NCOM COAST TO COAST BIKER NEWS Compiled and Edited by BILL BISH, NATIONAL COALITION OF MOTORCYCLISTS

BIKERS SUPPORT 9-11 VICTIMS  In the weeks following the September 11 terrorist attacks on American icons; the twin towers of the World Trade Center in New York and the Pentagon in our nation’s capitol, bikers across the country have come together to offer support and assistance to the victims’ families.  From poker runs to rallies to passing the hat, motorcyclists have raised funds and awareness.

Four bikers from South Carolina’s Hells Angels Motorcycle Club braved two days of harsh weather while riding to New York City to present a $10,000 check to Engine Co. 33/Ladder 9, which lost 10 men in the World Trade Center attacks.  Joining them at the station house were members of the New York City Hells Angels, who gave a $5,000 check of their own.

''The Fire Department and EMS are always there for us.  It’s time we did for them,'' said Ken Hanneman, 45, who orchestrated the fund-raising at The Kickin’ Horse, a South Carolina saloon he co-owns.  

The money was presented to Battalion 6 Chief Rich Burban outside the station house on Great Jones Street. ''It’s overwhelming. The support just doesn’t stop,'' Burban said.

Indeed, from independent riders to outlaws, and from organized charity rides to donation jars at bike shops, motorcycle riders have poured out their hearts and their wallets to help the less fortunate during these trying times. NATIONAL COALITION OF MOTORCYCLISTS (NCOM)

WHO WAS THAT MASKED MAN?  Three motorcyclists pulled into a San Fernando Valley gas station outside Los Angeles, when one of them removed his helmet and onlookers recognized that it was none other than actor Nicolas Cage.  When people began gathering for his autograph, the other two riders removed their helmets, and under the visors were Jay Leno and Jim Carrey! Leno, host of the top-rated ''The Tonight Show with Jay Leno,'' has been busy collecting autographs of his own.  The longtime motorcyclist has invited some of Hollywood’s biggest names to come onto ''The Tonight Show'' and sign his new 2001 Harley-Davidson FXDL Dyna Low Rider that will be auctioned off to benefit The Twin Towers Fund. Leno has already attracted signatures from many of the greatest stars in film, television and music, including: Arnold Schwarzeneggar, Sylvester Stallone, Denzel Washington, Nicole Kidman, Tom Cruise, John Travolta, Cuba Gooding Jr., Pamela Anderson, Earvin ‘Magic’ Johnson, Terry Bradshaw, Billy Bob Thornton, Martin Short and many more.   During the October 10, 2001 telecast of ''The Tonight Show," actor Russell Crowe made a surprise appearance from under the hood of a brand-new 2001 Ford Harley-Davidson F-150 SuperCrew pickup truck to announce its addition to the companion Harley-Davidson motorcycle. The auction listing was live on eBay from Sunday, October 7, 2001 through Wednesday, October 17, 2001, with celebrities continuing to sign the bike until bidding closed.  At press time, bidding was up to $225,100.00 with two days to go!

SPEAKING OF CELEBRITIES, actor George Clooney was recently spotted at a restaurant by a group of young autograph seekers.  Clooney told the youngsters that he’d be happy to sign autographs after he was done eating dinner.  About an hour and a half later, Clooney gets up to leave and the kids go yelling after him that he’d promised to give them autographs.  He’d forgotten all about them, and was so embarrassed that he took each one of them for a spin on his motorcycle!

EPA SHIFTS FOCUS TO STREET MOTORCYCLES  According to REUTERS news service, on September 19, 2001, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency proposed to curb emissions from snowmobiles, diesel-powered boats, off-road motorcycles and all-terrain vehicles to help reduce pollution, especially in national parks.  New limits will be established for carbon monoxide and nitrogen oxides emitted by the engines, the EPA said. Currently, off-highway motorcycles and all-terrain vehicles aren’t regulated by any federal emissions standards, but will now be ''encouraged'' to switch from two-stroke engines to four-stroke engines in 2006.  In addition, all-terrain vehicles would also need to meet a stricter limit beginning in 2009. The EPA, which has regulated everything from leaf blowers to hair dryers, had planned to include tougher new emissions standards for street motorcycles too, but in a surprise move now says it will issue a separate proposal in November.  In addition to tightening existing standards, new regulations could require specific components on new motorcycles such as fuel injection and catalytic converters, as well as ''anti-tampering'' regulations to prohibit performance modifications. Public hearings on the proposed emissions regulations will be held in Washington on October 24, and in Denver, Colorado, on October 30.  The National Coalition of Motorcyclists, along with the American Motorcyclist Association and the Motorcycle Riders Foundation, encourages concerned riders and motorcyclists rights organizations to make their feelings known to the EPA on this important issue which could affect the future of motorcycling as we know it.  

WEIRD NEWS OF THE MONTH:  A biker from Berlin whose penis was ripped off in a freak motorcycling accident has had a new one made from a muscle in his arm.  Michael Gruber’s penis was ripped off by the gas tank of his 900cc Honda when it crashed into a tree.  The 37-year-old German man has had months of surgery.   He can now urinate properly and has a full sex life with his girlfriend. He said: ''I flew out of the curve and smashed against a tree.  I was squashed between the tank and the seat.  The tank was ripped off, and with it my penis.  I was in agony, I looked down and it was gone and then I don’t remember any more because I passed out.'' He added: ''The doctors made me a new penis from the muscle tissue in my lower left arm.''  Surgeons connected a tube inside the muscle to his bladder so he can urinate properly.  He is also able to get an erection. ''I feel like a real man again,'' Gruber told the German TV documentary program, ''BLITZ.'' From Steve Garcia's ''STUFF'', ABATE of California

QUOTABLE QUOTES: ''You will never know how much it cost the present generation to preserve your freedom! I hope you will make good use of it!'' — JOHN ADAMS, American Patriot