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It has been a whirlwind over the past month. First a rally to plan, and then before things really got rolling, a rally to cancel. We are very disheartened to have to cancel such an awesome event but without the support needed to plan such a huge endeavor we just couldn’t make it happen. This doesn’t mean it won’t ever happen, just not this year.

Thunder Roads West Virginia has other plans for 2010. There are a number of great events across the state already planned for this year with scores of others in the works and we are going to do our best to attend as many as possible. We are here to support the motorcycle community and all the biker friendly establishments that sponsor the many fundraisers that the brotherhood throughout the state champion. What this means is that we will be letting you, the readers, know when Thunder Roads West Virginia is going to be at an event and we would love to have you come and join us. Help us support a cause, help a fellow rider in need, or just have a good time with great people and as always, enjoy the ride to get there.

And if there is an event we can not attend we would like to ask you to take the time to send in some pictures, as we know some of you

are avid shutterbugs. Write a little story about it so we can share the experience with others that couldn’t be a part of it and let them know what they can look forward to next year. This is West Virginia’s magazine so be a part of it.

Normally we only include the upcoming events for the month ahead in the magazine but this month we are including all the upcoming events we know about so far for the year. Also keep your eyes on our website at www.thunderroadswv.com to see the most up-to-date event information for the year. We do our best to keep current on all the happenings but if there is an event coming up that isn’t on our calendar, please let us know about it. If there is an event that Thunder Roads West Virginia could make a difference being a part of, let us know about that too. We want to unite the riding community in our state as it has never been done before now and demonstrate to everyone the commitment we have to life and to the ride.

Ride safe and keep the shiny side up!

Donna

DragonTales

2 Thunder roads WesT Virginia MarCh 2010

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Copyright 2010. Published by Thunder Roads West Virginia, LLC under license from Thunder Publishing. All rights reserved. No part of this magazines content may be reproduced without the written permission of the Publisher. The 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 libel, plagiarism, copyright infringement, and unauthorized use of a person’s name or photograph. Opinions and claims made by advertisers and authors are their own, and do not necessarily represent the policy of Thunder Roads West Virginia, Thunder Roads Magazine, or Thunder Publishing. The Publisher does not promote the abuse of alcohol or other drugs.

Letter From The Editor…...................……..4

Stars-N-Stripes Cancelled.....……………...7

Helmet Law: Choice in WV?……................9

Hoka Hey Challenge Riders.....................10

Winter Bike Shows....................................12

Bike of the Month…...................…………15

Hidden Highways - South Fork Road......16

Center Calendar.……......................……...18

Skin Art…….....................………………….20

Senate Bill 192……...………...........………22

Ice Riders……………...........………….…...24

The Jokers Wild…..………............….…...26

Seats & Saddles…........….….......………..27

Reflections on the Journeys....................28

The High Road……..............………..…….29

TNT…………….............……………………32

K.I.S.S................................................33

Biker Friendly Directory………............…34

Upcoming Events………………….........…36

THUNDER RoADS WEST VIRgINIAP.O. Box 606 / Charles Town, WV 25414

www.thunderroadswv.com

oWNER / EDIToRSGary Westphalen, Editor-in-Chief

[email protected] / 304-616-0102Donna K. Westphalen, CFO

[email protected] / 304-261-1609

LAyoUT & DESIgNBarbara Laszewski Garner / Thunder Publishing

AD LAyoUTMeredith Hancock / Hancock Graphics

CoNTRIBUToRSDusty Austin, Evan Hume, Jim “Jammer” Marcum, Sara Matzek,

Porter Stiles, Terry Summers

ADVERTISINg SALES / DISTRIBUTIoNNATiONAL ACCOuNTS

Donna K. Westphalen - 304-261-1609 / [email protected], MARiON, TAyLOR

Earl Nuzum – 304-816-2863 / [email protected] WV

Greg Vernon 304-616-0249 / [email protected], GRANT, MiNERAL, HAMPSHiRE, PENDLETON

Moe Vetter - 304-668-9563 / [email protected], BERKELEy, JEFFERSON

Dave Luksa - 304-268-1315 / [email protected], MONROE, SuMMER, MCDOWELL

Curtis Humphreys - 276-620-8965 / [email protected] Griggs - 540-353-5695 / [email protected]

JEFFERSONHoward “Pops” Evans - 540-327-6588 / [email protected]

ON THE COVER

While most of us are just dreaming about the riding season to come, four West Virginia bikers are already prepping for the ride of a lifetime. From Key West, Florida to Homer, Alaska – these brothers are going to ride American Byways end to end the old-fashioned way. Guts, Grit and Gold are also characters in the story on page 10.

NATIoNAL FoUNDERSToni McCoy Shearon & Brian Shearon

PO Box 174 / Chapmansboro, TN 37035Office 615-792-0040 / Fax: 615-792-7580

email: [email protected]

MarCh 2010 Thunder roads WesT Virginia 3www.thunderroadswv.com

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It’s the middle of February as I write this letter to you. The sun is shining today for the first time since back to back blizzards began pounding this area of West Virginia nearly a week ago. The ridge top I call home has seen more than six feet of snow in that time. My road has been closed since this began and it will probably be several days more before I see a plow. There is little comfort in the chirpings of the TV weather guy, who seems positively giddy that we’re enduring the snowiest winter on record. Records that go all the way back to the mid-1800’s.

Sure, I’ve been running the snot out of one of my two-wheelers lately. Three or four times a day I gas it up and roll out of the garage. My hands have been gripping its handlebars for hours. It has six forward speeds, but the road ahead of me is buried in so much challenge that I never get past second gear. Oh, and this two-wheeler is equipped with a two-stage auger-impeller system upfront. Yup, I’ve been forced to park the bikes in favor of blowing snow. And blowing. And blowing. And blowing.

I am suffering from withdrawal. I haven’t been able to get a bike on the road for weeks. I’m pretty sure it has been more than a month. I can’t remember the last time I was off the bikes for so long. It hurts.

But you won’t be reading this until sometime in March. So, I have to project myself forward in time…to your time. No, it’s not summer yet. But those days of February when the daily snowfall total was a larger number than the temperature, are behind us now. The sun grows stronger every day. Precipitation is as likely to be rain as it is snow. March is a month to watch out for ice, broken pavement, and debris on the road. But it is also a month in which a diehard biker can log some good miles. Even fair weather riders have a good shot at a couple of rides.

But March is also a month of major changes in the weather. You know, that whole lamb and lion thing. When you do

roll out on your favorite scoot, be sure you know the latest weather information and keep an eye to the sky. Getting caught 50 miles from home by a rogue snowstorm can get dicey.

For the March days that don’t meet the grade, picking up Thunder Roads West Virginia is a great way to keep the spirit alive. Use stories like our Hidden Highways to plan your trips next summer. Learn about important issues, like our story this month about the proposed change in the state helmet law. Draw inspiration from the stories about fellow West Virginia bikers who built a bike, created a custom paint theme, or gave of themselves to help others.

As you flip through the magazine, take special note of our advertisers. These are biker friendly businesses. They believe in you. They want you to have this magazine. And when you’ve finished reading it, take your business to those advertisers. Even if you can’t spend a dime with them, just stop in and say “thank you for supporting the bikers of West Virginia.”

Well, it has been fun visiting with you in your time, but I must go back to mid-February now. I’ve got more snow to blow.

Gary

4 Thunder roads WesT Virginia MarCh 2010

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West Virginia One year subscription to Thunder Roads is only $35 a year. The nation’s largest FREE biker publication can be delivered right to your door.

Name___________________________________

Address_________________________________

City____________________________________

State_________________ Zip_______________

Make Check payable to: Thunder Roads West Virginia

Mail check and this form to: Thunder Roads West VirginiaP.O. Box 606 Charles Town, WV 25414

MARCH 2010 THundeR RoAds WesT ViRginiA 5www.thunderroadswv.com

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6 Thunder roads WesT Virginia MarCh 2010

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We at Thunder Roads West Virginia are very saddened to have to announce that the Stars-N-Stripes All America Biker Bash will not be held as planned this summer. in a nutshell, plans for the Fourth of July weekend failed to gather the necessary corporate sponsorships. Funds from sponsors large and small is what makes up the financial backbone of an endeavor like this, and without them the event cannot go on as planned.

Stars-N-Stripes was the brainchild of the late Bill Scott. A month before he died, Scott and representatives of Thunder Roads West Virginia sat down to hammer out the details of what would be a fantastic weekend of motorcycling fun in the historic Jefferson County area of West Virginia. But with his passing in early December, the road for the Stars-N-Stripes got fogged in. Still, we moved ahead, working towards what we believed Mr. Scott wanted to present. He wanted to celebrate this nation, and honor the men and women who have served as its protectors through the ages. And he wanted that support to come from the biking community.

From large corporations to small shops and biker friendly establishments, Thunder Roads West Virginia had designed a series of sponsorship packages that would have allowed all of them an opportunity to stand up and

StarS-N-StripeS

caNceled

put their name on this patriotic event. But, despite months of effort by our sales staff, the critical sponsorships did not materialize.

Many people have done tremendous things to help us get this rally off the ground, and we will be forever in their debt. JR Everhart of CLP Entertainment was working hard to pull together a high gear collection of regional and national bands. Pops from Nan and Pop’s Place was deep into securing all of your refreshment needs.

Scheduling conflicts at the venue were going to delay the opening of the event until Saturday. And with very little set-up time prior to then, getting things up and running in a timely manner would have been unlikely.

in the end, after agonizing over the decision, we concluded that we would not be able to present an event of the caliber it should be. We would rather wait until we can get it right.

Thunder Roads West Virginia continues to be the Premier Motorcycle Magazine in our state. We are going to focus our efforts on other ways to stay engaged with you, the reader. We have a variety of plans for the riding months ahead, and you won’t be disappointed. As the weather warms and the riding season hits full throttle, we’ll be criss-crossing the state, engaging in and reporting on events and activities in your area, as well as every corner of the Mountain State.

Our goal is to support “Anything and Everything Motorcycle in West Virginia.”

www.thunderroadswv.comHow would you like to be the editor of Thunder Roads West Virginia? you have a chance to be just that when you log on to www.thunderroadswv.com. On the homepage you’ll find a link to our “Rate the Page” survey. it’s your chance to tell us which regular features of the magazine you like, and which you don’t. it’s important for us to know your preferences as the design of this magazine evolves. Let your voice be heard in the decision-making process.

While you’re at our website, be sure to read the feature story about the bike built just for Al unser, Sr. to commemorate his back-to-back wins in the indianapolis 500 in 1970 and ’71. you won’t see this story in the magazine. it’s only at www.thunderroadswv.com

you could also have been one of the first to get connected with Thunder Roads West Virginia on Facebook. Within hours of putting up the story announcing our Facebook page, we already had dozens of “Fans”. But there’s still room for you! Just log on to www.thunderroadswv.com, follow the link to our Facebook page, and join in the chatter.

Have you missed an issue or two of Thunder Roads West Virginia? The website is your chance to make up for lost reading. All issues of the printed magazine are available online in three different ways. Option #1 is to read every issue online. your second choice is to download a PDF version of the magazine. Best of all, you can now complete your collection of Thunder Roads West Virginia magazines by ordering back issues through our website.

it may not be easy to get much riding done this month, but online motorcycle fun is just a click away at www.thunderroadswv.comMarCh 2010 Thunder roads WesT Virginia 7www.thunderroadswv.com

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8 Thunder Roads West Virginia

For the second year in a row, a bill to change West Virginia’s motorcycle helmet law is on the table in Charleston. Senate Bill 192, which is printed in full on page 22, provides for a motorcycle helmet exemption for bikers who meet specific safety and health insurance requirements.

“i think that freedom of choice is our guarantee under the Constitution,” says State Senator Jack yost, a Democrat from Brooke County, who

introduced the bill both times. “it’s your life and you should be able to enjoy it, and i think the right to ride and enjoy yourself is a national freedom.” yost is not a biker himself, but his son is.

The proposed bill does not do away with helmet requirements entirely, although most riders should be able to qualify. To be exempt from helmet laws a biker would have to be at least 21 years old, have a motorcycle endorsement for at least two years, complete an approved safety training course, and be covered by a health insurance plan that provides at least $10,000 in medical benefits for motorcycle-related injuries. Riders over the age of 21 who hold a valid endorsement prior to enactment would be eligible for a “grandfather exemption” of the two year and training course requirements. The insurance and age requirements would still apply. Passengers would also be required to meet the same age and insurance tests. A “helmet exemption” sticker costing $5 every two years would have to be displayed on the license plate or its mounting bracket.

Supporters of the bill believe that removing West Virginia’s

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helmet requirement would not only restore a freedom of

choice, but result in a boon to the state’s tourism as

well. Senator yost says that when bikers he has talked to plan their summer rides, “They

look at those states that have freedom of choice,

and they map out their trips accordingly.” The Senator represents the

three northernmost counties in the state. Sandwiched between Ohio and Pennsylvania, both non-helmet states,

yost says he often sees riders from those states stopping on the side of the road to put helmets on for their brief ride through West Virginia’s Northern Panhandle, often electing not to stay in the state.

This is the same bill that died in the State Senate Transportation Committee last year. it was never given a chance to be voted on by the full Senate or House of Delegates. “i was very optimistic last year. i thought we had it, i really did,” Senator yost says of his attempt to gain passage last time. “We just couldn’t get it through committee. i think if we had gotten it out of committee it would have passed here and on the house side.” The Committee has the same membership as it did last year when the bill was killed, but yost is more optimistic this time around. He says that some supporters and moderates were unable to attend the meeting where the bill was killed last time.

“unenforceable,” is how Joe Tyree reacts to the bill. He is Coordinator of the West Virginia Motorcyclist Safety Program. Tyree says the exemption sticker can’t be enforced because there is no way for a police officer to know if the person riding a given bike is actually the one who qualifies for the exemption. “Either you go without helmets, or you are a helmet state.” Tyree says enactment of West Virginia’s current helmet law has saved lives. “We saw our fatalities go down when they were going up all around our region.”

Senator yost sees the exemption sticker as a necessary evil in order to gain passage of the bill. “i don’t think we can even talk about it if we don’t have those requirements,” yost says of the sticker plan. “We may not all be where we want to go on the first round, but let’s at least get something started. Sometimes it’s better to have a piece of the pie than none at all.” He also says that graphs he had prepared for last years debate showed that fatalities would not increase proportionately if the helmet law was repealed.

Another concern Joe Tyree has is the impact of this bill on the state’s motorcycle safety training courses. He says they are already running at full capacity, graduating more than 2,000 riders each year. The proposed law attempts to address this concern by raising the

“motorcycle safety fee” included in annual bike registration from the current $6.50 up to $10. The added $3.50 per year would be credited to the motorcycle safety fund, meaning the fund would receive $9 dollars per registration. The remaining dollar is credited to the Motorcycle License Examination Fund, just as it is now.

At the present time, the bill is in the hands of the Senate Transportation Committee. it has not yet been scheduled for debate by that committee. Although Governor Joe Manchin, iii has, in the past, spoken in favor of helmet repeal, he has not weighed in on this particular proposal. Attempts by Thunder Roads West Virginia to obtain the Governor’s opinion about Senate Bill 192 have not been answered. Senator yost has not yet discussed the matter with Mr. Manchin, but says, “The Governor can make a lot of difference for a bill with his support.”

The motorcycle community can make a lot of difference, too. Regardless of where your opinion lies on the issue of SB192, contact your state legislators and let them know where you stand. The names and contact information for all state legislators can be found at www.legis.state.wv.us.

MarCh 2010 Thunder roads WesT Virginia 9www.thunderroadswv.com

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“It’s a good day…”

“Hoka Hey!”The battle cry of the Oglala Lakota warriors echoed across the battlefield.

“Hoka Hey!”Hundreds of Native Americans sprang to the defense of their encampment near the Little Bighorn River in what is now Eastern Montana. The u.S. 7th Cavalry was part of a campaign to corral the Sioux and their associated tribes. There was gold in the Black Hills, and the only way to extract it without being constantly attacked by the natives was to force them onto reservations.

“Hoka Hey!”When General George Custer attacked the camp on June 25, 1876, he didn’t think there were many warriors around. He sent part of his army to the southern end of the settlement and took the rest with him to the northern end, planning to crush the natives between the advancing armies.

“Hoka Hey!”But the warriors were there, all right. Some say as many as 2,000 of them. Crazy Horse led a charge of his men through the lines of Custer’s attackers and sent the 7th Cav into disarray. As they scrambled to a little knoll, Custer and his men shot their horses to use the bodies as cover. it was here that Custer would make his last stand.

“Hoka Hey!”These may very well have been the last words General Custer and his men ever heard.

Hoka Hey means “It’s a good day to die.”

Some 134 years later, that “all or nothing” spirit is alive in the hearts of up to a thousand bikers, as they have accepted the “Hoka Hey Motorcycle Challenge”.

First, the ride. The bikers are to leave Key West, Florida on June 20th. They will end the ride 7,000 miles away in Homer, Alaska by the Fourth of July. The first biker across the line will win Half-a-Million Dollars in Alaskan Gold. Second place gets nothing.

NOTHiNG. Along the way the bikers will sleep under the stars – or storms - with their bikes. They will travel about a thousand miles from one checkpoint to the next, along back roads. At each checkpoint they will be given the route information to the next one. They have to follow the route, get no speeding tickets, and just deal with whatever the road throws at them.

Would you be up for that?

Four brothers from West Virginia are. Mitchell Matzek is from Harpers Ferry. Bill Pixler, Mike Mendell, and Mark Wilson are sprinkled about the Morgantown Area.

“if you finish this, you won,” says Pixler as he explains why he really doesn’t have any designs on that pot of gold. it’s not the important thing. This is about Bill’s bond with his ’05 ultra. His riding partner agrees.

“This is a challenge for a man and his bike,” says Mendell. Mike has an interesting twinkle in his eye as he talks about riding like this. He is a hard core, long distance kind of guy. His ’08 ultra has over 30,000

miles on the odometer.

“When i get in that line-up and go, then i’ll know how i’m going to ride it.” Wilson isn’t being so quick to pass on that big nugget of gold sitting up there in Homer. But Mark is also not quite sure he’s aiming at it. “Either you’re going to go for broke and try to win the half-million dollars, or you’re going to ride along with people who are in it for the experience.”

Matzek is in the Hoka Hey for entirely different reasons. “i’m a diabetic myself,” says Mitch. “i’m riding for the American Diabetes Association.” He also likes the fact that the organizers of the Hoka Hey are donating a portion of the race proceeds to a number of charities, many of which serve the needs of veterans and their families. “i’m a vet myself, and i said, you know, i almost can’t not do the ride. There’s so many veterans charities that are just not getting the support they need right now.” Mitch is collecting donations for the American Diabetes Association on his website at www.westvirginiabikers.com, and is also holding a charity event at Longshots Billiards in Charles Town, WV on April 3rd.

The Hoka Hey is an air-cooled Harley-Davidson only event. Very little alteration of the bike is allowed, including no added fuel capacity. The organizers want an even playing field when it comes to machines. Bill and Mike are testing various alternators. About his ’08 Street Bob, Mark is thinking, “i’m probably going to put a windshield on it.”

10 Thunder roads WesT Virginia MarCh 2010

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Mitch isn’t doing much to his ’08 Street Glide. “it’s got a Power Commander and a few other things for fuel management. To me, the dependability of a 96 cubic inch motor along with the fuel mileage it gets is fine with me.”

The ride is roughly 500 miles per day. That’s not bad...on the first day. That’s okay…on the second. But…

“About that third day climbing onto the seat,” is what Mark fears will be the hardest moment in the ride. He figures he’ll be in the clear once he gets through that wall. Oh, he does have one other major concern. “My biggest problem is trying not to get a ticket.”

Bill and Mike have been training for that day 3 factor. “We did the Hillbilly One-Thousand,” says Bill. “That

was a ride where you had 24 hours to complete a thousand miles. We did it in 17 hours and 40 minutes.” But that was a mostly interstate run. So, to gauge themselves on back roads, they road from Morgantown to White Sulphur Springs and back on 2-laners. They are also planning a spring run to Tennessee and back with fully-loaded bikes.

No one but the organizers know the exact route the run will take. But Mike and Bill have been doing some calculations, and they think they have identified the toughest part of the run. “i think once we hit west Texas and we start heading north, i think it’s going to be all a combination of mountains and high hills,” says Mike. And i think that that’s going to be the toughest part. That’s also the part that’s going to toughen us up.”

“Canada.” Mitch is contemplating what he thinks will be the tough spot. “We’re from West Virginia. We’re pretty familiar with country road riding. Our biggest problem is when we get across the Canadian border. The roads are different there.” it’s also going to be

just after summer solstice, which means that in the northern reaches of this run, daylight will last around the clock. “The temptation is going to be to just keep going and going. We’re going to be pretty worn out by that time.”

The Hoka Hey will travel from the sub-tropics to the Arctic Circle. Most people wouldn’t be able to pack their “necessary” gear in a couple of suitcases, much less on a bike. But Mike has done many runs to the west coast and back, so he’s got experience in how to deal with the temperature changes.

“A lot of thin layers,” says Mike. “We want to lower the weight of what we’re carrying.” He uses several layers of very thin undergarments, some of which

have no seams. Denim pants and shirts go over that. “That really takes care of you down into the high 40s. And then we have thin polar fleece tops that go over that. And then we’ve got our leathers. i’ve ridden down as low as just above zero, and 122 is the highest temperature i’ve ridden out in the Mojave Desert.”

“We’re looking at about 40.” Bill has been studying average temperatures along the various paths the trip might take. “40 degrees is probably the lowest that we’re going to hit.” We’re sitting in the showroom at Triple S Harley-Davidson, where Bill sells bikes. “Like i rode in today, and it was 12 degrees when i left my house today. in doing that i’ve tried out different layerings, just to see how comfortable they are. So we’re still doing some research to it.”

Mark’s approach is more straightforward: Jeans, chaps, ski pants, and a leather jacket.

Mitch is thinking about a slightly different setup. “Other than my leather jacket and Hoka Hey vest, i’m going to get some Lizard Skins under Armour® to try to keep

me warm. But not much more than my typical riding clothes.” He is putting more thought into camping gear because, “When i do rest i want to be able to rest really well.”

They’ve already posted a Grand as an entrance fee. The guys think it’s going to cost at least another $3,500 to $5,000 to make this run. Remember, it’s not just the 7,000 miles from Florida to Alaska. They have to get to Key West first, and then they have to get home from Alaska. it’s really about a 14,000 mile run all together. They have talked about, and discarded, the idea of trailering the bikes back after the race. “We’ve already ridden our asses off by that point,” says Mitch. “you might as well finish the journey.”

Except for that first rider, Homer, Alaska is really just a turn-around. All four West Virginians are eagerly looking forward to the trip itself. “i want to see parts of the country that i have never seen before,” says Mark Wilson.

“i always said that when i turn 50 i want to ride across the country,” says Bill Pixler. “Well, i turned 50 this month.”

Aside from the charities the run will support, Mitch Matzek is in it for the brotherhood. “it’s not your usual race like most people would think. We’re family already because we all have a common goal to achieve. i think the riders themselves are going to be moral support for each other. it’s kind of like a band of warriors,” Mitch says as he brings the Hoka Hey Motorcycle Challenge into historical perspective. “you’re not going to leave a brother behind.”

Hoka Hey!

MarCh 2010 Thunder roads WesT Virginia 11www.thunderroadswv.com

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As we have documented elsewhere in the magazine, this winter has not been kind to those of us who like to get the motorcycles out as much as possible. But even in the middle of a winter like this, the bike scene can be HOT! All you need to do is find one of the traveling shows, like the 29th Annual international Motorcycle Show that Thunder Roads West Virginia found in our Nation’s Capitol. yes, we actually traveled outside the borders of West Virginia so that you wouldn’t have to. We braved the elements – it was raining in Washington, D.C. that day – so that you could stay dry and comfy. And we have returned with the pictures, so that you don’t have to pay the admission price. Enjoy the show!

winter bike

shows

12 Thunder roads WesT Virginia MarCh 2010

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continued on next page

MarCh 2010 Thunder roads WesT Virginia 13www.thunderroadswv.com

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winter bike

shows

14 Thunder roads WesT Virginia MarCh 2010

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Clinton Holt was born into a motorcycle family. He got his first taste of bike ownership at the tender age of four when he was given the gift of a mini-bike. A few years later – okay maybe more than a few – Clinton was driving home to his place near Saint Albans, WV when it happened.It was three days after Christmas, 2007. As he drove down the street he looked to his right, and there she was. She was sitting in the window of a Harley-Davidson shop, and she spoke to him. Her Cobalt Blue metallic skin stirred his senses. The real gold leaf flames dancing across her curvaceous features accented her lines like none he had ever seen before. She was wearing just about every piece of chrome bling imaginable. He had to have her.She was a 2007 Screamin’ Eagle Road King, and with just 900 miles on her odometer it was clear that she was still looking for the right rider. So Clinton “Cutter” Holt walked through the doors, and took her home. Later that same day, he took his new ride to meet his friends at the Apache motorcycle club. The celebration for Cutter only got sweeter, as he was “patched in” to the club that very same day.Now, a bit more than two years and 19,000 miles later, Cutter and his Road King have explored most of the state of West Virginia. He’s very focused on riding in our state, and rarely travels outside its edges. He is a true West Virginia biker.Clinton Holt got the road name “Cutter” because of his work. He wields sharp objects against people’s heads for a living. “Barber” is a more common term for what he does. But it seems he only does that to fill the hours between rides. Whenever the weather allows, Cutter rides to work. And after nearly every day spent lowering his customer’s ears Cutter jumps on this beautiful scoot and takes off. I mean really takes off.“There are a lot of times when it will be one, two or three in the morning before I get home,” Cutter says of his nocturnal bike romps. Now that’s my idea of winding down after a day on the job.

BIKE OF THE MONTHCutters’s Cruiser

MarCh 2010 Thunder roads WesT Virginia 15www.thunderroadswv.com

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Hidden HighwaysDiscovering South Fork Road

I’m talking to a cop.Now, past conversations with an officer of the law have been known to involve him asking for my autograph on a little slip of paper, whereby we are agreeing to meet up again at some future date in the presence of a County Judge. But this time, the conversation is about riding. Turns out, he is a biker too.

My riding partners and i have stopped at a gas station in Moorefield to cycle some water into and out of ourselves, when the on-duty city police officer walks up to me and starts a conversation. it seems he is looking for folks to ride with on his mid-week days off. i’m thinking to myself that having a badge as a riding partner could have its benefits. But as we’re talking, one of my buddies is constantly grabbing me by the shoulders and twisting my body slightly askew from the uniformed fellow.

“Turn around.”

“Move to the side.”

“Stand this way.”

She keeps muttering this stuff in my ear, annoying me as i try to keep a coherent conversation going with this fellow. Realizing that i’m just not getting the point, she urgently whispers, “Don’t let him see the back of your shirt!”

NOW, i get it. My T-shirt’s back has the image of a motorcycle cop with a radar gun emblazoned on it, and the caption “Know the Enemy”. The way i’m standing, he can see it reflected in the gas stations windows. Good riding partners always watch out for each other. So, for the rest of the chat i’m making a conscious – albeit spastic - effort to face The Man square-on.

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“Where are you headed?” says he.

“Going down Route 55 to Seneca Rocks, over Judy Gap, and home from there”, i say as i shift my position evermore away from the plate glass windows.

Here’s where the conversation gets interesting. “Have you ever taken South Fork Road? it’s a great ride”, says he. “There’s a little mom & pop store on Winchester Avenue, right by the railroad tracks. Turn down the side street by that store. it’s a neat road with no traffic on it. it’s a great time.”

understatement. Running from Moorefield on the north end to Oak Flat on the south, South Fork Road is 35 miles of uninterrupted biking bliss. This ribbon winds its way down a narrow valley floor, gracefully arcing back and forth over the South Fork of the South Branch of the Potomac River. Farms and forests leapfrog each other and soaring mountain ridges to the left and right seal out the rest of the world. if you encounter five cages during the entire run, you’ve been there on a busy day. i have made the South Fork run dozens of times, and frequently haven’t encountered a single vehicle.

There are some towns marked on the map. Places like Bass, Brake and Milam. But none of them is anything more than a collection of a few houses. Make sure you have enough gas to get to the other end, because there are no services along the way.

But, oh my, there is great biking. There’s a peaceful, laid-back appeal to this road. Time stops here. Long stretches of straight, open road are punctuated by undulating passages where the two mountain ridges close in on each other. This is a valley road, so tight twisty passes aren’t the draw. But this well-kept stretch of asphalt has enough of everything else to inspire any rider.

Two-thirds of the way down, the road crosses over from Hardy to Pendleton County, and the name changes to Sweedlin Valley Road. But you won’t notice. The road T-bones into Highway 33 on the south end of the run. Go left and you’ll zig-zag your way over the towering pass into Virginia, ending up in Harrisonburg. Go right and 33 will delight your senses for another nine miles as you cross over the ridge, ending up in Franklin, WV. There are faster ways to get from Moorefield to Franklin, and they’re a lot of fun as well. But South Fork Road delivers a great ride through a scenic valley that few people in cars will ever see.

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SKINART

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A BiLL to amend and reenact §17A-10-3b of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended; to amend and reenact §17C-15-44 of said code; and to amend said code by adding thereto a new section, designated §17C-15-44a, all relating to motorcycle safety and equipment; increasing the motorcycle safety fee; providing a motorcycle helmet exemption for motorcyclists meeting certain requirements; helmet exemption sticker and fees; penalties; and rules.

Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:

That §17A-10-3b of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, be amended and reenacted; that §17C-15-44 of said code be amended and reenacted; and that said code be amended by adding thereto a new section, designated §17C-15-44a, all to read as follows:

CHAPTER 17A. MOTOR VEHICLE ADMINISTRATION, REGISTRATION,CERTIFICATE OF TITLE, AND ANTITHEFT PROVISIONS.

ARTICLE 10. FEES FOR REGISTRATION, LICENSING, ETC.§17A-10-3b. Motorcycle safety fee.upon the annual registration of any motorcycle, the division shall collect a motorcycle safety fee of $6.50 $10, in addition to the registration fee specified in section three of this article. The division shall deposit $5.50 $9 of the motorcycle safety fee into the State Treasury and credit the moneys to the Motorcycle Safety Fund. The division shall deposit the remaining $1 of the motorcycle safety fee into the State Treasury and credit the moneys collected to the Motorcycle License Examination Fund established in section seven-c, article two, chapter seventeen-b of this code.

CHAPTER 17C. TRAFFIC REGULATIONS AND LAWS OF THE ROAD.

ARTICLE 15. EQUIPMENT.§17C-15-44. Safety equipment and requirements for motorcyclists, motorcycles, motor-driven cycles and mopeds; motorcycle safety standards and education committee.

(a) No person shall operate or be a passenger on any motorcycle or motor-driven cycle unless the person is wearing securely fastened on his or her head by either a neck or chin strap a protective helmet designed to deflect blows, resist penetration and spread impact forces, except as otherwise provided in section forty-four-a of this article. Any helmet worn by an operator or passenger shall meet the current performance specifications established by the American National Standards institute Standard, Z 90.1, the united States Department of Transportation Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 218 or Snell Safety Standards for Protective Headgear for Vehicle users.

(b) No person shall operate or be a passenger on any motorcycle or motor-driven cycle unless the person is wearing safety, shatter-resistant eyeglasses (excluding contact lenses), or eye goggles or face shield that complies with the performance specifications established by the American National Standards institute for Head, Eye and Respiratory Protection, Z 2.1. in addition, if any motorcycle, motor-driven cycle or moped is equipped with a windshield or windscreen, the windshield or windscreen shall be constructed of safety, shatter-resistant material that complies with the performance specifications established by Department of Transportation Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 205 and American National Standards institute, Safety Glazing Materials for Glazing Motor Vehicles Operated on Land Highways, Standard Z 26.1.

(c) No person shall operate a motorcycle, motor-driven cycle or moped on which the handlebars or grips are more than fifteen inches higher than the uppermost part of the operator’s seat when the seat is not depressed in any manner.

(d) A person operating a motorcycle, motor-driven cycle or moped shall ride in a seated position facing forward and only upon a permanent operator’s seat attached to the vehicle. No operator shall carry any other person nor shall any other person ride on the vehicle unless the vehicle is designed to carry more than one person, in which event a passenger may ride behind the operator upon the permanent operator’s seat if it is designed for two persons, or upon another seat firmly attached to the vehicle to the rear of the operator’s seat and equipped with

Editor’s Note

This is the exact text of West Virginia Senate Bill 192, which would change the state helmet law as described in our story beginning on page 8. This bill was introduced by Senator Jack Yost and is currently in the hands of the Senate’s Transportation Committee.

Senate Bill No. 192(By Senator Yost)

____________

[Introduced January 13, 2010; referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure; and then to the Committee on Finance.]

____________

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footrests designed and located for use by the passenger or in a sidecar firmly attached to the vehicle. No person shall ride side saddle on a seat. An operator may carry as many passengers as there are seats and footrests to accommodate those passengers. Additional passengers may be carried in a factory produced sidecar provided that there is one passenger per seat. Passengers riding in a sidecar shall be restrained by safety belts.

(e) Every motorcycle, motor-driven cycle and moped shall be equipped with a rearview mirror affixed to the handlebars or fairings and adjusted so that the operator shall have a clear view of the road and condition of traffic behind him or her for a distance of at least two hundred feet.

(f) There is hereby created a six member motorcycle safety and education committee consisting of: the superintendent of the State Police or a designee; the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles or a designee; the director of the West Virginia safety council or a designee; a licensed motorcycle operator; an owner of a motorcycle dealership; and a supplier of aftermarket nonfranchised motorcycle supplies. The nongovernmental representatives shall be appointed by the Governor with the advice and consent of the Senate, shall serve without compensation, and the terms shall be for three years, except that as to the members first appointed, one shall be appointed for a term of one year, one shall be appointed for a term of two years and one shall be appointed for a term of three years. Members may be reappointed to the committee.

The committee shall continue to exist pursuant to the provisions of article ten, chapter four of this code until July 1, 1990-nine, to allow for the completion of a preliminary performance review by the joint committee on government operations.

The committee is hereby authorized to recommend to the superintendent of public safety types and makes of protective helmets, eye protection devices and equipment offered for sale, purchased or used by any person. The committee is authorized to make recommendations to the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles regarding the use of the moneys in the motorcycle safety fund created under section seven, article one-d, chapter seventeen-b of this code.

§17C-15-44a. Motorcycle helmet exemptions; requirements; fees; penalties; and rules.

(a) Effective July 1, 2010, a person operating a motorcycle or motor-driven cycle is exempt from wearing a motorcycle helmet as required in section forty-four of this article if the person:

(1) is at least twenty-one years old;

(2) Has held a motorcycle operator’s license or endorsement for a minimum of two years;

(3) Has completed a motorcycle safety training course as provided in sections two and three, article one-d, chapter seventeen-b of this code or has completed a comparable motorcycle safety training course approved by the Division of Motor Vehicles; and

(4) is covered by a health insurance plan providing the person with at least $10,000 in medical benefits for injuries incurred as a result of an accident while operating or riding on a motorcycle.

(b) A person who is at least twenty-one years old and holds a motorcycle operator’s license or endorsement on or before June 30, 2010, is eligible for a “grandfather” exception to subsection (a) in which the two-year minimum operator’s license or endorsement requirement set forth in subdivision (2) of subsection (a) and the safety training course requirement set forth in subdivision (3) of subsection (a) are waived if the person complies with the health insurance requirement set forth in subdivision (4) of subsection (a).

(c) Effective July 1, 2010, a person riding as a passenger on a motorcycle or motor-driven cycle is exempt from wearing a motorcycle helmet as required in section forty-four of this article if the person:

(1) is at least twenty-one years old; and

(2) is covered by a health insurance plan providing the person with at least $10,000 in medical benefits for injuries incurred as a result of an accident while operating or riding on a motorcycle.

(d) For a fee of $5, the Division of Motor Vehicles shall issue a serialized, nontransferrable “helmet exception” operator sticker or passenger sticker to a motorcycle or motor-driven cycle operator or passenger demonstrating compliance with the requirements set forth in subsection (a),(b) or (c) of this section. A “helmet exemption” sticker issued pursuant to this section expires on the second anniversary of the date of issuance.

(e) A person operating or riding as a passenger on a motorcycle or motor-driven cycle without a helmet shall display a “helmet exemption” sticker issued pursuant to subsection (d) of this section on the license plate of the motorcycle or the license plate mounting bracket. A person displaying a “helmet exemption” sticker in this manner is presumed to be in compliance with the provisions of subsection (a),(b) or (c) of this section.

(f) For purposes of this section, “health insurance plan” means an individual, group, blanket, or franchise insurance policy, insurance agreement, evidence of coverage, group hospital services contract, health maintenance organization membership, or employee benefit plan that provides benefits for health care services or for medical or surgical expenses incurred as a result of an accident.

(g) A person operating or riding as a passenger on a motorcycle or motor-driven cycle without a helmet who is not in compliance with the provisions of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, shall be fined not less than $200 nor more than $500; and upon a second or subsequent conviction shall be fined not less than $500 nor more than $1000. An arresting officer may impound a motorcycle operated by a person violating the provisions of this section unless the person can lawfully operate the motorcycle by then wearing a helmet or by otherwise demonstrating compliance with the provisions of this section.

(h) The Commissioner of the Division of Motor Vehicles shall propose rules in accordance with the provisions of article three, chapter twenty-nine-a of this code to implement the provisions of this section.

NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to provide a motorcycle helmet exemption to motorcyclists who meet certain safety and health insurance requirements. This bill would allow West Virginia to compete for motorcycle tourism dollars on a more equal footing with neighboring states which do not require motorcyclists to wear helmets. This bill sets age, experience, safety training and health insurance requirements for motorcycle operators to qualify for a helmet exemption, and sets age and health insurance requirements for motorcycle passengers to qualify for a helmet exemption. The bill creates a helmet exemption sticker to be displayed prominently on the motorcycle to verify compliance with helmet exemption provisions, and provides penalties for violations of helmet exemption provisions. The bill also increases the motorcycle safety awareness fee from $6.50 to $10 to provide additional funding for motorcycle safety training programs. The bill additionally deletes outdated and duplicate language referencing the Motorcycle Safety Awareness Board established in §17B-1D-8.

Strike-throughs indicate language that would be stricken from the present law, and underscoring indicates new language that would be added.

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Ice Riders

Here’s a mystery that we would love to help solve.

Who are these brave riders? We have a few clues to

help out. The picture was taken somewhere around

1930. The glare ice our fearless bikers are traversing

is floating atop the Monongahela River in Fairmont,

WV. That bridge in the background, called the

“Million Dollar Bridge”, was new at the time of this

photograph. The crossing was rebuilt a few years ago

and its replacement is called the Mollahan Bridge. So,

who are these intrepid guys?

Let’s go one further. What are they riding? We’re

thinking these are Harley-Davidson twins that were

produced in several variations during the 1920’s.

Note that the bike in the middle seems to have a

slightly different shape to the fuel tank and fenders.

Our best guess is that this may be a pre-1925 Model

“JD” or “FD”. Touted as the “Superpowered Twin”,

these bikes churned out a whopping 18 horsepower

from their 74-inch motors. With the help of a three-

speed gearbox, the bike had a top end somewhere

around 75 mph.

The two bikes on its flanks seem to have teardrop-

shaped tanks, which appeared on the D’s beginning

with the 1925 models. But the shape of the front

fender on these two bikes leads us to think that they

may not be D’s. Are they actually “J” series machines?

If so, they were rare bikes even when they were new.

The twin-cam power plant was offered in two sizes.

The “JH” had a 61-inch displacement and the “JDH”

used the same crankcase, but was bored and stroked

to 74 inches. Harley only produced the J’s in 1928 and

1929 because their high price tag of $360 ($370 for the

bigger motor) put them out of most people’s reach.

Topping out at around 85mph, they were the hot rods

of the day and helped inspire the “bad boy” image of

bikers that still lingers in the public psyche.

So, again, who are these guys and what are they

riding? If you have real information that could

answer either of these questions, we want to hear

from you. Log onto www.thunderroadswv.com,

where you’ll find this story on our Homepage. Click

on the link to help us solve the mystery. Please put

“Ice Riders” on the subject line.

Terry Summers owns this photograph as well as

Pinch Gut Holler Cycles. The story behind it comes to

us from Porter Stiles. Thanks, Brothers.

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S. J. Angotti (1924-1987) • David J. Straface • John R. Angotti

292-LAWYER(304.292.4381)

MOTORCYCLE ACCIDENTS

PERSONAL INJURY

AUTO ACCIDENTS

CALL NOW FOR FREE INITIAL CONSULTATION AT OUR OFFICE ...OR WE’LL COME TO YOU.

MarCh 2010 Thunder roads WesT Virginia 25www.thunderroadswv.com

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A trucker came into a truck stop cafe and placed his order. He said, “I want three flat tires, a pair of headlights and pair of running boards.” The brand new blonde waitress, not wanting to appear stupid, went to the kitchen and said to the cook, “This guy out there just ordered three flat tires, a pair of headlights and a pair of running boards. What does he think this place is, an auto parts store?” “No,” the cook said. “Three flat tires mean three pancakes, a pair of headlights is two eggs sunny side up and running boards are 2 slices of crisp bacon.” “Oh, OK!” said the blonde. She thought about it for a moment and then spooned up a bowl of beans and gave it to the customer. The trucker asked, “What are the beans for, Blondie?” She replied, “I thought while you were waiting for the flat tires, headlights and running boards, you might as well gas up!”

After being married for 44 years, I took a careful look at my wife one night and said, “Darling, 44 years ago we had a cheap apartment, a cheap car, slept on a sofa bed and watched a 10-inch black and white t.v., but I got to sleep every night with a smokin’ hot 20-year-old girl. Now, I have a $500,000. home, a $45,000.00 car, a comfy King size Sleep Number bed and LED/high-def/60 inch Flat-screen., but I’m sleeping with a 65-year-old woman. It seems to me that she was not holding up her side of things.”My wife is a very reasonable woman. With no hesitation whatsoever, she gently encouraged me to go out and find the hottest 20-year-old gal possible, and she would make damn sure that I would once again be living in a cheap apartment, driving a cheap car, sleeping on a sofa bed and watching a 10-inch black and white t.v. I truly believe the ability to compromise is the reason we’ve lasted so long. (sigh)

A couple had been married for 50 years. They were sitting at the breakfast table one morning when the wife says, ‘Just think, fifty years ago we were sitting here at this breakfast table together.’ ‘I know,’ the old man said. ‘We were probably sitting here naked as a jaybird fifty years ago..’ ‘Well,’ Granny snickered. ‘Let’s relive some old times.’ Where upon, the two stripped to the buff and sat down at the table. ‘You know, honey,’ the little old lady breathlessly replied, ‘My nipples are as hot for you today as they were fifty years ago.’ ‘I wouldn’t be surprised,’ replied Gramps. ‘One’s in your coffee and the other is in your oatmeal.

Five surgeons from big cities are discussing who makes the best patients to operate on.

The first surgeon, from New York, says,” I like to see accountants on my operating table because when you open them up, everything inside is numbered.”The second, from Chicago, responds, “Yeah, but you should try electricians! Everything inside them is color coded.” The third surgeon, from Dallas, says, “No, I really think librarians are the best, everything inside them is in alphabetical order.” The fourth surgeon, from Los Angeles chimes in: “You know, I like construction workers. Those guys always understand when you have a few parts left over.”But the fifth surgeon, from Washington, DC, shut them all up when he observed: “You’re all wrong. Politicians are the easiest to operate on. There’s no guts, no heart, no balls, no brains, and no spine. Plus, the head and the ass are interchangeable.”

I finally got around to going fishing this mornin’ - but after a while, I ran out of worms.Then I saw a cottonmouth with a frog in his mouth, and frogs are good bass bait.Knowing the snake couldn’t bite me with the frog in his mouth, I grabbed him right behind the head,took the frog and put it in my bait bucket.Now the dilemma was how to release the snake without getting bitten -I grabbed my bottle of Jack Daniels and poured a little whiskey in its mouth.His eyes rolled back & he went limp. I released him into the lake without incident, and carried on my fishing, A little later, I felt a nudge on my foot. There was that same damn snake with TWO frogs in his mouth.

One morning, before he goes out to the fields, the farmer says to his sweet, albeit ditzy blonde young wife, “The Artificial Insemination man is coming to impregnate one of our cows today. I drove a nail into the two-by-four above the cow’s stall so you can show him where it is, okay?”The Artificial Insemination man arrives. Suzy takes him down the long row of cows until she sees the nail, and tells him, “This is the one. This one right here!”“How did you know this is the cow to be bred?” the A.I. guys asks curiously to the ditzy cute blonde. “By the nail over her stall,” Suzy says proudly.Then the man asks, “What’s the nail for?”Well, duh, I reckon’ it’s to hang your pants on.”

A man bumps into a woman in a hotel lobby and as he does, his elbow goes into her breast. They are both quite startled. The man turns to her and says, ‘Ma’am, if your heart is as soft as your breast, I know you’ll forgive me.’ She replies, ‘If your penis is as hard as your elbow, I’m in room 227.

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Seats & SADDLES

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Most of them lament the crisp crackle of pipes breaking the early morning silence.

They see only the danger of two wheels, a noisy useless means of conveyance.

The air is split with the bellow of low rpms churning the air as I climb onto the mechanical extension of my soul.

The familiar feeling of my blue jeans settling down onto weathered leather combines with the vibrating rhythm of piston power!

The temperature climbs throughout the cylinder heads, and…… I begin to roll!

The addictive calm falls over me as I twist in the throttle and life snaps into focus as quickly as the miles beginning to slip beneath my floorboards. So, then marks the beginning of yet another search for my dream, or, ….is it a dream?

The confusion of the modern day dilemma disappears; no longer am I torn between intellectual concept, philosophical thought and the grind of waging the, “War of Wages.”

Gone, are the bonds and binds and bribes and… frankly, the bores. I am one with my maker…… and I am at peace!

I suffer not the Earthly bonds that tie, for I am alone with my soul in his great creation. He gives to me his beauty as it unfolds throughout my journey on my Iron Horse.

I am humbled and speechless as I ride in reflection! The panorama is endless! Both predictable and not;….. running along, I yearn for the next turn, the next bank, the next spot!

I continue to lean from side to side in a hypnotic trance rolling on the power to bring me more and more and…… more!

Like two dancers exhausted from the floor, we break the tempo, my Horse and I.

My eyes rest from the thrill; my body heals from the ache!, yet the well in my soul will not fill!

For a moment, I climb off and restore us both with the fuel of life.

Our needs are replenished; together… my Horse…. and I!

The earthly price is paid. I climb on and…. Together!…. we once again,… begin to fly!

I‘ve heard it said,…“Happiness in this life comes from learning to enjoy the passage of time,” For some that passage is dark and happiness never comes. For some it is found, yet, not seen or felt.

The search and the solution take endless forms for us all.

My mystical passage flows down many rivers as I search for eternal wisdom and truth!

Could it; will it; can it be?

Does the answer lie on the river of concrete and asphalt?

Is it true? Will my Iron Horse be the vehicle of my deliverance?

We all search for the understanding and continuation of our eternal soul!

Do we only search for a meaningless and elusive dream? The wisdom of the ages flows into us through all of our senses,….. if only we learn to use them!

I know that my soul is alive, and I am at peace,… when I feel the heart beat of my Iron Horse!

E.C. Hume

Reflections… on the journeys of myIron Horse!

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uNiTy. One of the greatest issues we have today deals with unity. We have our own way of doing things and our own beliefs and if someone doesn’t agree with us then we consider them “wrong” which brings forth the preverbal “it’s either my way or the highway!” The Bible defines humbleness as the ability to accept others as they are and likewise. Ever hear the statement, “if you don’t ride a Harley then you don’t ride a real bike.” Maybe you’ve heard someone say that a yamaha Roadstar rides more comfortably than a Honda Goldwing. Actually, it’s not about what we ride, but that we ride!We have many MC’s in WV for a reason. Some feel drawn to join one particular group while others choose to join a different group. it doesn’t mean that we’re not all on the same page, it means that we’re fortunate enough to have the freedom of choice to be a part of whichever group is more appealing to us as individuals. it’s hard enough now days to keep a club alive with the current rules, regulations and government mandates and the last thing we need is to have conflict between us. Psalms 131:1 says, “How good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity.” Spiritually speaking, i’m sure we have people of many different faiths who read the devotionals and it doesn’t matter whether we’re Baptist, Nazarene or non-denominational. We all serve the same God and are all called according to His purpose. Riding season is soon approaching. Let’s saddle up with a good attitude, mutual respect and love for one another and let’s make this one of the most exciting, unified seasons we’ve ever had in the motorcycling community! Love, Loyalty and Respect

By Jim “Jammer” Marcum

Jim “Jammer” Marcum resides in Charleston and has been involved in motorcycle ministry for nearly 15 years and serves as Clergy within Highways and Hedges Motorcycle Ministry.

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TNT

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TO ALL OUR BRAVE, PROUD TROOPS... YOU’RE IN OUR THOUGHTS & PRAYERS DAILY. God Speed You Home.

EVERY LEPRECHAUN’S FAVE ...SLOW COOKER MAC N’ CHEESE

2 Full Cups of Elbow Macaroni1/2 Stick of Real Butter; Cut into 4 Pieces2-1/2 Cups of Grated Extra Sharp Cheddar Cheese3 Eggs; Beaten1/2 Cup Sour Cream1 Can Condensed Cheddar Cheese SoupSalt & Cracked Pepper to Taste1 Cup of Whole Milk1/2 tsp. Dry MustardBoil the macaroni until tender. Drain thoroughly. in medium saucepan, mix butter & cheese. Stir until the cheese totally melts. in a slow cooker, combine cheese/butter mixture and add the eggs, sour cream, cheese soup, salt/pepper, milk, and mustard and stir up well. Then add drained macaroni and stir once again to incorporate. Set slow cooker on low. Allow to cook for apprx. 3 hours, stirring occasionally. This is like the richest, creamiest mac n’ cheese you’ve ever tasted! * if you want, sprinkle bread crumbs all on top and spray with butter spray and just stick your crock-pot under broiler till crumb topping is golden brown. Serve up with some good, crusty hot bread. Now....that’s a meal in itself!

SPICY PIZZA FRITTATA

1 Pkg. Cream Cheese; Softened6 Extra Large EggsSalt & Cracked Pepper to Taste1/2 tsp. Dried Basil1/2 tsp. Dried Oregano3 Tbls. Real Butter1 Package of Fresh, Sliced Mushrooms1 Can of Green Chilies1 Package of Round Pepperoni discs, Coarsely Chopped (in any grocer’s deli section) Beat cream cheese, eggs, salt & pepper & seasonings until well blended. Melt butter in a 10-inch ovenproof skillet on medium heat. Add shrooms’ and chilies; cook and stir until crisp-tender. Stir in chopped pepperoni discs and cream cheese mixture. Cover, cook 5 minutes or until center

is almost set. Heat broiler. uncover Frittata. Place skillet under broiler for apprx. 2-3 minutes, depending on how crisp you want it. Remove and let cool slightly to set-up. Serve up slices with individual little bowls of pizza sauce for dipping. The chilies give this pizza style frittata a total zing!

SUPER SIMPLE GRILLED SHRIMP SALAD

1 Bag of Gorton’s Frozen Pre-Grilled & Spiced Shrimp (in any grocer’s freezer) Thawed & Warmed in A Small Skillet1/2 Cup of Finely Chopped Celery2 Tbls. of Minced Green Onion (shallots)1-1/2 Tbls. Fresh Lemon Juice1 Cup Real MayonnaiseSalt & Cracked Pepper to TasteJust combine all ingredients above and Voila! Shrimp salad is so refreshing and great to eat any time of year and with this recipe it literally takes you 10 mins. to whip up a batch. So getwhipping! :)

A CREME-Y, DREAMY, CLASSIC TREAT

2 Cups Orange Sherbet; Softened1 Pkg. Philly Cream Cheese; Softened1 Can Sweetened Condensed Milk1/2 Cup Orange Juice1 Tub (8 oz. ) Cool Whip; ThawedLine a 9x5 inch loaf pan with foil. Spread sherbet onto botom of prepared pan to form even layer. Freeze for 10 minutes. Meanwhile, beat cream cheese in large bowl with mixer until totally creamy. Gradually add condensed milk and orange juice, beating until blended. Gently stir in Cool Whip. Pour over sherbet in foil covered pan. Freeze for no less than 3 hours. To un-mold, invert pan onto plate.Remove foil slowly and make sure no pieces remained on sherbet topping. This is so delicious and refreshing! and only 30 calories and 3 grams of fat per serving. you could even lighten that up w/ no-fat cream cheese & Lite Cool Whip. Serve with a twisted slice of orange on top. Pretty as a picture! Happy St. Patty’s Day!

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The Dawg House Bar & GrillPool, Darts & Music Entertainment

1387 Fairmont RoadMorgantown, WV 26501

1 mile past Morgantown Mall on 19 South

Fox’s Pizza Den646 North Main StreetFranklin, WV 26807

(304) 358-2118Pizza – Salads – Subs – Chicken

Hide Away Tavern Rt. 50 Burlington, WV

Near WVDOH District 5 Shed(304) 289-5396

iron Horse Bar & GrillHC 84 Box 33 (Cutoff Road)

Keyser, WV 26726(304) 788-7533

K&T DinerRte. 73 N Meadowdale Road

Fairmont, WV 26554, i79 Exit 13924 Hr Takeout Service (304) 363-7113

Attn. Truckers: Certified Cat Scales On-Site

Longshots Billiards76 Wolfcraft Way

Charles Town, WV 25414(304) 724-1975

www.longshotsbilliards.com

Magic’s Bar & Grill3 Moran Circle

Fairmont, WV 26554(304) 363-9227

Across from Pickup City

Mom’s PlaceFull menu served 24 hours a day

The end of Hoult Road by the Phillips PlantFairmont, WV

(304) 368-9223

Mountaineer All Star Cafeu.S. Rt. 220 South / 2 mi. from Keyser

A Family Restaurant with a Sports Atmosphere(304) 788-6433

Nan & Pops Place3485 Winchester AvenueMartinsburg, WV 25405

(304) 267-2007www.nanandpopsplace.com

ATTORNEYSAngotti & Straface, L.C.

274 Spruce StreetMorgantown, WV 26505

(304) 292-4381 www.angottistrafacelaw.com

Burke, Schultz, Harman & JenkinsonAttorneys at Law84 Aikens Center

Martinsburg, WV 25402(304) 263-0900

www.burkeandschultz.com

Colombo & Stuhr, PLLC.1054 Maple Drive

Morgantown, WV 26505(304) 599-4229 www.colombostuhr.com

BAIL BONDSWeatherholtz Bonding

306 West Stephen StreetMartinsburg, WV 25401

(304) 267-5888 or (304) 728-6889Email: [email protected]

BARS & RESTAURANTS3rd Base Sports Bar & Grille

22 Virginia Avenue; uS Rt. 220Petersburg, WV 26847 up from the stop light

(304) 257-2273 Email: [email protected]

Bee Hive Tavern463 Morgantown Avenue

Fairmont, WV 26554(304) 282-8196

One block from Thinkin ink Tattoo

Cindy’s Bar & GrillRoute 3 (End of Speedway)

Fairmont, WV 26554(304) 363-0058

Across from K&T TruckStop

Colt’s Restaurant and Pizza Park inc.425 S. Main St.

Moorefield, WV 26836(304) 538-2523

Dakota TavernRoute 19 North of Fairmont

(304) 288-4893Friendly Atmosphere and Good Food

Est. 1964

BIKER FRIENDLY DIRECTORYRoad Hogs Saloon415 Clayton Street

Rivesville, WV 26588

Rock Forge inn/Haught Diggity DogzServing WV’s #1 Rated Chili Dog

Off i-68 at Sabraton Exit #4Turn left .2 mile – Red Roof on rightRt. 7 East (304) 291-DOGZ (3649)

Star Mercantile, LLC80 W. Main Street

Wardensville, WV 26851(304) 874-FOOD (3663)

Email: [email protected]

Steve’s Broken Spoke Bar & Grill14977 SR 55

Needmore, WV 26801(304) 897-7706

www.oldroute55.com

Winston’s Bar 2201 Pleasant Valley Road

Fairmont, WV 26554(304) 844-6872

www.winstonsbarandgrill.com

BIKER ACCESSORIES, APPAREL, LEATHERS & GIFTS

Anthony’s SpecialtyBiker Apparel – Leather – H-D Boots & More

112 Davis AvenueGlen Lyn, VA 24093

(540) 726-3080

DFM Special Tee House “The Biker Shack”Helmets – Shirts – Chaps - Jewelry

162 Nancy Jack RoadGerrardstown, WV 25420

(304) 229-7609 Email: [email protected]

East View Variety ShopWe have everything from A – Z,

Old and New715 Philippi Pike- East View Community

Clarksburg, WV 26301(304) 622-6710

CUSTOM APPARELMy Club Clothing and Accessories

Embossed, Silk Screened and Embroidered Custom Logos

Kerry Henson (301) 992-1530www.myclubclothing.com

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CUSTOM ARTArt by Weeze

Custom art on bikes, leathers, helmets,auto, canvas & murals

Martinsburg, WV (304) 264-4604www.artbyweeze.com

CUSTOM DESIGN & FABRICATION

Wiskybiltit’s all about the ride.

Custom crafted parts made in WV(304) 329-1214

www.wiskybilt.com

DEALERS & SERVICEEvel Speed

Custom MacEvel SpeedCustom Machine & Motor Sick’l Shop

7323 Winchester Avenueinwood, WV 25428

(304) 229-0987 www.evelspeed.net

JT Cycle & Hoodlum Motorcycle GarageAftermarket & Custom Parts & Accessories

486 Ragland Road, Beckley, WV 25801(304) 255-2468 www.jtcycleparts.com

M&J Motor CompanyLehman Trike Conversions

1000 S. Queen StreetMartinsburg, WV 25401

(304) 262-6200 www.mjtrikes.com

Miller’s ATV SuperstoreOn Rt. 52 in Bluewell, WV

Stop for all your ATV & Dirt Bike riding needs3601 Coal Heritage Rd., Bluefield, WV 24701

(304) 589-5277 www.millersatvs.com

O.B.’s Motorsports1019 7th Street

Parkersburg, WV 26101(304) 420-0910 www.obsmotorsports.com

Motorcycles Shipped FREE

Shenandoah Harley-Davidson213 Rolling Thunder Lane

Staunton, VA 24401(540) 213-7433 www.shenhd.com

Skip’s Honda580 South Mineral Street

Keyser, WV 26726(304) 788-1615

Smitty’s Suzuki, Kawasaki, yamaha Rt. 33 E. Corridor H

Buckhannon, WV 26201(304) 472-4824 www.supersmittys.com

The Little Shop of HarleysService & Accessories – HD Certified Mechanic

44 Bay Berry LaneBerkeley Springs, WV 25411

(304) 258-3909

The Twisted SpokeCustom Builds, Motorcycle & ATV Repair97 Milford Street, Clarksburg, WV 26301

(304) 326-HOGG (4644) www.thetwistedspoke.com

INSURANCEMathias & Associates insurance

Farm – Home – Auto – Life - HealthMotorcycle – Boat – RV insurance

and Retirement Planning(800) 628-3064

Email: [email protected]

LODGINGSmoke Hole Caverns & Resort

Open All year RoundHC 59, Box 39

Seneca Rocks, WV 26884(800) 828-8478 www.smokehole.com

MOTORCYCLE PARTSCycleMart - your Motorcycle Parts Store

All Makes All Models202 Elkins Street

Fairmont, WV 26554(304) 366-8119 www.cyclemart.net

PHOTOGRAPHYVetter Photo

1675 Cold Spring RoadMoorefield, WV 26836

(304) 530-6855 www.vetterphoto.com

SPORTING GOODSDoug’s Sport Shop

New and used Guns, Sporting Apparel,Aigner Products and Reloading Supplies

220 North Main Street; 743B Hawse PlazaMoorefield, WV 26836 (304) 538-6496Email: [email protected]

TATTOO STUDIOSModernday Primative Tattoos

and Body Piercings1320 1/2 Locust Ave, Fairmont, WV

(304) 333-iNKD (4653)www.moderndayprimative.com

myspace.com/moderndayprimative

Smokin’ Guns Tattoo2986 Robert C. Byrd Drive

Beckley, WV 25801(304) 250-6020 www.sgtattoo.com

VEHICLE SERVICESBob’s Tire Service inc.812 East Moler Avenue Martinsburg, WV 25401

(304) 267-2797 www.bobstireservice.net

Hot Rods Roll Back and TowingSpecializing in Motorcycle Towing

274 Bedington RoadMartinsburg, WV 25401

(304) 267-5586 Visa & MC AcceptedEmail: [email protected]

WEB DESIGNMeridian Websites

55 Meridian Parkway, Suite 101 Martinsburg, WV 25401

(304) 263-1000www.meridianwebsites.com

C.E.’s Helping Hands (Old Fields, WV)a non-profit organization enlisting the help of other good hearted people wanting to contribute to the cause of helping others in need. The organization holds monthly meetings and several fundraising rides every year. Donations are always appreciated. For more information visit our website at www.cehelpinghands.com.

Highways and Hedges Motorcycle Ministry (South Charleston, WV)For more information email Jim “Jammer” Marcum at: [email protected]

Clubs & Organizations

BIKER FRIENDLY DIRECTORY

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MARCH

MARCH 20 - 21 – Martinsburg, WVNan & Pops Spring FlingSaturday Poker Run to benefit Fallen Police Officers of the Eastern Panhandle. Sign-up 12:00 Noon with kick stands up at 2:00 p.m. Food buffet and live music. Sunday Bike Show. Registration 1:00 – 3:00 p.m. Judging at 4:00 p.m. 3845 Winchester Avenue, Martinsburg, WV (304) 267-2007

MARCH 27 - 28 – Gettysburg, PAGettysburg Bike ShowThe 3rd Annual Gettysburg Bike Show will be held on Saturday, March 27, 2010 from 10am to 7pm and Sunday, March 28, 2010 from 10am to 6pm at the Allstar Events Complex, with special guest MARK BOONE, JR aka “Bobby” from the hit FX series Sons of Anarchy. For more information go to www.gettysburgbikeshow.com.

MAY

MAy 23 – Parkersburg, WV2nd Annual Poker Run for Toys for Tots$10 per person, registration starts at 10:30am First bike out at 11am last out at 1pm Last bike in 4:00 pm. At the Sixpence 1956 7th St. Parkersburg, WV

JUNE

JuNE 11 - 13 – Franklin, WVC.E.’s Helping Hands Fun FestThorn Spring Park in Franklin, WV. For up-to-date information please keep checking www.cehelpinghands.com.

JuNE 17 - 19 – Summersville, WVDown Home WV RallyThe GWRRA Down Home West Virginia Rally will be held on June 17-19, 2010 at the Summersville Conference Center in Summersville, West Virginia.

There will be Table Decorating, Chapter Shirt and Jacket, Best Dressed, Accident Re-Enactment, and more.

JuNE 18 - 20 – Tazewell, VA5th Annual Iron Titans Motorcycle Rally/Swap MeetThis 3 day event takes place at the Tazewell County Fairgrounds in Tazewell, VA. Tent and RV Camping/Public Showers. For complete details visit www.irontitansmororcyclerally.com or Email: [email protected]

JuNE 26 - 27 – Snowshow, WVMotorcycle USA SnowShoeThe 2010 Can-Am Grand National Cross Country (GNCC) Series - Round Nine - Motorcycle uSA Snowshoe will be at the Snowshoe Mountain Resort. Enjoy watching the Racers go through Deep Mud Bog’s, Hill Climbs, Tree Roots, and more. Additional information available on the Official Website at http://www.gnccracing.com

JULY

JuLy 15 – 18 – Snowshoe, WVFreedom Fest Motorcycle Touring RallyThe event will include guided tours, a bike show, biker games, music, contests and more. Rally registration fee and concert ticket prices to be announced. www.snowshoefreedomfest.com or call 877-441-4386.

JuLy 22 - 25 – Morgantown, WVMountainFest Motorcycle RallyMountainFest has quickly earned a reputation as one of motorcycling’s top events. your host for MountainFest is Morgantown, West Virginia. Conveniently located at the intersection of two major interstate highways, and surrounded on all sides by roads meant for motorcycles. 500 Mylan Park Lane, Morgantown, WV. www.wvmountainfest.com.

AUGUST

AuGuST 14 – Summersville, WV The Freedom RallyOrganized by volunteers in Summersville, WV to honor those that lay down their lives every day in order to protect and serve the citizens of America and, specifically West Virginia. Freedom Rally 2010 will be the 10th year for this event which is highlighted by the motorcycle rally. www.summersvillefreedomrally.com. AuGuST 27 - 29 – Davis, WVTimberline Motorcycle RallyThis rally is held in the Beautiful Mountains of West Virginia at Timberline Four Seasons Resort. All bikes are welcome. For more up to date information please contact: Email: [email protected] or visit www.timberlinemotorcyclerally.com

SEPTEMBER

SEPTEMBER 1 - 4 – Charleston, WVWest Virginia State HOG Rally There will be Entertainment, Activities, Vendors and more for everyone to enjoy. Registration will end on July 14th. More information will be provided as the event approaches. For more information about this event visit www.wvstatehogrally.com.

SEPTEMBER 16 - 18 – Moundsville, WVBack To Back IBA Saddle-Sore World Record Attempt Hoagy’s Heroes, inc. will be yet again trying to beat the World Record of the most riders to finish an iBA Back to Back SaddleSore, this is 2,000+ Miles in 48 hours or less. Carmichael’s irish Pub (aka Hoagy’s Garage 508 5th Street, Moundsville, WV 26041For more information about this ride go to www.hoagysheros.org.

UpComing EvEnts

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Friday Night March 19th Smooth Cat Burglars

Saturday March 20th Spring Poker Run

to benefit Fallen Police Officers of the Eastern Panhandle

Sign-up at 12:00 noon with kick stands up at 2:00 p.m.Beer Garden 12:00 – 6:00

Music by J FactorAll You Can Drink Domestic Draft $10

BBQ Buffet for $5.00 Beer & Buffet for $15.00

Sunday March 21st Beer Garden Opens at 1:00 p.m.

Bike Show - Registration 1:00 – 3:00 Judging at 4:00

Kevin Booth – Elvis Impersonator 2 shows 8:00 & 10:00 pm

March 13thRazmus – Rock & Soul Review - $5 Cover

March 27th - 7th SonApril 3rd - Center Alley

April 17th - Giants of Tiny TownApril 24th - Dissent from Within

Relay for life breast cancer awareness fundraiser Wear a bra to auction off!

March 6th Save the Ta-Tas

March 6th Save the Ta-Tas

Friday Night March 19th Smooth Cat Burglars

Saturday March 20th Spring Poker Run

to benefit Fallen Police Officers of the Eastern Panhandle

Sign-up at 12:00 noon with kick stands up at 2:00 p.m.Beer Garden 12:00 – 6:00

Music by J FactorAll You Can Drink Domestic Draft $10

BBQ Buffet for $5.00 Beer & Buffet for $15.00

Sunday March 21st Beer Garden Opens at 1:00 p.m.

Bike Show - Registration 1:00 – 3:00 Judging at 4:00

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gettysburg

3

come join us!WHERE:

WHEN:Accommodations available

at the Eisenhower Hotel

BIKE SHOW -CASH PRIZES/TROPHYS

FOOD & BEER

MISS PENNSYLVANIA

MISS TEEN PENNSYLVANIA

MEET MARK BOONE JR.FROM SONS OF ANARCHY

Bikini Contest on Saturday Nightat 7pm. Winner gets $1000

Award Winning Customs fromVicious Cycles

March 27 & 28, 2010

BIKINI CONTEST!

AWARD WINNING BIKES

Allstar Events Complex

2638 Emmitsburg Rd.

Gettysburg, PA 17325

(Next to the Eisenhower Hotel)

For Vendor Info and Bike

Show Entries, Contact

Kelly Crisp at 717-334-8803

HD FASHION SHOW

MEET MARK BOONE JR.

WWW.GETTYSBURGBIKESHOW.COM

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