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REPORT FROM RAY WHEELER RACING– Hot Rod runs like a new bike. Stopped in Santa Barbara to visit an old friend at ET-Performance Products . The good Ph.D. Ted Shrode and a long time friend Dr.Wille removed the stock vent bolts and replaced with a set of Krank Vents . www.krankvent.com.
New healthier pulse, different more mellow sound, improved gas mileage . Gas mileage was mid 30s with latest fuel map that found 15 or 20 horses. Ted assured me that a gain of 5% is realized with his Krank Vents. I’m a believer.
Krank Vents installed. Arrived 300 miles later in San Jose with one small drop of oil visible.
–Ray c wheeler
Wheeler Racing
Galveston’s Lone Star Rally Serves up Halloween Fun Biker-Style– Galveston, TX (November 12, 2009) – The world’s largest biker Halloween promenade and rally spooked its way through the streets of Galveston, TX over Halloween weekend. The 8th Annual Lone Star Motorcycle Rally welcomed between 250,000 and 300,000 thousand motorcycle enthusiasts to Galveston Island for a weekend full of festivities including concerts, a Texas Hold’em Tournament for charity, Miss Lone Star Rally Pageant, hundreds of vendors, Jean Lafitte’s motorcycle treasure hunt and the world’s largest Halloween promenade.
This year’s much anticipated rally which happened to fall on Halloween weekend was eerily entertaining and included an array of creepy motorcycle revelry. The Lone Star Rally has quickly become a biker favorite and has topped the list of motorcycle rally-goers across the nation. Held on the streets of Galveston, TX, it is described as a little Bourbon Street madness on the Strand. Galveston has quickly become a destination of choice for motorcycle enthusiasts and tourists of all kinds due to its physical beauty, commercial success and historical significance.
The Port of Galveston was established in 1825 and served as the main port for the Texas Navy during the Texas Revolution. It is one of the oldest and largest ports in the United States.
Live entertainment at this year’s festival included a Leather and Lace Ball at Moody Gardens as well as musical performances by Pat Green’s Rockin’ Country Concert with special guest, James Otto. Saturday night’s headliner was American Rock legend, Lynyrd Skynyrd with special guests Edgar Winter Band and Leon Russell.
Lone Star Rally attendees also had the opportunity to win a Jean Lafitte Custom Chopper by participating in a Halloween treasure hunt. Rally-goers were able to pick up free clues at various retail and vendor booth locations during the rally. Finalists were then brought up on stage Saturday night during the Lynyrd Skynyrd performance where a winner was chosen live to receive the custom chopper.
Lone Star Rally event promoter, Melissa Penland was pleased with the success of this year’s rally. “The rally was a hit,” she explains. “We had so many people come out, the weather was beautiful and we raised a good amount of money for the Texas Asthma Association. There is no better way to celebrate Halloween than with thousands of fun-loving bikers.”
For information on next year’s rally visit HYPERLINK “http://www.lonestarrally.com” www.lonestarrally.com.
–Sarah Wozniak
BIKERNET ENGLISH DEPARTMENT ARGUMENT OVER BILLET OR BILLET– billet BIL-it, noun:
1. Lodging for soldiers.
2. An official order directing that a soldier be provided with lodging.
3. A position of employment; a job.
transitive verb:
1. To quarter, or place in lodgings.
2. To serve (a person) with an official order to provide lodging for soldiers.
intransitive verb:
1. To be quartered; to lodge.
When he was well enough, he was retrieved back to his billet in the American zone.
— Frances Stonor Saunders, The Cultural Cold War
Louisa stayed at the hospital to be near him, while the younger children were billeted at a nearby house with their Irish governess.
— Douglas Botting, Gerald Durrell
We arrived jet-lagged at Tan Son Nhut airport where someone met us and hurried us off to wherever we were billeted, usually a villa on one of the wide residential boulevards that reminded everyone of a French provincial city.
— Ward Just, A Dangerous Friend
Paul Yaffe cuts his dynamic custom fork trees from billet aluminum.
–Bandit, from his novel, “Billet Wars or The Cast Iron South will Rise Again.”
Billet is from Medieval French billette, from Old French bullette, diminutive of bulle, “a document,” from Medieval Latin bulla, “a document.”
NEW BRASS BALLS CUSTOM WEBSITE– I want to introduce you to Brass Balls Bobbers’ latest upgrade… their new custom website. It provides an enhanced user experience as well as providing better access to their custom-production motorcycles. New for Brass Balls and just in time for Christmas is their e-commerce store that includes rollers and custom parts. Please take a look at their latest innovation at www.brassballsbobbers.com.
Keep the rubber side down,
–Jeff Najar
Biker Pros
919-383-0500
ON VIOLENT OVERLOAD OVER POLITICS AND HEALTH CARE PROPOSALS, BIKERNET MEDICAL CENTER STUDIES HOLIDAY STRESS BEFORE ALL HELL BREAKS LOOSE– Stress can negatively impact your physical health, mood, and social interactions. One way to help address the symptoms of stress is with passion flower (Passiflora incarnata). The dried above-ground parts of the plant can be found in tincture and extract form – look for standardized whole plant extracts or capsules containing no less than 0.8 percent flavonoids or isovitexin.
You can use passion flower for stress reduction, calming without sedation, and relief from insomnia (when combined with other sedative herbs). One dropperful of the tincture in a little warm water, or two capsules of extract, up to four times a day as needed is the adult dosage; children should take half of this. Use caution when taking MAO-inhibiting antidepressant drugs, and do not take when pregnant – active compounds may be uterine stimulants.
Or drink Rum.
The Full Throttle airs on Tru TV? Ten Years and Going Strong? A decade ago Michael Ballard had a dream. Through hard work, inventive ideas, and strong support from his family, he quickly rose to the top, becoming the largest biker bar in the world. At the 2009 Sturgis rally, the Ballards not only celebrated ten years of remarkable success, but are still looking forward to things to come.
They?ve recently added row upon row of affordable cabins, making accommodations much easier in the small town of Sturgis during Bike Week. The amenities are as good as and probably better than a hotel. Michael?s sister Vicky handles the cabin rentals, and also pitches in on lots of the day to day business.
Even Michael?s sweet little mom, Ms. Ruby, can be seen flitting through the rowdy crowds, taking care of business. This year Michael added to his already immense load of stressful day to day to business during bike week. He agreed to let a full television crew from Tru-TV to follow his every move, and film a reality show during Sturgis.
Michael?s close friend, Jesse James Dupree of Jackyl fame,who has played every year for ten years at the saloon, recently has been involved in lots of television and reality shows and had heavy involvement in the reality series that covers not only the hard work it takes to run such a huge establishment, but also the colorful characters and patrons who both work at and frequent the massive biker bar.
The synchronization of the place is incredible? every girl is the prettiest, every costume a perfect match to the next? to have the details of such a huge chaotic environment so fine tuned is nothing short of miraculous. Mike?s eclectic style is part of what keeps people coming back for more. Everything from diesel trucks to old neon motel signs find their way into the d?cor.
The skyline as you head outta Sturgis has drastically changed this year due to Michael?s love of all things funky cool. This most recent, and most massive, addition has a wonderful story. The Canton Bridge was built in 1912 on the road to Bismark, South Dakota. The bridge was ordered from a catalog, and traveled by train and then wagon train to where she stood for nearly a century. When they recently decided to take down the old bridge and make way for more modern means of travel, Michael saved her from extinction. He purchased the Canton Bridge, and had it hauled to the Full Throttle site where equipment, such as huge I beams and cranes were erected to put the bridge in place. It now adds ample partying or lounging space as well as provides a bird?s eye view of the center stage. Another reason the crowds keep coming back for more is the wide range of entertainment offered at the Full Throttle.
It should prove to be an awesome reality series, because there is a wide range of performances and things to see, from the Globe of Death to Angieland, from Korn to the burnout pit. And of course, the culmination of Bike Week was, as always, a huge party highlighted by Jackyl taking the main stage. And, as I once again watched the fog roll in overhead as Jesse James Dupree strutted in his red long underwear, I realized that the more things change, the more they stay the same.
–Amy White, Wicked Bitch
United Kingdom – Police in Sussex have admitted targeting motorcyclists for not wearing hi-vis bibs– The force stopped 150 commuters for not wearing hi-vis gear in a five-day operation and issued each with a bib which they were told they should wear in a road-side lecture.
A force spokesman said: “Riders were given a free hi-vis vest and a talk about road safety, emphasising the need to ‘be safe, be seen’. Bikers not wearing hi-vis have been targetted
“Motorcyclists and moped riders are amongst the most vulnerable road users and often, in the event of a collision, the injuries are serious.
“A common theme when dealing with this type of collision is that other road users state they just didn’t see them.”
Sgt Mel Doyle in the Brighton and Hove road policing unit said any rider not wearing hi-vis clothing was in line to be targeted.
“Every police car was issued with hi-vis vests,” she said. “The objective of the operation was that if we saw motorcyclists riding without hi-vis clothing, we’d stop them and give them a vest.”
Sgt Paul Wood of the same unit added: “We stopped motorcyclists predominantly during rush-hour traffic in the mornings on the major routes into an out of Brighton.
“We had a look at their motorcycles and had a quick road safety chat with them in relation to them being vulnerable road users and conspicuity issues.
“And then we offered them a free high-visibility vest and said we would encourage you to wear it because in a lot of the collisions that occur within the city, drivers have said we looked but didn’t see them.”
Wood said there were no plans to stop drivers to raise their awareness of the same issues.
He denied riders not in hi-vis were targeted and said those already wearing hi-vis gear may also have been stopped during the operation last month.
–from Joseph Holder
TEXAS TURKEY CRITIQUE–Not a big fan of turkey, rather have lasagna or Mexican food.
I will finish up the story for the Lone Star Rally over the weekend, I had a girl come up and grab me thinking I was Lichter, she is Billy’s Goddaughter I think she said. I wonder if Mike remembers me introducing myself back at the LSR in 04 or just thinks I am some loon that comes up and talks to him at rallies.
I also came upon a car show last minute a couple weeks ago. It happens monthly from 6-9 in a Kroger (grocery store) strip mall parking lot, with a Starbucks, Wendy’s, family oriented, no alcohol. It is estimated they had 500+ cars on Halloween, these are a few, that were there. I am surprised that the other stores in the center do not complain, but I guess it generates store traffic for them all?
–RFR
IT’S A THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY WRAP–Next week I’m focusing on the final 5-Ball Factory Racer build tech. I’m still tinking with adjustment, but she’s damn cool. I’m also working on another feature Sporty and some fiction, but the 5-Ball is first on the list–right this second. Next week my Chance Hogan book needs to go to press. I’m waiting on final corrections from Trent. I’m biting my nails.
I’m turning 62 next year, so I can file for Social Security on Tuesday. Life is nuts. The Assalt Weapan was loaded onto a KeyBoard shipping truck from Accurate Engineering in Alabama. After two years, it’s finally heading home and back to Bonneville next year. As soon as the this last 5-Ball factory racer segment is completed, then all Bikernet inhouse tech efforts will once again focus on the 2010 Bonneville challenge. The build will focus on the Bonnebell. The 1940 45-cubic inch flathead, with a K-model top end, being built by Lee Clemens of Departure Bike works. We will cover his engine rebuild and the transfer of the driveline into the new 45 stretched rigid frame, that will hold a 5-speed big twin transmission. Then we’re considering a working with Air Tech on a streamlined body. Hang on as the whole Bonneville effort catches wind.
Okay, here’s my quicky Bikernet Xmas tale, rebel true. For a couple of year, after I left Easyriders and moved to San Pedro, I didn’t have any family-like connections. I was single and tree-less. I discovered another loner madman in Orange County, who faced similar circumstances. So we rode every Xmas morning for a couple of years, until we were once again entangled with families, kids, and Christmas demands.
We rolled out early on Xmas morning to find a place to eat pancakes, have a couple of shots of whiskey, and feel the wind in our thinning hair. Xmas morning is magical, without a soul on the road, restaurants empty, and Xmas in the air. It’s sort of a Twilight Zone experience. Folks look at you like you’re in trouble, lost or recently divorced. But it was fun for a couple of years. Chris died of a gunshot wound, and I ducked back into safety of family, friends and presents under the Christmas tree. Keep stress at a minimum. If it gets to you, go for a ride, if you can. Like the boss of D&D says, “Motorcycles are mechanical valiums. They soothe the soul.”
Ride forever,
–Bandit
