KICK AZ-S NEWS. Gold Wing Road Riders Association GWRRA CHAPTER AZ-S REGION F AZ DISTRICT. Friends for Fun, Safety and Knowledge

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com In this issue: Chapter Director s Corner 2-3 Earthquakes Happen 4 Listen to your Co-Rider 5-6 Rally; Registrationss 8-9 Rider Education Program 10-11 Chapter Educator Connie Jo Richtmyre

1 REGION F AZ DISTRICT GWRRA CHAPTER AZ-S Gold Wing Road Riders Association FEBRUARY 2016 Chapter Director & Newsletter John Read john.read79@gmail.com Assistant Chapter Director Russ Cole Coler27@cox.net Membership Coordinators Maryann & Joe Lisenby sooner5142@gmail.com In this issue: Chapter Director s Corner 2-3 Earthquakes Happen 4 Listen to your Co-Rider 5-6 Rally; Registrationss 8-9 Rider Education Program Chapter Educator Connie Jo Richtmyre conniejo42@msn.com Treasurer Richard Shields Rshields018@cox.net Sunshine Rae and Gene Ellsworth generae@q.com Friends for Fun, Safety and Knowledge Chapter S Gatherings are the first Saturday of each month, 7:30 AM at: Deer Valley Airport 702 W Deer Valley Road, Phoenix FEBRUARY 2016 Special points of interest: Region F un Rally Arizona District Rally

Chapter Director s Corner John Read, AZ-S Chapter Director We are well into the New Year now and it is time to plan those summer getaways.

Plan on attending the Region F un Rally in Albuquerque, NM over the Memorial Day weekend and the Arizona District Rally in Lake Havasu City over the Halloween weekend, Also Wing Ding 38 this year

I grew up on a Montana cattle ranch in the Bearpaw Mountains during the 70s when Evel Knievel was the biggest name in stunt riding.

2 Chapter Director s Corner John Read, AZ-S Chapter Director We are well into the New Year now and it is time to plan those summer getaways. The Valley heat is a distant memory but it will be back soon enough. Plan on attending the Region F un Rally in Albuquerque, NM over the Memorial Day weekend and the Arizona District Rally in Lake Havasu City over the Halloween weekend, Also Wing Ding 38 this year will be in Billings, Montana August 31-September 3. There are so many routes to take from Arizona to Montana and they are all gorgeous. I wrote a short Bio this month for our Arizona District Newsletter and am including it here in case you missed it. Ride Safe! It is hard for me to imagine a world without motorcycles and if I do entertain that vision it is a gloomy place to live. I grew up on a Montana cattle ranch in the Bearpaw Mountains during the 70s when Evel Knievel was the biggest name in stunt riding. We had turned the horses out to pasture and started using motorcycles to work cattle and ride the fences. My first Honda, a SL70, began my love affair with machines. That little Honda was so reliable and fun it was my ticket to many adventures even if there were some long days in the saddle. My brother and I learned to ride on the principle of Pain is a good teacher and I must have crashed thousands of times in that rugged country before I learned my limitations. My brother Russell and I outgrew our SL70s and at age 12 I got my first full size motorcycle, a Hodaka 125. I can still remember that gorgeous chrome plated gas tank, what a beauty! Notice I was wearing all my safety gear! The face shield kept those grasshoppers from flying into your face at high speeds and covering up skin was important in case of a crash in all that dirt and rocks. I learned a lot about being a mechanic as I was responsible for keeping the bike running. 2

Chapter Director s Corner, Continued... John Read, AZ-S Chapter Director Machines became a hobby of mine and probably influenced my decision to volunteer for submarine duty in the Navy.

The name of the boat was USS Guardfish (SSN-612) and it was my home during four years of the Cold War. I saw a lot of the world in that boat but mostly through a periscope.

I learned a lot about bikes at MMI and soon folks begin to learn you are a mechanic which is how I found my Gold Wing.

3 Chapter Director s Corner, Continued... John Read, AZ-S Chapter Director Machines became a hobby of mine and probably influenced my decision to volunteer for submarine duty in the Navy. Those fast attack boats are amazing war machines and the one I was assigned to had its keel laid when I was two years old. The name of the boat was USS Guardfish (SSN-612) and it was my home during four years of the Cold War. I saw a lot of the world in that boat but mostly through a periscope. That is a great school and I graduated from the early and late model Harley- Davidson course in I learned a lot about bikes at MMI and soon folks begin to learn you are a mechanic which is how I found my Gold Wing. My 1986 Aspencade had been sitting in a garage for over 10 years with only 36,000 miles on it. I fixed it up for the guy to sell but buyers were few and far between during that last recession so I ended up buying it from him cheap. These Honda Gold Wings are some wellengineered cruisers and I ride mine every day. This was also my ticket to meeting all the nice folks in GWRRA who share my passion for riding. It is an honor to serve as an officer in the organization and I look forward to a New Year with more adventures on the road. After I got out of the Navy in 1986 I played around with some old Triumph street bikes and learned to keep a Trident running. That was sure a challenge! I finally left San Diego and moved out to Arizona in 2002 where I soon heard about the Motorcycle Mechanics Institute. 3

4 Maryann & Joe Lisenby Earthquakes Happen So during the month of January Joe and I traveled to our home state of Alaska. Normal stuff for us in January, but the not so normal happened on Sunday morning, January 24 th. Earthquake! 7.1 at 1:31am. Rocking and rolling is all I can say for over a minute. It hit on the west side of Cook Inlet, about 65 miles west of Homer and about 160 miles southwest of Anchorage, at a depth of 76 miles. Our home is 40 miles North of Anchorage. It was felt from Juneau to Fairbanks. It was the largest of its kind ever recorded in Cook Inlet. We have lived in Alaska for 39 years and we have lived in the South Central area all of those years, both in Anchorage and in Palmer. We have adult children and grandkids that live on the Kenia Peninsula in both Seward and Kasilof. We all have rolled with every earthquake that we have felt in all those years, but this one was different. Alaskans mostly say when we feel one that it s good, when we have the small one s it just means the earth is letting off steam. Better to have small ones then a Big one. But if you didn t live in Alaska during the 1964, 9.6 quake, 7.1 is a big one. Items fell off of shelves as structures shacked. Two homes exploded from gas leaks while two more homes burned with them. A temblor opened cracks in a road near Kasilof. Our daughter s family was at our home with us at the time, sleeping in our basement. Joe and I were in the upstairs of our home rolling along. You could hear the pots and pans in my kitchen clanging away from the pot rake that hangs from the kitchen ceiling. My daughter was listening to the glasses hanging from a rake in our rec room area down stairs. The rocking and rolling was felt for over a minute, that was a long earthquake and I kept saying when it is going to stop! A lot of people said the same; it just kept going on, and on. We had over 30 aftershocks but I can t say I ever felt one, I m sure they continued for many hours and days after the initial earthquake, which is normal. So what do you do during an earthquake? If you re inside you stay inside and take cover, if you re outside you stay outside. In either place head for cover, under a table or desk inside or away from large trees and structures on the outside. Once it stops, gas leaks are of major concern, so check for gas leaks at meters where they connect to structures. Gas leaks are what caused the 2 homes to explode and burn on the Kenia. Our Alaska Red Cross was quick to respond to the Kenia area and set up shelters. Many hotel guests were rattled and made it to the street and lobby in skivvies. I d say put your pants on at least and take your coat, you never know how long you will be out of your room. I hope this story does not make you think twice about visiting our beautiful state. A ride up the Alcan Highway is just the greatest trip of a lifetime. Earthquakes happen, even in Arizona, be prepared. 4

Connie Jo Richtmyre If a Co-Rider Notices Something Seems Wrong, Pay Attention! I wanted this month s article to offer an example of why a Co-Rider is a critical component of a bike s team.

As they passed through the Minneapolis metro area, 3 additional member bikes joined the group.

5 Connie Jo Richtmyre If a Co-Rider Notices Something Seems Wrong, Pay Attention! I wanted this month s article to offer an example of why a Co-Rider is a critical component of a bike s team. The story below actually happened to members from Hibbing Minnesota. Several years ago, 3 couples from the MN-I Hibbing chapter decided to attend the Missouri District Rally in Branson. As they passed through the Minneapolis metro area, 3 additional member bikes joined the group. We traveled to Albert Lea Minnesota, about 90 miles to meet up with members from chapter C so we could travel together to Des Moines, Iowa for the night. When we arrived at the gas station in Albert Lea to tank up and introduce everyone, we of course were checking out each other s bikes as well. One of the members happened to notice that a bike from the Hibbing group had a rear tire which was split nearly in half and showing many of its cords. It should be noted at this time that this was a new-to-them used GL1800. The bike had not been serviced since it was purchased, only a quick visual inspection by the rider. They were towing an extremely heavy trailer, and were riding two up. Upon questioning the rider and co-rider, the co-rider stated the back end of the bike had felt funny, vibrated and seemed to sway since shortly after they started their journey, some 280 miles ago. Her husband had told her that nothing was wrong and not to worry about it. The nearest Gold Wing Dealer that could provide same day service was 20 miles away in Austin Minnesota. The group, now consisting of two trikes, and eight 2-wheeled wings decided we needed to split up, sending 4 bikes on to Des Moines and the remaining 2 bikes and 2 trikes to head to Austin to get the tire replaced. The group continuing on took the trailer so there would be one less thing to worry about. 5

6 Connie Jo Richtmyre If a Co-Rider Notices Something Seems Wrong, Pay Attention!, continued... The co-rider was switched to another bike to reduce the stress on the back tire, and off we went to get the tire replaced. At Trimble s Cycle in Austin, it was determined that both tires and the brakes badly needed replacing. Everything was in such poor condition that the bike most likely would have developed additional issues had those components not been replaced. After a two-hour repair and rain delay the group backtracked to Albert Lea to get on the interstate and head to Des Moines to for the night. The Co-Rider commented that the ride had significantly improved and she no longer felt the vibration. There are several take-away things to keep in mind: The Co-Rider noticed the bike didn t feel the same as it had previously, and her comments were ignored and brushed off. The bike was only visually inspected, by someone that hadn t inspected a wing before. The bike was not serviced by a certified mechanic familiar with Gold Wings prior to the start of the trip. It is important to check your bike throughout a trip to ensure that if problems develop they can be taken care of before they cause and accident, or breakdown Many Co-Riders aren t technical and don t fully understand the workings on the bikes they are riding on. However, they are able to distinguish when things are different or don t seem right. Why wouldn t you as a rider want to listen to your bike s team member? After all, their safety is affected same as the rider s should a problem develop. Women are often raised to notice things; something burning on the stove, a drippy faucet, the odor of natural gas in the home, the way an appliance sounds, strangers in the neighborhood. So, by listening to their comments regarding how the bike feels from their perspective it may save you a potential mechanical issue, an accident or a trip to the hospital. After all, many of us appreciate the extra set of eyes watching out for deer, debris and oncoming traffic. Why not with the bike itself? 6

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Rider Education Program The GWRRA Rider Education Program (REP) is intended to make the motorcycle environment safer by reducing injuries and fatalities and increasing motorcyclist skills and

11 Rider Education Program The GWRRA Rider Education Program (REP) is intended to make the motorcycle environment safer by reducing injuries and fatalities and increasing motorcyclist skills and awareness. Through Commitment, Education and Application, we can reduce our accident rate significantly. Benefits of a fullyimplemented GWRRA Rider Education Program at the Chapter level: Increased rider knowledge Increased safety skills Prevention of accidents LIFE GRAND MASTERS Ray Garris #18 Sandi Garris #176 Rae Ellsworth #489 Gene Ellsworth #490 Gail Johnson #1365 Bob Johnson #1366 MASTERS Rick Paitl #5423 Sharon Trapp #5424 Richard Shields #5427 Denise Goldin #5510 Jeffrey Goldin #5511 Cliff McGraw #8990 Maryann Lisenby #9916 Joe Lisenby #9917 John Read #9850 LEVEL III - Safety by Preparedness Ted Figgins Krist Jani Mark Klingert Elena Lopez Stu Oltman Dave Redman Al Watkins Scott McCracken Our Motto..."Safety is for Life" We encourage you to participate in the ongoing Rider Education program and increase your riding skills as well as your abilities and become a Master Tour Rider. Are you ready to advance to the next level? What can we do to assist you? SENIOR MASTERS Leslie Donaldson #5402 Chuck Donaldson #5403 Char Simpson #6256 Cliff Simpson #6257 Jerry Bisgard #6601 Rider Education LEVEL II - Safety by Education LEVEL I - Safety by Commitment Dick Muto Larry Poole Dwight Smith Russ Cole Participation in our on-going Rider Education Program will increase your riding skills. We also have many Master Riders in the Chapter who are more than willing to assist you with questions and information about Practice Field Days, Skill Enhancement, CPR and First Aid courses, Ride Captains, Ride Leaders, and Ride Planning, all the life blood of Chapter AZ-S. Our Rider Education Team stands ready to assist you on the road to the Master Level. Just ask any one of us for assistance! Rider Education Team members are: Team Leaders: Cliff and Char Simpson If you have any interest in becoming a member of our Chapter Educator Team, please contact John Read. 11

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Upcoming AZ-S Rides and Events Month Date Activity February 6 AZ-S Chapter Meeting @ Deer Valley Airport 7:30 AM 14 Practice Field Day @ Turf Paradise 8:00 AM 16 AZ-S Staff Meeting at Jason s Deli

13 Upcoming AZ-S Rides and Events Month Date Activity February 6 AZ-S Chapter Deer Valley Airport 7:30 AM 14 Practice Field Turf Paradise 8:00 AM 16 AZ-S Staff Meeting at Jason s Deli N Scottsdale RD, 12:00 PM 19 Touring Arizona Ride March 5 AZ-S Chapter Deer Valley Airport 7:30 AM 13 Practice Field Turf Paradise 8:00 AM 15 AZ-S Staff Meeting at Jason s Deli N Scottsdale RD, 12:00 PM 00 Friends for Fun, Safety, and Knowledge We re on the Web! For details about the AZ-S Rides and Events appearing on this page, including the most recent updates, please use the links on the AZ-S Website at 13

Practice Field Days Practice Field Days give all riders,

ride a variety of maneuvers at their own skill level, to

Have trouble getting your Wing on it s center stand?

must wear helmets, long sleeves, long pants, over the ankle

February 14 8-10 AM Turf Paradise A special thank you to

allowing us to hold our Practice Field Day ( PFD ) in their

14 Practice Field Days Practice Field Days give all riders, regardless of riding abilities, a chance to practice and increase their riding skills. These multichapter field days give riders an opportunity to ride a variety of maneuvers at their own skill level, to ask questions and to have fun riding. Have trouble getting your Wing on it s center stand? Not sure how to pick it up? This is the place to learn! All riders, all levels are welcome. In keeping with the GWRRA tradition of SAFETY, all riders must wear helmets, long sleeves, long pants, over the ankle boots and full-finger gloves. See you there! February AM Turf Paradise A special thank you to TURF PARADISE, located at 1501 W Bell Road in Phoenix, for allowing us to hold our Practice Field Day ( PFD ) in their parking lot. PFD gives motorcycle riders of all skill levels an opportunity to practice and improve their slowriding, maneuvering skills in a no-pressure, safe environment. 14

Rick Tope ARIZONA CHAPTERS - MEETING DATES / PLACES / CONTACTS CHAPTER SERVING MEETING DAY, TIME MEETING LOCATION CHAPTER DIRECTOR, PHONE, E-MAIL AZ-A TUCSON 3rd Saturday, 8:15 AM Golden Corral, 4380

7842 E-Mail: alangntbn@yahoo.com AZ-D MESA East Valley 2nd Saturday, 7:30 AM Old Country Buffet, 6625 E Southern Ave., Mesa Teena/Ted Prentice, 602.438.9660 E-Mail tedteena@cox.

com AZ-G GREEN VALLEY 2nd Saturday, 8:00 AM San Ignacio Golf Club, 4201 S Camino Del Sol Green Valley Dee/Galen Baird, 520.730.6849 Email ksladyd@aol.

15 Rick Tope ARIZONA CHAPTERS - MEETING DATES / PLACES / CONTACTS CHAPTER SERVING MEETING DAY, TIME MEETING LOCATION CHAPTER DIRECTOR, PHONE, AZ-A TUCSON 3rd Saturday, 8:15 AM Golden Corral, 4380 E 22nd St, Tucson Dennie/Debbie Ammons, DebDenAZ@aol.com AZ-C LAKE HAVASU 4th Saturday 6:00 PM Golden Corral, 1550 S Palo Verde Blvd Lake Havasu City Alan Weaver, alangntbn@yahoo.com AZ-D MESA East Valley 2nd Saturday, 7:30 AM Old Country Buffet, 6625 E Southern Ave., Mesa Teena/Ted Prentice, tedteena@cox.net AZ-E SIERRA VISTA 1st Saturday, 8:00 AM Golden Corral, 798 South Highway 92, Sierra Vista Larry/Gail Howard, l.howard@q.com AZ-G GREEN VALLEY 2nd Saturday, 8:00 AM San Ignacio Golf Club, 4201 S Camino Del Sol Green Valley Dee/Galen Baird, ksladyd@aol.com AZ-K TUCSON 4th Saturday, 8:00 AM Golden Corral, 6865 N Thornydale Rd, Tucson Rebecca Sangster, rsangster.06@comcast.net AZ-O OATMAN 1st Saturday 8:00AM Breakfast 9:00AM Ride Perkin s Restaurant Kingman Greg Brown, gregory-brown@sbcglobal.net AZ-P PRESCOTT 4th Saturday, 8:00 AM Golden Corral, Frontier Village, Prescott Sandy Gaston, sandybcg@q.com AZ-R PHOENIX West Valley 3rd Saturday, 8:00 AM Old Country Buffet, N.79th Ave. Glendale Jim Oliver, chapterazr@gmail.com AZ-S SCOTTSDALE 1st Saturday, 7:30 AM Deer Valley Airport, 702 W Deer Valley RD, Phoenix John Read, john.read79@gmail.com AZ-U YUMA 3rd Saturday 8:00 AM Daybreaker Café, N Frontage RD Yuma Howard Cart/Evelyn Kulda, hcart52@roadrunner.com AZ-X Page 15 CASA GRANDE 15 4th Saturday 8:00 AM Golden Corral, 2082 E Florence Blvd Casa Grande Mike/Mary Anne Melby, mike2wheels@gmail.com

KICK AZ-S NEWS. Gold Wing Road Riders Association GWRRA CHAPTER AZ-S REGION F AZ DISTRICT. Friends for Fun, Safety and Knowledge

KICK AZ-S NEWS. Gold Wing Road Riders Association GWRRA CHAPTER AZ-S REGION F AZ DISTRICT. Friends for Fun, Safety and Knowledge REGION F AZ DISTRICT GWRRA CHAPTER AZ-S www.meetup.com/scottsdale-gold-wing-road-riders/ Gold Wing Road Riders Association MAY 2016 Chapter Director & Newsletter John Read 480-406-5871 john.read79@gmail.com