It’s a damn nice day on the coast. Sturgis is in full swing. Jose, Crazy Horse and Frank Kaisler are on the scene in the Badlands. We’re building bikes, writing techs, sorting shots and editing fiction here in the harbor. Above our esteemed Web Master will be featured in American Rider. He’s guilty of looking too young. Let’s get to the news:
DEALS OF THE WEEK–This is hot from Departure Bike Works in Richmond, Virginia, today. A ’69 Shovel Bagger in good riding condition is available for $10,000. And a 1963 unrestored Panhead came available for $9,500. Call quick, it’s not everyday you can grab a running Harley for less than ten grand, (804-231-0244).
HARLEY-DAVIDSON, INC. DECLARES DIVIDEND– Milwaukee, Wis., August 5, 2003 — Harley-Davidson, Inc. (NYSE: HDI) announced today that its Board of Directors approved a quarterly cash dividend of 4 cents per share, payable September 30, 2003 to shareholders of record as of September 17, 2003. The Company currently has approximately 302.6 million shares of common stock outstanding.Harley-Davidson, Inc. is the parent company for the group of companies doing business as Harley-Davidson Motor Company, Buell Motorcycle Company and Harley-Davidson Financial Services, Inc. Harley-Davidson Motor Company, the only major U.S.-based motorcycle manufacturer, produces heavyweight motorcycles and offers a complete line of motorcycle parts, accessories, apparel, and general merchandise. Buell Motorcycle Company produces sport motorcycles in addition to motorcycle parts, accessories and apparel. Harley-Davidson Financial Services, Inc. provides wholesale and retail financing and insurance programs to Harley-Davidson dealers and customers.
THE PULLIN MYSTERY–The Sunday of the July 4th weekend, I changed the plug wires on myevo-rigid, the memorial bike for Justin. No big deal. After that I tried tostart the bike with no success. I changed the plugs and it started. I rodeit through my neighborhood and it seemed to bogg down and foul another setof plugs.
I had one last spare set of plugs and I put them in. The bikestarted on the first kick. I went about an 1/8 of a mile and came to thefirst stop light and again the bike seemed to be running on one cylinder. Imade it through the light, and it was running bad. I was about to pull offthe road when I reached down to make sure the new plug wires were seated on theplugs.
Little did I know, I was about to go on the ride of my life. All of asudden the bike takes off full throttle, wide open. I almost went off theback of the bike and then into two violent fishtails and finally a wheelie thatwould make anyone proud. When the front end touched down I went over theZ-bars and onto the pavement.
I have been riding since 1976 and it was thefirst time I had tasted the pavement and believe me it has a taste all it’sown. I had road rash, a deep thigh bruise and a bruised chest. Most ofall my pride was hurt and I didn’t want to look at the bike. I gatheredmyself out of the road, and after I checked that I wasn’t bleeding to death, Iinspected the bike. No paint damage, I couldn’t believe it! Like I said, itis the memorial bike for Justin and the paint is very special. Uponinvestigation as to why this happened, the slide on the S.U. carb stuck wideopen. I take the blame for not lubing this properly.
This happened just two weeks before the 5th Annual Run For Breath “InMemory Of Justin”, and the bike has always been a big part of the run. Thedamge consisted of dented right forward control mount, rear brakepedal, footpegs, exhaust, kicker pedal, front brake lever and speedo cableand I was going to shift to a S+S E carb, since I can never remember to oilthe S.U. Not a lot of damage considering the bike was riding me instead ofthe other way around.
The problem I faced was how to get the bike ready for the run, since Iwas in Las Vegas the week before the run??? This is where the friendship andbrotherhood part comes in. While I was in Vegas four guys I work with atH-D of Charlotte said not to worry, it would be taken care of. I stillworried! Their names are Josh, Gingles, Brad and Ashley. When I returnedfrom Vegas, I only had the exhaust left to install and set the idleon the carb! This is what riding and brotherhood is all about, helpingeach other when it’s needed. They did it because they knew how much thebike and the Run For Breath means to all riders in the community.
The day of the run the bike started on the 2nd kick and ran flawlessly. As Irode I could only think of how Justin valued friendship and loyalty and howit still exists between bikers.
–Mike Pullin
BURMA SHAVE–Burma ShaveFor those of you who never saw the Burma Shavesigns, here is a quick lesson in our historyof the 1930s and 1940s. BeforeInterstates, when everyone drove the old2-lane roads, Burma Shave signswere posted all over the countrysidein farmers’ fields. They weresmall red signs with white letters.Five signs, about 100 feet apart,each contained 1 line of a 4-line couplet …and the obligatory 5th sign advertisingBurma Shave, a popular shaving cream.For those who remember (as I do),enjoy a little nostalgia.
–Larry
DON’T LOSE YOUR HEAD
TO GAIN A MINUTE
YOU NEED YOUR HEAD
YOUR BRAINS ARE IN IT
DROVE TOO LONG
DRIVER SNOOZING
WHAT HAPPENED NEXT
IS NOT AMUSING
BROTHER SPEEDER,
LET’S REHEARSE;
ALL TOGETHER,
GOOD MORNING NURSE
CAUTIOUS RIDER
TO HER RECKLESS DEAR
LET’S HAVE LESS BULL
AND LOTS MORE STEER
SPEED WAS HIGH
WEATHER WAS NOT
TIRES WERE THIN
X MARKS THE SPOT
THE MIDNIGHT RIDE
OF PAUL FOR BEER
LED HIM TO
A WARMER HEMISPHERE
AROUND THE CURVE
LICKETY-SPLIT
IT’S A BEAUTIFUL NEW CAR
WASN’T IT?
NO MATTER THE PRICE
NO MATTER HOW NEW
THE BEST SAFETY DEVICE
IN THE CAR IS YOU
A GUY WHO DRIVES
A CAR WIDE OPEN
IS NOT THINKIN’
HE’S JUST HOPIN’
AT INTERSECTIONS
LOOK EACH WAY
A HARP SOUNDS NICE
BUT ITS HARD TO PLAY
BOTH HANDS ON THE WHEEL
EYES ON THE ROAD
THAT’S THE SKILLFUL
DRIVER’S CODE
THE ONE WHO DRIVES
WHEN HE’S BEEN DRINKING
DEPENDS ON YOU
TO DO HIS THINKING
CAR IN DITCH
DRIVER IN TREE
THE MOON W! AS FULL
AND SO WAS HE
PASSING SCHOOL ZONE
TAKE IT SLOW
LET OUR LITTLE
SHAVERS GROW
Did you know shaving cream is just fluffed up soap?Makes a great “in a pinch” spot remover!!!
–from Rev CarlR
–from Helen and Renee’
BIKERNET HOT SPORTS COMMENTS–Here are some comments made by sports commentators that we can bet theywould like to take back:
1. Weightlifting commentator at the Olympic Snatch and Jerk Event: “This isGregoriava from Bulgaria. I saw her snatch this morning during her warm upand it was amazing.”
2. Ted Walsh – Horse Racing Commentator: “This is really a lovely horse andI speak from personal experience since I once mounted her mother.”
3. Grand Prix Race Announcer: “The lead car is absolutely, truly unique,except for the one behind it which is exactly identical to the one in frontof the similar one in back.”
4. Greg Norman, Pro Golfer: “I owe a lot to my parents, especially my motherand father.”
–from Rev CarlR
TONGLET TAKES SCREAMIN’ EAGLE TEAM TO NHRA PRO STOCK FINAL–Tonglet Wins Three Elimination Rounds; Hines Sets New Track Top Speed RecordMILWAUKEE, WIS. In his best performance of the season, GT Tonglet and the Screamin’ Eagle/Vance & Hines Pro Stock Bike drag-racing team defeated three tough opponents to make the final at the Sears Craftsman National Hot Rod Association Nationals at Madison, Ill., on June 29. Tonglet saved his best run for last as he posted his best time of the weekend, 7.177 seconds at 185.46 mph, but lost to Geno Scali by a mere 0.0177 seconds, or about five feet.
Tonglet was joined in Sunday’s elimination rounds by Screamin’ Eagle/Vance & Hines rider Andrew Hines. Hines qualified sixth with a run of 7.180 seconds and 191.97 mph, a new track top speed record for Pro Stock Bikes at Gateway International Raceway. Tonglet qualified 12th with a time of 7.237 seconds and 183.49 mph.
Hines was eliminated in the first round on Sunday, losing to Mike Berry after a mechanical problem caused him to miss his shift to fifth gear near the end of his run. He was leading at the time.
The next stop for the Pro Stock Bikes on the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series is the Mopar Mile-High Nationals, July 18-20, in Denver, Colorado.
REDNECK ENGINEERING’S NEW PREZ–Redneck Enginuity is proud to announce the appointment of Mike Marquart to the position of President and COO. Mike brings a wealth of business management and industry experience to assist Vince Doll (Founder and CEO) with all facets of operations.
Mike leaves a successful tenure as a leading field representative for Custom Chrome and previous service as National Sales Manager of Drag Specialties.
This addition helps position Redneck for its next phase of growth including a larger production facility (a bigger red barn), expansion of product and apparel offerings and increased production capacity of complete motorcycles.
LAS VEGAS BIKEFEST GRAND PRIZE GIVEAWAYS–Las Vegas BikeFest announced that there will be two motorcycle Grand Prize giveaways at the 2003 event to be held September 11-14.
A 2003 Victory Vegas, sponsored by Victory Motorcycles and Pat Clark Motorsports with support form the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, will be won by one lucky Las Vegas BikeFest registrant. Pat Clark Motorsports, the new Victory Motorcycles dealer in Las Vegas will have the Vegas giveaway bike on display at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino where entry forms will be collected.
The second Grand Prize Giveaway is a 2003 Harley-Davidson Heritage Softail Classic sponsored by Golden Nugget Las Vegas hotel. This is the second year that Golden Nugget Las Vegas has sponsored a Las Vegas BikeFest Grand Prize giveaway.
The 3rd Annual Las Vegas BikeFest will be held over four days in the most famous 24 hour city, Las Vegas, Nevada. The event will consist of Vendor Village with 200 manufacturers and vendors, free entertainment, and activities such as the $10,000 Poker Run, and free concerts with national talent on the Fremont Street Experience Mall. Over 20,000 are expected to attend.
Registration fee is $35 prior to August 29th and includes event T-shirt, ride pin, grand prize drawing entry tickets, entrance to all activities and competitions, Welcome party and more. Registration forms and vendor applications are available on the web site.
Information is available at www.lasvegasbikefest.com or call toll-free 866-BIKEFEST or 702-450-3337 or email info@lasvegasbikefest.com.
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