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HANG ON FOR THIS ONE–Big Brother will be watching you for sure by 2008 — the year a proposed requirement that Event Data Recorders (EDRs) become mandatory standard equipment in all new cars and trucks will become law unless public outrage puts the kibosh on it somehow.
EDRs are “black boxes” — just like airplanes have. They can record a wide variety of things — including how fast you drive and whether you “buckle-up for safety.” The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) wants EDRs to be installed in every new vehicle beginning with model year 2008 — on the theory that the information will help crash investigators more accurately determine the hows and whys of accidents.
But EDRs could — and likely will be — used for other purposes as well.
Tied into GPS navigation computers, EDRs could give interested parties — your local cash-hungry sheriff, for example — the ability to take automated ticketing to the next level. Since the data recorders can continuously monitor most of the operating parameters of a vehicle as it travels — and the GPS unit can precisely locate the vehicle in “real time,” wherever it happens to be at any given moment — any and all incidents of “speeding” could be immediately detected and a piece of paying paper issued to the offender faster than he could tap the brake. That’s even if he knew he was in the crosshairs, which of course he wouldn’t. Probably they’ll just erect an electronic debiting system of some sort that ties directly into your checking account — since the paperwork could not keep up with the massive uptick in fines that would be generated.
Already, 15-20 percent of all the cars and trucks in service have EDRs; most of these are General Motors vehicles. GM has been installing “black boxes” in its new cars and trucks since about 1996 as part of the Supplemental Restraint (air bag) system. Within a few years, as many as 90 percent of all new motor vehicles will be equipped with EDRs, according to government estimates — whether the requirement NHTSA is pushing actually becomes law or not.
The automakers are just as eager to keep tabs on us as the government — in part to keep the shyster lawyers who have been so successfully digging into their deep pockets at bay. EDRs would provide irrefutable evidence of high-speed driving, for example — or make it impossible for a person injured in a crash to deny he wasn’t wearing a seat belt.
Insurance companies will launch “safety” campaigns urging that “we use available technology” to identify “unsafe” drivers — and who will be able to argue against that? Everyone knows that speeding is against the law — and if you aren’t breaking the law, what have you got to worry about?
But if you get edgy thinking about the government — and our friends in corporate America — being able to monitor where we go and how we go whenever they feel like checking in on us, take the time to write a “Thanks, but no thanks” letter to NHTSA at
–from Rogue
www.samdixon.com
WISCONSIN SENATOR DAVE ZIEN NEEDS YOUR HELP!– Wisconsin State Senator Dave Zien has always been a steadfast advocate for motorcyclist’s rights, beginning when he returned from service as a United States Marine in Vietnam to help repeal Wisconsin’s mandatory helmet law in 1977, and continues to this day as a member of the State Legislature.
But Senator Zien is facing a tough re-election this fall and needs our help to continue serving the bikers of America. He has been targeted for defeat by ultraliberals who plan to spend hundreds of thousand of dollars to remove him from office. As freedom-loving motorcyclists, we cannot afford to let this happen!
Since being elected, Zien has been instrumental in passing numerous pieces of pro-motorcycling legislation, including Wisconsin Act 148 in 2003 that was enacted in response to the Wisconsin Supreme Court ruling in Stehlik v. Rhoads that ruled not wearing a helmet could be considered negligence by the biker in a civil case. In essence, the ruling was as de-facto mandatory helmet law. The result of Dave’s bill was that if a motorcyclist is not wearing a helmet, he or she can not have that fact used against him or her when a court is awarding damages.
Earlier this year, Zien authored the “Roadway Users Responsibility Act” that improves highway safety for all roadway users. This act increases penalties for right-of-way violators that cause bodily harm to motorcyclists. The new law also requires driver education courses to include motorcycle safety in order to make all drivers aware of the rules of the road and how motorcycles and cars can safely share the road. Another provision allows bikers to proceed with caution after waiting 45 seconds at a stoplight.
Zien is not just a legislator who rides; he was one of the first bikers ever elected to political office, and was inducted into the National Motorcycle Hall of Fame in Sturgis, South Dakota in 2000, and has received the National Coalition of Motorcyclists Lifetime Achievement Award. As a member of the NCOM Legislative Task Force, he has worked tirelessly to protect the rights of motorcyclists across the country by lobbying their state legislatures. He is a World-Record holding motorcyclist with 858,000+ on his 1991 FXRT Harley-Davidson as of August 15, 2006. He holds the record for most miles on a Harley ever in 11 consecutive days (11,225 miles), and Dave’s ride of 31,111 miles in 31 days has been submitted for official recognition.
We need to keep Wisconsin’s biker Senator in office, and your contribution to his campaign will keep him in Madison, looking out for the interest of the motorcyclists.
Please send what you can to keep Dave fighting for us. The maximum amount an individual can contribute is $1,000. Contributions should be made to “Friends of Dave Zien”, P.O. Box 1858, Eau Claire, WI 54702. If you have any questions about other ways you can help Dave Zien, call (715) 723-1694.
NEW HARLEY-DAVIDSON ROAD TECH QUEST NAVIGATION SYSTEM–MILWAUKEE (August 21, 2006) – The new Road Tech Quest Navigation System (P/N 92313-06, $599.95) from Harley-Davidson Genuine Motor Accessories is a rugged, waterproof, portable GPS receiver designed specifically for motorcycle use.
The compact Road Tech Quest unit is loaded with 115 megabytes of internal memory for powerful mapping capabilities, and includes fully unlocked MapSource City Select CDs with mapping coverage of the entire United States, Canada and Puerto Rico. A built-in USB data connection port allows fast downloads of MapSource information.
The high-speed internal processor provides fast automatic off-route and detour recalibration. The detailed street maps are displayed on a bright, LED backlit color screen that readable in sunlight, and the large control buttons can be activated while wearing gloves.
$$79.95) is hard-wired to the motorcycle electrical system and automatically powers the Quest unit and recharges the internal lithium-ion battery, which provides up to 20 hours of off-bike use. The entire unit is easily removed from the mount when parked, and can be used as a portable navigation tool.
Road Tech Quest fits most 1996-Later Harley-Davidson models, except VRSCR.For additional information on Harley-Davidson Genuine Motor Accessories, see your local Harley-Davidson dealer or visit the Harley-Davidson Web site at www.harley-davidson.com. To find a dealer near you, call toll free 1-800-443-2153 in the U.S.A. or Canada.
BIG TWIN CUSTOMS INVITATIONAL ANNOUNCES CALL FOR ENTRIES– Santa Ana, California ? August 21, 2006 Big Twin Customs Invitational is catching the industry’s attention! Due to the overwhelming response from builders, the deadline for bike submissions has been extended to October 6, 2006.
“We’re more than pleased at the interest being generated in this. Launching a new custom bike showcase in an industry that has its share of prestigious bike contests, we’re thrilled that builders recognize the distinctiveness of a showcase that celebrates excellence in design and the individual talents of all the builders involved,” said Dave Scott, Show Manager for Big Twin West.
A call for entries was extended to all custom bike builders in July. Big Twin Customs Invitational is open to all builders of custom American or Metric Big Twin motorcycles. Variations on the Big Twin theme are allowed, including trikes, 4-cylinder, 8-cylinder and single cylinder variations.
A celebration of design excellence, this premier invitation-only event will feature 100 bikes from around the world and will be showcased at Big Twin West 2006, a trade and enthusiast event for the American and Metric Big Twin markets. With over 7,500 buyers and spectators expected to walk the show floor over the course of the weekend, Big Twin West provides the ultimate platform for custom bike building anywhere in the world.
While Big Twin Customs Invitational is a showcase, and not a contest, we will be honoring builders with best of honors in six categories: best paint, best fabrication, excellence in engineering, best old school, exhibitors? choice and excellence in design.
Big Twin Customs Invitational will take place December 1 – 3, 2006 during Big Twin West, at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas, NV.
For more information or to download an entry form, visit www.bigtwinwest.com and click on the Big Twin Customs menu button. “
MASSIVE BIKER MURDER CASE FORGING AHEAD–Edmonton Sun, Canada – LONDON, Ont. — A preliminary hearing into the deaths of eight Bandidos bikers – one of the worst mass slayings in Ontario’s history – may start as early as January.
That appears to be the plan after yesterday’s brief court video appearances – the first in London – by seven of the eight people charged after eight men were found shot to death and stuffed into vehicles April 8 near Shedden, Ont.Wayne Kellestine, 57, and Frank Mather, 32, both of Dutton-Dunwich, Brett Gardiner, 22, of no fixed address, and Michael Sandham, 35, Marcelo Aravena, 30, and Dwight Mushey, 38, all of Winnipeg, are facing eight counts of first-degree murder.
Eric Niessen, 45, of Dutton-Dunwich is charged with accessory after the fact.All of them were ordered to return to court Sept. 8 to set the January hearing date, including the eighth person, Kerry Morris, 46, of the Moncton area, who is also charged with being an accessory and is out on bail. She wasn’t required to attend yesterday’s proceedings.
The dead men were all associated with the Bandidos motorcycle club.George (Crash) Kriarakis, 28, John (Boxer) Muscedere, 48, Luis Manny (Porkchop) Raposo, 41, Frank (Bam Bam) Salerno, 43, Paul Sinopoli, 30, and George (Pony) Jesso, 52, were full-patch gang members. Jamie (Rogue) Flanz, 37, and Mike Trotta, 31, were associate members.
The case has moved from St. Thomas to London to take advantage of a high-security courtroom refitted three years ago for another lengthy biker-related case. That case, involving members of the Outlaws, has not been completed.While the expected January preliminary hearing date seems earlier than expected given the nature of the case, Kellestine lawyer Clay Powell said, “It’s doable.”
“It’s going to be a bit of a crush, and they have to make sure the courtroom is made available,” he said.During the brief court appearances yesterday, there were several key developments:
– Eight charges of accessory after the fact faced by Niessen and Morris have been reduced to only one charge each.
– Senior Crown attorney David Arntfield said more case disclosure will be given to the defense before the next court appearance.
– Anthony Bryant, who acted for notorious schoolgirl murderer Paul Bernardo, has taken over Aravena’s defense from Toronto lawyer Daniel Brodsky.
– Powell said in court he was planning to apply to the court for the information to obtain search warrants and the affidavits in support of extensive wiretaps.
–from Rogue
New artwork from Chris Kallas. Coming soon the The Gulch!
PRESIDENT VISITS HARLEY FACTORY– A White House official waved at President George W. Bush as he exited his Marine One helicopter at Harley-Davidson, then gestured as though turning the throttle on a motorcycle.That brought a brief smile to the president’s face yesterday before a limousine whisked him off to the Springettsbury Township plant around 3 p.m., where workers were busily assembling a mix of Softail motorcycles.
After 15 minutes of meeting and greeting with employees, the president shouted, “I’m impressed with the quality of the product here,” over the sounds of a conveyer belt running overhead and motorcycles slowly moving along an assembly track.
Later, following an economic sit-down discussion with company workers and management, Bush vowed to make the quality American product he’d seen firsthand open to more international markets.
With a backdrop of a dozen Harley employees and several motorcycles — including a purple Screamin’ Eagle Ultra Classic Electra Glide that momentarily got nearly as much attention as the president — Bush also promised to help make permanent business tax credits for research and development.
Bush is the third president to visit the Harley-Davidson plant, using the company as a model for,as the president put it, “one of America’s finest products.”
“I’m impressed by the fact that these people really enjoy what they’re doing,” Bush told national and local media in a 21/2-minute statement.
The president spent less than two hours at the plant before jumping back into his helicopter, Marine One, around 4:30 p.m., and heading to Lancaster for a fund-raising reception for Republican gubernatorial candidate Lynn Swann.
Roundtable with workers: Eight Harley-Davidson employees — from company CEO Jim Ziemer to assembly line worker Ryan Britton — sat down with the president.
The president said he assured the company he agrees there is a need to open more markets for American products such as motorcycles made by Harley-Davidson.
“There’s a direct correlation between exports and jobs,” Bush said. “The more Harleys that are sold in places like Vietnam, China and India, the more likely someone is going to be able to find work.”
Harley-Davidson’s worldwide dealer network sold more than 125,000 motorcycles in the second quarter of the year, a 10 percent increase from the prior year. International retail motorcycle sales grew by 17.3 percent.
The motorcycle maker also set a milestone this year when it opened its first dealership in China, a large new market for the company.
Discussions: Fred Gates, general manager of Harley-Davidson’s York operations, said opening foreign markets to the company was the crux of the meeting.
“We tried to make sure we were up front about the things we’d like to see in the government to help us sell more motorcycles in foreign markets,” Gates said. “I think we got our point across on things we need his help on.”
Harley employees also asked the president about health benefits for single mothers, worker retraining programs and making business tax credits for research and development permanent, Gates said.
Bush addressed the latter concern with the media after the roundtable discussion.
“And I assured them that when I said I’m for it being permanent, I meant I was for it being permanent,” Bush said. “And we hope Congress makes the research and development tax credit a permanent part of the tax code.”
Before the president left for Lancaster, Harley-Davidson presented him with a special plaque with a gas tank attached and a nylon jacket with the Harley-Davidson, York Operations logo on the back. Bush already received the iconic Harley leather jacket when he visited the company’s headquarter and operations in Milwaukee in 2001.
Gates said the president had shown interest in owning a Harley, but it’s unlikely he’ll get the opportunity.
“He said he liked our motorcycles,” Gates said. “But he wasn’t sure the Secret Service would let him ride one.”
— CHARLES SCHILLINGER The York Dispatch
–from Rogue
LONGER DAYTONA BIKE WEEK DISCUSSED–Are you ready for a longer Bike Week?Biker events could start a week earlier for some businesses under a plan being proposed by a pair of biker event committees.
Longer Bike Week?
Arguing that many bikers arrive early, a chamber of commerce proposal would allow Daytona Beach businesses to sell merchandise outside their shops as many as seven days before the official start of biker events. Critics fear the proposal would extend the length of time residents have to put up with extra traffic and noise. Upcoming dates for the events:
? Biketoberfest: Oct. 19-22
? Bike Week: March 2-11
The Bike Week Festival Task Force and the Biketoberfest Development Committee last week recommended giving local merchants up to seven days before the official start to sell merchandise outside of their stores, hoping it would give them a leg up against neighboring cities that already can sell days earlier.
But the idea has caused a fury with some beachside residents who worry it will stretch out the party — and the crowds, traffic and noise they have been fighting to restrain.”We were starting to make headway,” said Pam Woods, a beachside resident who helped draft limits on biker events several years ago. “Things were getting so much better. We don’t want to take a step backward.”
Kevin Kilian, vice president of events for The Chamber, Daytona Beach/Halifax Area, said the week-early start would have restrictions and shouldn’t make a major impact.For starters, it won’t be advertised and would be optional only to businesses that operate year-round, he said. Businesses could sell only the merchandise they normally carry, like a “sidewalk sale,” and can’t create any additional sound. In other words, no concerts on stages until the actual start day.
The plan, which must be introduced to the City Commission by October for it to go into effect in time for Bike Week in March, also won’t permit out-of-town vendors to get started early — only locals, Kilian said.
It should help Daytona Beach business owners compete with their neighbors in unincorporated Volusia County, where they can start selling goodies at least four days before the official start of Bike Week and Biketoberfest.”The intent is to give local businesses the opportunity to capture some business when the stragglers come early,” Kilian said.
That may be the intent, but Paul Politis, owner of Gator Sports on Atlantic Avenue, which competes with itinerant T-shirt vendors, said it won’t stop out-of-towners from selling early because they know it would be hard for city officials to enforce.
“This could open up a can of worms,” Politis said. “We’re going to end up with a bike month.”
Tom Guest, owner of Choppers World on Main Street and chairman of the Biketoberfest Development Committee, said the plan would help businesses that have struggled, including his. He hopes to make some extra cash during Bike Week by selling leather goods and other items outside his store the weekend before.
“We did this after the hurricanes and it didn’t attract that many more people,” he said. “This is not going to be a real big deal.”
— Daytona Beach News-Journal, FL – DAYTONA BEACH —
–from Rogue
GRAB THE WRENCHES AND RUN–Back to the shop. I need to hit the local fastener store for supplies and find a oil pressure switch for the 120-Pan. I’m sure I have one in the shop. I will install the BDL primary drive, the Compu-Fire regulator, a coil, the LA Chop Rods Shifter, the Terry Components battery cables, oil lines, Gas line, etc. and fire this puppy to life. Wil Phillips from True-Track is making my steering dampner set-up and I’ll be inspected by an SCTA official tomorrow.
Hang on for the Sunday News. Let’s hope it’s all good. Once I have a few miles on her, I will work with Berry Wardlaw and D&D on a set of exhaust specifically designed for the Salt. We will hand make these puppies right here in the Bikernet Headquarters. Next week we roll out Wendover, Nevada and set up for racing.
I’m still going to shoot for finishing my Sturgis Twin Kings run article. We have a couple of Girls of Bikernet about to run in the Cantina and a tech for the Tech Department.
I want to thank everyone for joining the Cantina. Hope you enjoy it. More and more hot material slips into the Cantina for the members. I’m posting a new “Chance” book and more girls? contantly. It’s a blast, and we appreciate your support.
Ride Forever,
–Bandit
