Rachel Price, Mr. Samson’s daughter.
Love Ride Weekend is winding down. We threw a small party last night after Kenny Price of Samson’s boat ride around Balboa Island in Newport Beach. Good to see some of the pals. The night before we pre-viewed the goods at the Bonhams and Butterfields motorcycle and related memorabilia auction, which rolled onto the block on Saturday. We scored a couple of small items that I’ll tell you about later. Report from the Love Ride includes overcast cast skies, sprinkles but no rain, cold chicken and a good time. All is well at the lake. Let’s get to the news:
GOVERNOR PAWLENTY COMMENDS POLARIS FOR BRINGING NEW FACILITY, 300 JOBS TO WYOMING, MINNESOTA
ST. PAUL: Governor Tim Pawlenty on Thursday commended the decision by Polaris Industries Inc. to build a new product development facility in Wyoming, MN, saying it illustrates the company’s longstanding commitment to providing high-quality jobs in the state.
“Polaris was born here, has grown into a power sports powerhouse here, and the company’s North Star logo is an institution in the North Star State,” said Governor Pawlenty. “We couldn’t be more pleased that Polaris is continuing to invest in the people and communities of Minnesota.”
The governor’s remarks came during a joint news conference with Polaris President and CEO Tom Tiller, who announced that the company would build a 100,000 square-foot facility in Wyoming. The building will be home to engineering, design and development personnel for Polaris’ line of all-terrain vehicles, personal watercraft, and Victory Motorcycles.
Construction is expected to begin in 2004, should be completed in late 2005, and is expected to cost about $25 million. When operating at full capacity, the facility will employ up to 300 people. Some of the jobs will be new positions. The remaining jobs will be filled by consolidating the company’s current ATV, personal watercraft and Victory Product Development facilities in Spirit Lake, Iowa and Osceola, Wisconsin as well as some work currently handled in Roseau.
The 600-acre Wyoming site will allow for on-site field-testing, and will provide ample room for future expansion. The city was selected from a list of potential sites following a 16-month national search.
Texas Swapmeet Series
November 23 – Swap Meet Austin – Austin – Crockett Center
January 4 – Swap Meet Dallas & Chopper Show – Dallas – Longhorn Ballroom
February 8 – West Texas Motorcycle Expo & Swap Meet – Abilene – Taylor County Fairgrounds
February 29 – East Texas Motorcycle Expo & Swap Meet – Longview – Convention Complex
March 7 – Swap Meet Dallas – Dallas – Longhorn Ballroom
–from WWW.TEXASSCOOTER.COM
The ashtray squad.
Ashtrays – the New Contraband
Getting caught with an unregistered gun can get you busted in New York City – and so can possession of a new form of contraband.
Brooklyn video store owner Marty Arno learned that lesson the hard way – he’s facing a whopping $6,000 in fines after two of Mayor Bloomberg’s anti-smoking goon squad storm troopers caught him harboring one of these deadly items.
Today’s New York Post reveals that city inspectors M. Dundas and S. Holloway gave Arno, owner of Brooklyn Heights Video, a ticket last month charging that they had uncovered not explosives, not guns, not knives, but “One (1) ashtray with cigarette butt, and ashes,” which was “seen on the counter of the establishment.”
For this criminal offense Arno faces a hefty $2,000 fine plus two other similar fines because the -inspectors discovered he did not have “No Smoking” signs and had not put up a sign displaying his store’s official nonsmoking policy.
All of these crimes violate the city’s politically correct Smoke-Free Air Act, a brainchild of New York’s Mayor Bloomberg.
–from Rogue
The Very Best Bike!!!!
There’s been some yellin’
there’s been some cussin’
there’s been some fightin’
and been some fussin’.
The war’s been long and hard and hot
blood has flowed lots more than not.
What’s the beef and why the strife?
Why the gun and why the knife?
Lend an ear and get a clue.
I’ll tell it straight and tell it true.
I’ll tell you why we’re in this pickle
It’s over what’s the very best motorsickle.
Some proclaim with all their might
that others are wrong and they are right
They state that if you have the luck
the very best bike will have a knuck.
Others shout “ugh and yuck patooie”
guys with knucks are a little bit screwy.
These people shout throughout the land
“the very best bike must have a Pan.”
Others shout “Pan? You must be crazy
and old and fat and slow and lazy.
Now go away home go back to your hovel
the very best bike must have a shovel”
Then there’s the ones that everyone dreads
the ones who say “you’re out of your heads.
Shovels are old they rattle and knock
the very best bike has an Evo block.”
Still others say “blocks are nuttin but crap.
They ain’t no better than Italian or Jap.
I’d rather walk or own a foreign
than ride a bike that don’t have iron.”
Others say “Iron? You’re full of poop
listen here I’ve got the scoop.
On all the bikes I’ve rode and sat
and the bestest one has a head that’s flat.”
After all that fumin and all that fun
you might think maybe the fightin’s done
but you’ve never heard such nasty names
as when the talk gets around to frames.
Some folks have rode from near to far
and looked at all the bikes there are.
Been where it’s hot and been where it’s frigid
and the best bike they saw had a frame that’s rigid.
Others hoot and laugh and snort.
“Rigids” they say “are for rides real short.”
They’ve said it loud and they’ve said it oft
“the bestest bikes have a tail that’s soft.”
Others scream “oh yeah that’s funny”
and laugh and laugh til their eyes are runny.
“Softtails rattle and shake and quake
til your legs go numb and your eyeballs ache.
Here’s the truth there’s nuttin finah
than to ride and ride on a nice smooth Dyna.”
That makes beer come out some guys noses.
Who say “they’re good…for makin poses.
The best damn frames there are by far
are the ones we know as FXR.”
Others claim “it’s plain to see
that a real far rider you’ll never be.
An FXR’s no good at all
for a ride from from Maine to Arkansaw.
If you wanna go long and not be a lagger
Yer gonna need a real nice bagger.”
Another voice says “You must be jokin’
baggers are good…if you like slow pokin’.
I’ll ride one myself when I’m old and warty.
Til then I’ll stick with my souped up Sporty.”
I’ve thought about these fights a lot
and I know who’s right and I know who’s not.
Listen close and hear from me.
I really think you might agree
that everyone knows
deep down in their bones
that the very best bike
is the one he owns.
–from Rogue
Two Panhead Found In Desert
Over the years we’ve heard many legends and rumors about old motorcycles that are said to be rusting away in a barn somewhere. Well Preacher discovered two original Pan and told the story for Bikernet Readers. Check the Home Page. It’s the legend of the two nearly complete, unmodified, Harley Panheads that were pulled from a desert dump.
Golfing Accident
A couple of women were playing golf one sunny Saturday morning. The first of the twosome teed off and watched in horror as her ball headed directly toward a foursome of men playing the next hole.
The ball hit one of the men, and he immediately clasped his hands together at his groin, fell to the ground and proceeded to roll around in evident agony.
The woman rushed down to the man and immediately began to apologize. “Please allow me to help. I’m a physical therapist and I know I could relieve your pain if you’d allow me,” she told him earnestly.
“Ummph, oooh, nnooo, I’ll be alright. I’ll be fine in a few minutes,” he replied breathlessly as he remained in the fetal position still clasping his hands together in his groin.
But she persisted, and he finally allowed her to help him. She gently took his hands away and laid them to the side, she loosened his pants, and she put her hands inside. She began to massage him. She then asked him, “How does that feel?”
He replied “It feels great, but my thumb still hurts like hell.
–from Chris T.
Bikernet Unviels Window Washing Scam
I can’t believe I keep falling for it. I simply can’t believe I keep falling for it.
Yesterday, one of my neighbors was car-hijacked at a traffic light! A young woman proposes to wash your car window while you wait at the red light, and another one takes advantage of it to open the back door and steal everything she can grab. Be warned, they are very well organized!!!
Don’t leave your doors or windows open if you drive up to a red light!
If your windows get washed . .. . Don’t look at them, they try to distract you.
Please inform your friends of this new scam. They have gotten me 10 times already.
–from Chris T.
All My Heroes
All My Heroes
Have Went Away
Legends In Their Times
The Forgotten Today
Have You Even
Heard Their Names
Some Were Famous
Others Were Insane
Big Pan
Taught Me To Ride
Gave Me My First Scoot
One Righteous Guy
Last I Hear He Was
Doing Federal Time
I Wonder If He’s Still Around
If He Even Alive?
Double “A”
Taking Me On The Road
Sitting High In
That Big Peter Car
Not Caring Where We Went
As Long As It Was Far
Hollywood
Lives So Close
Used To Spend
Weeks At A Time
Helping Build His ’48 Pan
A Few Too Many Beers
Allowed Tempers To Flare
I Wonder If He Knows
If He Needs Me
I’ll Be There
All My Heroes
Where Have They Gone?
Im Still Here
Was I Not Invited
When They Moved On?
— by Panhead Josh
–from Chris T.
Cantina Entertainment Report
Wanted to share something I happened to stumble upon Friday night while channel surfing. There is a show out with Kelly Ripa, Faith Ford & Ted something from the Love Boat, Married with Children, etc.
As I come upon it all three characters are apparently looking for a car for Ripa. There is a motorcycle parked beside a car (HD I think) and he points it out to Kelly Ripa.
His wife on the show Faith Ford comes over and says “Oh no honey don’t you know how dangerous those thing are” to which he smiles and I believe said. “Yes I do.” My understanding is his character and hers do not get along. I would have to believe that either one or both of these women have some control over that show and allowed something like to happen.
Due to the fact, that there are so many stupid, mindless drones in the world that cannot make a decision by themselves. It is now possible (in an extreme case) that the next Supercross or mile champion will never get the chance to fulfill their destiny because Kelly Ripa said motorcycles were dangerous. So now his or her parents back out of buying them that first bike (I said it was an extreme case).
Point being is I am getting sick and tired of ASSHOLES on TV, radio and at concerts forcing their STUPID ASSED opinions on the world! That is my opinion.
I understand everyone is entitled, but the reality is that many, many, many people really do not think and make decisions for themselves (ref. Homeland Security, Patriot Act) and with as popular as this girl apparently is supposed to be I feel like a large group of folks just became infected.
Seems to me like she could have had made better use of the line by saying something about how she would love one but she would be concerned for her safety because so many people do not take the time to look for motorcycles or something like that.
–Rigid Frame Richard
Cantina Religious Moment Father O’Malley rose from his bed. It was a fine spring day in his new Washington, DC parish. He walked to the window of his bedroom to get a deep breath of the beautiful day outside. He then noticed there was a jackass lying dead in the middle of his front lawn. He promptly called the US Senate for assistance. The conversation went like this: “Good morning. This is Senator Daschle. How might I help you?” And the best of the day te yerself. This is Father O’Malley at St.Brigid’s. There’s a jackass lying dead in me front lawn. Would ye be so kind as to send a couple o’ yer lads to take care of the matter?” Senator Daschle, considering himself to be quite a wit, replied with a smirk, “Well now father, it was always my impression that you people took care of last rites!” There was dead silence on the line for a long moment. Father O’Malley then replied:”Aye, that’s certainly true, but we are also obliged to notify the next of kin.”
–from Bob T.
HARLEY-DAVIDSON CAPTURES THE MOMENT OF THE FINAL RIGID-MOUNTED SPORTSTER MOTORCYCLE
Karl Eberle, Kansas City General Manager and the XL Assembly group gathered for a picture around the final rigid-mounted Sportster, which will be preserved in the Harley-Davidson Archives.
Harley-Davidson commemorated a “last,” as the final rigid-mounted Sportster motorcycle came off the line Friday, Aug. 22, 2003 in Kansas City, MO. The motorcycle closed out the 2003 model year and ended a 46-year run of these rigid-mounted machines.
To mark the occasion, the Vehicle and Powertrain Operations employees gathered for a picture around the bike at the Kansas City facility. The Motor Company will preserve the photograph in the Harley-Davidson Archives, marking this milestone in the Motor Company’s history.
The redesigned 1200cc powertrain is rubber mounted and provides a new level of comfort and performance for the Sportster motorcycle. The four models that make up the 2004 Sportster motorcycle line up feature lower seat heights, a wider rear fender and tire, smaller handgrips and an enhanced braking system.
Quote Of The Day
“The profession of book writing makes horse racing seem like a solid, stable business.”
–John Steinbeck
Wild Angels Forever–I scored a 1948 bike Trophy and an original Wild Angels framed movie poster from the Auction. The boat ride was designed to commemorate Kenny’s escape from marriage and 12 years in the exhaust pipe business. Above is a shot of Kenny’s daughter Rachel on the Destiny, a three story party boat. Later that night we discussed a new series for bike tech stories from Irish Rich of HORSE fame. He has a shop modifying frames in Denver, Shamrock Fabrication.
Soon we will initial a line of Bandit engine covers, with the artistic assistance of Chris Kallas and perhabs the help of Fab Kevin out of Detroit. Watch for all the action here on Bikernet. Speaking of action, now that the bros are out of town, the girls are requested to return. Have a helluva week.
–Bandit
