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 What a Month! David Heath, Director May was packed with all kinds of riding events. Between Bike Week in Myrtle, Law Ride, the Fairfax H.O.G. Air Show ride, Patriot Open House and Rolling Thunder there was something for everyone. Great way to kick the rest of the summer into high gear. The Ride of the Patriots was an absolute success. We had over 1100 bikes leave from Patriot and head to the Pentagon in support of Rolling Thunder. The weather held out, the Fairfax City police and Fairfax County police did a fantastic job of providing an escort and blocking traffic so the 10 mile long parade could reach its destination safely. Mayor Mason came out in support of our efforts to make this a community event and the Fairfax High School Band played the National Anthem as we mounted our bikes and rode toward Washington. All of this would not have been possible had it not been for the tireless effort of two people. First, Larry Larson. Larry spent hours putting together the plan, making sure everyone involved knew what had to be done and by when. If you could have seen Larry s plan you would be amazed, it was very detailed. The other person, Harry Avila, designed both the Ride of the Patriot pin and poster. Harry put both time and effort into making sure this first ride would be a memorable one. If you have not seen, or purchased the pin, talk to any one of the officers. These two chapter members have set the foundation for us to grow and expand this yearly event into one the entire city of Fairfax should be proud of, I know I am. Thank you Larry Larson and Harry Avila! June is going to be another good month. The first event is the Adopt-A-Spot (next one is in August) then the chapter s first Bug and Poker run. Then on June 9 the chapter will have its annual picnic (rain or shine). Then we head south for the Virginia State Rally. This is always a good time and I look forward to spending time with all the chapter members going. Check the calendar and plan to join your fellow chapter members for some great riding. See you on the road! Thanks for the Support Larry Larson Community Relations Officer The 2001 Ride of the Patriots and Rolling Thunder are now GREAT memories and we are already thinking about next year. Events like this are special to each of us, to the Chapter, to the community and especially special to the memory of those who gave their lives for our precious liberty. You made it great and memorable because you participated in getting it together, volunteering for the event day or rode with us. It is inspiring when people come together for a 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 It s not too late to plan to go to the Rally! There are still hotel rooms available. Check the website, for thelatest information. There s even going to be a WEDDING at the Rally! A group of us will be leaving for the Rally from Patriot H-D on Thursday, June 21, at 10:00 a.m. Please let me know if there are any other groups leaving from the Dealership together so we can post the information on the Rally website. It s good press for our Chapter as well as the Dealership. The confirmations will be mailed out this week, and everyone should have received them by our Chapter meeting on June 13. By the meeting, I should also have information on the volunteer assignments as well. Continued from page 1 common purpose and you may be sure that your participation made a difference and hopefully inspired others to Never Forget those who made the supreme sacrifice or are missing in action. One of our objectives this year was to include the Fairfax community in a greater way and to engage friends, family and neighbors in our purpose and perhaps get to know us better. If you were there, you know that several City and County groups came to support us in this effort and others supported us behind the scene. Mayor John Mason, the City of Fairfax Fire Department, The Fairfax High School Band and the City of Fairfax and Fairfax County Police Motorcycle Squads were there and contributed measurably to the safety and enjoyment of everyone. We thank all of them very much. We want to continue our service to and positive involvement in our community. It is our obligation as citizens and an opportunity to make it a better place for our families. In particular, please remember the organizations who supported us on our Ride of the Patriots and be ready and willing to support them. Helping each other is what a community is all about. 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 Adventure David Heath, Director It was a cold Thursday morning! But we had agreed to meet at the IHOP before the ride and it was one of those trips we had been looking forward to. There were only four of us, but we had planned this ride for several months and were glad the day was finally here. After our quick breakfast and despite the cold it was time to get on the road. Our leader had made the trip on several occasions but not for the reason we were riding this day. Bundled up, bikes warmed up and full of gas and empty bladders we hit the road. The trip should have taken about 6 hours since it was only 330 miles. And with a 9:00am departure time we would be tucked away at the hotel long before it was dark. There were several ways to reach our destination (as usual) and wanting to experience the most of the trip we opted for the back roads. If you have never been up route 209 through Pennsylvania, you should. It is a road made for motorcycles. It meanders through some beautiful country and some rustic small towns. In one particular old mining town I saw something that struck me as funny, it was a sign on the side of a bus stop. It read, Everyone s job is to mine more coal. It seemed freshly painted so I figured everyone in town was associated with the mining industry. Guess you had to be there. The day warmed up as we rode further north, which was a surprise given that we had expected it to get colder. Lunch was at a roadside diner in a small town called Jim Thorpe where we met a waitress that just couldn t stop talking. She showed us some old wrinkled photos of a bike that her husband had won in a contest, it was an Indian. She told us about her riding experiences, how she couldn t decide between the bike and buying a house, all the while bringing us our lunch. Good food, good people and cheap prices. Don t recall why the town was called Jim Thorpe but it was a real slice of America. Back on the road and headed north the idea of being at the hotel by early afternoon was abandoned. Too much to see and the road was fun. What is about the road, riding and Harley dealers? It was like the bikes knew there was a home close by and we just had to stop at each one along the way. Almost like old nags at a horse rental, they know the route, know how long and know when to return to the barn. After a long detour just to find one dealer we spent an hour shopping, talking and visiting with the locals. Interesting how we stop to see if there is something unique or something we can t live without. At a minimum we buy the dealer pins as a reminder of places visited. A few shirts, gloves and a leather scarf and we were back on the road. Closer to our destination a few more bikes could be seen headed the same way. We didn t hook up with any but once at the hotel we d all be together. Speaking of the hotel, it wasn t exactly your two star accommodations but it was enough where you could take a hot shower, sleep and stash your clothes and other belongings for the next two days. We arrived after a long day of riding and then immediately headed out for dinner. The town had two restaurants, just across the street from each other. One had bikes and cars parked out front, the other had none. So that make it an easy choice, we went to the one with the bikes out front. The food was excellent, but then after a long day on the road it usually is. The next few days were on a timeline. Registration was between 7.00am am and classes began at 9.00am. The weather had turned cold, so cold that there was ice on the bikes when we went out to start them the next morning. My bike was dead, could not even get it to turn over once. What a pain in the butt! It was parked at the top of a hill but even pushing it down the hill and trying to pop the clutch did not work. Luckily it stopped close to where my riding companions had parked. We pulled out the jumper cables and began the process of taking off seats to get to the battery. The plan was to jump it so we could get to class and then later that afternoon over to the Harley dealer for a battery. Just as we hooked the cables, checking to make sure it was positivepositive and negative-negative, there was this huge cloud of white smoke, then flames. The bike was on fire! As we pulled the wires off others ran for water. Smoke was still coming from the bike and there were sparks as burnt wires were shorting against the frame. We pulled the side cover off and saw that the wires had completely melted and just bare wire was exposed. As we were doing repairs a guy in a Jeep gave me a jump to get my bike going. Taking out what was not needed and patching the wire with electrical tape we were ready to go. The day had not even started and we d had a dead bike, a fire and done some repair work. The rest of the day, after getting the battery, was less eventful. We met some great people with whom we exchanged ideas, stories and adventures we d had with the Chapter. This was our ride to Primary Officer Training. My riding companions were Mac (whose bike caught on fire), Sharon and Helmut. It doesn t matter how many bikes you have, but that you all have a good time and enjoy the road. I know we did. Stars & Pipes 3

4 Motorcycle Safety John K. Racine Safety Officer How To Meet the Challenge of Motorcycling Manage Risk The dictionary defines safe as without risk. Clearly, there is little in life without risk. Recognizing and managing the elements of risk permits you to minimize them. By minimizing risk, you: Increase your ability to handle critical situations. Reduce the probably of those situations occurring. Reduce the severity of those situations should they occur. Pre p a r a t i o n, k n ow l e d g e, a n d responsibility are the keys to meeting m o torc ycling s challenge and minimizing risk. Prepare to Ride Cer tainly, ensur ing that your motorcycle is mechanically ready is a part of preparation. Selecting the right Welcome New Members Jim Bracco Sandra Brown Sumyr R. DeHart David L. Hiner Joseph P. Jones David A. Lewis Niceta Lowry Kris Magnusen Harry (Dave) Maughan Nora McArdle Ned McCormick Dominic M. Mutch Sam Piper Paul Plott Eric Redd Anderson Stallworth Brian Stone Jason Thoesen protective gear to wear is also part of preparation. But don t overlook YOU. Your physical and mental preparation are as important as correct tire pressure and a good helmet. Understand Your Abilities To ride safely, you must know the limits of your abilities what you can do, what you know. You must also know the capabilities of your motorcycle how it performs in a curve, how quickly it can stop. And you must understand the environment in which you are riding such as the road surface, visibility, traffic laws and the flow of traffic. Accept Your Responsibilities Once you are prepared, once you know the limits of your environment and your motorcycle, and once you understand the limits of your abilities, you must take responsibility for operating within those limits. Ride Safe and Responsible [Information taken from the Motorcycle S a fe t y Fo u n d a t i o n s M o t o r c y c l e RiderCourse, Riding and Street Skills Student Workbook Copyright, 1986] Alexandria Arlington Alexandria Falls Church Fairfax Lorton Fayetteville Reston Sterling Orlean Centerville Sterling Fairfax Fairfax Fayetteville McLean Fredericksburg Arlington Fairfax H.O.G. now has 606 members June Birthdays 6/2 Mike Mularz Kristin A. Nichols Harold Whitten 6/5 Ron Boster 6/6 Jon Fallick Susanne Gannon Dennis Hall John Leake 6/8 Arthur Davis John Lacey 6/9 Karen C. Bracken-Penley 6/10 Sandra Brown 6/12 Robert Kobasiar 6/14 Marie Creamean 6/15 Joe Passarelli Stephen Payne 6/16 Tom Lloyd Harry (Dave) Maughan Harold E. Penley 6/17 Richard Guerrieri 6/18 Ernest Wagner 6/20 Julie Ash 6/21 Larry Farmer Charlie Kniceley Wayne Marsh 6/22 Carolyn Ferguson 6/23 Sandra Danaher 6/24 Roy Skakum 6/25 Chris Lyons 6/26 Greg Cumming Mark Grigg 6/27 Don Jordan Joan Shelton Gregory B Smith 6/28 Rod DuChemin David Martin 6/29 William Connor, Jr. Toby Fitzkee James McQuigg 4 Stars & Pipes

5 History is Made Tom Lloyd, Historian We all do it. We wait all week for the weekend. It is a time to ride and to be with our fellow HOG chapter brothers and sisters. To enjoy the friendships we have all gained because of Fairfax HOG. In their presence we laugh and share and forget for a while our responsibilities. When we are together and riding a tranquility sets in. It is a tranquility which is almost impossible to put into words. For each it holds a different feeling and meaning but in the end the mental sobriety attained by each is the same. Outside of our families we build our lives around this pulsating machine known as a Harley Davidson. Nothing in the world offers the freedom or brotherhood of this piece of American iron. Think about it for a moment. We spend our free time preparing for the next ride. We are like children on Christmas Eve the night before a ride. In the interim we polish and clean, maintain, check and double check the bike. We stand at a distance with the terry cloth towel in our hand which smells like freshly removed wax and admire the two wheeled work of art sitting before us. On Monday we begin watching the extended forecast in hopes of another good day of riding. Our voices filled with excitement as we call our friends and ask them if they saw how pretty the weekend was going to be or sound let down if it is to be cold or rainy. Somehow the latter makes the week that much longer or puts us in a state of depression. On Friday night we sit huddled in front of the TV much as our fathers and mothers did as children around the old RCA radio a generation before us. Our life hinges on the weather person giving us a thumbs up on the weekend weather and we are sad when we find out otherwise. Such was the case for the Poker and Bug Run on Sunday. The weather people promised a beautiful day with temps near 80. Saturday was supposed to be a wash out but Sunday was to be the day. Saturday turned out nice instead of rainy. I woke up early and excited Sunday morning. I sprinted to the coffee machine and poured myself the first cup of the day adding half and half to create the taste I love so much in the morning. I took a seat in the recliner, used the remote to turn on the TV, shook a cigarette from the pack, thumbed the top of my Zippo lighter and lit it. I could see the sun shining brightly outside the windows. I drew heavily on my cigarette took a sip of coffee and flipped to the Weather Channel. All indications were for a warm sunny day just as they had said all a long. Another cigarette and cup of coffee. I could feel its warm magic working through my veins. Today was to be an even more special day for me. The night before my son JT asked my oldest daughter Jeni if she would like to ride with me this time. This is the chance Jeni had been waiting for. Her work schedule had not allowed her to over the last two years and now was her turn. I wanted this to be almost perfect for Jeni as we are working on getting her motorcycle permit and getting her enrolled in the MSF course. She was going to find out what all the hype my son talked about as he walked in the door with his 100 dollar earnings from the last poker run. But more importantly I wanted her to see the brotherhood we all share. After getting ready I awakened her and Trisha. They sprang out of bed with the same enthusiasm I had. I told them to dress for a warm day but wear a jacket in the morning and darted off to Mc- Donalds to get them breakfast. I pulled the bikes out, made the final adjustments to Jeni s helmet and we set off for Patriot. When we arrived I noticed everyone must have heard the same forecast I had. Several in the parking lot were complaining of over dressing. It was time to leave and just as we did the gray dark clouds blanketed the sky. I hoped that it was only temporary. On the way to the first stop it was chilly and very windy as well as several spots of rain. After dismounting there everyone talked about how chilly they were. Some folks even showed up in short sleeves. Unfortunately it was not to be this ride. With the exception of a few brief minutes of sun the rest of the day was chilly and windy. I had to ask myself how all these weather people could Stars & Pipes 5

6 Overnight Ride Mac McCrocklin Road Captain Fairfax H.O.G. will have their first ever overnight ride on July 7th and 8th. I hope you will make every effort to join us for this first timer. The ride is a very scenic route of 452 miles, is of moderate difficulty and will take us to some parts of Virginia that I ve not visited before. This is not a fast ride, and we will be taking several hreaks along the way to sight see and just get on our feet. We are always get it so screwed up. Especially when they each brag about the sophisticated Doppler radar technology they have. The ride was beautiful however. Even Jeni commented on how much more she could see on the bike and all the smells she took in. Her spirit was not broken by the chill but it was not what I wanted for her. She is excited more now than ever to move forward and start riding. I am proud of her and know she will make a fine addition to our chapter. When we got home she thanked me and said she had a wonderful time. I put my arm around her told her thank you for riding with me and making it such a special day for me. She was tired and chilled. The look of exhaustion showed clearly in her eyes. She said she needed a nap and disappeared up the steps. I put the bikes away and went up to check on her. A smile parted her lips as she was already sound asleep. lucky enough to live in one of the most beautiful and diversified states in this great country, and this ride will take us on the roads less traveled through some of the most beautiful parts of Virginia. Covered bridges, waterfalls and maple syrup country are among the sights we ll see on this ride (I didn t even know they make maple syrup in Virginia). We will be leaving from the Bob Evans Restaurant on rte 50, near the intersection of rte 28 in CHANTILLY at 9:00 am on Saturday July 7. If you wish to have breakfast before the ride I would suggest you plan to arrive no later than 7:45 am, as the weekend breakfast crowd gets there I leaned down and kissed her still chilly cheek and closed the door as I left her room. I sat in the recliner turned on the massager opened a beer and shook another cigarette from the pack. It was quiet now as both Trisha and Jeni were sleeping. I reviewed the day in my head and was hopeful she really did enjoy the ride. Another beer and cigarette and I thought how much Fairfax H.O.G. has offered me in my personal life. I have never belonged to a club that meant so much to me personally. Two hours and several beers later the silence was broken as Jeni came down the stairs looking refreshed. She took a seat across from me. I asked her how she slept. She replied I had a dream about motorcycles Dad. I dreamed I by 8 o clock. Our hotel is the Best Western in Covington, VA, (800) The hotel cost is $71.00 per night, but we may be able to get a cost break if we have a big group. Call Melissa with your credit card information BEFORE June 29, and be sure to tell her you re with Fairfax H.O.G.. The hotel has full amenities, so be sure to bring your swim suit with you. See you there. Any questions about the ride or hotel can be directed to: ramacrocklin@compuserve.com. 6 Stars & Pipes

7 Classified For Sale: H-D Clear Compact Detachable Windshield , originally priced $ Used for 300 miles. $ Weider electric vest with neck warmer & thermostat. Small. $50.00 Call Judi Wisniewski (703) Home (703) Work 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 Ready to ride - $15,500 Contact Pam or Jeff West at Chapter Events Hotline: 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 Wednesday, July 4 Fairfax City Parade Fairfax City Saturday, July 7 Overnight Ride 9:00 a.m. Bob Evans Covington, Virginia Chantilly Wednesday, July 11 Sick, Lame or Lazy Ride 11:00 a.m. Patriot H-D Chapter Meeting 7:30 p.m. Patriot H-D Saturday, July 14 Hawgs & Dawgs Poker Run 8:30 a.m. Registration Depart 9:00 a.m. Patriot H-D Sunday, July 22 Poker Run 9:00 a.m. Registration Depart 9:30 a.m. Patriot H-D Saturday, July 28 Group Riding Seminar 10:00 a.m. Patriot H-D Dealer Events Wanted: Road King or Electraglide hard saddlebags and/or mounting brackets. Willing to make reasonable offer. Call (703) between 7:00 and 10:00 p.m. or anytime weekends. Saturday, June 30 4th of July Party Non-Chapter Events Jun June 16 June 28 Jun Aug 6-12 Check website for details! Laconia Bike Week, Loudon, New Hampshire Orange Bike Show, Orange, Virginia Delaware/Maryland State Rally Virginia State H.O.G. Rally, Lynchburg 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