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Katie Treschl of Melbourne participates in the Brevard County chapter of ABATE of Florida Inc.’s 22nd annual toy run on Sunday. Thousands paraded with donations of toys, games and stuffed animals. Image 2003, Delinda Karnehm, FLORIDA TODAY
20,000 BIKERS ROAR THROUGH BREVARD– MELBOURNE, FLORIDA — Many children opening gifts this Christmas would be surprised to know the Hokey Pokey Elmo twisting away in front of them was once strapped to a motorcycle, with its red hair blowing in the wind and cruising down the highway.
But that could be the case since the orange-nosed doll and other stuffed animals were brought in Sunday by thousands of motorcycle-riding supporters of a toy drive aimed at helping needy children this holiday season.
“See this truck,” said Jerry Keyes, the organizer of this year’s Brevard chapter of the American Bikers Aimed Toward Education.
“It’s a 26-footer and it’s full right now . . . we’re running out of room,” said Keyes, standing at a long line of tables set up to take toys from bikers rolling in from across the state and the country.
Organizers estimated at least 20,000 bikers rumbled their way from Merritt Island to the Wickham Park Pavilion at the Brevard Community College campus in Melbourne.
The procession along U.S. 1 lasted more than an hour. The roadway was closed off in different areas as the bikers moved on, delaying some motorists who were not allowed onto U.S. 1 until the bikers passed.
Once at Park Pavilion, the bikers, many decked out in Santa-caps and leather, walked shoulder to shoulder amid booths selling everything from leather chaps to grilled Italian sausages slathered with saut?ed onions and peppers.
“You got my e-mail?” asked Clarence “Fuzzy Red” Dunkle, dressed as Santa Claus. He was talking to a woman wanting to know about how to get a toy donated to a child.
“E-mail me a name, address and the amount of kids . . . that’s my area,” the Titusville resident said to the woman after a quick hug. His naturally red beard was temporarily spray painted white.
“I’ve been doing this for 8 or 9 years . . . they love it,” Dunkle said of the curious children who often stopped and stared at his beard and red outfit.
And just as there was no mistaking Dunkle as Santa, there was little guessing as to who 44-year-old Bonnie Sutor was hoping to portray, albeit in a naughty fashion.
“I think this is all a great idea for the kids,” said Sutor, dressed in a red Santa hat, a matching white-fur trimmed bikini top and mini-skirt along with thigh-high black leather boots.
“We brought in toys . . . all stuffed,” said the Port St. John resident, carrying two cups of beer and walking with her more traditionally dressed bike-enthusiast husband Ron Sutor.
On the tables, near the entrance where the parking lots quickly turned into a sea of every kind of motorcycle, were volunteers stuffing donated toys into bags and packing them into waiting trucks.
From there the toys — from Hokey Pokey Elmo to Tonka trucks — would be distributed to families for children who otherwise would get few, if any toys to mark Christmas.
The initial toy run organized by Keyes in 1982 drew just 35 bikers.
By J.D. Gallop,FLORIDA TODAY
–Rogue
Old Photo By Bob T.
THANKS TO BIKERNET–I just wanted to take a minute to thank you for such a great website.After being taken out on the 91 freeway last February I was laid up formore than six months. A couple of months in the hospital and the rest ofthe time I was laid up at home. During that entire time I think I readjust about everything that you have ever posted on the regular site plusthe Cantina site.
I’m sure you get these kinds of messages all the time but I really meanit when I say thanks.
–Harley Jacobs
V-TWIN EXPO COMING IN FEBRUARY–Production work on AMD?s January edition finishes this week, which means that the sands of time are already trickling for the February number which will preview the V-Twin Expo at Cincinnati.With over 300 firms already confirmed as exhibitors, space availability both in editorial as well as advertising terms, is definitely going to be spoken for quickly.We are hoping to have this edition of AMD finished by Christmas for Early January print and mailing?so act now to avoid disappointment.American Motorcycle Dealer is sent to more named V-twin industry professionals and businesses than any other edition of any other trade journal published by anyone, anywhere… FACT!
Ben Bradley
Publishing Assistant
American Motorcycle Dealer
http://www.dealer-world.com
MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM HARLEY THEY DOUBLED QUARTERLY DIVIDEND– Milwaukee, Wis., December 5, 2003 — Harley-Davidson, Inc. (NYSE: HDI) announced today that its Board of Directors approved a quarterly cash dividend of 8 cents per share, payable December 29, 2003 to shareholders of record as of December 15, 2003. This represents a 100 percent increase over the last quarterly dividend.
“The recent change in tax law has increased the attractiveness of dividends as a way of sharing the success of the Company with our shareholders,” said Jeffrey L. Bleustein, chairman and chief executive officer of Harley-Davidson, Inc.
The Company currently has approximately 302 million shares of common stock outstanding.
CHILD SUPPORT CONFESSIONS–The following are all replies that women have put on British Child SupportAgency forms in the section for listing father’s details: These are genuineexcerpts from the forms (names removed).
1. Regarding the identity of the father of my twins, child A was fatheredby [name removed]. I am unsure as to the identity of the father of child B,but I believe that he was conceived on the same night.
2. I am unsure as to the identity of the father of my child as I was beingsick out of a window when taken unexpectedly from behind. I can provide youwith a list of names of men that I think were at the party if this helps.
3. I do not know the name of the father of my little girl. She wasconceived at a party [address and date given] where I had unprotected sexwith a man I met that night. I do remember that the sex was so good that Ifainted. If you do manage to track down the father can you send me hisphone number? Thanks.
4. I don’t know the identity of the father of my daughter. He drives a BMWthat now has a hole made by my stiletto in one of the door panels. Perhapsyou can contact BMW service stations in this area and see if he’s had itreplaced.
5. I have never had sex with a man. I am awaiting a letter from the Popeconfirming that my son’s conception was immaculate and that he is Christrisen again.
6. I cannot tell you the name of child A’s dad as he informs me that to doso would blow his cover and that would have cataclysmic implications forthe British economy. I am torn between doing right by you and right by thecountry. Please advise.
7. I do not know who the father of my child was as all squaddies look thesame to me. I can confirm that he was a Royal Green Jacket.
8. [name given] is the father of child A. If you do catch up with him canyou ask him what he did with my AC/DC CDs?
9. From the dates it seems that my daughter was conceived at EuroDisneymaybe it really is the Magic Kingdom.
10. So much about that night is a blur. The only thing that I remember forsure is Delia Smith did a programme about eggs earlier in the evening. IfI’d have stayed in and watched more TV rather than going to the party at(address given), mine might have remained unfertilised.
–from Chris T.
MORE FROM THE AUZZIE CONNECTION–HI! Guys, After picking up the bikes in Glendale, our first stop on our trip to Sturgis was Big Sur, where we camped along with 300 other Auzzies that we had the pleasure of meeting.
Peter & Kay have been on the road since 1996 Traveling the world, visiting over 120 countries and riding more than 300,000 klms on a 1994 Ultra Classic. I couldn’t believe my eyes when I saw their bike in Noosa Heads, Australia. A quick scout around and I found them strolling along the river taking in the views. A quick chat, organized a time to meet, get a couple shots and then have a couple of beers.
What followed was a great night, Kerry and a couple of friends joined us for a meal and a few more drinks. Peter & Kay are very interesting people, I could not get enough of their traveling tales. They were on their way home to Townsville to spend Xmas with friends and family. I need to take more notes, because I can’t remember what country they were off to next year. You can jump on their web site http://www.HorizensUnlimited.com.au and follow their travels.
Take it easy .
The Auzzie Connection.
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