Most of my brothers shook their heads in disbelief when I said we were rolling out on the Buell. I changed the oil the day before and wiped her down. She’s looking good and running strong with the new cams, carb mods, new module and exhaust (check the Garage or Buell Report). I knew the bike was comfortable and Nyla had straddled it once before. We squeezed in the earplugs, dropped that sucker in first and rolled just past Hesperia, where we stopped for breakfast. We were just at 100 miles. Get this, I had a tank bag strapped to the tank and Buell saddlebags slung over the passenger seat. We were packed to the gills with Bikernet stickers, brochures and propaganda. A map was carefully marked for the 15 highways and freeways we would traverse on our 316-mile journey into the largest desert in the world, the mighty Mojave.
Of course the tank bag is 15 years old and the clear plastic is now the color of smoke-stained plexiglass. I couldn’t read it at a stop light let alone at 100 mph on the bristling freeway. We started on Harbor Boulevard in San Pedro, picked up the 37 to the 710 to the 91 to the 605 to the 10 to the 15, where we stopped for gas at the junction of the 15 and the 40. We had gone 136 miles and used 3.58 gallons for 38 mpg. Not bad for a hopped-up bike and two passengers… We better get to the news:
10 BIKES STOLEN IN LAUGHLIN–But the worst of it is that my buddy Micah McCloskey of Micah McCloskey’s Custom Motorcycles in Canoga Park decided to go to Laughlin at the last minute. While he was gone, some assholes rammed the rear door of his shop and stole three bikes. One was the FXR he’s had since 1988. He sure would like to have it back. If you can help, call (818) 348-8967, or drop me a line at bandit@bikernet.com.
FIRST THURSDAYS IN SAN PEDRO–If you’ve been looking for something to ride to in L.A. that’s different, try puttin’ to downtown San Pedro on the first Thursday of every month. The selection of antique and custom cars is wild. There will be bikes, street vendors, bars, restaurants and bands. Nothing trendy, you’ll think you walked into a whiskey time warp taking you back to the ’50s.
SPEAKING OF SALOONS– There’s this guy at a bar, just looking at his drink. He stays like that for half-an-hour.
Then this big trouble-making truck driver steps next to him, takes the drink from the guy and gulps it down.
The poor man starts crying. The truck driver says: “Come on man, I was just joking. Here,… I’ll buy you another drink. I just can’t see a mancrying.”
“No, it’s not that. This day is the worst of my life. First, I sleep through the alarm and I go late to my office. My boss, outraged, fires me. When I leave the building to go to my car, I found out it was stolen. The police, they say they can do nothing. Iget a cab to return home, and when I leave it, I remember I left my wallet and credit cards there. The cab driver just drives away.I go home, and when I get there, I find my wife in bed with thegardener. I leave home, and come to this bar. And when I was thinking about putting an end to my life, you show up and drink my poison!!!”
–Kris B.
IN MEMORY OF–We’ve seen a number of brothers downed over the last couple of months. At the suggestion of one of our concerned readers, we kicked up a Memorial Department where you can post a tribute to anyone who has gone to polish chrome with the almighty. Personally, Ed “Big Daddy” Roth recently passed away, then Roger Ramjet, the born-again performance pervert, and finally, Travis Clemens, the son of Lee Clemens, whom I’ve known for 20 years or more. It’s especially sad to see a young rider go, especially the offspring of an old crazy fool like Lee. It doesn’t seem right.
Well, the section is there for you to pay tribute to those who no longer enjoy the non-stop spirit of life. We must cherish time as the most precious commodity. You guys be careful out there.
JULY HORSE SNEAK PREVIEW–Here’s the cover of No. 15 July to put in your news section. Watch for it on seedy newsstands everywhere there’s a ghetto.
Thanks,
Geno
OUTLAW VINTAGE SHORT TRACK RACES ARE COMING– Saturday, June 30, at the Ventura Raceway, racing blasts off at 6 p.m. The 9th Annual Antique and Classic Motorcycle Show and Exchange is on Sunday, July 1, at the Ventura County Fairgrounds. It’s sponsored and promoted by Dave Hansen of The Shop in Ventura, (805) 650-6777. http://www.cycleshop.com.
NEW PRODUCTS–With the support of Oz, our advertising director, we’re ramping up our New Products section. If you have a product, let us know. Here’s one of the newest items from Dewey’s Custom Pegs. Check it out. This is a Ramject super clean billet air cleaner.
RUN FOR BREATH IN CHARLOTTE–I’ll be there to emcee the event at H-D of Charlotte. The run will be held on Sunday, July 22, in Charlotte. Last year they raised over $6,000. At the end of the run, there were more than bikes. It gets bigger every year. Just about all the local shops and dealerships take part. This is the third annual run, with all the proceeds going to benefit the American Lung Association. For more information, contact Mike Pullin, (704) 847-4647 or www.H-DofCharlotte.com.
SAM “CHOPPER” ORWELL– If you don’t want to buy the book from me, buy it from WhiteHorse Press. They are now carrying it in their extensive catalog, or check www.WhitehorsePress.com.
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