June 2009 NEW JERSEY SHORE BMW RIDERS Inc Skip Palmer, President, [email protected] Joe Karol, Vice President Roger Trendowski, Secty/Treasurer [email protected] Dennis Swanson, Trustee and Cub Reporter Don Eilenberger, Trustee and Newsletter Editor John Welch, Trustee John Malaska, Newsletter Publisher Club Membership Application at: http://www.njsbmwr.org/ NJSBMWR_Application.pdf June will be the last month I serve as President; Dost thou love life? Then do not squander time, for however, our club is in the very capable hands of Joe that's the stuff life is made of. Benjamin Franklin Karol and Roger Trendowski. Joe and I have been (1706 - 1790) , 'Poor Richard's Almanack,' June planning for a smooth transition as he takes over the 1746 office of president with the support of Roger continuing as treasurer and secretary. The acting Prosperity is only an instrument to be used, not a officers and Trustees guide the New Jersey BMW deity to be worshipped. Calvin Coolidge (1872 - Shore Riders Inc. 1933) , speech, June 11, 1928 I am very grateful I joined the club and was provided Be open to your dreams, people. Embrace that the opportunity to serve in various capacities. The distant shore. Because our mortal journey is over past ten years flew by because of your friendships all too soon. David Assael , Northern Exposure, It and our shared experiences. They are something Happened in Juneau, 1992 that I have enjoyed immensely and will cherish the memories. PRESIDENT 'S M ESSAGE Susan and I want to thank everyone for attending the This month, the movers will arrive to relocate Susan “Surprise Dinner” at the Cabin on Friday evening. I and I to our Florida home. For several years we appreciate your kind comments and shared have been planning how to retire, relocate, and memories of our experiences together. Thank you for transition into this new phase of our lives. Our plans the beautiful commemorative clock. have evolved into sound solutions. Change requires major decisions, which have been made and Skip Palmer, President preparations are in place for what is the most dramatic shift in our family since starting our lives together after college and military service. DUDLEY W INS M AJOR A WARD ! Bill Dudley reporting We have been reminded repeatedly throughout this process that what we leave behind is more than 2009 British and European Classic Motorcycle careers, houses, and New Jersey. The comfort of Day at Butlers Orchard close friends and familiar places has enriched our lives and will be missed beyond measure. William and I rode down to Gaithersburg Saturday afternoon and evening, May 16, via Delmarva peninsula and US 50. We had nice weather except © 2009, NJSBMWR Inc, Editor: Don Eilenberger ([email protected]), Publisher: John Malaska for the Biblical rain for the last 30 miles. The only Meanwhile, during the debugging, I heard the hiccup was the "new" used gas cap decided to lock announcement that my R90S had taken second itself, but fortunately we discovered this at the gas place in the German 1970-1985 class. station a mile from my house, so we rode back home and I drilled it and put a screw in it. Sunday, May 17, we rode from the motel in Gaithersburg to Butlers Orchard. We entered both We saddled up around 4PM and hit the road, and bikes (my Commando and my R90S) in the taking 2 lane roads for the first few hours, got back to concours. This was the first major outing for the Jackson around 11PM. R90S since I had the tank repainted by the kids at the Ocean County Vo-Tech in Jackson. RA R ALLY A DVENTURE R IDER C LINIC , The flea market was pretty sparse, but I did pick up a JULY 23-26, C ANAAN V ALLEY , WV new set of BMW petcocks, and some nice machined aluminum fork caps for the Norton. Elsie Smith, BMW-RA This course consists of 4 hours of seminar and off- The organizers had announced that if you were going road motorcycle riding instruction on a closed course to win something, they would hang a tag on your that has been groomed for beginners, yet has handlebar. After hanging about a few hours, we challenging areas for more advanced riders to hone decided to leave since it didn't look like I'd be winning their skills. The course enables riders to transition any trophies, since no handlebar tag. So we packed from the basics of off-roading to the more complex up and got suited up, and then the Norton wouldn't techniques needed for multi-day trips on dual-sport start. machines. This course combines the skill-building of the basic off-road course with advanced techniques There were no shortage of kibitzers, but one for single track and obstacles. bystander offered a voltmeter, and Chris (mumble), Norton expert (and husband of Steve Atkinson's You’ll learn skills that enable you to transition from widow, Loretta), offered to help debug the problem. asphalt to double track, single track, and fire trails. We eventually discovered that both a wire had The fundamentals of straight lines, turning, body broken (inside the insulation, so it was invisible) posture, and braking are combined to handle down at the Boyer pickup plate, AND the Boyer obstacles, stream crossings, and tight single track. module itself had died. I'm still don't understand how we got TWO failures at the same time. (I *do* have a We'll teach you the fundamentals and demonstrate piece of foam rubber holding the wires down at the real-world challenges so that riders can assess pickup plate, I already know terrain and risk, then make good choices using skills about that trick.) practiced here. It's a course that builds confidence and breaks down barriers without destroying you and Chris sold us his spare Boyer, and we were ready to your gear. go, finally. © 2009, NJSBMWR Inc, Editor: Don Eilenberger ([email protected]), Publisher: John Malaska There will be four classes offered during the rally. prepared to leave early Friday morning. The including one on Thursday afternoon, two on Friday, weekend forecast promised rain arriving Saturday and one on Saturday morning. Morning classes will evening and continuing well into Sunday throughout begin at 8:00am and run till 12:00 noon. The New England. The Land Cruiser was destined to be afternoon class will begin at 1:00pm and run till my weekend transportation. The sun broke through 4:00pm. Classes will be assigned on a first come, by noon just north of Hartford and the weather first served basis, so register now to confirm a spot n remained pleasant until Saturday night. After that, it your preferred class! poured steadily through most of Sunday. BMW RA Rally Adventure Rider Clinic Details Arriving on Hermit Island around four, George and Length : 4 hours (½ day) Miles were in the “Kelp Shed” (a rambling, rather Age: 6 years old - Adult. eclectic, building that served as registration, social Class Sizes : maximum of 10 students. center, kitchen and dining room for the rally). They Motorcycle: bring your own motorcycle. took me on a tour of the mile long island. The camp Minimums : Safe off-road or dual-sport motorcycle ground offered secluded camp sites on patches of with appropriate tires for dirt riding and fuel for 4 grass located on rocky peninsulas, in wooded groves hours of riding, spare spark plug and basic tool kit and along the marsh on the east side of the island. (plug wrench, etc), DOT helmet, jacket, sturdy pants, The northern end of the island is home to a gloves, eye protection, over-the-ankle boots. ramshackle marina, lobster-pound, and sheltered Hydration packs (CamelBak, canteens, etc) are cove with several lobster boats tethered to their recommended for all seasons. Long sleeves moorings. The natural diversity of this small island is recommended for summer. as remarkable as it was picturesque to see. We Location: BMW RA National Rally in Canaan Valley, encountered half a dozen very docile deer and a bald WV eagle. A short drive off the island brought us to Popham Beach at the southeast end of the Price: $75. To register, or for more information, peninsula. Here the Kennebec River flows past the please visit www.motomark1.com /dbsra.html ruins of an old fort into the Gulf of Maine. Where the currents merge, we found a feeding frenzy of seals bobbing and diving directly off shore. We stayed for sometime watching them through binoculars. DOWN E AST R ALLY , H ERMIT I SLAND , MAINE , M AY 15-17 TH We returned to the “Kelp Shed” to find several people gathered around a roaring fire devouring endless Skip Palmer servings of homemade clam chowder, corn chowder, Miles Cannon and George Hickman have and chili. If you are not envious yet then you’re enthusiastically promoted this rally for as long as I seriously overdue for a check-up. Hearty food, down have known them. The appeal of a secluded coastal to earth people (each with interesting stories to Maine island camp ground complete with spectacular share), and a stone fireplace radiating warmth on an scenery, abundant wildlife, homemade chowders, early spring evening is about all anyone can ask for. and a lobster dinner is not a difficult image to promote. Over the years, they have been joined by Early Saturday morning, we gathered around the many of the New Sweden and Shore Riders. This fireplace for breakfast and to plan the day’s activities. year, I decided to make the weekend rally a priority Some would ride to White Horse Press; others before I moved south.