Winter’s coming! That means we all will have time to get our rigs and bikes ready for the Howdy Summer Rally in June! That’s right I am starting early. We had a pretty good rally last year. Had more folks than we anticipated, that’s a good thing. All there had a good time. Too bad so many of you, the members couldn’t make it. Missing a really good time by not being there. Plenty of lodging around the area, if you are not into camping. You know the roads are great, a bit challenging, but great none the less! Make those plans now to attend. The Rally Flyer is in the newsletter, never to early to register. Come to think of it, we need volunteers for that rally. No need to ask for a job yet, that will come later. As always, we’ll need help with registration, clean up, may be food preparation, helping folks with the whole camping scene, would love a volunteer for a tech seminar. The more folks who volunteer, I promise, the less a volunteer has to work! Can’t get a better deal than that anywhere. More on the rally as the time approaches.
Most folks think that winter is lay up time for their bikes. To me, it’s the perfect time to go riding! My Harley seems to run better in the cold, the Beemer has heated grips, seat and I have a Gerbing (it’s never cold in it) and the folks in cars see us. Yep, if you listen you can hear them some times, “Look at the fool on the motorcycle, He must be freezing his….”. However, for the first time in years, my rig is in the middle of a forced lay up. No, I am fine. The scary stuff from the last issue went fine, I’m ok, but Red is down. Breathing problems. My diagnosis is “Hmmm, maybe those cracked heads need to be fixed or replaced.” So, if anyone has any Evo heads lying around collecting dust…. Starting to have sidecar withdrawal. The Beemer is a fine bike, but I’ve gotten used to riding that big old multi colored beast! You now, there is just something about riding a sidecar. Hard to explain, but you all know what I am talking about. It gets in you and makes you want to do weird things, like ride it to Alaska, or take a kid to New England just to see some relatives (and may be take in Laconia) or, I better stop. This is not healthy… Actually found some heads for a 1988 Evo on eBay, now just have to keep an eye on them so I don’t get jumped at the last minute, like on the last set I tried to buy! Was hoping to yak about my new Harley this time, but (unlike Art) I am still waiting! Supposed to be in November, we’ll see…
Winter is also when we have our Christmas Party. It is scheduled for December 21 (first day of Winter no less), same place as last year up in Kennesaw. Look in the newsletter for more details. It is also time for another one of “Eddie’s Campouts”, November 15. It’s in South Georgia again, so the weather should be perfect for camping. Details and may be even directions are also in the newsletter. If Red is running and there is not a monsoon, we’ll be there. Don’t want to do the car again….
No one responded to my suggestion that we go to Barber’s. You all sure you don’t want to go there again, or are you all just holding out for the new museum. Will try this one again when the weather gets better, or maybe you all would rather go there in cars? The new facility is going to be great. Might actually be worth waiting for. Have heard and read that it will be mighty impressive.
Now I know some of you all are disappointed that we did not have any organized rides this past year. Well, we asked for suggestions. Still waiting. One way or another, we will have these rides again. They do not have be centered in the Atlanta area, they can be over nighters. They can be worked into one of Eddie’s Campouts. The possibilities are endless. I’ll organize the first one for March or April. No, not saying where yet, because I haven’t decided. The best way to promote sidecars is to ride them and be seen riding them. Our little rides around the state provide a lot of folks with their only glimpse at sidecars. May be if they see others ride them, that little recessive gene that makes us love these things might go off! So, you see, we are doing a public service by joining with other sidecarists and ride in a group. We might save some poor wretch from a life with out a sidecar. Now isn’t that a worthy effort.
James
The campout for this November 15, 16, 17, will be at Seminole State Park in southwest Georgia. Reservations for campsites are recommended. The phone numbers are: Atlanta-770-389-7275, outside Atlanta-1-800-864-7275. We hope to see many members there. Nothing is planned. Just come and have a good time.
Eddie
Lots of stuff going on out there since the last issue. I’ve been exchanging newsletters with some of the other sidecar groups, so when I see something of interest, I will pass it along to y’all. I’ve included a story on the Keystone Sidecar Group’s Keystone Kampout, the Canadian Sidecar Owners club National Rally, and the Hoosier Hacks So Long Summer Camp Out (newsletter only...not on Website). You’ll also finds blurb on hack’d magazine, and Speed Vision. You will find information on this year’s Georgia Sidecar Club Christmas Party. It was a great time last year, so plan early to attend. Also, it’s not too early to start making plans for the 9th Annual Howdy Summer Sidecar Rally at The World Famous Two Wheels Only Resort!
There are a couple of programs coming up on cable that may be of interest. On the Travel Channel on Monday 11/4/02, 9-10pm and again on Sunday 11/10/02, 9-10pm will be a special on the Wall, “Vietnam Memorial: Wall of Courage”. There have been many tributes left at The Wall by visitors. The most famous may be the vintage Harley-Davidson chopper that was left as a tribute on Memorial Day 1995. This machine was hand-built by a group of Wisconsin Vets in honor of those who died or are Missing In Action. The “Wisconsin Rolling Memorial” was put together by many hands, all contributing a portion of the bike. Dog tags from 37 MIAs were included on the bike. The History Channel will be running “Boys Toys”. On 12/3/02 the show on motorcycles will air.
I am sure that all of you have done something interesting on you rig. Let’s hear about it! When I receive a submission, I tend to print it without any editing. If you submit something (please, please, do), and would like to have it checked for errors, just let me know, and I will run it through the spell checker for you. Submissions via e-mail are easy for me to work with, and would be my preferred medium. However, any method you choose to use would be appreciated. It can be typed, handwritten, or notes on a napkin. Just get it out to me. We need member input!
Art Rhoades
Hope to see everybody at the Christmas party this year. It will be held in a private room at His ‘n’ Hers. This will be a great time to get together with other club members and socialize. All club members, their significant other, and their children are invited. The best part is that the Georgia Sidecar Club will be picking up the tab! It is requested that each person bring an unwrapped, unisex gift. There is a $10 limit on the cost of the gift, but if you find something nifty for $2, that is just fine. Gifts will be exchanged through a special drawing.
Janice Rinaldo has posted photos of her 2-day, 450 ride to Deal’s Gap. Check out the photos by clicking here.
In early October, the Speed Vision channel started airing a piece on their show “Corbin’s Ride On” about the 2002 USCA National Rally that was held in Buena Vista, VA in July. It included shots of Georgia Sidecar Club members John Kennedy and Katie Rhoades. If you looked closely, you can see glimpses of other Georgia Sidecar Club members, their rigs and campsites in the show. The program ended with a shot of Carl’s “Crapper” resplendent in its new Porsche Red paint job!
I received my copy of the summer issue of hack’d magazine shortly after the last Georgia Sidecar Club newsletter was finished. This latest issue of hack’d included a full page devoted to Carl’s refurbished “Crapper”. It should be noted that Chris Dodson formerly owned the 1983 Honda CX 650 that powers this unique rig.
The editor of hack’d, Chris Dodson attended our 2002 Howdy Summer Rally. She featured a 4-page spread of text and photos about our rally. There are numerous photos from our rally, many of which were submitted by yours truly. They can be found interspersed throughout the magazine. This kind of national exposure can only help attendance at our 9th Annual Howdy Summer Rally. It is most interesting when you get to meet up with sidecar enthusiasts from other parts of the country. Let’s face it. At 20 bucks a head, we’re not in it for the money!
Georgia Sidecar Club friend, Kevin Klages, from West Virginia, made a cross-country trip last May. He carried the ashes of Jim Dodson with him to a memorial service that was planned for his west coast friends. The memorial service was held at the 25th Yakima Unrally, on Memorial Day weekend. There are 8 pages of text and pictures dedicated to trials and tribulations of this trip. “Jim and Kevin’s Excellent Adventure” is an excellent piece.
Hack’d magazine is billed as the magazine for & about sidecarists. To me, it is our best source of sidecar related information. If you don’t subscribe to it already, then you should. If we don’t support it with our subscriptions and contributions of information, we can’t expect it to be there for us in the future.
Art
There was a lot going through my mind on the day before the anniversary of the attacks of 9/11. I felt compelled to write it down, and to pass it along. Not sure why, just did……………… Art
About a year ago, I took over the responsibilities of the Georgia Sidecar Club Newsletter. It was a short time after the terrorist attacks of 9/11. For my part in the newsletter I simply offered condolences for the victims and their families. I left it to Georgia Sidecar Club President James Allmond to address the subject that was occupying all of our thoughts. James’s words about the attack were well written and to the point. There were countless accounts and opinions written about 9/11, as well as thousands of images. Folks starting going to church and reading the bible. We made resolutions to spend more time with family and to value each day. I am sure that the birth rate hit a peak about 9 months later as people began to realize that life is short.
At this point, I feel the need to go off on a tangent for a moment. Last July, my family and I went on a 10-day trip on our sidecar rig that covered 9 states, and featured 5 days in Buena Vista, VA at the USCA National Rally. Since the attacks of 9/11, I have been more determined than ever to tour more of the United States of America. As we traveled, I could not help but to be impressed with vastness and natural beauty of this country. While we were driving over the rugged, tree-topped mountains of West Virginia, I recall wondering, what in the world were those pinheads that attacked us thinking? Did they think that taking out a couple of buildings would crush our nation? They may have wounded America. They may have killed thousands of innocent people, destroyed families and brought sorrow to many. But in the end, they will be the losers.
A year has elapsed, so where are we now? Have we truly changed our outlook on life, or have we slid back into complacency?
I turned on the TV today in order to catch the news and guess what.. The U.S. government raised its threat alert status to its second highest level -- code orange -- after receiving what officials called "an abundance of credible intelligence" indicating terrorists were planning attacks to coincide with the September 11 anniversary. Tomorrow is the anniversary of 9/11. Memorials are to take place all across the nation. Newspapers and television have been doing stories, running pictures and video all week. While it may hurt to relive that dark time, we need to. We need to remember what happened, and understand that it could happen again.
I checked my e-mail today and guess what. I had a message from Georgia Sidecar Club President, James Allmond. After his trip to Sturgis in August, he needed to put himself into the hands of his physicians for some maintenance. He ended up having an angioplasty done and one stint put in. The doctors gave him the green light to ride, but he is taking it slow. Talk about being given a reality check!
I got a phone call today and guess what.. It was Dale Cochran, a sidecar buddy calling from Massachusetts. I had expected to see Dale at the USCA National Rally in Virginia last July, but he couldn’t make it due to an injury sustained while riding his brand new (350 miles) dual-purpose motorcycle. It seems a young man driving a carload of his friends made a left turn directly into Dale’s path. Kid says he didn’t see him. With zero time to react, Dale center-punched the car doing about 35-40 mph. He flew over the car and broke his pelvis in two on impact. Dale is able to walk unassisted now, but still has a long recovery ahead of him. Dale is a “sidecar nut”, with a garage full of iron. He has been riding motorcycles since the sixties, so motorcycles/sidecars are very much a part of his life. I hope that when he is once again physically fit, that he will be able to find the courage to get back on and ride again.
You may ask; what are all these ramblings on about? Is he losing it? Is Art about ready to fall into a deep, dark abyss of melancholy? Maybe, but if you hang with me a bit longer I’ll try to get to the point, but not quite yet.
In the space of an hour I was beleaguered with not one or two, but three events to contemplate (one at a time is normally more than enough for me to think about). There was an act of war, an act of God and an act of fate. Each one of them serious in their own right. I couldn’t help thinking; life is short.
If you were expecting me to give you the answers to the great mysteries of life, sorry. All I can do is to offer up the solution that works for me. Ride to work or to the store, on vacation or just for the sake of sanity. Just get out there and ride. No excuses, no procrastinations, just do it. There are no second chances. Do it while you are able, because life is short. Just remember, be careful out there!
Art