The GUNNY'S SACK

April 2000

The elections are on my mind most of the time nowadays. We have some important choices to make this year that will have a profound effect on where the biker (for some of you read ''motorcyclist'') world will wind up in the scheme of things. Right now if some people had their way our lifestyle would be abolished and we would have to visit museums to look at our beloved rides.

This good news from Frank Saxton, Chairman of BikePAC of Oregon. Think your one vote doesn't matter? Check this out:

March 5, 2000, the Democratic Party of Oregon (DPO) wrapped up their state platform and resolution convention in Eugene, Oregon.

''Repeal the motorcycle helmet law for citizens over 21 years of age,'' is the Transportation Legislative Agenda item number one, and it passed 68 to 67. Yay!! The important thing is now *BOTH* major political parties in Oregon have declared support for the repeal of the mandatory helmet law. This came about because about 20 bikers who had become precinct committee persons were delegates to the convention. There was intense lobbying that won over some non-riding delegates. A number of delegates abstained from voting on our issue, and many of them may very well have been ''no'' votes had our representatives not been there educating them.

This was truly a team effort, but special thanks to Diesel Dave Ganslein. Dave was the one making the phone calls, and helped push this through. His work that weekend converted dozens of votes for our cause. Dave even hauled Sam Hochberg (Oregon A.I.M. Attorney) down there for a day of lobbying. Sam was one of the demo delegates. We figure he was effective in converting some delegates he talked to, because he doesn't ''look'' like a biker. At least not in his sport jacket.

Also included in the Legislative Agenda is the item: ''Bar (not as in drink) discrimination in public accommodations based upon mode of travel or associated clothing.'' Spencer ''Spike'' Neal chaired the Human Rights, Justice and Public Safety Committee and this item also became part of the state platform!

Many thanks to all of our Oregon bikers who got involved with the party to make this happen. Please everybody, GET INVOLVED in some small, way. Our riding future is at stake.

 

NEWS BITS'N PIECES:

BEIJING, China: This country manufactured 11.269 million motorcycles in 1999, 28.15% more than in the previous year, and sold 11.172 million, 26.23% more, according to statistics from the Chinese State Bureau of Machine Building Industry. The total inventory grew 2.49% to reach 799,000 units by the end of 1999. The sale-production ratio in 1999 was 99.13%.

Y'sure don't see 'em on the US roads in such huge numbers. Wouldn't that be a wonderful sight.

DAYTONA, Florida: NASCAR champion Rusty Wallace has a new look for his No. 2 Miller Lite Ford Taurus, featuring a special paint scheme with a Harley-Davidson theme.

The unveiling ceremony was held at Daytona Bike Week. Wallace, Miller Lite, and Harley-Davidson Motor Co. gave NASCAR fans their first glimpse of the car at a track side press conference at the Bristol Motor Speedway.

TOKYO, Japan: Toyota Motor Corp now has an alliance with Yamaha Motor Co., the world's second largest motorcycle maker. Japanese media reported they would buy a five percent stake in Yamaha Motor from its parent company. Good things can happen here.

DAYTONA BEACH, Florida: The freewheeling atmosphere of 500,000 motorcyclists rumbling around this tourist Mecca every March for drinking, coleslaw wrestling and wet T-shirt contests has been marred by the deadliest Bike Week ever. There were 13 riders who lost their lives in accidents in this 10 day party. Truckloads of beer were consumed. The festival has expanded from a long weekend to a 10-day event.

With motorcycles, alcohol is DANGEROUS. I've said it before and I'm pleading now folks, DON'T DRINK AND RIDE. Even ONE beer can kill you. By not drinking and riding we can reduce motorcycle accidents by 46%. That saves lives. Is that beer really worth it? I don't think so.

MILWAUKEE, Wisconsin: H-D has its first all-new bike in decades. It's a smaller, lighter, under $4,500 Buell. The First Harley-Davidson/Buell "Blast" is being unveiled in Everett, WA. The all-new is a lightweight, one-cylinder motorcycle, priced at under $4,500, and designed specifically for the first time riders in the 18 to 34-year-old market. I saw one here in Portland, OR, and it's a cutie.

LONDON, England: We have a new scooter device on the scene. Skamp Motorbike Telematics offers riders vehicle security, with motion and crash sensors and full communication through helmet-originated speakers and microphones. This allows GSM phone calls using a specially designed 4 button kit. The system communicates it's GPS SATELLITE positioning data to a central monitoring station.

In the event of an attempted theft, accident, emergency or if the rider is thrown from the bike, the central monitoring station is alerted and an immediate response by emergency vehicles is made to the exact location of the motorcycle. Wow, it IS the 21st Century! This may be just what we've needed for years to protect our rides, too.

BELLE PLAINE, Minnesota: Excelsior-Henderson Motorcycle Manufacturing Company has an agreement with E. H. Partners regarding a proposed plan of reorganization in its Chapter 11 Bankruptcy case. The Company anticipates it will file the proposed plan of reorganization in the near future. Creditor groups support the proposed plan. I'd like to see them pull out of this. The ride is a sweet one.

HOSPITAL-ACQUIRED INFECTIONS COST BILLIONS: Nearly $5 billion are added to U.S. health costs every year as a result of infections that patients get while they are hospitalized for other health problems, the CDC reported during a big international conference on healthcare-associated infections in Atlanta.

''Our greatest concern is the illness and death that result from these infections,'' said CDC's Chairman, William Jarvis, M.D.

The CDC previously reported nearly 2 million patients annually get an infection while being treated for another illness or injury, and nearly 88,000 die as a direct or indirect cause of their infection. The economic costs of these infections result largely from the extra days the patient has to stay in the hospital. Boy Howdy, do I hear bells ringing.

MINNEAPOLIS, Minnesota: According to a report by the Minneapolis Star Tribune, Robert Kilpatrick, Jr., CEO of Norton Motorcycles, has been charged in Hennepin County District Court with multiple counts of theft by swindle, forgery and credit fraud. He was released without bail after surrendering. This one has me a little worried, folks.

MAPLE GROVE, Minnesota: Ehlert Publishing has launched of a new magazine focusing on the motorcycle lifestyle from a WOMAN'S point of view. The premiere issue of Woman Rider will make its debut in early July. Woman Rider will launch as an annual in 2000 with plans for a conversion to paid subscriptions and a four-time frequency in 2001. It's about time.

SAM'S AIM TIP 'O THE MONTH: My boss Sam Hochberg, our Oregon A.I.M. lawyer guy, says watch it when you pass on the right, because if you get in a wreck, in most states, it's illegal to ''split'' a lane on the right with a car. The big exception in Oregon ?and maybe in your state? is that you can legally squeeze by on the right if the car is stopped and signaling a left turn.

GUNNY AGAIN: Don't forget to keep your A.I.M. Card in your wallet this riding season. It protects you with lifesaving medical info on file, and gives you easy access to our nationwide bunch of injury biker-lawyers like old Sam here. A.I.M. (Aid to Injured Motorcyclists) can be reached at 1-800-ON-A-BIKE. Sam is also always available in Portland at 224-1106, or 1-800-347-1106. Look for me at the A.I.M. booths at the bike runs around Oregon this year. Stop in and gab. In the meantime...

Keep the round side on the bottom.
Gunny, Oregon A.I.M. Chief of Staff