wv jun10 singlepg

White Sulphur SpringsHome of tHe Greenbriar Resort

JUNE 25TH 4PM-6PMBIKE SHOWREGISTRATION

5PM-8PMBIKE SHOW

7PM-10PMLIVE BAND(OLD SCHOOL ABBEY)

JUNE 26TH

8:30AM-9AM JEFF THOMSON BENEFIT WALK REGISTRATION

9AM-11AM BENEFIT WALK (2 MILES) To benefitJeff Thomson, a local who was hit by a drunk driver last year.

11AM-12NOONPOKER RUN REGISTRATION

12NOON-5PM POKER RUNsponsored by the White Sulphur Springs Motorcycle Festival and the Lions Club to benefit children’s eye exams.

6PM-9PMBIKER GAMES

JUNE 27TH

9AM-12NOONMUD BOG REGISTRATION

1PM-8PMMUD BOG

1PM-7PMGOSPEL SING

What a nice spring we have had so far. I have seen fellow riders out and about everywhere enjoying the warmth and feeling the wind in their faces. It’s a beautiful sight to see a rider on their bike, cruising along without a care in the world. Or so it seems. You never really know the true story behind any rider you pass on the road these days.

Though the reasons differ, this month’s issue has a few stories that share a common bond. That unfortunate bond is cancer. I believe that most of us have either known someone affected by cancer or have dealt with it on a personal level. I have. It is an emotional roller coaster that I wish no one had to deal with, but it has become an everyday occurrence. Most of us know when we see a large group of riders in a two line formation that those riders have banded together for a reason. That reason is usually to show support and help someone in need. As bikers we gain strength in our numbers and we use that strength to do what good we can.

Here at Thunder Roads West Virginia we are trying to do just that. By uniting the motorcycling community in our state we can effectively support those that need our help. People like Angela, who was diagnosed with Sarcoma and Chris who is travelling the U.S. to bring attention to the realities of Pancreatic Cancer. “I have never met a nicer group of people that have less and do more than bikers”

is a comment I hear often. We are increasing in numbers and being noticed for the good we do.

Helping to connect riders with what is happening around the state is a major goal. Thunder Roads West Virginia is a tool to help you travel within the state and find the events to attend, worthy causes that need your help, notable places to visit, great places to eat and of course, awesome roads to get there. Travelling in West Virginia is a great way to support our own local economy. By visiting the advertisers in Thunder Roads West Virginia you are recognizing that they back the motorcycle community, and your support helps sustain businesses within our own state. That is how things have always worked so let’s get back to old school.

With the riding season entering full swing we at Thunder Roads West Virginia hope that you have the chance to get out into this great state and enjoy all that it has to offer. If you are looking for a destination just pick up a copy of the magazine, pick a place to visit and ride. There are many great events scheduled that we will be attending this year so be sure to stop by our booth and say “Hi” if you see us. We love to meet all you readers and it’s nice to know that we have your support, too.

Ride safe and keep the shiny side up!

Donna

DragonTales

2 Thunder roads WesT Virginia June 2010

Copyright 2010. Published by Thunder Roads West Virginia, LLC under license from Thunder Publishing. All rights reserved. No part of this magazines content may be reproduced without the written permission of the Publisher. The publisher assumes no responsibility and is not to be held liable for errors beyond the cost of the space occupied by the error, slander of any group or individual, failure to produce any issue as scheduled due to reasons beyond our control, any and all suits for libel, plagiarism, copyright infringement, and unauthorized use of a person’s name or photograph. Opinions and claims made by advertisers and authors are their own, and do not necessarily represent the policy of Thunder Roads West Virginia, Thunder Roads Magazine, or Thunder Publishing. The Publisher does not promote the abuse of alcohol or other drugs.

From The Editor…..............……………..…...4

Letters...…………….............…………….….6

Road2Acure…..........................................8

Riding for the Relay.....................................10

Bikers Deploy to Support the Troops…......12

Morgantown Racer Killed...........................13

Hidden Highways – State Highway 72.....…14

Into Each Life….……….........………………16

Asleep on Two Wheels..........………………18

Center Calendar.…...…............….…………22

Leaving No Brother Behind……........……..24

Bike of the Month…..........……….…………25

The Jokers Wild…….......………….............28

Seats & Saddles…..........………….………..29

Life Run 2010.…….........…………………...32

The High Road………….........……………..33

TRWV Sponsors a Cage.............................35

Snapping Shots………........….…………….36

Shane’s Shining Day…….......…..…………38

Biker Friendly Directory…..........…………...40

Upcoming Events……….........……..………44

Thunder roads WesT VirginiaP.O. Box 606 / Charles Town, WV 25414

www.thunderroadswv.com

oWner / ediTorsGary Westphalen, Editor-in-Chief

[email protected] / 304-616-0102Donna K. Westphalen, CFO

[email protected] / 304-261-1609

LayouT & designBarbara Laszewski Garner / Thunder Publishing

ad designMeredith Hancock / Hancock Graphics

CoPy ediTorThomas M. Korzeniowski

ConTribuTorsDr. Don Arthur, Ken Holby, Dave Luksa, Andy Madison,

Jim “Jammer” Marcum, Brian Tudor, Greg Vernon, Moe Vetter

adVerTising saLes / disTribuTionNatioNal accouNts

Donna K. Westphalen - 304-261-1609 / [email protected] WV

Earl Nuzum – 304-816-2863 / [email protected] Vernon 304-616-0249 / [email protected]

PotoMac HiGHlaNDsMoe Vetter - 304-668-9563 / [email protected]

EastERN PaNHaNDlEDave Luksa - 304-268-1315 / [email protected]

soutHERN WVJeff Davis – 304-673-7321 / [email protected]

ON THE COVERThere’s a spot on Route 7 southeast of Morgantown where the road takes riders on a 180° curve around the base of a giant rock. Locals call it the “Wagon Wheel”. Despite focusing on the rounding road, there’s always time for a brotherly wave. The bikers on the outside of the curve are riding for the “Relay”. Their story is on Page 10.

naTionaL FoundersToni McCoy Shearon & Brian Shearon

1528 Matlock Drive / Chapmansboro, TN 37035Office 615-792-0040 / Fax: 615-792-7580

email: [email protected]

June 2010 Thunder roads WesT Virginia 3www.thunderroadswv.com

I finally had a chance to ride with some of my brothers who work for Thunder Roads West Virginia during the past month or so. Now, that might sound a little strange at first. We are after all, a motorcycle magazine. We are all riders who live to ride the roads of this great state. It would seem that we should be riding together all the time. But it just doesn’t work that way. For one thing, each of our reps lives in a different geographical part of the state. That’s how we serve the needs of our readers and advertisers, and distribute the magazines quickly across the entire state. By knowing the region in which they live, and being an active part of those communities, our reps provide dedicated, personal service. They also know the bikers in their communities, and use the tools available through this magazine to help get the word out about fundraisers and other activities being sponsored by, and for, our brothers and sisters on two wheels.I travel the state extensively by bike, covering stories, attending bike events, and occasionally meeting with our reps. But the meetings are usually short because one or both of us is pressed for time. We are a busy crew. Also, magazine distribution time dictates that I make the rounds on 4 wheels because I hand over nearly a ton of magazines to the crew each month.

But the stars aligned during recent weeks, and I managed to squeeze off rides with three of these great guys. First was Moe Vetter from Moorefield. Moe traveled with me to Charleston to cover a fundraiser for the families of the 29 miners killed in the recent explosion. The next day we wound our way back to Moorefield on some roads neither of us had ever taken before. Moe is not only our representative in the Potomac Highlands region of the state, but a frequent contributor of photographs and stories as well.A couple of weeks later I got to ride with Greg Vernon who lives near Morgantown. Greg and I used to ride together many years ago when he was a neighbor of mine. He moved away from West Virginia a good while ago, and moved back last fall to work for Thunder Roads West Virginia. We used to ride together all the time, but it had been years. When I was in Morgantown to do a story on the Relay for Life ride covered elsewhere in this issue, Greg came along on the ride. We also found time to do a story on one of his favorite roads in the area. Our trip down Highway 72 forms the foundation of this month’s Hidden Highway.

Then I finally got a chance to ride with Jeff Davis of Hinton. Jeff is the newest member of the Thunder Roads West Virginia crew. An enthusiastic believer in what we’re doing here at the magazine, Jeff is proudly spreading the word in the southern tier of West Virginia counties. When I traveled to Beckley to do

the story of the Warrior Brotherhood’s run to support the VA hospital, Jeff was eager to join me on the ride.It was great to hook up with all three and to share some miles. But I’m not finished yet. Earl Nuzum from Fairmont was doing some work on his bike, and has just gotten her back on the road. Riding with Dave Luksa from the eastern panhandle is still on my to-do list, as is a ride on The High Road with Jim “Jammer” Marcum, our spiritual road captain. I am eagerly awaiting the chance to go kickstands up with these three guys.We have a wonderfully cohesive spirit driving us forward as we constantly strive to make this the best magazine you’ll ever read, but there’s nothing like riding together to build a lasting bond. To the uninformed, we may look like a rag-tag collection of misfits. But this is an awesome team of bikers with a shared vision of making Thunder Roads West Virginia your definitive source for anything and everything motorcycle related in this state. Donna and I are proud to call these men our brothers.Gary


West Virginia One year subscription to Thunder Roads is only $35 a year. The nation’s largest FREE biker publication can be delivered right to your door.

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Hi,Today I picked up my first issue of Thunder Roads at a leather shop in Martinsburg. Now having read it and seeing the Letters to the Editor, by a Don Duck Smith on the topic of helmet law repeal, and I can say it will never happen until we have a number of people elected into office that share our passion to ride and would stand up to congress & senate when they, by phone or personal visits, tell you they will make cuts to or withhold federal funding of all kinds should they repeal the helmet law. You see in West Virginia they cannot take money to pass laws for some corporations benefit so the auto insurance corporations go to congress & senate and pay them off to get it done and that is how West Virginia ended up going from a general class license with no endorsement for motorcycles to having special written tests and a stunt course for a road test, thus making it more difficult to get on a motorcycle. The helmet law is no different in how it was passed. State Senator John Unger is backed by and friends with none other than ex-governor Caperton who has ties to the insurance industry. I hope you see the conundrum in this.Jim

Good Morning,I was wondering if you all are looking for articles for your magazine? Your magazine is a great one that is read from cover to cover! I like the fact that it covers all kinds of bikes and it is all about the ride and the people you meet along the way!ThanksPat

Pat,

Yes, we actively encourage reader contributions. You are welcome to write about anything motorcycle-related in the state of West Virginia. Local fund-raising rides, bikes shows, great biker destinations, cool roads...anything you want to write about. even our monthly features, such as hidden highways and Bike of the Month, are open to reader contributions. i always say that this magazine belongs to the bikers of this state, and i mean it. share your experiences with our family of riders.

here are a few guidelines about submitting articles. First, i can’t guarantee that every article will make it into print, but i do read every submission. There is a finite supply of editorial space each month. if an article is not timely (it’s about a road, not an event that happened on a specific day, for example) it may get held for a later month when space is available. other articles may be more appropriate for our website, and will get published that way. The website has a large and active following, and having your story placed on it is not a bad thing at all.

Pictures are critical to telling a good story. We love action photos that show lots of bikes and riders. Take the photos using the largest file size and highest quality settings available on your camera. Thunder

Letters To The Editor

roads West Virginia is printed at 300dpi, which gives us our clean, crisp pictures. Photos can be submitted on a cd through the mail, or emailed to me (only a few pictures per email please). The mail and email addresses are in our staff listings on page 3.

The deadline for reader contributions is always the tenth of the month prior to publication. For example, to get an article in the July issue, it must be received by us no later than June 10.

Your story may be edited. That is, after all, my job. i may make minor changes in the wording of a story, or even reorganize some thoughts, although i will never alter the meaning of what you write. it may also be shortened for space considerations. i try to use a very light touch in the editing process.

Finally, have fun putting your contribution together but Be saFe. Taking pictures while you’re riding or standing alongside a roadway can be dangerous. never put yourself in a situation that could compromise your safety. Your well-being is much more important to me than getting that really cool shot.

gary

Hi,I am the American Legion Riders Director for the Martinsburg American Legion. I would like to know how I can post events to your site. We are a Non-Profit Veterans group which is authorized by the American Legion, the largest veteran’s organization in the country. Our goals are to support our veterans, our community, and our country. We need help in getting the word out about our benefit runs, and growing our membership, which is open to all.Thank YouBrian Tolstyka

hi Brian,

getting the word out is what we’re all about. We can help in several ways. First, our online events calendar at www.thunderroadswv.com is the quickest way to get an event listed. Just submit the particulars to us using the “contact us” page on the website. events get posted within a few days. These listings also get printed for free in the magazine on the “upcoming events” page near the back.

For even more visibility, you should consider placing an ad in the magazine in the months prior to your event. Thunder roads West Virginia offers special ad pricing for non-profit organizations that are well below our normal rates. Just call or email us for the particulars.

gary


Chris Calaprice is in the fight of his life. He gets up every day and heads off to battle on a Purple Victory Vision. His crusade will take him 42,000 miles, touching all 50 states. The mileage is significant because it represents the number of other Americans who will be unwillingly drafted into the same war that Chris is fighting. More than 30,000 of them will die during their first year of this fight, and only a handful will still be standing in 5 years. Chris himself was drafted more than six years ago when his doctor told him that cancer was attacking his pancreas.“Suddenly I was faced with much of my life being gone, or at least out of reach,” Chris says as he reflects on the adrenaline-soaked life he led before the diagnosis of pancreatic cancer. Chris was now looking at a new way of life. Chemotherapy would replace his legacy of rock climbing, skydiving, bungee jumping and ocean diving. Then he found motorcycles, and realized it was a way to get back to living again.

“I had some kind of outlet for all of the fear and the angst and the things that were going on with my disease,” he says. “To be able to go out to the garage and fire up the bike even if I’m fairly weak, as long as I can hold the bike up and twist the throttle, I can ride. Even if it’s for an hour or two, or if it’s for all day, I’m in control of that.”Chris is also in control of his pancreatic cancer, thanks to surgeries, powerful chemo treatments every 2 months, and a daily cocktail of drugs that cost more than $5,000 a week. The disease has the highest mortality rate of any cancer, and only lung cancer claims more lives. When Chris and his wife Jennifer found out that pancreatic cancer only receives two percent of the money the National Cancer Institute spends on research, they knew they had to do something.“Someone needs to go outside the box and shake America up a little bit,” is how Chris puts it. Their action came in the form of a nationwide bike ride to raise awareness of the disease, and to help raise money for research. “We came up with the idea that we would go out and do a whistle stop tour.”

Exactly how to do the tour came to Chris one sleepless night at their home in Santa Barbara, California. In the morning, he said to Jennifer, “What do you think about renting out our house, moving into an RV and getting on a bike and going to all 50 states? I really expected, ‘Have you lost your damn mind?’ But what I got was, ‘That’s brilliant! Let’s do it!’”With support from Victory Motorcycles, they are doing just that. Their purple 5th wheeler houses them, as well as camera equipment and the bikes when they aren’t riding.They have touched a nerve in the biking community, and Chris places the credit squarely on the shoulders of our kind. “I’ve never met people who gave more and made less than riders,” he says. “Every rider I

road2Acureby Gary Westphalenphotos by Andy Madison


know goes out and does some kind of charity ride at least three or four times a year, and most of us do a lot more.”Their run through West Virginia included a stop in Philippi, where Thunder Roads West Virginia caught up with them. This is the 14th state they have traveled through, and plan to hit the remaining 36 by year’s end. Their travels, along with Chris’ chemo treatments, are being documented by photographer Andy Madison, and can be followed on their website at www.road2Acure.org.The Calaprices aren’t just out there trying to raise money. Visits with other pancreatic cancer patients are also a big part of what they do. For a disease that claims most of its victims within a year of diagnosis, Chris offers hope. “When people see Chris, a survivor for six and a half years, it changes their world,” says Jennifer. “We thought it would affect people. But we’ve since heard from people, ‘Oh, no. There’s not affecting going on. There’s absolute change!’ Chris has been asked if he’s giving false hope, and we’ve talked about it a lot. We don’t think there’s any such thing. Because without hope…you’re dead.”“I’ve learned a lot about the quality of life,” reflects Chris as he thinks about his chats with other pancreatic cancer survivors. “It’s the quality of the days that we have. If we have hope, and if we have a positive outlook, it doesn’t matter how many days you’re here. We have a chance to have quality in those days.”He has learned this, Chris says, through his contact with the motorcycle community. “There’s something about the motorcyclist’s spirit,” Chris says. Jennifer jumps in to define that “something” in a single word. “Real,” is how she puts it. “Until Chris started riding the bike, I had never been familiar with bikers. I was in with a room full of bikers and we were educating them and making them aware of pancreatic cancer, and it felt comfortable. It felt like home. It felt real.”The physical prognosis for Chris, he says, is “grim”. He has already beaten the odds by many years but points out, “This game will never be over.” Thanks to the continuous treatments and positive attitude about living life each and every day, his psychological outlook is anything but grim. And don’t count out the effect motorcycling has had on him. “Don’t park the bike in the garage because you have cancer,” he advises. “It’s given me a lot of freedom back,” Chris Calaprice says of riding this nation on a bike. “It’s given me a peace that I don’t get anywhere else.”


“Cancer is just so common that anymore, you’re the outcast if you don’t have it,” says Angela Romesburg. “When you talk to someone, they either have it or they know someone that has it. It’s just on and on. There’s no stop to it.” Angela and her husband Todd have gone on many cancer fundraising rides in the past year. She dons her pink jacket and helmet, climbs aboard the passenger seat of their Buell, and rides to support those who have been afflicted with cancer.Although the cause has always been important to Angela, riding to combat cancer is now personal. A short time ago, the disease entered Angela’s life when she was told she has sarcoma, a soft tissue muscle cancer.On this beautiful day in May, Angela, Todd, and scores of other bikers are riding in the Relay for Life poker run to raise funds for the Monongalia County chapter of the American Cancer Society. “I’m a volunteer for the American Cancer Society. I’m a four-time cancer survivor,” says Gerri Angoli, who organized this event. Gerri works at the Breast Cancer Awareness ride that runs every October from Triple-S Harley-Davidson in Morgantown. When the idea for a “Relay” ride was floated, she took it to the folks at Triple-S and they agreed to be the starting point for this run as well.Bikers took off from the Triple-S parking lot in small groups, weaving their way through the local streets to the first stop at Brookstone Plaza. From there, the route headed out on Route 7 east to the second stop in Kingwood, and then down 72 (coincidently, this month’s Hidden Highway) through Rowlesburg, where bikers made a right turn on Highway 50 to the third stop in Grafton. The ride eventually ended at Archie’s in Sabraton.“They give out money for research and they fund a lot of research programs themselves,” Gerri Angoli says of the money raised by the American Cancer Society through the many Relay for Life events held all around the country. “And some of it turns back into education. They help support screenings for breast and ovarian cancer. They do a lot in that respect.”Angela Romesburg, the constant supporter of cancer rides, was the subject of her own cancer ride just two weeks later. Bikers gathered to help pay medical bills that are gathering as Angela fights her own battle against the disease. For more on the “Rollin’ for Angela Dice Run”, see the story on our website at www.thunderroadswv.com.

Riding for the Relay


Bikers deploy to support the Troops

When an American soldier is sent overseas to protect your freedoms, the tour of duty involves more than just that one person. There is an entire family whose lives are turned upside down. Children, wives, and husbands endure the separation, the hardships of daily life without a partner, the anguish of not knowing if their loved one is safe today.Military families have long banded together to help each other cope. What began throughout history as informal support groups has been formalized into a command-sponsored programs called Family Readiness Groups (FRGs, in military speak).With deployment scheduled for later this year, one West Virginia National Guard FRG is swinging into action. The “A” Battery of the 1st Battalion 201st Field Artillery in Elkins, along with the rest of the 201st, based in Lewisburg, Morgantown, and headquartered in Fairmont, will be shipping out. But at this point, that’s all they know.“We keep hearing different things. Afghanistan, Iraq, Kuwait. We’ve heard it all,” says Rebecca Ball, President of the FRG in Elkins. “We don’t really know.”When the Elkins FRG sponsored a ride to raise funds last month, the National Guard supported the effort by bringing out the “Patriot Chopper” built by Orange County Choppers a few years ago.84 bikers also supported the cause by climbing aboard their bikes for a 150 mile run on an absolutely gorgeous Saturday. The bikes rolled out of the Elkins armory into 70 degree temperatures with a blue sky overhead. Heading west from Elkins through the center of the state, the first stop was at Bombshell Cycles in French Creek. Riders had logged about 75 miles by the time they reached the second stop


Terrence “Terry” Anthony Bonitz Jr., 28, of Accident, MD, died Sunday, May 2, 2010, at Preston Memorial Hospital, Kingwood, as a result of a motorcycle racing accident. Born March 27, 1982 in Baltimore, he was the son of Terrence Allen and Darlene Olivia Shepperd Wood Bonitz of Accident, and Robin Louise Mohr of Virgina Beach, VA. Terry was a Parts Associate, and a member of Morgantown Honda, Yamaha, Suzuki, KTM’s

race team. Terry was very passionate about racing and riding, no matter what type of motorcycle. He was very willing to help anyone possible and no matter what type of day he was having, he always would have a smile on his face. When racing and riding, Terry would give 100% every time he threw a leg over his motorcycle.

Terry’s other passion came with his son Riley Kahne Bonitz, whom he loved dearly. He loved to take Riley riding, fishing and whatever else they could get into. He is survived by grandparents, Anthony J. and Vernetta “Mickey” Bonitz, of York, PA; Louise Lucille Shepperd of White Hall, MD; five sisters, Jami Bonitz, McHenry, MD; Amy, Olivia and Abygayle Bonitz, all of Accident, MD; and Cathryn Bonitz of Towson, MD; and a stepbrother, Charles Wood, of Parkton, MD.

Morgantown Racer Killed

at the armory in Weston. The 100 mile mark on the ride came at the Clarksburg armory, which was the third stop on the run.From Clarksburg, the bikers made their way to Highway 57, which is a relatively straight piece of highway with a few sweepers sprinkled around to keep things interesting. When 57 ended at 119, the route took riders through the covered bridge at Philippi and onto Highway 250 for the return trip to Elkins. Back at the armory, the post ride party included music by 5ive Years Gone, food, a silent auction, and lots of bike talk.The $2,800 raised will help the FRG do its job. “We do lots of activities for the wives,” says Rebecca Ball. “Our Family Group is made up of everything from mothers-in-law to spouses to sisters…Every one in the unit that has a birthday or anniversary gets a card. Children, soldiers, everyone. If there are casualties, we go to the homes. If they have a hot water heater break down and they can’t afford it, they can call us. We can get the funding for them to get it fixed.”


Hidden HighwaysState Highway 72

It’s not unusualfor a road in West Virginia to change character as it makes its way across the varying terrain of our state. This is, after all, the “Mountain State”. The thing that sets State Highway 72 apart from the rest is the way in which it makes this character change. 38 miles of gracefully arc-ing river valley pavement instantly turns into a single lane mountain zig-zagger that will leave some rid-ers breathless and others gasping for air. There can be a thin line be-tween ecstasy and agony. But I’m getting ahead of the story.Just east of Kingwood in Preston County, the Cheat River sneaks under Highway 7. This intersection provides all the motivation necessary for the creation of Highway 72, which heads upriver alongside the Cheat on the way south to the intersection with U.S. 50 just south of Rowlesburg. This 16 mile stretch of river-hugging road is loaded with left-right me-anderings dictated by the waterway’s design. The rocky riverbed is loaded with small rapids and waterfalls whose appearance varies with the water levels. There are boulders in this stretch of the river bigger than SUV’s. It’s an impressive view. It’s also a big draw for kayakers, and on weekends the roadside parking areas are filled with cages sprouting plastic boats on their roofs.Highway 72 combines with U.S. 50 for only a hundred feet or so, before splitting southward again towards Parsons. At this point, the river makes a jog a couple of miles to the east, and it’s out of sight. But shortly after crossing into Tucker County, the river and Highway 72 are reunited. At about the same time, you enter the northernmost reaches of the Monongahela National Forest. The ride into Parsons happens all too quickly.I’m traveling on this day with Greg Vernon, one of the Thunder Roads West Virginia Sales Crew members in the northwest portion of the state. Yes – that’s him with the yellow mohawk thingy (I had nothing to do with it). We have ridden many a mile together in years past, but this is our first ride of the 2010 season together. We couldn’t have picked a better road. State Highway 72 from just east of Kingwood south to Parsons is a great road to share with another biker. With generally decent pavement and the easy undulations of a river valley, 72 is well suited for riders of all experience levels. Several trips back and forth reveled that the pavement in

the northbound lane seems to have more rough spots than the southbound. There are scenic stopping points along the river and places like Rowlesburg, where you can grab a bite to eat or something to drink.A couple of miles southeast of Parsons, State Highway 72 suddenly slaps a warning sign in your face. The road narrows. The curves get sharp. Trucks are not welcome. The wide, easy-going demeanor of this road is replaced by a single-lane, anxious ribbon that forces its way over 15 miles of remote mountaintops and the hidden valleys between them. There are some farms up here – more than you would think – but it’s mostly wilderness.


The road is one lane, but traffic is two-way. There is a lot of gravel in the road. It is, at times, steep. It has first gear switchbacks and blind hairpins. There is a lot of gravel in the road. The drop-offs on the other side of the guard rail can be impressive. The speed limit is 35, and you’ll only get close to that a few times. Did I mention gravel? And oncoming traffic on a one-laner?Look, I don’t want you to think I’m trashing this stretch of the road. I’m just saying that it’s a lot different than the stretch of State Highway 72 from Kingwood to Parsons. Night and day different. Unlike the valley segment of 72, this is not a stretch of road for a novice rider. It presents challenges at times that will take a newbie well out of the comfort zone.State Highway 72 T-bones into Highway 32, just south of Canaan Valley. Even though the highway only lives for some 53 miles end to end, it manages to lead a fascinating double life.


into Each life…

The day is cold, and dark, and dreary;It rains, and the wind is never weary;That’s exactly how the morning weather looked this spring when the West Virginia Chapter of Bikers Against Child Abuse (B.A.C.A.) held it’s annual fundraising ride. Light rain from the gray skies was getting splattered around by a chilly wind. There was something poetic about the day. Into each life some rain must fall,Some days must be dark and dreary.In fact, the poem The Rainy Day was written 150 years ago by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. He was writing about the loss of his wife, but it’s an emotion that abused children understand all too well. B.A.C.A. was founded in Utah in 1995 when “Chief”, who worked with abused children, realized there was a void in the legal system. Chief saw that while the children were in his office, they were fine. But when they went home they were frightened and often felt alone. The system did nothing to comfort these children on an emotional level. Chief, a rider, took one of these children into his circle of biker friends, and the boy felt safe among them. So safe that, within weeks, he came out of his psychological isolation and began to live the life of a normal boy. Out of this example, B.A.C.A. has grown into an international organization.Be still, sad heart, and cease repining;Behind the clouds is the sun still shining;

Being that “sun” behind the clouds is exactly what B.A.C.A does for these children. The group works closely with law enforcement and other child advocacy agencies, stepping in to help in specific cases. “We help get the families to court, to school, stop by to visit them,” says Diesel, President of the West Virginia B.A.C.A. Chapter, based in Martinsburg. “We’re available to the children 24/7, just so they know they can feel safe.”The sun never did come out on this 100 mile fundraising ride, but the raindrops ended just as the bikes went kickstands up. It was cloudy but comfortable for the entire ride. The tour began at Martinsburg Motorsports and wandered many back roads of Berkeley and Jefferson counties, ending up at Nan and Pop’s Place.The ride was nicely run by the organizers and the money raised will help accomplish the goal of ending child abuse. “It’s funds for therapy, and for just anything that a child might need that we have access to get for them,” says Diesel.


ASLEEP ON TWO WHEELSI had worked a full day and was already tired when I hit the road. I was two hours into the ride and had four more hours to go before I would be home. The sun had gone down, an annoying rain had settled in around me, and it was cold. The Honda CB-750 I was riding did not wear a windshield and its aftermarket exhaust put out a powerful, steady note. This was an interstate run with no interesting road to break up the discomfort and monotony.“H-U-U-U-U-U-H!!!” The loud gasping sound emanated from my wide open mouth even as I sucked in a chest full of cold, damp air. My eyes popped open like a cat in the dark. My hands instinctively clutched the bars like vises as my whole body tensed.My brain followed all of these clues to the realization that I had been asleep. Calculations over the next few seconds revealed that I had no cognizant recollection of the past 30 miles! I was so scared about what I had just done that the rest of the trip was fueled with adrenaline. Forget drowsy. I probably never even blinked again.This true story happened to me more than 30 years ago. But it pops to the front of my mind every time I start feeling a lapse of energy while riding. Fatigue happens to all of us as we ride. Recognizing it, and dealing with it, is critical to keeping the shiny side up.To help us understand fatigue and its effects, Thunder Roads West Virginia has turned to Dr. Don Arthur, an expert in the field and – of course – a long distance rider. In this month’s first installment of his two-part examination of fatigue and motorcycle touring, Dr. Arthur examines what fatigue is, why it happens, and what it does to us.

F A T I G U EAND MOTORCYCLE TOURING

As the sun sets and the miles pass, fatigue becomes our shadow but never our friend. The pleasures of a riding vacation can melt into frustration if a rider pushes the day’s miles beyond his or her abilities.

S L E E POur brains are complex organs that fatigue during waking hours, accumulating a physiologic debt that is repaid only by sleeping. Dur-ing sleep, the chemical balance is restored in those areas of the brain which are required for conscious activity. This cycle is normal and immutable. The exact mechanism has been extensively studied and is so complex that, for all practical purposes, it could be called ‘magic.’

Each individual requires a specific, genetically set, amount of sleep. Most people require about 8 hours of sleep but the ‘normal’ range is somewhere between 6 and 10 hours. Einstein required 10 hours of sleep each night. Sleeping 2 hours less than required significantly decreases one’s performance and alertness. These affects are cumulative – sleeping less each night eventually results in a sleep ‘debt’ which must be repaid to return the brain to baseline function. The good news is that the debt does not have to be paid in full hour-for-hour but it must eventually be paid by obtaining deep sleep, not multiple short naps. Unfortunately, one cannot ‘bank’ sleep – accu-mulate sleep in anticipation of the need.

C I R C A D I A N R H Y T H MOur internal physiologic clocks regulate all of our body’s automatic functions – including the sleep-wakefulness cycle. Each person is programmed with his or her own requirements and cycle times. This internal clock tries to keep us on a ‘normal’ 24 hour sleep rhythm and is synchronized to light (day) and dark (night) cycles.

Traveling through different time zones shifts the clock forward or backward, temporarily disrupting the normal circadian rhythm. In general, accommodation takes one day for every time zone tra-versed.

Light deprivation at night has two effects. Our body’s sleep cen-ter interprets darkness as a signal to initiate sleep. Compounding this circadian signal, the lack of stimulation and visual cues at night deprive the brain of the activity which would help maintain alert-ness. Without the higher level of stimulation offered during daylight hours, our brains more easily slip into the sleeping mode. Increas-ing external stimulation may help extend wakefulness by temporarily

ASLEEP ON TWO WHEELSI had worked a full day and was already tired when I hit the road. I was two hours into the ride and had four more hours to go before I would be home. The sun had gone down, an annoying rain had settled in around me, and it was cold. The Honda CB-750 I was riding did not wear a windshield and its aftermarket exhaust put out a powerful, steady note. This was an interstate run with no interesting road to break up the discomfort and monotony.

“H-U-U-U-U-U-H!!!” The loud gasping sound emanated from my wide open mouth even as I sucked in a chest full of cold, damp air. My eyes popped open like a cat in the dark. My hands instinctively clutched the bars like vises as my whole body tensed.

My brain followed all of these clues to the realization that I had been asleep. Calculations over the next few seconds revealed that I had no cognizant recollection of the past 30 miles! I was so scared about what I had just done that the rest of the trip was fueled with adrenaline. Forget drowsy. I probably never even blinked again.

This true story happened to me more than 30 years ago. But it pops to the front of my mind every time I start feeling a lapse of energy while riding. Fatigue happens to all of us as we ride. Recognizing it, and dealing with it, is critical to keeping the shiny side up.

To help us understand fatigue and its effects, Thunder Roads West Virginia has turned to Dr. Don Arthur, an expert in the field and – of course – a long distance rider. In this month’s first installment of his two-part examination of fatigue and motorcycle touring, Dr. Arthur examines what fatigue is, why it happens, and what it does to us.

Next month, Dr. Arthur will explore how riders can best prepare to deal with fatigue on a bike, as well as what does and doesn’t work to fight fatigue when it happens.







Light deprivation at night has two effects. Our body’s sleep cen-ter interprets darkness as a signal to initiate sleep. Compounding this circadian signal, the lack of stimulation and visual cues at night deprive the brain of the activity which would help maintain alert-ness. Without the higher level of stimulation offered during daylight hours, our brains more easily slip into the sleeping mode. Increas-

ing external stimulation may help extend wakefulness by temporarily overcoming the circadian preference to induce sleep. Studies have shown that physical fitness also seems to allow individuals to toler-ate circadian rhythm shifts better.

Researchers have also documented a Drone Effect which describes individuals who become momentarily functionally incapacitated, also known as “microsleeps.” These periods manifest as a few sec-onds of open-eyed sleep, paralysis, blurred vision, or other effects of which the victim might be unaware except for a vague feeling of having missed something – parts of a conversation or a section of highway. Traveling at 70mph (113kph), a rider covers 103 feet (31 meters) per second – that’s the length of a soccer (football) field in just 3 seconds.

F A T I G U E E F F E C T SOur brains are marvelous computers but they grow weary of con-stant activity and must be refreshed. Much like an hourglass, our mental processing power slowly ebbs as the fatigue debt increases. The transition affects all performance functions and occurs in such an insidious, gradual manner that we are not usually aware of the decrement. This is especially true if we are engaged in a high skill or high tempo activity where the activity distracts attention from the growing fatigue debt.

Although responses to fatigue are individual, there are three com-mon factors that seem to predicate one’s functional decrement: (1) task skill level, (2) level of training, and (3) inherent biological fac-tors. The more practiced and proficient one becomes in a given task and the more complex the task, the greater is the resistance to fatigue. Likewise, greater levels of training and experience seem to have protective effects. We cannot control genetically imprinted biological functions but we can certainly affect skill and training lev-els. In general, less experienced riders are at greater risk than those who have built up their experience level, giving more credence to the wisdom of slowly building one’s riding limits.

Sleepiness. While it might seem obvious that sleepiness would re-sult from fatigue, we must keep in mind that our brains interpret fa-tigue as a signal to sleep. The greater the fatigue, the stronger will be the sleep center’s inducement to sleep. This may trigger sleep even when unintended – and unanticipated. Microsleeps are one manifestation of the body’s drive to obtain the rest needed to reverse the effects of fatigue. Microsleeps may occur during periods of oth-erwise normal and highly functional activity, causing unexplained variable and unpredictable performance. Concentration failures can occur during periods of activity which appear otherwise normal.

Microsleeps can manifest as failure to recognize hazards, failure to take appropriate action in the face of an emergency, inability to make decisions, inability to concentrate, loss of time, failure to negotiate a turn, forgetfulness, and many other symptoms which can be disas-trous to a motorcyclist.

The greater the fatigue, the greater is our tendency to underestimate the fatigue burden and magnitude of the drive to sleep. This adds to the danger of unrecognized fatigue effects.

Mental changes. As our ‘computing’ power and speed decrease when fatigued, our ability to gain and process new information be-comes impaired. The slower we receive and appreciate information, the more delayed our responses become. This is manifest in slower decision-making and longer reaction times. Overall, this reduces our vigilance and increases our risks.

A common symptom of profound fatigue is traveling at a much slow-er than normal speed. This happens because the brain is process-ing riding information (apparent speed over the road, scenery pass-ing, motorcycle vibration, wind pressure, etc.) more slowly. Thus, a slower speed may take up the same amount of available brain computing power as normal speed does when the brain is rested. The speeds feel the same to our fatigued brain.

These and other effects are exacerbated at night. As our darkened surroundings provide fewer clues to reality, our mind has less data with which to make proper decisions. As fatigue increases and cues decrease, judgment becomes increasingly faulty. Our minds may ‘fill in’ our perception gaps, causing us to perceive things which are not real. Mistaken perceptions – even hallucinations – are possible as our minds fill in the picture or our surroundings when real data are unavailable or are missed.

Fatigue impairs memory – our ability to store new information and retrieve old information. Stories abound about riders who are criti-cally low on fuel but ride past an open filling station, ‘forgetting’ to stop. Unfortunately, these lessons wait to be learned again and again, even by experienced riders.

As information processing becomes more difficult, our tendency is to choose options which require the least efforts or have the least risk even if the choice has a lower probability of success than one which is more complex and requires greater thought. We can become fixated on a task and be unable to resolve conflicting thoughts or decision criteria. This could result in effective immobilization, loss of situational awareness, or skipping critical safety actions.

Psychological changes. As fatigue increases, sleep becomes an increasingly prominent focus, both consciously and subconsciously. Mood slowly degrades, interfering with socialization functions. This further adds to one’s stress and compounds the difficulty in com-municating with others.

Fatigue also affects one’s motivation as the brain increasingly fo-cuses on satisfying the fatigue debt. This decreased motivation may result in a change in other habits such as eating and drinking less. This can be disastrous if dehydration is added to fatigue.

As we become increasingly unable to perform tasks normally and inhibitions wane, we can become impatient, frustrated, and angry.

A dangerous and insidious effect of fatigue is refusal to recognize the need for sleep and inability to take effective action.

8 104 6 2 4 6 128 10 12

Sleep Sleep

212NOON

Missed Sleep

Missing sleep by awakening earlier tha n norm al will result in anincreased sleep burden above nor mal levels, requiring increasedsleep to event ually r epay the add itiona l s leep debt.

Awaken early

8 104 6 2 4 6 128 10 12

Sleep

“Normal”

Sleep

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Norm al circad ian sleep rh yth m. Sleep urge is greatest at night witha small increase at mid day. Sleep need increases throu ghout thewaking hours a nd is re plenished during sleep.

Computing Power

Fatigue Debt

Brain Drain

18 Thunder roads WesT Virginia June 2010 June 2010 Thunder roads WesT Virginia 19www.thunderroadswv.com






























8 104 6 2 4 6 128 10 12

Sleep Sleep

212NOON

Missed Sleep


Awaken early

8 104 6 2 4 6 128 10 12

Sleep

“Normal”

Sleep

212NOON


Computing Power

Fatigue Debt

Brain Drain

18 Thunder roads WesT Virginia June 2010 June 2010 Thunder roads WesT Virginia 19www.thunderroadswv.com 18 Thunder roads WesT Virginia June 2010


overcoming the circadian preference to induce sleep. Studies have shown that physical fitness also seems to allow individuals to toler-ate circadian rhythm shifts better.













































8 104 6 2 4 6 128 10 12

Sleep Sleep

212NOON

Missed Sleep


Awaken early

8 104 6 2 4 6 128 10 12

Sleep

“Normal”

Sleep

212NOON


Computing Power

Fatigue Debt

Brain Drain

18 Thunder roads WesT Virginia June 2010 June 2010 Thunder roads WesT Virginia 19www.thunderroadswv.comJune 2010 Thunder roads WesT Virginia 19www.thunderroadswv.com

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Leaving No Brother Behind


They have served their nation honorably in a military theater of opera-tions, risking their lives in defense of The United States of America. The experience has changed their lives, their code. They are patriots. They also, according to the national website, “promote a positive image of mili-tary Veterans as well as motorcyclists.” They are the Warrior Brotherhood Veterans M/C, and the West Virginia Chapter’s first fundraiser for the Vet-erans Hospital in Beckley drew a nice crowd of bikes.

“They are having issues where a lot of homeless veterans and veterans that don’t even have the funds to even get to the VA hospital, get taken care of, get looked at,” says Gabriel “Bones” Roldan, Vice-President of the Chapter and organizer of this event. “Then they don’t have the money for transportation to get home. Don’t have any food in their bellies the whole day. They don’t have nothing to go home to. The money that we’re raising today goes to a fund.” The fund is set up to provide food vouchers, trans-portation, and other very basic necessities.

The ride began and ended in the parking lot of the John Eye Big Sandy Superstore in Beckley. The mountainous area around Beckley, with it’s deeply cut river valleys slicing their ways between, provides a great area to stage a ride. An intense, but brief early morning thunderstorm had rolled through. Its blades of lightning were the cutting edge of a strong cold front. Brisk winds would blow all day, and the temperatures would be about 20 degrees cooler than yesterday. But the sun would shine, and the 90 or so miles of the route would be a biker’s paradise. Bikes rolled out in small groups between 11:30 and Noon.

Escaping the minor logjam of traffic heading east through Beckley required a few minutes of patience – just enough time for the engines to come up to a nice operating temp. The next 20 or so miles down to the Green Valley Bar and Grill were a beautiful drop into the river valley. Another run head-ing in a different direction was stopped at the Green Valley at the same time. It made for an impressive display of machinery in the parking lot.

The ride progressed up Route 20 alongside the New River for a while, before the highway climbs away to Meadow Bridge and the second stop, at In the Wind in West Virginia. A tasty, twisty county road connected us with Danese, and Highway 41. Next stop: the Prince Train Depot. The 12 mile ride from here back to the starting point was all too short…I think ev-eryone was ready for more of this great ride. But food, games, and even a dunk tank were waiting for the riders when they returned to the parking lot.

This was the first year for the Warrior Brotherhood’s VMC VA Hospital run. It won’t be the last, because the need to raise money to help veterans won’t soon end. “It’s getting a lot worse,” says Bones. “The VA hospitals, they’re getting their budgets cut in half, and the funds to them are not adequate enough to help those veterans.”

Editor’s Note: Okay, Amanda, you got me with that letter. And with those eyes staring at me from the front tin, I had no choice but to photograph your girl for Bike of the Month. The fantasy world full of tigers was painted by Danny Starr of Winchester, VA. Vance & Hines pipes join a host of other aftermarket blingy things to make this bike a real beauty. When Amanda said in her letter that this bike loves attention, she wasn’t kidding. She has entered the bike in 10 bike shows, and has 8 first place trophies, a “Best in Show”, and one second place to show for it.

Amanda’s Girl BIKE OF THE MONTHDear Thunder Roads West Virginia,

I have a custom 2007 HD Fat Boy that really wants to be

featured as the bike of the month and I might as well be featured as

the female rider of the month, since she needs me as much as I need

her!

I didn’t get my own street bike until I was 40 years old because I

spent a lot of years being a single parent. I vowed I would wait until

my youngest graduated and that is exactly what I did. I bought my

bike at Destination Daytona during Bike Week 2007 and have

been madly in love ever since.

In January of 2008, I was diagnosed with Allergic Asthma. I

feel like I spend more time in the hospital than the doctors most of the

time. There is something attacking my lungs with a vengeance and I

have hope they will find out what it is.

I have logged over 27,000 miles on my bike since buying it brand

new. It would probably be double that if I could stay healthy. My

bike is what keeps me fighting for a cure. If I’m not healthy, neither

one of us gets to ride, and it’s what we were both made to do! Even

when I am sick, I will make the trek down to the shed and just sit on

her and talk to her.

It may take me forever to get back up the driveway but it’s always

worth the trip! My girl deserves to be featured in Thunder Roads

West Virginia because she just sits there and waits patiently on me to

get better! She loves the attention!

Amanda Axley

EVERY SUNDAY RIDEKick Stands up at 2:00Weather Permitting

HOME COOKED MEALS - DAILY LUNCH SPECIALS FRIDAY NIGHT DJ WITH JUSTIN

$ 5Cover

JULY Schedule: 2nd & 3rd J Factor July 4th Freedom Ride with a Tour of Antietam

JUNE Schedule: 4th As All Things Go (Heavy Metal) 5th Solid Gold (50’s & 60’s)

12th 80’s Night with DJ Justin 8:00 – Midnight 12:01 - Rocky Horror Picture Show Dress Up – NO RICE

19th Bad Penny Band 26th Derobe Ve Globe

Friday Night - June 11thBenefit for JR

Come help the guy who has helped so manyMusic with Cross Bones

Saturday - June 12th

Benefit RunRegistration at 11:00am

Kickstands up at 12:00 NoonBikini Bike and Car Wash Following the Run


a gynecologist had become fed up with malpractice insurance and HMo paperwork, and was burned out. Hoping to try another career where skillful hands would be beneficial, he decided to become a mechanic. He went to the local technical college, signed up for evening classes, attended diligently, and learned all he could.When the time of the practical exam approached, the gynecologist prepared carefully for weeks, and completed the exam with tremendous skill. When the results came back, he was surprised to find that he had obtained a score of 150%. Fearing an error, he called the instructor, saying, “i don’t want to appear ungrateful for such an outstanding result, but i wonder if there is an error in the grade?”the instructor said, “During the exam, you took the engine apart perfectly, which was worth 50% of the total mark. You put the engine back together again perfectly, which is also worth 50% of the mark.” after a pause, the instructor added, “i gave you an extra 50% because you did it all through the muffler, which i’ve never seen done in my entire career”.

a little old lady from Wisconsin had worked in and around her family dairy farm since she was old enough to walk, with hours of hard work and little compensation. When canned carnation Milk became available in grocery stores in approximately the 1940s, she read an advertisement offering $5,000 for the best slogan. the producers wanted a rhyme beginning with ‘carnation Milk’ is best of all.she thought to herself, i know all about milk and dairy farms, i can do this! she sent in her entry, and several weeks later, a black limo pulled up in front of her house. a man got out and said, ‘carnation loVED your entry so much, we are here to award you $2,500. even though we will not be able to print it, it was a purely genius marketing slogan”. “carnation milk is best of all, no tits to pull, no hay to haul, no buckets to wash, no crap to pitch, just poke a hole in the little son-of-a-bitch.”

a 3-year-old boy examined his testicles while taking a bath. ‘Mom’, he asked, ‘are these my brains?’she quietly replied, ‘Not yet!’

Business slogan of the Year: if our service is not up to your standards - Please lower your standards.

a woman and a man are involved in a car accident on a snowy, cold Monday morning; it’s a bad one. Both of their cars are totally demolished, but amazingly neither of them is hurt. God works in mysterious ways.after they crawl out of their cars, the man is yelling about women drivers.the woman says, ‘so, you’re a man. that’s interesting. i’m a woman. Wow, just look at our cars! there’s nothing left, but we’re unhurt. this must be a sign from God that we should be friends and live in peace for the rest of our days.’Flattered, the man replies, ‘oh yes, i agree completely, this must be a sign from God! But you’re still at fault...women shouldn’t be allowed to drive.’the woman continues, ‘and look at this, here’s another miracle. My car is completely demolished but this bottle of wine didn’t break. surely God wants us to drink this wine and celebrate our good fortune. she hands the bottle to the man.the man nods his head in agreement, opens it and drinks half the bottle and then hands it back to the woman.the woman takes the bottle, puts the cap back on and hands it back to the man.the man asks, ‘aren’t you having any?’the woman replies, ‘No. i think i’ll just wait for the police...’

celibacy can be a choice in life, or a condition imposed by unforeseen circumstances.While attending a Marriage Weekend, my wife and i listened to the instructor declare, ‘it is essential that husbands and wives know the things that are important to each other..” He then addressed the men,‘can you name and describe your wife’s favorite flower?’i leaned over, touched my wife gently, and whispered,‘Gold Medal-all-Purpose, isn’t it?’and thus began my life of celibacy.........

two young boys; R.J. and M.B. walked into a pharmacy one day, picked out a box of tampons and proceeded to the checkout counter. Mr. Empson, the owner & Pharmacist, asked the older boy, “son, how old are you?” “Eight,” R.J. proudly replied. Mr. Empson continued, “Do you know what these are used for?” R.J. replied, “not exactly, but they aren’t for me. they’re for him. He’s my brother, M.B., he’s four. We saw on tV that if you use these you would be able to swim and ride a bike. Right now, he can’t do either one.”


Thunder Roads Welcomes

Northern California

Story and Photos by Donna Westphalen

The day was absolutely beautiful as I rode to the 1st Annual Life Rider Run in Inwood, WV. I was lucky enough to have found out about this event while visiting Evel Speed one day a few weeks back. The funny thing was looking at the event card to find out where and when and realizing their guest speaker was to be Jim “Jammer” Marcum. Of course I had to contact Jammer and lo and behold, he was indeed to be their guest speaker. One thing leading to another, I was invited to meet some of the organizers of the event as they met with Jammer in person for the first time. I was so pleased to find out that the Life Riders motorcycle ministry found their way to Jammer through Thunder Roads West Virginia. A match made in heaven, to say the least.

The Life Riders are based out of the New Life Church in Inwood and I have to say that, as a rider, you have to like a church that has motorcycle parking right out front. Their motto is “Different to Make a Difference”, and that they are. The Life Riders organized their first event and it was a great success. The day started off with a bike blessing and then a nice ride on some back roads through Back Creek and Hedgesville with a police escort blocking traffic as the approximately 70 riders completed their journey. Then it was back to the church for food, music and great company. There were all kinds of festivities going on which included kid’s inflatables, face painting and games, as well as a bike rodeo and bike show. Evel Speed sponsored the bike show and donated the trophies for the winners. Thanks, Evel.Jammer was the guest speaker for this event and I have to tell you that it was my first time hearing Jammer in his most natural setting, and I was truly moved. Jammer is with the Highway and Hedges Motorcycle Ministry and we at Thunder Roads West Virginia are blessed to have him as our Spiritual GPS on The High Road. There was not a dry eye in the house, which tells me there was something happening that day. A group of like minded riders looking for some peace and companionship found just that.The day was sunny and clear. It was an absolutely perfect day to get the bikes out. You would think the day was made just for the Life Run by the Big One upstairs. Well, I’m sure they had some pull.

Life Run 2010


May the Lord smile on you. Numbers 6:25Since pleasing God is the first purpose of your life, the important task is to discover how to do that. Figure out what will please Christ, and then do it. The Bible gives us a clear example of a life that pleases God. The man’s name was Noah. In Noah’s day, the world was morally bankrupt. Everyone lived for their own pleasure. God couldn’t find anyone interested in pleasing Him, so He was grieved and regretted making man. God became disgusted with the human race and considered wiping it out. But there was one man who made God smile. The Bible says, “Noah was a pleasure to the Lord” (Genesis 6:8). God said Noah brought Him pleasure. He makes me smile. I’ll start over with his family.” Because Noah brought pleasure to God, you and I are alive today. God smiles when we love him supremely. Noah loved God more than anything else, even when no one else did! The Bible tells us Noah “consistently followed God’s will and enjoyed a close relationship with Him.“ God made you to love you, and He longs for you to love Him back. He says, “I don’t want your sacrifices - I want your love; I don’t want your offerings - I want you to know me” (Hosea 6:6).God loves you and desires your love in return. He longs for you to know Him and spend time with Him. Learning to love God and to be loved by Him should be the greatest objective of your life. Nothing else comes close in importance. Jesus called it the greatest commandment. He said, “’Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment” (Matthew 22:37-38).

Jim “Jammer” Marcum resides in Charleston and has been involved in motorcycle ministry for nearly 15 years and serves as Clergy within Highways and Hedges Motorcycle Ministry.

By Jim “Jammer” Marcum


Thunder Roads West Virginia

sPoNsoRs a caGEIt’s not often that bikers get together to support a car. But this isn’t just any car. Thunder Roads West Virginia has joined a host of other sponsors to support the second annual Norwalk Festival.The Norwalk Motor Car Company built cars in Martinsburg, WV for a few years starting in 1909. The Norwalk was a monster, utilizing a six-cylinder airplane engine with an electric push-button transmission on a chassis that measured over eleven feet in length. An interested buyer could purchase more than a dozen Ford Model-T’s for the price of a single Norwalk. It was marketed as “The Car of Absolute Exclusiveness”.That marketing is correct, even today. There is only one 1914 Norwalk known to still exist, and the Norwalk Foundation in Martinsburg is working hard to pay for the cost of bringing this car back to the area.The 2-day fundraising festival has a decidedly biker friendly day on Saturday, June 26. Team FMX will be bringing its freestyle motocross stunt show to the Berkeley County fairgrounds for a show that will take your breath away. These guys and their bikes spend more time in the air than on the ground. There will be a bike show sponsored by Evel Speed. Bikes are also welcome in the Sunday show on June 27, which will feature a wide variety of vehicles.

Join in the festivities on June 26 and 27, and be sure to visit the Thunder Roads West Virginia tent in the vendor’s area at the Norwalk Festival. We’ll see you there!


Every day across this great nation of ours, someone is either buying for themselves or receiving a new digital camera as a gift. With this article, I’d like to offer a little bit of help and advice for those of you who are having trouble taking decent photos. We all want to think we are the best photographer around, but the sad truth is that they are few and far between. Many of us have never even used a digital camera before. There are still many of us who were used to the old Kodaks, where you just aimed and shot your photos, then sent your rolls of film off to be developed. Those days are now long gone. The digital age is here and you might as well get used to it. With the advent of the modern digital camera, complete amateurs can take wonderful pictures. It just takes a little knowledge and practice.

snapping shotsby Ken Holby

First off, I am not a professional photographer - not even close, but my website (www.kenthepictureguy.50webs.com) has nearly 500 photos on it of riders and their machines from in and around the Clarksburg area, so I do have the experience and would like to share with you some hints here about taking shots you’d be proud of sharing with family and friends. I’ve learned how to take a decent shot by trial and error, just as most of you are doing now. I’ve found there’s nothing worse than coming home from an event and uploading the photos from the camera’s chip into your computer and find out all you have are a bunch of out of focus or too dark to see rectangles. so... let’s get started:REaD tHE iNstRuctioN BooK - It is printed for a purpose. The latest digital cameras have so many options available on them, you might as well spend a few hours reading your manual and get to know your camera and its capabilities. If you find a section you don’t understand, go on to the next subject and come back to it later. I’ll go over a few of them below, but because each camera is different, I can’t discuss them all.sElEctioN oF tHE BattERiEs - I suggest throwing any regular batteries which may have come with the camera into the garbage or else put them in one of your wall clocks. That’s all they are good for. litHiuM - remember this word. It is all you want to know about batteries anymore. A good set of Lithium batteries can last you up to a year or more of normal use, whereas a regular set might last a couple months. If you want to try the movie-mode of your camera (if available) you will find out real quickly why I recommend this type of battery. Yes, they are a bit pricey - usually around $10 for a set of 4 AA’s, but they are totally worth it...and always pick up at least a set of 4. Never be without a backup set!! I’ve found out the hard way about this. And, before I forget - remove the batteries if you don’t plan to use your camera for a month or more. They might leak and ruin the camera.taKiNG tHE sHot - With most modern cameras, there is a solid-state circuit inside which will auto-focus your subject. Make sure you give the camera a chance to do this. Mine will pop-up a green box when it’s focused. Yours might be different. If the box focuses on something else instead of what you want it to be on, try moving around a bit until it gets it right.tRiPoDs - With the introduction of the newer, higher resolution cameras (8-12 megapixel) any shaking on your part can ruin a set of pictures. Therefore I’d recommend picking up a nice camera tripod for around $15-25. It’s used for those shots where you can pose the subject and the tripod will keep your camera nice and steady. Don’t bother with the mini-tripods. Who do you know who is 12” tall? Most tripods also come with a swiveling head with a handle. In movie mode, you can do a nice, steady side to side pan of your subject(s) without the normal, jerky movement which comes with turning with your camera by hand.10 sEcoND tiMER oPtioN - Most digital cameras include a 10 second timer option. You can use this option to click the shutter and jump into a group photo, get on a bike, etc. before the shot is taken. Plus, because you are not touching the camera anymore, it will give you the best, no-shake shots. This is another time where a tripod comes in handy.PictuRE REsolutioN - Most cameras have at least 4-5 resolution options available. For basic pictures you want to share with your friends or family, use the middle or next to highest setting. Any lower than middle and the photos aren’t really worth it, except for smaller, web-site photos. Using the highest setting will


give you nicely detailed shots but will be very large (2 or more computer screens) and really suck up space on your memory chips. Photo editing software comes with most cameras. Learn how to resize and crop your photos. If you plan on printing your photos, I’d recommend using the highest setting for the best results, but make sure your printing option is set to “shrink to fit” a sheet of photo paper.MEMoRY cHiPs - These come in sizes from 1 to 32 megapixel (mp), with the 4mp being the norm for around $12-15 each. I can get approx. 30-50 high resolution shots on mine. Pick up 2 or three of them and store the extras in your camera case. You did buy a case, didn’t you? The reason I use 4mp is that if it goes bad, I’m only out a few bucks and it seems as if every type of store has them for sale. Make sure they are inserted in the camera correctly.tHE RED-EYE sEttiNG - Have you ever taken shots of your friends inside with the flash turned on and the photos all came out with everyone having those “Devil Eyes?” The Red-Eye setting on your camera does away with most of this. The camera will flash twice - first to make your subjects eyes get used to a bright light and then flash a second time to take the actual picture. Ta-da, no more red-eye.PHotos outsiDE iN tHE suN - Your camera does not like the sun, so make it happy and never point in the same direction as the sun when taking pictures. Try to always have the sun at your back or to the back right or left of you. The sun, if pointed at, will have a tendency to “wash out” your shots. If your subject(s) are standing in front of a wide, sun drenched background, you might want to have them move to a little bit darker area. Your shots will come out a lot nicer.FlasH MoDE DuRiNG tHE DaYliGHt - In my experience, I always make sure the flash is OFF during the day when taking close shots (5-10 feet). I’ve found my camera will sometimes give the shots a strange hue (color), so I don’t use it anymore.aNti-sHaKE MoDE - There is an Anti-Shake mode on most of the newer cameras. If you plan to take shots without a tripod, I highly suggest you turn this option on, if you have it. The higher the resolution your camera has, the more effect just plain old body movement on your part will have on the clarity of the final product. A 4mp-6mp camera doesn’t have this problem as much as the higher resolution ones do (8-12mp).FiNal HiNt...taKiNG a NicE sHot oF soMEoNE oN a BiKE - I’m going to give my secret away here, but that’s okay. Take your time and set the shot up. Look at the preview picture on the back of the camera and see if it’s just what you want. Leave only about a foot (12”) of space all around your subject. Read all my hints on settings again and then for the big secret - kneel down. This makes all the difference in the world with a bike and rider shot. Don’t get too low, about even with the top of the front tire or the handlebars. One more thing - take 2, 3 or 4 shots with each being a little bit different in the angle and the rider’s pose. Give these suggestions a try the next time you want to take photos you’d like to share with others. I can’t guarantee great results right off the bat, but I’d bet after awhile, your photos will start to be the envy of others.


Mom’s Place

“Her legacy lives on”

Family Dining

Experience

Full menu served

S-M-T 6am to 10pm

W-Sat 24 hrs

The end of Hoult Road by the

Phillips Plant in Fairmont, WV

“GoodHomeCooking”

Shane Rubright is a young boy of eight with osteomyelitis, a chronic bone infection. He had surgery this past March, and spent 5 days in the WVU Children’s Hospital in Morgantown. He’s been getting home schooled since then, and is enjoying it. “Shane has been really brave through all of this,” says his mother, Bobbi Jo. “He is a real fighter. He should be going back to school soon.”To help with the family’s expenses through all of this, eastern panhandle riders gathered to do what they could. Thunder Roads West Virginia’s Dave Luksa was among them. Here’s his take on the day.++++++++++++++The weather wasn’t looking the best. As we pulled into The Rock at 1:00 p.m. we numbered only six bikes. I heard a comment made that we could have a column of three, two wide. Then, one by one through the door they came. Leather clad riders numbering 26 in all. In the middle of all this, an eight year old fights his way through the crowd. What a nice young man Shane Rubright is. He was very excited and curious about the bikes, the people and the goings on of a poker run. Sitting at the draw table, Shane was showing off his scars from his recent surgery on his right arm and telling us about his cast coming off. He even made some picks for one of the bikers. The offer was made to take a closer look at the bikes, and off he went into the parking lot, with a grin from ear to ear. Two o’clock and the kick stands went up, and down the road we went to our second stop at Iffie’s. Next, to Secrets in Ranson, then Alto’s club outside of Shepherdstown (one of our favorite spots). A raffle was on this time for a little blonde who wanted to ride on the rest of the run. When I hit the door, bidding was up to $100.00. I never did see that girl again. Back to The Rock, and just in time. The weather look like it was catching up. It was bright inside and the place was packed with regulars, eager to see the bikes rolling in. Food was piled high and there was a table full of door prizes. What a good time, and the best of all was the help going to Shane’s family for some of their medical expenses. The total of $880.00 was not good enough. Zippy hit the 50/50 and gave his part of the $214 back. It was on! Tina pulled a bill out, then Greg, and Doug. Dana from M.A.D.D. ABATE was on a roll and had people with money in hand. A nice donation of a couple of “C notes” came from the prez and his vice from The Men of Malice M/C. In all we were up over $1400!

Shane’s Shining Day


classic’s 3 Hot spot lounge Restaurant1384 Greenbag Rd. Sabraton

Morgantown WV 26505 (304) 292-8368Affordable Place to Eat! Where Good Friends Meet!

www.Classics3.com

colt’s Restaurant and Pizza Park inc.425 S. Main St.

Moorefield, WV 26836(304) 538-2523

Dakota tavernRoute 19 North of Fairmont

(304) 288-4893Friendly Atmosphere and Good Food

Est. 1964

the Dawg House Bar & GrillPool, Darts & Music Entertainment

1387 Fairmont RoadMorgantown, WV 26501

1 mile past Morgantown Mall on 19 South

Desperado’s Bar & Grill35 Potomac Street

Ridgeley, WV 26753Food – Games – Cold Beer

(304) 738-0010

Dirty Dawg saloon1017 S. Queen Street

Martinsburg, WV 25401(304) 596-6200

www.dirtydawgwv.com

Donna Jean’s Family Restaurant23480 George Washington Hwy.

Aurora, WV 26705 (304) 735-3260Serving Breakfast, Lunch and DinnerMon-Fri 5:30 - 7 Sat & Sun 7:00 - 7

Doodles PlaceRt. 50 Augusta, WV

(304) 496-9481

Fireside cafe927 North Main St.

Franklin, WV 26807(304) 358-3733

www.fireside-cafe.com

Flying W FarmsU.S. Route 50

Burlington, WV 26710(304) 289-3005

Sun-Thurs 10am-7pm Fri & Sat 10am–9pm

Four corners club72 Pedal Car DriveInwood, WV 25428

(304) 229-3443www.the4cornersclub.com

Fox’s Pizza Den646 North Main StreetFranklin, WV 26807

(304) 358-2118Pizza – Salads – Subs – Chicken

ATTORNEYSBurke, schultz, Harman & Jenkinson

Attorneys at Law84 Aikens Center

Martinsburg, WV 25402(304) 263-0900 www.burkeandschultz.com

colombo & stuhr, attorneys at law1054 Maple Drive

Morgantown, WV 26505(304) 599-4229

www.colombostuhr.com

BAIL BONDSWeatherholtz Bonding

306 West Stephen StreetMartinsburg, WV 25401

(304) 267-5888 or (304) [email protected]

BARS, CLUBS & RESTAURANTS3rd Base sports Bar & Grille22 Virginia Avenue; US Rt. 220

Petersburg, WV 26847 Up from the stop light(304) 257-2273 Email:

[email protected]

Bee Hive tavern463 Morgantown Avenue

Fairmont, WV 26554(304) 282-8196

One block from Thinkin Ink Tattoo

the Brickhouse Bar & Grill214 Mid Atlantic ParkwayMartinsburg, WV 25404

(304) 264-2304 www.thebrickhousesportsbar.com

Bucket Heads Pub81 N. Dents Run RoadGranville, WV 26534

(304) 284-0661 [email protected] Winning Wings and Drink Specials

Byrd’s tavern7699 Hedgesville Rd.

Hedgesville, WV 25427(304) 754-6980

www.byrdstavernllc.webs.com

chesapeake crab company1014 Winchester AvenueMartinsburg, WV 25401

(304) 262-0077www.chesapeakecrabco.biz

chicken lizards7306 Husky Highway

Mannington, WV 26582(304) 986-1158

2 mi. North of Mannington on Rt. 250

cindy’s Bar & GrillRoute 3 (End of Speedway)

Fairmont, WV 26554(304) 363-0058

Across from K&T Truck Stop

BIKER FRIENDLY DIRECTORYHide away tavern

Rt. 50 Burlington, WVNear WVDOH District 5 Shed

(304) 289-5396

iron Horse Bar & GrillHC 84 Box 33 (Cutoff Road)

Keyser, WV 26726(304) 788-7533

longshots Billiards76 Wolfcraft Way

Charles Town, WV 25414(304) 724-1975

www.longshotsbilliards.com

lost River Brewing155 West Main Street

Wardensville, WV 26851(304) 874-3448

www.lostriverbrewing.com

Melanie’s Family Restaurant25164 George Washington Hwy.

Aurora, WV 26705 (304) 735-3219

Good Food, Friendly Smiles, Low Prices

the Millstone Barbeque RestaurantRt. 50 West Burlington, WV

Great Pork-Ribs-Steak & Shrimp and Cold Beer (304) 289-3693

Mom’s PlaceFull menu served 24 hours a day

The end of Hoult Road by the Phillips PlantFairmont, WV

(304) 368-9223

Mountaineer all star cafeU.S. Rt. 220 South / 2 mi. from Keyser

A Family Restaurant with a Sports Atmosphere(304) 788-6433

Nan & Pops Place3485 Winchester AvenueMartinsburg, WV 25405

(304) 267-2007www.nanandpopsplace.com

Red Horse tavernRide high at the Red Horse

Route 50, AuroraJust East of Cathedral State Park

(304) 735-3175 www.redhorsetavern.com

the office Pub17 Virginia Avenue, Petersburg

Open 10am Tuesday – Saturday(304) 257-1877

Petie’s Pub & Grill304 Morgantown Avenue

Fairmont, WV 26554(304) 363-0698

Wednesday Bike Night


Poor Dave’s Restaurant and loungeRt. 55 – American LegionPetersburg, WV 26847

(304) [email protected]

Quaker steak & lubeThursday Bike Night

2931 Mountaineer Blvd.Charleston, WV (304) 267-2007

www.quakersteak.com

Road Hogs saloon415 Clayton Street

Rivesville, WV 26588

the Rock sports BarLocated on Rt. 11 North of Martinsburg

2573 Williamsport PikeMartinsburg, WV(304) 263-5558

Rock Forge inn/Haught Diggity DogzServing WV’s #1 Rated Chili Dog

Off I-68 at Sabraton Exit #4Turn left .2 mile – Red Roof on rightRt. 7 East (304) 291-DOGZ (3649)

the sapphire club953 Blue Horizon Drive (Rt. 19)

Morgantown, WV Just off I-79@ Exit 155 -2 Lights Left @ Sheetz – 1.8 Miles on Left

(304) 599-SEXY

the shady spring5221 Ritter Dr. Shady Spring, WV 25918

(304) 763-2839Cold Beer, Full Service Bar, Biker Specials

Bikers Always Welcome – Let’s Ride!

smiley’s Hotdogs606 Philippi Pike (East View) Clarksburg, WV

(304) 622-0004Eat In – Take Out – Drive thru

Our Dogs Are Simply The Best!

spokes N spurs Bar and Grille913 Ritter Dr.

Beaver, WV 25813(304) 860-1912

Email: [email protected]

star Mercantile, llc80 W. Main Street

Wardensville, WV 26851(304) 874-FOOD (3663)

[email protected]

steve’s Broken spoke Bar & Grill14977 SR 55

Needmore, WV 26801(304) 897-7706

www.oldroute55.com

stray cat caféRt. 50 E. Hampshire Square

(304) 822-TACO Closed SundayGood Food – Good Music – Good Times

Email: [email protected]

stray cat Wing shackBike Parking – Outside Dining - Horseshoes

“Nacho Ordinary Mex Restaurant”Open 7 Days a Week at Noon Time

Keyser, WV (304) 788-0760

thirsty Bear tavern14 East Main Street

Rowlesburg, WV 26425(304) 454-2444

Biker Owned

uncle Joe’s Wood PileRt. 1, Box 400

Ridgeley, WV 26753(304) 726-8505

White Front tavernPool & Darts

Happy Hour Monday & Tuesday(304) 265-2280

Rt. 50 West of Grafton, WV

BIKER ACCESSORIES, APPAREL,LEATHERS & GIFTS

cool Ridge329 High St. Morgantown, WV 26505

(304) 296-5757Mon - Sat 11 to 7 / Sun 12 to 5

“Take It Easy”

DFM special tee House “the Biker shack”Helmets – Shirts – Chaps - Jewelry

162 Nancy Jack RoadGerrardstown, WV 25420

(304) 229-7609 [email protected]

East View Variety shopWe have everything from A – Z, Old and New

715 Philippi Pike- East View CommunityClarksburg, WV 26301

(304) 622-6710

Evel speedCustom Machine & Motor Sick’l Shop

7323 Winchester AvenueInwood, WV 25428

(304) 229-0987 www.evelspeed.net

Hawkins leatherThe Largest Leather Dealer in the Tri-State Area

800 Foxcroft Ave. - Martinsburg MallMartinsburg, WV 25401

(304) 263-4193

HiaWatHa’sBoots – Hats – Jewelry – Gifts – Aigner Leather

Moccasins – Beaded Jackets – WV ShirtsJct. Rt. 250 S. & 33 E. Elkins, WV 26241

(304) 636-4836 “JUST LOOK FOR THE INDIAN PRINCESS”

Johnny’s shiny HogsMotorcycle Detail & Accessories Shop

532 W. Main St.Clarksburg, WV 26301

(304) 841-1437

CUSTOM APPARELFairmont Graphics

408 Morgantown Ave.Fairmont, WV 26554

(304) [email protected]

CUSTOM ARTart by Weeze

Custom art on bikes, leathers, helmets,auto, canvas & murals

Martinsburg, WV (304) 264-4604www.artbyweeze.com

CUSTOM DESIGN & FABRICATIONsmack, Jack and Wack upholsteryCustom Motorcycle Seat SpecialistsSeat Softening and Gel Pad Inserts

“Set Your Crack On Smack, Jack and Wack!”Morgantown, WV (304) 328-5707

WiskybiltIt’s all about the ride.

Custom crafted parts made in WV(304) 329-1214

www.wiskybilt.com

DEALERS & SERVICEamsoil store

Wholesale and RetailMount Clare, WV

(304) 745-5522 or Cell (304) 709-1038“Best Prices in Town”

www.lubedealer.com/frankmanojr

Bombshell cyclesFrench Creek, WV

(304) 300-5133www.bombshellcycleswv.com

Servicing Street Bikes and ATV’s

Evel speedCustom Machine & Motor Sick’l Shop

7323 Winchester AvenueInwood, WV 25428

(304) 229-0987 www.evelspeed.net

Full House cycles100 Full House Drive

Winchester, VA 22603(540) 667-0088

www.fullhousecycles.com

Jt cycle & Hoodlum Motorcycle GarageAftermarket & Custom Parts & Accessories

486 Ragland Road, Beckley, WV 25801(304) 255-2468

www.jtcycleparts.com

leesons import Motors inc.320 W Main St.

Bridgeport, WV 26330(304) 842-5469 (800) 760-4840

www.leesonsmotors.com

BIKER FRIENDLY DIRECTORY

continued on next page


Nationwide insuranceCynthia A. Hinkle Agency

125 S. Main Street Moorefield, WV 26836(304) 530-6225 [email protected]

Call Cindy for a quote today!

LODGING & CAMPINGMount Herman campground

Hiking, 4 Wheelers & Social Events WelcomeLimited Utilities - Shower House AvailableHC 61, Box 60A Wileyville, WV 26581Contact Roger Spragg (304) 775-2252

smoke Hole ResortOpen All Year Round

HC 59, Box 39Seneca Rocks, WV 26884

(800) 828-8478 www.smokehole.com

south Branch inn – Romney & Moorefield1500 U.S. 220 N. Moorefield, WV 26836

Route 50 Romney, WV 26757800-856-9167 Moorefield 866-492-3122 Romney

www.southbranchinn.com / Open 24 hours

MASSAGE AND PHYSICAL THERAPYa therapeutic touch of Fairmont

210 East Park AvenueFairmont, WV 26554

(304) 366-8711EVERYBODY NEEDS A MASSAGE

MOTORCYCLE PARTScycleMart - Your Motorcycle Parts store

All Makes All Models202 Elkins Street

Fairmont, WV 26554(304) 366-8119 www.cyclemart.net

PHOTOGRAPHYVetter Photo

1675 Cold Spring RoadMoorefield, WV 26836

(304) 530-6855 www.vetterphoto.com

SPORTING GOODSDoug’s sport shop

New and Used Guns, Sporting Apparel,Aigner Products and Reloading Supplies

220 North Main Street; 743B Hawse PlazaMoorefield, WV 26836 (304) 538-6496

VEHICLE SERVICESBig ‘Ens Muffler & auto Repair shop

290 Main St Hinton, WV 25951 (304) 466-5768Custom exhaust, tune-ups, oil changes,

transmission and brake service.Yes, we service motorcycles too.

Brady’s ExxonI-79 –132 & Exit 139Fairmont, WV 26554 ***Open 24 Hours***Stop by and see us.

the little shop of HarleysService & Accessories – HD Certified Mechanic

44 Bay Berry LaneBerkeley Springs, WV 25411

(304) 258-3909

M&J Motor companyLehman Trike Conversions

1000 S. Queen StreetMartinsburg, WV 25401

(304) 262-6200 www.mjtrikes.com

Morgantown Honda Yamaha suzuki KtM526 Mileground Road

Morgantown, WV 26505304-296-9055

www.morgantownhonda.com

o.B.’s Motorsports1019 7th Street

Parkersburg, WV 26101(304) 420-0910 www.obsmotorsports.com

Motorcycles Shipped FREE

Power House cycle2748 Winchester Ave.

Martinsburg, WV 25401(304) 316-8660

R.G. Honda-Yamaha & Polaris1619 Buckhannon Pike Nutter Fort, WV 26301

(304) 624-5420 (800) 734-3694The Fun Starts Here!

Ruff Road cycle l.l.c.Authorized Drag Specialty Dealer

Tires & Service – Fast Turn Around2050 Burke Rd. Masontown, WV 26542

(304) 980-2005

shenandoah Harley-Davidson213 Rolling Thunder Lane

Staunton, VA 24401(540) 213-7433

www.shenhd.com

skip’s Honda580 South Mineral Street

Keyser, WV 26726(304) 788-1615

smitty’s suzuki, Kawasaki, Yamaha Rt. 33 E. Corridor H

Buckhannon, WV 26201(304) 472-4824

www.supersmittys.com

the twisted spokeCustom Builds, Motorcycle & ATV Repair97 Milford Street Clarksburg, WV 26301

(304) 326-HOGG (4644) www.thetwistedspoke.com

INSURANCEMathias & associates insuranceFarm – Home – Auto – Life - HealthMotorcycle – Boat – RV Insurance

and Retirement Planning(800) 628-3064 [email protected]

BIKER FRIENDLY DIRECTORYBob’s tire service inc.812 East Moler Avenue Martinsburg, WV 25401

(304) 267-2797 www.bobstireservice.net

Hot Rods Roll Back and towingSpecializing in Motorcycle Towing

274 Bedington RoadMartinsburg, WV 25401

(304) 267-5586 Visa & MC Accepted

WEB DESIGNMeridian Websites

55 Meridian Parkway, Suite 101 Martinsburg, WV 25401

(304) 263-1000www.meridianwebsites.com

B & B appliance RepairMost Brands Serviced - 25 Years Experience(443) 605-6367 – Bill / Frederick County MD

(443) 605-6368 – Brian / Jefferson County WV

JD’s PaintingInterior and Exterior Residential Painting

10+ Years servicing Marion, Mon & Harrison Co’sContact: Jeff Davis

(304) 657-0087 [email protected]

Baca - Bikers against child abuse (inwood, WV)Hot Line (304) 839-7809

bacaworld.orgEmail: [email protected]

c.E.’s Helping Hands (old Fields, WV)a non-profit organization enlisting the help of

other good hearted people wanting to contribute to the cause of helping others in need. The

organization holds monthly meetings and several fundraising rides every year. Donations are

always appreciated. For more information visit our website at www.cehelpinghands.com.

GWRRa WV-a (Martinsburg, WV)(Gold Wing Road Riders Assoc.)

‘Mountaineer Wings’Meets the 1st Sunday of the month - 8am at

Ryan’s Restaurant, Martinsburg, WVChapter Directors: JJ & Becky Jones

JJ: (301) 667-4040 [email protected] Becky: (301) 667-0121 [email protected]

Highways and Hedges Motorcycle Ministry (south charleston, WV)

For more information email Jim “Jammer” Marcum at: [email protected]

HOME SERVICES

Clubs & Organizations


JUNE

June 5 – Woodsboro, MD4th Annual 1Lt. Rob Seidel Benefit Poker Run1Lt. Robert A. Seidel III is a fallen hero from Emmitsburg, MD who was killed in action in Iraq, May 2006 during the War on Terrorism. This ride is in honor of Rob’s memory. All proceeds benefit: 1Lt. Rob Seidel Wounded Soldiers Fund http://www.cffredco.org/lw_people/seidel.htm Registration starts at 11:00 am American Legion Post 282 101 E. Elizabeth St. Woodsboro, MD 21798 Registration: $10.00 inc. first hand $5.00 each additional hand First Bike/Car out at 11:30am Last Bike/Car out at 12:00pm Sponsored by US Military Vets MC North Central Maryland For more info or to make a donation [email protected] or [email protected].

June 5 – Granville, WVBuzzo Benefit RideSponsored by Bucket Heads Pub, 81 N Dents Run Rd, Granville, WV 26534.This is to benefit the Buzzo family who lost their home and belongs in a house fire. Registration from 11:00am-noon at Bucket Heads Pub. 5 hour ride with stops. Last bike in at 5:00pm for food and fun at Bucket Heads Pub.Call (304) 284-0661 for more information.

June 5 – Keyser, WVBlack & Gold Bike RallyThis rally is to benefit the Keyser Football Team.Registration from 11:00am-Noon at Bucket Heads Pub. 5 hour ride with stops. Last bike in at 5:00pm for food and fun at Bucket Heads Pub. Call (304) 284-0661 for more information.

June 5 – Morgantown, WVMorgantown Honda – First Ride of the SeasonWe would like to invite all interested riders to join us on our first ride of the season. Event date will be Sat. June 5th8:00am coffee and donuts8:30am Rider’s meeting9:00am Departure timeEstimated ride time of 4 hours. Spaces are limited and filling fast. Reserve your spot by contacting our ride coordinator, Kevin Davis at 304-296-9055 or by emailing [email protected] or just stop by our store for more information at 526 Mileground Road Morgantown, WV. We hope to see you on the road!.June 6 – Greencastle, PA - Martinsburg, WVOperation God Bless America 2010The ride starts at Travel Center Truck Stop on John Wayne Drive, I-81 and Rt. 16 in Greencastle. Registration is form 9:30 am to 11:30 am and the ride leaves at 12:00 pm. The ride fee is $15.00 per person. The first 2500 to register will receive a ride pin. The ride will go to the VA Hospital in Martinsburg, WV where the riders will meet with veterans for a picnic. The ride will be held rain or shine. The ride will go through some states where helmets are required. For more information call (717) 328-9238 June 10 – Clarksburg, WVHogs for Dogs Bike NiteBeing held at Ritzy’s Lunch. Free food, DJ and Prizes donated by B&B Harley-Davidson. Rain date June 17th.

June 11 - 13 – Franklin, WVC.E.’s Helping Hands Fun FestC.E.’s Helping Hands is having their annual Fun Fest Bike Rally at Thorn Spring Park in Franklin, WV. $7.00 per person or $10.00 a couple for the weekend. Fee waived with Cabin, Tent, RV Rental or 2010-11 Membership. Friday - Fellowship Ride at 4 pm Saturday – Poker Run Registration at 9 am Kickstands up at 10 am. There will be music and food available all weekend. For more information visit www.cehelpinghands.com.

June 12 – Belington, WVMikey Hart Memorial Poker RunRegistration starts at 10am and goes to 12pm at the Belington Vol. Fire Dept. in Belington, WV. The cost per player is $10.00 which includes your poker hand, prizes, great food and beverages. There will also be a bike show. All proceeds go to the Mikey Hart Memorial Scholarship Fund, which was developed to help provide students that wish to pursue an education in fire science and/or paramedic, or firefighter’s children no matter their field of study, with monetary assistance. For more information contact Judy Weese at [email protected].

June 12 & 13 – Staunton, VARallyin’ The Valley 6 For the sixth year, Shenandoah Harley-Davidson is offering 2 days of entertainment, food and fun. FREE and open to the public . Join our big party on Saturday June 12, dealership opens at 9am, food and vendors open at 10am. 4 local and regional bands will be performing starting at 2:30pm until approximately 10pm. Demo rides will also be available. Plenty of refreshment, entertainment and food for the entire family. Sunday June 13, Shenandoah Harley-Davidson will be hosting Bike & Rider Productions Point Series Amateur and Professional bike show. Come see some of the best custom and detailed bikes around. Show registration open at 9am- noon. Dealership open at 11am. 2 more live bands starting at 12:30pm. The event will wrap up Sunday with the bike show awards at 4pm. Visit our website for updates as the come available: www.shenhd.com

June 17 - 19 – Summersville, WVDown Home WV RallyThe GWRRA Down Home West Virginia Rally will be held at the Summersville Conference Center in Summersville, West Virginia. There will be Table Decorating, Chapter Shirt and Jacket, Best Dressed, Accident Re-Enactment, and more. Don’t miss it!

June 18 - 20 – Tazewell, VA5th Annual Iron Titans Motorcycle Rally/Swap MeetThis 3 day event takes place at the Tazewell County Fairgrounds in Tazewell, VA. Tent and RV Camping/Public Showers. For complete details visit www.irontitansmororcyclerally.com or Email: [email protected]

June 19 – Martinsburg, WVRide for the Jennings FamilyOur friend Zippy is sponsoring a run on June 19th 2010 for Bill Jennings. Bill is a 39 year old husband and father who has been diagnosed with CAPS ( Catastrophic Antiphospholipid Syndrome). The ride will start with registration at the Brickhouse @ 10:00am and out by 11:30am. The run will stop at The Four Corners Club with quick run to RT 11 north to end up at The Rock with music by Black Water Still and food catered by DOT Foods of Williamsport. 50/50 door prizes.

June 19 – Nutterfort, WVHogs for DogsThe Harrison County Humane Society and B&B Harley Davidson Present Hogs For Dogs. Sign-up from 10 – 12 at B&B Harley-Davidson. Cost is $20.00 per bike. After ride street party donated by the Shinnston Moose Club featuring music by the Road Dawgs. For more information contact Traci (304) 592-1600 or [email protected].

June 19 – Romney, WVAmerican Legion Riders Post #91 Poker Run $10.00 a person Come on and ride to support our veterans.Place: American Legion, Romney WV - Time: Sign-up at 10:00AM Kickstands up at 11:00AM Drawing for Sanyo TV at 7:00PM - Food and DJ Tim at the end of the ride. All be safe and enjoy!

June 25 – 27 –White Sulphur Springs, WV3rd Annual White Sulphur Springs Motorcycle FestivalBeing held on Main Street in White Sulphur Springs this event will be filled with bike activities to include a bike show, poker run, bike games, music, vendors and more. For more information contact James Hylton (304) 536-1466 Email: [email protected]

June 26 – Charles Town, WVAnnual Citizens Fire Company Car, Truck, and Motorcycle ShowCitizens Fire Company Rt. 340 Bypass & Citizens Way, Charles Town, WVRegistration at 9:00 a.m. Awards at 2:30 p.m. Cost: $10.00 - Car/Trucks/Motorcycles. Fun for the whole family including: Vendors, Music, Chicken BBQ Dinner, and Kids Entertainment. For More Information call: Citizens Fire Co. (304) 725-2814 or (304) 725-1725

June 26 – Clarksburg, WV4th Annual “Rebel Run” Poker RunCharity Benefit in honor and memory of John “Rebel” Lawson being held at the Clarksburg American Legion Post 13. Poker Run Registration begins at Post 13 at 10 AM (no colors) 125 mile run to American Legion Posts in Pine Grove, Hundred, Shinnston, Bridgeport, and back to Clarksburg. $400 Cash Prize for the Best Hand! ALL ticket holders eligible to win ~ need not be present to win! Food & Music beginning at 2 PM! DBI Band confirmed !! Tickets $20 donation. Sponsored by American Legion Post 13 Family. For more information call (304) 622-1295

June 26 – Granville, WV4th Annual Cerebral Palsey Benefit RideSponsored by Bucket Heads Pub, 81 N Dents Run Rd, Granville, WV 26534. All proceeds go to Cerebral Palsey Foundation. Registration from 11:00am-noon at Bucket Heads Pub. 5 hour ride with stops. Last bike in at 5:00pm for food and fun at Bucket Heads Pub. Call (304) 284-0661 for more information.

June 26 – Martinsburg, WVBenefit Poker Run for ZiggyAll proceeds to benefit Ziggy’s children. $20.00 a couple $15.00 Single Starts at 10:00 am from Full House Cycle, Winchester, VA Ends at Doodles Place in Augusta, WV. First Bike Out at 10:00 am Last Bike In at 12:00 pmAuction, Raffle, 50/50 Raffle, Food, Drinks and Door Prizes

June 26 - 27 – Martinsburg, WVThe Second Annual Norwalk FestivalThe Second Annual Norwalk Festival is a family event held at the Berkeley County Youth Fairgrounds with proceeds going to the Friends of the Norwalk Foundation. $10.00 Adults Children 12 and Under Free. Saturday: Team FMX , a high aerial motorcycle stunt team and Music with J Factor. Sunday: Music with The Original Cruiser Band and an 8 class Mini-Rod Pull. Both days will feature a variety of vendors and food, bike show, car show. Raffle for a 1966 Ford Mustang and more. For more information contact Chris Breeze at (304) 267-3140 or Email: [email protected]

June 26 - 27 – Snowshoe, WVMotorcycle USA SnowshoeThe 2010 Can-Am Grand National Cross Country (GNCC) Series - Round Nine - Motorcycle USA Snowshoe will be at the Snowshoe Mountain Resort. This is the toughest and most unique track for the 2010 GNCC Tour. Enjoy watching the Racers go through Deep Mud Bog’s, Hill Climbs, Tree Roots, and more. Additional Information available on the Official Website at http://www.gnccracing.com

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