mar. 2012

Thunder roads® magazine ohiowww.thunderroadsohio.com

sales office 24381 Aurora Rd., B-8, Bedford Heights, OH 44146

chief inspiraTion officer

Will Roeder

owner / ediTorJulie Roeder

managing ediTor sales & markeTing

Derek Smith 440-785-7331

[email protected]

feaTures ediTorDonn Shanteau

phoTo ediTor Craig Fetherolf RHS Images

phoTography Donn Shanteau, Craig Fetherolf

Jerry Murray, Crash, Amber Smith, Heather Winniestaffer-Allen

road reps Scott H, Ron R, Amanda W, Craig F, Sue L, Joe B,

Terry T, Dennis Albright, Mark and Carmen

conTriBuTors Mary Ann Steffanni, Sue Lucas, The Iron Cowboy, Don Hostetler,

Amber Smith, Donn Shanteau Hairy George, Craig Fetherolf, Kit Hedges,

Savannah S, Scott “Woody” WoodJeff “Stinger” Brown, Misty

layouT & designMeredith Hancock / Hancock Graphics

naTional foundersToni McCoy Shearon & Brian Shearon

1528 Matlock Drive / Chapmansboro, TN 37035Office 615-792-0040 / Fax: 615-792-7580

email: [email protected]

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. NO PART OF ITS CONTENT MAY BE REPRODUCED WITHOUT WRITTEN PERMISSION. PUBLISHER ASSUMES NO RESPONSIBILITY AND IS NOT TO BE HELD LIABLE FOR ERRORS BEYOND THE COST OF THE SPACE OCCUPIED BY THE ERROR, SLANDER OF ANY GROUP OR INDIVIDUAL, FAILURE TO PRODUCE ANY ISSUE AS SCHEDULED DUE TO REASONS BEYOND OUR CONTROL, ANY AND ALL SUITS FOR LIABLE, PLAGIARISM, COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT AND UNAUTHORIZED USE OF A PERSON’S NAME OR PHOTO-GRAPH. OPINIONS AND CLAIMS MADE BY ADVERTISERS AND AUTHORS ARE THEIR OWN, AND DO NOT NECESSARILY REPRESENT THE POLICY OF THUNDER ROADS MAGAZINE OR THUNDER PUBLISHING. PUBLISHER DOES NOT PRO-MOTE THE ABUSE OF ALCOHOL OR OTHER DRUGS.

2 Thunder roads® magazine ohio

Letter from the Editor ............................................................................ 4Road Tales ............................................................................................ 6ABATE of Ohio Report ............................................................................ 9Riding Safe with Kit Hedges ................................................................ 10Letters from the Road by Don Hostetler ............................................... 14Quarter MileStones Exhibit .................................................................. 21Progressive International MC Show ...................................................... 22Thunder Roads Interview: Mike Davis ..................................................25Suzuki RM-Z450 Factory Feature ......................................................... 30Motocross Ohio: Team Shiffert .............................................................33Center Calendar .................................................................................. 34Thunder Roads Custom Feature ...........................................................36Poker Run 101: Part II ......................................................................... 40Ohio Ink .............................................................................................442013 Victory Judge .............................................................................46Biker Friendly Directory ...................................................................... 50Mrs. Herbs & Spices ............................................................................ 53Thunder Roads Marketplace ................................................................54Upcoming Events ................................................................................ 64Joker’s Wild ........................................................................................ 67

On the COver:Bike Created by Fritzy, ClevelandPainted by Andre from Extreme AirPhotos: Craig Fetherolf, RHS ImagesModel: Amber, “Baby Bear”, Iron Angels

see The feaTure on page 36

Thunder roads® magazine ohio 3

As we go to print this month the Thunder Roads team has just returned from a whirlwind tour of winter Motorcycle shows across the state of Ohio. Believe it or not, next to the actual riding season, the dog days of winter in January and February are my favorite time of year. It’s when motorcycle enthusiasts come out of hibernation, attending the International Motorcycle Show in Cleveland, the V-Twin Show in Cincinnati and the Easyriders Invitational Bike Show in Columbus. It was invigorating to experience the pent up excitement after a long winter literally bubbling out of everyone as they were making plans for their Summer rides, checking out the new bikes at the major manufacturers displays, or scoping out the newest accessories to customize their current ride.

I would have to say that the Easyriders show was my favorite. It was a true celebration of the motorcycle and the riding lifestyle. Although there were human celebrities in attendance, such as Michael Ballard from Full Throttle Saloon and actor Tommy Flanagan who portrays “Chibs” on Sons of Anarchy, the motorcycles were definitely the celebrities. As soon as you walked in the show’s entrance, the “best of the best” custom bikes from builders all across the country were front and center on a grand runway right down the middle of the exhibit hall.

The sheer artistry of the motorcycles on display was amazing. Customizing motorcycles has certainly been taken to a whole new level as evidenced by this show! We’ll have complete coverage of the Easyriders Invitational in next month’s issue.

Hats off to Easyrider Events for a very well organized show. Our Thunder Roads booth was located right next to their merchandise trailer, so we had the pleasure of hanging out with some of their staff during the show. Thanks to Denny and the rest of the Easyriders crew for their help and the back stage tour.

In February I attended the V-Twin Dealer Expo in Cincinnati for the first time, which was also presented by Easyrider Events. It was cool to see what the major players in the aftermarket industry had to offer. For me, the highlight of this show was getting to meet the legendary and pioneer bike builder Arlen Ness, who was gracious enough to autograph the first anniversary issue of Thunder Roads Ohio. (pictured above)

While in Columbus the Thunder Roads team took time out from the show for a planning session for this Summer’s events. We are excited to announce that we will be promoting the all new “Buckeye Thunder Run”. Look for more details in the Road Tales article on page 6 We will be releasing the ride destinations in upcoming issues.

We have also been busy working closely with the Ohio Bike Week committee and plans are well under way for a bigger and better OBW rally! There will be several “Thunder Zones” throughout the region including Margaritaville in Sandusky and Roeder Racing in Monroeville, each will have vendors and entertainment. Watch for updates on Ohio Bike Week and the OBW Thunder Zones in upcoming issues. The May issue of Thunder Roads Ohio Magazine will be the Official OBW Rally Guide, so make sure to get yours early!

Ohio Bike Week will be here before we know it, but in the meantime Thunder Roads Ohio will be getting our Biker Rally fix in Daytona March 9th-18th. Thunder Roads Ohio will be shooting photos of the “bike scene” on the streets of Daytona. If you’re from Ohio, make sure to sport your smile because you might just make the “Ohio Faces in Daytona” page. That shouldn’t be too hard, how could you help but smile when you’ve managed to escape Ohio’s winter at the Grand-daddy of biker rallies in Daytona Florida!

Hope to see ya there!!


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As tOld by the IrOn COwbOy

show seasonI have to admit that the highlight of this winter’s bike shows

(thus far – still have a few to hit) occurred out back behind the Columbus Convention Center on the second day of the Easy Rider Invitational. Now before I lose any of you fearing where this is going – nothing “bad” occurred.

I was running somewhat behind after trying to jam far too much into my morning and I was looking to quickly run in the back door. I pulled back by the docks and jumped out of the car. I quickly started to load up my bags, and I mistakenly pulled open my passenger door while the driver’s door was still ajar. The winter wind chose that exact moment to hit me with a gust – and it just tore through my car. As luck would have it, the fruit of that morning’s toils were laying on the passenger seat. A stack of nice, vibrant full color sheets outlining our upcoming Buckeye Thunder Run!

The wind picked up those sheets and blew them out the driver’s door. All across the parking lot my papers shot. The pavement was wet with melted snow and slush, and the water caught the papers as they danced away. I had raced around the car just to watch as my work went to waste. The bright colors were running with the water, and the papers were quickly turning into some sort of tie-dye’esque mess.

When I had first pulled in, another car had quickly followed me into the back loading area and parked about 40 yards away. The occupants were just getting out when my papers shot their way. The passenger leapt out and began scrambling to collect my work. He was bundled up due to the weather, and his face was mostly covered by a cap pulled down and pair of sunglasses. I couldn’t really see who it was, but I certainly had no cause to think I knew him.

I had already stopped to absorb the image of my papers going to waste, but then I caught myself watching in amazement as this total stranger ran about picking them up. They were dripping with water, but he still took the time to pick them up carefully so they would not rip.

I joined in and finished picking them up, just as the stranger came walking over with a handful of soaked papers. I then looked up in surprise to see that it was Tommy Flanagan, the actor from Sons of Anarchy. His real life facial scars – which earn him the nickname “Chibs” (“chib” is

Scots for scar or knife) on the show – were evident as we talked for just a minute.

Certainly there were plenty of cool bikes – along with countless new and old friends at the show, but I think meeting Tommy Flanagan was the coolest part of the show. Not because I had the chance to meet an actor – but because I had the chance to see him being a really cool, down-to-earth guy.

I am proud of being a biker for a lot of reasons, but primarily because of what it says about me as a man. I believe that the vast majority of the bikers out there are good, genuine folks that won’t hesitate to help a total stranger out. To give a hand if needed (without being asked), and to show respect to those that have earned it or offer it in return – those are fundamental biker attributes. I’ll admit that I watched the SOA show from time to time, and enjoyed the prime time show for the biker soap opera that it is. Having the chance to meet “Chibs” in real life and see that he appeared to be a real genuine guy – without any of the celebrity attitude – was fairly comforting. Who knows what he’s really like, but in that split second as my papers flew across the lot – he was a real dude helping a bro out. And I think that’s kind of cool.

PLEASE NOTE: We are featuring an article on the Cleveland International Motorcycle show this month. The Easy

Rider and Piston Power shows will be featured in upcoming editions as well. Segments from the Dealer Expos will be served up over the next few months as we present different product segments and profiles from those shows.

cusTom painT focusBeyond my celebrity encounter, I also

enjoyed meeting a number of fantastic builders and craftsman from across the country. In particular, it seemed as though I spent a lot of talking with some incredible painters – air brush artists in particular, many of which were from Ohio! In our April edition, we will begin a regular feature focusing on airbrush artists and custom painters from across Ohio. We will look to showcase their work and promote the shops that they work from, in much the same manner that we focus on tattoo pieces.

If you are an artist or would like to recommend someone for us to feature, please don’t hesitate to let us know. Much like our tattoo series has revealed, I am certain that there are some

This is the actual motorcycle that evel crashed at wembley stadium.

The crowd is cheering for Thunder roads, while they patiently wait in line for their magazines. (ok, so maybe this was the line to get a picture with chibs)

Tommy flanagan - aka “chibs” on The sons of

anarchy TV show.


amazing artists out there. Many of which are the best kept secrets in their own towns. We would really like to share some of the artistry that we have witnessed on bikes as we tour the state. Please don’t hesitate to share your work. You can email us at [email protected]

ssg shannon smiThOne of our favorite events of the past riding season was the

SSG Shannon Smith No Fear Motorcycle Ride. We are pleased to see that the event is continuing, albeit in a different form. This year the organizers have teamed up with Quaker Steak & Lube to host a scavenger hunt themed ride around the Columbus – Delaware – Marion area. I’ve had the opportunity to sit in on a few of the meetings and I am really looking forward to this event. Rich “The Lube Guy” has helped the Smith family get things rolling with the new format, and once again – Thunder Roads will be a promotional partner for the event. We are proud to be affiliated with an event such as this, recognizing the life and loss of a true American Hero. Please mark this event down on your calendar and save the day for a biker scavenger hunt! You can also email the organizers ([email protected]) or Thunder Roads ([email protected]) for information on how you can help with the event. Sponsors and stops are still being sought as the event is being planned out.

The 2012 Buckeye Thunder runWhen we first re-launched Thunder Roads in Ohio, last year,

one of the most frequent questions we were asked was “Are you going to do a Dice Run?” The answer was always “No – that’s being done.” We also followed up with a commitment that we would in fact host a summer long riding contest – once we were ready to. During our first year back in Ohio, we wanted to focus on getting the magazines out and meeting everyone. We wanted to focus on first things first and properly establish ourselves.

Well, it’s a year later and we are now distributed through over 850 locations across Ohio. Thunder Roads has clearly established itself within the market, and while we proudly proclaim ourselves to be Ohio’s (#1) Biker Mag – you can draw your own conclusions. If you’re reading this, you are most likely

holding the mag and that’s all it takes. Anyways, I digress.As I was saying, we now have a tremendous network of

sponsors and supporters all across the state – and the time is right for us to introduce our Ride n WIN contest!

We will be announcing the exact details of the ride shortly, but at this point we would like to share a few aspects of the contest. The Buckeye Thunder Run is a riding contest that emphasizes folks riding. (Isn’t that what it’s supposed to be about?) The more you ride - the more of a chance you have to win. The key thing, though, is that this is a ride for BIKERS – and we want YOU to help us select the stops!

Thunder Roads is now considering stops all across the state to be involved in the First Annual Buckeye Thunder Run! We aren’t going to ask you to spend the summer riding across the state hitting any stop willing to write us a check. Every one of our stops is a genuine biker friendly destination that’s worth making a trip to. Our contest is totally different then anything you’ve seen before, and it has some unique twists that guarantee a summer of fun! We also understand that not all of us have the same interests. The Buckeye Thunder Run allows you to select the stops that you want to hit – and you don’t have to hit them all in order to win the big prizes. And did I mention prizes? Yeah, we have some amazing prizes in store for you. Of course that’s a big part of next month’s announcement, but suffice it to say that just like everything else we’ve done – we are taking it to a whole new level! You haven’t seen anything like it before!

At this point, though, we are identifying stops and partners for the run. If you have a favorite riding destination in mind, please let us know. You can send us messages on facebook or simply post on our page. And if you see a stop that you don’t agree with, feel free to let us know. (Just try to keep it polite on the pages, though.) You can also email us at [email protected] All stops must be in Ohio and they should be of interest to riders.

If you have a location that you think would be a good stop for our run, please get in touch with us. We can then send you additional information, including an application. And don’t let the cost of other promotions scare you away from ours. Yes, there is a cost to participate. However, just like our advertising rates, we keep things reasonable in order to ensure a solid return for our partners. You will be AMAZED at how easy and economical the run is to host. It has been designed to be as operationally efficient as possible, and GURANTEES riders that actually want to visit your location. Other then advertising with our magazine, it’s hard to imagine a better promotional opportunity out there! Send

us an email with some information on your location and let’s get started! [email protected]

As an aside – there are sponsorship opportunities available, for those that would like to take a larger role in the run or for those that aren’t able or interested in hosting a stop. Call for details 440-678-8608.

The most unique bike at The easy rider invitational may have been the one

covered in show and parked out back on the loading dock, just like it was last year!

a pretty cool drag bike on display at the V-Twin expo. wait?! is that our phone

number on the side of it?


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MARCH 2012 LEGISLATIVE REPORT

ABATE of Ohio, Inc.’s Legislative/Safety/Education Seminar was a success. I would like to thank everyone who attended and participated. Creating an organization that the membership participates in is key to our success. Thank you to all those who spent 1 or 2 nights at the hotel. I would like to thank the committee members that assisted in organizing and smooth operation, Mike Stock, Jim Elgin, Ed Schetter, Barb Clements, Lynn Hardin, Ralph Buss. I would like to thank T.J. Johnson for his technical support, Ed Schetter for his work on the carnival games, the speakers during the meeting which were Karen Diehl, Imre Szauter, Jinx Rahn, Jerri Mitchell-Tharp, Jim Sprague, Rod Taylor, Jim Bown, Mike Stock, Ralph Buss, Jay Jackson, and Cliff Rosenberger. I also would like to thank the sponsors to the event Ridin On Magazine, ABATE of Ohio Foundation, Rod Taylor, Ralph Buss, Region 9 ABATE of Ohio, and Reineke Family Dealerships. The Live and Silent Auctions were both very successful thanks to Barb Clements for organizing. To our auctioneer Bushman “Thanks for what you done”. Also thanks to everyone who donated or looked for donations including Mike Stock, Leslie Aftanas, Koleman Fuzy, Kim Chafin, Michele Ray from Region 9, Ken Howell, Beth Parker, Barb Clements, Dave Lawson, Carla Lawson, Bill Jenks, Susan Wood. Also a big thank you to the people who participated in the games and purchased items in the auctions. Overall we made a pretty good profit and added a lot to our MOTM 2013 Fund. I’m already thinking about 2013’s Seminar. I enjoy the interactive parts of the seminar and am thinking of ways to make it more interactive. If you have ideas forward them to me at [email protected].

From a legislative standpoint, we decided to continue the course with our ROW bill and the handlebar bill. We also decided to research and introduce legislation in Ohio which prohibits federal funding for motorcycle only roadside stops. The next step on the ROW bill will be opponent testimony. Currently we are unaware of any agencies in opposition to the bill. The Prosecuting Attorney Association, the Ohio Judicial Commission, and the State Highway Patrol have all declared they were neutral on the bill as it stands. On our handlebar bill, we have proponent testimony scheduled for 2/15/12. I have already submitted testimony that I will be reading. I also submitted testimony from Bob Conly a bike shop owner in Wilmington, Ohio. If anyone else would like to submit testimony I would be happy to assist. Call me at 937-987-2396. On the motorcycle only roadside stops, I will be researching legislation from other states and making a recommendation to the board.

This is an election year. We have a very narrow window to get legislation introduced. What we don’t get passed this year will have to be reintroduced next year. It is a good year to meet the candidates in your home town. I am also working on a voter’s guide to be published in October on abate.com and in the Outspokin. Be looking at my future articles for more details.

Until next month.Scott “Woody” WoodGovernment Relations DirectorABATE of Ohio, [email protected]


“What I learned over the Winter”That’s a word play on “What I learned over

summer vacation,” anyway… my winter reading of safety articles reinforced many techniques for safe physical and mental riding. There was the expected advice to PRACTICE, but there were also a few new gems that I’d like to pass along. Two studies were paramount to safe riding and very informative:

haBiTs and refleXes: During an MSF (motorcycle safety foundation) or Riders Edge Rider Course instructors discuss correct riding habits and provide on-motorcycle training to begin development of correct habits. Whether it’s easing out the clutch to start from a stop or smoothly applying the brakes to come to a stop, the rider must develop habits correctly. Many experienced riders that take a course will discover some bad habits that they can correct. That’s great, because we want correct riding techniques to become a habit for safer riding, but what about the Reflexes part? During some winter reading I discovered research that showed that it can take up to 5000 repetitions of an action to make that action a reflex. WOW!…of course some people might do it in 2500 rep’s, or 4000 for the super achievers. Point being, it takes some regular work to make a habit a reflex.

In the example of our biggest life saver, correct braking, the habits should be: Keep your head and eyes up, progressively squeezing the front brake with the clutch pulled in, applying the rear brake with light pressure, and keeping the handlebars straight till the end of the stop, always applying both brakes at every stop to reinforce the habit of using both brakes. Now the only way to develop a habit is

to do the activity repeatedly. That translates to actually practicing the action of braking, and according to the research, you need to practice, a lot.

I gotta tell ya… I’m blown away by this research, because I practice quick braking a lot, and I know I’ve got the habit part down, but I also know that I haven’t practiced it 5000 times. To make it a true reflex I’ve got a bit more practice to do. How about you?

cognitive Brain function: studies show that the cognitive brain functions required to operate a motorcycle are nearly 300% greater than those required to operate the average automobile. Riding

a motorcycle can be a lot of work, especially mentally. Cognitive brain functions are the critical skills that include: attention - working memory - visual processing - processing speed - long-term memory - auditory processing - logic and reasoning. These skills are interdependent. Often they overlap with other skills, as all the bits of information entering the brain are acted upon. Yikes.. There’s a lot going on with all this brain stuff and habits and reflexes when riding. That’s why it stands to reason that any distraction while riding is much riskier on a motorcycle than in a car. A distraction can be anything from uncomfortable riding gear to riding while impaired.

We can see then, that learning and practicing riding skills and avoiding activities or conditions that would prevent riding at full Cognitive Brain Function, we can drastically reduce the risks when riding.

Ride Safe

Riding Safe with

Kit Hedges


“What I learned over the Winter”


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Homer to Fairbanks

Alaska

The check engine light has been plaguing me for the last 1,500

miles. It started malfunctioning in Ft. Nelson, British Columbia which is 600 miles from the dealer in Whitehorse, Yukon. That tiny dealership had only one factory trained mechanic and he quit the week before I arrived. They suggested that I head to Anchorage, Alaska 700 miles away.

I pulled into “The House of Harley-Davidson” service department in Anchorage only to find that they were closed on Mondays. I noticed they were having a bike and car cruise-in with a band & cook out on Wed. evening. They also offered, (a first I’d ever seen at a Harley dealership), free on site camping with hot showers. I’ll be sure to come back Wed. to party & camp.

I left for Anchor Point, Alaska. The sign clearly states, “Anchor Point, North America’s Most Westerly Highway Point” My GPS read 151 degrees 52 minutes west. Just beyond the sign is the Gulf of Alaska. The tide was out and the beach littered with dozens of bald eagles and their young. The lazy scavengers were snatching up the fish left behind in the sand from the out-going tide. Further down was a boat launch. Giant 4 wheel drive tractors with hydraulic drawbars would

hook onto boat trailer with the crew already aboard, drive down the sand embankment far out into the surf to launch and retrieve the boats.

With no more roads to the west my only option was Homer, 20 miles to the south. At Homer the road continues another 5 miles out the Homer Spit. The Spit is a raised roadbed with water on both sides. This road is about 50 feet wide spreading, to around 1,000 feet near the end where the appropriately

named “Lands End” restaurant and lodge sits. Along the way are colorful shops, restaurants’ and fishing charter offices sitting on pilings high above the beach. I also noticed a sign in one of the restaurants windows advertising “All the Butt You Can Eat $9.99---Halibut.

It was rainy with a heavy overcast my last hour into Homer, blocking out any views of the mountains, sea and the four volcanoes. Later the sky cleared and I couldn’t help but take shots of the glaciers at the end of the Spit. You’ll see a long blue building in the pictures and a shot out a window. It’s the Homer American Legion and their gorgeous view from the bar.

I checked in to the Homer Hostel. I signed up for a $25.00 bunk bed and proceeded to make several new friends. I really like this Homer place. I’m ranking it my #2 favorite places in Alaska, second only to Valdez.

I stopped in at the Alaska Islands and Ocean visitor center and had a confusing conversation with a ranger about “sea


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level” as my GPS at North America’s Most Westerly Highway Point read 20 feet below sea level. Is sea level measured with the tide in or out or at the average of the two? He launched into a very bluster and convoluted discourse on tidal physics. Eventually I tired of it thanked him for his time and left no wiser than when I walked in.

Homer is pretty much the end of the trail going south in Alaska. I rode about 100 miles northwest then another 75 back south to get to Seward. There is really nothing special in Seward other than its claim to being “Mile Zero“of the original 1910 Iditarod. They do have a lot of nice city campgrounds along the water’s edge and they tell me, an excellent Aquarium.

I stayed at another Hostel here, Moby Dick‘s. They charged $22.00 a night and it was by far the liveliest accommodations yet. I met an older gent from Germany, 2 young guys from Italy, a lady from Brazil and a couple from Colorado. It’s nice to

share the communal dining room table, spread out maps and share the highlights’ of others’ routes and experiences. It was at this table that I learned about the

Portage Glacier Highway. The Portage Glacier

Highway routes through the Anton Anderson Memorial Tunnel to the town of Whittier. This is the longest highway tunnel in North America (13,300’ or 2.5 miles). It’s shared with Alaskan Railroad Corp. trains. Trains

have priority and vehicles are only allowed travel into the town of Whittier on the hour for 15 minutes and out of town on the half hour for 15 minutes. Motorcycles are required to wait to the very

end of the procession. We have to ride on the narrow 3 foot path between the rails. Much of the path is wet and occasionally a rider will waver off the path, hit one of the rails, go down and cause a lengthily disruption of service. The town is tiny, uninteresting and really not worth the time it took to get there. The $10.00 tunnel charge was not appreciated. The only saving


grace was the Portage Glacier. It had recently calved and a big ice cube was floating lazily in the lake.

It was time to head back to Anchorage Harley Davidson. I arrived around 2 PM and was added to the next morning’s schedule for “check engine” light diagnostics and a rear tire replacement. I took a 400 mile gravel road short cut back in North West Territories. It took a toll on my tire. This tire was new when I left home, now just 8,000 miles later a goner. Normally I can eek 11,000 miles out of a tire.

Be ready for sticker shock if you need service or parts here. At home, I buy a replacement tire online for $115.00 delivered, take the wheel off and have it mounted and balanced for $40.00. Here, tire $213.00, remove & mount tire $116.00, shop supplies $9.00, disposal fee $3.00, Total $361.00 vs. $155.00 at home.

I set up my tent in the tiny campground adjacent to the dealership and met my new neighbors. A couple from Minnesota is apparently homesteading there, as they have been camping here over 2 weeks. They don’t appear to go anywhere just down to McDonalds to eat and back to the camp to greet the new arrivals.

We all pitched in to help set up for the evenings cruise-in. There was quite a good cross section of cars & bikes. I was looking at a restored 1939 Cadillac when a young man about 25 years old said, “I’d rather have one of these than any of those new hot rods” Yeah, I said, I’d be great to have one of these and an old Airstream trailer to tow behind it. He had just bought a 1964, 35 foot GMC bus motor home conversion from his grandparents who had owned it for over 25 years. I convinced him to go home, get it and put it in the show. What a great piece of history.

My tent is directly under the flight path of the seaplanes landing at Lake Hood just 2 blocks away. Lake Hood is the world’s largest and busiest seaplane base. The base averages 160 take offs and landings daily and up to 400 in the summer. There are over 500 coveted seaplane slips around the perimeter of the lake with another 500 to 700 seaplanes based on shore.

You’ll see some “half trucks” in the pictures. They take a 4 wheel drive truck, cut the body and frame off behind the cab

then affix a hydraulically operated assembly to the front to lift the plane from the water and carry it to a spot on shore. Almost like rack storage for boats back at home on Lake Erie.

There is also a gravel strip for the hundreds of small planes here, many on those giant tundra tires for landing on river beds or sand bars. By the way, FAA, January 2011 statistics show Alaska has 10,423 active pilots and 10,803 registered aircraft.

I went to the Alaska Aviation Museum located on Lake Hood grounds. Nothing much too noteworthy, but I did find the displays, artifacts and videos on Japan’s invasion, and bombing of Alaska during WWII interesting.

You’ll see in the pictures a strange yellow machine operating in the

water. I’ve seen them in the canals in Florida before. They work kind of like a combine, harvesting seaweed and lily pads from the banks and shallow areas. I asked the museum lady, “What kind of seaplane is that big yellow one taxing around out there?” She must get a lot of dumb questions as she patiently explained the machines operation to me.

I rode out of town north to Wasilla and the Iditarod Trail Race Headquarters. Here I learned the race is limited to 100 entrants annually, each paying a $3,000.00 entry fee for that privilege. 50 mushers have pre-registered for 2012 race including one entry from Scotland. Last year saw 47 finishers with the winner finishing in 8 days 18 hours and 46 minutes. The last few mushers finished in just under 14 days. Awards were; 1st, $50,400; 2nd, $46,300; 3rd, $42,500 etc. and even the last 17 earned $1,049 each..

On the drive from Wasilla north on Parks Highway (Alaska Route 3), I had clear views of Mount McKinley, from both the South and North. From what I’ve read, it is extremely rare to see it at all. Strangely, it wasn’t all that impressive. I suppose because it was still a hundred or so miles away, I’m just guessing. Not like the other areas like Valdez where you are at the very base of the mountain looking straight up.

I arrived at Denali National Park, the mountain is Mount McKinley. In 1980, the State of Alaska officially changed the name of the mountain to Denali but the federal government has not followed suit and still retains the name Mount McKinley.


Entry to the park is $10.00 per person, $20.00 for cars and $15.00 for motorcycles. Private vehicles are only allowed 15 miles into the park. Free shuttles also travel this route from a huge free parking area outside the park. Bus tours of varying distances up to 92 miles into the park are available and take between 6 and 12 hours. Prices, $25.00-$50.00

Denali Mountain Morning Hostel is the nicest I have stayed at yet. The complex is set back from the highway in the woods along a flowing stream. There is a huge community room in an octagon log cabin with a roomy kitchen including 2 stoves, 2 refrigerators and 2 sinks. Here, I met 3 couples traveling together

from Germany, a young couple from India, 5 ladies all vacationing independently and I ended up

sharing a dorm room with the German I had met 3 nights ago in Seward. Most entertaining!

It is also the most expensive hostel so far ($36.00), owing to its location 12 miles from the entry to Denali National Park. Several options are available, dorm bunks, private rooms, 1 & 2 bedroom cabins and wall tents with cots and sleeping bags. They also offer a shuttle to the park and the railway station. The next morning welcomed me with a 45 degree temperature and light rain. Onward to the Dalton Haul Road!


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The thrill and exciting history of motorcycle drag racing will be presented in the Iowa-based National Motorcycle Museum’s new exhibition, Quarter MileStones. In conjunction with the exhibition, one of the best book titles to hit the market in 2012, Motorcycle Drag Racing: a History, by John Stein, is now available from the National Motorcycle Museum.

Serving as the exhibition curator, author John Stein will work with Museum staff to discover old drag bikes lurking in the corners of shops and garages, dust them off and get them back into the spotlight. “The good news is that many of the innovators have kept their machines around, or know where they sit today. We’ll bring them to the Museum, write up the “man and machine” stories and invite our visitors to come in and marvel at the range of machines, and the great stories. But if anyone out there knows of photos, leathers, film, trick parts and bikes we should include, please contact the Museum soon,” said Stein.

“With the goal being quickest through the quarter mile, bikes using twins, fours, sixes, and even V8 engines have been tried. And double and triple engined setups as well. Weight is not a big factor, but weight transfer is key, getting the rear tire to connect perfectly, yet keeping the front tire on the track most of the time. All this experimentation makes for some interesting machines and great stories.”

Museum Director Jeff Carstensen adds, “We’ve had a nice display of drag bikes ever since the Museum opened but this special exhibition will dig deeper, give our visitors a real eyeful of great old drag bikes. You’ll see everything from Knuckleheads to twin Triumphs, Tom Reiser’s Chevy V8 bike, even Elmer Trett’s Mountain Magic, along with their stories.”

Stein plans a timeline that traces the tuners and riders through their eras, and also notes landmarks like moving beyond the 4”

slick, the advent of double and multi-engine designs, when nitro and wheelie bars came on the scene,

trick clutch and transmission designs, timing equipment technology and more. Writing his new book, Motorcycle Drag Racing, a History, has put Stein in touch with some of the best tuners and riders from the past. Personal

accounts, old photos and film will play a big role in the exhibition. Stein’s book is available on

the National Motorcycle Museum website Gift Shop, www.nationalmcmuseum.org

The exhibition will be dedicated June 2, 2012 during the National Motorcycle Museum’s second annual Vintage Rally, June 1 - 3, Anamosa, Iowa. Vintage Rally activities include a swap meet and a vintage bike show with special cafe racer and drag racer classes. The National Motorcycle Museum website is where you can learn more about the Vintage Rally.

Cruise into the National Motorcycle Museum, located at 102 Chamber Drive in Anamosa, Iowa, and experience the extensive display of over 320 motorcycles from around the world as well as thousands of photographs, posters, postcards and pieces of motorcycle memorabilia, plus a fabulous collection of antique toys. The Museum is open seven days a week, year around and Museum Admission is $8.00 except during special events. Children 12 and under are admitted

free when accompanied by an adult. National Motorcycle Museum Members are admitted free except during special events. Becoming a member is easy and quick. The National Motorcycle Museum is a non-profit 501 (c) (3) corporation. For more information, call 319-462-3925 or plan your visit to the Museum on the web at www.nationalmcmuseum.org.

Photos courtesy of the National Motorcycle Museum

“Quarter MileStones” Exhibition to Open at National Motorcycle Museum


donn shanTeauThe winter of 2012 has been kind of fickle. Sure, northern

Ohio has been treated to the normal snow and cold, but we have also enjoyed moderate weather and rain. So far winter hasn’t been the long cold dark that we are all used to. It also seems that I haven’t experienced the level of cabin fever that afflicts me this time of year when I usually look for any excuse to get out and do something interesting.

The unpredictable weather didn’t dampen my anticipation for the kick-off of the 2012 bike show season in Ohio. The Progressive International Motorcycle Show (PIMS)marks the dawn of the riding season for those of us in Northern Ohio climes. Just like the auto shows that proliferate during the late winter and early spring, the PIMS hosts the major motorcycle and accessory manufacturers who are eager to show off their new offerings for 2012. This is the one place where you can actually sit-on and compare competing manufacturer’s bikes across the aisle from each other. This isn’t just a bike show however. It has industry experts on hand from almost any area you can think of. Want to know about helmets….your expert is there. Want to be a better rider? Your guy is there on stage answering your questions and demonstrating riding skills. For you women riders….there is a dedicated program to instruct and inform you on all aspects of motorcycling in a female friendly format.

The Harley display had their “Jump Start” demo bike up and running for attendees to operate. The jump start demo program encourages Harley Davidson customers to sit-on a Harley, start it, run through the gears and brake to a stop all in the comfort of the dealer’s showroom. The bike is strapped down with the rear wheel on rollers and the front wheel locked into a block. This

gives anyone a chance to operate the bike in a safe controlled environment with no chance of an unscheduled dismount. Kawasaki had an interesting interactive display where you could design your own bike digitally. All of the Exhibiters on the floor had a spotlight on their latest upgrade or model style.

This is the nations’ largest touring motorcycle show. Every manufacturer you could possibly think of was there touting their latest offerings. You could pick from street bikes, dirt bikes, scooters or ATVs. Every manufacturers display was packed with families checking out the features of their preferred motor vehicle. It was obvious that everyone was having fun comparing different makes and models to the other choices available across the aisle.

In addition to the motorcycle manufacturer’s displays, there was a plethora of accessory manufacturers and re-sellers to help you score that much needed “thing-a-ma-bob” to make your bike just how you like it. Custom wheels, helmets, eye-ware, state of the art suspensions, trike conversions and the ever present leather vendors were all on hand to make sure you could get whatever you needed for the upcoming riding season. Riding destinations were also represented. I really liked the “Ride the Dragon’s Tail” display that promoted a resort in Deals Gap NC.. It had an 8 x 10 birds-eye view of the Dragon’s Tail Route that really made you want to go there.

This Expo is really a great place to shop. With two full bars, decent food choices and plentiful places to sit down and relax and enjoy the free entertainment this really like a most excellent Biker Shopping Mall.

The two stages at the show bustled with activity all day long. The Music stage featured the Colin Dussault’s Acoustic Side Project while the Demonstration stage designated as the

2012 Progressive International Motorcycle Show

Cleveland Ohio


“Learning Curve” held informational programs that covered a multitude of subjects from riding oversees to insurance policies. This is where experts in numerous fields shared their insights with the attendees. The Indoor/Outdoor Ferris Wheel that is in the center of the Expo building was spinning away all day, taking families, lovers and teenagers (escaping their parents no doubt) in a slow orbit between the motorcycle expo inside and the wintery view of Cleveland’s International Airport outside.

The Smage Bros. Stunt Show had a really slick set-up for their stunt riding performances. The two brothers put on quite a spectacle with their off the hook freestyle tricks and total mastery over their machines. I made sure to get a good look at the bikes

that they were stunting with. At only 165 lbs, these bikes weighed less than the riders but made huge horsepower and torque for such a small package. When I questioned why the 2-stroke motors didn’t “stink” the joint up during the performance, one of the crew informed me that they were running very lean on the oil for the indoor show.

A bevy of first class custom and classic motorcycles lined the center of the main aisles. They are part of the Dream Pavilion Tour. The tour presents some of the rarest and most unique motorcycles in the world to show goers. Their location in the main aisles provided an unencumbered 360 degree vantage at every little detail of these superbly built machines. My personal favorite was the Jack Daniels Bike. I’ve seen some really nice JD bikes before but this one had the sweetest and best thought out custom fabricated parts on any bike that I have seen in a long time. The only thing that was a little weird and cool at the same time was the scoot’s barstool seat. I thought to myself, “Man this bike would be really tough to ride with that spinning barstool seat”. I was telling a friend of mine about it and it so happens that had talked to the bike’s builder earlier in the day. The builder clued him in to the fact that he had a riding seat and the show seat. Shoot! Now I want to see what the riding seat looks like!

Thunder Roads Ohio Magazine debuted the “BOMBSHELL” FatBoy at the show. The Bombshell is the GRAND Prize in the Rolling Bike Night Promotion that goes on all spring and summer in North Central Ohio. The FatBoy has custom parts from Mad River Harley and Roeder Racing and Service. The paint was provided by Hudson’s Automotive and the custom airbrushing was designed and painted by ohio’s own Pamela

Shanteau. Stewart’s Powder Coating chipped in with some of their services. ( should I have used chip in the same sentence as powder coating?)

All in all, my impression of this year’s International Motorcycle Expo at the IX Center was very positive. The quality of the exhibits and vendors was above average and the audience interactive programs were all very well done and provided real information that meant something instead of an endless sales pitch. If you missed this show….you messed up. Remember, the last weekend in January …IX Center in Cleveland Ohio 2013….See you there!


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Thunder Roads recently had the opportunity to sit down with Mike Davis, the new owner of Rubber City Harley-Davidson in Akron. Mike and his wife, Franscene, were already the owners of two unique dealerships – Mad River in Sandusky and Adventure in Dover, Ohio - when it was announced that they had purchased the former Liberty Harley-Davidson from long-time owners Ernie and Rosemary Passeos. It was then reported that the dealership would be renamed and moved to a new location along State Route 8 in Cuyahoga Falls (the old circuit city building off Howe Avenue).

We had been hoping to interview Mike regarding his plans for Mad River and the upcoming Ohio Bike Week; but the announcement of the new dealership prompted us to shift our focus and consider his business and what riders can expect of this growing organization. This is not meant to shamelessly promote a sponsor of our magazine, but to provide some insight into a local business that is obviously enjoying some success in the motorcycle market.

Tro: So, let’s just start at the beginning – how did you become a Harley-Davidson® dealer? And what did you do before?mike davis: Well, I was in the airline industry and living with my family in theWashington DC area. This was back around 2001 – 2002 during the time of Anthrax scare, 9/11, and the DC Sniper - and my kids had indoor recess for a year. We decided that it was time for me to retire from the airlines and find a new opportunity for us.My wife, Franscene, and I discussed a lot of possibilities and we decided that a Harley dealership would be something we were interested in. I had been an avid rider and we felt that we had solid approach in mind.Tro: How did you end up in Dover – with Adventure, your first dealership?md: Admittedly, we had never heard of Dover before. Based upon family and friends in the Midwest, we came up with an area that we wanted to consider. We went through the dealer application process, and Harley-Davidson found H&M in Dover with an owner that was looking to retire. It really looked like a great fit and we took over in August of 2003.

Tro: Dover had to be quite a chance from Washington D.C.md: Oh, it was; but this was exactly what we were looking for and it’s a great area for motorcycles. It may have changed, but a few years ago we discovered that Tuscarawas County had the highest ratio of motorcycle registrations to general population of any county in the state.Tro: When you started off with Adventure, did you have an approach in mind or plan on how you would be successful at that point?md: Sure. As part of the application process, we had to present Harley with a business plan explaining how we would run our dealership. We wanted to deliver Nordstrom’s quality service with a Harley-Davidson attitude. Our plan was to create a high caliber, professional shop that really focused on our customers – but with a solid recognition of the Harley heritage and everything that stood behind the name.Tro: Looking back on that original plan – how consistent do you think you’ve been with that goal and how have things changed?

The Drive behind Rubber CityMike and Franscene Davis bring their approach to yet another Ohio dealership.

grand opening of mad river

mike & franscene davis

CONTINUED...

liberty h-d becomes rubber city h-d before moving to a new location.


md: Did we do what we said we were going to do? I think so.We built this shop (Adventure H-D) with a “lodge mentality”. We wanted it to be a destination and a place where customers felt welcome. There are two 175’ long porches on this building – that represent and send a solid message. It’s covered with rocking chairs and benches all summer long. We want people to feel comfortable from the moment they arrive.People are only going to come to see your building once or maybe attend an event that you host once – but they are only going to be loyal to you and come back if they like the people. They have to like people working there. At the end of the day it’s all about having the best staff – the best people working at your dealership.We aim for an extremely high level of customer service, from someone greeting you at the front door to someone helping you on the showroom floor or in any of our departments. We want to make sure that we are customer focused. It needs to be worth it to come to our dealership and that’s about people.We spend a significant amount of dollars and time not only training people on the technical skills of the job, but also

the customer service and soft skills that are needed for the job. That’s been our business plan from day one and it continues to be our primary focus as we grow.Tro: Looking at Mad River, what brought you up there to Sandusky?md: We weren’t really necessarily looking for that dealership. We are always looking into other possibilities and Harley asked us if we would consider additional opportunities with them. When we were approached about that location, we looked at it and understood that this was a legacy dealership in a market that deserved to have a dealership. We considered it to be an opportunity with some solid core people still in the area and possibly available. Having the opportunity to bring key team members on board created a tremendous advantage for us. Having Ohio Bike Week there just added to the positives. That first year we didn’t think we would be able open in time or even get that facility. Then at the last minute it all worked out. With the existing facility it enabled us to open in time.Tro: That first year, you were just opening the doors and suddenly it’s Bike Week!

md: It was painful. (laughing) I don’t think that anyone has ever opened a dealership that quickly before. The employees we hired all really pulled together. Everything from sweeping the floors and merchandising was done during the day – then we had training at night.We knew that we couldn’t miss Bike Week. We would be failing the market basically if we didn’t open in time. How do have a Harley store sitting there empty in the middle of Bike Week? We knew it was important – so we made it happen.Tro:How long did you have?md: We opened May 15th and I think that we received the key first of March. I think that we had two months – to completely hire a team and then transform the facility. Even though there had been a dealership there before, everything had been taken out. It was completely empty. Tro: Going into your third year with Bike Week – is there a different approach this year.md: Well our first year, we really couldn’t participate at all – other then opening our doors. Last year, we participated a little more and were a financial supporter. This year, we

active community involvement is a big part of the davis plan

addressing the troops at employee Training day

adventure harley in dover

‘Training goes beyond the technical aspects’

2011 Teddy Bear run at adventure


anticipate being a much larger part of the rally.I think that Bike Week is way more important to the community then anyone realizes or really wants to admit. I just wrote a letter to the City of Sandusky – the trustees about this being really important; and there really only being an upside if it’s well planned and well supported. Is it good for my business – absolutely, but the reality is that it’s good for community. It’s good that it exists. We could exist without it – as everyone else could. But we all exist better with it – so we need to be supportive of it. As a dealership, though, we can’t build our business entirely around bike week. We need to build our business around the local community and the customers that come in day-in and day-out, the folks that live and work in the general area of the shop. We also need to do a good job of hosting bike week, so we’ve tried to be supportive of them. Just like any event we do, we want those visiting our dealership to feel welcome and glad that they stopped by.Tro: Even with everything going on with Bike Week, Adventure, and Mad River – you have another dealership now, tell us how this happened?md: Ernie (Previous owner of Liberty Harley-Davidson) and I have had a solid business relationship through the dealerships and have been in regular contact with each other. He mentioned to me that he was considering selling the dealership. He was facing the need to move the facility and wasn’t sure that he

wanted to deal with that. We told him that we might be interested. So when he decided that the time was right, he came and approached us about it. As the opportunity presented itself, we stepped up. We think that Akron is a huge opportunity. Tro: What is your plan in terms of the facility?md: We have already purchased a new location, the old Circuit City building off of Howe Avenue. Harley has approved the move and designs are being drawn up as we speak. This will be a more customer facility with plenty of space. The building itself is over 41,000 square feet and it sits on 4 acres of land in a much more accessible location.This is a location where we can offer even greater amenities, with a much larger service department, with a much larger showroom, a much larger selection of parts, motorcycles, accessories, motorclothes. We anticipate being able to have 150 bikes on display in the showroom – and still have it be very comfortable for customers.Having a facility with a large parking lot presents even more opportunities for us. We will have the space to host even larger events on site.Tro: It seems you make a real effort to involve charities at your locations.md: We try to support a lot of local charities. We look to have at least one charity on site every month throughout the summer, where we can help raise funds and promote their causes. It’s all about being community focused and being a positive factor within the market.Tro: The last few years have been challenging for a lot of folks in the motorcycle industry, how do you see things going forward? Obviously, you must be fairly optimistic as you continue to invest in your organization.md: In the industry as a whole, I think that there a number of positive trends heading into this year. There are more viable financing options for people, which is an important part of the process. This combined with an improved overall

feeling of more confidence in jobs and the economy has helped things as well. Floor traffic is up.We have seen positive growth with both Mad River and Adventure this past year. 2010 was a difficult year, but last year was much improved. Tro: Improvements in the economy are great for everyone, but do you feel as though your approach helps as well in terms of positive sales growth?md: Certainly I think that at the end of the day, it’s all about the team. That’s our biggest focus and I believe that it pays off. Adventure sells a lot of motorcycles. People don’t realize just how many we move. We have been a Gold Bar & Shield dealership for 3 out of the last 5 years, and one of those other years we were a Silver. The Gold ranking signifies that we are amongst the top 25 dealerships in the entire country, and I believe that this can be entirely attributed to our team.Tro: That team approach and service focus doesn’t happen by chance, and it takes more then simply good hiring.md: Absolutely. We spend a crazy amount on training, but it’s money well spent. We close down all of our dealerships for company wide training that involves everyone from part-time hourly employees to our Chief Financial Officer. We had over 110 employees at our last corporate training event and that’s a considerable investment, but it’s one that we must make if we are to stay competitive. Our focus during that training is on our customers and the core values of our company – and that’s what makes it all work.Tro: You now have 3 different dealerships in 3 relatively unique markets, how do you capitalize on that?md: We have three different shops with three different personalities. While we have the same core beliefs, we will be developing each independently as we look to become a part of these communities.

Team training calls for active participation

mad river is ground zero for ohio Bike week

mad river harley in sandusky

CONTINUED...Thunder roads® magazine ohio 27

Woodstock, IL - April 15, June 24, Aug 19, 2012

Walneck’s Motorcycleswap Meets & shows • woodstock, Il

We are still at the “OLD FAIRGROUNDS” - Rt. 47 and 1049 Country Club Rd.Sunday, April 15, 2012

630.985.2097Admission $7, under 14 FREE • FREE Parking • VENDOR spaces $40 Indoors or Outdoors

Call early to reserve Inside • Vendor Setup 6am and you can pay at the gateMotorcycle Show - 13 Categories • Trophies by public judging • Show entry for a bike is $5

Trophies awarded about 1:30pm • For Sale signs OK • NO Alcholic Beverages

RAIN or SHINE 8AM to 3PM350 Vendors • 5,000 Buyers

Antique, Classic, American, British& Modern, Too

Better than the Internet!Search for it, find it, inspect it

Buy it!...and then BRAG aBout it!

•Come early•

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Each of the stores will be a destination stop, with the same rocking chair mentality. If you stop by these stores, you are going to meet some good people and you will feel welcome from the moment you walk in the door.Tro: They aren’t that far apart, are you planning on doing any programs across all locations?md: Certainly. I just had a meeting down the street with representatives of both the Sandusky and Dover HOG Chapters. We are planning on doing a number of runs back and forth for various

events, and we plan on doing the same from Akron.We will also be offering interchangeable rewards cards and prepaid maintenance plans that can be used at any of our locations. We believe that these locations all have some interesting synergies that can be worked for the benefit of our customers.Tro: Sounds like you have a pretty thought out approach for your stores – a corporate culture built around a “mom and pop” feel?

md: We believe that we need to run it like a business that treats you like family. Not a family business, though. There is a difference. We want our customers to know that they can expect consistent, exceptional service at all times in all areas and feel welcome every time they visit our stores. That’s our plan.Tro: That sounds like a solid plan. Thanks a lot Mike for your time, and we look forward to seeing you out at Bike Week!md: See ya there!


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After months in storage for both you and your bike, it’s finally time to start preparing for the 2012 race year. Cleaning and maintenance of the race bike after winter storage is a long awaited task especially in the Shiffert household. After months of no racing, riding and no off road noise on our track, everyone is ready for the season to begin. Racing dad Roger always makes Justin help with the pre-season prepping so that he is knowledgeable about his bike. So Justin, get out the collection of cleaning supplies, soap, polish, waxes, and lubricants, It’s time to get your ride ready because spring is coming!

Team Shiffert has created the following check list by polling various Motocross families and our sponsor, PR Racing engines in Toledo Ohio. PR Racing always advises us about what pre-season checks need to be done before we hit the dirt. We also consider the problems we had during the previous race year and try to figure out how to eliminate them before the new riding season starts. pre season mainTenance check lisT:

• Change oil and other lubricants.

• Inspect and adjust cables - lube with specified lubricants.

• Check tire pressure and wear. (order a couple of spare race tires for the year)

• Check brakes for wear.

• Re-adjust suspension for any weight changes in rider

• Replace or tighten spokes that are bent or loose

• Clean and inspect carburetor.

• Check spark plug and restock spares

• Check and grease all bearings(swing arm, wheel, and triple tree’s to name a few) Polish and wax all (this helps in a through over all inspection of the entire unit)

• We also check clutch baskets as well and order extra kick start levers and clutch levers.

• And last but by far not least, remove the air box, clean thoroughly, inspect and replace the air filter if needed.

Once completed, you have made it through your spring Race Bike maintenance task. Now you need to fine-tune so that you and your bike are one again. By that I mean, practice your basic riding skills. Head out to ride your bike or travel regularly

to the indoor practice tracks. Outdoor tracks will be opening soon so make sure that you’re attending as much as you can. You might find that you are a bit rusty and out of riding shape. This also gives you the last chance to ride and listen to the bike to see if there is anything you might have missed while going through your spring tune-up. Check all your gear, clean it and make sure there is nothing to replace before the season starts. Finally, you and your bike are ready for the 2012 Race season. We wish you all luck and hope to see you out there!

PaM ShIffert teaM 7 aCre MIx

tIMe tO PrePare the bIke fOr 2012 SeaSOn


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derek smiThIron Cowboy Productinos, LLC

The real challenge of orchestrating a successful Poker Run is creating a positive relationship between the multitude of parties that you may find yourself working with as you plan and execute your event. Even on

the most basic poker run, planning may involve: starting and ending destination venues, a charity organization and all of their volunteers / supporters, sponsors, riders, stops along the way (more businesses and organizations - and all of their people), law enforcement, multiple municipalities, media, local riding clubs that wish to participate, and the list can go on. In this segment, we would like to consider two of these groups - the sponsors and the stops.

RUN STOPS and HOST SPONSORSObviously one of the most critical aspects of hosting a

Poker Run is determining the route and stops of the actual run. Unfortunately, though, the critical considerations are not always so obvious. The overall success of the event, though, is impacted dramatically by your choice of stops and the experience of your riders at them.

When determining your route you first need to identify your starting and ending point, and then you fill in the points in between. You ideally need at least five stops, but you can adjust that by giving multiple cards or skipping cards at the start of the run. (There are a lot of considerations to the handling of the cards - which

we will discuss in another segment. Suffice it to say, though, that we are not necessarily always fans of simply having riders draw cards at each stop along the way.) Your route should be between 50-100 miles and most riders prefer to avoid highways. The route should not involve areas of heavy traffic, if possible; but there should be sufficient gas stations and other stops along the way for riders if need be.

Your starting and ending points are the most high profile stops. Both points should have enough space for parking the bikes - as well as any cages driven by others frequenting the location, your own staff, and other various vehicles. You can have smaller stops along the way as not everyone will be hitting them at the same time, but you need to assume that everyone (and then some) will be at the start and finish of the ride.

Generally your starting point has less requirements then the ending point. You will need to make certain that there are accessible restrooms for those preparing to ride off. You will

also need space, tables, etc. for registration and breakfast if you are serving it.

The ending point is a little more critical, as most events plan around some sort of social activity at the conclusion of the run. Bands, DJ’s, Pig Roasts, Dinners, etc.. are all great ways to conclude a ride event - but you will need to make certain that your final destination can accommodate all of your riders, volunteers, and folks that may just wish to show up for the party.

If you are hosting the Poker Run as a bar, restaurant, or other

a well planned ride can be a lot of fun, even for the organizers!


location that seeks to benefit from the business or traffic - don’t dismiss the possibility of using a different starting point. The ending point is where most of the revenue is at and has the most potential for keeping riders the longest, so if you’re the event planner - you want to keep that one. The starting point, though, is really a great opportunity to tie in a local dealership, a popular or highly visible destination (such as a state park or local landmark), or a key sponsor. I would make certain, though, that the alternative starting point brings something to the table. If they don’t - just have everyone leave your place and then come back.

If you are organizing this event for a charity or other group that doesn’t necessarily have an interest in a particular location - you should assign the starting and ending locations to those sponsors / supporters that have contributed the most and have the means of properly meeting the needs of your event. The starting and ending points have the most promotional value, although its worth noting that if you’re doing a bar run that’s starting at 10 or 11am - the starting point may not serve up as much beer as those later stops.

We will talk about sponsors in more depth later, but obviously the are a consideration in determining a route. Without a doubt, all of your stops should be sponsors and your primary sponsors should be stops - if at all possible. As you begin planning your route, you should start by identifying the sponsors and their locations. You should also consider the practicality bringing the ride through the locations and their appeal to your riders as stops.

For example, I’ve worked on a number of poker runs where they had local service shops as sponsors. A bike shop may or may not be a suitable poker run stop, it all depends on the specifics of the location and what they have to offer your riders. I’m a big believer that any poker run stop should have something of interest to those participating. Stops certainly don’t have to all be bars or restaurants, parks and cool riding destinations are ideal poker run stops. It also works nicely for both riders and the other stops, if they are not expected to spend a lot of time at every locations. However, I don’t think you should simply route all of your riders through a stop where they simply get off their bike, get their card stamped, and then ride on. The ride should be fun and interesting, not simply a race around town.

One of our favorite riding destinations (and certainly a strong supporter of Thunder Roads, as well) is Bear’s Vintage Metal Works in Ravenna. They not only have a cool retail shop, but they have a vintage Harley themed museum as well. Lots of stuff to see and a cool poker run stop.

You can always add some excitement to just about any stop - the key is to make it interesting but practical. For instance, a really great shot special or giving away free alcohol at a stop - doesn’t necessarily make a lot of sense. For a variety of legal, liability, and logistical reasons - that doesn’t make sense for a stop on the run. Nor does inviting riders to oil wrestle at a stop - don’t laugh, I’ve seen it. Needless to say, but the folks that lubed up and wrestled at stop #2 - didn’t make it through to the rest of the ride.

However, a bikini bike wash is a fun thing that can be held just about anywhere and doesn’t necessarily involve getting riders wet. A service shop might also free dyno runs as folks come through. Obviously they can’t run everyone through - but the shop could offer certificates for others to come back. This is a GREAT way to showcase the shop and get riders back in.

When you identify potential locations, it’s important to meet with the venue as soon as possible. You need to let them know what you are doing and what your expectations are of them. You will need to confirm that the date is available and that they are interested in having you come by.

Assumptions are rarely a good idea and never when it comes to planning an event. NEVER assume anything when it comes to your stops. Starting from the simple question of whether they want you there and will they support your event. If it’s a good location and potential partner - but not necessarily already involved, you should go into sales mode. Sell them on your event. Sell them on your cause and sell them on you as an event organizer. Go over every detail with them and make sure that they realize that you are running a well executed event.

As a motorcycle promoter and through my involvement with Thunder Roads, I’ve worked with hundreds of different venues in regards to hosting events and rides. I’ve heard countless horror stories about poorly planned events - but I am still amazed at how often people tell me of groups simply showing up unannounced at a location on an “organized” ride.

“We get groups coming through all the time, and I just wish

Bike washes are a fun way to make just about any stop a little more fun!

with proper planning and the right groups involved, even a first year event can draw riders. This first year ride brought together military groups from all across the state.


they would call ahead and let us know!” commented Bear, from Bear’s in Ravenna. “The most frustrating thing is when a run comes through on a day we aren’t even open! Our hours vary throughout the year, including our Sunday hours. And every year, we get rides coming out on Sundays when we are closed. Just call us!”

Starting with the initial notification and a well thought-out plan, a venue will appreciate and respect your event much more if you take the proper steps to work with them. A popular biker bar or riding destination may get approached by dozens of new groups every year asking them to host a stop. If you start off on the right foot, you will find that these venues can become more then simply stops - they can become partners.

Tony Allison, owner of The Villa in Huber Heights, welcomes all riders - but he can really roll out the red carpet for rides that help promote his popular biker stop. “We can do a lot of things, especially with our outdoor bar. If they make us the ending stop and have the riders - I’ll roast a pig or put something out there for them.”

As an event organizer, you need to recognize that this is a business for most of the locations. Regardless of your cause or how passionate you are - it has to make good business sense for the owner of the bar or restaurant. Despite all the “scary biker” stereotypes you hear, the word is out - and people have realized that bikers have big hearts. We will actively support many causes and help out when we can, so virtually every charity under the sun has some sort of riding event. Local charities, needy families, and even major international organizations such as the Red Cross all come knocking on the door of popular biker hang outs asking for support or to host a ride. In a past life, I ran several popular restaurant / bars; and I couldn’t even keep track of the number of people that came by asking for support.

If you recognize this going in and take a proactive sales approach to your event, you will be much more successful. Here are some tips to pitching your event to a stop:

• Call ahead and schedule a convenient time to stop by and present your event.• Don’t simply show up and expect them to stop what they are doing.• Don’t ever stop by a restaurant or bar during their peak hours and ask to speak with a manager or owner. (It’s disrespectful and even if they say it’s ok - it’s not.)• Have an organized, thought out presentation prepared. This could include a list of other sponsors, pictures from last year’s event, and a simple sheet outlining the event (a mock-up / preview of the event flyer works great!)• Have a detailed plan on how you will market / promote your ride.• Clearly present your expectations and what you would like their contribution to be. Spell it out with several options in terms of participation.

If you take a realistic, practical approach with these suggestions - you should set yourself apart from everyone else that is asking for assistance or wanting to bring their ride through. So, what is fair to expect in return?

At the absolute minimum, a location should commit to being open and properly staffed for your event. They should also commit to assisting with the promotion of the event - hanging posters and handing out flyers. They should also commit to not gauging your riders.

“You need to make sure that your stops don’t jack up their prices as your riders come through. Even if they raise the prices by just .50 or $1 - it’s a slap in the face to your event and the riders coming through. But you would be amazed at how often it happens..” according to Youngstown area promoter, Hairy George.

An involved bar or restaurant should also consider some sort of food special for riders - or simply putting out something complimentary. In many cases, having hot dogs and chili is a great option. It’s quick, easy, and very popular. If a bar or restaurant has a hundred riders coming through - they don’t want to get bogged down with a bunch of menu orders. And riders don’t want to get stuck waiting for their food while everyone else takes off for the next stop. Venues may choose to offer free food in order to get riders to spend more time at their stop. In many cases they can turn to their own suppliers to donate product which they can then offer to you. In return you help promote their stop and possibly the company that donated the product.

I strongly believe that every stop should contribute something to support a charity ride coming through, but that contribution needs to be practical in terms of the return they receive business wise. You cannot expect businesses to simply donate of themselves because of the worthiness of your cause. Some will, but it is not always practical to run a business that way - especially when you consider how many people ask this of them. Don’t dismay, though, the key to getting venues and other sponsors to support your event is to build a clear marketing plan. Capitalize on the promotional value of your event and offer sponsors the opportunity to share in the exposure you will generate. This is a win-win for everyone. You are creating real business value for sponsors and promoting your event at the same time.

As you build this marketing plan and consider the contributions you might ask of your stops, you certainly need to be realistic in terms of your event expectations. I just heard a story from one of our dealerships about an event they helped host last year.

“The women seemed very organized, but clearly wasn’t a rider. She kept on telling us that she had 250 riders going on the run - which was coming to our dealership. So, we planned accordingly. We scheduled extra staff, roped off a section of the parking lot, and brought in a catering company to offer complimentary food to the riders. It was for a good cause and we wanted to put on a good show for the dealerships - to these 250 riders, “ the Marketing Director related. “Looking back, though, we should have questioned why she was so specific as to the number of riders. It was always 250 when she spoke. Never less, never more.”

“Well, the event came and we had everything ready. Unfortunately, though, there was not a single rider. It turns out that she had printed 250 cards for the event, which she then handed out at some bike nights earlier in the year. She simply assumed that everyone would come. Her own organization was not a motorcycle based group - so it had no riders of its own and they had no real understanding of how these events work.”

“We spent a lot of money on that morning, and we really fed our customers well that day - but it was a total loss in terms of the event. We chalked it all up as a hard learned lesson in terms of event planning.” She lamented, “Going forward I am much more skeptical of those that approach us and we assume that they know nothing about in terms of event planning. We need to do it all ourselves.”


That’s obviously an extreme example, but it highlights the challenges that events such as poker runs present to a host stop. It’s an investment for these businesses and in most cases, especially with the larger stops, someone is going to be held accountable for the financial results of their contribution - in terms of dollars, time, and other resources. Never forget that as you deal with these outside businesses. You need to create an event and plan that is beneficial to all involved.

TO BE CONTINUED....

Things To noTe regarding sTop logisTics:• Avoid cross traffic stops whenever possible.

• Advise local municipalities / law enforcement of each stop and your overall route. (More to follow on this.)

• Each checkpoint should have some means of communicating with the event chair and other stops in case of questions or emergency.

• Confirm that adequate restroom facilities are available at each location (port-a-potties if needed).

• Have one designated contact at each location and make certain that they are on-site for the event.

• Confirm that supplies and all necessary materials are prepared for each stop and on site, the day before or morning of.

• The route and all stops should be pre-rode at least 3 times, including at least one ride through the day before or morning of the event.

• Have someone in the lot to direct bikes to where they should park, especially on larger rides.

Derek Smith is a Marketing Consultant with Iron Cowboy Productions, LLC and has been promoting events for more years then he will admit to. For more information on marketing or planning your event - email: [email protected].

The next segment of this series will focus on Sponsorships and Outside Contributions. It will be published in the April Issue of Thunder Roads, but you can find it in advance at ThunderRoadsOhio.com

fun venues can make an event. frog Town in ironton hosts the wounded warrior poker run on april 14th. They’ve turned this run into a weekend long party, which we are sure to attend!


faCtOrY featUre

Victory Motorcycles has unveiled its newest motorcycle – The 2013 Victory Judge, a powerful cruiser apparently aimed at challenging the Harley-Davidson ® Fat Boy

segment. The bike has a bold look with clean lines and sculpted bodywork. Blacked out components help compliment color schemes such as “Suede Nuclear Sunset” to create an intentionally menacing look. Victory appears to have sought to incorporate “muscle car lines” into their bike as slash-cut twin pipes and mag wheels, along with slightly muted badging, deliver a subtly bold custom look.

Victory unveiled The Judge to moto-journalists out in the California desert, allowing writers to put it through the paces against a mountainous backdrop. The Judge delivers an extremely wide power band from the 106” Freedom engine and Victory’s 6 speed transmission. Industry writers across the board praised the “smooth power delivery” (motorcycle-usa.com) and noted that the bike pulled with “plenty of oomph in any gear, particularly down low” (motorcycle-usa.com).

V-Twin News enjoyed “a veritable orgy of leaning into hairpin curves and plenty of torque across all gears when heading into straight-aways.” (vtwinnews.blogspot.com/2012)

The Judge shares the same engine, frame, swingarm, and gearbox as Victory’s Vegas – but has a decidedly different feel with mid-mounted lower controls and offers an “engaged” riding position with a 25.9” (658 mm) seat height. With a low center of gravity and a good balance, Victory’s Judge promises easy handling for riders of any height.

The Judge is Victory’s first non-touring, all-new model since 2006. This is an important addition as the Minnesota cycle works looks to build on an undeniably successful 2011. Victory reported domestic sales up 21% and world wide sales up 51% last year. The spec performance figures and pricing information of the Victory Judge will be announced closer to the bikes launch date, in May this year.

the 2013 VICtOrY JUDGe


engine Type 4-Stroke 50˚ V-Twin

cooling sysTem Air / Oil

displacemenT 106 ci / 1731 cc

Bore X sTroke 101 x 108 mm

compression raTio 9.4 : 1

ValVe Train Single Overhead Camshafts with 4 Valves per Cylinder, Self-adjusting Cam Chains, Hydraulic Lifters

fuel sysTem Electronic Fuel Injection with Dual 45 mm Throttle Body

fuel capaciTy 4.5 gal / 17.0 ltr

eXhausT Staggered Slash-cut Dual Exhaust with Crossover

oil capaciTy 5.0 qts / 4.75 ltr

charging sysTem 38 Amps Max Output

BaTTery 12 Volts / 18 Amp Hours

primary driVe Gear Drive with Torque Compensator

cluTch Wet, Multi-plate

Transmission 6-speed Overdrive Constant Mesh

final driVe Carbon Fiber Reinforced Belt

chassis dimensions Length 92.0 in / 2337 mm Wheelbase 64.8 in / 1647 mm Seat Height 25.9 in / 658 mm Ground Clearance 4.7 in / 120 mm Rake/ Trail 31.7˚ / 6.7 in / 170 mm Dry Weight 660 lbs / 300 kg GVWR 1151 lbs / 522 kg

fronT suspension Type Conventional Telescopic Fork Travel 5.1 in / 130 mm

rear suspension Shock Absorber Single, Mono-tube Gas Swingarm Cast Aluminum with Rising Rate Linkage Travel 3.0 in / 75 mm Adjustments Preload Adjustable Spring

Brakes Brake System Type Conventional Front System Type 300mm Floating Rotor with 4-piston Caliper Rear System Type 300mm Floating Rotor with 2-piston Caliper

wheels Front 16 x 3.5 in Rear 16 x 3.5 in

Tires Front 130/90 B16 67H Dunlop 491 Elite II-RWL Rear 140/90 B16 77H Dunlop 491 Elite II-RWL

color opTions Gloss Black, Suede Nuclear Sunset, Sunset Red

Specs and photos courtesy of Victory Motorcyles

Victory Judge Specifications:


faCtOrY featUre

the Zach ness Café Judge

EVE

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J ust hours after Victory unveiled the stock 2013 Judge, they introduced the first custom version of the bike. The Café Judge is the work of Zach Ness, the third

generation of the legendary Ness family. The bike features a new rear frame, added ground clearance, and plenty of signature Ness touches. Numerous changes were made to increase performance, handling, and drop weight – in a classic café styled bike. Re-engineered cams knocked 10

pounds off the bike, while replacing heavy stock steel castings with chromoly tubing cut the weight even more. A handmade exhaust included wrapped header pipes and delivers a decidedly “non-stock” growl to the bike.

The more you consider this bike, the more refreshing it is to see a “customized” bike that features goes beyond simply cosmetic updates. This is a bike that combines stylish looks with hard core performance upgrades. Kinda cool!


thUnDer CaM

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Attorneysralph Busswww.RalphBuss.com1-800-ON-A-BIKE

Biker Bars & Restaurants anchor Bay carryout & pub12328 County Rd 27West Unity, OH 43570(419) 237-2728

Blue eagle218 ½ StateBettsville, OH 44815(419) 986-5639

The corner diner416 Parks AveIronton, OH 45638(740) 532-1114

The dog house589 Broadway AveBedford, OH 44146(440) 786-2260

frog Town usa2515 S. 3rd StIronton, OH 45638(740) 532-8337

fuzzy duck100 Center StCoal Grove, OH 45638(740) 532-3223

iron saddle saloon137 East South StAkron, OH 44311(330) 434-3157

Jackass flats6024 Rip Rap RoadDayton, OH 45424(937) 236-4329

kate & al’s105 S. Main StGibsonburg, OH(419) 637-7326

last resort saloon53 Lake StDelaware, OH 43015(740) 363-8120

little Bar on the prairie400 N. Stone StFremont, OH 43420(419) 334-9244

main street saloon1481 South Main StreetAkron, OH 44301(330) 724-8855

margaritaville212 Fremont AveSandusky, OH(419) 627-8903

millstone BBQ12790 Grey StLogan, OH 43138(740) 385-5341

nowhere Tavern106 E. Main StBellevue, OH 44811(419) 483-2110

portage inn 355 Rice StElmore, OH 43416(419) 862-9942

Quaker steak & lube5800 Interstate BlvdAustintown, Ohio 44515(330) 349-9464

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6073 Dressler Rd, NWNorth Canton, OH 44720(330) 433-9464

4900 Transportation DriveSheffield, Ohio 44054(440)934-9464

5935 Canal RdValley View, OH 44125(216) 986-9500

5150 Liberty AvenueVermilion, OH 44089(440) 967-3724

regulators Bar & grill2827 Marion Marysville RdMarion, OH 43302(740) 382-6054

scotty’s6224 East Livingston AveReynoldsburg, Ohio 43068(614) 755-9407

scoundrel’s826 Front StreetBerea, Ohio 44017(440) 234-3455

skully’s1151 N. High StColumbus, OH 43201(614) 291-8856

snuffy’s reloaded1313 St. Rt. 6Bradner, OH 43406(419) 288-1718

Bike (& Cage) Washeswet willy’s21813 Aurora RdBedford Heights, OH 44146

CCW Classesd&d firearms(330) 645-6978ccwfiringrange.com

dayton ccw(937) 486-4229daytonccw.com

freedom health and safety Training center(740) CPR-LIVEfreedomhealthandsafety.com

great lakes gun worx(419) 754-9265

high caliber pistol instruction llc(440)984-4551highcaliberpistol.com

mike’s gun sales(937) [email protected]

ohio carry conceal(740) [email protected]

ohio ccw4u(740) 621-1584ohioccw4u.com

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right To carry llc(216) 469-0866righttocarryllc.com

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The gun Teachers(419) 349-6787gunteachers.com

ohio self defense(614) [email protected]

Custom Paint & Airbrushfat daddy Tadpole (740) 591-5543Athens, OH

pamela shanteau(419) 644-5147Toledo, OH

Gym & Fitness Centersking’s gym24775 Aurora RdBedford Heights, OH 44146(440) 439-KING

Insuranceaok insurance & financial services, llc4925 Jackman Road, Unit #24 Toledo, OH 43613 (855) AOK-BIKE

nemecek insurance127 W Perry Street Port Clinton, OH 43452(800) 686-3474

Biker Friendly Directory


rider insurance1-800-595-6393www.rider.com

rJ smith & associates18850 E. Bagley Rd Middleburg Heights, OH 44130(800) 886-0305

smith insurance services, inc4942 Reed RdColumbus, OH 43220(888) 644-2232

Taylor insurance3982 St. Rt. 43Kent, Ohio 44240(800) 211-6723

Lodgingfort rapids indoor waterpark resort4560 Hilton Corporate DriveColumbus, OH 43232877-33-SPLASH

Parts & AccessoriesBear’s Vintage metalworks408 West Main St Ravenna, OH 44266(330) 297-7755

f-4 custom windshields(330) 968-4644www.f4customs.com

m&m cycles 4416 Tiffin AveSandusky, OH 44870(419) 624-8739

pandemonium choppers8936 Christy RdDefiance, OH 43512(419) 576-6812

Real Estatehoward hannaContact: Denise Quiggle(440) 251-9985 [email protected]

Retail911 clothing5011 Brookpark RdCleveland, OH 44134(216) 398-7088

Bison leather7409 W. Central AveToledo, OH 43617(419) 517-1737

Boot corral7747 Mentor AveMentor, OH 44060(440) 918-1332

cycle leather9156 SR 14Streetsboro, OH 44241(888) 827-5562

erie street leather416 Erie Street N Massillon, OH 44646(330) 833-2672

granny’s 2443 S. 5th St.Ironton, OH 45638(740) 534-9463

military pride 29348 Euclid AveWickliffe, OH 44092(440) 944-5180

norton sporting goods100 Norton RdWaldo, OH 43356 (740) 726-2616

pride leather24189 Front StreetGrand Rapids, OH 45322 (419) 832-7433

scooterz-n-shooterz1840 Town Park Blvd Suite DUniontown, OH 44685(330) 563-4683

Vivid Jewelers27217 Wolf RdBay Village, OH 44140(440) 835-0111

Salesadventure harley-davidson1465 State Rt 39 NW Dover, OH 44622 (330) 364-6519

apex powersports938 Cookson Ave, SENew Philadelphia, OH 44663(330) 308-8900

Bair’s polaris Victory6956 Portage St. NWNorth Canton, OH 44720(330) 499-4544

Buckminn’s d&d harley-davidson1213 Cincinnati AveXenia, OH 45385(866) 218-1452

carlton harley-davidson11771 State Route 44Mantua, OH 44255(330) 274-3141

competiton accessories343 W. LeffelSpringfield, OH 45506(937) 323-0513

crazy 8 motorcycles416 N. 2nd St.Ironton, OH 45638(740) 534-0225

honda of marysville640 Coleman’s Crossing BlvdMarysville, OH 43040(866) 645-4080

integrity cyles156 Dering AveColumbus, OH 43207(800) 969-2005

iron hogz power sports6387 N. State Route 48Lebanon, OH 45036(513) 836-3824

mad river harley-davidson5316 State Rt. 250/ Milan RdSandusky, OH 44870(419) 502-2244

motorcycle maxx5838 Columbus BlvdLewis Center, OH 43035(614) 883-5800

motor sports of dayton 2135 S. Dayton Lakeview RdNew Carlisle, OH 45344(937) 849-1838

napoleon harley-davidson862 County Rd R3Napoleon, OH 43545(419) 592-7123

signature harley-davidson1176 Professional DrPerrysburg, OH 43551(419) 873-2453

south east harley-davidson23105 Aurora RdBedford Heights, OH 44146(440) 439-5300

Toledo harley-davidson7960 W. Central AveToledo, OH 43617(419) 843-7892

warren harley-davidson2102 Elm RdCortland, OH 44410(330) 395-4700

western reserve harley-davidson8567 Tyler BlvdMentor, OH 44060(440) 974-6900



Servicecanton cycle specialties, inc701 Cherry Ave., N.E.Canton, OH 44702(330) 456-1555

cycle analysis4984 West 150th StCleveland, OH 44135(216) 362-9060

dl’s custom cycle61 County Rd 15South Point, OH 45680(740) 377-2940

don’s garage8625 Harrison PikeCleves, Ohio 45002(513) 353-1446 driven classics & customs4230 Coonpath Rd Carroll, OH (740) 756-7776

iron city choppers1119 ½ 3rd St. Ironton, OH 45638(740) 534-9487

roeder racing & service3684 U.S Rt. 20Monroeville, OH 44847(419) 465-2247

rwB cycles161 Yorkshire CtElyria, OH 44035(440) 365-0589

The Bike shop750 East Glenwood AveAkron, OH 44310(330) 940-2453

Twin Visions4520 Alum Creek DrColumbus, OH 43207(614) 409-1060

Tattoo Shops546 Tattoo53 Benedict AveNorwalk, OH (567) 424-6200

addictions Tattoo505 West Perkins AveSandusky, OH 44870(419) 621-8288

art Bomb Tattoo32 N. Erie StMassillon, OH 44646(330) 834-2781

Bad ass Tattoo46065 Telegraph RdAmherst, OH 44001(440) 986-3845

The dragon’s cachet #2320 N. GaverMonroe, OH 43311(937) 599-2258

innovations in ink234 Columbus AveSandusky, OH 44870(419) 502-7152

lazy dave’s Tattoo27084 Lorain Ave North Olmsted, OH 44070(440) 777-4465

main street ink529 North Main StFindlay, OH 45840 (419) 420-8282

my museum Tattoo209 E. Ohio Ave.Dover, OH 44622(330) 343-8500

pain & pleasure Tattoo6015 Milan RdSandusky, OH 44870(419) 625-0069

route 42 Tattoo201 S. Franklin St.Ashley, OH 43003(740) 413-4042

stained skin1255 N. High StColumbus, OH 43201(614) 297-SKIN

sudden urge Tattoos9360 Mentor AveMentor, Ohio 44060(440) 368-3529

Tri-state Body art418 S. 2nd StIronton, OH 45638(740) 237-4500

zebra Tattooz8934 State Route 14Streetsboro, OH 44241(330) 626-9776

Trikesparadise Bikes, Trikes, and Trailers1673 E. St. Rt. 73 Waynesville, OH 45068(888) 505-4090



Ingredients:2 cups all purpose flour½ tsp. baking powder½ tsp. baking soda½ tsp. salt½ cup butter1 cup sugar2 eggs4 ripe bananas mashed½ cup walnuts1 tbsp. orange zest

Preparation:Heat oven to 350 degreesSift dry ingredients togetherCream the butter – add sugar slowly while creaming the butterAdd eggs one at a time while continuing to beat. Mix each egg in thoroughly.Add bananas and blend in wellAdd the dry ingredients graduallyAdd the walnuts and orange zestPlace in well greased loaf pan and bake for 60-70 minutes. Check for done-ness with a toothpick. Poke it in and if it comes out dry. It’s done.Remove from the oven. Let stand in pan for 5 minutes, then remove from the pan to cool.ENJOY!


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All events are listed as per the infor-mation submitted to Thunder Roads Ohio. TRO is not responsible for inaccuracies or the specifics of the information provided. If you would like your event listed, please email details and your contact information to: [email protected]

march 3, 2012in store dice run!Mad River Harley-DavidsonSandusky, OH $5/ CardProceeds to Benefit Ride For Kids

march 4, 2012giant motorcycle swap meetPerani Arena & Events CenterFlint, MI11am-4pm Adults-$9Children (6-12)-$2Parking-Free!motorcycleswap.com

march 9-18, 2012daytona Bike weekDaytona Beach, FLofficialbikeweek.com

march 10, 2012lunch & learn(Travel and Security)Adventure Harley-DavidsonDover, OHRSVP by March 3rdCall (330) 364-6519

march 10, 2012open shop and learn(Maintenance)Mad River Harley-DavidsonSandusky, OHRSVP by March 7thCall (419) 502-2244Or Email: [email protected]

march 10-11, 2012Thunder roads Jd high performance showGreat Lakes Mall Mentor, OHFor More Information Call: (440) 479-5461Email: [email protected]

march 11, 2012giant motorcycle swap meetI-X CenterCleveland, OH11am-4pmAdults-$10Children (6-12)-$3Parking-$8motorcycleswap.com

march 11, 2012women’s garage party Carlton Harley-DavidsonMantua, OH 2pm-4:30pmFree Admission!RSVP to: (330) 274-3141

march 17, 2012st. patty’s day BashRoeder Racing & ServiceMonroeville, OH 12pm-5pm(419) 465-2247

march 17, 2012st. patty’s day BashAdventure Harley-DavidsonDover, OHCharity Pancake BreakfastFor More Info Call: (330) 364-6519

march 17, 2012pick from our pot o’ gold!South East Harley-DavidsonBedford Heights, OH9am-5pmFor More Info Call: (440) 439-5300

march 17, 2012polar Bear rideMad River Harley-Davidson Sandusky, OH Pancake Breakfast-9amRide Out @ 10am Green Desserts @ 2pmCall (419) 502-2244

march 18, 2012yankee lake swap meetBrookfield Township, OHSponsored By Unique Biker Apparel10 am- 3pm$5 admissionParking-Free!For More Information Call: Bob @ (330) 797-1780

march 18, 201222nd annual motorcycle swap meetThe RoseSteubenville, OH$5/person (16 and under FREE)For More Info Call: Leslie @ (740) 284-1577Or Steve @ (740) 632-2950

march 19, 2012st. patrick’s day Blast!South East Harley-DavidsonBedford Heights, OH9am-5pmFor More Information Call: (440) 439-5300

march 20, 2012ladies advanced garage partyAdventure Harley-DavidsonDover, OH 7-9pmRSVP to (330) 364-6519

march 22, 2012ladies garage party Mad River Harley-DavidsonSandusky, OH FREE!RSVP by March 20Call: (419) 502-2244Or Email: [email protected]

Upcoming EventsE

VE

NTS

Specializing In Custom

SCREENPRINTING& EMBROIDERY

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5011 BROOKPARK RD. • CLEVELAND, OHIO 44134 Ph: 216-398-7088 Open Mon.-Fri. 9:30am - 5:00pm

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Upcoming Eventsmarch 23, 2012women’s garage partySouth East Harley-DavidsonBedford Heights, OH 6-9pmRSVP to: (440) 439-5300

march 24, 2012 deuce’s pot o’ gold huntMad River Harley-DavidsonFind a Pot of Gold at the Dealer-ship..For A Prize!All Day

march 24, 20121st annual motorcycle swap meetLowell Community CenterLorain, OH12pm-5pm$2 AdmissionFor More Info Call: Michelle (440) 396-8409

march 24-26, 201250th annual hogs & dogsNapoleon Harley-DavidsonNapoleon, OHAll WeekendFor More Info Call: (419) 592-7123

march 25, 2012giant motorcycle swap meetDeltaPlexGrand Rapids, MI11am-4pmAdults-$9Children (6-12)-$2Parking-Free!motorcycleswap.com

march 31, 2012cabin fever party Adventure Harley-DavidsonDover, OHTent EventFor More Info Call: (330) 364-6519

march 31, 2012shamrock partyMad River Harley-DavidsonSandusky, OHFree FoodDoor Prizes DJ DeanGuitar HeroFor More Info Call: (419) 502-2244

march 31, 2012Tri-state swap meetNational Guard ArmoryCarrollton, KY9am-5pm$5 AdmissionUnder 12 Free w/ AdultFor More Information Call: Jonesy @ (502) 732-8756

april 1, 2012giant motorcycle swap meetBirch Run Expo CenterBirch Run, MI11am-4pmAdults-$9Children (6-12)-$2Parking-Free!motorcycleswap.com

april 1, 2012akron motorcycle swap meetSummit County FairgroundsAkron, OHAdmission: $5Children Under 12: Free!Parking: Free!For More Info Call: (330) 324-7230

april 12, 2012akron motorcycle swap meetSummit County FairgroundsTallmadge, OH 10am-4pmAdmission: $5Under 12: Free!Parking: Free!For More Info Call (330) 324-7230

april 13-14, 2012wounded warrior poker runFrog Town USAIronton, OH5pm Friday- All Day Saturday$1000 Poker HandCampingFor More Information Call: Mark (740) 646-2131

april 14, 2012freedom house fundraiser dinnerSponsored by VFW Post #7490Louisville, OH4pm-10pmFor More Information Call: (215) 609-5942Email: [email protected]

april 15, 2012walneck’s motorcycle swap meetMcHenry County FairgroundsWoodstock, IL8am-3pmAdmission: $7www.walneckswap.com

april 15, 2012giant motorcycle swap meetSuburban Collection ShowplaceNovi, MI11am-4pmAdults-$10Children (6-12)-$3Parking-$5 (Free If You Ride In!)motorcycleswap.com

april 25-29, 2012laughlin river run30th AnniversaryLaughlin, NVlaughlinriverrun.com

april 28, 2012armed forces mc spring shake down poker runGrove City Inn (Start)Grove City, OHRegister: 10:30 am- Noon$20/person or $30/coupleFor More Info Call: (614) 607-3631afmcsooh.com

april 29, 2012rally for The TroopsAmerican Legion Post # 627Newburgh Heights, OH Pancake breakfast @ 7amKickstands up 10:15$5 DonationEmail: [email protected]

may 20, 2012reptile runBenefiting Juvenile DiabetesStart: Quaker Steak & LubeMentor, OHor: Lake County SpeedwayBikes Out- 11amBikes In- 5pm$10 entry (includes coupon book, run, raffle, gate)Bikes & Cars Welcome!For More Info Call: Steve (614) 390-5977

June 1-10, 2012ohio Bike weekSandusky, OH ohiobikeweek.com

June 5-9, 201230th annual americadeFort William Henry ResortLake George, NYamericade.com

June 9-17, 2012laconia Bike weekLaconia, NHlaconiamcweek.com

June 10, 2012cleveland ride for kidsIndependence Field House Soccer FieldsIndependence, OHRegistration 8am-9:45amRide Begins at 10am sharp$35/personFor More Info Call 1-800-253-6530

June 14-17, 2012rally in The corn Van Wert County FairgroundsVan Wert, OHrallyinthecorn.com

June 18, 2012ride your motorcycle To work dayFreeridetowork.org

July 22, 2012marysville ride for kidsScotts Miracle-Gro Head QuartersMarysville, OH$35/riderFor More Info Call 1-800-253-6530

June 30, 20122nd annual columbus chrome divas Bike & car washQuaker Steak & LubeColumbus, OH $10/bike$15/car$20/truck 12pm-5pm

June 30, 20121st annual hog roastSponsored By TMAColumbus, OH$20 admissionFor More Info Call: Steve (614) 390-5977

July 27-29, 2012wetzelland motorcycle rallyVan Wert, OHwetzelmc.com

august 18, 2012circle of hope Teddy Bear runHosted By: Knights of ColumbusKnights of Columbus HallFremont, OH$10/ rider or 2 teddy bearsFor More Info Call: Jose (419) 307-4268

september 6-9, 20126th annual Thunder on The stripGeneva-On-The-Lake, OHthunderonthestrip.com

october 13-16, 2012BiketoberfestDaytona, FLofficialbikeweek.com

november 1-4, 2012lone star rallyGalveston, TXlonestarrally.com

EVE

NTS


Top Ten Reasons Why Gold Wing Riders Don’t Wave Back

10. Wasn’t sure whether other rider was waving or making an obscene gesture ...9. Afraid might get frostbite if hand is removed from heated grip ...8. Has arthritis and the past 700 miles have made it difficult to raise arm ...7. Reflection from etched windshield momentarily blinded him...6. The espresso machine just finished ...5. Was actually asleep when other rider waved ...4. Was in a three-way conference call with stockbroker and accessories dealer ...3. Couldn’t find the “auto wave back” button on dashboard ...2. Was simultaneously adjusting the air suspension, seat height, programmable CD player, seat temperature and satellite navigation system ...

And the Number One reason Gold Wing riders don’t wave back:

1. They couldn’t see through the glare from the chromed-dash accents


mar. 2012

Documents

thunder roads interview

thunder roads magazine

thunder publishing

thunder roads custom

amber smith

craig fetherolfjerry

kit hedges

don hostetler