Toy Run ! (November 23,2008)

A really neat day today, went on the 6th Annual Speedway Harley-Davidson Toy Run. As you can see from the photos, nice clear sky, though the temperature was only 55 today. However, that did not stop a crowd estimated at 400 motorcycles from going on the ride. I was there with my Kawasaki Vulcan 1500 Classic, and people were friendly which is always nice. Actually, have never had any real problems with any of the Harley crowd (although a few comments from time to time do come out) but overall a good bunch. The ride was really neat, kicked off at 1pm on the dot. The sound of 400 motorcycles firing up is really a beautiful noise. We headed out under police escort, and they did a fantastic job. In fact they had a really good ride; they got to shoot past us from time to time to block intersections. We never had to stop the entire ride. Most of the ride was on backroads and there were motorcycles as far as you could see. I was somewhere around the middle, with a long line in front of me, and a long line of headlights behind me. As far as I know there were few problems during the ride. I did hear of a bike going down, and a possible broken wrist, and also word of a flat tire. Of the latter, did hear a chase vehicle picked him up. We also rode through Mt. Pleasant, Concord, and Harrisburg. We ended up at Speedway Harley-Davidson. We piled up all the presents, and had barbecue from R+R Barbecue .

This was the largest (in terms of numbers of motorcycles) ride I have ever been on. I think everyone involved from the police, to the people who put on the ride did an outstanding job. The route was fun and interesting, and enjoyed it a great deal. It is also great to be able to do something for the kids out there, and I am sure there will be a lot of smiles this holiday season from the gifts the local motorcycle community left for them. Getting to do this ride was a real treat!

Fire in the Sky

In my last post I wrote some about fall rides, have been on couple over the last few days. For sure the fall colors in the trees are fading as the leaves are falling to the ground now. We had a few days of rain this week, and cold is more of a factor. However, today after some Saturday work, got out on the bike. As I noted (also in the last post) early in the ride had a truck with trailer turn in front of me, but I was watching for him and was not even a close call (shocked him though) thanks to that. This time of year, its especially important to watch out for the other guy. At any case, through the leaves have changed, I did see this sunset and finally found a place to pull over and catch it. Even though the 70s today were quickly falling as the sun went down, was sure worth a little cool riding to get this photo. A few bikes were out today, and one was pulled over. I pulled over to make sure he was ok; found he was just changing goggles from smoke to clear. He did thank me for stopping though, and I felt good that I did. You never know when someone could need help, and of course, you never know when it could be you in that position.
A co-worker this week ordered the V-Max he is wanting. A fine motorcycle, and sure to be a lot of fun. My only concern is that it is his first motorcycle, and might be a real handful to learn the art of survival on the road. I wrote some comments in an earlier three part section called "So you want to ride a motorcycle?" in some earlier posts. I don't think many people who do not ride really understand that sport bikes (as well as many other types) give a whole new meaning to the terms "quick and fast". Too often, new riders get more motorcycle then they really understand. Just this year, a friend of my wife's son got a brand new Kawasaki ZX-12 Ninja which he enjoyed for an entire day before having the crash that killed him. Apparently he went off the road. Lots of benefits to taking a riding class, and is my strongest suggestion to both the new rider, as well as the returning rider. The idea of having a motorcycle is to have a history of great rides, not to make an early exit from the planet. Before you get the bike, get the training. Odds are stacked against you on a motorcycle in an accident, there are tools out there to help you to even the odds.
All that said, have really enjoyed some great riding these past few weeks. There are few seasons I enjoy as much as fall, and this one was really great for colors. The ride to the mountains, and the rides around here have all been remarkable experiences. A great thing about riding in the Carolinas is that though we have some cool (if not down right cold days) we also have some serious bouts of warmer weather (relatively speaking). It is not only possible, but generally pretty easy with the right clothing, to ride the Carolinas all year long. I know...I have done it ever since I have been down here (and that is over a 10 year period).
Where ever you ride, ride safely.

Collings Foundation Aircraft Ride (November 1, 2008)

A good day on the motorcycle, up early this morning on what was a warmer day, and rode out to Concord Regional Airport. Of late, it seems that it has been warbird and classic aircraft central with visits this year by another B-17 and also a Ford Tri-Motor. I am a huge fan of aircraft of virtually all types, and enjoy seeing them up close when I can. The Collings Foundation flew in three WWII classics, and I got to see them today. At Left is a TP-51C Mustang. Interesting and rare version of this fighter, as it is a duel control version (can be flown from the front or rear seat) and also is a C version (most flown today are D's).

The second plane seen here is a Consolidated B-24J Liberator. It has four engines, and the type was flown during WWII over many of the cities of Europe, and also saw action against Japan. The plane was actually in many cases a better aircraft than the more famous B-17 but is the lesser known of the two. It was said to be a difficult plane to fly. Like the B-17 it has a lot of machine guns for protection and also depended on escort aircraft like the P-51 to protect it from German and Japanese fighters. However, many were shot down by enemy aircraft, as well as from ground gunners who shot at the aircraft.

The plane at left is the famous Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress. It is one of the most famous aircraft of WWII. The B-17 was famous for the bombing of Germany, but also was used against Japan. In fact the raid on Pearl Harbor was picked up on radar but was thought to be a flight of B-17's which were expected that morning. The B-17 was known as a rugged aircraft and could take a lot of punishment. However, like the B-24 and other planes, it was relatively light weight with little or no armor, and could be easily shot down if hit in the right places. Like the B-24 it was unpressurized and unheated; crews had to breathe bottled oxygen in the cold of the upper air, being careful not to touch metal with bare hands (if they did they would stick to the metal). Thousands gave their lives in these aircraft, in actions that can only really be imagined today. I did enjoy seeing these aircraft today, and gave a bit of thanks for what those who served in planes like these gave in our defense.

After the aircraft tours, I wandered for a bit around Concord and Kannapolis. It had been cool this week (below freezing in the AM, warmer in the afternoon to around 60) but today it got up to 70. I was riding in the cool (feeling only slightly like a bomber pilot in a leather jacket and gloves, but well above freezing and sub freezing of that periods flying) but it rose fairly quickly. Starting to see the full colors of fall locally, including some vivid reds. As always enjoyed the ride on the bike, traffic in the early mornings (North Carolina I have noted tends to sleep in on Saturday, a habit I have taken advantage of on a few rides) was light, and it was a very good ride. I did not cover a lot of distance today, but it was a very enjoyable cruise nonetheless.

Not a great deal of motorcycle news of late. I did enjoy some viewing(s) of Wild Hogs on the tv (Starz has been showing it again), and also got in a new issue of Motorcyclist. I am not renewing that magazine though, but will be keeping my AMA membership and that magazine which comes with the membership.

I will be getting in some riding this week after work (and perhaps to work tomorow as I am working Sunday) this week. Next week will be driving to Richmond, VA with my wife Patty to explore that area. Going to be an interesting weekend coming up.

Blowing Rock/The Blue Ridge Parkway (October 20, 2008)

A most remarkable day in many ways. Started out with a call this morning that offered me a job transfer to Richmond , VA (which I accepted). Though my bike will remain here in North Carolina (to be ridden on visits back to my house) I will be covering both those rides and motorcycling (though not as a rider there) in Virginia as well. It ought to be interesting. However, after that news, I got on the motorcycle (being on vacation) and rode to Blowing Rock at 10am on a beautiful if cool day.
I got to Blowing Rock after a bit over two hours of riding. It was pretty crowded there as the leaves were at peak in the mountains. I went via NC 77 and up NC321. Traffic was not bad, and though they are still working on 321 (which is a year behind schedule) it was in better shape than last year. I got the photo of the bikers riding in Blowing Rock while in town. I also got a little turned around, and ended up off the Parkway. However after a short ride via a nice mountain highway (which I believe was 105) I got back on the Parkway at Linville near Grandfather Mountain. I rode on it from there toward Blowing Rock.
I took the photo of the coffin trailer while on the Parkway. Thought it was warmer than the ride last year. Traffic though (being a Monday) was not bad, and the ride was pretty remarkable along its length. I don't think there is a more remarkable road to ride in North Carolina (though must admit I have yet to ride The Dragon). Had a great time up there. Saw a wide range of colors and met a lot of interesting people both on two wheels (as was this group of Christian bikers) and four. I really enjoyed the curves, and the road condition was excellent. It was one of the best rides of the year.


All too soon, I had to head back from views such as this! Headed back into Blowing Rock, and down NC321. I was concerned about the rush hour traffic, but other then a little slow going in Hickory, NC and again in Mooresville it was not bad at all. I got back to my driveway at just before 6pm, having covered some 255 miles in the course of the day. I have been on many trips to the Parkway, and have enjoyed them all, but I have to say this was among the best. I rode solo today, but considering the impact of the phone call this morning early, it gave me some time to pause and reflect on what I have been through in the past and to wonder about the future to come. Life is full of adventure, and this will be another chapter in that adventure. I look forward to the days to come. Be watching here for more on motorcycling in both North Carolina and (starting in February 09) in Virginia as well!

Ride to Lowe's Motor Speedway

Always enjoy riding the motorcycle, and today was a very good day. Today, rode out to Lowe's Motor Speedway to see the events going on prior to tonight's Bank of America 500. Going early they had just a few things going on, a very light crowds, so it was nice to wander around. I don't live but a few miles from the track, so it was a short drive. Sure a lot of cool things to see though. Like the cars, the displays, the trailers filled with driver items (shirts, hats, etc), and of course a lot of tv people around. I make one of the races every year; earlier this year I was at the All-Star Race, which was a great time, and enjoyed it a great deal.

After a while there, went for a short ride. Certainly a nice day, humidity is gone (hopefully for the year) and even seeing some of the leaves falling around the area. I am told that fall colors are pretty close to peak in the mountains, and a ride there is part of my plan for the vacation week which is coming up starting October 20.

There has been a lot of bad stuff going on lately; a bad accident to a worker in my area on b-shift, the fact the plant is closing in the next year or so, the stock market and the economy tanking. However, a fine fall day, out on the roads of Concord, blue skies, and the breeze from my motorcycle put a big smile on my face today. I hope you have some great rides as well!

Finally, fuel (and some updates)

Took a ride last Sunday, for the first time in something like two weeks. Combination of two things kept me off the bike. First was either a light flu, or a bad cold, but it really made motorcycling out of the question for a few days. I guess it came at a good time (if there is ever a good time for something like that) as due to Hurricane Ike, fuel was in very short supply. It was wild, no premium (and the Vulcan does not like lower grades of fuel at all, as I found out once by mistake) and very little regular. Some 80% of the stations were out of gas, some for a long time. Long lines, short tempers (some fights, even some guns pulled)......a real mess. Still some stations are out of some brands, and prices are among the highest in the nation (just in time to hammer the visitors here this weekend for the NASCAR race this weekend). I hope to get out to see some of the things going on around the racetrack; usually a lot of cool things to see sometime this weekend. Rain expected for the next few days here, but the weekend is supposed to be nice. We shall see.
Little bits of news here and there on the new bikes coming out (for those who have credit and could get one, the few, the proud, the rich!). I did see that Honda is going to bring the DN-01 to America, came out in Japan last year. Sporty looking bike, has a 650cc (or so) engine, and an automatic transmission. Its not the first motorcycle to have that, but considering that Honda is doing it, sure to have a lot of interest. Its a bit on the pricy side (around $14,000) but an interesting looking motorcycle which you can see on the Honda web site.
Other than Harley's not a lot of the 2009 motorcycles here yet (though a few of the older designs such as my Kawasaki Vulcan 1500 which returns for 2009) are in the dealers. I had hoped to make it to the HD open house in Salisbury, but had to work that Saturday. I will be checking out some of the new 2009 Harley's; they seem to get them out first, and the rest follow. I am also looking forward to seeing the new Triumph Thunderbird, a big cruiser with a big engine, and its a vertical (not a V) twin motor.
Read that the Myrtle Beach Fall Rally went ok; though there was one death there in a traffic accident. There were also a few protest rides over the restrictions (some were tested at the fall rally) being planned for the bigger rallies next year. Will certainly be worth following how it all goes, with the state of the economy, will be interesting to see how happy Myrtle Beach is about driving away people who want to spend money in their town.
As for me, will be doing some riding this weekend around the race track area; hope to get a few photos of that, and will try to get a good one for my next post. Race weeks are always a lot of fun, and have a lot of things going on here in the Concord area. Also coming up is a week of October vacation, and hopefully a ride to the high country to see some fall color. Did a ride last summer to the beach (Wilmington, with some friends) but looking forward to getting back to the mountains. Its a remarkable area to ride and always enjoy my visits up there.

Indian Motorcycle Open House and New Dealer Opening

A bit of late news, but I just found it out today. I got this information from the Indian Motorcycle Web Site, which you can see by Googling (of course) "indian motorcycle". The brand is making its return this year with the 2009 Indian Chief which is a re-designed version of the last offering though "under new ownership". The motorcycles are being built in the new factory in Kings Mountain, NC....which is located pretty close to the South Carolina/North Carolina border. I have done some riding in that area having visited the Revolutionary War battlefield located in that area last year.
Saturday October 4, the day will start at the new factory at 116 Battleground Road at Kings Mountain, NC. Tours will be offered of the factory, and this will be to my knowledge the first time the public has been inside. There will then be a ride to the new (and first in the US) dealership which will leave around 12:30. Live music will start around 1:00 pm at the dealership, which is really first rate from the photo I have seen (again at the web site). The event is scheduled to run until 7:00 pm.
Unfortunately, I will not be able to make the event; for one thing I am working from 7am-3pm, and for another (see previous post) can't be sure to have enough gasoline to get there and back, or to be able to find any. The fuel situation in Charlotte remains pretty tight at this time. However, I am planning to ride out to see the new dealership and the factory, and (hopefully) we will eventually have fuel again. If you are in the area though and have the gas, drop by and see what they have to offer. If you can't make the event this Saturday, be sure to check out theIndian Motorcycle web site; its got some interesting things to see there.