You read that right. This was the 31st annual, Hansen Dam, all British bike Ride, dubbed the “Best ride by a dam site” put on by Southern California Norton Owners Club . This club is dedicated to all bikes but have a penchant for British bikes both old and new. It’s a club with no officers, no club rules, no politics. Just a bunch of people who like the British bikes and know a hell of a lot about them!

The day started out as planned and even though there was a threat of rain, we left Long Beach Sunday morning and rode about 40 miles to Pacoima and Hansen Dam Park. This was my third time attending the event, and just as the preceding two years, the place filled early with a large number of riders. All of them eager to either show off their bikes, or to check out the bikes of those who are showing them off.

This is where I met the guy from V8Choppers. He rode this behemoth 350 cubic inch chopper from Virginia and across country as a way to promote interest. I didn’t learn too much about the bike but from what I did learn, I’m thinking that Boss Hoss needs to watch out. You get your choice of a 350, 372 or 400 cubic inch engine, and the rider claimed it weighs the same as a Goldwing. Their website has the bike weighing in at just 900 pounds!

After the meet-n-greet, packs of bikes headed out for an eighty-mile loop through the twisties of the Soledad and Tajunga Canyons. I have to admit that the first leg of the ride left me a bit disappointed. Not because of the course. It was filled with some nice switch-backs and sweepers that all those other bikes [passing me] were clearly enjoying. My disappointment came in the recognition of the fact that I wasn’t negotiating the turns very well. Part of it was the timidness that comes when I have a passenger. Another part is the change in balance points with a passenger (and top-case). But… after that first rest-stop I got my groove and the rest of the ride was awesome. I even dragged the floorboards a few times, something that never happens with apassenger.

I’m sad to say, we took a bit too long when we stopped for lunch because when we got back from our ride, nearly everyone had already left and the parking lot was looking pretty empty. We didn’t get to pick up our ride pins and we missed the bike show where awards are given for best British bike, best Custom, best Vintage etc. Of course all judging is completely arbitrary so it’s clearly all done in the name of fun.

All in all, it was a pretty cool day in the company of some pretty cool people with good weather and enjoying a nice canyon ride. What more can you ask for?

Related links

• Pics from this year’s event
• Pics from last year’s event

Events, General, Rides

I have to say, this was by far and away, THE largest motorcycling event in which I have ever taken part! The eleventh annual West Coast Thunder! I was both humbled and honored to have been involved in such an emotionally charged experience. Read more…

Events, Motorcycles, News, Raves, Rides

God Bless America

On Memorial day, we gather as a nation to celebrate and pay tribute to all those brave men and women who fight to protect our freedom. Don’t get me wrong, I do not advocate war or violence. But I do advocate defending the things that are of value to me. And my freedom and my country are among the top of my list of that which is worth protecting. In truth… I love my country. Evidenced by the fact that nearly every time I hear our National Anthem, I tear up.

West Coast Thunder is an annual event designed with one thing in mind; to benefit those brave, selfless men and women, and their families. They literally put their lives on the line for me… it’s only right that I do what I can to show my gratitude.

This year the event will be on Monday May 31st… Memorial Day. The expectation is that several thousand motorcyclists will take part in the event. I along with members of my riding club, Southern Cruisers Riding Club, will be there. Celebrating our military and what they have done for us.

Here’s a brief rundown of the event:

• Priority Registration is $35 per participant (through May 17, 2010).
• Pre-Registration is $40 per participant (May 17 through May 30, 2010).
• Day-Of Registration is $40 per participant (May 31, 2010)

Each registered rider will receive:

• One registration packet for West Coast Thunder XI
• One venue entry wristband
• One general admission concert ticket (upgrade available)
• One West Coast Thunder XI ride pin
• One attachable American flag
• One raffle ticket for event prizes.
• One T-Shirt coupon

Registration packets will be mailed to the shipping address indicated

The first 1,000 riders to register will be invited to attend our
exclusive Saturday night V.I.P. Party.

This year, West Coast Thunder and Skip Fordyce Harley-Davidson have
partnered with their friends at KFRG Radio, 95.1 FM and Soboba Casino
to aide in the production of the event. As of 2010, the parade route
will change to accommodate the increased participation. Soboba Casino
in San Jacinto, California will be the final destination for the
parade this Memorial Day, Monday, May 31st, 2010. The parade will
still leave Skip Fordyce Harley-Davidson the morning of Memorial Day,
and travel directly to the Soboba Casino.

Will you attend this great event?

Visit the West Coast Thunder website at http://www.westcoastthunder.com for event details and registration information.

Events, General, News, Rides

Black Sheep Bike Night

On Saturday night I attended my second bike night hosted by a local MC called the Black Sheep for Christ. Now from my limited experience, I find bike-nights to be pretty sedate in that all that really happens is a bunch of people on a bunch of bikes get together somewhere to socialize. That’s pretty much it.

In this case however it’s actually a pretty cool event. I rode in on my own ahead of some friends and took a spot at the end of a line of parked bikes. Immediately one of the Black Sheep guys came out and gently got me to position my bike such that it was in line with the rest which gave the entire line a very uniform presentation. Okay that was cool. Next my friends showed up and positioned their bikes the same way. After we ate the bike games started.

Slow Racing

Have you ever tried to slow-ride your bike? If you have a big heavy cruiser you will know the effort and skill that goes into something like that. If you’ve never seen it, take a look at this youtube video. Well these guys had their very own slow ride competition. Essentially the idea is to ride a straight line for a designated distance, side-by-side as slow as possible without putting your feet down. The moment your foot touches the ground, you lose! So with engines roaring and clutches being feathered and breaks being skillfully applied we saw some fairly skilled runs.

Bag Toss

Next was the bag toss. Okay so this one isn’t really as exciting as the slow race but cool nonetheless. In this case you ride two-up. The rider navigates a straight line next to evenly spaced buckets, into which the pillion rider must toss bean bags. Simple right? Nope… it’s much harder than it looks. Well judging bu the number of misses that is.

Now in this particular case the winners get bragging rights and that’s about it. But what it does to those watching is pretty magical. Everyone is together, cheering and rooting for their favorite competitor and sharing in a really good time. There were other competitions of this nature but you get the idea. So if you have never attended something like this I encourage you to do so. At least once in your riding career. It’s good fun, friendly people, camaraderie and neat watching the skilled riders.

Events, General

Pierce - Circa 1920

I, along with 300 or so other riders spent a Sunday romping through the canyons of the Angeles National Forest. This is an event hosted by the Norton Owners Club of Southern California. The event celebrated its 30^th year and the Club celebrated its 20^th consecutive year of hosting it. 

The event is aimed at British and Vintage motorcycle enthusiasts but it draws riders of all sorts, on bikes of all sorts. To read my article on this event, please visit my good friend’s site, RideBellChain.com. And you can click here to see a bunch of photos from the event. 

Events, General

I’ve been riding with the Southern Cruisers Riding Club for almost a year now. The SCRC is a riding club that boasts more than 550 chapters across North America with more than 32,000 members. It’s a big deal and I’m certainly glad to be a part of it.

Each month our chapter (Mount Baldy) takes scheduled group rides where several of us get together, ride for anywhere between 100 and 300 miles, have lunch and head home (or some variant of that). Add to this a handful of events that involve multiple chapters throughout the year and you have lots and lots of riding with a great bunch of people.

This weekend was one such multi-chapter event. The annual SCRC Peggy Sue’s run. Peggy Sue’s is a 50’s style diner in Yermo, California (Just north of Barstow). It has a simple menu but a great atmosphere. If you’re into nostalgia I highly recommend it. 

Okay so, on Sunday morning, 13 bikes took off from Ontario and headed north on interstate highway 15. Sure it was a super-slab ride but there’s something about being in a staggered formation of bikes, led by our road-captain, riding at 80 MPH with the wind in your face, on a beautiful day that just… well… if you ride you know. As we headed out from the first of two staging points one of our riders suffered the only mishap of the day; a snapped clutch cable. This knocked both her and her husband out of the ride.

The rest of us continued on and finished a little more than 100 miles into Yermo and as it turns out, we were the first of the SCRC chapters to arrive. Rock-star parking! And a highway patrolman promptly greeted us. Which was cool though because he stopped to admire the bikes and chit-shat with us. 

By the time the day was in full swing, there were more than 150 bikes there with people we only get to see a couple times a year. The day was spent with good food, lots of laughs, some announcements about changes in chapter and state leadership, and just good fun. 

Click here to view all my photos of the day.

Our next big event will be a 4-day rally in June where we’ll be in Oakhurst, just south of Yosomite. I can’t wait!!!

Events

The view of San Louis Reservoir from Highway 152

I took a ride from the LA area to the San Francisco Bay Area for the Labor Day weekend. And I have to say it was about a 1000 mile round trip and was likely the most perfect ride I’ve ever taken. I simply had to share it with all of you.

There are rides that are just so perfect. You know what I mean… those where the road is absolutely pristine without even a blemish, just the right weather and lighting conditions, a perfect blend of twistie, bendy, and straight roads, no traffic. You hit these roads with gusto and dig into the turns, accelerate through the straights and dig in again. And do this for a few hundred miles of pure and uninterrupted bliss! When you finish, you’re just a couple inches taller, you feel sort of dangerous and you catch yourself grunting while thumping your chest. Read more…

Events, General

Pooch!

Saturday August 29^th 2009 I, and a few friends went to a bike night hosted by In the Wind Roadware in Covina California. This is a biker apparel shop with everything from helmets, to vest extenders, to leather accessories, to patches, to glasses and a whole bunch more. My favorites are the “Old Guys Rule” shirt line. Big Mike (The owner of the shop) explained that wearing these doesn’t suggest you are an “old guy.” Just like wearing a Lakers t-shirt doesn’t suggest you’re part of the team. It suggests that you support them. So wearing an “Old Guys Rule” shirt is just a way to show your love for us… er… those old guys. You may be wondering about that dog. She was there to enjoy the day with the rest of us of course! Read more…

Events, General

Flyer, Downed Biker Rally

The Third Annual Downed Biker Rally is being held this year in Anaheim on Saturday October 3, 2009. This event is hosted by the Orange County Bikers for Christ and is designed to raise funds that are used to provide some financial assistance to those who have been involved in a street motorcycle crash.

I, along with my friends and members of our riding club (Southern Cruisers Riding Club) will be there and I’d like to encourage those of you who can, and happen to be in the area to attend and show your support for this worthy cause.

About the Downed Biker Fund (Taken from their website):
The Bikers for Christ Motorcycle Ministry, in conjunction with other ministries and various individuals, announces the Downed Biker Fund, a special fund to benefit those bikers who have been involved in a street motorcycle accident and need financial assistance.

The goal is to present a $500.00 check to the downed biker to assist with the immediate needs associated with an accident. Counselors, ministers and other resources are also available to assist in this time of need. This assistance will be offered to any and all Southern California motorcycle riders, regardless of race, color, religion or club affiliation, who are involved in a motorcycle accident that results in hospitalization.

This assistance will be limited to a one time cash disbursement of $500.00 at the time of hospitalization, and as long as funds are available. The goal is to raise funds with volunteers and donated items. We do not utilize any paid employees. In this manner, the funds should go directly to the bikers in need and not for expenses.

There will be fundraising events announced annually to generate additional funds if needed. There is also a need for contributions throughout the year. Tax deductible donations can be made payable to “The Cornerstone” a non-profit 501C3 organization, with a note “For Downed Biker Fund” and a tax deductible donation receipt will be pro vided for the value of your contribution.

To learn more about the event visit the Downed Biker Fund website.

Events, General