Trail Dust
Airhead Dreams by Tim Hendrickson

It all started when Ray Moss and I decided to meet in Newport, TN for the "Ride On Knoxville" Motorcycle Rally. We had talked a little of riding the nearby Blue ridge Parkway and exploring the Smoky Mountains together.
Ray and I have been riding to Rally's together for about three years now; One thing that has stood out to me about our riding together, has been that I have always been aboard Late Model "state of the art" BMW Sport Touring, or Dual Sport machines, while Ray was riding his trusty old 1974 R90/6. 
Ray had been thinking a lot about the newer models, and had never really had a chance to try out the newest "Oilhead" design boxer machines from BMW. I have several friends who either own, or are in process of restoring the old "Airhead" designs that made BMW famous in the 60's and 70's, including the 76 World Superbike Championship, accomplished on a R90S.
That beautiful Saturday afternoon, we swapped bikes. After a couple of hours, it was hard to tell who was having the most fun. I made my mind up then and there, that I would own an Airhead BMW some day.
Over the next several months, I watched as several of my friends brought their old restoration projects to life, and began riding them to "Bike Night", and to various meetings as well as rally's.
I secretly decided that I would find a "bargain" and begin my own restoration. Along the way several people who know these machines, advised that you get what you pay for with these old bikes, and I would be far better off to try and find a nice running example, with maintenance records, and known ownership history.
Then, while prowling the Internet one day, I came across this really neat 1976 R90/6 with many modifications to "S" specifications that included dual front disk bakes, engine and suspension upgrades, spiffy Corbin sat, and original "S" Café fairing, bars and sporty looking bar end mirrors.
I contacted the owner in New Mexico and he e-mailed pictures of the bike. I also called and talked to him about it in detail. Near the end of our conversation, I mentioned that it was a shame he was so far away, and that if he were closer, I would be seriously interested in the bike. Why, he asked would that stop you?
I explained that I would never buy a bike sight unseen.. He inquired why not fly out and pick it up? He said if you are looking for a really nice R90, you will buy this one "Guaranteed!" New Mexico to Memphis is a heck of a long ride on a thirty-year-old bike but he insisted the machine was up to the trip. So I bought a ticket and flew to New Mexico. And the bike did not disappoint. It looked as good as the pictures. We took care of the all details and by three PM I had left Albuquerque behind. The bike ran smooth as glass and surprised me with its comfort level.
Tucumcari, New Mexico is the heart of Old Route 66 in the west. It is home to many of the Old Motels and Curio shops seen in documentary's, of the "Mother Road". After a good night's sleep in Tucumcari and a big breakfast, I set out with a goal of Fort Smith, Arkansas on my mind. Pretty ambitious goal for an old scudder on a thirty year old motorcycle.
The was a steady 20-25 MPH crosswind blowing with gusts up to fifty. It started getting colder, so I stopped and put on more clothes. 
Once back on the Highway for less than 10 minutes, I stopped again and put on everything I had with me. Still getting colder so I stopped and bought some additional cold weather-gear.

Continued On Page 3

The July meeting of the Memphis Tour Riders was officially gaveled to order 7:00PM
Roll Call: Buck and Donna Permenter, Floyd Nunnelee, Rusty Higgins, Sandy Stroud, Mike Hopper, Brenda Hamilton, Charlie and Darnell Gibson, Mary Carole Scott, (Terry in Spirit), Woodie and Lin Hill, Rick Totty, Barry and Sharon Englander, B.J. and Hildia Max, Dan Randall and Stan Viets. All signed the meeting attendance book and reported receiving their newsletter.
Our ending June bank balance was $1,440.85 We will pay our $215.40 Invoice from Atlantic.Net our web site host for our annual renewal prior to the August 1st due date. Eddie Garner, our excellent webmaster, has indicated that he will be happy to continue his duties. We are indeed fortunate and are continually amazed at his talents. 
We are continually updating our membership information and suggest you verify it occasionally for possible errors. 
Ongoing Business:
We only have a few memberships that haven't renewed, hopefully some will soon. Several have sold their bikes and will not be renewing. According to the by-laws they will be dropped after six months if no response. Also our Treasurer position is now open. Since it is so close to our annual election the position will be open until then. Performance Plus has renewed their yearly ad. Please consider all our sponsor/advertisers when you can they appreciate your support.
We still can use additional sponsor/advertisers. If they have access to the Internet have them check our web site. All the sponsor information and of course the current newsletter is also there. 
I don't know what to think about not yet receiving the July AMA newsletter we are supposed get by email, I have emailed them asking where it is but no reply to date. 
MTR patches and rockers "WHERE WE GO ONE, WE GO ALL" are still available. $ 5.00 per set.
We reviewed our June 26th ride to the U.S. Space and Rocket Center in Huntsville, Al. It's a fascinating place to visit and was enjoyed by the eleven members who participated. The USA Space program is a first class operation as well it should be, with all our tax dollars that are paying for it. If you plan on going to Huntsville in the future, your

Continued On Page 3

Trails End…………………Continued From Page One
Kroger Plus card will get you $2.00 off the admission price. Let's continue to send BJ current news or articles, stories etc. and get involved. 
Dan Randall is continuing to work on the golf tournament, bike and auto show scheduled for October 21-22 at the Tennessee Baptist Children's Home Campus. The plan to select the Best of Show entry in the bike and car show is to have bucket in front of each of the bikes/cars allowing the public to vote by placing a monetary donation in the bucket, the largest donation will then determine the winner, with all proceeds going to the TBCH. 
Updates: Jim Ashe is now at Heritage Place, at 2990 Hickory Hill Road, here in Memphis and seems to be doing as well as can be expected. His phone number is 363-0709. We need to continue our prayers for all. 
Dan Randall gave us a report on the July 4th parade in Cordova, also his picture and as Linda told him, his best side was in the Commercial Appeal. Good PR. 
The Saturday July 10th ride to Bozo's Bar-B-Q in Mason, TN. was a huge success. Twenty-three members and guests made the ride. And on July 17, our third annual Burnt Burger cookout was held at Chickasaw.. Twenty-five members and guests showed up and they all brought good healthy appetites. Everything from the bratwurst, burgers, hot dogs and Texas toast to a freezer of homemade ice cream was gobbled up in short order. An excellent pavilion was chosen by Dan Randall, who volunteered to get up at the crack of dawn and ride ahead and sit on the site till the rest of the members arrived. Margaret and Richard went up early as well and kept Dan company then all jumped in and assisted David Elston, our chef. We are fortunate to have a first class cookout staff. David and Brenda, Bj and Hildia and Richard and Margaret they all did a great job of putting on another successful Burnt Burger cookout and the surprise ice cream sauce was….something. Haven't figured out what yet but it was something. We even had a few deer join the party. Rick Totty won the 50/50 jackpot and immediately donated it back to the club. Thanks Rick. Thanks to all and we'll do it all again next year. 
Our first Long Distance Motorcycle Award will end with the Thursday September 9th meeting. Everyone that signed up for this fun event please check your mileage on September 9th and e-mail your ending Odometer reading to Darnel Gibson at katmech@aol.com Please remember it is your responsibility to get your ending mileage to Darnel so she can total. Also your final mileage must be verified by an officer or officer's riding your bike to the September 9th meeting or at the September 11th, Doodle Soup Festival ride.
The ride to San Antonio and Laredo was full up as of the fifteenth of July and has been closed. The Texas Ride will be the same date as the Trail of Tears Ride, Saturday September 18th. Since BJ will be on the way to Texas Dan Randall has volunteered to lead the Trail of Tears ride. 
Quotation for August: "Success is never final, and failure is never fatal; it's courage that counts."…Unknown
Our thanks to all that brought door prizes win one bring one. See y'all at our next meeting August 12, 2004.
God Bless America and Support our Troops!!
Stan and Jean
The July Meeting was Officially Adjourned at 7:53 PM

Memphis Tour Riders 2004 Ride Schedule

August 14th-Dinner Ride-Crossroads Café -Red Banks, MS--70 Miles 

August 28th-Reelfoot Lake, Tennessee-Lake View Inn--196 Miles

Sept 4th - Antique Road Trip - Hazel, KY - Dinner in Paris, TN - 300 Miles

Sept 11th -Doodle Soup Festival, Car and Motorcycle Show- Bradford, Tennessee--198 Miles

Sept 18- Trail of Tears- -Waterloo, AL-Dinner at the Catfish Hotel-Shiloh--265 Miles

October 2nd-Saddlesore 1000 Endurance Ride-Hendersonville, NC and Return-24 hours or less--1012 Miles

October 16th and 17th- 4th Annual Blazing Saddles Fall Foliage Tour-McMinnville, TN--570 Miles -Overnighter

November 6th-Veteran's Day Thunder -Bally's Casino-Robinsonville, MS-86 Miles

I made it as far as Clinton, Oklahoma where I stopped for gas and to warm up a little. I found out that we had just experienced a "Blue Norther", a phenomenon of nature where, in extreme windy conditions, the temperature can drop 30-40 degrees in a very short time. 
There is a famous Museum honoring Route 66 at Clinton. Nick Woodward and I planned to check it out on our ride out west a couple years ago, but never made it. I decided to check it out and thaw out a little. When I came out of the Museum it was raining. Was The Good Lord trying to tell me something? Like maybe, motel time dummy!
Next morning the weather had calmed down and I had an uneventful ride into Morrilton, Arkansas where the "Natural State" Motorcycle Rally was in full swing. Steve Hamilton had brought my camping gear over from Memphis in his pickup truck and Ray Moss was there on his new R11S. We spent the weekend eating like pigs, exploring the great roads around Petit Jean Mountain, sitting around the campfire and telling stories.
My total mileage to the rally was 935, but a fellow from northern Minnesota (Up around the Canadian border) had ridden 1020 miles. He beat me out of the long distance rider award by less than a hundred miles.
Sunday morning we packed up and headed home. When I parked the bike in the garage I my total milage for my tride home from New Mexico was 1234 miles. The old Beemer is definantly a long distance machine. It rode like a dream and never skipped a beat. Not a bad testament for a thirty year old machine…..