Hey,
It’s Super Bowl Sunday, and I would like to ride over to Sugar Bear’s shop on the Mudflap Girl FXR, but my tags expired. I need to fire Sin Wu. She’s constantly missing the beat. She promised to make sure all the bills were paid as she ran off with a sailor from the marina, then the Department of Water and Power shut off our zots.
Ah, but it’s all good. I’ve been in touch with the DMV, although in today’s regulate-everything climate, I’m concerned that some agency will surround my building and try to haul me away for not paying my registration on time.
I hired a new bookkeeper and we review all of our bills once a week and pay them, simple. Ray C. Wheeler, says we’re lucky Mofos and he’s correct, if we can keep up with all the luck.
Hang on this year. It’s going to be exciting from start to finish, then, if we survive, we are going to relax. I promise.
Let’s hit the news:
CANTINA BAD JOKE LIBRARY OPEN— A hillbilly got married, and on his wedding night he calls his father for advice on what to do since he had never been intimate with a woman before.
“We’re in the bedroom, Pa. What do we do now?”
Thinking that nature will take its course, the father replied,”Take her clothes off and then you both get in bed.”?
The hillbilly calls his dad 5 minutes later and says, “She’s nekid and we’re in bed. What do I do now?”?
Knowing his son wasn’t the brightest crayon in the box, his dad asked,”Did you take your clothes off, too?”
“No.”the son replies.
“Well, take your clothes off and get back in bed with her.”
The son calls back a few minutes later and says, “We’re both nekid and in bed. What do I do now?”
The father’s patience is quickly running out, and he growls,”Look, Son,do I have to spell everything out? Just stick the hardest thing on your body where she pees!”
The son calls again a minute later. “Ok, Pa. I’ve got my head in the toilet bowl. Now what?”
–from Rogue and Jerry
V-TWIN EXPO DELIVERS–13th Annual V-Twin Expo delivers. Dealers and Exhibitors alike share their experiences from a highly productive show in Cincinnati.
Agoura Hills, CA— (February 26, 2013) The 13th Annual V-Twin Expo held earlier this month delivered a highly productive show for exhibitors and dealers alike in a world-class trade show environment. Held at the Duke Energy Center in downtown Cincinnati, the V-Twin Expo welcomed nearly 200 exhibitors and thousands of v-twin focused dealers from across the US, Canada and abroad. Also featured at the V-Twin Expo this year; nationally recognized speaker Kent Lewis, live entertainment by Jasmine Cain, industry awards and a custom trike show.
“The show continues to transform and reflect the current state of our industry- which based on feedback, indicates we’re set up for a great upcoming season” explained Show Producer Jim Betlach.
The V-Twin Expo is proud to share the following feedback from just a few attendees:
Totally enjoyed the whole show! We visited the newest Vendors and visited with those we met last year. Cincinnati is a fantastic town to stay in and the people there treated us like Royalty! We plan on coming again next year and hope that some of the Vendors who missed this year will come back. We want to be the first Dealers that you sign up for 2014!
– Duane & Christine Justus
Adele Motors LLC, Hauser Lake, ID
13 years ago the V-Twin show started because “we the Industry” were sick of being part of larger shows that you had to wade through snowmobiles, dirt bikes and Scooters to see what you really needed to see.
This is the only dealer show in the world that focuses on nothing but v-twin. I’ve been to INTERMOT in Germany and EICMA in Italy and none of them have as many dedicated v-twin suppliers, distributors and dealers as Cincinnati. I saw and made presentations to 60% of our customers, I saw the majority of my foreign distributors and the dealer turn out was respectable. Seeing and touching parts and meeting friends and customers face to face is when real business is done. Yes, the show is smaller, but face it there are a lot of companies out of business. The suppliers/manufacturers at the V-Twin Expo are the core of our industry. Like any trade show, it is only as good as you make it. Our business has had double-digit growth for the last 4 years and we plan to attend the V-Twin Expo next year.
– Ted Sands
Performance Machine
The V-Twin Expo held at the Duke Energy Convention Center in downtown Cincinnati consistently attracts thousands of V-twin-focused dealers from the US, Canada and around the world. For more details on show hours and to register as a v-twin dealer or exhibitor, please visit us at: www.vtwin-expo.com. Follow us online on Facebook at V-Twin Expo and on Twitter @VTwinExpoCincy.
QUICK, FIX AUSTRALIA–Keep Australians safe, ban apples!
With love,
–Special Agent Zebra
BIKERNET DOES NOT DISCRIMINATE, GOOD COP/BAD COP FILE OPENED–Vesely honored with award from Governor’s Highway Safety Program–Lt. Mike Vesely with the Hendersonville Police Department was one of three officers in the state to receive the Governor’s Highway Safety Law Enforcement Partner of the Year award for his work with BikeSafe-NC.
MIKE DIRKS/TIMES-NEWS By Emily Weaver Times-News Staff Writer
Hendersonville Police Lt. Mike Vesely was one of three officers across the state to earn recognition as a Law Enforcement Partner of the Year with the Governor’s Highway Safety Program.
He was chosen from a pool of more than 1,000 municipal law enforcement candidates who support the goals of GHSP by conducting checkpoints, participating in GHSP campaigns and kickoff operations.
Vesely received the award at a ceremony on the last day of a four-day N.C. Highway Safety Symposium in Concord Jan. 16. He was recognized for his dedication to highway safety, his commitment to keeping the citizens of North Carolina safe and for his efforts with BikeSafe-NC.
After an expansion of the program and a change in the state’s helmet law in 2009, North Carolina saw the first statewide reduction in motorcyclist fatalities in five years, according to the BikeSafe website.
N.C. Department of Transportation Secretary Tony Stata told attendees at the symposium that the state saw 18 fewer motorcyclist fatalities last year than in 2012.
He praised officers for their efforts “that resulted in 60 fewer traffic fatalities, 126 fewer impaired driving fatalities, 18 fewer motorcyclist fatalities, 43 fewer ‘un-belted’ fatalities and 42 fewer pedestrian fatalities than in 2012. That doesn’t happen without the hard work and collaboration of these men and women who are putting it on the line every day for all N.C. citizens. As I told that group, that’s 289 lives saved and families kept intact,” he said on a Facebook post after the symposium.
Vesely spearheaded the call to keep motorcyclists safe, approaching Chief Herbert Blake with the idea of a BikeSafe program a few years ago.
“He said, ‘Make it happen,” Vesely said, and so he did, starting the first program of its kind in municipal police forces in Western North Carolina in 2010. “None of this could have been possible without Chief Blake.”
Vesely has netted $300,000 in federal grant funding over the last six years to support and purchase five motorcycles currently employed by Hendersonville Police Department’s five-man motorcycle unit.
He and his team of assessors now lead workshops on motorcycle safety at departments throughout the region. The unit has taught 28 classes in its first three years in Hendersonville.
The GHSP’s Partner of the Year award is given in three categories to a state partner, a county partner and a local (city) partner.
“The city of Hendersonville (Police Department) and Henderson County (Sheriff’s Office) are the first and only departments to join forces with the Henderson County District Attorney’s Office, establishing a diversionary program for motorcycle offenders,” Vesely said.
The program offers motorcyclists a chance to avoid racking up points on their licenses and paying the high court costs that come with simple violations such as speeding by taking a BikeSafe course.
Vesely was recognized for his efforts in establishing BikeSafe programs in Maggie Valley, Franklin County and Brunswick County, and networking to start a program in Northampton County on the Virginia border.
“It was surprising to get it,” he said.
He added that he owes a “great deal of gratitude” to Blake and Capt. Bruce Simonds “for allowing me to leave the department and team to show our dedication to the communities we serve.”
On Jan. 16, that dedication was honored. Vesely was awarded the medal of valor from the Hendersonville Police Department in 2010 for assisting firefighters by rushing to the aid of residents trapped in a burning boarding house in September 2009. He was honored with a Shield Award by the Knights of Columbus in 2009.
Vesely lives in Hendersonville with his wife. Together they have two children, Michael Vesely, a 23-year-old Asheville Fire Academy cadet, and Mallori Vesely, a 21-year-old student at UNC Wilmington.
–Rogue
Education works every time over more fines and restrictions.–Bandit
THE HUNT FOR A BOB DRON FAIRING— Hey there. This fairing looks awesome exactly what I want. Can you send me a link or tell me where i can get what I need to do. There just seems to be a lot of variation. I attached a pic of my bike. It’s a 2007 vrscdx
–Alistair
Bob Dron owns or owned Oakland Harley-Davidson.–Bandit
OHIO MAN WILL BE BURIED ASTRIDE BELOVED HARLEY– MECHANICSBURG, Ohio – Check this. A man was buried on his Harley.
The project required special circumstances including an extra-large cemetery plot to accommodate a Plexiglas casket for Billy Standley and his 1967 Electra Glide cruiser. Embalmers prepared his body with a metal back brace and straps to ensure he’ll never lose his seat.
Standley’s family planned it for years. He said he didn’t just want to ride off to heaven, he wanted the world to see him do it in see-through casket. His sons began fashioning it about five years ago.
The Dayton Daily News reported on Standley’s death. He died of lung cancer Sunday at age 84. He was to be buried Friday.
Excerpts from 2014 by The Associated Press.
Photos courtesy of Dayton Daily News
HANG ON, Party at a bar in Long Beach LAST NIGHT–Featured host was “movie star” – Nikki Delano in Orange and white.
Friends were, Alexis Amore in blue denim top with white blouse.
Lisa daniels – blond in white top blue jeans
Alisan Moore in grey stripes top
and Tia Cyrus – blk top – jeans shorts
The ‘bikini girls’ are the bartenders at the bar.
–Art Hall
Bikernet International Editor Emperor
BIKERNET UNIVERSITY WEEKEND VOCABULARY LESSON QUICK—
galligaskins gal-i-GAS-kinz, noun:
He was generally seen trooping like a colt at his mother’s heels, equipped in a pair of his father’s cast-off galligaskins, which he had much ado to hold up with one hand, as a fine lady does her train in bad weather.
In galligaskins and filthy leather, his hat lost, his hair all elf-locks, he staggered toward WS.
Galligaskins is of obscure origin, though it’s often associated with the now-obsolete French word garguesques. It entered English in the 1570s.
PETER LINNEY PRESSING FOR MORE WORK—
Did you ever use this bike?? Can you mail me a check on Monday??
–Peter
The pressure is horrendous around the headquarters as we attempt to keep the writers and the photographers of the world in the game. We give it hell. I’m about to publish a classic Chica custom chop. His version of a Captain America bike, the Captain Japan. Hang on.–Bandit
MEN’S PETRO VINTAGE JACKET FROM BIKER’S CHOICE–River Road’s Petro Vintage Jacket features a great look and feel. With exhaust vents and gussets for breathability, a removable, insulated, fully sleeved warm liner for those cold days, and multiple pockets for storage. This jacket has the functional ability you need, but the updated vintage look you want.
*Includes a 2-year manufacturer’s warranty.
Visit www.riverroadgear.com for information.
ZIPPER’S PERFORMANCE WILL MEET IN CINCINNAT–They Want To Meet YOU at the 2014 V-Twin EXPO
This guy went faster just talking to us!
Elkridge, Maryland (January 31, 2014) – With many new and exciting products from Zipper’s Performance, we would like to invite you to come by our booth #614 and see what all the excitement is about!
We are pumped to share with you the release of the new 2014 ThunderMax Wave Tune modules, Zipper’s HiFlow Air Filter Kits for the Rushmore Models, High Torque Series Cams from Red Shift and of course Red Shift Dual Piston Cam Chain Tensioners.
Add some great Red Line Oil and we have the products, power and lubrication to keep your business turning at maximum velocity in 2014!
2014 V-Twin Expo Dates & Hours
* Friday- February 8, 2014 – 9:00AM – 6:00PM
* Saturday – February 9, 2014 – 9:00AM – 5:00 PM
For show details and to register as a V-Twin dealer please visit www.vtwin-expo.com
BRAND New Bikernet Reader Comment!—
COMPUTER HELL THURSDAY NEWS for January 30,2014
http://www.bikernet.com/pages/story_detail.aspx?id=11524
About your closing statment Bandit, Hell no you are not crazy; our country has been over taken by people who want to control us and make us pay them to do it.
Seems that they have forgotten due to our trusting them who indeed are the true bosses, and to think I inlisted at the tender age of nineteen to defend our freedoms just to see these people do thier best to try and take them from me.
You find that hide a way and I’ll join ya there to help circle the wagons. Like you have stated “Think Freedom First “.
Later Brother.
— Tom Kellerstrass
spunupairhead@msn.com
Ogden, UT
INDIAN MOTORCYCLE FIRES UP CLEVELAND BIKE FANS FOR RIDING SEASON WITH THE 2014 INDIAN CHIEF LINEUP AT THE INTERNATIONAL MOTORCYCLE SHOW
Hot deals on cool bikes, plus free admission and special incentives for military personnel, along with the ‘Big Chief Custom’ bike, vintage Indian motorcycles, and all-new apparel lineup
Indian Motorcycle, America’s first motorcycle company, today announced its participation and weekend plans for the Progressive® International Motorcycle Show (IMS) this weekend at the I-X Convention Center, which starts today at 4 p.m. and runs through 4 p.m. on Sunday. For the first time since their historic unveiling at the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally last August, Cleveland motorcycle enthusiasts will have a chance to personally experience the all-new lineup of 2014 Indian Chief models. Indian Motorcycle is also pleased to offer a full roster of exciting weekend events and programs to salute Cleveland area military personnel.
Experience Indian Motorcycles – Past and Present
Stop by the all-new exhibit to explore the complete line of 2014 Indian Chief models including the Indian Chief Classic, the Indian Chief Vintage and the Indian Chieftain. Indian Motorcycle will display a collection of historically significant motorcycles including the ‘Spirit of Munro’ Streamliner, a one-of-a-kind custom vehicle built by Indian to pay homage to Burt Munro who famously rode into the history books on an Indian in 1962 at the Bonneville Salt Flats. Attendees will also want to check out a collection of fully restored pre-1953 era Indian bikes including a 1948 Vintage Indian Chief and a 1935 Indian Chief originally featured on HISTORY Channel’s ‘American Pickers’ series.
“Stars and Stripes Saturday Sponsored by Indian Motorcycle” – Free Saturday Admission for U.S. Military Personnel
On Saturday, February 1, Indian Motorcycle is proud to sponsor free admission to the show as a part of the company’s continued support of the U.S. military and their families. All personnel with a valid military ID will be admitted to Saturday’s events courtesy of Indian Motorcycle by presenting their credentials at the VIP Service Center. Military attendees are encouraged to visit the Indian Motorcycle exhibit to receive a limited-edition Indian Motorcycle gift.
“Honoring Heroes” Program Offers a $1,000 Military Incentive on the 2014 Indian Chief Lineup
In honor of those who protect our freedoms at home and aboard, Indian Motorcycle is proud to offer members of the U.S. Military a $1,000 incentive on the purchase of any of the three exciting new 2014 Indian Chief models. Stop by the Indian Motorcycle exhibit this weekend or visit www.indianmotorcycle.com to learn more about the “Honoring Heroes” incentive program and Indian Motorcycle’s long and legendary history of supporting the military and our U.S. Armed Forces.
Explore the Unrivaled Power of the new Thunder Stroke 111 Engine
Throughout the weekend’s festivities, Indian Motorcycle will highlight the inspiring design and power of the new Thunder Stroke 111 engine, the heartbeat of the 2014 Indian Chiefs. The exhibit will feature a cut-away version of the new engine to demonstrate the engineering prowess behind the massive new power plant that is standard on all 2014 Indian Chiefs.
Be Among the First to See the ‘Big Chief Custom’ One-of-a-Kind Custom Bike
Motorcycle fans will be treated to a custom 2014 Chief Classic designed by the Indian Motorcycle Industrial Design team. Incorporating a number of accessories currently available for the Chiefs as well as a custom paint scheme and several unique features, this ‘Big Chief Custom’ is sure to inspire the customization possibilities for the new Indian Chiefs.
Explore the 2014 Lineup of Indian Motorcycle Apparel and Accessories
Selections from the new 2014 Indian Motorcycle apparel line will be available for purchase, including casual wear, hats and other personal accessories. Fully accessorized bikes will also be on display highlighting the array of accessories for the 2014 Chiefs.
[page break]
AMA National and Regional News—
Washington, D.C.: On Jan. 14th U.S. Sens. John Hoeven (R.-N.D.) and Amy Klobuchar (D.-Minn.) introduced S. 1925, the Driver Privacy Act. The bill would codify that information collected by an event data recorder – commonly referred to as a black box – would be the legal property of the person who owns or leases a passenger motor vehicle.?
However, as currently written, the bill provides privacy protections only for vehicles that are specifically mentioned in the Code of Federal Regulations 49, section 563. This section does not include any reference to motorcycles. As a result, the privacy protections offered to operators of passenger motor vehicles would not extend to motorcyclists and all information collected from motorcyclists would remain unprotected.
The American Motorcyclist Association supports clarifying who owns the data collected in black boxes. Currently only 14 states have laws relating to ownership of data in an event data recorder. While event data recorders are not currently required for motorcycles, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration requires all passenger cars, multipurpose passenger vehicles, trucks, and buses to be equipped with a black box. The AMA believes it is only a matter of time before this mandate extends to motorcycles.
The AMA fully supports extending the provisions in S. 1925 to motorcyclists, in much the same manner that the U.S. House of Representatives’ bipartisan H.R. 2414, the Black Box Privacy Protection Act (which the AMA supports), does.
Please contact your senators today and urge them to protect motorcyclists’ rights.
Washington, D.C.: The Omnibus Appropriations Act, a massive funding bill, includes provisions that prohibit implementation of the Wild Lands initiative and continue conservation efforts to prevent the sage-grouse from being listed as an endangered species. In addition, it requires federal land managers to disclose how Equal Access to Justice Act funds are disbursed.
The AMA supported the inclusion of these vital public lands issues in the bill. The appropriations act passed both the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate and was quickly signed by the President. In a release explaining several provisions of the Act, U.S. Rep. Mike Simpson (R-Idaho), former chair of the U.S. House Interior and Environment Appropriations Subcommittee, praised provisions included in the bill to address public lands issues and make litigation costs transparent.?
The Act also curbs the Wild Lands initiative. The Wild Lands initiative empowers the U.S. Bureau of Land Management to identify lands in its inventory that it determines have “Wilderness characteristics” and then designate them as restricted-access Wild Lands — all without approval of Congress.
Another provision of the Omnibus Act would allow conservation efforts to continue to protect and restore the habitat of the sage-grouse on public lands. This will help revive the sage-grouse population without the need to place them on the Endangered Species List. The move allows for protection for the sage-grouse without the closing of more federal lands to public use.
Annapolis, Md.: House Bill 277, sponsored by Delegate Justin Ready (R-Westminster), would prohibit the state or a local jurisdiction from imposing or levying a vehicle-miles-traveled tax. It would also prohibit requiring the installation of a device in or on a privately owned vehicle to facilitate the reporting of the number of vehicle-miles traveled.
St. Paul, Minn.: House File 2017, sponsored by Rep. Brian Johnson (R-Cambridge), would establish strict standards for the use of data collected by a motor vehicle event data recorder. The bill declares the data recorded on an event data recorder are the personal data of the motor vehicle’s owner and shall not be downloaded or retrieved by a person who is not the owner, with several exceptions.
Jackson, Miss.: Senate Bill 2400, sponsored by Sen. Chris Massey (R-Nesbit), would permit a motorcyclist at an intersection controlled by a traffic-actuated signal to proceed with due caution through the intersection, after coming to a full and complete stop and exercising due care, if the operator believes the detection device didn’t recognize the motorcycle.
Jefferson City, Mo.: House Bill 1368, sponsored by Rep. Kurt Bahr (R-O’Fallon), would prohibit any global positioning system or other technology that identifies and records a person’s location to be used to monitor mileage traveled by any motor vehicle on any road, highway, or street in the state for the purpose of imposing any tax on the mileage traveled.
Columbus, Ohio: House Bill 406, sponsored by Rep. Doug Green (R-Mt. Orab), would create a motorcycle road guard training and certification program to allow qualified individuals to function as traffic controllers while escorting a motorcycle group ride under certain conditions.
Olympia, Wash.: House Bill 2325, sponsored by Representatives Shea, Taylor, Overstreet, Reykdal, Short, Scott and Condotta would exempt motorcycle, scooter and moped owners from having to pay the motor vehicle weight fee when the vehicles registration is renewed. This fee reduction is intended to provide an incentive to use a mode of transportation that will have less impact on the roadways and the environment.
Also, Senate Bill 6256/House Bill 2494, would establish a motorcycle road guard certificate program. Upon successful completion of the program, the certificate holder may direct motorcycles within a group ride or other vehicle traffic affected by the group ride to stop until it is safe to proceed or to operate contrary to traffic control signals.
AMA News
Pickerington, Ohio: The AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame is pleased to announce that Hall of Famer Craig Vetter — motorcycle inventor, designer and racer — will be the featured guest at its annual AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame Breakfast at Daytona, on Friday, March 14, at 7:00 a.m., at the Daytona 500 Club on the infield at Daytona International Speedway.
Taking place during 2014 Daytona Bike Week, the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame Breakfast at Daytona fundraiser will feature a live interview with Vetter on stage, an audience Q&A period and an autograph session with Vetter and other Hall of Famers in attendance.
The event is open to the public, and tickets are available now at www.motorcyclemuseum.org. Proceeds benefit the American Motorcycle Heritage Foundation, which raises funds for the Hall of Fame.
Pickerington, Ohio: The AMA Government Relations Department is once again giving away sound testing kits to help AMA districts, club members and others educate riders about sound. Nine grant recipients will be selected by April 1.
The kits will be awarded through a competitive grant process. To apply for a sound testing kit, a club or promoter must complete an application and return it to the AMA Government Relations Department by March 1. Applications are considered twice, so those who submitted applications last year but weren’t selected don’t have to resubmit an application to be considered. For more information, or to request an application, send an email to Marie Esselstein at messelstein@ama-cycle.org or call (614) 856-1900 Ext. 1224.
AMA News & Notes is a monthly publication compiled and edited by the American Motorcyclist Association Government Relations Department. Designed to inform motorcyclists of rights-related issues and events in the United States and around the world, AMA News & Notes welcomes your input. Suggestions and editorial contributions can be sent to AMA Western States Representative Nick Haris at nharis@ama-cycle.org.
Protect your right to ride! Volunteering is easy, and it’s rewarding. To learn how you can help, visit us online at AmericanMotorcyclist.com Rights — Get Involved.
THE ESCAPE TO ARIZONA CREW REPORT–Burro Jim’s Motel has been reopened with new owners. Me and the boys are riding out to check it out end of April.
–Jay Martinez
909-841-9128 Cell
‘
LIFT ACCIDENT—We are trying to get to the bottom of this report, “This is a sad day for Handy Lifts. Thankfully no one was hurt. This was the welding and fab building go to whotv.com search (sully fire)“
–Gary
Kustoms Inc.
Employees at Janco Industries, located at 101 1st Street, were just beginning their break when the building exploded.
The high winds caused the fire to grow quickly but kept the flames away from other nearby buildings.
Sully Fire Chief Mike Vander Molen says the fire was soon contained and crews are cleaning up the scene. No one was hurt in the fire that destroyed the welding portion of the warehouse.
“We’re just thankful that everyone was out and safe and no one got injured,” Vander Molen told Channel 13.
The owner of Janco Industries says he’s already looking for a new place to rebuild and is looking forward to the future.
“It’s like I told me team were going to come back stronger out of all of this. We’ve got a great team and we’re going to come about better and stronger that all of this,” owner Joel Jansen said.
Five fire departments helped to put out the flames and they are still unsure what may have caused the fire.
QUICK, New Bikernet Reader Comment!—
COMPUTER HELL THURSDAY NEWS for January 30,2014
http://www.bikernet.com/pages/story_detail.aspx?id=11524
Great news post as always…some not good news. Bikies in Australia crushed, helmet laws trying to pop up, some even have our own people’s support. Politicians telling women what they should or shouldn’t do with their bodies. Gun control out of control. Taxes out of control.
Sadly, I think a lot of it is our own fault…we were too busy having a good time riding,partying and loving in our 20s,30s and 40s…thinking we won’t live long enough for it to matter. Then we woke up in our 50s and 60s to a bag of shit of bullshit politicians, who can’t or won’t do the job we sent them to do. All they care about is collecting money from lobbyists and corporations to feather their lifestyle.
We have fucked ourselves and those who come behind us. We can vote them out but I fear it is too late. The system is too corrupt…I am confident the rest of my life will be liveable but my 2-year-old grandson is who I worry about. Even the brunettes I love have gone blond to cover the grey…wtf.
–Mike
slamon@sbcglobal.net
Windsor, CT
BIKERNET READERSHIP NUMBERS FROM DECEMBER 2013 AND JANUARY 2014—
DECEMBER TOTALS:
Impressions: 148,385
Uniques: 96,910
JANUARY TOTALS:
Impressions: 170,635
Uniques: 112,782
Our numbers are up about 8.5 percent for Uniques and impressions. Our entire team is working hard to deliver the content you want. Let us know if we need to do anything better, faster, different, or fire ourselves and start over.–Bandit
BANDIT DIDN’T WIN THE WHEELS THROUGH TIME ’39 KNUCKLEHEAD–Winner of the ’39 Knuck was from South Carolina. We were sad to see it go. But the good news is he’s an old bike guy. He’s been riding his own ’47 Knuckle for 30 years. See the story below.
Did you have a chance to take a look a the new raffle bikes? Yes….I said BIKES (plural). Two VL flathead Bobber Twins. One ticket for each bike. Two winners. Take a look here:
http://www.wheelsthroughtime.com/2014raffle/
Also, at your convenience, would like to talk about our new Video Library on WheelsThroughTime.com. One year subscription to hundreds of videos about WTT, picking old bikes, and restoring pieces of two-wheel history.
–Matt
THE REAL WINNER–After a full year of anticipation, the Annual Wheels Through Time Museum Motorcycle Raffle Giveaway is in the books, and another lucky winner has been chosen to take home a piece of genuine motorcycle history.
On Saturday, November 18th, over 2500 visitors from near and far descended on Wheels Through Time to witness the museum’s 11th Annual Raffle in as many years. Dry weather and warm November temperatures made for a perfect day for the event, which draws one of the biggest museum crowds of the year.
The raffle is WTT’s largest fundraiser, and helps keep the museum up and running.
Each year, proceeds go directly to creating new exhibits, enhancing current displays, expanding interpretation, and improving general operations. This year’s Grand Prize was a stunner — a beautiful 1939 Harley-Davidson Knucklehead Bobber brought back to life in the Wheels Through Time Restoration Shop.
Many of the visitors took part in the Annual Haywood County Toy Run, which began in Canton, NC and made its way to WTT in Maggie Valley. Now in its 22nd year, the Haywood County Toy Run brings thousands of motorcyclists together to raise funds for underprivileged youth in Haywood County.
Put on by Blue Ridge Thunder Motorcycle Club, the run has raised approximately $150,000 since it began in 1992. This year, almost 1000 bikes signed up from the run, from as far away as New York and Texas. When it came time for the drawing, one little girl from the crowd was chosen to pick the winning ticket.
The Grand Prize winner was Mr. Randy Horn from Chester, South Carolina. Randy visited the museum with friends in June 2013, during the museum’s “What’s In the Barn?” Season Premier Party. While touring the museum, Randy took a chance on the ’39 Knucklehead Bobber and purchased 14 tickets for the drawing.
Little did he know, that less than six month later, he would be chosen as the lucky winner of a WTT-built classic.
It didn’t take long for Randy to decide that he’s taking the bike instead of the cash prize. “I was working…having one of the worst ay’s I’d had in a while,” he said. “There couldn’t have been a better thing to brighten my day!” It’ll make a great addition to the garage.
Luckily, Randy has a bit of experience when it comes to old motorcycles. He owns a few himself, including a 1947 Knucklehead that he’s been riding for over 30 years! He has been a member of the Antique Motorcycle Club of America for 12 years, and is the current president of the club’s Catawba Chapter, which is based near his home in South Carolina. He has visited the museum on several occasions since it relocated to Maggie Valley, the first time being in 2002 before the museum was officially open. He’s been buying tickets for the annual motorcycle raffle since his first few visits, each time assuring himself that “This year, this bike is gonna be mine!”
This makes the second year in a row that a member of the Antique Motorcycle Club of America has won the Wheels Through Time Motorcycle Raffle Grand Prize. Last year’s winner was James Eldridge from High Ridge, Missouri. James has been spotted at various AMCA meets and ride-ins on the museum’s previous raffle machine — a 1932 Harley-Davidson VL Hot Rod Bobber.
And in case you were wondering how Wheels Through Time is going to up the ante for the 2014 Motorcycle Giveaway, Dale and crew have decided to offer not one, but two Grand Prize machines for next years raffle — a pair of hot-rod Harley-Davidson VL Flathead Bobbers. The pair will be raffled off next November to two lucky winners. For more information on the 2014 Wheels Through Time Motorcycle Raffle, visit
www.WheelsThroughTime.com/2014raffle.
GO WATCH THE GAME—It’s going to be a good one, if not frozen. We have a GOB headed your way, the Florida blonde bombshell, Heather.
I need to finish Eric Bennett’s feature, and the Chica feature. Jack is about to send us a bobber to feature, and Richard is working on the LA Choppers Twin Peaks bars install, then the new magnificent headlight from Rivera. He was blown away by the light this puppy puts out.
One of the winners of the Grand National Roadster Show contacted us about a feature on their trike. I had e-mail problems on Thursday, and need to find that owner again. The Triking Viking is all over publishing that chopped trike.
The action is heating up, so stick around.
Ride Free, Forever,
–Bandit
