Northeast Iowa Waukon H.O.G. Chapter. Est Volume # Chapter Newsletter for May 2004

Transcription

1 Director s Report Northeast Iowa Waukon H.O.G. Chapter Est Volume # Chapter Newsletter for May 2004 Page 1 Get your motor running, head out on the highway, you know the song. Riding season is finally here! May kicks off the chapter s official riding season and event schedule. We have many rides and events planed for this summer. Gail and Mark Zweibohmer will kick off the chapter riding events by hosting our 2nd annual Ice Breaker Ride on May 23rd. The Nebraska State HOG Rally will be held in Grand Island on May 28th - 30th. Waukon Harley Davidson will be having their annual Parking Lot Picnic on May 29th. Be sure to watch your mail for a flyer on this annual dealership event. May also brings the start to the 3-DAY WEEKENDS which we wait all winter long for. Memorial Day is the first of the great 3-day weekends that allow us one extra day to ride. Memorial Day is also a time to reflect on those who have made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom. We must never forget the sacrifices made to assure that the freedom we enjoy is not lost. THANK YOU to all the women and men in the armed forces that assure our freedom and way of life is maintained. Happy Mother s Day to all the HOG moms in our chapter, have a wonderful day in the limelight. I hope to see everyone at the Chapter Meeting on the 14th. Till then, ride safe and keep the chrome side up. Jeff Mehmen/Director jmehmen@lifelineambulance.com Secretary s Report/Chapter Minutes Date APRIL 9, Meeting called to order by Jeff 7:40 PM - Twenty members were present. 1) Secretary s report was given and approved. 2) Treasurer s report was not given. 3) New members Mike & Germaine Kann joined us for the meeting. 4) Jeff turned the meeting over to Dee & Kevin Ketelsen representatives for the State Rally Committee who talked about the upcoming Iowa Rally, & asked for volunteers to work the events. 5) Activities Director Jim Reiser gave an updated report on the ride to Camp Courageous. 6) Safety Director Kay Brewster reported on safe riding and handed out hand signal sheets, and showed a safety video after the meeting. 7) A motion was made to donate $40.00 to the Spillville Rodeo by Kay Brewster and seconded by Gary Gissel and approved by all. 8) P.O.T. attendees this year are Ron & Kay Brewster, Gary Hooper, and Myrna Zanatta. 9) Updated list and info on other state rallies located on the shop bulletin board. - Door prize won by Bernard Jaster. - Meeting adjourned at 8:25 PM by Jeff Mehmen Respectfully Submitted, Rick Zanatta/Secretary (BMR)

2 Ice Breaker Ride Page 2 Here is the information regarding the May 23rd Ice Breaker Ride. We will be meeting at the Kwik Star Parking Lot in Waukon. The ride will be leaving the Kwik Star parking lot at 11:00 AM with a pre-trip meeting to start at 10:50 AM. Arrive early for some pretty "cool" fun. We will be traveling from Waukon to Elgin Iowa to dine at the "Big Guys Pizza" place (they don t call the owner this for nothin!) where we will dine on your choice of made to order pizzas, oven toasted sub sandwiches, HUGE chef salads, and your favorite beverages. Best of all, we will have the entire place to ourselves! Attend the May HOG meeting to review the menu and to place your order so that it is ready when we arrive if you like. Rain or shine we re going to dine so join up for the ride and "melt" your cares away on a leisurely ride through Northeast Iowa. Mark Zweibohmer/Road Captain #2 Iowa State HOG Rally Big Bikes for Little Tykes Date: May 15th Time: 11:00 AM La Crosse Harley-Davidson Special guests at our April Chapter meeting were Kevin and Dee Kettleson of the Clinton Chapter. Kevin and Dee are on the state rally committee and gave an excellent presentation on this years rally. Once again the state committee has been working on a fun filled schedule including a dealer stamp ride like we did last year. We will be doing a chapter ride with # 1 Road Captain Gary in command. We need to visit 3 dealers for stamps on our conformation cards. So make sure you pre-register for the full rally package. The deadline is June 4th. The rally is July in Pella. More on this later. Jim Hyde/Editor Roman Kovarik has landed a position as head technician at Lake County Choppers in Mount Dora, FL. He plans to build many theme bikes besides working on stock machines. Check out the latest chopper that was constructed, The Tomahawk Bike. The next bike will be the "Gator Bike. Roman is really excited about his new career and hopes that the choppers they build get national attention, so tell everyone about the web site and if your in Orlando stop at the shop its only a few minutes out.

3 Page 3 Rider s Edge/MSF Guide To Group Riding Synopsis Preparation Mental - need an alert mind free from distractions like worry and stress, and free from the influence of drugs or alcohol Mechanical - T-CLOCS Physical - need proper riding gear for anticipated weather conditions Riders Meeting - Arrive early with bike prepped and a full tank of gas. Expect an itinerary showing fuel and food stops. Review of hand signals by road captains. Discuss procedures for regrouping if separated. Hand Signals - Some common hand signals below. Riding in Formation - Staggered formation with lead rider in left third of the lane, second rider in right third of the lane and the rest of group following pattern. Maintain adequate space cushion in front and behind. Ideal size of an individual group is 5 to 7 riders. A tight formation works best to keep other traffic from cutting into the group, but safety comes before the integrity of the group. Never ride side-by-side unless in a parade. Keeping the Group Together - Lead rider plans ahead and signals early. Leader decides where newer, less-experienced riders will fit into the formation. Only two positions require the most experienced riders - lead and sweep. Leader sets a pace to accommodate the skill level of all riders in the group. Intersections - HIGH RISK AREA. When making a left at a protected intersection (left-turn arrow) tighten the formation to allow as many riders thru as possible. Do not go thru the turn side-by-side - either single file or tight staggered. Use the same procedure with right turns. Each rider must act as an individual, making turns only when safe and legal. Parking- Avoid downhill or head-in parking. Park where you can pull thru or try to position the bikes so that the group can depart as a unit, single file. Interstates & Freeways - Enter single file and form up staggered formation only after merging. Maintain the proper safety margin depending upon the speed. Exit single file. Passing - On freeway or interstate, group can pass as a unit. On a two-lane, the group passes one at a time. The leader signals intention, passes, then returns to the left lane position and continues at passing speed to allow room for the next bike. Leaving the Group - Notify the leader of the place or time you will be leaving the group. After you depart, the group adjusts the formation. Roadside Emergencies - If a rider has difficulties, the riders following stop including the sweep rider, and the riders ahead proceed to the next scheduled stop. If it appears there will be a delay, the sweep rider sends one rider on to meet the rest of the group at the next designated stop to advise the leader of the situation. Separated from the Group - DON T PANIC. You should have a pre-planned procedure or place selected for regrouping. Don t feel pressured to catch up. Roadway Hazards - Construction zones require single file with proper safety cushion. Avoid running over debris unless you have no other choice. Environmental Hazards - Riding into the sun can be hazardous. This is a good time for a break. Otherwise, reduce speed and increase your safety cushion. Riding at night requires you to be visible. Consider retro-reflective gear, make sure your lights are working, and your headlight is properly adjusted. Reduce speed and increase your safety cushion. HAVE FUN Kay / Safety Officer

4 Page 4 Turn Signal On open and close hand with finger & thumb extended You Lead/Come arm extended upward 45 degrees, palm forward pointing with index finger, swing in arc from back to front Comfort Stop forearm extended, fist clenched with short up and down motion Double File arm with index and middle finger extended straight up Follow Me arm extended straight up from shoulder, palm forward Fuel arm out to side pointing to tank with finger extended Hazard on the right, point with right foot; on the left, point with left hand Pull Off arm positioned as for right turn, forearm swung toward shoulder Highbeam tap on top of helmet with open palm down Refreshments fingers closed, thumb to mouth Single File arm and index finger extended straight up Stop arm extended straight down, palm facing back

5 Page 5 Slow down Arm extended straight down, palm facing back Speed Up arm extended straight out, palm facing up Chapter Officers Director...Jeff Mehmen Ass t Director...Gary Hooper Secretary...Rick Zanatta Treasurer...Sue Ryan # 1 Road Captain..Gary Landsgard # 2...Mark Zweilbohmer # 3...Norbert Ryan # 4...Wayne Ryan # 5...Jean Kane # 6...Gary Gissel # 7...Bob Wierck # 8...Bernie Jaster # 9...Randy Ellis #10...Bruce Bearinger Activities...Jim Reiser Safety...Kay Brewster Photographer # 1...Ron Brewster Photographer # 2...Bob Wierck LOH # 1...Traci Mehmen LOH...Shelli Wierck LOH...LeAnn Jevne LOH...Myrna Zanatta LOH...Gail Zweilbohmer Webmaster...Ron Kovarik Membership...Jean Kane Liaison...Daryl Hinton Editor...Jim Hyde Ass t Editor...Linda Sires Roving Reporter...Vic Kane P.O. Box 377 New Albin, IA jimh@acegroup.cc (563) The Northeast Iowa Chapter newsletter is the official not for profit monthly publication of the Waukon Chapter, and is service for H.O.G. club members. Submission of materials for this publication by any chapter member is encouraged. Deadline for submission is the 20th of each month. News articles travel stories, cartoons (in good taste), recipes, for sale items, etc., are welcome. Your submissions may be mailed to the Editor, at the above address, or to Waukon Harley-Davidson. This newsletter is published by the Northeast Iowa Chapter of Harley Owners Group, Chapter # Harley-Davidson Inc, Waukon Harley-Davidson, and the Northeast Iowa HOG Chapter make no claims to the accuracy of the material presented in this newsletter. Copyright 1996 by the Northeast Iowa Chapter of Harley Owners Group. Material from this newsletter may only be reprinted without permission in other Harley Owners Group newsletters or publications. All other users must obtain authorization of the Northeast Iowa HOG Chapter.