The leaves they are a changing

Feature Articles
Meet the Staff .............................................................1
Pinky's Passion ..............by Mary B........................... 21
The Shadow Knows.....................................................2
Pinky's Passion ..............by Mary B........................... 22
White Line Road Store................................................3
Pinky's Passion ..............by Mary B. ......................... 23
Shop Talk ................7Eye Glasses..............................4
Pinky's Passion ..............by Mary B. ......................... 24
Event Coverage ....Biker Fusion.................................5
Pinky's Passion ..............by Mary B. ......................... 25
Views and News from the Dragon ..............................7
'Toons for the Road ... by Jerry King......................... 27
Shop Talk ........Reader Submitted Poem....................8
Tracking Terry Contest............................................... 28
Chilin' With Ice ...........by Bobby S.............................10
Tales of a Traveling Airbrush .................................... 30
Product Review .... Second Face On Mask ................11
Tales of a Traveling Airbrush .................................... 31
Shop Talk ...........Custom Design Studio....................13
Shop Talk .....LA County Chop Shop......................... 32
Babe of the Month ......................................................14
Events and More......................................................... 33
Babe of the Month Calendar ......................................15
White Line Remembers the Fallen............................. 35
About the Magazine ....................................................17
Event Coverage ....Cape Coral Bike Night................. 36
Miles of Smiles by William K......................................18
Our Favorite Links ..................................................... 38
Fun and Games ... by Lyd C. .....................................19
Contact Us................................................................... 40
Index of Advertisers
Open Road Motorcycles, Inc.
Hip's House of Horsepower
Two Wheel Dreams
Ms Rascals Toys for Tots Run
Disabled Vets Poker Run
P.G. Bike Night
You Tape, I Type
Harborview Chopper
Quality Printing
Madness on Wheels Weekend
Ladies of White Line Card Drive
Beaver Moon Scavenger Hunt
Benefit for Christian
Firefighter's Run for Derek Nader
In the Beginning
In the beginning it beckoned; calling from the darker side.
To gather chosen spirits, with a wolf as their guide.
They started on a journey; hope and dreams intertwined.
Reality and fantasy, twisted warped and defined.
A true labor of love is born from the kindred;
To share the spirit of freedom is what is intended.
With the blessings of many whitelinemagazine.com is here;
Sharing wisdom and laughter, kinship and good cheer.
Lyd
12-18-03
1
This month's magazine is a little different than
normal. We still have the same great columns, event
coverage, cartoons and all that, but there are a lot more
advertisements than usual. There is a reason for this.
At one point we realized that some of the events that
had been sent into us never saw the light of day on a
magazine page! So Carrie has made a choice and
decided to put her time to the more important job of
keeping our events listings in good order. Now we
have more assurances that your event will make it in
the magazine, and that we will try to have more events
listings from all over the country. Thanks a LOT
Carrie!
November is the month when so many different
organizations and clubs get together to do something
nice for those less fortunate than themselves. From
Poker runs to benefit sick kids or to raise food for the
homeless to Toy Runs to bring Christmas to the
underprivileged. It doesn't matter what political party
or what religion riders are, they show they care for
their fellow man and will do something to make things
better for someone instead of standing around with
their finger up their butt saying they " don't know what
they can do to help".
One last thing before I go this month. I want to send
out some good wishes to Cyncat. As many of you
know, Cyn took over the Straight Talk column from
her hubby and has been doing a great job on keeping
you informed on what's going on in Mississippi. But
sadly, Cyn has had some serious health issues which
required surgery to get taken care of. Cy is home from
the hospital and doing better, but she admits that she
can't wait to get back out on the road and back to
writing for you. We know you all will wish her the best
for a speedy recovery.
We want to help all these worthy causes, but it's just
downright impossible to help everyone. So... we give
them advertising space and go to as many as we can as
participants. We try to do our part the same as
everyone else. Now it's up to you, the individual riders,
to go out and join some of these runs and help out
another life. It's just what bikers do!
And one last thing (really... for sure this time!) Don't
forget the upcoming Punta Gorda Bike Night on
November 15th at Lashley Park in Punta Gorda. We
need everyone there to attend and show the city of
Punta Gorda that we want a Bike Night here in the city.
A couple of other changes in the magazine this
month should be noted here too.
With a lot of consideration taken into account, we
have decided to drop the Horoscopes column from the
magazine. This was a feature that Momma Lyd started
for us, and then eventually was taken over by our own
Care Bear. Carrie has been working hard on
customizing the horoscopes to fit the biker lifestyle and
she's done an excellent job at it. She also, along with
her man Ice, has been doing our events listings for us,
keeping you informed on where to go and when to see
all your riding buddies. But as we have grown, the
magazine has had more and more submissions to our
events list and it's been a struggle to keep up with
them.
Ride Safe and Free!
2
3
7EYE UNVEILS ACTIVE LIFESTYLE FASHION EYEWEAR
COLLECTION AVAILABLE THIS MONTH
7EYE, an established performance eyewear brand in the motor,
optical, marine and sports channels, today unveiled its new Active
Lifestyle Collection that expands its presence in the fashion
category. The six-model collection features four full-frame wrap
sunglasses: two for men (Cam and Shaka); two for women (Emma
and Tina); and two unisex frames (Bone and Flip); Fashion forward
consumers may enhance their style with inside/outside temple
patterns and prints in the Emma and Shaka and Tina styles, such as
the visual of a one hundred dollar bill or a tropical design. MSRPs
are dependent upon lens options and range from $79 to $179. The
Active Lifestyle collection went on sale October 15.
"The Active Lifestyle Collection is the logical extension of the
7EYE brand to a younger, energetic market where the accent is on
contemporary styling as interpreted by both the sport and fashion
markets", said Bob Hall, CEO of 7EYE. "We remain faithful to our
heritage by offering wrap frames that provide complete coverage
and high-quality NXT lenses that deliver better protection and
comfort for our customers."
The Active Lifestyle Collection uses the performance technology
of premium NXT lenses that are a 7EYE staple. The lens options
feature the photochromic 24:7 NXT Contrast that darkens to an 18%
Tv in 30 seconds and the color-enhancing Re-ACT Polarized NXT Copper and Gray providing crisp definition. Both
of these lenses retail at $149. Additional lens selections include Re-ACT NXT Copper and Gray and SharpView
Copper, available at $109 and $79, respectively.
Women's models include the Emma and the Tina. The Emma
comes in a Dark Chocolate Crystal, a rich Ruby Crystal and a
playful Pink Fade, while the Tina, in Taupe or Black, is etched with
a tropical motif.
Men may choose between the Shaka, with its sleek, squared-off
front featuring the black C-note, hundred dollar bill temple design
(also available in Mahogany and Bronze Crystal), or the Cam
(Glossy Black, Dark Tortoise and Snakeskin), which fuses sport and
fashion influences. Either gender may opt for the Flip, named for
legendary fly fisherman and 7EYE spokesman, Flip Pallot, or the Bone, extremely lightweight three-piece models both
available in Smoke or Dark Tortoise.
" For those consumers looking to have fun with their eyewear, our distinctive temple artwork allows customers
bring added style and flare to their lifestyle", added Hall.
All products available onwww.7eye.com or at select retailers.
4
Seminole Hard Rock Roadhouse Rocks at the Doghouse During Biketoberfest 2008;
BIKER FUSION Raises $10,000 for Soldier's Angels
The Seminole Hard Rock Roadhouse was once again the hangout of
choice for motorcycle enthusiasts during Biketoberfest 2008. Set up at
the Doghouse Bar and Grill on Main Street, the Roadhouse hosted the
week's top builders, hottest bikes and best events.
Known for their rolling fleet of the coolest customs, the Seminole
Hard Rock Roadhouse did not disappoint. The Roadhouse welcomed two
new builders to their display during Biketoberfest. Steve Broyles of
Stevenson's Cycle displayed his Smokeout Winner, and Bill Dodge of
Blings Cycles displayed his S&S 50th anniversary bike. Bikes from
Roadhouse regulars were also on display. Sucker Punch Sally's and
Christian Clayton displayed their Hard Rock Bike, while Paul Cox
showed off his S&S 50th
anniversary bike, titled "The Sword
of Damocles."
The Seminole Hard Rock Roadhouse also showcased some rocking music and served as
the gathering place for industry's top names over the course of Biketoberfest. The VIP area
was packed with the industry's elite builders, media and influentials every night. The general
public got their chance for VIP status at the BIKER FUSION event, held Thursday, October
16. Hosted by Billy Lane, Christian Clayton and Shelly Rossmeyer, the event gave the public
the opportunity to mingle with the industry's A-list while raising money for Soldier's Angels,
an organization committed to increasing the morale of deployed troops, helping veterans
return home healthy and bringing comfort to wounded soldiers.
Proceeds raised from ticket sales to BIKER FUSION went to benefit Soldier's Angels, as
did the proceeds from the auction held that night. A special
thanks goes to the auction donors: 360 Brake for donating a
new 6-inch brake set-up, Ami James Jewelry for donating
several belt buckles, a solid silver bracelet and a one-of-a-kind
diamond silver skull ring, and Dave Perewitz for donating a
custom-painted bucket. Overall, the BIKER FUSION event
was well attended and raised $10,000 for the Soldier's Angels.
"BIKER FUSION was designed to maintain and support the camaraderie of our industry, all
while having a good time and raising support for a good cause," said Carrie Repp of R&R
Promotions. "This year's turnout was great, and we're excited to send the proceeds to an
organization that supports our military men and women."
R&R Promotions would like to thank the great sponsors who supported the event. 360 Brake,
American Honey, Baker Drivetrain, Broward Motorsports, Bruce Rossmeyers Destination Daytona,
Budweiser, Choppers Inc., Chopper Zoo, Spectro Oil, Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, Sucker
Punch Sally's and the Doghouse Bar and Grill Daytona.
About the Organizers
Title sponsor of the Roadhouse, the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino is a destination for rock n' rollers from across the
nation to discover their rock n' roll dreams. The 86-acre resort in Hollywood, Florida, located between Miami and Ft. Lauderdale
is pure paradise, featuring a colossal 130,000 sq. ft. casino, a lush 4-acre lagoon tropical pool area, a legendary Hard Rock Café,
sensational European-style spa and fitness center, and the famous Hard Rock Live concert hall. Seminole Paradise, South Florida's
newest entertainment destination for savvy shopping, delicious dining and explosive entertainment offers a little something for
everyone, both day and night. Other sponsors include Budweiser, Michael Lichter Photography, Bikernet.com, Biker Design, Dog
House and Keyboard Carriage.
Photos courtesy of Jeff Bartucci Photography and bikerdata.com
5
6
The leaves they are a changing
Sunday I was on my way to my weekly Dragon Slaying.
As I was carving my way north on TN 68 a scenic highway I
dove into a right-hander and I could almost see thru the
curve. Yup it the best time of the year to ride my neck of the
woods. The leaves they are a changing. Good news is you
can see thru the corners on the Dragon and get spectacular
views on the Skyway. The bad news is we have to share our
favorite roads with the cars full of leaf peepers. The weather
is great for riding and perhaps the number one question I get
is how’s the weather year round. Having been here thru 3
winters here already I can tell you I have ridden 11 months a
year. So is it safe to come visit me in the winter, yea if you
got some long underwear or electric socks! The Dragon store
will close at the end of November, but I will be here ready to
guide & ride! A couple of years back on a sunny Sunday in
January with the temp in the 60’s I rode the Skyway. Above
5000 feet there was snow on both sides of the road, but the
road itself was clear. The view from up there of the snow
covered mountains is something not a lot of east coast riders
get to see from the seat of their scooters. Recently I got an
email from an old riding buddy from south Florida. He had a
friend that wanted to come slay the Dragon, but was a little
apprehensive coming from the flat land. This old Piano
playing Harley riding pal told this rider about me and that I
could show them around. Considering I spent just about
every weekend this summer tour guiding/coaching other
rider/clients around this area. I want to extent this offer to
all riders who are reading these words. If you are
apprehensive of riding the Dragon or any of the other
twisties in my area, just ask and I will guide and coach you.
I am a certified MSF RiderCoach by the way. The way I
figure it the more riders I introduce to this area, the more
people that will fall in love and want to buy a vacation home
here. Or drop their boring regular life and ride and live the
dream like I have. I have somehow managed to figure out
how to make a living riding my scooter. You too can live
that dream. With great fanfare I am pleased to announce my new website www.MotorcycleProperty.com is now up
and running with my new video showing my view of the mountains. Please check both out and let me know what you
think. Then tell me when you are coming to find your piece of motorcycle heaven! Keep your head & eyes up and
twist the throttle!
[email protected] Mike Ginocchi
Deal of the century!
Is that something that might interest you? The last couple of properties I have sold have been real bargains. $900K waterfront
home for $650K, $300K chalet for $209k. Is this something you might be interested in? A deal like that? Ya I thought so, so get
on the horn and call me and I will start searching for your perfect vacation home for the deal of the century! Then you can join me
in motorcycle heaven!
7
This following poem was sent into us by Mat James from Australia. He combines his love of riding, and writing poetry, and
comes up with a unique point of view that we all will recognize.
I searched for tips
among old myths
On resurrecting the dead
On burning bushes
and sweet reprieve
for some feint glow of hope
in that greying matter.
*a Better Spark*
I rolled out my old red bike
I felt the urge to ride;
creature of impulse
that I am
among the Springing Sun.
I drained the fuel.
I filled the tank anew.
I rubbed that old plug
oven-baked it for one hour
set the gap
forging him back to youth
and strength as only hell can do.
I swung my right leg over
teasing that piston
with gentle force at first
like that you would use to nudge
any lovely old girl
back into life and warmth
and as it happens sometimes;
there was no spark.
Screwing slowly
I inserted that god of fire and light
and connected that universal charge.
I squeezed and choked
just enough air and fuel
to suck
that perfect mix
I pushed, we fired, she purred.
Not being one to surrender
easily without a storm
I huffed and puffed
and blew no houses down
nor rode my little red rider, "Hood".
The tempest and the bark
just weren’t there.
Mat James.
8
9
I was handed a CD the other day titled “First Things First” by the group “Rambler”
and was told I need to check these guys out. So me being the nice guy that I am, I took
it home and gave it a listening to. The first thing that comes to mind as I am sitting here
trying to describe this album to you is a mix of good old toe tapping, hip swaying
music. It’s not going to make you head bang or shoot up your homies but if you’re
looking for something to throw in and sit back and chill to this would be a good choice
for you. If I had to classify the album I’d say it’s southern rock with a hint of county.
Pat Terranova – lead singer/writer & acoustic guitar is joined by Rick Cuccia - acoustic
guitar & backing vocals, Rich Pierce – guitars, Jame Porreca – drums, Mitch Farber –
lead guitar, Willie, Shawn and Danny – bass guitars & Yoel Hyman on the keyboards to
form what is known as “Rambler”. Lead vocalist Pat T., has had the pleasure of playing
along side the likes of Lynard Skynryd and Brooks & Dunn, to mention just a few and
states that he is inspired by his life and kids. If you listen to his songs you’ll get his
whole life story, piece by piece, bit by bit. Pat is thankful his music has had the chance
to touch so many others and is looking forward to reaching out to a whole new group of listeners, as their most recent album is just
starting its climb up the charts.
“Hard Times”, “Travellin’ Man” and “Whiskey Drinkin’ Eyes” are just a sampling of the different songs grouped on this
CD. With titles like “Liquor in the Front, Poker in the Back” and “Intoxicated” you know these guys have got to have a pretty
good sense of humor. But they aren’t all fun and games, you can really feel the emotion behind “Skynyrd Fantasy” and “2nd Time
Around”. Overall this CD has a good variety or tunes to jam out to. A few slower tracks for your old lady, some upbeat tunes and
some funky flows which come together to create this unique mixtures of music. I’m pretty sure just about anyone can find at least
one song that floats their boat off this album here.
I found this next group on MySpace. The music they had loaded on their
play list got me interested to hear more of what they can do, so I got in touch
with them and got a copy of their 2nd album which just dropped “MastaMindz – Product of Your Environment”. Coming straight outta
Providence, Rhode Island, M-1 heads up the vocals, Don Seagrave rocks it on
the guitar, Tim Coture plays the mean bass and Russ Miller knocks it out on
the drums. They all do their part to make the music their own and are not
afraid of going outside the box when it comes to the standards the music
industry has tried to set into place. There is actually a pretty cool story
behind how this band came to be. In 2002, they won a battle of bands contest
and got their 1st album recorded for free. Which got their name out there and
made them more legit, in the eyes of the industry. But lead singer Matthew
Moreau wasn’t satisfied and felt a need to be doing more so he decided to
take a break from the music scene and join the military. Matthew went and
served his time and upon his return reunited with the guys and began touring
with the band. They had the privilege of opening for many different artists
including but not limited to Powerman 5000, Rehab, Crazy Anglos & StaticX.
I’m not going to sugar coat it, this kind of music is not going to be for everyone. It’s a little on the hard side combining rock &
metal with a bit of hip-hop influence in there as well. With that said I was pleasantly surprised with the meaningful lyrics in “All
my Pain”, “Life Underground” and “Holding the Fort” these songs really hit home with me & actually helped me to relate to the
group on a more personal level. Then you have “Product of Your Environment” and “ Whatcha Gonna Do?” where they really
display their ability to spit their $h*t and flow. Based on the number of people that are featured on this album alone, you can tell
these guys have some major support from their piers in the music industry. Haystak, Jon Conner, Shane Capone, Danny Boone,
Dora Moreau, Illusion, Q-Strange and Jas da Diamondchild all help to make this album that much more appealing. “Been Had”
features Danny Boone of Rehab – who I will be interviewing later this month, so keep your eyes open it will be coming up soon!
MastaMindz also preformed at this years “Gathering of the Juggalos” and has a track featured on the new “Tunnel Runners” C.D.,
a sampling of unsigned artists that have found a following in the swarms of Juggalos out there.
These guys are just starting to make themselves known, so keep your eyes open for their next album
to drop. With the way things have come together for them I’m sure this wont be the last time we
hear from them.
10
A couple of months ago we featured a new product on the market in a Shop Talk column. This isn't all that unusual,
that's what we set out to do when we first started the column.
But what happened from there is what is unusual. We received
an email from the Second Face On company about that article.
They liked it and appreciated us bringing their product to light, that
they offered to send me one of their masks to try out for myself.
Furthermore, they were going to let me design my own! After some
soul searching and design complications, we decided to do a mask
with the magazine name and a picture of our favorite character,
Terry C. on it. This is the first compliment I have to give these guys.
They worked with me and worked with me until we had a design
that would both look good and fit their template for images to be
used on the mask. And they nailed it right on the head! Since I did
the design, I had the original artwork on hand when the mask finally
arrived. Every color was perfect and the mask looks fantastic!
These masks are made of a visually clear polycarbonate and are a
lot thicker and better made than I had originally thought it would be
from pictures I had seen. I was expecting a floppy and not as well
made a piece rather than what I received. Now all I had to do is wait
on some rain.
Within a couple days I got my "wish" and we got some rain here
in southern Florida. I threw on my rain gear and grabbed this mask
and headed out. Now before I got very far, the rain fizzled out for
the night. I decided not to waste a night out on the bike and took off
for some road time right as it's getting dark. I like that time of night for riding, most people are in having dinner and I
usually have a lot of the road to myself then. I headed out on some winding country roads. Now even though the rain
had quit, I still had the mask on as I was riding. The ventilation openings molded into the mask kept me from getting
too hot and kept the mask from fogging up on me. This is also where I found an additional benefit to these masks. The
road I was on was swarming with insects in the air, but while I could hear and see where the little critters were
smacking the mask, not a single bug got in or hit me in the face with what would feel like the force of a BB shot at
you.
The very next day it was due to try to rain again and so I got prepared and was sitting waiting on the rains to hit.
When they did, I was off and riding again. This time the rain lasted through my ride and I was able to give the Second
Face On mask a good tryout. And once again I was pleasantly surprised. The mask kept most of the water out and
eliminated the pain of having thousands of drops of water hitting your face with the feel of a sandblaster! One note
here. I DID experience some water coming in the venting openings when I would turn my head "just right" into the
wind. I think the manufacturer could solve this in two ways. First they could either re-tool the molds to make smaller
vent openings in the mask or (and this is the route that I used) simply put a little more of the low density foam that they
use to make the mask fit right on the openings. If it's a light enough density foam (like what is used in other places in
the mask) you can still breathe through it fine and it still has enough air flow to keep the mask from fogging up. Now
when I ride and turn my head into the wind I can feel the air rush in, but the foam catches what little water would have
come in the vent openings.
Would I recommend this mask to my friends. In a word, Hell yes!! The mask is lightweight enough that it's not a
burden to wear it. It does what it's supposed to do, by keeping bugs and the elements off your face. And it's a very
affordable way to round out your bad weather riding gear. I think these guys have a winner here and you can check out
their whole line of weather masks at www.secondfaceon.com. Get one of your own and stop letting your face bear the
brunt of the bugs and rains! Second Face On will get you there safe and dry!
11
12
Kirk Taylor and the crew at Custom Design Studio are at it again and
have come up with a new velocity stack called "Dicks Cool Unit" that
bolts directly on to a Mikuni Carburetor. It is machined from aircraft grade
aluminum and CNC cut to precision. This velocity stack has been featured
on several custom builds of Kirks including "Blood on Blood" They are
also offering up an adapter that will allow "Dicks Cool Unit" to bolt up to
CV and S&S carburetors as well as Factory EFI units up to 2007. They are
raw aluminum with a Black Anodized base, so you can paint, polish or
plate to your needs. I have attached a picture that shows the velocity stack
installed on an S&S with the adapter.
"Dicks Cool Unit" MSRP $204.99
Adapter for CV and S&S $102.99
To order call (415) 382-6662 or email
[email protected]
13
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15
16
The information age is upon us. People now plan
their vacations, their free time, their hotel reservations
and their airline flights all in the privacy of their home,
on a computer.
Now, no matter where you are, you can plan
motorcycle events into the trip using our interactive
"Events and More" page. Click on the state you will be
visiting, and you'll get events for that month in that
state, repair shops, biker friendly bars and restaurants
and what print publications are available.
Fuel costs are skyrocketing, making distribution an
ever rising expense. Between the Ecology and
manufacturing costs, paper and printing are rising
costs.
We also make it possible for you to nominate a
business to be included in these lists!
The business world is now dealing in a global
economy, with customers seeing their products,
comparing, and purchasing them, in the comfort of
their home.
We offer businesses many ways to let you the
consumer know they exist and are here to help you. We
help drive business to their websites. We reach a target
audience WORLD-wide. And we do all of that at a cost
lower than most print magazines can afford to.
For all these reasons, White Line Magazine exists.
We feel that now is the time for an online magazine
that gives all the same benefits and feel of a print
magazine, but has a global reach and direction.
We aren't just another web site. We are an ongoing
magazine, with the look and "feel" of a magazine, not a
links site. We don't charge you for an online version of
our magazine, or a print version. There is no
membership. We find honest to goodness interesting
content for the ads to compliment, not the other way
around. We don't have nudity or foul language, so that
hopefully, even school age kids with a passion for
riding will read us. We go after the international
market, not just local, but we give every bit of it a local
print feel.
Check us out. Come back month after month as we
feature new articles and stories and event coverage. see
how easy it is to use the "Events and More" pages.
Maybe even send in a riding experience to share with
others, or pictures of your "fine" ride.
We work at making this "your" magazine. We give
you large and small advertisers. We strive to have the
best in event coverage, stories and reading material.
For businesses, we give you coverage, we feature
businesses who are owned by motorcyclists on the
cover of the magazine and we give you world-wide
exposure. Enjoy!
Please send all comments and requests for more
information to: [email protected]
17
And the list grows again this year...
Things that you can say ONLY at Thanksgiving
1. Talk about a huge breast!
2. Tying the legs together keeps the inside moist.
3. It's Cool Whip time!
4. If I don't undo my pants, I'll burst!
5. Whew, that's one terrific spread!
6. I'm in the mood for a little dark meat.
7. Are you ready for seconds yet?
8. It's a little dry, do you still want to eat it?
9. Just wait your turn, you'll get some!
10. Don't play with your meat.
11. Just spread the legs open and stuff it in.
12. Do you think you'll be able to handle all these
people at once?
13. I didn't expect everyone to come at once!
14. You still have a little bit on your chin.
15. How long will it take after you stick it in?
16. You'll know it's ready when it pops up.
17. Wow, I didn't think I could handle all of that!
18. That's the biggest one I've ever seen!
19. How long do I beat it before it's ready?
20. Reach in and grab the giblets!
21.And he forces his way into the end zone!
22. She's 5000 pounds fully inflated and it takes 15
men to hold her down.
23. He slipped the ball around the backside to the tight
end!
24. I'll cream the onions!
25. Do you want it here on the table?
26. Uh-oh, the mini-marshmallows disappeared!
27. It's so tender and juicy.
28. Whip it until it's creamy.
29. Which end should I stuff first?
30. Honey, Grandpa wants some too!
Three sisters, ages 92, 94 and 96, live in a house
together. One night the 96-year-old draws a bath. She
puts her foot in and pauses. She yells to the other
sisters, 'Was I getting in or out of the bath?'
The 94-year-old yells back, 'I don't know. I'll come
up and see.' She starts up the stairs and pauses, 'Was I
going up the stairs or down?
The 92-year-old is sitting at the kitchen table having
tea listening to her sisters, she shakes her head and
says, 'I sure hope I never get that
forgetful, knock on wood.'
She then yells, 'I'll come up and help both of you as
soon as I see who's at the door.
--- JM, Mansfield, OH
Bush Presidential Library
There's a show on C-SPAN about presidential libraries.
Here're what the draft plans for the George W. Bush
Library now call for:
The Alberto Gonzales Room - Where you can't
remember any of the exhibits.
The Hurricane Katrina Room - It's still under
construction.
The Texas Air National Guard Room - Where you
don't have to even show up.
The Walter Reed Hospital Room - Where they don't let
you in.
The Guantanamo Bay Room - Where they don't let you
out.
The Weapons of Mass Destruction Room - Nobody has
been able to find it.
The War in Iraq Room - After you complete your first
tour, they can force you to go back for your second and
third and fourth and fifth tours.
The K-Street Project Gift Shop - Where you can buy an
election, or, if no one cares, steal one.
The Men's Room - Where you could meet a Republican
Senator (or two).
To be fair, the President has done some good things,
and so the museum will have an electron microscope to
help you locate them.
When asked, President Bush said that he didn't care
so much about the individual exhibits as long as his
museum was better than his father's.
Little Bubba was sitting in his grandmother's
kitchen, watching her prepare the Thanksgiving meal.
"What are you doing?" Bubba asked.
"Oh, I'm just stuffing the turkey," his grandmother
replied.
"That's cool!" Bubba said. "Are you going to hang it
next to the deer?"
---Jaqui, Newark, NJ
--- Momma Lyd
Submit your favorite joke...
[email protected]
18
What is Terry Thinking??
November Word Jumble
Created just for fun by Momma Lyd
19
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Part IV
As I said before, I've been riding since 2004, and in that short, yet
action packed time, I've learned a lot of things. I started my motorcycle
adventures by taking the Basic Motorcycle Safety Course, (MSF), and
two years later enrolled in, and passed the Advanced Motorcycle Safety
Course. In both courses, I learned a lot of skills; some that have literally
saved my life. I have also learned a lot from my fellow motorcycle
enthusiasts. Some things, however, I’ve just had to figure out for
myself. Last month I wrote about what I learned concerning motorcycle
gear and accessories, and this month I’m writing about riding in
inclement weather, particularly rain and thunder storms. Hopefully,
you’ll see the humor in some of it, and hopefully, you too will glean that
little bit of information that will be valuable to you. I also hope you have
an entertaining read. Just remember, riding in inclement weather should
be avoided if at all possible. Sometimes, however, you don’t have a
choice, and in that case you can do some things that will help you to be
as safe as possible.
What about Rain Gear?
“But, what about rain gear?”, you might ask. I have a fairly cheap suit
that has held up well over the last few years. The brand name is
FrogToggs, and they can be purchased for about $40 at Bass Pro Shop,
Walmart or over the Internet. They're lightweight, easy to pack in a
gallon sized Ziploc, and amazingly, really do keep the rain off of you
while allowing your skin to breath, unlike the rubberized suits which I've
on occasion been forced to use, and have not been at all pleased with.
The problem with the rubber suits is that when it stops raining, you are
going to get hot and sticky pretty quickly, so don't bother with them
unless it's a last resort. Harley-Davidson makes some good looking suits,
and various other companies offer high end gear, but I've not worn any
that performed better than the FrogToggs, and I like the price. The only
negative things I can say about them are that they don't have reflective
striping, and the legs are a little wide. Once I brushed the FrogToggs up
against my pipes, both melting the material to the steel, and putting a
small hole in the suit, but now I’m much more careful. Reflective striping is an important feature in rain gear and can help you to
be seen better by other motorists. To solve the problem, we each
purchased a neat little black vest with silver reflective striping, made by
Harley-Davidson. Cost was $35 and we use it in rainy weather over our
FrogToggs and also at night for better visibility.
Riding in Bad Weather
My very first encounter with rain was on our trip to Alabama. It wasn't
on the first day of the trip, or even the second day. No, it was on the
return trip home, after what was a near perfect first long road trip. When
you are traveling to your destination, you may have a little more
flexibility, like staying put for an extra day to avoid the rain, or changing
your route. But, when you're on the way home, you don't always have
those options. More often than not, you need to get home on a
designated date to get back to work or your business, unless you're
retired. And, if you're retired and can afford to travel all year long, trust
me when I say “I'm jealous”. On this occasion, we fell into the category
of needing to get back home and back to work, so waiting out the weather was not an option. Before we left, Ric briefed me on
what to do when the rain hit. He instructed me to stop under the first highway overpass. He explained that when it was raining on
the highway, it would be safer if I found a large truck to follow, since the tires would push the rain off the roads, and I could
follow in the tracks left behind. He also warned me not to follow too close, but to make sure I was in the truck’s vision. I knew he
was right, and I recalled one occasion when he made a three hour trip from Shreveport to Hot Springs, Arkansas in a continuous
rain storm, and attributed his safe arrival to following behind in the safety of the tracks produced by an eighteen wheeler.
(cont.)
21
We had our rain gear on because we had earlier looked at the forecast and knew we weren't going to miss the big storm that was
brewing. I was in the lead, and Ric followed, promising to keep the traffic off me if the rain became heavy. As you might guess, it
became heavy. I slowed down to a safe speed, gripped the handlebars tightly, and prayed. I fervently scanned the highway for
traffic and other hazards. The rain was coming down in torrents. My glasses were filled with rain drops, and I was forced to use
my gloved hands as mini windshield wipers for the lenses. My body was stiff,
and the fear permeated my soul. I was going slower than most of the other
traffic, and each time a car or truck passed me, a large deluge of water was
thrown over me causing a temporary blindness. I visualized my motorcycle
sliding off the road, running into the back of an eighteen wheeler or being
slammed from behind by a vehicle. I visualized the ambulance services arrival
and the hurried assistance provided by the attendant; I even imagined the whirl
of the helicopter blades as it landed in the highway median to rescue the
downed riders and transport us to the hospital. My self confidence was at an
all time low and I seriously thought about my life coming to an end on this
lonely stretch of highway.
I looked ahead in hopes of seeing an overpass, but when one finally
appeared, it was too late; I couldn't safely slow down in time to stop, so I
doggedly trudged forward. About a mile down the road, my heart began to lift
and my body became less tense as I saw a sign for an exit. I was getting cold, and at this most inopportune time, the elastic on my
rain gear slipped up over my boots and water began to slosh around my feet. I
signaled a right and turned off at the exit where I saw a trucker standing beside
his rig, also waiting out the storm. But to my dismay, there wasn’t any shelter.
At this point, I didn't care; I just wanted to quit riding and gather my wits about
me. I put my kickstand down and got off the bike, placing my foot in a newly
developed mud puddle and nearly fell over, but at the last second regained my
stature. We stood in a downpour beside our bikes for almost ten minutes, Ric
chastising me the entire time, “don’t ever stop where there is not any shelter”,
he said over and over again. I just hung my head and murmured, “I know, I
know”. Suddenly the rain stopped. We knew it wasn't over yet, but I was
grateful for the interlude. We were both soaking wet, cold and shivering; this
was one instance in which rain gear wasn't enough. One thing I’ve certainly
learned on my own is that rain gear will keep you dry under minimal inclement
weather circumstances, but nothing can effectively keep you that way during a
relentless downpour. Reluctantly, I got back on the bike and we merged onto the Interstate once again. To my elation, there was
another exit only a mile away, and it had a sign for gas. To my dismay, I realized I could have ridden for two more minutes and
avoided standing in the rain for ten. Still, grateful for the shelter, I pulled over and we got coffee, while trying to wring out our
clothes in preparation of finishing the trip in the rain. While at the stop, the storm returned with as much vengeance as ever, and I
really didn’t want to get back on the bike, although common sense told me that I had no choice, and Ric reassured me that I had
enough training and miles on the road to be able to handle it. He coaxed me into going,
but I promise you, I wasn't happy about it.
My next experience with bad weather was on our trip to Myrtle Beach in the summer
of 2006. I was so anticipating the trip; I had ten glorious days of vacation time to spend,
and the day of our departure finally arrived. I looked outside and saw gray skies, and
flipped to the weather channel which revealed the threat of rain throughout the day. I’ve
learned, although I don’t like it, to never start out in the rain if you don’t have to. The
most dangerous time to ride is when the rain first comes down and the oil from vehicles
is slick. Experts say you should wait at least 20 minutes after the rain starts to allow
ample time for the oil to dissipate. We didn’t start out in the rain, but were fairly certain
that we would encounter it. Forewarned that the threat of rain was imminent, we left
Shreveport just after noon, and by two o'clock, the four of us could be seen at a gas station, donning rain gear and preparing to ride
through what would be the worst storm any of us had ever experienced on two wheels. It made my previously recounted
encounter with the rain look like child’s play. Again, this wasn’t just any rain. No, we were about to ride right into a severe
weather front that was producing strong winds and even sporadic tornadoes. By the time we got to Meridian, Mississippi and
stopped for dinner at the restaurant, Ruby Tuesday’s, the storm was in full force. We watched the weather news on the large
screen televisions and saw nothing but red patches on the radar. There were tornado warnings scrolling across the screen and
reports of tornado sightings and touchdowns. It was a Wednesday evening, and there were reports of church services being
canceled, and warnings to “stay inside and take cover”.
(cont.)
22
We made a decision, (really the vote was tied at 2-2 with Dwayne and I winning out), to reroute and go South and then East
across the Florida coastline instead of continuing due East in the violent storm. This was a big mistake, as Mother Nature garnered
strength and turned the storm South with us. We rode for several hours in a torrential downpour and only stopped when we just
couldn't see anymore. I was, once again, in the lead going a slow 40 mph on a dark, black, two lane divided highway with no
center lines and very little traffic. I watched as lightening flashed across the sky. I counted “1001, 1002...” and the thunder
boomed proving just how close the deadly lightening was to us. I searched for our exit, but never saw the sign. I knew we had to
have passed it already, but there was nowhere to stop, turning back was not an option, so I trudged forward. Finally, at the height
of the storm, in a sleepy little town, I saw the light of a Waffle House ahead and carefully pulled into the wet, steeply sloped
driveway and parked. We were all wet inside our rain gear and shivering cold, as we made our entrance and found a table. We
were promptly greeted by a waitress who looked at us with pity and hurriedly seated us while serving up hot coffee. There was no
one in the little cafe except employees who were sitting at an adjacent table, taking a break since customers were scarce. They
stared intently at us and expressed disbelief when we explained that we had come from Shreveport and had been riding in this
weather all day. The waitress explained that the area was still affected by the winds and rains of hurricanes Katrina and Rita the
previous September, and to our misfortune, some of the road signs were missing, and to our greater misfortune, the one road sign
we needed was missing and had not yet been replaced. The waitress informed us that we had missed our exit some way back, and
after we looked at the map, we decided it would now be closer to follow this secondary road. She warned that the bad weather was
not gone, and in fact, would continue throughout the evening and early morning hours. Warmed by the courtesy of the waitress,
the hot beverages and the heat of the room, we said our goodbyes and assured her that we would be very careful.
Back on the bikes, with the rain coming down as hard as ever, I bravely took the lead again, and in a short period of time found
a little hotel, restaurant, bar and convenience store on the side of the road. The neon hotel sign, missing letters due to lights
burned out, was foggy giving it an eerie look. The hotel itself was surrounded by a mist and the sight was akin to something you
might see in a B rated horror movie such as “Motel Hell” or “Joy Ride”. As scary as it looked, it was not as scary as continuing to
ride, and I made the decision to stop for the night if a room was available. I signaled my left turn and we soon found ourselves on
a sandy, wet gravel surface which was full of holes to be avoided as we maneuvered our way up in front of the sign simply bearing
the words “office”. Only one room was available, fortunately a double, and the rate was a cheap $60 per night, so Dwayne
whipped out his credit card, and we booked it. This night we would have paid much more for much less comfortable
accommodations.
In the morning, the rain had cleared and as we looked around, the surroundings were not near as bad as they appeared to be in
the storm of the last evening. We took turns taking showers and turned on the tv in the little hotel room. Sitting on the edge of the
bed, I watched the weather station, which revealed that if we had continued East through Meridian, we would have ridden out of
the storm in only a short time. But then, I wouldn’t have this story to tell, would I? And, because we went this way I got to cross
two bridges that I would otherwise not have had the pleasure of crossing. Those of you who have been reading my stories know of
my uncanny fascination with bridges. First, I had the privilege of riding over the rickety Mobile Bay Bridge. This bridge had been
damaged in the hurricanes and was being rebuilt. One side was closed down, and we had one narrow lane in which to cross. The
surface was a slick metal grating and the trip across provided a harrowing view of the angry waters below. Fascinated, yet a little
scared, I gripped tightly on my bars as the metal grate caused the front wheel frequently to steer off to the left or right without my
assistance, and I had to maintain the straight line. Although an experience I treasure, still I was relieved when we reached the end
of the bridge.
I also got to ride through Charleston, a city I had never before visited. It has a beautiful span bridge which we rode across, a
smile upon my face the entire time, and to this day it is one of my favorites; just behind the mighty Mississippi river bridge in
Vicksburg, which I cannot explain my feelings about. I think she’s like an old friend that I get to visit whenever I’m heading east
on a road trip, and therefore has some significance to me as a symbol of carefree travel.
We had a wonderful time at Bike Week in Myrtle Beach under clear skies, but the rain that had so tortured us on our trip out,
would once again threaten us on our way back. I was in the lead, followed by Ric, and Sue and Dwayne. As the rain drops began
to fall, I noticed an overpass, and immediately signaled that I was pulling over, and Ric followed suit. But, Dwayne either wasn't
paying attention or missed my signal. He couldn't stop in time, and rolled on by us. As he passed the safety of the overpass, the
sky opened up and the hail began to fall. Dwayne and Sue were 100 yards from us, out in the open and were feverishly trying to
get their rain gear on, while dashing toward some trees for cover. I was laughing so hard at the sight that I had trouble putting on
my own rain gear. The storm passed by quickly and Ric and I were dry, but it was enough to soak Sue and Dwayne. Finally, I
had done something right concerning the rain, and there was no chastising me this time.
(cont.)
23
On yet another occasion, we were out for a Sunday ride in Mississippi, Alabama and finally, Tennessee, which was not our
intended destination; the skies warned us of impending rain, we could see lightning in the distance and hear the roar of thunder. I
don’t know how I so often end up in the lead; I guess it gives the other riders someone to blame when things go awry, as they so
often do. Off to the right it looked perfectly clear to me, but there was a large black cloud looming in front of me. So I made a
decision to divert our course; I pulled up beside Ric, and told him we were going to turn right and try to ride out the storm. It was
not an option this time to stop and put on the rain gear, since we didn't bother to bring any. I can honestly say Ric wanted to, but
both John and I shook our heads and said "I laugh in the face of rain." Famous last words. Rest assured, before this trip was over,
we’d all have the lousy rubberized suits either on our bodies reflecting rain or in our saddle bags ready to be donned if the
requirement presented itself.
No sooner had we made the right turn than the temperature
dropped and the rain came down in torrents. We topped a hill that
revealed a sharp curve and found ourselves traveling a little too
fast on newly oil slicked roads. Ric was in the lead and made the
turn, and upon cresting a hill, had no time to see the situation he
was in, and no time to warn us. Thankfully, he was able to
straighten out the curve and slow down. Still, he passed the shelter
of a country store to his right, and had to turn around and come
back. Following him, I realized too late that I was going into a
curve too fast with an SUV pulled off the side of the road,
precariously close to my turn radius, and no opportunity to brake
safely or straighten out the turn. I did the only thing I could -held my breath, released the clutch and breaks, tightened up on the
grips and leaned into the curve. I felt as if the world was in slow
motion, my heart was pounding in my chest, my thoughts were
racing through my head, and I broke out in a cold sweat. I wanted
to close my eyes in the face of the danger, but knew I couldn't. I
held on to Lacey for dear life, fearing that I was going to go down
at any second. I just hoped that I would not hit the SUV. I visualized the skid and the impact before regaining control. Skill or
experience, luck, fate, or God; something or someone had a hand in taking me safely through the curve, narrowly avoiding an
accident. The Gremlins were not powerful enough this time, and John in the rear, was able to see our struggles up ahead, and had
time to slow down. We pulled into the wet, mushy, gravel driveway of the little store in Thyatira, Mississippi, and I dismounted
knees knocking and shivering from the cold and the near collision. At this little store, we made a decision to go on to Memphis,
and it was a decision none of us regretted. I wrote the story about our Memphis trip and it was published in an earlier edition of
White Line Magazine. If you go back and read it, you’ll find that on the trip home from Memphis, we stopped at Walmart and
bought the dreaded rubber rain suits. John even bought a white shirt and tie and we rode all the way back to Shreveport in a mild,
yet continuous rain.
You might think I never get enough of bad storms. You might think that I seek them out. But, in reality, I ride a lot, and if you
ride a lot, your chances of encountering Mother Nature in all her glory are increased. She was showing off with Hurricane Rita
who was blowing around in the Gulf of Mexico causing damage across the coastline and heading North. She was not supposed to
impact the weather in Northwest, Louisiana, but I have learned not to trust our weather forecasters, because as you might surmise,
she came into our area and literally rained on our parade. Once again, Sue and Dwayne and Ric and I, as well as some other
friends, were out for a leisurely weekend ride. The weather was beautiful and we went South to Natchitoches. We spent time on
the Cane River front in the historic district and had a leisurely lunch before deciding to head home. We made it to Crossroads
when the wind began to blow and the skies darkened. We pulled over at a little store/gas station to don our rain gear and wait out
the worst of the storm. Some places are biker friendly and some are not. This place was not. We were parked under the only
shelter, that of the gas pumps, blocking only one set of pumps, but were asked to leave if we weren't buying gas. We explained
that it was stormy and we would just be there a short while, but the proprietor was adamant, so we moved across the street to the
shelter of a drive through bank. I still have difficulty understanding the discrimination we received that day, and can’t fathom
what hatred would make someone turn us away, when our very lives could have been endangered. Thankfully, this does not
happen often; most of the folks I’ve met while traveling the roads of this great country, have been helpful, pleasant and courteous
to us regardless of race or attire.
(cont.)
24
Finally, my most recent encounters with Mother Nature,
was on the trip to and from the 2008 Louisiana State H.O.G.
rally in Baton Rouge. First, on the trip there, I ran into a
steady wind with gusts approaching 40 mph. We were going
South on Interstate 49 and had a Westerly wind that leaned
our bikes to the left. It gave new meaning to the saying “In
the Wind”. The constant wind with frequent gusts stayed
with us the entire 260 mile trip and it took considerable effort
to maintain the bike in an upright position for four hours.
Also, there was not any warning when a gust buffeted the
motorcycle, so it was necessary to keep a tight grip on the
bars, keep in mind that you could be hit by a gust at any
time, and be prepared to react. Unless you’ve ridden in high
winds, you really have nothing to relate it to except maybe
the severe gust you sometimes experience when a large
eighteen wheeler passes you. I encountered the same
conditions once on a return trip from Ft. Worth, but had
forgotten about the difficulty and the skill required while
fighting the wind. This is a condition we don’t often think
about when talking about bad weather, but it is one that we
should be concerned about, taught how to react, and most
importantly, limit our trips in windy weather.
On the return trip, it was a case of riding back in the storm in order to get to work the next day. Again, we didn't have the option
of not riding. From the time we hit Alexandria until we got home, we were in a pounding rain storm, with gusts of winds reaching
thirty miles per hour. We were on Interstate 49 going North at about a constant 45 mph. The weather was so bad, that to go any
faster would have been dangerous. Fortunately, we were in a pack
of about six bikes, which made us more visible and gave us a little
more safety. There was a lot of traffic produced from riders
heading home after the rally, and we even got passed by a fellow
H.O.G. member who was in the comfort of a truck with his wife
beside him, his motorcycle securely tied down in the back. Maybe
he didn’t recognize us, but if I were in that truck (unlikely, since
we don’t trailer), I think I would have pulled in behind the group to
offer safety from the other vehicles. This trip was my friend,
Ginny's, first long ride, and her first experience with the rain. She
literally stopped her bike on the side of the interstate and got off
and cried. But, she pulled herself together and mustered the
courage to get back on the bike and continue the ride home.
Needless to say, a four hour trip took us eight hours. On this trip,
the trailer that Jeanie was hauling behind her trike had a minor
problem when the fender on one of the tires came loose and began
to flap in the wind. We had to stop and make repairs. We also
stopped in Natchitoches for food and shelter during the height of
the storm, and watched the weather channel which revealed to us that there were tornadoes in the area, and one had just passed
through where we were. It was a harrowing experience, and those of us who rode decided that we had earned our “Brown Patch”,
a patch that we created and designed for those who came close to, well, you can’t say it delicately, “crapping their pants”.
As you can see, I’ve had several encounters with Mother Nature, and fortunately I have come out literally unscathed.
However, I never take her for granted, and as I said before, I avoid riding through her nasty storms if I
can. Since I live in the South, my experiences have all been with rain, thunderstorms, mildly cold
weather, heat, wind and sand. I’ve yet to have the pleasure, or displeasure of riding through snow and
ice, and I hope to avoid those particular elements, but I’d love to hear about my reader’s experiences
riding under those conditions. Please send me an e-mail at [email protected] and I may feature
your rides in my diaries. I look forward to hearing from you and learning from your experiences, as
well. Until next month, ride safe, and stay out of the rain!
25
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27
The picture on the left is the official image of our company mascot. We had originally named him "White Line
Willie" in honor of the magazine, but due to reasons which were also given in past issues, we have had to re-name our
mascot. It was decided by the magazine owners to "give credit where credit is due" and re-name him
after the person he was made to look like in the first place.
Terry Conley, or "Uncle Terry" as he was known to us, was a huge influence on our lives,
instilling everything from basic values to the love of motorcycling in our young hearts and minds.
Even though uncle Terry is no longer with us, it's fitting that we should have him hiding among the
pages of this magazine and popping out when you least expect it. That was Terry in real life too!
Now you can join the fun and look for Terry in the pages of the magazine. Remember the old
"hidden picture" games? Here's our version of it. We will hide this image of Terry someplace in the magazine and your
chore is to find him. We may ghost in his image or change it's color or size, but it will always be the exact image you
see above. Look carefully, he can be hiding just about anywhere!
When you find Terry in the magazine, send page# and approx. location on page to
[email protected] for your entry. Mark your email subject line with "Tracking Terry Contest". All
entries must be received by White Line Magazine by the 20th of each month to be counted, and the winner will be
randomly drawn from all correct entries on the 22nd of the month. Winner receives a White Line Magazine T-Shirt as
well as occasional extras donated by our advertisers. Winners will be announced in the following issue. Good Luck
and have fun!
October "Tracking Terry" Winner
Well isn't that just like Terry? He's off traveling around and hiding out from the responsibilities of putting out this magazine.
Terry was hiding pretty well last month. He was hiding on a sign in the background of the bottom pix on page 24, the first page of
the Pinky's Passion column. Congratulations goes out to Amy V. from Madison, WI. who found our wandering uncle for us.
Congrats on spotting Terry and letting us know where to find him. We'll be sending you out a new White Line T-Shirt for your
hard work tracking Terry down!
But the bad news, of course, is that Terry has escaped once again. He's up to his old tricks and off hanging out and partying
instead of helping out around here. Help track him down so we can put him back to work! Good Luck!
What is Terry thinking??
Word Jumble
The freedom of the open road.
Pass the breast meat please!
Pilgrim, football, Thanksgiving, pioneer, holiday,
endure.
Homemade pumpkin pie.
Holiday cards for our soldiers.
The election is over!
Toys for Tots.
Blessings, chief, vote, motorcycle.
28
29
Rolling, Rolling, Rolling
Set up day for “Thunder in the Streets” is lazy, sun-drenched and the venue is on
the same harbor park I frequented thirty years ago as an embryonic sign painter. As I
scan the glass smooth water on this sunny morning, I recall spending many afternoons,
after my work was done, out on that lake in someone’s boat.
I apprenticed the sign painting trade near here, at a shop in nearby Longwood, at
that time filled with journeymen brush lettering men. I adopted the habit of being at
this marina on Lake Monroe every Sunday, lettering boats for some extra income. I
always had one, two and sometimes three boats to letter every time I came. As I
learned the trade and my weekend receipts began to match my paycheck, the time to
launch my freelance career had arrived.
As I sit with the pinstriping booth partially set up and admire my surroundings, I
notice an abundance of dragonflies as they patrol in a systematic pattern, much like
search and rescue surveillance planes looking for someone adrift on the ocean. Black
birds on a migratory path disregard the egrets and ducks that sleep in the shade of palm
trees around the city park pond on this still, hot morning. Unseen song birds in distant
places seem to be enjoying communicating with each other and the occasional distant
plane rumbles slowly off into silence.
As I sat meditating, a flock of a hundred white birds that had been napping in the
grass by the pond, all took a notion to take off in flight at the same time. A great cloud
of flapping wings rose and like a loosely organized aviation formation, they banked,
rolled and ascended together, seemingly to pursue a mission of some sort and as I
craned my neck to watch them, they changed direction in unison and soared directly overhead. What a thrill. I watched with
wonder as the gaggle then flew out over Lake Monroe, still in an organized, yet amorphous arrangement and banked into yet
another direction that brought them eventually back to where that had taken off from, with a few individuals landing in the treetops
and the bulk of them landing back on the grass. As quickly as it began, the instantaneously motivated and now satisfied flock was
restored to peace.
The sensation was reminiscent of when I was a child in the Midwest, riding in a fifties tomato soup colored Pontiac with my
dad, looking through the side window as we drove across the fertile farmland that stretched for miles. Great clouds of flying black
birds morphed into immense hypnotic shapes as thousands flew in a unison that changed direction, dove, turned and rose to
eventually select a spot to land, eat, rest, chatter and then take off again. As I look back in time, it is with wonder that I relate to the
tales from centuries ago of great flocks of birds that darkened the sky because they were so numerous.
Mankind has certainly taken a toll on our bird and other of nature’s populations. Today’s flocks still have the same instinctual
pattern of behavior yet the numbers are much smaller. I can’t do much about the world wide population of birds but I can make
sure to keep my bird feeder full and plant a few trees for them in the yard at home.
Torrential rain has plagued this quaint old town. The tropical storm from last month brought with it five days in a row of heavy
precipitation. As I walk the brick paved streets past majestic hundred year old buildings, evidence in the form of sandbags
protecting the perimeter of some of the store fronts still remain. The locals comment about the water level of Lake Monroe being
“up to the seawall” and admit that they are tired of the rain.
In contrast to being up north all summer, the Florida sky is really something to behold. Seemingly higher and broader and at
least bluer, the illusion is entertaining and the activity is ongoing and ever-changing. In the morning, the sky is pristine and still
without a cloud in the sky. Far off contrails begin to mix with upper level wisps of clouds. As the day progresses, puffy cumulus
clouds grow and populate the sky as the cycle of evaporation and cloud formation begins. By midday massive thunder heads
threaten the brilliance of the day with looming darkness on the horizon – then out of the blue - rain begins, sometimes while the
sun is still shining, to inundate the already soggy state.
I was in the library, attempting to get my email when the deluge hit. For nearly an hour, waves of rain flooded the dark streets
filled with rush hour headlights attempting to navigate the reflective din. A spectacular lightning display began halfway through
the mahstrom. Brilliant bolts found their way to distant targets, then as quickly as it all started, the storm was over. The air was
cool, the birds shook themselves off, the populace of Sanford returned to the sidewalks and the vendors resumed setting up frail
stands in the now flooded park. The rain had killed any chance of motorcycle traffic for this night.
(cont.)
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The next day, although without the rain, was much the same. Vendors were open and all wondering where the patrons were.
When it became obvious that this was not going to be a busy spot, I got out a couple of blank panels and got busy creating new
designs for eventual display. A few of my regular customers stopped by with accolades to say about how they enjoy the email
stories I send. During these brief exchanges, I get caught up on the news of what is going on in their lives and hear a story or two
about motorcycling fun. One couple, whom I have been painting for, for years, first on their motor home, then on their HarleyDavidson truck and now on their Goldwing Trike, shared with me that they not only look forward to receiving the next exciting
episode of “Tales of a Traveling Airbrush” but they are printing them out and saving them in a folder. Their suggestion to me is
right in line with my intention for these essays and that is to write a book with the entire collection of these stories along with a
multitude of pictures of the murals, designs and artworks created during the three decades plus career so far.
Another fascinating conversation took place with a man that really has an interesting job. He works on one of the maintenance
crews at Disney and is a roller coaster specialist that works on all the coasters worldwide. He told me that someone walks the track
of every coaster every day, to visually inspect the rails and joints and, with a special hammer, hits the structural steel to listen for
the special ringing sound that proves the integrity of the steel is intact and not cracked. As we talked, I was able to share an
experience I had around the wooden roller coaster that was at the amusement park in Tennessee where I was the decorative mural
and sign painter in the spring, years ago, as they prepared to open each season. The coaster, after sitting idle all winter, had
developed a thick coat of rust on the track from the non-use. The rust inhibited the free movement of the train and took several
trips to wear down to fresh steel before the train would move very fast. The first trip of each season was agonizingly slow and with
crossed fingers, the crew hoped that the train would make it over all the humps so that they wouldn’t have to winch the train up
from one of the valleys.
My friend was able to recall several interesting stories about similar episodes that only a coaster guy would know about. One
crew from Europe had a train “valleyed”, as they call it, and rather than use the standard procedure of climbing up and using comealongs hooked up to the track ahead to pull the train over the hump, they came along with an elaborate and large mechanical winch
system mounted on a piece of equipment that was not exactly portable enough to place where it was needed. The complex system
they came up with involved climbing and rigging one long cable to distant points and re-rigging with the same system multiple
times to accomplish the same result as with the simpler come-alongs, and rather than the project taking an hour to complete, the
project took half a day and a lot of effort to accomplish. From time to time “keep it simple” is best and working smart often
involves knowing what not to do.
Sometimes I am surprised to find out what someone thinks is important about their job. After all this talk about this fascinating
facet of show business, I asked my new friend what was the most memorable and remarkable achievement of his career. I was
expecting to hear some involved sequence of agonizing engineering research that yielded a breakthrough in the annuls of roller
coaster history in Paris or a precedent set in California that initiated a worldwide standard for ride size, speed or comfort that
brought about a new echelon in the history of amusement devices but I found out a memory of something very different that this
man cherishes from all his years with coasters.
One guest, years ago, was a mentally challenged, disabled adult with the mind of a child, part of a group that was being
escorted to the attractions of the park and assisted on and off of many rides. The group was stalled, as the result of the anguish
suffered by this person who had lost her blanket on Space Mountain.The dedication of the ride crew and the willingness to do
whatever it takes to provide a good experience to the guests at Disney prompted the Space Mountain coaster crew to shut down the
ride and call the maintenance crew for an emergency inspection session. They then turned on the interior lighting and combed
every foot of the maze of track and every nook and cranny inside the attraction for the missing furry little quarry.
With a sparkle of joy evident in his eyes, my guest continued the story of how they were able to re-unite this child with her lost
“blankie.” When she was reunited with this seemingly common item, the magnitude of glee the child expressed touched his heart
as they got this group of guests back on their way enjoying their Disney experience.
As this sparsely attended motorcycle show winds down to fizzle off to nothing, I get a valuable reinforcement in his story that
fortifies the walk I am on. This heartwarming story is just another reminder that the true source of our ongoing joy is found during
our relentless service to one another.
Happy Trails,
Dave "Letterfly" Knoderer
Letterfly.com
[email protected]
31
LA County Choprods introduces the vintage inspired
"Honey Pot" Oil Filter
Inspired by the "Hildebrandt" oil filters popularized during the '50s
and '60s by Truckers and Hot Rod enthusiasts the look, functionality
and size have been improved for use on motorcycles. They're cast, heat
treated and precision machined from aluminum and are available in
three different finishes, Natural, Polished and Black Wrinkle with
Polished Highlights. Each assembly comes complete with stainless
steel lid mounting hardware and a quality spin on HD style oil filter and
is machined to accept ¼" NPT fittings. They are compatible with
anything up to a Twin Cam and a wide variety of mounting and oil line
adapters are being designed to accommodate most applications.
For more information on this and other high quality LACC parts visit www.lachoprods.com or phone
(310) 353-CHOP (2467).
32
Going on vacation? Planning a ride? Or just
plain want to know what's going on in the
world? THE place to check is right here on
White Line's Events & More ! Click on any state
name and it will bring up another page with
events lists for that state for the month, as well
as any bike shops, biker friendly bars and
restaurants and print publications. This is THE
place for biker information! We still have lots of
room to add places, so send in the name of your
favorite shop or biker friendly establishment and
we'll make sure everyone knows about them!
Florida Events
Nov 1 2008
Steel Horse Stampede
Ocala, Florida
Info:(352) 854-5218
Nov 1 2008
1st An Ray Kitchens
Memorial Pirate Treasure
Run to Benefit Hospice
Tampa, Florida
Info: (813) 774-9785
Nov 01 2008
3rd Annual Pcaeop Fun Run
Hudson, Florida
Info: (727) 774-2418
Nov 01 2008
7th An Veterans Poker Run
Panama City, FL
Info: (850) 847-8360
Nov 01 2008
6th Annual Hugh May
Poker Run Naples, FL
Info: (239) 826-3901
Nov 01 2008
Chrome Horse Fundraiser
Poker Run & Rally
Land O Lakes, FL
Info: (813) 293-1066
Nov 01 2008
Champions for Babies Bike
Show and Kick off Party
Cocoa, FL
Info: (321) 633-3047
Nov 02 2008
Leigh Nolan UPARC Eve
9th Annual
Clearwater, Fl
Info: 727-420-2152
Nov 02 - 09 2008
HOHS '08 Western
Caribbean Rally
Port Canaveral, FL
Info: 800-444-8795
Nov 08 2008
Music &
Motorcycles/Veterans PAA
Zephyrhills, FL
Info: 813 780-1414
Nov 15 2008
Punta Gorda Bike Night
Lashley Park - Punta Gorda,
FL
Info: 941-916-0168 or 941258-1077
Nov. 16, 2008
Disabled American Vets
Poker Run
Punta Gorda, FL
Info: 941- 628-0056
Nov 16 2008
Great Teddy Bear Run 11th
Annual
University Park, FL
Info: 941-951-7005
Nov 22 2008
Paws for Patriots Poker Run
Brandon, FL
Info: 813-760-4757
Nov 30 2008
Bigs Poker Run 3rd Annual
Naples, FL
Info: 239.404-7006
Dec 06 2008
Englewood United
Methodist Church Helping
Hand Motorcycle Run
Englewood, Florida
Info: (941) 587-1636
Dec 06 2008
Lake County United
Motorcyclist's Toy Run
Leesburg, Florida
Info:
[email protected]
Dec 14 2008
SFPC Toys In The Sun Run
Pompano Beach, FL
www.toysinthesunrun.com
Dec 15 - 16 2008
Huge Christmas indoor tent
Leesburg, Fl
Info: 352 787 8050
Dec 18 2008
Bike Night at Long Doggers
Palm Bay, FL
Florida Places to Go
Shops
Rossiters Harley Davidson
330 Cattleman Rd
Sarasota, FL. 34232-6300
941-951-6106
Manatee River Harley
Davidson.
624 67th St. Cir. E.
Bradenton, FL. 34208-6087
941-745-2429
33
Harley Davidson of Ft.
Myers
2160 Colonial Blvd.
Ft. Myers, FL
941-275-4647
Daytona Harley Davidson
290 N. Beach St.
Daytona, FL
386-253-2453
Open Road Motorcycle
Hwy 17
Punta Gorda, FL
941-575-4474
Thunder Action Cycle
18290 Paulson Dr.
Port Charlotte, FL
941-766-0663
Biker Friendly
Victory Lane
4150 Hancock Bridge Pkwy
N. Ft. Myers, FL
239-995-0340
Boot Hill Saloon
310 Main St.
Daytona, FL
386-386-9506
Print Publications
Full Throttle Magazine
850 Dunbar Ave.
Oldsmar, FL 34677
800-889-8180
Born to Ride
P.O. Box 3021
Brandon, FL 33509
813-661-9402
Florida Motor Sports
Magazine
2430 Vanderbilt Beach Rd.
Naples, FL 34109
239-597-9588
34
35
A lot of cities are getting in on the "Bike Night" action anymore.
Plant City has done one for years. Ft. Myers also has a good bike night
that goes on 4 times a year during season. And another bike night that is
quickly working for that "great Bike Night" status is in Cape Coral. Four
times a year during tourist season, they close off 47th Terrace in Cape
Coral and let the bikers party. The event is put on with the co-operation
of the City Parks and Rec. department and has everything from food
vendors to bike vendors and live music for the crowds to enjoy. This
event has grown more and more each time we are there to cover it, and it
gets better and better. Even on a night when rains kept away a good part
of the crowd, I would estimate that there were still 3 to 4 thousand
people there! If you haven't been to one of Cape Coral's Bike Nights,
then take the time and ride down for their next one in December. It's
worth the cruise!
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37
The internet is a great tool and that's why we are an internet based magazine. To reach more people! We want to keep the
look and "feel" of a paper magazine, but we also want to give you useful information. In that light, we give you some of our
favorite website links.
Motorcycle City On Line Magazine
Run Central
Classified Ads
Motorcycle Manufacturers
Ironworks Motorcycle
Guilty Customs
Kendall Johnson Customs
Thunder Action Designs
J H Choppers
Bourget's Bike Works
Harley Davidson
Exile Cycles
Kawasaki Home Page
Triumph Motorcycles - Official Website
Suzuki - American Suzuki Motor Corporation Motorcycle &
ATV Division
Motorcycle Parts and Accessories
Show Bike Lights
Sentry Fuel Treatment
Motorcycle Jackets
J & P Cycles
Motorcycle Saddlebags
American Cycle Accessories
Spokes and Power
Fog Hollow
JC Whitney
Cycle-Parts.com
Diamond D Parts Locators
Custom Chrome
Drag Specialties
Leather Jackets
Bux Tools
Exotic Sportbike
Quill Exhausts
Places of Interest
Drawstring Bags
Wholesale Levi’s
myBusinessLinks.net
Ironhorse Writer
New York Biker
Splittin' the Breeze
Biker - Jon
Bikerkiss.com
Easy Biker
EZ Loading Trailers
Larry T Beach 98.9
Motorcycle Jewelry
Milledgeville Thunder Rally
Best Harley Links Info
EZ Rise Trailers
Link & Search Sites
Dirpedia.com
ZAESY.com
Florida Bike Nights.com
Slick's Scooter Schedule
Gum's Favorite Links
Bike Links
YoYsearch
Biketrade
Zepti.com
Motorcycle Education
Safe Cycle Training, LLC.
ABATE of Florida
American Motorcyclist Association
motoschool.com
Wheels in Motion - Motorcycle Safety Training
Motorcycle Publications
www.RPMMagazineny.com
Full Throttle Magazine
Born To Ride Magazine
US Rider News (formerly Dixie Rider)
Thunder Press
Wind Talk Magazine
Motorcycle Online
Canadian Biker Online
38
39
White Line Magazine seeks potential
“Miss White Line”!
White Line Magazine is looking for women to be a
"Babe of the Month". Guys, send us in photo's of your
lady (with her permission of course!) or gals... you
think you got what it takes to show off as a biker babe?
Must be at least 18 and will have to sign release.
Entrants will be voted on by general public and a tally
of votes will determine winner. Winner will be
crowned Miss White Line Magazine.
Events? Parties? Rides?
Below are email addy’s you can use to submit to
different sections of White Line Magazine.
In future issues we will be expanding our events
listings and calendar of events so that you have the
widest possible range of things to do in the biking
community. If you know of any ride, event or party
that you think would be made better ( mo betta) by
having a few hundred of White Line readers at… then
send listings to us at [email protected]
[email protected] ................. Owner /
Managing Editor
[email protected] …….......…...…Owner
[email protected] .................... Submit
pix, enter contests, or just to send us praise or
complaints.
Sales Positions Available.
White Line Magazine is growing quickly! Because
our magazine is so greatly accepted, we have positions
for advertising sales staff. The amount of money you
can make, is only limited by your enthusiasm and
drive. A generous commission, a fun atmosphere,
some leads provided, and the chance to get in on the
ground floor of the best biker magazine bar none make
this an ideal full or part time job. Contact Shadow at:
[email protected] ............ for more info
about advertising in our magazine.
[email protected] .... Send
in the name and dates of someone for the Memorial
Page.
[email protected] ...............Got an event
to have listed in the magazine?
[email protected]
[email protected] ............... Suggest a place
for Ice to chill at, or a band to be reviewed.
or send a resume to
[email protected]
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