Thunder Roads West Virginia 1510

Thunder Roads Magazine® West Virginia 4157 Mountain Road #233 Pasadena, Maryland 21122

Fax # 888-698-7004 www.bigcityrhino.com

Facebook – Thunder Roads WVTwitter – TR_BigCity

EDITOR / OWNER / [email protected]

SALES & MARKETINGMike “Rhino” Ryan

(681) 209-0834 [email protected]

Jeff Davis Scott “Scooter” Broyles (304)-673-7321 (304)-549-5615 [email protected] Charleston Area Sales Southern State Sales

ACCOUNTINGMike “Bighead” Abbott

(681)209-0842 [email protected]

MARKETING & SOCIAL MEDIA MGR.Catherine “Kitty” Noske / CRAVE Marketing Solutions

443.591.1882 [email protected]

LAYOUT & DESIGN Meredith Hancock / Hancock Graphics

CONTRIBUTORMike “Smiles” Johnson

Joyce “Biker Chic”Marc Rithcie a.k.a Road Captain

PHOTOGRAPHYMichael J. Alves, www.uspatriotphotography.com

Bob Tarowsky, www.BobbyTRocks.com

NATIONAL FOUNDERSToni McCoy Shearon & Brian Shearon

1528 Matlock Drive, Chapmansboro, TN. 37035 Office: (615) 792-0040 Fax: (615) 792-7580

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

ON THE COVER:Model: Dena Marie

Photographer: James Bender,

Imagine Studios Photography

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Big City’s Two-Wheel Testament ....................5

What Makes a Biker? .........................................7

Diary of a Biker Chic ..........................................8

Road Captain’s Report ....................................10

Mother’s Love ...................................................12

Center Calendar ................................................14

Featured Bike ....................................................15

Events .................................................................18

Joker’s Wild .......................................................21

22 Needs A Face ...............................................22

Biker Friendly Directory ..................................24

News Bytes ........................................................25

History of Motorcycles ....................................26

2 OCTOBER 2015 THUNDER ROADS MAGAZINE WEST VIRGINIA

This month is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The staff here at Thunder Roads® West Virginia would like to salute the women and men who have fought a won their own fight with this illness. We would also like to send our thoughts and prayers to the families that have loved and lost someone to this illness as well. Also we are honored to be able to share a personal story from one of our readers and display her beautiful bike in tribute to her mother. Please remember it is important to have your yearly breast exam.

On the lighter side of things we have some great stories this month as well. The Road Captain takes us on a tour of Elakala Falls, and Love Lust Cycles helps us out once again with a detailed tech tip. Just like last month our very own Biker Chic has got a story to tell. Once again one of our other good friend Bob Bikerwolf Bryant shares his poem that helps us all answer that big question “What makes a Biker?”

This season has been good to us here at Thunder Roads® West Virginia and as always we want to thank all our advertising partners for their support and want to request all our readers continue to support those business as well. Without their support we would not be able to deliver the markets highest quality and most informative motorcycle magazine.

L&R

Big City

THUNDER ROADS MAGAZINE WEST VIRGINIA OCTOBER 2015 3


THE WORLD IS BROKEN

The world is broken. As we look at the headlines it’s apparent how far the world has fallen. It’s easy to get swallowed up by the news feeds, by our sins, by the evils of other men, by the divisiveness of our leaders, by the attacks on things we hold dear, or by deteriorating health. Children murdered, addicts being addicts, terrorists attacking, flags being fought over, judgements being passed, and sin overtaking our culture. It’s easy to fall into anger, self-pity, and discouragement.

I write this sitting by my wife’s hospital bed five hours away from our children and our home. She hurts and I can’t fix it. I’ve prayed, she’s prayed, friends prayed, and strangers have prayed for her. Yet here I sit watching her restlessly try to sleep after a major surgery. Feeling helpless is probably the worst emotion I go through. I am looking for a moment where the Red Sea would split and her situation would miraculously just disappear. I’ve prayed sincerely, why not right? Yet here I sit listening to the infuriating machines. No angels fluttering around the building. No brilliant lights shining from odd places. The Red Sea remains calm. Yet here I sit while family, friends, and strangers offer words of comfort, encouragement, and support. Yet here I sit lonely and discouraged.

Then I’m reminded of the sunflower growing outside my wife’s hospital window. It’s growing in a canyon of concrete, air handlers, and catwalks .It’s growing in a very unnatural place. A seed landed in that crack in the cement in just enough soil, nutrients, and moisture to grow. It’s not just growing. It’s fighting to survive in an environment it wasn’t designed to thrive in while it looks heavenward.

2 Timothy 4: 7-8 says to fight the good fight, finish the race, and keep the faith. A crown of righteousness will await me and anyone else who does these things. So play though the pain. Get back up. Duck or take that punch, but keep fighting. There is payoff beyond imagination.

So here I sit, holding her hand when they try for another IV even though I swear she’s trying to break my hand. Here I sit reading the promises of God. Here I sit confident this world is not our home. Here I sit looking at my beautiful sunflower wife. Here I sit looking heavenward trying to persevere in this messed up situation. God’s got this, my wife is the toughest woman I’ve ever known, and I’m blessed and inspired by her.

You can find comfort and peace in this screwed up world, even when comfort and peace makes absolutely no sense. Believing Christ is who he says he is, he died for our sins, and then rose again is the basics of the gospel.

Scott VillersValley ChapterBikers for Christ

The Ridge Tavern and Grill

Kitchen Always Open

Bikers Welcome

Great FoodCold BeerGood times

US19 at Marion County Line304-278-8041



What Makes A Biker? By: Bob “Bikerwolf” Bryant

“What makes a biker” I was asked By a young man late one night He said he was gonna be one He said “I wanna do it right”I think I busted his little bubble When I let out a big laugh I told him “ Son it’s all about the man” I can’t say there’s a certain pathI told him clothes and many bucks Can get you on a scoot But I told him that won’t make you a biker Even accessorized with steel toed bootsEvery biker that I know Carries a certain pride inside It’s a feeling about a life A feeling that he can’t hideIt’s not about that you own a bike Not riding just to be seen It’s more about a feeling within Anyone can wear t shirts and jeansEven a biker can clean up pretty good Hell they can even show grace But you can tell a righteous brother Just by the look on his faceA true biker won’t change his ways To fit a situation at hand He’ll handle it just being himself Even if it pisses off other menEvery biker I know will stand his ground He won’t back down from no one If you ever cross him to bad You better step up or runMost of them don’t have a lot to say They don’t talk just to be heard Many of them can get to the point Spitting out very few wordsA biker doesn’t have to run with the crowd Just because the crowd is there You’ll never see him any happier Than when the winds blowing through his hairA biker won’t shoot you lies Tell you what you want to hear He’ll shoot it to you good and straight If you don’t like he won’t careA biker will take care of his own Be it his family or his friends He’s the one you want on your side When any kind of trouble sets inA lot of bikers believe in God They know God believes in them They’ll talk to him as they ride Thank him for the caressing winds“So you see” I told him I can’t tell you a biker you’ll be Just get on a bike and be true to yourself The rest will work out “If it’s meant to be” Member of: Road Scribes of America (TM)All Rights Reserved


Today is Labor Day and I woke up feeling like I got ran over by a…dinosaur! When you wake up with a sore back, a sore neck, a sore butt, and aching legs

it can only mean one thing. No, I didn’t have a blacked out night of heavy drinking! I spent the previous day on the bike! Twelve hours and 393 miles in one day! Skyline Drive in Virginia has been on my bucket list for a while now and I finally got to go. After finding no one to ride down with me, it was another solo trip but like I always say, that’s okay!

I had to do some research to figure out how to get there, what to expect, and how to get back home. My initial plan was to go up, ride half of the drive, get a room at one of the lodges there and spend the night. Then I’d drive the rest of it and come home the next day. I nixed that idea because I felt like I’d rather do the ride in one day and then have the next day to recuperate. Then I thought maybe I’d only ride half of the drive. My reason for that was because if I did the whole drive, starting in Front Royal and ending in Waynesboro, there was no good way to go home from Waynesboro. I did what I always do - figure it out in the moment!

My plan was to leave my house at 7:00 in the morning, but I didn’t head out until almost 8:00. What I first noticed was that the sun was shining bright and that made me so happy. It was going to be a gorgeous day with temperatures in the upper 80’s. What I noticed next was that there was a slight chill in the air. My phone showed me that the temperature at that moment was only 60 degrees. Normally when I do a big trip, I wear my full face helmet but I didn’t feel like it on this day so I went with the half helmet. Thirty minutes into my trip and I found myself wishing I not only had my full face helmet but I was also wishing I wore more layers. It was chilly but I dressed for the future, not the present.

I took IS70 to 340 to get to the Front Royal entrance and a few miles before I got there, I ran into a place called Dinosaur Land. It caught me off guard because I wasn’t

expecting to see huge Dinosaur statues right in front of me. I had to pull in there and get a picture of the bike with the

dinosaurs. When else would that ever happen? My bike looked so small next to them! I didn’t go inside the shop because I had somewhere to be! It took me a few minutes to find the right turn to get to the park but once I figured it out, I realized how easy it was to find. Of course, I almost got myself killed. I usually ride safely and never make any terrible mistakes but it does happen. When I made my left turn off of 340, I was in the left lane. I didn’t realize that there were two lanes that turned left and as I made my turn, I ended up almost in the right lane. There was a pickup truck there and I was lucky that he was paying attention and swerved over to miss me. Of course, when he did this, he was looking over at me and almost rear-ended the car in front of him.

He didn’t but that was a close call. It’s easy for something like that to happen when you are in a new area by yourself. I felt bad but I was thankful that it turned out okay.

I rode up to the ticket booth and excitedly handed the cashier $15 to get into the park. According to my receipt it was 11:12 AM when I pulled in there. What I realized right away was that it was chilly! What was I thinking? Of course it was going to be cold up in the mountains! Why didn’t I dress warmer? Luckily it was a tolerable cold and I’d much rather there be a chill in the air than sweating my butt off. I stopped at one of the first overlooks and a man who was there with his family started talking to me and commented how great of a day it was to be on the bike. After chatting we discovered that we are neighbors. What are the odds that I’d run into someone who lived in the same city as me? He used to ride and what I wanted to ask but didn’t was: used to? I never understood why people stop riding unless it’s for health reasons.

Riding down Skyline Drive there are mile markers on the right hand side. You have to really look for them but they are there. I used them to keep track of how much further I

DIARY OF A BIKER CHICBY JOYCE ELAINE


had to go. About thirty miles in (I think) you will go through the St. Mary’s Rock Tunnel. I found this tunnel to be fun even though I could hardly see through my sunglasses. It was dark in there in but extremely cool! Right after you get through the tunnel, you are met with some wicked curves back to back to back. In fact, the entire drive is curves. It truly is a biker heaven and I found out right away why so many bikers love it.

It’s not just the curves and the beautiful scenery that goes on for 105 miles. It’s also 105 miles with NO stop signs and NO traffic lights! You don’t have to stop if you don’t want to! I wouldn’t recommend not stopping though. There are so many overlooks and other things that you would miss out on if you don’t stop. I stopped at a dining room about half way through to get some food. It was a nice break and much needed. By this time, my neck and upper back were not feeling so great but I’m used to that so I pushed through it. When I was half way through, I thought to myself, “How did I get halfway through already?” It seemed like it took no time at all and it was then that I decided that I was going to ride the entire drive. I couldn’t pass up the opportunity!

Driving through the park you see signs like “Beware of fallen rocks.” “Beware of falling rocks.” “High crash area ahead.” That one was my favorite because it meant that there must be one helluva curve coming up and there was! “Unlawful to feed wildlife.” Wildlife?!?! Oh yes, I read about the possibility of bears, deer, and other wildlife. What did I see? Butterflies and birds and a dead raccoon. I guess I got lucky but at the same time, it would have been nice to see some wildlife.

With every curve came a bigger smile and by the end of the drive, I was smiling from ear to ear. One thing is for sure: you really have to be paying attention on Skyline drive. You have to be looking ahead at the approaching curve and cars pulling in and out of the overlooks. You have to be on your toes and paying attention! After I exited the drive, I quickly realized that I was on the Blue Ridge parkway. I had filled up before entering Skyline and I still had half a tank of gas left. I was half tempted to keep going but I didn’t know the area and didn’t know if there were any gas stations on the Blue Ridge so I turned around. After talking to a friend I found that I had made the right decision as I probably would have ran out of gas if I kept going. I had to pull over and get out my directions. I found a gas station just as my gas gauge was showing less than a quarter of a tank and checked the time. It was already 4:00! I ended up taking route 29 to IS66 to IS495 to get home. It took me over three hours to get home and I didn’t really enjoy it because it was all highway driving.

I think next time if I don’t stay overnight in the area, I will drive to the end, get gas and drive back through on Skyline Drive. It would take longer to get home but at least I’d enjoy the ride! If Skyline Drive is on your bucket list of places to ride, go do it. I’ve been told to do it during the fall time when the leaves are changing so I just may do that! My next bucket list drive is the Tail Of The Dragon. Maybe next summer!


The idea for the ride started out, as so many do, browsing Google Maps for lakes, rivers, dams and waterfalls. Elakala (Pronounced ‘Lĕh-’nérd ‘Skin-’nérd) Falls popped up and after a little in-

vestigating, it was purported to be a short hike from the Blackwater Falls Lodge, where we could also have lunch.

The temperature was kind of chilly, so we donned our spring jackets with vents closed. Rush was getting its fair share shuffling on my Android. Shortly after rounding the curve ahead of the bridge spanning Strait Creek, my domi-natrix of digital directions instructed me to turn left onto Snowy Mountain Road. I’ll always remember my first time on this scenic byway. Rose and I had just started seeing one an-other and we were headed back to her place in separate ve-hicles. The enchanting and unique geography always has a connection to the magic that was happening then, and now.

We caught up to a couple on a Gold Wing in the mountains just before Harman. It didn’t have Florida tags, or a trailer, so we enjoyed a spirited run all the way to Canaan Valley. Carv-ing through canyons, Nauti’s notes echoed and reverberated off the rocks, marking her audible territory. It was a sympho-ny of fuel, air, spark, and ignition, times 3500 per minute.

We turned and bid farewell to our horizontally opposed companions to check out the state park. It reminded us of Big Meadows on Skyline Drive, only bigger. We contin-

ELAKALA FALLS

ROAD CAPTAIN’S

REPORT

Black Water Canyon

Black Water Falls Lodge


ued heading north on the Appalachian Highway. Climbing the last mountain before Davis, we encountered one of the most feared and loathed vehicles in all of motorcycledom: the dreaded minivan. Capable of hauling ass downhill, but suffering 30 mph speed differential when grade challenged, following one of these in the hills can be as frustrating as watching Nascar and rooting for Danica Patrick.

We parked at the lodge. There is a patio behind it with a stunning view of the gorge. It was Sunday around noon, but we weren’t very hungry, so we decided to hike down to the falls. It was, indeed, a very short hike. We could hear the wa-ter almost immediately after entering the woods. We emerged on a bridge over-looking the falls. At 35 feet, it is the first of a set of three. Astonishingly, no one else was there, and we had the place to ourselves. We sat for a while on some rocks down below, just listening to the water, enjoying the people-free view, feeling the stress disappear. They say there are no motorcycles in psychia-trists parking lots. The lot here, is one of the reasons why.

The short hike back up to the parking lot confirmed we were hungry. It was a good thing the lodge had a restaurant. It was a bad thing we ate so much food, because the ride down from Mount Storm on 48 felt like en-tering a blast furnace. We enjoyed the fantastic views of the windmills and mountainous wilderness, but the temp at the bank in Petersburg read 95F. F is right! It was hot. A Sport-ster following a Street Glide passed us earlier on the high-way. We were indicating 80. That sporty was screaming! We wished we had brought the mesh instead, or done the route

in reverse, enjoying the higher temps at higher altitudes, lat-er in the afternoon. Open vents in textile jackets had nothing for this type of heat, but thankfully our route home found us on shady roads the rest of the way.

When in the area, other cool stops to see are Jennnings Randolf and Mount Storm Lakes. Rose and I checked out the JR Lake a few days after this ride and found another pristine setting with an intimate environment, great for picture taking. The water was really low, but still very beautiful. There are fa-cilities here, but no restaurant. Just be sure to fuel up, so you don’t have to try and understand directions from an old local

with no teeth, because there’s no cell signal to find gas, and no interpreter. We rode as if “under caution” for 15 miles saving fuel by cutting the engine when we could, hop-ing we were headed in the right direction. Fortunately, we made it to pit road.

Mount Storm is a bit of a different ani-mal, and very cool. There’s an overlook across the lake from a power plant with windmills in the distance. It’s like the set to a Pink Floyd album cover that never was. And with you and your friend’s bikes in the shot, the pics you take just might

be worthy of hanging on a wall or in a frame on a desk. All that’s missing is the flying pig.

Lakes, rivers, dams and waterfalls have been reliable themes for rides the last several years. And WV and Western MD are some really cool destinations in this category that offer really great roads, awesome views, and a real slice of America.

Cheers and thanks for reading!Marc Ritchie a.k.a Road Captain

Black Water River

Mt. Storm

One of the views on 48 Snowy Mountain Road

Jennings Randolf Lake Strange Devices in the Lodge

Windmills on 48


Jennifer Lee lost her mother to breast cancer two weeks after her sixteenth birthday. This was an incredibly

difficult time for Jen, she was very close to her mother, and she knew right away she wanted to build a tribute bike to honor and commemorate the relationship she had with her mother.

She got her love of riding from her father. She was in the first grade, and her father showed up on his Honda to pick her up from school. “It was over from there” she said, “the ride home, and the look on all my friends faces, I’ve wanted a bike since that day.”

“I had plenty of time to design and come up with ideas,” she tells me, “of course it obviously changed over the years as I have changed. But everything on the bike is something personal that she taught us or something she instilled in us. There is imagery reflective of my mother, me, and my children.”

Jen and her husband had purchased motorcycles a few months before, and she approached Steve Garwood of Garwood Custom Cycles at the D.C. IMS show and presented this idea of building a tribute to her mother and her mother’s fight against breast cancer. Steve was just honored that she commissioned him to build her bike.

“Any time you do a tribute bike you want to make sure that you do it right the first time, you want to take your clients feeling and concepts fully into mind and make sure that when it comes out, it’s exactly what they want.” Steve explains “So over the next few months, as I got to know Jennifer, and her story more fully, you actually became a part of it. You make sure you put your best hat on with it. Everyone in the shop was involved. It came down to the wire, the paint shop got a little sick with the flu and they ended up working overtime to get it done for the unveiling in Daytona 2010.”

On the rear fender there is a hanging pair of boxing gloves with the date and time that Joyce Evelyn, a Sheriff in Montgomery County, lost her fight with breast cancer. (August 2, 2000 at 4:24am).

The poem on the gas tank is the last two lines of a poem she wrote and read at her mother’s funeral “When I took my first steps I held my mother’s hand, and when I take my last breath I’ll hold my mother’s hand. Love, Jennifer, forever your little girl.”

On the side of the gas tank is one of the smallest tributes, but as she explains, it carries so much meaning for Jennifer and her daughter. “That’s my Angel of Courage, my daughter Jocelyn; My Grandparents bought my mother an Angel of Courage figurine for Christmas when she was first diagnosed with breast cancer on December 3rd, 1999. When my mother passed, my grandparents took it back to South Carolina with them. And later, after they passed, I went down and brought the figurine back.”

“I went down a pretty dark path for a little while after my mom passed. When Jocelyn was born, it was clear she was made especially for me by my mom. So the guys always called her my “Angel of Courage,” because there was a point in time where I wasn’t sure if I was going to stay or not. And then Jocelyn was born, and she gave me a reason to wake up and survive every day.”

“When she was about three and a half years old, my husband and I got her these really cool helium balloons, you know the real expensive $10 ones. She wanted them so bad, so we got them for her. And as soon as we got back to the

house, she said “Well I have to let my balloons go.” And as we didn’t understand, we asked her why, “Why would you want to let your balloons go”? Her response was, “I need to let my balloons go to Grammy Pifer, because when it’s my time to go home to heaven, she’ll meet me with a bunch of balloons and my angel wings.” Just the impact of that, I mean basically that brought me to my knees to hug her. The relationship that child has with my mother is just undeniable, even though she’s never met her, she’s very familiar with my mom. (Jocelyn has never met her Grammy, she was born 5 years after her Grammy passed.) She’ll tell you she knows her, she’ll tell you when she misses her.”

“Jocelyn used to have horrible, horrible, night terrors and I mean we did everything, we put sea salt, holy water, Mother Mary, I mean we went through the Catholic gambit and damn near got a Shaman to come. It was rough, because there was nothing you can do for them, and they were so bad that we just weren’t sure what to do! One night, Jocelyn asked if we could put a picture of her Grammy Pifer in her room. That night, she slept through the night, and the next morning when we asked how she slept, she said “Grammy Pifer kept her safe all night.” What do you mean she kept you safe through the night, she said “she was there and she kept all the bad things away.” And she has never had a Night Terror since.”

Jen explains the image of Rosie the Riveter, “She is BAD-ASS, this was me, and I had to be Rosie the Riveter after my mom died. I had to grow up really fast, and be a mom to my younger brother, help my dad with taking care of the house, doing laundry, and cooking while he worked an unforgiving schedule as a police officer in Fairfax County.”

“Don’t worry Mom, we’ll never slow down.” This was something she always said to encourage me. I played a lot of sports growing up and did a lot of running, and my little brother would always try to keep up. She would tell us, to never slow down, even if it hurts you have to push, just never slow down.”

“On the front fender of the bike reads,

Owner: Jennifer Lee, Woodbridge, VA.

Builder: Garwood Custom Cycles

Bike Name: Mothers Love

Make/Model/Year: 2006 Suzuki GSXR 600

Paint by: Garwood Custom Cycles

Other Modifications: Two Brothers Exhaust, K&N Air Filter, 9” Extended Swing Arm, Ultra Bright Pink Light Kit and Headlight Halo, Custom Mirrors, Levers, Gas Lid, and Seat.


“More than all the words in all the books and all the stars in all the skies” that is actually something that my mother used to say to me when I asked my mom how much do you love me”

A surprise from Garwood Custom Cycles was the underside of the windscreen, the pink and purple clouds with the moon. “When I was younger I asked my mom, when you go to heaven, what kind of cloud are you going to watch me from. She said the pink and purple clouds in the evening, that way the sun and moon will be out at the same time. So they put those under there so I can see them, it’s personal, it’s for me, I can see them while I’m riding. When I’m on this bike and I can see the road ahead of me, hear the exhaust, and feel the wind, it’s more than just “wind therapy” it’s like I can feel her with me, that’s my Zen, it’s phenomenal to me.”

“When they unveiled the bike, and I walked around the front and saw her face, it was just beautiful, I just dropped to my knees and started

crying like a baby. It was like seeing her for the first time in ten years, she was there looking at me”.

“When Jen saw the bike for the first time,” said Steve, “it was one of the highlights of my life as a bike builder, you know you got it right when they break down into tears and crumble like a wall. The moment was beautiful.”

Jen says “I would do anything short of harming my own children to get one more minute with my mother.”

According to the National Breast Cancer Foundation over 220,000 women in the

United States will diagnosed with breast cancer this year, and more than 40,000 of them will die. It’s the second leading cause of death among women. One in eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime. And although it is rare, 2,150 men will be diagnosed with breast cancer this year, and approximately 410 of them will die.

Please visit http://www.nationalbreastcan-cer.org and find out about early screening and ways you can help fight this battle.


http://www.nationalbreastcancer.org

http://www.nationalbreastcancer.org



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STRWV is not responsible for inaccuracies or the specifics of the information provided. If you would like your event listed, please email details and your contact information to: [email protected]

DELAWARESophia’s SandwichSaturday, October 10, 2015 9:00 AM to 6:00 PMPoker Run and Benefit- On Oct 10 2015, we will be having a Poker Run. Registration will be from 9:00-11:00. It will start at the American Legion Post 30. There will be three stops in between with the last stop will be at Mispillion River Brewing 255 Mullet Run St Milford De, 19963. There will be 50/50, silent auctions, games and a chicken dinner. Cost: preregistration is $20.00 per rider and $5.00 for non playing passenger. The cost the day of the event will be $25.00 for rider and $5.00 for passenger. The Poker Run and benefit will Sophia. Staff Sargent Joannmarie Kurcan-Fernandez was tragically killed 28 July 2015. She left behind a fiancee and their 4 year old daughter. The proceeds will go to help Sophia and her future needs. We thank you in advance for your participation.Start will be at American Legion Post 30 3 East Jackson Ave. New Castle DE, [email protected]

Oktoberfest Poker RunSunday, October 18, 2015 10:00 AMThe Four Seasons Motorcycle Club - Food, Drink, Games, Pins, & Prizes - Registration 10am till 12 noon Sign Up Early, Festivities Start at 1 PM Boston Market - Kirkwood Hwy (Rt 2) & Centerville Rd (Rt 141), Wilmington DE.www.fourseasonsmc.com

MARYLANDOktoberfest at Battley CyclesSaturday, October 3, 2015 from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PMBattley Harley-Davidson / Battley CyclesJoin us for our annual Oktoberfest celebration as we cook bratwursts on the grill and serve up Maria’s famous homemade sauerkraut. We will also have an all-BMW bike show, feature demo rides, have live German music, and have our Oktoberfest girls here, too.www.battley.com

2015 DMV Bikers for BabiesSaturday, October 3, 2015 11:00 AMJoin us for our 12th annual ride to save babies. This year we will have 3 start locations· Northern Virginia,· Southern Maryland and· Central MarylandSee event website (below) for complete information and scheduleStart Locations:Northern Virginia - Coleman Powersports: 14105 Telegraph Road, Woodbridge, VA 22192Central Maryland - Glen Burnie Motorsports: 20

Holsum Way, Glen Burnie, MD, 21060 Southern Maryland - Atlantic Cycle & Power: 4580 Crain HWY, White Plains, MD, 20695End LocationSix Flags America13710 Central Avenue, Upper Marlboro, MD, 20774www.bikersforbabies.org/faf/home/default.asp?ievent=1136489

Annual Red Helmets RideSaturday, October 3, 2015 2:00 PMPolice escorted ride to the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial in Emmitsburg will leave at 3:00 PM arriving at 4:00 PM. This is a rain or shine ride – all will ride at your own risk. No registration is required, just ride and show your support to the families of the Fallen Firefighters.Staging will be at the Walkersville Vol Fire Dept parking lot www.redhelmetsmcride.org/

Covered Bridge Unity RideSaturday, October 10, 2015 7:45 AMThis is a Christian Motorcyclists Association unity ride. All are welcome to join us. Hosted by Southern Messengers.We’ll ride up to Pennsylvania through Baltimore and ride over several covered bridges in Lancaster County. This route covers 8 bridges and ends in Quaryville where we will enjoy lunch. The trip up to this point is close to 170 miles and 4 hours. We’ll plan on riding straight back from lunch, which will be about 2-3 hours.Meet at: 7-Eleven Store #27075 - 4704 Crain HwyUpper Marlboro, MDcmaner5.org/MD/events.aspx?region=5&state=MD


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Battley’s Spooky RideOctober 24If you’re not frightened, come along with us as we take back roads up to Burkittsville, Maryland, home of the “Blair Witch” and tour the grounds of Gathland. This annual ride is relaxed and leisurely, and we stay forty minutes, which is plenty of time to take a walk through the woods or read the historical markers about Gathland and the Foreign Correspondent’s memorial. Afterwards we head back to Battley, or you can take off on your own and enjoy more of the countryside or stop for a bite to eat. Gather at Battley at 9am, kickstands up at 9:30am. The ride is about an hour, plus a forty minute stop, riders should return to Battley around 12:30pm. The group leader does not stop for lunch. All brands of bikes and all skill levels of riders are welcome on this ride.

Howard County Swap MeetSunday, October 25, 2015 10:00 AMTHIS SWAPMEET IS HUGE! A Motorcycle Swap Meet that caters to bikers looking for Parts and Accessories, Bikes and all things Motorcycle Related! Not just Harleys, find parts for vintage or late model motorcycles, American or foreign, a leather jacket or other accessories.People come here to buy, sell, trade, AND SAVE. The Howard County Swapmeet, “Where Friends Meet” By Bikers, For Bikers! - Doin’ it Ol’ Skool!

East Coast Indoor Nationals Car And Custom Motorcycle ShowSaturday, December 5, 2015 - Sunday, December 6, 2015The Largest Indoor All American Car And Custom Motorcycle Show On The East Coast. 300 Of The Finest Rods, Customs, Muscle cars, Antiques, Pro-Street, Nostalgia Drag Cars And Custom Motorcycles. Cars And Trucks Pre-1974 And Custom Motorcycles Any Year. Large Vendor Area, Free Parking, Dj,50/50. $12k In Cash Plus Awards. Call David 410-628-6262, Email [email protected] Or www.eastcoastindoornats.com.

Old Glory HD Biker Breakfast and Salvation Army Toy RunSaturday, December 12, 2015 9:00 AMBayside Believers will have a table set-up from 9:00AM – 12:30PM at Old Glory next to the Salvation Army Toy Box.Sign-up begins at 12:00 pm. At 1:00 PM, we will depart Old Glory to deliver the toys to the Salvation Army. The sole purpose of the ride is to ensure every child has a Merry Christmas. “For the kids-Big kids helping little kids”. The Salvation Army

distributes the donated toys to children and their families that otherwise would not be having a very Merry Christmas. It’s a heart filled event we wish to invite you and your friends to join us in.Cost: Unwrapped toy or two - ages 0-13Or a donation of $15 for single rider or $25 for rider and [email protected]

WEST VIRGINIACharlie’s Last Motorcycle Swap Meet for 2015Saturday, October 10, 2015 10:00 AM to 3:00 PMBuy, sell, trade at our last swap meet for the year! Free setup for dealership customers! more infowww.charlieshd.com/

CCC HOG Annual Toy RunSaturday, December 5, 2015 9:00 AMCCC HOG Annual Toys for Tots Runwww.wvharley.com

Pictures with Santa on a HarleySunday, December 6, 2015 11:00 AMGet your picture taken with Santa on a Harley-Davidson. Pets, couples, families welcome!www.triplesharley-davidson.com

SAVE THE DATETimonium Feb. 12th – 14th

Capitol City Biker Bash

June 9th – 11th

Mountainfest July 27th – 31st

Apple Mountain Motorcycle Rally

Aug 10th – 14th

LIST YOUR

EVENT HERE!

[email protected]



Two guys left the bar after a long night of drinking, jumped in the car and started it up. After a couple of minutes, an old man appeared in the passenger window and tapped lightly. The passenger screamed, “Look at he window. There’s an old ghost’s face there!”

The driver sped up, but the old man’s face stayed in the window. The passenger rolled his window down part way and, scared out of his wits, said, “What do you want?” The old man softly replied, “You got any tobacco?” The passenger handed the old man a cigarette and yelled, “Step on it,” to the driver, rolling up the window in terror. A few minutes later they calmed down and started laughing again. The driver said, “I don’t know what happened, but don’t worry; the speedometer says we’re doing 80 now.” All of a sudden there was a light tapping on the window and the old man reappeared. “There he is again,” the passenger yelled. He rolled down the window and shakily said, “Yes?” “Do you have a light?” the old man quietly asked.

The passenger threw a lighter out the window saying, “Step on it!” They were driving about 100 miles an hour, trying to for-get what they had just seen and heard, when all of a sudden there came some more tapping. “Oh my God! He’s back!” The passenger rolled down the window and screamed in stark terror, “WHAT NOW?” The old man gently replied, “You guys want some help getting out of the mud?”_______________________________________________

This Halloween I met a genuine Fairy that said she would grant me one wish.

“I want to live forever,” I said.

“Sorry,” said the Fairy, “I’m not allowed to grant wishes like that!”

“Fine,” I said, “then I want to die after Congress gets their heads out of their asses!”

“You crafty bastard,” said the Fairy.


“THEY HAVE FOUGHT FOR US, NOW WE WILL FIGHT FOR THEM. THIS IS A FIGHT WE WILL WIN.”

September is such an important month for us here at 22 needs a face

and Platoon 22 as it’s suicide awareness month. We were committed to be everywhere that we could this month in order to capitalize on the heightened awareness surrounding suicide. So, with help from “Rhino” and the whole crew at Thunder Roads® MD-DE-DC & WV, we grabbed our new marketing material (supplied by Rhino) and hit the road!

The first opportunity we were privileged to have was an invite from Wells Fargo to come into their community giving campaign. We were able to let their employees know about the opportunities that we have for both volunteers and donations. This gave us an audience on two separate occasions

at their facility: first with the different department heads and second with the employees themselves. Regardless of whom it was that we spoke to, the results were the same--shock and disbelief that we were losing our veterans at such an alarming rate.

Our next order of business was to set up Platoon 22 for a week at the Mental Health Association of Frederick County. We placed the platoon on the corner along with the banner describing what each boot represented so that everyone who passed by or stopped at the light would be made aware of our mission. When we came back to pick the platoon up, we also decided to leave the Association with our second $3000.00 dollar check of the year!

The funds from this donation, as well the one given prior, will be used to fund their crisis call center. The center has seen a huge spike in callers confirmed as veterans (up to over 70%!). While we were alarmed to see such a huge increase, we are hoping that it’s due to our efforts to convince our nation’s veterans that seeking help is not a sign of weakness. If that is the case, maybe we are starting to see a change in thinking that will allow us to hopefully put a dent in the “22.”

Next up we took PLT22 to “In the Streets” in downtown Frederick. This is one of the largest events each and every year in Frederick County. The over one mile long strip of Market Street is


lined with vendors, ranging from businesses to local non-profits. We were honored to be on full display right across from the great folks with Rolling Thunder. Despite the torrential down pours that plagued the day, the local citizenry braved the elements with ponchos and umbrellas in hand and found themselves drawn to the haunting memorial of our 22 boots in formation.

Instantly, they felt a connection to those empty boots as we told the stories of two local heroes

we lost just last year from Frederick, SPC Adam Richardson and SGT. Tyler Moore. We were thrilled to hear that everyone wanted to help in any way they could. We informed them that the easiest way to keep up with volunteer opportunities would be join the 22 needs a face support group on Facebook, and we hope that all of you will join too!!

At the time of this writing, we still have three more events left to take place. First, we are so ready to go to Ocean City bike week and hang with our guys from Project 22 and Thunder Roads Magazine® MD-DE-DC & WV. We already have our bags packed! I am sure that we will see many of you down there for the last big bike event of the season. We will end the month out with two events on the same day: the Claggett Realty Poker Run and the Veterans on the Potomac fishing trip. I’ll be sure to send a full report on both of them when we see you all again next time!

September has been amazing and October is shaping up to be just as big! On behalf of the entire board, thank you all for your guys’ continued support--make sure you keep the shinny side up!!


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yDealers & ShopsDemotto Honda-YamahaRT 33WElkins, WV 26241304-636-5489www.demottohondayamaha.com

Insane Cycles & Muscle Cars285 Don Knotts Blvd.Morgantown, WV 26501304-291-2453www.insanecyclesandmusclecars.com

JT Cycles202 City AveBeckley, WV 25801681-207-7098Jtcycleparts.com

RG Honda-Yamaha1619 Buckhannon PikeNutter Fort, WV 26301304-624-5420www.rghonda.com

The Twisted Spoke97 Milford StreetClarksburg, WV 26301304-326-4644www.twistedspokeinc.com

Triple S Harley-DavidsonExit 155 off I-79Morgantown, WV304-284-8244www.tripleshd.com

Bars & GrillsBryans & Brent’s Place229 N. River StreetWeston, WV 26452304-997-8722

Country Roads DinerRock Cave, WV Located at the “Y”Across from the IGA304-924-6300

Giovannis Restaurant451 US Hwy 33 EWeston, WV 26452304-269-4563

The Greene Turtle7100 Willie G. AveMorgantown, WVI-79 Exit 155304-241-1405

Hickory House1137 US Hwy 19 NorthJane Lew, WV 26378304-269-7373

Kickstands Bar & Grille3200 Junkins AveClarksburg, WV 26301

Rallow’s Place4030 W. Washington St.Dunbar, WV 304-205-7974

Road Hogs Saloon415 Clayton StreetRivesville, WV 26588304-816-6901

Swamp Fox Tavern4404 Sissonville DriveCharleston, WV 25312304-340-8094

The Dairy Winkle162 Campbells Creek DriveCharleston, WV 25306304-925-6800

Ridge Tavern & GrillRoute 19 / Marion Co. LineRivesville, WV 26588304-278-8041

Vino’s Bar and Grill /Copper Pint812 Kanawha Blvd ECharleston, WV 681-205-2435

LodgingMineral Springs Motel1 Springs StreetWebster Springs, WV 26288304-847-5305www.Mineralspringsmotel.net

InsuranceRider Insurance www.Rider.com

Legal ServicesLaw Offices of Ralph C. Buss800-582-5577www.RalphBuss.com

Weatherholtz Bonding306 W. Stephens StreetMartinsburg, WV 25401304-267-5888www.weatherholtzbonding.com

Walton’s Bail Bonding49 W. Main StreetBuchannon, WV 26201304-473-8955

PhotographyBobby Tarowsky304-797-1470304-723-8955www.BobbyTRocks.com

Retail/ApparelThe Busy Nesswww.esty.com/shop/thebusyness

Certainty Stores101 Randolph Ave.Elkins, WV 26241304-630-1716Certaintystores.com

Joi Ride Leathers Motorcycle Apparel 8403 MacCorkle AveMarmet, WV 304-400-7613

TattoosDerma Doodle Tattoo Studio355 Meadowdale Rd.Fairmont, WV 26544304-816-3016

Thinkin Ink (Fairmont)508 Race StreetFairmont, WV 26354304-366-1279

Thinkin Ink (Morgantown)425 Beechurst Ave.Morgantown, WV 26505304-292-7401

Thinkin Ink (Clarksburg)196 Buckhannon Pike #AClarksburg, WV 26301301-622-7272

Clubs, Organizations & Riding GroupsC.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 call: 304-538-6953 or visit our website at: www.cehelpinghands.com

Fraternal Order of Eagles #2481Weston, WV304-269-6134

If you would like to be listed in the Biker Friendly Directory, please contact Sales and Marketing or email [email protected] for more information.

If you’re a Club, Foundation, or Association would like to be listed in our Directory, please email [email protected] with your name and contact information and someone will be in touch with you.


http://www.rghonda.com

http://www.twistedspokeinc.com

http://www.weatherholtzbonding.com

MONGOLS MC PATCH FORFEITURE CASE DISMISSEDIn a long-awaited decision with ramifications that could affect all patch-wearing clubs, on September 16, 2015 Federal District Judge David O. Carter issued a dismissal of the government’s most recent attempt to seize the Mongols Motorcycle Club’s name and patch. In the case titled United States of America versus Mongols Nation, Judge Carter saw the key legal question in the case as the “distinctness” between a “person” and “an ‘enterprise’ that is not simply the same ‘person’ referred to by a different name.” In layman’s terms, the good news is that the government’s indictment is hereby dismissed pending appeal, which appears unlikely. “We won,” said Richard Lester, a California-based attorney who has rallied support for defense of the patch forfeiture case through various Confederations of Clubs around the country and the National Coalition of Motorcyclists, organizations he helped to establish. “We didn’t win the day on key legal points, and the court’s decision didn’t make the statement we wanted to make in defending the patch, but we won.” The protracted litigation against the Mongols MC on racketeering charges began October 21, 2013 when the indictment against the club was unsealed. Although the club won its first trial, the judge’s ruling was poorly written and welcomed the charges to be properly re-filed. While the constitutionality of seizing the Mongols insignia -- or the insignia of any motorcycle club -- remains unresolved under the dismissal, Judge Carter did rule that the government cannot indict a club as an “enterprise” for racketeering without also indicting a group who can be actually punished; noting that the indictment makes “no meaningful distinction between the association Mongol Nation and the enterprise of the Mongols Gang,” which is good news for all motorcycle clubs. The prosecution, and subsequent persecution, of the club as a whole was designed to bankrupt the Mongols with mounting legal fees, but money has been raised by both the Mongols club and through the “Save the Patch” effort launched by the COCs and NCOM, and the Trademark Defense Fund I will continue to accept donations until the enormous debt is retired or if needed for a governmental appeal.

CONGRESSIONAL MEASURE ADDRESSES MOTORCYCLIST SAFETY

A Congressional sub-committee has approved two motorcycle safety measures for inclusion in the federal highway bill; one to de-fund motorcycle-only checkpoints, and another to prohibit the DOT from lobbying on any pending legislation. On September 10, the Subcommittee on Research and Technology of the U.S. House Science, Space and Technology Committee passed the two amendments to the “Surface Transportation Research and Development Act of 2015” to be incorporated in the House version of the surface transportation authorization bill. Amendment No. 036 directs a study to be conducted to determine the most effective methods of preventing motorcycle crashes, and further bars federal funding to states to conduct

motorcycle-only checkpoints until the research is completed. Amendment No. 037 prohibits the Department of Transportation from lobbying on any pending federal, state or local legislation. The current “NHTSA Lobby Ban” only prevents the federal DOT from lobbying at the state level. The U.S. Senate’s version of the highway funding bill already contains language to prohibit federal funding of motorcycle-only checkpoints.

PAINTED MESSAGES AT ACCIDENT SCENES TO SPARK AWARENESS

Coroners in six counties in North Carolina will soon use a stencil to spray paint on the road a cross and message that says; “Look Twice Save A Life” at the scene of all deadly motorcycle accidents. Anderson County Deputy Coroner Don McCown said he hopes this warning message prominently displayed at fatal accident sites will increase awareness and decrease the number of accidents involving motorcycles. “We’re hoping it will remind the public that someone died at this location, and more than likely they died of distracted driving or someone not being aware of their surroundings,” explained McCown, adding that the number one reason given for most deadly motorcycle accidents is that the driver never saw the rider. “There are a lot of motorcycle riders out this time of year and we have to share the road.”


I often find myself asking the question “what if…?” What if forks weren’t called forks? What if no

one had invented drinking straws? Who sat down and actually decided that toilet paper was a necessity, not just a luxury? And what did their friends and family think and say when these inventors announced their fabulous plans to change the world one convenience item at a time? I’m sure that Martin Cooper’s wife probably thought to herself “What in the hell is he thinking??” when he shared his idea in 1973 to revolutionize the world with the modern day cell phone…but we all know how that turned out for him.

So this thought process has lead me to the following question… Who in the hell sat down and looked at their bicycle, and with what I assume was complete and utter disappointment in its slow

moving, two wheeled existence and said…”I can make that bitch fly!” Well that person just happened to be a Massachusetts born son of a carpenter, named Sylvester Howard Roper. Roper made his living as a machinist in Boston, but began inventing at an early age. By the age of twelve he had constructed a small stationary engine, and at only fourteen a locomotive engine. Roper continued to invent throughout his life, including guns, sewing machines, and finally steam powered carriages and bicycles.

You may be saying to yourself, a steam powered bicycle is not a motorcycle, but I believe it is clearly a predecessor to our modern day two wheeled objects of affection. Riding on two wheels began with a primitive push bike on which the rider sat, but there were no pedals. The rider propelled himself forward by

pushing his/her feet on the ground (a Flintstone’s bike if you will). Next came the high wheelers with a huge front wheel and a small rear wheel, and nearly impossible to ride. Finally came the “safety bicycle”. Quite the invention in and of itself considering it had wheels of equal size, as well as a set of pedals to drive the rear wheel through a chain linkage.

The evolution of two wheel travel continued and it became a common means of personal transportation. Later it would come to be seen as a “racing” vehicle, so of course it wouldn’t be long until someone looked at the bicycle and knew that it had a higher purpose. An evolutionary need to be better, and by better of course I mean faster.

I like to imagine that Roper arrived home after a long day to his little inventors shop out back, tired after a


long day, and an even longer ride home on his bicycle. He sits down with a cold one and stares at his two wheeler…”stupid bike anyway. No worldly reason it should take me so long to get home each night. Keeps me from working on the things I love.” Then it hits him…the light bulb moment…”I’m gonna make this SOB fly!” Fast forward through hours and hours of painstaking disappointment and doubt to the design that actually works, and Ta-Daa! The first motorcycle is born.

The year is 1869, and the world was about to change. History states that when Roper began riding his two wheeled contraption it was not well received. It apparently spooked horses, and was loud, as well as emitting a noxious odor when he rode through town. Rumor has it, he was actually arrested once for riding it, but had to be released when it was determined they could not find any laws he was actually breaking….and; the modern day biker was born.

Interestingly, this first model anticipated many modern motorcycle features. Roper used one steam cylinder of 2 ¼” bore by 2 ½” stroke to either side of the frame behind the seat and connected piston rods to cranks on the rear wheel axle. A

firebox and boiler were suspended on springs attached to the hickory wood frame between the wheels. Piston valves for the cylinders were operated by eccentrics adjacent to their cranks, and the water pump was operated by the left-cylinder crank. Exhaust steam was carried via tubing into a short chimney projecting up from behind the saddle. A coal fire heated the water stored in a reservoir that was constructed as a part of the seat and generated steam to run the engine.

While this model utilized a twisting hand grip to serve as throttle control, and also had a cable that was attached to the handlebars to allow for breaking, it was still quite primitive in design. The operating temperature was nearly 300 degrees Fahrenheit between the rider’s legs, and the travel distance was extremely limited. A second model Roper designed later boasted a one gallon water reservoir and allowed for rides up to eight miles in length.

June 1st, 1896 Roper would showcase this model at the Charles River bicycle racetrack in Boston. The idea was to test the motorcycles viability as a pace-making machine for bike races. Initially Roper covered a mile in 2 minutes and 12

seconds…that’s roughly 30 miles per hour. Elated by his results, 70 year old Roper apparently got that old feeling again, and decided he could definitely go faster. Flying around the 1/3 mile wooden track he lost control on the back stretch and was thrown from his bike into the surrounding sand. Sylvester Howard Roper was pronounced dead at the scene, but later it was determined it was not a result of the accident itself, but rather heart failure. I don’t know about you, but seems to me he must have died a happy man.

Both of Roper’s steam powered motorbikes were purchased by museums…the original steam powered bike still residing at the Smithsonian. While Roper’s motorcycles never found commercial success, they surely provided a source of inspiration and direction for inventors in the gas-powered motorbike era. Speaking of the gas-powered era….I wonder what possessed Daimler to put that first gas engine on his old wooden bike…

Melanie SchwarteThunder Roads Magazine of [email protected]


IT’S TIME TO RIDE.INDECISION BAILED EIGHT MILES BACK.

SUPERIOR MOTORCYCLE COVERAGEIS CLOSER THAN IT APPEARS.

Ride with Rider. Get your quote today.Visit rider.com or call (844) 276-0165.

Available in Delaware, Indiana, Maryland, Michigan, New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia.


IT’S TIME TO RIDE.INDECISION BAILED EIGHT MILES BACK.

SUPERIOR MOTORCYCLE COVERAGEIS CLOSER THAN IT APPEARS.

Ride with Rider. Get your quote today.Visit rider.com or call (844) 276-0165.

Available in Delaware, Indiana, Maryland, Michigan, New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia.


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Thunder Roads West Virginia 1510