BMW Autobahn Society #79

F650/800GS Sargeant seat For Sale

2012-02-11T23:06:00.002-06:00

FOR SALE: Sargeant seat for 2008+ BMW F650/800 GS, classic sport two up style, brand new in july and used for less than 2 months. $300 local cash sale only, no spammers. Darryl Reemtsma at 6zero5-35one-5o79, or Darryl_reemtsma@msn.com

Annual Meeting is TONIGHT!

2012-02-11T11:23:00.002-06:00

Autobahn’s
Annual Meeting/
Winter Party
Saturday, Feb. 11, 2012
HyVee Party Room
49th & Louise, SxFlls
(South of Empire Mall)
5:00 Happy Hour
6:00 Dinner
Cost: $12
(tip & tax not included)

Buffet Menu
3-Cheese Encrusted Chicken
Roast Beef
(Carved at Serving Table)
Oven Roasted Red Potatoes
California Blend Vegetables
Black Forest Cake
& Cheesecake
Dinner Rolls
Coffee

Use the “Wine and Spirits” entrance located on the north side of Hy-Vee (just west of Gordman’s). The door to the party room is located next to the inside store entrance of the liquor store.

There will not be individual alcoholic drinks available for sale. Autobahn will be purchasing several bottles of wine and six packs of beer for consumption during the evening. A container for donations will likely be available.

Business Meeting & election of officers will be held following the meal.

RSVP JoAnn Zeeb
joannzeeb11@live.com
or call her @ 605-360-8421

Prez Sez, by Gary Johnson (Feb '12)

2012-02-11T11:21:00.002-06:00

Hello Beemer Buds!!
I'm afraid our riding season has been interrupted by winter!! I got a nice ride in Jan. 15th. The next weekend I was cross-country skiing in the Newton Hills. I enjoy both activities, but I don't like all the work that snow on the driveway creates. Oh well, as far as winters go, this one has been pretty good to us.
Of course, I need to mention the Annual Meeting coming up quickly. Please RSVP Jo Ann Zeeb ASAP if you are attending. There will be good food, door prizes, a program (I think), elections (I hope), and opportunities to shower the club president with gifts!!! Hope to see you soon! Prez Gary Johnson.

2012 Dues Are Due

2012-02-11T11:21:00.001-06:00

2012
DUES ARE DUE
$10 individual, $15 family

Mail Check To:
BMW Autobahn Society
% JoAnn Zeeb
27326 – 469th ST
Lennox, SD, 57039

Please include your birthday and anniversary dates!

January in Texas, by Mary Hawes

2012-02-11T11:20:00.001-06:00

Right after Christmas Larry and I loaded my K-75 on the rail on the back of our fifth wheel and headed for Rock Port, Texas, thirty miles north of Corpus Christi. This is the first year we haven’t taken two bikes, but the K became a very good “two up” bike. The temps have been way above normal and we were able to ride almost every day. In the picture above we are riding on N. Padre Island. The Gulf of Mexico is in the background. The beach is very firm. Vehicles can drive on it for miles. It was pretty empty the day we were there but come spring break it will be packed with college and highschool kids. Mary.
Jack and Marlene Backer will be the official 2012 Grand Tour Rally Masters. The 2012 GT theme is “USA”. All towns must have a word starting with a U, S, or A. This year post offices can’t be used, but water towers, buildings, murals and local art projects with the town name on them can be. If you would like to try the 2012 GT, give Jack a call at (605) 321-9889, email him at jbackerus@yahoo.com or Marleen at mback68 @yahoo.com, or check the official website: http://www.glmc.org/grand-tour.html.

New Member Profile - Rod Elsing

2012-02-11T11:18:00.000-06:00

Rod is from Worthington, Minnesota. He was introduced to Autobahn when he met several Autobahners at a gas station in Blue Earth, MN. All were returning from the Hiawatha Rally held at Money Creek. Rod joined the club in September. He started riding motorcycles in 1964 on a Bridgestone 90. In the mid 90’s he purchased his first BMW, an R75. He purchased an 1150GS in 2006 and from then on was convinced BMW was “thee” bike. He currently rides a 1200GS Triple Black.
Rod’s granddaughter ,11 at the time, gave him the “mohawk” for a Christmas present. He put it on his helmet and “it has been with me on all of my trips since then”.
Rod and Diane in Glacier National Park, September, 2011. They were on our way home from Nakusp, B.C., where they had attended the Horizons Unlimited Convention.

Brion and Leta Hase's Affair with Water, by Brion Hase

2012-02-11T11:17:00.001-06:00

There are a lot of good motorcycle clubs and as most of you have probably already ascertained, I’m a bit of a motorcycle club over-joiner. Like the Autobahn Club, most motorcycle clubs are filled with great and interesting people - the kind of folks I enjoy hanging out and spending time with. Besides the Autobahn, Big Sioux Riders, and a few other clubs, Leta and I are also members of the Glacier Lakes Motorcycle Club (GLMC) which originates from Watertown, SD. The GLMC is made up of all sorts of riders who ride all sorts of styles of motorcycles and they are some pretty interesting characters. Another thing that the GLMC has in common with most BMW clubs - these folks like to ride and they ride a lot.
The GLMC has two club missions. The first is to support a public off-road riding area near Watertown, SD, for motorcycles and ATVs. The new second mission is to provide scholarships to new riders for their MSF training classes. The GLMC members are spread throughout the upper Midwest and a few other states (Ohio, New York, New Jersey, etc). They use an Internet forum called “The Barn” to communicate and organize.
Each year the GLMC has a Grand Tour (GT). With a $25 entry fee, a participant can earn a t-shirt and then get a shot at some door prizes. The more photos you collect and submit the more chances you have to win a door prize. In the four GTs I have finished I have yet to win a door prize, but a lot of other people have won nice door prizes. The GT is open to everyone and there have been as many as several hundred riders some years.
Each year there is a Grand Tour theme. The 2011 theme was “An Affair with Water”. To earn a t-shirt. riders had to take photographs in 25 or more different towns, townships or cities which had something in their name to do with water. For example, I stopped and took photos at
Running Water, SD, and Springfield, SD, on my ride to the Spring Campout in May. The 2011 photos had to show your GT flag, most of your bike, and a building or permanent structure with the town’s name on it. Unlike past years, free standing town signs were not accepted. The 2011 GT started on April 1st. All the photos had to be sent on CD or as printed photos to the Rally Masters, Jack “Sleddog” and Marlene “Mrs. Sleddog” Backer. The photo submissions had to be post marked no later than Sept. 15th.   Leta and I got most of our photos riding to and from BMW rallies. On our ride to the Iowa Rally in June we netted Chelsea, IA, Riverside, IA, Brooklyn, IA, Lake City, IA, Wall Lake, IA, and Lakeview, IA. After canceling our ride to the BMW MOA National, we decided to go to the Top of the Rockies Rally in Paonia, CO. We got Colorado towns of Big Springs and Glenwood Springs that weekend. Eastern Colorado is a dry place and there were not many water related town names to get.
We picked up seven more towns on our way to and from the Corn Husker Rally in Franklin Nebraska: Silver Creek, Wood River, Blue Springs, Elk Creek, Cedar Creek, Springfield (home of the Simpsons), and Weeping Water. Our friend Dave McBride rode with us part of the way home on Sunday and we had a great time finding some of those little towns with him. Leta’s chain was starting to stretch and fail by Sunday afternoon, so Dave and I spent quite a bit of time trying to barrow or purchase a 46mm socket or wrench to fit the hub nut on Leta’s Honda VFR. The thinking was that I had to loosen that nut in order to tension the chain and I had left that socket at home. After quite a bit of searching we were able to barrow a wrench large enough to fit, but I was still unable to loosen the axle nut. I then opened Leta’s MOM (Leta calls her motorcycle owner’s manual her MOM) and found out I was having my first verified significant senior moment. We easily tightened her chain with a 13mm socket and a spanner which we have been carrying for 3 years for that purpose. In my defense, I hadn’t tightened that chain in three years and it is kind of a obfuscated, but clever and easy-to-use single-swing arm design.
We picked up some towns near home in Sioux City in late August and then got our last few towns in South Dakota on our way home from the Hawes Campout in September: Beaver Creek, Valley Springs, Sioux Falls, Dell Rapids, and Rock Rapids. We had two busts that day, East Sioux Falls, SD, and Ash Creek, MN, neither of which had any structures with a town name on them. We had to pick up the old rail station in Waterbury, NE, the next evening to guarantee that Leta had enough stops to be a finisher.
Sometimes towns just don’t pan out and are just plain busts. This can be a little frustrating when you ride 30 or 40 miles out of your way to get a photo and then find there is nothing there to be used for a photo. There has been a running joke about carrying enough materials on your motorcycle to make signs for towns and villages that didn’t have enough civic pride to put up their own town sign. To my knowledge, no one has ever done this because it would be a violation of the spirit of the tour.  In past years only town signs and post offices could be used for photos. Riders would often ride past town signs while looking for either a more colorful sign or a safe place to pull off for the photo. Often many U-turns where made for each photo stop. In 2009, there were 12,525 photos accepted and some riders joked about how that probably resulted in over 25,000 U-turns being made. There were so many U-turns made that one group started referring to themselves the U-turn Crew in the forums. Town limit signs are no longer used due to concerns about rider safety and quite possibly because the rally scorers (the Backers) got tired of looking at photos of town limit signs. Even more strangely, many small town post offices no longer have the town name on them or are gone entirely.  In 2011, there were 121 riders signed up for the GLMC Grand Tour. Of those, 72 riders picked up the minimum 25 towns to finish. John Frick, the third place male winner of the 2010 BMW MOA mileage contest, had 600 GLMC GT stops in 2010. In 2011 John had 388 GT stops, (Cont. P3)

Picture of the Week

2012-01-30T01:16:00.001-06:00

Vintage Picture of the Week

2012-01-20T07:59:00.004-06:00

Autobahn's Annual Meeting/Winter Party

2012-01-13T22:49:00.000-06:00

Autobahn’s
Annual Meeting/
Winter Party
Saturday, Feb. 11, 2012
HyVee Party Room
49th & Louise, SxFlls
(South of Empire Mall)
5:00 Happy Hour
6:00 Dinner
Cost: $12

Buffet Menu
3-Cheese Encrusted Chicken
Roast Beef
(Carved at Serving Table)
Oven Roasted Red Potatoes
California Blend Vegetables
Black Forest Cake
& Cheesecake
Dinner Rolls
Coffee

Use the “Wine and Spirits” entrance located on the north side of Hy-Vee (just west of Gordman’s). The door to the party room is located next to the inside store entrance of the liquor store.

There will not be individual drinks available for sale. If you want beer or wine for happy hour or with your meal, purchase beer or a bottle of wine as you pass thru the liquor store on your way into the party.

Business Meeting & election of officers will be held following the meal.

RSVP JoAnn Zeeb
joannzeeb11@live.com
or call her @ 605-360-8421

Prez Sez, by Gary Johnson January 2012

2012-01-13T22:48:00.001-06:00

Happy New Years Beemer Fans. And so it goes, another year. Time to ponder past resolutions, past mistakes, past regrets, etc. It's time to think about new bike trips, new opportunities, new bikes, new gadgets, new club presidents, and so on and so forth. Well, I can't say I miss skiing when there is riding weather to enjoy. I suppose we will pay for this good weather soon enough, but I'm content to live for today! I'm predicting our first blizzard about Feb. 3rd and the next one about Feb. 11th. (Just kidding. I hope). Maybe we will be riding to the annual meeting this year.
As you know, we are trying a different venue this year, and it looks good. I look forward to seeing all of you at the first big club event of the year. May 2012 be a good year!!

Graduation, Recall Work, Pretty Good Ride, by Doug Schafer

2012-01-13T22:41:00.002-06:00

Devon, Marge’s and my grandson, was graduating from Job Corps near Nemo in the Black Hills on Tuesday, August 30th. He had spent 500 days there and we had seen him maybe 4-5 times during that stay. This was a big day for him. He was receiving his GED and graduating with certificates in welding. He had accepted a job in Watertown. We would be proud to be there for him. And I had some BMW recall things that needed attention on my F650GS twin at Black Hills BMW at Sturgis. The two sounded like a good combination. I headed out on the bike. Marge and our daughter Shelly (Dev’s Mom) headed out later.

Now, my riding suit has been a faithful companion for 22 years and being frugal (I just read where BMW riders are not cheap they are frugal) I was trying to get another year out of it. I had washed it and dutifully sprayed it with Scotchguard, therefore good for another year. About Kadoka it started to mist but the suit kept me dry, until it started to mist even heavier. Now I was starting to get wet - cool wet - about 62 degrees cool wet. Now I know what the “snow flakes” were that were floating in the air after I shook the suit out before I spayed it. They were 22 year old deceased Goretex flakes. Oh well, now instead of a riding, abrasion, wind and wetproof suit, I now have a riding, abrasion, and wind suit. Honey, can I buy a new Aeorstitch? Please?

I dropped the bike off at Black Hills BMW in Sturgis for the recall work and a leaky fork tube seal. The girls picked me up and up Vanocker Canyon in a Subaru to get to the Job Corps site. It was a beautiful day, only a rare cloud in the sky, a gentle breeze. A proud day! Grandson graduated with honors! Lots of stories of accomplishment! Yeah!!

Packed all of his stuff in the Suby and off to Prairie Berry Winery. Devin chose the Great Wall for his Graduation Supper. Always a good eat. Next morning it’s up and back to Sturgis to pick up the bike. “You really need a new rear tire.” “Great, how much?” “$175 unmounted.” “Sir, are you all right? Breath for me please.” Maybe I’ll try to make it home and order one. The recall work - they replaced the air filter and removed a flanged bolt and replaced it with a Phillips screw in the front brake caliper. Who’d a thunk?

Devin, Shelly and the Mad Norwegian are going to do their own thing. I’m just going to run the interstate back home. When its time to leave Sturgis it’s already 77 degrees and the wind is starting to blow pretty strong out of the south. I’m wearing shorts under the Aerostitch but the t-shirt I selected was long sleeved. Not a good choice. As I’m headed East the wind is coming straight from the South at a solid 35-40 MPH gusts to 50 MPH. I’m leaned over far enough that I’m not concerned with wearing out the center of the tire before I get home. I’m running on an area of the tread that hasn’t seen much use since I bought the bike. All on the right side though. Passing semis is not for the faint of heart. I stop for gas in Belvader, shed the long sleeved t-shirt and head east again. I saw wind damage to grain bins that were OK 48 hrs ago. I only get 125 miles on this tank. That gets me to White Lake. Time to rehydrate and rest the butt. Temps were never less than 92 degrees and high was 97.7. Sometimes the temperature gage isn’t appreciated. I take along a bottle of water and get moving again. However, pouring water inside the Aerostitch without a t-shirt on to soak it up is not recommended. Depends may have made things more comfortable. Oh well, never too old to do stupid things. I’m dry before I get safely home before 5. And I have a tire ordered by 8PM. All in all a pretty good 2 ½ days.

Autobahn's Annual Meeting/ Winter Party

2011-12-25T21:01:00.000-06:00

Saturday, Feb. 11, 2012
HyVee Party Room
49th & Sycamore, SxFlls
(South of Empire Mall)
Complete details next issue

Prez Sez, by Gary Johnson, Dec. 2011

2011-12-25T21:00:00.001-06:00

Hi there Beemer Fans. What a November! Lots to be thankful for. It was a great day for the late fall Martinsburg ride. Great turn-out! The next two Saturdays weren't so good, so thanks to all who were able to go.

Then there's the matter of Thanksgiving Day. A near perfect day to ride. I rode to Newton Hills, (saw two bald eagles) then on to Hudson, Hawarden, back to Newton, then Fairview, and back to Canton. I was on the RT with it’s new back tire. Oh, the turkey dinner was good, too. The dry weather continues. Maybe December will favor us with some good rides. I hope all of you had a very good Thanksgiving.

I hope Christmas will treat all of us well. I'm still hoping for that new R1200RT. (I will settle for a good used one). Looking back, 2011 has been a very good year, it starts off with a car wreck, (but that was good, because Jan & I both survived), we had a good trip to Arizona, some good bike trips, lots of good breakfast and dinner get-togethers, and countless other blessings all of us enjoyed because of when and where we were born and ended up. It is my desire that next year we all will be blessed with good health, good travels, and all the other components that keep us together as a club and a strong country.

I'm going to switch gears just a bit here and announce the date of the annual meeting. We are planning on Feb. 11th with the venue of Hy-Vee at 49th & Sycamore, Sioux Falls. Please let Mary, Jo Ann, or me know what ideas you may have for a program. Club officers are to be elected at that time and 2012 dues will be collected

Take care, ride when you can, have a very Merry Christmas. Gary (lame duck?) Johnson.

My New Ride? (Not New New, Just New to Me!)

2011-12-25T20:56:00.001-06:00

Gordon Mulder writes, “I shore 'nuf ain't no riter, but here'z a story”

My journey to my new ride started, unknowingly, the first part of August. My daughter was home from Denver for a long weekend. The usual questions of catching up with what is/was going on in her life—how ‘ya doing?, what ‘ya doing?, what’s happening in your life? And the same question from her to me and my wife.

In the discussion she mentioned that her motorcycle was not running very good. She was riding a Honda something or other, and was going to put it up for sale. I mentioned that my ’94 Beemer was running smooth, as well as my ’87 Goldwing. (I had purchased the Goldwing a couple of years ago because of the super nice passenger seat which my wife liked much better than the seat on the Beemer.) In fact. I had found myself riding the Goldwing by myself a few times because of the greater knee room.

And then my daughter said, “You can’t ride two machines at once. And since you are riding the Goldwing more and more, why not sell me the older Beemer?” ULP! I had never considered that avenue of action, but she did have a point. So after looking at KBB.com for prices, we came to an agreement on price, considering the machine was going to a good home.

Next problem, how to get the Beemer out to Denver. I could ride it out there and thumb my way back -- or not says my wife. We could trailer it out there—what a waste of good riding. And then my wife asks if we could meet in the middle—say somewhere in the Black Hills—Labor Day maybe? My daughter checks her schedule, and she is “good” - as in not having to work those days. We were good as in not having to work those days—and so it was set—we would trailer the bikes out to the ‘Hills’ for a riding weekend, and Jody would trailer the Beemer home to Denver.
We called out to Keystone to see if the cabin where we usually stay was open. It was, so great, now we even had a place to stay.

The Thursday before Labor Day, I load the Beemer in the back of my pickup, hook up my trailer and load my Goldwing. Friday after work my wife and I head west to the Hills.

Saturday morning we unload both bikes and decide to go for one last ride on the Beemer before Jody gets to the cabin. We head west to Hill City, south to Custer, south to Pringle, east to the Custer Wildlife Loop and then head back north to get back to Keystone. All along the wild life loop we see signs, “Buffalo are dangerous! Stay on the rode! Stay away from the buffalo! Be careful!” And I’m thinking ya, ya, ya. Big Deal. Seen them before.

The motorcycle must go a little faster than some of the cars, because before long I’m in back of three cars--with no place to pass, and so we puuts along. Suddenly I see tail lights on the first car, and then it stops. I see tail lights on the second car, and then it stops. Same with the third car. And so we also stop. I look ahead and see the road in front of the first car disappear because a herd of buffalo is moving from an upper meadow to a lower meadow—using the road as a pathway between the rocks. The buffalo herd part and go around the first car and come back together. They part the second time and go around the second car. (I’m starting to wonder what I should do—turn tail and give them some room or what?) The buffalo part and start going around the third car, and I decide to zoom up to within 4 inches of the car’s rear bumper. I shut the motor off and tell my wife to hold perfectly still, make no noise, and make no eye contact while the Buffalo pass around us.

We could hear their feet shuffle along, we could hear their breathing, and see their big brown eyes looking at us as they passed within four feet on either side of us. And I suddenly think of a rhetorical question—if a proud member of PETA would get dressed up in a bright red body suit, and get into the middle of a herd of angry buffalo, could they expect not to get charged because they are vegetarians? Hmmmm. And here my wife and I are sitting on a cranberry red bike trying not to look suspicious or threatening. Suddenly two bulls start gouging each other, and shoving each other in a circle just to the side of the car in front of us. Oh boy, they could dance over us and not even know it, but no, they straighten out and walk past us nicely.

The buffalo herd is just about past us when the car in front of us pulls out and away from us. Oh crap—don’t leave us here! I start the bike and follow ever so close until we are out of the buffalo herd.

And then back to Keystone and a nice uneventful weekend of riding the Hills. Monday we load the Beemer on Jody’s trailer and she heads south to Denver. We then load the Goldwing on my trailer and head back to Luverne.

A couple of weeks later I tell my wife that I miss the old Beemer. Yes, I know that it has a new good home, but there was something about walking into the machine shed and seeing it there and knowing it was ready for another ride. And my wife asks, “Well if you need to get another Beemer, what would you get for your perfect dream bike?” Hmmm… good question—first it would have to be a Beemer - it is a quality thing. Size wise—oh, about 1200 cc’s, and I would like a reverse on it if I ever trike it. New one’s cost too much (I still have too much Dutch in me)—so have the bike about ten years old with low mileage between 30 and 40 thousand miles. It needs a radio and a good passenger seat, as well as a good seat for me. I’ve been blessed with long knees, so I need knee room.

And she says, ‘Geez, anything else?’ And I say, ‘Blue, I would like it dark blue.’

The very next day at 12:50pm, Lois calls me and says, “You’ll never guess what I found on Craig’s list - a 2002 K1200 with reverse, 30,000 miles, radio, good seats-front and back, and dark blue.” What is not to love about that?

We go to see it and sit on it. Oh what a wonderful bike! I can hardly stop from grinning! The owner wants to sell it, as he doesn’t ride it enough. I tell him I had to sell my Goldwing first, and then I would be back. He says, “Older Goldwing? That is what I’m looking for!” And so we trade bikes, with some boot money thrown in for good measure. And we are both happy.

My, oh my, what a really nice ride it is!

BMWMOA Get-a-way & Slimey Crud Run, by Gary Pedersen

2011-12-25T20:52:00.002-06:00

(Ed.Note: There is a short history of the Slimey Crud Run following this story for those of you not familiar with the event.)

This report started in August when Kay told me that she would be going to San Diego for our youngest daughter’s baby shower, and would be gone from September 28 through October 5. It was to be a girl thing! I wasn’t invited! Gee, what could I do to entertain myself? Oh, how handy, there was a BMW MOA “Weekend Get-a-Way” in Tomah, WI, September 30th through October 2nd. AND…..I could make it to a Slimey Crud Run that Sunday at Leland, Wi. I left September 30th taking Highway 30 east across Minnesota to Wisconsin. (The farther east I got, the less the wind blew. Imagine that!)

The “Get-a-Way” was headquartered at the Cranberry Lodge in Tomah. It is a large, rustic looking lodge with a log and rock façade, large clean rooms and a huge indoor waterpark. My room was a suite with a 32” and a 29” flatscreen TV. It is the smallest room they have. The staff is pleasant and helpful. The bartenders were off-duty US Marines – no, not Soldiers, Marines.

After registration Friday night there was a reception set up with meatballs, drummies, nachos, and fresh vegies and other assorted finger foods. There were 92 MOA members pre-registered and with the late arrivals there were about 100 people at this gathering. It was there that in addition to the ever present Tom Buttars, I also found Larry Davis and Rod Elsing new Autobahner from Worthington. My apologies if I missed any other Autobahners.

Sue Rihn, Vance Harrelson and Tom explained the schedule and the 4 rides that would happen Saturday. There were 2 GS rides. One was for knobby tires only and had 4 riders. The other GS ride had about a dozen riders and didn’t require full knobby tires. This ride’s off-pavement was hard packed dirt back roads that are part of the Trans Wisconsin Trail. There was a Sport Bike ride with about a dozen riders that was led by our own Tom Buttars. And the last ride was the sedate ride that was all paved and toured a cranberry harvest, cheese factory and some very neat roads through Amish Country. I opted for the sedate ride. There were about 40 riders on this ride which was too many for one group. It was a test of patience for me. The good news about riding through the Wisconsin Amish Country is that the roads are good quality asphalt with lots and lots of curves and great scenery. The bad news was all of the horse apples on the road left a brown stripe on my timing cover and on the inside of my fenders. There is something poetically wrong about having your motorcycle smell like a horse. YUK!!

The rides went from about 160 to 200 miles on paved roads with real curves through very scenic country. The scenery was enhanced with the leaves turning and I think that everyone had a good time. Saturday night there was a banquet with door prizes for dessert. I didn’t win anything. After the door prizes the evening turned into a sort of business meeting with most of the comments focused on how to speed up the closing ceremonies at the National Rally. It was +34F on both Saturday and Sunday morning, I couldn’t believe all the whining about the cold. I should get to see days that nice in Alaska.

On Sunday I left Tomah for Leland, WI and the Slimey Crud Run. Leland is about twice the size of Buffalo Trading Post. There’s a bar on each side of the road. Leland is also the finish point for the Slimey Crud Run and there were about 200 motorcycles there when I arrived. By 2:30 when I left there were probably about 1000 on site with large groups arriving all the time. Most of these were late model rides, but there were a significant number of motorcycles there that you would normally only see in a museum. It was great to see, and hear these machines out and being ridden. Most of the antique machine riders were also dressed in period correct riding clothes which added to the show.

I rode to Austin, MN, on back roads and stayed there for the night. I don’t like riding into the sunset, and I really don’t like to ride at night. A few near misses with deer, raccoons and skunks will make a believer of you. Riding at night in Alaska in the summer doesn’t count, the sun is up all the time. Monday I headed home via US-14. No, I didn’t do the brewery tour in New Ulm. I saved that for another trip. When I was getting gas in Tracy, MN, there were a lot of sirens, fire trucks, police cars headed west on US-14. A corn field was on fire next to the highway and the road was closed for a while to non-emergency vehicles.

It might be some kind of mental thing, but I know with each mile that I rode closer to South Dakota the wind speed kept increasing, and I don’t like wind.

As of Saturday night the MOA had not yet scheduled another “Get-a-Way” for next year at Tomah, but if they do I will be there and will have to choose between the sport bike ride, or the easy GS ride. Also, seeing a Slimey Crud Run is something that should be on every rider’s bucket list.

Slimey Crud Run History as taken from Slimey Crud Run web site:

There are no big ad campaigns, no corporate sponsors, no official website, no local or regional newspaper or TV promotions, not even the usual obligatory one-size-promotes-all beer banners with the name of the event emblazoned on a huge blank white spot.

Despite all the makings of what should be an unknown event, the Slimey Crud Café Racer Run in southern Wisconsin is attended twice each year, on the first Sunday in May and October, by riders from all over the country and routinely has participants from at least five states in the upper Midwest.

Its origins are nearly as murky as Stonehenge, dating back to the early Seventies, according to one of its co-founders, former Triumph/Bultaco/Matchless racer and current Triumph dealer Lyall Sharer. From humble beginnings, the event has become an organic thing that thrives on its own energy. At each gathering, it isn’t uncommon for anywhere from 1,000 to 3,000 machines to show up.

The Crud Run meanders across the scenic Wisconsin River valley from Pine Bluff in Dane county to Leland in Sauk County. The distance between the villages is less than 30 miles in a straight line, but the road mileage can vary from about 70 to, well, who knows? No specific route is prescribed, so the best way to go depends entirely on your imagination.

Despite the name, the event is not limited to the sheathed-in-plastic sport bike set. In fact, while there’s something for everybody in every class of bike, the event seems much more like a rolling vintage and classic bike show.

Flathead, knucklehead and panhead Harleys; TR-6, Daytona and Bonneville Triumphs; Lightning and Thunderbolt BSAs; Moto-Guzzi Falcone and 850 Le Mans, Ducati SS-900 and Diana, Norton Commando, Vincent Black Shadow, Munch Mammut, BMW, Velocette Venom, Royal Enfield, Indian Chief, Suzuki RE-5, Honda CB 77, Hondamatic, CBX; Laverda Jota, Kawasaki H1, two-stroke, four-stroke, rotary, flat-trackers, touring, choppers, bobbers, adventure bikes, rat bikes, to name but a few of the types, brands and models seen at recent Slimey Crud runs.

Next Crud Runs scheduled for May 6 and October 7, 2012

Fall Ride to Martinsburg, NE for Burgers!

2011-12-25T20:48:00.002-06:00

The Sioux Falls Autobahn group put out the word early in the week that this would be the week (November 12) for the Fall Ride to Bob's Bar in Martinsburg. I sent out a note to the GLMC and Big Sioux Riders. Some years hardly anyone shows up, but this year we had well over 40 riders. Even some of the Sioux Falls Goldwing club showed up. The weather was pretty darn good, too.

A guy from Minnesota named Vinny rode a Bandit all the way from St. Cloud. They said temps started at 23 degrees ... People from Minnesota make us southern brothers look like ... Anyways, three bikes came down from the twin cities area.

The hamburgers are so large you need to eat them with a fork

Prez Sez, by Gary Johnson, Nov 2011

2011-11-06T13:43:00.000-06:00

Hello winter fans!! Well, I guess winter is coming and so is planning for the annual meeting. So far I have had three suggestions, and I like all three. They are: a meeting room at the new Grand Falls Casino and help ourselves to the buffet, the meeting room at the Empire Hy Vee, and the banquet room in the train depot in Canton with a catered meal. Let me or JoAnn know what you would like. Maybe something different appeals to you. What a great October we've had! I haven't ridden as much as I want, but it sure was good when I could get away. Oh, by the way, my drive problems seem to have gone away after a transmission fluid change to Amsoil 75W140. Don't use it in your final drive, though.

I have a road trip coming up to the Chadron, NE, area soon. Yeah, it's a car trip, but a least it's a trip. I subscribe to the "maybe next year" method of motorcycle trip planning. It doesn't work very well, but it helps keep me sane, sort of... Well, have a great Thanksgiving and don't give up on a Martinsburg trip just yet. Gary "fix it in a bottle" Johnson.

For Sale

2011-11-06T13:42:00.000-06:00

1992 BMW K75S with 35k miles. Major service at 27k - new Metzler tires, transmission, brake, and coolant service, spline lube and new battery. Parabellum and stock windscreens. Bar risers. Wilbers rear shock. Corbin seat. 2 extra lound horns. BMW hard cases. Givi top case. Set of K75C handlebars. $3500. Call Gordon Courbat (6zero5) 35one-one832. Just changed the oil and filter, too.

Falling Leaf Rally, by Gary Conklin

2011-11-06T13:37:00.002-06:00

I have Doug Schafer and Gordon Courbat to thank for my trip. Doug had to work and Gordon was kind enough to invite me to go with him in Doug’s place. Without his call I probably would have wimped out and missed this rally as I had missed the Bear Tooth using the work excuse.

We left Thursday morning about 8:30. It was in the 50s and the head wind from Sioux Falls to Omaha was very strong – perhaps 40 mph. (I took the R 90 because it was supposed to rain on Sunday and Monday on the way back. I could hide behind the Windjammer fairing.) I knew things were windy when Gordon passed me clutching his rear view mirror which had blown off. We stopped at Missouri Valley to get gas and coffee and just get off. I had packed my gear across the back of the seat and had little room to squirm around - so it was a tough trip. My gas mileage was about 35 and his was about 40. After this I shifted down and ran the next two days mostly in 4th gear and got in the low 40s for mileage. It felt like riding my old R69S but without the Georg Meier extra wide dual seat.

The day before we left I had learned that I-29 was open past Omaha but with a small detour in Iowa. Gordon and I turned off I-29 south of Omaha at Exit 35 and took highway 34 east. (I was wary of detours having been lost two times a month earlier on our trip to Arkansas using AAA maps on this same stretch.) However, this time I had the map and was certain I knew where we were going. Gordon sensed my confusion when I was stopping about every six miles to consult the map. He was certain he had just seen an I-29 detour sign so we headed south. We passed through several picturesque Iowa towns and the road kept getting smaller. Finally we were down to a chipped surfaced road. We stopped at the last cross road before it turned to gravel. A friendly farmer asked if we were lost. Of course. A slight turn to the east and we were in Shenandoah where I learned that Castrol now makes a Harley synthetic oil for a mere $16.95 a quart. We turned south, rode through Tarkio with its beautiful old mansions, and the weather warmed up to the 80s and we eventually emerged just north of St. Joseph on to I-29. We gassed up at St. Joe and headed east on highway 36.

I had recently heard of highway 36 across Missouri from a friend but had never used it. This has to be the dummies way across Missouri. It is great. It is a divided four lane and goes from St. Joe to Hannibal, Missouri. Occasional slowdowns through towns but not significant. I think it also goes into Illinois and connects to I-72. Light traffic and few trucks. One can drop down to I-70 to connect with Columbia if needed. We stopped for our first supper of the day about 3:30. We continued east and eventually stopped for gas at Macon, Missouri, about 6:00. This was just under 500 miles for us. A respectable day for two old guys, one who had not had a long run for several years and the other adjusting to a different bike. Gordon decided it was time to shut down and he led us to the nearest Super 8. Two Great Choices. The receptionist told us about AJ’s a small bar/ restaurant within walking distance. We took her advice. Gordon tested the pies and I sampled the supper menu. A great way to end a good riding day.

Friday we had our morning starting adventure. Gordon’s bike was a bit reluctant to start but finally coughed and made it. He was just getting used to a different bike. I had the same problem later. This was the last morning the R90 started right for me. We then headed east to highway 15 and worked our way south to highway 19. Gordon had been told that highway 19 was the scenic route. It was on his tank bag map so we gave it a go. (I think most roads south of I-70 in eastern Missouri are scenic - lots of them in the Mark Twain National Forest, including the area around Potosí - so it was great riding.) We crossed I-70 and stopped briefly for road construction. The flagman gave us directions to the wineries at Hermann. Our first effort was not promising. The parking lot sign said “winery parking.” After pulling off all our gear we strolled into the establishment which looked historical enough. When Gordon asked the waitress about wine he was told, “this is a coffee house.”

Duly chastened and somewhat embarrassed we looked across the street and saw several wineries. The first one was closed. The second one was open. While I checked out the sandwich area Gordon was down to business. The next time I saw him he was behind a massive glass of white wine. I soon joined him. Touring is tough stuff and makes one thirsty. The local wine festival was that weekend but we were a day early. Something to return for. I remember when the rally was in Bland we used to ride over to buy wine and eat lunch.

We each had a tasty German sandwich. We struck up a conversation with another rider who had a Shoei helmet with a really crazy paint job which he described as very rare because it had a Christian Cross painted on it, although I would have missed it (the Cross) if it had not been pointed out. This fellow had had a tremendous bike crash, landed face down on his helmet (Shoei) spread eagle and miraculously survived. Afterward his wife had ordered him a new bike and a new helmet. I guess she felt he needed all the help he could get for the next crash.

Driving south from Hermann we marveled at the vineyards. In the years past I had often driven through at night and had forgotten that there were indeed vineyards nearby.

After winding around for several hours we arrived at the Rally along with about 800 other attendees. We were happy to see fellow club members who were already sampling the various vintage rally brews. We set up our tents and took it easy. About supper time Jerry Zeeb and Lloyd Lunde came in after a one day run from Sioux Falls starting about 5 am. Friday night’s hot dog supper was very good. Without sounding too pretentious, I wonder why at this rally green stuff like lettuce or even coleslaw seems too difficult to find. The showers worked fine.

On Saturday morning others had decided to go to the boyscout breakfast which was a short distance away. I had not practiced my starting drill on the R90 (too much easy starting on the K had spoiled me) so I promptly killed the battery. I borrowed Gordon’s bike to go to breakfast. I lost the crowd and after driving 30 miles gave up and came back to eat rally pancakes.

We spent the day and afternoon enjoying the sunshine. We made a club run to the VFW (or Am. Legion?) for steaks before returning to the awards ceremony. I enjoyed and marveled at the ringing of the anvil. I think due to a wind problem the anvils didn’t connect this time. Club members didn’t win much. But, we spent a relaxing evening enjoying the campfire.

On Sunday morning Jerry Zeeb, Lloyd Lunde and Izzy Szkok decided to make the one day run home. They left at five twenty but only after helping the rest of us sort of wake up to start back, too. Most of us were en route within two hours.

I had starting problems again but Larry Hawes gave me a boost. As I learned the day before, this is a tough group to follow for breakfast, they darn near lost me again. They stopped at Steelville but like others I was lulled into thinking I could get home in one day, too. (I was also worried about restarting the R90 if I shut it down overnight.) So I kept going. Dave McBride had given me all sorts of good advice. I went north to I-70, stayed on 19 and eventually hit Hi-way 161, then highway 61 which runs into 218 in Iowa and then bumps into I-35 and later I-90 at Albert Lea. Once I hit highway 61 I knew the day was going to be a good one. Four lanes of pure cycling pleasure all the way home and a strong tailwind for the next 430 miles. Gas mileage was 47 or 48 most of the day. 200 miles a tank was easy. Somewhere south of Iowa City my thermarest escaped, a sacrifice to comfort and poor packing.

I arrived in Sioux Falls about 9:00. Despite the crosswinds from Albert Lea I was still getting about 41-42 mpg running an honest 70-75. No oil consumption for the trip - thanks for synthetic oil and Dennis Erikson’s June valve settings! A 735 mile day for me. I didn’t know if I could still do the one day ride home. (I had done this in1998 on the K bike. Same distance, including a stop in St. Louis for an hour, across Missouri on I-70 and back to Sioux Falls by 10:30.) All in all it was a great Rally. Although windy, the weather was fantastic - 80s in the daytime and upper 50s - low 60s at night. DRY. No deer accidents. It is hard to imagine more perfect rally weather. I had hoped to stop at Midway Truck Stop near Columbia and also maybe check out Sedalia. However, this just gives me something to anticipate another time, probably at the National or next year on the way down. In the future I think I will try to spend more time, stop more often and eat more. Gordon was right about how to do this.

Jack Shoalmire Tribute Ride, by Brion Hase

2011-11-06T13:31:00.002-06:00

(Jack Shoalmire was an avid motorcyclist, BMW MOA high mileage rider, Iron Butt Associate, Tour of Honor Participant, etc., etc. from Tulsa, Oklahoma. A heart attack took him from us at the young age of 68 on August 28, 2011. Ed.)

On October 15th I completed an Iron Butt Association certified Saddle Sore 1,000 (SS1K) ride as part of the Jack Shoalmire Tribute Ride. A friend and I road over 1,000 miles in 24 hours within the state boundaries of South Dakota.

One of Jack Shoalmire's goals was to do a certified in-state SS1K in each of the 50 states. Jack was well on his way to meeting his goal when he passed away. His friend, Howard Entman, organized a Tribute Ride for him. The idea was to have motorcycle riders ride a SS1K in each of the 50 US states and some Canadian provinces on the same day, October 15th, 2011, in honor of Jack and his memory.

I don't believe I ever met Jack Shoalmire and I hadn't planned on doing his Tribute ride either, but when a local friend was unable to do South Dakota, he asked me to take his place. I agreed to do it. It was an easy decision. I wanted to make sure South Dakota did not get missed and I liked the idea of the ride being part of something bigger.

Friday afternoon, the day before the ride, my friend Dave "Dreamrider" Weber rode down from Moorhead, Minnesota, to Sioux City. Dave and I have both done certified IBA rides before and we had a good understanding of what was required. Dave initially wasn't overly excited about this ride either, but he wanted to ride with me just to keep me company and in his words make sure I had a good time. Dave is that kind of friend.

Neither Dave nor I are morning people, but Saturday morning we got up at 5:15 AM, finished loading bikes and headed up to Dakota Dunes, South Dakota. The gas station at the Dunes is about nine miles from my home. Dave later remarked that one of the high points of the ride for him was listening and watching me curse and get physical with the gas pump at Dakota Dunes that morning after it refused the second time to give me a date and time stamped starting receipt. To be honest I had been up a little later than planned Friday evening (in no small part thanks to Dave) and my tolerance threshold for stupidity (self-induced, mechanical, or otherwise) was lower than normal on that morning. I was also concerned the credit card company would flag my card. Multiple fuel pump receipts at the same place and time often causes them to put a fraud alert on the card which basically disables it for a while. After my third try I finally received a printed receipt and my credit card was apparently not flagged for fraud. Success!! It’s about 6:30 AM and we were headed north to Sioux Falls.

As we headed north it was a bit cool with a low of 33 degrees. The cold seemed to last a hundred miles, but then the temperature began to rise as the sun rose. Ultimately it turned out to be an excellent day for riding across South Dakota. There wasn't much wind and the temperature reached a high in the low 70's for a short period.

The fall season must have been late in South Dakota's Black Hills because there was a “full fall foliage color show” going on there when we arrived. That show alone made the ride worthwhile and made it difficult to leave the Hills. After picking up a fuel receipt in Hermosa, we stopped at the Mount Rushmore National Monument for photos. (Because of our late start Saturday morning, I was a bit concerned about finishing the ride on Saturday. We skipped the planned photo ops in the second half of the trip due to this.) Next we took a great little road down the backside of the Monument to Hill City. After a receipt in Hill City, it was up Hwy 385 via Deadwood to Belle Fouche the furthest most point of our ride. From Belle Fouche, we road back across South Dakota. We passed Chamberlain just before dark and the temperature fell again. After getting our second receipt of the day in Sioux Falls, we headed north to Watertown. By this time the temperature had dropped back down to the mid 40's and a misting rain had begun, but we managed to stay warm & dry. Watertown was our final destination, we arrived there and picked up an ending fuel receipt shortly after 10:30PM.

Lee "Lunatic" Bruns from the Glacial Lakes Motorcycle Club was our ending witness Saturday evening in Watertown, SD. Lee met us near our hotel and drove us to his favorite burger joint for our first real meal of the day. After a good and filling meal we returned to the bikes where Lee witnessed my mileage and signed my paperwork. According to my Garmin 2610, our total mileage from start point to end point was 1027.5 miles. (I forgot to reset my GPS trip counters at the starting point, so the displayed mileage includes the 8.9 miles between my home and the start point.)

Autobahners on TV

2011-11-04T08:51:00.000-05:00

I was watching one of my favorite TV shows and guess who I saw? The show is Cafe Racer on the Velocity Channel, episode "Yoshi Kosaka/Joey Larosso". In the middle part of the show they are at Elkader, IA for the Moto Guzzi rally. I'm thinking to myself that maybe I'll see some Autobahners. And sure enough at about 19 minutes into the show for about 2 seconds, I see Larry, Mary, Deb, Izzy, Dave and Tom sitting in the campground shooting the breeze. Be prepared to hit pause on the remote if you watch it, but there they are clear as a bell in beautiful HD TV. So there you go guys, only 14 minutes and 58 seconds of fame left.

Chad

Prez Sez, by Gary Johnson (Oct)

2011-10-13T12:04:00.001-05:00

Hello Autobahners, what great fall weather we've had so far! I hope all of you are getting some riding in before you know what. I'm not sure if I'll get much more beemer riding in, it will probably be more scooter riding. Let me explain, I think my splines need lubing and I'm not sure just how to do that. I don't want to ride it too much and risk doing some major harm and I can't afford professional help (either kind). Any advice will be welcome. I am thinking ahead to our annual meeting and would like to hear from you as to where, when (probably Jan. or Feb.), what type (catered, pot-luck, served on site, such as the last three years, or something completely different.) Does anyone have something for a short program or presentation? Shall we get the prez a new bike? These are a few things I'm thinking about and would enjoy hearing from you. I wish I had some more profound thoughts to share, but, I think I’m experiencing "writers block" or something else that might need professional assistance! Take care, ride safe, and often.

P.S. I talked with Lisa (our previous Grandma Max waitress) yesterday. She said she won't be coming back to work. She has been receiving chemo and radiation treatments for breast and uterine cancer. She says she misses us (or our BSing!!) and may come by some Saturday to say, “Hello”. Cards may be sent to her at: Lisa Folkerts, 70five S. Regal Place, SxFlls, SD, 57106. Her phone number is: 605-three7o-2409.

2012 BMW R1200RTP Scores Well at MSP Testing, by Chad Gillen

2011-10-13T12:01:00.002-05:00

This year I was sent to the Michigan State Police 2012 Police Vehicle Evaluations on September 17th through 19th. With the Ford Crown Victoria Police Interceptor no longer in production most law enforcement departments are looking for a replacement. SFPD is one of those departments. As a side benefit I was able to see some of the testing for police motorcycles as well. With 6 police motorcycles and 19 police pursuit capable vehicles to test, the most they have had at one time, I was in for a once in a career opportunity.

The Police Vehicle Evaluations cover four areas: Acceleration and top speed, Braking, Vehicle dynamics, Ergonomics & communications. Acceleration and top speed tests are done with optical timing sensors connected to the bike and a laptop and run at the Chrysler Chelsea Proving Grounds where they have a 3.3 mile oval course with 140 MPH neutral steer banked turns. Two runs in each direction, and average times reported. Braking is also done there with the same sensors. Twenty 60 to 0 MPH impending skid stops are done with a cool down lap in the middle. A deceleration rate is computed from the data and a projected 60 to 0 MPH stopping distance is reported. Vehicle Dynamics testing is done at the Grattan Raceway. The road course is a winding, hilly, complex assortment of almost every conceivable corner imaginable for a road course. The ten turns include both uphill ascending radius turns, a flat out dog leg off the 160 degree hairpin turn, a hidden apex, a monza bowl, S turns, and even a challenging downhill reverse camber turn. It has been said that if you can master Grattan Raceway you can drive anywhere. Every motorcycle is ridden 5 laps by 4 riders each. Overall average is the average of each riders average lap times. Police equipment aftermarket outfitters and the MSP Precision Driving Team score the ergonomics and communications category. Scores are given on visibility, comfort, ease of use of controls, and ease of installing lights, siren, and communications equipment.

I was able to personally see the BMW make its speed runs at Chelsea Proving Grounds. To stand along the guardrail while the bike passes by you 10 feet away is sweeter than candy. It had the highest top speed of 131 MPH, beating its nearest competitor the Kawasaki Concours 14 which posted a 126 MPH top speed. However the BMW’s 0 to 60 time was 4.41 seconds while the Kawasaki was 4.02 seconds. Also the 0 to 100 times for the BMW was 10.75 seconds, and the Kawasaki was 8.29. As you can imagine the engine computer on the Kawasaki was limiting its top speed.

At the Grattan Raceway in the Vehicle Dynamics category the BMW came in first. The BMW came in with an overall average lap time of 1:40.19 seconds, Kawasaki second at 1:43.26, and Harley Davidson Road King Police third at 1:49.63.

In the Braking Category the BMW came in second with a projected stopping distance from 60 MPH at 140.0 ft. First was the HD Electra Police at 139.0 ft, and third was the Kawasaki at 143.7 ft. Ergonomics and communications scores are not available at this time, but I think the BMW will do well with the new handlebar controls, new accessory switchgear, and new instrument cluster to reduce glare.

The newcomers this year were the Victory Commander 1 and the Victory Vision. As you may notice they aren’t mentioned above, because they didn’t score very well on the tests. In speaking with the police rep. I found that they have a lot of features motor officers want. However by their own admission they are running with over 100 lbs more weight in aftermarket equipment than the other bikes. They are doing this on purpose! Supposedly it is to get real world numbers. However, I doubt the published MSP test will reflect this and it will look bad for them. Better luck next year Victory.

The only change in the HD bikes from last year is the rear view mirrors! Talk about investment. While BMW has the new DOHC engine, improved fairing and windshield design, new handlebar controls and switchgear, new instrument cluster, new cruise lights and alley lights. Also BMW was supposed to have another police bike there, but for some reason I never saw it and it never went through the tests. It was supposed to be an F800GS-P! The final MSP report isn’t out yet, but as you can see the BMW did extremely well. I wish I could’ve brought back pictures of the bikes, but cameras for the non-press is VERBOTEN!

Mo-Kan 101, by Tom Meister

2011-10-13T12:00:00.001-05:00

If you attend a rally and no club members know you did, do you still need to write about it?? The answer is, “YES”!! Mary gave me “the look” when she found out that I attended two MC events and didn’t write about them for the newsletter. Contributions are what make the newsletter so here’s my “two cents worth”.

I let the weather channel decide what day to leave and which motorcycle to ride. It looked like it would be a cool and damp rally so I left on Thursday so at least the ride down would be dry. The temperature was 33 degrees on Thursday morning so I didn’t leave until it hit 50 degrees at 11:00. This is the closest rally I attend, only 220 miles, so I pulled into the campground around 3:15pm. For maybe twenty miles north and thirty miles south of the Missouri border there was evidence of high winds. Corn fields were flattened and some older buildings and bins were destroyed. I set up camp next to Lloyd a Guzzi rider I know from eastern Iowa. He and I went into Maysville for supper Thursday night. About 25 people showed up on Thursday. It was a cool ride to the rally and after supper the bonfire felt great. Little did I know but the bonfire would feel good for the whole rally.

Friday morning it started to rain lightly and continued until after dinner. Friday evening they served hot dogs, three kinds of chili and of course cold beer. The chili and bonfire were the best. They had the same band as last year on Friday and Saturday nights. They were great. The bandleader even camps over night at the rally. It was cool and windy on Saturday but only had a little light rain during the field events. The Saturday supper tasted great. Camping in cool weather really makes a person hungry. The number of persons attending rallies this year is down all over, only 101 showed up at Maysville this year. The good news was you could eat all you wanted. The bad news is the club lost money. Since this was the 20th Mo-Kan Guzzi Rally they had some special cakes made with green and red frosting (Guzzi colors). It looked and tasted great.

Sunday morning I went to the showers at five. My tent, bike and even the grass was dry. Decided to have coffee and pack up as soon as I had a little daylight to do it. Not to be. A light rain started to fall before it even started to get light. This is the first time I packed up in the rain for a long time. It’s been a pretty good summer in the rain dept. Skeeter and I and a guy on a GS were the only BMWs at the rally so what happened next was embarrassing. I have had my RT a year now and it usually fires on the third or fourth turn of the motor. After ten turns and no sign of running, I waited for thirty seconds and hit the starter again. My RT backfired. It sounded like a short barreled forty-five going off. Four Guzzi riders nearby pooped their pants and then started laughing. She fired right up after that and ran great all the way home.

I rode in rain, downpours, sprinkles or wet roads all the way home. The good news was my First Gear jacket that I bought in June worked great. It was really the first time I have worn it for any length of time in the rain. The bad news was about every livestock farmer in Missouri had fed their cattle Sunday morning and lost the usual crap & mud from their tires on the roads. This is the dirtiest any of my bikes have looked in a long time. At least the temperatures home were in the sixties. Depending on the weather this might be the last rally of the season for me. See ‘ya all next year. Ride safe.

The Marne Thing – Part 2, by Dale Nordlie

2011-10-13T11:57:00.001-05:00

Gary Johnson and I took off for The Baxter Cycle Rally on Saturday morning. Gary on his faithful 1996 BMW R1100RT and me on a new to me, but not new to the family, 1965 BMW R69S. We stopped in Alcester at the Dinner Bell Cafe for breakfast and from there rode to Bak Victory BMW in Sioux City. When we arrived at the shop there was a note on the door that said the shop was closed and everyone was at the Victory Reunion in Spirit Lake, IA. I put gas in my bike and we continued on our way. We rode some fun roads thru the Loess Hills and stopped for lunch at a slow fast food spot in Woodbine.

We arrived in Marne in the late afternoon and there was already a large group of Autobahners and Big Sioux Riders at the city park. My brother Paul, his wife Trintje, and their friend Kevin had ridden down on Friday with the traveling beer wagon. They had three kegs and everyone did their part to try and empty them. At suppertime some folks rode to the Danish Restaurant in Elkhorn, while others of us went to the Roadhouse Bar in Marne. We sat around a nonexistent campfire and told lies and drank beer into the night.

The next morning, we went to the fire station and had a pancake breakfast provided by the local boy scout troop. After that Gary and I walked up to the cycle shop and drooled over the antique bike collection and then we signed up for test rides on new Triumph motorcycles. I rode a Triumph Rocket III roadster and a Triumph Tiger 1050. Then I headed back to the park to clean up the R69S. I had decided to enter it in the bike show under the Other European categories.

This is a spectator judged event, so I thought it might be a good idea to put a sign on my bike that it is an unrestored original and also that I had ridden it 200 miles to the rally. As I was putting the sign on my bike a woman said that got her vote---so maybe I had a good idea. We had our picnic lunch provided by Baxter Cycles and some more beer. Ballots were counted at about 2:30 pm. The R60/2 won first place with 42 votes. The Laverda and my bike each got 35 votes, tying for second place. The way I see it second place is better since you win a tee shirt rather than the plaque given for first place.

After the awards presentation I hopped on the R69S for a beautiful ride home. Maybe next year I'll put a sidecar on the bike and enter it again!

THE MARNE THING, by Gary Wilson

2011-10-13T11:55:00.001-05:00

For years I’d been hearing about this thing some of the ‘bahners went to in Marne, IA, but really had no concept of what it was. This year I decided to go and see. I left on Friday afternoon, took I29 to somewhere south of Sioux City (water still high there), then went across to Denison where I got stuck behind a huge crane which bogged down to about 40 mph on the uphills where I couldn’t pass and then hit 80 downhill where I could have if I were younger and foolisher. We both stopped for gas at Harlan, so I lost him there and soon arrived in Marne.

Marne is sure small. Their web site claims they started with 617 citizens in 1875 and are presently down to 149. The streets are mostly one lane, no curb, and there are numerous empty lots with signs offering said properties at a price of $zero. And at reasonable interest. Of course you have to build a house, and according to the covenant, “No noxious or offensive activities shall be carried on upon any lot…” Always a catch.

The main attraction for those of our ilk is the open house at Baxter Cycle, a business which is a testament to the truth of the old saw about doing one thing and doing it well. They seem to have cornered a large share of the market in used and vintage British bikes and parts. I was amazed at all the old bikes in the back room and the bins of parts. According to their website they have another 125 bikes in another building along with larger parts. They gotta be doing something right to attract the Triumph demo truck to their open house. Which of course in turn attracts free ride seekers such as the following: Larry Hawes, Bill Claussen, Jerry Zeeb, Gary Landeen, Gary Johnson, Dale Nordlie, Dave McBride, Marlin Wolter, Brion Hase, Lloyd Lunde and Tom Buttars. (Ed.Note: This is a test. Match the names above to the faces below.)

I arrived, quickly set up my tent, quickly mooched a beer from Larry, quickly drank it, quickly mooched another and, fortified, hiked up the hill to purchase more. Waste of time and money because there soon arrived a Harley bearing braumeister Paul Nordlie and his wife Trintje towing a trailer containing three wee kegs of his fine product. To wit: a fine porter, a fine IPA and a fine British bitter (my favorite).

The evening passed with dinner at the local bar and grill and some bullslinging and in the morning we took advantage of the pancake, sausage and egg deal offered by the Boy Scouts. Then we rode motorcycles. The ride was 7 miles or so to Atlantic and back, a route with some curves so you could get a feel for what the bikes could do. I rode a Tiger 800 XC, which was fun, but far breezier than my old RT. Later on I was on an America, a cruiser with legs-extended riding position. Adding interest to this ride was the state trooper who sat patiently at a crossroad watching the group pass by at 70 mph. Someone told me I would have trouble adjusting to the forward controls, which I didn’t, but the steering was not comfortable and, again, it was windy. So – no sale. I’ll keep the old Boxer, thank you.

For dinner, some went to the local tavern again, but they were serving only goulash. There was a discussion of alternatives. Brion lobbied unsuccessfully for a place in Atlantic reputed to serve the best pork tenderloin in Iowa, but we all (15 or so of us) ended up at a buffet in Elk Horn which offered fried chicken, shrimp, roast pork, meatballs, barbecued ribs, braised wallaby and prime rib. (Okay, the wallaby is an exaggeration, but the rest isn’t.) Rear tires looked a little flatter when we remounted for the return trip.

More beer and bull and in the morning more pancakes. Also more rides, but I abstained. I also passed on the free weenies. Just packed up and went my way. Brion patiently mapped out a scenic, albeit complex route for those who wished to take such roads on the way home, but I had a hankering to go through Ida Grove again. I happened on this town on my first motorcycle trip years ago and wanted to see it again. A local industrialist with a fondness for castles has built a number of towers and walls and such there, as well as a small lake on which floats a half-scale replica of the HMS Bounty. His own home is a castle complete with moat and drawbridge. It’s harmless enough, I guess, but sorta goofy.

After that, I headed for Sioux City, caught I29 and went home, not omitting to stop at Edgar’s in Elk Point for an old fashioned cherry chocolate ice cream soda, the finest in the land.

RIDE REPORT 2011 PART 3 OF 3, by Gary Pederson

2011-10-13T11:53:00.001-05:00

Well, this is not the ride report that I thought I would be writing. The bad news: I rode home in a Delta Air Lines jet from Anchorage to Sioux Falls. That is not an interesting ride to report on!!

Tim, the owner of Alaska ATV Adventures and my summer employer, asked if I would be able to be back in Alaska by the end of April next summer. This presented a logistical problem and a dilemma for me. I know that riders have been on the ALCAN in winter months (yes Toto April is still winter in the north), but I won’t be one of them. My solution was going to be to ride my 650 home, fly to Alaska in April, back to South Dakota the end of May and ride to Indianapolis for the race, and then ride to Alaska. Kay did not think much of what I thought was a very common sense solution. She thought I should leave my 650 in Alaska, fly home with her and then fly back to Alaska next spring. It seems that I may have lost my “permission slip” to ride back and forth to Alaska. So on August 12th I put my 650 in an Alaskan cave (heated storage unit), hooked it to an IV (battery tender), covered it and put it into hibernation until I get back to Alaska next spring. Now that solution does present a problem. It means I will be in South Dakota without my 650, a very undesirable solution. The good news: A solution has been agreed to. I have almost worn out the internet looking for a motorcycle to buy to have here in South Dakota. Hopefully in the near future I will be able to arrive at a Wednesday night supper on my new ride.

First Times, by Scott Taylor

2011-10-13T11:51:00.001-05:00

They say that you always remember your “first time”. I had talked about it, read books and magazines on the subject, even watched movies about it. But I never did it. What I desired was a “real” motorcycle trip. I’ve come close before when travelling to the Black Hills on my 2002 Victory and, most recently, with my 2004 1150 GS. But with my luggage, wife, and kids in tow in a chase vehicle I figured that didn’t count. Now I had the perfect motorcycle to travel with. So – where? I’ve wanted a pair of motorcycle pants from Aerostich for a while. Aerostich’s Rider Warehouse is located in Duluth, MN, where they make and repair their motorcycle suits. So, one stop would be Duluth. Since I would be in the area, a friend suggested I ride up the North Shore drive on State Route 61 along Lake Superior. Last year I took a fishing trip to the Boundary Waters with my Dad. The last stop before we headed to the trail head was Ely, MN. What impressed me about the trip (besides the fishing) were the roads in the area. I could reach Ely via State Route 1 off of North Shore Drive. So another stop would be Ely. Finally, I was due for some service on the bike. Moon Motorsports was in Monticello on the way to Duluth. With the blessing of my wife, I packed the GS up with clothes and camping gear for the trip.

The first day of my adventure began on July 5th. I headed east from Sioux Falls on I-90 and took highway 60 North through Mankato to Belle Plane Motorsports to look over some of the new Triumph motorcycles. I’m interested in many brands of bikes other than BMW. I liked many of the bikes there, but for me, the one model in their lineup that stands out is the Bonneville T100. I’ll probably need to demo a Bonneville some day. After buying a T-shirt, I continued on to the Minneapolis Northwest KOA in Maple Grove, MN, where I camped for the night.

The second day, I packed up and headed North on I-94 to Moon Motorsports. I had been experiencing a strange gas leak on my GS. It happened to me twice after filling the bike full while on its center stand and then parking it on the side stand. My solution had been to run a gallon of gas out of the tank after filling up before parking it for an extended session on the side stand. Consequently, I didn’t fill the bike that morning because I didn’t think they’d appreciate the resulting gas leak. In addition to diagnosing this quirk, I needed a full 30,000 mile check that included engine, transmission, and final drive oil as well as new brake fluid.

I arrived early for my 8:30 appointment and proceeded to wait. There were plenty of things to look over. In particular, I wanted to see the one-owner 1999 VFR800 Interceptor that was identical to the one I passed up in favor of a CBR600 F4 back in 1999 (a purchase that I later regretted). It was in excellent condition – just as I remembered, but I’ve moved on since then and it’s no longer my type of ride. Over the next few hours, I met a number of folks in the lounge area and received a few tips on rides around Duluth and places to camp in the area. In particular, it was recommended that I stay at Spirit Mountain Campground. On a side note, one guy mentioned Bob’s BMW in Baltimore, MD. Apparently, there was a vintage BMW there with over 600,000 miles on it. He also mentioned that there was a one-wheeled motorcycle there. He even showed me a picture of the bike on his phone. The story was that the inventor’s son crashed and was killed while riding it in a parade after a pretty girl caught his eye. I don’t know if there is any truth to this tale, but maybe some of you have heard it as well. I also learned something else that day, if the service manager suggests you demo a bike to head to lunch, take him up on the offer! Unfortunately, since they were going to be done “right after lunch” I didn’t. I waited patiently until my service was complete at around 3:35. Fortunately, they fixed the problem with the gas leak. You can ask me sometime what the issue was. All in all, I was satisfied with the service - I was just surprised it took so long.

Eager to continue to Duluth, and still hoping to make the Rider Warehouse before they closed at 8:00, I loaded up the bike and shot up State Highway 25 like a rocket to Big Lake where I picked up County Highway 5. My plan was to continue to State Highway 23 thereby avoiding I-169 entirely. My plans changed when the reserve light kicked in halfway on my way up 5 to 23. There weren’t a lot of gas stations on that stretch of road so I changed my route and headed due East on State Route 95 to Princeton for a fill up (4.784 gallons) and then up I-169 where I picked up 23 and I-35 to Duluth. I arrived at my destination with an hour to spare. Their new AD 1 pants in regular length worked for me without alteration. I made my purchase, thereby avoiding sales tax and netting 10% off the price of the pants through their factory discount program. I located Spirit Mountain Campground just before dark and found the field they suggested to me on the phone earlier in the day. The only flat spot open was at the bottom of a grassy hill. Riding down the hill “off road” was another first for me - I am happy to say I kept the shiny side up.
Scott at Spirit Mountain Campground.

After lunch, I took State Route 1 to Ely. The road was nice and curvy and traffic was light. I stopped at Ely to grab a bite at the Plum Bun Bakery which was recommended to me. They were out of the lemon bars, but the cookie I bought was good. In Ely, as well as other places, I was routinely approached by strangers that were interested in the bike and had a story to tell. I have read that when riding alone, people were more likely to talk to you or help you if necessary. With my limited knowledge, it appeared that was the case. It was something I might not have experienced if traveling in a larger group. After a brief rest, I continued South and West along I-169 to the Grand Rapids area where I bedded down at the KOM-ON-IN campground off State Highway 10 on Trout Lake. The sites were a little cramped for my taste, but the view of the lake at daybreak was nice.

Day four was my largest mileage day. I planned to leave Grand Rapids and arrive in Sioux Falls before 6:00 in time to pick up the kids from daycare. I discerned what I believe was the fastest route while having a beer and food at the El Potro Mexican Restaurant in Grand Rapids the night before. I left the campground at 7:00 and took I-2 northwest to McIntosh and South on I-59 to Detroit Lakes. After which, I went West on I-10 to Fargo where I picked up I-29 South for the remainder of my trip. I put on approximately 500 miles that day which was enough for me. I arrived as promised with over an hour to spare. All told, my first “real” trip was over 1300 miles in 4 days and I averaged around 42 miles/gallon. Hopefully, that was not too bad for a “first time”. At least I did it before I turned 40!

HIGH OVER PAONIA (July 29-31st), by Gordon Courbat

2011-10-13T11:48:00.000-05:00

Wow, where do I begin? I haven’t won anything since the 4th grade back in Waverly, IA, when I won a Brownie camera for having the best costume at the Halloween party. Oh well, I guess I was just due again. So, I was sitting in the registration building enjoying a cup of coffee after a day’s ride through the Black Canyon of the Gunnison when I heard someone yell out, “Does anyone have ticket #472?” I was busy reading an interesting article in one of the local publications and even though that number did sound familiar I just raised my hand and kept on reading. A few seconds later a man appeared over my right shoulder and said, “Are you ready to go flying?” And I said, “Huh?” At that point I was told that I just won a one hour flight with a local pilot over the surrounding valleys and mountains. And I said, “What was that number again?” Then this man, Jeff Galligan, who was the head man with the BMW Club of Colorado (the event sponsor) said, “You are the winner!” Hey, I liked the sound of that! He immediately called the pilot and left a voice mail message with my name and phone number and he gave me the pilot’s number also. That was all great except it occurred to me that we had no phone service up here so how were we going to get in touch? Early the next morning I got on my bike and headed for the highest elevation around to see if I could get phone service. I headed north of town with no luck but across the valley on the south side of town was a spot even higher. Following a road up the mountain on the south side eventually took me to the local cemetery that was very peaceful and had a beautiful view of the valley in the early morning sunlight. Yahoo, I got reception and talked to the pilot who told me to meet him at the front gate of the park in 30 minutes and the sooner we got flying the better because the winds pick up as the day goes on.

Top of the Rockies 2011, by Dave McBride

2011-10-13T11:47:00.000-05:00

Friday I went to the Black Canyon of the Gunnison. First time I have ever been there. Spent most of the day there. Got in free with my “old man national park free pass”. A really unique canyon. The river cut down through some of the oldest (and hardest) rocks in North America. It has incredibly steep canyon walls. You can see millions of years of geological development from top to bottom. At the painted wall you can see million year old remains of old lava flows that resemble an upside down view of the root structure of plants. The molten lava flows sent out fingers sideways and upward through the rock and they then cooled and hardened into the shapes we see today. Many miles away you can see the results of the lava that reached the surface and produced the mountain where Paonia exists today.
Saturday was a day for riding around Colorado. I headed out to Grand Mesa and in Mesa ran into Dale and Gerald taking a lunch break. Also found out that the heavy snow fall last winter means BIG holes in the road. Rode fairly slowly after the first couple of launches from potholes. The view leaving Mesa heading south up Grand Mesa is spectacular. You can look down several thousand feet and see the entire valley north of Grand Mesa. It stretches for miles. It was a hard ride up the north side of Grand Mesa trying to watch for potholes, traffic, and scenery at the same time. With the pass over Grand Mesa above 10,000 feet, it was blessedly cool on the top, almost too cool riding with just my air jacket. After riding down the south side of Grand Mesa it was nice but not as good as the north side. However, I did find a couple of nice local paved roads back to Paonia through some really pretty country. The neat thing about Colorado is the number of local paved roads that are not marked on the state map. However, you must be prepared to retrace your steps as some of these roads may become “cow paths”.
About 750 people attended the rally, the weather was really good, the food was excellent, and a small shower sped up the awards ceremony which didn’t hurt my feelings. Top of the Rockies can be crowded but it will also reward you with beautiful views (photo at left), cool riding, and an opportunity to see land that we in the Midwest cannot believe.
Sunday morning I packed up and headed to north central Colorado to stay in the mountains as long as I could and also miss Denver. I finally headed east out of the Rockies on Colorado State Road 14 which goes through a beautiful canyon and then spits you out in Fort Collins. Unfortunately, I traveled in a light rain and did not see much of the scenery that SR14 has. The rain ended just as I got to the flatland of Ft Collins and I then had an unobstructed view of wonderful eastern Colorado. In addition to being flat, it was also 100 degree’s - a journey from heaven to hell.
Made it to Ogallala where I spent the night. Got up at 4 in the morning to avoid the heat and was almost the only one on I-80. Had cool and fast riding. I saw a beautiful sunrise on the Nebraska plains. There was thin cloud cover in the east on the horizon and when the sun came up through the clouds it refracted the sunlight up into the cloud cover producing a red light over the normal yellow sun and a brilliant orange sunrise. The cloud cover was translucent enough that I was able to see the real sun just behind the refracted sun.
Got to Des Moines at 12:15. The temperature was 100 degrees. Into the air conditioning I went. End of trip.

Wisconsin Guzzi Rally, by Marlin Wolter

2011-10-13T11:44:00.001-05:00

I met Larry, Mary, and Bill in Round Lake, MN, on Friday morning, August 5th. We took back roads all the way to Lake Joy, WI. It was a perfect day for riding, needed a jacket all the way (unlike some of the riding I had been doing lately). We arrived early afternoon, plenty of time to set up camp before the evening meal. The WI Moto Guzzi Rally is at a very nice location, facilities were good and lots of room. The Moto Guzzi people treat you well, plenty to eat and drink.
On Saturday I took off on my own for a ride in the area. What a beautiful area to ride in!! The back roads are all black top and you never get tired of them, just kinda mixed-up. The K75C I took on the trip was the perfect bike for that kind of riding. It’s easy to handle on the twisties.

Bak Adventure Kamp, Sept. 24th & Baktoberfest Oct. 8th

2011-09-09T21:12:00.000-05:00

Chad,

I just wanted to drop you a quick note and tell you about our upcoming events in the next month.

On September 24th I will be putting on Bak Adventure Kamp or B.A.K. for short. This is a class on off road riding techniques for all ages and skill levels. It is primarily designed for dual sport bikes. The class is held Saturday afternoon from 3:00 until ?. Afterwards we will have a steak dinner and a bonfire. There is free camping on site and hotels within just a few minutes if you prefer not to sleep on the ground. On Sunday there will be a competition of sorts that will allow you to test the skills you learned on Saturday.

On October 8th we will have or annual Baktoberfest Open House. Please join us for great deals on bikes, parts, apparel and accessories. We will also have some of my awesome brats. Put this one on your calendar now.

Thanks,
Dave Bak
Bak BMW Victory KTM
www.bakmc.com

The Prez Sez, by Gary Johnson, the Incognito Prez.

2011-08-14T13:37:00.000-05:00

Hello Beemer fans and other motorized single track vehicle fans. We made it through the tropical month of July. I hate to say this, but some of those days had me dreaming of December and cross-country skiing in the Newton Hills!! If you don't know it by now, I hate riding in 100 degree heat index conditions. I have trouble concentrating on my riding, I get drowsy, and it’s just darn right uncomfortable. I know, I know, its summer and we have to expect hot days, but this past month was awful.
Oh well, enough complaining, there are better days ahead. Like Baxter Cycle's Open House in Marne, Iowa, for example, and Hawes Biker Days in Sept. By the way congrats to Larry & Mary on there 50th wedding anniversary. Sorry I couldn't be there, I hate to miss important events like that. It's been a busy summer with family from out of state here for two weeks and everything else going on. To those who did attend, I envy you. I did get to one rally, and that was the BMW-RA Rally at Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin. Several Autobahners were in attendance, and a good time was had by all.
Another motorcycle gathering was held at the Diner downtown on Phillips Ave., Sioux Falls, July 28th. This was the first of what many of us hope will continue to happen on the LAST THURSDAY of every month. I guess there isn't a name for it yet, but it is for anyone that likes motorcycles, especially vintage or unique models, and just likes to mingle with other riders. I counted about 40 bikes there with many belonging to Autobahners. It is a non-Harley sponsored night-out for the rest of us who aren't impressed with "chromed-out noisemakers", but still like bikes. I guess that's how I'd best describe it. It’s not a commercial event, just a place and time to "kick back" with fellow or non-fellow riders. Ladies are welcome, too, of course.
There were several Autobahners at the Newton Hills State Park over the weekend for the 32nd Annual Sioux River Folk Festival. Gerald & Sandy Winters, Gary Wilson & daughters & grandchildren, Dale, Romie, & Will Nordlie, and Jan & I were there for this excellent musical event.
I guess that's all I care to yak about for now. See you on down the road.

Motorcycle Trip to Alaska for the Summer - Part 2

2011-08-14T13:36:00.000-05:00

“A trip of a lifetime, this rally begins wherever you are and culminates in Dawson City at the Downtown Hotel”

Submitted by Gary Pedersen

First, I apologize for not explaining how I got my 650 fixed in Part 1 (July issue). I took it to Tigard BMW of Western Oregon. Within 10 minutes of arriving at the Service Department they had the bike in the shop. They worked on it for 2 hours, found and fixed the problem and had me on the road. It seems that the computer in the F650GS sometimes decides to “remap” itself. Scary! The tech put all the settings back to where they should be and it runs great. I suppose the “Air-head” guys are now all going: “See, we told you so!”
June 20th. I met my Alaska riding buddy, Tom (who grew up in Junius, SD), in Eagle River at 10:00 and we left for Tok. Tok is only 330 miles so it’s an easy day that starts with a ride up the Matanuska Valley on the Glenn Highway. It’s a reasonably clear day with views of the Chugach Mountains and the Matanuska River on the right, and the Talkeetna Mountains on the left. You could go into scenery overload. From Palmer to Sheep Mountain Lodge is one of the great motorcycle rides in North America. However, the Alaska Department of Transportation is working steadily at changing this part of the road to a great motorhome ride. The DOT projects have removed or straightened hundreds of curves in the last several years. By leaving at 10:00 we arrive at Sheep Mountain Lodge about noon for lunch. Their soup, rolls and pie are legendary. Then it’s on to Glenn Allen for gas, and then on to Tok. The weather has changed to heavy overcast and it will start raining in the next few miles. The first 24 miles of the Tok Cut Off have just had the marbles put on the chip seal. Alaska and the Yukon both use the same method for chip sealing roads. (See picture at left.) A thick layer of oil, and then several inches of ½ to ¾ inch round rock for the surface. You can imagine what this is like to ride on. The temp has also dropped to 40F and it is raining. Just great! With Firstgear Kilamanjaro suits and Gerbings liners we do stay dry and warm. We have never ridden from Glenn Allen to Tok without rain.
June 23rd. We wake up to a torrential downpour. The first thing I do is call my wife and wish her Happy Birthday. Not the best circumstances to wish your wife Happy Birthday. It’s only 195 miles from Tok to Dawson City but most riders spend the night in Tok so they will have an entire day to make the ride to Dawson City. The 195 miles can take from 4 to 10 hours depending on conditions, and the conditions today are bad. The first 74 miles are either paved or chip seal so we’re in Chicken in a little over an hour, even with the rain. The temp is now down to 38F, there is thick fog and the rain is relentless. We arrive at Chicken drenched, and ready for some hot coffee. From Chicken to the border is a sea of mud mixed with bottomless mud pits where the permafrost is pushing clay up through the road. The mud on the surface is like riding on 2 inches of grease on a polished steel plate. It takes us 2 hours and 45 minutes to go the 48 miles to the border. From the border to Dawson City is 66 miles with about 20 of those chip sealed. The rest is more mud! It’s another 2 hours and 15 minutes to Dawson. Yuk! Trying to pick a line to go through the mud is exponentially more difficult due to the fog in the air, the fog on the face shield, and the fog on my glasses. Several riders are down in this stretch, but no one requires hospitalization. I’ve made this run every year since 2002 and this is the worst I have ever seen this part of the road. I guess if it didn’t get like this it wouldn’t be called Adventure Touring. As we start down from the ridges to Dawson the rain finally lets up. While waiting for the ferry to cross the Yukon River I notice that I have a problem. Either my 12 year old Firstgear riding pants are leaking at the crotch, or I relieved myself when I went through one of the bottomless mud pits. Or both? At least the rain has stopped. Dry clothes, coffee, not beer, and I feel much better.
Later that afternoon we notice that we have an interesting development in Dawson City. This is for the record books. There seems to be a large number of people dressed like the Village People walking around the D2D bikes on the street. Besides the 230+ riders in Dawson City for D2D, there are 90 Harley Davidson “owners” in Dawson City. Notice, I did not say HD riders. These 90 HD owners are on a BUS TOUR, a BUS TOUR, of the Yukon and Alaska because everyone knows you can’t ride real motorcycles in the Yukon and Alaska. That was basically a quote from one of the HD owners. They are wearing their leather ON A BUS! They even have special patches commemorating their “Harley Davidson Tour of Alaska and the Yukon.” Someone forgot to tell us, and us includes 3 HD riders, 2 Victory riders and 6 Goldwing riders that made it to Dawson City that you can’t ride motorcycles in Alaska and the Yukon.
June 24th. We wake up to “not a cloud in the sky” and it is going to be warm. The high points for today are the Poker Run and the Banquet. I’m with Joe on check point 5 today for the Poker Run. Check point 5 is at the top of Midnight Dome above Dawson City and because of the rain the day before and the sun today the views are spectacular. Joe’s rear tire is flat when we are ready to leave so he’ll be up later. There are 2 ways to the very top of Midnight Dome from the parking lot at the overlook. The backside has an old trail that the Canada Parks people have tried to make impassible, but not for a GS. The front side is straight up a bluff about 80 feet above the parking lot and is as steep as the middle of a hill climb. Only a couple of riders each year attempt the front hill climb side. Joe arrives and motors up the back trail on his R1100GS. Joe is 74. This year 2 riders came up the front hill climb. They are 20 somethings with 1 on a R1150GS and 1 on a 2 wheel drive KTM. As everyone is complimenting these guys a HD Street Glide comes into the parking lot, downshifts, does a left turn, and comes straight up the hill climb on the same line as the 2 young guys. Now this is a HD rider! After Joe and I are done on the Dome, we head back to the Downtown Hotel. Joe heads into the bar to find the guys with the air compressor and I head to my room to drop of my stuff and then back to the bar to rehydrate. When Joe comes out of the bar his back wheel is missing. He goes back into the bar and someone buys another round, when he comes back to check on his missing wheel it is back on his bike, with a new tire. These are D2D people.
D2D is now too large for any of the available banquet capable places in Dawson City. The Fire Marshall has limited the Opera House to only 150 people, and there are over 230 in attendance this year. We hope to get Diamond Tooth Gertie’s, the casino, for next year but that will be a stretch. The good news is that I ran into Jeff Sar (pic at left.) from the Sioux City BMW Club at the banquet. I haven’t seen Jeff since we ate lunch together at The Dock at Running Water. Since the Sioux City club members are also (well honorary anyway) Autobahners, we’ve had a 100% increase in attendance of Autobahners at D2D. In order to have a similar increase next year there will need to be at least 3 more of you to make the trip. The bike games were over at midnight and the bikes were posted. Jeff now has a “Dust to Dawson 2011 sticker. And he earned it in the mud on Thursday.
June 25th. Another clear, warm day. The Top of the World and Taylor Highways are the best I’ve ever seen. They are still damp from the rain and hard packed like the clay on a flat track oval. Yeeee Hawwwww!!!!!! The bad news is that several riders get carried away and we now have at least 2 that were hospitalized. I have supper with Jeff at Fast Eddie’s in Tok and he heads back to the campground and Tom and I head to the Golden Bear Motel. In the morning Jeff will head home and Tom and I will head back to Eagle River where I have to make amends for missing yet another birthday.
June 26th. There is only a light sprinkle this morning as we head south, and this lets up after about 20 miles. The sun is trying to come out, but the St. Elias Mountains are still covered with clouds. However, a record has been set. The temp is in the 50s and it ISN’T RAINING OR SNOWING! What a pleasant ride. Gas at Glenn Allen, lunch at Sheep Mountain Lodge and on to the curves. Well, some good things do end. It seems that every Ma and Pa Kettle in America is on the road this afternoon. One guy with Washington plates in a Lincoln Navigator is doing 40 mph in the straights and 20 mph on the curves. Sure enough, when one DS passes in a straight section and probably hit something way over 55 mph the Alaska State Troopers were johnny-on-the-spot to point out his errant ways. Tom and I are just patient and take our time.
I’m 7100 miles into this summer’s trip. America is great. D2D 2011 is history. 2012 will be the 20th anniversary of D2D. Now is the time to start making your plans. See you in Dawson City on June 21-22, 2012.

National BMWRA Rally, by Marlin Wolter

2011-08-14T13:35:00.001-05:00

Betty & I arrived at Chippewa Falls, WI, Thursday afternoon, July 21, for the BMW Rider Association Rally. We checked into our motel and then went out to the rally sight to check in. It was held at the Northern WI State Fair Grounds, which had plenty of room etc. I didn’t tent this time but I’m sure some of the Rally attendee’s would have liked to see a few more trees for shade.
After we checked in we walked around a little and ran into Tom Meister and Dave Mc Bride. Tom and Dave were relaxing on a bench under a big shade tree close to the Beer Garden (these guys had their priorities straight). We left the grounds and explored Chippewa Falls, looking for a place to eat and get some much needed ice cream. You see “IT WAS HOT”.
Friday morning our phone rang and Gerald Winter was on the phone. They made it OK last night, and do we want to go for a ride together today? I said well it’s going to be hot, but sure we would go. So we met at the Rally site and headed north. It was very pretty scenery but it got hotter and hotter. When we finally got far enough north and decided to start heading back we saw a thermometer that said 99 degrees. It felt good when you were moving but when you stopped for a break “It Was Hot”. I found out later they set a record high temp that day. I’ve only been to two Rally’s this year so far and they both set record high temp’s while I was there, my luck I guess. Anyway we had a good ride and we found some really nice riding roads.
Friday night the Rally had a fish fry which Gerald and Sandy attended, Betty and I dined with the Veteran BMW Riders’ group. They had brats and all the fixin’s for a donation. I like this group, as we meet new people every time we get together. We sit around and tell how we won the war and how we’d win this one. Have to give Mike Johnson credit for keeping this group going and informed, he and his wife do everything. That evening we were beat from the heat. We went back to our air-conditioned room and crashed.
Saturday morning Sandy called inviting us to join them and Gary Johnson and Dale Nordlie for breakfast. “Thanks for the invite” but we weren’t moving too fast. We ate a little later. Saturday was a lot cooler. A weather system went through in the night and dried out and cooled off the air. Betty and I did some shopping and looking around down town in the morning then went for a ride north east of town. That turned out to be a real nice ride also.
Had to get back to the Rally for the Closing Ceremony and the last walk through the vendor area before they closed. We had supper and hung out with our group waiting for the band to start. And “Start They Did”. I will have to say that band had their sh-t together. Just hanging out there and listening was the highlight of the Rally (that’s only my opinion). I’m sure Betty would say the same thing. Oh, yes, the Mason Shoe Factory Outlet Store would probably be her close 2nd highlight.
Sunday we took our time coming home. Had to stop at Lanesboro, MN, for lunch and a walk, then on to Harmony, MN, for a stop at that big Antique Mall. You never know what you might find there.

Instead of The Bohemian Alps Rally, by Brion Hase

2011-08-14T13:33:00.000-05:00

June 25th would have normally been the weekend of the Bohemian Alps Rally in Verdigre, but the BMWMOA ON magazine and website reported earlier this spring that the rally had been canceled. By the Monday of June 20th, I knew I was going to need a ride on Saturday and was thinking about camping. Folks had been talking about an informal campout at the Verdigre City Park and Campground, so I called the City of Verdigre to see what was going on. The lady there told me there would be 40 to 50 families camping in the city park there that weekend for a family reunion so I decided that I didn’t want to camp there.
I woke up Saturday morning at 6 AM and it looked fantastic outside… for the first 15 minutes of the day anyway. I still needed a ride. A few minutes after the Big Sioux Rider breakfast with it being heavy overcast, I called Dale Nordlie on his cell phone. Dale said Gary Johnson and he were heading over to look at the Fort Randall Dam, but Gary had to be home by 7 PM. Dale also said that Larry Hawes and Bill Claussen were heading to Verdigre to camp. The weather to the south looked worse so I told Dale I would ride that way from Sioux City and try to run into them somewhere, then maybe drop down to Verdigre to see Larry and Bill.
I got the GS ready and left home about noon. The water from the Big Sioux and Missouri river were nearly touching I-29 as I headed through all the road construction to the Vermillion exit. Figuring I was running late, I hurried to Yankton where after searching around a bit, I went down to the river side park and took some flooding photos. I also got to look at the new and old bridges. From there I followed all the traffic to the Yankton dam where I got a front row parking space below the dam to see what 160,000 CFS looks like leaving the dam. The force of the water coming through the gates of the dam was impressive, but it’s was also one of the most popular tourist attractions in South Dakota at the time.
After taking some photos and looking around for a few minutes, I left the crowds and the water behind and headed towards Pickstown. I pulled off at the Fort Randal Casino to look for Gary and Dale’s bikes and found that the new Casino was open. The new casino looked nice, but I didn’t go in. There was a Pow Wow going on down the hill behind the facilities. I didn’t see any BMW motorcycles in the parking lot, so I headed on.
At the Fort Randall Dam there were signs asking people not to park by the roadway, but to use the visitor’s area. From the visitor’s area one could hike down the dam and watch the water go down the spillway. I decided I would get a better look of the spillway from the Fort Randall Recreation area below the dam. At the gate there was a young college aged gal sitting in a chair, reading a novel, and watching out for people like me… people without a SD park pass. I was able to sweet talk her to let me into the park for a few minutes without paying. I got some nice photos of the park shore and the spillway and generation station in full action.
Next I rode up to the overlook area just west on the south side of the dam were I got some more great photos. After that I headed west on Highway 18 and then down to Spenser, NE, where I intended to take Highway 12 (the “Outlaw Highway”) east to Niobrara. When I got to the turn, the sign said that Highway 12 was closed. I headed south on the detour a few miles and then exited the detour and took the next paved road west, which was appropriately called “Old County Road” on my old GPS. After about 12 miles the pavement, “Old Country Road” ended abruptly. It was only about 22 more miles to get to Verdigre, so I decided to take gravel and hopefully get there in time to have dinner with Larry and Bill. After about 6 miles of really bad gravel, the road was paved again. After this it was a great old road with lots of curves which went directly to the east side of Verdigre.
When I got to the campground the first people I saw were Dale, Larry and Bill. They offered me a beer and a crushed beer can for my side-stand. Well, one beer can was not enough to keep my heavy GS “Pig” from sinking into the soft ground, so the guys threw down 4 more crushed cans and it held. I was guess I was lucky they started without me and had plenty of beer.
After drinking a beer (or two... as I was really thirsty by this point of the day) and some talk, the four of us headed up to what was the Flyway Café in Niobrara. The café was under new ownership and they are still working on a lot of things, including a larger menu and new name. They had built a sandy bank around the restaurant, but it looked like the water still had a ways to go before it would cause any problems for them. We all ordered burgers and had a nice meal. The new owners were really friendly. After dinner we went into town, filled up the bikes, and took some photos of the flooding there. Afterwards we headed back to the campground in Verdigre where we talked for a bit. I didn’t have any camping gear so after saying hello to George Forst, (prior years rally chair) I got back on my bike and headed home.
Riding though Nebraska at night can be… different. Near Verdigre I saw a car which had spun off the road for no apparent reason and slid against a steep embankment. There were plenty of people there and it didn’t look like the car had rolled, so I kept moving. With the 6 lights on the front of “Pig” I was able to see deer out feeding but they were all some distance from the road. I did encounter a raccoon at an unsafe distance, but he quickly got out of the way. Shortly before midnight, somewhere in a flat area of Highway 20, pretty much out of sight of any human dwellings, I passed a 6’ man in a white t-shirt, heading west… on a skateboard. I cannot imagine what the explanation for this would have been had I turned around to ask!!
I got home about 12:30. It was nice sleeping in my bed, but I missed a great night of camping in Verdigre with the Autobahn.
(Check out Brion’s Picasa site with all his flood pictures and more at: www.picasaweb.google.com/brion.hase

The Prez Sez, by Gary Johnson

2011-07-17T14:30:00.000-05:00

Hello Autobahners! Wow, it will be July when you read this, and we all know how fast summer disappears after the 4th. I hope all of you had a good 4th.

I'm planning on riding to Chippewa Falls, WI., for the BMWRA Rally. The BMWMOA Rally is just too far away for someone with little vacation time and even less money! I have the new front tire on the old RT and will be putting in the Autolite 3923's and hope everything else holds together for the trip.

I guess you all know about the Hawes' 80th Anniversary coming up (has it really been that long?) That should be fun. It will be a good time to see old and new friends that I haven't seen in awhile. Wow, 80 years! :)

It has been a busy summer, with too little riding time. Too much rain, too much mowing, too many other distractions. Maybe July and August will be better. Keep riding, keep smiling, stay safe.

See you soon. Gary.

Member Profile - Scott Taylor

2011-07-17T14:24:00.002-05:00

I’m Scott Taylor – a recent member to the Autobahn Society. I joined last spring after purchasing a blue and white 2004 BMW R1150GS. I’ve been working at Wells Fargo for the last 12 years as a programmer in student loans. My wife, Marcelle, and I and our two children Autumn (5 years) and Mitchell (4 years) live in Brandon, SD. I’ve been riding motorcycles since I graduated from the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology in 1996.

My first bike was a 1992 Kawasaki Ninja 600R, followed by a new red Honda CBR600F4 in 1999. At the time, I had the choice between the CBR600F4 and a red 1999 VFR800 Interceptor. Eventually, I grew to regret not buying the VFR800 because of some of its advantages over the F4. It was more Sport Touring orientated, had a center stand, EFI, and single-sided swing arm. I sold the CBR600F4 about the time my wife and I were expecting our first child. I held out a while, but eventually bought a 2002 Victory V92C in the spring of 2008.

I’ve been interested in cruisers, sport, and sport touring motorcycles for some time, but my focus has since changed to adventure sport motorcycles after reading numerous books and articles and (most notably) watching the “Long Way Round” and “Long Way Down” documentaries with Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman.

The BMW GS has been the favorite motorcycle I’ve owned for a number of reasons. It’s large, comfortable, has heated grips, the saddle bags are great, and it is one of BMW’s most popular models so aftermarket parts and accessories are available. As mentioned earlier, I also appreciate having the center stand which my first bike had and I’ve missed ever since.

I haven’t had much opportunity to tour yet, aside from a trip to the Black Hills in the summer of 2010 for a fresh set of tires at Sturgis BMW and a quick tour through Custer State Park. As I write this, I’m planning a trip to Minneapolis for service at Moon Motorsports and on to Duluth, MN, to visit the Aerostich Rider Warehouse. I plan on purchasing a pair of Darien Pants and (if budget allows) maybe the jacket too. I may also do the North Shore drive along Lake Superior. I look forward to meeting you all in the future.

Little Flock, Dave McBride & Arkansas, by Tom Meister

2011-07-17T14:13:00.002-05:00

“What the flock” do these words have to do with each other?? “What the flock” in deed. I will try to explain.

Dave and I have known each other for over thirty-five years but have never ridden together – anywhere. Dave has a history of dirty, non-shining motorcycles. I on the other hand I like clean, polished motorcycles. So why Dave did this to me has me puzzled??? Was he jealous of my much older but much shinier BMW or of my brand new silver riding jacket? ”What the flock!”

We were both attending the Missouri BMW Rally this last weekend at Crane, Missouri. I wanted to go to Bentonville BMW in Bentonville, Arkansas, to ask some questions and maybe spend some money on my Shiny Red RT. I have never been in this area in my life so I rode down in a group ride. We rode over 90 miles on nice, clean, curvy, PAVED ROADS.

Bentonville BMW served grilled brats and hamburgers. Life is good! I wanted to ask the parts lady some questions about my Shiny Red RT so I got in line – a long line. Finally it was my turn. Parts lady didn’t know the answers about my Shiny Red RT so she put me in 1st place in line #2. Waited some more. Mean while the group ride leaves to return to Crane, Missouri, without me. NOT GOOD. After speaking with the shop manager and not buying anything, my biker buddy Dave walked up and wanted to know if I wanted to ride back with him to Crane. “Why the flock not”, I said to myself, because I really could not have found my way back because of all the different roads – PAVED ROADS - we took to get to Bentonville.

Three BMWs in front of us turned left after leaving the dealer’s parking lot. Dave and Shiny Red RT turned right. “What the flock”, I thought. Oh, well, Biker Buddy Dave has been here many, many times and has a GPS to guide us home. The road ahead looked good, not much traffic, curves, this could be fun. Soon the road narrows and starts to become rougher. Dave pushes on with Shiny Red RT behind him. Then to my horror the road turns to gravel, rough gravel, dusty gravel. Shiny Red RT does not like gravel. I do not like gravel. Dave and his confused companion press on. The ride continues. The road gets rrrrrougher and bbbbbumpier. I am eating dust – Biker Buddy Dave’s dust. We came to a dead end! A “flocking” dead end with a GPS???

The ride continues. Came to an intersection with gravel in all four directions. Biker Buddy Dave is peering into the GPS like it was a magic “flocking” crystal ball. Companion on Very Dusty Red RT wants to use his boot to adjust the GPS or Biker Buddy Dave on the pick of roads. I yell at FORMER Biker Buddy Dave, “Where in ‘flocking’ hell does it say GS on Dusty Red RT???” We continue on for more miles and finally come to a paved road that I remember. Yes, we are on the same road & going in the same direction that we took to Bentonville. The sign ahead of us says we are very near Little Flock, Arkansas, not Crane, Missouri.

Confused rider on Very Dirty Red RT and no longer clean new silver riding jacket wonders “where in the flock” is Little Flock, Arkansas? After many more miles former Biker Buddy Dave turns onto a road I recognize going back to Crane and the rally site.

After arriving home Sunday night I drained all my oils and removed my saddle bags. I have custom made limited edition mufflers on Dirty Red RT. The left one was ready to fall off. If I ever go riding with Biker Buddy Dave again it will be with a “flocking” GS. And Dave can follow me.

Motorcycle Trip to Alaska for the Summer by Gary Pedersen

2011-07-17T14:02:00.002-05:00

(Ed.Note: Gary lives in Chester, SD,and spends his summers in Alaska working as a guide.)

I left Chester May 26th for this year’s trip to Alaska. I found a new short cut and my first stop was the Spam Museum in Austin, MN. The museum is on the “should do list” for anyone going to or from the Money Creek Rally. It is actually interesting - for me anyway. But then I do keep Spam in my tank bag.

After the Spam Museum I headed south to Anamosa, IA, and the National Motorcycle Museum. This museum is a definite MUST DO for anyone reading this article. There is a Super 8 Motel across the street and Wapsipinicon State Park is nearby for those who prefer to tent it. I spent three hours in the museum and then headed in the general direction of Indianapolis. I spent most of the afternoon on roads that weren’t on my map and spent the night in Rantoul, IL. The best part of the day was the absolute lack of wind. I had no idea how much trouble the wind would be for the next several days.

I got to Indy on Saturday at noon and helped with the preparations for the Saturday night party. The people that I stay with live about a mile from the front gate of the Indy 500 Track and Saturday night is a big deal. The race was great as always with several of the antique race cars used as honorary pace cars this year.

I left Indianapolis early May 30th and headed back to Chester. By 10:00 am the cross wind was terrible. I had no idea that the cross wind would last until Missoula. I stopped at a couple of rest areas to ease the pain in my neck from hanging onto the handle bars. My mileage had dropped to 45 mpg, and that is very bad for an F650GS. I know what Gary Johnson was dealing with.
I had just worked my way through a large group of lemmings as I was coming to Iowa City (lemmings: a large group of vehicles traveling as a pack on the Interstate at the same speed). I noticed a DS (DS is the politically correct abbreviation for a dumb s--t) in a four door S10 Blazer on the ramp with a box spring and mattress on the roof with one orange tie down on it. The DS will get to the Interstate in front of me if I don’t speed up considerably. As the DS gets under the overpass and hits the wind the box spring and mattress pop up at about a 45 degree angle to his roof. When I get far enough ahead to check my mirrors, sure enough, the tie down breaks and the box spring and mattress each land in a lane. In my mirrors I see vehicles in the ditch, the median, the word FORD (reversed) on the tailgate of a pickup, and lots of dust. I did not stop.
I spent the day riding west until my neck got stiff and then north for a ways, then west, then north. I finally ended up on I-90 and was out of north. As I was coming to Blue Earth, MN, I could see a huge black, green and blue wall with lots of psychedelic light flashes to the west. That can’t be good. It was 5:30 pm so I stopped at a Dairy Queen for something to eat and to check the news and weather. No radio, no TV, but one of the other customers had an I-Phone and checked the weather for me. The radar screen on his phone was also wild and the voice on the phone was talking about grapefruit sized hail and wind gusts in excess of 80 mph east of Mitchell. I knew I couldn’t make Chester before the storm so I stayed in Blue Earth that night.

May 31st I got to Chester about 10:30 am for my scheduled pit stop. I changed the oil and filter, changed the chain and sprockets (yes Toto, this BMW has a chain), changed the rear tire, did laundry and went to supper at Buffalo Trading Post. This is a culinary delight that I suspect many of you have missed. Tuesday nights are 50 cent taco nights at Buffalo Trading Post and the tacos are a reasonable size and quite good. Bet you can’t eat just one. I spent Wednesday getting the house ready for summer and visiting my mother-in-law and my folks.

June 2nd I left for Portland, OR, another shortcut on my way to Alaska. Our youngest son had called and wanted to know if I could detour through Portland. He had just bought a 2005 R1200GS and wanted to ride to Alaska with me. Another BMW convert from the sport bike set. Yes! The wind was again against me as I headed west. I had also tried 511 on the phone for some non-interstate roads and every road that I was looking at was closed due to flooding. I spent a boring day on I-90 noticing a lot of high water and stayed in Gillette, WY, that night.

June 3rd my 650 decided to have issues. It didn’t want to start cold, and once warmed up it didn’t want to idle. I had again checked 511 and again the roads I wanted to take were closed to either flooding or too much snow. I started at 6:00 am to get out before the wind, but it didn’t work. The wind was already up. I hate wind. I stayed on I-90 all day and spent the night in Missoula.

June 4th, the 650 was having issues again, but what a great day to ride. Lolo Pass is open!!! I got to do Lolo Pass for the 4th time and I finally got it right. The first three times didn’t count. Why? Twice in my mega cage (motorhome) and once in my little cage (Saturn SL) really don’t count. I found myself doing 60 to 65 mph several times coming out of corners which is not good in a 45 to 50 mph speed limit area. I have always seen ID Highway Patrol Cars on Lolo Pass, but I was lucky and did not get a formal written welcome to ID. I got to Graingeville, ID early in the afternoon and was able to spend the night with a retired friend and fellow BMW rider from Alaska.

We left West Linn Thursday afternoon, June 9th, and stayed in Seattle that night at his girlfriend’s apartment. We went from Portland to Seattle on back roads and probably beat the I-5 time by hours.
June 10th was on to Canada and the land of good roads. When we got to Cache Creek, BC, we almost didn’t get a place to stay. There was a weeklong celebration in progress call Graffiti Days. There were 300 to 500 hot rods and race cars in town, along with what looked like a very large RCMP convention. We each had “some” beers with supper and then went out to look at the cars. There was a gathering of the owners under our motel window and the owners wouldn’t take no for an answer. We had several more beers. The Canadians are a friendly bunch, eh.

June 11th we were back on the road and stopped at Smithers, BC, for the night. We had supper in a microbrewery/restaurant. They made four beers on site so we ordered a sampler. Each sample was a 12 oz. glass. Great place. We stopped about 90 miles short of Watson Lake for about an hour for a forest fire. At Watson Lake, my favorite place, The Air Force Lodge was full so we ended up in one of the more questionable motels.

June 13th was a long day, 640 miles. When we were getting gas at Destruction Bay there were 2 Harleys out front and 2 riders in the dining area. One was from Faulkton, SD, and one was from Willow Lake, SD. We had supper at Burwash Landing and got to watch a guy catch 2 very large lake trout from the dock. My son ordered the 24 oz schnitzel that he was sure was caribou. We got to Tok, AK about 11:00 pm. I normally wouldn’t have ridden that far, but we had reservations at the Golden Bear Motel and putting the frost heaves between Burwash Landing and the border behind us was good.

June 14th, the last day out, we only had 330 miles to go and only about 30 of those were under construction. We talked to another father and son group from IL at Glenn Allen when we got gas and coffee. We had lunch at Sheep Mountain Lodge and then rode on to Eagle River and the end of a great trip.

I must say, to ride with an ultra-marathon runner who happens to be a professional photographer was interesting. At each gas stop he was on his cell phone with his work, had to eat a large meal, and photo stops were always at least 30 to 45 minutes. To take this trip with one of my sons was the best motorcycle trip I have ever taken.

Notes From A Rally Virgin (Hiawatha Rally) by Gordon Courbat

2011-07-17T13:57:00.002-05:00

On Friday, June 3rd, Jerry Zeeb and I met Dale Nordlie, Izzy Szkok and his wife Deb at Pilot and we headed out for The Hiawatha Rally at Money Creek Campground in Minnesota. At 8 am the weather looked pretty promising with the usual 30+mph winds. For most of the way I was following Izzy who was pulling a trailer with his R1200RT. When I saw him suddenly lurch to the left or right I braced myself for a turbulent gust of wind and did my best to ride through it. As I have mentioned to some of the coffee crowd since then, it is a strange and tense feeling when you are passing a semi while battling strong cross winds. As you approach them from the rear there is a sudden turbulence that grabs you and tries to push and pull you back and forth. Then as you near the back of the cab it sucks you in for a few seconds before blowing you in the opposite direction as you speed on past them. Hang on and throttle up was my best way of dealing with it. Man, dirt track racing was relatively safe compared to this. Was I having fun yet? Well, I kept telling myself, “I think I am”. All was going along pretty well until we neared the I-35 crossing at Albert Lee when it started to sprinkle and then it turned to rain as we rode into Austin. It’s kind of fun riding in the rain as long as you can see where you are going. I got a kick out of people’s expressions as you passed them in their cars. They look at you like you are “nuts”! And, it occurred to me that maybe they were right?! Oh well, as long as you get a little rush and have some fun, right?

Somewhere after leaving I-90 and turning onto Hwy. 16 we stopped for lunch at Tootsie’s. After eating we stepped outside and the sun was now shining bright and the humidity had shot up quite a bit. From here on the roads got more interesting as we wound our way around the twisties leading into Money Creek. The campground and facilities were really nice and pretty well filled up as we arrived. The Autobahn group was camped out right near the entry so we didn’t have to look for them.

(I’ll try to shorten this up for all of you who have attended these rallies and know the routines.) Pitch the tents, take a break and have a beer, discuss the day’s journeys, drink some more beer, etc., etc. and look forward to dinner time. Vege soup and hotdogs……. and some more beer. Worked for me, although I’m not a big drinker. It’s not that I don’t like it, I just don’t handle it well. Especially when I’m around bikes. Great people, enjoyable conversation and just a relaxing good time.

Sunday morning I woke up about 6am looking forward to some hot coffee and a little breakfast to start the day. As I headed toward the pavilion I met some people returning from there who said an electrical breaker had blown during the night and those big urns of coffee were stone cold. Wouldn’t be ready for quite a while yet. Oh well, go back to camp and start getting things together was my next thought. Back at camp I grabbed my towel and toilet items and headed for the shower. By the time I got back to the tent some of the others already had tents torn down and their bags packed. How did they do that so quickly? I expected everyone would be sitting around drinking coffee, shooting the bull and getting ready for the day ahead. Wrong! These guys were packed up and ready to roll?#* What was the rush, we had all day? Maybe I’m just a slow starter.
In summary: Naturally, after I get home I pull out the program prepared by the BMW Owners Club of Minn. and learn about all the events that I missed. Polish Cultural Institute, Ed’s Museum, Harmony Toy Museum, etc., etc. And I am told, let’s not forget that this is the area where the world’s SPAM is made! There was one opportunity missed .

All in all a great time, wonderful people and a lot of neat bikes. I realize I was caught up in the mechanics of the thing (how to tie all that camping stuff on this damn bike, I just bought an air mattress but no pump, will my saddle bags leak in the rain, how do you keep from having such a sore butt and so on). With a little more practice I can figure this thing out. Hope to see you at another rally one day soon and I’m always open to your helpful suggestions. Enjoy the wind in your face, the beautiful scenery flying by and the comfort in knowing that the next gas stop is coming up soon. Be safe and enjoy the ride.

The Prez Sez

2011-06-13T10:21:00.000-05:00

Hi Beemer fans. Well June might be a better riding month than May was, wouldn't take much! By the time you read this Hiawatha is over and the Iowa Rally is next. Then comes Father's day weekend. After that it would have been the "Bohemian Alps Rally' in Verdigre, NE. I say would have been, because there is no rally this year, at least officially. Word has it that some riders are planning on camping out at the city park in Verdigre that weekend for a get-together. It is the weekend of June 24th-26th. So there's something to think about. There are some good Wed. night supper rides coming up this month, too. Think DRY and less WIND, much less wind! and get some riding in! Take care, stay safe, have fun.
I nearly forgot to mention some news about Jim Pentico. Jeanne was at supper last night and gave me a little note from the Mason's magazine (I think). Jim Pentico has received his 50 year pin from the Minnehaha Masonic Lodge #5. It was mailed to his home in Naples, FL, in January.

Submitted by Gary “Otto Bon” Johnson

…..Sad to Report

2011-06-13T10:19:00.000-05:00

Death of Autobahn Friend Al Albers, Sioux Falls on April 6. Al was a Gold Wing rider and was instrumental in starting the Sooland Goldwing Club. Al and Bob Galland ran Autobahn Sales, a motorcycle accessory shop, during the early days of Autobahn Society. Go to www.heritagesfsd.com for complete obituary.

Autobahn invited to Campout at Shonley's, Sturgis SD July 8 & 9

2011-06-13T10:13:00.000-05:00

Autobahn invited to Campout at Shonley’s , Sturgis, SD, July 8 & 9
Doug has invited Big Sioux Riders and Autobahners to the campout at his home in “The Hills, Friday and Saturday, July 8-9. Doug e-mails. “We will probably do some motorcycle video during the evenings and I am thinking about a riding point seminar bringing up some of the points that I learned at the California Super Bike School.
Taken from 2010 invitation….. The location is exactly 5.1 miles West of Sturgis, SD, exit 30. We have good lights so you won't be completely in the dark when you setup your tent if you arrive late Friday night. You will be able to park your bike inside if you want to. We also have an indoor area for eating and conversation in case of inclement weather. Call Doug at (605)347-5006.
Click onto YouTube - Doug at Las Vegas Motor Speedway California Superbike School for a video of Doug at the school in March.
Click onto www.farklebar.com for info on an “invention” Doug has put together.

Scooter Story

2011-06-13T10:12:00.001-05:00

(Ed.Note: This story took place Spring, 2010. The story was retold at a Saturday morning breakfast recently. Although a year old Gary still had an audience as he was telling it. I convinced him to put it into words for the newsletter for the rest of you to enjoy.)

I was working my Saturday, when Dale Nordlie calls and wants to go for a ride. I said, “Sure, where to?” Dale suggested New Ulm (code for the Schell's Brewery). I then told Dale I had ridden my scooter thinking I wouldn't being going any farther than Sioux Falls. He said that should work, so at 10:00 A.M. we left for New Ulm.
My ride is a Kymco Grand Vista 250 and I'm about to go "where no man has gone before" on a 250 cc scooter. (Not really, but it sounds good.) Naturally, this being spring and we are on 2 wheels, the wind is blowing strongly. (It wasn’t as bad as this past Memorial Day, but close.) We were cruising right along with the southerly tail winds. I hit the highest speed I've ever reached on a scooter going down a long hill. (I'll tell you how fast, off the record, of course).
We got to the brewery around noon and signed up for the next tour. The tour was fine and the samples where even better. We decide to head back and we gassed up our rides in New Ulm. My tank holds 2.4 gallons and we had head winds to deal with on the return trip. It was mostly a "wide-open throttle" trip back home for me. It had been a long time since I had seen a gas station and my fuel pump symbol had been flashing rapidly at me for several miles. By this time Dale and I were on MN Hwy 23. I knew we were getting close to Ruthton and we could fill up there.
Dale left me behind as I was having trouble keeping my speed up. As Dale moved out of sight, my scoot died. Yup, out of gas, and pushing my ride! A few minutes had passed and a Harley rider came by and stopped to see what was wrong. I had to confess that I had run out of gas. He said he just lived up the road at Ruthton and would get some gas to me.
In the meanwhile Dale called my cell and wondered what had happened. I told him and he came back with a cold Coke for me. Then my "good samaritan" came back with a gas can. I put enough in to get to the gas station, thanked him, tried to pay him (he wouldn't take any money for the gas) and Dale and I went on our way.
My best guess is that I only got about 39 mpg that tankful and I was only about 3 miles from the gas station. I guess that I learned optimism isn't as good as having enough gas, and Harley guys will even stop to help a "scooter rider". Actually, most people on 2 wheels will stop to help a fellow rider, and that's a good thing! I sure did miss that 7 gallon tank the RT has. P.S. Any ride that gets you home safe is a good ride.

Submitted by Gary Johnson

I’ll Ride a BMW for Free, but you ‘Gotta Pay Me to Ride a Harley

2011-06-13T10:06:00.003-05:00

I finally passed motor officer school and now have a 2009 Harley Davidson Police Road King assigned to me. I came into motor school with much anticipation and much trepidation as well. You may or may not know that last year I broke my left ankle in motor school on the first day of the second week and wasn’t able to complete the class. Ten weeks later, I was finally healed up and able to ride my own bike at least. But most of the summer was gone and I would have to wait another year to ride while on duty.
This year there was only one other student in the school with me, an Aberdeen Police Officer. The school consists of cone courses, off-road driving, formation street riding, traffic stop procedures and firearms training using the cycle as cover. With only two students, we were riding constantly. I was determined not to be complacent, and I was not going to put my foot down during the tight cone courses. This is what bit me last year. If the bike was going down, I was going to ride it until it bucked me off. One of the instructors joked, calling me “White man who gets bucked from iron horse.” “Twelve moons ago iron horse bit white man.” One time I was bucked off, I landed on my feet right in front of my instructors. “Ta Da!” I said, and then “I meant to do that.”
The cone course, called the 360, or otherwise called the keyhole, was my downfall last year. It is an 18 ft wide circle with one gate to go in and to come out. This year I did it on the third try. It still isn’t my best exercise, and I could still use a lot of practice at it. It is more of a mental thing than a physical thing. But I was able to pass the course successfully. A lot of the other cone exercises are very similar in theory and practice to what I teach in Basic Riders Course for the MSF except they are at a higher speed. In the MSF courses your highest speed is 20 MPH. The cone courses are set up at the fairgrounds parking lot.
The off-road riding is extremely challenging and a lot of fun. You play follow the leader at slow speeds maneuvering through tight spaces. The key is looking where you want to go, wheel placement, clutch and throttle control, and counterweight steering. A lot of it is done in the fairgrounds by going around and through the barns. Other areas are city parks, parking ramps, and the federal courthouse plaza downtown.
Traffic stops with a motorcycle definitely have a lot more multitasking as compared to a patrol car. Your vulnerabilities are also much more evident. That was even more known after taking the bikes to the firearms range and using them as cover when you are shooting. Having been on duty on the Road King for two weeks now, I am very fond of it and I’m averaging about 100 miles in my 10 hour shift. The HD Road King is a very good and comfortable police work platform, especially for city police work. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not going to run right out and trade off my R1150R. Black Betty is all pleasure and sport, and I would only give her up for another BMW. Hence, I’ll ride a BMW for free, but you gotta pay me to ride a Harley.

Submitted by Chad Gillen

The Six Drop Rally

2011-06-13T10:03:00.001-05:00

Eye opens slowly, checks window, sees glimmer of light, and wonders, “What time is it?” Brain is disturbed by commotion and replies, “Shut yourself, Eye, you are waking everyone.” Eye responds, “Hey, all I did was see some light and wonder what time it is”. Brain again orders, “Shut yourself””. EYE: “Look at that, the clock says it 6:15.” BRAIN: “The alarm goes off at 7:15. Shut yourself.” EYE: “Give me a break. You were worried all night that we would wake up and it would be raining cats and dogs and we have to go to Gina’s BMW and get the headlight fixed on the RT.” BRAIN: “That’s why the alarm is set for 7:15. Plenty of time to get to Gina’s by our 10:00am appointment. Shut yourself and let’s get another hour of sleep.” (There’s a period of silence and then….) EYE: “HEY, IDIOT, it’s light outside – that means NO RAIN!” BRAIN: “WHOA! That’s right. I wonder if it’s raining anyplace? What if it starts raining at 7:15?” EYE: “How would eye know, I’m not the weather channel?” BRAIN: “That’s a great idea. Feet. Hey, Feet. Get up. Come on. Move yourself to the edge of the bed and hit the floor running.” FEET: “Would you hold it down up there, I’m trying to sleep. Just because you’re so smart it’s know reason I have to jump every time you speak. BRAIN: “That’s NO reason, not KNOW reason. Now get moving.” (In front of the tube the weather channel and Local on the Eights slowly comes into view.) EYE: “There is a lot of green on the left of the screen.” BRAIN: “Yes, but that green is about 20 miles west of Des Moines! Come on everyone, we have to get the bike packed and on the road right now! GO! GO! GO! “

It’s now 7:15 and the bike and I are just leaving Des Moines. Lightning is showing up in the mirrors and the west sky is black. We just get on I-80 and a drop hits the windshield, then another and another, and then finally a fourth. Then miraculously no more drops come down and the eastern sky just gets lighter and lighter. The rain is now all behind us and we’re not stopping until we get to Gina’s!!!!.
At Gina’s it is quickly found that a loose connection is the problem with the head light - all repaired under warranty and my billfold is saved again. Now, all I have to do is decide whether I will go to the Moto Guzzi Rally at Oquawka, IL, or the Great River Road Rally at Soldiers Grove, WI. The forecast for the entire weekend is a total washout from Friday to Sunday at both locations. So, where do I go to stay the driest? I put great thought into the problem. Gina tells me that the radar shows a rain cloud southeast of Iowa City. Soldiers Grove, here I come!
It was windy all the way - up Hwy 1, then Hwy 151, then a bunch of county roads until I get to Dyersburg and then Guttenberg on the Iowa side of the Great River Road. (What better route when you are going to the Great River Road Rally?) I crossed into Prairie du Chien, got a hamburger at McDonald’s, and saw radar with green about 50 miles straight west and more green about 100 miles north by La Crosse. I’m not going that far north so I can relax and hit the back roads into Soldiers Grove. (This just proves what can happen when a brain devotes itself to selfless research and endless debate and comes up with the perfect solution to the rally route with a flip of the coin…. and the fact that radar shows rain southeast of Iowa City.) Congratulating Brain on just how much of a genius he is, we proceed to enjoy some of the best riding in the Midwest with windy, but warm and dry weather. What more can you ask for in Iowa in the spring?
The first person I ran into in Soldiers Grove was Tom Buttars from Lincoln. (Did I say that everything had turned out perfect so far?) I quickly registered and then set up camp because I remembered the radar with that large green area just west of Prairie du Chien which was slowly moving east. I got everything set up and the weather just kept getting better and better. It soon became apparent any rain that was coming was going to be much later that evening. GR3 had 2 free kegs of beer so I had a free beer and walked up to a local bar/restaurant with a friend from Racine and had a great half pound hamburger. The place was packed and it took 2 1/2 hours to get served, but it was worth the wait. I walked back to camp and went up to get a second beer but the tap was dry. I decided to call it an evening and fell asleep almost immediately.
I woke up Saturday morn to cloudy skies but no rain. I was just getting ready for a ride when a 45 minute rain popped up. I waited an hour for it to dry and took off to explore the area. I got back in time to win a door prize. I talked to Dave Maly, who led the GR3 tour. They didn’t ride in rain, but when they stopped for lunch they had no sooner sat down then it rained. They got done with lunch and the rain stopped. How’s that for perfect weather?
The GR3 is at a really pretty location - good facility’s, flush toilets and 1 shower each for men and women. They also had extra showers off site. They have a nice meeting room that would have come in handy if the weather had turned ugly. They have the normal rally drinks plus the Friday night 2 keg extra. The roads around there are fantastic. Gay Mills is about 10 miles away and Hwy 171 is a beautiful ride from there to Boaz. Gay Mills is the Apple Capital of Wisconsin and is worth the ride to see in the fall when the apples are ripe.
Saturday night it rained from 2:10 to 2:30 but was sunny and warm Sunday morning. Had free coffee and rolls and packed up and “alphabeted” myself to Marquette, IA, where I had breakfast at the Marquette Café and Bar. (Used to be Marquette Hotel - same great food, new name.) After breakfast the skies turned black and the wind got stronger and the temperature got lower. I could only head West so into it I went on US 18. Came to the cutoff to Elkader and headed that way since it was lighter in that direction. Soon the temperature started to rise and so did the wind speed. In about 30 miles it turned black ahead of me but lighter west of me. I followed the old advice, “go west young man”. In another 30 miles it again turned black ahead of me and lighter south of me. So, I went south. After several changes of direction I ended up about 20 miles west of Cedar Rapids where a LOW, HUGE, BLACK, cloud that looked pregnant with rain was straight ahead of me. Nothing to do but duck down and fly the 4 miles to US30 where I could turn west toward blue skies. Just made the stop sign at Hwy 30 when a big drop hit my helmet shield. I gunned it west as fast as I could. Another big drop hit my windshield. I powered the RT shield full up and powered up the RT throttle. Seconds went by and then there I was under blue skies. Even though I was out of the rain cloud the wind really picked up and the temperature also went up to the 80’s. The flags were straining straight out from the flagpoles. (The last time I was in a wind that strong and that hot was the last time I was in front of Denny Erickson when he was telling one of his really good stories.)
The weekend had disaster forecasted all over it. Beside the wind and rain forecast and the tornado warnings for Iowa and southern Minnesota on the way home, a self proclaimed “know-it-all” had also forecasted “END OF THE WORLD - JUDGMENT DAY” for May 21. I had God running with me all weekend. I made it safely home - and I rode through only 6 drops of rain the entire trip. God probably spent so much time protecting me that he forgot about Judgement Day. All of you heathens out there that didn’t have to face judgment on May 21, you owe me. I will accept cash!!

Submitted by Dave McBride

Illinois Guzzi Rally 235, Weatherman 0

2011-06-13T10:01:00.000-05:00

I looked up Burlington, Iowa’s, zip code several days prior to the rally to get as much local weather info as I could from my weather channel from DirecTV. It didn’t look good. Having missed a couple events already this year because of work I decided to go. Because of the rotten forecast the RT was the bike of choice and Thursday was the day of departure.
On Thursday morning I waited until the temp reached 55O and left at 10AM. It looked like rain to the south and south west most of the trip but I never hit a drop. The wind was a slight bother the whole day - gusting at 20-30 mph. (Don’t want to know my gas milege for the trip!!)
Arriving at Big River campground a little after 3:00 in the afternoon I was greeted by around twenty bikers already there and several hundred black knats with more arriving by the minute. Of course I had my bug repellant in a safe place at home. I set up camp in record time swearing the whole time at those little S.O.Bugs.
Early Thursday evening I rode into Keithsburg for repellant and supper. About eight bikes of various brands were parked at the local bar. I went in and sat with a Guzzi rider I knew. On Thursday night they have a fairly large taco for $1.75 so I had a fairly cheap supper. Returning to the campground I was surprised to find free beer and pizza. Does life get any better than this?? Yes, it does!!
Friday morning the sun was coming up and they had fresh coffee and leftover pizza on a flattop grill for breakfast. Friday at noon four of us rode back to the bar in Kiethsburg for dinner. We watched the weather forecast and radar map….was sure happy I didn’t cross Iowa on Friday. They were still forecasting rain for the area for the weekend. Friday nite, still no rain but I could see a large Guzzi supper was in the forecast. Brats, hot dogs, chili, and Italian vegetable soup with beer for desert.
Woke up early Saturday morning and left with a group of Guzzi riders to go to Kirkwood for the free fireman’s breakfast. On the return trip we finally ran into a light rain for about five miles and that was all it rained on Saturday. At noon you could buy brats or burgers at the campground at a very good price.
Saturday night we were all forced to eat yet another large meal. After smelling the cooked barbecued pork all day this was a very enjoyable task. If you go hungry at a Guzzi rally, you came with lips sewed shut. I don’t know how they do it for such a low rally fee. Friday & Saturday nights they also had a blue grass band. Early Sunday morning we finally received our forecasted rain. Could not have been more than a few tenths. Sunday morning found more sunshine and a continental breakfast for everyone. The ride home was about as enjoyable as attending a high school graduation – more side winds but again no rain. It sure looked like rain a half a dozen times but the rain gods were good to me. Came home with bug bites and wind burn but still a pretty good weekend.

Submitted by Tom Meister

Another Dam Campout

2011-05-24T11:31:00.001-05:00

Another Dam Campout for the history books! Brion told me that this was the 8th annual Big Sioux Riders Dam/Mother's Day Campout and the weather was dam near perfect. I took off from Sioux Falls around 10 am on Saturday morning with the sun shining for a change. I had no specific route planned, thinking that the Sioux City people would be finished with lunch by the time I got to the Dock Bar outside of Running Water, SD anyway. I rode down Frog Creek Road, then Bluff Road and ended up crossing the Missouri River in Yankton. From there I headed west where I saw a sign that said "Dam Road Closed", but I didn't want to go that dam way anyhow. I headed south and west and crossed the bridge over the river near Niobrara, NE. When I arrived at the Dock Bar there were about 20 bikes in the parking lot. I thought that this was going to be the biggest dam campout ever. Then I discovered that there was another group of bikers besides the group from Sioux City. I also found out that I had arrived only a few minutes after the rest of the group. Gary Pederson had ridden down from Chester to have lunch with the group. We had a nice lunch outdoors on the deck and then some of the people headed back home and others took off to collect pictures for a rally they are doing. Gary and I headed for Pickstown and when we got to Highway 46, Gary headed back home and I went off to find the campsite.
I arrived at the camping area thinking that Larry and Bill would have their tents already set up, but they were nowhere in sight. I found out that they had ridden thru Springfield to see the yacht under construction and were fortunate enough to get invited up to see the inside of it. They spent over an hour visiting with the builder.
Not knowing what sites Brion had picked out I set my chair up in the shade and proceeded to have a few beverages while I waited for the group to arrive. I went to the bathroom and when I came out there was Larry, not only drinking his beer, but also one of mine. Words were exchanged and I wrestled my beer out of his hand. By then the rest of the group arrived and we got our tents set up for the night.
We rode to Fort Randall Casino for supper that night, picked up more beverages afterwards and then sat around a nice campfire and told the
usual lies. Just after I had retired to my tent I heard the most awful noise, and then maybe ten seconds later a louder noise. I got out of the tent and the people who were still up had discovered that a tree had fallen over. Actually it was a third of a tree, one with three trunks. It looked like debris had collected in the crotch and with moisture the wood had rotted away, and there just wasn't enough material left to hold the tree up. Fortunately no one had set their tent up under that tree. The next morning Brion took some pictures of some bum who was in the wrong place at the wrong time.
Come morning Brion already had coffee made for us. We packed up and returned to the casino to have the breakfast buffet. I said my goodbyes and headed home from there. The wind was a pain in the butt all the way home, probably 30-40 mph out of the south. I rode east for a while and then north to get a break from the wind and then back east. I got home about 1 pm. All in all a dam good campout, and that's my dam story. Yosemite Sam signing out!!!

Submitted by “Yosemite Sam”, aka Dale Nordlie

Autobahner Profile - Gary Landeen

2011-05-24T11:28:00.001-05:00

My first memories of motorcycles are from when I was 4 or 5 years old. Several of the employees from my father’s road construction company had Indians and Harleys and gave me rides on the tanks of their bikes. Motorcycles were always in my family. My father bought a 1917 Indian when he was 12 years old. My uncles had Indians and Harleys, too. When I was in grade school I was exposed to the Cushmans, Whizzers, HD Hummers, and Triumph Cubs that the older kids were riding to “hang out” at the Park Ridge Drug Soda Fountain.
I turned 16 in 1963. The Japanese motorbike invasion had hit Sioux Falls. Several dealers were renting out bikes for $5 for 4 hours. My buddies and I would rent them on a regular basis. I ran across a 40’s 500cc Triumph with no title, no license, and little compression for $20. I went down to the “five & dime” & bought a stencil kit. Presto - a paper plate was made and I was riding. This bike had more oil on the outside than on the inside. I rode this bike for a few weeks and had a rear blowout. I nursed it over to Roy Lodes Harley shop on Marion Rd. (Sx.Flls.) and sold it to him for the same amount I paid for it - $20.
I was without a bike until 1966 when I bought a used 250 Ducati Diana from Tom Haight (a British bike dealer in Sx.Flls). I couldn't get it running so I traded it in on a used TR6 650 Triumph. I “played in the dirt” with it until I sold it when I moved to San Francisco at the end of ‘66.
I bought a 305 Honda chopper in 1967. It looked good but needed a little “souping up”. I bought a 415cc kit, twin Amal carbs, and a Harmon Collins roller cam. This “livened” it up enough to take to the drags in Hayward, CA. In 1968 I moved back to SD and had Tom Haight put in bigger valves , port it, etc. I raced Jerry Chaney several times at Thunder Valley. This bike was a real sleeper.
Several bikes were bought and sold from 1968 to 1972 - a couple 65 Triumphs, a BSA 441 "hill climber", Hondas of various sizes. I moved to Denver in 1972 and kept only the Honda chopper. A close call on the Valley Freeway in ’73 convinced me to sell the chopper. No more bikes until 1976 when I traded a snowmobile for a 550 Honda.
In ‘77 I bought my first true antique bike, a 1946 Simplex Servicycle with 48 miles on it. I also met a collector of Indians and my dream to one day own one of for those “skirted fender” Chiefs, or earlier 4 cylinder models, or “teen” Indians began.
In 1990 I started working with Preston Evans, a wealthy auctioneer. We partnered up on buying slot machines, juke boxes, music boxes, and anything coin operated. I traveled America in search of these items for Preston but was always on the lookout for vintage bikes for myself. I bought the bikes and sold them on Preston’s auctions. I bought my first BMW, a R27. It was a little under powered for my liking and I sold it. My next BMW was a R69S purchased along with an Indian branded Royal Enfield Constellation. One of my many regrets is selling both of these. They were great bikes, but I always had to sell in order to buy the next bike. I think I bought my first Chief, a 46 model, with those proceeds.
Preston then asked me to team with him on bikes, also. For 18 years I used Preston’s money to buy any and all the bikes that I thought would make money. I would buy 30 to 50 bikes a year. We would hold an auction of antiques with the bikes mixed in. We did auctions at Alcester, SD; LeMars, IA; Eureka Springs, AR; and Atlanta among a few. When the recession came on in 2007, we shut the auctions down. Preston bought several buildings in Warm Springs, GA, and started a motorcycle museum called Art in Motion (www.prestonopportunities.com). He has approximately 140 American, British, European & racing bikes. The oldest is a 1902 Marsh.
I had a red R65 BMW when I met Jerry Zeeb. He brought me along on a ride with Autobahners Bob Vagstad, Woody Waagmeester, Dennis Erickson, and Jim Pentico. I had a lot of fun and was next invited to Dareo’s Breakfast Group. Next was an invitation to join the Autobahn Club. I went on several of the rides to Colorado; Petosi, Missouri; and Money Creek. Those are some of my best motorcycle memories. I’ve also owned a 1983 R80 BMW that I bought from former Autobahner Carl Edeburn (Brookings) along with his two 1975 Nortons and a R90RT that I bought from Lee Hendrix. I have been buying and selling bikes for 48 years but I have never owned a new bike!!
Currently I own 8 Indians in different stages of completion. Three I am building for Bonnevile, 1 for flattrack, and 1 for hill climbing. Two will be riders. I have Tom Haight’s 1956 500cc Matchless G80 CS single. There are 2 Kawasaki Drifters my wife, Pat, and I ride when we want to actually arrive at a destination. My daughter at Laguna Niguel, CA, thinks I’ve turned her mother into a Hell’s Angel. She has no interest in motorcycles.

Marty Dickerson, old-time Bonneville Salt Flats racer. CBX Honda at Thunder Valley Raceway Sep.’10. Gary purchased this 1947 HD Servicycle used
The World’s Fastest Indian movie based on his life. by Hutton-Tufty a Chrysler Dealer in Sx.Flls.

Hint from Gary: If you want to get past your spouse when purchasing motorcycles, take her out to the garage and announce, “Honey, look what I bought you”. It has worked for me every time!

by Gary Landeen

Prez Sez, by Gary Johnson

2011-05-24T11:21:00.000-05:00

Just a few days ago, I thought we were looking a "global cooling" and today, as I write this, it could get close to 90! Well the riding season has started, complete with gale force winds and thunderstorms. It's spring in the midwest! I was very jealous Saturday of the riders that went to the Mother's Day campout at Pickstown. What a beautiful day to ride and camp. Sunday, however, I wasn't quite as envious when I woke up to thunder and rain, followed by hurricane force winds. Maybe the weather will improve as we move on toward June.
I did get to stop in Watertown last Saturday and check out the KLR Sidecar bike again. An odd combination, but very cool in it's own unique way. It would be fun to go to Gina's BMW in Iowa City this Sat. 5/13 for the open house. There will be 16 of the new K1600's to demo.
I guess I can't think of anything else so I'm going back to my "dream world". Take care, ride safe, ride often! Gary "Otto Bon" Johnson.

Happy Anniversary Marlin & Betty Wolter

2011-05-24T11:20:00.000-05:00

Marlin & Betty Wolter
Invite Autobahners to join them in celebrating their 40th Anniversary

Saturday, May 28

Starting at 5:30PM

At their home at

1303 Starling Ave.

Ocheyedan, Ia.

Please RSVP by May 20 to Lesa at
Inleinen@hotmail.com if you are coming
They request no gifts.
P.S. Betty will also be celebrating her 60th birthday

Prez Sez

2011-04-26T22:53:00.001-05:00

By Gary “Otto Bon” Johnson
Hello everyone! As I write this, spring has ended and we are back into winter. Ride whenever you can, 'cause bad weather seems to be the norm rather than the exception.
A few member notes: I visited Gary Haines a couple of days ago, and he seems to have improved since my visit the week before. Keep Gary in your prayers and see him when you are able. He's in RM 359 at the Sioux Falls V.A. Hospital, 2501 W. 22nd St, 57105
Also, I heard that the Auduses (Wes & Mary) have moved to Rochester, MN. Now. that doesn't mean you can skip the Wed. night suppers! You are both retired and have plenty of time to make it to the suppers.
Oh, by the way, our Martinsburg ride was well attended with people from as far away as Alaska and Norway attending!! Uff dah!! There was even a full moon that day! I think we all had enough to eat and we all had enough wind! We were able to travel some roads before they were flooded. That was a good first club ride of the new season and if winter ends maybe there will be more.
I’m kind of thinking of a New Ulm (Schells) and/or Lucan, MN (Brau Bros.) ride in the near future. Other suggestions will be welcome. My RT is running great and I’m looking forward to many great rides and stories to tell. Take care.

Martinsburg NE, Bob's Bar

2011-04-26T22:50:00.001-05:00

Five Bikes and a “Quad” leave Sioux Falls for “Big Burgers” at Martinsburg,NE
Story by Dale Nordlie. Pictures by Brion Hase, Gary Johnson, Dale Nordlie & Mary Hawes

Larry Hawes, Bill Claussen, Gary Johnson, Dennis Erickson and Dale Nordlie put on “many layers” before heading for the “Big Burger Capital of the World”, Bob’s Bar at Martinsburg, NE. The trek is an annual “first nice Saturday in March” ride. Bob Jensen followed up in shirt sleeves in his HHR.

Gary thought that rather than setting a specific date in March for our ride to Bob's Bar this year, we should schedule it for the first nice Saturday. That turned out to be March 19th. Gary, Bill, Larry, Dennis, Bob and I took off from Grandma Max's with the temperature somewhere in the 40s. We rode back roads down to Vermillion and caught up with Gerald and a friend of his from Alaska, Jay Johnson, at the gas station on the edge of town. (See insert at right.) They hadn't ridden into Sioux Falls earlier, because of fog and crappy weather farther east. From there we crossed the bridge over the Missouri River into Nebraska.
We arrived at Bob's Bar (Home of the Big Burger) in Martinsburg around noon. Someone commented that the place looked closed and he looked into the window to see if anyone was around. Evidently the bartender/cook/waitress saw him and soon was at the window making faces and sticking out her tongue. I thought that would be a good shot for the newsletter and got my camera off the bike, AND THEN, I look up and she was mooning us. Neither Gary nor I was quick enough to get that shot - Gary's camera batteries were dead and I was just too slow. She told me that she had been wanting to do that for over two weeks (must have been a hard winter in Nebraska), and we were the "lucky" recipients. I couldn't convince her to do a repeat performance for the camera!!
We sat at a large table in the back of the bar and placed our orders. Soon Ed Hill and a friend of his from Norway and Brion and Al from Sioux City joined us. We had burgers and cheeseburgers and french fries and fried mushrooms and onion rings and cheese balls and soda and beer - all of the essential food groups. If you are not familiar with Bob’s, I should tell you that besides the burgers being big, the side orders are huge. Everyone got their fill and I think there was still some food left. Many of the world problems were discussed and solved and soon it was time to hit the road. We rode back through Vermillion and then east through Spink and Akron, Ia., and then north. This was the Autobahn Club's third annual March ride to Bob's Bar. We had 12 people in attendance, 9 bikes and 2 cars--not a bad turn out for mid-March in the midwest.
Ed writes, “Bill and his wife live in a small town in northern Norway. (He is actually an ethnic Laplander) She is a scientist, he is a carpenter, and they have three beautiful young girls. She does scientific research (molecular cell structure and deeper) and teaches at a Norwegian university. Twice the university has sent her to San Diego, CA, on a research grant. The most recent was from just before Christmas until this March. As the winter in Norway is not a great time for construction, Bill and the kids went with her. Bill home schooled their kids thru the internet with their school back home while in San Diego.
Bill likes BMW motorcycles, fast cars, old tractors (and beer). You know he has to be a great guy. Thanks to our members at Bob’s Bar in Martinsburg, he really had a good time there. He said it was the highlight of his trip. He and his family are now back home in Norway.”

Annual Meeting Questionaire Response

2011-04-26T22:46:00.000-05:00

Thanks to those of you who took the time to respond to the questionnaire with last month’s newsletter. There were NO complaints - unless you count the several questions, “Where was the desert?” Imagine that, someone from Autobahn, aka “WHINE and DINE club”, wanting desert???

Favorable comments were:
--Food was good and plenty of it. Liked
the menu and the buffet style.
--Enjoyed the round table set up – easy to
visit. The party room was nice size.
--The cloth tablecloths & napkins, &
glassware made it seem special.
--There was easy access to lower level
entrance from parking area which also
had plenty of parking spaces.
--Good selection of door prizes which kept
everyone’s interest.

Everyone commented on one of the questions – availability of alcohol. It was unanimous. The availability, or not, of alcohol would not be the determining factor of whether or not an Autobahner would attend the Annual Meeting. However, several said they would enjoy a beer if it was available.

Some suggestions for future meetings:
--Give out some awards – funny & serious.
--If the venue serves liquor, do not have a
bar and bartender specifically for
Autobahn. Those who prefer a drink
would not mind purchasing from the
main bar.
--Could a simple desert have been
substituted at Cherry Creek for the
second potato entrée.

Below is an unofficial report on receipts and expenses from the Annual Meeting.

Receipts:
Meals and “bonus”
door prize tickets. $890.00
Expenses:
Meals $917.32
Room Rent 75.00
Door Prizes 340.25
Total Expenses $1332.57

Note from Tom Meister

2011-04-26T22:45:00.000-05:00

Happy to see that the Autobahn Society is still in good hands. You (JoAnn) and Mary do a great job on the Newsletters. I’ve been reading last year’s letters to get me through the winter. Could you put a want ad in the newsletter for me. Wanted: A 33/11 rear drive for a R90/6. Also included a joke you can use if you want to fatten up the newsletter a little.
This April I will be celebrating an anniversary of sorts. I will have owned my R90/6 for thirty-six years. It doesn’t seem possible. The price was amazing, for me at least, at that time - $3200. That got me a 1975 R90/6 with crash bars.
This sweet running boxer has taken me to a lot of rallies over the years. From Key West & back, the Three Flags Classic which took us to Tijuana and up to Vancouver, and from there to Winnipeg and then down to the Dells BMW rally. Paige Herrig also riding a R90/6 at the time was a constant riding buddy of mine.
Due to riding style changes only, I am on the third fairing, second gas tank and third set of handlebars. I think I’ll keep her a little longer. I would rather sell my grandmother into slavery than sell that bike.

Autobahner Profile - Gordon Courbat

2011-04-26T22:41:00.000-05:00

Submitted by Gordon Courbat
Susan and I met about 17 years ago in Denver where she owned a photography business and I was working in the roofing industry. This is our 15th year of marriage and we have been blessed with a son, Kohl, who is 12 years old and attends Tea Intermediate School. Susan is a Coding Manager at Sanford and I work on a seasonal basis with a contractor specializing in stone coated steel roofing, windows, siding and sunrooms. I spent nearly 20 years as a commercial photographer and the past 23 years in the roofing business. We also own and manage a few rental properties which keep me in a constant state of anxiety and frustration. We moved to SD 10 years ago to be closer to family members who had major health issues and we wanted to bring up our son with family and what we thought was a better environment for him to grow up in.
A 1952 Harley Hummer was my first bike at the age of 14 and at 16 I bought a 1948 Triumph 500 Speed Twin rigid frame (picture at bottom of page) that had been built for a flat track racer in Waterloo, Ia., and converted to a street bike. A friend of mine bought a new 1957 Bonneville and it really used to irritate him that my old 500 could leave him in the dust. Why did I sell that thing? My parents sold it for me while I was away in the Marines and needed the money*#*.
As the years passed by I have owned a succession of other bikes. In the early 60's I worked for Kellogg’s Cereal in Battle Creek, Mi. and started racing flat track and TT around the midwest area. We had a group of about 6 guys that rode together year around either trail riding or traveling to the races. Lots of fun and crazy experi- ences those days.
In 1969 I decided I wanted to be a photographer and moved to Santa Barbara, CA to attend school at Brooks's Institute of Photography. Later I had a photography business and camera store in Breckenridge, CO., and traveled for an advertising agency doing photo assignments - primarily for Eli Lily Co. in their farm products division. Later I took a job marketing stone coated steel roofing and discovered that I really enjoyed the work, the people, the outdoors and the fact I could also make use of my photo skills. So here I am still selling a product that I thoroughly believe in and getting the opportunity to meet a lot of nice people in the process. But, this weather is beginning to p_ _ _ me off!!!
I was introduced to Autobahn and BMWs by Jerry Zeeb and Gary Landeen. Last summer I bought my first BMW (89 K100RS) and a short time later sold it and purchased a 2003 F-650CS that seems to fit me much better. I have never really done any touring and am looking forward to some good rides and a little adventure with some of the great people I've met in your group. Susan is not too fond of motorcycles so I will be traveling one-up and taking lots of photos. Lately I have been trying to outfit my bike and equipment to be ready for the fun to begin! Always open to your tips and suggestions. Anyone up for the MOA Rally in Pa. this summer???
As a family we enjoy camping and bicycle riding and plan to travel to Chattanooga, TN, this summer to visit Susan's brother, Kevin Ault, and his family. From what I hear there are some pretty awesome places to ride in Tennessee. How do we fit this all in? We're going to try!!!

Autobahn Society Annual Meeting/Party

2011-02-06T20:22:00.000-06:00

Autobahn Annual Meeting/Party

Saturday, February 19, 2011
6:00PM Social Hour - Cash Bar
7:00PM Dinner
Business Meeting to Follow
(2011 Club Dues will be collected)

Cherry Creek Grill
3104 E. 26th St, Sioux Falls, S.D
Lower Level Party Room
Use door on N. side of building

Features “Perfect Buffet”
Chicken Breast in Cream Sauce, Roast Beef,
Salad Bar, Potatoes, Vegetable & Coffee

Cost - $20 per person (includes tip)

Please RSVP Soon
Jo Anne Zeeb,
joannzeeb@hotmail.com or 605-498-1322
or Gary Johnson,
buzzfeldspar@yahoo.com or 605-558-1008

Da Prez Sez, February 2011, by Gary Johnson

2011-02-06T20:17:00.001-06:00

Hi everyone. Time is slipping by fast until the Annual Meeting. I hope to see lots of you there. We will have elections for the following positions; President, Sec-treasuer, and newsletter editor/publisher. Be thinking about who you would like to have in those positions. There will be door prizes, maybe a program, maybe other surprises, who knows what can happen at an Autobahn Annual Meeting?
I need to get a good number turned in to Cherry Creek so we have enough food for everyone. If you haven’t made your reservation, do so SOON.
Bob Jenson volunteered his place to anyone who wants a place to stay after the meeting. Bob is only a few blocks from Cherry Creek and he says anyone can "campout" in his basement. This is an option for anyone who doesn't want to drive home afterward or just wants to save the money they would spend on a motel room. Contact him at 605-201-4199.
Now for some personal comments, Jan & I survived a rather nasty car accident January 9th. Thanks to divine intervention, I believe, we were spared serious injuries or worse. Thanks to all of you for your prayers and other acts of kindness. We feel very blessed to have such good friends.
I hope to see all of you Feb. 19th and I sincerely hope all of us have a safe, fun, and productive rest of the year! Gary, "Das Prez" Johnson.

Das Prez Sez, January 2011, By Gary Johnson

2011-02-06T20:12:00.000-06:00

I hope all of you had a great Christmas and New Years. James & Linda Anderson, Dale Nordlie, the First Lady & I attended the Big Sioux Riders' Christmas party in Sioux City last month. A good time was had by all. In a sad note I want all of you to keep Randy Roos in your prayers. Randy was at the party in good spirits and a few days later was flown to Sanford Hospital in Sioux Falls with some serious medical issues and is still in intensive care.
Back to the point I'm trying to make; It seems whenever motorcycle riders get together, there is a comradery that's hard to beat. It can be the Wed. night suppers, Sat. AM breakfasts, rallies, Hawes Biker Days, the annual meeting or just a few riders getting together for coffee or beverages. Whatever it is, there seems to be a fun factor that makes our lives so much more enjoyable. By now, some of us are getting cabin fever or riding withdrawals. Not all of us can seek out better weather. I got a Christmas gift that is helping my fragile mental state. It's a small remote controlled helicopter called an "Air Hog" (no connection to the 2 wheeled "Hog"). I was sort of joking about wanting a toy helicopter that really flies, and my step-daughter got one for me! It's really fun, some hands-on activity that takes my mind off riding, or lack of riding. It's sort of like a giant dragon fly buzzing around the living room. Anyway, that's how I am coping with this frigid weather. Have a good New Year, see you at the Annual Meeting!
P.S. My New Year’s Resolutions are ----
RIDE MORE, RIDE MORE, & RIDE MORE!!.

The Autobahn in Colorado, by Rich Crawford

2011-02-06T20:08:00.001-06:00

Reba and I lived in Iowa for over 41 years, the last 11 in the tri-state area surrounding Sioux Falls, SD. We’ve always enjoyed the orderliness of the gently rolling hills and square sections of land surrounded by gravel or paved roads, always well maintained. Motorcycle riding amidst Iowa farmland is fairly predictable, and you always know where you are or how far you are from the next intersection – there’s one every mile. Many riders follow the river valleys (Big Sioux, Little Sioux, Rock, etc) to escape the monotony of roads that always run straight north-south or east-west. We search for sweeping curves and hills that allow us to appreciate the great engineering of our Beemers, Harleys or Rice Burners.
Moving to Colorado during the spring of 2010 allowed us to experience those sweeping curves and hills (mountains) on an everyday basis. In fact, we first tested those hills in August, 2009. After linking up with son Tony in Milwaukee, who was relocating from Bronx, NY, to the Denver area on his 1980’s vintage K75 via a 6-week route, we rode together across WI and IA to Larchwood (elev. 1440). A few weeks later we saddled up once again for a 2-day ride to Golden, CO, by way of the Black Hills. Immediately upon arriving at Tony’s sister’s place in Golden, we were informed the plan for the next day was a ride up “the highest continuous hard surface highway in the continental U.S.” . The whole family gathered at Katix’s place (she lives in a motor home in Golden) to welcome Tony to his new state, and to celebrate with a family ride up Mount Evans. By noon we had traversed some of the most interesting sweeping curves and mountain roads (most without side rails) to reach the summit at 14,246’ above sea level.
Now remember, two days earlier Tony and I were at Larchwood, with an elevation just over one tenth that of Mount Evans. By the time we reached the summit, we were both light-headed. I felt very unsteady at the helm of my R1100RT. My stomach was upset, and I had no stamina. I suggested to my 15-yr old passenger that he might want to ride back down the hill with his Dad on his Honda for safety’s sake. Seeing the increasing blue-green color of my complexion, he quickly agreed. By the time we took a rest break at around 10,000 feet I felt much better. If you like challenging hills, sweeping curves and breathtaking views, I recommend the trip up Mount Evans, just west of Denver and Golden. Just don’t do it your first day in Colorado !
This July, after living in our rural Colorado Springs home (elev 7,350) for 5 months, Reba and I agreed that the ride up Pike’s Peak was well overdue. We can appreciate the view of the Peak from our family room (as can most of the folks living in the SE quarter of the state) but we’d never challenged the hill. I was committed to hiking up Pike’s Peak on Saturday with a group of young men from church, and felt it would be a great idea for Reba & I to motor to the top in advance to get a feel for the hill. We rode 40 miles southwest from home, and reached the base of the mountain by 10AM. Before noon we’d conquered it on the RT, learning that the peak was at 14,115’ elevation, and that the route is still not all blacktop. They’re improving the highway each year, but there are still over 3 miles of gravel somewhere near the tree line. Yes, we both still experienced a bit of that light-headed feeling at the peak, but not nearly as acutely as before we had become acclimated to the thin air. It’s another of those rides I recommend to each of you.
There are two caveats I’ll pass on to you about riding in Colorado. First, there are few level parking lots. If you’re accustomed to bringing your RT to a stop and putting both feet on the ground at the same time, get ready for a change. My favorite passenger and I were coasting to a stop at the visitor’s center at the U.S. Air Force Academy, looking for a safe place to park out of traffic. In a moment of inattention, I was shocked to find that while my left boot hit the pavement as planned my right boot was still perhaps 6” from terra firma. As you may be aware, this can result in an embarrassing fall to the right and an upset passenger. Fortunately she was wearing her helmet, and suffered only a bruise on the leg. And the RT?? - a busted right mirror glass once again ($88). The biggest embarrassment was the need to accept the assistance of a young AF cadet in righting the bike.
While Reba limped toward the Visitor’s Center I searched for a safe parking place and chose a small spot near the curb at the opposite end of the parking lot, safe from four-wheeled demons. I parked the RT on the side stand, realizing this spot sloped to the right too much for the center stand. Well, you know what happened after our tour of the Visitor’s Center and lunch. We donned our jackets, helmets and gloves, and I suggested to Reba that she mount the bike before I did (she finds that easier to do when we have both the trunk and side bags installed.) Since I underestimated the grade of the parking lot, the left handlebar simply escaped my hand as she mounted, pulling the bike to the curb on the right side again. This time it broke the whole mirror assembly ($278 or something like that). I won’t even mention that Reba took a much harder fall this time, hitting her helmeted head on the concrete curb. And yes, since it was parent’s weekend, there was another strapping young cadet quick to impress his folks with his ability to assist an old soldier in making his bike vertical again.
I promised you two caveats. First, no level parking lots. Second, they won’t take your check in Colorado. At least not without your driver’s license, birth certificate and certified letter of credit from your bank. I took the RT to the local Colorado Springs BMW dealer for a tire replacement. One thing led to another and soon we have a $918 total bill for two tires, complete 18,000 mile servicing, and a few other extras. Just before closing time service manager phoned to say the bike is done, so I pulled Reba off the lawn mower to accompany me to the shop. In our rush, neither of us thought to bring a billfold or purse, credit card or driver’s license. As we finished going over the service ticket and trying to figure out how a tire or two resulted in a $918 tally, I gave up and wrote out the check. “We’ll need to see your Colorado driver’s license.” Well, no, it’s in the office. “Your wife’s?” No, it’s in her car at home. Gave him my social security number (against my better judgment) and he tried running my check through his machine. No, the machine refused it. Gotta’ be your Colorado driver’s license. By this time a mechanic started wheeling my Beemer back inside the shop, so the fact that I had the ignition key in my little hand did not mean a thing. We had to make a second trip to the city the next day to redeem the RT. In SD you can write a check for your gas or groceries or bike service any day. On a recent visit to Aberdeen the supermarket clerk even offered to accept my out-of-state check in exchange for cash to give me some walking-around money. But in Colorado, bring your credit or debit card…..and your driver’s license. “In God we trust; for all others it’s cash or VISA”.
In closing, just let me state how much fun it is to ride the RT on Colorado’s sweeping blacktop mountain curves and high speed interstates. One August Saturday when cruising toward my son’s new home in surburban Denver, I noted that the speed of traffic in left lane of 8-lane Interstate 25 within the city limits was 90 MPH by my speedometer. In Wyoming when cruising I-25 north of Cheyenne toward Spearfish, I found myself easily cruising 100 to 110. In Wyoming , they don’t care, and there do not seem to be any state patrol cars. However, I was shocked when a friend pointed out to me that I had been lax on my attention to tire maintenance. Steel belts were showing all along the middle of my rear tire. And that’s what led to the $918 invoice---and now you know the rest of the story.

Das Prez Sez, December 2010, by Gary Johnson

2010-12-14T22:13:00.000-06:00

It's December! The first Saturday of the month and Jan and I were at breakfast with her sister Sharyl and the Autobahners. 15 of us there today. Good turn-out. Once again there was an information overload and I left much smarter then I came. Please don't take any chances, you could be getting stupid, just by missing the Saturday morning breakfasts!!
Thanks to all for your prayers and kind words of support for Jan (the First Lady) who had surgery to remove her thyroid last Wednesday. She is doing well and enjoyed getting out this morning for breakfast. (and got smarter because of it).
This afternoon I bundled up and rode the Kymco to the Newton Hills and back. It was in the upper 20's and the roads were mostly dry (maybe I need another dose of breakfast). Anyway, it was fun to get a ride in.
Have a good Christmas everyone, and if anyone has a R1200RT they want to "re-gift" send it my way! Thanks, Gary (das Prez).

Another Episode in the Saga of Doug and his Motorcycle, by Doug Schafer

2010-12-14T22:10:00.000-06:00

I had a wonderful ride with the Autobahners and the Sioux City crowd to Bob’s Bar in Martinsburg, Neb. More than one expressed joy that I had purchased a new bike and wouldn’t have any more problems with the old 1995 R100RT (Ole Red). Sorry, guys, I still have the old bike and plan on continuing to ride it. After all if I had traded it in where would all my stories come from? So the following is an update:

(Note: Reread September Rolling Wheels and refresh your memory on Doug and his granddaughter’s “almost” trip to the Top O’ the Rockies Rally. Doug took his bike to Judson when he returned home to have the problem diagnosed and this story begins there. - editor)

I barrowed a loaner bike from Ron to ride home after delivering my RT. It began getting dark and I realized I didn’t have any lights. I limped into the Hawes’, left the loaner, and they shuttled me to the Salem exit on I-90 where the “Mad Norwegian” picked me up. In the meantime Ron at Judson Cycle discovered that my charging difficulties were from a weak spring in one of the brushes. No bad rotor after all. All that trouble for a 50 cent spring. Joe, my grandson, volunteered to ride the loaner back to Judson for me, pick up the R100RT and bring it back as far as the Hawes’. For one reason or another I had not been able to get Ole Red the rest of the way home. When I finally made an attempt we discovered that the back tire was covered with oil. Mary and I thought it was the rear seal but Larry set us straight that the shock had just let go and drained all the oil unto the tire and wheel. I left the RT there and dwelled on a plan 2.
The day after the Martinsburg excursion, I fired “Gertie” up and headed for the Hawes’ for a second attempt at getting the RT. Now “Gertie” is kind of small. She is an ‘81 VW Rabbit diesel pickup. Her diesel engine is about 6 HP less than Ole Red, but she recently had a head rebuild. The box is 6 foot long but only about 3 foot wide. The cab is diminutive. I’m not. To get in I have to plop my butt down, duck my head in, lean over to the right, and pull one leg in at a time. Reverse that to get out.
With Larry and Mary’s help we got the bike loaded and secured with a multitude of straps and ratchets and wire. Larry suggested that we load the pickup on the back of Ole Red and go home that way?!? Mary admonished me not to speed - it rarely gets over 55 MPH but does get about 45 MPG at that speed. Ole Red was HUGE in the back of the pickup. I “tiptoed” to the blacktop, drove to Manley, MN, and checked the straps. I put one extra click in one. I didn’t want to stop often so I turned north and headed to the Interstate. “Gertie” settled in at about 52 MPH indicated and I headed west. The wind was very strong from the south and every time we were passed by anything larger than an SUV the top heavy, narrow pickup would sway MENACINGLY. When a semi passed it was PANICSVILLE. I had visions of a semi creating enough suction to tip my whole rig over.
When I finally made it to a lowered 65 MPH speed area I was passed with less force. The 25 MPH cloverleaf at I-90/I-29 was taken at less than the recommended speed. That was probably “a first” in the 50 years that the interchange has been in existence. When I finally turned off the interstate, the excruciating pain in my chest started to subside. No, I don’t believe it was cardiac in nature rather it was the extreme muscle fatigue that my less than massive pectorals were suffering from my death grip on the wheel. Now on two-lane roads the cars behind me no longer had a passing lane and were impolitely impatient. Only one gave me the great American salute. Was I really going that slow? I’m thinking that if I get “Gertie” and Ole Red home in one piece, this might make a good story. When I stopped at a stoplight a moth that I had hit on the Interstate in Minnesota that was stuck between the windshield and the wiper just shook itself off and flew away. (You cannot make something like that up).
When I made it home almost 2 hours and about 80 miles later all was well. Even a Styrofoam cup, half full of coffee, balanced on the transmission tunnel hadn’t fallen off. A neighbor came over and helped Marge and me unload it. Life is good and the saga will continue.
PS. Next up for “Gertie” are new springs, shocks and struts. After all they are 29 years old.

Autobahners make Fall Trek to Bob's Burgers at Martinsburg NE for Lunch.

2010-12-14T22:07:00.001-06:00

A tradition to ride to Bob's Bar in Martinsburg, NE, for giant size ham-burgers in March and again in late fall has started with this club. Bad weather often occurred on these scheduled dates. This fall we decided not to schedule but to watch the weather forecast and pick a Saturday when the weather was to be favorable and leave after Saturday morning breakfast even if it meant only a few days notice. With the magic of e-mail all Autobahners (almost) were notified and we had a good turn-out.
On Sat. November 6th, people started showing up for breakfast at Grandma Max's. It was a sunny morning with temps in the balmy 30’s. We had riders that seldom make it to the Sat. morning “brain trust” except for the anticipation of the culinary treat that awaits us some 100 miles to the south across the border in "Husker" country. We rode the back roads of Minnehaha, Lincoln, Turner, and Clay counties and the crossed the Missouri River south of Vermillion, SD. Then it was on to Newcastle and Ponca, before the final 7 miles to our destination. There were riders from as far away as Menno, Yankton, Hardwick, and Sioux City, just to name a few towns represented. We arrived plenty early and had our choice of tables. Bob's still had all the amenities I remember from previous trips. We ordered and the burgers were huge, the sides huge, and the prices modest. If I remember correctly there were 16 of us in our group. No one left hungry. It's always fun to see the looks on the faces of people that have never been there before when the food is brought out. The ride back was awesome with that strong south wind on our backs. So, let's "plan" on a trip back to Bob's in March, 2011, when the roads are dry and the temps are north of 32 degrees.

Rushed by the Wind

2010-12-03T17:40:00.002-06:00

Rushed by the Wind. by Cecilia Elaine Gillen (age 10)

I tuck my hair behind my ears, and slip my blinding red helmet on. Kicking my leg over the motorcycle, I get on. I see a mouse scatter by as my dad gets on next. He revs the engine, and the motorcycle roars to life. We back out of a toy stuffed garage.
Then we race down the street as I take in whiffs of gas fumes. Now we're nearing the gas station. As we slowed down the wind whistled around my helmet. My dad stops to feed the bike the ooey gooey gas it constantly craves. Then my dad shoots me a gigantic smile. We take off again rushing into the country. The grass sways peacefully as the mixture of herbs and grains come together to create an earthy smell. We come to a sudden halt and I slam up against my dad's back. I murmur I'm sorry but he doesn't hear me. Instead he turns around, and we head home.
The land become familiar and soon we enter our neighborhood. Now we're nearing the house. Dad opens the garage door, and we enter. He kicks down the peg, and gets off first according to plan. I get off next. Then we both start to take off our gear. I pull off my helmet, and my hair is no longer silky, but poofy and full of static. Home Sweet Home.

The Prez Sez, October 2010

2010-10-18T19:34:00.000-05:00

Submitted by Gary Johnson
Hi everyone. Do any of you feel like the riding season has sort of passed you by? Well I do, and here's why; lots of plans, or should I say desires to go to more rallies this year, too many other things going on or coming up that prevented rally attendance. Weather forecasts that discouraged rally attendance. I'm guilty of lack of commitment I guess. I hope this hasn't happened to you.
October can be a great month to get some quality riding time in. The Falling Leaf Rally is a good one, or so I've heard. This year lack of enough vacation time from work is my demise. To those of you who are fortunate enough to go, have a safe and fun trip. Another thing that bothers me, is the good people that are newer members to the club and I haven't see you lately. Part of this is my fault for missing so many Saturday morning breakfasts. I hope to be there more regularly the rest of this year and beyond. Well, maybe I've said enough for now. Let's hope this October brings us better weather than last year's dismal, poor excuse for fall weather. I rode more in November last year than I did in October! Take care everyone, and sneak those rides in when you can!

Women's Health Issue

2010-10-18T19:32:00.000-05:00

Below is the contribution that Dale did e-mail to me. Not the “KLR tipped over/ egg plant colored ankle” story I was looking for. But interesting none the less. Could it be a coincidence that I received it just days after I sat next to Dale at the Wednesday night supper at Cherry Creek and enjoyed a strawberry margarita? It was half-price margarita night - there was no choice!!

Women's Health Issue
Do you have feelings of inadequacy? Do you suffer from shyness? Do you sometimes wish you were more assertive? Do you suffer exhaustion from the day to day grind? If you answered yes to any of these questions, ask your doctor or pharmacist about Margaritas.
Margaritas are the safe, natural way to feel better and more confident about yourself and your actions. Margaritas can help ease you out of your shyness and let you tell the world that you're ready and willing to do just about anything. You will notice the benefits of Margaritas almost immediately and with a regiment of regular doses you can overcome any obstacles that prevent you from living the life you want to live. Shyness and awkwardness will be a thing of the past and you will discover many talents you never knew you had. Stop hiding and start living, with Margaritas. Margaritas may not be right for everyone. Women who are pregnant or nursing should not use Margaritas. However, women who wouldn't mind nursing or becoming pregnant are encouraged to try it.

SIDE EFFECTS MAY INCLUDE: Dizziness, nausea, vomiting, incarceration, loss of motor control, loss of clothing, loss of money , table dancing, headache, dehydration, dry mouth, and a desire to sing Karaoke.

WARNINGS: The consumption of Margaritas may make you think you are whispering when you are not. The consumption of Margaritas may cause you to tell your friends over and over again that you love them. The consumption of Margaritas may cause you to think you can sing. The consumption of Margaritas may make you think you can logically converse with members of the opposite sex without spitting.

Editor Note: I didn’t have (at least I can’t remember) any side effects but I still can’t sing!! I’ll keep taking the medication. Thanks, Dale.

My New F650GS Twin

2010-10-18T19:31:00.001-05:00

Submitted by Doug Schafer

Mary Hawes was listening to all the banter at the Wednesday night supper and asked for a contribution to the Newsletter that needs to be put out shortly. Dale had an exciting story to tell about a near life threatening motorcycle encounter and a savior in the form of two women, but he declined. She then twisted my arm, about a _ a degree, to tell you about my new F650GS twin. This is the same bike I sat on out in Sturgis when Meggy and I were coming back from our Thermopolis, Wy. adventure.
I had ridden this model of bike at the BMWMOA Rally in Gillette and knew then that it should be my next BMW. I was angry at BMW for lying to me when I discovered that the 2008 F650GS that I thought was a single turned out to be a detuned 800. But ya’ know that test ride really did put a smile on my face. It had been a real hoot to test ride.
I had asked Judson Cycle to get me one of these in blue and thought the deal was done, but due to circumstances beyond their control, it was not to be. Jill worked diligently and found what I wanted at Sturgis Yamaha/BMW. They even agreed to the same deal I had worked out with Judson. I tried to work out a deal to pick it up the morning of Hawes Biker days and ride it back to the campout for the greatest impact of oooohs and aaaahs. Alas, that was not to be either.
So the next Saturday, my Doc let me leave work at 11:00 AM. I beat feet home and picked up the Mad Norwegian, Danielle (youngest daughter), and Morgan (the other motorcycling granddaughter) and we headed west, arriving at Sturgis BMW about 3:30, and signed my life away. Got the “this is the clutch lever, this is the brake lever” introduction, but I also got the “this is the computer, this is the ABS, this is the tank” information. At 4:50 it’s ready to ride back to the Ramkota at Rapid City. So off we go with me leading and Marge and the girls in tow. Did I mention that it was 42.1 degrees, at least that is what the computer read. Does anyone need this information? Ramkota screwed up the reservations so we got the King Suite, nice. Supper at Outback, the tip was $15, don’t ask. Breakfast at Minerva’s, don’t ask, and headed home. Temp 42.7,wow a warming trend.
You’re supposed to break in an engine by varying the speed, no speed over 5000 RPM. How do you do that on a 310 mile interstate run? You pull off at each exit, stop and continue on, and repeat ad nauseaum. Yep, really did. Not exactly every exit but most. Back and butt enjoyed the change of pace that the pull offs afforded. Playing with the computer helped pass the time. 39 miles worth of gas in the tank, average MPG 41, current MPG 52 and of course that damn temperature gage now at 52.0 degrees.
With all the pulling off at an exit and going again I passed the same lady in the same car (makes sense) 7 times between Belvedere and Oacoma. Stopped at Al’s Oasis and when we left her car was parked along side my bike. I really wonder what she thought or did she even notice? Where were my women all this time? A new formula says it takes 3 women the same amount of time to travel a certain distance as it does for a solo motorcyclist to pull over at most exits. They were always behind me, I was always waiting, not long, but waiting. And no, no speed limits were exceeded. (We did a pit stop thank you very much)
Playing with the computer can be fun. Going uphill the MPG drops and if you shut the throttle off going down the James River hill you can watch the MPG climb to 171. Yup, it’s true. So after about 700 miles, what do I think? It’s different. Very narrow. More horsepower and quicker revving than the R100RT. Very light. What does it still need? The tank bag arrived yesterday. The saddle bags will arrive, hopefully, before the Falling Leaf Rally in Potosi. Other things; handle bar risers for sure, mirror extenders probably. And when money presents, crash bars and center stand, and hand guards with wind deflectors. Topbox? Will it ever replace the R100RT? Hopefully not. Will it take me from home to the blacktop over my crappy roads - already doing that with grace. My adventure sometimes is just getting to the blacktop. Will it take me to Alaska and back - certainly hope so, some day. Oh, and when the computer say 0 miles left in the tank you can still go 6 blocks and put in 3.94 gallons. Can you feel my GRIN:)

The ALCAN and the Beartooth Rendezvous

2010-10-18T19:20:00.002-05:00

Submitted by Gary Pedersen

(Gary and his wife, Kay, spend their summers in Alaska. This report is about Gary returning to his home at Chester, SD, via the ALCAN and Beartooth Rendevous.)

14 AUG: Anchorage, AK, to Burwash Landing, YT, 534 miles. It was raining when I left Anchorage this morning and it was the 27th continuous day of recorded precipitation there. Biblical jokes were becoming common. It stopped raining by the time I went through Palmer and it continued to get warmer as the day went on. While getting gas at Glenn Allen I met a couple from Oregon that had the real adventure spirit traveling on their Road King. They both worked for the same company and had both been “furloughed” for three weeks. They threw some things in and on their bike and had taken the ferry to Alaska. At Glenn Allen they were buying their first map.
When I got to the Canadian border the temperature was in the high 80sF. Hot for Alaska. There was construction at the border and the nice flag lady had traffic stopped for no apparent reason. I waited for just over thirty minutes when I found out why we were waiting. Six belly dumps, a road grader and a water truck passed the waiting cars, motor homes and motorcycles. Yup, the belly dumps each dropped their loads, the grader made one pass trying to level the gravel and then the water truck turned it into a real mess. And then the nice flag lady turns her sign from “STOP” to “SLOW” and waves us on. I was thinking non-Presbyterian words!
My fork seals had started to leak on the Taylor Highway after D2D and the frost heaves between Beaver Creek and Destruction Bay finished them. The rest of the trip would be with an ever increasing layer of oil and dirt on me and the bike. I stopped at the Burwash Landing Resort because their rooms aren’t too bad, and if it’s not raining their tent camping is free. I’m in the tent this night. Supper was a T-bone, mashed potatoes, mixed veggies and a roll for $13.95. The steak may have been moose. The campground was quiet until about 10:00 pm when four college students from Vancouver arrived, put up their tents and started to finish off many cases of Yukon Gold beer. They finally got quiet about 3:00 am. I’m not sure if they passed out, or just ran out of beer. I actually wished I had a Harley with no mufflers that morning when I left.

15 AUG: Burwash Landing to Watson Lake, YT, 443 miles. This part of the trip was uneventful until I was about 150 miles out of Watson Lake. At one point the smoke from the many forest fires south of Watson Lake had reduced visibility to under 200 yards, it got hard to breath and my eyes were stinging. The Cassiar Highway was closed for several days because of the fires. I like to stay at The Air Force Lodge (privately owned) in Watson Lake. It is one of the cleanest places to stay in North America and is a trip down memory lane for an old retired soldier. My opinion of the lodge has not been biased just because the owner rides a 2003 F650GS.

16 AUG: Watson Lake to Dawson Creek, BC, 601 miles. After the twisty parts of the road around Muncho Lake the road is just lots of long straights through the foothills of the Rockies. There were several bison, caribou and stone sheep along the road, but no crazy tourists to block traffic. The good news is that many of the lodges and gas stations that were closed last year were again open. When I got to Dawson Creek the weather forecast was for winds gusting in excess of 50 mph so I opted to stay in a small motel. Yes, I am a fair weather tenter. I really don’t get any thrill out of rolling up a wet tent in the rain.

17 AUG: Dawson Creek to Canmore, AB, 554 miles. At Grand Prairie I took Hwy 40 south so I could go over to Jasper and Banff National Parks. There were too many tourists for me in the park, but there aren’t really any ways to leave the park once you’re in it. Traffic moved slowly and there were numerous traffic jams any place wildlife got near the highway. One of the reasons people drive through the park I guess. Because of the erratic behavior of many of the drivers I was following at twice the normal distance from the cars in front of me when sure enough, the driver locks up all four wheels and comes to a stop. This I was ready for. What I wasn’t ready for was for the idiot to then put the car in reverse and floor it, pealing out in reverse. I’m now off to the ditch to get out of his way. I have no idea what the driver thought he saw that was worth doing that stunt. The small black bear that was 200 yards from the road was not worth what he did
In Canmore I checked out three campgrounds, and all backed up to the Trans-Canada Railroad tracks. There were trains about every ten minutes so even though it is nice out I opt for a motel. Yeah, I know. The guy in the room next to me had trailored his Harley from Toronto to Sturgis and was on his way to Vancouver, with the HD in the trailer. He wouldn’t even have a beer with a BMW rider. Oh well, more hydration for me.

18 AUG: Canmore to Great Falls, MT, 436 miles. East of Canmore I turned south and went through the Elbow Sheep Wildland Prov Park and then east to AB22. I then was on the east edge of Glacier National Park until Browning, MT. Great roads and very little tourist traffic. After coming out of the mountains I stopped in Fairview, MT, for gas and something cold to drink. While resting I noticed the Malting Barley Capital sign across the street. A definite “Kodak moment”. I have now been to the source of true happiness in the world! At Great Falls the weather was great for camping, not too much wind and not a cloud in the sky so I stopped at a camp ground. I put the tent up, opened everything up to air out and went for a shower. As I was coming out of the shower I saw a bunch of little black round things pop up from the ground. Yup, the in-ground sprinkler system came on. I must be the only guy that can put a tent up in the sun and still get soaked. Luckily the wind had come up and my things dried out in a couple of hours. It took me a little while longer to cool off.

19 AUG: Great Falls to Red Lodge, MT, 289 miles and the Beartooth Rendezvous. I went east from Great Falls on MT3 and then south on US191 to I-90 at Big Timber. At Columbus I went south again on MT78, curves again. I got to Red Lodge about noon, had lunch and then headed to the Lion’s Beartooth Mountain Youth Camp and the Beartooth Rendezvous.
The Beartooth BMW Club calls this event a rendezvous instead of a rally because they don’t have a list of scheduled rally type activities. With all of the great roads to ride in the area there really is no need for activities. You are only a few miles south of the start of the switch-backs that go to Beartooth Pass, you are fifty miles from the north gate of Yellowstone, about sixty miles from the Big Horn Mountains, and the list goes on. The advance registration is $50, and it’s $70 at the door. For this you get supper Thursday (spaghetti), Friday (BBQ pork) and Saturday (prime rib), live music on Friday night; coffee, tea, ice water, chips and pretzels all day, clean showers/restrooms and a really great place to camp. For an additional $20 for three nights you could have a bunk in one of the cabins and the opportunity to meet new friends that enjoy motorcycles. There were only three of us in my cabin. The Red Lodge Ales microbrewery had a concession set up and 16 oz drafts were $4. Breakfast and lunch were served by the Billings Lions for $8 and $5 dollars. Breakfast was an “all-you-can-eat” buffet that caused a problem for me on Friday morning. I had planned to sleep in, but the smells of bacon, eggs and coffee had me up by 6:30 to sample the scrambled eggs with ham and eggs, plain scrambled eggs, hash browns, bacon, link sausage, biscuits and gravy, pancakes, french toast and fruit. Do people really eat fruit? On Saturday it was back to oatmeal and ground flax seed for me. I don’t know what was for lunch, I was riding in the Beartooth mountains at noon on Friday and Saturday (even with bad fork seals). Some of the riders thought that the registration, breakfast and beer prices were a little high, but one has to remember that the profits from all of the sales at the rendezvous go to the Billings Lions to help run the camp for children with special needs.
The Billings Lions started the camp in 1928 and then the camp went through the WPA, CCC and the Forest Service until the Billings Lions again took possession. There are thirteen small cabins, separate boy’s and girl’s shower buildings, a great dining hall and assorted other buildings in a really great setting.
I thought I might have a chance at the long-distance rider by riding from Anchorage, but a couple from Australia had flown to Portland, bought a BMW and rode to Alaska, then to Red Lodge. At sign-in I was feeling pretty good about getting to Red Lodge in five and a half days, but the lady doing sign-in (Pam) said that when she and her husband rode from Missoula to Anchorage it took them fourteen weeks-----on their bicycles! Smack me up side my ego. There was also one wild animal incident in the campgrounds. It seems a chipmunk got into a tank bag, ate all of the sunflower seeds and then pooped and peed in the tank bag.
By Saturday afternoon there were about 150 motorcycles and 170 people at the camp ground. There were three Autobahners at the Beartooth Rondy – Dave McBride, Bob Mandel and myself. Where were you? (Gary Plush also attended. Ed. note.)
The 2011 Beartooth Rendezvous is tentatively scheduled for 18-21 August. It is an event that you should plan to attend.

22 AUG: Red Lodge to Rapid City, 436 miles. The Big Horn Mountains were great, but not as large as I remembered them. I was last there in 1954 when I was five years old. The Medicine Wheel National Historical Landmark is worth the stop and hike from the parking area to see the wheel. When I got to Sheridan a bank sign said it was 100F. A summer in Alaska did not acclimatize me for this. When I got to Spearfish and stopped to see some friends it was 106F. I got to Rapid City about 4:30 and got an air conditioned motel room. There’s no A/C in my tent. It was hot.

23 AUG: Rapid City to Chester, about 350 miles. I got home about 1:15 after an uneventful trip on I-90.

"The Prez Sez", Sept. 2010

2010-09-06T22:42:00.000-05:00

Submitted by Gary “das prez” Johnson

Hi everyone, I hope all of you have been enjoying the summer. I know I have. One of the biggest news items for our club this month is the election of long-time member (and all around good guy) Hoot Gibson to the office of State Commander of the American Legion. A special day was set aside to honor and install Hoot as State Commander on Saturday, August 14th, at the American Legion and The Veterans Memorial Park in Sioux Falls. I felt very proud and honored to be included in this special event, knowing I was surrounded by heroes of this great nation.
The following weekend was the annual Baxter Cycle open house in Marne, Iowa. There was a good number of Autobahners there mixing with fellow motorcycle enthusiasts. The weather was very warm, but dry. The new Triumph demo rides were fun as well as the socializing during the day and evening in the city park. This is one of my favorite m/c events of the summer.
Lots of good riding coming up in September, cooler, less humid days and of course, the premier Autobahn event; Hawes Biker Days!! If you don't know some of our members that live farther away, this is a great opportunity to meet them. This event is well attended so make plans now to attend or regret it later.
This pretty well sums up my recent riding experiences. I haven't been on any big trips this year, mostly due to the constraints of time and money, but I do enjoy the time I am able to spend on my bikes. We all have different situations and although we are different in many ways, we are often lucky enough to share our motorcycle experiences with each other. Let's be thankful for what we have had and have now. I hope there are many more wonderful years of Autobahn Club experiences for all of us. Take care, see you soon!

Husker Rally

2010-09-06T22:41:00.000-05:00

Submitted by Lee Hendrix

Mary asked me; let me rephrase that, told me to write up a little story to tell all about the Husker Rally. The main thing is it's a fun little rally and we would like to encourage more attendees from the Autobahners. However, we did win the biggest club award again with 8 attendees. A good time was had by all - plenty to eat and to top things off we had a young entrepreneur show up with a homemade ice cream truck. The story is he is only 17 or so and is still in high-school. He and his dad put the truck together last winter and he is going around to towns in the area and also to any special events such as our rally and peddles his wares which we took advantage of generously. Skeeter even bought Mary an ice cream! The stew was excellent as always and I can't say enough about the beans and the cornbread. I must not fail to mention our Husker Rally storm that usually blows through at sometime or other during the festivities. We had some damage to tent poles (Tom’s) and a couple bikes blew over. All survived with minimal damage. Mary rode her new bike, at least new to her, and won at least 3 prizes of one kind or other - for her K bike, her age?? & the distance she came. Tom got a first place award in the bike show for his 75 airhead, which did look sharp. I got 2nd place in the touring class with my ‘08 Goldwing. I would like to mention there were only 2 in the class.
As an afterthought, Dave McBride was going west to Beartooth and points of interest in that direction from the rally. Jan and I had tentatively planned on having breakfast with Dave, but due to threatening clouds we decided to try to out run the rain. We made a dash east while Dave had to head west.

Top O' the Rockies Rally, Almost / The Electrical Idiot

2010-09-06T22:39:00.001-05:00

Submitted by Doug Schafer

A series of problems had conspired to keep my 15 year old granddaughter, Megan, and me from doing the Beartooth Pass/Chief Joseph Highway and the Top O’ the Rockies rally in Paonia, Colorado, for the last several years. This year I hoped it would be different. And it was, kinda. About 8 days prior to departure I had discovered that my shock had died. A fast internet search and calling all the dealers within a reasonable radius revealed nothing available on that short notice. Ron from Judson Cycle came through for me by “borrowing” one from a bike in storage. Thanks Ron!
We were pretty much set Saturday night. The bike was loaded Sunday early AM and we set off on our great adventure. We took the back roads to Hulett, WY, then to Devil’s Tower. My one and only picture was taken of the Tower and Granddaughter. Then on west to Buffalo to stay at my special camping spot in their KOA. Can’t, because it now is part of the parking lot for Hamilton Suites. Damn! Oh well, 550 miles and we elected to motel it that night. Up early in the morning and North on I-90 to Ranchester then West on 14A over the Big Horns. Wyoming DOT, in their wisdom is straightening 14A just before you get to Burgess Junction. They were wetting down the talcum powder dusty gravel making about 300 yards of scary, slippery, sloppy, unpleasant construction. They should just ban cars and trucks and leave the crooked roads for us bikers. Right?
While at breakfast at Bear Lodge, I realized that Marge and I had been having breakfast here many years ago (29 years almost to the day) with Meggy’s mother, Shelly, when Shelly was 15 years old. Dejavu all over again. We considered the gravel road up to the Medicine Wheel but settled for reading the “Point of Interest” sign instead. Down the West side, about 2300 foot drop in 10 miles, very steep with lots of curves and switchbacks. Meggy wasn’t impressed with her foot pegs dragging “lots of” times (one). We finally made it to the KOA at Cody and coughed up the grand some of $37.50 for a tent site. Who was there but Gary Plush, an old friend from Mobridge and a fellow member of the Autobahn Society. While we talked, Meggy disappeared to the horse coral. She came back later requesting $5.00 to ride the horses. Regular rate is $35.00. Something about pretty girls and skinny cowboys. Gary coughed up that $5.00. I advised the cowboy that she was 15 and I was retired Law Enforcement. I believe he got the point. She was gone long enough that I went looking for her, but indeed she was with the horses. Skinny cowboy in close proximity.
The next morning we headed up Chief Joseph highway. Great biking road. Then turned East on US212, the Beartooth Pass highway, elevation 10947‘. Ran into road construction again. The mosquitoes were horrible as we waited about 20 minutes for a flag car. I was bit multiple times in the only skin available, my right wrist and the nape of my neck. Meggy wasn’t bitten once. Just goes to show you who is the sweetest. Not!! We stopped at the store and picked up a “Got Altitude” T-shirt for her. Megan got some great pictures looking west from the pass, then down 2800’ in 12 miles into Red Lodge for breakfast. Back to Cody and headed to Meeteetse.
About Meeteetse I noticed that the volt meter was starting to register discharge and it keeps slowly going down. We stopped in Thermopolis, WY, and got a motel room across from an O’Reiley’s Auto parts store. I called Ron from Judson and we talked over my electrical problem. It sounded like a rotor problem. I‘ve been through 3 of them in 240K. Last time I had a rotor problem and didn’t take Ron’s advice it cost me near $500.00 in Seattle. This time we agreed to have a rotor Next Day FedEx and then we would be on the road. As it was about 6 PM it would be a two day Next Day delivery. OK, 2 days in Thermop (local’s vernacular for their town). O’Reileys charged the battery and it took 5 hours to charge for no fee. Well, the rotor got lost and I spent 72 hours confined with a 15 year old girl, in a motel mostly watching “Hannah Montana”, “the Witches of Waverly Place” and “a Suite Life on Deck” (Disney Channel) hour, after hour, after hour, after…. Well you get the idea. They say you lose so many brain cells per day, I’m sure I lost that many per hour while the TV was on. I don’t have that many to give up either.
By the fourth night in town my frustration level was peaking. It seems that they could not track the rotor any further than St Paul, and couldn’t insure that the rotor would even be in the next morning. I knew that I could get at least 100 miles on a fully charged battery from experience and Ron suspected many more if I could disconnect all the lights. So the plan was to get up the next morning, ride as far as we could, charge the battery and repeat until we got home. I checked both auto parts stores in town and finally bought a really nice battery charger. Cut the ends off, attached a different connection to match the current set up for charging on my bike, and was ready to go.
Up early the next morning (Saturday) and on the road. Stopped in Ten Sleep for gas and headed east. Stopped for Breakfast at the Deer Lodge, retracing the steps from when Shelly was with us so many years ago, and east to Buffalo. An early morning start, a full stomach, and a child that likes to sleep in, caused some heart stopping times as Meggy would nod off in a 65 MPH sweeper and she would start to slide off. Even with me shaking her, this happened about 3 times. We did safely make it to Buffalo, where it dawned on me that the volt meter wasn’t even starting to show discharge. OK, east to Gillette, gas in Moorecroft, still no discharge. On to Sturgis, where I stopped to look at my next bike, a blue F650GS, at Sturgis Yamaha/BMW. Meggy’s not impressed. Looked to her like it would only hold one person. Good for me, I think she is planning on another riding adventure. She makes the decision to continue to get home in one day and so we “slog” home finally arriving at home about 9 PM. AND in all that time absolutely no discharge on the volt meter.
We will let Ron figure out the problem next week. And as for Meggy, “Well, are you ready to go to Paonia next year?” Her response, “Ask me next year.” I’ll take that as a yes. Bob Vagstad, former Autobahn Society regular, regretted that he hadn’t gotten his granddaughters involved early enough in motorcycling and that they simply moved on with their lives. Bob, I’m trying, having a blast and making great memories.
Postscript: talked with Ron today and he thinks possibly it’s only a “bulb” problem. Will have to drop it off for him to look at. He laughed during our whole conversation. I wonder why??

Sturgis 2010, 70th Anniversary (Our First Sturgis Experience)

2010-09-06T22:38:00.000-05:00

Submitted by Perry Bly – ‘02LT

After kicking around the idea for a while, we finally decided we couldn’t pass. Kim has an Uncle that lives in Black Hawk and gave us an open invitation. We left the kids to fend for themselves, and headed out to catch the tail end of the Rally. We left Friday after lunch and had a beautiful ride out to The Hills. The traffic coming east was bumper to bumper with bikes and campers pulled off the interstate everywhere. Traffic was so heavy. The areas where lanes condensed for construction were completely stopped. We feared there wouldn’t be anyone left at the rally. The flow east subsided as we approached Rapid. The temperature and humidity did as well. After all the heat and humidity we have had at home, Rapid felt downright cold. We spent the rest of Friday night with Kim’s uncle and had a great time.
Saturday we left Black Hawk and headed south to ride the Needles Highway and Wildlife Loop in Custer State Park. It was rainy and 59 degrees. We rode out of the rain near Keystone and enjoyed sun by the time we arrived in Custer. The temp stayed cool all day. I loved it, but Kim was pretty chilly. This ride was amazing. We loved the Needles, but The Iron Mountain Road (16A) was by far our favorite. The LT is perfection for two up riding like that!
After a nap, we headed into Sturgis to see the Rally and the night life. What can I say? If I was there to party – that’s the place to do it. I’m not impressed otherwise. How many t-shirts stands can you have in a 12 block area? There should be as many muffler retailers. There are a lot of things we witnessed, that I just don’t get. I’ll just leave it at that. I did love seeing the custom bikes. BMW was very well represented there. You all can be proud.
It was definitely worth seeing. I would recommend the experience at least once. I look forward to riding The Hills again (under quieter circumstances).

Hoot Gibseon Elected SD American Legion State Commander

2010-09-06T22:37:00.000-05:00

Submitted by Gary Johnson

Hoot Gibson, long time Autobahn member, was officially installed as State Commander of the South Dakota American Legion on Saturday, August 14, 2010. Autobahners in attendance were Gary Haines, Harold & Mavis Neuberger, Bob Jensen, and Gary Johnson. Gary Haines, Bob Jensen, and Gary Johnson were part of the motorcycle escort to the Veterans Memorial Park from the American Legion. At the Park, Commander Gibson laid a wreath at "Going Home" statue and gave a short speech. This was one of the first official duties of the new state commander. After the ceremony at the park, a lunch was served at the Legion followed by the Homecoming and installation program. Many distinguished guests, fellow veterans and friends were there to honor Hoot. The following was reprinted from Sioux Falls American Legion Post 15 website.
GIBSON ELECTED DEPARTMENT COMMANDER
G. D. “Hoot” Gibson of Sioux Falls, SD, member of Sioux Falls Post 15, was elected as the State Commander of The American Legion Department of South Dakota by delegates attending the 92nd Annual State Convention of The American Legion in Spearfish on Sunday, June 20. Gibson was nominated by Darwin Wahlert of Sioux Falls Post 15 and his nomination was seconded by William Dolan of Beresford Post 72. Commander Gibson was the winner of a roll call vote from the floor of the Convention over candidate Nancy Lemieux of Pierre Post 8. Commander Gibson is a 50 year, honorary Paid-Up-For-Life member of Sioux Falls American Legion Post 15 in Sioux Falls, SD. He served as Post Commander and is currently serving as the coordinator for Boys State and Oratorical Contests. Commander Gibson is a century go-getter, recruiting over 100 members on a yearly basis. He received the Robert C. Gabrielson Memorial Leadership Award in 2007. For the past several years, he has served the Department as the Master-At-Arms. He also has served as an Assistant Master-At-Arms at the last few National Conventions. Commander Gibson served in the South Dakota Air National Guard. He was called to active duty March 1, l951 to November 30, 1952. He was one of the original graduates of the Air National Guard NCO Academy. He retired November 30, 1989, from full time employment with almost 39 years as superintendent of computer systems. Commander Gibson is a member of the First Lutheran Church, Minnehaha Lodge #5, Moose #503, Independent Order of Foresters, YMCA Youth leader for eight years, South Dakota Enlisted Association, The Retired Enlisted Association, 40/8, and the National Rifle Association. He volunteers at the Sioux Falls VA Medical Center.

Baxter Cycle Open House, Marne IA

2010-09-06T22:36:00.000-05:00

Submitted by Marlin Wolter

I left for Marne on Saturday morning (August 21) about 6am, it was very foggy. I guess you could say “unsafe foggy” but I thought I’d get out of the fog soon. It was a 103 miles before I got out of it. I still made it to Marne by 9:30 am. I had that great Boy Scout breakfast and hung around for a while. I went on to Des Moines for the day. It was our granddaughter’s 4th birthday and grandpa couldn’t miss that! Got back Saturday night in time to enjoy the evening. Sunday morning found us all up early and enjoying the breakfast again. Some of our group left for home before it got too hot, but a few of us stayed for more Triumph Demo Rides and of course that FREE hot dog lunch. We rode through the Loess Hills going home and had a great great week-end.

I Rode the Wheels Off My Bike!!!

2010-09-06T22:35:00.001-05:00

Submitted by Dale Nordlie

I was cruising along on my way to the Baxter Rally last Friday (August 20th) thinking what a wonderful day. The weather was great, the roads in the Loess Hills of Iowa were grand, and my GS was running fantastic. I had just finished lunch at Runt’s in Smithland and was moving along about 90 mph on the road south of town when I had to stop for a stop sign. I took off from the stop sign and the bike just doesn't feel quite right. Real squirmy and I'm thinking I must have a flat tire. I jump off the bike, kick the tires, do a quick look around, don't see anything wrong, get back on the bike, take off, still squirmy, something happens, bike kills on the side of the road. I try to get the bike up on the centerstand. Doesn't budge. Give it a little more push and all of a sudden the rear wheel falls completely off and the bike goes all the way down with the final drive supporting it in back. What would a real biker do in this situation? Call triple A? Set the piece of crap on fire? Get drunk? Never mind, real bikers ride bikes that have axles!!!
After the initial shock wore off, I determined that I would need to lighten the rear end of the bike in order to get it up on the centerstand. I removed the camping chair, trunk and saddlebags and the thing was still too heavy for me to get up. If you are familiar with the roads in the Loess Hills, you already know that there isn't much traffic. I'd already been stopped for 10 or so minutes and no one goes by. I'm thinking what I should do next, when two pickups appear, one out of the north and one out of the south. I flag them both down and the fellow out of the south agrees to help me out.
Ryan is a paramedic and he thought he had stumbled onto a bad accident. He saw my helmet and jacket lying off in the grass and initially thought it was a person. He also is young, big and strong and has no problems lifting the bike 2 feet off the ground so that I can get the centerstand down. He helps me get the wheel back on, and he is the one that gets the first bolt started. I haven't mentioned it yet, but all four of the bolts were still with the wheel, they all must have worked out simultaneously. He also has a 4 way tire iron to torque the bolts on. He stays with me while I give the bike a test ride to see if it is roadworthy. It is, I thank him and he takes off.
Now it is duct tape time!! When the wheel fell off it did a number on the rear brake calipers, bent them up and made them not functional. I removed them from the mount and taped them to the final drive swingarm. I didn't want to remove them completely because I was afraid that it might affect my front brakes. I also note that the saddlebag mount on the lower right side is broke off, can't duct tape in on though. I load everything back on the bike and then get the great idea of lashing the wobbling right saddlebag onto the camping chair with duct tape. Works great, thanks to Red Green, he's my hero.
Now what to do? Go home and get a different bike? Go to the rally and get a cold beer from Paul (my brother)? Yes, go to the rally, slow at first, but the bike seems to be tracking OK. I made several stops to see if the bolts were holding and they were. Larry and Bill arrived shortly after I did and shared some cold beers with Paul and me. Paul went for ice at the bar to cool down some beer he had purchased earlier and while he was there visited with Steve, the owner of the machine shop in Marne about fixing a few things on my bike Saturday morning.
Steve welded the saddlebag mount together and straightened the calipers out enough so that I could reattached them with bolts, still not functional, but I got rid of the duct tape. We agreed that if the wheel bolts were holding OK the way they were I shouldn't mess with them until I got home.
The ride home was nice, although any little squirminess from the bike made my ass pucker. What is the moral to the story? Check the wheel bolts occasionally? Find a better mechanic? Get a bike with an axle----no wait, 4 of the 5 bikes I have do have rear axles. I don't know, but I know that last Friday, considering what the outcome might have been, I was one of the LUCKIEST people in the world

Meister Takes 3rd at Nate Kern/Track Day

2010-09-06T22:34:00.000-05:00

Submitted by Tom Meister

My tent is still in a state of shock from the Husker Rally, but with a little TLC I think it will get me past this riding season. So I decided to attend Track Day at the Mid America Raceway.
About a month ago I visited the raceway to see what the track was like. A Porsche car club was using the track that day. Admission was free. Just had to sign a paper to not hold anyone responsible for damages. The track is a little over two miles long with 12 curves and about a mile long straightaway. Using my watch I timed the cars that day. The cars were doing a lap in two minutes & twenty seconds and I was told would hit 140 mph on the straightaway. This Sunday I timed the BMW S1000RR and it would due a lap about twenty to twenty five seconds faster than the cars. Nate Kern would even pull a wheelie about two thirds of the way down the straightaway. Just like my 90/6 can do!!!!!
I had decided to just watch, admission was again free. To my surprise they had a parade lap and let us use the track for two practice laps. In my group I was the only one with saddle bags - which were still loaded. Also had the oldest bike. I was third in line and was determined to hold my own and not be passed or, heaven forbid, be lapped. I kept telling myself this is not a race. It was nice to be able to use all the track to take a curve. At the end of two laps I was still in third place and never was even close to being passed. Nate Kern “eat your heart out”. They even had someone wave the checkered flag for us, just for the three of us. Hey third place is still third place.
It was fun to watch, maybe a total of some 30-40 bikes circle the track. Some were quite good and never held back & were there to race. Others were just there to learn and have fun. If they have this event next year I recommend this for anyone who wants to improve his skills or just to have some legal fun.

The Zens of Bugs On A Windshield

2010-09-06T22:21:00.000-05:00

Submitted by Bram Weidenaar

On Wednesday evening the 25th of August, I attended my first Autobahn Society dinner at the Royal Fork in Sioux Falls since becoming a member. Upon entering the restaurant, I was warmly greeted immediately by several members. Conversation over dinner was filled with getting to know the other members and quite enjoyable.
Following dinner, we congregated in the parking lot to ogle each other’s bikes. It was a cool evening with little wind. So, I headed south following Gary and Jan Johnson toward Canton along Highway 111. After a brief stop in Canton to switch from sunglasses, we rode the loop past Newton Hills State Park, through Fairview, over the Big Sioux and back along the Iowa side to Canton. Parting company with the Johnsons in Canton. I blasted back to Sioux Falls on I-29.
The next morning before I left for work I looked at my K1200LT in the garage. The front was covered in bug guts. I had to smile to myself thinking of how much I enjoyed getting my otherwise clean bike dirty. It’s the seemingly meaningless things like seeing bugs on a windshield of your Beemer that make riding what it is and can’t be explained to those who don’t ride.
Fall is upon us. Now is my favorite time to ride. The days are warm and the evenings are cool. Due to the wet summer, we have bugs in abundance.
I am looking forward to more bugs on my windshield & I am going to keep pestering Tom, the self-described “fun hater”, Wadsworth to ride.

Horay for Hoot!

2010-08-10T12:14:00.000-05:00

Hoot Gibson was elected State Commander for the South Dakota American Legion June 20 in Spearfish. A ceremony to honor this occasion will take place in Sioux Falls on Saturday, August 14. The ceremonies will start with a continental breakfast at the Legion (1701 W. Legion Dr.) from 9-11 and will continue at 11:00 with a "caravan" to Memorial Park where a lite lunch will be served from 12:00 - 1:00. The installation will take place from 2:00 - 4:00. Social hour, dinner and dance will take place later. Hoot has invited Autobahners to attend the events. He will be riding in a sidecar for the caravan and would especially like to have Autobahners and their BMW's ride with him. This is a very important position for Hoot and it would be nice for Autobahn to show their support.

Contact Gary Johnson for details - buzzfeldspar@yahoo.com,

August President's Message

2010-08-08T20:28:00.001-05:00

The Prez Sez…..
Hi Beemer Fans. When you see this message, it will already be August! Summer is going fast (like always) and I don't feel like I've done enough riding. I checked the miles on my "new" rear tire and it already has 5000+ miles on it! How did that happen? I guess those trips to Lucan and Verdigre do add up.
There are some good motorcycle events still coming up. For example, Baxter Cycle Open House in Marne, IA Aug. 21 & 22, The Husker Rally in Nebraska, Aug. 13-15. Oh yeah, there's a rally in the Black Hills, August something, with lots of bikes going about saving lives (loud pipes, save lives).
Finally I've been doing my civic duty in my home town of Canton, "The Gateway City". Most evenings I go on Scooter Patrol, riding the neighborhoods on my super quiet Kymco. Often Mrs. Johnson (The First Lady) goes along as my assistant Scooter Patrol Person. It's good to have an extra set of "eyes" if you will. After a good excursion through town, Jan & I can go home and sleep well well knowing everything is fine to the best of our knowledge. This is very informal and not affiliated in any way, shape, or form with our local neighborhood watch or police or sheriff departments!! If any of you would like to help out there will be a sign up sheet at our next “Scooter Patrol” meeting. Time and place to be determined. Maybe!!
Take care, ride safe, ride often (even if it's a scooter).
Gary "das prez" Johnson.
Rider of '96 R1100RT (totaled as for insurance purposes*) & '09 Kymco 250 Grand Vista (still not broken).
*Gary’s parked bike was backed into and knocked down. Another story.

Weekend Trip form Colorado Springs to Sioux Falls, by Rich Crawford

2010-08-08T20:27:00.000-05:00

(Rich recently moved from Rock Rapids, IA, to Colorado Springs, CO)
On weekend of June 25-26-27 I rode my R1100 RT from Colorado Springs to Sioux Falls to participate in Salute to The Troops at Sioux Empire Fairgrounds, including Honor Flight Luncheon on Saturday and Warriors Worship Service on Sunday. "The Wall" was on display there as part of the event, along with a number of other military and historical exhibits. On Sunday PM and Monday I was able to visit with a number of relatives and friends in SD and IA before motoring to Omaha for the night, and taking off from there early Monday for balance of trip home. It was 730 miles here to SF, and about 200 miles in and around the area, and another 795 miles back westward. Got some sunburn on return trip, and took a hit from small stone from construction truck, striking me between the helmet and goggles. Good argument for full-face helmet protection.
We would welcome any Beemer riders to swing by our place outside of Colorado Springs when their travels bring them this direction?

Me Hard at Work????, by Gary Pedersen

2010-08-08T20:24:00.000-05:00

So here I am, retired and working summers in Alaska and getting paid to stand on footpegs, have handlebars in my hands and watch wildlife. It's a pretty good gig. (Gary works part time as a guide for Alaska ATV Adventures.) It is hard to believe that we’ve been here almost three months. The tourist numbers are up considerably from last year and I worked the first eleven days when I got here in May. Things have settled down now and I am back to the two to four days a week that I like. The salmon are late arriving, and the numbers are down so the bears have remained high on the mountain sides making it difficult to get the clients close to the bears. I thought you might like to see a few pictures of me “hard at work”!!
I will be leaving Alaska for home (Chester, SD) on August 14th and hope to be at the Beartooth Rally in Red Lodge, Montana, on the way home. Will there be any Autobahnners there? gkpeder@itctel.com. 605-489-2665.

Gary also reports that the water pump seal on his 650 went out. The good news is that it went out in town, and not halfway between Nowhere and Noplace. He promises a story.

D2D (Dust to Dawson) Rally, by Gary Pedersen

2010-08-08T20:19:00.002-05:00

“A trip of a lifetime, this rally begins wherever you are and culminates in Dawson City at the Downtown Hotel”
This year was a success with over 170 motorcycles in front of the Downtown Hotel at midnight June 24th. There were three injury crashes and ten motorcycles were unable to complete the trip. The most interesting crash was the 2008 R12GS that was literally broken in half when the rider unsuccessfully jumped an erosion caused ravine in the road. A beaver dam broke, and the flood of water almost instantly caused a ditch in the roadway that was about four feet across and four feet deep. Hopefully, I will have pictures to share when I get back.

2010 Top O' the Rockies Rally and Brewery Tour, by Dale Nordlie

2010-08-08T20:13:00.002-05:00

I took off the Saturday prior to the rally. My first stop was at Love's (not Pilot anymore) Truckstop for breakfast. I heard several comments about the new tires on my bike. (Some other “unnamed” person was destined to have the tire problems this year.) I noticed that my speedometer was not functioning just after I hit the interstate. Not a problem, as I had a "trusty" GPS?! I arrived in Rapid City mid afternoon and rode Nemo Road and Vonocker Canyon Road to Sturgis to see the new BMW shop. They are on the other side of town now. Took off to climb Bear Butte and then find a place to camp. Later that night I noticed that my "trusty" GPS had added about 200 miles to my trip and that I was really speeding all day. It said I had ridden 658 miles and my average moving speed was 91.3 mph.
I rode Spearfish Canyon Road the next morning and then headed towards Wyoming and then Colorado. The Corvette Rally was ending in Spearfish that morning and I managed to get behind a string of Vettes going about 85 mph between Mule Creek Junction and Lusk, WY. Had a sandwich in Lusk and continued on to Loveland, CO. I set my tent up at Boyd Lake State Park and then found the Left Hand Brewery in Longmont. I sampled a few of the beers (my favorite IPA was called 200 Pound Monkey) and then headed back to the park.
Monday morning I took off into the mountains and stopped in Lyons for breakfast. Dale's IPA is brewed in Lyons, CO, but the brewery wasn't open yet. I continued through Boulder, CO, into the mountains and stopped at Idaho Springs to visit the Tommyknockers Brewpub and then to Breckenridge to the Breckenridge Brewery where I had lunch. That night I camped at a national forest campground somewhere around Fairplay, CO.
I decided I should ride down to Del Norte, CO, on Tuesday. Get it? Dale Nordlie/Del Norte!! Anyway I saw that there was a brewery there, also. I had a small taste of the IPA and took off towards Gunnison. It started to rain in the mountains, but the first shower I just got wet and dried off fairly quickly. In a while I passed a Harley going the other way, and the woman passenger put both of her arms up like she was trying to tell me something, and then I noticed her rain suit. The sky was getting darker and I soon stopped and donned my rain suit. It rained quite a lot and I'm glad I stopped when I did. The problem with getting wet in the mountains is you also get pretty cold. I arrived in Gunnison and promptly found the Gunnison Brewery where I sampled their beers and had lunch. Then it was off to The Black Canyon of the Gunnison. The north canyon road is about as fine a motorcycle road as you can find, and there is very little traffic. I camped at the north park campgrounds that night and watched the sun go down over the canyon.
Wednesday morning I rode into Paonia to have breakfast at the diner. I had breakfast with Dave Maly from Madison, WI. Actually we stayed there for quite a while as it had started to rain while we were eating. Dave has been riding for quite a while and knows several Autobahners. When it stopped raining I headed to the park to set up my tent. I was suprised to see that the beer vendors were already selling beer and was glad to see that they had the local brewery beer on tap. Revolution Brewery has been brewing beer in Paonia for three or four years now. They have the tasting room in a small church building that originally was owned by a Christian Scientist Congregation. Sarah Mandel & Friend Gerald Winter, Bob Mandel & Bill Claussen
Thursday morning I had breakfast early and headed back to the Black Canyon as I had booked a ride on a 40 passenger pontoon boat a few days prior. To get to the boat you have to ride down a fairly steep three quarters of a mile gravel road and then go down maybe 200 steps and hike three quarters of a mile. So I did it. Turned on my camera and it says I need to change batteries. Batteries are on the bike three quarters of a mile and 200 steps up. I knew I would hate myself if I didn't take pictures. So I headed back to the bike to get them. Got to the boat in plenty of time the second go around. The boat ride takes you through the canyon where once there was railroad. The river has been dammed so now most of the old railroad bed is underwater. After the boat ride I walked back as far as I could on the old railroad bed. This is a beautiful boat ride and I would suggest it to anyone who has the chance to do it. Black Canyon of the Gunnison from the top and “end of the line”
I decided to stay close to town on Friday. A bus tour of some of the local wineries was being offered, so I signed up for that. Five dollars got you food and a lot of good wine. After the tour some of us went to Revolution Brewery to do a little beer tasting. Later while visiting in the park Gerald and Bill show up frazzled from a hard day on the road and tire problems.
Saturday I had breakfast with Bill and Gerald and then I rode to Crested Butte, CO, via Kebler Pass on a nice gravel road that gets you high in to the old aspen forests. I did a little sightseeing and shopping in town and checked out where the brewery had been (they had moved down to Gunnison). I rode back on the Black Canyon Road again. We had the traditional chicken and rib supper that night and listened to the band called the Strolling Scones.
Sunday we packed up and Bill, Gerald and I rode together north through the McClure pass to Glenwood Springs and eventually through Rocky Mountain National Park. On the way, Bill took us on a nice gravel road that runs from State Bridge, CO, to Kremmling, CO. We rode as far as Chappell, NE and stumbled on a nice little private cheap campground. Monday we had breakfast in
Gerald & Bill in Rocky Mountain National Park Gerald throws snow balls Ogallala, NE, and continued our trek home.
I put something like 2800 miles on my new to me 1995 R1100GS and it ran great. I got between 40 and 50 miles per gallon on the trip and the only problem was a broken speedometer cable.

MOA National Rally Report, by Ray Hansen

2010-08-08T20:12:00.000-05:00

Mary, I did go to the National. No camera so sorry no pictures. I traveled with Tim Jensen from Rapid City and his friend Ben from North Carolina and John Villella from Council Bluffs, IA. We left Rapid City on Wednesday the 14th at 6:00 AM. Traveled to Spokane, WA, for the first day. Arrived at Redmond early afternoon on Thursday. Rally grounds very nice and very well organized. A lot of vendors. BMW had fleet there for demo rides. I did see Dave McBride and Tom Butters and Skeeter at the rally. Traveled the following week to Top of the Rockies in Paonia, CO. Met Gerald Winter, Bill Claussen, Dale Nordlie, Tom Buttars & Skeeter again at Paonia. We rode the Sawtooth in Idaho and through Salt Lake City down to Capitol Reef N.P. and Arches N.P. and followed the Colorado River from Moab into Colorado. Weather was great and other than road construction no issue's. Approximately 750 at the rally in Paonia and 6100 at the National in Redmond. Next year’s national in Bloomsburg, PA.

Local Day Trips, by Dan Saterlee

2010-08-08T19:56:00.002-05:00

On Sunday, 7-12-10, a couple of buddies and I decided to take a little day trip in southern Minnesota. Darin Olson, an old Army buddy of mine from Hanley Falls, MN, invited us to ride the Minnesota River Scenic Byway. We started out at 6:00 am from Brandon and met him at his farm about 8:30 AM. He asked us if we were afraid of riding “a little gravel” and we assured him that we were ready. I was riding my R1200GS Adventure, Steve Fiegen was riding his Suzuki VStrom, and Darin was riding his Kawasaki KLR650. We headed to Montevideo and out on the trail. The Scenic Bypass consists of a combination of asphalt, good gravel, bad gravel and if you take some of the off shoot trails, (cont. from previous page) water covered goat paths. As it turns out, his idea of “a little gravel” and mine are two different things. We averaged about 30 MPH on the trip riding roads ranging from rocks and sand requiring pretty technical riding skills to smooth southern Minnesota highways.
The scenery was gorgeous and the weather was perfect. We took our time and ended the Scenic Byway at Redwood Falls where we parted ways. The Byway continues on through New Ulm down to Mankato. We saved that part for another day. All in all it was a great ride and close to home. We ended up putting on about 350 miles in an 11 hour period. We had plenty of breaks along the way. There is no shortage of small burger joints and restaurants along the way. It just goes to show that you don’t have to make a long planned-out distant trip to have a great ride.

Iowa Guzzi Rally, Elkader, IA, by Marlin Wolter

2010-08-08T19:53:00.002-05:00

Larry & Mary Hawes and Bill Claussen met me in Round Lake, Mn, about 8:45 am Friday the 9th of July. We headed east on Back Roads all the way to Elkader. It was a perfect day for riding and Larry picked a great route - good roads, light traffic and beautiful scenery. We arrived at Elkader at about 3 pm. Tom Meister was already there and we set up camp in the City Park next to him. There were lots of trees and good facilities.
We were treated to a roast beef supper Friday night. Saturday morning the Legion served us a pancake and scrambled egg breakfast. Tom and I went on the guided trip to Dyersville to the National Farm Toy Museum and the antique store Saturday morning and ate lunch at a restaurant close to the museum. We returned to Elkader by different roads - there are a lot of great roads around that area to ride. Some of the Autobahners rode to Cabela’s at Prairie Du Chien, Wisconsin, and did a little shopping.
Saturday night we were treated to a Pork Chop Supper with all the trimmings - including a large selection of pie for desert. I was quite impressed by how much the local community was involved in the Rally. Even the County Dairy Princess and Pork Queen helped serve the meal. After the meal they had a Parade of Bikes through Main Street of Elkader and around the edge of town. I took part in that.
Sunday we got an early start home. Izzy Szkok joined us on the ride home. Once again it was a perfect day for riding and we stumbled on a nice little restaurant at Dunell, MN, for lunch.
I’m looking forward to going back next year. I’m told the 2011 Guzzi National Rally will also be held at Elkader (Ed. Note: Jim Brewer on his Guzzi was also in attendance.)

July President's Message

2010-07-08T20:10:00.000-05:00

"A Great Weekend to be an Autobahner"
AKA The Prez Sez by Gary (das pres) Johnson
Ok, it's always good to be a member of the Autobahn Society, but the past week was especially good. Let me explain. It started with our Wednesday night supper at Murdo's Resort south of Gavin’s Point Dam (a "dam" good time!! Sorry.) We had a great turn-out. I think about 19. After our meal, we were invited to Ed Hill's place where Ed's wife Sue treated us to homemade pie and ice cream, a staple of this club. Ed's shop, aka dream garage, was quite a hit. Thanks again to the Hills from all of us.
That night Mrs. Johnson and I camped with Larry & Mary Hawes and Bill Claussen at the Corp of Engineers Campground at Gavin’s Point. A beautiful evening for camping. The next day we went our separate ways. We met up again on Friday for the Bohemian Alps Rally at Verdigre, NE. If I counted right there were 13 Autobahners in attendance.
Now I'm trying to get to the point and that is.......I probably wouldn't have participated in these activities on my own, and even if I had, it wouldn't have been near as much fun as it was by knowing the Autobahners that shared these experiences with me. This club operates well when we are together, so try to attend as many club functions as you are able. I know you won't regret it. Ride safe and have some fun out there!

Our First Rally

2010-07-08T20:09:00.000-05:00

Submitted by Kim Bly
Perry and I recently attended our first ever BMW Rally, the Hiawatha Rally at Money Creek Campground in southeastern MN. Since we have never been big on camping and Perry's dad lived nearby we chose not to camp, so I have to say we didn't get the entire rally experience. We did however spend some time at the campground Friday getting to know some of our members better. Despite the rain on Saturday we enjoyed a great ride along the Mississippi River in Iowa and back to the camp ground where we spent time trying to see how many people we could crowd under a small shade (rain!!) tent! We stayed for an excellent steak dinner and as we finished eating the sun came out. We then decided to ride back to Perry's dad’s while we had some sun. Unfortunately we left before prizes were handed out and it turns out we won the long distance two up contest. I heard that our ice cream cones were enjoyed by some of our other members!
We really enjoyed our first rally experience and have decided that maybe next time we should actually try camping so we get the entire experience (even if it rains) and are looking forward to the next rally.

Pre-National Ride/Campout at Shonley's

2010-07-08T20:07:00.000-05:00

Autobahn invited to “Pre-National Ride/Campout” at Shonley’s , Sturgis, SD, July 9-11
Doug Shonley has invited Big Sioux Riders and Autobahners who are headed to the MOA National in Redmond to stop over at his home in “The Hills” July 9-11 for a little pre-rally enjoyment. He writes……
The location is exactly 5.1 miles West of Sturgis, SD, exit 30. We are planning on you arriving late on Friday evening. We have good lights so you won't be completely in the dark when you setup your tent. You will be able to park your bike inside if you want to. We also have an indoor area for eating and conversation in case of inclement weather. Plan now is to have breakfast at the Chat & Chew at 7am and start the rides at 8am. Meet back at the house around 5pm. We will have an evening meal and conversation into the night. Sunday mornings we go to Church. You are welcome to go with us. Make sure your bike is in good running order with fresh tires. The roads are very good, well marked, and usually very clean. This will probably encourage you to use more of the edges of your tires, so you want good ones. If people are interested I can setup an adventure run or two. For those with GSs we can do some gravel etc. Just let me know what you want to see.
Douglas Shonley (605)347-5006

BMW Track Day with Nate Kern

2010-07-08T20:06:00.000-05:00

BMW Track Day with Nate Kern at Mid American Raceway, August 22
An opportunity to ride with BMW racer Nate Kern. Nate really knows how to make a BMW go around at speed!! Come spend time at Mid American Motor Plex – 30 minutes south of Omaha - and explore what you and your machine can do within the safety of a closed course. Everybody goes the same way. No trees, signs, poles or dogs. Control riders and instructors insure safe practices. Strict rules tailored to your group level for your safety. Group Levels: BMW Novice (passing only on straights), BMW Intermediate/ Advanced (passing on the outside of curves) & BMW S1000RR.
Kansas City BMW Motorcycle Club, Engle Motors and Omaha BMW, Gina's BMW, & Grassroots BMW are sponsoring the Event. Contact any of the above to participate. $150 fee - $175 day of event. The possi-bility to sit in on tech sessions only is being discussed.

“Spur of the Moment” Saturday Ride

2010-07-08T20:05:00.000-05:00

Gary Johnson decided on Friday that he wanted to go for a ride after breakfast the next day, Saturday, June 19th. His plans were to ride to Judson Cycle at Lake Crystal and then visit the Schell Brewery at New Ulm. He e-mailed his plans to 4-5 Autobahners and hoped a “spur of the moment” ride would develop.
Saturday morning found Doug Schafer, Dale Nordlie, & Larry Hawes ready to go. Marlin Wolter who had riden into breakfast from Ocheydan, Ia, decided to ride along. James Anderson decided to ride as far as Mt. Lake and visit his son.
The six headed for Judson dropping James off at his destination. The five remaining “kicked the tires” on all the bikes Ron had in the show room and outside. With that completed four of them headed on to New Ulm. Doug lagged behind to drool over the GS models on display. Arrival at the Schell’s Brewery found it to be closed for the annual Schell Family Reunion.
Not to be disappointed they decided to ride another 50 or so miles west to Lucan, MN, and visit the Brau Brothers’ Brewery. It is a small family owned brewery run by three boys and their father. They arrived at the brewery to find the father and sons were “tasting” beer – Larry’s, Dale’s, Gary’s and Marlin’s kind of people!
The boys gave the Autobahners “the tour” and a few
“samples”. It was a very nice day ride. Proof that a great ride can be coordinated on the “spur of the moment”. Marlin & Larry try new Guzzi’s on for size

34th Iowa (Pure Stodge) Rally

2010-07-08T20:02:00.000-05:00

Submitted by Dan Saterlee
Early on in April, I talked to Tom Melick about riding down to the 34th Iowa Rally in Middle Amana, Iowa. We decided to take off on Friday June 11th and ride down. The forecast was for monsoon type rain with wind and lightning. After packing everything in plastic including extra plastic bags, we head off Friday morning. Luckily the weatherman was wrong and it turned into a beautiful ride down to Amana. The one thing I failed to plan for was the fact that this time of year in the Midwest it is either pouring rain or a thousand degrees with 99% humidity.
We arrived at the rally in time for dinner and free beer (which is all the time), set up camp and hooked up with Bill, Larry, and Dale from the Autobahn Society. They rode down the day before with rain the entire way. We all sat and listened to the entertainment while taking advantage of the free beer. The last thing I heard Tom say was that he was going to get his $40 worth of beer. (Tom it actually lasts all three days). During the night a good strong thunderstorm came though and soaked down everything.
The next morning, we rode down to Ned’s Bike shop for hotdogs and then on to Gina’s BMW in Iowa City. The weather started to clear up just in time to see Chris “Teach” McNeil do motorcycle demonstrations on the new G450, F800GS, and the super fast S1000RR. If you haven’t seen him he is impressive. We returned to camp, ate dinner and settled for another night of entertainment.
Sunday morning, everyone headed out for home in the rain. I continued on to St. Louis for the week and had a terrific ride through the wine county of Missouri.
On a side note, during my trip home, I stopped along I-29 in Iowa at a rest area. Three gentlemen in a motor home approached me asking where I was from, where I had been, and where I was going. We talked awhile and they told me that they were on their way to Jackson Hole for a “Then Came Bronson” reunion. I was unfamiliar with this. They told me it was a TV show in 1969 that had inspired them all to ride. Three years ago they met each other on the internet and discovered that they had all been restoring 1969 Harley Sportsters to replicate the bike that was in the show. Across the county there are ten of them and they were having their 2nd reunion in Wyoming. They gave me a copy of the pilot show and showed me their bikes. To say they are enthusiastic would be an understatement but they were very nice and glad to see another rider. If you are interested, their website is www.jimbronson.com.

The Prez Sez

2010-05-13T21:16:00.002-05:00

Well, by now we are very much into the new riding season. What a great spring we have had so far. I hope you are getting your MOA mileage forms signed and sent in. It looks like some great Wed. night supper rides are coming up and some great regional rallies to look forward to. I often think about how lucky we are to be alive now, in the entire history of the earth we are alive now to enjoy hundreds of technological advances. If we'd been born, say 500 years ago, our days would have been spent just trying to stay alive. That is if we weren't born into nobility. We would have probably never ventured more than a mile or so from our birthplace. Work was drudgery, food often scarce, weather was a major problem, no hope for a better life. And if that wasn't bad enough, NO motorcycles!!
Count your blessings, ride safe and ride often.

Gary 'Das Prez' Johnson

A GOOD START by Doug Schaeffer

2010-05-13T20:37:00.004-05:00

About seven years ago the Mad Norwegian and I moved out into the country. Great view, lousy roads. Many things have conspired to keep me off the bike. Whether its Mother Nature with snow or rain, kidney stones or a couple of knee replacements, the bike just hasn’t seen the miles that I have historically put on and that I would like to put on. And I missed that a lot. A good ride has always been my poison control center. Twenty miles and life is just better, brighter. Our house is up on a small hill. A moraine ridge. Around us is a lot of low county. Having water around us like a moat is interesting but has its drawbacks. Water over the road is common for weeks at a time, both on the gravel/dirt road to the North or South. Not a problem for the Subaru's but can be a problem for the bike. If you keep driving in a track you can keep the road firm, even underwater. But the local maintainer guy has an unquenchable need to blade our road just after a firm track has been established. 2 wheels gets kinda squirrelly in freshly bladed gravel/dirt. Then in their infinite wisdom they trucked in 2 loads of LARGE crushed Sioux Quartzite. The only time I tried to go over it on the bike I had 80 yards if shear panic and was constantly on the edge of imminent crashing. Guess I won’t go over that for a while. To the North is 2 1⁄2 miles of soft, frost heaved gravel/dirt, but if you go fast enough you can kinda skim over the top. Until you crash that is.
I have been managing to get out the North route with only minimal chest pain and gonadal migration. Then I have a paved road with 9 of the 10 curves in Hutchinson County between home and work. I know there is a 10th curve out there someplace, just haven’t found it. So if you can get to the blacktop you’re in pretty good shape. I met Marge at her work and we rode together to the Tea Steakhouse. Not a big deal for you but a good deal for me as it had been a long time since we had been riding two up. There “the Prez” signed my MOA mileage form and I actually got it mailed in.
Marge informed me before the ride that I needed a new motorcycle, helmet and riding suit. Now you know why I have been with her for 45 years. Why she stayed with me that many really is the question.
Thursday I had a plan. Twisty roads and good food. At noon I headed East towards Newton Hills and Canton. I texted my love from the café about the curves at Newton Hills and a “combo on Grainery Bread” at the Garden of Eat’n. She texted me back “poop head”. Ah, married life. Lesson learned: get some road time in before you tackle some tight curves and yes, the sandwich is as good as it was 27 years ago. On into Sioux Falls then back home. The odometer read just short of 500 miles for the week. An accomplishment for you, maybe no, but a good start for me!

AUTOBAHN CELEBRATES 33RD ANNIVERSARY

2010-05-13T19:00:00.005-05:00

Autobahn has a birthday in May – 33 years old. Four of the 19 charter members are celebrating 33 years of membership also – Dennis Erickson, Margaret Galland, Paige Herrig, & Jim Pentico. That’s dedication! An article printed in the Autobahn newsletter when the club was 10 years old is reprinted below to give you a bit of Autobahn history.
(Originally printed in 1987.) Ten years ago this May a handful of BMW riding Sioux Falls people gathered together for a very informal meeting. This meeting was THE BEGINNING OF AUTOBAHN SOCIETY!!!
The story begins with Bob Galland, on a BSA, and his friend Jim Pentico, on a Honda, accompanying Jeff Ecker, a BMW rider, to the MOA National at Branson, MO., in July, 1975. The rally left a deep impression on Bob & Jim. BMWs ridden to the rally from all over the US convinced the two that if they were to get serious about bike touring they had better have a dependable bike - a BMW. (Even then Bob was having vehicle trouble on his trips.) Jim remembers that the people at the rally were so friendly . . . and honest. A very expensive camera had been left on the seat of one of the bikes. Jim felt sure that it would not be there long. To his astonishment the camera remained there, untouched, throughout the day. If this was the way people who ride BMWs acted and BMWs were so dependable then the only thing to do was to trade off the BSA and Honda for BMWs. And that is what Bob and Jim did!!
During the next two years Bob and Jim came across other area people who also rode BMWs. They discussed how much fun it would be to get a group together for weekend rides, picnics, etc. A club organizational kit was ordered from MOA, and an organizational meeting was set for April, 1977. BMW riding acquaintances from rallies and Sunday afternoon rides were notified as were all people from SD who had registered a BMW that year. (Pentico had a friend in Pierre.)
A lot was accomplished at the April meeting although only seven people attended. The group decided to go ahead with an application to be chartered by MOA.. They named themselves “BMW of South Dakota”. They discussed articles to be included in the by-laws; and they scheduled the first meeting for May, 1977.
The May meeting produced a president, Bob Galland, and a secretary-treasurer, Linda Williams, and the by-laws which had been completed by Jim Pentico. The June meeting produced a committee to design a club logo and Jim Pentico began printing “The Newsletter” about this time.
By August the club had received their MOA charter - they were #79. August had been set as the deadline for membership applications to be eligible for the club’s “original charter”. Nineteen members made this list. (Complete list included at end of story.) The August meeting brought discussion on changing the club name to something more
outstanding - something to get away from a geographic name.
The first annual Weigand Campout was held near Yankton in September. The beginning of “the country store” (to be managed by Bob Galland) was made by a motion at the meeting to purchase oil filters by the case for sale to club members.
By March, ‘78, the list of new club names had been narrowed down to Bahnstormers and Autobahn Society. The outcome of the vote we already know and then the race was on to have a logo designed and club patches made. Wednesday night dinner rides and Saturday morning breakfast rides began in April, ‘78. Autobahn Society also became associated with BMW Rider’s Association. February, ‘79, became a reality for the club patches. The MOA National at Brainard in July produced the first club banner. A very striking white banner with “Autobahn Society” encircling a large BMW logo (designed by Audry Slater) congregated the Autobahners as they arrived. The banner was retired in 1981 for a new light-weight banner displaying our club logo.
As the years passed the club grew and so did the outings. The annual campout became two with the addition of the Oakgrove Campout at Hawarden in October. The election of officers in January has become an overnight event with the addition of the awards banquet. The club took on a big challenge in 1985 when they decided to host their first Iron Butt Rally.
The memories from these events and others are filed for posterity in the club “picture book” or at the “Hall of Fame” where the “high club attendance” and “high club miles” trophies from the Hiawatha Rally and the authentic wooden shoes from a Dutch visitor are housed. The “Hall of Fame” is located in the Krien’s Construction offices. Autobahn Society has grown to approximately 100 people and covers a large area of South Dakota, Minnesota, and Iowa as well as several other states. The members continue to fulfill the purpose of Autobahn Society as stated in the by-laws by “further developing motorcycle touring and camping as a recreational sport, social ideal and way of life superior to all others”. The club members “firmly resolve to ride as much as possible recognizing that work is the curse of the touring biker”. And as one club member has so adeptly put it, “Where else can you have this much fun for $6 a year?”

FROM THE PREZ!!!

2010-04-07T09:19:00.000-05:00

Hello riding enthusiasts! I think the season is here, after a
trying winter, the roads are ice free and the grass is greening.I
know most of you have had a ride or two by now. A few things
to consider; tires (pressure and condition, road surfaces
(gravel, sand, potholes, flooded, etc.), & maybe a tune-up
(machine and mental). I would also like to ask you to make
suggestions as to rides or activities that the club members
might be interested in. I don’t have anything specific planned,
but a joint breakfast with the Big Sioux Riders would be fun
again (like in Alcester). Maybe a Wed. night supper further
east, so some of our members don’t have so far to go, or
north, or whatever direction, and try out some place new to
most of us. A ride to Judson and New Ulm is always fun. This
is still a motorcycle club so let’s get some riding in, enjoy
our times together, and be safe.

Gary "das prez" Johnson

Let me introduce you to...

2010-04-07T09:16:00.000-05:00

Ed Hill
I’m Ed Hill (BMW MOA # 756), a new member of
Autobahn Society. I live a couple miles west of Yankton, SD.
My wife Sue and I moved here from Alabama when I finally
retired 3 years ago. We have four children, nine grandchildren
(plus one on the way), and two great grandchildren.
I had 30 years active (enlisted) duty in the Air Force
working in electronics maintenance, followed by 24 years as a
contractor to the AF before retiring to South Dakota.
My current riding BMW is a late 1992 K1100LT, my first
was a 1958 R60/2 in 1960. I’ve been fortunate to ride
extensively in the US and Europe over the years thanks to my
military assignments. I also moon-lighted as a BMW mechanic
in several dealerships around the states and was able to
attend several BMW factory training classes. The training was
on the /2 series, and early /5 BMW’s...and those bikes are still
my favorites.
I hope to get to meet you all this riding season.
Ed Hill

Let me introduce you to...

2010-04-07T09:13:00.000-05:00

Perry and Kim Bly
I work for Wollman Insurance Agency in Sioux Falls. I
write health, life, and dental, but specialize in health insurance
– group, individual, and over 65 with Medicare. Kim works for
the Brandon School district in Child Nutrition. We have four
children. Becky is finishing her sophomore year at Northwest
Missouri State. Megan is about to graduate Brandon High,
and plans to attend SDSU this fall. Chris and Molly will both
be in middle school next year.
My first motorcycle was a Honda XL250 with a broken
kick start. The farmer pulled me with his tractor to get it
started. I bought it for $75 dollars. It ran like a champ and was
a ton of fun. With extremely limited mechanical skills - I
eventually sold it off for 50 bucks. I couldn’t get the kick start
fixed. It was too hard to start. We didn’t have a tractor. I
sold my second bike, a Kawasaki Ninja ZX6 right before
Christopher was born. We had it for a couple of years. With
busy lives, a baby on the way, and a career change that
moved us to Indiana, I just couldn’t justify having the bike any
longer, and knew it had to go. I don’t think I put 2,000 miles on
it, and it wasn’t really meant to ride with a passenger. It wasn’t
much fun for Kim anyway. It was really fun for me!!!!
I started searching for a bike again, nearly two years ago.
Months of time spent shopping, researching and looking,
mostly by way of the Internet. In April 2009, I found a 2002 LT
for sale by owner in Rapid City. It looked like a good deal, but
I didn’t know a thing about an “LT” I had lots of questions and
even more apprehension. The patient owner finally said “The
best way to describe it is - it’s a crotch rocket with heated
seats.” We didn’t set out to be BMW owners, but a crotch
rocket with heated seats. I had to have it!
The previous owner suggested I join the LT owners online
community. He told me how great the information was. I
don’t know if I would have kept the bike if not for LT on-line
community and the wealth of knowledge they share. They
have saved our relationship. We love the bike more every day.
Not long after getting the “LT”, I met James (Anderson).
He walked into my office to compliment my bike and tell me
about the BMW club, and where they meet. Soon after that, I
pulled up to a gas pump on a Sat. morning to meet Larry and
Mary Hawes on their way back from breakfast with the club.
We got introduced and they told me about the club, the big
event they host each year, and invited us to come out to meet
everyone. I went home and told Kim that we should check this
group out. It might be kinda fun to join. We just thought we
were buying a used motorcycle last April. We didn’t have any
idea all the extra’s that would come with it. We are looking
forward to meeting more people, and getting out to ride with
everybody. We have been slow to get to dinners, but we are
making a better effort now that we know how much fun they
are. We are planning to attend at least one rally this year. We
hope to make it over to Rushford, MN, the first weekend in
June. My dad lives close by so we can see him too.
We hope to see you all soon.
Perry and Kim Bly