BIKERNET NEWS FLASH–LAWRENCE OF ARABIA DISCOVERED, DAYTONA GOING TO SHIT, AND BIKERS FIGHT HELMET LAW IN CONN.

Continued From Page 1

BIKERNET INDIAN RELATIONS–The old Cherokee chief sat in his hut on the reservation, smoking the ceremonial pipe, eyeing the US government officials sent to interview him.

“Chief Two Eagles,” one official began, “you have observed the white man for 90 years. You have observed his wars and his material wealth. You have seen his progress and the damage he has done.” The Chief nodded that it was so. The official continued, “Considering all theseevents, in your opinion, where did the white man go wrong?”

The Chief stared at the government officials for over a minute, and then calmly replied, “When white man found this land, Indians were running it. No taxes. No debt, Plenty buffalo and Plenty beaver. Women did all work. Medicine man free. Indian man spend all day hunting and fishing, all night screwing women.”

The Chief leaned back and frowned, “White man dumb enough to think he could improve system like that.”

–from A. Friedman

AMERICA’S OLDEST MAN PASSES ON AT 113–February 25, 2003 at 10:12PM. Washington – The oldest living American man has died at the age of 113 after smoking cigars, drinking beer, reading Bikernet and eating greasy food for much of his life, a news report said on Tuesday.

John McMorran of Lakeland, Florida, died of heart failure on Monday, the daily Lakeland Ledger reported.

McMorran quit smoking at the age of 97 but continued to enjoy coffee and life. During his last few years, he was a celebrity of sorts, frequently making headlines marking yet another birthday.

McMorran was born on June 19, 1889, in a log cabin in the state of Michigan.He was the fourth-oldest person in the world. Japan’s Kamato Hongo is the world’s oldest person at 115, the paper said.

In his last years, his eyesight had failed, and he was hard of hearing, but he otherwise enjoyed good health until developing complications related to pneumonia last week. Sapa-DPA

–from Bob T.

BIG BUILDING JOKE–Two men sit drinking in the bar at the top of the Empire State Building. One turns to the other and says: “You know, last week I discovered that if you jump from the top of this building, by the time you fall to the 10th floor, the winds around the building are so intense that they carry you around the building and back into the window.”

The bartender overhears this, and just shakes his head.

The second man says: “What are you, a nut? There is no way in hell that couldhappen.”

The first man says: “No, it’s true, let me prove it to you.”He gets up from the bar, jumps over the balcony, and careens toward the street below. When he passes the 10th floor, he whips around the building and back into the 10th floor window, where he takes the elevator back to the bar.

The second man tells him: “You know, I saw it with my own eyes, but that must have been a one-time fluke.”

The first man says: “I’ll do it again.”And again, he jumps and hurtles toward the street until he again slows near the 10th floor, where he circles the building and ends up going through the same window. He returns to the bar.

The second man says: “Well, what the hell, it works, I’m going to try it.” He jumps over the balcony, plunges downward, passes the 11th floor, 10th floor, 9th floor … and hits the sidewalk with a splat.

Back upstairs, the bartender turns to the other drinker and says: “You know, Super man, you’re a real jerk when you’re drunk.”

–from Art F.

DAYTONA H-D OWNER FED UP WITH DAYTONA–Fed up with rising special events fees, Bruce Rossmeyer also is planning to build a 100,000-square-foot, 24-hour satellite dealership north of Ormond Beach city limits at U.S. 1 and Interstate 95.

The new site is where Daytona Harley-Davidson will stage its Bike Week and Biketoberfest events, which include all-day concerts.

“What’s on Beach Street will stay but I am relocating,” Rossmeyer said.

Rossmeyer said city officials here have made it difficult for him to stage biker events. He doesn’t like the ongoing controversy over special events and the city wanting to charge high fees to make events pay for themselves.

City Commissioner Darlene Yordon, a strong proponent of higher fees, called Rossmeyer’s decision “unfortunate.”

“Bruce was one of the best (businesses) that we have when it comes to paying. But, the city has got to cover its expenses,” Yordon said. “Maybe, if the Main Street merchants had been paying their fair share, Mr. Rossmeyer wouldn’t be leaving.”

Rossmeyer paid $250,000 to use North Riverfront Park, located across from his Beach Street dealership, during Bike Week and Biketoberfest last year and will pay that much this year, he said. “I am not going to pay that outrageous price that the city wants anymore.”

When he built his Beach Street dealership five years ago, he was told he could use the park for $1 a year.

So, “I just resolved my problem. Maybe somebody else will rent that park, but I doubt it,” Rossmeyer said.

–from Rogue and News Journal

LAWRENCE OF ARABIA FOUND–The attached photo is of Gerge Brough (using a cane because he had crashed one of his bikes shortly before) and T.E. Lawrence (aka Lawrence of Arabia) taking delivery of a Brough in 1932. Lawrence was killed in a bike crash in 1935, perhaps on this machine.

–Art

STROKER’S POLL–A bikernet reader, Stroker, decided to take a poll and extended the proposal to us. It’s simple. Put in your number and we’ll tally the poll for next week.

Averagemiles I ride per year
	500 to 1,000
	1,000 to 2,500
	2,500 to 5,000
	5,000 to 10,000
	more than 10,000

LEATHER JACKET LOBBYISTS MINGLE WITH HARTFORD REGULARS–By KEN DIXON.Tuesday, February 25, 2003 – HARTFORD – It’s common to see people in uniform at the Capitol complex, whether it’s National Guard troops in camouflage at the cafeteria’s salad bar, or uniformed police officers testifying on pending legislation.

It’s not very often, however, that members of the Hell’s Angels Motorcycle Club, in full black leather regalia, are seen standing in the Legislative Office Building among the lobbyists in pinstriped suits.

But like any other special-interest group, members of the Connecticut chapter of the original outlaw bikers descended on the Capitol Monday in an attempt to beat down the latest attempt to enact a helmet law for motorcycle riders.They joined dozens of other ridersweekend yuppies on the latest recreation fad or longtime bikers who’ve fought before for the right to shun “brain pans”in asking lawmakers to leave them alone.

“We feel most of the people who are trying to get the helmet law aren’t riders,” said Santo Bazzano, 35, of Hartford, one of three Hell’s Angels who stood in the LOB’s atrium, watching the parade of noontime humanity. “It should be the rider’s choice.”

–from Rogue

MAY RETURNS EARLY– I have been out of touch for a while reorganizing my life. Here is a shot of the hardtail Sportster I made for under 2,500 dollars. I sent the story to Hammer but I don’t think the pics were good enough.

There is a story on that frame. My friend Jeff in Boulder City found that frame in the city dump several years ago. He took it home and stuck some old wheels on it and made a yard ornament till his wife wanted to clean up the yard so he threw it behind the garage till I came along. It is totally homemade by who knows? I cut the neck off and redid it with less stretch and rake and there you have it. I will try to scan the construction pics and send you the whole story. It’s finally raining in vegas.

–Bill May

Continued On Page 3

BIKERNET NEWS FLASH–NEW BILLY LANE CUSTOM, BEACH RIDE LIVES AND MYSTERY GAS TANK

Don’t miss visiting Billy Lane and his crew across from Daytona H-D during Bike Week.

This report will be wild from an array of new custom bikes, new techs due to be launched and reports from our readers. We spent the other night in bed reviewing all the reports from the Bikernet Suggestion box. We have a constant FREE contest area. Check it out. You can go in, fill out the form which gives us some notion of the riders who read Bikernet. From there you are free to make suggestions to our vast, world wide editorial staff. Finally you can request your own prize. Doesn’t mean you’ll get it, but the more creative the request, the more chances you have of making your request become a reality.

What’s the most requested editorial element? Stories from you about the bikes you build. We have a couple of ways for riders to get their stories out about riding experiences or building bikes. That’s one of the reasons we changed the bike show area into an area where you can post your own bike feature, Reader’s Showcase. You can tell the world about your machine, how it was built or any experience you’ve had with your machine. Don’t worry about how you do it. CrazyHorse will run through each piece before it’s launched.

There’s one more way you can make history or share your experiences with Bikernet. Write me at Bandit@bikernet.com. Give me a notion of what you want to share. If you can’t write at all, maybe I’ll interview you and write the story. Maybe I can coach you on your story and edit it for you. Maybe I’ll assign it to another writer. One way or another, we’ll bring your story to life. Goddamnit, that’s what we’re here for. Let’s get to the news:

DALLAS SWAP MEET MARCH 2ND – THIS SUNDAY!!!!! — The Texas Scooter Times here reminding everyone about the Texas Scooter Times upcoming Swap Meet in Dallas- March 2nd at the Historic Longhorn Ballroom!

Bikers will find motorcycle parts manufactures and distributors that travel the country, selling by the volume at deep discounts. There’ll be Motorcycle Shops that sell the good used parts that are taken off bikes in their shops when customers want to change up their rides. There’ll be Jewelry Vendors, T-Shirt Hawkers, Leather Sellers and people peddling oddities of all kinds. What ever it is you are looking for, IT’S HERE!

Live Band – Bargains – Parts & Party – Door prizes and other contests – TELL ALL YOUR FRIENDS! – Don’t miss them!HOURS: Gates open at 11am – Limited Vendor Space Still Available- please call the Texas Scooter Times for reservations.For more info on a specific show and driving directions visit: www.texasscooter.com or call 254-687-9066

THE ROGUE REPORT FROM DAYTONA–The news (TV) is saying attendance and room reservations are down inDaytona Beach and they are blaming it on the economy and the pending war. BULLSHIT attendance is only down in Daytona Beach because of the high hotelrates and ever thing else.Add in the tickets for every thing you can thinkof. Hotels & Motels from Jacksonville to Orlando and then over to Melbourne(South of Daytona Beach)are welcoming the Bikers and they are coming. The Bikers are in Florida. They just are tired of the BULLSHIT in DaytonaBeach and are having their fun in the sun other places. ROGUE

MYSTERY GAS TANK– I bought a $50 tank off eBay a few months back, have been trying to ID it. Pretty sure my current tank is an old Ness Prism tank. This looks like a variation upon it. I was hoping to try this for Daytona, but I’m not going to have a chance to make the necessary repairs to it. Looks like it was clearanced for the rear rocker box (poorly), and I’d like to add a crossover line due to the angle of my frame.

Ever seen anything like it or know the origin? Obviously significantly raises my sub 2-gallon fuel capacity, and there definitely aren’t going to be too many other ones around…

–Kev

BEACH RIDE WILL LIVE AGAIN–We are proceeding with the application to Queen Mary Parks for August 31. At last after club disputes in Laughlin gave the Ventura, California an excuse to shut the Beach Ride down last year after 10 harmless years that raised money for needy kids.

The Beach Ride will now live again in Long Beach, California.

Carmela Anne Burke, MPA
Exceptional Childrens Foundation
(310) 845-8060

Photo taken by Layla in Hawg Wild?s shop in Grants Pass, OR. Thanks Silent!

BIKERNET REPORTS FROM HELL–One day a guy dies and finds himself in hell. As he’s wallowing indespair, he has his first meeting with the devil…..

Satan: Why are you so glum?

Guy: What do you think? I’m in hell!

Satan: Hell’s not so bad. We actually have a lot of fun down here. Youa drinking man?

Guy: Sure, I love to drink.

Satan: Well you’re gonna love Mondays then. On Mondays all we do isdrink., tequila, Guinness, wine coolers, diet tab and fresca… wedrink till we throw up and then we drink some more! And we don’t worryabout getting a hangover, because you’re dead anyway.

Guy: Gee, that sounds great!

Satan: You a smoker?

Guy: You better believe it!

Satan: All right! You’re gonna love Tuesdays. We get the finest cigarsfrom all over the world and smoke our lungs out. If you get cancer nobiggie, you’re already dead, remember?

Guy: Wow…that’s awesome!

Satan: I bet you like to gamble.

Guy: Why yes, as a matter of fact I do.

Satan: Cause Wednesdays you can gamble all you want. Craps, Blackjack,Roulette, Poker, Slots, whatever. If you go bankrupt… you’re deadanyhow.

Satan: What about Drugs?!?

Guy: Are you kidding? Love drugs! You don’t mean…

Satan: That’s right! Thursday is drug day. Help yourself to a great bigbowl of crack, or smack. Smoke a doobie the size of a submarine. Youcan do all the drugs you want, you’re dead, who cares.

Guy: WOW! I never realized Hell was such a cool place!

Satan: You gay?

Guy: No…

Satan: UhhhhOoooh…….You’re gonna hate Fridays….

–from Rev CarlR

Bikernet Patches available in the Gulch. Click on image to purchase!

SEA-TAC REFUSER RANDOM CAR SEARCHES–By Sara Kehaulani Goo and Carrie Johnson,The Washington Post.First, air travelers had to submit to an electronic wand waved over the body. Then they were asked to remove their shoes. After that, their checked luggage was opened and searched. Now, with the nation under a Code Orange alert, police are pulling over drivers as they approach airport terminals for random searches of their vehicles.

At least one major airport, Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, said it would not comply with the directive because it ran counter to state laws prohibiting police from searching a vehicle without a specific reason. “We can’t just stop everybody, or stop every third car or every blue car,” said airport spokesman Bob Parker.

Some airport managers balked at following the directive until the TSA clarified the legal issues. In its defense, the agency pointed to several cases in which federal courts ruled that vehicles could be searched for reasons of public safety.

–from Rogue and the Seattle Times

NEW CAMEL PROJECT FROM BILLY LANE–Here’s a tease of a bike that will be unleashed in Daytona next week. Hold on for another down-home, by hand custom from Billy Lane.

Click on the book for more information!

SHOVELHEAD RED ? NEW IN THE GULCH–Roy Yelverton, known to thousands of motorcycle enthusiasts as Uncle Roy, is a biker writer. A 20-yr. veteran of the U.S. Navy and has run Riders Roost, in North Carolina for 12 years with his brother, Bruce Colburn.

There is an axiom for writers that states: ‘Write what you know’. And Roy does just that.

Follow Shovelhead Red through twisting roads on a two-wheeled adventure.

Continued On Page 2

There’s a seldom talked about, often ignored important ingredient used all over your motorcycle that usually gets under-appreciated until you see or hear a piece of your bike bouncing down the road behind you. Yes, it’s another case of “Arizona Road Jewelry”. Those pieces of your bike that end up on the side of the road because you, or your trusted mechanic, were a little insecure while bolting on some prized stuff to your machine. Hopefully that piece you saw fly off your bike didn’t hit the guy behind you, or wasn’t an integral component you needed to get you home in one piece. There’s a simple magic ingredient called Loctite®, which began its life in the Trinity College basement laboratory of Dr. Vernon Krieble in Hartford, Connecticut, sometime way back half a century ago in 1953.

Back in ’53 Dr. Vern developed a ‘cure inhibition system for a unique liquid bonding resin that hardened in the absence of air “an anaerobic sealant”. It wasn’t long before Vern took advantage of his brilliant daughter-in-law’s sharp linguistic wit by taking her suggestion to call this anaerobic sealant “Loctite” . By 1956 they released their patented basement concoction to the world with the promise of solving the age-old problem of loose nuts and bolts. You see, until this time, most folks came to accept that it was natural for stuff to fall off of machines, no matter how tight you torqued the nuts down, even with good old-fashioned lock washers. Dr. Vern and his family solved a problem that was believed to be unsolvable. So why is stuff still falling off your bike?

First off, there are three standard Loctite grades that most automotive and motorcycle assemblers use. The first grade is coded Blue Removable No.242 which is applied to fasteners that you may want to unscrew with minimal hassle. Most mechanics just call it Blue Loctite, and I’ve had one or two guys who have worked at Surgical Steeds, who will remain nameless, call it “Berry”. The second grade is coded Red High-Strength No.271 which is applied to fasteners that you don’t want to take apart for a long time. When you do want to remove a fastener that has been treated with Red, or “Cherry” Loctite, you may have to use heat from a torch or iron to loosen its grip. Then we get to the third grade, which is dyed Green and is used on fasteners or studs that you don’t want to ever remove, like cylinder studs or exhaust studs. Green is not used commonly on fasteners that the everyday motorcycle technician uses unless they are building motors or transmissions. The average consumer or weekend wrench won’t need a tube of Green Loctite in their toolbox. Even the guys around the shop haven’t found a goofy name for the green stuff.

American motorcycles are notorious for rattling apart, and there really is no excuse for a bike coming to pieces if the correct anaerobic sealant is used on the appropriate fasteners. Loctite is available at most hardware stores and good bike shops, and is a safety necessity when you are working on your motorcycle.If you have a bike that keeps disassembling itself on the highway, and you are certain that you have been using Loctite properly, you might have other issues with your bike like excessive vibrations.

The most common problem resulting in excessive vibration is loose or worn motor mounts. Your standard V-twin rigid mount motor is mounted in three locations and if any are loose, this causes your whole bike to shake, rattle and roll to the max. Often loose motor mounts are symptomatic of balancing problems with the internal moving components of your engine (pistons, rods and flywheels), or they can be as simple to remedy as a visual inspection and tightening loose motor fasteners.

If your bike has the jitters, first check the top motor mount, which is under your fuel tank between the cylinders on the top left side of the motor. Even if the bolts seem tight, look carefully for cracked mounts or mounting brackets. We see quite a few broken top motor mounts especially on custom-built bikes. For some reason a few bikes with lower quality frames have issues with the motor-mounting locations not being level and square with the transmission mounting surfaces. So if the motor mounting locations on the chassis are not “shimmed” or spaced properly to make-up for the inaccuracies of the chassis mounting bosses, and just forced and bolted in, the mounting brackets may stress fatigue and break. So the message is: if you have broken mounts, take the time to discover why your motor mounts are breaking, or take your bike to a qualified mechanic who understands what needs to be checked to correct the issues. Tight motor mounts will make your bike feel like a new machine and reduce road jewelry. No amount of Loctite will make up for a poorly balanced engine or a loose or improperly shimmed drive train.

Another item that goes along with this topic is ‘Anti-Seize’ compound. Just like Loctite, anti-seize compounds comes in several variations, but the use for anti-seize is almost the opposite of a thread-locking compound like Loctite. Anti-Seize is a nickel or copper and graphite-based paste that prevents galling or binding of a nut onto a bolt, or assists with press fitting bearing races into components. If you’ve ever assembled a chrome threaded bolt with a chromed nylock nut and all of a sudden you have magically welded the nut to the bolt you know what I’m referring to. Or how about stripping the threads out of your spark plug sockets? That’s not the way that you want to spend your afternoon. A seized bolt can wreck your day when you have to cut bolts off of a motorcycle. Anti-seize can save the day. If a bolt, or your spark plug, feels like it is about to bind on you, don’t force it, because it will bind on you. Back the bolt out and chase the threads with a tap or thread chaser and clean the bolt with the appropriate die to remove burrs or other contaminates that interfere with getting that gizmo assembled. If you are about to strip out your spark plug threads, STOP, and take your bike to a veteran motorcycle technician before you dig yourself into a deep pocket repair. This may seem like a hassle at the time, but it is far less expensive to have a pro chase your sparkplug holes, than have to pay the big bucks to repair wrecked plug bores, or trashed cylinders from metal debris getting in the pistons. Pulling broken and seized bolts separates the men from the boys, and that’s a whole ‘nuther tech tip article too.

It takes years of experience to understand when and how to apply Loctite and anti-seize appropriately, and that’s why you should do your homework before you grab that wrench. If you are uncertain about what kind of Loctite or anti-seize compound to use, take your machine to a qualified mechanic to service and repair your bike. There are many nuances that dictate the correct application of thread-locking materials. If you are really interested in knowing more about Loctite and Anti-seize and all the different varieties and their uses, check out their web-site www.loctite.com . There is a ton of information at their site for those who are in search of it.

When you only have two wheels, one set of handlebars and pegs between you and the road, it’s important to have the confidence that your bike won’t rattle apart and leave you stranded or even worse, injured, because of improper installation of components. There’s a lot of science holding your bike together, and the guys at Loctite have done a bunch since 1953 to make your ride safer and more reliable when applied with a little knowledge and common sense.

Remember, keep the rubber side down.
John at Steeds
www.surgicalsteeds.com

Back to the Surgical Steeds…

THE BISH BULLETIN–LEGISLATIVE UPDATE ON INSURANCE, NEW MEXICO, DAREDEVIL LAW, MASS BAN AND COLORS LAW

THE AIM/NCOM MOTORCYCLE E-NEWS SERVICE is brought to you by Aid to Injured Motorcyclists (A.I.M.) and the National Coalition of Motorcyclists (NCOM), and is sponsored by the Law Offices of Richard M. Lester. For more information, call us at 1-(800) ON-A-BIKE or visit us on our website at

COAST TO COAST BIKER NEWS
Compiled and Edited by BILL BISH,
National Coalition of Motorcyclists

HEALTH INSURANCE BILL INTRODUCED IN CONGRESS When motorcyclists worked together to pass legislation through Congress to ensure health insurance availability for motorcycle riders a few years ago, those efforts were eventually negated when the Clinton administration ruled that the federal government cannot dictate insurance coverages to state insurers. But now, U.S. Senators Russ Feingold (D-WI) and Susan Collins (R-ME) have introduced “The Health Care Parity for Legal Transportation and Recreational Activities Act,” to end insurance discrimination by closing the loophole that has allowed insurance carriers to deny benefits to those who are injured while participating in so-called risky activities such as motorcycling, snowmobiling, skiing and horseback riding.

“From riding Harley Davidson motorcycles to visiting the Snowmobile Hall of Fame in St. Germain, these activities are part of Wisconsin’s heritage and economy,” Feingold said. “It simply doesn’t make sense to exclude those participating in these activities from health care benefits.”

This legislation, introduced February 14, aims to promote health care parity for participants in legal transportation and recreational activities, and addresses a loophole caused by a Department of Health and Human Services rule that prohibits employers from denying health care coverage to motorcyclists and others who participate in what is deemed a risky activity, but yet allows insurers to deny benefits to insureds if they are injured while participating in those activities.

“Because of this loophole, someone who participates in motorcycling, snowmobiling, running or walking could be denied health care coverage, while someone who is injured while drinking and driving a car would be protected,” Feingold said. “It is time that Congress corrected this so that those who are abiding by the law are not denied coverage.”

The language of the bill specifically states that “a plan or issuer may not deny benefits otherwise provided for the treatment of any injury solely because such injury resulted from participation of the participant or beneficiary in an activity such as motorcycling, snowmobiling, all-terrain vehicle riding, horseback riding, skiing or other similar legal activity.”

We did it before, and we can do it again, so sharpen those pencils and urge your federal legislators to support the Feingold-Collins bill to stop insurance discrimination against motorcyclists, once and for all.

Are we looking at a future mandate? Remember, new automobiles now come factory-equipped with airbags, despite a dubious safety record. So watch out for the “If it’ll save just one life,” crowd.

NM SENATOR BOWS TO PRESSURE, WITHDRAWS “ORGAN DONOR” BILL Within days of the news that New Mexico Senator Allen Hurt had proposed a law requiring motorcyclists to become organ donors, the Senator withdrew the bill under intense pressure from the motorcycling community.

“You win … I’m pulling New Mexico SB 239,” said Senator Hurt.

Senate Bill 239, would have mandated the harvesting of organs from any motorcyclist who was killed in an accident while not wearing a helmet. Specifically, SB 239 stated: “a person operating a motorcycle without a helmet and who, as the result of an accident, is pronounced brain dead pursuant to Section 12-2-4 NMSA 1978 by a licensed physician shall become an organ donor regardless of whether the person made an anatomical gift by completing the organ donor statement.”

“No matter how you view organ donations, this outrageous bill not only violates our individual civil liberties but is also transparently discriminatory against motorcyclists,” said Richard Lester, founder of Aid to Injured Motorcyclists (AIM) and the National Coalition of Motorcyclists (NCOM). “It’s no wonder that this issue invoked the ire of bikers to the point of generating thousands of e-mails, letters and phone calls. But it demonstrates how effective we can be when we’ve got all our oars in the water and we’re all rowing in the same direction.”

NEW YORK CITY CONSIDERS LIMITS ON NOISE AND “DAREDEVIL RIDING” Two New York City council members and the city’s public advocate have proposed limits on motorcycle noise and daredevil riding, allowing the city to impound motorcycles and levy hefty fines or jail terms for repeat offenders.

Sponsored by Councilman Bill de Blasio, the legislation focuses on motorcycles like a “Pop-a-Wheelie Kawasaki, which encourages riding on one wheel, and excessively loud Harley-Davidsons,” like one on display with straight pipes that “could wake Mayor La Guardia,” Mr. De Blasio told the New York Times.

MASSACHUSETTS MAY BAN CHILDREN FROM RIDING ON MOTORCYCLES Massachusetts Senator Richard T. Moore has sponsored legislation on behalf of a constituent, Paulette Zazza, which should be of great concern of all riders. Senate No. 1351, entitled “Petition To Improve Safety For Passengers Of Motorcycles,” would prohibit any persons 16 years old and younger from riding as a passenger on a motorcycle on all Massachusetts roads.

There are already laws on the books that state that a passenger must sit on a seat, and his or her feet have to reach the footrests comfortably; but this proposed legislation puts an age definition that the Massachusetts Motorcycle Association (MMA) is opposed to.

This would have serious implications for the motorcycling families within Massachusetts as well as those traveling through the state, according to the MMA. “Those of us who’s motorcycles have always been the focal point of our families transportation and recreation would see our family’s activities severely disrupted. For the out-of-state touring riders bringing their children on vacation would mean having to avoid Massachusetts completely,” said an MMA spokesperson.

Concerned Massachusetts motorcyclists should contact their state legislators immediately and let them know how such legislation can affect you, and ask them to protect the American Motorcycling Family by opposing Senate No. 1351.

“COLORS” LAWSUIT GOES TO FEDERAL COURT A case currently pending in the 9th District U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco could soon decide if the Gilroy Garlic Festival’s policy restricting “gang colors” is constitutional. The debate revolves around an incident that took place at the 2000 Gilroy Garlic Festival when four Top Hatters Motorcycle Club members were removed by Gilroy police officers after refusing to take off their vests.

Immediately following the incident, the club filed a lawsuit against the Gilroy Garlic Festival and the City of Gilroy claiming the policy was a violation of their freedom of association and speech.

“The plaintiffs are not seeking any money in the lawsuit, only a change in policy and lawyers’ fees,” said Randolph Hammock, the plaintiffs’ Los Angeles-based attorney with the Law Offices of Richard M. Lester. “We applaud the festival’s efforts to stop gangs, but a motorcycle club is fundamentally different than a gang — it’s a fraternal organization, a social and fraternal club — the same as the Masons or Lions Club. My clients feel they should have the right to wear their club’s jackets in public.”

But the Gilroy Garlic Festival Association disagrees and maintains its policy is not intended to deny freedom of speech but protect its patrons. “As of this point, we are not discussing a change in policy,” said Richard Nicholls, executive director of the Garlic Festival. “We want to provide our customers with a safe and non-intimidating, family atmosphere. We’ve had good compliance with our policy so far, so I don’t see why it needs to change.”

Hammock said one of the fundamental problems with the policy is that it was not available in writing to his clients before the incident. “I was surprised to discover that the Garlic Festival had no written dress code that warned my clients before the incident,” Hammock said. “Now they have one referring to gangs, but they’ve refused to give it to us to review. Why would they want to keep this a secret?”

Similar suits to the Top Hatters’ lawsuit have been filed against the California State Fair and the Morgan Hill Mushroom Festival, with varying outcomes, Hammock said.

WASHINGTON MAY POST WARNINGS FOR MOTORCYCLISTS Senate Highways and Transportation Committee Chairman Jim Horn has introduced a bill that requires signs to be posted alerting motorcyclists of hazards caused by construction work. Under Senate Bill 5457, if any construction, repair or maintenance work presents a special hazard to motorcycles, the work location must be posted with signs warning motorcyclists of the hazard.

The proposal calls for Department of Transportation to create a uniform sign for this purpose, and it must include at least the following language: “Motorcycles Use Extreme Caution.”

“For motorcyclists, it can be very dangerous to ride along a road or highway and suddenly come across a work site that has loose gravel, a grade separation or an abrupt edge,” said Horn, R-Mercer Island. “These types of hazards provide minimal risk to cars but can often be fatal for motorcyclists. This bill gives motorcyclists some advance notice that these types of conditions exist within the work site.”

The bill was referred to the Senate Highways and Transportation Committee, where AIM Attorney Marty Fox testified in support of the measure.

“I started the wheels turning last year because of the number of construction accidents that I was seeing where riders were going down at night while transversing between recently scraped lanes and newly paved lanes side by side,” said Fox, further explaining that “Usually, there is an abrupt lane edge between the two surfaces in the middle of a road that the rider is not aware of in the dark, and at a shallow angle at highway speeds the result can be deadly.”

Fox testified in part that, “In lawsuits representing motorcyclists I discovered that the our state transportation department does not have any rules or signs to warn a motorcycle of this type of condition or any pavement disruption that a motorcyclist needs to know about in advance to avoid the hazard. In fact, I learned that some contractors who were using ‘Motorcyclists Use Extreme Caution’ signs were advised by government inspectors on jobs to remove the signs because they were not approved.”

“I think everyone will agree that motorcyclists pay more attention to signs than any other drivers on the road, and if they are given enough advance warning of potentially dangerous roadway conditions they will pay attention and avoid them and potential accidents. A simple reusable sign that costs less than $50 can save lives and property,” argued Fox in favor of the proposal.

Fox says he began working on the construction signage with Karen Bolin of the Washington Road Riders Association when she was his AIM Chief of Staff and NCOM Rep. “Last year we tried to get the Washington DOT to use signs warning motorcyclists of highway problems in advance. They listened but did not do anything. This year we went to the legislature and have received overwhelming support from both parties.”

PENNSYLVANIA PUSHES PRO-MOTORCYCLE LEGISLATION Moving quickly on the momentum of last year’s victories (removing handle the bar height restriction, increased funding for the Motorcycle Safety Program, allowing for more than one bike in a metered space, and reduced turnpike tolls for bikes), ABATE of Pennsylvania has introduced a helmet law modification bill with 19 co-sponsors.

“That’s much more support than previous years when we had about four co-sponsors,” said John Mullendore, ABATE Legislative Coordinator. “Senator Wozniak wants to pass this in the first 100 days of session. It looks like riding lidless will be legal in Pennsylvania this year if our members keep the pressure on. We gained four to five yes votes in the election and that was all that was holding us up before.”

ABATE also reintroduced a bill to create a Veteran’s license plate for bikes, and a bill to increase penalties for right-of-way violations. A bill to include motorcycles in the state’s Lemon Law was also introduced.

WEIRD NEWS OF THE MONTH: AIR BAGS NOW AVAILABLE During an airing on cable’s Speed Vision of “On Any Sunday Revisited,” a look back at the classic motorcycle racing movie, a commercial came on featuring Evel Kneivel. The spot talked about what a great jumper he was, but that he was also a spectacular crasher. Then Evel appears on the screen and says, “If I’d been wearing one these airvests then, I wouldn’t need this cane now,” and goes on to claim that it will save more lives than any other safety device ever invented and marketed to the public.

We’ve all heard of these devices, and knew it would only be a matter of time before they were marketed here in the United States, and they are now available through the Internet at airvest.com, or you can order by phone for $499.95, or $299.95 for kid sizes.

QUOTABLE QUOTES: “First, they ignore you, Then they laugh at you, Then they fight you, Then you win.”~Mahatma Gandhi, Nonviolent Protestor and leader of India’s independence (1869 – 1948)

BIKERNET NEWS FLASH – NEW BIKER WEBSITE LAUNCHED, BANDIT IN THE HOSPITAL?

Continued From Page 3

BIKERNET FEATURE BIKE SCORES IN COLUMBUS–Ken Millers low nitrous rocket ship won a 3rd place award at the Columbus Easyriders Bike Show. Buried in snow the show still drew record crowds and some of the best iron in the country.

HOGS AND CHOPPERS.COM LAUNCHED–Our motorcycle online website is finally open to the public! As part of theofficial kick-off, we’re offering FREE advertising for base ads ( till 2-28-03) to get things moving along quickly.Just Go To: http://www.hogsandchoppers.com

PRE-DAYTONA BOOGIE–I had the honor of attending the Pre-Daytona Boogie in Kingston, NY today. Lots of factory customs and a surprising number of Borgets were in attandence as well as the usual home builts along with rows and rows of bubble wrap.

I guess I’ve been doing this just too damned long or I was just in a foul mood with the 8 degree, below zero temps. The crowds and the fat broads entered in the bikini contest again. Anyway, the only two wheeled toy that seemed to impress me this year was ridden by a fellow gimp running through the isles. Ginger has finally arrived. This 2 wheeled beauty just made it to the top 10 list of toys I just have to get my grubby little paws on.

Computerized gyroscopic works but only 12mph at this stage. Given a good flame job and some apes, look for the old Bear to be running around Sturgis and Laconia this year on the hottest new 2 wheeler avalable. I can’t wait to see what Billy Lane can do with one of these things,

–TBear

PIXIES STICKS RETURN–Anyone remember those?The local watering hole had a poker run yesterday. The Backwoods Baris just that, about ten miles into the Chassahowitzka Forest. One ofthe sign up babes had the daughter along, about 6 years old. She had a pixie stick that was near tall as she was. The little girlhands off the giant candy straw and mom ask “don’t you want any more?”

The little girl replies “no….. I’m full of it.”

As I’m throwing my leg over the Iron Horse I could not resist lookingback to her and answer “everyone says the same thing about me!”

She turns her head and frowns like a confused puppy dog. Everyone elsejust has a good laugh.

Am I the only one that loves a run along the ocean at sunset?

–FTW,
Stroker

BIKERNET OZARK REPORT–Just thought I’d give you a little update on things out here. Big Tall Roger went down and broke his hand. He had to have surgery and won’t be able to ride for a month or so. He said he had ridden up to Petit Jean Mountain with JB, and on the way home they split up at the lake. Roger lives on one side and JB on the other. He was heading down the little two lane road and the next thing he knew he was on the ground. He wasn’t even drinking. He has no clue what happened. Roger is a good rider and puts a lot of miles on his bike. It makes you think about how fast it can happen.

More bad news. a couple of weeks ago skitzo wanted me to bring him some supplies at the shop after work on a friday. He was broke and didn’t want to go on the titty bar tour. He was just going to work on his bike for a while and go home. I told him I wouldn’t get out till about 8 or so and don’t go anywhere without calling me. I didn’t get out till about 9 and when I got there he was gone. My girls cell phone was dead so

I decided to go to Miss Kittys and call him from there. When I got there he was there, looking for me. He’s kind of freaky about bumming off his friends, but he let me buy him beers and we shot pool for a while. We ended up in a little game with some other guys and we were there most of the night. Dammit. He got popped for DUI on his way home.

I felt sorta responsible because if it wasn’t for me he would have gone home, but then if he had called me before he left, we would have met up at the shop like we planned.

Some good news, the politicians tried to give us a new helmet law but it didn’t pass. We’re good for a couple of more years, but they’ll try again.

Philip took his little Panhead to the Easyriders show in Memphis and took home a first place for his class and a trophy for a specialty catagory of some kind. He’s really racking up the trophys. In fact he’s got a first place trophy at every show he’s taken it to.

Me and Titty bar Mike rode to the Abate swap meet, two weeks ago, and saw everybody I know. It was a fun day. there were a lot of bikes on the road and when we got on the freeway we saw a group of about six bikes ahead of us. We hammered until we caught them and then they wanted to race. We went flat out wide open for about 12 miles. The other guys kept up for about 6 of those miles and then we left them. It got down to just me and Mike. We weren’t racing each other but we just couldn’t slow down. It was the first time I had ridden my bike in a couple of weeks because of the weather and it just felt so good, I couldn’t go slow. after we left the swap meet, it was the same thing home. Hammered like it was my last time to ride. The weather has been ugly since then, so I’m just waiting. I have so much to do on my Shovel and my Evo is now a road shot piece of shit. It will never make it another year. If I could just get off my lazy ass, leave the bitches alone and work on the shovel. I could have it done by hot summer time. You can bet your ass that when the Evo blows, I’ll get it done fast.

Anyway, I’ll report more regularly when the weather breaks and we all start coming out of our holes.

–Ozark Ed

Inspectors find what Saddam really has –

THE OSAMA CURSE–While trying to escape through Pakistan, Osama Bin Laden found a bottle in a cave and picked it up. Suddenly, a female genie rose from the bottle and with a smile said “Master, may I grant you one wish?”

“You ignorant unworthy daughter-of-a-dog! Don’t you know who I am? I don’t need any common woman giving me anything!” barked Bin Laden.

The shocked genie said “Please, I must grant you a wish or I will be returned to that bottle forever.”

Osama thought a moment. Then he grumbled about the impertinence of the woman, and said “Very well, I want to awaken with three white American women in my bed in the morning, so just do it and be off with you!”

The highly annoyed genie said, “So be it!” and disappeared.

The next morning Bin Laden woke up in bed with Lorena Bobbitt, Tonya Harding &Hillary Clinton.

His penis was gone, his knee was broken, and he had no health insurance.

— Genie is good.

LONGVIEW SWAP MEET FEBRUARY 23rd!–Howdy, The Texas Scooter Times here reminding everyone about the Texas Scooter Times upcoming Swap Meet in Longview–February 23rd at the Longview Fairgrounds!

Bikers will find motorcycle parts manufacturers and distributors that travel the country, selling by the volume at deep discounts. There’ll be Motorcycle Shops that sell the good used parts that are taken off bikes in their shops when customers want to change up their rides. There’ll be Jewelry Vendors, T-Shirt Hawkers, Leather Sellers and people peddling oddities of all kinds.

What ever it is you are looking for, IT’S HERE! – Live Band – Bargains – Parts & Party – Door prizes and other contests – TELL ALL YOUR FRIENDS! – Don’t miss them!

HOURS: Gates open at 11am – Limited Vendor Space Still Available- please call the Texas Scooter Times for reservations.

NEW! – the Texas Scooter Times Paper is online now! Check it out for up to the minute happenings and new information on our events- Like the New GAMBLERS RACE! – and a New “Red’s Picture Page – Go to www.texasscooter.com and check them all out!.

For more info on a specific show and driving directions visit: www.texasscooter.com or call 254-687-9066

Also- Don’t Forget! The Texas Scooter Times is coming back to Dallas at the Longhorn Ballroom March 2nd for The Dallas Swap Meet! Don’t Miss it! And the Spring Championships in Sealy, Texas is just right around the corner! March 30th!

BIKERNET CARIBBEAN REPORT–Well, Hell month is almost over and as you read this, our trailer is someplacein the Atlantic heading to the shores of Florida. Now it’s just a few daysof catching up, resting a little bit and then Daytona Mayhem.

Kokko is here; too bad that Dollar could not make it since he had previousduties in Finland. I am convinced that I’m going to visit the frigidcountry, as well as Sweden early this Summer. Kokko has been ranting abouta cool bike show the first week end of June, a very insane ferry ride fromHelsinki and tall, busty blondes that would love to meet a Caribbean boy.Needless to say, it’s sold.Like always, it being pretty loco here, from the shop to the other shop,from there to the docks, back and forth, forth and back, our poor friendsare sick of all the places above, at least they are getting a pretty gooddose of strip joint honeys to unwind after all this boring chores.

The bike is done, sort of, there’s very little details that need to betaken care of, and as we all know, the complexity of simplicity…Thosetake the most time…As you might imagine I’m toast, so those will have towait ’till Daytona, and if we find time there, looks like it’s going to befun and hectic.

We are pretty excited about the ” merger” of The Horse, Choppers Inc andCaribbean Custom Cycles for the booth, which translates into a lot offriends on very cool choppers are coming to visit, I’ve received messagesfrom a bunch of friends who are showing up, that’s great !Now I’m going to ask our readers, I would like to know if there’s anyonewith a RevTech 100 inch motor and an SU carb, I have been trying to get mycarb to run for the past few days to no avail. I’m about to load theshotgun with double slugs and shoot the fucker…

I’m also on the process of getting another motor for the chopper, I guesswe are going to call her Nightmare…Why, because it’s been a fuckingnightmare for the past month…That bike commands a Panhead, so I’m trying to get a good deal on a motor,I am looking at one of those Pandemoniums from Custom Chrome/ ChromeSpecialties, besides I bet that kicking that 88″ would be a breeze comparedto a new 100 inch.

Billy Lane and Choppers Inc are working on the next Discovery chopper,Here’s the photos of the Camel bike as I promised last week, enjoy, and youwill be able to see the complete bike at the Camel Booth on Daytona BikeWeek.

I’m not going to rant about shit this week, but I’m saving the MasterBuilders bash for next week (ok, so here’s a preview) How come there’s alot of people calling themselves Master Builders ??? I always thought thatis a title you earn, not something that you just believe you are and postit on a magazine ad….Now that the chopper is done, I want to thank and shamelessly plug some ofmy good friends and fellow builders that have helped so much with thisproject;
Exhaust- Shamrock Fabrication.com
Gas and Oil tank, Twisted Choppers.com
Wheels- Black Bike, Choppers Inc.
Forwards, trees, grips, risers, etc…Accutronix.com
Motor and trans- Custom Chrome
Primary and Carb – Rivera Primo
Plate and brake light- Clayton engineering
Seat- PDQ upholstery
Bars- Choppers Inc
Brakes- Exile Cycles, SJP
Sliders- Forking by Franks…

I know I’m forgetting stuff and some of them, but all these guys can bereached thru the links page at my web site…www.ChopperFreak.comAnyway, enough bull…I’m going to sleep…I’ll be back next week with mypre Bike week report.

Hasta Luego..
Jose

THE NEWS IS EARLY–by design. I had to complete the news on Wednesday since a half-dozen jerks in white coats are due to come for me in the morning. You think I’m kidding? I’ll be out of touch for a couple of days while women will wisk around me like humming birds to a sweet tooth. I wish it was going to be kinky, but that’s not the case.

I’ve taken the new black King Mags to Century Motorcycles in San Pedro to have two new Avon Venom’s mounted. Can’t wait for the Powder Coating guys to deliver the parts. I spoke to our Tech Editor, Frank Kaisler who recommended that I punch holes in cardboard and stick all the fasteners inside, then spray them with gloss black. After we assemble the scoot, if we chip a fastener, they can be easily touched up.

The Panhead is running sweet and I’m still pondering straddling it for the ride to Sturgis. Seems appropriate for the 100th. A brother called the other day about a basket case Peashooter. Hope he’s not teasing me.

We’re in the process of redesigning our Bikernet Gulch and begin selling some hot scooter parts. I want to offer regular customers a way to get a deal choosing Bikernet. Let me know your thoughts. We’re thinking about carrying Cyril Huze’s line of wild stuff. Headwinds headlight line up and perhaps quality front ends from Perse. Of course we’ll continue to carry HA leather, Crime Inc and Joker Apparel.

Just one more Jack Daniels before the authorities come after me. See ya next week.

–Bandit

FROM THE DESK OF LAYLA–We were having some issues with bringing up the submissions of our Free Contest, however, Digital Disaster has worked out all the kinks. You guys were probably wondering if anyone ever really won anything. Well you do. I have a basement load of prizes ready for shipment and I’ve already picked a few winners. They’ll be posted in next weeks news. www.bikernet.com/contest
I know you’ve been waiting a long time but Sin and I are gonna be busy for a couple of days.

Bandit mentioned people coming for him in white coats and being out of touch for a couple days. Well, the big guy had to go in for a little surgery this morning. Too much lifting weights and motorcycle engines finally caught up with him,(no deers involved). I was suppose to launch the news this morning but decided to give the headquarters a Spring clean instead. Sorry about that but at least it’s still on time. The surgery went well and he’s resting, but now comes the work. Men, they’re worse than babies when they don’t feel good.

Speaking of men not feeling well, I also want to wish Chris Tronolone a speedy recovery. He flew here to California from Hawaii to buy a motorcylce and has been in the hospital with Pneumonia ever since he returned home. I hope you feel better soon Chris, we miss your jokes.

One more for my sis. Chris Kranzler AKA- She-Wolf, has been battling Mutiple Sclerosis and not winning much. She contributed numerous articles to Bikernet that added a female touch and now she is silent. I miss her stories and I know she misses writing them. You’re on my mind constantly Chris, and I miss and love you.

Layla

BIKERNET NEWS FLASH – “COLORS” LAWSUIT”, BEACH RIDE UPDATE

Continued From Page 2

BIKERNET LAWSUIT OF THE WEEK–Kara Walton of Claymont, Delaware, successfully sued the owner of a night club in a neighboring city when she fell from the bathroom window to the floor and knocked out her two front teeth.

This occurred while Ms. Walton was trying to sneak through the window in the ladies room to avoid paying the $3.50 cover charge. She was awarded $12,000 and dental expenses.

JAPAN LEADS IN TECHNOLOGY AND SKIRTS–What you see are not see-thru skirts. They are actually prints onthe skirts to make it look as if the panties are visible and it’s the currentragein Japan.

I suppose at least you could choose what sort of butt profile you’d like

–Rogue

BEACH RIDE UPDATE– The Queen Mary Long Beach contract for august 31 is expected 2/25. Micah, the president, and I will make a site check on 2/24 at the national orange show Pavillion in San Bernardino where we have a 9 am meeting with the rep there. We have a Beach Ride hold for Sept. 28 at that site. Both venues (Queen Mary and Orange Show) want the food and beverage concessions. The rental fees are comparable. At the core meeting, we will review contracts, report on the sites, and discuss our participation at the July 20 LA Calendar Show in Long Beach. I should also have a budget by then.

Carmela Anne Burke, MPA
Director of Development and Communications
(310) 845-8060
(310) 922-3218 (cell)

Bikernet has supported the Beach Ride for the Exceptional Childrens Foundation for five years. They lost their Ventura, California site after the Laughlin fight, which costs their fund raising efforts substantially. The Beach Ride was their largest fund raising event.

BANDIT’S CANTINA TOAST OF THE NIGHT–John O’Reilly hoisted his beer and said, “Here’s tospending the restof me life, Between the legs of me wife!” That wonhim the top prize forthe best toast of the night!

He went home and told his wife, Mary, “I won theprize for the besttoast of the night.”

She said, “Aye, what was your toast?”

John said, “Here’s to spending the rest of me life,Sitting in churchbeside me wife.”

“Oh that is very nice indeed, John!” Mary said. Thenext day, Mary raninto one of John’s toasting buddies on the streetcorner.

The manchuckled leeringly and said, “John won the prize,the other night, witha toast about you, Mary.”

She said, “Aye and I was abit surprised meself! You know, he’s only been there twice! Once hefell asleep, and theother time I had to pull him by the ears to make himcome!

–from Rev Carlr

from Rev CarlR

BIKERNET WAR CORRESPONDENT–Interviews Stormin’ Norman Schwarzkopf:”WORRYING ABOUT GOING TO WAR WITHOUT THE FRENCH IS LIKE WORRYING ABOUT GOING DEER HUNTING WITHOUT YOUR ACCORDION”

–from Al Friedman

HEALTH INSURANCE BILL INTRODUCED IN CONGRESS– When motorcyclists worked together to pass legislation through Congress to ensure health insurance availability for motorcycle riders a few years ago, those efforts were eventually negated when the Clinton administration ruled that the federal government cannot dictate insurance coverages to state insurers. But now, U.S. Senators Russ Feingold (D-WI) and Susan Collins (R-ME) have introduced “The Health Care Parity for Legal Transportation and Recreational Activities Act,” to end insurance discrimination by closing the loophole that has allowed insurance carriers to deny benefits to those who are injured while participating in so-called risky activities such as motorcycling, snowmobiling, skiing and horseback riding.

“From riding Harley Davidson motorcycles to visiting the Snowmobile Hall of Fame in St. Germain, these activities are part of Wisconsin’s heritage and economy,” Feingold said. “It simply doesn’t make sense to exclude those participating in these activities from health care benefits.”

This legislation, introduced February 14, aims to promote health care parity for participants in legal transportation and recreational activities, and addresses a loophole caused by a Department of Health and Human Services rule that prohibits employers from denying health care coverage to motorcyclists and others who participate in what is deemed a risky activity, but yet allows insurers to deny benefits to insureds if they are injured while participating in those activities.

Check the Bikernet Right Department for the full story.

NEW YORK CITY CONSIDERS LIMITS ON NOISE AND “DAREDEVIL RIDING”– Two New York City council members and the city’s public advocate have proposed limits on motorcycle noise and daredevil riding, allowing the city to impound motorcycles and levy hefty fines or jail terms for repeat offenders.

Sponsored by Councilman Bill de Blasio, the legislation focuses on motorcycles like a “Pop-a-Wheelie Kawasaki, which encourages riding on one wheel, and excessively loud Harley-Davidsons,” such as one on display with straight pipes that “could wake Mayor La Guardia,” De Blasio told the New York Times.

“COLORS” LAWSUIT GOES TO FEDERAL COURT– A case currently pending in the 9th District U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco could soon decide if the Gilroy Garlic Festival?s policy restricting “gang colors” is constitutional. The debate revolves around an incident that took place at the 2000 Gilroy Garlic Festival when four Top Hatters Motorcycle Club members were removed by Gilroy police officers after refusing to take off their vests.

Immediately following the incident, the club filed a lawsuit against the Gilroy Garlic Festival and the City of Gilroy claiming the policy was a violation of their freedom of association and speech.

“The plaintiffs are not seeking any money in the lawsuit, only a change in policy and lawyers’ fees,” said Randolph Hammock, the plaintiffs’ Los Angeles-based attorney with the Law Offices of Richard M. Lester.

photo from Buckshot

PENNSYLVANIA PUSHES PRO-MOTORCYCLE LEGISLATION– Moving quickly on the momentum of last year’s victories (removing handle the bar height restriction, increased funding for the Motorcycle Safety Program, allowing for more than one bike in a metered space, and reduced turnpike tolls for bikes), ABATE of Pennsylvania has introduced a helmet law modification bill with 19 co-sponsors.

“That’s much more support than previous years when we had about four co-sponsors,” said John Mullendore, ABATE Legislative Coordinator. “Senator Wozniak wants to pass this in the first 100 days of session. It looks like riding lidless will be legal in Pennsylvania this year if our members keep the pressure on. We gained four to five yes votes in the election and that was all that was holding us up before.”

ABATE also reintroduced a bill to create a Veteran’s license plate for bikes, and a bill to increase penalties for right-of-way violations. A bill to include motorcycles in the state’s Lemon Law was also introduced.

–photo from Bob T.

AIR BAGS NOW AVAILABLE — During an airing on cable’s Speed Vision of “On Any Sunday Revisited,” a look back at the classic motorcycle racing movie, a commercial came on featuring Evel Kneivel. The spot talked about what a great jumper he was, but that he was also a spectacular crasher.

Then Evel appears on the screen and says, “If I’d been wearing one these airvests then, I wouldn’t need this cane now,” and goes on to claim that it will save more lives than any other safety device ever invented and marketed to the public.

We’ve all heard of these devices, and knew it would only be a matter of time before they were marketed here in the United States, and they are now available through the Internet at airvest.com, or you can order by phone for $499.95, or $299.95 for kid sizes.

Continued On Page 4

BIKERNET NEWS FLASH – TAHITI TRIP IS ON, DEVIL DOLLS GOOD VS. EVIL

Continued From Page 1

BIKERNETTERS IN PARADISE– If you missed out on this trip,Bikernet.com is planning another ?Bikernetter’s Escape To Tahiti?, this comingNovember to help support the needy kids in Tahiti. Don’t miss out on thatone! Keep checking the news for further details.

From: Layla
To: TBear

Hello Poppa Bear,

We received our tickets to Tahiti from Fed Ex today, thank you for theacct #. As I pulled the tickets out of the envelope, I closed my eyes andimagined rocking in a hammock, sipping a fruity cocktail, crystal blue waterin front of me and white sand beneath me… Then I opened my eyes andthought of you in below 0 New York. Brrrrrrrr… I thought you could use acocktail more than me!

From: Tbear
To: Layla

Thank you kindly for the Martini, I sure need it about now.We had an additional 2 feet of snow on Monday bringing the total still onthe ground to appx 6 feet.The good news is that it hit 35o today and will do so again on Friday. Thebad news is that we’re getting another major snowstorm on Saturday thenagain on Monday. I know Bears like cold weather but this hibernation isstarting to get old, fast.36 more days and maybe I’ll start to thaw out.Here is a pic of the beach well be hanging out on. I already have my hammockpicked out.Ted

BIKERNET WORDS OF WISDOM–My neighbor was bit by a stray rabid dog. I went to see how he was and found him writing frantically. I told him rabies could be cured and he didn’t have to worry about a will. He said, “Will!? What will? I’m making a list of the people I wanna bite.”

–from Kristine J.

MORE DAYTONA DESPERATION–DAYTONA BEACH — Seeing new luxury hotel rooms spring from a blighted beachfront gave local tourism officials hope. Watching a parking garage and water park swim in debt has given county officials pause.Now they face a decision about expanding the Ocean Center, the anchor that could either boost Daytona Beach’s $200 million redevelopment dreams — or drag it under.

The Volusia County Council plans to meet with the county Tourism Development Council at 11:30 this morning to discuss the proposed expansion, which has been bandied about for the last two years. The idea seemed like a no-brainer at first. Outside consultants have recommended tripling the Ocean Center’s existing 46,000-square-foot exhibit space to compete in the conventions industry market. But that was before the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks and the slowdown in the economy that has put a stranglehold on convention business throughout the country. That has some county officials questioning the timing of a $50 million expansion.

Some local hoteliers said the convention industry is going through tough times. Hotel-Motel Association Chairman Bob Davis said 67 convention centers are being built across the country, and city officials in Los Angeles, Houston and Boston were disappointed recently when newly-expanded convention centers failed to attract the number of visitors hoteliers expected.

“We hope that the expansion will bring more people into our area,” Davis said. “We hope that’s the truth. But the reality is that the convention industry is not doing well at all. If we expand ours, how are we assured that people will come here?”

SEATTLE MOTOR OFFICER TO RIDE HARLEYS–SEATTLE, Washington (AP) — Police officer Jerry Hicklin was tired of catcalls like “get a real bike” as he rode his department-issued Kawasaki.

Now he’s in hog heaven since the department’s motorcycle unit switched to Harley-Davidson Road Kings with 1,450-cc engines. Seven of the new Harleys are in service and the rest are expected by this summer.

Seated on his new bike, Hicklin, a motorcycle officer since 1981, joked about “pigs on hogs” as a small crowd gathered to admire his new wheels.

“They’re gorgeous, aren’t they? Man!” Hicklin said. “I’ve been waiting 21 years for this.”

The brass is happy, too.Officials estimate the city will save $40,000 a year by leasing Harleys rather than buying Kawasakis, which typically were used for three years and then sold at auction.

Then there’s the morale boost.”It’s kind of like we just gave them a big Christmas present,” Assistant Police Chief Harry Bailey said.

–from Bob T.

IMPRESS YOUR GIRL–

I admire your strength,
I admire your spunk;
But the thing I like best
Is getting you drunk.

–from Ken Miller

BIKERNET CARIBBEAN DIALS SU CARBURETOR–But after 3 weeks of 18 to 20 hour days..what would you expect in my garage, but a mess.I’m having problems with the SU. First it did not want to start, now it starts briefly and dies. Later it started for some time but sounded like one plug was fouled. I assume it has a leak on the manifold. The rubber slides off really easy, and the fouled plug thing should give me a hint..

I’ll do the wd-40 thing.I’m waiting on the seatand small details.Gotta shit load of stuff that was made for it and that we made. Hours and hours.

— Jose De Miguel
mailto:chopperfreak@earthlink.net
– Visit our Web Site, http://www.chopperfreak.com

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY–A good friend will come bail you out of jail……….But, a true friend will be sitting next to you saying,”Damn…we fucked up.”

DEVIL DOLLS–GOOD VS. EVIL PARTY–OK everybody! The time has come to celebrate the fourth anniversary of the beginning of The Devil Dolls. The terror continues! We have great things planned for this year’s party. Unfortunately we’ve heard through the grapevine that Tan Girl may try to crash the party again, so be on the look out. She is a very devious adversary. As GOTHGIRL’s evil nemesis, she does everything she can too undermine GOTH and turn everyone into sun worshippers under the guise of “spirituality.” We have a plan for her if she dares to show up!

Everyone but Tan Girl is invited! GOTH will be playing piano, we will have a raffle (minus harnesses) 50/50, and food. The Dolls will sign calendars, and we plan to just have a whole lotta fun!

The proceeds from this party will benefit one of our VERY close friends who broke his leg and is about to run out of benefits. We don’t want to him to lose his house. So we are going to help him out.

We hope to see you there!

7:00PM to 1:00AM
The Double Play
16th and Bryant
San Francisco, CA
http://www.devildolls.com/events/flyers/4thanniversary.html

FOLKS ATTENDING EVENTS OUTSIDE OF TROUBLED DAYTONA– For business owner Kevin Rosa, “Do in Korona what you can’t do in Daytona” is a business slogan he has used for years. For Flagler County commissioners, it’s a call to battle. The words were on a recent flier advertising Bike Week activities at Rosa’s White Eagle Lounge in Korona. It touted performances by popular bands, spaghetti wrestling and a wet T-shirt contests. But what caught the County Commission’s attention, other than the slogan, was the advertisement for primitive camping.

Commissioners say Rosa, one of the owners of the White Eagle Lounge, is violating county codes with the primitive campground, and told County Attorney Carl Kern on Monday to seek an emergency injunction, if necessary, to stop the event.

“I want to give the county attorney the power to seek whatever action necessary to ensure that the laws of this county are followed,” Commissioner Pat McGuire said.

Kern told commissioners he had prepared a letter to send to Rosa. However, Tuesday, Rosa said he had not received such a letter.

Rosa said the commission is overreacting.

” ‘Do in Korona’ has been the motto for years. It’s just a motto,” he said. “It’s not like that at all. I hope it’s not going to be a problem. We just have to play it by ear.”

Flagler County officials have struggled for years over how to deal with special events. But they began last March to create a special events ordinance that would limit activities not only during Bike Week, but also Biketoberfest, Spring Break and Black College Reunion.

Meanwhile, Daytona Beach officials have taken a tough stance on special events, passing new ordinances that increase police authority to arrest bikers who rev engines. They also have stepped up efforts to arrest boisterous drunks and indiscreet partiers. Daytona Beach also raised vendor fees and restricted vendor and sidewalk sales.

–from Rogue

–Joke from Rev. CarlR

BIKERNET HAS CAJUN TRIPLETS–Way down in dat old swamp known as Louisiana, Bubba’s old lady had beenpregnant for some time, and now the time had come.So, he brought her to the doctor, and the doctor began to deliver the baby.

She had a little boy, and the doctor looked over at Bubba and said, “Hey,Bubba! You just had you a son! Ain’t dat grand!!”

Bubba got excited by this, but just then the doctor spoke up and said, “Holdon! We ain’t finished yet!”

The doctor then delivered a little girl. He said, “Hey, Bubba! You got you adaughter!!!! She a pretty lil ting, too….”

Bubba got kind of puzzled by this, and then the doctor said, “Hold on, westill ain’t got done yet!”

The doctor then delivered another boy and said,”Bubba, you just had yourself another boy!”

When Bubba and his wife went home with their three children, he sat downwithhis wife and said, “Mama, you remember dat night what we ran out of Vaselineand we had to use dat dere 3-in-1 Oil?”

She said, “Yeah, I do.”

Bubba said, “Man, it’s a damn good ting we didn’t use no WD-40!!”

–from Rogue

Continued On Page 3

BIKERNET NEWS FLASH – JOHNNY SUEDE ON BIKERNET, POLARIS PRIZE WINNERS

The sun is shinning along the coast while New Yorkers can’t find their streets for all the snow, and roofs are collapsing in New Jersey. I’m listening to Marvin Gay slur his words while pondering the ride to Sturgis.

I packed off every bracket I could pry loose from the King and sent the box to our Powder Coating connection and Sponsor, Custom Powder Coating, in Dallas, for the heavy gloss black finish.

My next question for Frank Kaisler and the tech bros is what to do with all the cadium plated fasteners. Should I dip them in black enamel? I can’t see paying for Powder coating to have half of them chip, black is the order of the day. I don’t want to roll with chrome. Let me know what you think.

I’ve got some other shit to share with you, but we better get to the news. But first I want to wish Michael Hupy and Johnny Suede much success as our two newest sponsors. Make sure to check them out:

JOHNNY SUEDE ON BIKERNET–Talk about some cool looking clothes. Here are just a couple items Johnny has on his site. Not to mention the pants, wallets and Flames Socks! He also has a line of women’s articles, not yet available on the site. Order his catalog for his full line. Tell em’ Bikernet sent you.

BIKERNET ON-GOING READER’S SURVEY AND FREE CONTEST–If you want to include your two-cents worth, hit the Free Contest area of the site and fill out the survey and your suggestions for Bikernet: http://www.bikernet.com/contest/. We’ve discovered that the average age of our readers is 16 and each reader has been riding at least 39 years apiece. Here’s your favorite sections:

1.) News
2.) Garage
3.) Knucklebusters
4.) Readers Showcase
5.) Sunday Post
6.) Babes
7.) Your Shot
8.) Biker Soap
9.) Bike Features
10.) Laughroom

Craig McDowell of Alamogordo, N.M. (center), stands among his new treasures. McDowell was the grand prizewinner of the Polaris “Ride Of Your Life” sweepstakes, held in conjunction with the Polaris National Open House last October, through a random drawing he entered at Rocky Mountain Supplies in Alamogordo. McDowell was presented his prize by Polaris dealers Doug Brown, owner of Rocky Mountain Supply in Alamogordo, and Dean Rose of Rose-Dale Enterprises in Albuquerque.

POLARIS’ FIRST NATIONAL OPEN HOUSE PAYS OFF BIG TIMEFOR NEW MEXICO ENTHUSIAST–ALAMOGORDO, N.M., February 18, 2003 – The holidays have come and gone, but for Craig McDowell of Alamogordo, N.M., the season brought a lot of good fortune. McDowell was named grand-prize winner of the “Ride Of Your Life” Sweepstakes, which was held in conjunction with Polaris’ first-ever National Open House celebration in October, and his prize pulled up to his front door last week – on several trailers. The prize package included:

A 2002 Polaris 700 XC SP snowmobile
A 2003 Classic Cruiser Victory motorcycle
A 2002 Polaris Virage i watercraft
A 2003 Polaris Magnum 330 4×4 all-terrain vehicle
A Floe two-place trailer
$1000 in Polaris apparel and accessories (excluding service and parts)

Through the “Ride Of Your Life” nationwide sweepstakes, participants who registered at a local Polaris dealership were eligible to win the prize package worth nearly $50,000. McDowell is excited about his prize package, and is especially excited about the Classic Cruiser Victory motorcycle because although he is an avid motorcyclist, he has never had his own motorcycle.

“I was completely shocked when I discovered that I had won the grand prize,” said McDowell. “I currently own a Polaris ATV, and when I heard about the ‘Ride Of Your Life Sweepstakes,’ I went to my local dealer to enter right away. I’m excited to try out all of my new toys.”

Herbert Eastman of Harpswell, Maine, also snagged a cool prize from the “Ride Of Your Life” Sweepstakes. As first-prize winner, he’ll get to learn to drive like “The King” of NASCAR with a free enrollment in the Richard Petty Driving Experience this summer.

The first-ever Polaris National Open House took place Oct. 12-19, 2002. It was an opportunity for customers across the U.S. and Canada to visit their local Polaris dealer to demo product, learn about Polaris’ new product lineup for 2003, take advantage of a special financing offer, and register for the “Ride Of Your Life” Sweepstakes.

“The Polaris National Open House was a phenomenal success,” said Ken Sobaski, Vice President, Sales, Marketing and Business Development. “We had a great time re-introducing customers old and new to our dealerships across the country, and we’re already planning the next open house on April 10-12, 2003. We’re also especially excited for Alan and Herbert and congratulate them on their winnings.”

Information about the complete line of Polaris products is available from authorized Polaris dealers or from the Polaris homepage at polarisindustries.com.

THE ENTHUSIATS ROCKS AGAIN–The painting on the cover of Enthusiast Magazine is a David Uhl work entitled “The Enthusiast” in case you are unfamiliar. We are inundated with calls from riders and will refer them to their respective dealerships to order. Please call if you have any questions.

–Ron Copple
800-999-1297
http://www.segalfineart.com>www.segalfineart.com

THE SHERIFF AND THE BLONDE–The sheriff in a small town walks out in the street and sees a blond cowboycoming down the walk with nothing on but his cowboy hat, gun and his boots.

So the sheriff arrests him for indecent exposure.As he is locking him up he asks “Why in the world are you dressed likethis?”

Cowboy says ” Well it’s like this Sheriff… I was in the bar down the roadand this pretty little redheadasks me to go out to her motor home with her….and I did.

We go inside and she pulls off her top and asks me to pull off my shirt…soI did.Then she pulls off her skirt and asks me to pull off my pants…so I did.Then she pulls off her panties and asks me to pull off my shorts…So I did.

Then she gets on the bed and looks at me kind of funny and says, “Now go totown cowboy….”

So here I am.

–from Rev CarlR

DAYTONA BEACH LEADERS WANT SPECIAL EVENTS SCALED BACK–By JOHN BOZZO (john.bozzo@news-jrnl.com)Staff Writer.DAYTONA BEACH — A majority of city commissioners said Tuesday they would support actions to scale back special events such as Bike Week, Spring Break and Black College Reunion.

In separate interviews Tuesday, six of seven commissioners contacted suggested reining in events. Those included asking a county board not to spend tax money to advertise Spring Break, beefing up law enforcement and imposing a tax on businesses that promote events to pay for extra police costs.

“Our economy is based on the business of selling beer cans,” said Commissioner Mike Shallow. “It’s discouraging when you’ve got kids tearing our town apart and the business community saying we need this business.”

One study reported that special events bring in $1.3 billion to the community, while another showed the city lost $2 million providing services during events last year.

Continued On Page 2

GUNNY SACK UPDATE–OREGON PASSING VEHICULAR ASSAULT LAW–MOTORISTS CAN NO LONGER GET AWAY WITH SMACKING BIKERS!

THE AIM/NCOM MOTORCYCLE E-NEWS SERVICE is brought to you by Aid to Injured Motorcyclists (A.I.M.) and the National Coalition of Motorcyclists (NCOM), and is sponsored by the Law Offices of Richard M. Lester. For more information, call us at 1-(800) ON-A-BIKE or visit us on our website at http://www.ON-A-BIKE.com.

From TheGUNNY’S SACK

The legislature here in Oregon meets every two years, so we have what are known as “Biker Days” down at the Capitol. They are scheduled on session work days, so we are seen and heard there, at our capitol in Salem. Bikers all over Oregon take a day off work, and some do every “Biker Day,” and either ride or drive to our Capitol and wear black leather in the Capitol building. We talk with our Representatives and Senators about issues that concern us as riders and other issues that are of concern as citizens, too.

This year we have several bills that are Biker-related. Two already have numbers and are assigned to the transportation committee. Namely, our ongoing helmet law modification bill, HB3432 and our new optional headlight use bill, HB2419.

The Helmet bill is for optional use for adults over 21. We might just get it done this year because we have a new, and hopefully more progressive, Governor. Our last Gov was an emergency room doctor, so we had TWO helmet bills passed and then vetoed by that guy! Good riddance to him. The headlight use bill also has good support.

Other bills being processed are the Lane Splitting Bill (authorizes lane splitting under very strict circumstances); another is to end healthcare insurance discrimination against Bikers. If you have an accident on a bike, some companies deny coverage, and THIS NEEDS TO STOP. We also want vehicular assault laws toughened up so when a biker is injured or killed in a wreck, the perpetrator doesn’t just get his wrist slapped.

There are a couple of others that are not offered by BikePAC, but still are of interest to us. One is the allowance of multiple headlight use and the other would allow riders to put “Blue Dot” taillights on their bikes, which is HB2398. Blue dot taillights light up a violet color when the brake light in engaged, and is not only kinda purty, but also enhances the rider’s conspicuity or ability to be seen in traffic. There is also a bill, HB2392, that creates Vets plates for motorcycles. I don’t think that’s too much to ask for. Cars already have’m. Both of these bills have been assigned to the transportation committee for discussion.

Our “Biker Days” began on a Monday and the next one will be on a Tuesday, the next on a Wednesday and so on, each in a different work week, so nobody has the whole burden of losing work to lobby during the work week. It’s a good idea and it works! This first one this year was a real success with about 30 folks showing that FREEDOM was worth at least one day’s pay. Now that’s what being a legislative warrior is all about. I was there and I applaud all those that were there with me. We had a great day. Come JOIN us! Get politically active.

NEWS BITS’N PIECES:

BEIJING, CHINA: There is change in China’s outlook on Capitalism it seems. They have even gone so far as to “appoint” a wealthy admirer of Margaret Thatcher to a senior state position, who also happens to manufacture motorcycles. According to the London Daily Telegraph, Yin Mingshan, who just happens to be on their list of 100 Chinese millionaires, was “elected” deputy chairman of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), in China’s third-largest city, Chongqing. He founded Lifan, an engine and motorcycle manufacturing company that sells 2 million engines a year and a million motorcycles. Maybe this capitalism thing really works, Ya think? Hey, they DO BUILD around ten million bikes a year in China, so they must be doing SOMETHING right!

JAPAN: This season’s fad for extra-long scarves claimed another fashion victim whena Japanese woman fell from her motorcycle after her two yard-long scarf got caught in her bike’s rear wheel. This woman was in a coma after the accident but regained consciousness but remained in serious condition. The kicker is, she?s not the only one. Other similar accidents have been reported in this country that has lots and lots of motorcycles, since a celebrity got the extra-long scarves fashion going there. Ya know, I’m not the brightest light in town but I’m just not that dumb.

NOTE: We don’t think any of you need to be reminded about the dangers of unsafe clothing, but maybe you know someone who does. The rider in this article is lucky to be alive. Do they have a “Darwin Award” for motorcyclists?

ATLANTA, GA: RIPLEY’S BELIEVE IT OR NOT featured a fool riding his motorcycle BACKWARDS when completing a 60 foot jump over a line of cars. And I thought Evel Kneival was a screwball.

HOW ABOUT THIS FOR A HOBBY:Landmine Obsession: Aki Ra travels around the world collecting landmines. He travels through Cambodia, searching for and de-fusing landmines by hand. He might be doing a job that needs done, but what’s wrong with just blowin’ the things up from a safe distance?

NEW DELHI, INDIA: A booming motorcycle market accelerated two-wheeler sales by 21 per cent in the domestic market during the first nine months this fiscal year even as scooters and mopeds continued to ride in negative territory. Motorcycles and step-thru sales grew by 36.9 percent this past year. Hero Honda of India, the world’s largest motorcycle maker, posted a 24.3 percent jump.

SUZUKI UNVEILS 40TH ANNIVERSARY MODELS: American Suzuki Motor Corporation celebrates 40 years of business in the US with three special edition anniversary model motorcycles to be sold in limited numbers. Hurry and get your order in.

GUNNY AGAIN: This year the National Coalition of Motorcyclists. NCOM Convention is being held in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, May 8-10, 2003, at the Four Points Sheraton. This is Harley-Davidson’s 100th birthday, so Milwaukee should be a humdinger of a place to be. Make your reservations now, cuz this will be one of the best ever. Get with the people at AIM headquarters for good info on how to get it done. Call 1-800-531-2424, or 1-800-ON-A-BIKE (or go to www.ON-A-BIKE.com) and they’ll get you set up. This is just part of what our AIM attorneys across the country do for us, by hosting this gala get together so we can learn and share with the best our rights movement has to offer. See ya there! Till then.

BIKERNET NEWS FLASH–HANGOVER CURE, GAS INFO, IMPROVED SEAL FOR 5-SPEEDS, AND WINTER 45 PROJECT

Continued From Page 3

FALCO’S EAST COAST WINTER PROJECT–Hope you are getting to ride out on the west coast, cause the east coastsucks right now.

Wanted to drop you some pics and a note on my winter project (project isdone but it’s still winter – gotta work on that next time).

Besides my rigid Evo chop, I was riding a stock 1977 FL around. I bought itfor rainy days and to cart the wife and son around, cause the Evo has noback seat and an Avon tire that is like a drag slick.

To be honest, I neverreally liked the Shovel anyway. It was way too comfortable! It was one ofthe few swingarm bikes I have ever ridden, and it felt all wrong. I couldride it over railroad tracks and road hazards without even slowing down. Itwas just too weird. Some guys like women to abuse them. I guess I like mybikes to abuse me, ’cause the wife is a sweet-heart.

Told her I needed another rigid with a solo seat. Sheknows what she got when she signed up to marry me, so she took it prettywell. I always wanted an old bike (pre 50’s &60’s). I was looking for aKnuckle or Big Twin Flathead, but I just couldn’t find something in myprice range. I had the money from selling the ’77 Shovel to play with butthat was it. I started looking at 45 flatheads. I talked to a few peopleand decided I could make a decent bar hopper out of an old 45.

I found a 1949 flathead 45 in New Jersey. It was pretty much a stocker andin good shape. The motor was fresh and so was the tranny. I got her for$6,700 bucks. I already knew what I wanted the bike to look like. I wanteda 40’s-50’s style bobber, like some of the bikes in the movie the WildOne. When I got the bike home, I watched that movie a couple of times torefresh my memory. So with air grinder in hand I chopped, bobbed, paintedand modified that baby until she was all mine. It came out like I had hopedit would.

The bike has a 33-tooth motor sprocket, larger throat Linkert carb withadjustable high and low speed jets, less restrictive exhaust and lessweight (thanks to the bob job). She’s good for cruising at 65-70mph all daylong and can reach 75. It has very little chrome so she’s easy to clean up.I’m having a blast riding her even with the snow on the ground.

It’s Valentines day tomorrow and I’m talking the wife out for a niceromantic dinner. Even though I’m a selfish ass sometimes, I’m notheartless.

–Frank Falco

Thanks for the reminder.

AD AUTHORITY SLASHES SPRING BREAK PROMOTION SPENDING– The Halifax Area Advertising Authority, stung by criticism of its continuing promotion of Spring Break, voted Wednesday to slash funding for the event.

Marketer wants Spring Break promotion continuedCutting the funding for marketing Spring Break to college students wouldn’t slow down or even kill the event, according to the firm hired to promote it for the past several years.

Beachside residents, on the whole,want Spring Break to stayThis year Spring Breakers partied like it was 1989. But despite the outrage local politicians and residents expressed over the destructive behavior, public drunkenness and bared breasts of the Breakers just passed, the 2002 version came nowhere close to that rupturing pustule of wall-to-wall puking, peeing and pugilism 13 years ago that propelled beleaguered residents to cry “Enough!”

–from News Journal and Rogue

VANSON LEATHERS AT INDY DEALER SHOW–This is the new Big Savings Voucher, the most important part of our continuing VanBucks program. In addition to the three discount levels of the previous program we?ve added a new fourth tier to further increase the savings on some of our most popular styles. As with the previous program you provide the retail discount to the customer and return to us a copy of the sales receipt and filled out warranty card for the garment sold. We then credit you your portion of the discount as a credit going forward on future orders.

New to this pricelist is the Medium Weight Firenze Leather section. The styles in this section will be stocked in our new full-finished cowhide that provides an alternative for the customer who feels that the standard weight Vanson leather is too stiff for their tastes.The leather for the garments in the Firenze section is already broken in for the feel of instant gratification that a favorite old coat can bring.

Come see us at the Motorcycle Dealer Powersports Expo in Indianapolis on February 15th-17th. We are in booth #3100 with exciting new styles and new leather. We look forward to your visit there and to a profitable 2003. Check http://www.vansonleathers.com/

BIKERNET WORDS OF WISDOM–It used to be only death and taxes were inevitable. Now, of course, there’s shipping and handling, too.

IMPROVED SEAL FOR 5-SPEEDS– (Dealer Expo, Big Twin Expo, Booth 3564).Johnson Engineering will introduce new technology to alleviate the age oldproblem of leaking transmission oil seals at the Dealer Expo IndianapolisTrade Show, Big Twin Expo, Booth 3564.

Improved products include a significant upgrade to the company’s exclusivetriple lip design for 5-speeds. The new design features a hybridrubber/metallic compostition that prevents the seal from popping out of thebore after installation. Other improvements include a major upgrade in thespring that reduces tension pressure without affecting sealing capablity,for even longer lip life.

New products include the introduction of a combination spacer and O-ringfor older Big Twin 4-speeds. Long a problem, Johnson Engineering has solvedthe problem of sealing the mainshaft by integrating an O-ring with thespacer. Installation is accomplished with a unique, disposable tool thatprotects the O-ring during installation.

Also featured will be a new installation tool for the use on 5-speeds.Research has shown that the vast majority of leaks actually begin duringinstallation, even though no apparant damage can be detected.

Johnson Engineering is the new leader in V-Twin drivetrain performance,including their signature products TwistGear, SportGear, and WideGear closeratio helical gear designs.

GASOLINE SOLUTION!–We CAN buy gasoline that’s not from Middle East. Why didn’t George W.thinkof this? Gas rationing in the 80’s worked even though we grumbled aboutit.It might even be good for us! The Saudis are boycotting American goods.Weshould return the favor. An interesting thought is to boycott theirGAS.Every time you fill up the car, you can avoid putting more money intothecoffers of Saudi Arabia. Just buy from gas companies that don’t importtheiroil from the Saudis. Nothing is more frustrating than the feeling thatevery time I fill-up the tank, I am sending my money to people who aretrying to kill me, my family, and my friends. I thought it might beinteresting for you to know which oil companies are the best to buy gasfromand which major companies import Middle Eastern oil (for the period9/1/00-8/31/01):

Shell……………………….205,742,000 barrels
Chevron/Texaco………144,332,000 barrels
Exxon /Mobil…………….130,082,000 barrels
Marathon/Speedway…117,740,000 barrels
Amoco…………………….62,231,000 barrels

If you do the math at $30/barrel, these imports amount to over $18BILLION!Here are some large companies that do not import Middle Eastern oil:

Citgo………………..0 barrels
Sunoco…………. .0 barrels
Conoco…………. ..0 barrels
Sinclair…………… 0 barrels
BP/Phillips………. 0 barrels
Hess……………….0 barrels

All of this information is available from the Department of Energy andeachis required to state where they get their oil and how much they areimporting. They report on a monthly basis. Keep this list in your car;share it with friends. Stop paying for terrorism………….

GIGGIE’S HANGOVER CURE AND ACID RECOMMENDATIONS–Hangover Cure–don’t stop drinking. Giggie knew he had a problem when he brushed his teeth with a Pabst Blue Ribbon in his hand.

Preparations for Acid Trips. Pump the Vitamin C all week, then take some Valium before the Acid. Curbs the anxiety, let’s the colors flow.

Sprinkle the Magic Mushroom in Spaghitti sauce. Buy Mushrooms in their own juice. Do shots of the juice with Kesslers for a killer high.

–Giggie

SUE HAPPY–A Philadelphia restaurant was ordered to pay Amber Carson of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, $113,500 after she slipped on a soft drink and broke her coccyx (tailbone). The beverage was on the floor because Ms. Carson had thrown it at her boyfriend 30 seconds earlier during an argument.

THE END OF THE LINE–I confess. There’s two women in the house, a new bottle of Jack and my American Rider deadline is somewhat under control. I think you’ll like how the King will turn out. I tried to black out 90 percent of the bike. I need to see Henry Figueroa around the corner about filling the holes in the tip of the rear fender and painting it. I’m using a Street stalker fender on the front (no rivets and bobbed). I will need to paint the taillight which is plastic.

I will kneel to the gods tonight in prayers that the parts arrive safely in Texas. Now, the girls and jack are waiting. Tomorrow, it’s Friday and the sun is threatening to show up. I’ve got some plans which I hope will include a ride on the Pan. Have a helluva weekend.

–Bandit