Volume II Issue V

Trails End.......

We welcomed our members to the monthly meeting of the Memphis Tour Riders. Roll call: Floyd Nunnelee, Rusty Higgins, Larry Cole, Danny Parker, Robert and Judy Crawford, Charlie and Darnell Gibson, Dan Randall, Bill and Bonny Healy, Dick and Fran Salveson, B.J. and Hildia Max, Michael Hopper, Tim Hendrickson and yours truly, Stan Viets. Thanks to all for coming. Everyone reported they received their Happy Trails with out any problems, even though we had some address changes. Please check the Members only section of MTR website for the latest changes.
This was our third meeting here at Shoney's and everyone seemed satisfied with the location, room, service, etc. Shoney's has changed the buffet to conventional food in place of the Italian fare. Most everyone liked it better. As reminder the servers adds a 15% gratuity to your check at the cash register for handling our large group.

Unfinished Business:
Thanks to all that paid their dues prior to the April meeting and those that paid during the meeting. After adjustments based on the month joined everyone's dues will now be payable at the same time next year, April 2004. If you haven't paid your dues yet please print the application off the web page, circle "renewal" and make any corrections necessary, sign and date the form and mail to me at 8285 Chippingham Drive, Cordova, TN 38016-4521. We appreciate your continued support. If you're not going to renew for any reason, please let me know. If you have any questions about your or need an application, give me a call.
We still need additional sponsors/advertisers, keep in mind they can get twelve months of ads in the newsletter and a listing on the web page for only $30.00 a year. Renewal notices have been sent to our current advertisers. Hopefully they will renew.

Updates, News and Comments:
Bill Jones is at home and Julia is busy providing home health care. He is slowly making progress and Julia said they are spending a lot of time going back and forth to the doctors. I don't have a current update on Jim Ashe.
Reminder our MTR patches are available at $3.00/each. Also the rockers "WHERE WE GO ONE, WE GO ALL" are available at a cost of $2.00 per set. We need to sell some.
B. J.'s report on the Redneck Sushi Ride to Taylor Grocery and Fish House seemed to mirror the consensus of our group as a whole as well as their thoughts about the Motorcycle show prior to the ride?

Continued On Page 3

Paris in the Springtime

"I love Paris in the spring time. I love Paris in the fall. I Love the Eiffel Tower by moonlight, but I love the fish fry most of all." When Kathleen Walls penned this little parody she got it right. But the Paris she was mooning over was not Jacques Chirac's Paris. Nope, she was writing about a much nicer place. Her lyric was about Paris, Tennessee, and the World's Biggest Fish Fry.
For the past fifty years, Paris has fed all comers some of the best catfish in the world. Well, some of it is anyway. The fish I had this year was awful. It was cut to thin and fried to a crisp. Terrible. But Stan said his was some of the best he had ever lapped a lip over so I guess Hildia, Dorothy, Floyd and I were served from a bad batch. But even if the catfish ain't perfect every time, the size of the crowds proves that the city of Paris is doing something right.
This was the fiftieth anniversary for the World's Biggest Fish Fry. Actually, it originated in 1938 as "Mule Day". On the first Monday in April farmers would come to town to swap mules and lies but in the early fifties, the Chamber of Commerce began looking for a replacement event since tractors were quickly sending all the mules to the unemployment office. So, in 1953 the World's Biggest Fish Fry made its debut. Attendance that first year was not very encouraging but, from little acorns mighty oaks grow and today the World's Biggest Fish Fry draws over a hundred thousand visitors and serves 13,000 plus pounds of catfish.
The Memphis Tour Riders contributed a dollar or two to the goings on again this year. Nine bikes showed up on a raw and windy morning. There were five Gold Wings, two Yamaha Ventures, one Valkrie Interstate and a Yamaha V-Star. Not to bad. Fifteen souls were on board this fine collection of two wheeled machinery. First and foremost were the three guest riders accompanying Dan Randall. They were Clay Kegal, his son Colin and Cammie Foster. Cammie rode with Clay and Colin, who didn't look a day over six, rode with Dan. Also present on the ride was Floyd Nunnelee, Dorothy Shipman, David Elston, Stan Viets, Bill and Bonnie Healy, Charley Gibson, Robert and Judy Crawford, Hildia Max and yours truly.
Speaking of the Crawfords, this was Judy's first ride of any length and she was understandably scared to death. I'll never forget the first two up ride Hildia and I did on a Gold Wing. Talk about scared. We rode, wobbled would be a better word, from our house to our son's, a distance of about three miles, and we were petrified every inch of the way. So don't feel bad Judy, it takes some getting used to. Especially leaning through the curves. But if you can hang in there awhile, trust us, you will soon be looking forward to every ride, rain or shine.
We had a great time and the weather, despite a dismal start, turned pleasant and became quite nice before the day was done. Most of us stuck together for the ride home making the day even better. I complained earlier about the quality of the fish but looking back now I realize that I scarfed down two huge platefuls so I guess it wasn't too bad, huh? To those of you who joined us, thanks for coming out on such a gloomy day. For those of you who couldn't make it, we missed you. And to our guests, please come back and see us. Better yet, why not just join up and become a permanent part of the Memphis Tour Riders…We would love to have you.
Happy Motoring

NOTICE-NOTICE-NOTICE

MONTHLY MEETING:
Thursday, May 8th

SHONEY'S

3081 Covington Pike

(click here for map)

Eat at Six-Meet at Seven

Happy Birthday!

Juanita Cole-May 14th
Pam Criddle-May 23rd
Bill Healy-May 25th
Bonnie Healy-May 31st

HONDA OF TUPELO OPEN HOUSE AUTO MUSEUM
DINNER RIDE

Saturday, May 3, 2003

We will meet at Shoney's, Summer Ave.and Sycamore View and travel to Tupelo, MS for the annual Honda of Tupelo Open House. Hot Dogs and Burgers. From there we will ride over to the new auto museum (admission-Six Bucks) for a look see then on up through Corinth to Chapman's Restaurant for dinner. Meet at Shoney's at 7:00AM and Depart at 8:00AM sharp…Please arrive gassed up and ready to roll. At this writing, the weather looks good to. 72 degrees and sunny predicted so get you chores done and break out the boots and helmet and let's ride baby, ride…

Mileage: 243

Saddle Time: 4:40

Remember Those That Made The Ultimate Sacrifice

This Memorial Day

May 26th

Happy Anniversary!

Dick and Fran Salverson-May 15th
Larry and Juanita Cole-May 24th

Memphis Tour Riders

Ride Schedule 2003

May 3rd---Tupelo Honda Open House/Auto Museum/Chapman's Resturuant
May 17th---Bikers for Barbara Rally and Flea Market-Southaven, MS Exit 291 off I-55
June 7th-AGWA Mousetail Park Cookout on the banks of the Tennessee River-This ride is organized by Don and Marion Oller and is always a huge hit. Don't miss this one.
June 21st-Son of Burnt Burger Cookout-Chickasaw State Park.
July 19th-Phillips Grocery-Holly Springs, Mississippi-Great Hamburgers/Atmosphere
July 26th-Tennessee River Catfish Ride-River Heights café- No rain this year though. Sorry.
August 16th-Flippin's Resturuant, Reelfoot Lake-Catfish and Hushhpuppies
Sept. 6th---Beacon Light Café, Bon Aqua, Tennessee-Home cooking-Fried Chicken-Gravy and Biscuits.
September 20th-Trail of Tears-Waterloo, Alabama-World's labiggest organized motorcycle ride
October 4th-Buns of Steel Ride-Seven states in one day
October 18th-"Blazing Saddles Three-Fall Foliage Tour- Overnighter-McMinnville, Tennessee.

Happy Mother's Day To All The Moms

May 11th

Trails End…………………Continued From Page One
The fourteen MTR members and one visitor attending the first annual "Gambler's Run" motorcycle ride to Tunica and the flat track race on the 29th of March enjoyed the event and expressed a lot favorable comments and looked forward to doing it again next year. It sounded like fun was had by all and Dan really liked the casino visit before the race. He didn't do to bad in our 50/50 either. There are pictures on our web site, if you haven't seen them.
We heard some interesting stories from Mike Hopper and Dan Randall as they re-capped their recent trip to the Talladega 500. This was the first NASCAR race ever for Dan and from the enthusiasm expressed we concluded that it probably won't be the last. We also learned that Dan has been invited to the Tennessee Baptist Children's Home Fund Raising affair Thursday night April 24. Dan will give us a report on the event next month.
New Business:
We discussed the following events scheduled to take place before our next meeting. Reminder: Our Ride Commander and his trusty GPS works long and hard to schedule our rides, coordinating rest stops, gas stops and arrivial times with minimal delays and messing up his itinerary ruins his whole day. So please, unless you want to see a grown man cry, arrive at departure sites gassed up and ready to roll.
Saturday May 3rd. We will visit Tupelo Honda's open House, then the Auto Museum before eating at Chapman's Restaurant. Details on departure and location will be emailed later. Billy and Gabby (GPS) Hayes are working on it.
Bikers for Barbara will have a on Saturday, May 17th, the motorcycle riding community of North Mississippi will present "Bikers for Barbara II" at the Mid-South Expo Center, Southaven, MS. Exit 291 off I-55. The event runs from 10 am to 10 pm. The event is open to everyone whether a motorcycle rider or not. This is truly a community event! We need to support this worthy event. Also it would be a good idea to get there early due to the minimal parking available.
We will have two events scheduled for June.
Saturday June 7th is the date for the Mousetail SP Picnic hosted by the Don Oller and Chapter F, AGWA. Details are on the Web Page.
Saturday June 21st will be our Son of Burnt Burger Cookout at Chickasaw State Park. Details will follow.
We have a great schedule of additional rides and events planned. They are listed on the web page. We will continue to discuss them as they come up in the newsletter, web Page and at the meetings. As always if anyone has any suggestions for rides or events please let B. J. know.
Thanks to all that brought door prizes, and as you will note they don't necessarily relate to a motorcycle group. Win one bring one, your cooperation is appreciated and adds to the meeting festivities.
Quotation of the Month: "Don't complain about the weather. If it never changed, nine tenths of people wouldn't ever start a conversation."…………….Hugh O'Neill
Our thoughts, prayers and support go out to all our men and women serving in the Armed Forces as well as their families. God Bless America our home sweet home. Keep the flags flying.
Ride Safe.
Stan and Jean
The meeting was officially adjourned at 7:58PM

March 50/50

DONATED BY:	PRIZE:	WINNER:
Floyd Nunnelee	Stover Candy	Judy Crawford
Stan & Jean Viets	Wax	Larry Cole
Danny Parker	Polish	Robert Crawford
Larry Cole	Dri-Cleaner	Floyd Nunnelee
B.J. & Hildia Max	Motorcycle Picture	Stan Viets
Robert & Judy Crawford	Trail Mix	Floyd Nunnelee
Dan Randall	Candle	Stan Viets
Dick & Fran Salverson	Necklace	Mike Hopper
Dick & Fran Salverson	Necklace	Tim Hendrickson
Dick & Fran Salverson	Make Up Case	Darnell Gibson

Winner 50/50 Jackpot: Dan Randall-$42.00

MOTORCYCLE FATALITIES UP
FIFTH CONSECUTIVE YEAR

WASHINGTON (AP) - Highway safety advocates say the government must do more to prevent traffic deaths, which last year were at the highest level since 1990.
Counting all types of traffic fatalities, 42,850 people died, 1.7 percent more than the year before, the government said Wednesday. Alcohol-related deaths rose 3 percent to 17,970, the third straight increase after a decade of decline.
Fifty-nine percent of those killed last year were not wearing seat belts. Only 18 states and the District of Columbia have primary seat belt laws according to Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety. Judith Stone, president of the safety group, wants Congress to require every state to have a standard seat belt enforcement law within three years.
Motorcycle fatalities rose for the fifth consecutive year, to 3,276, the most since 1990. That compares with a low of 2,116 in 1997.
``Part of what we're seeing is a reflection of the increased sales and popularity of motorcycles,'' said Rae Tyson, NHTSA spokesman.
On the positive side, fewer young children died in car crashes. The number of those under age 4 who were killed fell 5.7 percent, while there was an 8 percent decline for youngsters 4 to 7.

Americans set aside one day a year for Mothers and an entire week for truck drivers"?"

(August 18th-24th)