ThunderPress West

TPW-JAN16

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39 THUNDER PRESS www.thunderpress.net Would like to come back through West Virginia next year, maybe on the way back from Louisiana. Thanks for all your articles. Clyde Bell a.k.a. Hardcore via e-mail Clyde: I haven't been to Marlinton, but I plan on visit- ing West Virginia again. There is so much more to see than our 12-day tour allowed. And during our time there, the only "bad" I experienced was, "Too bad we have to leave this wonderful state and head back home." If you send us your mailing address, we'll be happy to mail you the September issue so you can read more about our travels and the delightful people we met along the way. Part 2 of the tour actu- ally appeared in the November issue, so if you'd like that as well, just let us know. —M.K. Now you see them… Terry Roorda: You have written many an article about losing some of our freedoms by way of misdi- rection. I know because I have read them. Don't outlaw the gun; make it harder to buy ammunition. Add a law that makes you change the design of the gun, etc. You can smoke but not in here (just go outside). Now you can still smoke but you have to be 25 feet from the entrance. What's next? Outlaw lighters and matches. If anyone should see you smoking and you're within 150 feet of where there is any public that can see you the ATF will confi scate your lighter? Back in 1992 I lost my right to choose, something I am reminded of every time I am sitting at a light in the hot midday sun on my Road King. I'm made to wear a helmet that restricts my vision, reduces my hearing and fries my brain. Three weeks ago my wife and I were heading down the 15 for San Diego. Traffi c was stop and go, I was splitting lanes here and there but the lanes got tight in places. My wife leaned into me; I thought she was going to say something but I realized she was passing out. I pulled over just in time to get her off the bike. I took her helmet off and began pouring water over her head. We were there for about 45 minutes to an hour until she was feeling better and could get back on (many thanks to the fi ve or six bikers who stopped by to see if we needed more water). Once I got her back on I didn't give a damn if there was room or not; I split lanes all the way there. I wasn't obnoxious or com- bative; I just wanted to go at least 35 mph or better to keep my wife cool. Which brings me to the whole point of this letter. They (the government) are at it again. I read two interesting articles in other publications. One was by an insurance company that doesn't even cover California. They surveyed motorcyclists about their pet peeves with drivers and their pet peeves about other motorcyclists. Thirty-six percent said they hated motorcyclists that split lanes. I was shocked at that number. I would have thought 2 percent or 3 percent, but 36 out of every 100? This means if this ever goes to a vote of doing away with lane splitting we the bikers would have to overcome 36 percent of our brothers along with all the cagers. Now the government has stepped in. They're just going to help make it clear when, how and why we can split lanes. They're at it again. We are not going to outlaw it. We are just going to give you some outlines so everyone knows how to All Bikes Always Welcome 3HALE 2IDGE s !UBURN #! s WWWAUBURNVTWINCOM CEAUBURNINDIANPARTS GMAILCOM Open 9-5 Tues. - Sat. $40 OFF ! &5,, 3%26)#% /. 9/52 (!2,%9 /2 ).$)!. -/4/2#9#,% (Present this ad at write up in Service) -!2+ 9/52 #!,%.$!2 &/2 4(% 37%%4(%!24 25. Feb 14th! (See website for details) #% !UBURN )NDIAN AND 64WIN by Steve Ryono LANCASTER, CALIF., OCT. 17— Poker runners and event supporters woke up Saturday morning to margin- ally dark cloudy skies. I even received a spattering of rain on my driveway as I was preparing to leave to cover the event. Good fortune eventually smiled down on the 6th annual Ride to End Violence as the clouds passed and sun- shine ruled the day. The Ride to End Violence, also known as the REV Ride, benefi ts the Valley Oasis Shelter. The mission statement of Valley Oasis is a dedica- tion to eliminating social and domestic violence and homelessness. Poker run registration started promptly at 8:00 a.m. at Crazy Otto's Restaurant located at 1221 W. Avenue I in Lancaster. The fi rst card was also pulled here. The original poker run route that was planned by staff volunteer Rich Longworth had to be modifi ed because of a series of vio- lent thunderstorms that bombarded the Antelope Valley area resulting in fl ooding and severe mudslides. The next stop for the poker run- ners was Crazy Otto's on Diamond St. in Rosamond. The main part of the route took the runners north on 60th Street West. A large part of 60th cuts directly across the Mojave Desert and is dotted with scrub brush and believe it or not, a lush green alfalfa fi eld. I also noticed an unfortunate witch that had crashed into and was stuck in a telephone pole on 60th Street West. As if California needed more evidence of climate change I even saw a single white heron searching for food in a rain-delivered pond in the desert. After pulling their second card the runners departed the hardscrabble town of Rosamond heading south on Sierra Highway. Traveling south on Sierra Highway is like taking a step back in time. Dating back to the early 20th century the highway was bypassed by State Route 14 in the early 1970's. The northern section of the highway is strewn with old abandoned build- ings and an aromatic sewage treatment facility. As you travel further south and enter the city of Palmdale you pass a series of hangars that are adorned with a small painted-on skunk and the name "Lockheed Martin" painted on them. This is the home of the famous Skunk Works that has produced some of the U.S. Air Force's most famous aircraft. The trip down Sierra Highway ended at Crazy Otto's in Acton where the third card was dealt. Traveling north on Sierra Highway and through the city streets of Lancaster took the poker runners to Antelope Valley Chevrolet and their fourth card. Antelope Valley Chevrolet is owned by Lou Gonzales who gra- ciously donated the grand prize custom Harley chopper that was won by my good friend Joe Perea. The fi fth card stop and the location for the Finish Line Party was Antelope Valley Harley-Davidson. Poker runners and event supporters were treated to a car show and rock music performed by Vagrant. The party was hosted by Crazy Otto's Restaurants, Antelope Valley Chevrolet and Antelope Valley Harley-Davidson. It was an enjoyable event and the weather gods smiled down on all of the REV Ride supporters and volun- teers. Thank you for a great ride and a great day. 4 Lou Gonzales from Antelope Valley Chevrolet Donated the Grand Prize Custom Chopper See "Letters," page 65, column 1 Letters Continued from page 5 6TH ANNUAL REV RIDE Scootin' past the Skunk Works Sometimes it does rain in Southern California

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