Save The Tatas

from Last issue of 2021 December 160!

by CHROMESC.COM

June 17th, 1957 Article By Pappy

Save the Tatas is an annual event that was held on Saturday, November 17, 2021 and is hosted by the Carolina Rebels MC, Sumter Chapter. They team up with Shuckers of Sumter to host this event annually. They have been hosting this event for 8 years now. The event started off small with only a t-shirt for profits. The Rebels also had to put the Tatas on hold for a couple of years due to the Carolina Rebels Clubhouse burning down and Covid. In 2020 the Carolina Rebels brought the event back by adding more sponsors, a band, and raffles! This year they were able to raise $1,500.00 for the Susan G. Komen Organization! This organization is the world’s largest nonprofit source of funding for the fight against breast cancer today! Susan G Komen started her fight to beat breast cancer when her sister died of Breast cancer in 1980. She Promised her dying sister she would do everything she could to end breast cancer. They have already reduced the amount of deaths from breast cancer by 40% and she promises she won’t stop until that promise is fulfilled. The Carolina Rebels MC, Sumter Chapter with Shuckers of Sumter put on a great event. Let’s Save the Tatas in 2022!

Written by Cammie Bunch

Page Photography by Nicole CGW

By Wally Wersching On December 5th the 25th Annual Gaston County Toy Run for Kids was held in Gastonia, NC. The meeting place was the Ranlo Church of God in Ranlo, NC, which is located just north of Gastonia on Cox Road. All that was required to participate was a new unwrapped toy. The group left with a police escort at 11:30AM on their tour of the area dropping off toys along the way. The ride went to Dallas, Bessemer City, Gastonia, and ended at Parkwood Baptist Church on Garrison Ave. in Gastonia. Hundreds of toys were distributed to families in need out of U-Haul trucks at each stop. I went last year, and had a great time. I decided to go again this year especially since I attended a couple fundraisers for the run this year. That’s where I met a few of the people who were responsible for the run every year. I had a plan for Saturday if the weather cooperated. It was the first Saturday of the month so I’d have breakfast at the Crestview Baptist Church to start. Then, I wanted to arrive at the Ranlo Church of God before 10:30AM so that I would have time to visit with the bikers as they rode in, and before they left at 11:30AM. It was raining hard when I went to sleep on Friday night. There were even claps of thunder during the night. I was worried that it would still be raining in the morning. I awoke at about 6:15AM. It was still dark but not raining – that was a good sign. After walking the dog, I drove to the Crestview Baptist Church where I had a delicious breakfast with friends. I also gave out a few magazines to the bikers who were there. When I returned home, I dressed for the ride. It was still in the upper 40’s outside so I wore long johns, my chaps, and my winter leather jacket. I left home at 9:15AM heading east on Rt 74. I stopped at the gas station at the intersection with Rt 180, and met “Grumpy”. Then we both headed east on Rt 74. We merged into I85, exited at the Cox Road exit, and turned left to go north. After a couple miles, we turned right to go into the large parking lot for the church. It was about 10:15AM, and we were guided into the lot by members of the Carolina Thunder, and Guardians of the Children (GOC). I parked “Miss Vickie” along the outer boundary of the parking lot. I didn’t want her to be in the way when all the other bikes came. “Grumpy” did the same since he wasn’t going on the run either. The main part of the lot was empty, but there were quite a few bikes parked near the U-Haul box trucks.

2020; 25th Annual Gaston County Toy Run for Kids

I loaded my shoulder bag with magazines, and started to walk around. I walked past the Biker Lawyer trucks. The U-Haul box trucks were filled with toys, and volunteers were busy placing toys in the trucks. There was a line of children waiting for the OK to go to the trucks, and get their toys. The toys were for anyone who needed a toy for their kid for Christmas. I walked over to the trailer with the 2005 Sportster that was being raffled off. They were still busy selling tickets. The drawing would be later in the afternoon. By then, there was a steady stream of bikers riding in. Members of the Carolina Thunder and the GOC had their hands full trying to squeeze in as many bikes as they could in an orderly manner. The club members would also be “Road Guards” during the run. Even with police escort, because there would be so many bikes, they would still need someone to block traffic at intersections.

As I took pictures, I realized that it wasn’t going to be easy to take good pictures. The bright sun was low in the sky, and if the sun wasn’t in my eye, the reflection from the chrome, paint, windshields, and mirrors was. I was glad that I was taking digital pictures that didn’t cost anything.

As I was walking around, I was looking for Victory motorcycles. I have learned that the owners of a Victory motorcycle are very friendly – especially to another Victory owner – me.

I saw a beautiful bright blue Victory bagger parked next to another red one. I talked with the owner of the blue one. She was very friendly. Her husband owned the red one. She told me about her father-in law who owns eight Victory motorcycles. He has them in a carpeted garage, and sits there enjoying their company while drinking his beer.

I stopped to talk with a young man who owned an unusual Sportster. It was an older one in a hardtail frame with no front brake. We laughed about it being a ”Young Man’s Bike”. He said that he only takes it on short trips – it’s not very comfortable.

With so many bikes coming in, they almost ran out of room. The last group parked their bikes up near where I parked “Miss Vickie”. The lot was almost completely full. In the last group, were members of the “25th Hour” club out of Charlotte. I was surprised to see three beautiful Victory baggers in the group. I had to talk with them, and give them a few magazines. We hit it off, and I told them about the “Easy Pull” add-on for their clutch. They didn’t know about it but after feeling “Miss Vickie’s” clutch, they all said that they would definitely get one for their bikes. It’s a win-win situation. It is easier to pull, and saves the clutch cable. The bikers were going back to their bikes. It was time to leave. The first to leave were the box trucks, and then the beginning of the bikers. It took over 20 minutes for them all to leave.

Saturday, December 4, 2021 @ 11am-6pm Gaston County Toy Run For Kids

Event by Tammy Davidson & Gaston County Toy Run For Kids @ Ranlo Church of God

RAIN OR SHINE

I walked to the road to get some pictures as they rode by. The traffic was stopped to let all the bikes out of the parking lot.

I continued taking pictures of the bikes as they passed. Some bikers waved, and others were concentrating on the ride. I watched as some of the bikers changed lanes trying to get next to their friends. Changing lanes during a long bike parade can be very dangerous. Speaking of being dangerous; I saw one biker pulling wheelies as he tried to catch up with the bike in front. That’s nuts!

Kick Stands Up at 11:30 ~Please bring a new unwrapped toy for children ages 0-16~

Police Escorted

After they all passed, I walked back to “Miss Vickie” and “Grumpy”, and left. Traffic was backed up with the onlookers trying to get home. It was only a two-lane road with a stoplight in the small town of Ranlo. It took almost fifteen minutes to ride a couple miles. After that, it was a four-lane. I made it to I85 with no problems, and I arrived home just before 1:00PM after stopping to pick up lunch at Showmars. It was a great way to spend a Saturday morning!