Hey,

As you know, life is nuts and then you die. Done deal. But wait. I’m here in Deadwood. I escaped the madness of California. I’m in a place where folks are having fun, where chrome is cool, gambling is a blast and the girl drink shots.




The Thought for the day: Wherever enlightened ones dwell, in a village or wilderness, on a mountain or on a coast, that is indeed a place of joy.

Let’s party and check the news:



The Bikernet Weekly News is sponsored in part by companies who also dig Freedom including: Cycle Source Magazine, the MRF, Las Vegas Bikefest, Iron Trader News, ChopperTown, BorntoRide.com and the Sturgis Motorcycle Museum. Most recently Quick Throttle Magazine came on board.







NHDRO Kicks Off Motorcycle Drag Racing Season

NHDRO’s previously named Mid-Season Sizzle gets it half-right—June 26-28 at Lucas Oil Raceway will totally sizzle! With a late start because of COVID-19 restrictions, the Midwest’s largest all-motorcycle drag racing series kicks off the season with the first big race of 2020 at a time that would normally be mid-year. And although they’d rather have two races under their belts by now, Brian and Niki Welch can’t wait to welcome the NHDRO family back to the best track on the planet.

NHDRO will see a full slate of Pro Street contenders on a premium, Kyle Lang-prepped track—perfect for 220+ mph, six and a half second turbo and nitrous streetbikes. Gabe Frederick, Frankie Stotz, Dave Roisen, nitrous-huffing Gaige Herrara, and trailers-full of badass, Quicktime Racing, side-mount turbo, Suzuki Hayabusas ridden by Rudy Sanzottera, Brad Christain, Brett Ware, Jeff Lindeman, Kieth Bobo, and Matt Moen, will all be seeing competition for the first time this year.

Pro Ultra 4.60 champion Smokin’ Joe Rodney will have a tough time defending his title against an ever-growing field in the world’s quickest eighth mile, two wheel index class. Runner-up Broderick Jackson, former champ Les Stimac, the whole I-65 crew of Deshawn Wheeler, Jeff Jones, and many, many more.

Likewise, Kentuckian Joe “Big” Deck knows that keeping his Hardcore Cycles Top Gas championship will be a major achievement indeed. 8.20 index studs like Kounselor Kenny Schwartz, Mike and Heather Wagner, David “Skywalker” Thompson, Dustin “Biscuits” Lee, Michael D’Addio, Jeremy Teasley and more will all be aiming for Deck.

Crazy Comp champ David Beshara can choose to defend his BB Racing crown in one or both of 8.90 Super Comp or M2.Shocks 8.70 Quick Street—the classes replacing Crazy Comp. The 8.70 index class will be streetbikes only, while Super Comp will allow both wheelie bar and no-bar bikes.

Street Fighter champion Ron “Ju-Jitsu” Arnold will have to pick up the pace a bit, as the retired 9.50 Street Fighter class is now Dirty 30 9.30 index for streetbikes.

Kevin Dennis Insurance Street ET champion “Biscuits” Lee and MPS Pro ET champ Dalton Markham will have huge fields to overcome, including many of the racers already mentioned.

NHDRO welcomes several new classes, including the first, full, quarter mile round of the much-anticipated HTP Super Stock class. A modern riff on the old Prostar Supersport class, Super Stock will allow the best jockeys and most subtle and “creative” tuners to rise to the top. Patrick Cooper, Dustin Clark, Robert Sprague and maybe even former NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle champ LE Tonglet are looking forward to competing at the event.

By contrast, the 240-pounds-and-over riders of NHDRO’s new Pro Supreme class would sink like anchors if thrown into the water. But put these graceful big men in the seat and on the clutch and watch them float like summer butterflies in this no-points class.

NHDRO True ET is also a no-points class, and features true OEM hand clutches. $50 entry gets you a chance to cart off the winnings in this 100 percent payback class.

Kids have always played a big, participatory part of the NHDRO family, but for the first time they’ll have their own class—Hard Times Parts and Service Jr. Dragster. Light ‘em up and let ‘em loose!

And of course, VooDoo Grudge punctuates the day and caps off the night with the Midwest’s hottest and ready-to-race gamblers. Joey Jobbe, Money Mike Studebaker, Wiggle, Hot Boy, Dre Buckets, Lucky Nemo, Brad Holland, Josh Keller, Ke Ke Jones and more will all be taking stripes for stacks.

Racers from all other series are welcome to come shake off the cobwebs, blow out the rust, and pick up some timeslips. Now is the time to race and NHDRO is the place!




Find out more about NHDRO at http://www.nhdroracing.com/


This report was prepared by Tim Hailey. Enjoy everything there is to read, see and watch about motorcycle drag racing and more at https://www.eatmyink.com







BILLY RAY HEADS FOR THE MOUNTAINS--NEW YORK, N.Y. – Busch, the beer brewed for the great outdoors, has extolled the beauty of America’s landscapes using music and song since its founding in 1955, developing iconic jingles for its ad campaigns such as ‘Head for the Mountains’ in the 1980s.

Today, inspired by the creativity Americans across the country showed while staying indoors this spring, Busch is announcing a new campaign to bring that very song to the fore again, and is enlisting the support of rock legend and two-time 2020 GRAMMY® winner Billy Ray Cyrus and one lucky Busch fan to do so.

Starting today through July 5, Busch is giving its fans the chance to remake its ‘Head for the Mountains’ jingle, with one person taking home a $10,000 contract from Busch to have their version featured in an upcoming ad. To help determine the winner, Busch is partnering with rockstar Billy Ray Cyrus, who kicked off the campaign with a rendition of his own. In addition to identifying the winning entry, Cyrus will help him or her hone their skills with a 1:1 coaching lesson before recording the final version.

“Every Busch fan has undoubtedly heard ‘Head for the Mountains’ and can probably recall seeing the ad on TV back in the day,” said Daniel Blake, VP of Value Brands at Anheuser-Busch, “We wanted to give these fans the opportunity to tap into their creativity and record their own rendition, and with a legend like Cyrus providing inspiration and coaching the winner, we’re eager to hear an updated version almost 40 years later.”

“I have fond memories of those ads. The ‘Head for the Mountains with Busch’ chorus is totally nostalgic!” said Billy Ray Cyrus, “We had a great time in the studio recording the song and the opportunity to work alongside the winner to help hone their skills is really cool.”

The lyrics of the ‘Head for the Mountains’ song can be found on the Busch Instagram page @BuschBeer and are written out on Busch.com/mountains. To enter, fans can submit their version of the jingle on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter or YouTube using the hashtags #HeadForTheMountains and #Contest. Submissions are open from June 23 – July 5, 2020. Follow @BuschBeer on Twitter and Instagram to learn more.

HEAD FOR THE MOUNTAINS OFFICIAL RULES
No purchase or payment of any kind necessary to enter for a chance to win. A purchase or payment of any kind will not increase your chances of winning. The contest is intended for viewing in the fifty (50) United States and the District of Columbia only and will be governed by United States law. Void where prohibited. See official rules at busch.com/mountains & details.






MRF YOUNG ACTIVIST AWARD NOMINATIONS OPEN FOR 2020 AWARD--WANTED: Nominations needed from a State Motorcycle Rights Organization (SMRO) for a Young Activist to attend the Meeting of the Minds Conference (MOTM) in Indianapolis, IN All Expenses Paid.

What is a Young Activist? A Young Activist is a person between the ages of 18 and 30 who has expressed an interest in, and devoted time and energy to their chosen passion involving motorcycling. Motorcycle Riders Foundation Awareness & Education, Inc. (MRFA&E) would like to be able to present this award to a Young Activist this year. But we need candidates.

In addition to the age requirement mentioned above the successful candidate for this Scholarship also needs to be nominated by the SMRO. The young person must be a member of that organization and have a valid motorcycle endorsement.

The nominee must also submit a minimum three hundred (300)-word essay on why biker's rights are important to them. A well written essay from the heart is like a picture or blueprint of who the candidate is; coming directly from the candidate, this gives the MRFA&E Board of Directors a better perspective of the individual.
After all the work what does the winning nominee(s) receive?

One-year membership to the Motorcycle Riders Foundation, Inc. (MRF), effective the first full day of the MRF’s MOTM Conference during the year of the award.
Travel Expense paid by MRFA&E to the MRF's MOTM.

Hotel accommodations at the MOTM. Accommodations will include the hotel room only. Telephone, food, movie rentals, etc. will be the sole responsibility of winning candidates.

MOTM registration and banquet fees are paid by MRFA&E.

Special recognition at the MRF's MOTM. Said recognition will include a plaque, presentation of one-year membership in MRF, and other items or activities as approved by the MRFA&E Board of Directors.

Award winner needs to be available to assist MRFA&E at the MRF’s MOTM conference.

What is the time frame? All nominations with the application and essay must be submitted along with a Young Activist Scholarship Fund Nomination Form no later than July 15. You can find the nomination form at www.mrfae.org.
If you have questions, contact: Paulette Korte secretary@mrfae.org
Submitted by Deborah Butitta, MRFAE Chairman







ZACK’S 883 UPGRADED—With New used S&S teardrop air cleaner. We recently fixed Zack’s wrecked 2001 Sportster with a Screamin’ Eagle 1200 kit, a Mikuni carb and an S&S Teardrop air cleaner.

https://www.bikernet.com/pages/story_detail.aspx?id=14652&id=14652



We installed their new Mini air cleaner on the 1200, but Zack kept the stock S&S chromed Teardrop air cleaner and decided to install it on his later model 883 Sporty. Here are a couple of shots of the upgrade. It’s against the code to allow any S&S part go unused.



--Bandit







VA HELPS WOMEN VETERANS—Did you know the suicide rate is higher for women vets than males.

In this time of physical distancing, VA knows it’s easy for women Veterans to feel isolated. Life plans and health can change in an instant. That is why VA is working to remove barriers and improve access to essential services. These services include reproductive health care, refilling prescriptions, and accessing the Veterans Crisis Line and Women Veterans Call Center.

As states and cities across the nation have issued stay-at-home orders, VA encourages Veterans enrolled in VA health care to take advantage of our virtual tools to access care. These include secure video appointments from home, mobile health apps and online appointment requests.

For example, VA Video Connect allows Veterans to connect with their care team and have a face-to-face visit with their doctor. Veterans can also refill their prescriptions by sending their doctor a secure message through My HealtheVet. Using virtual tools, Veterans can avoid exposure to the coronavirus and keep their loved ones and fellow Veterans safe. Veterans can send a message to their providers or contact their local VA medical center to learn more about what telehealth services are available.

Information on contraception
VA also encourages women Veterans staying at home to speak to their providers about contraception. Currently, women Veterans can receive a one-year prescription for oral contraceptives (three months dispensed and three refills). For convenience, Veterans can meet with their doctor regarding reproductive health through VA’s telehealth services.

The Women Veterans Call Center (WVCC) is also here to help answer questions about VA benefits and services. Call or text the WVCC at 1-855-VA-WOMEN (or 1-855-829-6636) Monday through Saturday.

VA’s Intimate Partner Violence Assistance Program (IPVAP) is still available to help women Veterans, their partners, and VA staff impacted by intimate partner violence (IPV). The National Domestic Violence Hotline is an important resource for anyone experiencing IPV.

For more information on how women Veterans can safely receive assistance for IPV, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE or visit the VA website to find out how to speak to a local IPVAP coordinator.


Number for Veterans Crisis Line
VA is dedicated to helping Veterans maintain their mental health and well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic and all year round. Consequently, it gives Veterans the tools, resources and information they need. VA’s mental health website (mentalhealth.va.gov/) helps Veterans manage stress and anxiety. The VCL is available 24/7. Women Veterans who need to speak to someone urgently can contact VCL. They can call 1-800-273- 8255 (Press 1) or text “838255” for a confidential chat.

Visit VA.gov for more information about women’s health care. Also, for the latest VA updates on COVID-19 and tips on preventing its spread, visit https://www.va.gov/coronavirus.

VA’s Women’s Health Services Office is part of The Women Veterans Health Program, created in 1988, to streamline services for female Veterans to provide more cost-effective medical and psychosocial care. VA’s Women’s Health Services Office provides programmatic and strategic support to implement positive changes in the provision of care for all women Veterans.

--VA





Good News: Senate Passes
Great American Outdoors Act
Outdoor recreation got a major boost last week when the U.S. Senate passed the Great American Outdoors Act, which would address the $20 billion maintenance backlog on federal public lands and would fully fund the Land and Water Conservation Fund.

"Trails and facilities on our public lands have deteriorated after years of wear and tear and insufficient funding," said Scott Schloegel, MIC senior vice president of government relations. "The GAOA will help fix that, improving access for motorcycle, ATV, and side-by-side enthusiasts, families, and everyone who wants to enjoy the outdoors safely and closer to home in many cases. It will also help reinvigorate the outdoor recreation economy, which, before the coronavirus pandemic hit, contributed $778 billion to the U.S. economy."

--MIC




STURGIS MOTORCYCLE MUSEUM RALLY SPACES AVAILABLE

Vendor spaces are available in different sizes on both Main Street and Junction Ave. Contact us for more details at 605-347-2001 or info@sturgismuseum.com.

The Sturgis Motorcycle Museum & Hall of Fame is a 501(c)3 non-profit located right in the heart of the Rally.

Vendor Details:
Vendor & Sales Tax licenses must be purchased separately through the City of Sturgis

Lot rent is $12/sq. ft.
Power & water available
No camping on the lot
Spaces are available on a first come first serve basis










NATIONAL MOTORISTS ASSOCIATION ALERT--SIX Things You Should Immediately Do after Driving over an Animal

By Johnathan David ,

We hope this never happens to you, but there is a real risk that one day you may drive over an animal while driving.

It’s dreadful, awful, and sometimes downright heartbreaking.

Because these situations can be overwhelming and, unfortunately, are all too common, we put together this guide that will teach you the smartest and safest course of action to take if you ever hit an animal with your car.

Stay Calm
Pull over with your hazards on as soon as there is a safe location to do so.

Take stock of your surroundings. Check the road, the volume of traffic, and where the animal is. If it is safe to do so, get out of your car to assess the animal.

Take a few deep breaths and talk yourself through your next steps.

Obviously, if you or anyone in the car is seriously injured due to the collision, the first thing you should do is call emergency services.

What Kind Of Animal Did You Hit?
The next steps you take will depend on what species of animal you hit with your car. An action plan to help an injured domestic dog or cat will differ significantly from what you can do for a dead squirrel.

If you hit a domestic animal such as a dog, cat, goat, cow, pig, or sheep, you should treat it as if you had hit a person.

Even if you were not at fault for the accident, you could get in legal trouble for driving away without attempting to help the animal and notifying authorities.

The law varies depending on the state you are traveling. Generally, though, since pets are considered personal property, you could be charged with animal cruelty or failing to notify the owner of property damage if you drive away.

Call the Authorities

Your next step should be to call the police and/or animal control for further advice and assistance.

Whether you are speaking with the police or animal control, they will likely ask you to assess the animal’s injuries.

Even if you’re not a veterinarian, you can look to see if the animal is breathing and bleeding. Watching to see if the animal’s body moves up and down is one of the best ways to check from a distance if the animal is still alive.

Remember that if it is alive, the animal is likely injured and scared, and may try to bite or scratch you if you get too close.

If you have a small dead wild animal such as a bird, squirrel, or snake on your hands, there’s unfortunately not much you can do. If the remains are in the roadway, safely move them off the road, so that scavengers aren’t at risk of themselves being hit by cars.

Take the Animal to the Vet

These next steps will depend on the kind of animal and the extent of their injuries. The animal control official you speak with will advise you what to do based on the situation.

If you are dealing with a small domestic animal like a cat or dog and you can safely transport it, and you may be asked to take it to the vet.

If you are taking the animal for help, don’t offer it any food or water, unless a trained professional tells you to do so. The animal may need treatment that involves an operation under anesthetic, and should not be ingesting food or liquids.

Wait for help

If the animal needs care, but you are unable to move it or transport it, then it’s essential to stay with the animal until help arrives.

If you leave the scene, animal control may not be able to find the exact location of the animal until it’s too late.

While you are waiting, cover the animal with a towel or a blanket to try to keep it warm and calm.

If you are on a particularly busy road, others may stop to help. You can use this to your advantage to create a safety barrier between traffic and you and the animal.

If the animal is in the middle of the road, animal control may advise you to gently move the animal to the shoulder, where it is safer.

If the animal in question is large, this may not be possible. Additionally, wild animals can carry diseases, and you may not want to risk being bitten, scratched, or clawed.

If you hit a large animal, assess whether your vehicle is safe to drive or you need to organize a tow truck and transportation for yourself and any passengers.

We hope you never have to use this information, but accidents like this happen all the time, and it’s better to know what steps to take than to find yourself in a situation unprepared.

If you take one thing from this article, make it this: never drive away from an animal you hit. What you thought was a fox could be someone’s beloved cat. The bird you thought was dead might be injured and suffering. Follow these steps to help the animal, however, you can.

Johnathan David has been a reptile hobbyist since childhood. He has years of experience in herpetoculture and has cared for geckos (2 gargoyles), skinks (blue tongue) and a frog (poison dart).


--NMA





2020 RED CROSS Summer Fund Drive

Right now, all of us continue to cope with much uncertainty during these difficult times. With the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, we need to be more vigilant than ever.

Helping people is at the heart of our mission, and the American Red Cross is here to provide relief and support to families, no matter what crises they face.

We’ll stay strong throughout the summer, responding to disasters like wildfires and floods, training people in lifesaving skills like first aid and CPR, and providing blood and platelets to patients in need. And we need your help to make that happen.
We have a goal of raising $100,000 by midnight of June 30, to make sure we have the resources we need to face the emergencies, big and small, that come our way this summer. Keith, your donation today can help us meet this crucial Summer Fund Drive goal.

Here’s just a glimpse of what we will do in the months ahead:

Shelter
Provide families with shelter and support when disasters strike.
Service Armed Forces
Offer virtual mental health services to members of the armed forces, veterans and their families.
Blood Drive
Collect lifesaving blood to help meet patient needs across the country.
First Aid

Train people through online CPR and First Aid classes so families are prepared even during the COVID-19 pandemic.
We need to be ready to do all that and even more. No emergency is insurmountable, and with your support, we can make sure we’re there for them all. Especially during these difficult times, your compassion and outreach are a lifeline for those with nowhere else to turn.

Our mission is driven by a concern for humanity. Our work does not discriminate. Now, more than ever, we need to care for and support one another.

Please make your gift today to help us meet our summer goal. Your gift makes all the difference for families facing urgent challenges this summer.