Amca Viking Chapter Newsletter

AMCA VIKING CHAPTER NEWSLETTER

September 2016 [email protected] PUBLISHED QUARTERLY http://www.vikingmc.org Viking Chapter AMCA Inc. OFFICERS P.O. Box 18304, Minneapolis, MN 55418 PRESIDENT: VICE-PRESIDENT: Gary Kloss Kerry Rasmussen 763-757-1712 651-430-1332 INSIDE THIS ISSUE: [email protected] [email protected] Upcoming Club Events ………... 2

President’s Message & DIRECTORS: Editor’s Note ………….………... 3 Mark Jilk David Glennen 651-207-2190 612-616-5025 John Eiden Memorial …….….... 4 [email protected] [email protected]

AMCA National Meet …….….... 6 Timothy O’Keeffe Laurie Studler Blind Lizard Rally ………...... 14 651-675-6560 651-332-3913 Ride to Money Creek …………..15 [email protected] [email protected]

Vets Ice Cream Social ….……... 17 TREASURER: MEMBERSHIP: Club Ride to Sturgis …..…...…...18 Dena Natins David Glennen

Chaska BBQ ……...…..….…..…19 612-770-4146 612-616-5025 [email protected] [email protected] Gillespie Ride-In …..…..….....…21

John Eiden Memorial Ride …... 22 SECRETARY: WEB/EMAIL: Diane Nelson Doug Nelson Van Buren Sisters Centennial .. 23 612-965-1415 612-559-9595 Atul’s Award & [email protected] [email protected] AMCA Road Runs ………….... 24

Runs & Meets ……….………... 25 DEPUTY JUDGE: NEWSLETTER: Roger Rimnac Tim Gadban FunTime ……...……………...... 30 651-235-5898 612-825-2550 Want Ads ……………...... …..... 31 [email protected] [email protected]

Classified …….……………..… 32 CLUB HISTORIAN: Tom Jones 763-533-9163

Voting for New Officers of the AMCA Viking Chapter

Don’t forget that at 7pm on Wednesday September 21st at our General Meeting at Fury Motors (740 No Concord Ave, South St Paul) voting will take place for new chapter officers. This is kind of a “be there or be square” window of time as a new Vice- President, Secretary and two Directors for the coming year will be selected at this meeting. Your nominees are: Vice-President - Dave Moot Secretary - Roy Williams Director (2 positions) - Ivar Natins & Ron Spargo

UPCOMING EVENTS

Note: Board of Directors (B.O.D) meetings are open to all members. When held at a chapter member’s home, please notify the host ahead of time.

Wednesday August 31 (leaves at 8am) Wednesday October 12, 7pm Ride to Davenport #1 B. O. D. Meeting Little Oscar’s Restaurant John’s Pizza, 23470 Emery Ave, Hampton, MN 616 Como Ave, St Paul, MN 55103 651-488-1922

Thursday September 1 (meet at 6am) Wednesday October 19, 7pm Ride to Davenport #2 General Meeting Freedom Gas Station, Prescott, WI GoMoto Contact: Tom Jones 763-533-9163 3346 Washington Ave No, Minneapolis, MN 612-588-6686

Saturday September 10 (meet at 8am) Wednesday November 9, 7pm Viking Chapter Ride to Wings & Wheels B. O. D. Meeting Kerry & Sue Rasmussen’s Home Diamonds Coffee Shoppe 9282 Stonebridge Trail No, Stillwater, MN 1618 Central Ave. NE, Minneapolis MN 55413 651-492-0735 612-789-5282

Wednesday September 14, 7pm Wednesday November 16, 7pm B. O. D. Meeting General Meeting Tom & Judy Jones Home, Leo’s South 6516 Ronald Place, Brooklyn Center, MN 16375 Kenrick Ave, Lakeville MN 763-533-9163 952-435-5371 Note: Tom has kindly extended an open invitation to club members to view his motorcycle collec Wednesday December 14, 7pm tion: his sheds will be open! B. O. D. Meeting Tim & Robin Gadban’s Home 1375 Almond Ave, St Paul, MN 55108 Saturday September 17, 3-6pm 651-235-5898 Wheels Beneath Our Wings Show Holman Field (St Paul Airport) 644 Bayfield Street, St Paul, MN Saturday Jan 14, 5-9pm (North End of Airfield - access from Plato Blvd Viking Chapter Holiday Party!! and bear right onto Bayfield Street) Mounds View Community Event Center 651-500-7075 or www.mnawa.org 5394 Edgewood Drive, Mounds View, MN 55112 See flyer on Page 26 for details 763-717-4040 !! IT’S A POTLUCK !! $$ SILENT AUCTION $$ Sunday September 18, 6am-2pm ## GENERAL MEETING ## ** ANNUAL AWARDS ** Viking Chapter Fall Swap Meet ++ MEET THE 2017 BOARD ++ - - 50/50 RAFFLE - - MN State Fair Grounds (No. Parking Lot) Contact: Tom Whittles 651-636-5492 Note: volunteers meet at Perkins Restaurant in Roseville at 5am - Co. Rd. B just East of Snelling near Target

Wednesday September 21, 7pm General Meeting (vote for Chapter Officers) Fury Motors, 740 No Concord Ave, So St Paul, MN 55075 651-251-8230 For the Silent Auction bring a desirable item in good condi- Saturday October 1, Meet at 9am tion - artwork, books, posters, jewelry, clothing, etc. (no Fall Mystery Ride (leaves at 10am) swapmeet stuff - it doesn’t have to be a motorcycle related TBD .. It’s a Mystery!! item). This auction benefits our club and also supplements Stay tuned to the E-Talker for details our Charity Fund. So donate that old knick-knack to a good cause! Bring your stuff to the party to be bagged and tagged. 2

NOTES FROM GARY’S GARAGE By Gary Kloss It’s the end of August already! What happened to the summer, it just started a couple of weeks ago, or it seems like it anyway. The roads are still full of construction zones, so summer is still here but for how long? Time to do as much riding as possible before our “Theater of Seasons” drops the curtain on us!

It seemed like every weekend this summer had a bunch of things going on. It seems like every weekend I had to choose what to skip and what to go to. Put that together with family obligations for domestic peace and goodwill I have to admit a rainy day was a relief now and then. I never thought I’d ever say that! I really have a problem in the summer, choosing when to work on a bike, go for a ride, mow the lawn, fix a few things around the house, or whatever. If the weather is good it seems a shame to waste it piddling around home, but some of the jobs and projects I have need good weather to do. I know most of us have the same problem, with the added complication of working for a living, it’s a tough balancing act. If anyone has any tips how to do it please let me know.

If anyone didn’t make it to the spring show and swap meet, it was a big success. We had a great turnout of bikes, some real stand- outs. Ask Dave Moot about a high point bike next time you see him. We also had quite a few new people join both the national and the Viking chapter at the show. The swap meet keeps growing every year and we had to open more space north of the water tower this year for new vendors. The Banquet was a sellout for the first time, the weather cooperated, and we didn’t lose any money. Good job everyone!

We had a very nice turnout of bikes at the Veterans home for the Ice Cream Social in spite of having to reschedule because of the weather. The original date would have been a scorcher! I was told the old guy’s were disappointed when we canceled the first date, so I know they look forward to our show. Thanks everyone for being there not only for the show but for the meeting.

And that brings up another subject; Meetings, I really want to encourage all members to attend all of the monthly meetings they can. Yes a part of the meeting is club business and housekeeping to keep things running smooth, those things have to be done. I really think the meetings should also be a place to meet more people that share our passion for the old machines. Helping newer (and old- er) members with questions about their projects and sharing knowledge with each other is part of our mission. So come on out to a meeting I promise we don’t bite, well at least most of us don’t.

I can’t close without saying farewell to John Eiden a long time member of the Viking Chapter who recently passed away at the age of 91. It was a privilege and honor to know him. Rest in Peace John you set a high standard for all of us.

EDITOR’S NOTE By Tim Gadban Looking at summer in the rear view mirror …. there were some events we missed: Victoria Volkfest due to rain and the Bearded Lady Motorcycle Freakshow was cancelled this year. The Bring Out Yer Dead Rally and the Gearhead Get-Together were sparsley attended also due to weather conditions. The Ice Cream Social with our Veterans was postponed for a couple of weeks due to the oppressive heat and humidity. So our calendar got a little wonked up … maybe that’s all in keeping with this year’s presidential race! Anyway there was plenty of activity as you will see in this issue.

I decided to include an article on the Van Buren sisters (see Page 23) because it is the remarkable story of two young women who crossed the country on Indian motorcyles in 1916. This of course is the centennial, which was celebrated with a women’s ride across the country along approximately the same route, under very different circumstances. The article is quite abridged so I hope it piques your interest enough to find out more details about Gussie and Addie and their adventures.

This issue pays tribute to John Eiden, a much loved and respected Viking Chapter member who passed away recently. He really embodied the spirit of the antique motorcycle enthusiast and though he is physically gone I know his spirit lives on among the club members.

!!New Blood!!! ! The AMCA Viking Chapter welcomes the following new !!MOTORCYCLE SWAP MEET!! members: Roy Kieffer Gary Jirovel SUNDAY, 18 SEPT. 2016 - 6am to 4pm Darren Winterowd Dale Peterson North Parking Lot of the State Fairgrounds, St Paul, Richard Cooter Las Johnson Minnesota (corner of Snelling & Hoyt) Leeroy Mitzel Tim Torrel ======Kim Forb Naomi Austin All Brands - All Years! Wayne Galarneau Harold Dirks Jim McCallum Ron Gardinier Vendor Spaces are FREE! Carl Math Phil Holbo Only $5 admission gets you in to SELL or BUY! Rich Packer Stephen Butts For additional information visit www.vikingmc.org Or call Tom Whittles at 651-636-5492 We look forward to riding with you and seeing you at our meetings!

CLUB NEWS

IN MEMORIAM - JOHN EIDEN (1925 - 2016)

John Eiden, age 91, passed away Wednesday, August 24, 2016, after a long life lived with happiness and integri- ty. Born at home March 17, 1925, he grew up in Holdingford, MN, on a small farm with 12 brothers and sisters. After gradu- ating with honors from high school, John wanted to see the world, and joined the Navy June 1943 during WWII, as an electronics specialist, based in San Francisco and Hawaii, then serving overseas in China and Japan. Returned to Minnesota, met Annette, marrying in 1951. One of the first and a long- time member of St. Raphael’s Catholic Church in Crystal. His values, among honesty and deep faith, included loyalty, which led to 65 years of marriage and 30 years at a job he loved with Univac (Unisys) as an electronics technician. Fixing and teaching repair of mainframe computers, even working at NASA during Apollo 15’s flight. He was a member of the Knights of Columbus, and 50 years of retreats at King’s House in Buffalo. He loved his 1942 Harley Davidson motorcycle just a bit less than his family. His long retirement was filled with 20 years of part-time work at Mpls Auto Auction, travel with Annette, mentoring his grandchildren, and spend- ing time with his many friends, either from the Antique Mo- torcycle Club, Pavek Radio Museum or coffee time.

Member Sean O’Neil probably came up with the some of the best words that the Viking Chapter could leave as a tribute to John:

“One of my heroes has passed. John Eiden inspired me through his kindness, generosity and selfless volunteering to our antique motorcycle club. He demonstrated to me what dedication meant, and I hope each day to live up to his example. Behind his constant smile was one of the toughest men I have ever known. Whether it was sleeping in his car so he could work our swap meet or riding his ’45 throughout the ENTIRE WINTER, John exemplified everything that is great about his generation. I’ll miss you John.”

“There is a moment in our lives when we see one of the great riders, the look of perfect enjoyment on his face, at one with his ma- chine. The past and present blurring together, neither old nor young, but immortal in the moment. Keep riding, John.” We will never forget.

CLUB NEWS

IN MEMORIAM - JOHN EIDEN (1925 - 2016) (cont.)

And some words and photos from Tom Jones (Viking Chapter founding member):

It was winter. Cold snowy winter. We were sitting around the coffee shop talking about motorcycles and summer “stuff.” We all thought the riding season was a long way off. Then John appeared. He was dressed for an arctic adventure, bun- dled up in a snowmobile suit. John Eiden had just ridden in on his 1942 Harley, complete with side car. This was not a real surprise to us. John wasn’t trying to prove he was “hard core,” he just really liked to ride.

John joined the Viking Chapter of the Antique Motorcycle Club in 1988. He was new to the club but not to motorcycling. He bought his first and only motorcycle after WWII and kept it forever. How many of us have said “I sure wish I still had my first motorcycle.”

John not only “fit in” the vintage scene, he embraced it completely. Besides being a board member and club Vice- President, John also led old bike rides, ran the swap meets, set up and participated in the field games, rode to every club meeting possible and rode the Black Hills with both the Viking Chapter and the National Club. John was a legend in his own time!

John was 91 when he passed away. He was a member of the generation that survived The Depression and World War II.

Thank you John. We’ll miss your smile. We’ll miss you at coffee. We’ll miss you on the rides. And who will fix our “tube” radios?

John takes First Place on the Plank Ride - Farmington 2001

CLUB NEWS

AMCA National Meet - Minnesota State Fairgrounds, June 10 thru 12, 2016

Special thanks to those folks who did the lion’s share of the organizing, setup and teardown. (Kudos to Sean O’Neil and Dave Moot) Also our volunteers, without whom this event just couldn’t happen (see Page 13.) We also appreciate all the work done on the VJMC side of the aisle to make this such a success …. thanks Chip Miller and company! And while we’re at it let’s not forget the turnout by the Ton-Up Club and their contribution.

Lee Mitzel, from Bismark ND, trailered in 17 Japanese motorcycles. Not one of them fell into the realm of “ordinary.” Probably the rarest of the lot were the Benly cycles … which bore a Honda logo that predated the one(s) we know.

Lee presently has a large collection of vintage Japanese Motorcycles that Five Cylinder Kawasaki Mach 3 is open to the public by appointment. and Classic Suzuki Water Buffalo

CLUB NEWS