Meeting of the Minds Last week the 35^th Annual Meeting of the Minds was held in Bloomington, Minnesota. The gathering of so many dedicated and selfless motorcycle advocates in one place was powerful. We in D.C. are continually talking with lawmakers about our membership and the riding community but being in the same room with the people we represent further fueled our passion for advocating on your behalf. Two full days of meetings and panels covered a wide range of issues including collaboration between SMRO’s and clubs, lobbying tips and tricks, our health, being a better brother and sister, the MRF PAC and the establishment of the 2020 MRF legislative priorities. On Saturday night, we heard from two guest speakers. First Rep. Peter Stauber from the 8^th Congressional district of Minnesota spent 20 minutes discussing many of the issues we face at the federal level in D.C. Congressman Stauber is a member of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and pledged to work with the MRF to fight for our priorities in the upcoming transportation bill. Additionally, as a former law enforcement officer, he understood our concerns regarding motorcyclist profiling and was proud to be a cosponsor of H.Res. 255 since June. He offered to meet with the D.C. team in the coming weeks to follow up on our priorities. Second, State Senator John Hoffman from the Minnesota State Senate addressed the group. He spoke about working with local motorcycle rights groups and the battles and victories that have been fought at the State Capitol in St. Paul.   Having both a federal and a state elected officials speak to us demonstrates that motorcycle rights are a battle fought on different fronts.  State legislators and federal lawmakers each play a different but useful role in the fight for motorcycle rights. We want to thank ABATE of Minnesota for arranging the guest speakers. We want to recognize representatives from the American Motorcyclist Association and Harley Davidson for making the trip from D.C. to be a part of Meeting of the Minds. Collaboration between our organizations has been improving for the last few years, and we appreciate their willingness to visit with our members and continue working together on areas of common interest.  As always, the MRF board came to Minnesota a day early for a board meeting and overall review of the MRF as an organization. It goes without saying that these board members sacrifice their time, energy and money to sustain the MRF and the continued the fight for motorcyclist rights. Thank you to all the board members for their selfless efforts.  A special thanks to Fred Harrell, Director of Conferences & Events, for his work organizing the 35^th Meeting of the Minds.  Finally, none of this would have been possible without ABATE of Minnesota.  Our friends in Minnesota spent countless hours of their own time volunteering to ensure this edition of Meeting of the Minds went off without a hitch. We are grateful for their efforts and for setting a high standard for the 36^th edition of Meeting of the Minds in Indiana in 2020.  Be sure to mark your calendars to join us next year on September 24-27^th. Do Your Homework: As an advocate for motorcyclist rights, every member of the Motorcycle Riders Foundation should know one simple number, the number of motorcycles registered in your state. Whether you are meeting with a lawmaker, legislative staff or just having a dialogue with a non-rider, the ability to drop that number into a conversation is a powerful tool. Being able to quantify how many riders are in a given state demonstrates that motorcyclists are not some minor part of the transportation world but rather a substantial part of the fabric that makes up our state and local communities. Some states provide even more in-depth statistics including total driver licenses with motorcycle endorsements and motorcycle registrations by county. We encourage you to do your homework and gather as much data as possible. You never know when having motorcycle statistics at your fingertips will come in handy! Do you know how many motorcyclists are registered in your state? If not, click here to see the most recent statistics from the Federal Highway Administration 2016 report. Standing Update: We are currently at 91 cosponsors from 36 states and one territory for H. Res 255, the motorcycle profiling resolution. An additional 6 new cosponsors since our last update. The map below shows which states have at least one lawmaker signed on as a cosponsor.  Is your state not filled in yet?  Check with the D.C.  team about how we can work together to secure cosponsors from your state. As we continue to move the needle here on Capitol Hill,  we ask that you stand by for any future Calls to Action to help ensure that we can secure the passage of this resolution.

5 Ball Leather (8 Pocket). Features snap front closure with extended shirt-style tail that provides length in the trunk and delivers a slender look. All around one of the best fits.

The JAK Shirt Sleeveless Club is made from strong milled Buffalo leather, a top-grain quality leather (the most common type used in high-end leather products). It’s constructed at 0.9mm, a middle weight leather.

CLICK HERE TO BUY THE BEST BIKER RIDING GEAR.

EXTERIOR FEATURES:

• (2) chest pockets
• (2) waist pockets
• (1) Sunglasses pocket

INTERIOR FEATURES:

• (2) carry pockets with quick snaps
• (1) Media Pocket
• 100% cotton black/white plaid lining

The Sleeveless JAK Shirt is ideal warm weather riding gear. It features a middle weight leather and utilizes industrial-strength snaps for closure. It’s long like a shirt and provides a slimming effect.

Sleeveless JAK Shirt Sizing
Our JAK Shirt sizing runs true to sizing except for the sleeveless JAK Shirt. It runs approximately 1/2 size large do to the removal of the sleeves. The Sleeveless JAK Shirt is the Leatherman Multi-Tool of Mens Motorcycle Leather Shirt.

The JAK Shirt line is delivered with innovative features like a sunglasses pocket as well as conceal and carry pockets. The JAK Shirt line includes:

• Full sleeve
• Sleeveless
• 5/8 sleeve

All three JAK Shirts come with 5 outside pockets and two internal conceal pockets.

Standout features of the killer Jack Shirt line are double-needle seam construction (secure construction), leather neck trim (nothing flapping in the wind) and two inner conceal-carry pockets for those “safety first” moments.

Interior features include:

• 2 Gun pockets with quick snap
• 100% cotton black/white plaid lining
• 1 Media Pocket

Exterior features include:

• 2 chest Pockets (snap closure)
• 2 waist pockets
• 1 sunglasses pocket

Snaps – allow for easy and quick access to pockets with and without gloves.

Ride with confidence – Ever put your phone in your jacket pocket only to have it fall out when you sit down? We have. That’s why our JAK Shirt waist pockets are 11 inches long. Both waist outside pockets accommodates your keys, phone, garage door opener, beverage or anything else you need to secure.

Leather is a durable and flexible material. It provides safety on and off the bike. When not used, the 5-Ball Buffalo-constructed Jak Shirt 5/8 Sleeve can be rolled up and stored and then redeployed when needed.

Our sleeveless mens motorcycle leather shirt – JAK Shirt – comes with a bonus hidden media pocket and the back inside of the JAK Shirt. Room for a magazine, file folder or documents.

Keith “Bandit” Ball, Bikernet.com President, and Bob Kay, Designer, developed a line of Genuine Riding Apparel™ for cruiser, chopper and bobber riders. The 5-Ball Sleeveless JAK Shirts, jackets and vests are the Leatherman Multi-Tool of Mens Motorcycle Leather Shirts and vests and are known for their innovation, functionality and quality craftsmanship.

CLICK HERE TO BUY THE BEST BIKER RIDING GEAR.

We are one week away from the 19th Annual Vegas BikeFest! Are you Ready? We are ready for you! We have a full lineup planned and you don’t want to miss a thing! This is your once a year chance to party with all your riding buddies together in Vegas!

October 3-6, 2019

Check out the full schedule – Click here!

Prices Increase 10/3!

Party Pass – $45 goes up to $59

Ultimate Pass – $69 goes up to $89

VIP Pass – a limited number still available before 10/3 for $149!

To register for your pass, CLICK HERE.

Here are a few last minute reminders:

• Registration: Rally Central – New Location for 2019!
• Rally Central: Downtown Las Vegas Events Center – 3rd & Carson
• Rally Opens: 11AM daily Thursday-Sunday
• Where to park? Click here!
• Need to Rent A Bike? Click here!
• Events/Activities
• 4 Bike Shows
• ALL NEW – Hooligan Dirt Dash – Flat Track Racing at Core Arena/Plaza Hotel
• Headline Entertainment – Thursday through Saturday
• ALL NEW – Kickstand Cantina with Artistry in Iron Invited Builder Bike Display
• $5,000 in Shopping Spree Giveaways*
• Bikini and Miss Vegas BikeFest Contests
• Custom Harley-Davidson Giveaway*
• Lady Luck Fun Run**
• Saturday Poker Run**
• FREE Drinks Nightly*
• Food trucks!

Registration Parking located in free bike parking area on 3rd St.

Retraction exposes lack of statistical expertise in climate science

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-019-1585-5

A major scientific paper, which claimed to have found rapid warming in the oceans as a result of manmade global warming, has been withdrawn  after an amateur climate scientist found major errors in its statistical methodology.

The paper, from a team led by Laure Resplandy of Princeton University, had received widespread uncritical publicity in the mainstream media when it was published because of its apparently alarming implications for the planet. However, within days of its publication in October 2018, independent scientist Nic Lewis found several serious flaws.

Yesterday, after nearly a year’s delay, the paper was officially withdrawn.

Nic Lewis said

This is just the latest example of climate scientists letting themselves down by using incorrect statistics. The climate field needs to get professional statisticians involved up front if it is going to avoid this kind of embarrassment in future”.

Dr Benny Peiser, director of the Global Warming Policy Forum, said

Climatology is littered with examples of bad statistics, going back to the infamous Hockey Stick graph and beyond. Peer review is failing and it is falling to amateurs to find the errors. Scientists in the field should be embarrassed”.

The concept motorcycle is based on the Super Cub series, which has been very popular among customers all around the world, informs the Japanese automobile manufacturer.

Honda will display the Super Cub-based CT125 at the Tokyo Motor Show, informs the company in a release.

The concept motorcycle is based on the Super Cub series, which has been very popular among customers all around the world, informs the Japanese automobile manufacturer.

Apart from that, there will be a business-use electric scooter Benly e, an electric three-wheeler scooter Gyro e on display as well. Also, the CRF1100L Africa Twin Dual Clutch Transmission, CRF1100L AfricaTwin Adventure Sports ES Dual Clutch Transmission ADV150 too will be showcased at the event.

Among the cars, the company will showcase the all-new Accord, the new Fit that is known as Jazz in India along with the Honda e electric vehicle as well. Honda is expected to showcase some exciting technologies related to future mobility solutions.

By: Sabrina Giacomini at https://www.rideapart.com

In the automotive industry, BMW’s M division has become a synonym for performance. Pretty much anyone you ask whose favorite car is a Beemer is likely to add an “M” before the model number. For motorcycles, the “S” lineup has become the de facto sport standard, but according to recent trademarks, that could be about to change.

If you hear about the S 1000 RR or the S 1000 XR, whether you’re familiar or not with the model, chances are the S makes you think of “sport”. If we’re going to get technical, the letter-based nomenclature BMW uses refers to its engines rather than to the segment its motorcycles slot in—S implying the motorcycle uses an inline four engine.

A few years back, BMW tried to make HP4 Race happen—a race-ready version of the S 1000 RR. The model was anything but a commercial success and BMW had to rethink its strategy to make its high-performance bike sound inspiring.

It looks like the answer to that problem might come from the brand’s automotive lineup. Three trademarks filed by BMW with the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) in 2019 suggest that the M division will crossover to the motorcycle side. In fact, the company has secured the names M 1000 RR, M 1300 GS, and M 1000 XR.

Now, what should be interesting to see is whether BMW will replace the S 1000 RR and XR with the M 1000 RR and XR or if the Ms will become high-performance versions of the models. That is at least how the brand has proceeded with its cars (M3 for the 3 Series, M4 for the 4 Series, etc.)

Also interesting is the 1300 and GS combination—there currently isn’t any 1300 GS in the BMW Motorrad lineup (there isn’t even a 1300 displacement offered at the moment). Some sources who discussed the trademarks suggest this could be an amped up version of the current R 1250 GS with a new, bigger engine.

I believe the latter would be the more sensible move if the Germans’ sense of precision and order has any part to play in it.

At this early stage, it’s hard to tell whether BMW will execute the plan or not. It could possibly lead to a dead-end and be dropped altogether before it even makes it at the stage of concept. Wouldn’t be curious to know what an M 1300 GS would end up looking like?

 

Action, Events, Controversy, Rides and Reader Reports

This week was full of accomplishments and progress on the Salt Torpedo.

The Bikernet Weekly News is sponsored in part by companies who also dig Freedom including: Cycle Source Magazine, the MRF, Las Vegas Bikefest, Iron Trader News, ChopperTown, BorntoRide.com and the Sturgis Motorcycle Museum. Most recently the Smoke Out and Quick Throttle Magazine came on board.

READ THE WEEKLY NEWS IN THE CANTINA – CLICK HERE

Hey,

I apologize for not writing a Weekend Round-Up or posting a chapter about the Salt Torpedo. The week peeled away from me, and I had an ominous task on Wednesday. I had a VA hearing about my disability rating.

Although it all worked out, we fucked up and didn’t do the correct homework. I did some other homework with Dr. Hamster’s help, but it was for a claim, not the hearing. I have 60 days to procure the proper documents for the judge or die trying.

I was forced to crawl out of the sack at 5:30 for the 6:30 run to Wilshire Blvd. It took right at 2 hours to drive 28 miles. If I had walked out the door at 5:30 it would have taken 32 minutes, incredible.

This week was full of accomplishments and progress on the Salt Torpedo. The firewall is just about done, but I ran out of TIG welding fuel and had to haul the gigantic tank to the welding supply for a refill. We also had to run to Phillips Steel for a sheet of .090. They said they could bend it to our specifications. It’s taken longer, but I will pick it up tomorrow. Lead started to arrive this week, but the shipment was incorrect forcing me to reach out to the company for a fix.

I had my Nissan van serviced this week. Nissan has a problem. They claimed that the NV2500 would get 17-22 mpg. It doesn’t and folks complained, so they quickly changed the reports on the stickers to a notice that they will not publish this info because they are not reporting to the EPA. It’s bullshit, and I’ll bet they are about to get their asses sued. They can’t duck reporting.

Plus, by ducking the issue sales will plummet. Who is going to buy a van when they won’t tell you the mileage? I ended up making multiple trips to the dealer, before I could peel out to Wellington to find out about our Salt Shaker vinyl stickers and then to Phillips steel, where the short blonde smiled at me and said they haven’t picked up our shield yet. When she smiled, I melted and nodded and returned to my van empty-handed.

I’ll return everyday if she will always smile. Makes my day. Let’s hit the news:

The Bikernet Weekly News is sponsored in part by companies who also dig Freedom including: Cycle Source Magazine, the MRF, Las Vegas Bikefest, Iron Trader News, ChopperTown, BorntoRide.com and the Sturgis Motorcycle Museum. Most recently the Smoke Out and Quick Throttle Magazine came on board.

NMA REPORT: BEWARE LICENSE PLATE READERS–Our worst fears about automatic license plate readers (ALPR) are coming to fruition, and no one in public understands just how much our privacy will be invaded.

This summer, I warned everyone on my blog, and in the NMA Weekly E-Newsletter #554, that police in Arizona were using ALPR’s to “grid” entire neighborhoods.

But the following news brings public surveillance to a whole new level.

Last month, Rekor Systems announced that they had launched the Rekor Public Safety Network (RPSN) which gives law enforcement real-time access to scanned license plates.

“Any state or local law enforcement agency participating in the RPSN will be able to access real-time data from any part of the network at no cost. The Company is initially launching the network by aggregating vehicle data from customers in over 30 states. With thousands of automatic license plate reading cameras currently in service that capture approximately 150 million plate reads per month, the network is expected to be live by the first quarter of 2020.”

RPSN is a 30-state, real-time law enforcement license plate database that contains the information of more than 150 million people.

And the scary thing—it is free!

“We don’t think our participants should be charged for accessing information from a network they contribute to, especially when it provides information that has proven its value in solving crimes and closing cases quickly,” said Robert A. Berman, President and CEO, Rekor.

Want to encourage law enforcement to spy on everyone? Give them free access to a massive license plate database.

RPSN’s AI software uses machine learning to predict when and where a hotlisted person or a person of interest will be.

“Rekor’s software, powered by artificial intelligence (“AI”) and machine learning, can also be added to existing law enforcement security camera networks to search for law enforcement related hotlists as well as Amber Alerts and registered sex offender motor vehicles.”

The Westchester County New York Police Department’s Real Time Crime Center alone collects “more than 25 million license plates each month.”

A post in Traffic Technology Today revealed that Rekor plans to go to great lengths to convince police departments to track millions of motorists.

“In 2020, the RPSN will be fully compliant with the federal 2019 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) law, which bans the use of certain foreign-manufactured cameras used in critical infrastructure.”

Rekor’s 2019 NDAA sales pitch, is both disturbing and despicable. It reveals just where they and law enforcement stand when it comes to using ALPR’s to spy on millions of motorists.

A recent article in The Newspaper.com revealed how police in Louisiana use license plate readers to track motorists in real-time. Eric J. Richard had been driving his white Buick LaCrosse on Interstate 10, when he was stopped by Louisiana State Police Trooper Luke Leger for allegedly following a truck too closely. During the roadside interrogation, the trooper asked where Richard was coming from.

“I was coming from my job right there in Vinton,” Richard replied. The trooper had already looked up the travel records for Richard’s car and already knew it had crossed into Louisiana from Texas earlier in the day. Based on this “apparent lie,” the trooper extended the traffic stop by asking more questions and calling in a drug dog.

The article goes on to say that police had no reason to track Mr. Richard, but they did so because they could.

And that should frighten everyone!

Rekor lets law enforcement know where your friends and family are, where your doctor’s office is, where you worship and where you buy groceries.

How is that for Orwellian?

It is time to face the facts: ALPRs are not about public safety. They constitute a massive surveillance system designed to let Big Brother track our every movement.

Editor’s Note: The opinions expressed in this newsletter are those of the author.

By guest writer Joe Cadillic of the Massprivatel Blog

THE LATEST FROM THE HAL ROBINSON ARCHIVES—No one could draw like the master. Check out his art in the 5-Ball Racing Garage.

–Bandit

CLIMATE HYSTERIA REPORT–
Greta To UN: ‘How Dare You?… You Have Stolen My Dreams– Greta blistered the United Nations for stealing her childhood and dreams, claiming that we are on the verge of a mass extinction and climate apocalypse. She has no clue that the UN invented the climate hysteria scam in the first place. ? TN Editor

A visibly angry Greta Thunberg berated world leaders as she addressed a UN climate summit on Monday, accusing them of betraying her generation by failing to tackle greenhouse gas emissions and asking “How dare you?”

The Swedish teen, who has become the global face of the growing youth movement against climate inaction, began by telling her audience: “My message is that we’ll be watching you,” eliciting laughter.

But it was soon clear that the tone of the message would be very serious.

“This is all wrong. I shouldn’t be up here. I should be back at school on the other side of the ocean,” the 16-year-old, who is taking a year off from her studies, said.

“You come to us young people for hope. How dare you?” she thundered.

“You have stolen my dreams and my childhood with your empty words, yet I’m one of the lucky ones. People are suffering, people are dying, entire ecosystems are collapsing.

“We are in the beginning of a mass extinction, and all you can talk about is the money and fairy tales of eternal economic growth. How dare you!”

She added that in her talks with leaders, she had been told that the youth were being heard and the urgency was understood.

“But no matter how sad and angry I am, I do not want to believe that, because if you really understood the situation and still kept on failing to act, then you would be evil, and that I refuse to believe.”

Thunberg, who often appears uncomfortable in the limelight and is seen as a reluctant leader, then detailed the various targets that were being missed, heightening the risk of “irreversible chain reactions beyond human control.”

–Technocracy News

NEWS FROM THE MASTER, ATOMIC DICE-– I have the pdf scan of the lined drawing, he inked it so I can’t change it unless we redraw. I hope you like it! He can move to color now. This can be used by a T-Shirt designer, they can add the colors you want if you need it now.

Also, Big Fish designed our shirts, you and I talked about it in our last email. We just got them this week, here is a pic. They were hand dyed and hand sewn, no screen printing – what a fantastic company! They took a picture of a painting Bob did in 2014 and recreated it for us.

–Sara

AMA Hall of Fame bikes go on the road in September

Two of the oldest motorcycles in the collection of the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame drew crowds Sept. 7-8 during The Old Car Festival at the Henry Ford in Detroit.

A 1914 Triumph TT and a 1919 Cleveland Lightweight joined a variety of automobiles from the 1890s to 1930s at event at Greenfield Village.

“Both of these models were used during World War I as courier bikes,” said Daniel Clepper, collections manager at the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame.

Lucas Oil Off-Road Expo Powered by General Tire is this Weekend in Pomona

POMONA, Calif. (September 24, 2019) — The wait is over for off-road enthusiasts as the Lucas Oil Off-Road Expo powered by General Tire, revs up this weekend at the Fairplex in Pomona, Calif., “bringing the Off-Road world together.”

The Lucas Oil Off-Road Expo powered by General Tire ranges from off-road racing to rock crawling, trail riding to sand sports, motorcycles and UTVs, to camping and adventure travel. In addition, attendees have the unique opportunity to meet and talk with the most knowledgeable people in the off-road industry. Show goers can also experience the dynamic world of off-road thru ride-alongs, racing demos, celebrity appearances, live music, industry media events and product giveaways all weekend.

The Lucas Oil Off-Road Expo powered by General Tire is the greatest collection of off-road companies, parts, equipment, gear, action and experts ever assembled in America. Hundreds of aftermarket performance vendors will be in attendance, along with thousands of hardcore off-road enthusiasts gather for a full weekend of all things off-road.

Off-Road Expo Highlights

Lucas Oil Off-Road Racing Demos will take place all weekend at the MAV-TV Proving Grounds, with professional drivers in purpose-built race trucks. The high-horsepower, earth-shaking Pro 2 Class will be showcased, along with Pro Lite, UTV and Kart Classes. Driver autograph sessions will follow each round of demos.

SCORE Baja 1000 Exhibit will Salute Legends of the Baja, along with Unveiling of the Baja 1000 course map for the 2020 race and will feature a book signing, celebrity autograph sessions and more.

Pro Terra Crew drivers will tear it up at the MAV-TV Proving Grounds all weekend. Watch these wicked off-road trucks and buggies get big air on the closed-circuit course and meet the drivers in the autograph session following each demo.

Rubicon Experience presented by 4-Wheel Parts, Ride along the Rubicon Trail and get a firsthand experience of what it feels like to be in a rig built for extreme off-road conditions. Anyone over 15-years-of-age can sign up at the Rubicon Express booth all weekend.

Performance Marketplace – Leading off-road vendors will fill the expo with the latest in 4×4 aftermarket parts, accessories, services and the newest industry innovations.

Dirt Alliance features live action, off-road driving demonstrations from a wide array of expert dirt pilots from various disciplines. Meet the drivers and see their trucks up close at the Dirt Alliance booth all weekend.

Show-N-Shine – The O’Reilly Auto Parts Show-N-Shine area will be bustling with custom trucks and Jeep vehicles, ready for Pro-Judging.

Miss Off-Road Expo Contest presented by Shreddy, with lovely ladies of off-road gathering at the Main Stage on Sunday to compete for the Miss Off-Road Expo crown. This year’s contest will be hosted by Shreddy’s Blake Wilkey.

Music/DJ on the Main Stage and plenty of Giveaways all weekend

The Lucas Oil Off-Road Expo powered by General Tire will take place Saturday, September 28, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday, September 29 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Fairplex is located at 1101 West McKinley Avenue in Pomona, Calif.

Discount tickets are available at participating O’Reilly Auto Parts stores for $16/adults and $6/children (ages 6-12).

Discount tickets are also available online at offroadexpo.com for $16/adults and $6/children (ages 6-12), with kids 5-under free. Ticket fees apply to online tickets.

At the gates, tickets are $20/adults and $6/children (ages 6-12), with kids 5-under free.

Events sponsors include: Lucas Oil, General Tire, O’Reilly Auto Parts, Bert’s Mega Mall, Rockford Fosgate, Rugged Ridge, Hercules Tires, Fox Shox and eBay Motors.

BIKERNET GUN NUT REPORT–The National Rifle Association (NRA) called Democratic presidential hopeful and former Rep. Beto O’Rourke (D-Texas) the “salesman of the month” after an Arizona gun store capitalized on his proposed mandatory buyback of assault weapons.

Alpha Dog Guns in Tempe, Ariz., announced that just four hours after launching a promotional discount called the “Beto Special” — spurred by O’Rourke’s now-viral comments about his buyback proposal — it sold out of AR-15s and other rifles, owner Matt Boggs said Thursday on “Fox & Friends.”

The NRA tweeted a photo made to mock the former congressman by calling him the “AR-15 salesman of the month,” adding the caption: “Possibly even of the year.”

Boggs told Fox & Friends that the strategy didn’t mean to “be a political statement by any stretch of the imagination.”

“I just happened to hop on Facebook and see his comments, and I was like, ‘Well maybe I’ll sell 20 rifles and see what happens,’” he said.

O’Rourke made headlines last week for defending his proposed mandatory buyback program during the third round of Democratic presidential primary debates.

“I am, if it’s a weapon that’s designed to kill people on a battlefield. If the high-impact, high-velocity round shreds everything inside of your body … when we see that being used against children,” O’Rourke said, asked if he was proposing a mandatory government buyback of certain guns.

He continued: “Hell yes, we’re going to take your AR-15, your AK-47. We’re not going to allow it to be used against our fellow Americans anymore,” prompting cheers and applause from the audience.

A number of Democrats have come out in opposition to O’Rourke’s proposal, with Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) on Wednesday telling reporters that he doesn’t “know of any other Democrat who agrees” with O’Rourke’s proposal to confiscate assault-style weapons.

[page break]

1908 INDIAN SINGLE—I shot this bike for the upcoming issue of American Iron. It was curated by the master, Don Whalen and is a classic.

Here’s a shot of me and Emily Lou Harris. I was her drummer for years. She called me the “Shuffle King.”

–Markus Cuff
Supreme Feature Photographer
Bikernet.com ™

If you miss this issue, we will feature this masterpiece on Bikernet in the next couple of months.–Bandit

Cincinnati, Ohio Officials Working To Overturn Voter Will On Speed Cameras
Cincinnati, Ohio politicians are using taxpayer resources to overturn the public vote banning red light and speed cameras.

Greg Landsman

Members of the city council in Cincinnati, Ohio, have been trying to install speed cameras for more than a decade. Their plans were thwarted eleven years ago when residents learned of the council’s plan and circulated a petition eleven years ago that stripped the city council of the power to deploy automated ticketing machines. Voters endorsed that plan at the ballot box, adding the photo enforcement prohibition to the city charter. Now members of the city council are once again expending public resources to bypass the voters.

As reported by WCPO television, Cincinnati’s city manager in July put out a call to speed camera vendors to submit proposals for bringing photo radar back to the city of 300,000 residents.

“Responders should present information based on the parameters established in the RFI [request for information] rather than any current traffic enforcement authorization/description in the Cincinnati Charter,” the notice explained. “The primary objective of this Request for Information (RFI) is to obtain market information, feasibility, costs to the city, models and proposed options for revenue sharing, and interest from potential firms/vendors with the appropriate expertise to provide the city with services described herein.”

The city asked for information that would be needed to hit the ground running and set up the speed traps promptly, if the legal situation were to change.

“All responses to this RFI should contain, at a minimum, the following,” the city manager’s request stated. “Estimated revenue generation information (i.e. tools for estimating potential revenue generation) but also any costs the city should consider or may potentially incur; and, an estimated timeline needed to fully execute services.”

The last time that a photo ticketing company worked with Cincinnati politicians, there was bribery involved. John P. Raphael, the Ohio lobbyist for Redflex Traffic Systems, was convicted and imprisoned for his role in the Australian red light camera company’s corruption scheme. He admitted that he solicited bribes to entice city councilmen in Columbus and Cincinnati to endorse automated ticketing, but he refused to turn against the politicians he had influenced with campaign donations that were laundered through Raphael’s friends, family members and business contacts.

City councilman Greg Landsman, who was elected after the scandal, held a “pedestrian safety” townhall earlier this month that was designed to promote an effort to overturn the photo ticketing ban. The request for information from photo ticketing companies acknowledged that the city charter must be changed before cameras could be installed.

A diverse coalition of interest groups came together to ban speed cameras in Cincinnati in 2008, including the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), the Republican Party, the Green Party, the Libertarian Party, and others. The residents of Ashtabula, Cleveland, Chillicothe, Heath, Garfield Heights, Maple Heights, South Euclid and Steubenville also took matters into their own hands and forced the removal of automated ticketing machines through ballot initiatives.

LIFESTYLE DEAL OF THE WEEK– 2008 Harley-Davidson FXDL – Dyna Low Rider

ONLY $7,995.00

See it here: https://www.lifestylecycles.com/default.asp?page=xPreOwnedInventoryDetail&id=6090378

When this long and low factory custom first debuted, it was an instant hit among the Harley-Davidson faithful. The word “low” describes much more than rider position when it comes to the Dyna Low Rider. With the 25.8-inch seat height is among the lowest in the Harley-Davidson line. The bikes ergonomics are well-suited to those looking for a comfortable ride, while the Twin Cam 96 powertrain actually brings the low rider to a high level of performance.

**It has only 10,497 miles**

ADDITIONAL EQUIPMENT INCLUDE:

The paint is traditional HD black and orange. Paint and chrome in excellent condition. A detachable windshield. It has a lighter socket mounted to the handlebars. Also a manual cruise control. This Low Rider comes with a powerful independent full exhaust system.

A 2-up seat with passenger pegs mounted to give your passenger a comfortable riding experience. Mid controls and frame mounted freeway pegs.

Chrome primary housing cover with a chrome horn cover. Chrome oval black accented 96 air cleaner cover. Chrome coil cover, battery cover with a polished strap. Chrome fender supports and chain guard. Black drive sprocket with polished rim. Wheels are 5 twin spoke cast aluminum in great shape and both tires almost new, Overall this classic Low Rider has style, performance, and comfortable fitting to give you the true Harley-Davidson experience.

This bike has passed Lifestyle Cycles rigorous 101-point safety and mechanical inspection. Whether your looking to commute to work, ride the coast or take that dream vacation, this bike is ready to go!!!

EZ FINANCING-SHIPPING AVAILABLE!!!

MORE FROM THE EASYRIDERS FILE– As you reported, the last Easyriders Magazine I received was for September. The “manage my subscriptions” area of their website no longer exist.

I had paid for subscriptions through 2021. Have you heard anything further? Any contacts you might have so I can pursue a refund. No damn relevant subscription magazines available for those of us that would prefer not to carry a computer or I-whatever around.

–Gary Weaver

COOL MANUFACTURING AND DISTRIBUTION BUSINESS FOR SALE—Business Description

Would you enjoy the freedom and flexibility you would get by combining your passion for motorcycles with the ability to create custom parts?

A manufacturer and distributer of motorcycle parts, this business specializes in American, custom and metric bikes.

Founded in 1999 and acquired by the current owner in 2009, this business, under the leadership of the current owner, has become the leader in aftermarket accessories for the new line of American classic motorcycles, and continues to lead the field.

This business offers a new owner the opportunity to own a business that combines a passion for motorcycles and the chance to grow a business that enjoys a high market demand for the products and service it provides.

Detailed Information

Location:
Charlotte, NCReal Estate:LeasedBuilding SF:2,800Lease Expiration:N/AEmployees:2Facilities:Located in a commercial building within a business park, this company leases two units for a total of 2,800 SF.

Competition:
The main competitors for this company are the major bike manufacturers themselves, and this company competes on the basis of price and quality – all our products are Made in the USA!Growth & Expansion:Because bikes are constantly changing (2018 bikes offer many changes), there is lots of opportunity to grow in this industry.

Financing:Seller will consider some financing for the right, qualified buyer.Support & Training:Seller will support a new owner – length of time is negotiable. Reason for Selling:
https://tinyurl.com/y2v68aa2

–Paul Aiken
Owner
Aeromach USA, LLC
10015 Metromont Ind. Blvd, Ste F
Charlotte, NC 28269
800-990-9392 orders
704-599-1333 office
www.aeromach.net
www.highwayhawk.us
www.linkedin.com/in/paulaiken

Highway Hawk is a product of Motolux

NEW HAMPSHIRE TO MODERNIZE DMV IN WAKE OF DEADLY JUNE CRASH–
Following the deadly June 2019 crash that killed seven motorcyclists in New Hampshire, officials want to work with other states to prevent anything like this from happening ever again.

The truck driver currently facing seven charges of negligent homicide in those deaths — who had a Massachusetts-issued CDL — should not even have been driving, according to his combined driving record. The head of the Massachusetts DMV resigned and others at the agency were fired once this came to light.

Over the past few weeks, New Hampshire has also been conducting an internal review of its own DMV records and practices. On August 29, 2019, NH governor Chris Sununu gave a press conference with other top officials to share their findings. The results: nearly 4,000 drivers will have their licenses suspended following a review of over 13,000 out-of-state notices, as well as a backlog of 62 commercial license notices dating back to 2016.

One unintended and potentially good consequence of this terrible accident is that it’s led New Hampshire to modernize its DMV system and automate notices, so that paper backlogs like this can’t build up in the future. Additionally, the governor is now pushing the state legislature to allow the NH DMV to become part of a computerized state-to-state driver verification system using Real ID.

–Bill Bish

Read Bill’s entire monthly legislative report under Biker Rights, right now.–Bandit

DON’T FORGET THE BANDIT’S CANTINA BAD JOKE LIBRARY– Irish Confession

I went into the confessional box after many years of being away from the Catholic Church.

Inside I found a fully equipped bar with Guinness on tap. On one wall, there was a row of decanters with fine Irish whiskey and Waterford crystal glasses. On the other wall was a dazzling array of the finest cigars and chocolates.

When the priest came in, I said to him, “Father, forgive me, for it’s been a very long time since I’ve been to confession, but I must first admit that the confessional box is much more inviting than it used to be.”

He replied, “You moron, you’re on my side.”

–from Bobby Stark

A BROTHER SLOWS DOWN—I’m meditating on meditating. About 40 years ago you published my first motorcycle magazine story and so a good milestone moment to move on. I’m going to concentrate on my fiction writing now but thanks for launching me down a two-wheeled adventure with all its twists and turns which I enjoyed much.

Regards
–Paul Garson
Senior Historic Writer
Bikernet.com™

INDIAN WRECKING CREW RIDER BRIAR BAUMAN BATTLES THROUGH ADVERSITY TO CAPTURE FIRST AMERICAN FLAT TRACK GRAND NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP

Three-for-Three: Indian Motorcycle Racing Clinches Third Consecutive Championship Since Returning
to Professional Flat Track Racing

Shakopee, Minn. (September 23, 2019) – On a night where Murphy’s Law seemed to be in full effect, Indian Motorcycle Wrecking Crew Rider Briar Bauman overcame enormous adversity to realize his lifelong dream of capturing a Grand National Championship (GNC). After a five-rider crash early in the main that sent him into the air fence, Bauman was forced to restart from the back of the pack, grinding his way through the field to a third place finish at the Minnesota Mile to capture his first American Flat Track (AFT) Grand National Championship and the third consecutive GNC for Indian Motorcycle Racing. Reigning AFT Twins Champion Jared Mees secured his seventh win of the season, but will reluctantly hand over the No. 1 plate to his factory teammate and good friend, Bauman.

Bauman’s crew rose to the occasion when it mattered most, racing against the clock to repair his Indian FTR750 in time for the restart and keep Bauman’s night from an anticlimactic ending. But the drama didn’t end there, as a second accident caused further delays and reduced the 25-lap Main event to just 15. Bauman’s ability to remain focused against all odds and make his way to the front of the pack within the shorter 15-lap format was indicative of the grit and determination that has marked his entire Championship season.

Following the race, Mees put his competitive interests aside in favor of friendship, celebrating with Bauman by sharing his well-deserved victory lap. The dramatic two-up victory lap left Bauman with tears of joy, as he celebrated with friends, family and teammates.

“I’ve dreamed of this my whole life,” said Bauman in his podium interview directly following the race. “I used to have posters of Bryan (Smith) and Jared (Mees) in my room growing up. And to win it… I can’t even put it into words.”

Since Indian Motorcycle’s return to professional flat track racing in 2017, the brand has been perfect, capturing all three Manufacturer’s Championships and all three AFT Twins titles. Mees won in convincing fashion in 2017, capturing 10 wins and setting an AFT record of 17 podium finishes. In 2018, with many of the sports privateers turning to the Indian FTR750, Mees repeated and retained the No. 1 plate. Now with Bauman’s first GNC, Indian completes another historic trifecta.

“Bobby Hill and Bill Tuman, the original Indian Motorcycle Wrecking Crew, won three Grand National Championships in 1951, 1952, and 1953,” said Gary Gray, Vice President – Racing, Technology & Service for Indian Motorcycle. “This championship is a tribute to them and the resiliency of the brand to get knocked down, only to get back up and return to greatness—just like Briar Bauman did this weekend.”

Indian Motorcycle Racing, presented by Progressive Motorcycle Insurance, will wrap up the 2019 season at the Meadowlands Mile in East Rutherford, New Jersey, on Saturday, September 28. For more information on Indian Motorcycle Racing, visit IndianMotorcycle.com and follow along on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

For more information on Indian Motorcycle Racing’s sponsors, visit their websites: Progressive Motorcycle Insurance, S&S Cycle, Indian Motorcycle Oil, Parts Unlimited, Drag Specialties, Alpinestars, Bell Helmets and J&P Cycles.

ABOUT INDIAN MOTORCYCLE®
Indian Motorcycle is America’s First Motorcycle Company®. Founded in 1901, Indian Motorcycle has won the hearts of motorcyclists around the world and earned distinction as one of America’s most legendary and iconic brands through unrivaled racing dominance, engineering prowess and countless innovations and industry firsts. Today that heritage and passion is reignited under new brand stewardship.

To learn more, please visit www.indianmotorcycle.com.

CORAL HEAD
FEATURING VINCE NEIL, SEBASTIAN BACH, SLAUGHTER
MITCH PERRY GROUP & MORE
—Celebrating our sponsors. Bikernet is also a media sponsor of this wild event coming soon.

Coming into a new area for the 1st time is always a difficult move. We realize people and businesses don’t always know about our concert series and don’t realize the benefits involved. None the less, these companies HAVE taken the initiative to support our U.S. Veterans and we appreciate them for being a part of The Coral Head MusicFest presented by THE AMERICAN LEGION.

SPECIAL RECOGNITION

THE CITY OF PINELLAS PARK, FL
Top honors has to go to the City itself. Pinellas Park government has been instrumental in helping up produce this event and we thank them for, not only sponsoring the event, but for all the assistance they have given in making this concert series a reality. We hope and plan to work with them closely for many years to come.

$20,000 STAGE SPONSOR

GEORGE’S PLUMBING OF THE KEYS
George’s Plumbing has taken the top spot in our Marathon series since its inception.
A true believer in what we are out to accomplish. We can’t even begin to express our gratitude. For ANY type of plumbing needs be sure to give George a call first.

Industry Sponsor:
Wow! What can we say about K&G Cycles? They have been instrumental in the production of our concerts. Also with us since Day 1, they have not only helped us finance the shows, they have helped produce and assisted in more ways than we can count. Definitely our choice when we need motorcycle service or parts.

Check their web site for additional sponsors.

–Bandit

NEW FROM SADDLEMEN–2018-2019 GL1800 Roadsofa™ LS Trunk Pad

Brand Fitment:Honda
Model Fitment:GL1800 GOLDWING
Year Fitment: 2018-2019

Designed and made in the U.S.A.
Add on at any time the matching RoadSofa-LS Trunk Pad to give your bike a unified look.
Installs easily on your existing Trunk.
This item is compatible with Honda GL1800 RoadSofa-LS Seats

KLOCKWERKS FLOODS–This water shouldn’t be here…

So, what happened?
The evening of September 11th a flash flood hit Mitchell, South Dakota. That flood brought 4’ of water in to the shop. (Yes, you read that right. We had 4’ of water INSIDE of our building.)

If we’re being completely honest, It was absolutely devastating and we need your help. (But we’ll get to that later…)

This is where we’re at.
As of today (September 26th) 6 roll-off dumpsters have been filled and emptied, more than 6500 pounds of wet sheet rock (a.k.a.1000 running feet of drywall) has been cleared, every last bolt bin has been dried, and 4 temporary work spaces have been setup.

As each day passes, we are recognizing that community is everything. So many of you have helped us clean up the mess, sent care packages filled with goodies to fuel our days, sent monetary donations and even took a moment to send us kind words and offered prayers.

Now that temporary work stations are setup and our phone lines are back, the Klock Krew is working as quickly as possible to return every email, phone call, and well-wish sent our way.

We are rebuilding with plans to be even better than ever.

So many of you are still reaching out, asking us how you can help. Our friend Jeff Zielinski at Namz Custom Cycle Products created a Gofundme for us – which is an opportunity for you to be a part of Klock Werks’ history.

Frankly, with all of the construction in our future we would appreciate all the help we can get. If you feel moved to help, we could use the support.

info@getklocked.com

Klock Werks
915 S. Kimball Street
Mitchell, SD 57301
All Rights Reserved.

[page break]

NEWS FROM THE MCCLOSKEY MOTORCYCLE COMPANY– Good afternoon Mr. Ball, the owner of the 101 Scout is Mark Leiss.

I didn’t build this 1928 Indian 101 Scout,
I worked on it to get it ready to perform better than last year at the Race of Gentlemen. We are heading out on Sunday.

Mark’s 101 Scout is a 1929, not 1928.
Mike from Kiwi said the motor #s were 1928, but Mark said it’s a ‘29.

Sorry for the confusion.

–Micah McCloskey
Supreme Leader
McCloskey Motorcycle Company
Magnificent Pilot
Salt Torpedo
5-Ball Racing

BRAND New Bikernet Reader Comment!–
STIMULATING BIKERNET WEEKLY NEWS for September 19, 2019

https://www.bikernet.com/pages/STIMULATING_BIKERNET_WEEKLY_NEWS_for_September_19_2019.aspx

No news from EASYRIDERS on refunds for unfilled paid for subscriptions?

— Mike Pullin
Charlotte, NC

Hey Mike,
This is a strange one. I heard recently that Pepper Foster didn’t buy the company, only a licensing agreement for the name. That doesn’t make any sense. I reached out to the previous publisher, Joe Teresi, to find out about the subs.—Bandit

POPEYE’S BIRTHDAY YESTERDAY—“I am what I am, and that’s all that I am.”—Popeye

–From the Frogman

THE REAL DEAL–Check it out:

An open letter to the UN Secretary General

More than 500 prominent scientists from all over the world, among them distinguished MIT climate scientist Prof. Richard Lindzen, are urging the Secretary-General of the United Nations for a further, de-politicised discussion of the climate issue, in which alternative scientific views are also given a voice.

A UN climate meeting will be held in New York on 23 September. To this end, CLINTEL has sent two registered letters, one to the UN Secretary-General, António Guterres, and one to the Executive Secretary of the UNFCCC, Patricia Espinosa Cantellano, together with the text of the European Climate Declaration (see below).

This also includes the explicit request to organize a joint meeting with world-class scientists. The letter follows:

Your Excellencies,

A global network of more than 500 knowledgeable and experienced scientists and professionals in climate and related fields have the honor to address to Your Excellencies the attached European Climate Declaration, for which the signatories to this letter are the national ambassadors.

The general-circulation models of climate on which international policy is at present founded are unfit for their purpose. Therefore, it is cruel as well as imprudent to advocate the squandering of trillions on the basis of results from such immature models. Current climate policies pointlessly, grievously undermine the economic system, putting lives at risk in countries denied access to affordable, continuous electrical power.

We urge you to follow a climate policy based on sound science, realistic economics and genuine concern for those harmed by costly but unnecessary attempts at mitigation.

We ask you to place the Declaration on the agenda of your imminent New York session.

We also invite you to organize with us a constructive high-level meeting between world-class scientists on both sides of the climate debate early in 2020. The meeting will give effect to the sound and ancient principle no less of sound science than of natural justice that both sides should be fully and fairly heard.

Please let us know your thoughts about such a joint meeting.

There is no climate emergency

A global network of 500 scientists and professionals has prepared this urgent message. Climate science should be less political, while climate polities should be more scientific. Scientists should openly address the uncertainties and exaggerations in their predictions of global warming, while politicians should dispassionately count the real benefits as well as the imagined costs of adaptation to global warming, and the real costs as well as the imagined benefits of mitigation.

Natural as well as anthropogenic factors cause warming

The geological archive reveals that Earth’s climate has varied as long as the planet has existed, with natural cold and warm phases. The Little Ice Age ended as recently as 1850. Therefore, it is no surprise that we now are experiencing a period of warming. Only very few peer-reviewed papers even go so far as to say that recent warming is chiefly anthropogenic.

Warming is far slower than predicted

The world has warmed at less than half the originally-predicted rate, and at less than half the rate to be expected on the basis of net anthropogenic forcing and radiative imbalance. It tells us that we are far from understanding climate change.

Climate policy relies on inadequate models

Climate models have many shortcomings and are not remotely plausible as policy tools. Moreover, they most likely exaggerate the effect of greenhouse gases such as CO2. In addition, they ignore the fact that enriching the atmosphere with CO2 is beneficial.

CO2 is plant food, the basis of all life on Earth

CO2 is not a pollutant. It is essential to all life on Earth. Photosynthesis is a blessing. More CO2 is beneficial for nature, greening the Earth: additional CO2 in the air has promoted growth in global plant biomass. It is also good for agriculture, increasing the yields of crop worldwide.

Global warming has not increased natural disasters

There is no statistical evidence that global warming is intensifying hurricanes, floods, droughts and suchlike natural disasters, or making them more frequent. However, CO2-mitigation measures are as damaging as they are costly. For instance, wind turbines kill birds and bats, and palm-oil plantations destroy the biodiversity of the rainforests.

Policy must respect scientific and economic realities

There is no climate emergency. Therefore, there is no cause for panic and alarm. We strongly oppose the harmful and unrealistic net-zero CO2 policy proposed for 2050. If better approaches emerge, we will have ample time to reflect and adapt. The aim of international policy should be to provide reliable and affordable energy at all times, and throughout the world.

The undersigned ECD Ambassadors

Professor Guus Berkhout, The Netherlands
Professor Reynald Du Berger French, Canada
Terry Dunleavy, New Zealand
Viv Forbes, Australia
Professor Jeffrey Foss English, Canada
Morten Jødal, Norway
Rob Lemeire, Belgium
Professor Richard Lindzen, USA
Professor Ingemar Nordin, Sweden
Jim O’Brien, Republic of Ireland
Professor Alberto Prestininzi, Italy
Associate Professor Benoît Rittaud, France
Professor Fritz Vahrenholt, Germany
The Viscount Monckton of Brenchley, United Kingdom

NEWS FROM THE FROGMAN–The rest of the story – we both got shot — Lethal Weapon 1985, With Bruce Willis.
Cisco, the long-standing Hells Angel from Oakland passed away a few years ago. It’s Sonny Bargers birthday this weekend.

–Frogman

PA Biker’s Firearm Illegally Seized After Major Injury Accident–The MPP has reported extensively about the alarming trend of law enforcement and government officials charging individual with crimes, or having personal property seized simply for belonging to motorcycle clubs. Many of these instances are clear violations of the US Constitution.

The following is a report about a Pennsylvania man’s ordeal. He has zero criminal history and is a legal Pennsylvania and Utah Concealed Carry Permit holder. While riding his motorcycle he was struck by a truck in a traffic accident.

His firearm, nonsensically, was confiscated under the guise of being evidence in the investigation of a traffic accident. Such incidents highlight the urgent need for legislation addressing the practice of motorcycle profiling as recently urged by the unanimous consent of the US Senate.

The Incident

On May 11th, 2019, a member of the Pagan’s Motorcycle Club was traveling on Rt. 291, just outside of Philadelphia. A pickup truck driven by an uninsured, out-of-state driver pulled out of the left-hand shoulder of the road and hit the member’s Harley-Davidson motorcycle. He was thrown approximately forty feet from the motorcycle, receiving multiple, major injuries. Fortunately, traveling behind was a member of the Brookers MC, and his wife, both former EMT’s. She helped keep the victim calm and stable until an ambulance could arrive. While waiting for ambulance and police to arrive, the Pagan’s MC member gave the Brookers MC member his legally owned handgun to safely secure.

The Bookers MC member placed the firearm in his truck inside the locked glove box. Once medics arrived and took over the scene, the victim’s jacket was unzipped and, according to the Bookers MC member’s wife, a Chester police office noticed a Pagan’s t-shirt, remarking “oh, he’s a Pagan.” While being loaded onto the ambulance for transport to a local hospital, another Chester police officer noticed the victim’s empty firearm holster.

The Seizure

The Chester officer asked the Bookers MC member if he knew where the firearm was. He informed the officer that he had taken possession of the firearm and would transport it to the victim’s home. The officer falsely stated that it was illegal and that he was required to seize the firearm.

The Bookers MC member responded that he has a current and legal Concealed Carry Permit in the state of PA, and it is legal for him as such to take possession of said firearm. The officer demanded the firearm while he spoke with a supervisor about the law. The Bookers MC member complied and gave the officers the firearm. The officer returned to his squad car, and left the scene within five minutes, taking the firearm with him.

The Realization

After five days in the hospital with serious injuries, including head and brain trauma, the victim was cognizant enough to speak with his wife about the accident. He was informed that the police had indeed seized his firearm.

When he spoke to a member of the Chester police department, he was told that his firearm was sent to Delaware County District Attorneys Criminal Investigation Unit (CID) for ballistic testing. He was told that he would have to petition the DA’s office for the return of his legally owned firearm.

4th Amendment Violation

“The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.”

Despite being the victim of a careless, reckless driver, having not committed any crime, the Pagan’s MC member had his legally owned firearm confiscated by law enforcement officials simply due to his association with a Motorcycle Club. This is a clear violation of his Constitutional rights to free from unreasonable seizures.

Silence from Law Enforcement

The MPP attempted to contact the agencies involved to no avail. Neither Captain Stubbs of the Chester Police Department, nor Sgt. David McDonald or Chief Joseph Ryan of the Delaware County District Attorneys office responded to telephone calls regarding the seizure, or of any policies of either department that would dictate the seizure of personal property.

After going through the extensive red tape required to regain possession of his legal firearm, after it was illegally seized, the Pagan’s MC member was finally successful.

Conclusion

The targeted harassment of Motorcycle Club members in Pennsylvania is nothing new. These situations only highlight the necessity for passage of an Anti-Motorcycle Profiling law. Members of the MPP and the National Council of Clubs are working with local and federal officials towards the adoption of such laws.

We should not, cannot, and will not stand for the erosion of our Constitutionally granted rights.

–By Dave “Irish” Dohrman
Motorcycle Profiling Project

AHDRA motorcycle drag racing SERIES–
AHDRA Back on Track in 2020

There’s good news for drag racers of American-made V-Twin motorcycles. AHDRA has been purchased by Pulse Marketing, the Pennsylvania-based motorsports promotion company run by veteran drag racer Bill Rowe Jr. and family.

AHDRA was THE place to drag race Harley-Davidsons in the 2000s, with racers crisscrossing the country with the fully-sponsored, well-marketed series run by Craig Tharpe.

“We want to thank Craig for trusting us to take the AHDRA over,” said Rowe Jr.

AHDRA’s last season was 2012, but Pulse will have the series up and running with somewhere between six to eight races in 2020, with Sturgis likely the only race west of the Mississippi.

“We want people to know we’re here and we’re looking forward to a May, 2020 start to our season,” continued Rowe.

The Rowe family brings a lifetime of motorsports promotion to the effort. “My dad, Bill Sr., was a promoter when I was a kid,” said Rowe, who’s been racing for over 40 years and counts grasping the AMRA Eliminator championship out of Donnie Huffman’s firm grip in 2017 as his proudest on-track achievement.

“At 14 years old I was racing, doing the rider payouts and handling the points system, so I’ve been doing this a while.

“But it’s not just me and my family. We have a good team of advisers on board to help us with this, and we’ll be announcing them along with a schedule shortly.

“We’re also working with the Top Fuel Harley racers to make sure our schedule plays nice with the NHRA schedule so that we get the pros at our events and develop the next generation of Top Fuel Harley stars right here at AHDRA.

“We’ve got five classes covered with sponsorships already, but there’s room for more to jump on board.

“We’re looking to bring back that AHDRA style of racing,”

A new AHDRA website will soon be up and running.

–Tim Hailey

Photo caption: Bill Rowe Jr.

IS LIFE NUTS OR WHAT—So, while I was working with the lovely Laura on our numbers the DHL truck stopped out front, and then peeled out with our new Leather order. Damn.

We won’t be featuring this bike from the factory in 2000. Their communications department had to downsize, and they don’t have any record of this project. I was just trying to find something positive to write about H-D. I came up with two grand notions, including this one, but they couldn’t help.

Too bad. I know the factory will come around. It always does. It’s an American mainstay. We just need another killer movie or TV series and they’ll be back on top.

An hour later, while I was in the Bikernet iron pile, lifting some rusting chunks, the DHL guy returned. He made my day.

I’ll try to get a shot of something new before I wrap up the news.

It’s going to be a busy Friday. Hang on and remember, we live in the best of times, even if Greta doesn’t think so.

Ride Fast and Free Forever,

–Bandit

“Champions of Hope” Gala Raises $100,000 for American Cancer Society

 

The “Champions of Hope” Gala was held October 12, 2018, at the Hilton City Center in Milwaukee with about 160 people attending.  For the third year, Attorney Michael Hupy partnered with the American Cancer Society by serving as a co-chair for the gala. He and his wife Suzanne, along with several firm employees were among the number of local attendees. In addition to his role as co-chair, Attorney Hupy pledged another $2,500 donation, which accompanied Hupy and Abraham’s role as an event sponsor. Overall, efforts related to this event ended up raising about $100,000 in support of the organization.

“Champions of Hope,” which was hosted by the American Cancer Society of Wisconsin and CEOS Against Cancer, was unlike any other social event held during this time of year. Through a silent and live auction, and paddle raise portion, event goers were able to give funds to the ACS, while enjoying food stations and the company of others.

The ACS acts as a platform for cancer education and “Champions of Hope” addressed their Access to Care programs, which provide transportation, lodging and other important services to patrons throughout Wisconsin. Money raised at events like “Champions of Hope” allows the American Cancer Society to continue research and the services they do for others. Laurie Bertrand, of ACS shared that it is critical for the community to work together and impact change for those fighting cancer.

Dan Jansen, speed skating Olympian and native of West Allis, Wisconsin was the keynote speaker. Jansen, who grew up in a family of 9 children, shared his personal story. This resulted in a moving speech where the gold medalist’s key message was for those who have been impacted by cancer to find a way and move forward and learn from their situations. Ultimately, Jensen emphasized that turning negatives into positives would lead to a better life experience.

According to the American Cancer Society’s facts and figures, approximately 33,000 people will be diagnosed with cancer in Wisconsin each year. $4.6 billion has been invested in cancer research since 1946, of which $72.2 million has been invested in Wisconsin. 4,310 patients were served in 2016 in Wisconsin – thousands were provided nearly 20,000 direct services such as rides to treatment, free or reduced lodging during treatment or assistance coping with side effects.

The American Cancer Society is the only organization that serves every cancer, every community, every day. Hupy and Abraham has supported the American Cancer Society through a variety of ways, including past events that were co-chaired by Attorney Hupy. The firm has given more than $500,000 to more than 250 organizations in the last three years.

–Jill Erin Wellskopf

 The breakfast is held every year to honor people who have made a difference in motorcycling. There are numerous categories just like the things that make up the wonderful life of motorcycling.

The event was held at the Lodge at Deadwood on Wednesday August 7, 2019 from 8:30 AM to 12:30 PM

It was a pleasure to see these people inducted as they are all deserving.

I had intended to write a more personal article about the inductees but something happened and time does not allow without holding-up the article, and my photos leave a lot to be desired. If honoring these people were not so important I probably would not even post this. These things do happen from time to time, but The Inductees Deserve To Be Recognized For Their Accomplishments. 

The Sturgis Hall of Fame supplied the information about the inductees and some of the photos.

 

This Year’s Inductees were

 

As an 11-year-old in 1970, Danny Fitzmaurice’s neighbor Ron Helms opened a new Harley-Davidson dealership. The business was small with many challenges, and it did not take this kid long to figure out an opportunity to volunteer was possible. From this point on, most of Fitzmaurice’s life going forward revolved around motorcycles. He wanted to know how to develop and make more power from all the great people he would encounter.

“We had this great plan that I think was probably developed by my influence of watching Wile E. Coyote trying to catch the Roadrunner,” Fitzmaurice said. 

They were blessed with plenty of customers building and tuning street and track engines, many for dirt and asphalt drag racing. As the U.S. economy was improving, business was growing and fans wanted to attend and ride to racetracks to see the action. Because of the continued growth of Zipper’s, and commitment to customers and staff, by 1995 Danny Fitzmaurice and Dave Zehner started to scale back racing, selectively attending events to compete in. They were lucky to race during a time of great competition and the ability to compete against and learn from some of the best in the industry. 

At the time, they set many records and pursued championships, racing in six different sanctions. Today, these records are long gone with progress of new machines and innovation as they should. Fitzmaurice remains grateful for the impact that so many people made on his experiences of racing.

“It’s been a great journey and we’ve had some of the best teachers,” Fitzmaurice said during the ceremony. “I just can’t thank everyone enough for being there for us, because it’s been a great ride and we have a lot more to do.”

 

Terry Rymer

Born September 1960 in Aberdeen SD and raised in a single parent home with his mother and two younger sisters, motorcycles were never on Terry Rymer’s radar. At the age of 17 Terry purchased a new 1977 Yamaha IT175 it served as both a race and road bike. That purchase made Terry a staple at the local Yamaha shop, which turned a free time hangout into a full time job in 1978. Learning motorcycle sales, parts sales, promotions, marketing, but mainly, improving great customer interaction and experiences, all of which proved to be a valuable tool for the future. Then at the age of 24, wanting more of a motorcycle racing scene, Terry packed up everything and moved to Rapid City. In 1986 things started to accelerate with Harley-Davidson and the annual Sturgis Rally. Terry’s dream was realized in 2010, after 25 years with Black Hills Harley-Davidson, from parts counter to general manager, Terry’s lifelong commitment to the dealership paid off, as his dream came true when he was made partner of Black Hills Harley-Davidson. Motorcycle racing was, and still is Terry’s passion. Particularly Flat Track. Terry has promoted or co-promoted many races throughout his career and presently owns a race team that sponsors local Sturgis rider Dawson Schieffer campaigning in the American Flat Track series.

 

 

Ron Paugh

For the past 50 years, Paughco, Inc. has been providing the custom and restoration Harley-Davidson market with the most diverse, highest quality line of products available.

Paughco’s success is due in no small part to the fact that it is, and always has been, a true family business. Ron Paugh began riding dirt bikes in the San Fernando foothills as a 13-year-old like many did. When Paugh was a junior in high school, he bought his first Knucklehead basket for $75. Paugh started hanging out at D&D Cycle. Boyd Defrance was the owner of D&D Cycle and became a good friend of Paugh’s. DeFrance asked Paugh if his father’s tool and die company could reproduce the early Harley-Davidson inner primary covers. Paugh and his dad made 500 inner primaries and put 100 in the trunk of a 1969 Cadillac his dad leased. Paugh’s dad told his son, “We can’t go selling parts with an old pick-up truck.” 

That was just the beginning. One part led to another and in 1969, Paughco, Inc. refocused with the sole purpose of producing the finest in custom and replacement parts and accessories. With the husband and wife team of Robert and Ruth Paugh at the helm, and Ron Paugh heading up the product design and development, Paughco was on the move. By the late 70s, the company was manufacturing thousands of unique products, becoming the No. 1 choice of bike builders worldwide. After completion of Paughco’s new world headquarters, Bob Paugh took his final ride in 1987, and all operations were transferred to Ron Paugh. 

As Paughco celebrates its 50th anniversary, the company remains dedicated to the production of an ever-expanding line of products.

“What a great, unbelievable moment,” Paugh said. “I only wish my parents could be here to enjoy this moment with me. … They would be so proud of what the name Paughco has meant to so many people.”

Mondo Porras, owner of Denver’s Choppers also presented Paugh with a special appreciation award for 50 years of quality service to the motorcycle industry.

“It says, ‘Ron Paugh, 50th anniversary, thank you from the industry, we couldn’t do it without you,’” Porras read from the award custom designed to look like a miniature motorcycle gas tank. “Me personally, I couldn’t do what I do; a lot of people in the industry couldn’t do what they do without this man here.”

 

 

Jill Parhman

It is rare that a husband and wife can work closely side by side in the same business. In 1979, Jill Parham helped expand company focus from swap meets to mail-order parts sales. After working two jobs for more than 10 years, and now seeing some family income from J&P Cycles, Parham quit her job in 1991 and moved to J&P Cycles full time. Eventually, J&P Cycles became the world’s largest retailer of after-market motorcycle parts and accessories. In the period of the industry’s greatest growth, Parham became a pioneer in the motorcycle industry, one of the early women leaders in a historically male-centric industry. Parham continues to inspire women in the motorcycle industry and comments on her contributions to J&P Cycles, ”relationships were very important to John and me, and I did very well establishing some of those.” Parham says one of the events which really brought growth and expanded the J&P Cycles customer base was the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally. 

It is fitting that Parham is honored in 2019 as it marks 40 years of her dedication to motorcycling and motorcycle riders as well as the 40th anniversary of the company she co-founded, J&P Cycles. This induction is on behalf of John and Jill Parham’s many great friends, the thousands of employee riders of J&P Cycles over the past 40 years, and its millions of customers. 

“When John had the idea to start a motorcycle business in 1979, his mother called me up and said, ‘You need to stop him from doing this,’” Parham said. “I didn’t stop him, I supported him and together we created a legacy. Let’s keep moving forward and keep the world on two wheels forever.”

 

Ron Finch

The focus of Ron Finch has always been from the perspective of “Art of  Motion.” His ability to fuse together mechanical design, brilliant paint, and functionally establishes him as one of the premiere builders of this era. Labeled as “too extreme” by some, his work appropriately proclaims the freedom and individualism that is so often associated with the motorcycle lifestyle. 

The artistry of Ron Finch is not limited to metal sculpture, it is also expressed in paint. In 2008, Finch was awarded the House of Kolor Prestigious Painter Award for his work on “Finicky,” which has a rainbow of colors on the right side, and a blend of red and orange candy on the left side. Named for its fins, Finicky is a 2006 Shovelhead that features extended fins on the heads, a finned four-gallon gas tank under the seat and Finch sculpture throughout. 

Finch motorcycles have been featured in hundreds of magazines, museums, galleries, and shows in the United States, Germany, France, Sweden, and the Netherlands. One of his proudest moments was having the opportunity to display 12 custom motorcycles in the Milwaukee art museum during the 105th Harley-Davidson anniversary in August of 2008.

Finch celebrated his 80th birthday in march 2019 and continues to work  from the studio painting and building custom motorcycles and art.  Labeled as “too extreme” by some, the work of Ron Finch appropriately proclaims the freedom and individualism that is so often associated with the motorcycle lifestyle.

“I’ve always had that freedom to do what I love for 80 years,” Finch said. “It’s just a gift that I’ve been given by God and the journey’s been great, y’know. And I think the journey’s going to continue to be great.”

 

Frank Fritz

As a youngster, Frank Fritz wasn’t interested in extracurricular activities. He was interested in motor bikes and collecting beer cans, stamps, and all the “staples.” As Frank got older, his step-father told him that if he wanted something, he had to work for it. Frank attended summer school every year and worked in the afternoons. By Fritz’s sophomore year in high school, he was making $7 an hour and he was finally able to buy a 1959 Harley-Davidson Sportster. After all, according to Fritz’s father “you can get killed on a 350 Honda or a Harley.” Fritz could be seen and heard riding his Sportster to school while other kids were getting dropped off by their parents. Fritz still has his 1959 Sportster today. 

Fritz said he appreciates the freedom he feels owning, working on and riding motorcycles. For many years, Fritz would ride his 1959 Sportster to the south side grounds in Sturgis for the Rally. At the farthest, he would go to Deadwood. Fritz recalls making laps up and down Main Street from sun-up to sun-down. Now people are amazed that Fritz still rides to Sturgis and camps in the same spot. Fritz doesn’t roll up in a motor home or fly in to stay in a hotel, he does what he has done for the last 30 years. 

Fritz says his greatest achievement as a person was always working hard, seeing what he wanted and working for it, and hanging onto life-long friends, who he sees regularly. As a motorcyclist, Fritz considers one of his greatest achievements keeping his first bike and still riding today. Many friends got Harley-Davidson tattoos and had bikes here and there but motorcycling has never left Fritz’s blood. 

“I’m so flattered and humbled just to be on stage with all these amazing people,” Fritz said. “This is an honor that I will proudly talk about for the rest of my life.”

 

 

LIFETIME ACHIEVMENT AWARD RECIPIENT

GLORIA STRUCK

While Gloria Tramontin Struck came from a motorcycling family, she didn’t originally have any burning desire to ride. 

“I remember the day that my brother, Bub told me he was going to teach me how to ride,” Struck recalled. “I stamped my foot, and I said, ‘No you’re not, because I don’t want to ride a motorcycle and I’m not going to do it.’ Well I’ve been riding ever since that day in 1941, 78 years ago.”

Struck was born in 1925 behind her family’s business, Lexington Cycle Shop, in Clifton, New Jersey. The business had been selling bicycles and Excelsior-Henderson motorcycles since 1915. 

In 1946, at age 21, Struck joined the Motor Maids that had been established in 1941. Struck is the longest standing member still riding. 

Struck has logged more than 500 thousand miles, riding all 48 continental states many times over. 

“I often wonder what my life would be like if I didn’t ride,” she said. “Well, I’m 94 years old now and normally I probably would be baking cookies for my grandchildren and my great-grandchildren, knitting afgans for my friends and family, and looking forward to my weekly bingo games. But, hell, that’s not me. I’d rather be on two wheels riding around the country meeting old friends and new friends. Isn’t that what motorcycles are for?”

Struck ‘s family shares her love of riding. Her daughter, Lori, also is a Motor Maid and can always be seen riding with her mother. 

“I want to thank the Sturgis Hall of Fame, and everyone responsible for recognizing me in this way,”

“I want to thank the Sturgis Hall of Fame, and everyone responsible for recognizing me in this way,” Struck said, accepting the award. “They have given me many happy memories throughout the years, all these friends, so I’m a very lucky person. I thank my brother for not taking my ‘no’ for an answer. … This is for you Bub.”

 

FREEDOM FIGHTER
VINCE CONSIGLIO

A true Detroit product, Vince Consiglio worked his way through college working at the Big Three at the time: Chrysler, GM, and Ford. However, when Consiglio’s factory jobs laid him off, he took his first cross-country motorcycle ride from Detroit to Las Vegas; traveling Route 66 with just $20 in gas. Riding free in California, not in Michigan, threw Consiglio in court in 1974. This experience, and his love of riding motorcycles, drove Consiglio to ABATE of Michigan in 1975. After several years of battling legislation, a number of ABATE directors became the motorcycle safety foundation (MSF) instructors in 1979 with the goal of establishing motorcycle education programs. Consiglio’s MSF programs helped lead to legislative success in motorcycle education. Today, the Detroit-metro regional program is run through Schoolcraft College and is celebrating 100,000 students being trained from 1981-2019.

Consiglio holds firm that helmets do not prevent accidents. Rider education, tougher licensing, and motorcycle awareness are the keys to reducing motorcycle fatalities in Michigan. 

“I’d like to have everybody here that’s ever taught somebody how to ride a motorcycle, please stand up,” Consiglio said. “Because that’s what’s going to keep this industry going. It’s a great honor to be here and let those that ride, decide.”

 

 

 

PAPPY HOEL AWARD

 

IN MEMORY OF LONNIE ISAM JR

The mindset that old bikes should be entombed in shrines has shifted quite dramatically over the last decade, due in no small part to the efforts of one very quiet, unassuming antique enthusiast. Sturgis resident, Lonnie Isam Jr. sparked a worldwide age of enlightenment with his opinion that old motorcycles should be allowed to live out their time here on Earth as they were intended: in the wind. He set about sharing that view with riders around the world and now, every other year since 2010, antique motorcycle owners take their ancient machines out on America’s back roads to prove their mechanical marvel’s mettle and that of themselves, as well during the Motorcycle Cannonball.

For his efforts, Isam was awarded the J.C. “Pappy” Hoel Award posthumously.

The award is reserved for individuals who have played a special role in the founding, maintaining and/or promoting the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally. 

“He did not seek attention, he did not seek acalades. Here we’re trying to give it to him and probably post mortum is the best way, because in life I don’t think he would have appreciated it,” said Jeff Dekker, accepting the award on Isam’s behalf.