Volume VII Issue III

As I prepare this newsletter on the 7th of March 2008 I watch three to six inches of white snow fall outside my window. The weatherman of Memphis have started White Death 2008 storm tracker doppler radar round the clock to tell me and my fellow citizens of the mid-south that we may not make it to Sunday. The temperature on Sunday will be in the mid-fifties and quite possibly a good day to go for a ride so I hope we all survive. until then. I guess if you get this we will have done so.

So we have survived another winter in the mid south. We had some good riding days throughout the last three months and many more ahead. Our new ride schedule will be great as always and we should all enjoy our selves on the rides to the many destinations we will visit. I for one am ready for a good long ride to get the cobwebs out of the bike and my head. The first rides of the new year are always the best as we re-acquaint ourselves with our rides, the sun, wind and all of senses come alive again. So get ready MTRMC we are on the road again this month and going strong for another successful year of riding fun and enjoying each others company

Ride it Like You Stole It
Keep the Shinny Side Up
Dan

Trails End Minutes by Stan Viets

February 2008

Trails End Minutes by Stan VietS March 2008

We welcomed the following members to our February Valentine’s Day meeting, Floyd Nunnelee, Russell Higgins, Don and Teresa Hester, Dan and Linda Randall, Melissa and Nicole Atkins, Larry and Juanita Cole, Paul Romesburg, Hildia Max and yours truly. We had no visitors. We had 3 Birthdays in February; Larry Cole on the 6th, Bonnie Garner on the 7th and Brenda Crawford on the 11th. Our best wishes to all. Our bank balance at the end of the year was $274.64. Hildia presented copies of our 2007 financial report, thanks Hildia for keeping our financial records in good order.

Dan passed around the many thank you notes from the boys and house parents at the Tennessee Baptist Children’s Home, Double-B-Boys Ranch, thanking Memphis Tour Riders for their Christmas party, gifts and motorcycle rides. They were very appreciative and pleased with the time we were able to spend with them.

Paul Romesburg recently visited with his son who is serving in the Air Force and stationed in Okinawa. Paul gave us an interesting first hand report on their trip along with the island information thanks Paul.

News from our February Virtual Dinner Ride:

We had a good turnout, 21 members and guest at the Old Timer’s Restaurant in Millington, on Saturday night February 16th. Pictures are on the web page. For those that haven’t been there they have excellent coconut pie and good food and well worth a visit.

The data on the Member’s web page has been updated and you can print both the member and birthday list. If you find any errors please let me know.

We also appreciate and thank our Advertiser/Sponsors for continuing their ads; we value your contribution and support. Please remember our ailing members in your thoughts and prayers. Prayers are priceless and they do work.

Reminder, the Long Ranger Mileage Challenge will end on Sunday March 9th at midnight. Dan will announce the winner at our March 13th meeting, it’s your responsibility to let Dan know your odometer reading well before the meeting.

Another reminder, the MTR annual $24 membership dues will be due at the April meeting. We will appreciate your continued support and dedication.

BJ will have our 2008 ride schedule at our March meeting. We appreciate all the hard work he puts into organizing our ride schedule. Some long range plans.. .The Honda Hoot coming up in June 18-2 1 at Knoxville; several will be going. I have the Super 8 motel information if you need it.

Blazing Saddles #6 is on for October 4th at Gaston’s Resort, Lakeview, AR. We have the River Villa reserved with 10 rooms. If you haven’t signed up yet and decide to join us if we get 4 more we can get an additional 4 room villa.

Some of us will ride over to Batesville, AR on March 21st to visit Mark Martin’s Open House at his ford Dealership and see his special guests, Tony Stewart and Kenny Schrader. Additional details will be emailed later.

I haven’t heard anything yet from our guest speaker at our January meeting, Norm Allen, District manager for Cycle Gear, with reference to advertising; he mentioned it would take corporate involvement and time.

If anyone has someone they would like to invite to give a talk or presentation at any of our meetings please let me know. We always welcome informative input.

Thanks for coming out on Valentine’s Day and to all that brought door prizes, win one bring one.

Our next meeting will be March 13, 2008, here at Fox Ridge Pizza. Eat at 6:00 PM, Meet at 7:00 PM, gone by 8:00 PM

Safety starts with an S but in reality it begins with U.
Ride safe to-day and every day!
Adjourned at 7:27 PM

Stan

SB 1511 by Sen. Burchett/HB 1283 by Rep. Todd TMA Position - Oppose

It’s back! The bill to allow an individual 21 years of age and older the ability to legally ride a motorcycle without a helmet has been placed on the House Budget Subcommittee calendar for next week. Just imagine adults riding motorcycles on our interstates, highways and city streets without helmets- it has happened
elsewhere and could VERY EASILY happen in Tennessee. Talking points are not necessary- almost every physician understands how bad this legislation is and
what the outcome would be!

Door Prizes
Win One Bring One
Donated by	Prize	Winner
Floyd Stan Don and Teresa Dan and Linda Dan and Linda Dan and Linda Larry and Juanita	Turtle Wax Toasty Crackers CD/DVD Case Valentine Candy Valentine Candy Valentine Candy Hand Wipes	Stan Floyd Melissa Floyd Melissa Hildia Paul
50/50 Jackpot	$30.00	Paul

The 2007 Riding Season at a Glance
A Memoir

2007 has been the driest year I can ever remember and I’m pushing sixty. Ahem, well it has. But, and this is strange, it has also been one of the wettest years I can remember. How can that be you ask? Well, stop and think about it. We had more rain outs in our riding schedule this year than ever as far as I can remember. We made most of them up but nevertheless, we had a lot of rain on ride days even though we were in the middle of a drought.

It rained on us the very first ride. Remember? We rode from the Agricenter motorcycle show out to Kerrville and the Pig-N-Whistle. Not only did it rain but the temperature dropped and the rain morphed into sleet. It was a cold ride home too as I remember. That was also a first for someone very special to Hildia and I, namely our number four Granddaughter Anna, who rode with her Grandmother in the car that day. Anna loves motorcycles and she had a great time.

The worst, I guess, at least for around here, was our Honeysuckle Moon Ride. It was an official rainout even though several members lucked out and found themselves on the north side of the storm and were able to make it to Reelfoot Lake without a single drop of rain. But the rest of us almost drowned just getting to Millington. It was a disaster as far as motorcycle rides go and it was an official rainout.

Our throwed rolls ride to Lamberts was also rained out but we eventually made that one up. And on our trip out west, I led the crew smack dab into the teeth of a rip roaring hail storm near the Canadian River Breaks in the Texas Panhandle. And it rained and sleeted on us in the Rockies as well. Lots of nasty weather caught us napping this year but we still had fun despite it all.

A few notes from the 2007 Season:

That awful restaurant, the Yocona River Inn and the members demand that I remove it’s waypoint from my GPS forever. Stan’s handling skills as he brought his GL1500 to a safe stop after the sudden deflation of his rear tire..Good work Mr President.

The thrilling view from the top of the world (Trail Ridge Road) in Colorado. Eleven miles of this highway travel above 11,500 feet and its maximum height of over 12,000 feet make it the highest paved road in the world.

The Flying W Ranch Cowboy Band serenading us under the stars in Colorado.

Standing in the doorway of the Marriott in Amarillo soaking wet begging for a room after suffering through that Texas hailstorm.

My bulletproof RAM GPS mount breaking off at the stem at seventy MPH in New Mexico. If not for the design of my Garmin mounting bracket my expensive GPS would have crashed to the pavement and would have been destroyed. So much for RAM’s highly touted and indestructible mounting system.

Dining on cold cuts out of Paul’s trailer at McFarland Park in Florence, Alabama at the Trail of Tears ride. I remember David’s comment later about how nice it was to stroll through the vendor area with a full stomach and not be tempted by the aroma of four dollar hot dogs.

Paul’s speaker grill being sucked out of the dash by the vicious Kansas winds. Amazing.

Dining on the back porch of Ezell’s fish camp while towboats on the Tombigbee River worked within a couple hundred feet of us...Neat.

All the ladies at Ezell’s Fish Camp and the keen interest they took in the men of the group, or was it the motorcycles...Whatever, they were nice.

Our official mileage for 2007 was 5,599. Although we were short of our projections by 132 miles due to weather, it was still a pretty good tally.

Looking forward to the 2008 season and the schedule should be ready by the March meeting...
Happy New Year

bj