NCOM BIKER NEWSBYTES
Compiled & Edited by Bill Bish,

Sen. Ernst said her concern for motorcycles and motorcyclists started when she was a child. “Some of my most cherished memories include motorcycles, from delivering messages as a young girl to my dad while he was working out in the fields, to riding through the rolling hills of Northeast Iowa with family and friends,” Ernst said. “Throughout my 99 county tour of Iowa, I have heard from many of these folks about some of their priorities, including improving safety, infrastructure and energy efficiency. These concerns are shared by folks across our great state and country, and I look forward to working with Sen. Peters toward solutions.”




The driver reported having the car on autopilot at the time. The officer was uninjured and the car driver wasn’t ticketed.

Tesla has warned customers in the past that its autopilot mode does not mean a driver can completely disengage, but increasingly it seems customers are unwilling to listen. Tesla’s website specifically states that drivers are in command of their vehicles after exiting freeways.


Because of the three-wheeled configuration and characteristics of autocycles, determining how to classify them has been a challenge for state governments. Polaris calls the Slingshot a “three-wheeled moto-roadster.” Initially, when it was introduced to the market in 2014, consumers were required to have a motorcycle endorsement or license to operate the Slingshot, which offers a distinct ride through its open cockpit and side-by-side seating.

Currently, 30 states, including the District of Columbia, require only a driver’s license to drive an autocycle. The remaining states require a motorcycle endorsement, but Polaris says efforts are being made to reclassify the vehicle to gain full conformity throughout the United States.


The heartless car driver is 69-year-old William Crum and following a two-day trial at 355th District Court in Hood County, Texas, he’s been sentenced to 15 years in prison after being convicted on one count of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon causing bodily injury.

The 15-year sentence means that Crum, who was arrested soon after the incident in Granbury, TX in October 2015, will be in prison until he’s 84.

Leather comes from cows, which are revered and even worshiped by many in the Hindu community, and according to the Hindustan Times a well-known Bollywood actor is taking on the iconic American motorcycle-maker over religious principles.

Popular actor and producer Ajaz Khan is urging India’s Prime Minister to impose a ban on Harley-Davidson products, claiming they’re made from cow hide. “I just bought a leather belt from Harley Davidson,” Khan is quoted by the Hindustan Times as saying. “This is a cow leather belt. It’s being sold in the entire world. If you really consider yourself men, then I request [the Prime Minister] shuts down Harley Davidson.”

ROLLING INTO RENO FOR NCOM CONVENTIONWith the 32nd Annual NCOM Convention in Reno just weeks away, the National Coalition of Motorcyclists is requesting that MROs, Motorcycle Clubs, & riding associations submit the names of those members & supporters who have died this year, so that we may honor their memories during the traditional “Ringing of the Bell” tribute to fallen riders during the opening ceremonies. Dedications can be hand-delivered at the Convention to “Doc” Reichenbach, NCOM Chairman of the Board, or e-mailed in advance to Bill Bish at NCOMBish@aol.com.

Attendees are also encouraged to bring an item on behalf of their organization for the Freedom Fund Auction, with proceeds benefiting the motorcyclists’ rights movement nationwide through Getting Our People Elected donations, NCOM Speaker Program, lobbying activities & other pro-motorcycling projects as determined by the NCOM Board of Directors.


QUOTABLE QUOTE: “Among individuals, as among nations, respect for the rights of others is peace.”~ Benito Juárez (1806-1872), President of Mexico

A course was set for the heart of West Hollywood.

 City concrete was everywhere as I passed the seemingly endless wall of storefronts and businesses that line Santa Monica Boulevard. Although it was late evening with rush hour long past, traffic still clogged the streets as multitudes of pedestrians held down sidewalks and crosswalks. Eventually I turned uphill onto La Cienega Boulevard and began looking for the driveway described over the phone. It soon led past two car parking at left, between two large double story houses, then downhill some short distance to driveway’s end and a garage at left. Joe greeted me in the driveway and, after re-acquaintance, I was led past the pool and inside to tour of one of Joe’s two houses. Six bedrooms and, of course, the place was quite nice. The house seemed devoid of much activity, which I’d soon learn was uncommon around here.

Aside from the house Joe lived in, he also had the place directly next door. It offered seven bedrooms and was filled with roommates as well. Although that place had no pool, it had a freestanding structure in the yard that was being converted into a music studio but, and this time, was not quite finished. In the fence that separated these houses Joe’d installed a large gate so residents of his Hollywood party community might wonder easily back and forth.

As the days passed I came to know some of our residents. Micky “Memphitz” Wright is some kind of a rap star. Although I’m told his past is jaded (I know nothing of rap), for whatever reasons, we got along very well. On the living room wall a red album boasted sales on one of his albums at 10,000,000 copies, and a gold one boasting 500,000. A picture of him and Oprah Winfrey accompanied them, and I saw him once on TV while here. At least partially for his presents, as well as the Hollywood party atmosphere, there were always hot young groupies hanging around and seldom less than three in Micky’s bedroom at any given time. Imagine the ego trip. Next we had a small time producer, then Shawn who made music videos, and most everyone else in residence was either looking to make it big, or already had their foot in some kind of show business door. I guess that’s what folks come Hollywood for.

Joe had originally arrived with $350 to his name then built this little empire with the profits from various business ventures I didn’t ask much about. But Joe likes to stick his foot in a lot of different, and sometimes unorthodox, business doors. The publishing of my book, and another written on the subject of Tupac (a dead rap star), was just another of his crazy, and occasionally profitable, ideas. In truth though, I didn’t put a lot of stock in anything coming of it.

On the second night, of my life here, we attended a big crazy drunken party next door. At Joe’s places it was the same, if not far more constant. The drunken antics, naked people in the pool, etc. etc. were an endless source of entertainment to me. On occasion someone would point out a television star in attendance, but of course I’d not know of them because I have no TV. 

Almost all residents were young and this nutty scene seemed reminiscent of life back in my 20s. But along with a great love of the party scene, Joe was ambitious to succeed in business and sought to keep the craziness limited only to weekends. For if left unchecked the insanity wouldn’t stop even for a day.

L.A. traffic was always horrible but most everything one needed, except a grocery story, was two blocks walking distance on Santa Monica Blvd. Subway Sandwich, Starbucks, bars, restaurants, ice cream, you name it. So it was some errand, or just wanting to get out of the house, that brought me to that area regularly. Now I’ve stayed in some gay areas—Key West, Palm Springs, etc.—but this place took the cake. In fact, if I was gay, I could have attended an orgy at least everyday and never gone without. In time I became acquainted with a few of these guys. One told me that, for sex, men are the gas and women the breaks so when two men are attracted to each other it’s all gas. In fact, almost all those I talked to had problems with way to much frivolous, meaningless, sex. This seemed to pose a serious problem. Quite a few had, or were trying to, abstain. Us heteros should have such problems huh? But gay areas lean toward an uncommon acceptance of most anything in general, which also means that almost any other manner of weirdness goes, and it was there that I saw other strange and interesting Hollywood sights as well.

One day Joe told me a production company would be shooting a movie scene in the backyard that evening. Sounded interesting. One scene would be shot with a bunch of supposedly unruly teenagers in the pool. Even though this is southern California, it was winter and the nights were downright chilly. All afternoon Joe fought tooth and nail with the pool heater, which would come on then shortly thereafter turn itself back off. He said the pool guy had recently replaced it but was unable to come look at it today. By the time evening rolled around, cameras, crews, equipment, and lighting was assembled and shooting began first on the street. By now Joe was running around going nuts with that damn pool heater! Eventually shooting moved to the backyard (my yard) then the pool. Still no heater. Joe was livid. 

One scene portrayed a bunch of supposedly drunken kids who’d snuck into some unsuspecting citizen’s yard for a little fun in their pool. With the hour growing later, time eventually came for those kids to embrace their “fun time” in the ice water. I couldn’t help but laugh as they stood shivering until the director called “Action” whereupon all would start splashing it up and having such a good time! Price of fame I guess. For me however, it was just a great comedy show.

Although my garage offered some sanctuary, by the time one walked to driveway’s end he was completely immersed in crowded, high traffic, fast paced city. For one more used to the freedom of small towns and open highways the constriction of this place became oppressive rather quickly. Although this city goes on seemingly forever, the quickest sanctuary is into the nearby hills above Malibu, along Mulholland Drive and the other small twisting roads that sometimes offer a view of the Pacific Ocean far below; or simply to ride hwy-1 up the coast. Many local bikers also seek weekend escape to these places and there are two staple hangouts. One is Neptune’s Net along the coast, and the other the Rock Store up on Mulholland. Since none of the party-house residents rode motorcycles I missed the company of other riders and this was a welcomed reprieve. I also began taking overnight trips out of the city; a simple task for one with the ability to easily make his home anywhere.

One day a local Shovelhead guy made contact on the net. John lives in the nearby suburbs and wanted to drop by and take me to lunch. I gladly accepted. He and the old Shovel soon showed up. From my garage we walked to some swanky, high priced restaurant and had a wonderful meal on the deck at street-front. After that John and I began getting together to ride the hills quite frequently. We visited hangouts, beaches, mountains and, on one occasion John, his wife Janie, and I made a trip to the less glittery town of Oxnard. Some nights John and I would go back to his house where he’d grill steaks while Janie made fixens’ in the kitchen. Next we’d hang in the hot tub and bullshit. I soon learned of John’s violent past and his many years in prison. But you’d never know it now, for these days John owns a pool businesses, lives in a regular home, and is anything but an outlaw. On many occasions I’ve seen time and age mellow a man as the dark memories of his youth fade to the distant past.

But some of the greatest segments of this adventure were still yet to come, for my time in Hollywood was far from finished…

Editor’s Note: I’m going to devote this page to news and views regarding Climate Change and the excuse it gives government agencies to regulate the population.

It’s incredible. There has been a 20-year PR campaign to convince the government and the public that we are all bad, killing the planet, and need to be severely regulated. This is costing our industry millions and it just could be bullshit.

 But you decide:

Climate Hustle: The film that changes the climate of debate on global warming
Concerns about man-made global warming have consumed nearly all other environmental issues as proponents claim increasing carbon dioxide will result in a global catastrophe unless nations drastically reduces emissions.

Global warming has evolved to be blamed for a range of issues beyond just rising temperatures or sea levels. Now rising CO2 emission are said to cause floods, droughts, tornadoes, hurricanes and even maladies like prostitution, bar room brawls, airline turbulence and less snow or more snow, depending on the season.

More than a year in the making, Climate Hustle is now smashing onto the scene to rock the climate debate and set the record straight. Produced by “CFACT Presents” and hosted by Climate Depot publisher Marc Morano, the film features prominent scientists from around the world, who used to warn about the dangers of man-made global warming but have reexamined the evidence and have now grown more skeptical or become outright skeptics of man-made climate change fears.

The film is not a one-sided documentary with only one narrative presented. Instead, Climate Hustle comes alive to the viewer with archival video clips and news footage spanning over 40 years.

The film presents both sides of the climate debate in an engaging and pop
culture-friendly way that walks viewers through the dire climate claims being made and examines them one by one.

Viewers of Climate Hustle will get an informative, humorous and entertaining journey through seven key sections that lay waste to the media-promoted climate claims.

For example: One powerful segment, called “Stacking the Deck,” shows how the notion of a “scientific consensus” on climate change is pure fabrication and is simply a political tool used to stifle debate.

Another segment, entitled “Sleight of Hand,” examines whether CO2 is really the villain it’s made out to be and shows viewers some of the crucial facts that Al Gore omitted from his famous propaganda documentary, An Inconvenient Truth.

Viewers are taken on a journey back in time to reveal centuries – yes centuries – of climate panic and fear. The film shows rarely seen clips of 1970s global cooling newscasts and how “stagecraft” was employed to juice the narrative of man-made global warming fears in the1980s.

Sea level rise scares? Polar bears? Polar ice melts? Climate Hustle offers viewers a virtual A-Z examination of the evidence for man-made climate fears. The film features expert opinions and data to reveal that on virtually every claim in the climate debate, climate activists have either greatly exaggerated the issue or are flat out wrong.

Climate Hustle viewers will also get a look at the increasingly outlandish claims of activists
who, in a form of “climate astrology,” want to blame every bad weather event – and societal evil – on man-made global warming.

The film has its moments of hilarity as comical climate change “tipping points” are exposed as utter nonsense and more suited to a stand-up comedy act. Viewers are walked through previous doomsday predictions on topics ranging from Y2K to the Mayan Calendar.
Perhaps the most poignant moment of the film comes when viewers are told there is literally no difference between holocaust deniers and climate “deniers.”

Exclusive interviews reveal activists who call for skeptics to be thrown in jail. By contrast, scientists are profiled who have reversed themselves on global warming fears, and far from profiting from their dissent, they
explain how their careers have been negatively impacted just for daring to challenge the so-called consensus.

Politically Left scientists are interviewed who reveal how “lonely” it is for them to dissent on man-made global warming. Climate Hustle is premiering in Paris during the UN’s COP21 climate summit, and will be scheduled for theatrical and home video release in 2016.

To view a link to the film’s trailer visit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nXBzjBE9l5Q

To view a clip from the movie visit: https://app.box.com/s/tbzjfq0r5a7dicl6nn6g18bqo453bb73

ACTION FROM THE CLIMATE CALAMITY FRONT–I did communicate with Hardtail, president of the MRF, and he wanted to talk by phone last week but we didn’t hook up. He’s in Europe most of December on business (he’s an engineer for Ocean Spray Cranberries).

He stated that the MRF is all over the EPA issue and they have released many press releases on the subject. My opinion is they have voiced concerns, and report occasionally on the ethanol standards, production increases and dispute over production waivers pursuant to the Clean Air Act and congress’ promulgations, but I haven’t seen any strategy or direction on how to combat any of this to date other than their plea to write to your congressman to express concerns over blended fuels and increase in E-15 reserves.

The quandary, as I see it, is we as a people are caught between the battle of the experts once again. The standards, CO2 emissions concerns, greenhouse gases, 2017 volume requirements for Ethanol, climate warming and more are so technical that a layperson cannot understand it all.

When you have scientists and other so-called experts disagreeing on climate change, what is causing it if it’s actually happening, what is the greater danger contributing to CO2 emissions and so on, what chance do we have of knowing what is real and what is fantasy?

It’s like belief in God. Some have an unyielding devotion to believe in the existence of God, without tangible proof that he exists. Other’s call it an illusion or belief in a superstition. Those sides can argue to eternity, with neither having real proof to verify the argument.

With regards to our situation, we are stuck in the middle with each side arguing more on belief than “real evidence.” I don’t want to believe the planet is warming like some claim, and I don’t want to believe that man is the major contributor to this claim. But not being an expert, I can only cling to belief and faith that it isn’t so.

The one thing I do know as fact, is the EPA working in concert with European nations on Global Harmonization, is regulating business into submission through increased standards (some of which cannot be reached because technology doesn’t exist yet to meet those standards), punishing fines that cripple small manufacturers, Swat-team raids that violate constitutional protections and destroy business, families and bank accounts, and total refusal to co-ordinate planning on initiatives to meet these problems with local, non-governmental committees or agencies, as was mandated in the original clean air acts decades ago.

Without someone in congress to champion the cause of reining in the EPA, we are spinning in circles without an end in sight. Looking at the open comments document the EPA posted concerning the 2017 Ethanol volume requirements, it was clear that most comments were in favor of increasing the volumes and opposed waivers that allowed for lower volumes or retaining current levels.

Most of the comments came from interested parties, as expected, like corn growers and ethanol manufacturers. I could only find three submissions from our friends in the motorcycle community: ABATE of Michigan, ABATE of Illinois and ABATE of Pennsylvania.

There were a few other organizations that opposed the increased Ethanol production, most notably some antique car organizations, but most comments were in favor of increased production levels of E15.

The arguments for the most part were of a technical nature and included comments by manufacturers and gas station/service plaza owners and organizations, that were beyond my understanding, since they alluded to business practices and manufacturing technology. These are stakeholders representing huge companies. My other concern is how big of an impact is the motorcycle after-market industry and motorcycle riders in general going to have on this global stage?

–Tony Pan Sanfelipo
Investigator
Hupy and Abraham, S.C.
1-800-800-5678

My Response to Tony’s Report:
I agree regarding the highly technical aspects of this argument and I get a kick out of your equating it to the God debate. Regarding the God debate, don’t we have something in the constitution about this? You can debate and believe all you want for or against, but don’t pass laws. The question remains. Can we give up or give in? And what we hope to fight for goes way beyond the performance motorcycle industry to cars and trucks, anything performance.

I would rather equate the global science discussion and over regulation to the McCarthy Era. Can we allow the government to control everything with an exhaust pipe and put half of these industries out of business, only to discover tomorrow or a year from now that the transportation sector has a very small climate change footprint.

Plus, there is science and scientist who don’t agree with the regulators’ contentions. In fact, Australia, through scientific conclusions threw out recent regulations. Watch the documentary “Climate Hustle.” Plus, over the 40 some years we’ve been in this game, every time the government threw another law at the Biker’s Rights community, our band of grubby bikers stepped up, found the data, researched the facts and came back fighting with Freedom on our side.

–Bandit

Chiming in to offer up my two cents on all of this rhetoric.

Firstly, lets make it explicitly clear that the MRF is actively engaged on two fronts with the EPA:

1. The first is combatting the EPA’s instance that they have the authority to regulate the car and motorcycle racing industry, specifically the “tampering” of motorcycles which is what they call it when you add high performance parts to your bike that affects the amount of CO2 that is emitted into the atmosphere. Our strategy in combatting this is to address the agency’s overreach through legislation. This is the RPM Act, which we have made great progress on this year and I do expect to advance at some point though the chances of passage this year are looking increasingly slim.

2. The second area that we are engaging with the EPA is in regards to the RFS Standard – this is a law passed by Congress in 2007 that REQUIRES the EPA to issue mandates of how much biofuel (like ethanol) is used in the nation’s fuel supply. Like the RPM Act, our strategy here is with Congress. The EPA is simply fulfilling their congressionally mandated obligation – no amount of public comment is going to change that. The problem must be dealt with at the Congressional level via legislation. The MRF is involved with a larger coalition “Smarter Fuel Future” to push for larger RFS reform but is also working within a smaller spinoff group that is trying to make specific and targeted changes to the RFS standard that will satisfy BIKERS (but likely not the oil and gas industry – their lobbyists can fight that fight).

In both of these areas our strategy is to force the hand of Congress to reign in the EPA. I will tell you from experience, that going to the head of the EPA and pressuring her to “pull back” is an absolutely worthless exercise. Congress controls the purse strings of the agency and the authority of the agency. This is why we need the motorcycle community (10 MILLION PEOPLE IN THE U.S.) to tell their Congressperson about what changes they want made. This is called grassroots, folks.

Under the Obama Administration the EPA was advised to “push boundaries” and they did exactly that. Things will most certainly be different under a Trump Administration and will present an opportunity to help limit the agency’s jurisdiction. Again – this will have to be achieved via legislation and “regulatory reform” – the MRF has and will be present in these discussions. Though please be advised that a Trump Administration will not solve all of our problems. As a reaction to the Trump Administration, we will see more progressive states like California in particular, really push the envelope on state and local environmental regulations. This is where we need to be most diligent over the next 4 years.

Lastly, I would encourage us to not get lost or caught up in the bigger questions like the authenticity of climate change. There are far too many players with voices larger than ours. Instead, my advice is to decide specifically what we want to achieve and then formulate a plan to do that. Maybe it’s pass the RPM Act, maybe it’s to promulgate a new law mandating that E10 is legally required to be sold at all gas stations, maybe it’s that EPA emissions regulations supersede those of a state (i.e. California). Whatever it is that you want, now is the time to have that conversation.

But be forewarned – whatever it is we decide to try and get achieved will involve grassroots (that would be the “plea to write your Congressmen”) and $$$$$$. And unless I am mistaken, our MRF funding comes from RIDERS. Not from high performance parts manufacturers and not the aftermarket industry but the people who ride their bikes – and that’s who I’m working for.

-Megan
MRF

Response from the Investigator: Pretty much to the point, and I’m not in disagreement with a lot of what she says; I know the EPA is working under mandate, and we cannot, nor do we have the power or ability to force EPA to do anything. I think we all knew that already, so I feel a little “talked down to” from her comments.

Despite Trump making statements during his campaign that he would eliminate the EPA, I also know he doesn’t have the power to do that either, only Congress, as Megan assuredly scolded us, has the power to reign in the EPA.

My concern was some of the issues with the Tenth Amendment, which on first glance, would tend to reinforce our and the MRF’s position that the powers not given to the federal government should remain with the states on issues like this. The problem is some years ago, while sovereignty of the states was recognized and they were recognized as having the power to enforce regulations dealing with things like emissions, the actually policy making authority where these regulations originate was reserved for the federal government.

Thus, Congress can and hopefully will recognize that the over-regulation on companies and business is killing jobs and the economy. Megan realizes, as I did, that fighting the climate change theory is extremely difficult. Where we differ is she wants to totally abandon that argument, whereas I think it must be addressed as a driving force behind current and expanded regulation, based on questionable science.

You can’t effectively argue against something without some qualifying argument. It’s how I describe the disagreement I have over the helmet issue. Some, like the MRF, say we don’t have anything against helmets; we just want the choice to wear one. It’s become the mantra of the current rights leadership, and sounds good and makes the members smile. After all, we’re not the anti-helmet people. We’re the pro-choice people.

Well to me, that reminds me of my mother telling me to eat my greens, they’re good for me. But in defiance, I say, I don’t have anything against greens, I just don’t want to eat them. We all know who won that argument. Because just saying we want the choice to wear or not wear a helmet isn’t the same as saying we don’t want to wear a helmet because we don’t see positive proof that they’re effective or reduce fatality rates.

The government has tried to be our mother and say, “Shut up and just eat your greens,” but we’ve been successful in at least half the states in telling them we don’t want to wear them. But that could change in a heartbeat, and if we had to fight helmet laws nationally again, how do you tell congress you don’t want to wear a helmet without giving a reason? Fat chance now, since most of the states have said repeatedly we don’t have anything against helmets. Get my point?

Same holds true for the emissions problem, and the Ethanol reserves, etc. We can argue to Congress that we want the EPA to be pulled back, and certainly job loss and killing off some small businesses in the mix is a good argument, but it won’t outweigh the climate change greenies, who have a huge lobby, a lots of money (Ethanol plants, corn growers, and a host of supporting industry all making money off the production of Ethanol).

I’m not completely sure Trump will be compliant with hurting Ethanol and others, and I know he had some interests in some of the oil pipelines and cronies in the oil business, so I’m reserved on what, if any help we can count on from him.

Finally, Megan claiming that the MRF needs grass-roots activism (lobbying Congress) and $$$$ is interesting. She claims the SMRO’s are where the MRF gets its money, and that’s mostly true, and that’s who she works for.

Well, the amounts of money they get can’t be all that much, since they’re always working at fund raising, especially at conferences, and I can understand that. But the amount they raise is a pittance compared to the money that will be used to forward the other sides’ arguments. I may be misreading her intent, but to me it appeared she was disrespectful to the many motorcycle accessory companies, racers and builders out there. Those high performance parts manufacturers and aftermarket accessory makers are who their membership relies on, and if they go away, so will the bikes MRF riders enjoy.

I thought that a surprising way to end her letter. Just my two cents worth.

–Tony Pan Sanfelipo
Investigator
Hupy and Abraham, S.C.
1-800-800-5678

Cowspiracy: The Sustainability Secret is a groundbreaking feature-length environmental documentary following intrepid filmmaker Kip Andersen as he uncovers the most destructive industry facing the planet today – and investigates why the world’s leading environmental organizations are too afraid to talk about it.

Animal agriculture is the leading cause of deforestation, water consumption and pollution, is responsible for more greenhouse gases than the transportation industry, and is a primary driver of rainforest destruction, species extinction, habitat loss, topsoil erosion, ocean “dead zones,” and virtually every other environmental ill. Yet it goes on, almost entirely unchallenged.

As Andersen approaches leaders in the environmental movement, he increasingly uncovers what appears to be an intentional refusal to discuss the issue of animal agriculture, while industry whistleblowers and watchdogs warn him of the risks to his freedom and even his life if he dares to persist.

As eye-opening as Blackfish and as inspiring as An Inconvenient Truth, this shocking yet humorous documentary reveals the absolutely devastating environmental impact large-scale factory farming has on our planet, and offers a path to global sustainability for a growing population.

ABOUT THE FILMMAKERS

Kip Andersen’s environmental awakening came as a result of An Inconvenient Truth. After seeing the film, he began to recycle religiously, turn off lights constantly, shower infrequently, and ride a bike instead of driving. Andersen believed he was doing everything he could to help the planet by following the guidelines of national and international environmental organizations, but his life took a different direction when he found out animal agriculture is the leading cause of environmental destruction.

He is the founder of AUM Films and Media, a 501c3 non-profit focused on creating films and media that promote thrivability, compassion, and harmony for all life. He is also an entrepreneur, as well as a certified Jivamukti and Kundalini yoga teacher. He is a graduate of Cal Poly San Luis Obispo school of business and has called San Francisco home for more than a decade.

Keegan Kuhn is a videographer, award-winning documentary filmmaker, and professional musician living in the east bay of San Francisco. He has worked with nonprofit organizations and been involved in social justice movements for virtually his entire life. As a filmmaker, he helps organizations reach an ever-greater community of supporters with the highest possible quality films and videos. His film career has taken him as far as the remote interior of Alaska to document modern homesteaders, to the high deserts of the American west filming the nation’s remaining wild horses, to rural agricultural communities and dirty urban streets. He is motivated by a deep desire to shed light on untold stories of the most downtrodden in our society, and to raise to awareness through greater visibility of social justice issues.

DIRECTOR’S NOTE:
The science and research done on the true impacts of animal agriculture is always growing. The statistics used in the film were based on the best information we had available while producing the film. We will continually update this list with further resources as they become available

Fao.org. Spotlight: Livestock impacts on the environment.

Transportation exhaust is responsible for 13% of all greenhouse gas emissions. [.i]
Greenhouse gas emissions from this sector primarily involve fossil fuels burned for road, rail, air, and marine transportation.

Fao.org. Spotlight: Livestock impacts on the environment.

Environmental Protection Agency. “Global Emissions.”

Goodland, R Anhang, J. “Livestock and Climate Change: What if the key actors in climate change were pigs, chickens and cows?”

WorldWatch, November/December 2009. Worldwatch Institute, Washington, DC, USA. Pp. 10–19.

Animal Feed Science and Technology “comment to editor” Goodland, Anhang.

The Independent, article Nov. 2009.

“Improved Attribution of Climate Forcing to Emissions.” Science Magazine.

“Improved Attribution of Climate Forcing to Emissions.” Science Magazine.

“Livestock’s Long Shadow: Environmental Issues and Options.” Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. 2006.

http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v515/n7528/full/nature13959.html

Energy Global Hydrocarbon Engineering

IEA, World Energy Outlook 2014

EPA. “Overview of Greenhouse Gases.”

Ross, Philip. “Cow farts have ‘larger greenhouse gas impact’ than previously thought; methane pushes climate change.” International Business Times. 2013.

250-500 liters per cow per day, x 1.5 billion cows globally is 99 – 198.1 billion gallons. Rough average of 150 billion gallons CH4 globally per day.

Converting to wind and solar power will take 20+ years and roughly 43 trillion dollars.
The Cost Of Going Green Globally

Oppenlander, Richard A. Food Choice and Sustainability: Why Buying Local, Eating Less Meat, and Taking Baby Steps Won’t Work. . Minneapolis, MN : Langdon Street, 2013. Print.

Source: calculation is based on http://www.worldwatch.org/node/6294 analyses that 51% of GHG are attributed to animal ag.

U.N. Press Release, Climate Summit 2014.

A RESPONSE FROM THE INVESTIGATOR

As for giving up or giving in, I think you know me better than to think I would Never throw the towel in when matters of rights or personal liberties are concerned.

You are right when you say the issue is much deeper than our niche in the scheme of things. As usual, two things loom large; money and control. Money comes from the huge business of alternative fuels and renewable energy. ??The greenhouse scare has helped to create new industries endeavoring to capitalize on alternative fuels. Ethanol seems to be king at the moment, with manufacturing plants popping up across the mid-west an elsewhere.

Corn crops are being devoted to Ethanol to meet the demands of volume dictated under the Renewable Fuel Standard. The greenhouse scare/conspiracy fuels the acquiescence is increased regulation, not only on car, diesel and motorcycle emissions, but also coal powered energy plants.

Since its creation in 1970, under Richard Nixon, the EPA has declared war on industry in America. Bolstered by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), the war on coal powered energy plants and coal mining in general has cost thousands of jobs. By 2030, it’s predicted 34,000 jobs lost. The coal industry itself has already lost over 47,500 jobs. 37 percent of coal mining jobs in Kentucky have vanished since 2008, yet America relies on fossil fuel energy for 2/3rds of its electricity.

We tend to think of the assault on emissions as singular attack. But farming, mining, ranching and logging are all under attack from the EPA. This is costing jobs and eliminating small business altogether.

In California, independent truck drivers are going out of business because of the EPA and CARB. Standards and regulation on diesel particulate emission make older trucks illegal. Newer trucks or some able to convert have installed Diesel Particulate Filters (DPF), which are suspected in numerous semi-truck fires of questionable origin. These fires are not a consequence of crashes but rather spontaneous affairs. Interestingly, many of the original reports point to the filters but final incident reports exclude the cause and only refer to undetermined heat source. Was the EPA behind the exclusion of first opinion conclusions of origin of the fires?

Exhaust emission regulation has been at the heart of most of our problems dealing with after-market accessories. Before establishing any regulations or restrictions, federal agencies were required to “coordinate” with local government agencies, according to the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969.

Any federal agency action had to be submitted to environmental study and for coordination with local governments affected by such action. To be considered was the impact on society, culture and the economy. Recent hearings attended by independent truck drivers in Redding, California, indicated that local government was not contacted by or coordinated with the EPA or CARB on any of the regulations suppressing that industry. The fact that EPA and CARB continue to create more regulations and enforce existing ones, seemingly without regard to local government concerns, is most disturbing.

Even more disturbing is the move toward Harmonization of Motorized Vehicles based on European standards. That should scare the hell out of our industry.

It’s no secret that the EU, headed by Germany, has set a target of 2030 to eliminate all fossil fuel vehicles. The EU envisions an all-electric or at least alternative fuel motor vehicle culture.

The consequences of global harmonization reawaken all the fears of the “One World Government” that so many of us oppose. It goes so far beyond vehicles when you consider land acquisition, deforestation and the so-called reliance of foreign oil.

I suspect the reliance on foreign oil should be blamed partly on the EPA and its regulations. Regulations, not environmentalists, have slowed down or halted oil drilling operations in the U.S.

Our refineries are operating at capacity, and building new, more technologically advanced refineries, are stifled by EPA regulation. Just like coal burning energy plants, the regulations promulgated by the EPA make meeting those standards impossible because the technology to meet emission demands doesn’t exist yet.

So, instead of investing in our own domestic oil program, congress invested billions of dollars (taxpayers money) to explore alternative energy sources like wind turbines, solar panels and Ethanol. We know how the first two experiments turned out, and the jury is still out on Ethanol as a viable alternative to fossil fuels. As it stands, despite pouring billions of dollars into the search for alternative fuels, no technology or alternative fuels come close to replacing fossil fuel systems in place.

Sweden sought a 100 percent carbon-free emission for its power supply, relying on a combination of hydroelectric and nuclear power, and exchanging power with neighboring Scandinavian countries. It investigated substituting its nuclear power with wind power in order to reduce the demand for hydroelectricity. It found that it would have to supplement the system with power from fossil fuel (gas) to meet the demand, resulting in doubling the CO2 emissions.

Can the EPA also have a role in Second Amendment Rights? Consider the closing of the last lead smelting plant in America and the stockpiling of ammunition by federal agencies like Homeland Security. Why did the EPA also stockpile millions of rounds of ammunition after regulating lead smelting in the U.S. out of business.

I could go on, but I think finding allies in congress is essential. The Tenth Amendment was based on federalism, in which the power of government was possessed by independent sovereign states, as opposed to a centralized government with power reserved for a central authority.

To preserve the autonomy or sovereignty of the states, we have to have a Supreme Court made up of justices to understand and support the original intention of the Tenth Amendment to limit the powers of the federal government. In that respect, the Supreme Court is a more important player than even congress in our goal to reduce the regulatory powers of the EPA.

–Tony Pan Sanfelipo
Investigator
Hupy and Abraham, S.C.
1-800-800-5678

FROM THE FRONT: I’ll comment on Tony’s comments later this week

The core problem with the global warming movement is the whitewash/ lack of facts when questioning anything they say is the rule. The core of this is to create a global tax on carbon administered by the UN to transfer $ to other nations while they cut a slice off the top.

The UN is active in motorcycle emissions, they want a 78db limit worldwide on m/c and many other things that would make you and I sick to our stomach.

Keep an eye on Morano web site Climate Depot, sounds like he would be interesting to interview.

–anonymous supporter

INDUSTRY EMMISSIONS SEMINAR—

Some of the core issues holding our industry back are stifling EPA and CARB regulations. We want to bring shops and the industry up to speed on efforts to curb regulation.

In addition we will show a short film titled, “Climate Hustle.”

Keith R. Ball, from Bikernet.com and members of the industry will share their findings and efforts exclusively at the V-Twin Expo.

https://www.skepticalscience.com/volcanoes-and-global-warming.htm

 

I’m a Ph.D. Organic Chemist and am a foamy-mouthed liberal. Human climate warming has some serious scientific flaws.

Just sayin’…. The climate has been warming for 12,000 years, completely melting over a mile of ice that used to cover Canada. It’s still warming and will do so for another century or so.

The human contribution to global warming is minimal at best. Curious? Check out Malankovitch Cycles.

Recently I received a pair of Drayko Kevlar jeans to wear around town as I do my normal daily motorcycle riding. I wore them both in the heated temperatures of the fall in the North East, and again waited until the temperatures turned in late November. I found the jeans to breathe well, not too hot when the sun was beating and in the cold winds, equally as comfortable. But that’s not where they shine, the light weight Kevlar inner lining is the key. While I haven’t had the experience of laying my bike over and skidding across the ground with the jeans on, there are images on the Drayko web site showing just that.

Drayko is the future of casual motorcycle protection. Designed for the modern rider, and engineered with revolutionary fiber technology, Drayko delivers the ultimate in freedom of choice.The Drayko lining features Dyneema®, the World’s Strongest Fiber;™ and is soft, breathable, flexible, non-allergenic and vastly superior to basic woven or knitted lining alternatives.

Check out this product, no matter if a casual rider or a daily high mile rider. Drayko offers many different colors and styles to meet any riders needs. I GIVE THEM A BIG THUMBS UP, and like I said, I did this review over a few months of travels & temperatures and the jeans provided comfort and a sense of safety. CLICK HERE to visit the DRAYKO website.

This has been one of the most challenging years of my life and the Salt Torpedo was one of them. The Paughco team stepped up to save the day and we have more progress on what could be the first streamlined trike. Actually there wasn’t a streamlined trike category until I picked up the phone and called Dennis Manning.

“If you’re going to build one we better find a category,” Dennis said and went in search. He found a workable solution with the FIM sanctioning body. As you can imagine, the Paughco team, lead by Steve Massicotte had to get a handle on what I slipped into the back shop.

Fortunately, they have a customer, Darrel, who builds dragsters and understands hot rod chassis and steering. Since Paughco’s head quarters are in Carson City, Nevada I couldn’t run over every other day with resources and suggestion. The staff would tire of the bastard Bandit Ball showing up all the time.

Darrel and Steve put their heads together and of course Ron Paugh, the boss had to make the space and the time for his guys to work on it. The poor economy helped toward the end of the year. Actually, about the beginning of the year, during riding season the Paughco crew was busier than ever making their classic springers and custom frames.

Steve had numerous notions to take off the rear Progressive shocks and build a mono-shock system to keep it narrow. He was concerned about chassis length and if I would fit. “The front axle may need to reside outside the front of the belly tank,” Steve said, and I cringed. Streamlining is all about cool and sleek. Only the minimum can reside outside the chassis.

It’s bad enough to sport two wheels in the front but almost nothing else can be allowed to stick out. Originally we studied a front swingarm, with dual shocks inside the body, but Steve came up with a very cool notion to use more Paughco components and build a dragster leaf spring system.

At one time Kent weeks talked about placing the gas tank in it’s stock position, and again I cringed. It would have meant a bigger body. There’s a rule about streamlining and aerodynamics. The bigger the surface the more horsepower you need to push it. That’s why I chose the smallest belly tank configuration I could order from Class Glass in New Jersey.

A couple of times folks have said, “Maybe we need a larger tank.” Each time I would cringe and reach for my flask of Jack Daniels.

Let’s see what Steve has for us:

At this point my smile returned. I know we were going to have serious aerodynamic issues with the two front wheels sticking out the sides.

“I have an idea for front suspension,” Steve added, “so will talk to Daryl and get back to you.”

“We have been welding up the front suspension today using our Indian leaf springs- left & right,” Steve said.

“We are doing 2-3 hours a day now on it so we should have a bunch to show you in the near future,” Steve added.

Here are some more images of the new front suspension and some partial roll cage picks.
“Very cool if we do say so ourselves,” Steve added.

“I have the machine shop making a new mount to hold both L & R leaf spring sets,” said Steve.

The following came from Drew Gatewood an official Bonneville inspector:

Please see enclosed link for current AMA Supplemental Regulations.

http://bonnevillespeedtrials.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/AMA-LSGC-SR-2016v13.pdf

Though your 3-wheeled machine would be considered a “cyclecar,” and eligible for F.I.M. entry only, it will also be considered
a streamliner, as it appears you will be enclosing the chassis with a type of belly tanker covering.

The AMA rules regarding streamliners are what we point entrants towards even if entering in F.I.M. only. They are similar, and easier to interpret.
I highly suggest you and your builder fully understand the following…

Chapter 2 – MINIMUM STANDARD EQUIPMENT

Chapter 9 – STREAMLINER CLASS
Article 9.M. discusses all chassis/roll bar tubing requirements.

Lastly, streamliners of all types go through the most in-depth and lengthy scrutineering/tech. inspection process of all the motorcycle entries, so please keep in mind while constructing your machine.

Best of luck with your build, and please stay in contact if and when further questions arise.

–Drew Gatewood
tel/fax: 219-926-5647
email: gears55@frontier.com

I opened the PDF from the AMA and started reading. We will refer to this document as we mover through this process. We still may miss something, but we’ll be close and safe. Here are a couple of items from the rules as we discuss building the frame.

9. M. ROLL CAGE
It is required that streamliners have a minimum of two roll bars, one forward of the riders’ head and one behind the riders’ head.
The protective cage shall extend past the riders’ feet and shall protect the rider from all sides and directions. Roll bars shall have
a minimum outside diameter of 1 ¼-inch, a .090” nominal wall thickness, steel cap, .090” thick covering the upper 140-degrees,
riders head and braced on each side to mainframe.

Gussets are required at the junction of the roll cage and chassis tubes. The rider, with helmet on, shall not have more than 2-inches of head movement within the roll bar.

Foam padding, which has a minimum 1/4-inch compression and meets SFI 45.1 or Federation Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) specification shall be installed around the head hoop or head area, as well as all head hoop supports in the roll cage assembly.

Seats are an integral part of the rider restraint and protection within
the roll cage. Seats shall be welded or securely bolted to the
chassis and be constructed of .060 steel or .120 aluminum.

Seat backs shall be supported by chassis members or equivalent strength structure. All non-metal seats shall maintain rider seating
position and restraint belt tension during a loss of control event.

The riders’ leg area shall be inside the chassis and the cage structure on the top, sides, and bottom. If there is removable cross member above the rider’s legs it shall be constructed of the material similar in strength to the tube requirement.

Hinge and securing hardware shall be a minimum of 3/8-inch diameter grade
eight fasteners at four points minimum. Any other roll cage design shall be tested for strength and have a finite element study to prove its strength by a qualified expert or a person holding qualifications of a recognized institute (Engineering Firm, etc).

9. O. RIDER RESTRAINT AND SYSTEMS
Installation of shoulder and seat belts shall be to the manufacturers specifications, labeled with the date of manufacturer, and no more than five years from the date of inspection.

Shoulder and seat belts shall be attached to the protective cage
tubing. Bolt in restraint belts shall use belt manufacturer supplied or similar hardware.

Mounting plates welded to the chassis shall be a minimum .125-inch thickness with a minimum 1-inch radius material in the load path outside the bolt circumference.

Belts shall be attached to the tubing in line with the direction of pull as close to the rider as is practicable. Shoulder belts passing over tubing and remotely attached to a different distant chassis member will
not be allowed.

Aluminum hardware as a component of any belt system is not permitted. Latch type belt release systems shall be resistant to and protected from arm restraints releasing the latch. Arm restraints are mandatory with anchor points to the harness assembly secured to the frame. Rider released leg restraints are compulsory for any streamliner that does not have a welded or bolted structure over the leg area.

Rider releasable leg restraints are recommended in all cockpits. Net type leg restraints are acceptable as long as the net will allow the rider to exit the streamliner
without assistance.

Do not expose belt and harness mounting hardware on the outer plane of the chassis.
All streamliners require a 7-point harness to hold the rider.

A SFI 38.1 type helmet restraint system is strongly recommended for over 200mph closed cockpit motorcycles.

Since we got this far, we had a meeting with Duncan Keller, who is a master with vintage motors and knows a few things about trikes and Bonneville. He pointed out a problem. We need more weight in the front end. We’ll bring you more news in the very near future. We may have a major solution.

PAUGHCO

JIMS

BIKER’S CHOICE

LOVE JUGS

LUCKY DEVIL METALWORKS

This ‘49 Panhead built by Kenny D. the owner of Hazardous Cycles, started out as a purchased basket case from Mississippi. Kenny hauled it back to Taylor, Michigan, stripped it down, cut and raked the neck and the project started.

“I wanted to build an old school chopper,” Kenny said. “It’s the original wishbone frame and original ‘49 motor, even the production belly numbers match.”

Kenny makes his living as a Harley mechanic and currently the owner of Hazardous Cycles in Taylor, Michigan. He’s been into bikes for 35 years, after he got hooked by some wild long choppers from the ‘70s.

He built the custom oil tank and mounted it tight to the top of the frame and wanted to build a rear fender strong enough to ride without struts. “I welded steel bungs to support it,” Kenny said, “so it would look like it floated without struts above the rear tire, for the cleanest look with the classic frame.”

Over his history in the biz, he’s owned a ’69 Shovelhead, ’72 Sporty, ’73 FLH, and now he also owns a ’99 Road King. “I made it into a sweet bagger.”

His riding style is fast and hard as makes bike runs or just while hitting local bars, hanging out with his riding partners and listening to the sounds of wild pipes echoing freedom across the land.

We look forward to more bikes by Kenny D. as his foray into Chopperdom continues. As he hones his skills, and broadens his knowledge and creative approach to Chopperville we are sure the sparks of inspiration and ingenuity will fly.

Owner: Kenny D.
City: Taylor, Michigan

GENERAL

Designer: Hazardous Cycles
Year/Make: 1949 Panhead
Model: Harley-Davidson
Time: 1 year

ENGINE

Builder: Hazardous Cycles
Year/Make: 1949 Pan
Displacement: 1200 cc
Bottom End: stock
Pistons: wisco 10:1 compression
Heads: stock Panheads
Cams: mild Andrews
Lifters: hydraulic
Induction: S&S Super E
Air Cleaner: Carl’s Speed Shop
Pipes: drag pipes

TRANSMISSION

Year/Make: 1953 H-D
Gears: 4-speed Andrews close ratio
Shifting: ratchet top

PAINTING

Painter: jeff “wacko”rush
Type/Color: House of Kolors, metal flake green into metal flake silver
Other: also crushed glass used in this paint

FRAME

Year/Make: 1949 H-D
Type: wishbone rigid
Rake: 45 degree rake

ACCESSORIES

Bars: prison bars
Handlebar Controls: jaybrake
Fenders: Jesse James rear
Headlight: Headwinds
Taillight: works
Speedo: no
Electrics: basic
Gas Tank: dished Sporty tank
Displacement: 1200 cc
Oil Tank: Hazard Cycles
Oil System: stock
Seat: Chopper Shox
Grips: Ness
Mirrors: no

FORKS

Type: Custom
Extension: 6 over

WHEELS
Size: 16 rear and 21 front
Brakes: drum in the rear and Performance Machine in front

NCOM BIKER NEWSBYTES
Compiled & Edited by Bill Bish,

In a last-ditch effort by Democratic strategists and the Hollywood elite to derail President-Elect Donald J. Trump’s ascension to the presidency, U.S. Electoral College delegates have been swamped with requests to ignore their pledge and “vote your conscience,” but longtime bikers’ rights advocate Jim Rhoades of ABATE of Michigan, one of that state’s 16 electors, says they’re cries are falling on deaf ears because he’s obligated to speak for the voters of his state.

Appearing on FOX News network’s “Your World” wearing his ABATE shirt, Rhoades revealed that he’s gotten over sixty thousand emails, phone calls and basketfuls of form letters calling on him to vote against Trump, as well as some threats, but believes fellow electors also feel steadfast about their duty and will support the will of their states’ voters when they cast their ballots on Monday, December 19th.

Calling the pressure tactics a “waste of time,” Rhoades told FOX News host Neil Cavuto in the nationally televised interview on December 15 that “I’m not intimidated by any of this stuff,” and added “I’ve been riding Harleys since the sixties, so I’ve been around a long time, I’m a grass roots political animal… and I love what Trump says, and he’s got me fired up looking for great things and looking to make America great again.”

In the aftermath of a norm-busting 2016 Presidential campaign, Trump won 306 Electoral College votes to Hillary Clinton’s 232, but if 36 “faithless electors” changed their ballots it would send the election to the U.S. House of Representatives to be determined, where Republicans hold a majority. In the past, some electors turned “faithless” in nine out of the last 17 elections, and a total of 179 times throughout American history, but no electors have ever changed the outcome of an election by voting against their party’s designated candidate.

ANALYSTS ADVISE INVESTORS TO BET ON MOTORCYCLES AND PIZZA
Every U.S. presidential transition brings a change in priorities, forcing market gurus to bet on which sectors of the economy might benefit from the new administration, but with corporate analysts admittedly baffled by Donald Trump, prognosticators are doing some intellectual gymnastics.

Joseph Spak, a Royal Bank of Canada analyst, thinks Donald Trump’s $1 trillion plan to rebuild American infrastructure will ultimately provide construction workers with extra cash. And what do construction workers like to spend money on? Motorcycles, of course.

“If the economy is stimulated and construction jobs increase,” Spak recently predicted that Harley-Davidson Inc. “could see some better demand.”

FEDS SEEK TO REQUIRE NEW VEHICLES TO TALK TO EACH OTHER
U.S. auto-safety regulators have proposed new rules requiring automakers to adopt crash-avoidance technology that allows all new vehicles to communicate with each other, a move that could help accelerate the development of self-driving cars.

The requirement of so-called vehicle-to-vehicle connectivity (“V2V”) on all consumer vehicles within the next five years is viewed as central to the development of a new age of cars that can avoid accidents by wirelessly monitoring each other. V2V technology uses short-range radio communication to allow vehicles to identify each other’s speed, location, direction and acceleration or braking, within a radius of about 300 meters.

The move marks a concrete step by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration toward its goal of eliminating roadway deaths within 30 years, and agency officials told USA Today that vehicle-to-vehicle and vehicle-to-infrastructure technology could eliminate or greatly reduce the seriousness of up to 80% of crashes that don’t involve driver impairment.

NHTSA pledges that the new technology would not divulge any personal information regarding drivers.

EUROPEANS TO TEST AUTONOMOUS CARS WITH MOTORCYCLES
Vehicle authorities will cooperate with European motorcyclists’ organizations to conduct their own test program with different brands of semi-autonomous cars. “The Dutch are authorizing further testing to see if these ‘semi-autonomous’ cars can operate safely with motorcycles on the road,” says Oregon A.I.M. (Aid to Injured Motorcyclists) and COC (Confederation of Clubs) Attorney Sam Hochberg, who alerted the National Coalition of Motorcyclists (NCOM) about this important issue here and abroad. “This is going to be a real issue here in the USA in the not-too-distant future.”

In response to a letter motorcyclists’ organizations FEMA (Federation of European Motorcyclists Associations), MAG NL (Motorcycle Action Group – Netherlands) and KNMV (Dutch Motorcycle Association) sent to RDW, with regard to the European type approval of the Tesla by RDW, a meeting took place recently where the motorcyclists’ worries were addressed. RDW is the Netherlands Vehicle Authority that issued the European type approval for Tesla.

A driver of a Tesla – and other advanced cars – can leave key actions to the vehicle itself, while in the opinion of the motorcyclists’ organizations this equipment is not, or not sufficiently, tested with motorcycles. In the discussion about the concerns that motorcyclists have with admitting (semi-) autonomous vehicles on the roads, it soon became clear that many of the concerns of the motorcyclists’ community are shared by RDW.

RDW proposes – in cooperation with the motorcyclists’ organizations – to conduct their own test program with different brands of cars with Advanced Driver Assistance Systems. RDW also believes – as do the riders – that testing with motorcycles should be part of the test protocol for European type approval.

Dolf Willigers, General Secretary of FEMA: “We are very pleased with the outcome of this first meeting with the experts of RDW. We are going to act together and we will see in the field tests to which extent the technique takes motorcyclists into account.”

NEW YEAR, RENEWED EFFORTS IN D.C.
With the 114th Congress set to adjourn, and a new congressional session beginning in January, some federal bills that motorcyclists have been advocating will expire and need to be reintroduced.

House Resolution 831 was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives on July 13, 2016 to “Promote awareness of motorcycle profiling and encourage collaboration and communication with the motorcycle community and law enforcement officials to prevent instances of profiling.”

The National Coalition of Motorcyclists (NCOM) is working with other state and national motorcycle organizations to address profiling legislatively, and with Washington State enacting the first anti-profiling law in 2011, followed by Maryland this year, a national motorcycle anti-profiling measure would advance the efforts in every state to prevent discriminatory enforcement.

HR 4715 & S 2659, the RPM Act (Recognizing the Protection of Motorsports Act of 2016), would ensure that the American tradition of modifying vehicles into dedicated racetrack competitors is not only continued for today, but will be protected for future generations of race fans as well.

Although the federal EPA bowed to political pressure and public outcry this past April by removing provisions from proposed regulations that would have prohibited street-legal vehicles, including motorcycles, from being modified for racing, members of both chambers of Congress have introduced bipartisan legislation to protect the sport of racing by blocking the EPA from over-regulating the industry and ensuring that it remains legal to convert street legal motor vehicles for racing purposes.

Responding to the controversy over the proliferation of E15 fuel, which is not approved for use by any motorcycle manufacturer and can invalidate warranties, Congress is considering HR 5108 (the “Food and Fuel Consumer Protection Act of 2016) “to alleviate the ethanol blend wall under the renewable fuel program.” Specifically, the bipartisan bill would cap the ethanol content of fuel at 9.7%, and would also effect the EPA’s Renewable Volume Obligations under the Renewable Fuel Standard.

In addition, in January Congress banned the use of federal funds for controversial Motorcycle-Only Checkpoints as part of a $305 billion highway bill called the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation (FAST) Act, as well as allocating more than $4 million towards motorcycle safety programs, and going forward into the next Congress and an all new Administration bikers must work to protect those advancements we’ve already made.

ANTI-MASK LAWS USED AGAINST BANDANAS
During the Confederation of Clubs (COC) meeting at the NCOM Region I Seminar in Irvine, California in November, as an example of discriminatory profiling, attendees were notified of motorcyclists in Louisiana who have allegedly been arrested for wearing bandanas over their faces while riding because police claim that covering your face in public violates the state’s anti-mask law against concealing your identity.

According to Louisiana statute (LSA-R.S. 14:313) – “No person shall use or wear in any public place of any character whatsoever, or in any open place in view thereof, a hood or mask, or anything in the nature of either, or any facial disguise of any kind or description, calculated to conceal or hide the identity of the person or to prevent his being readily recognized…Whoever violates this Section shall be imprisoned for not less than six months nor more than three years.”

It was further noted that many states have similar anti-mask laws on the books, so be aware.

“THE TWIN PEAKS AMBUSH”
On the fateful day of May 17, 2015, hundreds of motorcyclists and rights activists met in Waco, Texas to discuss current events and motorcyclist rights issues at a meeting of the Texas Confederation of Clubs and Independents (COC&I), and many subsequently had their lives changed forever. Nine people died, another 17 were injured that day after police opened fire on the gathering. Before the dust settled, 192 people were arrested, and charged with cookie cutter charges of participation in organized crime and held on $1 million bail each. Ultimately 106 were indicted on felony charges of “engaging in organized criminal activity.”

A recent post from Easyriders Scuttlebutt announces that Donald Charles Davis, who runs the popular Aging Rebel biker news site “has penned this interesting book (titled “The Twin Peaks Ambush: A True Story About The Press, The Police And The Last American Outlaws”) including far reaching interviews with people who were there on the scene, and attempts to make sense of it all, a tall order. He has done a good service, and we recommend the book to anyone who has an open mind and a heart. Bikers lives do matter.”

WEIRD NEWS: WITCHDOCTOR SUMMONS BEES TO STOP MOTORCYCLE THIEF
Local news reports from Mbooni, Makueni in Kenya claim that a motorcyclist has managed to recover his bike from a thief after asking the local witchdoctor for help.

The witchdoctor allegedly contacted a large swarm of bees that had already begun to invade a local market, and sent them to track down the stolen motorcycle instead.

According to motofire.com, the spell worked, and the thief is said to have run off ‘for dear life’ as the bees began settling onto the yoke and tank of the bike, as depicted in photographs of the scene. The reports then go on to suggest that the bees “also protected the bike from any further interruption for over half an hour until the owner could arrive, who then took his motorcycle home.”

Some say the swarm was merely an act of nature and nothing supernatural at all, and Assistant Chief Patrick Mwanzia said that the swarm simply arrived after the queen of the hive got stuck within the bike’s handlebars. And, in fact, “a similar incident had happened just days before when another bike was covered in a swarm for over two hours”… but how does that explain how the queen bee just happened to get stuck in that particular stolen bike?

QUOTABLE QUOTE: “MERRY CHRISTMAS!”

For me however, life in the relative solitude of my garage had fallen to a general routine of writing by morning, walking to the nearby gym in afternoon, then enjoying whatever happened after that. But my private garage/bedroom was about to get a bit smaller.

Chris “Naco” (From Naco New Mexico) had pieced together an old Shovelhead with his own hands and almost no money then struck out to see the country. He’d been on the road all summer. Naco was now in Southern California and had hit me on the internet to inquire if we might hook up.  I’d never met this guy before, but he certainly sounded interesting. So I asked Joe—the ruler of this twin mini-mansion party empire—if I could invite this Naco guy to make camp in my garage for a while. Joe enjoys a genuine love of wild and interesting times so his reply was, “I’d like more bikers here. Tell him to bring it on.” I did.

A few days later, Naco’s ratty Shovelhead pulled in and we made acquaintance. He’s a young guy with long hair who is just “Naco” and obviously doesn’t particularly give a shit about impressions and appearances. His positive and uncommonly easygoing manner had earned him admiration and acclaim across the country (I’d seen it on social media), and so it was again here. After setting camp beside my own, and probably because of his age (late 20s I’d guess), Chris Naco fell face first into this Hollywood party scene then swam naturally as the others. Everybody, and especially Joe, took a fast liking to this our newest resident. I did too. Naco played a little guitar and it became common to see him hanging in the music studio with our resident famous rap star, Micky “Memphis” Wright, or simply staying up partying with the crowd till all hours of the night.

For me, and although there were many here who adored city life and cared to be nowhere else, I appreciated countryside as well. For respite, my overnight and sometimes multiple day forays to other places continued.

Long ago, I’d worked on the set of a porn shoot in Sturgis. Adam and Eve productions had been making a series titled “Sex Across America”, and if one pulls up the Sturgis addition they’ll see, along with the others, my photo on the cover. For this shoot I was hired as a Production Assistant—which translates to: grunt, go-fer, chauffeur, Sturgis tour guide, pussy lamp, etc. In other words, I was not one of the actors. While on the set I’d become friends with the producer and his wife. Both live in the nearby suburbs of LA and I decided to pay a visit.

As I’d long ago been told by those who’d worked for them then, these were very kind and thoughtful people which, Rio Maria (porn star) had said, was unusual in the porn world. Anyway, it was a good visit and I actually slept in an upstairs bedroom that night.

By the following evening I was back in West Hollywood.

As time had passed, the home-front party scene was increasing to an almost daily activity while Joe, who loved the parties but was also very ambitious in his business ventures, fought to keep this action limited to only weekends. It was a battle that, in the coming weeks, he would almost loose. 

It was one otherwise mellow weeknight when a couple of party girls showed up at the front door and Joe voiced his protest. But, being a sucker for a weird time, he listened as they offered to do a face painted, fire eating, skimpy lingerie dance out by the pool. This funky idea quickly won him over. Although the place had been quiet that night, those of us present, me included, got a big kick outta that show.

Although the constant flow of groupies and party girls who frequented this place were too young for me, I met a girl elsewhere. Lisa’s a Jewish lawyer and I began spending time at her condo. We attended gatherings (At one I saw Steven Tyler with his companions Ringo Star and Joe Walsh. Lisa told me Ringo and Joe are married to sisters, both of whom were present, and this trio hangs together a lot. I refrained from shooting photos however, because I am no paparazzi), and watching movies at her place. Although we enjoyed each other’s company very much, our relationship was mostly a physical thing mutually agreed upon. It had been quite a while and I appreciated this girl very much.

Although some distance beyond the city, my dad Robert, and his wife Robin, live in this area and it had been years since I’d seen them. I decided to pay a visit. The little house lay some distance outside the high desert town of Palmdale and, if the desert can be considered countryside, dad’s place is defiantly out in the country. In his 70s now, and for as long as I’ve known him, my old man has raised almost all of his own food. After setting camp in the back yard, I asked for a tour of the place.

There were more turkeys living with the chickens than on my last visit. Always ardently attuned to the ways of animals, when I asked dad why he kept that old turkey who wasn’t good for much anymore he replied, “It’s best for their society to keep some of all ages among them.” The rabbit pens were empty now. They’d been full last I’d visited. Dad said rabbits became pets, which made him not want to eat them. But farm animals cannot be pets and so he’d let them go. The horses were boarded elsewhere now. Goats were gone as well. Dad told me that as he’s gotten older it’s become to much work to keep so many animals. These were all he really needed anyway. Although it was winter and the garden lay pretty brown, dad’s bright green thumb kept those remaining winter plants in fine condition. By evening we sat near a wood fire drinking tea and, as always, I enjoyed a very natural plate filled with wonderful foods.

Thanksgiving was close and next day I helped catch the turkey that would soon give its all for this holiday. Dad took him far from the others, petted his feathers for a while, then set him upon the chopping block. And as it had been in childhood, I helped to pluck the thanksgiving bird.

Later, in conversation, dad told me he was having heart problems and they wanted to do surgery which, in his opinion, was ridiculous for a man of his age. I could not argue. Shunning doctor’s drugs, he uses only the natural herb so common to California these days. Dad said he didn’t expect to live as long as his mother, who’d died at 86, and I noted his obvious peace with this idea. It seemed to me that, because he’s lived a more natural life and seen death frequently in his own backyard, he may simply have a greater understanding and acceptance than those of us more isolated from such things.

Robin’s rather erratic and sometimes quarrelsome family was coming for thanksgiving so I was okay with the idea of not returning for that. After four days I was back in Hollywood. What a stark contrast it was to my father’s seemingly hillbilly ways.

It was late evening as Naco and I sat in the dark music studio with a handful of others. The smokey party atmosphere was quite buzzed and a little drunk as conversation rambled on. Then, as I watched, one very fine young girl pulled down here pants, shot a sly smile at Shawn, then turned ’round and bent into the microphone both. Shawn looked at me, shrugged his shoulders, then unbuckled his belt and grabbed her hips. Around the room others began to follow suit and the place slowly settled into one big fuck fest. What a trip. I turned to Naco. I’m old and he’s ratty so we had nothing. I said, “Shall we go?”, and off to the garage we strolled to then sit in conversation while sounds of the city carried on all around.

A very unusual woman, Little Laura loves to travel almost constantly and, in order to achieve this goal without encumbrance, chooses to live in her pickup truck with camper shell. Although she often wonders much farther, Laura’s main base is all of southern California. I’ve known her since high school and she’s always been like that. By my invitation, Laura showed up at the Hollywood house. From there she’d leave the truck behind and accompany me to the Easyriders Chopper Show; which would soon take place at the Oxnard fairground. Our attendance would require a 50 mile ride through Malibu then up the coastal hwy-1. I’d been anticipating this event since before coming to Hollywood. 

The day finally arrived and, bike now packed for two, we started north.

Although I’d no idea then, my time at the Hollywood houses was about to end rather abruptly. But this Hollywood adventure was not yet finished. It would, in fact, only move into the next chapter of travel with a man who’s lived from only the back of his Panhead for 33 years, and our stay at the home of a well known actor/motorcyclist…

 

 

 

 

The campaign slogan this year is, “Respect Our Kulture – MAMOROH!” which you may have seen posted on Mooneyes Express Blog by Shige Suganuma. The Japanese word MAMOROH means to honor and protect or abide by the rules, hence respect the kulture we care about. We will carry this campaign through the year until our show next December.

 

 

More details will come later. See below.

 

 

Mooneyes Express Blog: http://www.mooneyes.co.jp/express

 

HCS2016: http://yokohamahotrodcustomshow.com/