Traveler Did Such a Good Job a Describing the Weekend at Elections Right Around the Next Curve
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
#01) C414, /it IN ROAR 10)4 0") Top Cat's Monthly Newsletter August, 2001 PRESIDENT'S CORNER Little Sturgis Rollin' down the highway in high gear... That's By Hawkeye right where we seem to 'be with a lull activities schedule, Sturgis a few days away, and annual Traveler did such a good job a describing the weekend at elections right around the next curve. No ,sweat. Little Sturgis, that I won't bore everybody with a retelling of Throttle on, downshift to keep the rev's and the same story. But I'd like to thank some people and make momentum up, lean hard, and accelerate out of the curve. a few observations. As we approach a curve, we try to remember all A big thanks goes to Bard Boand for his road Captain that we ve learned to prepare for it so we can exit leadership, and for again allowing me to lead the Saturday correctly, twist the throttle more, and get set for Ride. Also credit him with the suggestion of visiting J & P the next one. We're doing the very same thing Cycles and their Motorcycle Museum. I just worked out the with our club as we approach the acme of our details. riding season and get set up for another world - class year. Thanks to Road Captain Sandy Vernon for deciding to sit out the Friday morning rainstorm at McDonalds rather than So...when you rid,e to those great rallies, ride in unsafe cooditions. remember what you ve learned from your club; don t ride under the influence of anything Thanks to John Fraccaro for helping me by leading a group maintain the dignity of our club, ride in a safe and on Saturday. A few weeks before the ride, I sent aim a respectful manner, conduct yourself as if you have map and the ride route, and he must have committed it to to be invited , back and always tip the road memory, because he was right on the button with every captain. (Dont bother with the hate mail. I m turn. With all the things a Road Captain has to think about just joking about the tipping.) The mark of a on a ride, it's nice not to have any concerns about what the successful ride?...retnrn with no incidents or other group is doing. accidents, leave a positive impression of yourself on every rider, leave a _positive impression of the Huge thanks to my wife Denise, who spent 11 straight club wherever you've been and, return with so hours in a car with me pre-riding the route a few weeks many ,great stories that you'11ll run out of breath before the ride. She took the notes of mileage and gas repeating them. stops, and showed great restraint by not bashing me in the Remember too, what you've learned throughout head a few times during that trip. your tenure with the Top Cats as we approach, conduct,and implement the results of, our Thanks to all the riders who praised the Saturday ride. But forthcoming elections. Our organization is not a you can't lead a successful ride without a great group of one - rider effort.At last count, nearly 30 To people to lead. Everybody was attentive during he pre-ride Cats are actively involvedi in making our club briefing, and ready to roll after each stop. Give yourselves successful at whatever we undertake. That's almost a BIG TOP CAT ROAR. 30 percent of our membership. The riders who contribute their time include road captains, Observations: I'll never get tired of looking in my mirrors as committee members, committee chairs, writers, I reach a rise in the road, and seeing a line of bikes editors, publishers, webmasters, directors, officers, stretched out for a half mile behind, riding in perfect formation. and people who just jump in to help. There's nothing better than an overnight trip to get club Be one of those top 30. percenters who . make a members to intermingle with folks they normally don't get to difference in this organization and get . involved interact with. I learned how funny John "Coach" Eliasik is, with a committee, then take a chair position and and enjoyed swapping stories with his wife Darlene about progress to running for a Board position. Why growing up, in the city not far from each other. I learned that contribute? It's not unlike learning to take a clean Carl "Shecky" Hart knows a lot of funny jokes, but laughs so curve. If all you do is watch. other riders ride it hard when he gets to the punch line he has to repeat it and never have the opportunity to try it yourself twice so the rest of his audience can understand it. I you 11 never feel the exhilaration, and self learned that you don't have to ask Kevin Riddick twice if he satisfaction, of doing it yourself. wants to stop for ice cream, and how patient he and Janet are in dealing with the frustrations of mechanical problems. Let'sRoll! Hopefully, next year even more Top Cats will go on this Traveler ride, to make it an even better weekend. Page 1 TOP CATS - Illinois is a group of motorcycle enthusiasts with similar interests. Members must consist of responsible leaders, Presidents, Chairman, Owners, Proprietors, Kings, Queens, Partners, Principals, CEOs and other "TOP CATS" of large, medium and small organizations, institutions, companies and/or countries. UAN DVS CICIU THE BIKERS WHO MEAN BUSINE.S President Wayne "Traveler" Kirkpatrick 847/854-4137 ([email protected] ) Vice President Rik Lowry 847/284-1111 ([email protected]) Treasurer Jim "Iceman" Heniff 847/381-5357 ([email protected]) Secretary Ken "Hawke e" Glassman 847/394-0326 (ihawkeye50 a aol.com ) Founder Carl "Virgo" Bender 847/732-2767 ([email protected]) Past President George "Gray Ghost" Lax 847/438-5236 ([email protected]) Director Sandra Vernon 847/634-6402 [email protected] Director Bard Boand 847/381 - 1393 (bboand(a fedex.com) Director Terry "Lizard" Kumro 847/639-4009 ([email protected]) Remember, TOP CATS meet the TOP TUESDAY of EACH month! web site: www.topcats.org HOUJNE: (847) 622-3501 e-mail: [email protected] NEXT MEETING: July 31, 2001 Committee Top Cats Your Best Complete Activities Jim "Taz" Krepel ([email protected] ) 815/459-9345 Charity Ride Bernie Weiss (gottobl@aoLcom) 847/831-5393 Membership Joe Rabanus (PureBrass@aoLcom) 630/377-6686 Source of Programs Chuck Prettyman (phan42442@aoLcom) 847/382-4269 Products Alicia Kum° (aliciakuma@aoLcom) 847/639-4009 Communications John Lunde (mongerl@hotmaiLcom) 815/459-2488 HD Aftermarket Parts Roar Website Hotline Safety Wayne"Traveler"Kirkpanick(wlarkpa171@aoLcom) 847/854-4137 Terry "Lizard" Kumro ([email protected]) 847/639-4009 Ric Case ([email protected]) 847/363-1542 Sgt at Arms Vince O'Leary ([email protected] ) 847/438-4998 Order by bpm CST Volunteer George "Gray Ghost" Lax (glax@hottnalcom) 847/438-5236 Webmaster Rick Bremer ([email protected]) 847/382-6143 Info for HOTLINE Rob "Mow Man" Mann (mowmanl3@aoLcom) 847-537-8989 for same day ship to your doorstep (most cases overnight) 9000+ products realtime inventory Visit 10320 MAIN STREET RICHMOND, IL 60071 randyscycleonline.com 815-678-4200 and click on Hard Parts G - LAX ENTERPRISES HEATING & AIR CONDITIONING (847) 726-7843 11013 Route 47 AIR CONDITIONING GEORGE J. LAX Huntley, II. 60142 HEATING CELL # (847) 533-5236 847-669-0256 HUMIDIFICATION P.O. BOX 725 SHEET METAL LAKE ZURICH, IL 60047 Fax 847-669-0772 SALES • SERVICE • INSTALLATION • ALL MAKES RESIDENTIAL / COMMERCIAL Page 2 manifold and it will require a few more hours in the shop. This Show Me.... is getting grim. I begin to pout. I suggest we rent a bike - sorry By Barb Weiss they don't do rentals. How about a demo bike? Sorry they don't do demos. How about a loaner bike? Sorry they don't Bernie and I joined Top Cats Dr. Steven and Judi Bobbe for the do loaners. Officer Mike to the rescue. He is hearing all this, Motorcycling Doctors Association's annual convention. It is senses our disappointment and said, "Why don't you take my their 25th anniversary and the event was held in bike?" Bernie wonders how he is going to ride a police unit Independence, Missouri, the site of the first convention. on vacation? Not to worry, Mike meant his own personal bike. Sounded like a good excuse for a ride. Our first priority was "I am on duty until 8 p.m. and it is sitting in my garage not far a previously planned weekend in Door County with the Top from here. It's an Ultra just like yours." I say, "Don't be silly, Cats. Might as well take the whole week off. Luckily Chuck we can't take your bike." Bernie said, "Oh yes we can!" and Maureen Prettyman were up for a few days out of town Unbelievable-what a generous offer. The Harley shop offers to too. We were a mix of cars and bikes but a good time was had drive us to Mike's house. His bike is ready and he leads the by all. We got home long enough to do a load of laundry, load way. We meet his lovely (and surprised) wife Kim. I ask her if the bike and get a nights sleep. he has a habit of loaning his bike and she answers NEVER! He Off we went on our Harley Ultra Classic.