Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/727617
45 www.thunderpress.net THUNDER PRESS nOctober 2016n On July 6, we set off across the Berkshires as the Guided Riders headed north to Albany. Across the Catskills and into New York, we stopped in Woodstock for a fl ashback to the 60's. The next day, we rode with Christina Shook (author of Chicks on Bikes, 2009), our offi cial photographer who captured images from Klaus, a sedan donated by BMW Motorrad. Along Highways 6 and 120 through the Elk State Forest, all went well, until I saw a family of green people on someone's front lawn. The homeowner giggled, "Did you see my giraffe?" There were gorillas, dragons and gnomes everywhere; we were defi - nitely in Americana country. We stayed overnight in Greensburg, then rode on to the Lincoln Highway Museum where local media were everywhere. Alisa handled it like a boss, then we continued on to Pickerington, Ohio, and the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum. Maggie McNally, AMA chairman of the board, spoke about the Van Buren sisters' induction into the Motorcycle Hall of Fame. Erin Sills, 12-time Land Speed World Record holder, spoke of the importance of the AMA to racing. "There wouldn't be a sport without a sanctioning body who validates the race and the speed." Van Buren family member Sofi e Ruderman spoke from the heart, "What I would say to my great-grandmother is thank you for being so strong and tough, for standing up for what you believe in and push- ing through the obstacles." Sarah Van Buren added, "You can be empowered, follow your dreams, take risks…" The family resemblance was striking; it felt like Addie and Gussie were among us. From Pickerington we took back-country roads to AMA Vintage Days where we joined about 170 wild riders on the "Lap for History." Afterward, we shook it off and took in the Wall of Death, live music, vendors and of course, vintage bikes. Top eye candy was a rare 1928 225cc Neracar. Spectators zipped around on mini bikes, quads, motorcy- cles—whatever rolls and goes. At the end of the day, we headed across the grasslands to Lima for the night. The next few days became a blur of sightseeing and riding. We started toward Chicago, and then Naperville and Fulton, Illinois. Next stop, a working Dutch windmill and then on to the National Motorcycle Museum in Anamosa. An ice cream social, a dinner hosted by the local Indian dealership; there was Success on Pikes Peak Megared and Helldog gettin' it on the Mid-Ohio Speedway Helldog at Baby Rocks Mesa on Hwy 98 riding north to Page, Arizona See "Sisters'," page 62, column 4 Latrobe, PA Woodstock,NY Springfi eld, MA Pickerington, OH Cedar Rapids, IA Riverside, IA Omaha, NE Photo by Christina Shook Photo by Christina Shook