WILLING WORKER BEES Assistant Chapter Director Grayson Dixon

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1 Gold Wing Road Riders Association Northeast Region B, Maryland District, Chapter B Vol. XXVI Issue 8 August 2016 Chapter Director Aaron Cain acain64@yahoo.com Ms. SunShine Lillian Cruz Mbr. Enhmnt Coor. Hamp & ShaRon Conway Visit & ChoY Coordinator Shirley Dorsey shydee@comcast.net WILLING WORKER BEES Assistant Chapter Director Grayson Dixon mortman44@rocketmail.com Couple of the Year Charles & Shirley Dorsey shydee@comcast.net Goodie Store Proprietor Charlene Fogg Historian Assistant Chapter Director Lillian Cruz lillian.cruz-bradford@comcast.net Treasurer Kenneth Trass trass5gw@comcast.net Motortist Awareness Program Kenneth Trass trass5gw@comcast.net Newsletter Editor Kenneth Trass Rider Educator Bruce Hill, bruce.hill8@verizon.netl Webmaster Aaron Cain acain64@yahoo.com Ride for Kids Coordinators Lillian Cruz, lillian.cruz-bradford@comcast.net A funny thing happened. A funny thing happened to me on my way to Idaho. Aer four weeks on the road I returned home for a short respite before heading out to the Idaho District Rally. I spent much of my road me this year parcipang in the Tour of Honor. I planned to a end the rally and pick up a few more memorial sites. The trip included a stop in Streetsboro, OH to visit one of my best friends, Greg and his wife. My first leg was my home to Greg s house (red X on rout) in Streetsboro, OH. The direct route was an easy 350 miles but my memorial site visits extended the ride to 650 miles. I have enjoyed vising these veteran and first responder memorials over the last couple of years. It would be an interesng study to see how many were built before 9/11 as compared to aer. Years ago when I traveled to Germany and the former Soviet Union, I was struck by the large number of war memorials honoring the fallen soldiers. We on the other hand did not or at least they were not as prevalent now. The Civil War were the only memorial I saw with any regularity. Anyway one thing about chasing the memorials, Garmin navigaon can put you on some interesng roads. My (Continued on page 2)

2 A funny thing happened. (Continued from page 1) first memorial was in Jollytown, PA, down in the southwest corner 10 miles from WV. Those who have ridden hills of WV know that roads go from pavement to gravel to dirt regularly. Note in the picture the bike is sidng on gravel. Li le did I know that this packed gravel would soon become packed dirt and then loose dirt in about eight miles moving to my next stop. The loose dirt was more like driving along the beach riding in the packed sand and every now and ride up into the loose sand for 30. or so. I have to drive this type of stretch at less than school zone speeds. Nothing rolling into loose dirt and gravel on a Wing at 35 plus mph (been there done that and got the toilet paper to prove it). The ride then went fine the rest of the day unl I got into Ohio. Here I am thinking I am done with this gravel road riding, this is Ohio you know. Well, late aernoon while traveling to Beallsville, OH I Page 2 got another 6 mile stretch of gravel road and I just was not up for adventure so I turned around and skipped that memorial. If I was movated to finish first in this Tour I probably would have endured it but alas I was not. I headed north and picked up one more stop before heading to Greg s. While at my buddy s home I was supposed to make a 250 mile run to hit a couple addi- onal memorials but I did not, my fun meter was pegged. So I spend three days hangin and did not touch the bike except to clean the front and windshield. I arise on the fourth day to leave. I roll out and guess what, the Go Navy Wing was sick. It spu ered for the first mile so I u- turned back to Greg s. Could not figure out the problem. I was thinking I could spend an extra day for repairs and sll make the rally. I was off to the closest Honda dealer, State 8 Motorcycles. Go Navy barely made it, it had delayed acceleraon. I would turn the thro le and seconds it would accelerate. I find out at the dealer that fortunately they worked on wings but conversely the wing mechanic did not come to Beallsville, OH Memorial work that day (Monday) or the previous Friday. I called around to another Honda dealer but they did not work on wings and a third said they could not look at my bike unl next week. So I asked the manager to call to see what was the chance of his mechanic coming in the next day. His mechanic was in the hospital. The manager and one of his guys go out to do a cursory invesgaon. They discover that my ba ery is dead and my alternator is not funconing. Second year in a row I am not home and Go Navy goes down. I am not complaining. It was at 290,000 miles then, 11 years old and things do fail that were original equipment. Go Navy has served me well. So it made its fourth trip home in a trailer. The ride was over before it started. I will try to get to the ID District Rally next year. When the ID District heard about my circumstances they sent me a registraon refund and a rally t- shirt. It was back up and running in a week with parts with Croon s Powersports help. It needed an alternator and a new harness. It was ready for a 2800 mile Labor Day Weekend run chasing more memorials. Submitted By Kenneth Trass

3 Rider Education The Importance of Repetitive Training (or me and the deer) Every once in a while the importance of repeve rider training really hits home. My recent revela- on came in the form of a deer. Fortunately because of the training that I have undertaken, I am here to tell about it. It was Sunday, June 7th and my wife, Elaine, and I were riding back home from Americade. The roads were dry, the weather was cloudy, and the me was about 6:30 AM. We were going south on I-87 in the vicinity of Saratoga Springs. Elaine was leading on her trike about 120 yards in front of me in a staggered formaon in the right hand lane. Suddenly a deer, a doe, came out of the right hand ditch just as Elaine passed. Elaine did a bobble weave around her and yelled DEER into the CB radio. Immediately upon seeing the deer, I started to apply maximum braking. I did not swerve. To swerve in front of a deer will usually result in a collision, as you will inevitably swerve away from the place you first saw the deer. That is, the same direcon the deer s going. However, this me, the doe lost her foong on the pavement and fell directly in front of me! At the point of impact I had reduced my speed from about 60 MPH (posted limit 65) to about 20 MPH. I do not recall if the bike passed over her but the impact skewed the bike about 20 to 30 degrees to the le (toward the le side ditch and more woods). Just before impact I had two separate thoughts: I m going to hit it and This bike is NOT going down. And even though black plasc exploded about me, the bike DID NOT go down. Why not? My first reacon was to apply maximum, controlled braking and then immediately aer impact I insncvely looked down the road in the direcon of my wife. Do you remember the instrucon, Look in the direcon which you want the bike to go? That was precisely where the bike went and I was able to bring it to a safe, controlled stop on the right hand shoulder of the road. Total damage to my Wing: about $ Total injuries incurred to me: none! The deer ran off. Was I lucky? Yes and no. If the deer hadn t slipped and fallen, she would have probably cleared the lane and I would have just had a close call. But the fact that she fell limited the damage to primarily the fender and caliper covers. If she had been standing upright at the me of the impact, the damage would have been much worse and I might not have been able to maintain control of the bike. But far more than luck was involved in reducing the severity of this incident. The fact that I repeatedly have taken rider courses saved me. I insncvely applied controlled, maximum braking and looked in the direcon which I wanted the bike to go, kept me alive. If I had target fixated on the le hand ditch, where the bike inially was pointed, that is where I would have ended up. The key word is insncvely as in insncve reac- on. In a situaon such as this you do not have me to think. To have to think is to lose it. You ll be too late! Your acons must be automac! And those acons become insncve, become automac through repeated training and repeated pracce of those skills that you were taught. So don t fall prey to that old idea: I took a course 10 years ago. I don t need to do it again, do I? Or an even worse reply, that I recently heard: I ve been riding for over 40 years. What can they teach me? That person is living on borrowed me. He has likely been making the same mistakes for those 40 years. I hope that you never go through what I went through last month. But if you do, I hope you get through it as well as I did. Remember: INSTINCTIVE REACTION is the Page 3 key and you get there by repeated training and repeated pracce. Ride Safe Ride Smart Keith Keith Price, our Region B Educator, posted the above arcle in the Region Rider Educaon Newsle er. I have included it here to help emphasize the importance of training and the need to keep your skills sharp. No ma er how long you have been riding, there is always a need to pracce some of the more basic skills needed in motorcycling. Anyone can ride a motorcycle in a straight line and nego- ate basic curves. Normal braking and stopping are not a problem for the majority of motorcyclists. As long as we are riding in normal situaons, normal traffic and familiar roads, life is good. Now, throw a few abnormal components into the equaon; swerving to avoid an object in your path, having to brake while in a curve, braking in an emergency situaon or having to negoate a ght turn while traveling at walking speeds. These abnormal condions can make things a li le more difficult. Have you ever heard the term MUSCLE MEMORY? Without going into a long explanaon, muscle memory results from a repeve use of specific muscle groups causing these muscles to react automacally in certain situaons. In other words, the reacon becomes INSTINCTIVE. To achieve muscle memory, the muscles have to be trained. Some of the courses that GWRRA and the Motorcycle Safety Foundaon offer are designed to facilitate the training of these muscles, so that some of our reacons become insncve. When was the last me that YOU parcipated in any skills training acvies? How well would you have fared in the situaon that Keith described? We, (Continued on page 4)

4 Rider Education The Importance of Repetitive Training (or me and the deer) (Cont) (Continued from page 3) in GWRRA, try our best to offer a variety of training opportunies throughout the year. Most training sessions will last no more than four (4) hours and will normally be held on a week-end day. Most training is offered at no cost. There is a lot of preparaon that goes into sedng up a training session. All we ask for, from our Members, is to par- cipate. We understand that there are mes when training is offered and prior engagements may restrict some from parcipang. We have found that parcipaon has decreased in the last few years. We will strive to plan training opportunies with as much advance noce as praccal. All we ask, in return, is that YOU make a commitment to a end at least one (1) training session per year. You never know when just one training session may make the difference between avoiding an incident and being part of one. Unl next month; Ride Safe, Ride Oen and Keep the Shiny Side Up. Reprint from, Tim & Anna Grimes GWRRA University Dean, School RE & Safety Greetings & Salutations from Ms. Sunshine August Birthdays Herbert Gaskin 8/2 Meredith Dixon 8/2 Eric Chapman 8/3 Renee Mitchell 8/4 Bruce Malson 8/9 Amos Benny Benefield 8/11 Lottie McClendon 8/17 William Anderson 8/21 Steven Robinson 8/26 SICK AND SHUT-IN Please keep Sharry Walker and her family in your prayers. Continue to keep Gracy Wilson in your prayers as she recovers August Anniversaries James Mann 8/15 Page 4

5 From Your Assistant Chapter Director I am starting with sad news. I was contacted by Cliff Harris that our former Maryland B Chapter Director, Charles Canady died. I remember having to look up to him when we spoke because he was so tall. Charles & Annette Canady had been former Assistant Chapter Directors from and former Chapter Directors from When I joined Charles & Annette were very active in the Chapter. He was a cab driver and would take his breaks on Monday s and attend the meetings. (We use to meet 3 rd Monday of the month at the Seat Pleasant Community Center.) In those days, it was nothing to see 20 members riding out to an event. When I walked in to the Church for his Homegoing service, there was a whole pew of black and gold. In attendance were Cliff & Betty Harris, Eric & Lana Chapman, Allice Gray (Two Beers), Bill King, Isaac & Sylvia Jackson, Brad McAlister, Sharon Summer, and Rich Reynolds plus a few more that I didn t recognize. Because of a project at work, I was only able to stay for the viewing and the presentation by the Masons. Mr. Canady was also a member of the Mason. Please keep the Canady family in your prayers. At our June 18 Gathering we were visited by MD-I and VA-1. It was good to visit with family. It was good to have Jeff Lindenwhite, Michael A. Jenkins and Lee Tresvant back in the house. Michael A. and Lee were visiting from Florida. After the gathering, we went to the home of Dennis Johnson & Charley Fogg for our first 2016 Garage Day. Thank you to Dennis & Charles for opening up their home for this event. Even though Grayson couldn t attend the Garage Day, he made sure that a trailer was available for this event (Thank you.). A special Thanks to Kirk for driving it to the Johnson/Fogg home. We were able to demonstrate how to strap down a motorcycle if it needed to be towed. It was recommend that you should carry soft ties and ratchet ties to keep the bike stable. While this was going on Charley, Regina, and I were strategizing about our Chapter Scrap Book. August 4-6, Swedesboro, NJ, Bi-State Rally. Maxye & Kirk Williams, Bruce Hill, Dennis Johnson & Charlie Fogg and I support Bob & Julie A Hearn Maryland s District Couple of the Year at the Bi-State Rally. I left my residence at zero dark thirty; that is what it appear to me. I arrived at 7:55 a.m. to join Charley and Dennis for breakfast. I observed the New Jersey Couple of the Year Selection on Friday. The Chapter was there to support Bob and Julie; their selection process was on Saturday. Other Maryland Chapters in attendance were MD-I, MD-J, and MD-H. There is great news. Bob and Julie A Hearn are the new Region B Couple of the Year and will be participating in the International Couple of the Year selection process at Wing Ding in Congratulation to them!!! Upcoming Events: September 25, Ellicott City, MD, Baltimore-Washington Ride for Kids. Please come out to grand event that raises funds for children who have brain tumors. This event is rain or shine. Please mark your calendars and join us at this event. October 6-9, Roanoke, VA, Rally in the Valley (Holiday Inn). This is the last rally of the year. Get your reservations the hotel rooms are going fast. Lillian Cruz Grand Master Tour Rider Maryland District COY Coordinator Look twice and save a life!!! Page 5

6 Joke of the Month A Few One Liners Midnight bugs taste best. Saddlebags can never hold everything you want, but they CAN hold everything you need. NEVER argue with a woman holding a torque wrench. Never try to race an old Geezer, he may have one more gear than you. Home is where your bike sits still long enough to leave a few drops of oil on the ground. You'll get farther down the road if you learn to use more than two fingers on the front brake. Routine maintenance should never be neglected It takes more love to share the saddle than it does to share the bed. The only good view of a thunderstorm is in your rearview mirror. Never be afraid to slow down. Only Bikers understand why dogs love to stick their heads out car windows. Bikes don't leak oil, they mark their territory. Never ask a biker for directions if you're in a hurry to get there. Don't ride so late into the night that you sleep through the sunrise. Pie and Coffee are as important as gasoline. Sometimes it takes a whole tankful of gas before you can think straight. Riding faster than everyone else only guarantees you'll ride alone. Never hesitate to ride past the last street light at the edge of town. Never mistake Horsepower for staying power. A good rider has balance, judgment, and good timing. So does a good lover. (AMEN!!!) A cold hamburger can be reheated quite nicely by strapping it to an exhaust pipe and riding forty miles. Never do less then Forty miles before breakfast. If you don't ride in the rain-you don't ride. A bike on the road is worth 2 in the shop. Respect the person who has seen the Dark side of motorcycling and lived. RIDE AWARE Share the Road Page 6

7 2016 Maryland B Ride-Social Schedule and Event Calendar Page 7 September DAY EVENT TIME RALLY POINT Wing Ding 38 - Billings, 31 Aug - 3 Sept Wed-Sat TBD Mt TBD 5-Sep Mon Labor Day 6-Sep Tue Chat and Chew Famous Daves (at the Boulavard) 880 Capital Centre Blvd, 7:00pm Largo, MD 11-Sep Sun Visit Chapter "L" - Golden Corral Cecil Dr, Easton, Md 21601, Bring your EZ Pass 7:00am Rip's RT 301&197 Bowie, MD 17-Sep Sat Chapter Gathering 8:00am Golden Corral (At the Boulevard) Shoppers Way Lar- 17-Sep Sep 25-Sep Sat Sun Chapter "H" 20th Anniversary Picnic Turkey Pt Rd North East, MD OTHER EVENTS Wings Over Smokies Cherokee NC Ride For Kids - Turf Valley Resort Turf Valley Rd, Ellicott City, MD :00a m 7:00am Departing after the Gathering McDonalds at Capital Plaza RT 450 Registration 7:30-9:30am, Ride Starts at 9:30am OCTOBER DAY EVENT TIME RALLY POINT 2-Oct Sun Visit MD "I" Aviation Yacht Club, Vaiation Yacht Club Road, Mechanicsville, MD 7:30am 4-Oct Tue Chat and Chew 7:00pm 10-Oct Mon Columbus Day 15-Oct Sat Chapter Gathering 8:00am WAWA 1640 McKendree Rd & Crain Highway, Brandywine, MD Long Horn Steak House Capital Centre Blvd, Largo, MD Golden Corral (At the Boulevard) Shoppers Way Largo, MD 22-Oct Sat Chapter Fall Foliage 10:00 Rip's RT 301&197 Bowie, MD 29-Oct Sat District Meeting - Adams Rib, 169 Mayo Rd Edgewater MD, :30am OTHER EVENTS 6-8 Oct Ralley in The Valley TBD TBD Chapter "J" Fund Raiser TBD WAWA RT 301, 163 Crain Hwy, Upper Marlboro, MD 20774

8 Maryland Chapter Gatherings Maryland District Directors - Bruce Hill & Regina Smith (MD-B), ((301) / (703) MD-B - 3rd Saturday, Eat 0800 Meet 0900, Golden Corral, 1001 Shoppers Way, Largo MD, C/D Aaron & Toni Cain , acain64@yahoo.com MD-C - 2 nd Sunday eat at 8 am Meet at 9 am Golden Corral, 6701 Chesapeake Center Drive, Glen Burnie, MD C/D Tom Prentice, , tomp913@verizon.net MD-F - 3rd Sunday 8 am Eat/ 9 am Meet Golden Corral, Valley Mall Road, Hagerstown, Md C/D Jeff and Jeanie Kauffman, , J_Kauffman@myactv.net MD-H 4th Sunday eat at 8 am Meet at 9 am Golden Corral, Route 40, Aberdeen, MD C/D Judy & Shane Patishnock, , Winglady08@hotmail.com MD-I - 1 st Sunday eat & meet at 9:00 am The Riverview Restaurant at the Wicomico Shores Golf Course, Aviation Yacht Club Road, Mechanicsville, MD C/D Keith & Wanda Johnson, , Keith@gwrramdi.org Wanda@gwrramdi.org MD-J - 3 rd Sunday eat at 8 am Meet at 9 am, Bob Evans, Waugh Chapel Shopping Cntr, Gambrills, MD C/D Terry Gardner, , a90098@verizon.net MD-L Gathering 2 nd Sunday eat at 8 am Meet at 9 am, Golden Corral, Cecil Dr., Easton, MD C/D Spanky (Milton) Barth, , spanky43@verizon.net Gold Wing Road Riders Association Northeast Region, Maryland District, MD-B 808 Jackson Valley Ct Bowie, MD 20721