Maintaining the Balance
During these planning months my calendar begins to
take shape and is of course overly optimistic with rally and motorcycle
events. A true 2001 Mileage
Contest contender I could be. Family
commitment seems to always get in the way.
And it’s here where the give and take balance must be implemented to
maintain harmony. Do all the
vacations have to be via motorcycle? I
suppose not. I learned real quick
to make the family vacation plans first.
Taking them to where they want to go and seeing what they want should
be considered. I just can’t see why teens wouldn’t love BMW Rallies.
Having a companion willing to ride pillion is a great asset.
That person has placed all their trust and confidence in us.
Riding two-up requires even more safety consciousness and demands on
us. Never intentionally scare
your rider. That’s a sure way to turn your riding partner away from your
passion. Make sure they have protective wear too.
Sharing our passion of riding with loved ones bring on a new feeling of
adventure for both, and I for one want to preserve that. Everyone’s
got a different balancing act to maintain in his or her own way.
Juggling schedules, giving and taking, keeping family involved, and
communication keeps our shiny side up for miles of smiles!
Looking forward to that oil change…
Ed Hesse Retires at 84
I received a letter from Ed Hesse stating that after
64 years of riding, he was retiring. I
met Ed a few years back at a Christmas party at the Thomas’s. I remember
saying to myself, “I hope I am still able to ride and drink beer when I’m
this guys age.”
Ed is recuperating from some health problems as stated in his note, and I felt
compelled to call. We had a nice
conversation as most motorcyclist do. Ed’s
first bike in 1936 was a 1931 Indian 4 cylinder. In 1982 Ed bought his first
BMW, a K100RT and put 105,000 miles on it.
I asked Ed how many miles he thought he had ridden in his lifetime and
he told me he didn’t even want to guess. Some of his most memorable journeys
were to Mexico and Canada and all around the USA.
Ed hopes to make the meeting at BMW Tri State April 7th Best wishes Ed.
Ed is selling his 1993 blue K1100RT and riding accessories. The K1100RT has 39,000 miles, good tires, and always garaged and serviced. Asking $7500.
If you are interested, give Ed a call at 631-4188.The Prez Sez
You folks were lucky last month; you didn’t have to read my ramblings. Hopefully Mike and I have worked out our communications problem and I’ll get this to him in time to have it included!
In the better late than never category, I’d like to offer a big “Thank you!” to Steve Snyder and Jim Smith for their efforts during 2000 to keep the club going. Steve, in particular, took on quite a load trying to be both president and vice-president. We all should be appreciative of his efforts. Jim put in two years as secretary, a generally thankless job of keeping track of the goings on of the club and pumping out a newsletter every month whether or not it’s riding season.
We continue to move forward on providing a memorial to Gary Paine. The check and information have been sent to the Motorcyclist Memorial Foundation. I was assured that Gary’s name would be inscribed on the memorial for this Memorial Day’s re-dedication of the monument. We’ll be arranging a ride to the re-dedication as soon as the Foundation sends us the details about the event.
Our events calendar is chock full of things to do in the next few months. There are club events, rallies, and campouts. I’m not sure how many Mike will stuff into this newsletter, but I know he keeps a pretty comprehensive list on the web site – check it out! Not only would I like to point out our own club events (like Mike Crum’s Poker Run and Boy Scout Dinner on April 21), but I also want to remind you of the Ohio RA campouts. So far I’m aware of the Mt. Vernon campout on April 27-29 and the Peeble’s campout on June 15-17. Oh, and wouldn’t it be great to have a big Cincinnati turnout at the Western Reserve Campout on May 18-20?
As should be apparent from our meeting schedule, we’re trying to shake things up just a bit in the next couple of months. Bill Gardner will open the shop at 7 p.m. on the 7th for our April meeting. Don’t forget, it’s a week early! AND, I’ll try to get the meeting started by 7:30, so don’t be late. Then for May we’re going even farther afield. Mike LaBar has made arrangements for us to meet for dinner at the Schoolhouse Restaurant in Camp Dennison. We’ll be starting that meeting at 7!! Don’t be late for dinner; you’ll miss the first seating at 5:00. At ten after you may have to wait 25 minutes for the first table to open. Let us know what you think of the dinner-meeting concept. Perhaps we’ll try it again later in the year.
Since he’s not one to toot his own horn, I’d like to point out that Mike LaBar has been one busy dude the last couple of months. Our newsletter has color pictures and maps. We have a web site, and a darn nice one at that. It’s loaded with all sorts of information, pictures, and links to other sites of interest, that Mike is constantly updating. And his latest accomplishment is the establishment of an e-group for the club. It allows anyone who wants, to share thoughts and information in a relatively easy manner. If you’re at all web active you really ought to check out Mike’s efforts. The web site is the best way for you to keep informed about the club. Let’s just hope that Mike has saved enough enthusiasm for the second half of the year.
Our next event is the April breakfast. I hope to see lots of you there. Just don’t forget to “spring ahead” for daylight savings time!Motorcycle Safety Tidbits
Drive scared. I've heard
some people state that aggressive defense is a good way to drive. Whether you
call it aggressive defense or paranoid driving, just do it! The best way is to
learn the proper techniques through the Motorcycle Safety Foundation's
beginner's and advanced rider's courses. Scanning is the number one best way
to stay out of trouble. If you see a target in front , to the side, or behind
you develop the knack of making mental notes of their possible actions and
your reactions. And if anything remotely smells of trouble, cover your brakes.
The plus side is that while you can get into some sticky situations, a twist
of the wrist can often get you out of them.
by LT Snyder
From our Mileage Contest Coordinator; Jerry Cummins…
The 2001 Mileage Contest is off and rolling. I
am asking everyone who wants to participate to provide me their starting
mileages as of January 1, 2001. The contest will end on October 31, 2001.
This year, everyone who participates will receive recognition from the club
during our Christmas party. The contest winner, the person with the most
miles ridden, will also receive a free oil change from BMW of the Tri State,
courtesy of Bill Gardner! (Thank you Bill!)
The Mileage Contest will have some additional twists: recognition will
go to the rider who has visited the most states; the most rallies; and to the
rider who has ridden in the most charity fund raisers. Those who ride as
passengers are also included! Passengers please submit your mileage figures to
me and you may be included in each of the above categories!
At the end of the contest, during the Christmas Party, the entire club may
participate in a pot luck type event where members will try to guess the
group's mileage. Further details will be announced prior to the party.
-The new BMW R1150RT will be in the showroom of BMW Tri State by the beginning of April.
-BMW has produced its one-millionth motorcycle at the Berlin plant since 1967. An R1150RT. This spring it will be auctioned off via the Internet and the proceed will go to charity.
Speed the Way to a Cure Motorcycle Ride
The Arthritis Foundation and the Kentucky Speedway are teaming up to speed the way to a cure for Arthritis. The event participants will begin one of three rides starting in Huntington, WV, Bloomington, IN or Cincinnati, OH. From there they will travel through the beautiful back roads of the great Midwest and end up at the Kentucky Speedway in Sparta, KY. The participants will be able to take three laps around the racetrack and will enjoy entertainment, lunch, a free event t-shirt and motorcycle displays and merchandise sales. There will also be a chance for spectators to catch all the action. Tickets will be sold at the door to see the bikers ride and to enjoy the festivities. There will also be an opportunity to enter a raffle with fantastic motorcycle and racing items. I will have brochures at the next meeting.
Start Date: 04/21/2001 8 A.M.
End Date: 04/21/2001 5 P.M.
Days of the week: Saturday
Club Events
April 1- Breakfast and Ride at 9:00 AM at Pearls Diner in Fairfield.
April 7 – 7:00pm Meeting at BMW of the Tri State. Susan Price from World Wide Moto Tours has a slide show presentation on customized European tours for 2002. Also, for this evening only, Bill is offering an additional 5% our club 10%. 15% off all purchases to GCBMWC members and their guest.
April 21st GCBMWC Poker Run & Boy Scout Troop 8 Annual Dinner
Poker Run Registration and Start from 2:00 - 3:00 at Summit View Middle
School in Independence. The course will be mapped out and will include 3
stops. Riding time is estimated at just over 2 hours. $5.00 per
hand. Play as many hands as you want.
5:00-5:30 Poker run awards & bike show
Dinner is served from 4:00 - 8:00 pm
May 6th Breakfast and
Ride at 9:00 AM at Pearls Diner in Fairfield.
May 12th Dinner and Meeting at the Schoolhouse Restaurant. Rt126 Camp Dennison
Meeting @ 7:00 pm upstairs.
Dinner seating starts @ 5:00 pm
Directions to Pearls Diner in Fairfield, Oh.
Pearls is on Rt. 4 (Dixie Hwy.) just south of Symmes Rd., across from Hicks Manor shopping center, near Wendys, on the east side of the road. See you there on the first Sunday of every month. Map
April 6-8 Dogwood Trail Rally - Vicksburg, MS
April 13-15 27th Tentpegger Rally - Brooksville, FL
April 29 16th BMW Flea Market - Pecatonica, IL
May 4-6 Georgia Mountain Rally – Hiawasee, GA
May 4-6 28 Original Mini Rally – Sturgis, MI
May 18-20
Western Reserve BMW MC & Sidecar Campout.
Renewing an old tradition in memory of our late
member Steve Dumek.
All bikes welcome regardless of make or # of wheels!
The beauty of the Amish countryside surrounding
Whispering Hills Campground,
8248 St. Rt. 514, in Shreve, Ohio, offers great riding! Food available on
premises, Friday & Saturday camping (hot showers), chili pot on Friday,
bonfires, Saturday evening entertainment, Sunday donuts, continuous coffee,
tea, hot chocolate and door prizes.
Vendors are free & welcome! Pre-registration is $20, at the gate $24, day
passes available. Kids 3-16 years old $3.00 per day. For info or to
pre-register; call Gerry Evon: 216-749-3673, or e-mail
onehugger76@yahoo.com 3000
Brookpark Rd #W3,
Cleveland, OH 44134 or call Jerry Riha at 440-942-9293
May 27-29 13th Rocket City Rally - Huntsville, AL
May 25-28 Cass Rally (Memorial Day) - Boyer WV
Helpful Planning Sites
MOA’s When & Where page
http://www.bmwmoa.org/WhereAndWhen/WhereAndWhen.htm
RA’s Rally page
http://www.bmwra.org/rallies.htm
Visit our site
for the latest on club events
http://www.gcbmwc.org
** Motorcyclist Memorial. Late in 1992, a group of dedicated motorcyclists conceived the idea of a monument for lost bikers. The dream slowly grew into reality with the formation of the "Motorcyclists Memorial Foundation" formed on December 16, 1993. This foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to the permanent memory of brothers and sisters lost. The "motorcyclists Memorial" is located on a grassy knoll near Hopedale, Ohio on a site provided by the Hopedale American Legion Post 682. A ride to the memorial site is in the plans.
