ON THE AVENUE

KNOB MOUNTAIN NORTH CAROLINA MOTORCYCLE CHAPTER

OFFICIAL NEWSLETTER

BMWRA # 53 BMWMOA # 216

APRIL 2001 KNOB NO. 50

JANUARY MEETING HELD

The January 21, 2001 business meeting was held at 10:30am in the upper room of the Little Siena Restuarant near Marion, NC.

President Terry Murray welcomed everyone to the meeting. Officers for the 2001-2003 term were announced: President - Terry Murray; Vice President - Tim Hudspeth; Secretary - Bobbi Smith; Treasurer - Sharon Wilson; and Activities Director - Danny Wilson.

Sharon Wilson then gave the treasurer's report. Last year the club paid out $300 for Ride for Kids, $213 for postage, and $166 for flowers. The current balance was $684.94.

Tim Hudspeth announced that Gene Newsome of Extreme BMW/Ducati in Hickory invites each of you to visit his new shop. Gene will put you on his preferred customer list, and he will give you a 10% discount on purchases made in the shop. The shop has also begun weekly rides for those who need someone to ride with.

Hank Rowland announced that the BMWRA National Rally will be held Thursday, September 20 through Satuday, September 22. Hank is the Rally Master, and our club will work the rally.

Activities Director Danny Wilson appointed two Knobby rally chairs,Tim Hudspeth and Gene Smith, to help plan Knob Mountain club events for this summer. The site decided upon for the Knobby Campout is Hot Springs, NC. The date is June 15-17.

Lydia Sweatt spoke about the Ride for Kids campaign for this year. She stated that our club was the second highest fund raising club present in Asheville last year. The Honda Hoot and June RFK will be held in Knoxville, TN on June 23 this year, and Asheville will host the Ride for Kids on August 20. The staring point for the August 20 ride will be the Builtmore Mall and the finishing point will be Lake Lure. Some discussion followed concerning how our club could raise money for this year's donation. Among the suggestions were: have a car bash, solicit donations from businesses, and have a Fun Run open to the public and offer 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place prizes. No final decision was made on any of these suggestions. Danny Wilson stated that the Knobby video shown at the Christmas party is available for $20 and that all proceeds would go to the Ride for Kids.

The 50-50 drawing netted $140; $70 went to the club treasury and $70 went towinner Freddie Powell. Freddie Powell won the Knobbiest Knobby award, too. Walt Sweat told us that he would make his racing debut in Deland, FL on March 2nd. The meeting then adjourned.

NO SWEATT RACING

by Walt Sweatt

The bike and rider were looking good in practice, moving smoothly around the track and through traffic - at least that is what my buddies told me. During the second practice session, excessive tension on the throttle led to a broken pushrod. This was repaired by the support mechanic team at track side (Weazil found one) and the bike was back in action. All went well until the end of the last practice session, when it fizzled to a stop in the second turn. No time for repairs before the start of the race, so we turned into a manic crowd of spectators to cheer on Ken Pitts on his Moto Guzzi. Ken battled valiantly, but could not overcome the horsepower of a Honda 750, and finished second.

The R75/5 is sitting forlornly on its lift in the shop, waiting for me to make up to it

and get it running again. This BMW, will entail many modifications for extra horsepower and reliability - all legal, of course. (Y'all know me.) Much was known and much was learned from this first outing into racing.

Both the bike and I will be ready for Summit Point on May 27-28. You will already be at the rally in Cass, WV this Memorial Day weekend. Come up and root for the big names in Ashville Racing: Jeff Gundlach, GUZ, (designer of Walt's Chili T-shirt), Ken Pitts, GUZ, (famous Ride for Kids photographer), Carl Nyberg, HONDA, local president of the Audubon Society, and Scott Olofson, BMW, (an old R50/2), and Walt Sweatt. For those of you who plan ahead, whoever you are, the schedule for 2001 follows: May 27-28, Summit Point, (WV) Raceway - practice day May 26; July 14-15, AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days - practice day July 13; Oct. 6-7, Talladega, (AL), Gran Prix Raceway - practice day Oct. 5; Oct.20-21, Carolina Motorsports Park, Kershaw (SC) - practice day Oct. 19.

Locations and directions to the track can be found at the AHRMA website at ahrma.org/calenda.html See you at the races.

NE FL WINTER RALLY 2001

by Susan and Tim Hudspeth

First of all, never trust the weatherman. Tim's brother is a meteorologist working at the National Climatic Data Center in Asheville, and I don't think even he could have called this one. Anyway, we had planned on getting back to the 2001 NE Florida Winter Rally come what may. We both had battled the flu over the holidays, and now it was time to go somewhere!

We left the house around noonish January 11 (the Wonder Lab's 13th birthday) and headed south. But before we could get to I-26, we were detained at a license check in Flat Rock. The kindly NCHP officer took a good long look at the bike inspection sticker as we rolled up. We barely missed the county deputy who decided to jump in front of us and yell, "Whoa, Whoa!" The NCHP officer looked at Tim's driver's license, asked about our trip, and returned the license with a "Be careful and have a good time". You see, in preparation of this Winter Rally, Tim had polished and waxed until there was nothing left to polish and wax. So he decided to change tires. It was during the cleaning of the brake calipers (Don't you all do that?) that he noticed that the inspection sticker had expired last October. The next Saturday (5 days before our trip) we took the bike to get a bona fide inspection. Of course, Tim had removed the old sticker so that the new one would have a nice, polished plate to adhere to. Arriving back home with the new sticker, Tim noticed that the old sticker actually was for 1999! It was 15 months out of date, and we missed a ticket by just 5 days.

Getting back to the present...We jumped on the slab, and 472 miles, 6 hours, and 55 minutes later, we arrived in Starke, FL, cute and dry. The next morning, the TV weather radar was showing rain and snow back home in Hooterville. Friday morning, we headed out to Camp Blanding, the site of the rally, where we got to talk to Haskell and Pauline and Joe Katz. Joe told us the 2002 MOA rally will be in Trenton, Ontario. Tim and I then left for a 220 mile round trip ride to Cedar Key for lunch. Nice little spot, shame the storm had churned up the Gulf of Mexico like it did, but still, a very nice place. Pelicans and dolphins were in abundance as were tourists dressed in fleece. It was supposed to be low 70s and partly cloudy. It wasn't. We did a little shopping and picture-taking and then headed back to the rally site. We took a really quick after dark stroll around the campground, and the wind was blowing so cold and hard Friday night that it made me think of Act II, Scene IV of King Lear. Saturday morning, we decided it would be polite to register and see what was happening. Pulling up in the parking lot, who should we see but Fred Reese and Wayne McBride. We all sashayed inside and gave the rally hosts our money. We also found out that Tom High had been involved in an extremely serious motorcycle accident several weeks back, and that his injuries were major. Tim and I were going over to the Pier Restaurant in Flagler Beach for lunch (another 220 mile lunch ride), and afterward, we stopped by Halifax Medical Center to see if we could see Tom but were glad to find out that he had been discharged the day before. He had had his gall bladder removed due to infection, and the many broken bones should take quite awhile to heal. We pray that it is a complete and speedy recovery, Tom!

It was a brisk ride back from Daytona. We used a little of I-95 to speed up the process. There really isn't a lot of difference in wind buffeting between 80 and 100 miles per hour, anyway. Back at the campsite, we finally got up with Dr. Ike and Jim Ingram and were entertained by the great Shamu. Now off to cook steaks and try to win a door prize or two. We didn't win a thing, but neither did the guy who thought he had won the Kermit chair. Around $1200 was raised for Tom, so that was very good. The time seemed to go by so fast. Next thing we knew, it was Sunday morning, and we were headed back up the road toward home. It has been 1478 miles and we plan to do more! Know of any good places to eat?

SWAP SHOP

For Sale: 1996 Siena red R1100RT $8500. Silver gray Nolan helmet, size medium, $130. White System 3 helmet, size medium, $175. Call Bill at 828-612-5824.

For Sale: Black R-80 with Pichler sport fairing; both stock sport and Parabellum 22" tall windshield. New black paint, looks fantastic. Brown side stand. Corbin seat with custom cover. Many updates and improvements; oil cooler, running lights, and much more. 107K. Engine rebuilt at 70K; all internal parts from crashed '93 R100 with 13K miles. Transmission rebuilt last 3K miles; all new seals and bearings. Carbs rebuilt. More, call for details. Don't want to sell, but wife insists that I sell this one or the new K12RS. Price:$2,790. Location: Winston-Salem, NC. Contact Bert Brumfield at brumfie@netunlimited.net or call 336-785-0224 after 6p.m. EST.

THE 74th PSALM

(Author unknown; adapted and submitted by David Powell)

1. The Hog is my cycle, I shall not want another.

2. It maketh me to lie down in the muddy roads, it maketh me to fear the fast rice burners.

3. It tireth my soul; it taketh me into the paths of disgrace for its name sake.

4. Yea, though I ride through the valleys, I walk up the hills; I will have no comfort while it is with me.

5. It disgraces me in the presence of mine enemies, and annointest my clothes with oil: my tank runneth dry.

6. Surely this thing will follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the madhouse forever. Amen.

BIKE WEEK 2001

Rolling, rolling, rolling...which is what Tim and I were doing about 7:00a.m. Wednesday, March 7. Blue skies and temperatures in the mid-twenties would accompany us to our destination of Bike Week 2001. The day before, we had experienced 1 1/2 inches of snow and 45 mph wind gusts. We didn't know how many tree limbs we were going to have to "Keneviel" over before we got to I-26.

Along the way, Tim and I passed a few folks trailering their rides, so we knew we were going in the right direction. We stopped for lunch in Richmond Hill, GA, and removed electric vests and heavy gloves. It had warmed up considerably! Arrival time in St. Augustine was close to 2p.m. (No, we still don't camp. We still don't trailer, either.) Anyway, after unpacking, we vroomed down A1A to Flagler for a look around and a late supper on the oceanfront.

Thursday morning, we made haste to Bulow Campground to visit Dunkin, Jim Baker, and Mike Cooper. They had arrived in Daytona the Friday before. We all walked around the campground to see who had already gotten there. There's Weazil! Bob and Helen, too! And over yonder is a hat with Terry Murray under it!

Afterwards, Tim and I left to go visit with 'our' Aunt Lucille in South Daytona and then check out the BMW store and the various other dealers. Later that day, we were back at the campground as we were going to eat supper with Jim and Mike at the Fisherman's Net. Ask either of these two gentlemen about the meals they had devoured there all week. They also highly recommended Norris' Crazy Crab.

Friday morning, Jim, Dunkin, and Mike were headed back to Charlotte, and Tim and I were left to gorge by ourselves. Tough job, boys, but we think we did you proud! Tim is trying creams to remove the stretch marks!

We did go on the BMW lunch ride and met some very nice people there, especially the Florida Highway Patrol officer who was leading the first group out. See Tim for the highly illegal details. Anyway, we puttered around Merritt Island for a while and, after plodding along for what seemed like centuries in horrendous Daytona traffic, we had another fine supper and soon returned to St. Augustine in a cool rain. We were warm and taking our time traveling up A1A, but apparently everyone else was not warm. They were all hunkered down and in some kind of hurry. When we stopped for gas, a guy on an R1100RT equipped with GPS and other sundry techno geek stuff pulled in behind us to ask if we knew where the Iron Butt dinner was being held. We said that we didn't know where it was. He informed us that it was by invitation only. We said that ours must have gotten lost in the mail. We did wish him luck in finding it. Tim sent him south, and we went north, onward through the rain.

Saturday morning found Tim and me at the track to check out the vendors. We chatted with the guys from Motoport. They tried to sell me a new Canyon suit. My suit is only six years old and still works a lot better than anything else out there. We found out that Deal's Gap has gone commercial with videos, maps, and a T-shirt that reads "Ride Florida - 11 curves in 318 miles". After a little of this and that, we went back to St. Augustine to play on the beach. The crowd up here is a lot different. It is a lot quieter. You may hear bikes come in or go out, but nothing like Daytona Beach!

Sunday morning rolled around, and we headed out on US 17 to put off some of the traffic that we would encounter on I-95. In Brunswick, GA, we fueled up the bike and ourselves, amd on a whim, decided to visit the Mighty 8th Flying Division Museum. After all, we had all day. We have seen this facility located off I-95 on many Bike Week trips amd always said that we would make a visit someday. Tim's dad was in the 356th division in Europe, and my daddy was engaged in the Pacific Theater during WWII. There were references to these at the museum, as well, so there was a personal interest.

I-95 was like a war zone. It was packed. The left lane was clogged with trucks hauling m/c trailers, semis hauling trailers, and Floridians hauling...well, you know. Can't vote, can't drive! Vehicles flying up behind us and nowhere to go, everyone was weaving in and out of traffic, jockeying to get in front, only to slam on their brakes. We were beside a truck with NC plates pulling a trailer full of Brand Xs followed by a smaller truck loaded with furniture. Going Nowhere! In exasperation, Tim exited I-95, stage right, and followed US 21 up to Orangeburg, SC. We would get on I-26 close to Columbia, SC. Ten minutes back onto I-26, and who should we pass but the smae trucks with the Brand Xs and the furniture! Memo to self: "US 21, good. I-95, bad"!

In spite of it all, we made it home in good time. We also hoped that there would not be any discomfort with our new Schuberth Concept helmets on the trip down and back. We are happy to report that they passed with flying colors. However, our riding suits seem to have shrunk ever so slightly. We wonder why. See you at Bike Week 2002!

RIDING SEASON HAS BEGUN

by Shelba Murray

Yes, I know riding began in January for some of you, but for me, it began yesterday. The Knobbies met Sunday morning at Quincey's (now Western Sizzlin') in Morganton for breakfast and the Sunday ride. Only, by mutual, unspoken consent, quite a few, if not all, of us walked down to the Waffle House for breakfast instead. The fare was delicious, and the waitresses were most attentive and appreciative.

After eating, we stood around and talked until restlestness set in, and then we mounted up for a ride to cooler places. We no sooner got started, than Gene Smith's belly pan fell off. That caused several of us to turn around to see how we could help, while others waited in a gas station parking lot for our return. Gene stowed the skinned up belly pan near a building, saying that he'd return for it that evening. So, off we went to Damascus, Virginia.

I can never ride this route too many times, for it is so beautiful and peaceful that I always want to go back. Tiny, blue wild flowers grew along the road banks, their faces turned toward the sun. White water rushed over the rocks of the river, filling the air with the swooshing sound of its journey. Wind-damaged trees lay twisted and broken, evidence of some strong wind that had passed since last I'd been here. Black Angus cattle still cropped grass in the same fields, though, and the old, tumble-down barn hadn't changed, either.

We stopped around noon at Cook's Cafeteria in Mountain City, TN. As usual, the meal was sumptuous. The cook has a grand way with roast beef and gravy, just like his daughter promised as we spoke to her in the parking lot. Terry found a piece of coconut cream pie for desert, and I found choclate fudge cake, so we were happy. Back outside, we donned our riding gear and rode on to Damascus and lottery tickets for some. Ice water helped to quench our thirst, for the temperature was warm.

Upon leaving Damascus, Danny Wilson led us up Route 58 toward White Mountain. This is always a fun way to ride because you get to travel through several northern counties on your way back toward West Jefferson. There are plenty of horses in this country, including one tethered in a yard in a trailer court!

We stopped for fuel and conversation at a gas station near West Jefferson. While Terry paid for the gas, David Huey and I trotted across the road to watch a chain saw artist at work. He was creating lots of cute little bears, all with smiling, up-turned faces. He put little sign boards on the front with sayings like, "Will work for luv" or "Wazop?" David and I learned that the man was from Wyoming and came here every year to make and sell his bears. He said he planned to go back to Wyoming once he had $4000 in his pocket. David rolled his eyes at that, figuring that even at $125 a bear, it was going to take awhile, so we politely took our leave and dodged traffic as we made our way back across the road.

Leaning against the gas station wall, I watched a pickup truck pulling a trailer hauling a grill and a bed, and thought again that I really needed to find a bed for our guest room. As the truck made a left turn, the bed, mattress, box spring, and head and foot boards fell off onto the pavement! The truck continued to drag the grill for several feet before realizing what had happened. A man in a van (maybe a friend or family member?) stopped to move the mattress and box spring out of the highway while the truck's driver rescued the grill and then bumped it over as he backed up. They finally got everything reloaded, and the excitement over, we loaded up and rode on.

Sam Chester led us onto the Blue Ridge Parkway, and we rode along that peaceful byway for awhile before those living toward Morganton and Hickory turned off. Terry and I continued on along the much loved parkway. As we neared our exit at Linville Falls, Terry became sleepy and turned into a pull-over. There we met a couple who had passed us earlier, riding a gray K1200LT. They were Terry and Mary Powell of Florida and had just ridden down from Vicksburg by way of Peaks of Otter that morning.

In talking to Mary, I began asking her what rallies they usually attended. She said not any since they were recent converts to BMW after riding Harleys for a number of years. I began to tell her of some up-coming rallies, and when I mentioned Georgia Mountain Rally at Bald Mountain Park near Hiawassee, GA, her eyes had a knowing look. "My inlaws started that park," she said. She then told me how it all started and said that she hadn't seen it in years, since the owners had been killed in a plane crash several years ago and since she no longer was married into that family. We chatted awhile longer, exchanged e-mail addresses, and told them where to find dinner and lodging in Little Switzerland. They then donned helmets and were gone. Terry and I again mounted up, and leisurely continued our ride home.

As we neared our driveway, our youngest son, Rodney, came up over the hill on his Honda 200 dirt bike, dust on his jeans and a contented look of pleasure on his face. Yes, a new riding season has begun, but more than that, a new generation has learned the joy of motorcyle riding.

MEET, AND THEY WILL COME

by Janice Hicks

They come around 7 p.m. on Thursday evenings. They have traded in their white shirts and ties or dresses for black leather and boots. The noise can be enormous or just a slight whine. They come in groups or alone. It doesn't matter; once they get there, it's just one, big family. The bikers have gathered once again, as they do every week, weather permitting for the fair-weather riders. They come for the fun of it, to socialize and to shoot the bull. Most importantly, they come to check out the motorcycles, swap stories, and to eat. These motorcycle enthusiasts gather at Arby's parking lot, Hwy 321 North, Hickory, North Carolina.

I'm talking about doctors, lawyers, preachers, pharmacists, judges, accountants, engineers, teachers, airplane pilots, law officers, students, housewives, the unemployed, the retired, and the handicapped. People of all ages (infant to 99) and entire families come by motorcycles or cars.

They leave work early or go in late. They just have to come to these bike gatherings. To some, it's like calling their name, and saying to come and bring your friends and families to see the beautiful bikes. To each, there is a particular motorcycle they wish to see or discuss. Maybe it's a Harley, a BMW, Honda, or that vintage bike you have in your garage. There are always riders ready to discuss their bike, a trip, or a ride they have done in the past or have just gotten back from, or that they're planning.

As the evening goes on, the younger bikers (ages 18-25), those on the speed bikes (known as crotch rockets) are getting restless. Some want to show off by doing burn-outs, riding wheelies, or just riding fast. Some may get into trouble with the local law, but only a few out of the 500 or more who attend will. The rest are watching, along with the law officers. The law officers watch for the ones that are brave enough or just crazy to ride so carelessly and fast. There goes an officer to chase one of the bikers for his speed and careless riding.

The restaurants are still packed from the bikers. You can see by the remodeling that the bikers have brought enough money to the eating places surrounding this community. Most of the people in this area are also enjoying the show that these bikers put on. Many are motorcyclists themselves. Even the non-bikers are thinking of becoming bikers and joining in the freedom we bikers are enjoying.

The evening is coming to a close. You can tell by the sound of bikes cranking that it must be close to 9:00p.m. It is by mutual agreement that they just leave as they came. There is no set time for coming or for leaving, just the freedom of knowing that you can come and go as you wish.

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

April 30 MotoGuzzi Day, Angier, NC

May 4-6 Annual GA Mountain Rally, Hiawassee, GA drjim@tyroneteeth.com

May 18-20 Western Reserve BMW MC & Sidecar Campout, Whispering Hills Campground, Shreve, OH onehugger76@yahoo.com

May 18-20 Natural State Rally, Sequoyah Park at Arkansas River Lock & Dam #9, Morrilton, AR

MAY 24-27 13th Rocket City Rally, Ditto Landing, Huntsville. AL, vheadric@bellsouth.net

JUNE 7-10 7th Annual Howdy Summer Sidecar Rally, GA Sidecar Club, 478-471-9153

JUNE 15-17 Knobby Campout, Hot Springs, NC

JULY 12-15 29th Top O' The Rockies Rally, Paonia, Colorado www.coloradobeemers.com

AUG. 9-12 28th Stanley Stomp Rally, Bananza Campground, Central Idaho, gsidaho@micron.net or 208-378-9418

AUG. 17-19 Hard to be Humble Rally, Livingston 4-H Park, Pontiac, IL, chasman@davesworld.net or 309-378-4588

AUG. 31-SEPT. 3 27th Finger Lakes Rally, Hidden Valley Campground, Watkins Glen State Park, NY

Note: Knobbies meet at the BP Gas Station off exit 113, Rutherford College, at 8:00 a.m. every Sunday morning to decide upon a breakfast location and a ride destination. We will no longer meet at Quincey's in Morganton.

RULES TO RIDE BY

(Reprinted with permission from BMWONS Motorcylcle Club, New Brunswick, NS)

1. Know and believe that you are invisible to all other drivers.

2. When approaching any intersection, assume cars traveling in the opposite direction are going to turn left and run over you. Be prepared to take evasive action.

3. Always, ALWAYS have an escape route out of a situation to avoid the consequences of other people's mistakes. Keep looking for the gap that you can use when someone else screws up.

4. Adjust your speed to your reaction time. At the end of a tiring day, it will be much longer than it was on the way to work at 8 a.m., so ride with bigger safety margins.

5. Check BOTH directions when the light turns green. Sooner or later, someone will run the red light.

6. Drivers that are using their car phones are not using their brains. Watch out for them.

7. Mirrors are important. If they don't show anything but your elbows, buy some that do. Always use your mirrors.

8. Use other people's mirrors, too. Look into the mirror of the car in front of you. That way, you can see where they are looking and how attentive they are. If you can see them, chances are better that they can see you.

9. Trucks and vans often have a hard time checking their right side blind spot. If you can't see their mirrors, they can't see you behind them.

10. Slippery oil, antifreeze, and ATF look like water, particularly in low light. Try to avoid all wet spots, but if you can't, try to ride over them smoothly.

11. Check under (behind) parked cars. Those legs you see belong to a child who may run out in front of you.

12. Anticipate the moves of other vehicles. Drivers don't always use their turn signals in traffic, but you MAY be able to tell where they are going by watching their heads turn just before they change lanes.

13. Treat all metal surfaces - train rails, bridge gratings, manhole covers - with the utmost respect. They offer very little traction when dry, and almost none when wet. Ride over them as smoothly as possible.

14. Ride in a gear that will allow you to accelerate quickly if you need to get out of a tight spot.

15. Never lose your temper when riding.....If you do, STOP, take a breather, then resume your ride.

16. Always be on the lookout for, and expect, the unexpected.

17. Avoid racing with other motorists.

18. If you're not sure, DON'T!