Toyz & Travelz Nashville Style

What a BORING Summer

2009-08-17T05:09:00.000-06:00

So this here ol blog just aint seen much action this year, and that is because I haven't done much besides work my ass off after selling the beemer several months ago.

We still have the boat and enjoy an occasional trip around Percy Priest Lake, but frankly, I can't stand the hot sweaty summers and the nasty bugs that permeate this area, so we hang inside air conditioned computer rooms and spend our time surfing, writing and chillin, literally.

We've got the boat up for sale and it's a helluva deal, too, and we're planning on getting a couple of new motorsickles when the ol girl sells. Unfortunately, its been a lousy summer for selling anything, so we aren't holding our breaths that we'll be back in the wind anytime soon.

Sigh.

Bikeless Coming Into Springtime!

2009-01-30T14:17:00.021-06:00

Well hell. It's been more than a decade since I've entered a springtime without two wheels to roll around on. In fact, it's probably been closer to two decades since I've been without a motorsickle, maybe even longer.

I sold the Beemer and the little Rebel about a week ago and the garage is sure a strange place to enter right now.

But they both had to go as I needed to dump all my debt, and now the little woman and I can concentrate on getting something more suitable to urban commando cruising.

There just wasn't a lot of riding to do in the Nashville area that justified pushing that 865 pound behemoth around and honestly, it was often a chore to have to hassle with on a daily basis as far as city riding was concerned.

Not sure what we'll end up with at this point; nothing's out of the question and I'm actually leaning towards an enduro, if you can believe it.

I know the wife's got her eye on an 800 shadow or vstar, but bmw has an 800 that is just too damned cool for words!

Of course, there are dozens of awesome and inexpensive rides that I think will be coming available this summer, as all those folks who raced to get a motorcycle last year when gas hit $5/gallon put it away in the garage when gas dropped below $3 and haven't had it out since.

That's a lot of money sitting idle in someone's garage and I just bet there'll be a sudden glut of scoots on the market this year when all those folks decide motorsicklin just wasn't as fun, economical, safe, and/or needed as they'd originally thought.

So stay tuned, we still have the boat, although it is for sale, but bikes will definitely be returning to our garage soon.

Americans drove 9.6 billion fewer miles in July this year compared with last

2008-11-30T07:56:00.001-06:00

And we'll be driving even less when prices rise again - and they will, you can count on that.

What may be different this time however, is that hopefully by the time that happens again, enough peeps will have switched to cheaper or alternate forms of travel that the price increases won't have nearly the impact.

Motorsickles, trikes, scooters, and bitchin new "transportation designs" will be coming out in droves over the next few years, mark our words...

(image courtesy of http://www.leftlanenews.com/bmws-clever-concept-completed.html)

NOVEMBER 29, 2008

Essay

An Ode to Oil

America's oil dependency has some benefits. Roger Howard on how the diminishing resource acts as a source of stability, and forces countries to work together.

In its collective mindset, every nation not only harbors aspirations, fears and delusions but also conjures rogues, villains and scapegoats upon which it vents its anguish, insecurities and resentments. And for many Americans, one such villain is a highly prized commodity.

Oil is, after all, a primary source of man-made global warming, while spillages and drilling have sometimes inflicted lethal environmental damage. Despite the sharp falls of recent months, dramatic price rises have also underwritten every postwar global recession, including the current economic malaise.

Oil lies at the heart of bitter civil wars in several parts of the world, notably West Africa, while several governments have recently been scrambling to stake their claims over the newly discovered deposits of the Arctic. Above all, it is often regarded as America's strategic Achilles' heel.

President-elect Barack Obama has promised to end U.S. "foreign oil dependency," claiming that it can be used as a "weapon" that allows overseas governments, particularly "unstable, undemocratic governments...to wield undue influence over America's national security." Last weekend, Mr. Obama announced his plan to create a major economic stimulus package, including spending on alternate energy.

Alarming as these scenarios are, they disguise the true picture, one that is really much more complicated and much more reassuring. While there are, of course, circumstances in which oil can exacerbate tensions and be a source of conflict, it can also act as a peacemaker and source of stability. So to identify America's "foreign oil dependency" as a source of vulnerability and weakness is just too neat and easy.

This identification wholly ignores the dependency of foreign oil producers on their consumers, above all on the world's largest single market -- the United States. Despite efforts to diversify their economies, all of the world's key exporters are highly dependent on oil's proceeds and have always lived in fear of the moment that has now become real -- when global demand slackens and prices fall. The recent, dramatic fall in price per barrel -- now standing at around $54, less than four months after peaking at $147 -- perfectly exemplifies the producers' predicament.

So even if such a move were possible in today's global market, no oil exporter is ever in a position to alienate its customers. Supposed threats of embargoes ring hollow because no producer can assume that its own economy will be damaged any less than that of any importing country. What's more, a supply disruption would always seriously damp global demand.

Even in the best of times, a prolonged price spike could easily tip the world into economic recession, prompt consumers to shake off their gasoline dependency, or accelerate a scientific drive to find alternative fuels. Fearful of this "demand destruction" when crude prices soared so spectacularly in the summer, the Saudis pledged to pump their wells at full tilt. It seems that their worst fears were realized: Americans drove 9.6 billion fewer miles in July this year compared with last, according to the Department of Transportation.

Instead, the dependency of foreign oil producers on their customers plays straight into America's strategic hands. Washington is conceivably in a position to hold producers to ransom by threatening to accelerate a drive to develop or implement alternative fuels, realizing the warning once uttered by Sheikh Ahmed Zaki Yamani, the former Saudi oil minister who pointed out that "the Stone Age did not end for lack of stone." Back in 1973, as they protested at Washington's stance on the Arab-Israeli dispute, Middle East producers were in a position to impose an oil embargo on the Western world. But a generation later, technological advances, and the strength of public and scientific concern about global warming, have turned the tables.

The United States has powerful political leverage over producers because it holds the key to future oil supply as well as market demand. The age of "easy oil" is over, and as fears grow that oil is becoming harder to get, so too will the dependency of producers on increasingly sophisticated Western technology and expertise.

Such skills will be particularly important in two key areas of oil production. One is finding and extracting offshore deposits, like the massive reserves reckoned to be under the Caspian and Arctic seas, or in Brazil's recently discovered Tupi field. The other is prolonging the lifespan of declining wells through enhanced "tertiary" recovery. Because Western companies have a clear technological edge over their global competitors in these hugely demanding areas, Washington exerts some powerful political leverage over exporters, many of whom openly anticipate the moment when their production peaks before gradually starting to decline.

Syria illustrates how this leverage can work. Although oil has been the primary source of national income for more than 40 years, production has recently waned dramatically: Output is now nearly half of the peak it reached in the mid-1990s, when a daily output of 600,000 barrels made up 60% of gross domestic product, and can barely sustain rapidly growing domestic demand fueled by a very high rate of population growth. With enough foreign investment Syrian oil could be much more productive and enduring, but Washington has sent foreign companies, as well as American firms, a tough message to steer well clear. It is not surprising, then, that the Damascus regime regards a rapprochement with the U.S. as a political lifeline and in recent months has shown signs of a new willingness to compromise.

The same predicament confronted Libya's Col. Moammar Gadhafi, who first offered to surrender weapons of mass destruction during secret negotiations with U.S. officials in May 1999. Facing a deepening economic crisis that he could not resolve without increasing the production of his main export, oil, Col. Gadhafi was prepared to bow to Washington's demands and eventually struck a path-breaking accord in December 2003. Col. Gadhafi had been the "Mad Dog" of the Reagan years, but oil's influence had initiated what President Bush hailed as "the process of rejoining the community of nations."

Oil could also help the outside world frustrate the nuclear ambitions of Iran, whose output is likely to steadily decline over the coming years unless it has access to the latest Western technology. Many wells are aging rapidly and the Iranians cannot improve recovery rates, or exploit their new discoveries, unless Washington lifts sanctions, which have been highly successful in deterring international investment.

Sometimes the markets will prove at least as effective as any American sanctions in keeping a tight political rein on oil producers. For example, when Russian forces attacked South Ossetia and Georgia on Aug. 8, Russia's stock market -- of which energy stocks comprise 60% -- plunged by nearly 7%, and within a week capital outflow reached a massive $16 billion, suddenly squeezing domestic credit while the ruble collapsed in value. A month later, the country was facing its worst crisis since the default of August 1998. But the future of the oil sector is so dependent on attracting massive foreign investment, and the wider Russian economy so heavily dependent on petrodollars, that the Kremlin simply can't afford to unnecessarily unnerve investors.

Today the markets know that Russia needs at least $1 trillion in investment if it is to maintain, let alone increase, its oil production. Just five years ago, output was increasing so fast -- energy giants Yukos and Sibneft were posting annual production gains of 20% -- that even the Saudis were worried about their own global dominance. But in the past year Russian oil production has started to wane. Leonid Fedun, a top official at Lukoil, Russia's No. 2 oil producer, admitted back in April that national output had peaked and was unlikely to return to 2007 levels "in my lifetime" and that "the period of intense oil production [growth] is over." Without foreign money and expertise to extract offshore oil and prolong the lifespan of existing wells, Russian production will fall dramatically.

Syria illustrates how this leverage can work. Although oil has been the primary source of national income for more than 40 years, production has recently waned dramatically: Output is now nearly half of the peak it reached in the mid-1990s, when a daily output of 600,000 barrels made up 60% of gross domestic product, and can barely sustain rapidly growing domestic demand fueled by a very high rate of population growth. With enough foreign investment Syrian oil could be much more productive and enduring, but Washington has sent foreign companies, as well as American firms, a tough message to steer well clear. It is not surprising, then, that the Damascus regime regards a rapprochement with the U.S. as a political lifeline and in recent months has shown signs of a new willingness to compromise.

The same predicament confronted Libya's Col. Moammar Gadhafi, who first offered to surrender weapons of mass destruction during secret negotiations with U.S. officials in May 1999. Facing a deepening economic crisis that he could not resolve without increasing the production of his main export, oil, Col. Gadhafi was prepared to bow to Washington's demands and eventually struck a path-breaking accord in December 2003. Col. Gadhafi had been the "Mad Dog" of the Reagan years, but oil's influence had initiated what President Bush hailed as "the process of rejoining the community of nations."

Oil could also help the outside world frustrate the nuclear ambitions of Iran, whose output is likely to steadily decline over the coming years unless it has access to the latest Western technology. Many wells are aging rapidly and the Iranians cannot improve recovery rates, or exploit their new discoveries, unless Washington lifts sanctions, which have been highly successful in deterring international investment.

Sometimes the markets will prove at least as effective as any American sanctions in keeping a tight political rein on oil producers. For example, when Russian forces attacked South Ossetia and Georgia on Aug. 8, Russia's stock market -- of which energy stocks comprise 60% -- plunged by nearly 7%, and within a week capital outflow reached a massive $16 billion, suddenly squeezing domestic credit while the ruble collapsed in value. A month later, the country was facing its worst crisis since the default of August 1998. But the future of the oil sector is so dependent on attracting massive foreign investment, and the wider Russian economy so heavily dependent on petrodollars, that the Kremlin simply can't afford to unnecessarily unnerve investors.

Today the markets know that Russia needs at least $1 trillion in investment if it is to maintain, let alone increase, its oil production. Just five years ago, output was increasing so fast -- energy giants Yukos and Sibneft were posting annual production gains of 20% -- that even the Saudis were worried about their own global dominance. But in the past year Russian oil production has started to wane. Leonid Fedun, a top official at Lukoil, Russia's No. 2 oil producer, admitted back in April that national output had peaked and was unlikely to return to 2007 levels "in my lifetime" and that "the period of intense oil production [growth] is over." Without foreign money and expertise to extract offshore oil and prolong the lifespan of existing wells, Russian production will fall dramatically.

Russia's oil, in other words, acted as peacemaker. This seems paradoxical for it has sometimes been said that the Kremlin's attack on South Ossetia and Georgia was prompted by an ambition to seize control of local pipelines. But although this was an aggravating factor, it was not the primary cause because Russian leaders would have felt threatened -- reasonably or not -- by the presence of NATO in what they regard as their own backyard even if the region was not an energy hub. They were also reportedly eyeing Ukraine, which has no petroleum deposits of its own and poses no threat to the dominance of their giant energy company, Gazprom.

Oil can also act as a peacemaker and source of stability because many conflicts, in almost every part of the world, can threaten a disruption of supply and instantly send crude prices spiraling. Despite the recent price falls, the market is still vulnerable to sudden supply shocks, and a sharp increase would massively affect the wider global economy. This would have potentially disastrous social and political results, just as in the summer many countries, including France, Nepal and Indonesia, were rocked by violent protests at dramatic price increases in gasoline.

Haunted by the specter of higher oil prices at a time of such economic fragility, many governments have a very strong incentive to use diplomacy, not force, to resolve their own disputes, and to help heal other people's. This is true not just of oil consumers but producers, which would also be keen not to watch global demand stifled by such price spikes.

Consider the events of last fall, when the Ankara government was set to retaliate against the Iraq-based Kurdish guerrillas who had killed 17 Turkish soldiers and taken others prisoner in a cross-border raid on Oct. 21, 2007. Even the mere prospect of such an attack sent the price of a barrel surging to a then record high of $85 because the markets knew that the insurgents could respond by damaging a key pipeline which moves 750,000 barrels of oil across Turkish territory every day.

Not surprisingly, the Bush administration pushed very hard to prevent a Turkish invasion of northern Iraq -- State Department spokesman Sean McCormack aptly described the frenzy of diplomatic activity as a "full-court press" -- not just to avoid shattering the vestiges of Iraq's political structure but also to stabilize oil prices. In the end it was American pressure that averted a major incursion, allowing crude prices to quickly ease. And the Turks would also have been aware that any invasion could have prompted retaliatory damage on the oil pipeline, losing them vast transit fees.

In general, oil is such a vital commodity, for consumers, producers and intermediaries alike, that it represents a meeting point for all manner of different interests. Sometimes it offers an opportunity for competitors and rivals to resolve differences, as in March 1995, when Iranian President Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani tried to break deadlock with Washington by offering a technically very demanding oil contract to Conoco. Today, the symbiotic energy requirements of Europe and Russia allows scope to improve mutual relations, not least if European governments act in unison to impose the rules of the European Union's energy charter on Moscow. Oil also gives consumers a chance to penalize, or tempt, international miscreants, just as U.S. sanctions are forcing the Tehran regime to reassess its cost-benefit analysis of building the bomb.

What cannot go unchallenged is a facile equation between oil on the one hand, and war, bloodshed and, in America's particular case, strategic vulnerability on the other. For oil, fortunately, can often be our guardian.

Roger Howard is the author of "The Oil Hunters: Exploration and Espionage in the Middle East, 1880-1939," published by Continuum.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!!!!

2008-11-27T20:30:00.000-06:00

Time for a Comeback!

2008-11-02T06:20:00.000-06:00

If it's got a motor on two wheels, I want to ride it!

Homemade Motorized Bike Pays Tribute to Motorcycles of Yesteryear

By Chuck Squatriglia

11.01.08

James Hough is a lawyer by profession but a gearhead at heart. He’s always tinkering with engines and building things from scratch. About a year ago, he combined the two passions to create the Houghmade Cycle Works 71, a motorized bicycle that pays homage to the racing motorcycles of the early 20th century.
"I had been looking for a project and saw online that someone had put an engine on an old Schwinn," Hough says. "I was inspired by that and thought it would be a fun project, an outlet for my desire to build. I thought it would be fun to ride around the neighborhood and to run errands. The 100-plus mpg didn't hurt."
Click through the gallery to check out the tech behind this cruiser on steroids.
Left:
Hough drew inspiration from the board-track racers that sped around steeply banked wood tracks called motordromes — especially the 1911 Harley Davidson "Silent Grey Fellow" and the leaf-sprung Indian motorcycles of that era. The Houghmade bike's gas tank copies the tank found on the 1919 Excelsior OHC that some consider the most advanced motorcycle of its day.

Photo: James Hough

1 - 9 of 9 images

Giving Every Biker A Bad Name....

2008-09-28T04:51:00.000-06:00

Biker With Death Wish - Watch more free videos

HD Turns 105

2008-08-30T14:25:00.002-06:00

Woulda loved to have gone, even if I'm not a diehard fan....

HD Homepage

Miller Park, home of the Milwaukee Brewers, serves as a backdrop for the Harley Owners Group (H.O.G.)
25th Anniversary celebration.

2009 Harley-Davidsons - First Ride

2009 Harley-Davidson CVO - First Rides

The Wall of Ink had pictures of people's tattoos that attendees got to check out and vote for their favorites.

Somebody forgot to tell Bubba Blackwell that you're not supposed to pop wheelies like that on a big bagger.

It wouldn't be a Harley party without the iconic Willie G.

Billy Bob Thornton may be better known for roles like 'Slingblade', but his primary passion now is music.

Can you spot the Foo Fighter in this picture?

Harley-Davidson's 105th Anniversary
8/29/2008
By Bryan Harley

Banners and billboards proclaim 'Welcome Bikers.' Streets have been cordoned off as yellow 'Motorcycle Parking Only' signs surround businesses and hotels. A vibrato of V-Twins conduct an impromptu symphony of cylinders and pistons that resonate throughout the city day and night. The red carpet has been rolled out in Milwaukee as thousands of motorcyclists have made the pilgrimage home to visit the likes of Juneau Avenue and Pilgrim Rd., bringing their bikes back to where many of them were born as Harley-Davidson

's 105th Anniversary Party kicks it in high gear.

My day started with a trip over to the place where it all started, the red brick building that is Harley-Davidson's headquarters at Juneau Ave. A black banner on the side of the University Building said it all - 'Juneau Avenue Welcomes You Home.' I did my best to not act like a tourist, but couldn't resist having my picture taken in front of the steps to the Office and Visitors entrance. I was not alone. Two couples speaking in Scandinavian rolled their bike up right behind me for a quick photo op. Another group waved their orange banner overhead, proudly representing the Beijing chapter of H.O.G. owners. What a thrill it must have been for them. Forget the Olympics, they were at the birthplace of Harley-Davidson and looked damned proud to be there.

I picked up the keys to a beautiful black and pewter 2009 Electra Glide Classic from Harley's L.A. Fleet Manager, Alan Barsi, and loaded up my camera equipment. He chided me about putting the keys in my pocket with a wry smile. Seems like Alan's got a good memory. (I lost the keys to the 2008 Ultra Classic on the first day when I was testing it and had to punch in the security code to manually override the theft prevention system until the test was finished.) Keys secured, I set out for Miller Park, where the Harley Owners Group (H.O.G.) was having its 25th Anniversary party.

There is definitely a brotherhood that comes with owning a Harley-Davidson that is unmatched by any other manufacturer. Worn leather vests with patches and pins were the proper attire of the day. Winged H.O.G. patches in the middle of the vests were global in origin, and I saw riders who had traveled from as far away as South Africa and Belgium to be a part of the celebration. Harley-Davidson is indeed a universal language. Unlike other rallies, there was a spirit of camaraderie that filled the air. A good time was the bottom line, and the love of Harley-Davidson motorcycles was the common bond.

It was an almost carnival-like atmosphere. A woman in an orange H-D t-shirt and brown leather vest hovered above the crowd on stilts, stopping here and there to entertain the crowd with her juggling skills. A pair of brave women climbed on the mechanical bull and wagered who could ride longer. Blue ribbons hung off handlebars from winners in the Ride In show. Harley-Davidson riders of tomorrow took turns spinning laps around a makeshift track, banging into hay bales and crashing into one another and laughing as they rode miniature motorized bikes. The sound of chainsaws drew a crowd that watched as the ECHO National Carving Team chiseled and carved wonderful pieces of art out of their wooden canvases.

I followed my ears to the sound of an engine revving and caught the tail end of Bubba Blackwell's stunt riding show. The Buell American Devil was working the crowd by ripping off standing wheelies on a V-Rod before hopping aboard a big Dyna and slinging it around the course, backing it in like he was on a supermoto bike. After plenty of tire-smokin' action, the real crowd-pleaser was when Blackwell mounted a big bagger and got the bike almost vertical, ripping off the best wheelies I've seen on a bike that is not built for such hooliganism. Not a bad way to demonstrate what the TC 96 is capable of.

It was hot and humid, so I headed over to the Harley-Davidson Media tent to grab a drink and some shade. Famed motorcycling photographer Michael Lichter was there downloading pics to his laptop. I talked with Paul James about the James Gang Racing/Hoban Brothers team and the Moto-ST series. Paul can ride the hell out of a Buell, and his team sits in second place in their division with two races left, so I wished him luck. While I was there, who shows up but the venerable Willie G. himself. He had just gotten off the Harley Stage after presenting an award bearing his name and was gearing up for a police-escorted ride to his next gig. He runs a frenetic schedule for a man in his 70s, and does so with great aplomb. Karen Davidson, great-granddaughter of William A. Davidson was there too, looking good as ever, and joined Willie G. for the ride. I felt a little foolish standing next to Lichter clicking off pictures with my point-and-shoot, auto-focus photography skills. I still managed to get a decent shot of Willie G. and his procession as they rode off, though.

Refreshed and ready for more, I headed over to the stage under the tent at the Beer Garden. Joan Jett and the Blackhearts were rockin' it. Even though she's been on the music scene since I was in high school (I won't tell you how long ago that was), she still looks like she can kick some serious ass. She looked great in her black leather pants and bikini top. But even more impressive was here musical abilities. She was shredding on guitar, and her vocals were studio-quality. Not many people sound as good in person as they do on the radio, but Joan and the Blackhearts had heads bobbing, hands clapping, and was definitely a crowd-pleaser. When she struck the first chords of 'I love Rock and Roll', a rousing ovation rose from the audience.

As I left Miller Park, Billy Bob Thornton was entertaining the audience on the Harley Stage with his band. Not bad for an actor, but I still like him better as 'Slingblade.' Gotta give him props though. He did, after all, hook up with Angelina Jolie before Brad Pitt. The crowd was in to it though.

As I got back to the parking lot, I was totally lost. I've never seen so many Harleys in one spot in my life. Even though I made note of the section I parked in, I had ridden straight from Juneau to Miller Park and couldn't remember exactly what the graphics and colors the Electra Glide were. After about twenty minutes of wandering aimlessly and trying my key in the ignition of two of the wrong motorcycles, I finally found the right one.

With so many bikes in town, parking is cutthroat, so instead of heading back to Miller Park to see Kid Rock I opted to walk to a street party that was close to the Hyatt Regency downtown where I am staying. They had closed down a city block and threw up a stage in the middle of the street and I wanted to check out the Black Rebel Motorcycle Club. Amongst the cigar smoke and the smell of spilled beer, the group Tea Leaf Green finished off their set. In between bands, I talked to a father and son who were there, the dad wearing a Milwaukee chapter H.O.G. vest while the son's patch declared that he was a member from Hawaii. On their upper left shoulder they wore the same patch that said 'Harley-Davidson Baghdad , Since 2003.' His son had just gotten back from a tour in Iraq and had flown to Milwaukee to celebrate with his father. At that moment, the significance of the event going on around me was put into perspective.

The Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, dressed in black from head to toe and smoking cigarettes while they played, put on an energetic set. I'm sure that some of the older generation of attendees were unfamiliar with their music, but they still seemed to dig it. I was near the left side of the stage watching the show when I see this guy with scruffy, long dark hair walk up to the amps and place his ear against the speaker. I'm thinking to myself 'That dude's messed up' and then get a look at the guy's face. It was David Grohl, lead singer of the Foo Fighters. Grohl mingled into the crowd near the front of the stage and banged his head and swigged his Miller Genuine Draft as the Black Rebel Motorcycle Club laid down a groove. I tried to get close for a picture, but Grohl's bodyguard was giving me the evil eye like I was a member of the Stalkerazzi. After a few songs they cut out, and I followed suit. It was late and I was tired. Besides, I needed to rest because I'm headed to see the Foo Fighters tonight. If I see Grohl's bodyguard again, he's for sure going to think I'm a stalker. I'll let you know how it goes in tomorrow's report.

Cuban "Scooter Trash" Putt Some Bitchin Bikes...

2008-08-24T16:31:00.000-06:00

The BBC had these pics on their site today and they are definitely worth sharing....

Why Motorcycling Should Be Taken Damned Seriously

2008-08-10T05:13:00.002-06:00

As my wife ventures out for the first time on her own new motorcycle (pics coming shortly), it pays to remember a few things about motorcycle fatalities:

The most frequent victim is a young white male on a sportbike.

Typically, they have less than 10K experience total on motorcycles and less than 5K on the bike that kills them.

The accident is usually within 5 miles of their home.

Speed is the cause of the initial loss of control.

Alcohol is often involved.

Drugs are often involved (especially cannabis).

They don't come back....

E-mail this Print this

Advanced search

• Home

• Search
• Send Comments
• What's New
• Hottest 25
Legends
• Odd News
• Glossary
• FAQ
• Donations

• Autos
• Business
• Cokelore
• College
• Computers

• Crime
• Critter Country
• Disney
• Embarrassments
• Food

• Glurge Gallery
• History
• Holidays
• Horrors
• Humor

• Inboxer Rebellion
• Language
• Legal
• Lost Legends
• Love

• Luck
• Old Wives' Tales
• Media Matters
• Medical
• Military

• Movies
• Music
• Photo Gallery
• Politics
• Pregnancy

• Quotes
• Racial Rumors
• Radio & TV
• Religion
• Risqué Business

• Science
• September 11
• Sports
• Titanic
• Toxin du jour

• Travel
• Weddings

• Message Archive

Home --> Fauxtography --> Accidents --> Tulsa Motorcycle Crash

Tulsa Motorcycle Crash

Claim: Photographs show a motorcyclist who crashed into the back of a truck.

Status: True.

Example: [Collected via e-mail, June 2007]

By Lackland AFB in San Antonio....

This crash was at 169 near Admiral exit last week.

How would you like to be a truck driver, walk around back and see THAT hangin from the ass end of your truck.

They said dude hit the back of the truck at about 120mph.

Yellow/Roadway truck Accident

These are pictures from a motorcycle accident last week on Highway 169 here in Tulsa. The guy was going over 125 mph around 2 am when he hit the back of the Yellow truck. The truck was going normal speed and did not know what had happened. He was drug approx a mile before the truck stopped. Highway 169 is known for late night speed driving and trick driving of motorcycles. This guy's friend was killed 1 week before this on his motorcycle going 120+ on Highway 169. Please be aware of what you're doing at all times..... and watch your speed.

Origins: The fatal accident depicted above took place on U.S. 169 near Tulsa, Oklahoma, during the early morning hours of 17 April 2007. The motorcyclist, 26-year-old Brandon Lee White of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, was traveling at an estimated 120+ mph when his motorcycle struck the back of a tractor-trailer rig.

According to the Tulsa World:

Police said the truck driver reported hearing a bump and then seeing debris from the motorcycle going past him. When he managed to pull over, he saw that a man was embedded in the back of his trailer.

White was dead at the scene.

Brandon's family said that they hoped his unfortunate death at least would help to bring attention to the issue of motorcycle safety:

"If I can save one mother, one father from going through what I've gone through, then it's worthwhile," said Broken Arrow resident Dennis White,

Brandon White's father. "I can't be mad, but I know I have to do something. I've got to make a positive out of this."

Despite the hurt, the family members said they hope something good — a review of motorcycle safety laws — comes out of the recent death.

Helmet requirement laws, harsher penalties for speeding on a motorcycle, and community-based services to decrease drunken driving are among measures about which the family hopes the two young men's deaths spark a discussion.

Taking away a rider's motorcycle and motorcycle license for going a certain amount over the speed limit would be one way to curb speeding on bikes, said the elder White, who has ridden motorcycles for several years.

"That's the only thing that would make me think — that I'm going to lose it (his motorcycle)," he said. "I'm not a lawmaker, but I'm a biker, and that's the only thing that would work."

White said clubs that don't serve alcohol would go a long way toward helping reduce drunken-driving deaths for youths by providing them a hangout without the temptation of drinking and driving.

"We've got to do something to save these kids," he said. "We've got to do something to support them."

A few inaccuracies have crept into the text accompanying forwarded versions of these pictures. A 2008 variant carried the closing legend "He lived. Wear your helmet!", but unfortunately Brandon Lee did not survive the accident despite his wearing a helmet. Also, the friend of Brandon's who "was killed 1 week before this on his motorcycle going 120+ on Highway 169" referenced in the second example above was 21-year-old Devin Seigal, who was killed in a similar motorcycle accident five days after Brandon's death (and had, in fact, attended Brandon's funeral).

Last updated: 10 March 2008

The URL for this page is http://www.snopes.com/photos/accident/tulsacrash.asp

Urban Legends Reference Pages © 1995-2008 by snopes.com.
This material may not be reproduced without permission.
snopes and the snopes.com logo are registered service marks of snopes.com.

Sources:

Adcock, Clifton. "Motorcycle Focus: 2 Deaths Highlight Safety Issues.": Tulsa World. 30 April 2007.
Tulsa World. "BA Motorcyclist Topping 120 MPH Slams into Truck, Dies.": 18 April 2007.
Tulsa World. "Motorcycle Deaths: Two Riders Felt Need for Speed, Friend Says.": 18 April 2007.

abc30.com: Homeless Lawsuit Finalized 7/25/08

2008-07-26T06:39:00.001-06:00

more about "abc30.com: Homeless Lawsuit Finalized...", posted with vodpod

A Chiropractic Touch for Aching Homeless Backs - City Room - Metro - New York Times Blog

2008-07-23T05:54:00.001-06:00

more about " A Chiropractic Touch for Aching Hom...", posted with vodpod

PantherObservatory

2008-07-19T05:54:00.001-06:00

saturn loop

more about "PantherObservatory", posted with vodpod

Awesome Pool Dominos Video

2008-07-05T15:24:00.001-06:00

Always looking for fun stuff to share and once upon a time, I used to shoot my fair share of stick, although I must admit, i never combined it with dominoes....

more about "Awesome Pool Dominos Video", posted with vodpod

2009 VMAX Sneak Peek Pics

2008-06-28T19:59:00.003-06:00

OMG! Check out the BMW Roadster Quad!

2008-06-28T19:27:00.000-06:00

This is one bitchin roadster! Unfortunately, our DOT hasn't certified any quads for public road use, so you'll have to head to Japan if you want to find one or ride one legally. Given the current cost of gas in this country, I suspect it won't be long and we'll see things like this flying alongside of us everywhere; if you look close, you may even see me piloting one; that is, as soon as I can afford it!

2008-06-28T05:35:00.000-06:00

Check Out The BadBoy's Boy....

2008-06-08T17:16:00.002-06:00

Son Robbie flies in daddy's footsteps....

Another successful jump for Knievel
Updated 7h 57m ago


Enlarge	By Matt Slocum, AP

Motorcycle daredevil Robbie Knievel successfully jumped over 21 Hummers at the Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth on Saturday.

FORT WORTH (AP) — Motorcycle daredevil Robbie Knievel successfully completed a shortened jump Saturday night at Texas Motor Speedway.

Knievel jumped over 21 Hummer vehicles, four less than had originally been planned because of a headwind gusting more than 30 mph. The landing ramp protected the last three of the large SUVs in the line, though Knievel easily cleared all the vehicles and avoided crashing even after hitting the landing ramp off-center.

"I just hung on because it was just straight up and down, the wind right in my face. It was a little spooky," Knievel said. "But thanks God. Again!"

The 46-year-old Knievel, who has made more than 250 jumps since he was 9 years old, had said this would probably be his last jump in Texas.

"I love you Texas, bye-bye," Knievel said after the jump.

It was the second jump in the last two weeks for the son of the late Evel Knievel.

At Kings Island in Ohio on May 24, Knievel jumped over 24 delivery trucks lined side-by-side. His father jumped 14 buses there in 1975, a stunt broadcast by ABC-TV's Wide World of Sports that set a record for total viewers.

Robbie Knievel's latest jump came before the IndyCar Series race, his second successful jump at Texas Motor Speedway. He jumped the starting grid of 20 Indy Cars before a 2001 race.

Before getting on his motorcycle, Knievel told the crowd that his father, who died in November, was a "great man, a great legend."

Texas Motor Speedway president Eddie Gossage said the jump was shortened "in the best interest of safety."

Flying Energized....

2008-06-06T18:17:00.000-06:00

Resting In Nashville

2008-06-05T20:45:00.000-06:00

Cannot Forget Where It Is I Come From....

2008-05-31T06:09:00.007-06:00

I've been homesick for some mountains and deserts....

The Tennessee Highway Patrol...tend to write more tickets than give warnings to improve sa

2008-05-28T05:49:00.006-06:00

I wrote about my experiences on "the dragon" quite a while ago and I just wasn't impressed with the ride. I suspect this has a lot to do with the fact that I spent the last 20-some years navigating roads through the Sierra Nevada mountains and am used to curvy canyon cruises. What really freaked me out on the ride however, was the number of idiots who used the road as their personal race track and proving grounds.

Mostly youngsters on rocket sleds, many of these kids threw down those bikes through the curves with absolutely no respect or concern for what might be coming the other way. Call me an old fogey but after responding to enough fatal motorcycle accidents due to speed and stupidity, The dragon is dangerous as hell and the morons who tear it up give all us bikers a bad goddam name.

Police try different methods to tame 'Tail of the Dragon'

Associated Press • May 28, 2008

TALLASSEE, Tenn. — On one of the Southeast's most popular motorcycle routes, state and local law enforcement agencies are taking different approaches to reduce crashes and deaths.

The 11-mile stretch of U.S. 129 on the North Carolina-Tennessee state line, nicknamed "The Tail of the Dragon," is popular for its scenic overlooks of the Smoky Mountains and tight turns.

Blount County Sheriff Jim Berrong said the county is using grant money to pay overtime to officers who patrol the highway. The community policing effort involves meeting with riders, explaining safety precautions and giving warnings or tickets when appropriate.

The Tennessee Highway Patrol takes a slightly different approach. Officials there say they tend to write more tickets than give warnings to improve safety.

While the drive is a thrill for riders, it's a challenge to keep the road safe because riders regularly hit guardrails, trees or go off the road. The patrol reported nine deaths between 2005 and 2007 and more than a hundred crashes in 2006 alone, many of them between cars and motorcycles.

County gets grant

The county adopted the community police strategy last summer after getting a $125,000 grant from the Governor's Highway Safety Office.

Deputy Matt Fagiana said riders and other businesses that make money off out-of-state travelers appreciate their approach.

"Most times, our presence is more a factor of making the highway safe than writing tickets," he said. "And I like making contact."

Ben Steinberg, vice president for marketing and public relations at the Deal's Gap Motorcycle Resort, said Blount County is being "proactive as opposed to reactive."

But Highway Patrol Lt. Col. Tracy Trott said statistics show that their efforts in the past year were effective. The patrol reports a 54 percent reduction in crashes and 90 percent drop in calls to airlift victims in the past year.

"Our whole deal is to make the roads safe," Trott said. "The problem is that people would not police themselves."

Brad Talbott, who owns the Deal's Gap resort, calls the troopers' approach heavy-handed and intimidating.

"That does not solve the problem," he said.

Trott said the patrol is not intending to scare off tourism.

"We really don't consider that in safety," Trott said. "Our job is to focus on reducing accidents and making the road safe."

A Slow UpDate In Progress

2008-04-10T16:30:00.002-06:00

YO! As old readers may notice, I've changed templates and lost most of my formatting and pics in the sidebar. I'm too lazy to complete the formatting today but I'll get around to it eventually. In the meantime, enjoy the pics and the bs, its still the same crap, just a different day....

Peace all!

Bones Gets Scootered....

2008-04-10T14:37:00.003-06:00

"Bones" gets funky on his new scooter.....

Motorcycle Safety 2008

2008-04-10T04:31:00.009-06:00

A couple of years ago I took the motorcycle safety course so that I could get out of having to take the state driving test on my bigass beemer. It ain't that I can't do the maneuvers on the beemer - I can - but it's a lot more difficult than it is on a little 250 Honda Rebel, especially at those low speeds.

So anyway, I put off getting my license changed over from CA to NV for two years while I traveled back and forth between the two states, then when I was ready to actually go change over, I pulled my certificate out and discovered that the goofballs had put the wrong year on my cert, making it invalid for dmv purposes.

Meanwhile, my better half has been contemplating getting her own bike and riding alongside instead of behind me. So we decided to retake the basic course again, and here are some pics of the experience.

I will say that while not much about the course has changed, the way instructors actually instruct has changed considerably. It wasn't that they were bad, mind you, it was just....welll, the things I'd been taught in the first class, especially in relation to tclocs and finec, weren't nearly as important to this batch of trainers.

One area remains contentious between me and the trainers that I'd like to point out here. Before I tell you this, let me preface this by saying that while I may not be the most experienced rider in the world, I've got many hundreds of thousands of miles on motorcycles and have been riding on the street and in the dirt since 1968. I've been in every state in the country except Alaska and Hawaii, and I've ridden in every conceivable weather condition you can imagine, including driving through winter conditions regularly, being chased by a tornado, being caught in a rockslide and racing along with ball lightening flying over my head.

This area of contention has to do with the use of the front brake. Now listen up - the front brake provides a huge portion of stopping power and it is to be utilized as much as humanly possible. It should be used all the time by experienced riders, regardless of road conditions, but herein lies the trick - inexperienced riders often grab more than they can handle with that front brake, especially in panic situations.

They also aren't quite aware yet just how slippery a road gets in the first few minutes of a rainstorm. They haven't followed behind a garbage truck leaking stinky, slimy water on a hot day. They haven't gone into a corner where some moron recently passed with a leaky tranny. They haven't had much experience with sanding trucks and loose gravel on the road. They haven't been bent over hammering the fabled S curves in Grand Rapids Michigan and hit a roll of sod in the fast lane. They haven't yet ridden in snow. They haven't bopped over right angle railroad tracks after a rainstorm. They don't yet know that a blown down construction barrel is about as easy to move by a gust of air as a dry leaf. Put bluntly, they are inexperienced.

So they end up grabbing way too much brake. It is a skill that is learned over time - the smart noobs get abs (and even that can toss you to the ground if you're braking with your bars curved at low speeds).

It happened to three different riders who went down - hard - while at this training and I must say, the first training I went through, no one had crashed like that. NO ONE.

So anyway, I still think they're teaching the newbies a little too much front brake a little too fast, but hopefully they will learn before it kills em. The fact is, without the training many more folks will die needlessly because they didn't know even the basics of piloting a motorcycle at low speeds in an enclosed parking lot under adult supervision.

Winter Doldrums

2008-02-12T05:51:00.000-06:00

My kids call me often during the winter, bragging about how much snow they have on the ground or when the next blizzard will hit them. They know it drives me crazy because I love mountain storms and wild weather of any kind, with the exception of tornadoes, which the south of course seems to get in great abundance.
When it's cold, I often think of snow and it's been pretty damned cold here this winter; not sure if its one of the colder winters Tennessee has experienced but its really odd to me to have such cold weather without any snow accompanying it. I'm not really complaining, mind you, since I'm really enjoying just looking at the following pics and then getting into a car that doesn't need preheating or brushing off, driving into work on roads I don't have to worry about black ice in the middle of the day on, and not having to jump-run through slush puddles as I make my way outdoors....

I'm sure some of these pics have been posted here previously but I'm too lazy this morning to see if there are dupes. Besides, good pics can be seen over and over without losing their value...

Knievel dead at 69

2007-11-30T16:56:00.000-06:00

Folks my age will recognize this name immediately, and anyone who has ever straddled a scooter will be mourning the loss of one of our old heroes, that is for damned sure..... Rest in peace, Evel - you made motorcycling exciting to the masses.....

Daredevil Evel Knievel dead at 69

Pop culture icon had been in poor health for years

Posted: Friday November 30, 2007 4:19PM; Updated: Friday November 30, 2007 5:34PM

CLEARWATER, Fla. (AP) -- Evel Knievel, the red-white-and-b

lue-spangled motorcycle daredevil whose jumps over Greyhound buses, live sharks and Idaho's Snake River Canyon made him an international icon in the 1970s, died Friday. He was 69.

Knievel's death was confirmed by his granddaughter, Krysten Knievel. He had been in failing health for years, suffering from diabetes and pulmonary fibrosis, an incurable condition that scarred his lungs.
Knievel had undergone a liver transplant in 1999 after nearly dying of hepatitis C, likely contracted through a blood transfusion after one of his bone-shattering spills.

Immortalized in the Washington's Smithsonian Institution as "America's Legendary Daredevil," Knievel was best known for a failed 1974 attempt to jump Snake River Canyon on a rocket-powered cycle and a spectacular crash at Caesar's Palace in Las Vegas. He suffered nearly 40 broken bones before he retired in 1980.

Though Knievel dropped off the pop culture radar in the '80s, the image of the high-flying motorcyclist clad in patriotic, star-studded colors was never erased from public consciousness. He always had fans and enjoyed a resurgence in popularity in recent years.

His death came just two days after it was announced that he and rapper Kanye West had settled a federal lawsuit over the use of Knievel's trademarked image in a popular West music video.

Knievel made a good living selling his autographs and endorsing products. Thousands came to Butte, Mont., every year as his legend was celebrated during the "Evel Knievel Days" festival.

"They started out watching me bust my ass, and I became part of their lives," Knievel said. "People wanted to associate with a winner, not a loser. They wanted to associate with someone who kept trying to be a winner."

For the tall, thin daredevil, the limelight was always comfortable, the gab glib. To Knievel, there always were mountains to climb, feats to conquer.

"No king or prince has lived a better life," he said in a May 2006 interview with The Associated Press. "You're looking at a guy who's really done it all. And there are things I wish I had done better, not only for me but for the ones I loved."

He had a knack for outrageous yarns: "Made $60 million, spent 61. ...Lost $250,000 at blackjack once. ... Had $3 million in the bank, though."

He began his daredevil career in 1965 when he formed a troupe called Evel Knievel's Motorcycle Daredevils, a touring show in which he performed stunts such as riding through fire walls, jumping over live rattlesnakes and mountain lions and being towed at 200 mph behind dragster race cars.

In 1966 he began touring alone, barnstorming the West and doing everything from driving the trucks, erecting the ramps and promoting the shows. In the beginning he charged $500 for a jump over two cars parked between ramps.

He steadily increased the length of the jumps until, on New Year's Day 1968, he was nearly killed when he jumped 151 feet across the fountains in front of Caesar's Palace. He cleared the fountains but the crash landing put him in the hospital in a coma for a month.

His son, Robbie, successfully completed the same jump in April 1989.

In the years after the Caesar's crash, the fee for Evel's performances increased to $1 million for his jump over 13 buses at Wembley Stadium in London -- the crash landing broke his pelvis -- to more than $6 million for the Sept. 8, 1974, attempt to clear the Snake River Canyon in Idaho in a rocket-powered "Skycycle." The money came from ticket sales, paid sponsors and ABC's "Wide World of Sports."

The parachute malfunctioned and deployed after takeoff. Strong winds blew the cycle into the canyon, landing him close to the swirling river below.

On Oct. 25, 1975, he jumped 14 Greyhound buses at Kings Island in Ohio.

Knievel decided to retire after a jump in the winter of 1976 in which he was again seriously injured. He suffered a concussion and broke both arms in an attempt to jump a tank full of live sharks in the Chicago Amphitheater. He continued to do smaller exhibitions around the country with his son, Robbie.

Many of his records have been broken by daredevil motorcyclist Bubba Blackwell.

Knievel also dabbled in movies and TV, starring as himself in "Viva Knievel" and with Lindsay Wagner in an episode of the 1980s TV series "Bionic Woman." George Hamilton and Sam Elliott each played Knievel in movies about his life.

Evel Knievel toys accounted for more than $300 million in sales for Ideal and other companies in the 1970s and '80s.

Born Robert Craig Knievel in the copper mining town of Butte on Oct. 17, 1938, Knievel was raised by his grandparents. He traced his career choice back to the time he saw Joey Chitwood's Auto Daredevil Show at age 8.

Outstanding in track and field, ski jumping and ice hockey at Butte High School, he went on to win the Northern Rocky Mountain Ski Association Class A Men's ski jumping championship in 1957 and played with the Charlotte Clippers of the Eastern Hockey League in 1959.

He also formed the Butte Bombers semiprofessional hockey team, acting as owner, manager, coach and player.

Knievel also worked in the Montana copper mines, served in the Army, ran his own hunting guide service, sold insurance and ran Honda motorcycle dealerships. As a motorcycle dealer, he drummed up business by offering $100 off the price of a motorcycle to customers who could beat him at arm wrestling.

At various times and in different interviews, Knievel claimed to have been a swindler, a card thief, a safe cracker, a holdup man.

Evel Knievel married hometown girlfriend, Linda Joan Bork, in 1959. They separated in the early 1990s. They had four children, Kelly, Robbie, Tracey and Alicia.

Robbie Knievel followed in his father's footsteps as a daredevil, jumping a moving locomotive in a 200-foot, ramp-to-ramp motorcycle stunt on live television in 2000. He also jumped a 200-foot-wide chasm of the Grand Canyon.

Knievel lived with his longtime partner, Krystal Kennedy-Knievel, splitting his time between their Clearwater condo and Butte. They married in 1999 and divorced a few years later but remained together. Knievel had 10 grandchildren and a great-grandchild.

French Quarter New Orleans

2007-10-16T06:52:00.000-06:00

Man what a great time Will and I had down in New Orleans during our APA convention! But don't just believe a few words here - check out the pics!

Yammy Raises The Bar - Again

2007-10-08T05:35:00.000-06:00

Hey Hey - it has been a while since I posted to this blog, but i guess late is better than never, eh?
It isn't that I haven't been traveling and riding and getting into the stuff that makes living worth....well, living; it's just that I've had so many other things happening this summer that I've really been both busy and preoccupied with assisting my less fortunate human beings - and there is no shortage of them, believe it.

And lets not forget that Nashville - and a large portion of the midwest - suffered through one of the hottest summers on record, too. The heat I can deal with but the stinkin humidity that lays like a wet freakin blanket over this region is far more than I care to stand. I hate it and don't know how folks here are able to tolerate it, frankly.

This wicked "sweaty heat" has prohibited me from doing many of the things I normally do during the summer months and I have spent a large majority of my time indoors, next to the AC vent. As a result, I've had little to write about in the way of playing with my toyz and doing any travelingz.

Fear not however, cooler weather is on its way and I've got a couple of trips planned for this fall. One of them involves another trip to the Tail of the Dragon and some cruising in the Smokies - this time in daylight so I can actually check em out again, and a fall color tour somewhere, if I can free up enough time.

I'm also heading to "Nawlins" on Wednesday and although it's for work, there'll be plenty o time to check out the sights and sounds of "Katrinaville."

May also be bringing news of a new bike purchase. We are looking at trading the Beemer in for a couple of bikes - dats rite - two bikes - as Dorothy wants to learn to ride. She's been watching Kathy on her Sportster this summer and she's gotten bit by that nasty riding bug, so it does appear that we'll be a two motorcycle family soon.

Nuff said for now.

click above image to view an enlarged photo

And now for something completely different. Yamaha has just announced that it will be bringing a bevy of new motorcycle and scooter models to the upcoming Tokyo Motor Show. One of the more interesting concepts, which we'll roughly refer to as a motorcycle, is the Tesseract. Piaggio has a success on their hands in the form of the MP3, which is capable of leaning into turns despite the third wheel. Yamaha has one-upped that with its Tesseract, though, by adding yet one more whee,l bringing the total count to four. And yet, nobody would confuse this machine with a car!

Again, following Piaggio's lead with its impending hybrid MP3, Yamaha has made this concept a hybrid, boasting both a V-Twin engine of undisclosed size along with an electric motor. Yamaha claims that the machine is about the same width as a standard motorcycle, meaning lane-splitting could feasibly remain an option and parking shouldn't be too difficult. The Tesseract has also been equipped with a mechanism to keep the machine upright when stopped or when parked, once again, like the MP3. As for the styling? It's, uh... different! Imagine a Transformer half transformed and you'll be pretty darn close. And we love it!

Let's Do Something Like This Here In Nashville...

2007-08-05T17:30:00.001-06:00

Providing it isn't already done.....

Cycle riders raise money for vets | IndyStar.com

Hundreds of motorcyclists and military veterans gathered on the Westside today to raise money for homeless veterans in Marion County. They gathered at American Legion Post 64 for a one-hour ride, silent auctions and a motorcycle show. All of the proceeds went to benefit Helping Homeless Veterans and Families of Indiana, Inc. (www.hvaf.org). An estimated 250 riders were there, along with other supporters. "A lot of times these guys get forgotten," said Frank Brewer, an army veteran and the founder of the bike ride, which is now in its fifth year. Several of the veterans present suffered severe problems when they reentered civilian life after service in the military. Brewer said the help that veterans give each other is priceless in recovery. "I come out to help others,” he said. “When I help them get through their problems, I help myself."

heehee

2007-07-11T20:05:00.001-06:00

Kneeslider a Kneeslapper

2007-07-11T19:41:00.000-06:00

A cyber-rag I've never seen before has put out the following article and I found it pretty damned fascinating, as well as interesting to an old scooter buff like myself. Kneeslider seems to be a pretty decent publication - I'll definitely visit often.....

Steampunk Motorcycles

July 9th, 2007 by Paul Crowe - "The Kneeslider"

What if technology had taken a different path? What if the steam powered technology of the Victorian era had continued on to the present day, offering up the same devices we use but with the metal, gears and wheels prevalent in those early machines? That’s the idea behind steampunk, current day tech with a steam era look.

Because of the current high interest in steampunk, quite a few artists and craftsmen have built or modified everything from computers to wristwatches with a vintage sci-fi appearance. They’re pretty neat, too, but I haven’t seen many motorcycles that would fit the steampunk category, some come close, maybe, but more by chance than purpose.

The Bobster trike shown above has strong hints of it, something I didn’t think about until I saw a few others comment and I would have to agree. Brass and copper are a strong design cue. Some point to the Confederate Wraith and when you step back for a second, yep, it has it too.

The Hubbard Steamcycle goes without saying, if you actually use steam power, you have ten points to begin with, add a little copper and brass and you’re in.

The interesting machine on the right started as a drawing in a biker comic and the artist’s brother thought it was so neat he decided to bring it to life. It doesn’t actually run on steam but it looks like it should.

The single engine cylinder is from a tractor and it displaces 1440cc, think about what that sounds like! Tires and wheels are from a Ford Model A. The wooden fork is made of ash with forged iron strapping plus there’s a shovel for a seat. Practical? Are you kidding? Cool? Of course.

There are other examples floating around out there, I only tossed out a few, but I think any design that focuses on the mechanical with a few added gears and wheels plus some brass and copper is pretty neat. Steampunk is all about the design and very little concerned with added (or lost) function but some of it would be neat if it worked half as well as you wish it would.

What are some of your favorites?

Link: Steam cycle from comic via Brass Goggles

Wikipedia steampunk

HAPPY 4TH OF JULY 2007

2007-07-04T11:08:00.000-06:00

It Might Not Have Wheels (Or Maybe It Does And I Just Haven't Found Em Yet), But It's An Awesome Toy!

2007-07-02T20:09:00.000-06:00

I am a big fan of stumbleupon and if you don't know what that is, you're missing one of the greatest interactive websites on the internet......

FantasticMachine
Uploaded by olivier66

White Castle Goes Gutter....

2007-06-28T21:08:00.001-06:00

Been a while since I've been able to post here and I wish I had something better to share, but the other day I was in a hurry and hungry for some gut-bombs, so I went over to the local TurdCastle for a case of colon-cloggers. Imagine my surprise as I neared the drive through speaker and spotted this on their sign.....

Father's Day 2007 Percy Priest Lake

2007-06-17T20:57:00.000-06:00

Putting The Beemer Up For Sale

2007-06-03T21:40:00.000-06:00

I'm going to list the beemer and wanted to see what it might be worth right now. There's a brand new one in Souix Falls for 20K and that's about all I saw when I googled it. I've seen em as cheap as 14k but that was in the dead of winter, so I think I'll list this one at 17K and see what happens.

This is the Gold color and the bike includes Central Locking System, Floor Lighting, Anti-Theft Alarm, Heated Seats and Backrest. Heated Hand Grips, Cruise Control, AM/FM/CD w/6-Disc Changer, Powered Reverse, Automatic Electric Center Stand, EVO Braking with full integral ABS. A Corbin Low heated seat is on the bike and the original factory seat comes with, along with the BMW charger for the battery.

Here's a writeup on the bike from BMW for the 2005 model.....

Introducing ... 2005 BMW K1200LT

Peak performance and absolute amenities mile after mile after mile.

Among the forty-four standard features included on the dynamically modified K 1200 LT are a higher output engine, a modified gearbox, chrome package, a redesigned instrument panel and seats, a new paint finishes, and an electro-hydraulic center stand.

Engineered for high-performance pilgrimages over endless lengths of road, the K 1200 LT combines luxury-car features with the irreplaceable experience of BMW motorcycle riding. And you can customize your K 1200 LT to suit your riding style with a list of optional features and accessories including a central locking system, heated seats, heated grips, cruise control, a CD changer, tank bag and map compartment, variable height pillion foot boards, high windshield, and more.

Mixing luxurious appointments from stem to stern with BMW’s passion for exceptional engineering, the K 1200 LT delivers reliable power and quintessential comfort on a motorcycle odyssey.

Features & Highlights

Bike Specifications

Accessories

BMW Navigator
The wire harness and mounting bracket for the BMW Navigator is now available as a factory installed option.

Chrome Package
The 2005 model features chromed rider’s and passenger’s footrests, footrest supports, mirror housings, windshield holder caps and front and rear rubbing strip trim.

Electro-hydraulic center stand
The newly designed electro-hydraulic center stand allows the rider to raise the bike hydraulically with the push of a button. Please note, it is recommended that the center stand only be operated with the rider in the seated position.

Increased Caster
The front wheel caster has been increased by 8 mm compared with the previous model. Together with the narrower seat, this improves handling at low speeds and also makes maneuvering the bike easier.

Mew Instruments with Info Flat Screen
Completely redesigned, the cockpit now includes the new Info-Flat-Screen. Smartly designed to provide a wide range of travel information, the new instrument panel shows total distance, coolant and air temperature, gear selection, on-board computer functions, radio information, fuel level and time on one easy-to-read facing.

New Head Lamp
A new two-section headlamp adds an element of sportiness to the overall design while increasing light output by 10 percent. The lamp uses clear glass and is separated into high-beam (top) and low-beam (bottom) units with the parking light integrated into the lower section.

New Seat
A completely redesigned seat provides a more ergonomically correct seated position even for riders of small stature.

Travel-dependent Damping (WAD)
In addition to BMW’s signature Paralever and Telelever suspension systems, the new K 1200 LT features WAD travel dependent damping similar to that of the R 1150 GS. Compression-phase damping in this suspension strut increases at a progressive rate offering enhanced riding comfort, particularly two-up.

Such Fond Memories, Such Great Functionality!

2007-06-02T04:27:00.001-06:00

Finally, a jacket that I can wear that doesn't scream "Biker-thug" and that will keep me toasty and protected. I love my leathers, don't get me wrong, and sometimes that "scooter trash" look is great, but not all the time. Additionally, I get tired of having to watch it like a hawk when I'm bipedaling about in some establishment or home. And the weight of my leather makes it rather uncomfortable during those hot, muggy days so common in the south.

This heah ol "jean jacket" lookalike seems to be exactly the answer for me. I'll let ya know what I really think once I actually buy and use the danged thing.

Check it out further over at the Cortech apparel page found right heah!

House Hunting Once Again

2007-05-28T06:45:00.001-06:00

It sure seems like we spend a lot of time trying to find a house to live in! We're thinking of going smaller this time around however, as the last place was just waaayyyy too big to try and keep clean on a daily basis.

We've been looking on the eastern edge of Nashville's burbs, out by Hermitage, Mt Juliet and Lebanon. Unfortunately, with gas hovering around 4 bux a gallon, getting away from the city may prove to be expensive in ways that we hadn't really anticipated just a few years ago.

We found a beaut of a cottage the other day about 11 miles from Dorth's work and the price was right, too. It is on the very small side however, so we'll definitely need to add on to the place, as well as get a storage shed immediately if we decide this is "the one."

It sits out on Leeville road, up on hill buried in the trees. The view across the street reminds us both of a mountain meadow, without the peaks of course, and it's the quietest place I've been to since returning to Nashville.

Who knows - we may be in a house again soon......

Rest In Peace John. We Will Miss You

2007-05-21T05:49:00.000-06:00

John Edward Mendenhall
Born January 28, 1958
Died May 21, 2007

John passed away late last night after suffering with a terrible illness. We are going to miss his laugh, his music, his face and his beautiful, gentle soul....
May you run free in the universe with your brothers and sisters John, may the big fish always be biting and may you find the peace and comfort you were so desperately searching for here.....

We love you and will miss you terribly......

An Ebay Cover For My Beemer???

2007-05-04T06:36:00.000-06:00

Boy, I sure hope I did the right thing by buying my bike cover through an Ebay vendor.
I saved about $120 bucks but as we all know, you usually get what you pay for.
Here on the left is the $153 beemer version and on the right is the $35 Ebay/ChampionCover version.
While I'm relatively certain that the Beemer version is a better constructed product, all i really need is something to keep the rain off the Temis.

I'm hoping this cheapee tarp should do the trick and I'll report back when the cover is actually on the scooter....

UPDATE:
Wowsa! What a deal on this cover! I'm most impressed with it. Not only is it elasticized along the entire bottom for a snug-huggin fit, it's ventilated and the windshield area is covered in a soft cloth-like material for scratch resistance.
I'd say it's well worth the 40 bux and I am quite pleased with myself for buying it (although I must add that it was Dorothy who suggested I look on Ebay in the first place!)

Takin the Ferd For Repairs

2007-05-02T06:06:00.000-06:00

In hindsight I musta been crazzzzeeee to drive that damned Explorer across almost the entire country with the loud ticking noise coming from somewhere in the netherreaches of the motor.

But drive it I did, at 80+ mph for most of the way, and I also towed the double-axled, 6x12 UHaul trailer filled with the Beemer and household junk as well.
The ticking noise coming from the car began long before i towed the trailer; i actually believe it started back when i was in Nashville the first time, but was never really significant enough to have checked out, since the car really is my "Ghetto cruiser" and I don't much like putting $$$ into the black hole of car repair unless it's absolutely essential to keep the damned thing running.

But after hauling that trailer over some righteous mountains and across the Plains at warp speed, the ticking noise is much much louder and now constant.

So right now the question is whether this is a waterpump failing or something ..... worse. I kinda doubt it's a rod knocking as it doesn't seem very likely that a rod would have survived 2100 miles of hard towing. Furthermore, the noise doesn't begin until the car is fully warmed up, which would also be the point at which the thermostat opens and allows water to be pumped into the block (although since i've been in Nashville it hasn't gotten cold enough to allow the motor a warm-up period).

So I'm heading to my bro in law's homestead this morning to have him tear the damned thing apart and fix it for me. Keep your fingers crossed that I make it this morning, since the car still has a bunch of crap in it and i'd sure hate to have to leave the beast on the side of a Nashville freeway.......

UPDATE:
Well, we now know it's not the waterpump, not is it a rod or main bearing. What we think it might be is one of the four timing chains on this version of the 4.0 v6 slapping against the cases as it spins.
Here's the bummer - since you have to drop the motor to change the timing chain, and since it takes at least 6 special Ford tools to do the actual chain replacement, the cost to fix it is going to come pretty close to the low bluebook value.
Verdict: drive the bastage with that clacking chain until she goes, then junk it and get a itty bitty gas sipper as a replacement. I kinda doubt I'll have much need for 4-wheel drive in Nashville....

The Return Trip Is Complete....

2007-05-01T06:28:00.000-06:00

Lordy, what a difference a few months makes!
just last October I had nothing but contempt and loathing for this town, but upon returning to Reno I discovered, much to my chagrin and embarrassment, that Nashville was actually a very nice town in comparison.
While it goes without saying that i missed my lady more than life itself, i also discovered that most of the things i had felt about Reno were biased, inflated and in some cases downright incorrect!
For example, the traffic in Nashville, while at times horrific, is actually more pleasant to drive in than traffic in Reno.
Why, you might ask?
Well, because drivers in Nashville are, as a whole, much more respectful and kind to other drivers than those in Reno. Many drivers in Reno are aggressive, nasty and brutish and while I'm sure you can find similar nuts in the Nashville metropolitan area, they are far fewer, and this takes on added significance when one considers to difference in population numbers.

Now don't get me wrong here - there are still things about Reno that will always be better than Nashville, like the lack of humidity and the difference in scenery, but when compared on the grand scale, they are not enough to justify giving up the woman i love more than life itself.

And so it is that i am back in Nashville, with a newfound respect and admiration for her people, her sights, and her history.

Much more to come as we begin in earnest to explore what this amazing city has to offer.....

24 Hours And Counting Down

2007-04-24T07:55:00.000-06:00

Well, I've just about gone full circle and a half. By about this time tomorrow - give or take a couple of hours - I should be rolling eastward, furnishings and pooches in tow, driving the 2214 miles back to Nashville and my beautiful, loving woman.

It seems odd to say it, but after 20+ years in the mountains, I now realize it is time for a change.

I would never have believed it even six months ago, but this return to Reno was a real eye-opener in many ways. Perhaps the biggest realization for me was the recognition that people here seem meaner, more surly, than just about any other place I've lived, with the one exception of Michigan, which is filled with some of the orneriest sunsabitches on the planet.

On par with that realization was the sudden understanding that the mountains are a young person's playground. the life is hard, expensive and unforgiving. I've grown older folks, and I've done so here in the mountains. I've been a mountain man for many a year now, and frankly, I"m tired of the lifestyle.

Now don't misunderstand me; there's nothing as beautiful as a hike or a putt through the Sierras or cutting a christmas tree in a snowstorm on the side of a mountain, but living here is more for a younger man's thrill.

Now, i'll still have my ashes scattered up around Hope Valley on the Pony Express trail, but it's time to head to a little easier lifestyle.

So i leave here without the sadness and melancholy I had last time and i am filled with hope and promise of a better existence in Nashville than I had during my last time there.....

Well Horsehockie- Here We Go Again

2007-04-14T07:18:00.000-06:00

it's official, kiddies - i'm heading back to Nashville. I was offered the job yesterday and will be giving my notice on Monday here in Reno.

The past six months spent here in Reno have been real eye openers, let me tell you. I think the biggest lesson I gained out of this experience is that you can never can go back "home" folks, it just ain't the same. I'm ashamed to say that I was so hard on Nashville the last time I was there; I've come to enjoy the place more than - lordy, I can hardly believe I'm saying this - the Reno/Tahoe area!

There's just no place on the planet as friendly as Nashville, and while it's got its big-city problems, the benefits and the people far outweigh the troubles.....

Boy, I will be eating some crow when I return but frankly, the taste will be pretty good, so long as I can do it someplace like Jack's or on the boat at the lake!

Could It Be...???

2007-04-11T07:22:00.000-06:00

Well, I suspect I'm now in the final stages of the review process for a new job in Nashville. They contacted my references yesterday and I should be hearing from my new employer by week's end. I spoke w them yesterday by phone and was told again that they were excited about bringing me on board. Since I know my references are absolutely stellar, I suspect that I will soon be contacted with an official offer. About the only worry i really have is how quickly all my references can be reached, since some are rather difficult to get in touch with at times - do you hear that, Joann??? I need you to answer your phone, old boss of mine!

I've mentioned previously my "awakening" regarding my take on the Reno/Tahoe area over the past year and every day that passes here makes me more certain that I have indeed misjudged and viewed this area through rose-colored glasses. Hell, to be frank, I'd say it was more like blinders than glasses.

Here I was, maligning Nashville while singing the praises of Reno, and lo and behold, upon my return I discovered much of the same wrong w Reno that i had lamented about w Nashville, but something even more disturbing to me was the very noticeable differences between the general friendliness of people here in Reno and those in Nashville.

Reno has more pissed off people than just about any other place I've visited in my lifetime, with the exception perhaps of Michiganders, who by far can be the meanest, rotten sunsabeeches on the planet, in my humble opinion. That Reno isn't far behind them in general surliness is something to take note of.

The racism here in Reno is another area of concern and while it isn't like the entrenched racism of the deep south, it is palpable and I think somewhat more volatile as well, since the people here don't have the experience of dealing with this issue like those in the south do.

Suffice it to say, I've learned some very important lessons about life upon my return to Reno and I can leave here now without any morose, longing or regret.

Honestly, I can't wait to get the hell outta here.

And this time, I think Nashville will get its even break from me, since I won't be coming with preconceived notions that the grass is greener in the west. Actually, the grass is burned up and bone dry in the west, while Nashville is a lush green that reminds me of my childhood in northern Michigan...

Dinner With (For?) The Donners

2007-03-25T07:31:00.001-06:00

We live about 30 miles from where the infamous Donner Party met its demise and the campsite locations - yes, locations, as there were actually two different places where the party ended up camping at - never fail to fascinate me. Much has been written about what happened to the wagon train and why the group, in order to survive, ultimately resorted to cannibalism while buried under 12 feet of Sierra Nevada snow for most of the winter of 1846-47.
It also never fails to amaze me, when listening to the conversations of strangers while meandering about at the sites, the utter ignorance of many of them as it pertains to the weather conditions here in the Sierras.
Lots of folk simply cannot understand how it is that anyone could be trapped in a "place like this" for so long that they would resort to eating family members in order to survive.

Of course, these same folks are usually touring the sites in the middle of the summer and most cannot comprehend - when looking at this statue of the party - that the base of the bronze sculpture resting atop the stone pedestal marks the height of the snow during the time the party was camped there.

Well kiddies, having lived here in the Sierras for the past 30 years or so, I can tell you without equivocation that the snow does indeed get this deep - and deeper in many locations.

It also gets damned cold, too.

I mean bonechilling, freeze your ass off, colder than a witches tit in a brass bra, colder than a warlocks balls in a brass jockstrap COLD.

In fact, Truckee, California is often the coldest place in the nation, and that's saying something!

But yesterday was anything but cold up in Truckee and although I had to put on the leathers to do the putt, once i arrived at the park it was short sleeve weather fosho!
This particular park was still closed for the winter and i really enjoy them the most when they are, since no one is around mucking up my picture taking, throwing garbage around and generally making a nuisance of themselves to me.

I wandered around this site for quite some time and continually felt compelled to return to an area by this tree. This area is supposedly the site where the Donners and the others who were with them set up a sort of lean-to against this tree.

I'm not a big believer of spirits mucking around in our realm, but there is definitely something powerful in the air around here, although it's hard to get an impression of the misery they must have endured in filthy, smoky snow caves when the sun is shining and the temperature is hovering around 70 degrees....

Diesel Power!

2007-03-22T07:48:00.000-06:00

I apologize for the poor quality of this photo but this is a pic of a diesel scooter in the May 07 issue of Cycle World. Clicking on the picture gets you a much improved - and larger - version.....

Hey-Win A Beemer!

2007-03-20T08:09:00.000-06:00

I'm posting this here but don't get yer hopes up as I'm gonna take the grand prize, so there's really no need to even enter......

Move along, nuthin to see here.....

The "Ride with an Edge" Sweepstakes is our way of celebrating our line up of 2007 bikes, including these six all-new models. Each of these new models represents a sea change for BMW Motorrad, with fresh, dynamic designs with amped-up performance and slimmed-down weight. And you can win one of these six groundbreaking new models, and pick up a free BMW Motorcycles DVD while supplies last - all you have to do is fill out the form below: (One entry per person, please)

Walkin the dog

2007-03-20T06:24:00.000-06:00

Walkin the dog Im just a-walkin your dog Well if you dont know how to do it Ill show you how to walk your dog
(Aerosmith)

There's an itty bitty town just east of Sparks NV called Lockwood (it's so close it could almost be considered a part of Sparks, although i suspect the residents of this town wouldn't go for that, ever) and it is comprised of a few homes and a fairly large trailer park that sits alongside a dry (usually, anyway) creekbed. I think the major attraction for most outsiders who venture into Lockwood, besides the one little market in the center of the "town," is the county landfill. I've never seen the landfill as it doesn't rank very high on my list of sights to see, but that's okay, since i found what i think the locals live here for, the canyons and hills behind the town.

The desert is an awesome place but it takes some getting used to if you're new to its beauty. Some folks never do understand why others are so drawn to such "desolate" landscapes, and i have to say that those folks are poorer because of it.

Not only is it spectacularly beautiful in its desolation and isolation, its quiet. In fact, it's so quiet that the stillness actually screams.

Pyramid Lake Putt

2007-03-18T08:58:00.000-06:00

I tell ya, if there's any benefit to global warming, its that we've smashed high temperature records here that have stood for over 100 years!

Yesterday was so spectacularly beautiful that there is simply no way in words to describe how invigorating, breathtaking, and awe-inspiring the ride was.....

(heading out of Sparks north on 445)

A few miles outta Sparks, I came to the holding station for the wild mustangs in the area that have been rounded up and are awaiting some kind of fate. Some of these beautiful critters are adopted out but some are......disposed of.......
Having lived with these horses trampling through our front yard for the past seven years, wild and free, it was really hard to see them trapped, penned and their spirits broken.....

The horses were the one ugly smear on an otherwise perfect ride and one thing I was pleasantly surprised to discover as i meandered back to snap some flicks of the ponies was the big Beemer's agility and ease of handling on DIRT roads!
I gotta tell ya, I was mega-impressed with how well Temis cruised the two-tracks! rolling anything weighing 850+ on gravel with only two wheels is tricky but i felt steady as a rock as i putted along at between 15-30 mph.
Maybe it was the new Metzelers, maybe it was the superb handling skills of yours truly, and maybe it was the road was a mixture of hardpack clay and imbedded gravel, but quite probably it was the absolute glorious weather of the day that made everything seem easy and fun!
Back on the highway, I was jammin along, diggin on some Keb Mo when i spied a couple of dust devils off in the distance. The one pictured here doesn't look like much scaled down as it is, but it is really quite huge and it actually swirled right over a small ranch as it danced across the alkali flats, blotting it completely out of view for about 60 seconds or so.....

(A long, lonesome road to nowhere.....faaaassstttttt......)
The fine warm weather brought out lotsa folks, and lotsa them folks were cruisin their scooters, too! One thing about Northern Nevadans, when the sun's out (which is 300+ days a year - gotta love the high desert!) if they own a bike they'll be on it!
Just before i crested the hill that lays out the lake beneath you,
I passed a group of three riders who were putting along on a Valkrie trike kit and two gl 1500 wings with sidecars. We stopped at this pullout and i was so damned excited to speak to the three of em (an old guy and two weathered and even older women) that i never took any pics! So I'm kickin myself in the ass now because while the trike and one of the Goldwings was pretty standard fare, the guy's bike was a "homemade fab job" he'd done in his machine shop - and it was really something, especially the way in which he'd mounted the sidecar so that it was able to lean far more significantly than the stock wing's setup.

Besides that, he'd stripped it essentially nekkid and painted it flat black; it was a mean, lean, badass scooter and you coulda mounted a 50 cal machine gun on the sidecar and taken this baby straight into a Mad Max movie! I'd passed a little store as i hustled to catch up to the trio and, having drunk the last of my piss-warm diet Pepsi while ogling those bikes, i decided to head back and pick up some refreshments for consumption somewhere alongside the lake. The store belongs to the Paiute Indian tribe; hell, the entire place is actually a reservation for the Paiutes, and i like supporting the tribe as much as possible, so's i bought me a bunch of junk to munch on and drink, then continued on to one of the scattered picnic table sites along the side of the lake. Notice that I didn't say "along the shore." That's because the shoreline is alkali and the pavement sits quite a bit above the actual shoreline - smart planning if ya ask me. Anyhoo, I took a bunch of pics and stopped off occasionally at these little stands to eat cupcakes, drink cokes, and generally fart off.

No doubt about it, Pyramid is an incredible place to ride - just one of the thousands you'll find here in the Reno area.

Power Corrupts & Absolute Power Corrupts Absolutely

2007-03-12T20:01:00.000-06:00

The 48 Laws of Power

by Robert Greene and Joost Elffers

Law 1

Never Outshine the Master

Always make those above you feel comfortably superior. In your desire to please or impress them, do not go too far in displaying your talents or you might accomplish the opposite – inspire fear and insecurity. Make your masters appear more brilliant than they are and you will attain the heights of power.

Law 2

Never put too Much Trust in Friends, Learn how to use Enemies

Be wary of friends-they will betray you more quickly, for they are easily aroused to envy. They also become spoiled and tyrannical. But hire a former enemy and he will be more loyal than a friend, because he has more to prove. In fact, you have more to fear from friends than from enemies. If you have no enemies, find a way to make them.

Law 3

Conceal your Intentions

Keep people off-balance and in the dark by never revealing the purpose behind your actions. If they have no clue what you are up to, they cannot prepare a defense. Guide them far enough down the wrong path, envelope them in enough smoke, and by the time they realize your intentions, it will be too late.

Law 4

Always Say Less than Necessary

When you are trying to impress people with words, the more you say, the more common you appear, and the less in control. Even if you are saying something banal, it will seem original if you make it vague, open-ended, and sphinxlike. Powerful people impress and intimidate by saying less. The more you say, the more likely you are to say something foolish.

Law 5

So Much Depends on Reputation – Guard it with your Life

Reputation is the cornerstone of power. Through reputation alone you can intimidate and win; once you slip, however, you are vulnerable, and will be attacked on all sides. Make your reputation unassailable. Always be alert to potential attacks and thwart them before they happen. Meanwhile, learn to destroy your enemies by opening holes in their own reputations. Then stand aside and let public opinion hang them.

Law 6

Court Attention at all Cost

Everything is judged by its appearance; what is unseen counts for nothing. Never let yourself get lost in the crowd, then, or buried in oblivion. Stand out. Be conspicuous, at all cost. Make yourself a magnet of attention by appearing larger, more colorful, more mysterious, than the bland and timid masses.

Law 7

Get others to do the Work for you, but Always Take the Credit

Use the wisdom, knowledge, and legwork of other people to further your own cause. Not only will such assistance save you valuable time and energy, it will give you a godlike aura of efficiency and speed. In the end your helpers will be forgotten and you will be remembered. Never do yourself what others can do for you.

Law 8

Make other People come to you – use Bait if Necessary

When you force the other person to act, you are the one in control. It is always better to make your opponent come to you, abandoning his own plans in the process. Lure him with fabulous gains – then attack. You hold the cards.

Law 9

Win through your Actions, Never through Argument

Any momentary triumph you think gained through argument is really a Pyrrhic victory: The resentment and ill will you stir up is stronger and lasts longer than any momentary change of opinion. It is much more powerful to get others to agree with you through your actions, without saying a word. Demonstrate, do not explicate.

Law 10

Infection: Avoid the Unhappy and Unlucky

You can die from someone else’s misery – emotional states are as infectious as disease. You may feel you are helping the drowning man but you are only precipitating your own disaster. The unfortunate sometimes draw misfortune on themselves; they will also draw it on you. Associate with the happy and fortunate instead.

Law 11

Learn to Keep People Dependent on You

To maintain your independence you must always be needed and wanted. The more you are relied on, the more freedom you have. Make people depend on you for their happiness and prosperity and you have nothing to fear. Never teach them enough so that they can do without you.

Law 12

Use Selective Honesty and Generosity to Disarm your Victim

One sincere and honest move will cover over dozens of dishonest ones. Open-hearted gestures of honesty and generosity bring down the guard of even the most suspicious people. Once your selective honesty opens a hole in their armor, you can deceive and manipulate them at will. A timely gift – a Trojan horse – will serve the same purpose.

Law 13

When Asking for Help, Appeal to People’s Self-Interest,

Never to their Mercy or Gratitude

If you need to turn to an ally for help, do not bother to remind him of your past assistance and good deeds. He will find a way to ignore you. Instead, uncover something in your request, or in your alliance with him, that will benefit him, and emphasize it out of all proportion. He will respond enthusiastically when he sees something to be gained for himself.

Law 14

Pose as a Friend, Work as a Spy

Knowing about your rival is critical. Use spies to gather valuable information that will keep you a step ahead. Better still: Play the spy yourself. In polite social encounters, learn to probe. Ask indirect questions to get people to reveal their weaknesses and intentions. There is no occasion that is not an opportunity for artful spying.

Law 15

Crush your Enemy Totally

All great leaders since Moses have known that a feared enemy must be crushed completely. (Sometimes they have learned this the hard way.) If one ember is left alight, no matter how dimly it smolders, a fire will eventually break out. More is lost through stopping halfway than through total annihilation: The enemy will recover, and will seek revenge. Crush him, not only in body but in spirit.

Law 16

Use Absence to Increase Respect and Honor

Too much circulation makes the price go down: The more you are seen and heard from, the more common you appear. If you are already established in a group, temporary withdrawal from it will make you more talked about, even more admired. You must learn when to leave. Create value through scarcity.

Law 17

Keep Others in Suspended Terror: Cultivate an Air of Unpredictability

Humans are creatures of habit with an insatiable need to see familiarity in other people’s actions. Your predictability gives them a sense of control. Turn the tables: Be deliberately unpredictable. Behavior that seems to have no consistency or purpose will keep them off-balance, and they will wear themselves out trying to explain your moves. Taken to an extreme, this strategy can intimidate and terrorize.

Law 18

Do Not Build Fortresses to Protect Yourself – Isolation is Dangerous

The world is dangerous and enemies are everywhere – everyone has to protect themselves. A fortress seems the safest. But isolation exposes you to more dangers than it protects you from – it cuts you off from valuable information, it makes you conspicuous and an easy target. Better to circulate among people find allies, mingle. You are shielded from your enemies by the crowd.

Law 19

Know Who You’re Dealing with – Do Not Offend the Wrong Person

There are many different kinds of people in the world, and you can never assume that everyone will react to your strategies in the same way. Deceive or outmaneuver some people and they will spend the rest of their lives seeking revenge. They are wolves in lambs’ clothing. Choose your victims and opponents carefully, then – never offend or deceive the wrong person.

Law 20

Do Not Commit to Anyone

It is the fool who always rushes to take sides. Do not commit to any side or cause but yourself. By maintaining your independence, you become the master of others – playing people against one another, making them pursue you.

Law 21

Play a Sucker to Catch a Sucker – Seem Dumber than your Mark

No one likes feeling stupider than the next persons. The trick, is to make your victims feel smart – and not just smart, but smarter than you are. Once convinced of this, they will never suspect that you may have ulterior motives.

Law 22

Use the Surrender Tactic: Transform Weakness into Power

When you are weaker, never fight for honor’s sake; choose surrender instead. Surrender gives you time to recover, time to torment and irritate your conqueror, time to wait for his power to wane. Do not give him the satisfaction of fighting and defeating you – surrender first. By turning the other check you infuriate and unsettle him. Make surrender a tool of power.

Law 23

Concentrate Your Forces

Conserve your forces and energies by keeping them concentrated at their strongest point. You gain more by finding a rich mine and mining it deeper, than by flitting from one shallow mine to another – intensity defeats extensity every time. When looking for sources of power to elevate you, find the one key patron, the fat cow who will give you milk for a long time to come.

Law 24

Play the Perfect Courtier

The perfect courtier thrives in a world where everything revolves around power and political dexterity. He has mastered the art of indirection; he flatters, yields to superiors, and asserts power over others in the mot oblique and graceful manner. Learn and apply the laws of courtiership and there will be no limit to how far you can rise in the court.

Law 25

Re-Create Yourself

Do not accept the roles that society foists on you. Re-create yourself by forging a new identity, one that commands attention and never bores the audience. Be the master of your own image rather than letting others define if for you. Incorporate dramatic devices into your public gestures and actions – your power will be enhanced and your character will seem larger than life.

Law 26

Keep Your Hands Clean

You must seem a paragon of civility and efficiency: Your hands are never soiled by mistakes and nasty deeds. Maintain such a spotless appearance by using others as scapegoats and cat’s-paws to disguise your involvement.

Law 27

Play on People’s Need to Believe to Create a Cultlike Following

People have an overwhelming desire to believe in something. Become the focal point of such desire by offering them a cause, a new faith to follow. Keep your words vague but full of promise; emphasize enthusiasm over rationality and clear thinking. Give your new disciples rituals to perform, ask them to make sacrifices on your behalf. In the absence of organized religion and grand causes, your new belief system will bring you untold power.

Law 28

Enter Action with Boldness

If you are unsure of a course of action, do not attempt it. Your doubts and hesitations will infect your execution. Timidity is dangerous: Better to enter with boldness. Any mistakes you commit through audacity are easily corrected with more audacity. Everyone admires the bold; no one honors the timid.

Law 29

Plan All the Way to the End

The ending is everything. Plan all the way to it, taking into account all the possible consequences, obstacles, and twists of fortune that might reverse your hard work and give the glory to others. By planning to the end you will not be overwhelmed by circumstances and you will know when to stop. Gently guide fortune and help determine the future by thinking far ahead.

Law 30

Make your Accomplishments Seem Effortless

Your actions must seem natural and executed with ease. All the toil and practice that go into them, and also all the clever tricks, must be concealed. When you act, act effortlessly, as if you could do much more. Avoid the temptation of revealing how hard you work – it only raises questions. Teach no one your tricks or they will be used against you.

Law 31

Control the Options: Get Others to Play with the Cards you Deal

The best deceptions are the ones that seem to give the other person a choice: Your victims feel they are in control, but are actually your puppets. Give people options that come out in your favor whichever one they choose. Force them to make choices between the lesser of two evils, both of which serve your purpose. Put them on the horns of a dilemma: They are gored wherever they turn.

Law 32

Play to People’s Fantasies

The truth is often avoided because it is ugly and unpleasant. Never appeal to truth and reality unless you are prepared for the anger that comes for disenchantment. Life is so harsh and distressing that people who can manufacture romance or conjure up fantasy are like oases in the desert: Everyone flocks to them. There is great power in tapping into the fantasies of the masses.

Law 33

Discover Each Man’s Thumbscrew

Everyone has a weakness, a gap in the castle wall. That weakness is usual y an insecurity, an uncontrollable emotion or need; it can also be a small secret pleasure. Either way, once found, it is a thumbscrew you can turn to your advantage.

Law 34

Be Royal in your Own Fashion: Act like a King to be treated like one

The way you carry yourself will often determine how you are treated; In the long run, appearing vulgar or common will make people disrespect you. For a king respects himself and inspires the same sentiment in others. By acting regally and confident of your powers, you make yourself seem destined to wear a crown.

Law 35

Master the Art of Timing

Never seem to be in a hurry – hurrying betrays a lack of control over yourself, and over time. Always seem patient, as if you know that everything will come to you eventually. Become a detective of the right moment; sniff out the spirit of the times, the trends that will carry you to power. Learn to stand back when the time is not yet ripe, and to strike fiercely when it has reached fruition.

Law 36

Disdain Things you cannot have: Ignoring them is the best Revenge

By acknowledging a petty problem you give it existence and credibility. The more attention you pay an enemy, the stronger you make him; and a small mistake is often made worse and more visible when you try to fix it. It is sometimes best to leave things alone. If there is something you want but cannot have, show contempt for it. The less interest you reveal, the more superior you seem.

Law 37

Create Compelling Spectacles

Striking imagery and grand symbolic gestures create the aura of power – everyone responds to them. Stage spectacles for those around you, then full of arresting visuals and radiant symbols that heighten your presence. Dazzled by appearances, no one will notice what you are really doing.

Law 38

Think as you like but Behave like others

If you make a show of going against the times, flaunting your unconventional ideas and unorthodox ways, people will think that you only want attention and that you look down upon them. They will find a way to punish you for making them feel inferior. It is far safer to blend in and nurture the common touch. Share your originality only with tolerant friends and those who are sure to appreciate your uniqueness.

Law 39

Stir up Waters to Catch Fish

Anger and emotion are strategically counterproductive. You must always stay calm and objective. But if you can make your enemies angry while staying calm yourself, you gain a decided advantage. Put your enemies off-balance: Find the chink in their vanity through which you can rattle them and you hold the strings.

Law 40

Despise the Free Lunch

What is offered for free is dangerous – it usually involves either a trick or a hidden obligation. What has worth is worth paying for. By paying your own way you stay clear of gratitude, guilt, and deceit. It is also often wise to pay the full price – there is no cutting corners with excellence. Be lavish with your money and keep it circulating, for generosity is a sign and a magnet for power.

Law 41

Avoid Stepping into a Great Man’s Shoes

What happens first always appears better and more original than what comes after. If you succeed a great man or have a famous parent, you will have to accomplish double their achievements to outshine them. Do not get lost in their shadow, or stuck in a past not of your own making: Establish your own name and identity by changing course. Slay the overbearing father, disparage his legacy, and gain power by shining in your own way.

Law 42

Strike the Shepherd and the Sheep will Scatter

Trouble can often be traced to a single strong individual – the stirrer, the arrogant underling, the poisoned of goodwill. If you allow such people room to operate, others will succumb to their influence. Do not wait for the troubles they cause to multiply, do not try to negotiate with them – they are irredeemable. Neutralize their influence by isolating or banishing them. Strike at the source of the trouble and the sheep will scatter.

Law 43

Work on the Hearts and Minds of Others

Coercion creates a reaction that will eventually work against you. You must seduce others into wanting to move in your direction. A person you have seduced becomes your loyal pawn. And the way to seduce others is to operate on their individual psychologies and weaknesses. Soften up the resistant by working on their emotions, playing on what they hold dear and what they fear. Ignore the hearts and minds of others and they will grow to hate you.

Law 44

Disarm and Infuriate with the Mirror Effect

The mirror reflects reality, but it is also the perfect tool for deception: When you mirror your enemies, doing exactly as they do, they cannot figure out your strategy. The Mirror Effect mocks and humiliates them, making them overreact. By holding up a mirror to their psyches, you seduce them with the illusion that you share their values; by holding up a mirror to their actions, you teach them a lesson. Few can resist the power of Mirror Effect.

Law 45

Preach the Need for Change, but Never Reform too much at Once

Everyone understands the need for change in the abstract, but on the day-to-day level people are creatures of habit. Too much innovation is traumatic, and will lead to revolt. If you are new to a position of power, or an outsider trying to build a power base, make a show of respecting the old way of doing things. If change is necessary, make it feel like a gentle improvement on the past.

Law 46

Never appear too Perfect

Appearing better than others is always dangerous, but most dangerous of all is to appear to have no faults or weaknesses. Envy creates silent enemies. It is smart to occasionally display defects, and admit to harmless vices, in order to deflect envy and appear more human and approachable. Only gods and the dead can seem perfect with impunity.

Law 47

Do not go Past the Mark you Aimed for; In Victory, Learn when to Stop

The moment of victory is often the moment of greatest peril. In the heat of victory, arrogance and overconfidence can push you past the goal you had aimed for, and by going too far, you make more enemies than you defeat. Do not allow success to go to your head. There is no substitute for strategy and careful planning. Set a goal, and when you reach it, stop.

Law 48

Assume Formlessness

By taking a shape, by having a visible plan, you open yourself to attack. Instead of taking a form for your enemy to grasp, keep yourself adaptable and on the move. Accept the fact that nothing is certain and no law is fixed. The best way to protect yourself is to be as fluid and formless as water; never bet on stability or lasting order. Everything changes.

A Sunday Drive W A Friend & Colleague

2007-03-12T19:27:00.000-06:00

We've had record-breaking temps here in the Reno/Tahoe area the last few days and Sunday was one of those spectacular Washoe Valley riding days, where the temperature was perfect for cruising, the air was clear and crisp, the mountains looked magnificent buried under their winter coat of snow, and the roads were dry, twisty and begging to be rolled over.

So we did.

(There's nothing quite like the eastern edge of the Sierra Nevada Mountains......rough, stark, powerful and absolutely magnificent in their beauty.....)

(Ah yes, the beemer, the mountains, the blue skies.....all that's missing is my beautiful lady.....)

(Mike takes time out from a busy jam to take in the view - but not long enough to remove his skid lid!)

72 Yesterday And Riding Season Is Almost Upon Us Here.....

2007-03-07T07:11:00.000-06:00

It has been quite some time since I posted here; partly because i've been busy as hell in a new job out here in the mountains of Nevada/California and partly because i just haven't been able to do much riding due to the snow and cold weather we endure here at 4200 feet every winter.

BUT.....yesterday was in the low 70s and i have been riding the scoot to work for the past couple of days now, so it is about time to fire up the pages of this ol blog once again and get busy!

Fear not, faithful readers - i shall be reporting in periodically with great stories and pics of my travels here in the West. I've been dying to ride my beemer through these mountains for longer than i care to remember and I'll take every opportunity to do just that, so be sure to stop in and check out the site on a regular basis.

Peace for now - see ya on the backroads!

One of the Great Things About Reno.....

2006-12-30T08:05:00.000-06:00

is the amazing quality of entertainment and the type of venue one gets to witness it in. It's rare indeed to be able to get as up close and personal to big stars, but the showrooms of Reno's top hotels make this very possible indeed.
Case in point: the Johnnie Lang concert was held in Spark's Nugget Casino's Celebrity Showroom, a dinky lil room with seating capacity around 300, tops. Sure, the price for seating is higher but when you are able to get this close to your favorite performer, who cares? Add to this an amazing intimacy and familiarity bred from the cozy confines of the "arena" and I suspect that the stars feel a closeness and connection to the audience that simply cannot occur in larger venues.
On the downside, obnoxious idiots, like the drunk screamer-skank next to us, are magnified and disrupt the event more so than at larger events (our "table drunk" even screamed "hello" to an incoming cellphone call that came during a transitional hard rock to mellow instrumental period, so her shout of hello was heard throughout the showroom!)
Drunk skank whores notwithstanding, the concert was by far one of the best we've seen in quite some time, and I might even be so bold as to state that it was up there with some of the best concerts i've seen in my lifeteime - yes, it was that good.
Check it out for yourself.....

WOW.

AN OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE INDEED!!!

Grandma Spends Time With Her "Older" Grandsons

2006-12-30T07:30:00.000-06:00

Whoda ever thunkit that Dorth and I would eventually become grandparents? Sure, it's the natural progression in one's life but until the grandchild hits you like a freight train with his/her actual presence, the whole grandparent thannngg is nothing more than a fuzzy pseudoreality.

But once those lil buggers are placed into your arms, you suddenly realize that being a grandparent is one of life's greatest joys and few other things related to family life can hold a candle to it.....

A Visit From My Love Smashes My Ability To Stay....

2006-12-28T08:12:00.000-06:00

The last time I posted in this blog I was still formulating opinions about my return to Reno from Nashville and I mentioned then that I had discovered some unsettling and seriously disheartening truths about the area I always felt was as close to "paradise" as one could come.

Spending two months alone here was sad enough, but as soon as my loving woman stepped out of the airport i knew....

I knew I had made a mistake......

A HUGE mistake.....

There is no doubt that the Reno/Tahoe area is one of the most beautiful places on earth. I've know this for nigh on 30 years now, but upon returning here without Dorothy left me emptier than I have ever been at any time in my life.

Strangely, the mountains were barren, silent and lifeless - and they have been ever since I got here.

Try as I might, I simply could not get excited about traveling through them on my bike, in my car or on foot. Something deep was missing and that something was Dorothy.

Older and wiser people than I have often said that once gone, you can never return home because either you or your home changes in ways that are irrevocable.

This time it was I who experienced the changes, and while I can unequivocally state that Nashville is not the place I'd like to call home for very long, I know now I continued to make unfair comparisons to my old home and lifestyle that simply weren't justified given the events that transpired before we left for Nashville.

Age brings wisdom but it brings something else as well; a lower risk threshold. I suppose the two would go hand in hand, but in any event, the fact is that at 47/51 respectively, we're too old to try and start from scratch again.

Retirement will be upon us before we know it. That's goddam scary because I vividly recall what it was like for my mother to try and make it on less than a thousand dollars a month after she became disabled.

I am reasonable certain that I will die before Dorothy. I say this because my own family's history related to life expectancy is short, to say the least. To say the most, it is peppered with the very worst of the big killers; cancer, diabetes, heart disease.

Added to these "pre-existing" conditions is the toll I've inflicted upon my own body that comes from a lifetime of hard partying. I'll spare you the details here and I will say that I was fortunate enough to not have contracted AIDS during those years of stupidity, but just about everything else found its way to my bloodstream.

So it is critically important that I make certain Dorth has a retirement nest egg that will keep her content as she waits to travel the universe with me.

Another detrimental aspect of my past is that I fucked off my prime wage earning period and am now scrambling to find ways to earn the kind of money one needs to both live comfortably and retire safely. There's no doubt about it, Dorth is the top wage earner in this family and while I'm not so vain or ignorant as to think that position should belong to me, I would enjoy comparable wages. Unfortunately for me, I've never been very good at interacting with others in a work environment, nor do I put up with abuse and bullshit from bosses. These two factors have done more to send me packing from job to job than just about anything else, and as I push 50, I suspect prospective employers are beginning to recognize this and pass me over for those more willing to tow the company line and subordinate themselves to authority. God, just the sound of that subservience sounds ugly and pathetic....

But I digress.

My place isn't here in the mountains because Dorothy isn't here to bring them to life with me.

My place is beside my lady, no matter where that place may be....

A helluva lesson to learn but thank god I learned it before I lost her.....

Returning To Paradise Is Much More Difficult To Do Than I Had Imagined....

2006-11-22T07:38:00.000-06:00

I have lived in this area for the past 25 years (and the last six have allowed me to share my love and joy of the area with the greatest woman in the world) and I have traveled - by motorcycle, car and thumb - every state in the union except Alaska (a must-do before my riding career ends) and Hawaii (not enough road miles to make it a priority but something i'd like to do just the same).

I've seen some beautiful country, lemme tell you, but if i had my druthers, i'druther be right here in the Reno/Tahoe area for the remainder of my life.

One thing i will say though, and this was discovered only by leaving and returning to the area; there's something to be said for Southern hospitality.

The locals here are in Reno are....meaner, more surly than i recall. They seem to have a perpetual bad mood going on and they aren't very friendly most of the time.

Oh sure, there's a few freindlies in the area, but the comparison would be the inverse of the ratio between friendlies and crabbies in the Nashville area. Where i used to run into about a 6:1 ratio of friendlies to assholes, it's about exactly the opposite here....

That's too bad, too, since it's apparent to me that these people have lost touch with why they're here in the first place.

Of course, there are plenty of reasons one might be crabby here; low wages and high prices top the list, but as someone once told me, many of us, myself included, would wash dishes at the local casinos just to live here. Trust me when i tell you that employers in the area recognize this fact too, and they often capitalize upon it.

That's not to say that good jobs aren't here - they are but there's some pretty fierce competition for them and they aren't exactly plentiful.

Anyway, i've discovered that living up on the mountain for the past 5 years

before heading to Nashville really colored my perceptions incorrectly. Since i've been "down in the valley" after returning from Nashville, i've discovered a number of similar woes that i so often lamented about Nashville. Trash, crime and noise are all either worse since the last time I was here or i was too isolated before to really notice.

Even the traffic, while nowhere near the scale of bad Nashville's traffic commands, still seems far worse than what i remembered.

But even so, i'm still far more happy with my environment today than i was while living in Nashville. At least here i can drive to places in less than 20 minutes where seeing anyone or anything man-made is rare indeed. The air is clean, the ground is dry, the sweat is gone and the humidity is 0.

But let me make something very clear. I'm certainly more pleased with my living conditions than i was in Nashville, but until Dorothy returns home I will be as spiritually and emotionally empty as a bota bag at a wino convention. She was what made my life here complete and there is such a huge hole in my life here without her....

This provides me with tremendous dedication and ambition to succeed because i know that if i'm successful she'll lose most of her fear about returning and finding work again in the area. And who can blame a person for wanting security in their life? I want it too, for both of us, and am doing all i can to make sure we get it.

In the meantime, while the grass might not be quite as green as I remembered, it's still far greener than anything i encountered anywhere in the South.....

But don't just believe me, see for yourself.....

Survived The NUTS On The Dragon BUT,,,,,

2006-10-08T04:57:00.000-06:00

We rode "the Dragon" last weekend and well, although it's twisty as hell, it's really not much more exciting than any other curvy road I've been on.

Basically, as for the Dragon and the "Tail of the Dragon, I say "BFD."

Now don't get me wrong here - it's a real curvy road, indeed and pushing that big Beemer through those curves, with a severely cupped front tire, to boot, was more work than fun, to be sure.
But the group riding was really a blast and we all had a great time on our trip over the Dragon. What makes this road different from the rest is that there is a The real danger - not so much the curves or the detritus on the sides of the road - but the krazee fools who run through there at warp speed on sportbikes and high performance (and some pretty "low performance" as well!) autos.
Yesterday alone there were three accidents that we know of, as well as least one slide-out (here's Calen's Dragon bite)

and God only knows how many other idiots were somehow trying to kill themselves on that road yesterday.
Perhaps the finest part of the ride was the store at Deal's Gap itself, which on this Saturday afternoon resembled a motorcycle rally more than a gas and convenience store in the middle of nowhere. People from around the East were congregated there and it was quite fun to roam the parking lot, checking out the bikes, the riders, the babes and the occasional birdbrains!
Like most fun things, this whole "Deal" attracts the profiteers and along the route people sitting in lawn chairs shoot pics with telephoto lenses and offer them for sale at their roadside "headquarters" or online (see killboy, for example). I guess it's a good way to get a pic of yourself "in action" but frankly, the road itself leaves much to be desired in the way of decent scenery, so getting a pic here is like stationing someone on a tree lined road at "anywhere" USA and snapping you as you go on by. That you're crouched into a rocket lean with sparks flying off your knee puck is pretty nifty, until you realize that top speeds around most of those corners isn't what one would consider "energy speed" by any stretch of the imagination. Now many folks will disagree and most will try to argue that it isn't about the scenery per se, but instead it's about the "technical" aspects of the road.
Phooey.
Most of us ride to enjoy the thrill of rolling while checking out the things that pass us by as we roll along. Whether it's done at 30 or 130 is really immaterial when one get's right down to it and the finest rides are the ones that combine technical challenges with stupendous scenery. Sorry to say, but given the amount of "motorsickle sightseeing" I've done over my lifetime, I've got to tell you that the Dragon fails miserably in the latter.
All in all, my verdict on the Dragon is this: it's a fun road in perhaps one of the most scenic portions of the Tennessee/North Carolina border area and it certainly deserves a ride if you're in the area. But it ain't nuthin to write home about the way I've seen it immortalized online, and the number of morons who think they're technically adept because they've been lucky enough not to kill themselves on the road ruin it for the rest of us who want merely to enjoy a nice country road on a day's drive.
It's too bad, really, but what can you do? It's an area that's accessible to most of the eastern seaboard and lets face it, the megalopolis is filled with people; that's what makes it a megalopolis, and just about every one of those fine folks can reach the Dragon in a day's time or less.
I'm headed out of Maryville TN shortly and should be home by noon. I'll work on getting the dragon pics up and then post the Smoky Mountains cruise shortly thereafter.

UPDATE: 10/10
Sorry for the delay in posting this but real life miseries took precedence, but I am now able to get some pics of our adventure up for the whole world to see!

MANY THANKS to Ray, Brady, Calen and Blake for making the trip absolutely spectacular!!!!

(The boys ready themselves for takeoff from our favorite starting point and refueling station)

("Hittin it" down I -40 on the way to 321)

(Chief navigator and "hundred dollar" racer Ray tries to keep us from getting lost)

(With directions clearly defined, we head off north on 321, which was actually south....Hey - what can I tell ya, this is Tennessee for sh*t sakes!)

(Gassed up and ready to finish the ride into Maryville, where we got us a nice suite to hang in!)

(YEAH BABY - day two and today, we duel with Mr, Draaaahgooooonnneeee!!! Well, after we get up and moving, of course, eh heheh zzzzzzzzzz)

(The proverbial "calm before the storm......")

(Why, you ask, are these two bikes coming in behind the rest of us? Well, it seems Blake got a little anxious at the ol fart kinda riding we were doing as we headed down highway 129 towards the actual "Dragon" area and zoomed on ahead of us. Unfortunately for the Blakester, he doesn't pay much attention to road signs and as such, missed his turnoff. Ray, being chief babysitter, had to turn around and chase our resident speed demon down and get him properly "oriented.")

(awwwritey then - back on the real road again and ready to do some curve cowboyin real quicklike)

BEWAR! Theyr Be Dragonz Hyre!

(After some 300+ curves in less than 11 miles, we were ready for a little break and some refreshments.....)

(Deal's Gap was great fun but it soon became time to hit the road once again. I rode on ahead of the boys to snap some flicks....)

Heading to "The Dragon" Today....

2006-10-06T11:31:00.000-06:00

10/6 @ 809P
Writing from AmeriSuites in a litte turd of a town called Maryville, which is about 152 miles from the homestead in Nastyville. Restaruant service here sucks about as bad as it can, but it's Ray's birthday today so we're having a blast anyway!
There's 5 of us, the Beemer, an ST1300 Honda, the HD EG, a Kaway Ninja 600 and Blake's Suzook.
The ride over was beautiful and uneventful; putted about 75-80 the entire way. Will be heading down to the Dragon tomorrow morning and will report on the road at that time.
It won't be long however, and I'll be once again able to make comparisons to those vaunted Sierra Nevada roads I have bragged so much about previously, as by the end of the month I will be back at my home town and can harldy wait to get there!
Everyone here is gone so I'm going to wander over to DQ and get me a little evening snack, then hit the sheets for a day of racing and curve cowboying tomorrow!
I've got some pics of today but will probably not post them until the morning, so until then, ride safe, ride far, ride forever!

Awwwrite, Kiddies - I told you all some months ago that I would be checking out The Dragon myself to compare it to some of my favorite roads in my home area (Reno/Tahoe) and that day has arrived.

I'm now waiting on my three riding compadres and as soon as they bring their lazy arses here, we'll be off like a herd of turtles to "DO DA DRAGON!"

Details and pics coming sometime early next week....
Cya then.

300+ IF you can hang on!

2006-10-01T05:42:00.000-06:00

WhhhooooEEEEE!!! take a gander at this here badtodabone motoahsikle!!!!

Tomahawk - video powered by Metacafe

Reno Street Vibrations 2006 Final Day

2006-09-30T05:36:00.000-06:00

Once again I've been busy trying to make a living and as such, I ain't had a lot of time to spend sitting in front of a keyboard, mashing little squares to bring you the finest in motahsickle entertainment.
Some news before I go further; we sold our pontoon boat recently and while we're bummed to beat hell, we needed to dump that puppy in order to get something a little better and more suited to our boating lifestyle, so when we have something new to show you, we'll certainly post it here. Meanwhile, we're narrowing the focus of T&T to Scoots - but this is only temporary.

I traveled the past weekend to visit family, meet me new grandson and check out a potential job offer in my home city of Reno NV.

(Meet Jordan Steven)

WORLD'S MOST HANDSOMEST GRANDSON EVER!!!

The wife and I desperately miss home and our kids and would like to return just as soon as we can but money and jobs are always more important at our old-fart age than just about anything else. So, until we can both land lucrative positions in the area, we're kind of stuck where we're at and we'll have to make the best of what we we've got.

Ahhh, but enough of this personal crapola....

Check out pics of the final day of Reno's 2006 Street Vibrations

Celebration of Motorcycling!!!

(Because I was in a rental car for the visit, I was relegated to parking far far away from the stars of the show, but my walk to the festivities was along the Truckee River in downtown Reno, so you'll hear no complaining from me, especially after enduring the toxic waste dumps they try to pass off in Tennessee as "scenic rivers.")

(Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh....
Now THAT'S what I'm talkin bout!)

(Yeah baby - the biggest lil city in the world!!!)

(Even the sidestreets were happenin - and this was the very last day of a weeklong event! You can imagine what the event must have been like at its height!)

(Sam's wish-scoot! Pssst - if ya look close, you can even see her hubby's store, Still Smokin, in the background!!!)

(Talk about your dream jobs! A Beemer motorsickle copper in the Reno / Tahoe region? What else could a guy want? And wuddya look at that blue damned sky?!?)

Well, I could post a few hundred more pics just like these here, but I think you get the "picture" and I'll leave the rest of the event to your imagination. Hell, with the smattering of flicks here, that shouldn't be too hard to pull off, now should it?
Peace, and ride hard but always ride safe!!!

Whadahell Was He Thinking?

2006-09-20T04:56:00.000-06:00

Well howdy all! I haven't been too active on the ol T&T as of late because, well, I've been busy trying to get my butt into a different location and employment position and that has taken a helluva lotta my time. However, as I was catching up on the morning news, I came across this here little gem and thought it deserved to be shared, since I'm such a stickler for motorcycle safety and driver education.

After covering close to a million miles on two wheels and spending about 15 years as a paramedic, I think I can call myself an authority figure on riding safely, too, and as such, I just shake my head in disgust when I read about stupidity like this....And before anyone thinks I'm a little too harsh on this now dead ol timer, let me just tell you that I've had to deal with the members of families who've undergone similar tragedies and I can assure you, they often scream their anguish at the stupidity of thei r now deceased loved one...

Man dies after driving motorcycle off lot without license

McCracken County, KY - Police say a 61-year-old man killed this weekend in a motorcycle crash just bought the bike.

Louis Tynes was on his way home from Sills Harley Davidson when he lost control and crashed.

Tynes drove it off the lot with proof of insurance and copy of his motor vehicles license. Investigators said those documents did not allow him to operate the bike.

"The first thing I've seen is a woman running across the yard," said 86-year-old Merle Shemwell.

He's lived on the corner of KY 450, better known as Oaks Road, and Shemwell Lane for more than 40 years. Through out the time Shemwell's witnessed bundles of accidents and tire tracks ruin his front yard.

"There was a big tree out there and the last on slammed into the tree and killed the driver," he added.

Therefore, when he noticed the commotion on Saturday afternoon he knew something was up, peaked out the front door, and called 911, "about 15 minutes the road was full of stuff and blocked."

Investigators determined Tynes lost control of his new black Harley on the curve, hit a bump and was ejected off the bike.

"When the bike hit the ground it dug a hole in the yard," Shemwell mentioned.

He adds Tynes was not wearing a helmet and landed about 6 to 8 feet in front of the motorcycle.

In the wake of this horrific accident the question is, how could Tynes be allowed to drive a bike off the lot without a motorcycle license?

The answers easy, there are no laws against it.

Compare it to buying a new car. In Kentucky you have to show proof of insurance, and it's assumed you've taken the time to learn how to operate a motorcycle and meet all the state requirements.

Similar to Missouri, where there's not a license required to buy a bike, but if you're stopped on the way home you'll have to show some sort of identification (permit of license to operate a motorcycle).

In the end, it's up to the rider to make the call, but before anyone else takes the curve near Merle Shemwell's home to fast he hopes they read the signs and slow down.

Sillis Harley Davidson in Paducah does offer lessons in riding a motorcycle every two weeks for a fee.

Louis Tyne's funeral will be this Thursday at 11 a.m. at Brown Funeral Home in Mayfield.

First-Come-First-Served For These Exclusive HD Customs

2006-09-04T12:55:00.000-06:00

Holy cow--check out the new badboys over at Milwaukee's finest! These scoots are in addition to the regular line of HDs for '07' and I'll bet folks stumble all over themselves to get their money down before these bikes are gone for good!

Courtesy of AMA news at: http://www.amadirectlink.com/news/2006/Springer/

FXSTSSE translation: 110-cubic-inch power, Springer style, CVO exclusivity

By Richard Ried
Photos by Kevin Wing

FXDSE. FXSTSSE. FLHTCUSE2. FLHRSE3.

Alphabet soup to some, but to those in the know, these groups of letters represent four of Harley-Davidson’s most exclusive models for 2007. The key? The last two letters, SE, which stand for Screamin’ Eagle, the Motor Company’s performance division. They denote that each is a limited-edition machine hand-built by Harley’s own Custom Vehicle Operations.

Whether it’s the long-distance comfort of the Ultra Classic, the versatility of the Road King, the pro street styling of the Dyna or the retro-cool of the Softail Spinger, there’s something in the CVO lineup for everyone who wants to stand out from the crowd.

Well, not quite everyone. It’s first-come-first-served for these exclusive customs. The CVO program will produce a total of 12,500 bikes for 2007, making them considerably rarer than any of Harley’s standard models. And considerably more expensive: Prices for the CVOs range from $24,995 for the Springer and Dyna, up to $33,495 for the Ultra Classic.

The CVO program dates to 1999, when Harley introduced its first factory custom, the FXR2. Just 900 were produced. A year later, the CVO program unveiled its first performance model, the Screamin’ Eagle Road Glide, a customized touring machine with the added kick of a 1,550cc version of the Twin Cam engine. Since then, all CVO models have featured significant performance upgrades over their stock counterparts.

And for 2007, Harley has upped the ante in CVO performance even further by taking its all-new 96-cubic-inch, air-cooled V-twin, modifying the cases, boring it out to a full 110 cubic inches, and topping it off with new high-compression cylinder heads featuring larger intake valves.

These mods translate into a serious increase in torque, especially at lower rpms. The two Screamin’ Eagle touring models, the Road King and the Ultra Classic, pump out an impressive 115 foot-pounds at just 3,000 rpm, a healthy 13 percent increase over the hot-rodded 103-cubic-inch Twin Cam mill that powered the ’06 CVOs.

While the new CVOs have plenty of go, they’ve also go lots of show, thanks to custom hand-painted graphics (unavailable to owners of standard models, even through Harley’s Color Shop), color-matched frames, unique wheels, and, of course, chrome. Lots of chrome.

Chrome brake levers, chrome shift levers, chrome engine covers, chrome voltage regulators, chrome master cylinders, chrome belt guards, chrome switch housings, chrome wheel spacers, chrome valve caps, chrome head bolt covers—well, you get the picture.

Let’s summarize: Big motor. Head-turning graphics. Enough chrome to blind pilots of low-flying aircraft on sunny days. Did I want to ride one? You bet!

Fortunately, I recently had the chance to spend some quality time with a Screamin’ Eagle Softail Springer in the rolling California countryside just north of San Luis Obispo.

The Springer is a good-looking machine which gets its name from the retro leading-link exposed-spring-and-shock front suspension that replaces a conventional fork. It immediately sets the bike apart and gives the Springer’s front end the visual weight it needs to balance the bike’s impressively wide 200/55R-17 rear tire.

Other styling touches include 21-inch front and 17-inch rear 10-spoke Revolver wheels, a chrome mini tach mounted to the ‘bars just behind the chrome headlamp nacelle, and grips, pegs and pedals from Harley's new Centerline accessory collection.

One of the neatest bits on the Springer is the trick fuel gauge on the left side of the five-gallon Fat Bob tanks that looks like a solid metal cap—until the motor’s fired up. Then a row of LEDs and a gas pump icon magically appear through the reflective chrome surface of the gauge, showing how much gas remains. Very trick indeed.

As I throw a leg over the big twin, it feels comfortable and balanced. The forward controls are located at just the right point—far enough forward to let me stretch out my legs, but not so far that I struggle with the brake and shift levers, while the flat, wide 1.25-inch-diameter handlebar puts the grips right where I need them.

And, as slice my way down through the brown hills on Adelaida Road just west of Paso Robles, I find the Springer’s got the handling to match those comfortable ergos. While the lowered rear suspension can run out of travel on rough pavement, you’ll have to work hard to touch any hard parts in a corner, thanks to those high-mounted shotgun pipes. Throw in the natural anti-dive tendencies of the springer fork and you’ve got a custom that’s fun to ride, even when things get twisty.

All too quickly I leave the hills behind and re-enter the world of stoplights, SUVs and minimarts. But even here, the big custom provides ample entertainment. The deeply dished leather seat holds me firmly in place as I tap into that seemingly endless supply of CVO-supplied torque, the big mill propelling me from light to light and giving traffic a great view of the smoked LED taillight and the oh-so-wide rear tire as I neatly pull away.

A quick jaunt down Highway 1 demonstrates that, while not a touring machine, the Springer is also perfectly capable of relaxed freeway travel. The top cog in the six-speed gearbox acts as an overdrive, dropping the revs to a sedate 2,300 or so at speeds that come just shy of what will earn you a ticket in most states. That deep seat and those flat bars help keep wind blast (and the accompanying fatigue) to a minimum.

Between the near-perfect ergonomics, solid handling and that retro-cool front end that really works, the Springer is a bike that is as much fun to ride as it is to look at. And the fact that there will only be 2,500 of these world-wide makes it even better. Anyone want to loan me $24,995?
(end)

I'm not a huge fan of HD since I think that, for the money, a wise purchaser can do much, much better. With that said however, I must admit, Harley continually ups the ante with their styling and engineering improvements. Unfortunately, every time they do, they up the prices as well. We're talking some serious cash for one of these bikes, kiddies, and I'm just not sure that, originality and rareness notwithstanding, they're truly worth anywhere near their asking price.

But you can bet your ass there'll be no shortage of folk plunking down sticker price - and probably quite more - if they're hungry enough to own one.

Ya gotta hand it to HD; they know their customers and are probably the finest marketers of product the world has ever seen.

Ride on wit yer bad seff.....

Old-School Styling, Cutting-Edge Technology

2006-09-04T12:46:00.000-06:00

Another piece outta AMA news brings us a bike I'd run, not walk, to purchase, and you can bet this piece of motorcycling magnificence would take precedence over just about any HD you could put in front of me, so long as we were talkng about riding it and not selling it for a profit down the road.

This is, by far, the finest looking R-Beemer I've ever laid my glassy red eyes upon and I wanted one - badly - the very second I saw a pic of it. I'm already a huge fan of BMW's technology as it relates to the handling & ergos of their bikes, but only the most die-hard fan would disagree that the majority of Beemer's have been just a skosh or two on the ugly side. Only recently has Beemer begun producing machines that look as beautiful as they ride, and this new 1200R is not only sporty, it's.....naked , mean and naaasstttyyyyy - in a beautiful sort of way - too!

Oh yeah - I gotta get one of these. I might even consider getting mama to ride her own if it meant I could put one of these in the garage....

Courtest AMA: http://www.amadirectlink.com/news/2006/R1200R/

BMW R1200R: Old-school styling, cutting-edge technology

By Bill Wood

BMW’s new R1200R is what you’d call an odd mix.

On the one hand, the basic layout of the machine is as traditional as it gets—standard styling, upright seating, no bodywork, twin cylinders. Superficially at least, this could be a ’70s-era slash-5, especially in the available black paint with white pinstriping.

But underneath all that is a level of technology that is, in some respects, beyond anything else you can buy. No, it doesn’t come with a short-stroke engine that revs to 16 grand. But you do get BMW’s unique Telelever front suspension and single-sided Paralever rear swingarm, plus available options like electronic suspension adjustment and BMW’s third-generation ABS, along with two new innovations: traction control and a tire-pressure monitoring system.

In other words, it’s a high-tech machine with an old-school soul. And as I found out over three days on the motorcycle, the combination is pretty close to irresistible.

BMW invited journalists to sample the new R in its native habitat—the back roads and autobahns of Germany—where it proved both competent and adaptable.

On the autobahn, the bike, with its 1,170cc, 109 (claimed) horsepower engine (up from 85 on the predecessor R1150R), easily kept up with traffic in a country where hanging in the passing lane can require triple digits in mph, and occasional sprints to the double ton on the kph scale. The only limiting factor is the lack of wind protection, which leaves you flapping in the breeze when the going gets hypersonic.

At a more normal American pace on two-lanes through the Alps, the new mo’ delivered great drive out of corners at anything more than 4,000 rpm. And there’s a grin-producing horsepower hit at 5,500 that is wonderfully out of character with previous Beemer twins.

When it comes time to stop, BMW’s new, third-generation ABS is better in every respect. The semi-integrated system gives you a mix of front and rear brakes when you squeeze the hand lever, but only the rear brake when you push down with your right foot. There’s no longer any power-assist, which made the previous generation feel pretty abrupt, and new, analog control valves reduce the pulsing effect.

The result is a brake that feels strong, solid and entirely normal, yet still keeps the wheels from locking up if you get overaggressive on slick surfaces.

But the best part of the new R is its handling, which got a thorough test on Alpine back roads. The wide bars make for a light steering touch when you enter a corner. And after that, the magic of the Telelever takes over.

Because it separates steering forces from the suspension system, BMW’s innovative front end allows you to do all the wrong things mid-corner without paying a penalty. Go ahead, slow down, speed up, downshift, hit the brakes—none of that affects the bike’s line.

And best of all, when you spot the corner exit, you can roll on the throttle right to the limit of rear-wheel traction without driving wide in the corner. The front wheel just sticks to the line you set.

Speaking of traction, we didn’t get to try BMW’s new Automatic Stability Control that cuts engine power when it senses the rear wheel spinning faster than the front. The system is still in development and won’t be available when the first R1200Rs arrive at the end of the year. (Read about it here.)

A quick demonstration by test riders at BMW’s Berlin plant purported to show the benefits of the traction-control system, which has become a mainstay in road racing. But we’ll have to wait for a full test to see how it works in the real world.

Even without it, though, BMW’s latest R adds up to a great combination: the adaptability of an old-style standard with the innovation of plenty of 21st-century technology. (end)

Mammoth Cave Trip 9/2/06

2006-09-03T07:30:00.000-06:00

I know I've said this in just about every post over the past couple of months, but.....if you all hadn't noticed, it's been about the hottest, sweatiest summer I've ever experienced in my 40-odd years on this here planet. As a result, a lot of time has been spent indoors, off the bike and boat, and outta the wicked heat and humidity of the South.

Thankfully tho, this Labor Day has seen a dramatic temperature opposite, with hi's in the low 70s - which makes for some wonderful motahsicklin, indeed - at least for those of us who enjoy cooler temps, anyway!

Added to this great kroozin weather is the addition of a new rider to our lil ol family scooter group, Blake and his 500 Suzook, with co-pilot Erika bringing up the bent over rear! This was their inaugural "long-trip" on his new bike (even tho it was only about 108 miles from Nashville to the caves) and they made it unscathed, albeit a bit sore from all the hunching. And credit is given where credit is due - Blake behaved himself quite well on his new crotch rocket when the call of youth was screaming at him to do otherwise! I'm not sure I'd have been able to show such reserve at that tender age; I think I'da done at least a hundred wheelies, and that would have been in the parking lot before we even got underway!

Anyhoo, the caves were absolutely bitchin and because we made our reservations online, we were able to at least get a guded tour-the Frozen Niagra-which, while not the finest of the tours offered by the Park Service, sufficed quite well for our day trip, especially given that every single guided tour was sold out by the time we arrived yesterday at noon.

We will most definitely be returning to this wonderland in the near future, but next time we'll book a couple of tours in advance that are more fitting for the kind of exploration we'd like to do in the caves.
The Violet City Lantern Tour is probably at the top of our list, followed closely by the 4 and a half hour Grand Avenue Tour.

Here's hoping the rest of you have as good a time on your holiday weekend as we have had already on ours!

HAPPY LABOR DAY EVERYBODY!!!

Breakfast of champions and scooter trash worldwide, there's nothing quite like a six-pak of White Castle cheeseburgers to keep you feeling....bloated....... mile after mile!

Ray models for gas station patrons.

Nez & Ray, gassed up on mystery-meat and processed plastic cheese, prepare for liftoff. Shortly after that, they will start their bikes.

Now who doesn't love a good ol-timey erecktor set bridge, eh?

Curves, any curves, are beautiful...

Mr. peanut bladder forces a stop mere inches from our final destination.

the "gang" at a stoplight...

We have arrived!

Need I say anything more about this pic?

Ray, looking dapper.

Waiting for da bus....

Holy sinkholes, batman-look at the size of this depression!

Entrance to the abyss can be yours for the measly sum of $12 per person!

Goin down, down down....We're goin down......

Goin up up up.....we're goin up.....

Bent but not broken.

Posing in the bowels of mother earth!

Dorth checks out a stallywag!

Somewhere in the "Drapery Room"

there be dragonz here....and trolls and things that go bump in the nyte....

Satan's weewee?

Whew-caving is hard work, especially in a group of hundreds!

Troll headquarters....

Blake gets us busted climbing on protected govmint property....

Ranger Jerry poses with scooter trash as the tour comes to an end...

Yes indeed--we'll be heading back - and soon - that you can count on. Next batch of pics ought to be fanfreakintastic!

Lazy But Not Forgotten-Check Out Tim On This Vid!

2006-08-25T05:19:00.000-06:00

Well howdy all! It's been a while since I cranked up the ol keyboard and pounded out a message here, but that's primarily because, well, because it's been too damned hot and sweaty to do anything outdoors and .... I'm just lazy at times, dontchakno! hehe
But don't fret-I haven't forgotten about this fantabulous, unbelievably awesome site and as the weather--and the godawful humidity--begin to drop a bit, I'll be posting more stuff at T&T.

For now however, go check out Tim-he's gotten his 4 seconds of fame on the RacerX Film "Broome Tioga Saturday Practice."
Ya gotta watch carefully right at the beginning-he comes up right after the two dudes pushing the two yellow scoots outta the tent. He's sitting down alongside the crew truck, stapling a seat.
Way to go Tim!!!!
We'll be selling autographs for a buck a piece as soon as he comes home to see his mother!

I May Love Muh Beemer But I'd Sure Dig A "Victory" In My Battle For A 2nd Bike!

2006-08-13T05:37:00.000-06:00

I've been a quiet fan of the Victory Motorcyle line since they started trickling them outta their factory back in 1998. Victory's parent, Polaris, has been in the toyz game for nigh on fitty years and over the past five decades, their accomplishments have been impressive, to say the least (2005 saw their 2 millionth ATV roll off the production line, their jetskis....errr, "Personal Watercraft" are badtodabone, their partnership with KTM has produced some amazing enduro motorcycles and and they've been crankin out snowmobiles since the earth cooled).

I can still recall the snickers and snide comments by riders of the "Big Three" quadrunners when Polaris broke into the ATV market back in 1985 but like everything else Polaris had produced, the machines quickly became accepted and admired, not to mention fun as hell to putt around on!

When the Victory motorcycle was introduced back in 98, I'm not sure what the initial reaction was, since I wasn't really in a position to buy much more than a handful of gumballs (see my previous story "Bloodworth BMW-Where Dreams Come True") and I didn't pay much attention to what anyone was saying about the machines themselves but I do recall seeing a couple of the models way back when and was immediately impressed with both their eye-candy styling and their throaty rumbling "tater" exhaust notes.
The line has seen some problems over the years, but what motorcycle maker hasn't been beset with difficulties in its formative years, and as 2007 looms on the horizon, Victory has outdone themselves with their new lineup.

2007 VEGAS 8-BALL
(Black Magic)

2007 VICTORY HAMMER

2007 VICTORY VEGAS JACKPOT

2007 Victory Kingpin

2007 Victory Kingpin Touring Model

Arlen Ness Jackpot

2007 VICTORY VEGAS

Maybe next summer the lonely Beemer will have some company; I got a powerful hankering to declare that battle a "Victory"-maybe a little "Black Magic" will help win that war.....

KEEE-RASSSHHH! Or....maybe not....

2006-08-13T05:07:00.000-06:00

Sorry to all of the family and voyeurs who like to sneak in here and check out what's goin on in the world of motersicklin "WeThePeople" style, but whadahek-it's just been so gaddammed hot and sweaty in this godawful hellhole that I can't seem to find any joy in riding as of late.
I'm hoping this will change as the weather cools and we begin to see some fall colors peek through the jungle of rainforest green that seems to permeate the southern landscape, but until then, it's a pretty boring page if you're looking for fresh content.
furthermore, I've been busy on another blog trying to make some sense of our current global situation and unless you've been living under a rock for the past few years, you'll immediately recognize the difficulty in this endeavor.
Anyhoo, I'm searching the web this morning to find YOU something to look at besides our phugly muugs, so without further ado, lemme show it to ya!


(Hmmm, if I didn't know better, I'd swear this was Kathy trying to stop at a traffic light over in Franklin!) hehehehe

Beating The Heat With "Whizz-Warm" Water At Percy Priest Lake

2006-08-03T16:25:00.001-06:00

We havent been on the bike for about 8 days now; it's too gaddam hot and sweaty to ride. I'm no stranger to hot days, coming from the High Desert of the American Southwest and I can usually ride in just about any temperature. In fact, I once rode in Death Valley when the mercury was hovering around 122 and while it was so hot it took your breath away, you could still ride in it as long as you doused your clothes with bottled water-repeat when dry (about 10 minutes in standard levis).

But here, you could ride immersed in a damned swimming pool and I don't think it would help.

You just cannot escape the wrath of the sun and the godawful feeling of sweat coating your body in a wonderfully heat-retaining slime.

No relief.

NONE.

So we do the boat thaanngg...

Who's Ballsy Enough To Try And Evade This Badass Mutha?

2006-08-03T15:08:00.000-06:00

Them boyz over in "Okiehoma" apparently don't mess around!

I don't care what you're rolling down the road on; when the cop on this pulls in behind you with lights flashing only a moron or a person with a strong desire to see closeup the wonderful amenities offered at the local Greybar hotel would try making a run for it.
Ah, but don't sweat it-this scoot won't be chasing you anytime soon....

Straight from the pages of Motorcyclist magazine.....
"How’d you like to see this filling up your mirrors? If the Okalahoma Highway Patrol Hayabusa livery looks official, it is. But don’t panic just yet. According to the OHP Public Information Office, this particular `Busa was fitted with the full patrol bike kit after being rescued from the impound. Don’t panic, the patrol uses it strictly as a public relations tool to raise conscious about motorcycle safety at events where bike types congregate.-MC"

BMW Did Wha???

2006-07-28T13:58:00.000-06:00

I know, I know--I usually do motahsickle stuff here but hey--Beemer "endured a mixed day in practice" and so long as they "endured" and haven't bombed, I'm gonna share the BMW glory. I'm a bit partial to my Beemster, if you couldn't tell already...hehe

From Crash.net:
FORMULA ONE News
Friday, 28th July 2006
Kubica fastest but BMW endure tough day.
BMW endured a mixed day in practice for the German Grand Prix after Robert Kubica topped the timesheets but their race drivers failed to set a time good enough for the top twenty.

Competing on home ground as a fully-fledged works team, BMW went into the session looking to impress their fans but came away with Kubica claiming the fastest time of the day, while Nick Heidfeld and Jacques Villeneuve had to be content with 21st and 24th places.

Although set-up problems in the morning consigned Kubica to third place, the Pole made changes to his car and duly claimed a time of 1min 16.225secs, a comfortable three tenths faster than Michael Schumacher.

"This morning we couldn't get the right information as the car was not really balanced. We then decided to go in one direction, which was really good. I was surprised as we were not looking for quick lap times but we were much quicker than this morning and everything is now positive. Fortunately the weather allowed us to re-test the tyres and now we have a better vision of which to choose."

What To Do, What To Do

2006-07-28T05:41:00.000-06:00

We've been trying to determine what we want to do with a little extra cash we've accumulated in a windfall when we were the big bet winners at the local Fat-Lady Mud Wrasslin contest that takes place every Saturday over in Crab Orchard.
Dorth see, she's always looking at making more money; she always says it takes money to make money and lordy, thet there sure seems to be the truth! So she's hoping to buy some real estate and she's got her eye on this fabulous highrise in the beautiful town of Fly:

(View of Fly's retail amenities and city center)

Me-I'm the kinda guy who likes to live life to the fullest cuz ya jis never kno when you'll be gone, so I'm hoping to talk her into one of the relaxing boat cruises offered in Old Hickory Lake up by Gallatin. Of course we'll go first class, since nuthin's too good for my lil lady (who once herself took the championship belt in the contest over at Crab Orchard, but thet's another story!):

The choice is difficult, I know, given the quality of craftsmanship and experience, as well as the amazing potential for either fun or profit (and making profit is often "fun" so it may just be the best of both worlds!).

I'll certainly keep you informed on what we decide to do and who knows, I may have some prime TN real estate for sale shortly-anyone interested?