HOG Tracks Newslettermotherroadhogs.com/images/July-Aug_2016_HOG_Newsletter.pdfmozzy down the cool...
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HOG Tracks Newsletter May / June 2016 Here are a few pics from our last two months rides. Want to see more visit our website at www.motherroadhogs.com
Transcript of HOG Tracks Newslettermotherroadhogs.com/images/July-Aug_2016_HOG_Newsletter.pdfmozzy down the cool...
HOG Tracks Newsletter
May / June 2016
Here are a few pics from our last two months rides. Want to see more visit our website at www.motherroadhogs.com
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Safety while on the road… You have made sure your bike is safe, and your prepared for any weather now what? Always remember that in the food chain you are LAST. You can not win against a car or truck you will always lose. Spacing is key. Leave enough time to stop or avoid road hazards. When you come to a stop sign count 1-one thousand , 2-one thousand and then go because there will be people to ignore
stop signs or traffic signals. Drive the listed speed limits especially in curves. They are posted for a reason. Try to look for danger before it is upon you, such as gas stations and parking lots. People are not looking for you but for a parking space and it seems like there are always issues in parking lots. Slow down in the rain or extreme wind. The elements affect how quickly you can react to blowing debris, puddled water in the road. Watch signs for road bumps or cattle guards, they can come up quick and get you off balanced easily. Remember hand signals are always very important. Watch for animals in the road or off to the side. Stop if possible to avoid them. Watch for vehicles carrying loads, as something can come off them and you may be in its path. If at all possible know the basic route you are taking. If you miss a off ramp or road, don’t do something unsafe to try to correct your mistake. It is better to arrive a little late then not arrive at all. Take regular breaks for gas, bathroom breaks and just exhaustion. Being tired can be very haz-ardous. Here in Arizona with our heat it is very important to stay hydrated. Again stop for water and small snacks. It can really make a huge difference in your endurance.
Remember Safety first…Have a great ride.
HOG Tracks Newsletter
With June soon coming to a close and record heat for our area, rid-ing has been a little warm to say the least.
The 2nd Half Ride Schedule is out and I hope we have some rides in there to everyone’s liking. Please keep in mind to be prepared for the rides you attend. The heat can catch up to you fast. Always have snacks and plenty of water or something to keep you hydrated.
We have a lot of new members and with that said, if you see some-one that you don’t know, please make the effort and say hello, make them feel wel-come. Some come from different area’s and may not be accustomed to this climate, so help them out please.
I want to say THANK YOU for your Membership and as it is said – RIDE< RIDE< RIDE
Can’t wait to see how the next couple of month’s go – RIDE, RIDE, RIDE
RIDE SAFE (IT ’S NOT THE DESTINATION, IT ’S THE RIDE)
Dan Weaver
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WIN - A $25 gift card to Mother Road if you can find YOUR National HOG number some were hidden in this newsletter. ( Here is a sample number this is what it will look like 4089765)
Contact Sean Martin at [email protected] with your name and national HOG number for verification.
There was NO winner for the last newsletter.
HOG Tracks Newsletter
Hello and Happy Summer! It is currently a swelter-ing 122 degrees in Lake Havasu and I am so looking
forward to the second annual kayak and picnic which is scheduled for October 9th at Rotary Park, Bullhead City. We will launch at Davis Dam and mozzy down the cool Colorado River to Rotary Park for a picnic. Bring a dish to share, chairs, and games if you like… water balloons come to mind. Family members are invited and you don’t have to kayak, just come and enjoy the day. If you want to kayak, both single and double kayaks are available. LOH will have more information as we get closer to the date. Please remember this is not a LOH ride where you get credit for the ride. If anyone is interested the “Good Girls Ride Too” patches are available for $6.00 per patch. The patch is black with pink lettering. This is not a Chapter patch, just something I did on my own. Have a fun and safe summer! Sherrie Schoepke, LOH
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HOG Tracks Newsletter
The next time you and some fellow bikers begin to plan a “long” ride take a moment and reflect on just what you are about to do. By “long” I mean a distance of at least five hundred or more miles, and several days on the road. Final destination may not be of any importance. We all know what is important as far as the road trip is concerned. But how did we get to this point? The question I’m asking is how did the act of “touring” on motorcycles, as we know it, evolve to its present state.
Long-distance motorcycle riding has been around nearly as long as the machines themselves, but these are clearly associated with racing. What’s more, it has always separated the great motorcycles from the also-rans. Harley-Davidson got one of its biggest boosts in 1908 when Walter Davidson won the Federation of American Motorcyclist (FAM) endurance and reliability contest. The punishing two-day event was 365 miles long, and of the 17 different motorcycle brands represented, all had to have a car running close behind with replacement parts for when the motorcycles broke down, all except the Harley-Davidson motorcycle.
On December 8, 1913, Ray Watkins and Bill Torres set a world record at a San Jose track when they rode their H-D motorcycle to a first place finish. They finished seventeen miles ahead of their nearest competi-tor and did not have to make any repairs, replace any parts, or make any adjustments during the one hun-dred mile race. Competitions like this, and there were too many to list, helped to prove the durability and power of H-D motorcycles.
Racing competition, the changes in body style, engine reliability and power, and convenience accesso-
ries, along with cultural changes, ushered in motorcycle touring. In 1941 a new version of the
“Knucklehead” engine was introduced, and this model was designated the “FL.” The new bike benefited
from added power and better tires. In 1949, an all-new telescopic hydraulic front fork replaced the
“Springer” front end, and the bike eventually was designated the “Hydra Glide. In 1958, rear sus-
pension was added and a new designation, “Duo Glide” came to be.
The next big improvement came in 1965 when an electric starter was added. The new designation,
“Electra Glide” seemed appropriate. Wrestling with a kick-start engine would become a thing of the
past. As the 1965 sales brochure read, “We’ve taken a few of the kicks away, but none we thought
you would miss.” The “Electra Glide” became the lynchpin to our modern touring bikes. A new era was
dawning for the rider who had miles to cover. With their removable windshields and hard saddlebags,
the Electra Glides of the 1960s gave rise to the iconic H-D touring motorcycle that carries into the
present day. Within four years of the introduction, designers crafted an accessory fairing specifically
for the Electra Glide to keep more wind off of the rider. The “windshield fairing kit,” as it was first
listed in 1969 became a standard feature for 1971. It’s more commonly known today as the “Batwing”
fairing.
Numerous features now accepted as standard on H-D motorcycles were first used in the touring models, such as disc brakes and electronic fuel injection. It was with that spirit that the Project Rushmore up-grades for 2014 came to fruition. The Batwing fairing was redesigned to reduce buffeting, but the classic shape remained. Saddlebags and Tour Pak were streamlined while increasing capacity. These features and many others marked the single largest product launch in Harley-Davidson history.
The importance of the Electra Glide goes far beyond its versatility and popularity. It is the modern stand-ard for touring motorcycles. Competitors have increasingly tried to copy everything from the fairing to the luggage units, but always missing the mark. H-D remains the dominant force in North American touring and is gaining ground in other nations.
So, it’s now the night before you leave on the mother of all road trips. Preparing for the trip can take on somewhat of a ritualistic flavor. Roll the cloths don’t fold them, takes up less room. Check off all of the ne-cessities for the road trip, sun block, cell phone charger, meds, and whatever else constitutes “must-haves.” For many GPS has replaced a road atlas. I still carry a hard copy atlas as a back up. When all is said and done the main thing is to start er up and hit the road.
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HOG Tracks Newsletter
With the Fourth of July just around the corner I thought that this would be a good time of the year to talk about one of America’s famous---or---maybe I should say infamous veterans. The American Movie Channel (AMC) is currently running a made-for-television series called, Turn: Washington’s Spies. This program depicts a Colonial spy ring that operated on Long Island, NY during the Revolutionary War. One of the main story lines is the eventual defection of General Benedict Arnold, one of Washington’s most trusted General, to the British. I was surprised to see that the handling of Arnold’s character was about fifty percent accurate. Ameri-can historical figures do not usually receive such “honest” treatment from the en-tertainment industry. And most of the people of this great nation have not been exposed to the lives and challenges faced by Americans of past years, because our
educational system does not consider the study of history to be very important.
Mention the name Benedict Arnold to most people and the first thing they respond with is the word “Traitor.” It is true that Arnold betrayed our burgeoning nation and his actions cannot be excused in any way, but as the lawyers of any era might say “…there were extenuating circumstances.” Arnold was one of, if not the most successful Continental field generals. In 1776, he hindered a British invasion of New York at the Battle of Lake Champlain. Correctly predicting that British General Guy Carleton would sail an invad-ing force down Lake Champlain, Arnold supervised the hasty construction of an American flotilla on that lake to meet Carleton’s fleet. On October 11, 1776, the American fleet surprised its foe near Valcour Bay. Although Carleton’s flotilla drove the Americans away, Arnold’s action delayed Carleton’s approach long enough that, by the time the British general reached New York the battle season was near an end, and the British had to return to Canada. Arnold’s performance at the Battle of Lake Champlain rescued the Patriot cause from potential disaster. This was Arnold’s first rescue of the American Revolution.
Despite his heroic service, Arnold felt he did not receive the recognition he deserved. He resigned from the Continental Army in 1777 after Congress promoted five junior officers above him. General Washington, the commander in chief of the Continental Army and Arnold’s good friend, urged him to reconsider. Arnold rejoined the army in time to participate in the defense of central New York from an invading British force.
Arnold played a crucial role in bringing about the surrender of British General John Burgoyne’s army at Sa-ratoga, which is considered the turning point of the war, where Arnold served under General Horatio Gates. Gates was an officer whom Arnold came to hold in contempt. The dislike was mutual and Gates at one point relieved Arnold of his command. Nonetheless, at the pivotal Battle of Bemis Heights on October 7, 1777, Arnold defied Gates’ authority and took command of a group of American soldiers whom he led in an assault against the British line. Arnold’s attack threw the enemy into disarray and contributed greatly to the American victory. Ten days later Burgoyne surrendered what was left of his army. With almost 6,000 men killed or captured at Saratoga, it was a stunning defeat for the British. News of the surrender convinced France to enter the war on the side of the Americans. Once again Arnold had brought his coun-try a step closer to independence. However, Gates downplayed Arnold’s contributions in his official re-ports and claimed most of the credit for himself. This was Arnold’s second rescue of the American Revolu-tion.
In addition to Arnold’s exploits on the field he also used his own money to finance military campaigns. Af-ter he petitioned the congress for reimbursement noxious charges of malfeasance and other improprieties would begin to be leveled on him by a certain group of politicians. He would eventually be cleared of all charges. Arnold was also wounded twice in battle and would walk with a limp for the remainder of his life. Arnold felt resentment over not being promoted faster, which was a motivating factor in his choice to be-come a turncoat. He concluded that his interests would be better served assisting the British than continu-ing to suffer for an American army he saw as ungrateful. Once again politicians and military officers who acted like politicians were the root-cause of screwing up this country. Seems to be a recurring theme. If you would like to read more about that dynamic time in our history try the 660 page
George Washington’s War: The Saga of the American Revolution, by Robert Leckie. Next time we will meet the real General George Armstrong Custer. When you meet a Veteran say THANKS.
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Dan Weaver
Director & Road Captain
928-303-0177
Dale Webb
Asst. Director / Road Captain
928-897-8362
Patrick Lilly
Head Road Captain
509-899-1603
Pam Kelly
Secretary
928-754-2934
Terry Kelly
Treasurer / Webmaster
928-715-0566
Scott Sims
Safety Officer
801-928-8418
Janell Sims
Photographer
801-928-8419
Sean Martin
Editor
928-279-9352
Sherrie Schoepke
Ladies of Harley
208-590-1449
Frank Musumeci
Historian
928-753-1750
Bunnie Weaver
Membership
928-303-0121
Regina Webb
Activities Director
928-529-3184
HOG Tracks Newsletter
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Kingman
Name Home Cell
Patrick Lilly 509-899-1603
Dale Webb 928-757-9634 928-897-8362
Dan Weaver 928-303-0177
Kenny Imthurn 928-530-7044
Chuck Leslie 928-279-9539
Mike Celsi 928-530-7779
Wesley Hawkins 928-757-4278
Lake Havasu
Karl Horst 907-299-2715
Bullhead City / Laughlin
Joe Melichar 702-298-1799 702-373-2900
Terry Kelly 928-715-0566
Pam Kelly 928-754-2934
Bob Goble 303-517-9680
Rick Colosimo 416-726-9507
HOG Tracks Newsletter
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Aug 2016 SUN MON TUE WED THU FRI SAT
1 2 3 4 5 6
7 Run to the Hole – Grand Canyon Cav-erns
8 9 10 11 12 13 Hog meeting 11 AM at MRHD
14 15 16 17 18 19 20 Elk Tracks – Haulapai Lodge
21 22 23 24 25 26 27 New Member get together and ride to Rosie’s – all members welcome
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HOG Tracks Newsletter
July 2016 SUN MON TUE WED THU FRI SAT
1 2
3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Hog meeting 11 AM at MRHD
10 11 12 13 14 15 16
17 Pie Ride - Pine Country, Williams
18 19 20 21 22 Cottonwood -Verde Train
23 Cottonwood -Verde Train
24 Cottonwood -Verde Train
Lilo’s, Seligman
25 26 27 28 29 30
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