Stars & Pipes. Fairfax, VA H.O.G. Chapter 5278 Sponsored by Patriot Harley-Davidson 9739 Lee Highway, Fairfax, VA 22031

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1 Volume 3, Issue 2 Stars & Pipes May 2001 Fairfax, VA H.O.G. Chapter 5278 Sponsored by Patriot Harley-Davidson 9739 Lee Highway, Fairfax, VA Looking Ahead David Heath, Director Time to Ride!! For the last three months the Director s message has been to practice and hone your skills as we move from the cold winter months to the warmer, more enjoyable riding season. Well, that time is now upon us, and as we go into May, it is packed with something to do each weekend. Not to diminish the other events early on (Bike Week in Myrtle, Law Ride and the Fairfax H.O.G. Air Show ride), but the most important event this month is Rolling Thunder. As a veteran, that day holds significant relevance for me. We pay honor to those who paid the price for our freedom. We gather to remind our government officials that no one should be forgotten or left behind. It sends a very strong and personal message to the world when they see thousands of riders joined together with a common cause. It is a day unique to Americans and is a way every American can, and should, say thank you. Participate, ride! Biker wisdom: Sometimes it takes a whole tankful of fuel before you can think straight. Many of us will be headed down to Bike Week in the middle of May, but for those that can t go, don t forget the Air Show ride on May 19. Tom Lloyd, our historian, and Harry Avila, our editor, will be leading that ride to Andrews Air Force Base. On May 26 Patriot will be opening its doors to all those coming to town for Rolling Thunder. We will have a Fairfax H.O.G. stand set up where riders can see what the Chapter is all about. The Fairfax H.O.G. officers welcome anyone who would like to help with the booth during the open house. The events sponsored by the Chapter are not for a few, but for all the members. Not only is it a way for you to meet other riders that share at least one common passion, but to discover new bothers and sisters with whom to share an adventure. Your participation at Chapter events also ensures that the Chapter has the resources to continue providing high-quality rides, shows and motorcycling activities. Support your Chapter, get involved, and meet the other members. If you are not sure how to get involved, talk to, or call any of the Chapter officers. Tickets for the June 9 picnic are now on sale. The final day to purchase tickets will be Saturday, May 26. There will be a few surprises at the picnic, so get your tickets now. Don t be left out of the fun! Ride of the Patriots David Heath, Director For the 13 years motorcycle riders have gathered at our nation s capital for a cause no American should let die - finding and returning our POW-MIAs. These riders come from all walks of life, and from all over the world. It is the largest single-day bike event in the world. Riders from California begin their trek long before the Memorial Day observance ride and along the way pick up other groups that join the cause. Each year the attendance grows, not just because of the ride, but because people are starting to understand that we must never let those who fought for Continued on page 2 Inside this issue: Officers... 2 VA State H.O.G. Rally Activities... 3 State Rally Proposal 2003 Community... 4 Birthdays New Members Meet the Members... 5 Tips for Rolling Thunder... 6 Sharing Adopt-A-Spot Photos Classified... 3 Calendar Sponsor News... 8 Stars & Pipes 1

2 2001 Fairfax H.O.G. Officers Director David Heath Assistant Director Sharon Leigh Secretary Kathie Sjovall Treasurer/Procurement Kathy Pitassi Activities Officer Charles Hinojosa Charity Coordinator Helmut Hentschel Community Relations Larry Larson Editor Harry Avila Group Riding Instructor John Stanford Historian Tom Lloyd Membership Don Withrow VA State H.O.G. Rally Sharon Leigh, Asst. Director If you are going to the VA State H.O.G. Rally, Thurs-Sat, June 21-23, a great way to meet people is to volunteer. Please me at or call me at if you would like to sign up or if you have any questions. The rally was a lot of fun last year, and volunteering added to the fun. Continued from page 1 our freedom think that this country does not support them. Riders will start from hundreds of locations around the DC area and slowly converge at the Pentagon parking lot. Many who don t ride will line the streets, waving flags and cheering the representatives on. This is the third year Patriot Harley- Davidson will stage a group to leave for the Pentagon. The expectation is that there will be between riders from just this one location. Police escort for the ride is being provided by City of Fairfax, Fairfax County and the Virginia State Police. After reaching the Pentagon parking lot, riders will have the opportunity to socialize with others who have come together with one common goal - to remind our government that we will not forget our fallen heroes. As the bikes begin to start up and roll out, headed for DC and the ultimate destination, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, it soon sounds like distant thunder, growing louder each minute. What is really amazing is how long it continues. Sometimes it takes hours to empty the parking lot, and all the while you hear the thunderous roar of the bikes as they take the trip to DC. And oh, what a trip it is. If you have never been on a Rolling Thunder ride, you don t know what you are missing. People are jammed in the streets of DC. Cheering, waving, slapping high-fives, saluting, all at the same time paying respect to those that are riding to send the message. We will be heard, we will not forget. Schedule for Sunday, May 27 Ride of the Patriots 8:30 am Staging - Patriot H-D 9:00 am Pre-Ride Welcome and Ride Instructions 9:05 am Remarks and Send-off 9:20 am National Anthem 9:30 am Departure from Fairfax 10:15 am Arrive at Pentagon Rolling Thunder 12:00 pm Departure to Washington, D.C. (after the run, riders park on softball fields as directed by officials, then walk to the Reflecting Pool in front of the Lincoln Memorial) 2:00 pm Rolling Thunder speakers program followed by a musical tribute to Vietnam Veterans by Paul Revere and the Raiders Road Captain Mac McCrocklin ramccrocklin@compuserve.com Safety Officer John Racecar Racine jkracine@hotmail.com Please submit articles and classifieds for the Stars & Pipes newsletter NO LATER THAN May 20. Items should be ed to Harry Avila (MacPress@aol.com) or sent through traditional mail to: Fairfax H.O.G. Editor c/o Patriot Harley-Davidson 9739 Lee Highway Fairfax, VA Stars & Pipes

3 Activities Charles Hinojosa, Activities Officer Well folks, I think we are finally on a roll. The April 7 Poker run went off pretty well with 32 participants. The road was varied with some unscheduled side trips and some mechanical problems, but we made it back safely. The winners for the best hands were Robert Cooper and Richard Converse. There was a multitude of great door prizes as well, and everybody went home with something. Our thanks go to the workers of the ride: the road captains; Fabrice Corbatto, Tom Lloyd, and Steve Lucas, and the stop workers; Pat Coury, Nancy Heath, Cynthia Mitchell, Donna Palumbo and Amy Urick. Our next Poker run, the Bug Run, is Sunday, June 3, come out and join us for the fun. Myrtle Beach is the destination for many of us between May 12 and May 19. Groups are going down on different days and different times. Next Chapter meeting is right before the trip, so be sure to hook up with a group by then. Hotel reservations are necessary, so this is not a last minute option. For those of you not going to Myrtle Beach, join us for a ride to Andrews Air Force Base on Saturday, May 19. We will meet at Patriot at 9:00 am and depart for the Air Show at 9:15. This will be a great way to celebrate Armed Forces Day. ROLLING THUNDER - May 26. Come and be part of this piece of history. The staging will be near the dealership. There are many activities planned for this event and more info will follow. MARK AND HIGHLIGHT YOUR CALENDAR - JUNE 9. The Chapter Picnic. Meet at Patriot by 8:00 am to ride out to Sherando Park, the site of our picnic. Greg has picked a winner. The park is beautiful, it has a lake to fish in or take paddleboat rides. There s volleyball, horseshoes and swings for swingers, hiking trails and some other activities to be announced. There will be great food, a Bike Show Contest and music for your entertainment. Tickets will be on sale at Patriot H-D this Saturday during the Open House and at the next Chapter meeting. Because of having to make a guarantee to the caterer for food, the FINAL chance to purchase tickets will be at the Rolling Thunder Open House at Patriot on Saturday, May 26. Tickets will be avail- able at the Fairfax H.O.G. stand. Greg Cumming is the Boss Hog for this event, and you can contact him at clkgriswld@aol.com for further details. Greg needs VOLUNTEERS TO HELP MAKE THIS EVENT COME OFF. So contact Greg an offer your services, now! We need judges, parking attendants, games people, etc. Tickets will not be available the day of the picnic, so don t miss out. Boss Hogs Boss Hogs Boss Hogs Boss Hogs Boss Hogs We need a boss hog for the June 3 Poker Run. We d like to get the mentoring program off the ground, so please call me to volunteer to Boss Hog this run. We have people interested in working with you to learn how its done, and need someone to mentor. If you are interested, contact me at: charlesh00@hotmail.com State Rally Proposal 2003 Sharon Leigh, Asst. Director Fairfax H.O.G. Store Large Chapter Rocker $ Large H.O.G. Patch $ Small Chapter Rocker $ Small H.O.G. Patch $ 8.00 Silver Name Badge $ 6.00 Gold Name Badge $ Chapter Pin $ Koozies (Can Cooler) $ 2.50 Chapter T-Shirts Long Sleeve $ Short Sleeve $ See Kathy Pitassi at the Chapter meeting. Fairfax H.O.G. put together a GREAT proposal for the 2001 VA State Rally. Only one proposal can be chosen, and this year Lynchburg is the one. Because our proposal is so great, we are NOT going to give up. We are going to update the proposal, which is based around a State Rally to coincide with Rolling Thunder in is also Harley-Davidson's 100th anniversary AND H.O.G.'s 20th anniversary! If you would like to be on the committee to prepare our proposal, please contact me at Darby1044@aol.com or Together we can be GREAT!!! Stars & Pipes 3

4 Community Larry Larson Community Relations Officer We are all excited about the upcoming Ride of the Patriots for many reasons. Since the ride is directly linked with the Rolling Thunder tradition, we are proud to honor those country men and women who have given their lives or are missing in action while protecting our cherished liberty and security. Just being part of this event and the National Memorial Day Parade makes us representatives of the national community and the spirit that binds our country together. The Ride of the Patriots is also a significant local community event and Marie Creamean John Davidian Luciano Del Villar Rusty Fowler Michael Fultz Sam Gregg George Johnston Don Jordan Ed Karlson Jack E. Kirby Susan Kirby Jeremy Lisenby Kenneth Mason Peter B. Migala Patti Muddiman Sean Mulveney Harun C. Murray Kristin A. Nichols Philip D. Roche Arnold Rosenblatt Stuart Rubin Tom Sawyer Gary Schrader Charles Schue Paul Sheffield Rebecca Sheffield Joan Shelton Paul J. Skwierawski Gregory B Smith Karl Solterer William J. Sweeley Edward L. Watkins Frank Young Welcome New Members hopefully will draw citizens together. In reality, our group of riders represents the City of Fairfax and Fairfax County in the National Memorial Day Parade. We are taking our local community spirit to add to the thousands of other communities represented in the parade. Our hope is that the local community will share the spirit of this event and at the same time learn more about the community spirit of Fairfax Harley Owners. Each Fairfax H.O.G. member is encouraged to invite friends, neighbors and family to be involved in the staging and send-off of the Ride of the Patriots on Sunday morning May 27. See you there. Chantilly Clifton Washington Chantilly Oak Hill Centreville Sterling Alexandria Oak Hill Chantilly Chantilly Falls Church Alexandria Sterling Manassas Vienna Reston Oak Hill Fairfax Alexandria Arlington Fairfax Potomac Falls Centreville Sterling Sterling Centreville Arlington Arlington Vienna Fairfax Herndon Herndon Fairfax H.O.G. now has 587 members May Birthdays 5/1 Harry Avila Dave Erickson 5/3 Lauren Larson 5/4 Gregory Majesky Gerry Moore James P. Sullivan Don Withrow 5/5 Dan Jamborsky 5/8 Paul Langmeyer 5/9 John Davidian Bill Scheff 5/10 John Sullivan Kevin Wills 5/11 Alex Lewis Gary Pitassi 5/12 Michael Valentine 5/13 Donnie Garner Christopher A. Green 5/14 Brad Houska 5/17 Donald James German Perez 5/20 Jim McCaffrey 5/21 Peter Herrick 5/22 Brien Downing Jo Houpt 5/23 Lawrence Frost N.L. Jeffries 5/26 Ron Bryan Jud McCrehin 5/27 Bill Ridenour 5/28 David Morris 5/29 Paul Dean, Jr. Jim Egbert Don Mueller 4 Stars & Pipes

5 Meet the Members Dreaming Fabrice Corbatto As far back as when I was 10 years of age or so (this was 1968), I remember being infatuated with motorcycles. Back home in Courbevoie (pronounced coor-bev-wah), one of the northwestern suburbs of Paris, France, in 1968, folks were concerned about the student riots that rocked Paris, and all of France in May of that year. As for me, I couldn t care less that barricades were being erected on the boulevards of the City of Lights, and that young people were getting hurt by the hundreds, aimlessly fighting the Police. I couldn t care less that the Soviet tanks had crossed the Czechoslovakian borders and had invaded Prague on my birthday the 22nd of August of that same year. All I was interested in was motorcycles, motorcycles, and more motorcycles. Being much too young to be able to ride a bike then (or, for that matter, to have any brains), I proceeded to satisfy my craving for anything that was related to motorcycles by compiling the most comprehensive album depicting all types of bikes being sold in France then. One of those, though rare and quasi-impossible to obtain in France, caught my attention: the H-D Electra Glide 1200cc. Wow!! How could a bike be this B-I-G? How could anyone ride one of these monsters? How comfortable it looked! How C-O-O-L it looked! And that s when I started dreaming. And the dreaming never stopped! In 1977, I had a chance to visit the United States for the first time. I went to New York City, and to Washington, DC. Though I only spent one day in Washington, DC, I thought to myself that it wouldn t be a bad place to live in if I ever had a chance to move to the U.S. Well, after fulfilling my French civic duties and obligations (including military service), my dream of moving to the United States came true on August 2, 1979, I landed at BWI Airport on my way to Springfield, VA. Being born a French citizen, and having been raised within the French culture, I thought I d have a tough time shedding the heritage that made me a FROG (as the British call French people). Actually, it wasn t hard at all! I, sometimes, feel MORE American than some Americans. And I m proud of it! Now, regarding motorcycles. My infatuation with them didn t stop after In fact, it grew even stronger. However, for a variety of reasons (most of which were bogus), I didn t get to own my first motorcycle until 1986! Having VERY limited financial resources, I purchased a Japanese cruiser, which I ran into the ground (33,000 miles in two years!). After the onslaught of a serious automobile accident, Reason got me scared, and I stopped riding bikes altogether, regretting it constantly ever since. By the end of 1999, I started making some noise about riding again. The itch was too strong. I couldn t help myself. I had to start scratching. Consequently, I tested the waters with my wife and my family. When I brought home some brochures from Japanese and German manufacturers, and showed them to my wife asking her for her opinion, I got the best surprise of all. She said, If you re going to get a bike, why not get the REAL thing? Have you looked at Harleys? Wow! I was expecting resistance, not Have you looked at Harleys? So, in April of 2000, I went through Patriot s drawing. I knew I wanted an Electra Glide Ultra Classic. I drew 37 out of 76, and successfully placed an order for a 2001 FLHTCUI Suede Green/Black. I took delivery in the middle of August 2000, and to this date, I just passed the 10,000-mile smile (I mean mark ). After years of dreaming, I finally get to ride the ultimate machine. Earlier, I mentioned that I am a frog, and that my bike is green. Well, look for me on the road; I m the one with a license plate that reads FRHOG that s frog with an added dose of H.O.G. attitude! You could be featured here next month! Submit your story to the Fairfax H.O.G. Editor by May 20th Stars & Pipes 5

6 Tips for Rolling Thunder John (Racecar) Racine Safety Officer To line up at Patriot - follow police direction. Don't line up beside the person you want to ride with. Line up in front or behind them. During the ride,you'll be following the primary Police officer leader or the guy in front you. No one should get lost as they will be leading you through intersections, whether or not the light is red. Follow the person ahead of you by two seconds in a staggered formation. Ride at a safe comfortable speed. Don't pass and don't change lanes. LEAVE THE OPEN LANE OPEN- the police will be using it, traveling at high speeds to catch up to block the next intersection. You will probably NOT hear them coming up behind you, as the massive roar of pipes will all blend together, including the police officer's pipes, and if you cut into the open lane, you endanger the safety that the officers are trying to preserve. To line up at the Pentagon, follow the guy in front of you unless you are directed to start another row by the parking lot attendant. Take plenty to eat/drink. You'll be here for about 2 to 3 hours, with NOTHING to do except visit. You MUST wear a helmet from Patriot to the Pentagon. After that, you are in an escorted parade and you can go nude if you want (unless the police change that policy). As always, come ready to ride with a full tank of gas and an empty bladder. Be alert and aware of your surroundings. Expect to be riding in a group of 1,000 (maybe more). Ride Safe and have a good time. Adopt-A-Spot Cleanup Day Sharing Helmut Don t call me Charity Hentschel Charity Officer Throughout the riding season our Chapter is going to commit itself to raising money for some worthwhile causes. We are just about to wind down our MDA campaign and soon we will have an opportunity to contribute to the Disabled American Veterans during Rolling Thunder. We will be looking at supporting our local Humane Society through our Hawgs and Dawgs event later this summer, and we also want to contribute to those less fortunate in our immediate community through a program known as FACETS. Some may ask why? What do charitable events have to do with ridin? We joined H.O.G. to share the experience of riding, riding an American scoot on the great American open road. It s a comradery thing, right? Sharing the experience is a greater part of the culture of H.O.G. Taking care of each other is the other big part. Have you ever ridden by a biker with a problem and not stopped to offer help? Probably not. But there are others standing by the roadside that could use a little help too. Some of them are just kids, some are helpless animals, some are those not fortunate enough to own a Harley, and some are injured Vets. Let s not just ride by. Let s share the experience with those who are on the same road with us, the road of life. Please support your Chapter s efforts. 6 Stars & Pipes

7 Classified For Sale: 00 Sportster XL Excellent condition with lots of extras including: spoked wheels, stage one kit (dynajets, air cleaner, pipes), sport handlebars, Corbin seat w/det backrest, adj highway pegs, etc. Color R Red. 3,300 miles. Well maintained, garage kept, and runs sweet! $9,500. Call For Sale: 98 FXDS-C Dyna Low Rider Convertible 1340 engine, 5-speed, belt drive, detachable windshield/ detachable bags/ engine guard/ Progressive Shocks/ Screamin Eagle turn out pipes/ new H-D cover 13,099 miles, Bike has 99 color: Cobalt Blue Chapter Events Hotline: Wednesday, May 9 Sick, Lame or Lazy Ride 11:00 a.m. Patriot H-D Chapter Meeting 7:30 p.m. Patriot H-D Saturday, May 19 Armed Forces Air Show Ride 9:00 a.m. Patriot H-D Sunday, May 27 Ride of The Patriots Staging 8:30 a.m. Patriot H-D to Rolling Thunder Depart 9:30 a.m. Saturday, June 2 Adopt-A-Spot 8:00 a.m. Patriot H-D Sunday, June 3 Bug Run/Poker Run 9:00 a.m. Registration Depart 9:30 a.m. Patriot H-D Wednesday, June 6 Full Moon Dinner Ride 7:00 p.m. Patriot H-D Saturday, June 9 3rd Anniversary Ride & Picnic 8:00 a.m. Patriot H-D Wednesday, June 13 Sick, Lame or Lazy Ride 11:00 a.m. Patriot H-D Chapter Meeting 7:30 p.m. Patriot H-D Dealer Events Ready to ride - $15,500 Contact Pam or Jeff West at Saturday, May 26 Rolling Thunder Open House Saturday, June 30 4th of July Party Non-Chapter Events Check website for details! Check website for details! Wanted: Looking for a used Heritage Softtail and/or late model Road King Classic. Call Andy May Myrtle Beach Bike Week, South Carolina May 13 Law Ride, Washington, D.C. May 27 Rolling Thunder, Washington, D.C. May 31-Jun 2 Annual H.O.G. Rally, Worcester, Massachusetts (1-800-CLUB-HOG) Jun Laconia Bike Week, Loudon, New Hampshire June 16 Orange Bike Show, Orange, Virginia June 28 Delaware/Maryland State Rally Jun Virginia State H.O.G. Rally, Lynchburg Aug 6-12 Sturgis Rally, South Dakota Stars & Pipes 7

8 Fairfax, VA H.O.G. Chapter 5278 Sponsored by Patriot Harley-Davidson 9739 Lee Highway, Fairfax, VA Chapter Hotline: We re on the web Good News from Our Sponsor Saturday, May 26 Rolling Thunder Open House Barbecue by Red, Hot & Blue Have your new patches sewn on Seamstress will be on site Check Web site for details Patriot Harley-Davidson Stars & Pipes