Volume VIII Issue VII

MTR Memories

The picture above depicts the Memphis Tour Riders at the Foglight Foodhouse near McMinnville back in 2002 if my memory serves me right. This was our second annual Blazing Saddles ride. If I remember correctly, it was a very cold start that morning. We like to froze to death but then it warmed up and we had a grand day ride. After checking in at our motel we rode the remaining few miles to the restaraunt that was located out in the country on a crooked and dark little blacktop road where we had a fine meal prepared by a genuine New Orleans chef. It was way after dark when we left for our motel and just as we pulled out on the main drag, a guest rider's gear shift bushing or something gave out and everybody stopped and gathered around the bike to see what could be done. Charlie Gibson went to work under the glow of a few flashlights and had it going in no time. Those days like today were some very good times...I can't remember everybody's name but I got most of them.

L to R standing: Mike Hopper, Terry Scott, Larry Cole, Juanita Cole, Hildia Max, Stan Viets, Ed & Irene (can't remember their last name) and BJ Max.

L to R seated: Danny Parker, Lori Parker, Brenda Hopper, Charlie Gibson, unknown breakdown guests, MC Scott, Jean Viets, and last but not least, Mr. & Mrs. Wild Bill.

BJ Max

Trails End Minutes by Stan Viets

July 2009

The members attending our June 11th meeting, Paul Romesburg, Charlie Gibson, Terry and MC Scott, Dan and Linda Randall, Bob and Julia Potts, BJ and Hildia Max and Nina and Stan Viets. We had one visitor, Mark Hanson, and he is filling out his membership application as we speak. Welcome Mark………
Remember friends, visitors and guests are always welcome.

Memphis Tour Riders offer our sympathy to Tod and Cindy Beers for the unexpected lost of Tod’s father, Charles on May 15, 2009. God Bless Tod and the Beers family you are in our thoughts and prayers.

JULY Birthdays: 04 Tod Beers, 17 Doug Pauley
There are no Anniversaries in July
Our current bank balance is $ 879.41

Everyone reported getting their electronic copy of Happy Trails and Dan also brought a few hard copies, to read if you haven’t opened yours yet. We appreciate your support; it will save MTR a lot on postage.

June 6th Honeysuckle Moon Dinner Ride, Reelfoot Lake, 212 miles. This was our biggest ride this year (35 folks) see de-briefing and pictures on web site.

June 20th Mississippi Delta Tour-Dinner Ride, it was a dry Hot! Hot! one. See web page for de-briefing and pictures. The Hollywood Restaurant has some of the best catfish around.

Rick, Dana, Floyd, grandson Rusty, Stan and Nina went to Ashville, NC, Wednesday June 24th, 25th and 26th. Rick’s friends Larry and Cathie also meet us and enjoyed the sights too; this was our Honda Hoot with out the Hoot. We spent one day riding the Blue Ridge Parkway and one day at the Biltmore Estate; this is an amazing place and well worth the time to visit, it’s hard to visualize how folks could have lived like this over 100 years ago. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biltmore_Estate
When in the Asheville area consider visiting the Moose Café at exit 47 on I-40 for some home cooking.
Motorcycle and Scooter Ride to Work Day was Monday, June 15th. Motorcycle and scooter groups and organizations actively encourage riders to commute by cycle on this day. Participation was minimal in the Memphis area, in my opinion, I only saw a few.
While we are discussing Motorcycles, the pending legislation to eliminate the helmet requirement in TN for over 18 years old failed in the House sub-committee and died in the Senate committee. As BJ mentioned, it wouldn’t affect MTR as we all use helmets anyway.
As mentioned at the last meeting a future AMA event coming up if there is any interest. August 28-30 will be an exclusive Red Bull Indianapolis GP ticket deal for AMA members. It allows AMA members to purchase a ticket package valued at $115.00 for only $75.00 including a 3 day general admission ticket, IMS souvenirs, 10% off Speedway merchandise, free parade lap on the MotoGP course, a 3 day VIP motorcycle parking pass, if you bring your personal bike.
The new Green Bikes: AMA eGrandPrix Introduction: American debut of electric racebikes mixes the future with the past at 2009 AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days
The American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) is pleased to announce that enthusiasts attending AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days, America's grandest celebration of motorcycle heritage, will get the first glimpse into motor cycling’s future this July 24-26 at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in Lexington, Ohio, with a special presentation of the AMA eGrandPrix Introduction.

Showcasing the cutting-edge technology of electric road-race motorcycles alongside the grandeur of the country's premier gathering of vintage motorcycle enthusiasts, the AMA eGrandPrix Introduction will feature new-breed zero-emission race bikes circulating at speed on the sinuous 2.4-mile Mid-Ohio track. The electric bikes will perform spirited exhibition laps during breaks in the vintage road-race program that will run as part of the AMA Racing Vintage Grand Championships. The Introduction marks the first international gathering of high-tech electric road-race bikes in the U.S. in the 21st century.

At our next meeting Danny will give us a first hand report on his missionary trip to Swaziland, South Africa. It was an interesting adventure.

BJ has revised the MTR Ride Schedule, the only revision was the date, now re-scheduled to October 10th, for our 8th annual Blazing Saddles overnighter to Gaston’s Resort, Mountain Home, AR. All the rooms have been taken, however you can still make the trip but you will have to make your own reservations, Billy has details. The meeting consensus was to again eat dinner at the Gaston restaurant and not have to worry about carrying food, etc. just bring money.

As always, please visit our sponsors when you have need for their services or products. If you know of anyone that would like to support MTR with an inexpensive ad, let me know. If you know of any possible sponsors, please sign them up, only $30 for a business card size ad. Wow what a deal.

Our $24.00 annual MTR dues were payable at our April meeting. If you haven’t renewed yet your April dues are now long overdue, the enforcer may pay you a visit or maybe publish your name in Happy Trails.

BJ passed out a flyer for Brenda Hopper’s 1999 GL1500 Gold Wing Trike, it’s a good buy for only $ 15,000.00 firm. Contact 901-517-6381, 901-412-4815 or 901-476-3582 or maxflat6@aol.com if interested. Her trailer has been sold.

Y’all that brought door prizes, win one bring one.

Our next regular meeting will be July 9th. Here at Fox Ridge Pizza.
Eat at 6:00 PM, Meet at 7:00 PM, gone by 8:00 PM.

Take your time, have fun, ride safe in 2009
Adjourned at 7:47 PM…………Stan

Door Prizes
Win One Bring One
Donated by	Prize	Winner
Terry and MC Stan and Nina Dan and Linda Mark Mark Paul R BJ and Hildia Bob and Julia	Stationary stuff Whitman’s candy Crackers/cookies Crackers Shop rags Hot sauce Megiuars detailer Lighter	Dan Charlie Terry S Julie Terry S Dan Stan Dan
50/50 Jackpot	$30.00	Linda Randall

Meet in the Middle 2009
By Mark Hanson

Dm Randall and his life long friend Jim Adams, who lives in Fairfield, California, have a 17-year tradition of meeting each other at various spots in the country to have a drink and talk about old times. This time I decided to tag along with them for the reunion in Denver, Colorado.

Dan and I left Memphis at 9:00 am, Saturday, June 27th and made our way to Fort Smith, Arkansas. It seemed like the hottest day of the year! By the time we got to Fort Smith the heat index was around 112 degrees. We rode 316 miles and decided not to push our luck any further. Fort Smith had a Blues music festival down by the river that night but it was just too hot to sit on the concrete and listen to the music so we decided to hang around the hotel and tried. to stay cool.
Sunday, June 28thwas a better day. A cold front came through and we were able to ride 470 miles across Oklahoma (cattle farms; and flat lands) to Liberal, Kansas. - Too bad the hotel we stayed at was the base for National Carriers, cattle haulers. Some of the trucks were parked outback so when you walked outside all you could. smell was cows.

Monday, June 29th we made our way to Salida, Colorado and had a few sprinkles. The rain clouds split and we drove through the middle of them and did rot get wet. We found a nice restaurant overlooking the Arkansas River and had a good dinner, We watched kayakers challenge the rapids and met some 'locals' at the Tenderfoot Tavern and hung out with them until closing.

Quotation of the month: “I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.”………..Thomas Edison

On Tuesday, June 30th our plans were to meet Jim Adams and his riding friends at 4:00 pm at the state capital building in Denver, Colorado. As chance would lave it, they went by us while we were at Thunder Mountain HD and turned around to meet us. We all went back to Denver and stayed at the same hotel, went to the same bar and Laundromat that Dan and Jim did. on their first trip. Not much had changed since their first visit. We forgot about our clothes, had to take wet clothes back to the hotel and Dan took them the next day to dry them.

We started our next day with a great breakfast and a trip to Rocky Mountain National Park. 'What a beautiful place! The park has 72 named peaks above 12,000 feet, which are snow covered almost all year long. Trail Ridge Road is the highest major highway in North America. It tops out at 12,183 feet. Toward the end the blacktop ended and there was only dirt and gravel. It started to rain but we made it to a little restaurant before we got too wet. We enjoyed a late lunch while it rained. We made our way back to Denver to enjoy our last light of having a good time with friends.

Unfortunately, Thursday, July 2nd was our day to say good -bye to old friends and start our way back home. We made our way to Dodge City, Kansas. We did some sightseeing had a good dinner and got a good night sleep.

Friday, July 3rd was to be our longest day on the road, at 520 miles. Somehow we only went: 450 miles. We met Dan's stepbrother and family, who live in Springfield, Missouri. His son is the chef at the hotel and cooked an excellent meal

Saturday; we left Springfield, Missouri at 7:30 am to stay in front of the rain and arrived in Memphis at 2:15 pm.

We traveled a total of 2,829 miles in seven days. All except about 100 miles were on two and four lane back roads. An excellent way to stay away from the congestion and high speeds of interstate travel and enjoy the roads less traveled.

We had an excellent trip, very little rain, good roads and very little traffic. Other than 'riding in an oven' the first day, the weather was great. This is all I have to report on so keep the Sunny Side up and enjoy your riding time.

ps. Looking forward to 'Meet in the Middle 2010'.

A doctor on his morning walk noticed an old lady sitting on her front steps smoking a cigar so he walked up to her and said, "I couldn't help but notice how happy you look.! What's your secret?" "I smoke ten cigars a day," she said. "Before I go to bed, I smoke a nice big joint. Apart from that, I drink a whole bottle of Jack Daniels every week, and eat only junk food. On weekends, I pop pills, got laid, and don't exercise at all."

"That is absolutely amazing! How old are you?" "Thirty four", she replied.