The GUNNY'S SACK

August 2000

Summer is really here folks. Here in Oregon we're using air conditioning like its goin' out of style. Up until recently we had gotten away without forest fires, but even that is no longer the case.

It's sun screen time outside now so use it liberally when you're riding. I've lost some friends to skin cancer and it's not pretty to watch. Otherwise, take full advantage of the super riding weather. Remember to drink lots of water too. Make sure there aren't any HOPS in it if you're riding or driving a cage.

Sam and I would both love to come to some of your Oregon meetings and talk about the Aid to Injured Motorcyclists (AIM) program, and about law and the motorcycle rider. Sam is chock full of free information and he is an interesting speaker ta boot. And information is power, so give us a call at Sam's office in Portland at 503/224-1106 or if it's a toll call use 1-800-224-1106, to get in touch. You can always get us via E-mail, too. Sam is SamBikeLaw@AOL.com and I'm AIMGunny@AOL.com. We will be happy to come to your meeting or your event and speak, or to set up an information booth so your members can get signed up and start carrying the all-important AIM card. We are here to serve our people. For outside Oregon, call our national headquarters at (800) ON-A-BIKE, or e-mail aimncom@aimncom.com.

NEWS BITS 'N PIECES:

PORTLAND, OR: Many members of ABATE of Oregon, Inc.; gathered at the Portland Shriners Hospital for Children recently for the annual presentation of new wheelchairs and other adaptive gear worth more than $25,000 to some really appreciative kids and parents...

The wheelchairs and other equipment, including a $6,144 portable device that synthesizes speech, were delivered and adjusted for the kids at the medical center.

Although the hospital provides free medical care, there's no budget for power wheelchairs and other specialized equipment.

This is where ABATE annually steps up to the plate and hits a home run. So you see folks, we are more than just "HELMET LAW" opponents and a MOTORCYCLE rights group, we care about the kids too. They are our real legacy on this earth.

This year there was a memorial tree planted at the hospital to honor one of our fallen brothers who worked so hard in this effort. ''Uncle Bob'' Jackson, from the SE Portland Chapter, succumbed to cancer just before Christmas 1999. He will be sorely missed by us all.

ENGLAND: A BLIND BIKER is aiming to break a record here: 67-year-old blind motorcyclist, Gordon Wilson, will attempt to set a new World Record by riding his Triumph machine at 100mph.

He lost his vision when an artery hardened behind his eyes, cutting off the blood supply. Wilson, a biker since the age of 17, said: ''I have only been blind for 15 months. It (blindness) came completely out of the blue. ''

He said ''I have help from a friend with a radio who says, right, left, straight ahead etc.; and keeps me on track. I think I can do this.'' Is this a king-sized ego or what? By the way, if he succeeds it will go into the Guinness book of records. I hope he does it.

MARYLAND: Cops here are putting the skids to many riders, mostly kids, on café racer type bikes with expensive tickets. They say the motorcycle accident rate has skyrocketed because UNTRAINED riders on these 150 mile an hour scooters are riding far beyond their abilities and darting in and out of traffic like they're Darth Vader.

Most of these folks have never taken a rider course and have very little riding experience. Many of them have no motorcycle endorsement. The combination results in too many crippling injuries and shortened lives.

This points out to me the real value of training for riders. I don't care how many years we've been riding, we can all profit from taking a riding course every few years.

SHANGHAI: The China Life Insurance Co., Ltd. paid 523,000 yuan ($63,000 USD) in indemnity to the wife and daughter of a claimant who died in a traffic accident. Now this made the Chinese news wires, so it seems to be something unusual over there. Insurance is a "capitalist" thing, but China is changing, and you sure need it when you need it.

The claimant was riding his motorcycle in town and whacked a city bus. Head injuries among other things ended his life and the insurance company paid off. Is there a need for people to carry insurance protection on a scooter? You're damned right there is. And don't forget about getting high limits on Uninsured and Underinsured coverage here in the states. Your family deserves that courtesy.

LAGOS, NIGERIA: Wow! There is a new law here that says male operators of motorcycles cannot carry female passengers. There is an uproar over it and maybe they will get some justice. Whee! And we worry about helmet laws!

UNITED KINGDOM: Victory motorcycles are now in Europe. It's the first new scooter in 60 years to be introduced in Merry Olde England.

The bike was named ''Cruiser of the Year'' the first two years in production in the U S of A. That's quite a recommendation for a new ride. Acceptance in the UK will be another feather in the Polaris Motor Company's cap.

FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE: They still crank out some pea-shooters over there, and there's a new shooter built exclusively for bikes! It's an anti-tank weapon built onto an off-road sidecar rig, so don't get your hopes up about mounting one on your scoot anytime soon. Shows bikes still have a purpose in the modern military scheme. I noticed in the Marine Corps Magazine ''Leatherneck'' the other day that they are using dual sport machines now for runners and other neat stuff. Why not mount a popper on one of those and see if it works, like they do in Russia? I'd think it would be real handy.

VIETNAM: From the news wire ''Asia Pulse'' comes news of a new VIETNAM conflict, and it's over HELMETS!! You put your butt on a putt in Nam after September 1st, and if Deputy Transport Minister Pham The Minh gets his plan approved, you'll get a HELMET TICKET in Viet Nam!

Now we know the real reason why we fought a war there - so their government could put buckets on their heads! Sheesh.

NAPLES, ITALY: A state police officer was arrested for murder four days after he shot and killed a teen-age scooter driver who ran a police checkpoint to avoid getting a ticket for not wearing a helmet. Now if they claim riding lidless is bad for your health and the cops KILL you for it, isn't there something wrong with that sentence?

Mario Castellano, 17, ran a checkpoint because he wasn't wearing a helmet and didn't want to be ticketed for it. He had been ticketed repeatedly before the shooting for flouting a new helmet law that started in March. It mandates helmets for Italy's 9 million scooter and motorcycle drivers. The teenager reportedly loathed helmets because they flattened his gel-held hairdo. That's reason enough for me.

His killing provoked scattered riots, calls to boycott helmets and several vigils by upset Italian bikers. Wanna bet the cop just gets his hand slapped and told ''naughty naughty''?

AIM AGAIN: If god forbid you have a wreck, don't forget to CALL AIM FIRST, and DON'T TALK to the insurance adjuster! AIM consultations are always free. Call 1-800-ON-A-BIKE.

 

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