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NORTHSIDE HARLEY
May 2015
News
Sisterhood
HIGHLIGHTS
RIDE TO THE THIRTY-SIX
SALOON
SPECIAL INTERVIEW
REBEL HEARTS
HOGS FROM ABROAD
BIKER CHICK HISTORY
MEET YOUR H-D
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May 2015 Vol. 5
Indianapolis Chapter NO. 1.
#1238
‘Somewhere on a desert highway
The chrome and steel she rides
She rides a Harley-Davidson
Collidin' with the very air she breathes
Her long blonde hair flyin' in the wind
The air she breathes.”
She's been runnin' half her life
~ “Unknown Legend” Neil Young
Vive La Femme
from your
Director Ken White
A s y o u k n o w, b y d e c r e e o f o u r
indefatigable Newsletter Editor, Rew Van
Wyck , t h i s m o n t h ’ s n e w s l e t t e r i s
dedicated to women. She has been
consistent in her approach and delivery
of this fact and started to encourage the
masses, months in advance, to generate
articles for the theme. She took time to
personally encourage me to adjust my
Director’s article to match or I should
contemplate life as a gelding, which I
think is a Canadian elf or something like
that.
Even without a handle on where to start
this article, I have to admit that I have
been looking forward to it. Without a clue
where to start, I looked to the internet for
some stats and facts about women bikers
– after all, as the saying goes, if it’s on the
internet it must be true! Nonetheless, the
facts were not difficult to find and they
were surprisingly consistent.
Interestingly though, all the facts and
stats seemed to trail off around 2012 and
became nearly non-existent by 2013. This
led me to believe that women stopped
riding motorcycles by the end of 2012 or
that they had increased in such numbers
as to overwhelm the stat-checking
pollsters rendering them incapable of
further tracking.
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All joking aside, the latter is closer to
the truth as between 1998 and 2012,
women more than doubled their
presence in the motorcycle industry.
Furthermore, by 2009, women owned
12.3% of all motorcycles in the US. This
was a meteoric increase of 28% in just
five years. By 2012, this increase was
35%. This information was part of an
excellent article and website for WRN
(Women Riders Now). You will also be
interested to note another article on
this site that shows H-D motorcycles
claiming four of the top 10 motorcycles
popular among women. This was more
than any other single brand and
included three of the top four spots,
with the top spot going to the Sportster
883 SuperLow. One more fact that I
found interesting in regarding to
women bikers and H-D motorcycles:
according to an article from 14 June
2014 in bizjournals.com, HarleyDavidson was looking to sell roughly
20,000 bikes to women last year. And
it had a track record to prove it; in
2013, H-D sold more bikes to women
than all other brands combined.
As for our own Indianapolis Chapter
N o . 1 , i t i s d i f fi c u l t t o d r a w
c o m p a r i s o n s , a s I c a n fi n d n o
information on H.O.G. members by
gender on a national level. However, by
personal observation of other Chapters
and in multiple conversations over the
years at H.O.T. with Chapter leaders
from across the continent, I am
confident that our Chapter is beyond
the average in the number of women in
our Chapter and in the number that
ride their own bike. This is something
in which I am extremely proud of our
Chapter and proud of the role that
women have played over the years in
shaping and leading our group. I make
no distinction between those that ride
their own bike and those that ride
behind another biker as all take the
same risks once on the road. It takes a
level of skill to be a passenger just as it
does to be the rider; furthermore, I
think it takes either more or a different
courage to be a passenger and
knowingly put one’s fate in the hands
of another.
In wrapping up this diatribe of mine, I
would like to recognize another small
group of bikers within our Chapter. A
group that I feel has gone too long
unrecognized and un-honored. It is not
necessary to point out individuals or
names – you know who you are but I
worry that the extent of your deeds
has gone unnoticed. I am speaking of
the Chapter members that have taken
the initiative to learn to ride their own
motorcycle. Not all of us had the
advantage of growing up on bikes and
we have to admit that long ago in the
days of our youth, girls were
discouraged from such activities – the
ladies will agree, these were the dark
ages. As such, most find themselves in
the prime of maturity when they are
beset by the need to ride for
themselves and begin an adventure
that is exciting, promising, and deadly.
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Sometimes unwittingly but ever
unflinching, they make the decision to
learn to ride and begin to wrap their
mind around the complexities of
speed, balance, turns, center of
gravity, and the realities of physics
while mastering the illogic of the
manual transmission while in motion.
Many have been successful and have
gone on to take their place among us
on bikes of their own. However, others
have dared to ‘ride the lightning’ and
have then chosen to walk away from
riding their own bike – they came to
their own conclusion based on their
own experience and with knowledge of
their own understanding, ability, and
desire and then determined that this is
what is best for them. How I much
admire the strength and courage it
took to take the first step to learning
and how I much admire the strength,
intelligence, and character it took to
step away!
Through the years, this proverb has
served me well and by it, I honor and
applaud your decisions.
For having dared, for having leapt so
far from your comfort zone, for having
invested and risked life and limb to
know for yourself whether it was to be
for you – I am impressed with the
courage that you have shown. I cannot
speak for others, but as for me, the fact
that you desired and you tried has
earned your place at the table among
those of us who are riders and
passengers.
You have earned the title ‘Biker.’
Ride Far, Ride Safe,and Enjoy.
Years ago, a friend, mentor, and biker
shared a biker’s proverb
with me that:
There are old bikers and there
are foolish bikers, but there
are no old, foolish bikers.
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Paul Smith
~ Assistant Director
“With Every Spring Comes
New Changes”
Last Saturday I did something rather unusual for me. Shortly after the opening of the Chapter
meeting, the remarks from Director White, giving a quick update about a few items of interest
myself, David Dellen sharing the news from HOT Training referencing Chapter Associate
Members, Paula and I excused ourselves and left for another ride.
Bear with me please!
This ride was sponsored by the Christian Motorcycle Association (CMA). The CMA holds this ride
across the world on the first Saturday of May. You may have heard of it: “Ride for the Son” This is
their major fund raiser for the association. Meeting up with the Greenfield CMA Chapter close to
their starting point, we jumped in line with about 15 other bikes which were not all Harley's. The
ride made its way though small towns and the countryside and ended up in Brookville, IN. There
we were joined by two other CMA Chapters and we broke bread with fellow Christians. The meal
was prepared by HOG Chapter member David Conaway’s sister who owns a catering
business….mmmm (great food). After the meal, door prizes, and sharing fellowship time with the
others riders, we departed for home.
While enjoying the ride home with just my wife, I found my mind wondering back to words
shared by David Dellen’s reference to Associate Members joining and riding different makes of
motorcycles in our HOG Chapter. It also occurred to me that this ride I took part in was an
enjoyable ride because of the people and not the make of motorcycle.
Though the ground work is just now in the talking stage for associate members, I ask you, is this
such a bad venture for Indianapolis HOG Chapter No. 1.? I will keep an open mind as discussions
take place in the near future.
In closing, I congratulate everyone who recently took the Experienced Rider Class! It shows their
dedication to becoming better riders not only for themselves but as members of the Chapter.
GREAT JOB!
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Jeff Cox
Activities Director
Hello Everyone!
Our riding season is in full swing. Chapter rides; Dealer rides, charity rides and our personal rides
are going to keep us all busy for 2015. Now we need the weather to play out in our favor. Our first rain
out “The Big Cat Caper” on April 25th was disappointing. Bill Keesling put a lot of time planning for
this ride. Just one aspect of riding motorcycles that we all go through.
We kick off our scheduled weekday lunch rides on May 12. KSU at 10:00 am at H-D of Indy. I will be
leading this ride to Spencer IN for lunch at Chamberlin’s Buffet. After lunch we will make our way
to Bloomington where we will hop on Hwy 45 and head to Nashville In. From there we will take one
of my favorites roads Bear Wallow Rd to Hwy 135 in Trafalger IN. We will proceed on 135 to
Bargersville IN where we will say our good-byes.
We will have at least one weekday lunch ride every month through October. My goal is to pop a couple
more on the schedule this summer if the interest is there.
May 14: The first bike night at Harley- Davidson of Indianapolis. The fun starts at 6:00 pm
May16: Don’t forget to mark your calendars for May 16; Harley-Davidson of Indianapolis will be
having their spring open house.
May 23: “Flags for Heroes Part 1” will depart at 8:00 am from the 9/11 Memorial downtown
Indianapolis and head to Louisville Ky for a memorial service lead by Mike Boudreau. After the
service “Flags for Heroes Part 2” will leave Louisville and make their way to Flight 93 memorial in
Pennsylvania. This is a 3-day ride lead by
Bill Keesling.
May 30: Our last ride for the month of May is “The Bug Run”. KSU at 9:15 at HD of
Indy. Mike Boudreau will be leading us to the Frogs Tavern in Syracuse IN
The fun does not stop.
The month of June is jamb-packed with fun chapter rides and some of our favorite charity rides.
June 13 is Kyle Jobin Memorial Ride and June 20 is “Jordan’s Ride”.
Don’t forget to check the ride line 317-815-2548 for updates every week!
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Head Road Captain
Meade Van Wyck
Prairie Thunder rolls
area. We will meet them at 1:00
into town.
Restaurant right off of I 70 and
pm at the Cracker Barrel
share lunch. Then we will head
back to Indianapolis via Rte. 42
Last year, six of us on five bikes
until we get to 267 which we will
from HOG Chapter No. 1 decided to
take north and get on I 70 and
go visit our brothers and sisters of
take it to I 465 and thence back to
P r a i r i e T hu n d e r C h a p t e r i n
the Dealership. The Dellens have
Wichita Kansas. They had told us
said that they will lay out food
that there really was a flatland
and perhaps music so that we can
beauty to their area of Kansas and
welcome our Kansas compatriots
it seemed like a good idea to go
in style.
visit and find out, not to mention
that the countryside between here
The following day is Jordan’s ride.
and there has some awesome
PT HOG has indicated that they
riding in its own right.
would like to ride with us and
after the completion of the ride,
We had a great ride out there and
we may be able to show them some
Prairie Thunder rolled out the
other aspects of our town.
carpet for us. Now we have the
opportunity to return the favor.
On Friday June 19th we will ride
out to Terra Haute via I 70 to meet
about 15 Prairie Thunder bikes
coming east from the St. Louis
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Sunday morning we will leave for
All info and H-D planner routes will
parts south so that we can truly
be posted on the website in the ride
showcase some of the great riding
calendar. I will also put the info up
our state has to offer. We will take
on FaceBook.
I-465 around the east side to 135
a nd t a ke 1 3 5 s o u t h t h r o ugh
I am really looking forward to
Nashville and Story and down to 58
we l c o m i ng t h e s e g uy s t o o u r
south of Freetown. We will then
Dealership and city and would
take 58 west to Bedford where we
really like to make them feel
will break for lunch.
welcome. Please email me directly
if you plan to go either to meet
At this point, those who have joined
them in Terra Haute or on our
us that cannot spend the night in
southern extension. Also there will
Evansville or those who wish to
be sign up sheets at the next
abbreviate their ride can head back
meeting and you can also reply on
to Indianapolis. Those who wish to
FaceBook.
overnight in Evansville along with
For your info, the links to the HD
the PT HOG group will continue
planner are:
south on 37 to Paoli, then 56 west to
http://bit.ly/1GDo2W4
French Lick. We will probably stop
http://bit.ly/1GDnShs
for a rest and gas in French Lick
and then continue on 145 all the
The hotel is Holiday Inn Express
way south to Tell City. There we
5737 Pearl Dr.
will pick up 66 and take it west to
Evansville , IN
Evansville where we will stay at
(812) 421-9773
the Holiday Inn Express on the west
There is a block of rooms being
side of Evansville.
held in the name of HOG Chapter
No. 1. They are two queen bed
The following day we will say our
rooms in case you want to pair up
goodbyes to PT HOG and they will
and save money and are being
venture forth to further road
offered at a special rate. You can
adventures in Illinois, Missouri,
cancel up to 6:00 pm the day of. My
and perhaps Arkansas. The rest of
email is [email protected]
us intrepid souls will figure out
h ow we wa nt t o r e t u r n t o
Indianapolis.
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THESE ARE YOUR 2015 OFFICERS!
Ken White
Paul Smith
Assistant Director
Director
David Dellen
Chapter Manager and Sponsor
Bette Gumerson
L. J. Jernstadt
Safety Director
Jeff Malaber
Sergeant at Arms
Secretary
Tom Meeker
Treasurer
Meade Van Wyck
Head Road Captain
Jeff Cox
Activities Coordinator
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Ron Allen
Awards Chairperson
Marci Hartshorne
Fundraising Chairperson
Terry Mitchell
Membership Officer
Allen Sprunk
Historian
Rew Van Wyck
Newsletter Editor
Joe Schipani
Web Master
Bill Keesling
Photographer
Brian George
Publicity Officer
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Secretary’s Report ~ Bette Gumerson
Indianapolis Chapter No. 1 Saturday, May 2, 2015 Chapter Meeting Minutes Bill Rushton, standing in for Jeﬀ Mallaber, called the 107 people and meeting to
order with the Pledge of Allegiance at 9:00 a.m.
Ken White, Director, welcomed a great group of fellow riders to Harley Davidson
of Indianapolis and everyone thanked them for their hospitality. There were
many people who rode on this beautiful day. Who has a friend or family member in the Armed Services?
LEST WE FORGET <-- We are a nation at war and it is America's sons and
daughters that serve and sacrifice for our liberties.
Terry Mitchell, Membership Oﬃcer, introduced new members and asked them to
see Bill Keesling, Photographer, after the meeting for pictures:
1.Charles Beard
2.Ron Nicodemus
3.Chris & Rossi Preissler
4. Melinda Rumskline Welcome to the club!
In Indianapolis Chapter No. 1, Family Matters –
! Monday, May 4th is the 47th wedding anniversary of Chris and Ted Rossell –
Congratulations and Happy Anniversary!
! Happy Birthday to Ken White & Dee Brown who both celebrated birthdays
on May 1st.
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Ken called on all Officers who had abbreviated reports:
Assistant Director – Paul Smith
a. Indiana H.O.G. Rally – July 23rd thru July 26th. Indianapolis Chapter No. 1
will leave the Dealership Saturday morning to help with registration. Hog
Heaven BBQ will be one of the multiple vendors.
b.Jordan’s Ride – June 20th – This is a Chapter supported ride in honor of
Jeﬀ & Karen Mallaber’s daughter. It will start at the Dealership and return
there for food and Rodeo.
Treasurer’s Report – Tom Meeker
Pancake Breakfasts have been profitable! We are slightly ahead of
projections for income, but we aren’t in to the expensive part of the year
yet.
Chapter Manager – David Dellen ~Thanks for coming in on such a beautiful day
with so much going on. Dealership Events:
May 2nd: Cruise In – 1:00-4:00 with prizes!
May 7th: Boot Camp – 6:00 p.m. Introduce potential new riders to riding – Jump Start,
Posters, food, etc.
May 10th: Mother’s Day Specials – stop by to take advantage
May 14th: First Bike Night! – This year people will have to get tickets from the H.O.G.
table at the back of the shop. This will help promote the Chapter.
May 16th: Taste of 96th Street – At noon there will multiple restaurants from along the
96th Street corridor.
May 20th: 1st Whiskey Wednesdays 6:00-7:30 p.m. @ Drakes with $1 sliders and select
special and prizes.
May 23rd: Scavenger Hunt Ride – This Dealership Ride has an Indy Race Track theme.
Watch for more info.
May 30th: Dealer Dinner Ride – 4:30-6:00 p.m. – KSU @ 5:00, take a short ride to a
local restaurant for good company and good food.
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Our recent Men’s Night was very successful. There was a great turn out
and a lot of fun.
Chapter Manager Business –
David asked how many of us rode “Brand-X” before we got our first
Harley? Half or more of the group’s hands came up. At the urging of Harley Davidson, David is taking a hard look at the
Associate H.O.G. Membership. Under National guidelines, any Full
Member can have unlimited Associate Members under their VIN.
Additionally, there are no requirements for Associate Members to own or
ride a Harley, if they ride a bike at all. Recent dealership training and
meetings with H-D, National is urging the dealerships to encourage their
H.O.G. Chapters to bring in non-Harley bikes as a way to transition nonHarley owners to H-D motorcycles and the H.O.G. Chapter members.
Current Indianapolis Chapter No. 1 Bylaws restrict all closed events to HD motorcycles, for Full and Associate Members. David met and discussed
this topic with the Oﬃcers to determine if and how the Chapter should
address the direction National is suggesting. He will next host a ‘Town
Hall’ meeting as an open forum to go over the facts and have a discussion
with the membership. All members are welcome and encouraged to
attend, share their thoughts, and provide suggestions for what might be
the best solution for the Indianapolis Chapter No. 1.
David will work with the oﬃcers to find a weekday date and time that
would allow most of us to meet and discuss this topics. Look for details
in the weekly email blasts for updates on the ‘Town Hall’ meeting.
Newsletter Editor – Rew Van Wyck
Rew interrupted an interview with Janice Snowden for the May, Women’s
Month, newsletter. Despite a bit of razzing, she indicated the interview
was very emotional for her and was a high priority. All articles are due by Wednesday! It doesn’t matter where you ride – front
or back, send in your story! Ladies don’t need to explain why we ride
anymore. We’ve established our place in the riding community. Let us
know what’s your favorite ride.
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Head Road Captain – Meade Van Wyck
a. Kyle Jobin Memorial Ride – June 13th – For those who don’t know, Kyle
Jobin was murdered in January 2013. This is a ride the Chapter
supports to memorialize our Chapter Children. LJ suggested passing
the hat for a donation to the memorial. The hat brought in $146!
b.Wichita Chapter – On June 19th we will ride to meet them in Terre Haute
for lunch at Cracker Barrel. We will bring them back via our favorite back
roads. They will ride with us on Jordon’s Ride. On Sunday, we’ll escort
them back with lunch in Bedford with an overnight after. For those who
can’t make it an overnight can leave for home after lunch.
Tim Mitchell pointed out how welcoming the Wichita Chapter was to
Indianapolis Chapter No. 1 when we visited them last year and
encouraged everyone to show them what Hoosier Hospitality really is.
a. Brown County Ride will be after the June Chapter meeting. This is
always a popular ride and will be similar to last year.
Activities – Jeﬀ Cox
a. May 12th – Chamberlin’s is the first lunch ride
b.PMCH Ride – Jeﬀ is looking for supporting partners; businesses to
places boxes; and sponsors. PMCH set up an account so contributors
can take advantage of PMCH’s 501c3 status. The Chapter controls how
the money is spent, but PMCH holds it in our special account. All this
will be in the newsletter. If you talk to people, send them to the
community outreach page on our web site to see what the ride is about. Thanks to Ron & Taline we have a great sponsorship package
documents. We possibly have a new way to raise money – how many would be
interested in a hat for $25 with chapter on the back with HD of Indy on
one side and title sponsor on the other? Approximately 25-30 people
appeared to be interested. Jeﬀ would like to get prepaid orders if
possible. 14
Publicity Oﬃcer – Brian George
a. Chivonne of Kelly Law Oﬃces – she is one of our full page advertisers
was supposed to be here, but we’ll get her here another time. b.Lynn Strawman had the quilt display is going to put together a Colts
quilt we can raﬄe oﬀ. We need T-shirts. After the Colts theme we may
do a HD one later.
Safety – LJ Jernstandt
a. The ERC Class is at 11:30 at old Airport tomorrow. b.We are starting the Safety Awards program again. c. First Aid Kits – please make sure you bring those back!
Secretary – Bette Gumerson
Please sign in up front so we can count your attendance. If your name isn’t
on the sign-in sheets, let me know so Terry and I can work it out.
Memorial Day Weekend in May – Ken White
“It is now May and this begins a season of great tradition in central Indiana with
the greatest spectacle in racing. At the same time, we honor the traditions of
Memorial Day and I would like to take a moment this morning by prefacing our
next agenda item with a favorite passage of mine. It is a letter, actually. It was
sent from the Executive Mansion in Washington, D.C. to a grieving mother, Mrs.
Lydia Bixby.”
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Dear Madam,
I have been shown in the files of the war department, a letter from the
adjutant general of Massachusetts, that you are the mother of five sons who
have died, gloriously, on the field of battle.
I feel how weak and fruitless must be any word of mine that should attempt
to beguile you from the grief of a loss so overwhelming.
But I cannot refrain from tendering to you the consolation that may be
found in the thanks of the Republic they died to save.
I pray that our heavenly father can assuage the anguish of your bereavement
and leave you only the cherished memory of the loved and lost, and the solemn
pride that must be yours to have laid so costly a sacrifice upon the altar of
freedom.
Yours, very sincerely and respectfully,
Abraham Lincoln
21 November 1864
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“Today, we are blessed and honored with our own words of acknowledgement of
gratitude and sacrifice. I have a proclamation to share with you; these words are not
mine nor are they from the oﬃcers. They come from the heart of a fellow Chapter
member, who saw fit, on this day, to bring this to our attention.
And I quote:”
“The following story I know only because I hung out for a while after a Chapter meeting
last year. One of the things I try to do when I can is get to know people better. I spent
about an hour chatting with someone I knew and liked a lot, but didn’t know well. We
talked about bikes and rides, women, children and things the youth today don’t
understand. We started talking about the Ride to Wall and how I wanted to do it. He had
just done it. I talked about my stepfather who was a Vietnam vet who died of Lung
Cancer linked to Agent Orange poisoning at the age of 39. He asked about my real
father. I explained he died when I was 4 and a half and unfortunately I had very few
memories of him. He then proceeded to tell me the story of his real father.
You see…he never knew his real father either. He didn’t even know the story of his real
father until he was 10 or 11. Needless to say that was the start of a search that has
lasted for years. All he knew was that his real dad had died in WW2 and some small facts
to go along with it. He spent years researching genealogy and many miles on the
motorcycle in search of the start of his life. After numerous motorcycle rides to
courthouses and cemeteries all over the state, he found his first clue as to who he really
was in Normandy, France. There he researched his dad's military history. He finally felt as
though closure was at hand.
He told me how he tracked down his father’s grave in Normandy and finally was able to
sit in front of it. He talked of visiting the D-Day sites. It almost brought tears to my eyes
as I too was there and sat on those very cliﬀs. For hours, I sat in silence on Omaha
Beach while we were there and visited the cemeteries of American soldiers. It was
probably the most moving and memorable part of my trip; I could only imagine his
feelings.
I am sure there are dozens of people sitting here today who deserve an award like this.
But today this Son of a Hero Award is presented to the son of PVT Alfred T. Cramlet, who
fought in the Battle of Normandy under the 147th Engineer Combat Battalion and was
killed in battle on June 6, 1944, at Omaha Beach, during the D-Day invasion in
Normandy, France. This Son of a Hero Award is presented to Raymond Ray.”
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Jason Long, past Awards Oﬃcer, then presented Ray Ray with the “Son of a Hero”
plaque. It was a very moving experience for us all. Ray said, “These men and women
have sacrificed so much for what is being given away these days.”
This kicks oﬀ Chapter traditions to remember Memorial Day!
Flags for Heroes – Part 1 – Mike Boudreau
The first year we had 5 bikes and the year we escorted the beams, there were 500
bikes.
We will meet at the 911 Memorial at 7:45AM for a brief service and ride meeting. We
will leave the memorial at 8:15 and arrive at the Rest Stop near the 22 mile marker at
approximately 9:45. We will meet up with the Louisville group and leave for the
memorial service at 8:15. The Mayor of Louisville requests us to come each year. A sword from Flags for Heroes
& Mayor hangs over our cabinet in the H.O.G. corner. This is a replica of President
Kennedy’s swords on his horse at his passing. Flags for Heroes – Part 2 – Bill Keesling, Flight 93 Memorial
This is the 4th or 5th year for this ride. It started when Flags for Veterans wanted us to
post flags at the Flight 93 Memorial. This is like going to the Ride to the Wall. We will leave from Louisville. This part is an Iron Butt ride. However, Day 2 is a beautiful
ride to the Memorial. We’ll take 1.5 days to get home through beautiful area.
Rolling Thunder – Tom Ransdall
It’s good to be back from AZ!
Our generation’s war was Vietnam. This is a peaceful demonstration to let our oﬃcials
know we’ve left men and women behind in all wars. We have a past chapter member in
MI whose brother is MIA. There’s no place else to morn his loss, except his name on
the wall. We need a fuller account of those who are MIA. The ride leaves the Thursday, May 21st and returns on Tuesday, May 26th. You must
attend an Orientation Meeting to participate. There is one on May 17th at 1:00 at Ft.
Harrison.
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This is a ride you will never forget. This will be Tom’s 14th year and it still aﬀects him.
We are doing what our forefathers did – a freedom to assemble! Put this ride on your
list.
The war is still killing us – Agent Orange is still taking the lives of Vietnam veterans.
Crown Hill Memorial Day Ceremony Ride
Ken White and Bette Gumerson will again be riding to the Memorial Day Ceremony at
Crown Hill Cemetery on Monday, May 25th . It will start at the dealership and is not a
Chapter ride so all bikes and brands are welcome. This is about honoring the true history
of Memorial Day. Look for details in the email blast.
Today’s Ride is to 36 Saloon in Rockville, IN – Meade Van Wyck
It’s a beautiful day for a ride! We have approximately 30 people signed up now so will
divvy people up in three groups with Bill Keesling leading the first group. If you’re a
sweep, please see LJ to get a first aid kit – and be sure to return it!
New members, please see Bill Keesling for pictures
The meeting adjourned at 10:00!
UPCOMING RIDES, EVENTS AND NOTABLES
SATURDAY
TUESDAY MAY
12
THURSDAY
MAY 14
SATURDAY
Chapter
Lunch
Ride
First
Bike
Night
Spring
Open
Lunch at
Live
Music
MAY 16
10:00am
MONDAY
MAY 23
MAY 23
May 25
SATURDAY MAY
30
SATURDAY
JUNE 6
Scavenger
Hunt
Flags
Memorial
Day
Chapter
Bug Run
Chapter
Lest We
Frog’s
Forget
Tavern
Coffee/
Donuts
Syracuse
8:30
Dealership
Meeting
Ride
19
9:00
MAY 16
Taste of
Meeting
For
Indiana
Heroes I
H-D of
Chamberlin's
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Robinson
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Indy
Race
Tracks
and II
Please welcome to the Family our new members
Chris Preissler
Chuck Berry
Melinda Rumskline
Jim Williams
Ron Nicodemus
20
21
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22
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24
The RIDE TO THE THIRTY-SIX SALOON
Saturday May 2, 2015 ~ Juli Byrne
This was a ride created by Bill Keesling. A couple of the
great things about this ride was the turnout and the
weather. We couldn’t have gotten either one any better if
we had asked for them personally. The turnout was so
great that we had three different groups leaving
staggered by 5 minutes.
The trip took us to Park County where we saw a covered
bridge and rode on some pretty challenging roads. I’m
glad to say that everyone made it safely and we all had a
great time. During this ride, we learned a couple of
things. One, people not only drive 80 mph on 465, they
also drive 35 mph, and of course, that is the one that my
group got stuck behind. The second thing we learned:
people that ride bikes without motors (bicycles) do have
the ability to ride three wide and take up both lanes
making it almost impossible to pass even in the other
lane. It is a good thing that we are really great people,
otherwise some of us might have been tempted to…you
can fill in the blank on this one.
Lunch was really good. I have driven past the “36
Saloon” many times and never stopped. I am glad that
was where we had lunch. The food was wonderful and
the atmosphere was really cool, especially when you
went out back. They have a wonderful patio setting and
even an outdoor walk up window for food. I recommend
that if you didn’t make it on this ride you take the time to
ride to the Saloon and see what I am talking about.
After lunch, the second part of the ride was cancelled
due to the roads being bit rough. The group that I was
riding with decided to head east on 36 on which there
was an ice-cream stop along the way home - which was
the perfect ending to a great day.
Top: Steve Bryne talk shop before the ride. Middle: Mike & Patti
Boudreau and Steve Hartshorne. Bottom: Standing in the que waiting for
ice-cream. (photos courtesy of Cyndi Bingham)
25
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26
s
t
r
a
e
H
Rebel
Indianapolis Chapter No. 1 has always been strong with a membership whose love of the
open road and desire for adventure has gifted us with many great stories. Such are the
stories of the two women you are about to meet. I call them the Rebel Hearts and once
you’ve read their amazing stories you will understand why.
27
Janice
Snowden
Just do it! Just live it,
(Ed: I’ve been very fortunate to ride with this women on many road
trips but none was more evident of her toughness, determination and
caliber than the ride we shared out to Wichita Kansas. It was there that
I truly realized what it meant to be a lifer - a lover of life. Since then
she has become my inspiration and role model of what it means to
move on in life with spirit, grace,and independence and freedom.)
Interview: May 2, 2015
So, the very first question into the interview I
was t-boned. For some reason I had always
assumed that Janice had started riding her
own bike at the age of sixty. That alone would
be considered an impressive age, but when she
reminded me that it was only five years ago
and that she was now seventy-five, I almost fell
off my stool. Trying to recuperate from the
shock and awe, I started to sputter something
incoherent and then just came out with what
was right there and needed to be answered.
Just do it!
“What made you go out and do that?”
With her familiar matter of fact response she
said, “Well being a widow, I had begun to rely
on someone else to take me. I didn’t want to do
that anymore so I decided to do it myself.
Without any previous riding experience I took
the ABATE classes (and with a wry smile she
adds) twice before I bought my first bike: a
sportster.”
She pauses for a moment and looks down
before she adds, “I found it was a little two
aggressive for me so I went back and bought a
250 Honda. I bought my trike when I found out
about a trip out west and I new that the 250
wouldn’t make it all the way out there. So, I
came to the Dealership and bought the trike and
now I will be doing my fourth Corner of the US
this summer. I have my passport Canada. I am
riding to Maine and then up into Canada,
mainly Quebec and visit a few towns along the
St. Lawrence.”
At this point Janice’s face is reflecting that
inner energy and excitement that I have
learned to appreciate about her. Her eyes are
glittering as she mentally rides through the
projected route.
“So what other big rides have you done then?”
“The North-West, the South-West and the
South-East…”
and she’s lost me for a bit as she precisely goes
through an oral roadmap of every stop she
made on those immense rides. I catch up with
her again when she states that…
28
this is the reason she has just under 40,000 miles
on her trike that she bought in 2012.
wanted me to spend his last years with him and so
I did.”
Thinking back to the trip to Kansas that Janice,
my husband Meade, myself and four others did
last year, I remember vividly some rough roads,
torrential rains, high winds and oh yes….turtle
apocalypses that challenged us along the way.
And I never heard her complain. Never.
It gets really quiet about this time because we
are both trying to hold back the tears and all I
can do is reach out and hold her hand. After a
couple of minutes of reprieve she continues…
“I still write letters to congressmen. I’m still an
activist. I can’t stop fighting against the
inequalities.
“Oh if you ride, you ride all kinds of weather. I’ve
ridden in dust storms, sleet, fog and 100 degree
weather and (wink) turtle apocalypses. (she
chortles). It’s just part of it all, right?”
And I agree with her on that but I know that I
have been quite capable of whining like a little
school boy in my husband’s ear about how tired
I am or how cold…or my freakin’ knees…and
whatever else, I could whine about…and here’s
this lady taking it all in like water rolling off a
duck.
So I say, “You know, you’ve always come across
as being tough and direct, albeit in a very quiet
non-aggressive way. I love that about you.”
She smiles and then she looks away for a
moment when she turn back she’s got a new
expression on her face, somewhere between pride
and pain, and she then she begins…
“In my day, I would have been called a rebel. I
grew up in the time of Segregation. I was a
protestor…for women’s rights, for peace, against
any discrimination. I had harder jobs then many
men and got paid so much less. (She shakes her
head) We STILL fight these issues.
I was a steel worker and a unionist. I wanted to
help the employees so I got a job with OSHA. After
fifteen years on that job, I retired. I would have
worked there till I was eighty but I left when my
husband took ill. He was a disabled vet and dying
of Agent Orange. He asked me to retire. He
29
There’s another few moments where we just
talk. It’s personal, just a few words between
two women - one talking, the other listening.
There’s no judgment, no answers, just a lot
of feeling and understanding - the symbiosis
of just knowing how someone else’s
experience is now helping you shape your
own.
And then the conversation returns to riding
as I ask, “What is riding the bike to you?
“You clear your head. It’s so relaxing so that
no matter what is going on in your life, it
helps.
(Then she smiles a crafty smile and adds).
“I like that when you see an older women
riding a red trike you get a lot of looks. And
people stop me and talk to me. I love people. I
get to meet the people of whatever area I am
going through. We all have our struggles and
issues and problems and you find that out
about how much we are the same. I remember
when I was at Bryce Canyon and this German
family came up and talked to me and took a
photo of me on the bike.”
don’t know how you are supposed to feel at
75. I say, “just do it! Just live it, just do it!”
She takes a pause before she confesses in
nothing but a whisper, “You know I was
homeless a couple times. I was a single
mother. Any regrets? No! I never made a
mistake. It was a lesson I had to learn. I was
married 3 times. The last one…well it was the
best. God decided he needed him more then I
did. But I won’t marry again. I’ve got too
much to do!”
“I want to see all of this country. I want to get
to Alaska, Hawaii. I’ll rent a bike over there.
That way I can say, I’ve ridden through all
fifty states. That’s my bucket list.”
And for me, there isn’t a doubt that Janice
will be doing just that.
She chortles at the memory and then she
looks fiercely at me when she says,
“I am going to keep riding until I can’t throw
my leg over the seat.”
And I’m silently praying that won’t be for a
very long time, so I ask her,
“What would you tell a new rider?”
“I would tell them to take the ABATE. At least
try it. It’s scary but it is also so much fun. I
had to do it twice. The first time it was so dang
cold I had to quit. I couldn’t feel my hands.
But then I went back. You have to put this age
thing out of your head. Yes, I’m 75, but I
30
Tina
Sabato
Mitchell
My mama always said pull down your pants and slide on the ice .
I haven’t known Tina for a very long time. She and her husband Terry have
been with the Chapter just over two years now, but they have most
certainly become prominent entities in our family. No sooner were they
ushered in to our Chapter, they announced the forthcoming birth of their
first child and enlightened us to the actual conception happening on the
infamous “Rolling On the River” ride. Brings a whole new meaning to
that title, doesn’t it?
white skulls…but of course!)
“BUT I’ve known Terry since we were seventeen
and we met because of his red motorcycle. (Insert
another blushing smile). I met him that day and I
rode on the back that day. But at that time I didn’t
figure to ride for myself. He was good looking so I
didn’t mind being the passenger.”
Having a conversation with Tina, is like a total
adrenaline rush to the head…all senses are
fighting for control. Her speech is punctuated
with broad chuckles, she’s cavorting with
passerby's, her hands demonstrating and
inserting of phone images and momentary pauses
for fact gathering that reflects in her ever smiling
face…and oh…she smells of perfume and baby
powder. She’s a young mother, a teacher, a wife
and best of all, a certifiable rebel. The girl’s got
True Grit.
They pushed through some very uncertain and
transient years of college and career. She had
always pointed herself in the direction of law
(just like her dad) but an opportunity to work
the summer up in the Arctic Circle in
environmental studies sowed the seeds for
change. The next summer she worked in
Washington on Environmental policy and that’s
when she realized that she didn’t want to be an
attorney. “There was way too much paper work.”
I asked about her use of her maiden name. She
laughs and says, “Well yes, but not in front of
Terry, even my kids (her students) call me Ms.
Sabato and they say that in front of him and of
course, he corrects them.” (Robust chortle here).
I’ve been married for 3 years and we have our
daughter Mack (Mackenzie) now. She’ll be 11
months on the 28th. (Insert phone video of little
Mac waddling down the hallway in cute little
leggings.” (Ah, note the leggings…black and
Terry had left school but when he decided to go
back, Tina took a position working with children
in an environmental program. As she says, “I
loved it! Teaching children and taking them on
hikes. I decided to go back for my Masters in
Education. Then I got a job at a Lock Down high
school. The principal got me the job when i was
still finishing my degree. She threw me into the
classroom and observed. The students were terrible
and this was like cold turkey to me.
31
Tina proudly shows a video of her little girl,
affectionately called “Mac” toddling down the hallway
of their home in skeleton clad leg warmers.
“I knew I had to stand my ground right away.
The classroom is on camera all the time and I am
locked in the room with the kids at all times. I
wear a walkie talkie. I taught biology and earth
science. I was 23. some of the students were 21.
It was a tough job. I got hit my first week. There
was a suicide. But it only made me a stronger
teacher. After one year I moved down to
Indianapolis to teach at Pike. Terry still had a
year of school left. I moved down by myself. It
was actually the third time I had to do that. When
Terry graduated and got a teaching job here at
the Lyndhurst Middle School, we were finally
together”.
Another hug smile breaks open across her face
so while we are on a roll, I ask her to tell the
story behind her crash on the mountain bike.
“Well, we were here about nine months and we
were getting ready for our wedding. But a month
away from the wedding we went down to
Versailles to ride on mountain bikes. Well, I went
over a cliff. Terry saw it happen. I landed in a
ravine full of poison ivy but Terry ran down (he’s
severely allergic to the stuff) to get me out. I was
life-lined out to St. Vincent’s where we found out
that I suffered a compound fracture of my ankle.
I had to have three emergency surgeries.
Meanwhile, Terry shared his time between
staying with me at the hospital and teaching at
school and all the time his face was swelled up so
bad with the allergic reaction. Eventually he had
to go to the hospital and get a steroid shot.”
I shake my head and ask, “so this all happened
a month from your wedding date. You obviously
went through with it?”
“Yes! And we bought a house two days before the
wedding AND I went in for more reconstructive
surgery two days after the wedding.”
“So you must have worn a boot when you
walked down the aisle?”
As if the smile couldn’t get any bigger she
giggles and says, “Oh…yeah.”
“After all that, why the hell did you decide to
ride a motorcycle?”
“You think that I would be petrified but I love the
bike. Just two years ago I got pregnant with
Mackenzie on the “Rolling On the River Ride” of
2013. She was a May baby.”
“And then you went out and bought a bike two
weeks later?”
“Yep, took the ABATE and got on the bike.”
32
Trying to play this one as delicately as possible I
begin with… “So you just had a baby and you
got a bike….um…pardon me but some people
may think you are crazy?” She looks very
serious yet still the smile…
“Wee! Watch this!”
I hear Tina calling me back to the present as she
continues to speak of her lineage of crazy family
members. She can’t help it. She was brought up
that way. “And so was Terry. it’s go with the flow.
He likes going fast and furious but I like the long
winding rides where you ride into a curve and
lean into it and then…blow right through it.
“And so I would say, life is too short so you need
to enjoy it. And I truly love riding. And I DO love
to ride on the back with Terry too. I get split on
that idea but ever since I was able to ride my own,
it’s been absolutely amazing.”
“Okay…” I pause with the ridiculously perhaps
unnecessary question, “What if something
happened to you, to both of you?”
I get this. I really do and my mind begins to
wander a bit to a time when I was not so afraid
of life… so long ago.
I can keep up to Terry. I didn’t want a sissy bike. I
love the 1200. I’ll take it anywhere. It doesn’t
have a windshield so I get a little battered but I’m
going to get a removable one.”
“So, Tina….what would you tell a woman or
anyone interested in riding?”
“Terry and I have always believed that life is too
short. I don’t want to be the kind of person who
just sits there. And I don’t want my daughter to be
like that either. Mountain climbing, holding onto
your butt, good golly that’s fun! You can’t live
being scared of what could happen. Shit
happens…but you’ve got to keep going. I went
down the aisle in a walking boot.
And with a straight face she replies,
“Don’t be intimidate by the Penis Club and ride
your own ride…and make good friends along the
way.”
What more can we add to that?
My mama always said “pull down your pants
and slide on the ice”.
She looks at me as if to explain, “it’s a northern
thing.”
I burst out laughing at this because it reminds
me of the joke that’s circulating around the
internet these days…What’s the last thing you
hear from a Canadian driver when they start to
slide on ice?
33
Humane Society for Boone County
Golf Scramble
Helping raise funds for the shelter building!
Monday May 18th, 2015
Registration and lunch starts at 11 am.
Shot gun start at 12:30 pm.
Awards following the final play.
Course Donated by:
Sponsorship Opportunities Provide:
• Highly visible and unique advertising opportunities
• Access and exposure to a large number of animal lovers who
are motivated to support your organization
• Aligns your company with the exclusive Wolf Run Golf Course
• Brand exposure on all marketing materials and on course
Sponsorship Levels:
Leader Board Sponsor - $5,000 (two foursomes included)
Lunch Sponsor - $2,500 (one foursome included)
Longest Drive Sponsor - $1,000 ($850 with a foursome)
Closest to the Hole Sponsor - $1,000 ($850 with a foursome) SOLD
Beverage Hole Sponsor (1 available) - $500 ($450 with a foursome)
Individual Hole Sponsorships - $200 ($150 with a foursome)
Foursomes - $500 or $125 individual registration (prior to May 4th, $550 after)
The Humane Society for Boone County (HSforBC) is a shelterless
501(c)3 charity domestic pet rescue staffed 100% by volunteers.
To learn more about us visit www.hsforbc.org. For sponsorship or
info contact [email protected] or leave a message at
765-485-8888 or 317-769-5092.
34
Ride To The Wall With
Rolling Thunder
Itinerary
Registration and orientation for the ride will be held at the Ft. Harrison Veterans Center, 9450 E. 59th St.:
April 19th or May 17th following the monthly Rolling Thunder Chapter meeting which begins at 12:30 p.m.
May 20th at 8:00 p.m.
No registration on the day of departure.
Itinerary
May 21st: Staging: 7:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. at the Indiana War Memorial, 51 E. Michigan St.
Program: 8:30 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.
Departure: 10:00 a.m.
Overnight: Baymont Inn & Suites, Athens, Ohio. *
May 22nd: Travel to D.C.
May 23rd: Free time in Washington D.C.
May 24th: Demonstration Ride
Overnight: Crown Plaza Tyson Corner, McLean VA**
May 25th: Travel to Athens, OH
Overnight: Baymont Inn & Suites, Athens, Ohio. *
May 26th: Travel to Indianapolis
For questions or further information contact:
Mike Clark
Terry “Flash” Sanderson
Tom “Big Daddy” Ransdell
317-999-2927
317-374-8957
317-271-2803
35
Flags For Heroes and the Memorial Ride
Part I and II May 23, 24 and 25th, 2015
~ Bill Keesling
This year’s Flags For Heroes Ride is set to run as always on the Memorial Day weekend. There are two parts
to this ride to consider. Part 1 is the short one day ride to Louisville to meet the Louisville Chapter in a flag
ceremony. Your trip can end there or you can then take the longer ride out to Flight 93 Memorial in
Pennsylvania.
Itinerary:
Part I Flags For Heroes
- Saturday, May 23rd
- Leave from the 9/11 Memorial downtown Indianapolis at 7:30 a.m.
- Attend the Flags for Vets ceremony in Louisville, Kentucky. There will be over 50,000 flags installed along
the banks of the Ohio River spelling out USA.
Part II Flight 93 Memorial Ride
-
Saturday May 23rd - Monday May 25
-
Leave the Flags for Vets ceremony, Louisville around noon.
-
First night spent in West Virginia.
-
Sunday - Arise early for 2 hour ride on State Road 50 to Flight 93 Memorial. Place flags at each
stone and pay our respect to these heroes. This is an hour you will remember for years, just ask
those who have gone with me in the past three years.
-
Ride on backroads through Pennsylvania and West Virginia into Ohio for second night.
-
Monday we rise early and again using state highways start the return home by riding Ohio’s
famous Triple Nickel 555 and other state highways back to Indianapolis. First day is a long day
but with the wind inner faces and 99 percent interstate, it goes pretty quickly.
36
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DAPIBUS
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orci ligula
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37
Biker Chick History
Bette Gumerson
As more of us women own and ride our own bikes, it pays to look at the history of women riders. (I
guess I can’t get the “historian” out of my blood as quickly as I thought.) We all know it’s been and still
pretty much is, a man’s world, but the women in Indianapolis Chapter No. 1 are welcomed and
respected regardless of whether we ride our own or ride behind another. We are very fortunate.
We ride sweep behind a whole pack of strong women who rode their way out of the group of male
riders to lead us on the ride of our lives. Some women riders emerged as prim and proper “lady riders’
in a Riding Club while others roared out, establishing themselves as a true Motorcycle Club.
Motor
America
Maids
of
In 1940, Linda Dugeau formed the Motor
Maids of America to create a social club for
female riders to prove women could ride bikes
while retaining their femininity. She started
her campaign in 1930 and persevered for 10
years to realize her dream. They are
considered the oldest female motorcycle club
in the United States and Canada. They own
and ride their own bikes, logging many miles
before many men were even riding! By 1941,
the AMA Chartered the 51 Charter Members
as the first official, all female Riding Club.
Many of these women served in the Armed
Forces during the war. These women
distinguish themselves when they ride in their
dark pants, blue shirts, white vests and white
gloves. The Motor Maids are now 1200
strong!
The Emblem, The Future - current San Diego riders
and the Past: First Assemblage of Motor Maids 1941
The Motor Maids aren’t the only all-female
Riding Club and Leather & Lace isn’t the
only all female Motorcycle Club (MC). There
are many others out there these days. We
women in Indianapolis Chapter No. 1 are
pretty lucky to have complete acceptance in
our club - on our own or behind. Thanks to
those who rode before us, We ride behind
them, even if we pilot our own.
38
Jennifer Chaffin (left) and two of her Chapter riders
back in the 1980’s.
Leather & Lace MC
Jennifer Chaffin endured the struggle of riding her
own bike among a one percent Motorcycle Club part patch, leaving the bottom rocker indicating
and became the founder of Leather & Lace MC in territory off their initial colors.
1983. She did it so women riders could ride
together and share joy of “being in the wind” that
our men enjoy. “Leather” represents the inner
strength of women and the “Lace” stands for our
femininity.
In 1993, two years after Bear’s murder, she
championed on with “Lace” and added a bottom
At the time she was married to Raymond “Bear”
rocker stating “Sisterhood” as their territory. Using
Chaffin who became leader of the Warlocks MC.
the bottom rocker placed them as closer to a one
Despite his fellow bikers’ resistance, he bought her
percent club. Male clubs’ point out that the
a bike of her own and helped her establish Leather
territorial bottom rocker “Sisterhood” isn’t a real
& Lace. He guided her away from implementing it
territory. But the Lace women are serious, hardas a full-fledged MC with a three part patch
riding women who are here to stay.
(Name/Center Patch/Location” and all the aspects
of male MCs. She agreed and they adopted a two
39
40
come on out and ride
the third Annual
Crusin’ for Fuse
For more information check out the FUSE website www.fuseinc.org/cruisin-for-fuse-2
or better yet, support a Chapter member on his quest to raise funds for FUSE and
donate to his ride in this great event. David Conway's fundraising page at:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/124873997592152/permalink/815841965162015/
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May in Harley-Davidson History
~ Historian, Allen Sprunk
May 6, 1910
The now world famous, Harley Davidson “Bar & Shield” logo is trademarked. Shortly after, the new logo
begins to appear on parts, packaging and print materials. In 1922 the familiar Black and Orange colors
are added. Over the years, the shape has changed somewhat, however it remains today, as one of the
most recognizable logos in the world.
May 7, 2005
Indianapolis HOG Chapter 1 meets for the second Saturday meeting in their Chapter history.
Russ Dellen and Chapter Director, Ed James both comment on the increase in attendance. The
change to Saturday meetings has increased attendance to just under 100 members for the first 2
Saturday meetings. During the meeting, the first orders are taken for oﬃcial HOG Chapter name
tags, at $8.00 each. The sales are brisk.
May 14, 1912
Construction begins on a 90,000 square foot addition to the current manufacturing facility, In
Milwaukee, WI. At 9:45 a.m. August 1, 1912, the concrete work was completed. The construction
workers then placed a Christmas tree atop the elevator, to indicate they had beat the
construction deadline by 15 minutes, and therefore were entitled to free beer. Walter Davidson,
promptly complied with the old custom.
May 27, 1944
The Motor Maids of America received its charter
from the American Motorcycle Association in
1941. Founded by Linda Dugeau and Dot
Robinson, the club starts out with 51 charter
members. The only requirement for membership,
own and ride your own motorcycle. By May 27,
1944 the uniforms and white gloves, they
participate in riding events and parades
throughout the US and Canada. Motor Maid
uniforms and photos are currently on exhibit at
the Harley Davidson Museum. Motor Maids with
1200 members, holds its first annual convention.
Recognizable by their distinct
Dot Robinson and her daughter, Bette
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Riding Sweep
saw what was coming. The guys hit the first hill and down they
went and as they did, they went faster and they were no longer
in sight. She hit that hill and dropped down an embankment
head first. All she can remember is rolling through leaves and
stones and brush with the bike rolling dangerously behind her.
At one point the bike actually passed her and she felt the heat
of the muffler or something graze her leather jacket and
smack her helmet. She managed to pick herself up to the roar
of returning engines and several muscular bodies lifted her out
and back up the embankment. She was stripped out of her
leathers and every bone and muscle was poked and prodded.
She felt blood trickling down her face and continued to wipe
the tears and and road detritus from her face and hands. But
she was okay, amazingly okay, shaken but alive.
Coming up with the idea of who I would like to feature for this
year’s Women’s Month, two women immediately came to
mind and those are the two whose stories you have just read.
So let me tell you about the third person…
She’s been involved with the Chapter for about eight years
now but has never ridden her own motorcycle. She’s been
happy being her husband’s “extra eyes” and has loved to sit
freely on the back, not a care in the world, just watching it all
go by; happy but still something has been itching her for a
very long long time….
Here’s her story. One crazy spring back in ’78 she was
hanging with a fairly wild crowd who loved to live a little bit
on the edge. She was 21. She loved the excitement and the
sense of throwing it all out there.
Flash forward…it seems that every time this woman comes
into the Dealership she must sit on a bike. She gets the same
excitement when she hears a motorcycle winding down the
road. She wants to ride. But she has gone for the ABATE twice
now and twice she has left in tears. She QUIT! She QUIT!
One of the things that this group loved the most was dirt
biking. They’d go out into the mountain areas around town on
some rough bush trails and ride all day like wild foxes on the
run. She was given one of her boyfriend’s favourite bikes, a
’77 Suzuki Enduro. He’d given her some lessons on it and she
thought she had it sussed. She didn’t show how nervous she
was. She wanted to prove herself. They’d been partying quite
a bit (the way people partied back in the ’70’s) but decided to
take “the Hill” before heading back home. The trail out was
flat and fast and she did her best to keep up but when they
headed towards the dam, the terrain was pretty rough and
began to roll quickly downward. She tried to keep up sitting
high up off the seat her body barely off the gas tank. She never
Parting Shots...
Next month we will feature the Men of
Harley Davidson Chapter No. 1. and I am
hoping that you men out there will be
willing to share your stories about the ride,
whether it was your first ride or your bucket
list ride. We want to hear about it.
But not this time.
There’s a prize at the end of this ride and its not only a brand
new shiny bike. It’s satisfaction. She wants to feel redeemed.
I will keep you informed as to her progress in the months to
come.
“I like the attitude and the greatest of the
Motormaids and WOW - Women on Wheels
northside
harley News
If I can do it ! You can do it!
Life is so much better on a Bike !
Rew Van Wyck, Editor
Ride Ladies Ride!
(317) 709-5027
[email protected]
It’s a great feeling to know about the people
around you that share that same excitement
and calling of the road. Knowing their
stories just enriches the journey and it
makes us realize just how much closer we
truly are.
This issue: photo credits: Bill Keesling,
Meade Van Wyck, Rew Van Wyck, all
others are stock photos and not
copyrighted.
Until then…here’s the final word from our
dear
friend
and
Harley-Davidson
aficionado, Beth Bey who says…
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