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MEMORIAL DAY THOUGHTS– This and Veteran’s Day are holidays that mean more and more to me as I get older. This is the holiday where I stop and think, more than I normally do, about my friends, and their friends, who went off on military missions and never came back. Or, came back “different”.
I don’t have a lot, financially or materially. But I am rich as Croesus when it comes to friends. Many of my friends are veterans. I am not.
When you love someone you cannot help but notice, and come to know, some of their pain, some of their fear, some of their sorrow. It is a testament to the human spirit that we can carry such heavy loads and still be joyful and appreciative of the smallest of beauties.
Every day I get up, get dressed, and leave my house for work. I stop and look at what is blooming in my yard. I watch geese nudge their babies along in front of the pond. I look down at my feet and smile at the cat, or the dog, that is looking up at me adoringly. Most days I do actually take the time to appreciate these things. I feel like the luckiest woman in the world! Look at my life, I say to myself. I have found a niche where I can contribute. I meet wonderful people all the time.
This nation absolutely is not (now) what it was intended to be, but by GOD it IS STILL AMERICA. I’m a woman who does what she wants, when she wants to. I drive my own truck. I ride my own motorcycle. I travel alone (and love it). I’m free to make changes in my life, free to say what I wish to say, free to come and go as I please. The only limitations I have are financial.
I know no other way. I have no frame of reference for oppression, not truly.
Someone paid that price. Someone paid, with their life, for me to have that. For ME. I am the recipient of what other’ people’s blood has purchased.
I don’t forget it. I won’t forget it. I cannot forget it.
I try to honor their GIFT to me by living my life with joy, and savoring my freedoms. By appreciating the smallest of blooms to the full of the moon. This weekend, I will be enjoying myself in a lazy, sunny, beautiful part of our nation with a girlfriend who is herself, a veteran.
To every man, woman, child who gave their life, their fortunes, their futures to carve out this nation… who went off on a mission and never came back…. And yes, Danny… wherever you are… I still love you… To all “you guys”…. Thank you. So very, very much.
Blessings,
–Fre
GUN CONTROL FREEDOM QUESTION– Great news as usual, as to the question below, I have a California CCW permit, some other states will allow it , but California doesn’t reciprocate with anyone!!
–Gordon C.,
Bakersfield, Ca
Damascus Wheelers MC Spring Bash 2009 Saturday May 23, 2009 (3:00PM – 11:00PM)– Enter your bike in the Best in Show.
$10.00 PP Entry Fee
Start Time: 3:00 to 11:00 PM
Music by DJ: 3:00 to 7:00
Live Band Starts at 7:00 (Big Timber)
Cash Bar
Hots and Hamburgers availble
Although Damascus Shrine always welcomes Children, This is an Adult event. Use your discretion
Venue Details:
Damascus Shrine Center
979 Bay Road
Webster, New York 14580
FREE TO WANDER REVIEW ON BIKERNET– Thank you for your review Layla and Keith. I liked the Siskel and Ebert deal. I attached several pictures from the movie for you to use as you see fit. The pictures portray a little of the feel and attitude of the film. A Free To Wander Motto, “Build life’s journey, ride the hell out of it and stay, Free To Wander”.
The website is www.freetowander.net.
Thanks again. Let me know if you need anything else.
Carrie.
2009 FREEDOM FIGHTERS ANNOUNCED– May 2009 – – The Sturgis Motorcycle Museum & Hall of Fame is proud to announce the 2009 Freedom Fighters Hall of Fame Inductee, Jay Jackson from Indiana.
The Freedom Fighters Hall of Fame recognizes the commitment and sacrifices individuals across the nation, and world, have made to protect the rights of motorcyclists. In their honor the Sturgis Motorcycle Museum & Hall of Fame established the nation?s first and only Freedom Fighters Hall of Fame.
Jay Jackson started his association with ABATE of Indiana in 1983 by volunteering as a county representative. Shortly after that, he earned his certification to instructor for the Motorcycle Safety Division. He was hired by ABATE of Indiana as Motorcycle Safety Director in 1996 and in 1999-2000 he was named Chief Instructor. Jay became Executive Director of ABATE while maintaining his position with the MSD in September of 2002. In addition to seven Board of Directors? meetings and seven Advisory Committee meetings each year, Jay is directly responsible for ABATE?s numerous annual events, which include ABATE Day at the State House, ABATE Kids? Day at the State House, ABATE Awards Banquet, MSD Awards Banquet, MSD Instructor Update, Boogie, Workers? Party, and Fall Seminar, to name a few. ABATE of Indiana, through Jay, is particularly involved with the Motorcycle Expo, Miracle Ride for Riley Hospital, and now the Indianapolis MotoGP.
Many who are involved in ABATE of Indiana credit Jay with bringing ABATE back from the brink of bankruptcy in 2002. Jay is, or has been, involved with politics on an individual level as a voter, a local politician as a member of his Township Advisory Board, a registered lobbyist on the state level, and he serves on the national MRF?s Board of Directors. Jay fights for the interests of all motorcyclists, local, state and national, in his various positions in the motorcycling communities. With Jay at the helm, ABATE of Indiana lobbied and rescinded a $10 registration fee placed on Indiana motorcyclists in 2007. This was a difficult task to undertake, essentially reversing a law that had passed under the radar the prior year, but Jay was ever vigilant in seeking justice for the motorcyclists of Indiana.
Jackson will be honored at the annual Sturgis Motorcycle Hall of Fame Induction Breakfast, Wednesday, August 5th, at the Rushmore Plaza Civic Center in Rapid City, South Dakota.
Breakfast tickets are available for a $25.00 donation, tables of eight for $250.00. Tickets can be purchased through the Museum 605.347.2001 or on line www.sturgismuseum.com.
WHEELS THROUGH TIME MUSEUM HOSTS LONG RODE RIDE PARTY–Last Thursday, May 14, 2009 the Wheels Through Time Museum held its first special opening of the year as hundreds of enthusiasts from one of the nation’s longest organized motorcycle rides rolled into town. Beginning in Cottonwood, AZ on May 10, The SmokeOut Long Road Ride headed east towards its final destination — The SmokeOut East Rally in Rockingham, NC — stopping in Maggie Valley for a special visit at the Wheels Through Time Museum along the way.
With over 60 registered riders, the Long Road Ride made its way from west to east, picking up plenty of steam along the way. With stops in Santa Rosa, NM, Oklahoma City, Clarksville, AR, and Nashville, TN, Long Road Riders saw hundreds of enthusiasts join the ride before their much anticipated stop at the museum on May 14.
Meanwhile, up the road in Maggie Valley, Wheels Through Time staff and hundreds of visitors alike gathered in preparation for their arrival. “We’ve really been looking forward to this day for a long time,” said museum curator, Dale Walksler. “Its not often that so many folks get together for a ride like this, and we were honored to provide everyone a great museum experience and a place for the riders to kick back, relax, and get some rest.”
BRITTOWN WINS INTERNATIONAL DOCUMENTARY AWARD– Brittown won “Best International Documentary” at the EOTP Film Festival in England last week!
Big Truth and his buddies at Choppahead have finished Choppahead Vol. 3! This volume features even more builder profiles, shows, and “retarderry” than the last. Think of the unholy union of Chopper Build Off and Jackass and that pretty much sums it up. The official release date is June 16th, but we worked a deal so we can ship it A WEEK EARLY.
MOTORCYCLE COMPANIES INVITED INTO SEMA SHOW, LAS VEGAS–In support of new Powersports & Utility Vehicles section of the Show, SEMA is taking extraordinary steps to attract qualified buyers.
Two-Pronged Promotion Strategy: First, we?re educating our 52,000-plus qualified SEMA Show buyers on the cross-selling opportunities and additional profits they can realize with powersports products through a comprehensive awareness program that includes editorial, advertising and webinars at various trade shows, including our own. Second, we?re expanding our buyer universe to include new buyers from our strategic powersports marketing partnership and reaching out to them with an aggressive multi-channel marketing campaign.
Built-In Powersports Buyer Interest: At the 2008 SEMA Show, more than 2,500 buyers were registered as powersports buyers. More than 170 SEMA Show exhibitors indicated that they manufacture powersports products and more than 1,200 attendees expressed interest in their products. For every one of the last four SEMA Shows, more than 250 powersports vehicles have been on display.
Key Powersports Marketing Partnership: SEMA is about to kickoff promotional partnerships with leading business publications in the powersports industry. Such collaboration will raise the awareness of the cross-buying opportunities of the SEMA Show, strategic location to important western markets and other strategic advantages. SEMA will be an official sponsor at industry events and host industry educational efforts and participate in print, online newsletter and website promotions.
SEMA Attracts Buyers from Key Western States: Annual attendance at the SEMA Show exceeds 100,000 from markets around the world. Our highest concentration of buyers comes from western states such as California, Utah, Nevada, and Arizona. Industry research ranks these markets among the top markets for powersports?buyers that other shows don?t deliver.
Multi-Channel Marketing Campaign: More than 400,000 pieces of direct mail will be distributed, including dedicated, targeted powersports mailers. Print ads will be run multiple times in more than 130 domestic and international publications, including prominent powersports trade and consumer publications. More than 25 banner ads will be posted on industry trade websites, 50,000-plus targeted voicemails will be broadcast, and promotions will be held at major international trade shows (see a sampling of select marketing materials in the accompanying photograph).
Lowest Hotel Room Rates in Six Years: All buyers and exhibitors will benefit from substantially discounted hotel room rates at nearly all Las Vegas hotels for the 2009 SEMA Show. More than 30 Las Vegas hotels have dropped room rates for SEMA Show attendees with savings up to 66% and starting at just $41. Go to www.SEMAShow.com/reservations to make your hotel reservations. Discount Airfare with JetBlue: SEMA has teamed-up with JetBlue to offer 2009 SEMA Show attendees a 5% discount on the lowest available airfare to Las Vegas when booked online. The promotion is good from any city serviced by JetBlue and will run until the last day of the Show. Valid outbound travel dates are October 28?November 6, with return flights valid from November 1?8.
To book your flight, visit www.jetblue.com/promo and use promo code SEMA2009. To buy a booth, go to www.SEMAShow/buyabooth, e-mail sema-exhibit@convexx.com or call 702-450-7662 ext. 120. For more information, go to www.SEMAShow.com.
Don?t let hotel costs pose an obstacle to your 2009 SEMA Show plans. SEMA is actively working with Las Vegas hotels to secure rock-bottom rates during this year?s Show, allowing you to focus on growing your business, not your expenses. Rooms start for as low as $41 a night and participating hotels are offering rates 25%, 40%, even more than 60% lower than last year.
Memorial Day Wishes from Rivera Primo– On behalf of the management & staff, we would like to take a moment to wish you and your family a safe and enjoyable Memorial Day weekend. We thank all our men & woman in uniform, past and present, who serve to protect the very freedom that affords us the opportunity to celebrate a holiday as important to us all as Memorial Day. Please honor these people by supporting them & the greatest country in the world, the United States of America. Work Schedule
Rivera Primo Inc. will be closed Monday, May 25th in observance of Memorial Day. Normal business hours will start again on Tuesday, May 26, 2009.
TWO NEW MODELS COMING FROM BIG BEAR IN 2010– we’re gonna be introducing 2 new bikes into the 2010 model year… one being domestic only at $19k retail. The other is international only of around $30k. but not ready for press on that.
— andy meadors
Big Bear Lake, Calif 92315
http://www.bigbearchoppers.com
andy@bigbearchoppers.com
meadors@vzw.blackberry.net
love, peace and BBC grease
THIS IS HOW–they sell melons in Texas.
MEMORIAL DAY WISHES– Hey brother, got my flag flyin’ and a prayer in my heart for all the service men and women that gave all to keep this country great.
So with a beer in hand and the kid in the pool I’m gonna grill some chicken and kick back and chill, just as it should be! I hope you guys have a great weekend and keep up the good work.
–Pete(fromflorida)
HAPPY MEMORIAL DAY–I have friends who scoff at the word Freedom. They don’t believe it exists anymore, nor is it necessary. We’ve come into an era of extreme regulation. Legislators have figured out the game and the power it provides. But I’ve noticed a change in the media coverage. Suddenly the media is using the word Freedom again.
Don’t get me wrong. Most legislative notions are kicked off with a multitude of good intentions, for instance the EPA. But over the years the bureaucracy grows and it becomes a power issue, then the desire for control takes over and finally it’s all about the money gained and budgets. Gun laws fall under the same historic pattern. The list goes on, until it backfires and we find ourselves in a dictatorship regarding EPA regs, gun laws, safety notions, etc.
It may be that time to take a stand, or perform the studies necessary to put the word Freedom back in the forefront, especially for motorcycles. We can’t ever give up.
Ride Forever,
–Bandit
