MAGAZINE ARTICLES

MAGAZINE ARTICLES

A.B.A.T.E. of Louisiana Presents

ABATE SAFETY REPORT

TAKE THIS LAW AND SHOVE IT!

IF IT'S NOT BROKE...WHY DOES GOVERNMENT TRY TO FIX IT!

Remember back when this great nation of ours was founded in 1776, and our first president took office in 1789-1797. George Washington, our first leader I'm sure was loved by many because he took office right after the re voluntary war, and hated by others. So, for a lot of our political leaders history still repeats itself.

Remember the good ole days, when Mr. Lincoln said , "For the people by the people". This government truly started off with its country men in mind, what was good for us all. Then somewhere down the line, government decided it knew what was best for all and these is why we are in the mess we are in today. In today's government its who you know instead of what you know...

Last year at this time, the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) ran seriously afoul of the motorcycle and ATV communities when it included youth-model off-highway motorcycles and ATVs in the agency's sweeping ban of children's products containing lead. This action caused a perilous, unintended consequence for children ages 12 and under, forcing them onto dirt bikes and ATVs too large for them to operate safely. In addition, the law has resulted in a severe disruption to families who recreate together, has had a deleterious effect on youth amateur racing, and has devastated many small businesses that sell off-highway vehicles (OHVs). But hey, it's okay they were doing what they thought was best for all concerned, no mater what the cost.

The same with the repeal act, the more bikers we have who volunteer there time and energy to get the right people elected into office the better off we as motorcyclist we will be. Sure, there's a lot more to biker’s rights than just the helmet law. But that single issue shows proof-positive whether the newly elected official is biker-friendly or a nanny-crat. And among bikers, it's a passionate issue. Passion becomes motivation, and motivation becomes action. So then it's simply a matter of bikers taking action to help a biker-friendly candidate win. Then it's a win win situation for all concerned!

It's a new year and a host of new names for ABATE on the State level as well as on the local level. As a whole we need to work together to make our wants and needs... and for our people by our people if we want to survive as a whole. The day of not caring or thinking let someone else do it has to stop! We are a team, and it takes a team effort to make the world go round. Don't let this year come and go with out a difference being made for us. We have many issues at hand new and old and it is going to take help from each and ever biker...it is all about give and take.

Like most people in the biker community, we believe government is too much in our business and to try to make sense to them about what is best for us is going to be a long hard bumpy road. Why should this year be any different then the years before this one. I guess we all hope that with time we can wear down legislation and make them see it our way, but we know from experience that, that does not work. So, if state by state, one by one we can help get elected the official into government that are biker friendly we just might have a chance. And really, isn't that what we just want, is a chance to be heard, but not our words to fall on deaf ears.

Our road to success is once again going to be long and a rough ride, but we as riders for freedom and justice for all can handle the task at hand. When things get tough, I remember my kids as children telling their coach...put me in coach I can help make a difference! They were fresh, they were ready they were determined...let's get the fresh guys and gals the chance to try and make a difference and lets start with you and me.

For all of us who ride, be safe and watch out for those who do not watch for us! There is safety in numbers, so ride with many friends. Let's make this year a better one for all concerned.

Dannie “Rocky” White

Public Relations

CHAPLAIN’S CORNER

February tends to strike the love chord as most celebrate Valentine's Day remembering

those that they love by giving flowers, chocolates, a special dinner or other sentiments

and gifts. However, the gift of love does not require a special occasion and is best given

on a daily basis!

THE LOVE CHAPTER

Love suffers long and is kind; Love does not envy

Love does not parade itself; Love is not puffed up

Love does not behave rudely; Love does not seek its own

Love is not provoked; Love thinks no evil

Love does not rejoice in iniquity; Love rejoices in the truth

Love bears all things; Love believes all things

Love hopes for all things; Love endures all things

Love never fails

1CORINTHIANS 13:4-8

White Dove Biker Fellowship Church

2009 BOO BENEFIT

YOU JUST NEVER KNOW WHAT TO EXPECT FROM THE WEATHER DURING FALL, BUT THE ONE THING YOU CAN COUNT ON IS, RAIN OR SHINE IN THE SLEEPY LITTLE TOWN OF JEFFERSON, TX, THE "BOO BENEFIT" IS WHERE EVERYONE IS GONNA' BE.

THIS YEAR IT WAS A LITTLE COOL WITH OFF/ON RAIN, WHICH KEPT EVERYONE IN THEIR LEATHERS. BUT IN NO-WAY DID THE WEATHER DIMINISH THE CROWDS FROM RIDING IN. WAVE AFTER WAVE OF "SCOOTERS" ROLLED IN FROM EVERY DIRECTION. AFTER 12 YEARS, THE NUMBERS ARE STILL GROWING AND USUALLY ARE SOMEWHERE AROUND 50,000. THE CAPACITY CROWD LOOKS AS IF IT WILL OVERWHELM THE TOWN. VENDOR'S LINE EVERY STREET SHOWING OFF JUST ABOUT ANYTHING YOU CAN IMAGINE AND WITH THREE STAGES THE MUSIC NEVER STOPS. FOOD IS EVERYWHERE AND SOME OFFER FREE BOTTLED WATER AND COFFEE.

I MUST ADMIT THIS EVENT IS TRULY ONE OF THE BEST AND ALL PROCEEDS BENEFIT THE "PERCY JOHNSON BURN FOUNDATION" ALONG WITH THE "SHRINER'S CHILDREN'S BURN HOSPITAL". "BOO" & "PATSY CHALER" WITH THE HELP OF AN ARMY OF VOLUNTEERS DO AN EXCELLENT JOB COORDINATING THE THREE DAY EVENT. THEIR EFFORTS SHINE THROUGH WITH RECORD CROWDS YEAR AFTER YEAR. I TRULY LOOK FORWARD TO THIS EVENT EVERY YEAR, THANKS "BOO CREW" FOR AN AWESOME TIME, SEE YA NEXT YEAR...

Target Our Boats, We'll Take Your Bike

How to Get Your Riding Fix In a War Zone

by Jason Shiflet

Like most riders,I ’ve ridden a fair share of motorcycles

in a fair variety of locations.However,there is one ride

and one bike that really stand out in particular.Now,it

surely wasn ’t the longest ride,and it definitely wasn ’t the

nicest ride.But without a doubt it was a unique ride.

In order for me to explain what made this ride special

I ’ll have to provide a little back-story on the bike and how

I came to “acquire ” it.It was early January 2007.Not

your typical riding season,unless you happen to be in

Iraq.In that case,there ’s pretty good riding weather

year-round.Although if winter riding is not your thing,

you probably wouldn ’t enjoy flying bullets any more than

you would enjoy flying snowflakes.Anyway,it was the

winter of ’07 and I found myself serving as the platoon

commander for a reinforced Small Unit Riverine Craft

(SURC)platoon.Our job was to utilize our SURCs to pa-

trol the Euphrates River and other waterways in central

Iraq for a variety of reasons,not the least of which was to

deny the insurgents the use of those waters.

On this particular mission we happened to encounter

several Iraqis on a canal in small wooden rowboats.By

order of the Governor of Al Anbar province,this canal

was off limits to all Iraqis.Needless to say,as we ap-

proached the Iraqis,they quickly made their way ashore

and fled on foot.Two of them,military aged males,

jumped on a motorcycle and after traveling about a

hundred yards,ditched the bike and headed off on foot.

Several Marines went ashore,but as usual the Iraqis had

disappeared.However,the Marines did find the motor-

cycle.Furthermore,bungeed to the seat was a black

pillowcase with eyeholes cut into it to make a hood.Now

if you see a makeshift black hood bungeed to a motor-

cycle here in the States you would probably assume that

some cracker couldn ’t afford a real face mask for riding in

the cold.But in Iraq,the guys who carry black hoods are

the same guys who like to blow up Americans and their

fellow countrymen.

After checking out the bike,the Marines began to

question some of the local residents who live along the

canal.Throughout our operations in the area,we had

established a pretty good relationship with the locals.In

fact,we had even taken a medical team down the canal

to inoculate the children and provide other basic medi-

cal care.So,after asking one of the local men about the

bike,he curtly replied that we should “burn it and teach

them a lesson ”.Initially that ’s exactly what we were go-

ing to do.Now I like to torch a vehicle just as much as

the next guy,but some part of my motorcycle-loving heart

just knew that there had to be an alternative.Turning to

the Executive Officer and senior ranking Marine on this

patrol,I said,“Hey Sir,why don ’t we just take it home?”

There was a brief pause and then,“Well,Gunny,if you

think we can get it on the boat,sure.”

I got back on the radio to the Sergeant on the ground,

“Red 5,this is Red 1,you think you can get that bike on

Sergeant Brian Forse,the ground element leader,

responded exactly the way I expected him to.This was

a Marine who would have said “affirmative ” if I had asked

him to carry that bike home on his back.In short order

and after some grunting,pushing,and a few chuckles

we had the motorcycle loaded on the boat.Now those

SURCs are 40 foot gunboats,not exactly meant for ferry

duty.But we made it work,continued the patrol and then

returned to base.By then it was dark.It would be the

next day before I could really check her out.

Morning came quickly,but I was anxious to get out

and see what we had.I made my way to our staging

area and took my first real good look at the bike.As the

pictures can attest,she was no beauty.But she had two

wheels and a motor and I couldn ’t wait to ride her.But

first,I had to size her up.Well,the glass was missing

from all of the lights.In its place was cellophane,red

over the brake light,clear over the headlight.I was both

impressed with the Iraqis ’ ability to jerry-rig,and disap-

pointed in the way that this poor bike had been treated.

We couldn ’t tell much about the bike,but all the con-

trols were “normal ” (left foot shift,left hand clutch,etc).

We figured out that it was a 250cc two stroke.We think

it was Czechoslovakian,but I ’m still not sure.Based on

the ingenious measuring cup built into the underside of

the fuel cap,we guesstimated the fuel-oil mixture and

decided to use 90 weight oil,since that ’s the closest

thing to 2-stroke motor oil that we could find.Everything

else was in ugly,but functioning order.Since nearly all

of the fuel had spilled out during this beauty ’s boat trip,

we topped off the tank and kicked her over.And kicked.

And kicked.And kicked some more.47 kicks and one

pulled hamstring later,I was surrounded by a cloud of

smoke but happily sitting on a running motorcycle in the

middle of Mesopotamia.

Needless to say,as I made my way up and down the

muddy roads of our Forward Operating Base (FOB),

struggling to find the next gear and blowing blue-gray

smoke all over the place,a crowd began to gather.This

was not authorized.This was not professional.But

damn it was fun!

So here ’s the tally for my most unique ride.Total miles

covered:maybe 1.Bike ridden:still not sure.Destina-

tion:that funny place in one ’s head that only a rider has

As a postscript,I ’ll add that our Company Executive Of-

ficer,a Marine captain,submitted an official letter to the

Army Colonel in charge of the base.That letter request-

ed that we be permitted to keep the bike for use around

the FOB.He cited logistical requirements,mission

requirements,and some other official sounding reasons

that we needed the bike for our operations.It was some

of the most creative writing I had ever seen.The Colonel

got the letter.I never rode that bike again.

If any readers can positively identify the make or model

of this motorcycle,or for any other comments,feel free to

e-mail the author at leatherthroat@comcast.net.

KRUSIN' WITH KALE

JUST ASK A GROUP OF PEOPLE TO HELP RAISE MONEY FOR A GOOD CAUSE IN THE NEW ORLEANS AREA & THEY WILL COME THRU WITH PASSION. THAT'S WHAT BIKERS DO,

THEY WILL HELP. SUCH A CASE WAS KYLE BRADFORD, A 2 YR OLD WITH LEUKIMIA.

THE FAMILY WAS PAYING BIG BUCKS FOR HIS TREATMENTS TO SAVE HIS LIFE. BUT THE MACHINE THAT HE NEEDED COSTS $20,000 TO PURCHASE. SO UP STEPS THE BIKERS.

THANKS TO CAPT LARRY'S,THE BOUNTY BAR, KAJUN CONSTRUCTION, RAULS PRINTING, JADE MARINE, DANNY TROSCLAIR FROM PRUNDENTAL , GARDNER REALTY & A HOST OF OTHERS , THE AMOUNT RAISED WAS $30,000. THE RIDE CONSISTED OF 300

BIKES WITH ABOUT 400 PEOPLE IN ATTENDANCE. THE STOPS WERE THE YARDARM, THE KAMP, AFFORDABLE LEATHER, TEQUILA ROSE AND BACK TO THE BOUNTY FOR THE.PARTY. THE DAY WAS PERFECT FOR THE RIDE, NOT A CLOUND IN THE SKY.

AS OF THIS WRITING I AM HAPPY TO REPORT THAT YOUNG KYLE IS IN REMISSION.

HIS PARENTS MELANIE AND HANK BRADFORD ARE VERY GRATEFUL TO ALL THAT CAME OUT TO HELP THEIR BABY GET TO THROUGH THIS VERY DIFFICULT TIME.

RIDE SAFE, RIDE SOBER

WATCH OUT FOR CAGERS

Harley Hop-Up by Kirby Apathy

The Thunder Jet,a lot of people want one or have one in their carb,

but don ’t really know what it dose or how to tune it.We will start with

the basic principle of how its supposed to work.On a lot off big inch or

high RPM motors,you have to have such a large main jet for the higher

RPM`s,that your midrange is too rich.The Thunder Jet is a 3rd tuning

circuit that will take over on the big end thus letting you lower the main

jet to allow for a more responsive mid RPM range.The S&S carbs will

also allow you to install a adjustable air bleed (using a S&S or Mikuni

jet),the stock air bleed is .042,raising or opening up the air bleed will

allow the main jet to come on later.This becomes very important as

we ’ve found that with S&S carbs,the intermediate jet is usually raised

1 or 2 sizes bigger than normal,this will create a stumble or flat spot where the intermediate jet crosses over to the

main jet,thus raising where the transition is will eliminate the stumble.Also like I said before,the main jet can be

lowered,to give the whole tune on the carb better throttle response,this is where the Thunder Jet comes in.Within

the T-Jet,theres a replaceable jet that can be changed to richen up the top end that would normally be to lean from

the lowering of the main jet.When its all said &done,your intermediate jet will be a size or two bigger than normal,

while your main jet will be a size or two smaller,jetting the thunder jet will be a trail &error type of thing,the T-jet

starts coming on at about 4500 rpm`s,dynoing the bike makes it a lot easier.The T-Jet for the CV Harley carbs

works on the same principle as the S&S carbs,just installed a little differently.You can run 1,2,3 or we ’ve installed

4 in a pro stock Harley S&S D carb.Engine displacement,cams,compression &RPM ranges will effect the tuning

of the T-jets.We always turn the accelerator pumps down when tuning them as they can give false covers of a lean

condition.The installation isn ’t a real complicated operation but should be preformed by a competent machinist with

the proper equipment,a milling machine is a must,we ’ve had riders bring in their carbs,after try to install them with

drill presses or one guy that put his carb in a vise and used a cordless drill(??).If you have one or want one,but have

some more questions,feel free to contact us and we will try to help you out,their not rocket science,but can be a

little on the confusing side.

www.veetwinperformance.com

Kicking off their 3rd season (and second visit to LA), SPEED Channels’ “Pinks All Out”, came out to No Problem Raceway Park in Belle Rose, LA. Featuring creator, executive producer and host Rich Christensen, racers challenged their wits, skills and reaction time from Rich’s trademark “Arm Drop” launches, reminiscent to illegal street racing known to all who’ve challenged the competitors and legal challenges on back roads and highway drag racing. Final winner’s take? $10,000 Cash!!! Accompanying Rich was the show’s new cast members, Steve “Willie B.” Meade and NHRA Racer Clay Millican. Throughout the weekend (and what a cold weekend it was), Rich and his team along with film crew coordinated racers through a well-choreographed system of racing for time and finish. Each race culminated to the processes of elimination until the “Final 16”. With these winning racers in line for the finals, SPEED crew staff rigged the cars with internal cameras to record contributing film for the episode. Final two racers competing for the grand prize; Gerald “Gero” Breaux in his Vega and Heath Cowart in his Camaro. Taking home the cash purse; Heath Cowart.

Race fans had the opportunity throughout the entire weekend to see the inner-makings of a television program. And with Rich’s outstanding personality along with Willie B. and Clay, fans were treated like family and some were featured during the show. One such example was when a race fan, dressed in shorts and tank top caught Rich’s attention. Simple enough maybe but what made it interesting was the fact that the temperatures averaged in the low 40’s throughout the weekend, enhanced to even colder temps considering the wind-chill factor. But all-in-all, race fans cheered on their favorite competitors out of a list of approximated 470 racers.

Despite the cold, track temps ran about 73degrees and with racers following the creed “all out”, there were several drive-train breakages, couple blown engines, including one NoS explosion in the staging lanes. Not only was that an attention-getter with percussion, flying hood and major smoke, but folks walking around the area were spared injuries which could’ve resulted from the surprising interruption.

From the many family racing teams and some pro teams, fans were also treated to demonstrations by Pro-Mods, a Jet Car, Wheelie Contest (featuring Mardi Gras Party Bus and Outhouse???, Yes, I said outhouse), Top Fuel Dragsters, Jr. Dragsters, Top Fuel Motorcycles. And of course an abundant amount of vendors featuring wares, accessories, and excellent food well-known to South Louisiana.

No Problem Raceway has pulled all the stops to accommodate both NHRA sanctioned races and shows such as Pinks. Additional stands complete the increased spectator access offering both to right and left sides of track. Extra gates were created to accommodate the crowds and that certainly helped because parking stressed the seams of the race park. I swear, not one blade of grassed seemed to be found with all the real estate taken up for parking. The Thunder Roads camper was setup alongside the road race tower in the back and race fan parking filled up all around us and beyond towards the end of the park property line. Attendance was not an issue.

At press time, there are no mentions of another Pinks at NPR. But we’ll keep you posted in our calendar when we hear something. Pinks All Out’s creator, Rich Christensen should be recognized as one of the most hard-working and well respected personalities in the business. Rich brings to each show a true determination and enthusiasm not commonly seen in reality television today. Thunder Roads Mag of LA appreciates the generosity of the SPEED crew, No Problem Raceway and thoroughly enjoyed sharing the excitement and back-of-the-scenes production of Pinks, All Out! We hope to see you at the next one.

with camera assistance by Chris Pitre

SMITTY'S CYCLES GRAND OPENING

ON SAT JULY 11, 2009 SMITTY'S CYCLES HELD THEIR FIRST ANNUAL SWAP & SHOP MEET. IT WAS ALSO THEIR GRAND OPENING CELEBRATION. THE SHOP LOCATED 0N 5TH STREET IN GRETNA IS A LONG NEEDED MOTORCYCLE REPAIR SHOP. THEY WORK ON ALL TYPES OF BIKES AND PROVIDE EXCELLENT CARE. THEIR WAS ABOUT 75 BIKES WITH 150 PEOPLE THAT HELPED SMITTY AND THE STAFF CELEBRATE. GOOD FOOD AND COLD BEER WITH A LIVE BAND HELPED THE FESTIVITIES. IN THE VERY NEAR FUTURE SMITTY'S WILL BE CELEBRATING THEIR 2ND ANNIVERSARY WHICH I HAVE BEEN TOLD WILL BE BIGGER AND BETTER THAN THE FIRST.

SEE YA ON THE ROAD

RIDE SAFE AND RIDE SOBER

MAY "THE FORCE" BE WITH YOU