement in the coming years as so many cras apply to cars and bikes that it just
seems natural to include them. book your rooms early - It's a really big show!!.
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American Heat Motorcycle Rally returned to Palm Springs in Southern California’s Coachella Valley, with hundreds of bikes occupying Palm Canyon
Drive, accumulated into a sea of sun-reflecting chrome that was probably
visible from space, and a Bike Show that drew huge crowd attention for its
exotic entries, including one from Canada. And visitors came from all over
within the US, including Las Vegas and Seattle. Starting about Noon on Friday
of the 3-day weekend, blues & country rock from the Crop Circle Cowboys got
things rolling, and they traded sets all weekend with Latin rock musical guests
The Best of Times, your favorite 5 guys covering Santana, Kool & the Gang
and all the great street-party tunes.
Friday night the Palm Canyon Roadhouse rocked with the VIP Party to kick
things off for the weekend. Plenty of live music and hors d’oeuvres awaited
partiers and the responsibly consumed beverages flowed. Saturday the
Poker Run also started at the Roadhouse, took the twisty road up to Joanne’s
Restaurant & Bar in Idyllwild, stopped at Palm Springs Harley-Davidson, and
ended back at what better place than the Roadhouse again. Prizes were
awarded for the best three hands and a lady named Diane from Alpine, CA
in San Diego County won with a pair of aces. The next two winners were
tied pairs of jacks & queens each, only separated by 10 & 7 highs.
By Saturday afternoon as the October-angled sun started dipping here at the
Main Stage event central, bikes started arriving at the red carpeted Bike Show
area, with one competitor having ridden his entry all the way from Canada
to be here. Soon multiple entries in each of 9 categories would be judged,
looking at the details that would take an entry from the dime-a-dozen category to the oh-my-god category and a winning score. A couple of highlights—
Import Cruiser—Quentin Kerfoot from Port Coquittam, BC, Canada (near
Vancouver), rode his “it used to be a” 2005 Honda VTX 1300R “Honeydripper” aka ‘sexy bitch’ all the way, and showed up after about 1600 miles at the
red carpet, ready for show. He says he likes to do long road trips, and in looking at what events were going on this one fit his timetable so he went for it.
It’s got 48K+ miles on it, and in that time although he didn’t start out intending for little miss Honeydripper to get so many things ‘done’, one thing led to
another and this is what resulted. “About the only stock items left are the
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rims, frame and engine.” And he has flirted with diamond-cutting the
heads. With 5 first places and a best of show this year alone, our man
Quentin is just flexing his bike show muscles, and has lots of other events
in his sights—a convenient excuse to get on the road. He emailed me later
that he took the roundabout way back to BC, about 4170 miles, 8 states &
2 provinces, just to enjoy the ride, longer.
Builder Award—Tied between Sam Baldi and his wife Dawndra, for their
pair of exotics that embodied the heart and soul of dedication to the project. Sam’s bike “Unforgiven”, won Best of Show at Laughlin River Run earlier in the year, and caught the attention of the show judge here with heat
shields actually painted to match the best realistic flamed paint this judge
had seen to date, with vaporous flaming skulls and female warriors to die
for. Designed by an intrepid mom and rider, Dawndra’s street rod with
the unexpected demure touch of Italian Renaissance gold-leaf filigree in a
simple wreath along the main bike lines on a deep multi-layered wine
metallic background, stood on its own as an example of ‘less-is-more’.
Best of Show — a hand built one-off by Ben Josef Beck of Lake Havasu, a
full 10’ 6” long from stem to stern, in layer-upon-layer of Cadillac white. All
hand fabricated graphics in chrome applied to the sheet metal as overlaid
sculpture, not painted on. An air intake over a foot tall shaped like free
flowing rectangular ductwork, but evoking a modern art piece. Ben spent
about 2 years and about $110,000 on this bike with a 127 cu. in. SWM racing engine, and named this 48-degree raked rocket “Lethal”—whether
that’s an effect on the wallet or the competition, seems to be a moot point.
After the show, Ben got on and fired up Lethal, and the crowd, clustered
around him, parted into a 50-yard exit chute, down which he rode off, into
the night.
There were other beautiful bikes including two Shovelhead examples that
blended old school with cutting edge styling. New, old and everything in
between including a trike. At trophy award time, show judge Gordon
Madison, pro bike builder and artist himself, gave a little insight on each
winning bike as to what caught his eye and his vote.
The party continued in the soft night air that, after the day’s desert heat,
retained its warmth long into the night. The sounds of Best of Times doing
Black Magic Woman floated up skyward, as fans swayed to the rhythms
under the stars. Sunday morning, the Main Stage was the setting for the
Christian Motorcyclist Assn. service, with plenty of time afterwards to stroll
the Chrome Alley vendor area again and also see more of Palm Springs,
such as the famous cable car aerial tram, and some of the historical landmarks right in Palm Springs, from a century past.
Randy Burke and Roadshows make American Heat at Palm Springs a welcome spot for bikers, for 3 days every October. Come check it out and you
never know who you will meet and from where!
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BY DANGEROUS JAMES
PHOTO CREDIT: JULI SALVANTE/PHOTOPIZZAZZ
I am always inspired by those who are driven to do
special things for others. The ones who are always
looking to give back, make a difference.
Shelley Martin, Manager/Bartender for the Dirty Dogg Saloon, happens to be one of
those people. When I asked her what inspired her about doing the Bikers for Boobies
event, she first told me that her purpose in life is to help people and that she has always
enjoyed giving to charities.
It all started last year when she went to the owner of the Dogg, Jack Estes, and told him
she wanted to raise money for breast cancer awareness and thought an event where
everyone wore pink would be cool. Jack suggested a poker run and Shelley said OK, even
thought she had never put a poker run together.
With nothing but sheer determination and the help of event planner Missi Hughes,
of Two Gals Event Planning, they pulled off a pretty successful event, considering they did it in less than three weeks, and raised over $2500.
The first year event garnered so much attention that Shelley and Missi had no doubt that this was to be an annual to do! With a lot more time to prepare and a
litany of sponsors ready willing and able to be involved in another successful event, its no wonder
on why this year’s event blew last year’s out of the
water!
While all money raised last year went to the
Susan G. Komen Foundation, this year’s event
started with a twist and a new recipient.
Missi had planned an event at the Dogg that was
to benefit Casting for Recovery, an organization
that helps breast cancer survivors rebuild the
muscles in their chest by teaching them to cast
fly fishing lines. Pretty cool, huh? Who knew?
Missi wanted Shelley to be there, but Shelley
was long overdue a day off and really didn’t
want to go. For those of us who know Shelley
well, know that she has way too big a heart to
say no, so she showed up after all and again, was
inspired but what she experienced. The survivors
who were at the event were raising money by
auctioning off these beautiful hand decorated
bras. Shelley was so impressed by the ladies and
their bras, that the next thing you know, she was
modeling the bras helping them sell them. Seeing
these survivors in action is what inspired Shelley to
make them a new beneficiary for this year’s event.
The event is called the 52 Card Shuffle, although it is
your typical poker run. The first stop, at Gavilan Peak
Sports Bar and Grill in New River gives us a chance to take
a nice ride to the north to start things off right. Owner Mike,
takes great care of the riders with quite a breakfast spread, while
we register and get checked in. The second stop was at Connolly’s
Sports Bar on Carefree Highway, who makes one of the best Bloody
Mary’s around! Third stop was the World Famous Hideaway, where
Mark Bradshaw and his crew never disappoints, followed by the best part
of the ride, as we take the back way to Fountain Hills (are we lucky here or
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what?), ultimately stopping in at the Vu, which does have the BEST view of
the east valet from anywhere. The final stop, of course, was the Dirty Dogg
Saloon, where this year, Jack was able to get an area fenced out front, that
helped accommodate the much larger crowd.
Survivors from Casting for Recovery even pitched in! They shuffled the
cards at the stops! Cyndee Hilliard and her husband, Dave, Jan Miller and
her husband, Joe, as well as Kitty and Donna Fischer, and Laura Rasmussen,
you guys rock!
As the riders came in, there were plenty of raffle items to choose from and
all kinds of silent auction items to take their chances at. Shelley, while on
the ride with her man, Vince Rollen, kept busy selling raffle tickets, 50/50
tickets, beads and bandanas! Girl is like the energizer bunny! She keeps
going and going and going…then once she got back to the Dogg, her and
Amy took turns and sometimes together, getting dunked in the dunk tank!
The high hand was won by Mike Taylor, of CycleWorks, who donated his
$100 winnings back to the cause. I actually won the $185 50/50, which I
gave back as well.
The Psychobilly Rodeo Band donated their time, talents and sound for the
second year and sounded great doing it! Other notable sponsors were,
Frashers, Mable’s on Main, Adobe Animal Hospital, Law Tigers, Photopizzazz, Renegade Classics, and Chester’s HD.
So from the registration fees, which started with 272 riders and ended with
over 350, cash donations, 50/50, raffle, silent auction items, beads, bandanas, etc, Shelley and her amazing crew raised over $6000 dollars for
breast cancer awareness! There will be a special event at the Dogg on Sunday, December 5th to present the checks to the beneficiaries, so come and
show your support!
Congratulations to Shelley, Missi and the Dirty Dogg Saloon for their success in this year’s Biker for Boobies Event! I know I can’t wait for next year’s
event because you can bet that it will be even bigger and better!
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By Dangerous James
Additional information provided by: Heidi Goldsmith
www.RipsBADRide.com
Photo Credit: Ron Boyd of Tucson H.O.G. Chapter
October 24, 2010 - Rip’s B.A.D. Ride—Bikers Against
Diabetes—is a Biker fundraising ride and family festival that unites the Biker Nation in the fight against diabetes. The B.A.D. Ride is a FULL day of GREAT riding,
BIG entertainment, DELICIOUS food, LOTS of activities
and a GOOD vibe!
Rip Rose, a biker photojournalist for Easyrider, had a
dream of the Biker Nation rallying to fight diabetes.
Rip enlisted the support of the Davidson Family, motorcycle industry leaders and bikers touched by diabetes.
The Ride began in Southern California in 1997 with a
mere three hundred riders converging into Glen Helen
Pavilion from a few start sites in Southern California.
Last year, more than 5,000 riders from eighteen different start sites converged into Oak Canyon Park, Irvine,
California raising nearly half a million dollars to help
fight diabetes.
Rip’s dream is now realized and the reality of the Ride
going nationwide is here. Rip’s B.A.D. Ride is going
across the country with rides now happening in three
other states. Arizona, Kansas, and Iowa were added
to the list of B.A.D. states across the US. The Ride is attended each year by celebrity riders such as Larry
Hagman and has the support of Karen Davidson and
Willie G. of Harley-Davidson Motorcycles.
Each ride has multiple start locations where riders
meet in the morning, hang out and begin an escorted
ride. Those who don’t feel like being a part of the pack
can ride over directly to the festival site.
Rip passed away in 2000. His legacy lives on each year
as Rip’s B.A.D. Ride unites the biker community nationwide to continue the fight to prevent and cure diabetes and improve the lives of those affected by
diabetes.
This year was Arizona’s 6th Annual B.A.D. ride and it
continues to be one of the year’s highly anticipated
events. The ride had two start points, Arrowhead
Harley Davidson and Chandler Harley Davidson. I
started from Chandler where there must have been
close to 200 bikes alone. The weather was great and
there was a lot of excitement and enthusiasm to get
the ride underway. After a well handled safety briefing, we lined up and were on our way.
The Arizona event is always held at the Pinal County
Fairgrounds, which is a perfect location not only to
hold such an event, but because its also half way to
Tucson, which makes it great for all of the southern
Arizona bikers to join us. The venue has plenty of
open space for parking which always fills up with
bikes from all over the state. It also lays out nicely for
the vendors who set up basically in a horseshoe
around the stage where all the entertainment takes
place. And finally, is the big warehouse where the custom and show bikes park for competition and where
there are hundreds of picnic tables are set up to eat
the great lunch that is provided as part of the registration fee, unless of course you are one of the hustlers
that goes out and raises a boat load of money, because then you can make the VIP section!
In years past when I have participated in this event,
we have usually taken the I-10 highway straight to the
fairground exit, but this year we went the back way
which made the ride ten times more enjoyable, not
only for NOT being on the highway, but because of
the nice twistys back there and the beautiful
scenery…plus I’d never gone that way!
Maybe it is just me, but I am always amazed on how
nice the weather is for this event which is always in
the last part of October. This year was particularly
warm which just solidifies why we live here, right? But
I also wonder if Rip himself makes sure that Mother
Nature cooperates in making sure his brothers and
sisters have perfect riding weather!
Once we got to the site, most people get right to
shopping the vendors, some get to the prize table
where, depending on how much money you raise, can
net you some very nice gear, complete with the great
B.A.D. ride logo. Some people go right to the lunch
barn and some go get a beer and hang in front of the
stage and rock out to Arizona’s own, Mogollon, who
play this event every year. With everything there is to
do, including bike shows and bike games, the event is
always a blast for a great cause.
Heidi Goldsmith, who is with the Arizona division of
the American Diabetes, and who is largely responsible
for this event each year, told me that this year we had
over 1000 people (participants, sponsors, vendors
and volunteers), including some special guests! 93.3
KDKB Radio Personalities, Ruby Cheeks and Neanderpaul were in attendance and actually made the ride
from Chandler HD and Arrowhead HD, respectfully.
Of course, the best news of all was that this year’s
event raised over $80,000!
According to current CDC data, there are more than
365,000 people in Arizona affected by diabetes at an
annual cost of more than $3 billion to our local communities.
I encourage you to take part in next year’s event.
Everyone is affected by this disease somehow. Quick
Throttle is a National partner with Rip’s B.A.D. Ride, so
it is very easy to find out about the ride near you and
it is so worth it!
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Sunday morning, I turn in my warm sheets squinting as the first daylight peeks
through the window enjoying the smell of freshly, brewed coffee. Lying there I
play the ride and the day over in my head. This day has been planned for many
months and is going to be a new experience!
I slide on my jeans and boots as I sip my coffee. Glancing at the clock I put my
hair up and tie on my bandana… better take a warm shirt and coat…no telling
if it will be cold or hot where I am going. This Sunday morning I don’t want to
be late.
Stepping into the garage I circle my bike in anticipation of riding. I break the silence and sit and just relax a few minutes as she warms up. As I pull out once
again my mind wanders to what this day will bring. No traffic, no red lights and
no worries as I cruise down the newly paved road. Getting a bit nervous realizing
I am about to enter unknown territory I take the long way there to unwind a bit.
I start to think perhaps I should change my destination to more familiar grounds
but I know I have to carry through with my original plans. There it is…in the distance, The Viscount Hotel…YES, my day is about to explode with excitement as
I attend my first day in TRAFFIC SURVIVAL SCHOOL! Eight hours of pure bliss!
Now at age 56 and never having a ticket till a certain camera noticed me three
times in one week speeding, I was not thrilled. I found a place in the back of the
room where I could hide out with my Quick Throttle material and laptop. I set
up my desk so I could work part of the day. Just had to do my time and nothing
they were going to say was going to be of interest to me.
Soon I realized that was not the case. Out of the forty people that were enjoying
this class with me…38 were there for running red lights in intersection, this
piqued my interest. The instructor raced motorcycles and was recovering from
a 120 mph crash at the track. He mentioned he felt safer at the track than the
intersections of Tucson. I listened to the class discuss how they were not really
sure when they were supposed to turn or where they were supposed to stop
their cars and how it was the camera’s fault that a picture was taken of them
when they were in the middle of the intersection when the light turned
red!...some thought yellow meant you will need to turn soon. Almost half of this
class had ran the same red light! An intersection I travel often. I starting thinking
perhaps I needed to trailer my bike home from this event! The stats are what
blew me away.
Someone runs a red light every 5 minutes
in rush hour traffic in Arizona!
• Arizona has the highest death rate in crashes caused by red light running in
the US with Phoenix, Tucson and Mesa as top danger cities for this to occur.
• Most injuries to others are related to red light runners.
• Four in five crashes happen within 150 ft of an intersection.
• Running red lights causes the most violent crashes to motorcyclists,
as they are usually t-boned or head on accidents.
So I will admit I rode away from this class with a renewed awareness. Until drivers avoid distractions like cell phone usage, eating or reading, and start paying
more attention to their fellow man on the road, and finally learn that red means
STOP and yellow does not mean SPEED UP, a lot more lives will be lost in Arizona
intersections.
Ride Safe, and assume the other guy isn’t. Around the next bend, Arizona Lynn
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A bright nose won’t be needed this
year for Santa to find the kids at St.
Jude’s Ranch for Children. That’s because the Sin City Victory Riders lit it up
well for Santa to see.
The Ranch was established in 1942 by
Father Jack Adams and covers 40 acres
of Southwest desert in Boulder City,
Nevada. These kids have no grand
Christmas expectation - at least not like
kids with working moms and dads who
make sure to put cookies out for Santa.
Club member, Keith Reed, found the
Ranch and got the club to adopt it. Motorcycles showed up in August - 27 of
them - to meet and greet. Club Secretary Donna Dovel said, “I think it’s safe
to say that we were all affected deeply
by our visit with the facility.” The Ranch
rescues children and provides stability
and a safe and nurturing environment.
Staff member, Veronica Huening, contacted the club to decorate a home.
Veronica said, “This gives an opportunity for our children to know what it is
like to have company over and it just
might create an opportunity for our
Therapeutic Home Specialists (teaching
parents) to make some friends outside
of the campus.”
Arlen Ness Motorcycles of Las Vegas across the street from Boulder Station
- graciously keeps their doors open late
to host the club’s monthly meetings.
So Club President Mark Williams announced early on to be there for the
November meet. He said, “Night of
Lights at St. Jude’s Ranch for Children is
closing in on us and we need to get organized. Our club will be responsible
for decorating the Transitional Living
Home.”
After the meeting, Mark rallied the
troops with this: “Everyone will be responsible to bring lights, extension
cords, and/or food. Please bring hooks,
hangers or whatever needed to secure
the lights. I will bring the ladders.
There is no ceremony or fireworks.
They simply turn on the lights after
dark. We will be long gone by then, but
all-the-better for our effort.“
Food brought in by the club was shared
with the kids and all the pots and containers were left there for their use.
These kids have lots of basic need. But
their most cherished gift is the gift of
people’s time. Please contact the
Ranch website, www.stjudesranch.org,
to get involved. They operate on a
shoe-string budget and anything you
give them in the form of donations,
gifts, or time – is very appreciated !!
The club met at 10 a.m. and was completed by 2 p.m. The house was well illuminated and the Sin City Victory
Riders are confident that Santa will see
them. But the kids hope Santa will not
leave Rudolph behind.
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By Randy Twells
Photos by RT & Courtesy Sweetwater H-D
When Tom Horning founded a Harley-Davidson dealership back in 1984,
he was also devotedly raising a young family with his wife Marianna.
After many successful years in Chula Vista, Tom moved the dealership to
a much larger facility in National City, becoming Sweetwater HarleyDavidson, which would provide a place for the dealership to grow as a
family business, for many years to come.
But in the meantime he was also concerned for all children, his dealership being the US starting point for riders in the Tijuana Toy Run for 25
years. Concern for children who are victims of abuse also inspired him
to start organizing another benefit run, which would become known as
The Sweetest Ride, with Trinity Children’s Foundation as the beneficiary
organization.
The Foundation’s Mission simply put, is to break the cycle of child abuse.
By providing a safe haven and many support services, Trinity can help
many children each year to escape an abusive environment and be nurtured into a better life.
Tom also loved to ride, and kept a photo on his office door, showing him
on his bike out on the road somewhere, captioned “I’d rather be out
here than in here!” Tom’s passing in April of 2008 prevented him from
being on the first Sweetest Ride in person, (in spirit he surely was) in October the same year, but that did not prevent riders from all over making
sure that Tom’s legacy was fulfilled and that the kids the Trinity Foundation serves were still supported.
So this year the third Sweetest Ride was held and riders gathered again
to ride in Tom’s memory and support the mission— to help break the
cycle of child abuse.
Radio personality Clint August from KGB 101.5 rode his Harley as our
honorary Grand Marshall. Service Mgr. Brian and Anastasia, Marianna
& Tom’s daughter and GM, led us out on a beautiful ride through southern San Diego County’s back roads & byways. Stopping at some preselected businesses along the route, picking a poker card from the bag at
each place along the way, we all enjoyed a refreshing tour through fall
scenery.
Returning to Sweetwater we enjoyed fantastic spaghetti, salad & breadsticks luncheon and fabulous chocolate brownies, enjoyed in the customer lounge area to the backdrop of the band playing classic rock music
only a few yards away right in the dealership. High Hand prize was a
leather jacket, Low Hand prize was a leather vest. Raffle prizes were
some very nice items including eyewear, a tool kit and a heated vest.
This ride in memory of Tom Horning and continuing his legacy was important to all. Donations collected were presented to Joey from the Trinity Foundation right there, and she thanked everyone personally.
Knowing that their help directly benefits the children makes this a special
opportunity to give, from the heart. And that, is the Sweetest gift of all.
Look up www.trinitychildrensfoundation.org and help if you can,
and Join Us! next year.
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R
iding season in the Northwest has
more or less ended, and for most of
us the bikes are put away and winterized and will sit quietly for a few
months except for an occasional
sunny/dry/semi-warm day excursion (at
least for those of us wimps who don’t
ride every day of the year like some of my
hard core buddies do.) My three guys are
all lined up, battery tenders plugged in,
sitting cozy in my garage. I see them
every time I get in and out of the truck
and walk past them on my way into the
house. I usually stop and look, maybe sit
on them from time to time – I’m not sure
if it’s because I think they are lonely and
miss me, or that I need to feel them underneath me for a bit. And though I love
the Northwest, and I’ve lived here 22
years now, I still long for a climate that’s
nice enough to ride all year. However,
until that time, I’ll get my rush skiing
down the mountain when I can, which in
my book is the next best thing to being
out on the road.
In the Northwest, dodging puddles and staying dry,
and hoping it doesn’t snow in the lowlands seem
to be the major pastimes. In my world the elections are over, the legislature is reorganizing, and
folks start thinking about the upcoming legislative
session that starts in January. At that point I’ll disappear into that black hole known as Olympia, but
I will be keeping an eye on things in the capitol and
reporting on them here in this column, as well as
the QT web site, which will have our updated legislative activity report. I’ll touch on all that next
month, but for now, I’d like to enjoy one last month
of not dealing with politics as best I can. It’s that
time of year again too. The rush and bustle of the
holidays – full of parties and get-togethers, and social functions and shopping in overcrowded malls.
It’s the time for gifts and giving and reflections on
the past year.
As far as giving goes, bikers are without a doubt
some of the most giving people in the world. I
don’t know if it’s a love of our fellow man, a natural charitable nature resulting from an “underdog”
status, or any excuse to ride to raise money, and/or
all of the above. Just look at the bulletin board at
any bike shop or biker bar, as well as the calendar
here in Quick Throttle. How many toy runs are
there this season? How many HOG Chapters and
other MC Clubs adopt a family or two or three or
four, taking over food and gifts? All year long there
are countless poker runs for a downed rider, charity rides for battered children, breast cancer, military families, and the list goes on and on. Why is
that? Even in the midst of The Great Recession,
bikers, who by and large are blue collar middle
class, are out there being more than generous with
dollars and time. Lord knows we love to ride, and
any excuse to get out on the bike will do – but couple it with a way to raise funds for some worthy
cause or another and we are there in big numbers.
We don’t do it for the “credit” or the notoriety or
to buy community good will like so many big corporations. We do it, I think, because we are all
care about our fellow man, and the communities
we live in. Isn’t that the true spirit of the holiday
season? And bikers keep the holiday spirit all year
long.
As far as gifts go? I don’t know about you, but my
family seems to think it’s perfectly OK to give me
anything either 1) with a motorcycle on or in it, or
2) with a Harley-Davidson logo. I swear the biggest
reason the Motor Company stays profitable is not
the number of bikes they sell, it is because they
put their logo on just about anything and everything, and therefore (in theory) its easy to buy gifts
for bikers and wanna-be bikers since if it’s got a HD
logo on it, chances are we would like it. Am I
right? How many things do you own with an HD
logo on it that someone gave you that you
wouldn’t buy for yourself? That’s what I thought.
And t-shirts? I tend to buy a few HD shirts myself
as I travel the country on my scoot – especially if
they have a cool back on them. My own rule of
thumb is that it’s from a place I’ve ridden through
with a cool mural back on it. But in my closet are
more than a few from places I’ve never been or
worse yet, HD knock-offs from a street corner. But
it’s the thought that counts right? I’ve yet to get
the message across to my family though that just
because it has an HD logo on it doesn’t mean I
want and or need it. I’m practicing my forced
smiles now. “Thanks for the Harley Davidson toilet
bowl scrubber cousin Jill..”
And reflection? Well, I know for my part, I’ve been
doing a lot of that. Looking back on the past year
at what I’ve done right, and what I’ve regretted
and trying to make amends for that, as well as
what I’m going to change going forward. To me
that’s how the year is best closed out, especially
this one. In 2011 I hit the half-century mark. I
know that’s still young to a lot of QT readers, but
it’s a rather daunting number for me. We all get a
fresh start in 2011, a chance to ride down a road
we’ve not been down. A chance to do things we
wouldn’t do. A chance to maybe do-over things
we screwed up before. A chance to make new
goals, to learn and to grow. I know I’ve set a few
for myself – some realistic, some probably not so,
but it gives me hope that 2011 will exceed 2010,
and I’ll get to usher in the second half of my life.
The late John Denver once penned a Christmas
song for his newborn son Zachary – and a verse
from it goes: “as the wise men came with gifts, I’ve
come with my gift to you. That peace on earth fills
up your time, and brotherhood surrounds you.
That you may know the warmth of love and wrap
it all around you. It’s just a wish, a dream I’m told,
from days when I was young…”
And to all of you, that too is my wish for this holiday season for you. May you find happiness and
joy down the roads we ride on not only as we close
out the year, but as we ride into 2011.
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DECEMBER 2010
EVERY NIGHT - FREE DRUNK RIDER PICK-UP SERVICE!
When 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 1800-649-4747.
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
CRUISE NIGHT IN EL CAJON
El Cajon Blvd., Downtown
MONDAYS
PAID IN FULL M/M FAMILY BIKE NITE
Runs thru 1st Monday in November. 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
LONG WONG’S AT THE FIREHOUSE
Since 1980. ALL AGES 5-8pm. Special Bike
Parking. Live Music. Drink & Food Specials. Appetisers 2 for1, 50% off Wings.
$1.50 Coors Light and Miller Lite,
$2.50 Jack and Cokes. Appetizers 2-for-1
Country Night featuring LIVE Music, right after bike
night
“Desert Heat” w/ Charlie Shooter and specials guests
$1 PBR Cans until we run out, $2.50 Whiskey Jars
1639 E. Apache Blvd. Tempe, AZ, 85281. 480-967-0167
HOG PIT SMOKEHOUSE BAR AND GRIL
Join us for the Tucson Sons of Anarchy Chapter meeting
and watch the show!
6910 E. Tanque Verde Rd., Tucson, AZ. For more info:
520.722 4302.
COOK’S CORNER
Taco Tuesdays! $1.00 Tacos - Beef, fish, pork and
chicken.
Corona Buckets - $18.
Santiago Canyon Rd. & Live Oak Canyon, El Toro
(949) 858-0266. www.cookscorner.com
TUCSON, AZ* LOS VATOS PRESENTS - At Buffalo Wild
Wings Grill & Bar. 1390 W. Irvington Road Tucson AZ.
From 6:00 PM to 10:00 PM. Come Show Off Your Hot
Ride. To Benefit Local Charities. Hot Bikes, Hot Wings
and Cold Beer.
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
WEDNESDAYS
GAVILAN PEAK
Bike Night and Open Mic. All you can eat Spaghetti
$6.95, $3.00 Margaritas - $2.00 Domestic Draft
Designated Bike Parking, 2 Outdoor Patios
46639 N. Black Canyon Hwy.
New River, AZ 85087
623-465-1020
www.gavilanpeaksportsbar.com
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
THURSDAYS
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, AZ85233
480-892-2234, www.nicantonis.com
Check us out on Facebook!
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
RIDE NIGHT Sponsored
by Renegade Classics
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
CHUY’S
Every Thursday. Designated Bike Parking,
Happy Hour Specials 2-7 pm
$2 Bud/Bud light longnecks, Live Music &
Vendors. 7585 S Houghton Dr. Tucson
85747. 520-574-1530
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
WILEY’S PLACE
Friday Patio Party! Happy hour specials.
Jello shots $1.50, domestic draft $2.25,
Imported draft $3.25
2509 San Mateo Blvd. Albuquerque, NM.
Call 884-4151
SAND & SAGE GRILL
Live Entertainment - No Cover, Drink
specials
Designated Bike Parking in Front
Parking on Patio Available in Back
13831 W Glendale Ave (Litchfield Rd
& Glendale) 623-935-5810
BAR USA
The Biggest Little bar in Reno, Nevada. Karaoke night every Friday
from 8-?? Cash to best judged singer.
$2 shooters and the $2 beer bucket
Food specials all day from Stephon’s Mobile Bistro!
Open 10am -?? Come pick up your Quick Throttle Magazine here any day of the week. 902 S. Virginia Reno,
Nv. 775-324-7633 www.barusa.org
COOK’S CORNER FISH FRY
Fish, chips and slaw - $5.00. Country Night. Santiago
Canyon Rd. & Live Oak Canyon, El Toro
(949) 858-0266. www.cookscorner.com
FRIDAY BIKER FELLOWSHIP
Hosted by Bikers for Christ SVG
7 PM, Starbucks-Eastland, 2620 E. Workman Ave.
W. Covina, 91791 www.bikersforchris.org
SATURDAYS
SAGE & SAND GRILL
YOUR WEST VALLEY CONNECTION
FOR BIKE NIGHT
All Riders Welcome, Every Saturday
8pm-Close. Happy Hour Pricing,
$2.00 Domestic Bottles & Well
$1.50 Domestic Drafts, Live Music 9pm-1am - No Cover
Designated Bike Parking in Front. Parking on Patio Available in Back. 13831 W Glendale Ave (Litchfield Rd &
Glendale) 623-935-5810
LOOKING FOR MONTHLY RIDES to some of the most
beautiful and scenic places in So. Cal.? Join THE OLDEST
STAR TOURING and RIDING CHAPTER in Southern California, Inland Empire, Chapter 109. Third Saturday of
the month at Yamaha of Cucamonga 8:00 am,
WWW.yocracing.com. Visit
www.yocracing.com/star/index.htm. Call Pres. Gary
Entner at 626-826-4457 or Vice President Ron Lopez at
909-821-1583.
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
THE LIVE RIDE CELEBRATION SERVICE
Every Saturday night @5:00pm, 6245 Sylvan Drive, Simi
Valley, CA 93063, 805-306-0042. www.liveride.org.
SUNDAYS
BIG ART’s BAR-B-QUE at THE SWALLOW’S INN
Is taking a break for the Holidays. We’ll
see you in the spring. Happy Holidays!
San Juan Capistrano., Ph. # 949-493-3188
ORIGINAL MIKE’S BIKE STOP SUNDAYS
Happy Hour drink specials 11am to 5 pm, $1 Tacos, $1
hot dogs, 1/2 OFF appetizers! Live band! For more info
contact Joe Big Daddy” Rodriguez @ 714-914-8895.
100 S. Main Santa Ana, CA. 92701
CONELY’S CUSTOM CYCLES- 1ST Sundays- BBQ alternates with SWAP MEET each month. Call to reserve
Swap Space. SPACE LIMITED. All FREE. 142 Broadway,
Chula Vista 619-498-1102
SECOND SUNDAYS
Tripp Productions presents VATOS Y VICLAS every
Second Sunday from JUNE to OCT., “MUSIC &
MENUDO!” Motorcycle
Show with Merchandise & Food Vendors 10-4. Historical Lake Elsinore Downtown City Park 243 South
Main St., Lake Elsinore www.vatosyviclas.com
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 760-940-0257 for more info.
11/29/10
8:52 AM
Page 55
55
DECEMBER 2010
At Quick Throttle we pride ourselves in
producing some of the nicest covers in
the industry. We put a lot of thought into
selecting the right one. Sometimes our
covers work for several of our editions
and sometimes only one region. Heck
sometimes they fall flat. Usually the cover
finds us, rather than the other way
around.
We seek out the best photographers and
artists in the country. We are very fortunate to have an amazing photographer
like George Childress of Main Event Imaging as part of our staff, “Motor Marc” Lacourciere offering us access to any of his
prints, and legends like David Uhl, Scott
Jacobs and Tom Fritz looking forward to
the next Quick Throttle cover featuring
their paintings.
Sometimes we have a vision while spinning a few miles. This is how we came up
with our December cover. The wind on
my face brought images of a red bike in
front of a Christmas tree surrounded by
chrome. Maybe my subconscious was
writing my Santa letter.
The mind is a masterful artist with the
ability to create art every bit as good as
Picasso. That’s always the easy part. The
trick is getting the camera to see what the
mind’s eye sees. This is where bringing in
a great photographer is important.
George Childress thought the backdrop of
the fountains with several bikes in front
of a tree would make a great shot. We
gathered as many red bikes as we could
find at Westgate Bike Night.
CycleRides.com was kind enough to mention it in his newsletter as well. We set up
the tree, the metallic silver wrapped gifts,
put a bunch of red bikes around it and felt
hopeful. We got some great shots but
just not a cover. Like I said, getting the
camera to see what the mind sees is
tricky. And if it ain’t soup - we ain’t settling.
So I threw out the feelers for another
photographer when Barry Gossage was
sent our way. Barry rides a chopper and
I bet he has seen a couple masterpieces
in his mind as the wind stirs his hair. So
understanding my vision was easy for
him. Check out some images twenty plus
years with a keen eye will produce at
www.BarryGossagePhoto.com .
Barry had no problem understanding the
feeling of a red bike for Christmas. We
talked about what I was looking for and
he went straight for the shot my mind’s
eye saw. Hopefully our cover brought visions of a red bike under your tree.
Special thanks to John Shope of Sinister
Industries who delivered our model, the
“Bloody Mary”, before the crack of dawn.
John’s masterpieces are all worth photographing but there simply wasn’t enough
time. Check out John’s website
(www.sinisterindustries.com) for a full
gallery of the Bloody Mary and his many
other amazing creations. If you ever get
to see one of his bikes throw flames, it’s
worth hanging around for the show.
Also a big thank you to Dave and Jennifer
D. who brought out their beautiful red Big
Dog. While it didn’t make the cover we
were able to use it in an ad.
I also wanted to send a special shout out
to all the wonderful readers who brought
their red bike out to Westgate Bike Night
for a chance to be on the cover. There are
some beautiful red paint jobs out there.
11/29/10
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