The GUNNY'S SACK

February 2002

As I sit here at this desk looking to put this month's Sack together, the thought comes
to mind that we have now celebrated the Winter Olympic Games and we have gone on with
our lives.

Our President found the time to be in Salt Lake City and officially open the games. No
other President has seen fit to do that. This country is united again for the first
time in decades, and it took a tragic event to cause it to happen.
Why do Americans always wait till we are in trouble to come together is the question in
my mind? And, even then, we have sharp divisions among our citizens. Some don't like
our flag flying or don't like prayer in schools and sometimes we bow to their wishes in
the interest of peace.

Yet, we live in a nation that has the most freedom in the world today. We need to take
heed, my friends, and make sure we keep Big Brother's feet to the fire, because we are
not truly free in this country. There are people in power who think the citizens don't
have the powers of thought to make our own decisions about so many issues -- and in
particular, on safety issues on the road. We are getting hammered with more and more
restrictive laws on emissions. And if you haven't heard, they're toying with
"end-of-life" laws that have profound effects on those of us who would prefer to
preserve our older motor vehicles, motorcycles included! I mean, they're talking about
having to DUMP your older vehicles - "recycle" is the government?s term.
Now THAT'S museum time. So far, it?s primarily a European issue, but keep
yer eyes peeled on this one, folks.

Anyhow, just a few thoughts for you to ponder when you decide not to go to a Freedom
Rally or an ABATE meeting, or not bother to register to vote. If we don't do those
small things, we won't have to. Big Brother will see to it for us?

NEWS BIT'S N' PIECES:

LOS ANGELES, CA: Our Oregon A.I.M. Attorney, Sam Hochberg, is our correspondent for the
Sack when it comes to late-night TV. He was watching the Tonight Show, and Sam tells us
he saw actor Arnold Schwarzenegger on Jay Leno's show in February. Seems old Arnold is
about the same as the rest of us when it comes to a bike wreck. He had one not long
ago, as reported here. First off, Arnold was embarrassed to go down in front of his
friends (who isn't?). Then the guy says he spent FOUR DAYS in the hospital, had some
fractured ribs, a punctured lung and more, but what was the WORST thing? The damage to
his Indian motorcycle! Doesn't THAT sound like you or me? Jay, a LONG-time rider and
motorcycle collector (and an early recipient of the NCOM Silver Spoke Award for
Entertainment) said "Yeah, you can get another lung or even some ribs these days, but
you can't get another TANK for an Indian!"

Jay said that it seems the wife always shows up just when you wake up from the wreck,
YELLS at you for a few seconds, and then you get some real special TLC while you heal
up! Arnold's wife did something like that, too.

A nasty bike wreck is the same for us all, rich or poor, pain is the same.
I think Arnold needs an A.I.M. Attorney, eh?

NAMIBIA, AFRICA: You usually figure the riders running motorcades for the big-shot
politicians are the best. A motorcycle officer died in a wreck, while escorting their
President, Sam Nujoma. That'd be big news if it happened here. Maybe they need some
rider ed courses in Africa.

Apparently, the motorcade was traveling at a high rate of speed when the
bike hit bad pavement and this fellow lost control.
MINNEAPOLIS, MN: The Polaris Motor Co. reports their thirteenth year of positive growth.
The big-twin Victory motorcycle was up some, although the growth came from increased
sales in all aspects of the company. Victory is expected to do even better next year
with the all new "Freedom" engine and other improvements.

BEIJING, CHINA: In a story from "Alestron," the Sack has learned that the debut of China
into the World Trade Organization is gonna have some motorcycle elements to it! No
surprise, in this country that makes more bikes every year than we do in a couple of
decades here in the US. If y'wanna see the latest in Chinese motorcycle engines and
maybe build your own or import 'em, get on down to Beijing (use ta be Peking), to the
5th China International Engine and Special Manufacturing Equipment Exhibition, from
April 26 to April 29 in 2002. Anybody who actually GOES, gimme a heads up, and I'll
report it here in the Sack and give you credit. Best way to reach me is by email, at
AIMGunny@aol.com, or you can call my boss, Sam Hochberg in Portland, Oregon, at
503-224-1106, and leave a message for me.

SAN DIEGO, CA: A motorcycle accident death has made a positive difference: Turns out
that when the former Astronaut Pete Conrad died in 1999 from a motorcycle wreck in
California, he REALLY died from a medical mistake! The PR Newswire says there were
errors made in his care in ICU. His wife Nancy is now a patient safety advocate. I've
said many times that you need to watch the Hospital personnel to prevent the motorcycle
being blamed when you ACTUALLY die from medical malpractice! Sam Hochberg, our AIM
Attorney, says he's handled some malpractice claims, and they can be awfully tough to
prove in court.

NIGERIA, AFRICA: WOW! A UNION here is buying bikes for 133 of its workers!
According to a story from "All Africa Global Media," the reason was to
boost their efforts at staff development and a workers' empowerment program of the
union. I'm tellin' ya folks, these guys have their heads on straight. Ya take care of
your people, and they'll take care of you!

NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION (NHTSA): I'm not sure if what I see here
is actually true but here it is: NHTSA is advertising for a contractor to investigate
and make recommendations for improvement of the various Motorcycle Rider Education
courses around the country. Does this mean they are going to do something to enhance
our learning curve? WOW! I don't know what else to say except beware of strangers
bearing gifts.

NEWNAN, GA.: Triumph Motorcycles is having its century birthday bash. This long loved
(and by some, hated) ride has passed the one hundred year mark and has come back to us
with a bang. I've been watchin' them and they're lookin' real good. This bike was the
preferred ride of many Hollywood greats for their films, like Marlin Brando, Steve
McQueen, Clint Eastwood, and James Dean. Hell, I even rode one for a year or two. In
1983, they closed down due to poor sales and then reemerged in Germany in 1990. Since
then they have been a factor in the motorcycle world. I'm told they are a fine scoot
now. They were good in the old days and should be better now with modern technology. I
gotta say, they're sure purdy!

NEW ORLEANS, LA -- NCOM CONVENTION: I'm gonna remind all you folks who like to
PROCRASTINATE that this Convention is gonna be the biggest and the best yet. However,
if you do plan to go, get your reservations NOW! The hotel is filling fast. NEW
ORLEANS, folks! Very close to the legendary "French Quarter." What a party hearty town
it is. And I know that to be true because I was stationed there in the late fifties.
The Radisson Hotel is one of the upscale fine hotels in the country, and you can
expect
the best for less. The NCOM group rate for rooms is only $79.00 a night. One BIG
discount, believe me. NCOM also negotiated a special daily parking rate of $5.00 per
day, instead of the normal 15 bucks, in case you?re riding or driving in.

I'll be there, and I'll be lookin fer ya?all. Call NCOM at 1-800-525-5355, or A.I.M. at
1-800-ON-A-BIKE, and they'll steer you the right direction with up to the minute info
and a pre-registration form. This shindig is paid for by our A.I.M. Attorneys from
across the country, out of the contingent fees they get on our injury claims. These
guys take GOOD care of us, and they all ride, so they know our world.

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