Mayor Mark Carstensen said the Sturgis motorcycle rally held annually in August is still on.  “We’re 100 percent on planning the rally,” said Carstensen at a March 25 news briefing at Sturgis City Hall. Carstensen said the rally is five months away and he hopes the virus will have run much of its course well before the end of summer.  He said city planners would continue to assess the situation, with June providing a potential time frame for any decision regarding the rally. To receive the most accurate updates he encourages people to use the “official” channel at the City of Sturgis. “Obviously, this is an ever-changing thing. It’s late March, we still have a little time here to see what develops before we start talking seriously about anything from that,” he said.

Your Massachusetts Motorcycle Association is pleased to announce the 19th consecutive Motorcycle Safety Awareness Period in Massachusetts! This annual event has represented Motorcyclists across the Commonwealth in a coordinated effort between the MMA, the Massachusetts Office of the Governor, the MA Highway Safety Division, the MA Legislature, MassDOT, the MA RMV and the MA Rider Education Program to declare the month of April as “Motorcycle Safety & Awareness Period”.

In a Proclamation presented to the MMA and signed by Governor Charlie Baker, Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito, and Secretary of the Commonwealth William Francis Galvin, this year’s Motorcycle Safety Awareness Period runs from Monday, March 23rd to Thursday, April 30th, 2020.

With the early spring in Massachusetts this year, coupled with lighter-than-typical traffic, motorcyclists have taken to the road in large numbers. Yet, car and truck drivers are used to keeping their windows up and their eyes out for sanders, plows, and street sweepers, not the scores of motorcycles already hitting the roads on warmer days. Complicating matters, riders haven’t yet shaken off the winter cobwebs from their riding skills and aren’t prepared for roads scarred by winter plows and sanders, much less the traffic that isn’t yet looking for them!

This year, more than ever, we need vigilance on our bikes and we need the cooperation of all traffic. While many remain cooped up indoors due to the COVID-19 crisis, still others are taking every opportunity to get outside for some fresh air. Motorcycling remains a great outlet for that, but some who take to the roads in cars and trucks are on a mission and focused on getting from point A to B and back again, rather than paying attention to smaller vehicles like Motorcycles.

Your Massachusetts Motorcycle Association established an annual Motorcycle Safety Awareness Period in conjunction with the Commonwealth to assure that this crucial period as spring flowers start to bloom and motorcyclists hit the roads would be as smooth of a transition as possible. 20 years ago, members of the then Board of Directors, officers, and of course the members, lobbied our Legislature to implement this crucial period at a time when motorcyclists would be once again leave their winter cocoons for sunny roads.

Overall Motorcycle Fatalities have decreased by approximately 30% since 2002, during a period in which motorcycle Registrations increased by roughly the same rate. The MMA believes the annual Motorcycle Safety Awareness Period is a significant contributor to this since it reminds all motorists to share the road at the most critical point in the riding season.

In support of the Motorcycle Safety Awareness Period, the MMA is promoting the period through various media outlets including RMV offices and highway signs. Additionally, lawn signs and bumper stickers with the “LOOK! For Motorcycles” slogan are available to riders at no charge from your MMA District Officers and at most MMA events.

MMA Members are also eligible for discounts at MMA Gold Card Sponsor training schools including Training Wheels, Inc., and Massachusetts Motorcycle School. The programs available through the Massachusetts Rider Education Program are a great way to hone your riding skills and shake off the cobwebs in a safe environment.

Your Massachusetts Motorcycle Association asks all roadway users to SHARE THE ROAD and to LOOK! for Motorcycles!

For More Information, see http://www.MassMotorcycle.org or contact SafetyDirector@MassMotorcycle.org

###

©2020 Massachusetts Motorcycle Association

Have you renewed your Massachusetts Motorcycle Association Membership?

Purchase your 2020 MMA Harley Davidson Bike Raffle Tickets!

A STRICT Limit of ONLY 2,500 Available!

Support your MMA Gold Card Sponsors! They support you!

Why not support your MMA with AmazonSmile?

Click here or go to www.MassMotorcycle.org today!

Outreach in Daytona Beach helping to Keep America Great Again!

 This year, fellow Americans, is the time to get your shit together!

Our country has the best President ever, and we need to keep him in office

For 4 more! 

 We only have 8 months until the election, and being complacent and thinking

President Trump is going to win won’t work this time. Make sure you GET OUT AND VOTE

RED in November! 

The future of America depends on you and your vote!

Don’t be one who thinks: OK he won last time, he’ll do it again this time!!!

DO YOUR PART!!!

Helping spread the word in and around Daytona this year

were members of Bikers for Trump! It wasn’t a rally held just in one place, but a

Campaign of Publicity to reach more people in the biker world!

Dale Herndon, National Director of Bikers for Trump was in town

For some PR & R&R but also to follow up with some folks that have been

ultra-supportive of the organization over the years. 

 Bikers for Trump was accompanied by Kathy from the Republican Party of Volusia County

who provided on-site Voter Registration to the masses during Choppertime! 

Bikers for Trump had a booth of information/merchandise set up at Willie’s Tropical Tattoo Choppertime Show on Thursday, March 12, 2020, courtesy of Willie… a staunch TRUMP supporter.

 For his part of supporting BFT over the years, Willie was presented with a Certificate of Appreciation from the organization by Dale.

 

 Shawn Quinn 95.7 the HOG, Daytona’s Rock Station interviewing

Dale about Bikers for Trump – Spread the Word! Trump 2020!

 Friday the 13^th started off at American’s for Constitutional Rights, Post 1 in Holly Hill for Breakfast. 

 

 While at the Post – Bikers for Trump awarded a Certificate of Appreciation to Amy – Kitchen Manager –with a thank you for supporting the Bikers for Trump Breakfast Meet and Greet.

 Check out this cool homemade shirt that one of the patrons designed and made himself!

Definitely sounds like a great idea to keep the TRUMP TRAIN rolling along for years!!!

 Next stop was Destination Daytona where new members were signed up! BFT Literature Was distributed to many! 

 Europeans were even eager to meet Bikers for Trump members, as many of them thought very highly of our POTUS. 

 Indian Motorcycles- Charlotte – See you at the RNC!

 Met up with many veterans supporting President Trump 2020!

 Stopped by The Beaver Bar in Ormond Beach where BFT presented Leslye Beaver with a certificate of appreciation for her help and support over the past 4 years in Myrtle Beach, Florida, and Sturgis. 

 She has been an ardent support of our President and BFT. 

 This certificate was just a small token of appreciation. For helping

Capping off the day of community outreach was a stop at the World Famous Iron Horse Saloon in Ormond Beach. 

Denny Tipton, National Coordinator for Bikers for Trump, gave the introduction to the Bike Week 2020 debut of “Freedom isn’t Free” with lyrics and music by

Tommy Roxx (Douthat) and Nuthin’ Fancy – a Lynyrd Skynyrd Tribute Band. 

 The crowd cheered for BFT, Freedom, and of course – the band kicked ass! Even the lighting was red, white and blue! 

https://www.facebook.com/dee.macl/videos/10217136667751929/UzpfSTEwMDAwMDE3ODMyNzM5MzpWSzo1MDk0NjQ2NDYzODAzMTc/

 Future events at least through April 2020 on the Bikers for Trump calendar are on hold and under review. No one can tell how long this pandemic with Covid-19 is going to last. 

While you may have more keyboard time than usual due to being “Socially distanced” or on lock down – take some time to check out Bikers for Trump and what the organization stands for:

 www.findmystate.com

 Anyone who is an American Patriot can join the group in your state of residence.

 https://www.bikersfortrumppac2020.com

 

by Rahul Kapoor from https://www.financialexpress.com/

Due to the Coronavirus forcing the cancellation of the Osaka and Tokyo Motorcycle Shows, Honda has taken digital measures to showcase its new concept. Say hello to the Honda CB-F Concept retro-sports-naked motorcycle.

Honda was scheduled to premiere its all-new concepts and motorcycles at the 36th Osaka Motorcycle Show 2020 and the 47th Tokyo Motorcycle Show. However, as both events have now been cancelled due to the global epidemic of the coronavirus, Honda decided that they were having none of it and went on with the premiere of their biggest showcase of the event, digitally.

Honda has revealed its new concept motorcycle, the Honda CB-F Concept, a retro-styled sports naked motorcycle, a category that Honda likes to call “Neo-Retro Sports”. Honda has styled the concept to pay homage to the highly popular CB900F/CB750F models as a way to revisit the CB series’ six-decade-long history.

The concept is said to be powered by a 998cc, water-cooled, 4-valve, inline 4-cylinder DOHC engine is said to provide easy power through the rev range and ample torque. How much power and torque is something that Honda has decided to keep to themselves for the moment, although it is paired with a 6-speed transmission. But essentially, the underpinnings of the concept are similar to the CB1000R as the motor is the same 145hp unit that churns out 104Nm for the CB1000R. For suspension duties, Honda has employed inverted forks at the front and a mono-shock rear suspension with a single-sided swingarm which Honda is made from lightweight aluminium. The bike measures 2,120mm in length, 790mm in width, and 1,070mm in height.

Honda’s current global line-up consists of two high-capacity bikes in this segment. They include the CB1100 and the CB1300. The CB-F concept could spawn a replacement for the CB1000R making way for a new “Neo-Retro Sports” bike.

Honda had plans to showcase some more bikes at the now cancelled events. So it has now decided to host a “Honda Virtual Motorcycle Show” on its website where it is showcasing 29 motorcycles covering various categories including the CB-F Concept, all which were supposed to make their debut at the Osaka and Tokyo motorcycle shows.

20th Century Board Track Racing
By Rogue with Photos By MISLED

Sons of Speed vintage bike races created by Billy Lane of Choppers Inc, were inspired by motorcycle racing in the early 20th- century board-track racing. At the time they were the largest spectator sport in the country.

READ THE FULL EVENT COVERAGE ON BIKERNET – CLICK HERE

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by Geoff Hill from https://www.mirror.co.uk

Starring in his own remake of Freezy Rider, our man Hill tackles the elements to see if the Beemer has what it takes in the tough middleweight sector and finds it’s close, but not quite a cigar

It was freezing, raining and blowing a gale – and I was on a bike with zero miles and new tyres.

Perfect conditions, then, for pushing the limits of the Bavarian firm’s naked roadster whose mission, should it choose to accept it, was to give a good spanking to Triumph’s new Tiger 900 and the established and very popular Yamaha MT-09.

“Mmmm. I’d start in Rain mode if I was you,” said Ian at the dealership, slapping me cheerily on the back and going back to his nice warm office, the swine.

Oh well, I was obviously being punished after getting home from back to back launches in southern Spain and Morocco, and at least first impressions of the Beemer were good – compact but comfortable riding position, tilting you forward in a mildly sporty fashion on to the bars to give you a view of decent mirrors and a fairly simple but informative TFT screen.

A quick toggle of the Mode button through Road, Dynamic and Dynamic Pro into Rain, another toggle of the Electronic Suspension Adjustment to solo rider with luggage to take account of the fact that I’m heavier than the average ride, three presses of the heated grips button to get them up to the maximum setting – and I was off.

The fuelling at low revs was slightly snatchy and acceleration in Rain mode was a stately affair, and was never going to set my pants on fire, particularly since they were now soggy anyway.

Why BMW designs very expensive suits with the waterproof lining on the inside is a mystery to me. I wore one for a round-the-world trip and, in heavy rain, everything in the outside pockets got soaked.

Anyway, where was I? Ah yes, on the F900 R in the rain.

Good points so far – the quickshifter on the SE model I was riding was perfect, snicking seamlessly through the six-speed box both up and down, and handling was light and neutral, although I was still taking it relatively gently on those shiny new tyres, even though with traction control, I was unlikely to come a serious cropper.

With Brembos and big twin discs up front, stopping was linear and progressive, with cornering ABS on the SE model to give me a nice warm feeling of safety.

Oh, wait, that nice warm feeling wasn’t the ABS – it was the heated grips, which were so good that even in the sub-zero temperatures, my pinkies were in danger of bursting into flames and I had to wind them back to the 2 setting.

Right, that was it – I was bored with Rain mode, and the roads were drying out a bit anyway, so it was toggle time again, to Road mode, and while I was at, changing the suspension mode from Road to Dynamic.

That was more like it – progress became satisfyingly swift, accompanied by a meaty rasp from the exhaust and, with the bike hunkered down and firmed up, it flung itself into corners with a nice combination of enthusiasm and precision.

Things got even better in Dynamic mode and I think once the tyres were scrubbed in, I’d leave it in that all the time and use Road if it was raining.

On the base model, you only get Rain and Road riding modes, sadly, and no Electronic Suspension Adjustment.

The verdict? The Yamaha MT-09 is more powerful and aggressive, but the BMW makes peak power and torque at lower revs. It’s also cheaper and has more tech, including the electronically adjustable suspension, which makes it more user-friendly and a slightly plusher ride, and with BMW luggage attached, more suitable for touring.

We had a tough day today. The weather was clear and the roads around the Port of Los Angeles empty as we rolled the Salt Torpedo out of the shop.

I was supposed to be a final test run to determine whether the ignition stumble we discovered in the desert was remedied. We had also experienced a slight shimmy in the handling, so I added more rake for more stability.

Today before taking it off the lift we needed to adjust the toe-in and we did. With everything tightened we were ready for a final test run before installing the painted body work and preparations to haul ass to Bonneville. All seemed to be good to go as the Torpedo fired to life and Micah dropped the clutch.

He recently discovered that he had another son, Eddie, who runs E2 Metal Works in Bakersfield, with his wife, Emilia. His business is all about CNC Plasma Metal Design and fabrication. Today, Micah arrived with his new son Eddie and his pal, Mike. We immediately set to work prepping for a pass down the street, which has its pitfalls.

It’s a city street complete with cops, and we aren’t prepped for papers, plates or registration. The torpedo has no lights, no turn-signals, you name it. But since the virus has attacked our lives, the streets were void of traffic, especially on a Sunday as I asked Micah to take it easy and test the handling first.

There’s something about the Salt Torpedo that brings out the speed in a man. As soon as he caught a gear he nailed it and felt the rear tire break loose as it acted like a rocket ship that wants to fly into the next atmosphere. Unfortunately that didn’t happen today. He reached the second block at about 80 and attempted to turn.

This puppy was designed to go straight, and I had added more rake to the dragster front end, almost 15 degrees. It wanted to go straight in the worst way. We’re not sure what happened, but he hit a curb and it flipped the torpedo. He was unhurt, but we lost the front axle and perhaps both front wheels. We’ll bring you a full report in the very near future.–Bandit

by Brett Berk from https://www.wired.com

To fill the aural vacuum left by the disappearance of the engine, BMW brought in a ringer.

Thelma & Louise. Rain Man. The Lion King. True Romance. Interstellar. Dunkirk. Each film works to take its viewers on an emotional journey, and each leans on a shared tool: a Hans Zimmer score that serves as a guide, signaling joy, grief, conflict, passion, and more in turn. Now, though, the Oscar-winning composer has turned his talents away from the silver screen and toward the windscreen, where he’s found a new vehicle that could use a touch of emotional direction: the electric car.

Along with more than 500 horsepower and a range of 370 miles, BMW’s all-electric Concept i4 comes with music by Zimmer. These mini scores, which BMW calls “sound worlds,” will ripple out their smoothly vibrant vibrato—think Lionel Hampton on the theremin—when the doors open, as the car starts up, and as the car drives along the road.

On the i4, a concept four-door coupe BMW unveiled earlier this month, the composition morphs slightly based the car’s current driving modes, whether “core,” “sport,” or “efficient.” Zimmer and his collaborator, BMW sound designer Renzo Vitale, call the i4’s soundtrack “Limen,” the word for the threshold below which a stimuli can’t be perceived. It’s all about connecting sound to an emotional experience, which in this case happens to be driving on battery power instead of watching Rafiki hoist Simba into the air.

“We are at a moment in time, with electric cars, when we get to change the whole sonic landscape of everything in a vehicle,” Zimmer says. “We can allow the interiors of cars to set moods and give people an experience, to let people devise their own experience, not be forced into the rumbling of a petrol engine anymore.”

Zimmer’s BMW sound worlds are in concept form now, but the company intends to roll them out over the next few years on more than two dozen electric vehicles. That will start with the production version of the i4, later in 2021.

The key here is that by replacing a rumbling engine with a silent battery and whirring motors, BMW and every other automaker are ditching the sonic experience that has been part of the automobile for more than a century. Car lovers may miss the angry sewing machine clack of a Porsche 911’s flat-six, the throaty grumble and whine of a supercharged Dodge Hemi V8, or the cranial wail of a Ferrari V-12. So might unsuspecting new EV buyers. Without the rumpus of an internal combustion engine, wind roar and tire slap sound all the louder. Zimmer and Vitale strive not just to mask those perturbances but to add delight and uplift to the driving experience.

“Think about your morning, where you have to go and start your car and go to your job,” Zimmer says. “Wouldn’t it be nice if the starting sound was something beautiful, something that put a smile on your face, something that makes your day better?”

The score does sound energizing and engaging, especially in the symphonically crescendoing “sport” mode. It definitely doesn’t sound “rumbling.” But it has some additional, and perhaps questionable, 1970s sci-fi movie overtones.

“There’s this idea that all battery electric cars should sound like a spaceship,” says Jonathan Price, senior research and development manager for Harman, a sound engineering firm that supplies the automotive industry with stereo systems, speakers, noise-cancellation equipment, and electric vehicle soundtracks–both internal and external. “Unfortunately, we don’t know what a spaceship sounds like, right? None of us have ever heard a spaceship before.”

Price is working with consumers as well as client automakers to create a relevant vocabulary for the sounds they will soon be adding to the interiors and—as regulation requires—exteriors of electric vehicles. Following recent research, his team came up with 40 different terms ranging from, as Price says, “something really progressive and futuristic—the pulsing, the whirring, the droning—all the way up to something more aggressive.”

The goal here is not just to update our terminology for car sounds, but to assist with their identification and branding. And there, Price’s work aligns with Zimmer’s. The composer’s parents always drove BMWs, and he could pick out the unique tone of their Bimmer from the balcony. “When I heard that sound,” he says, “everything was fine. Safety. Mom and Dad were home.”

Likewise, contemporary carmakers want to create soundtracks that will help people identify, and identify with, their vehicles. And because this sound is no longer tied to a physical source, like an engine, the potential choices are boundless. Which presents automakers with a new kind of quandary.

“Everybody wants to have something iconic,” Price says, pointing to how Harley Davidson attempted to patent the sound of its motorcycles’ exhaust note. So he wants his team to create the tones that will distinguish a Ford EV from a Hyundai EV. “These need to not only be very unique sounds, they need to be pleasing,” Price says. “Almost like a piece of jewelry that you wear and you hope other people envy.”

Maybe you’re wondering if all of this runs counter to one of the core promises of electric cars, the luxury of silence at speed. But Zimmer argues that for many, silence is unnerving, especially at speed. It can feel uncanny, unmoored from the physical processes that provide acceleration. When Zimmer scored Interstellar, he played on that feeling to convey the awe of rocket travel. The blastoff was the loudest moment of the film, and he blew out a few speaker systems before getting it right. But then the score goes silent. “That’s when everything was at astronomical speeds,” Zimmer says.

In any case, people aren’t seeking total silence. As automakers got better at isolating their customers from engine noise with better insulation, double-paned windows, and active noise cancellation, some customers complained. So manufacturers started piping engine noise into the cabin. BMW went further, playing artificial tunes through the stereo system. Some of this desire for sound at speed, or sound correlated to speed, may be out of habit, a generational quest for the familiar, the way that the keyboards on smart phones still make typing noises, or the cameras on smart phones still make shutter clicks. Zimmer thinks that this may vanish over time. “I think it’s sort of important to leave nostalgia behind,” he says.

Then he reconsiders. “As I said that, I suddenly remembered that every sci-fi movie we have ever seen is incredibly nostalgic.” He points to Blade Runner and Interstellar. Perhaps our dreams of the future are always enmeshed with our fantasies of the past. And our dream cars will always sound like the vehicles from our outmoded idea of the future, like something out of The Jetsons, because that’s what reassures us.

Zimmer sees his automotive work as fostering the way a car catalyzes this kind of big-picture thinking. “A car is such a great place to think, it’s such a great place to dream and have your own thoughts,” he says. “The car is the perfect private place to have constantly great ideas.”

 

 79^th Daytona Beach Bike Week got It’s humble beginning way back in 1937 and started as the Daytona 200 – a motorcycle race that was actually a 3.2 mile course including beach and roadway.   Picture that – high banking on sand – in view of the Atlantic Ocean – musta been a sight – especially with all that iron – newer to them then. Now, all vintage iron to us.

 

 

 Sons of Speed 10 Vintage Motorcycle Race at the New Smyrna Speedway helped to kick off the first weekend of Bike Week. Check Rogue’s coverage. 

CLASSES 

Hot 61”

Early 61”

45” Class

30.50

Unlimited

 

 

 

 This year, Billy and Erin gave fans an opportunity to purchase general admission, VIP or HOT passes giving different levels of access to the track, stands, infield, and events. They put a lot of blood, sweat, and ….you got it….gears into the preparation and execution of this event!!!

(I’m sure the tears may flow as well….hopefully happy ones!!!) 

 

 

This year, the race wrapped up with the first ever unofficial, best of the worst race….a grudge match of brothers held after the last official race and award presentation. Definitely worth sticking around for…

A little insider action before the start: “Freddy hugged everbody before we raced. He hugged Chuck, but it was really Carey in Chuck’s gear and a fake beard…..CHEATER!!!!!”   It’s all good!

1^st Place – Worse – Chad Bolender – Fathead Flatheads

2^nd Place – Worser – Freddie Bollwage – GodSpeed Racing

3^rd Place – Worserer – Steve “Hot Shot” Aretz – Team Hot Shot

4^th Place – Worsererer – Ryan “Radical Ryan” Meece – GodSpeed Racing

Who knows…maybe next time we’ll see Turbo Charged!!! (inside joke)

 

 This year, Bike Week had an air of uncertainty that was brought in all from bikers all over the country. Seems that some tiny, unseen force was creeping its way into the area – and casting a spell over the entire US of A.

 

 But judging by the attendance, the spell wasn’t working in Daytona and surrounding areas…

 Bikers are a resilient bunch. And no, the word is not “re-silent”!   Bikers and silent don’t really go together!

Nuthin’ Fancy, the Lynyrd Skynyrd Tribute Band headed up by Lead Singer , Tommy Roxx (Douthat) kicked ass Friday night , March 13^th – at the Iron Horse.   This was the live, Ormond Beach debut of his song “Freedom isn’t Free”, honoring this great nation of ours, and the service men and women who made it that way. The crowd was wowed by the lyrics of this song – and it hit home for many. What a perfect end to Friday the 13^th!

https://www.facebook.com/dee.macl/videos/10217136667751929/UzpfSTEwMDAwMDE3ODMyNzM5MzpWSzo1MDk0NjQ2NDYzODAzMTc/

 

  (Rekindled memories of years back – trying to eliminate Bike Week Downtown.)

 HAHAHA!! Like a bad virus, Bike Week then began its spread northwards toward Ormond and Korona, and Southward to Edgewater…and westward into Deland. Hell, even the Mouse House town gets into the event hosting shit all week. 

(Wonder if the City returned any portion of the fees to the vendors for a shortened permit time?)

Sunday Morning brought the last day of partying…and bikes lined Main Street. Tents were closed up – but the stores and most bars were throttled WIDE OPEN. 

Here’s how I’ll remember 2020 Bike Week in Daytona Beach…

 

 MAYBE HE “ HIT “ THE CASE OF CORONA!!!!

 

GOOD NIGHT AND RIDE SAFE!

WASH YOUR HANDS!

WEAR A MASK!

WEAR GLOVES!

SOCIAL DISTANCE YOURSELVES!

A short time later, Liz calls. “Hello Mama.”

“Lizzy, I know this must be hard for you, but please hear me out.”

“I’m listening, Mama.”

“I need to see you, Lizzy. Now.”

“I’m in Kathmandu,” Liz replies dryly.

“I’m in New Delhi; I’ve been here for three years. Lizzy, I work in a world of secrets, and you’re a CSS Agent. You of all people know what it means to be covert, even with the ones you love.”

“But seven years, Mama? Seven years. I thought you were dead.”

“Will you come tomorrow? I have flights booked from Katmandu. You can bring your friend if you wish.” There is a long pause.

“Lizzy?”

“Yes Mama.” Liz is silently crying. “I will come.”

*

Kathmandu to New Delhi is only a 45-minute flight. Liz is quiet. She wants me to come for support but isn’t talking.

“Not to pry, Liz,” I venture, “but you’ve told me that Voodoomama traffics in human organs and makes potions and elixirs that simulate death and turn people into zombies. Should I be concerned?”

Staring out the airplane window, Liz states flatly, “She’s a doctor and a biochemist.”

We land, and her agent instincts kick in. Liz moves cat-like through the crowd to a dark corner and surveys the room. After a few minutes, she walks right up to a woman completely covered in a traditional East Indian dress.

“Hello Mama.”

The woman hands Liz prayer beads, “Hi Lizzy. So good to see you. Follow me.” We all headed out of the airport into a waiting limousine.

“You never quit, do you Mama?”

“No, I never quit.” She drops her veil and flashes a radiant smile. If I weren’t already in love with Liz, I’d fall hard for her mother.

“So this is Zac. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

“As it is you, Miss Duran,” I reply.

The capital of India, New Delhi is a city built upon cities. There are at least eight historical Delhis, each constructed on, or near, the ruins of its predecessor. The result is a modern-day citadel that’s dotted with ancient monuments, many said to be haunted by djinns (spirits). Within, a population of almost 22 million people battle the hectic streets and alleys with carts and cycle-rickshaws, with cows and monkeys, with shoppers and with beggars, with street-food sellers and market traders. Honking cars, vans and scooters provide an endless orchestra of sonic chaos.

We drive out of the city madness to a large well-staffed estate in a gorgeous gated community reminiscent of Beverly Hills. Voodoomama removes her Indian garb to reveal a statuesque, shapely figure. The mansion is filled with antiquities.

Voodoomama turns to me. “Zac, do you mind? I want to spend a little time with Lizzy. Please feel free to enjoy the pool. Swim trunks and the fully staffed bar and kitchen are at your disposal. I even have a box of El Ray Del Mundos. Please, I want you both to relax and enjoy your time here.” The women disappear.

She has my favorite cigar. Now let’s see if the bartender can mix my favorite drink, a Vesper Martini. The bartender doesn’t even wince at the word Vesper. I watch as he pours two parts Vodka, one Part Gin, and a dash of Lillet Vermouth, vigorously shaken, into a chilled martini glass with a whole sliced lemon. It’s exquisite. We exchange grins as he sets the box of El Ray Del Mundos on the bar. He clips one, warms the tip with a lighter, and hands me the cigar as I puff it to life. This guy’s good. I saunter over to enjoy the pool view, very James Bond, sans the bevy of scantily clad Bond girls.

*

Meanwhile, I later learn from Liz, the distance between Voodoomama and her disappears. There is an ineffable bond between mother and daughter that, even if broken, heals itself with love. They quickly catch up on the past.

“What happened in Oklahoma? Why did you get Zac involved when that wasn’t the directive?” Voodoomama asks.

“Something was wrong,” Liz replies. “I didn’t know exactly what it was at the time, but Zac’s appearance gave me the opportunity I was looking for. And I was right. I trusted my team explicitly, like family, and when we discovered Doc was a mole, that’s when everything began to unravel.”

“He’s not part of our world Lizzy. There’s too much you can’t disclose.”

“That’s exactly why Zac and I connect so well. Secrecy and deceit are the currencies of my profession and yours. But Zac is honest. He couldn’t deceive me if he tried, unlike everyone else in our world.”

“What else did you learn?” Voodoomama questions.

“That General Madison is and has been manipulating the government programs he oversees for personal gain.”

*

By the time Liz and Voodoomama reappear, I’m two Vespers and two ice-cold vodka tonics deep, floating on a raft. I hear their echo in the distance; they laugh like children.

“Hey Zac!” Liz brays. I give ‘em thumbs up and the ladies twitter.
Whatever spell Voodoomama has put on Liz, I approve. “C’ mon Zac, it’s dinner time,” Liz chimes.

Voodoomama has changed into a bikini and sheer wrap, revealing a stunning figure. Although she’s 29 years older, she could easily pass as Liz’s sister.

As we enter the dining room, Liz sees a sword in a glass case. “You still have the Saber of Fate,” she says, smiling at Voodoomama.

“I keep it with me everywhere I live,” her mother replies in a severe tone.
Liz opens the glass case which houses the sword and an ornate black box. She opens the box, taps its handle to something in the box, then pulls the saber out of its sheath.

“Be careful, Liz.”

Liz explaines. “This is the only one ever made, and it’s over 1500 years old. Made of mysterious alloys that make it lighter than aluminum yet stronger than titanium and the blade is sharper than a modern-day razor. Only its owner can use this sword; no other can remove it from its sheath. When presented to the Chinese warrior emperor who commissioned it, he beheaded the artisan with the sword so no other would be forged.”

Liz walks over to a tall, thick candle in tall silver candelabra on the dining room table and takes a swing with the sword.

“Ha, you missed,” I laugh.

Liz taps the candle with the tip of the sword and falls to the floor, cut so cleanly that the sword strike hadn’t moved it. She puts away the sword and pulls out the black wooden box, opening it to reveal a petrified hand and an ornate silver ring with Lapis Lazuli stone.

“It’s the emperor’s hand with the Keystone ring,” Liz states. “Only the wearer of the ring can remove the sword from its sheath; otherwise, it’s locked. This sword has slain tens of thousands, toppled dynasties and commanded great wealth.” Voodoomama chimes in, “Both the ring and sword are made from the same unknown alloy, and when they come in contact, there is a magnetic reaction. When in its sheath, there’s a positive-negative magnetic force so strong the sword can’t be removed. When touched by the ring, it reverses polarity and glides easily out. I’ve had the sword and ring examined by many scientists, but none can explain it.”

We sit down at the dinner table. “Ok… So, Voodomama,” I begin, “what is it exactly that you’re doing out here in India?” The ladies look at each other and smile.

“Zac, my daughter likes you, and the last thing I want to do after all these years is to be dishonest or deceptive with you. I can’t talk about it, ever. So let’s talk about you. What’s next for the international moto/photo-journalist?”

“Well, I need to focus on our Himalayan travel story. The guy who runs Himalayan Roadrunners met his wife on a trek to Mt. Everest 24 years ago. She was his Sherpa; they married, had a son and lived in both Kathmandu and Vermont. I’m writing an in-depth feature on being Tibetan and American, and the politics and conflicts of culture.”

“Interesting,” she replies. “I’ve read your ‘Zen and the Art of Motorcycling China.’ Well done. I liked your personality profiles and perspective on the current Chinese economic state. You look into the heart of the cultures you visit and that’s commendable. You’re both welcome to stay here as long as you wish, but if I may make a suggestion… The owner of this house has a beautiful home in Nice, France that’s staffed year-round. He never goes there, and it’s a shame. He has an extensive motorcycle collection, all maintained. It would seem to be the perfect place to settle in for several months, finish your Himalayan story and write a few more. Liz, you speak French of course, plus the south of France has far better weather and food than India.” They laugh.

“Mama taught me how to ride at age 7.”

“Lizzy was bored with bicycles. I got her a Honda 90, and she started winning motocross races at 10 until she eventually got kicked out.”

“Yeah, I was running over all the boys, literally. Hit the sweet spot on the inside corner full throttle, the rear tire spins into the bike next to you, and they go down.”

The girls howl in glee. I don’t know what I’ve gotten myself into, but I like it. We spend the next several days relaxing and it’s very healing for Liz, as if she and her mother were never apart. All of our belongings are sent from Kathmandu and we’re booked for a flight to Nice, France.

“When will I see you again?” Liz anxiously asks.

“Soon. I will be in Nice next month.”

They hold a long hug; I can tell Liz is hiding her tears. We board the plane to France and again, she is quiet. I guess I better get used to the silent treatment while airborne.

We land at the Nice International Airport (Aeroport de Nice Cote d’Azur) located 20 minutes west of the city center and settle into a quiet taxi ride.

I love motorcycling in the south of France. Nice, Cannes Monte Carlo all have stunning coastal roads that skirt the French Riviera. The rolling hills of the Provence and the twisting mountain roads of the Alps are all within a day’s ride and is some of the most spectacular motorcycling in Europe. The Col de Turini in the French Alps is one of the most famous balcony roads—hair-raising lanes cut into the sides of sheer cliffs—in the country. The French Rivera reminds me of home, Malibu and the Pacific Coast Highway.

We pull into an estate that makes Voodoomama’s mansion look like a guest house. “Holy shit, who are these people?” I exclaim.

Liz retorts, “We probably don’t want to know.” We settle into one of the spacious bedrooms, but I am dying to see this so-called motorcycle collection. One of the staff takes us along a path to a separate barn-sized building. There must be a hundred motorcycles here. I can hardly breathe; this moto-journalist has died and gone to 2-wheeled heaven.

“Most will run, with a little TLC,” the caretaker of the collection says in an almost indecipherable French accent. As I walk down the line, I can name almost every bike and year. My god, it’s a 1915 Cyclone. Only 300 Cyclones were built, and only eight originals are known to exist. The Cyclone has a massive 1000cc engine and is able to hit 125 mph.

“Look, Liz! Two black Ducatis, just like yours!”

She kneels to examine the serial numbers. “These are mine. When did they arrive here?” she asks the caretaker.

“Three weeks ago,” he replies.

“So that means Mama had this all planned before we even went to the Himalayas. How could she have known? Damn her. Do you now understand whom you’re dealing with, Zac? El Rey Del Mudos, my Ducati’s… We are in the South of France for a reason. A far bigger picture is being painted, and we’re merely brushes in the hands of a master artist.”

*

Curiosity, the catalyst of great journalism, has me investigating every room in the mansion. Many are locked while curio cabinets filled with antiquities and other valuables are left open. The dining room drawers are filled with ornate silver cutlery. It is the library housing thousands of books, though, that intrigues me. Sitting at a massive oak desk, I find all the drawers locked. Then I spy something lying face down inside a bookshelf cubby, in perfect line of sight from the desk’s plush high-backed chair yet hidden from view elsewhere in the room. It’s a photograph of Dick Cheney, General Madison and the President in the oval office. I show Liz and ask, “Do you think this could be Cheney’s home?”

“That makes perfect sense. He could easily afford to live this lavishly.”

“Why do you think Voodoomama sent us here?” I wonder.

Liz shakes her head in distrust. “I do not doubt that we will find out soon enough.”