The GUNNY'S SACK
May 2002
DONNYBROOK, IRELAND: Well, that's actually just where
the name comes from, and it's come to mean a "free-for-all,"
and we in the biker community sure had ourselves a little Donnybrook
in Laughlin, Nevada, just before this here Sack went to press.
As a result, seems that officials from Harley-Davidson have gone
and canceled a motorcycle festival planned in Old Bridge, New
Jersey this summer. They're worried about violence, basically.
Damn. More than 150,000 people were expected to attend Harley's
``Open Road Tour'' show, planned for Aug. 16-18 at Raceway Park..
Now these and other good people are put off by the threat of
violence in their home town. I've heard bikers from all over lament
the high cost of insurance for runs and the hard time finding
sites to hold gatherings, campouts, and such.
Every time we get Joe citizen to halfway trust we won't destroy
the town and rape, pillage, and burn the city hall we have to
contend with violence in our own community. Of course, NOBODY
outside our community was hurt, at least we have THAT to be thankful
for. And it's not like NO community of people is free of violence.
But when it's this public, it's no wonder big brother wants us
off the roads.
We've made SO MUCH PROGRESS, especially with The Confederations
of Clubs around the US and Canada, with NCOM's help. These Confederations
afford a platform for ALL bikers clubs in particular
to have a voice, a line of communication, and MOST of all, a VOICE
for JUSTICE for ALL bikers, in the courts. This episode we had
can't be ignored, and it may set us back JUST a bit, but nobody's
gonna give up the struggle, because we all lose if we do. Peace
to all, that's all I can say.
NEWS BITS'N PIECES:
FROM THE GRAND RAPIDS PRESS comes this jewel. Prayers for
the road: Lakeshore's first Blessing of the Bikes drew hundreds
of scooter people. Blessing of the bikes is almost tradition all
over the country. It happens in the springtime when most of us
get to get the ride shined up for the start of the riding season.
It's a good thing folks and we could all use some divine help
in the traffic we ride in nowadays.
These are real family type gatherings the everyone can enjoy even
if it is a little cold and rainy, the warm fuzzys you get from
it are well worth it.
NEWNAN, GA: A brand new motorcycle factory is being built
by Triumph Motorcycles in Hinckley, U.K. on the site destroyed
in a recent fire. Production is expected to resume by the start
of September 2002. The new facility is said to be the most advanced
in the world. Hoorah!
HOUSTON: Well, with that news about those few (and it really
is a few) club problems, here's a little POSITIVE perspective:
In Houston, Texas, a group of citizens is working to rehabilitate
run down areas in the 136 year old Fifth Ward and Denver Harbor
neighborhoods. For starters, eight homes belonging to some old
folks like me will be renovated and put in sparkling shape. Workers
include hundreds of Conoco volunteers, and members of Motorcycle
Clubs, including United Bikers, the Street Lords, and The Chosen
Few. The bikers are working side-by-side with the St. John's Baptist
Church, the City of Houston, the Mormon church; even with the
Houston Police. Now that's the image we wanna be working on. Congratulations,
all of you hard working people!
ST. JAMES PALACE, ENGLAND: When we say here in the Sack
that bikers are a very diverse group, HERE'S the topper on that
poop: Prince William rides. That is, we're talkin' one of the
possible successors to the Throne of the British Empire. And like
my boss Sam Hochberg might say, "that ain't chopped liver."
The copyrighted story from PA News tells us that the young prince
has had his endorsement for small displacement bikes for two years,
and he's just about to jump up and out of the 125cc class. He's
had his royal duff on top of a Kawi 125 until now. Seems that
the Suzuki racing team has offered Prince William a ringside seat
at the British Grand Prix, set for July 14, 2002, and he'd get
to meet and hang with their team, who race the Suzuki GSV-R. That
little beast has 990cc V4, four-stroke engine producing more than
210 bhp. I'd sure like to see if we can we get this biker-prince
out to the next NCOM meeting! Hell, we've had guests of honor
like Malcolm Forbes and Peter Fonda. Why not British Royalty?
Well sir, all I've got to say is "Right On, Your Highness!"
CONCORD, MASS: More news on the electric bike front. These
things are finally developing along at a good clip. They've even
got 'em so you can actually ride at city street speeds! The old
ones were heavy and couldn't get over 18mph. They're not quite
ready for prime time on the freeway, but if you're all day in
traffic, I'd rather be on one of these little buggers than in
a Ford. The company with these 30 mph electric scooters is called
Nova Cruz, and this is the kind of stuff they're into. You can
dig them up back East. They call 'em "Voloci's."
A SACK CONTEST: Well, if you think loud pipes save lives
and you LIKE these quiet little electric critters, you'll have
to come up with a better slogan! Like, "No Pipe Saves Hype,"
or some damned thing. The future is upon us, why not be prepared?
Send in YOUR slogan ideas right to me, by email, to the GUNNY'S
SACK (AIMGunny@aol.com) and I'll send an AIM T- shirt to the winner!!
Contest rules: Whatever I feel like. But get your submission in
by July 4th, via email, to me and to my boss, Sam Hochberg. Double-address
your entries. Sam's email address is SamBikeLaw@aol.com. QUETTA,
PAKISTAN: Here's another reason not to ride in some of those "third
world" countries! Seems we have a former Taliban commander
who was let loose and just out on a putt back to his house in
Pakistan when he got robbed by some highwaymen. I guess he still
felt like a bigshot, because the fool put up a fight. Lost his
scoot and his life. So says the AP. DUBLIN, GA.: Again from the
AP news wire comes the news that Kwame Brown, the NBA's No. 1
overall draft pick in 2001 by the Washington Wizards, was arrested
for riding 120 mph. They said the fool was racing a motorcycle
but didn't say what he was on. He was popped with a $1200.00 cash
bond.
IRELAND: This comes under the heading of Don't scare
the wife! Actor Liam Neeson has been banned from riding his Harley
Davidson by wife Natasha Richardson after a near-fatal incident
involving a deer, near his home in Ireland. My wife loves me too
and she also knows if she BANNED me from riding she'd be living
alone.
GUNNY AGAIN: I'm reminded that what is on these pages
is derived from news sources all over the world, and I try to
give them credit for their hard work. Without them there would
be a much skinnier Gunny's Sack. All opinions stated herein are
mine and mine alone unless I made reference to the sources used.
I think regular Sack readers know that.
NEXT MONTH in the SACK: You'll have a Gunny's-Eye-View
of the The National Coalition of Motorcyclists (NCOM) and The
Aid to Injured Motorcyclists (AIM) CONVENTION in New Orleans!
I'm gettin' set to go right now. Those programs are sponsored
by the AIM Biker attorneys across this country that care about
our lifestyle, and the Law Office of Richard M. Lester. If, God
forbid, you have a scooter or other accident, take advantage of
the services these fine people offer us. Your AIM attorneys are
available by calling the toll free number of 1-800-On-A- Bike,
or online at www.on-a-bike.com. Sam Hochberg, our Oregon AIM attorney
is available out of Portland, OR at 1-800-347-1106 toll free,
or via SamBikeLaw@aol.com. He will take good care of you as will
any other AIM attorney in the country.
Keep the round side on the bottom.
Gunny, Oregon A.I.M. Chief of Staff
