in the wind · at my leisure, spend more time with my wonderful girlfriend who has helped me...
TRANSCRIPT
BMWMCC.org In the Wind 1
Saturday Morning Breakfast Rides
Red Rocks GrillMorrison, CO
Every Saturday at 8:30 a.m. (rain, shine, or snow), members meet for breakfast at Red Rocks Grill in Morrison. If weather permits, we ride afterwards.
Most rides are spontaneous, with destinations determined that morning. Come with ride suggestions!
Monthly meetings are held on the second Wednesday at Red & Jerry’s located at 1840 W Oxford Avenue, Sheridan, CO 80110. Come join us for dinner, socializing and to meet our monthly speakers. Dinner and socializing at 5:00 p.m., meeting 6:30 p.m. and speaker at 7:00 p.m.
In The WindMOA #66AMA #2772RA #327
December 2013
BMW Motorcycle Club of Colorado
Monthly MeetingWednesday, December 11, 2013
View or Download 2013 Ride Book
At the board meeting on November 6, the new Constitution and Bylaws were unanimously approved and are now in effect. You can download a PDF of the bylaws on the BMWMCC home page atwww.BMWMCC.org Nominations for the 2014 board officers are now closed. Voting will take place using a blind email survey. You will receive an email on December 3, 2013 with an election survey that will take about 1 minute to complete. Voting will remain open for 1 week and will close on December 10, 2013. All votes will be secret and a third-party, non-board member will be tallying the votes. The election results will be announced at the December 11, 2013 club meeting at Red & Jerry’s as well as emailed to all members and posted on the website.
Thank you for your participation in making this a great club!BMWMCC Board
BMWMCC.org In the Wind 2
President’s LetterLook at the time...I have prepared a short egression letter for your amusement.
As some of you know, I had never aspired to be the President of this club. The story began when Ken Slough, then President asked me to be his VP. I was sitting in a booth at Red and Jerry’s, minding my own business and quaffing beer. When I asked Ken why he had chosen me, he replied, “because you really love to ride and you like to stir stuff up.” I accepted his offer, but wondering how that observation qualified me for anything. I held the position as VP only briefly, as Ken’s motorcycle crash on the 26th of March 2011, rendered him unable to continue as President.
Not having any experience in running a motorcycle club, other than being a member, I reflected on my past motorcycle experiences for guidance. I spent the early part of my riding career hanging out
with my old man and his biker buddies. They were wild, bearded, tattooed and smelled like leather. Sometimes their actions left me wide-eyed in amazement. And yes, some were from a notorious local motorcycle club. What I did glean out of all of this, is that you must lead by example. You’re in a club for a reason. You help and respect each other, your bros, as it was then, always come first, your club comes first. If not, why are you in a club?
The idea of club comes first was embraced by me when I took over as President. Now as then, we are here to enjoy riding motorcycles, share time with like-minded folk and in general have fun with the remaining time we have to engage in this activity. This has been my approach since I took over, and for right or wrong in some people’s minds, everything I’ve done in this club is for this club.
In my tenure I have organized and/or led 26 scheduled rides, sponsored club events, including the 100K in 2013. Planned and supported six club parties, created an Annual Mileage Contest, expanded the PassBagger Quest to include 100|150|200 passes, presided over 27 Board and monthly member meetings, composed stories and letters for the monthly newsletter, contributed my own money, single-handedly relocated the club’s storage and missed riding opportunities and lost sleep all for the good of this club.
During may tenure I was able to assemble the best team available. What any President of any organization would do, my intensions were to leave a very capable and experienced team in place to assist the incoming President in continuing (what I think is most important) in keeping the club viable and enjoyable.
I have been fortunate that the volunteers who did step up were versed in skills that were desirable for the position they were chosen for. I cannot thank them enough for a job well done! These folks, my crew, have done their level best and were dedicated to improving the club. My team has in their time assisted in the corporate mandated logo change, built and maintained a new club website, published terrific ride books and newsletters supported by paid advertising, led and assisted in many rides, enacted new Club Bylaws and Constitution, and endured far more adversity than any volunteers should every have to.
Working with my crew has been a great experience and I will miss that as I push on to the next mile marker. All things good or bad must end. I long to be unencumbered once again and relinquish the responsibility associated with the Presidency. I wish to enjoy my adventures at my leisure, spend more time with my wonderful girlfriend who has helped me immensely with club matters and whose company I have never shared without being President of this club.
Thanks to all of you, my fellow riders, for your support and camaraderie in the last three years. My hope is you will continue to support this club that has entertained us all to such a high degree. Thanks again to my team, for the stellar job they have all done. Don’t forget, there’s no “I” in team. You guys rock!
Wow! Would you just look at the time…I gotta go.Carloski
BMWMCC.org In the Wind 3
O f f i c e r N o m i n e e s
Matt Anderson
Presidential Nominee
The first real experience I had with motorcycles was sleeping underneath the poster of Marlon Brando from The Wild Ones. Motorcycles have always fascinated me - my parents have been strongly against them ever since my dad dropped his bike on a pea gravel turn with my mother on the back. Her answer to that problem was to stand up, give him a swift kick and make him sell the bike. That story never influenced my passion for motorcycles. Whether it be on my friend’s Honda 50 or Yamaha 80 Dirt bike, the freedom was always a high. It wasn’t until I was at Stetson University down in Florida that I got my first big boy bike, a Suzuki GS550, purchased for a case of beer. (Needless to say it was an incredible deal.) After cleaning the lacquer smelling gas out of the 4 carbs, she turned right over. It was true love. While I had always known about BMW Motorcycles, it wasn’t until I read Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance that the allure of BMW took hold and lead to the purchase of the only thing brand spanking new in my life, the 08 GSA 1200 R. My life in Colorado was forever changed.
Jeff BurnsPresidential
Nominee
I am Jeff Burns and I am declaring my candidacy for the office of Club President. I have been riding motorcycles for 43 years, 15 of those years exclusively on dirt but now as an RT rider. I bought my first BMW in 2000 and joined the Club in 2002. I greet you all at registration at Paonia and served as your Membership Chair and as an active Board member in 2007 and 2008. I only backed away from that role due to my heavy involvement in sponsoring healthcare reform legislation in the 2009 session of the Colorado legislature. Two months ago, I was asked if I would help the Board bring to a close the task of updating the Club bylaws, a task which had already seen 7 months of heated conflict. What I found was that the entire working environment for Club officers had changed since I last served. What once was a fun collaboration with friends was now a seriously divided cat fight, filled with outright anger and disrespect. One dissident board member and a cabal of non-board supporters were disrupting meetings, making personal attacks, and constantly emailing board members. Honestly, the Board did extremely well just to hold things together. This disruption is simply unacceptable and it has to stop. I can do that, and I will. This Club is about camaraderie and riding with good friends. It is not about egos or politics or power. I spent my entire working career in management. If you will trust me with your votes, I promise you that I will return civility to Club business and redirect that misplaced energy into fun in our magnificent mountains. We will be a riding club again. I need your support.
Mike Szabo, Vice President Frank Ricci, Treasurer Jeff Kelley, Secretary
BMWMCC.org In the Wind 4
2014 Ride BookWe need your help and ride suggestions for the 2014 Ride Book.
Thank you to ALL who have volunteered in past years. Have a “new” ride idea you would like to have considered, but don’t necessarily what to lead the ride? Submit your idea and we will solicit a ride leader.
We are also in need of photos from rides and events attended this past year. If you have high-quality photos you would like to have considered for the 2014 book, please email to [email protected].
Volunteer PositionsRide Leader: Responsible for conducting the safety briefing, selecting a sweep, guiding the riders, and making sure everyone stays together and returns safely.
Point of Contact: Monitors the event, updates online club calendar as necessary (you’ll need to login to change the calendar and/or coordinate with Webmaster or Ride Book Editor), and helps to organize (not lead) informal rides if there is interest.
Chair & Organizer: Uses existing data from club records to pull an event together. Works with past Chairs to organize the necessary volunteers
and implement the event.Contact: [email protected]
BMWMCC.org In the Wind 5
Mileage ContestBMWMCC Mileage Contest Ends December 31st!
Please email your Contest Mileage Forms to [email protected]. This contest is open to all brands of motorcycles. Top Female and Male riders will be recognized for having out-ridden everyone else in the Club!
Results will be published in the BMWMCC In The Wind newsletter, so you will have bragging rights. Photos welcomed!
BMWMCC.org In the Wind 6
High-Speed Rail in the High Country Presented to Summit County OfficialsSummit Daily - November 13, 2013
A growing population, increased traffic congestion and a state transportation budget that can’t sustain road maintenance demands has Colorado officials exploring the feasibility of high-speed transit systems along Colorado’s well-traveled Interstate 25 and Interstate 70 corridors.
Although a high-speed rail system linking the Front Range to the High Country has been discussed on and off for at least the last decade, an Advanced Guideway System Project Leadership Team consisting of Colorado Department of Transportation officials and private consultants was assembled in April 2012 to either get the mountain project on wheels or put it to bed indefinitely.
The AGS team’s goal is to determine the feasibility of constructing a high-speed transit system to ultimately link Denver International Airport and Eagle County Regional Airport via the I-70 corridor, while taking into consideration available technology, rail alignment, ridership and cost.
Team members presented their findings to Summit’s Board of County Commissioners during a morning workshop on Tuesday, Nov. 12, in Breckenridge.
TECHNOLOGY: Beth Vogelsang, an AGS team member and a principal at OV Consulting in Golden, said Tuesday the team’s first goal when it was assembled was to identify whether existing rail technology could meet the demands of transporting passengers in a high alpine environment.
The team identified three options: high-speed rail, high-speed Maglev and hybrid Maglev.
Although the first two options were attractive with respect to their ability to transport riders — high-speed rail and high-speed Maglev trains operate at speeds between 150 and 180 mph — they cannot climb mountain grades in excess of 7 percent.
As a result, both rail systems would require the construction of extensive tunnel systems of 65 miles in length for high-speed rail and 40 miles for high-speed Maglev, driving up costs to an estimated $32 billion and $25 billion, respectively.
In addition to the need to tunnel construction, the speed of the trains would require the rail systems to be more or less constructed in a straight line along the I-70 right-of-way, which would mean bypassing the resort towns of Keystone, Breckenridge and Copper Mountain.
Considering that the vast majority of traffic along the I-70 corridor is tourist driven, the team knew it needed to find another option to service those Summit County destinations. Hybrid Maglev could be the answer, the team said.
Although hybrid Maglev trains operate at lower speeds — 100 to 120 mph — they can climb 7 percent mountain grades with ease. Such a system would require far less tunnel construction — just 16 miles — and could be diverted away from I-70 to service not only Keystone, Breckenridge and Copper Mountain, but also Silverthorne or Frisco, or both, with their greater populations of year-round residents.
Hybrid Maglev carries an estimated cost of $10.8 billion, which isn’t cheap, but is much more feasible than high-speed rail or high-speed Maglev.
ALIGNMENT: Once the team identified its rail options, it then had to determine the most appropriate alignment to minimize sprawl and maximize connectivity. Thinking fewer stations would mean faster travel, and thus high ridership, the team identified a desire for eight priority stations to connect Golden to the Eagle County Regional Airport, the proposed first phase of the project.
A Golden to DIA extension would be phase two and add an estimated $3.2 billion to the cost estimates above.
Among the potential sites for a rail station are the I-70 and Sixth Avenue junction in Jefferson County; Idaho Springs, Empire Junction and Georgetown in Clear Creek County; and Vail, Avon and the airport in Eagle County.
Potential Summit County stations are still to be determined, but seven options in five towns were presented Tuesday. According to the team’s research, Vogelsang said Keystone and Copper Mountain feature currently undeveloped plots of land near or in their respective resorts.
High Speed R ail
BMWMCC.org In the Wind 7
Toll Lane to be Added to EB Interstate 70 Near EmpireSummit Daily - October 28, 2013
DENVER — Drivers willing to pay will be able to bypass weekend traffic jams on Interstate 70 in the near future.
The Colorado Department of Transportation plans to add a toll lane by paving the shoulder along the eastbound lanes between the Empire exit and Idaho Springs. Department spokeswoman Amy Ford tells Colorado Public Radio that the toll lane would be used during peak travel times like Sunday afternoon.
The toll lane could be completed by 2015. A third toll-free lane is also being added at the Twin Tunnels.
C-DOT is still studying how much the toll should cost. The price will vary based on how much congestion there is.
I70 Toll LaneBreckenridge is a little more difficult, Vogelsang said, as undeveloped space downtown is a little more difficult to come by, but not completely out of the question. The team proposed two Breckenridge sites, including a 16-acre plot near the gondola. There also is ample acreage on Coyne Valley Road — 93 acres, the team said — could serve as an alternate Breckenridge station location.
Stations would have an estimated footprint of 6 to 10 acres, but the mock drawings also featured room for additional commercial and residential development near each station.
“We think bringing the facility right into town (Breckenridge) allows you to work with development already in place and capitalize off the population density around the station,” Vogelsang said. “Existing development is great because it would be able to support the local ridership base and the tourist ridership base, but the stations could also spur more development in other parts of the county (if desired).”
Besides the sites in Summit’s resort communities, the team identified two potential station sites in Silverthorne and one in Frisco. All three proposals are located off state Highway 9. The two sites proposed in Silverthorne are located on opposite sides of I-70.
A team of CDOT officials and state
consultants are exploring the feasibility of
constructing a high-speed transit
system to ease traffic congestion on the I-25 and
I-70 highway corridors.
BMWMCC.org In the Wind 8
World Moto R allyJoin the Longest Moto Rally in the World!
After years of dreaming about a World Moto Rally. It’s here.
The team has been out all over the world checking out routes and organizing overnight stops. With all this info they have been able to put this fantastic ride together. For all the latest Rally Info, check out the INFO page of their website.
If you want to take part in the longest rally on earth be quick as there are limited spots. First step is to lodge an
Expression of Interest. This isn’t a confirmed booking, it simply secures you a spot in
the rally. Deposits are due in May 2014. Email [email protected] if you are interested in completing this amazing ride.
Check out the World Moto Rally Pre Event Guide for all the information you need for the Rally.www.worldmotorally.com.
Magnus Eriksson, Rally Director
BMWMCC.org In the Wind 9
Four New BMW BikesBMW Motorrad introduced four new bikes and updated scooter colors at the 71st International Motorcycle Exhibition in Milan, Italy. The R nine T is the essential riding experience, distilled to its purest form in commemoration of 90 years of BMW Motorrad.
The new S 1000 R is a distinctive, high-powered roadster stripped to the bare essentials.
The latest R 1200 RT is a technological masterpiece, poised to become the new benchmark for long-distance comfort and control.
The special edition R 1200 R DarkWhite roadster delivers ready power, advanced technology and stand-out visual appeal. They’re coming to dealers early 2014!
BMWMCC.org In the Wind 10
Local News
BMW of Denver would like to wish you a happy holiday season. After all, we have a lot to celebrate! First we would like to welcome back Bob Creger as our new Service Manager! After a short stint in the American V-Twin world, his inner German has brought him back to us. Stop by, say hello to Bob, and let him know that he was missed. He is a welcome addition to our BMWOD family. Also, please be sure to visit our store on Friday, November 29th for our BLACK FRIDAY sales event. There are many deals to be found on all in-stock parts, apparel, accessories, and riding gear. Everything in the store will be on sale up to 20% off. ONE DAY ONLY.
Free pickup and delivery service. Enclosed trailer, $0.99 per mile round-trip.
BMWMCC.org In the Wind 11
2013 Officers & Board Members
Join the BMWMCC
Facebook page.All are welcome
to become “friends” and
post news, photos or other items of interest to fellow riders.
President: Carl Thomte - [email protected]
Vice President: Mike Szabo - [email protected]
Treasurer: Frank Ricci - [email protected]
Secretary: Jeff Kelley - [email protected]
Membership - [email protected]
Webmaster: Keren Kilgore - [email protected]
ITW Editor: Cathy Catrell - [email protected]
Ride Book Editor: Cathy Catrell - [email protected]
Club Store - [email protected]
Advertising: Karst Postma - [email protected]
TOR Rally Chair - [email protected]
100K Foot Ride Chair: Carl Thomte - [email protected]
Social Director - [email protected]
Board Trustee: Siggi Pflumm
Board Trustee: Ken Slough
Board Trustee: Michael Kilgore
Board MeetingDate: Wednesday, December 4, 2013Time: 6:30 P.M.Location: Red Rocks Grill, Morrison, CO
Colorado Beemers––the premier motorcycle club of North America! Join like-minded motorcycle fans for club rides, breakfast meetings, social get-togethers, and safety meetings. Enjoy the great roads of Colorado and beyond with other adventurous motorcycle riders with weekly rides, weekend overnights and rides to rallies. Whether dual sport or touring, you are sure to find someone to ride with and enjoy our beautiful state. Colorado Beemers offers a monthly newsletter and an interactive website with an excellent knowledge base just for members. The club sponsors the internationally known “Top of the Rockies Rally,” and the “100,000 Foot Ride,” plus more than two dozen other rides and events. You will enjoy your motorcycle even more by joining this family-oriented, friendly group.
o Application for Membership o Renewal o Change of Address o MOA # _______ o RA # _______ o AMA # ______
Member & Spouse Name:________________________________________________________________Address:________________________________________________________________City, State, Zip:________________________________________________________________Home Phone: Cell Phone:________________________________________________________________Email:________________________________________________________________Bike Model(s):_________________________________________________________
Annual Membership Fees$25 Single / $250 Lifetime
$35 Couple / $350 LifetimeMake checks payable to:
BMWMCCP.O. Box 742
Morrison, CO 80465-5742Sign up online at www.BMWMCC.org
By signing I/we understand that the BMW Motorcycle Club of Colorado cannot assume responsibility for any aspect of my/our safety and that if I/we participate in any sanctioned event, I/we do so voluntarily on my/our own assessment of ability, the course, and all facilities and conditions, assuming all risks. I/we release and hold BMWMCC harmless for any and all injuries or loss to my/our person or property which may result therefrom.
________________________________________________________________
Signature Spouse Signature
Volunteers Welcome!We would like to volunteer to:
o Lead a Ride o Help with Club Activity
o Help with Club Event o Other ____________
o Help with Club Activity ___________________
C l u b M e m b e r s h i p
P.O. Box 742 | Morrison, CO 80465-5742