Hey,
What a crazy year. If this is any indication of the summer schedule, look out. As soon as June hit, event exploded like a case of beer in the desert. This weekend BAD rides kick off around the country supporting the American Diabetes association. There are now nine events, which have raised over 4.5 million over the last 13 years, since Rip started the movement.
Yesterday, Pacific Cycles threw a block party on Signal Hill, which drew builders from all over the west. The Queen Mary hosted the Ink and Iron Show on the same weekend, just 10 miles away. Holy shit, events are popping up all over the country, every weekend. At least there’s never a dull moment. I’ve got to scramble. I’m a bike show Judge at the BAD Ride.
BIKERNET UNIVERSITY SCIENCE DEPARTMENT FINDINGS SPONSORED BY DANNI ASHE– Here’s a little factoid for automotive buffs or just to dazzle your friends.
The four Goldberg brothers, Lowell, Norman, Hiram, and Max, invented and developed the first automobile air-conditioner.
On July 17, 1946, the temperature in Detroit was 97 degrees. The four Jewish brothers walked into old man Henry Ford’s office and sweet-talked his secretary into telling him that four gentlemen were there with the most exciting innovation in the auto industry since the electric starter.
Henry was curious and invited them into his office. They refused and instead asked that he come out to the parking lot to their car.
They persuaded him to get into the car, which was about 130 degrees, turned on the air conditioner, and cooled the car off immediately.
The old man got very excited and invited them back to the office, where he offered them $3 million for the patent.
The brothers refused, saying they would settle for $2 million, but they wanted the recognition by having a label, ‘The Goldberg Air-Conditioner,’ on the dashboard of each car in which it was installed.
Now old man Ford was more than just a little anti-Semitic, and there was no way he was going to put the Goldberg’s name on two million Fords.
They haggled back and forth for about two hours and finally agreed on $4 million and that just their first names would be shown.
And so to this day, all Ford air conditioners show — Lo, Norm, Hi, and Max — on the controls.
–from Geno
Chiggers, Sand Fleas and Scorpions! From a RECON MARINE in Afghanistan From the Sand Pit it’s freezing here. I’m sitting on hard, cold dirt between rocks and shrubs at the base of the Hindu Kush Mountains , along the Dar ‘yoi Pomir River , watching a hole that leads to a tunnel that leads to a cave. Stake out, my friend, and no pizza delivery for thousands of miles.
I also glance at the area around my ass every ten to fifteen seconds to avoid another scorpion sting. I’ve actually given up battling the chiggers and sand fleas, but the scorpions give a jolt like a cattle prod. Hurts like a bastard.. The antidote tastes like transmission fluid, but God bless the Marine Corps for the five vials of it in my pack.
The one truth the Taliban cannot escape is that, believe it or not, they are human beings, which means they have to eat food and drink water. That requires couriers and that’s where an old bounty hunter like me comes in handy. I track the couriers, locate the tunnel entrances and storage facilities, type the info into the handheld, shoot the coordinates up to the satellite link that tells the air commanders where to drop the hardware. We bash some heads for a while, then I track and record the new movement.
It’s all about intelligence. We haven’t even brought in the snipers yet. These scurrying rats have no idea what they’re in for. We are but days away from cutting off supply lines and allowing the eradication to begin.
I dream of bin Laden waking up to find me standing over him with my boot on his throat as I spit into his face and plunge my nickel-plated Bowie knife through his frontal lobe. But you know me, I’m a romantic. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: This country blows, man. It’s not even a country. There are no roads, there’s no infrastructure, there’s no government. This is an inhospitable, rock pit shit hole ruled by eleventh century warring tribes. There are no jobs here like we know jobs.
Afghanistan offers two ways for a man to support his family: join the opium trade or join the army. That’s it. Those are your options. Oh, I forgot, you can also live in a refugee camp and eat plum-sweetened, crushed beetle paste and squirt mud like a goose with stomach flu, if that’s your idea of a party. But the smell alone of those ‘tent cities of the walking dead’ is enough to hurl you into the poppy fields to cheerfully scrape bulbs for eighteen hours a day.
I’ve been living with these Tajiks and Uzbeks, and Turkmen and even a couple of Pushtuns, for over a month-and-a-half now, and this much I can say for sure: These guys, all of ’em, are Huns… actual, living Huns.. They LIVE to fight. It’s what they do. It’s ALL they do. They have no respect for anything, not for their families, nor for each other, nor for themselves. They claw at one another as a way of life. They play polo with dead calves and force their five-year-old sons into human cockfights to defend the family honor. Huns, roaming packs of savage, heartless beasts who feed on each other’s barbarism. Cavemen with AK-47’s. Then again, maybe I’m just cranky.
I’m freezing my ass off on this stupid hill because my lap warmer is running out of juice, and I can’t recharge it until the sun comes up in a few hours. Oh yeah! You like to write letters, right? Do me a favor, Bizarre. Write a letter to CNN and tell Wolf and Anderson and that awful, sneering, pompous Aaron Brown to stop calling the Taliban ‘smart.’ They are not smart. I suggest CNN invest in a dictionary because the word they are looking for is ‘cunning.’ The Taliban are cunning, like jackals and hyenas and wolverines. They are sneaky and ruthless, and when confronted, cowardly. They are hateful, malevolent parasites who create nothing and destroy everything else. Smart. Pfft. Yeah, they’re real smart.
They’ve spent their entire lives reading only one book (and not a very good one, as books go) and consider hygiene and indoor plumbing to be products of the devil. They’re still figuring out how to work a Bic lighter. Talking to a Taliban warrior about improving his quality of life is like trying to teach an ape how to hold a pen; eventually he just gets frustrated and sticks you in the eye with it.
OK, enough. Snuffle will be up soon, so I have to get back to my hole. Covering my tracks in the snow takes a lot of practice, but I’m good at it.
Please, I tell you and my fellow Americans to turn off the TV sets and move on with your lives. The story line you are getting from CNN and other news agencies is utter bullshit and designed not to deliver truth but rather to keep you glued to the screen through the commercials. We’ve got this one under control The worst thing you guys can do right now is sit around analyzing what we’re doing over here, because you have no idea what we’re doing, and really, you don’t want to know. We are your military, and we are doing what you sent us here to do.
Saucy Jack
Recon Marine in Afghanistan
Semper Fi
We check out most of our news items for authenticity, so I reached out to the Bikernet Frogman, who is in the middle east most of the time, training security forces. Here’s what he said about the story above: “It’s correct, albiet somewhat dramatic. My schedule is hectic until i get back from Africa (if I get back from Africa) — always worry about getting caught in an elephant stampede on a moonless night — big feet flying everywhere….lost a friend like that several years ago. Night patrol and they patrolled into the middle of a sleeping elephant herd…”
Recession claims Golden Gate Harley-Davidson–GG Harley-Davidson has closed its Corte Madera store, ending its run and shuttering the last H-D dealership in Marin County, Calif.
The franchisee closed its Novato store in November and consolidated operations to Corte Madera. That location closed Tuesday.
The company has posted a letter thanking customers on its Web site. The letter reads:
?Well, that?s that. It?s over. We?re done. We did everything we could to keep things going, but in the end, the economy finally did us in.
Although we?ve outperformed most of our larger competitors in sales volume, unfortunately we simply didn?t have deep enough pockets or the available credit to ride out the economic downturn.
We would like to thank all our loyal customers for their continued friendship and support over the years and we apologize we won?t be here for you in the future. We?ve enjoyed every minute, and we?re honored to have had the opportunity to provide service to some of the nicest, toughest, coolest, baddest, craziest, smartest, wildest, good lookingest, not to mention GREATEST group of customers anywhere! We will miss you.
For those who have their bikes here, we will be contacting you shortly to make arrangements to reunite you with your machine.
See you on the road.?
Some of the Corte Madera store?s 15 employees have already been hired at other area motorcycle shops, Jon Magana, sales manager at the Corte Madera store, told the Marin Independent-Journal.
Workers were clearing out inventory at the 15,000-square-foot store Wednesday. The dealership had access to one of the largest inventories of new motorcycles in Northern California.
“There is a chance there will be a new Harley dealer in Marin again soon,” says Magana, adding the Motor Co. has been negotiating to keep a store in the county.
Posted by Holly Wagner
Published courtesy of DealerNews.
WORLD RENOWNED BIKERNET PHOTOGRAPHER CHECKS IN–Two National covers on the stands now!
As close as I’ll get to photographing Pamela Anderson!! I have loads more of her- oh, & Nichols saw her & is tryin’ to grab her for EZR !! There’s more- in a teeny weenie bikini, deemed “too hot to handle” by Paisano. The distributor said: the cover’s “too sexy” see what I’m up against?
Off to San Francisco. San Jose & Napa tomorrow a.m., driving… back next Thurs… I need to start TATTOO PLAYBOY…
Markus
BONHAMS PROVES STRENGTH IN MOTORCYCLES– Entries now invited for new auction; Barn-find Vincent to head line-up. For immediate release. 8 June 2010 ? San Francisco ? Bonhams celebrated its second motorcycle auction at Quail Lodge in Carmel this past month demonstrating the market?s strong interest in early machines with a total of 77 lots selling for more than $600,000. Bonhams is no stranger to the two-wheeled market and sells, on average, more than $8 million worth of motorcycles annually around the globe. Its list of successful sales and world-record prices is renowned and includes motorbike-specific auctions such as Quail Lodge, the ?ber-popular Stafford Show in England, the BMW Museum in Germany, and the former Legend of the Motorcycle in Half Moon Bay, not to mention mixed car/bike sales such as the Petersen Auto Museum in Los Angeles.
Building on this vast experience and strength, Bonhams is now launching a new motorcycle-exclusive auction in the entertainment capital of the world, Las Vegas. The ?Bonhams Las Vegas Motorcycle Auction? will take place the afternoon of Thursday, January 6th, 2011 at the Imperial Palace Hotel and Casino in the heart of the strip.
Leading the list of entries is a stunningly original 1952 Vincent Rapide in Chinese Red that has been untouched for nearly half a century. Discovered in Fresno, California ? where it had been sold new by the local Fresno Indian dealer ? the time capsule machine has 8500 original miles, matching numbers and California black license plate. Its auction estimate is $85,000-$100,000.
Over 200 classic motorbikes representing every era will be featured in the Las Vegas auction. To consign a motorcycle or collection of motorcycles to this first annual sale, interested sellers may call 415-391-4000 or e-mail one of the following Bonhams motorcycle specialists:
? Nick Smith: nick.smith@bonhams.com ? David Edwards: david.edwards@bonhams.com
? Paul d?Orleans: paul.dorleans@bonhams.com
? Jamie Karrick: james.karrick@bonhams.com
? Paul Duchene: paul.duchene@bonhams.com
For general information about the 217-year old firm of Bonhams and its 50 specialist departments worldwide, visit Bonhams.com http://www.bonhams.com .
BIKERNET HOUSEHOLD TIP OF THE WEEK – ZIP LOCK WATER BAG FIGHT FLIES— I think I’ll give it a try. Our neighbor behind has several horses and I always know when they clean the stalls. It seems all the flies find their way to us. I’ll let you know if it really works. !
We went with friends to Sweety Pies on Sunday for breakfast and sat in the patio section beside the house. We happened to notice zip lock baggies pinned to a post and a wall. The bags were half filled with water, each contained 4 pennies, and they were zipped shut. Naturally we were curious!
Ms. Sweety told us that these baggies kept the flies away! So naturally we were even more curious! We actually watched some flies come in the open window, stand around on the window sill, and then fly out again. And there were no flies in the eating area!
This morning I checked this out on Google. Below are comments on this fly control idea. I’m now a believer!
Ann Says:
I tried the ziplock bag and pennies this weekend.. I have a horse trailer. The flies were bad while I was camping. I put the baggie with pennies above the door of the LQ. NOT ONE FLY came in the trailer. The horse trailer part had many. Not sure why it works but it does!
Danielle Martin Says:
Fill a ziplock bag with water and 5 or 6 pennies and hang it in the problem area. In my case it was a particular window in my home. It had a slight passage way for insects. Every since I have done that, it has kept flies and wasps away. Some say that wasps and flies mistake the bag for some other insect nest and are threatened.
Maggie Says:
I swear by the plastic bag of water trick. I have them on porch and basement. We saw these in Northeast Mo. at an Amish grocery store & have used them since. They say it works because a fly sees a reflection & won’t come around.
DJ Says:
Regarding the science behind zip log bags of water? My research found that the millions of molecules of water presents its own prism effect and given that flies have a lot of eyes, to them it’s like a zillion disco balls reflecting light, colors and movement in a dizzying manner. When you figure that flies are prey for many other bugs, animals, birds, etc., they simply won’t take the risk of being around that much perceived action. I moved to a rural area and thought these “hillbillies” were just yanking my city boy chain but I tried it and it worked immediately! We went from hundreds of flies to seeing the occasional one, but he didn’t hang around long.
–from Bob Clark
First Trikes come off the lines at York Harley– Jun 11, 2010 (York Daily Record – McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) —
Harley-Davidson said it has finished its first run of York County-made Trike motorcycles, a special 2010 run of Tri Glide vehicles for Shriners of North America, the company said today.
Previously, part of the Trikes, or three-wheeled motorcycles were made by a contractor in South Dakota. Local Harley General Manager Ed Magee said in a statement that “being able to bring full assembly in-house is a testament to the hard work of our employees to make York more flexible, sustainable and cost-effective.”
The line of motorcycles was also produced as a pilot program for Harley’s new operating structure. The company’s local operations are currently in a two-year restructuring designed to keep Harley motorcycles made in York County.
MEMO FROM BIKERNET FORUM MODERATOR– I’m home alone. YEAH baby!!!! The remote, the beer, and Mexican food all to myself!!! (ya gotta take what small victories you can).
Yeah, I’m monitoring the forum. It’s all cool these days, but kinda quiet. It’s starting to return to the good ol’ days when we talked about bikes, dealerships, runs, and such. If anyone needs tech help, we have the contacts.
Our local H-D dealership closed last week for good. They’ve been going down in slow motion for about a year, and finally went under.
Hotter than hell up here this weekend. It’s noon as I’m writing this, and already in the high 80’s. Supposed to hit the high 90’s today. Good thing I’ve got cold beer to blunt the trauma.
Looking forward to September and the triumphal return to the salt. Lemme know if there’s anything I can do.
–Hiway
10 REASONS TO HIRE A VET– Looking for a hard-working, motivated, ethical employee? Try hiring a U.S. veteran. Veterans are disciplined team players that can bolster any employer’s business. What’s more, hiring veterans is not only a good idea, it’s good business.
Here are 10 more reasons to hire veterans according to HireVetsFirst.com:
1. Accelerated learning curve.
Veterans have the proven ability to learn new skills and concepts. In addition, they can enter your workforce with identifiable and transferable skills, proven in real-world situations. This background can enhance your organization’s productivity.
2. Leadership.
The military trains people to lead by example as well as through direction, delegation, motivation, and inspiration. Veterans understand the practical ways to manage behaviors for results, even in the most trying circumstances. They also know the dynamics of leadership as part of both hierarchical and peer structures.
3. Teamwork.
Veterans understand how genuine teamwork grows out of a responsibility to one’s colleagues. Military duties involve a blend of individual and group productivity. They also necessitate a perception of how groups of all sizes relate to each other and an overarching objective.
4. Diversity and inclusion in action.
Veterans have learned to work side by side with individuals regardless of diverse race, gender, geographic origin, ethnic background, religion, and economic status as well as mental, physical, and attitudinal capabilities. They have the sensitivity to cooperate with many different types of individuals.
5. Efficient performance under pressure.
Veterans understand the rigors of tight schedules and limited resources. They have developed the capacity to know how to accomplish priorities on time, in spite of tremendous stress. They know the critical importance of staying with a task until it is done right.
6. Respect for procedures.
Veterans have gained a unique perspective on the value of accountability. They can grasp their place within an organizational framework, becoming responsible for subordinates’ actions to higher supervisory levels. They know how policies and procedures enable an organization to exist.
7. Technology and globalization.
Because of their experiences in the service, veterans are usually aware of international and technical trends pertinent to business and industry. They can bring the kind of global outlook and technological savvy that all enterprises of any size need to succeed.
8. Integrity.
Veterans know what it means to do “an honest day’s work.” Prospective employers can take advantage of a track record of integrity, often including security clearances. This integrity translates into qualities of sincerity and trustworthiness.
9. Conscious of health and safety standards.
Thanks to extensive training, veterans are aware of health and safety protocols both for themselves and the welfare of others. Individually, they represent a drug-free workforce that is cognizant of maintaining personal health and fitness. On a company level, their awareness and conscientiousness translate into protection of employees, property, and materials.
10. Triumph over adversity.
In addition to dealing positively with the typical issues of personal maturity, veterans have frequently triumphed over great adversity. They likely have proven their mettle in mission critical situations demanding endurance, stamina, and flexibility. They may have overcome personal disabilities through strength and determination.
Employers looking for veterans and veterans looking for jobs can log onto Military.com’s Veteran Career Network. The VCN has more than 300,000 veterans and employers who are ready to connect former service members to employment. Additionally, veterans can use the Career Center to find a job or access career advice. For more information, visit Military.com.
Harley-Davidson Takeover Rumors Resurface– NEW YORK (TheStreet) — Shares of Harley-Davidson(HOG) have edged up amid rumors that private equity firms are eying the company as a takeover target. The stock has risen 1.5% to $26.57.
According to StreetAccount, this rumor has resurfaced numerous times in the past, including on Mar. 16.
On that day, there were rumors that private equity firm KKR might be interested in buying the outfit, causing a spike in Harley stock.
Such unsubstantiated, leveraged buyout rumors have been attributed to growing confidence among businesses in a U.S. economic recovery. This week, the confidence was no doubt bolstered by reassuring comments from Fed chairman Ben Bernanke.
— Reported by Andrea Tse in New York
MC CARTHY ERA RETURNS IN THE FORM OF THE EPA– I have been talking for some time how we need to keep our eyes on the EPA and it getting its hands even deeper into our lives. Looks as if the bureaucrats have found a way to bypass the law or lack thereof, in a sense, and impose various regulations without the express approval of Congress. Congress has repeatedly delegated its authority to various agencies, many of which serve no purpose. This is just another example of how the politicians in D.C. have neglected their responsibility and turned the asylum over to the inmates to run.
Be sure to let your Congressmen and Senators know that they need to take control over the agencies they have created. They are on the campaign trail now so this is the time to make a point.
Below the Wall Street Journal Article is one about a new agency here in KY we will have to keep on eye on as well for the very same issue. Whether it tries to bring back tailpipe testing or some other regulatory nightmare we will try to stop the bad and help the good. Be sure to keep your eyes open and let everyone know if you see something out there of concern. With all of us watching it is harder to sneak things by.
–Jay Huber
Link to the Article from the Wall Street Journal: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204731804574388642894879438.html?mod=wsj_share_facebook
Jim Waters’ Column- Climate council?s plot will thicken environmental myths– By Jim Waters
The 1973 science fiction movie ?Soylent Green? sets its plot in 2022. Charlton Heston plays New York City detective Robert Thorn who investigates the murder of a director of Soylent Corp., a processed food manufacturer. He ends up discovering shocking truths about ?Soylent? that don?t jibe with the Utopia promised by politicians and media talking heads.
The movie depicts New York City with a population of 40 million. Residents cannot go beyond the city limits. Electricity has become so unreliable that bicycles run generators to keep flickering lights from going out. Government controls everything and chaos reigns. Everyone depended on government ? even for food, ?Soylent? and water. The very rich could get real food at a price, like a jar of strawberry jam for $150.
A network news anchor at the film?s outset drones on that ?Soylent Green? is ?high-energy food . . . gathered from the oceans of the world. Because of its popularity, Soylent Green is in short supply.?
However, by the end of the movie, Thorn discovers Soylent?s main ingredient: recycled protein from dead humans.
Rewind to 2010. Out of nowhere ? and without legislative approval ? comes the Kentucky Climate Action Plan Council, called KCAPC http://www.kyclimatechange.us/ .
It sounds harmless enough. At worst, just another government agency. At best, misguided zealots wanting to save the environment. After all, what was wrong with ?Soylent Green?? It did good things. The governor said so ? in the movie. Caring for the environment is ? and should be ? embraced. But the consequences of the climate council recommendations due in December likely will threaten the liberty of Kentuckians who want to control their own lives, businesses and futures.
While they may not know what the 1973 version of ?Soylent Green? is, folks definitely won?t like the 2010 Kentucky version.
Somehow, I just can?t ?warm up? to the ideas the council likely will support: everyone in Kentucky riding bikes as they hand over their gas-guzzling SUVs to the Chinese; and promoting policies that insist on wind and solar power ? even when the wind doesn?t blow and the sun won?t shine. And could the council ever enthusiastically support the coal industry, a bulwark of Kentucky?s economy?
I just can?t picture that. Can you? Especially when the group?s existence is based on phony global warming claims for which there is not scientific consensus. (Again, just because a politician or media-type claims it exists, doesn?t make it so. ?Soylent? anyone?)
Just because a politician or TV talking head claims this council can improve Kentucky?s ?quality of life? through ?smart growth? and ?encouragement? (read ?coercion?) to buy a certain kind of house or restrict our driving only to a certain number of miles in exchange for government?s ?Green? doesn?t mean we should acquiesce to its demands.
Just because the climate council ? created at the behest and with the approval of the Beshear administration without legislative review ? includes ?Kentucky? and ?climate? in its name doesn?t make it harmless.
Clear-thinking Kentuckians who attended the council?s latest meeting on June 2 of the newly formed Kentucky Energy and Environment Cabinet confirmed that they worry about the horror flick the council is writing. And that script is being supported by tax dollars and by radical leftist groups, including foundations funded by agenda-driven extremists such as George Soros and Ted Turner.
?They want to take away our freedoms and enslave us,? said Lisa Abler of Georgetown. ?They want to take away our freedom to explore, to be entrepreneurs. They claim this will create jobs, but they?re not specific about what jobs they are, and they don?t talk about what jobs will be lost. It?s bogus.? That?s NON-fiction.
? Jim Waters is director of policy and communications for the Bluegrass Institute, Kentucky?s free-market think tank. Reach him at jwaters@freedomkentucky.com. Read previously published columns at www.bipps.org .
The Historic 87th Laconia Motorcycle Week is happening NOW!– Rain did not deter the 4th Annual Peter Makris Memorial Ride & Run around Lake Winnipesaukee. More than 275 boaters and riders signed up and lined up at NASWA Resort Saturday morning, June 12th for the charity event that kicked off Laconia 2010. DETAILS.
Sexy Skins & Tigerlily at Laconia 2010
COP CAUGHT DOING WHAT A LOT OF THEM DO IN FLORIDA– Altamonte Springs deputy chief quits but will not be charged with fixing tickets. An Altamonte Springs deputy chief under investigation for fixing traffic tickets will not face criminal charges, Seminole-Brevard State Attorney Norman R. Wolfinger announced today in a letter to the agency’s chief.
Based on the agency’s internal investigation, “there is no evidence that Deputy Chief [George] Small received any financial benefit in exchange for his actions in having several tickets void,” Wolfinger said in the letter to Chief Robert C. Merchant Jr.
The fact that no criminal charges are being filed should not stop the department with proceeding with any actions it sees to be appropriate, Wolfinger wrote in the letter.
Small was hired by the agency in December 1988 and was promoted to deputy chief in July 2005.
Altamonte Springs police have not released any details about allegations against Small, but spokesman Tony Van Cleave confirmed that Small resigned from the agency Thursday.
Bad Cops Want Protection– Please help us stop “The Bad Cop Protection Act” Senate Bill 0624, House Bill HB 1107 from passing this session in Congress. This bill is posed by Republican Senator Fasano, to the benefit of officers who are under investigation. This bill would allow them a full presentation of the evidence against them, including but not limited to video tapes, witness statements, officer statements and internal affairs investigation results BEFORE making a statement.
This clearly should not pass, as it would allow police officers to get their story straight before making an statement on record. To help us, write or email your Representative and Senator’s in congress. To find out who your Representatives or Senator’s are, please visit http://www.myfloridahouse.gov and click “Find Your Representative” on the bottom left.
If you live in Tallahassee, write or email Representative Michelle Rehwinkel Vasilinda, be sure to include your name and address so she will know you are part of her constituency. To email Rep. Vasilinda, follow this link to her FL Rep profile.
Regardless of where you live, you should email Sen. Wilson, the Vice-President of the Senate Crime and Civil Justice Appripriations Committee, which this bill will have to pass through before going on, at wilson.frederica.web@flsenate.gov
For a template letter to email or write the above Congresswomen, please visit our file-dump, where you can find a pre-written letter addressing the bill http://www.copwatchtallahassee.com/ld2. Be sure to add your name and address at the bottom.
Rogue
Sturgis Freedom Fighters
Hells Angel loses anti-gang patch challenge– A Hastings member of the Hells Angels has lost his latest challenge to Wanganui’s anti gang patch bylaws.
In rejecting Bryan Vincent Moore’s appeal, Justice Alan MacKenzie said in the High Court at Wanganui that he could still challenge the bylaws by way of a judicial review or under the Bylaws Act.
Moore was convicted under the Wanganui District Council (Prohibition of Gang Insignia) Act 2009 in March when the district court ordered the gang insignia was to be destroyed or disposed of.
Moore was prosecuted for wearing a Hells Angels t-shirt outside Wanganui police station on September 7 last year, within a week of the bylaw coming into force.
In the district court, Moore challenged the validity of the bylaws, but Judge Barber ruled that the court had no jurisdiction to hear such an application, a decision upheld by the High Court.
Justice MacKenzie said that Moore contended that there was no “specified place” for the gang patch prohibition because the council’s bylaw in this regard was invalid.
The legislation prevents a bylaw being made which includes all public places within a district as “specified places”.
Wanganui District Council had included effectively the whole urban area of the city, though a small percentage of the total area of the district.
Justice MacKenzie said a “close examination” of the council’s decision-making process on this and other aspects of Moore’s challenge to the bylaws would be required. The council would have to be involved as a party in such a proceeding.
Justice MacKenzie said that, as the district court judge had said, Moore was still able to challenge the validity of the bylaw by way of an application for judicial review or under the Bylaws Act.
He said that arrangements could easily have been made to have the prosecution delayed while such proceedings were progressed.
“It is unfortunate that the procedure adopted has inevitably delayed a determination of the validity of the bylaw,” Justice MacKenzie said.
“But that delay has resulted from the appellant’s choice to assert the invalidity in what I have held is an inappropriate proceeding.”
The latest SEMA Financial Benchmarking Report– It’s a small sign, but encouraging nonetheless: a SEMA-sponsored survey of nearly 500 specialty-equipment retailers finds that 53.2% reported higher year-to-date sales through April 2010 compared to last year. Less than a third (30.9%), meanwhile, reported flat sales.
The latest SEMA Financial Benchmarking Report also finds retailers in a fairly upbeat mood, with 49.6% predicting sales increases for the summer months. That?s almost a 20% jump compared to last year?s outlook. Large retailers are most optimistic, with 75% predicting up sales, versus just 38.2% of smaller retailers sharing the same sentiment.
Retailers surveyed included retail stores, repair service shops, WDs, Internet sales sites and mail order, among others. Of market segments that retailers sell to, almost half (48.3%) sell truck/SUV products, while 38% sell wheel and tires, and exterior accessories, respectively.
To learn more about how financial benchmarking can help your business, read our article in the June issue of SEMA News.
Give your Dad – or someone special – a Fathers Day gift of V-Twin Wines.– Order 4 or more bottles and you’ll save 50% on your total purchase.
(Heck – this is such a great deal – get some for yourself!)
Simply use the Promo Code DAD on the checkout page and you’ll save 50% on your purchase of 4 or more bottles! Must order Min. of 4 bottles to receive discount.
Offer valid thru June 25th
(standard shipping rates apply)
2005 V-Twin Zin. Selected from vineyards in the Dry Creek and Alexander Valleys – home to the best Zinfandel in the world.
How does it taste? Good. Damn good! This is our ‘Fruit-Bomb’ Zin from the Alexander Valley.
Smooth & drinkable from the moment you open the bottle!
$ 24.00
2007 River Run Chardonnay. This Chardonnay is fermented in stainless steel tanks and is both un-oaked and without malolactic fermentation.
The result is a smooth drinking, fruit-forward Chardonnay that is perfect for sipping alone or pairing with your favorite fruit & cheese platters or seafood.
$15.00 If you are a wine distributor and would like to inquire about distributing our wines – send us an e-mail at sales@vtwinwines.com We are seeking active distributors in Arizona, California, Florida, New York & Texas.
Illusion Band Attika TO PLAY AT BIG BEAR EVENT–ATTIKA on stage at 2pm at the” Ride the Mountain” event in Big Bear at Snow Summit Resort. Presented by Kevin and Mona at Big Bear Choppers. You don’t want to miss this one, 8,000 people can’t be wrong!
HOW TO MAKE YOUR MENTAL CONCEPT COME TO LIFE–I am the owner of www.SolidWorksModel.com I will tell you something more about myself: My name is Jan-Willem Zuyderduyn and I am 25 years old. I studied Product Design & Engineering at the HU in the Netherlands. I am working with SolidWorks for almost six years now. I won the 3rd price in the SolidWorks Design Contest to design the ultimate sports car twice. (SolidWorks Design Contest Benelux in 2007 and SolidWorks 3D Challenge Europe in 2008). Currently, I work as an Automotive Designer at Modesi in Eindhoven, the Design city of the Netherlands. I am also a freelance designer, so your readers could also contact me for amazing custom made chopper designs! I have been asked many times by friends, students and complete strangers how I model and render 3D models using SolidWorks. (SolidWorks is a 3D modelling software to create vehicles and other products) So, since I also enjoy designing websites I thought, why not create a website that shows my SolidWorks modeling and render process and bundle it into a complete SolidWorks tutorial package? So, that?s why I?ve been created this website. The SolidWorksModel Tutorial package contains of 15 E-books saved as PDF files. The readers will learn how to model, assemble and render a complete Chopper using SolidWorks. It will helps them to discover the most important features of SolidWorks in a creative and innovative way. All the exercises together will form a complete chopper. This practical way of working makes it challenging and fun for the participant and is one of the greatest strengths of SolidWorksModel. –Jan-Willem Zuyderduyn 
Designer SolidWorks?Model 
I’M BACK–Yesterday Valerie Thompson stopped by the headquarters for an assalt weapan fitting. We’re making Bonneville progress. I machined a new axle for the Peashooter Ceriani front end. I can’t wait to set it upright on wheels.
This week I’m headed to Dixon for the Antique meet, but we have a flurry of reports headed your way, from the Garage Company new location grand opening. Mike’s rocket bike feature. A new hot feature from Mike Pullin, and goddamnit I’m working on a new Girl of Bikernet feature.
Ride Forever,
Bandit
